Prepare now for the 'fiscal cliff' - Business Management Daily

Unless Congress acts soon, the end of this year will see the expiration of an unprecedented number of tax provisions. That could cause havoc with your Payroll operations, as the IRS will be forced to delay issuing the 2013 tax tables and, critically, the 2013 withholding tables.

Bottom line: Prepare now to deal with last-minute changes to the tax code. Barring congressional action, here?s what to expect on Jan.1, 2013:

Tax rates

All income tax rates would revert to what they were in 2001. The 10% tax rate would expire, and the tax rates?currently set at 25%, 28%, 33% and 35%?would increase to 28%, 31%, 36% and 39.6%. Key payroll rates: The 25% flat supplemental withholding rate and the 28% backup withholding rate would increase to 28% and 31%, respectively.

The 4.2% Social Security tax rate would return to 6.2%.

The overall limitation on itemized deductions and the phase-out of personal exemptions would be reinstated. The doubling of the standard deduction for joint filers would also expire.

Employer-provided educational assistance

Under Section 127, you can subsidize employees? educational expenses, up to $5,250 a year. Wrinkle: Before 2001, Section 127 wasn?t a permanent part of the tax code; it expired periodically. More important, prior to 2001, it didn?t apply to graduate education.

Suggestion: You could continue to administer your Section 127 educational assistance plan with the presumption that Congress will extend it, if not permanently, then at least on its old expire-and-reenact schedule. However, until the status of graduate education is settled, it would probably be prudent to limit outlays to undergraduate education.

Should Section 127 expire permanently, you can still reimburse employees? educational expenses as a working condition fringe benefit. Even better: You can reimburse 100% of those expenses, with no $5,250 limit.

Catch: Employees? education must be job-related?education that maintains or improves employees? current skills, without qualifying them for new jobs.

Even bigger catch: You can?t reimburse employees tax-free if the education allows them to meet the minimum requirements of their current jobs or qualifies them for new jobs, even if the education maintains or improves skills currently required in your business. Job-related education also includes education that?s required by law or by you.

Upshot: You can send employees to seminars, but you can?t reimburse them tax-free for their undergraduate education.

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If You're Feeling The Strain, Don't Be Frightened ... - Elder Law Library

If You're Feeling The Strain, Don't Be Frightened To Look Into Sources Of Help.

Posted by Editor on Sep 25, 2012 in Nursing Homes

As folks age, elder care can sometimes be one of the hardest calls you can make. You can't appear to be there for your aged all of the time. You must have somebody to take care of them. Carers are vital for aged care. This is a consistent source of extra stress.

Naturally, you need to be a responsible adult kid, and since you like your ma and pa, you want to ensure they're well tended. Nonetheless you won't do anyone good in the long run if you don't accept some assistance when you want it. The advantages to the elder include getting the right care earlier, preservation of autonomy for so long as possible the power to age with grace, and the safety of understanding that you've an advocate devoted to maximising standard of life. If you're feeling the strain, don't be scared to look into sources of help. The Life Care Plan connects your worries about long term care as you go thru the later stages of your life with the data and experience of an Elder Law lawyer and an Elder Care Coordinator who will be with you and your friends each stage to help you in making the right decisions.

This is the most vital of all goals, for it is going to the heart of your standard of life in your later years. There are 3 principal goals of the Life Care Plan that we're going to help you develop and implement : First, helping you and your beloved get good care, whether your care is provided at home or outside of the normal home setting like a managed living facility, or when necessary, a care home. The elder, and the elder?s family, are now starting on a strenuous journey thru hazy waters. Now , old folks finance long term care services from a spread of sources, including personal resources, like private savings, care donated by acquaintances and family, and long term care insurance and public programs, including Medicaid and Medicare. It is economically ineffectual and it fails to reassure the standard of services that are supplied. Plenty of our customers begin their initiation in the long term care maze with a stay in the infirmary, which Medicare pays for. Medicare pays for medicare ,eg the Part A hospice benefit and the Part B physician?s benefit.

This is one reason products are inappropriately selected and how issues of safety are made. Before a pro endorses a product they ought to be educated so that they can help to educate others particularly the user. We do not have safety and efficiency issues because those endorsing products are well capable in the difficulties. We want to inspire executives to find out more about the devices they like to recommend so that they can match the device to user wishes and conditions.

Source: http://www.elderlawlibrary.com/if-youre-feeling-the-strain-dont-be-frightened-to-look-into-sources-of-help/

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What is Self-Esteem? | Healthy Lifestyle Plus

Webmaster | September 26, 2012 (11 hours ago) | no comments

One?s improvement of their self-esteem is eventful in a person?s life.

It decides what a person would do or what they can achieve.

Self-esteem precisely means how a person looks at their individuality.

A person with a deep self-art may be enough victorious in life.

Those who have high self-esteem confide in their selves so that they can get the task done.

However, not all folks confide in themselves and their capabilities.?These people have a flat self-honor.

You may not realize it but low self-esteem will ultimately take its toll on you. If you have low self-esteem, you are limited to a more smooth realization. If you are not quite assured, then let the later descriptions brighten you.

Generally, you perceive of yourself-as someone who is quiet and shy for most of the time, occasionally to the point that you think of yourself-as the lowest of the low. You do not believe in your faculty or on the things that you can do, and you just stay quiet even though you render certain, in your heart of hearts, that you can do it.

If these things occur to you then something in you questions your capacity to construct certain tasks because you bear it like you lack the self-confidence to push it towards completion.

Low self-esteem indeed controls you and holds you down. It prevents you from doing things that you can indeed perform victoriously. It also prevents you from achieving something greater. Low self-respect must be abolished from everyone?s mentality so that everybody can perform to his or her best abilities.

When you were born, you were not born with limited self-esteem. It is not inborn. It gets developed consequently through hardships and trials. Some events may govern to your losing your self-confidence.

These said events are generally traumatic and it sticks within your head, which is the key why you tend to lose your self-worth little by little, occasionally, even as an entirety.?Instances like getting humiliated in public, or making a bad decision, in some point of your evolution, that cost you something that was worthy or significant to you.

Another statistical situation would be that, something happened to you in your youth and it made you lose your self-esteem. Basically, everyone does not have low self-esteem at birth, nor a high one at that point, but everyone has a self-esteem that is of median rate, and it is only your adventures that determine whether you will be having a high one or a low one.

Once your self-honor is lost, does that terminate that you are never going to have high self-esteem over again? The answer is no. You can indeed regain it. If you have a low self-esteem since previous bad fortunes, one thing to defeat this problem is to face that certain bad event and turn it into a beneficial one.?You must make that bad thing into something that is more effective.

In that way, every time you experience that experience, or any another event that is closely connected to the foregoing, what you will recall from it is the good thing and not the bad sensation you got.

You must always keep in mind that you should make safe your self-respect. It is eventful for the human race around you, but more eventful for your own prosperity. You must also recall to teach your children the values and abilities in order for them to be capable to conserve their self-esteem.

You should imbue in them self-confidence to front each day with their heads up towering, because a low self-esteem or neglect of confidence will determine what kind of a generation they will be.

Low self-esteem will hold people down from indicating their real influence. If you have a low self-esteem, you should try, as much as possible, to win over it in the quickest term. You may never comprehend what you can do if only you have the self-confidence to achieve it.

?

Article by Tomas Labas

About the Author :?The author of this article writes at self-Esteem Improvement. Read author?s Personal Goals, and self-Improvement articles.

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Tags: Confidence, Decides, Esteem, Healthy Lifestyle Plus, Self, Self-confidence, Self-esteem, Self-Help, www.healthylifestyleplus.com

Category: Healthy Spirit

Source: http://www.healthylifestyleplus.com/spirit/what-is-self-esteem/

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Personal Development Tips That Can Work For You! - ProjectPB ...

How about taking a few minutes of your time in order to learn simple steps on improving the rest of your life? If you pay attention to what we have to say, that is what this article can do for you. Read the tips and tricks that we have provided for you, so that you can start to reach your true potential.

Keep your limitations in mind and do not push too hard to reach your goals, especially when it comes to physical self-improvement. Although striving may be what fuels your accomplishments, you need to know when you are exceeding your own boundaries. You still need to take care of your body when trying to achieve a goal. It is simply illogical to expect any real gain in personal development, if you aren?t looking after your body at the same time.

TIP! Fostering a strict sense of self discipline is a great way to improve yourself. Learn to develop a strong sense of self control.

Simplify your life by getting organized. Bringing structure to your life will give you a great sense of accomplishment, and living a more organized life will boost your confidence. Additionally, it will remove the stress caused by living a disorganized life. The knowledge that everything is located in its proper place is calming.

It?s often said that listening is no less important than speaking when it comes to effective communication. This is particularly true if you want to improve yourself. Make sure you listen to yourself. Make sure you always pay attention to what your inner voice is telling you, so you can properly understand and meet your needs, which is essential if you want to improve yourself as a person.

Always carry a way to write down thoughts you may have. Carry pens and paper with you at all times. Make detailed notes, and later, when you have the chance and are feeling creative, take your ideas further.

TIP! As you ascertain your needs and how you will approach them, there is one thing that must be done. Make the choice to actively participate in whatever life you choose to live, and do not sit on the sidelines.

As hard as it may seem, you must eliminate worry from your life. The scenarios in your mind that are caused by worrying are just that, only in your mind. Instead of worrying endlessly about what might happen, start preparing for those scenarios. This will help you feel prepared in the event of a tragedy but also keep living your life.

Leaders are humble, though powerful and strict too. Be rebuking yet gentle, and always remember in order to lead, you must know how to serve. A successful leader is one who demonstrates integrity and virtue as an example to others.

Start contributing to an emergency fund. It appears as though every time something unexpected happens, we charge more to our credit cards. All you will need to do is save a couple of dollars per week. That fund may help both short and long term debt as the debt lowers.

TIP! By using love, you can re-energize your faith and get closer to your personal development goals. Faith cannot exist without love, and love cannot exist without faith.

Your personal development goals should be specific enough to lead the way to success. If you set goals that are clearly laid out, you will improve your chances of meeting or surpassing them. This makes it easier to overcome challenging tasks, and helps you enjoy the sweet taste of success quicker.

Determine the things that are vital to you, and be sure to focus on these things. By concentrating on those things that you cherish and appreciate, you?re less likely to be pessimistic and to brood over adverse situations that are of little consequence.

People should not be afraid to investigate professional therapy to deal with serious problems. Self help books can help you, but do not expect these methods to replace a doctor who can assess your situation personally. There are many times when talking with another person about a stressful situation is the most effective route to relaxation. There is no way to have an open discussion with a book, though you can with a therapist.

TIP! A crucial part of any personal development program is to take special care in providing for your own physical needs. Achieving your personal development goals is more likely if you keep your energy levels high by getting a sufficient amount of sleep, exercising on a regular basis, and maintaining a nutritious diet.

Examine your inner self instead of your external appearance. Your hair, clothing, and complexion are not the most important things about you. Personality is what gets us through life, not looks. It is therefore best to work on improving your internal self rather than wasting time and money on superficial improvements.

Always retain your sense of humility. Remember that you are insignificantly small in this universe. Life is a learning process and no one person knows everything. Keep this in mind, and you will have limitless potential for growth. Keeping an open mind will allow you to learn from other people.

If you suffer from anxiety, consider heading to a movie with a friend. This activity will force you to be around others, but you do not have to talk to them very much, which will minimize your discomfort. This will give you the chance to get acquainted with the idea of being around more people.

TIP! Personal development requires many tough choices. Do not be intimidated by decisions, even when you do not have as much information as you would like.

When you are working on your personal development, you should realize you deserve to be the best you can be. Commit to taking good care of yourself by providing yourself with only the best. If you make every effort to improve, then you have nothing to regret.

You can try writing yourself a motivational speech. Take a small sheet of paper and write down every positive attribute you possess. Keep this inspirational card with you at all times. Even better, read it aloud on video and watch the video often. Sounds intriguing, right?

Strive to be the best at everything you put your mind to. Your aspiration to greatness is usually pointed to by your passion. We cannot be the best at everything we try, however, we can bring inspiration to others by giving everything the best effort. Do your best to become a leader in your industry, as it will give your self-esteem a boost.

TIP! Evaluate yourself and seek out that one aspect that you wish to change or improve. Even if you have more than one area on which you wish to work, focusing on one area at a time will make it easier to succeed.

Hopefully, the information from these tips helped to inspire you to try new things and become a better person. You will discover tremendous benefit if you are diligent in your application of these ideas. If you have the determination and dedication to utilize what you have learned, you are sure to reap many benefits

Source: http://www.projectpb.net/blog/index.php/personal_development/personal-development-tips-that-can-work-for-you/

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Realscreen's Doc Hot Shots 2012 ? Realscreen

3 hours ago by Realscreen Staff

To celebrate realscreen?s 15th anniversary, we?ve selected 15 emerging directors (or directing teams) that we think represent the future of feature-length non-fiction.

In making the selections, we assembled an all-star team of top-level festival programmers and TV commissioners, and asked them to pick their stars of tomorrow.

Who is the next Pennebaker, we demanded, or the new Herzog? Which directing duo could go on to match the feats of the Maysles, and which provocateur could reach the heights of Morris or Moore?

The discussions were passionate, and for most of the judging panel (listed at the bottom of the page), whittling their shortlist down to just one director or duo was agonizing. So a big thank-you to all our judges, and massive congratulations to all of the 2012 Doc Hot Shots who made the list, which follows below in alphabetical order?

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MALIK BENDJELLOUL (Sweden)

Notable work: Searching for Sugar Man

David Courier, Sundance Film Festival senior programmer: ?Searching for Sugar Man trumpets the arrival of a major new voice in non-fiction film. Bendjelloul?s film is so much stranger than fiction it?s hard to believe that it actually happened. As plot twists abound, Sugar Man dazzles at every turn. This is that rare documentary for wide audiences ? a film for anyone who believes in second chances, for anyone who believes in the power of music to overcome the obstacles of time and space.?

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MARGARET BROWN (U.S.)

Notable work: Be Here to Love Me, The Order of Myths

Janet Pierson, SXSW Film producer: ?Taking a longer view of who our future doc masters will be, rather than working from this year?s festival debuts, I?d like to nominate Margaret Brown, who combines a unique and cinematic filmmaking voice with deeply moving stories. Her approach is intimate, her sensibility poetic with gravitas. The films have a timeless feel that get under our skin.?

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ASIF KAPADIA (UK)

Notable work: Senna, The Odyssey

Adam Benzine, realscreen associate editor: ?Kapadia?s doc debut burst onto the world stage last year, staggering audiences globally by bringing a high drama approach to archival storytelling. Asif already had form as a narrative director prior to Senna?s success (which included BAFTA and Sundance wins), and hopefully his recent Olympics doc The Odyssey indicates a willingness to further explore the non-fiction format. If so, great things undoubtedly await.?

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ANDRIS GAUJA (Latvia)

Notable work: Family Instinct, Victor

Doug Jones, Los Angeles Film Festival associate director of programming: ?Many filmmakers are exploring the boundaries of documentary filmmaking, but few are approaching it with the fearlessness of Gauja. In his debut film Family Instinct, a disarmingly raw portrait of a dysfunctional family and their community of misfits and malcontents, Gauja employs a variety of methods ? pure documentary, recreations, staged events in which only some of the participants are aware of any staging ? to create a tightwire act of fact, fiction and the revelatory space in between.?

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HAVANA MARKING (UK)

Notable work: Afghan Star, Smash & Grab ? The Story of the Pink Panthers

Nick Fraser, BBC ?Storyville? series editor: ?She?s very, very talented. She made Afghan Star, and she?s developing two new ideas for us. Smash & Grab was a big, well-made film with a lot of animation in it, which was really deft, really good.?

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SARAH MCCARTHY (Australia)

Notable work: Sound of Mumbai: A Musical

Thom Powers, TIFF doc programmer and DOC NYC artistic director: ?With Sound of Mumbai, Sarah McCarthy didn?t make anything easy on herself, filming with Indian slum children putting on a production of The Sound of Music. Up until the night of the one-time-only performance, she wasn?t sure whether she?d have permission to film it. But the results are triumphant, one of the most emotionally charged films I?ve ever shown. In fact, just thinking about it now makes me choke up.?

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ELIZABETH MIMS AND JASON TIPPET (U.S.)

Notable work: Only the Young

Simon Kilmurry, ?POV? executive director: ?Elizabeth and Jason have achieved something remarkable in Only the Young, transporting us into the lives of their teen characters, where it feels like we are quite literally there, hanging out with them, at that point in time when our lives stretched endlessly and uncertainly into the future. As filmmakers they have a freshness of vision that is exhilarating to witness, and a talent for storytelling that is both incisive and humble. Watching this film has been one of the great artistic highlights of 2012.?

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CAMILLA NIELSSON (Denmark)

Notable work: The Children of Darfur, Mumbai Disconnected

Mette Hoffmann Meyer, DRTV head of documentaries: ?Camilla is very bright, and has a fantastic understanding of the complexity of politics and people. She?s also very brave, and in a very short period of time has taught herself to use cameras and get closer to the story. Her work is beautifully shot, and the material she?s coming home with from Zimbabwe [for a future doc] comes from a place that?s really very difficult to shoot.?

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LISANNE PAJOT AND JAMES SWIRSKY (Canada)

Notable work: Indie Game: The Movie

Hussain Currimbhoy, Sheffield Doc/Fest film programmer: ?Lisanne and James immediately sucked me into a world I knew nothing about with brilliant editing and an excellent eye for cinematography and pacing that outdoes far more seasoned filmmakers. They then took me on a rollercoaster ride I was not at all expecting, and I loved every minute of it. In a world where control over your content is fractious, these filmmakers did it on their own terms using all modern tools at their disposal to make the film a reality.?

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V?R?NA PARAVEL (France)

Notable work: Foreign Parts, Leviathan

Benjamin Fowlie, Camden International Film Festival founder and director: ?Part anthropologist, part filmmaker, V?r?na has created films that transcend our notions of what documentary is, and what it is supposed to be. Beginning with Foreign Parts, she has emphasized the immersive, experiential qualities of the moving image, eschewing both narration and conventional narrative. Her latest collaborative project with Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Leviathan, pushes the limits of documentary even further.?

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TRISTAN PATTERSON (U.S.)

Notable work: Dragonslayer

Basil Tsiokos, Sundance Film Festival programming associate, documentary features: ?In Dragonslayer, director Tristan Patterson and producer John Baker were able to almost instinctively adapt the form of documentary portraiture to perfectly suit their untraditional subject and capture a specific, pivotal moment in his life. If they can bring the same kind of unmediated authenticity and immediacy to their next project, they?ll certainly remain high on everyone?s watch list.?

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DAWN PORTER (U.S.)

Notable work: Gideon?s Army, Spies of Mississippi

Lois Vossen, senior producer for PBS?s ?Independent Lens?: ?Dawn?s varied professional background as an attorney and TV executive provides a unique skill set that serves an independent filmmaker? Her experiences as an attorney give her practical insight into the ever-more-complicated legal side of the business, while her connection to storytelling makes her a great creative partner. She has a strong understanding of what drives a great story forward.?

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ASHLEY SABIN AND DAVID REDMON (U.S.)

Notable work: Girl Model, Downeast

Sean Farnel, acquisitions consultant at SnagFilms: ?Their work has a raw, but thoughtful quality, a willingness to experiment and play in the form, yet also a firm grasp of classical observational filmmaking. Smart, tough, but not preachy politically, these DIY-ers have also been astute and creative in managing the business life of their films. It?s clear that major works should be expected from them, individually and together, for years to come.?

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BILL ROSS AND TURNER ROSS (U.S.)

Notable work: 45365, Tchoupitoulas

Charlotte Cook, Hot Docs director of programming: ?They are filmmakers who are developing a new, modern form of v?rit? that is a progression in the craft, and art form, of documentary. What makes their work so important is that it is not bound by present relevance, but that it will continue to gain nuance for decades due to the way in which they portray atmosphere and feeling, not only of place and culture, but of the people within.?

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SEUNG-JUN YI (South Korea)

Notable work: Planet of Snail

Heather Croall, Sheffield Doc/Fest director: ?The most stunning documentary this year has to be Seung-Jun Yi?s Planet of Snail ? one of the most mesmerizing, life-affirming cinema experiences you will ever encounter. Seung-Jun Yi?s directorial touch is so masterful; he gently invites us into his deeply respectful portrayal of this amazing couple with a love story that is refreshing and fun but never sentimental, never maudlin. The light bulb scene in Planet of Snail has been burned into my mind forever.?

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HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Beyond the final list of 15, the judges were falling over themselves to suggest other doc-makers worthy of inclusion. These included Maite Alberdi (The Lifeguard), Nina Pope and Karen Guthrie (Jaywick Escapes), Alison Klayman (Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry), Malika Zouhali-Worrall and Katherine Fairfax Wright (Call Me Kuchu), Neil Berkeley (Beauty is Embarrassing), Yance Ford (Strong Island), Angad Bhalla (Herman?s House), Matthew Heineman (Escape Fire), Matthew Akers (Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present), Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace (Shut Up and Play the Hits), Jeanie Finlay (Sound It Out), Rebecca Richmond Cohen (Code of the West), Pete Nicks (The Waiting Room), Joshua Oppenheimer (The Act of Killing), Treva Wurmfeld (Shepard & Dark), Dan Lindsay & TJ Martin (Undefeated), Bart Layton (The Imposter) and Alma Har?el (Bombay Beach).

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The 2012 Doc Hot Shots advisory panel:
Charlotte Cook, Hot Docs
David Courier, Sundance Film Festival
Heather Croall, Sheffield Doc/Fest
Hussain Currimbhoy, Sheffield Doc/Fest
Sean Farnel, SnagFilms
Ben Fowlie, Camden Int?l Film Festival
Nick Fraser, BBC ?Storyville?
Mette Hoffmann Meyer, DRTV
Doug Jones, Los Angeles Film Festival
Simon Kilmurry, PBS?s ?POV?
Adriek van Nieuwenhuijzen, IDFA
Charlie Phillips, Sheffield Doc/Fest
Janet Pierson, SXSW Film
Thom Powers, Toronto International Film Festival
Basil Tsiokos, Sundance Film Festival
Lois Vossen, PBS?s ?Independent Lens?
Adam Benzine, realscreen

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Think the judges missed a name? Add your suggestions for hot doc director talent in the comments section below!

Tags: Adriek van Nieuwenhuyzen, Andris Gauja, Ashley Sabin, Asif Kapadia, Basil Tsiokos, Ben Fowlie, Bill Ross, Camilla Nielsson, Charlie Phillips, Charlotte Cook, David Courier, David Redmon, Dawn Porter, Doc Hot Shots, Doug Jones, Elizabeth Mims, Havana Marking, Heather Croall, Hussain Currimbhoy, James Swirsky, Janet Pierson, Jason Tippet, Lisanne Pajot, Lois Vossen, Malik Bendjelloul, Margaret Brown, Mette Hoffmann Meyer, Nick Fraser, Realscreen's Doc Hot Shots, Realscreen's Doc Hot Shots 2012, Sarah McCarthy, Sean Farnel, Seung-jun Yi, Simon Kilmurry, Thom Powers, Tristan Patterson, Turner Ross, V?r?na Paravel

For more information in the Contact directory:
Realscreen Magazine

Source: http://realscreen.com/2012/09/25/realscreens-doc-hot-shots-2012/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=realscreens-doc-hot-shots-2012

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Suu Kyi cautiously optimistic for Myanmar future

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) ? Thousands of elated supporters greeted Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi with rapturous cheers and a standing ovation as she took to an arena stage in an Indiana city that is home to one of the largest Burmese communities in the United States.

The 67-year-old Suu Kyi, who spent 15 years under house arrest for opposing Myanmar's military rulers and was recently elected a member of parliament, is on a 17-day tour of the United States. She has already met with President Barack Obama and received the Congressional Gold Medal. Suu Kyi voiced optimism for democracy in her Southeast Asian home.

"The important thing is to learn how to resolve problems. How to face them and how to find the right answers through discussion and debate," the Nobel Laureate told the approximately 3,000 people gathered at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.

"We should all have a conscience and not exploit our role in politics," she said. Suu Kyi delivered her speech in Burmese with an English translation by video.

Thousands of Burmese refugees live in Fort Wayne, and hundreds of supporters lined up outside the arena hours before Suu Kyi was due to speak. As the doors opened at 7:30 a.m., supporters flooded inside to claim the best seats.

Factory worker Kaung Shein, 42, said he had been among the approximately 1 million students who took part in a failed pro-democracy uprising to protest Burma's military-backed regime in August 1988. Oxford-educated Suu Kyi rose to prominence during that period.

"We are from the 88 Generation," Kaung Shein said. "We align with her. ... We are very excited to be here. We've been waiting for 20 years."

Thousands of the 1988 protesters were killed and tens of thousands more ? including Suu Kyi ? spent years as political prisoners. Her National League for Democracy party was for years stymied by the junta's iron grip on the country, but Suu Kyi voiced cautious hope.

"The differences and problems we have amongst ourselves, I think we can join hands and reconcile and move forward and solve any problems," she said.

Myanmar's half century of military rule has made the country something of a pariah in the international community, inviting decades of crippling sanctions. But President Thein Sein has introduced political and economic reforms in recent years, and his separate visit this week to the United Nations General Assembly ? the first to the U.S. by a Myanmar leader in more than 40 years ? raised hopes that some of those restrictions could be eased.

Since 1991, when a single Burmese refugee resettled in Fort Wayne ? about two hours north of Indianapolis and 8,000 miles from southeast Asia ? thousands more have followed, many of them relocating under a federal program after years in refugee camps in Thailand. They join other political refugees from a host of countries who have made the city a second home since the fall of Saigon in 1975, thanks largely to the help of Catholic Charities.

For some of Fort Wayne's Burmese residents, Suu Kyi's visit is the first tangible connection with the homeland some hope to return to one day.

Thiya Ba Kyi, a former dentist who earned an MBA after coming to the U.S. in 1994 and now works for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, wants to be a part of the change Suu Kyi is expected to bring. He said he wants to teach his people, who have no experience of freedom, what democracy is about.

"I would like to move back," he said. "Hopefully, they'll need educated people who have experience in a democratic country."

Many Burmese refugees left behind careers and have had to learn new skills while others rely on food stamps to survive.

U Tun Oo was elected to parliament in the 1990 election won by Suu Kyi's party that was nullified by the military regime and served as finance minister for the elected government in exile. Now Tun Oo, who was a construction engineer in Asia, works in a Fort Wayne factory. When he's not working, he heads the local branch of Suu Kyi's party.

"She is the hope for the people," said Ba Kyi, who helps the Burmese opposition in exile. "She can bring democracy again in Burma."

But in her Tuesday speech, Suu Kyi cautioned her supporters ? this time in English ? that she is not infallible.

"A popular leader is not the same as a good leader," Suu Kyi said. "I hope you keep that in mind."

___

Associated Press writer Charles Wilson contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/suu-kyi-cautiously-optimistic-myanmar-future-144013373.html

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5 Tips for Saving Money with Used POS Systems - Business Loans

In the restaurant industry, there is much disagreement between whether a used POS system will actually save you money or not. However, if you?re just starting your business, you may not have much of an option.

New systems start around $3,000 and can get much more expensive. A used POS system, on the other hand, can be a cost effective way to get started. Consider these 5 tips to ensure you are in fact saving money.

1. Do You Have Manufacturer Support?
Buying a used POS may conjure up thoughts of spammy Craigslist ads or garage sales. Yet, as a professional business you want to make professional purchases. While many may frown upon buying used POS systems for lack of manufacturer support, there are options to avoid that.

Global marketplace, PowerSourceOnline.com suggests, ?The secondary market for used POS equipment plays a vital role in supporting our entire infrastructure.? Getting your system from the proper retailer will be key.

• Purchase directly from the manufacturer. When doing this, you can ensure that your used or refurbished product is up to their standards. Also consider purchasing from a company that specializes in POS service and repairs.

2. Is it Up To Date?
The POS industry is changing quickly. From online commerce to mobile credit card processing, it?s tough to keep up. And thus, it may seem counterproductive to purchase a used POS system. However, with a high percentage of businesses failing before their first year of business is through, there are many up to date systems on the used market to choose from.

• Try to find a system that allows for integration with other POS options such as online and mobile.

3. Does it have Equipment?
The benefit of buying a new POS system is often that it comes with cheap accessories. Many companies will offer packaged deals to make the high price a bit more attractive. If you can buy a cheap used POS but it comes with no software or accessories, you may end up spending just as much.

• Be sure items such as receipt printers, cash drawers, and software are all included. A used POS system can be beneficial, but not as a singular entity.

4. Can You Use the Software?
The most important question to ask yourself is whether the software is up to date and usable, or not. This is the brains behind the equipment, and without it you have nothing. Purchasing a used POS however, does not mean you have to use old software.

• Be sure that the software license is transferrable which will allow you to update it. Some are and some aren?t, and some companies may charge a fee for this service.

5. Have You Tested it Yourself?
As a business owner, you have certain practices in place that make your business run the way it does. From customer care to quick dining room service, you want your POS system to reflect that. However, not all systems are created equal.

• See and use the system before buying, regardless of how new it may be. You want to be sure that you can customize the system to your liking, or that it?s already in working order for you.

Used POS systems can be a valuable asset for your small and growing restaurant business. However, it doesn?t have to be a permanent solution. Investing in a used system until your business is able to purchase a brand new one can be a great way to save money.

(Source: Jessica Sanders ?
Marketing Copyeditor; Business.com; ResourceNation.com)

Bio: Jessica Sanders is an avid small business writer. As the marketing copyeditor of Resource Nation, she touches on a range of topics such as business credit cards and payroll software.

Source: http://www.advancerestaurantfinance.com/blog/uncategorized/5-tips-for-saving-money-with-used-pos-systems.html

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EMET4u: We thank the US Senate for insisting Washington prevent nuclear #Iran http://t.co/ALi65AjJ

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Source: http://twitter.com/EMET4u/statuses/249695640932741120

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Week 3 NFL Late Games Open Thread

The Bears game is over, which might signal the end of Week 3 for some of you, but for the rest, there's some crazy overtime stuff going on as well as the late game slate. So, here's your open thread for all the other NFL action going on. As always, Open Thread Responsibly (TM).

Source: http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2012/9/23/3378694/week-3-nfl-late-games-open-thread

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Frustration and turmoil as world leaders meet

UNITED NATIONS (AP) ? Democratic uprisings across the Arab world and the Palestinians' bid for U.N. membership sparked excitement and hope at last year's meeting of world leaders. But with war raging in Syria, the Palestinian application sidelined, and deadly protests generated by an anti-Islamic video, the mood as this year's U.N. gathering begins is one of disappointment and frustration.

More than 120 presidents, prime ministers and monarchs meeting this week under heavy security at the U.N. General Assembly and in sideline events will also be preoccupied by rising tension over Iran's nuclear program and the possibility of an Israeli strike against Tehran's nuclear facilities, al-Qaida's inroads in the Sahel region of west Africa, especially in Mali, and the first decline in years in international aid to help developing countries combat poverty.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon predicted that the ministerial session, which starts Tuesday, will be among the busiest ever, reflecting "the tumultuous time in which we live ? a time of turmoil and transition." It is also taking place "against a backdrop of widespread violence linked to intolerance," he said.

Ahead of the opening ministerial session, which President Barack Obama will address, the U.N. chief has invited leaders to the first high-level meeting on the rule of law on Monday, hoping they "will send a strong signal to the world's people that they are serious about establishing well-functioning institutions and delivering justice."

Diplomats aren't expecting any breakthroughs on the deadlock over Syria, which Ban said "will be foremost in our minds," despite a number of sideline meetings starting Monday when the new U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi briefs the U.N. Security Council behind closed doors on his recent talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad and other leaders in the region.

"To increase pressure and to increase the isolation of the regime of Assad is one of the goals of this week," Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told reporters Sunday.

The Syrian conflict has bitterly divided the most powerful members of the Security Council, paralyzing the only U.N. body that can impose global sanctions and authorize military action. Russia, Syria's key protector, and China, have vetoed three Western-backed resolutions aimed at pressuring Assad to stop the violence and start political talks with opponents of his family's 40-year dictatorship who began demonstrating against his regime 18 months ago.

Germany's U.N. Ambassador Peter Wittig, the current Security Council president, said "change in the Arab world" will be uppermost in the minds of the leaders ? as was the case at last year's session.

Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi, an Islamist who was sworn in on June 30 after the first democratic elections in the country's modern history, will be addressing the 193-member assembly for the first time on Wednesday. So too will Yemen's President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who took office in February following more than a year of political turmoil and is now trying to steer the country's transition to democracy.

Last year, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas stole the spotlight with his submission of an application for Palestine to become the 194th member state of the United Nations. The United States, Israel's closest ally, made clear that it would veto any application until the Palestinians and Israelis negotiate an end to their decades-long conflict.

So Abbas is expected to come to the General Assembly on Thursday with a more modest proposal ? to upgrade Palestine's current status as a U.N. observer to a non-member observer state ? but likely putting off the date for submission of a resolution to the assembly, where there are no vetoes, until after the U.S. presidential election in November.

The Palestinians expect overwhelming support from the assembly for the enhanced U.N. status, which they hope will give broad international legitimacy to the pre-1967 lines as Palestine's border and grant them access to U.N. agencies and possibly the International Criminal Court.

With no sign of an end to the Security Council's paralysis over Syria, Wittig said Germany chose to focus the council's ministerial session Wednesday on something new and positive in the Mideast ? "the emergence of the Arab League as a regional actor that has proved to be essential for conflict resolution."

The 21-member Arab League has shaken off decades of near total submission to the will of the region's leaders and is seeking to transform itself following the seismic changes brought about by the Arab Spring. The league has supported the rebels who ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and suspended Syria in response to Assad's brutal crackdown against his opponents.

"This organization is promoting the values that the United Nations is standing for ? human rights, rule of law, democracy, pluralism," the fight against corruption and promoting economic opportunity, Wittig said.

Another issue looming large over the ministerial session is Iran's nuclear program, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convinced that the Iranians are close to developing a nuclear weapon ? which Tehran vehemently denies.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who will step down next year, makes his final speech to the General Assembly on Wednesday. Netanyahu speaks on Thursday, before a closed-door meeting of senior diplomats, and possibly ministers, from the six countries trying to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions ? the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

Secretary-General Ban met Ahmadinejad on Sunday and "urged Iran to take the measures necessary to build international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program," U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

The U.N. chief also raised the potentially harmful consequences of inflammatory rhetoric "from various countries in the Middle East" and "the grave regional implications of the worsening situation in Syria and underlined the devastating humanitarian impact," Nesirky said.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said the U.S.-produced film denigrating the Prophet Muhammad will be at the top of the agenda of a ministerial meeting of its 57 members on the sidelines of the assembly. He said the international community needs to unite behind action to implement international law which warns against any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, aggression or violence.

There will also be sessions to promote the achievement of U.N. anti-poverty goals by 2015, sustainable energy and an end to polio.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-09-23-UN-General%20Assembly/id-7782a833bcad44a1a5cc1a3ea8c0b274

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Chicago Teachers Union ends strike

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Source: http://current.com/photo-galleries/week-in-photos-sept-16-to-21/

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Home Tax Return Accountants | MUDANZA URGENTE - Preguntas ...

When you personal residence of any kind residential or rental, you will really have to shell out property taxes. Irrespective of whether we like it or not, that is a cold difficult point of lifetime. Being aware of and knowing property tax legal guidelines could prove to get a little hard until you have gone to high school being possibly a tax return accountant, or specifically a property tax return accountant.

One of many major difficulties folks experience is submitting their tax returns. Lots of otherwise a lot of people just really don?t recognize the law, rather than understanding the legislation is no excuse for failing to appropriately file your taxes. When you improperly file your tax return, with lacking or omitted info, you risk paying additional charges as fines, or maybe even paying out a while in jail. Selecting a tax return accountant or a residence tax accountant can save you from mistakes inside your tax returns. They can enable you to avoid currently being fined, or paying time in jail to get a simple blunder.

It?s not only the very fact that you simply could finish up creating an oversight on your own tax return that may run you supplemental money in fines, or supply you with jail time, it?s also those people issues about issues which you might not know about that might offer you more tax breaks, along with a much larger tax refund that need to supply you with incentive to communicate with a tax return accountant, or property tax return accountant to assist you with the tax preparing desires.

Although residential dwelling homeowners can profit from having a residence tax return accountant guide them along with the submitting of their taxes, it?s almost certainly the person that is either a property investor, or maybe the landlord who owns a lot of rental properties which is probably to advantage from these types of companies.

Tax return accountants and assets tax accountant gurus can assist you with the following and even more:
Retirement and estate planning
When selling a home for the financial gain, preparing for capital gains tax
Working with rent conduite software package to make sure you maintain fantastic records of the rental income and costs.
Raising funds
Maximizing your qualified money tax deductions. Making certain you will be proclaiming factors these types of as: Interest compensated on your own finance financial loans, depreciation of home furniture, advertising, insurance rates that you just have paid, and thus substantially extra.

Really do not skip out to the knowledge that a tax return accountant, or even a house tax return accountant can offer you.

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Source: http://www.mudanzaurgente.com/index.php/2012/09/home-tax-return-accountants/

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Website Hosting ? Internet Hosting Resolution In Your Web-site ...

The easiest way for the opportunity to maneuver from the accurate course should be to spend in reseller internet hosting strategies. These sorts of ideas are superior for those who need to offer place and bandwidth to the customer via companies given by your hosting organisation. Most of these designs are actually best-known to achieve success and are generally equipped to deliver you having a more effective system for growing a brilliant connection along with your consumers.

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With opposition as challenging since it is in the present markets, it?s good to make sure that you can keep contemporary and new during the eyes of consumers and also possible potential customers. The reseller internet hosting programs will offer you web pages entrepreneurs the flexibility to operate on their promotion initiatives at any time they absolutely need. Within this at any time modifying society of technologies it really is beneficial to remain appropriate.

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Remember to talk about Easily Affordable Web Hosting ? Are You Aware The Choices You Have Got?, given that the piece will give you additional information over the issue.

Source: http://www.tourismarticles.org/country-tourism/netherlands/website-hosting-internet-hosting-resolution-in-your-web-site.html

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Senate passes funding bill to avoid October 1 government shutdown

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A deeply divided and unproductive Congress wrapped up its final business before November's elections early on Saturday as the U.S. Senate passed a stopgap measure to fund federal programs and avoid an October 1 government shutdown.

The 62-30 vote on the funding bill, which now moves to President Barack Obama's desk to be signed into law, was delayed by days of partisan bickering over votes on unrelated measures aimed at boosting both Democrats' and Republicans' political fortunes.

For the new fiscal year which begins on October 1, the $524 billion measure slightly raises discretionary spending - which funds government agencies and everything from defense to national parks - from current levels.

It was needed because Congress' normal process of appropriating money for government operations broke down amid disagreements between Democrat and Republicans over spending levels and funding was due to run out after September 30.

"It is an inefficient way to fund the federal government but it is better than shutting it down next week," said Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Congress' bitter fights over spending cuts and raising the debt limit last year led to threats of several shutdowns as temporary funding measures expired. The last time government funding actually ran out was late 1995 and early 1996, forcing then-president Bill Clinton to shut down non-essential services and furlough non-essential government workers for 28 days.

Saturday's vote allows lawmakers to return to their home states for a final re-election campaign push, but they leave a huge to-do list for their return after the November 6 election.

By keeping the government funded through March 27, Congress has somewhat lightened its post-election workload, which centers on dealing with expiring tax cuts, automatic spending cuts, a debt limit increase and other fiscal deadlines.

With relative peace over the budget, lawmakers will be able to tackle more difficult difficult questions - how to avoid $109 billion in automatic budget cuts that start on January 2, and whether to extend some or all of the tax cuts enacted under former President George W Bush, which expire December 31.

Moody's Investors Service has threatened to downgrade the U.S. credit rating if Congress' deliberations do not reduce budget deficits in a meaningful way. Economists warn that the United States will slide back into recession if Congress fails to take action to mute the massive impact of tax hikes and spending cuts.

IRAN RESOLUTION, HUNTING BILL

In other wrap-up business, the Senate also passed by a 90-1 vote a non-binding resolution insisting that the United States prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and ruling out any strategy aimed at dealing with a nuclear-armed Iran.

The only senator to vote against the resolution was Republican Rand Paul, a Tea Party and libertarian favorite, who argued that it was a de-facto declaration of war.

Paul had sponsored another measure that would suspend foreign aid to the governments of Pakistan, Egypt and Libya in response to recent attacks on U.S. interests in these countries, but this was soundly defeated by a vote of 81-10.

Senate Democrats also prevailed in a procedural vote that keeps alive legislation aimed at boosting the re-election chances of their colleague Senator Jon Tester, who is in a tight re-election race that threatens the narrow Democratic majority in the Senate.

Tester's measure would increase hunting and fishing access on public lands - a move popular in his home state - and the vote allows him to claim on the campaign trail that his plan is superior to a similar measure offered by his opponent, Republican Representative Denny Rehberg.

(Editing by Louise Ireland)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senate-passes-funding-bill-avoid-october-1st-government-053525033.html

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Printable lasers made possible with basic inkjet technology

Halifax, Canada, may no longer be a real city, but it's attracting international headlines. That's because a third-party candidate running for mayor of the regional municipality has a lot going for him: He's elegantly dressed, he has a clear platform and he's popular in the polls. Oh, and he's a cat. "Tuxedo Stan," an adorable [...]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/printable-lasers-made-possible-basic-inkjet-technology-215435562.html

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The Lede Blog: Facebook Invitation Draws Thousands, and a Melee, to Dutch Town

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Source: http://www.insideworld.com/r/?rid=6493257

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Will the iPhone 5 Be As Ridiculous As This 1989 Transportable Phone in 20 years? [Video]

I was only a wee pup in 1989 so I totally don't remember this ridiculously awesome Radio Shack "transportable" cellular phone. My first memory of cell phones were brick-sized, not car battery-sized like this one. But still! It was portable! You could use it in your car! I wonder if we'll look back on the iPhone 5 in 20 years and laugh at how silly we once were for wanting a phone with a 4-inch touchscreen and aluminum case. [YouTube via BuzzFeed] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/k0ZjF_-rU2A/will-the-iphone-5-be-as-ridiculous-as-this-giant-transportable-phone-from-1989-in-20-years

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Clinton: Libya killings were 'terrorist attack'

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says it was a "terrorist attack" that killed the American ambassador to Libya and three others, and she says the U.S. will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice.

Clinton told reporters Friday at the State Department that, quote, "what happened in Benghazi was a terrorist attack." And she said the U.S. would track down, quote, the "terrorists who murdered four Americans."

Clinton was speaking ahead of a meeting with Pakistan's foreign minister.

The secretary of state also condemns the violence erupting throughout the Muslim world over the film produced in the U.S. that is offensive to Islam. She says the film is, quote, "offensive, disgusting and reprehensible," but says it cannot be used to justify violence.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-libya-killings-were-terrorist-attack-174543407.html

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Big Data, Clear Prose?

I try not to do a lot of self-glorification (my favorite synonym for which is ?autohagiography?) here, but I got a compliment today that meant a lot to me. So I?m going to blow my own horn.

The new issue of Harvard Business Review has a spotlight section on Big Data. Erik Brynjolfsson and I wrote the ?tentpole? article for it, titled ?Big Data: The Management Revolution? (I know, I know ? everything is a ?management revolution? these days; we didn?t pick the title).

We were happy with the article when we turned it in, and HBR?s Eric Hellweg and Sarah Cliffe tightened it up further.

It hit the HBR site and newstands a few days ago, and today I got this email (which I?ll leave anonymous until I get permission to share the sender?s identity)

Gentlemen,

I just wanted to take a moment to commend you on your recent article in?Harvard Business Review.? While I found the substance of the article to be extremely valuable, it is actually the style of the piece that led me to send you this note.

Thank you for writing with such clarity.? Perhaps it?s my own limitations, but it was nice to read something where the message was not obscured by the author?s compulsion to demonstrate his linguistic virtuosity.

I mean it as the highest compliment to say that I didn?t really take note of the writing until after I finished the article.

Thank you once again.? And job well done.

This is one of the favorite pieces of correspondence I?ve ever received. I make an effort to write well and clearly, and to resist the many temptations to show off with the written word. I love reading folk like Murray Kempton and Christopher Hitchens who do really ornate things with their work, but leave you feeling that it?s necessary to do so ? ?that it?s the best way to get the ideas across. Whenever I?ve tried something similar, though, I come across as a preening jerk.

So I try to write come closer to Hemingway, Paul Bowles, and my friend Jennifer Haigh, all of whom get their points across, even the most complex and subtle ones, without writing prose that?s tangled or ponderous. (and yes, Jennifer, I did just put you in the same group as Hemingway and Bowles?) It?s great to hear that we succeeded at least once, and at least in one person?s eyes.

One final thought: if you come across a great piece of writing, don?t hesitate to tell the author that you liked it. I?ll speak for the world?s ink-stained wretches: we really appreciate it.

?

Source: http://andrewmcafee.org/2012/09/mcafee-big-data-clear-prose/

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[Case Study] How a Pay-What-You-Want Pricing Model Can ...

Posted on 19. Sep, 2012 by Linda Formichelli in Blog, content marketing, conversion, Featured, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing

You probably know that finding the sweet spot in pricing the offer of your information product can make all the difference between generating substantial revenue and, well, running a promotion that bombs.

I?ve discovered something that adds a little icing to that sweet spot.

It all started when my husband mentioned a Kickstarter campaign for a boardgame where the designer let contributors pay what they wanted, with a minimum of $5, until a certain amount was reached. Then it turned to a pay-what-you-will model for everything over $10, and so on.

His campaign was a big success.

When my husband suggested I try this pricing strategy ? pay-what-you-want, with a low initial requirement ? to my Write for Magazines 8-week e-course, I told him he was nuts.

But then I started thinking about it ?

I was charging $240 for the Premium level of my course, which includes 8 weeks of e-mail support, and $120 for a Basic version, which is basically the weekly lessons and assignments but no feedback. I always sold out the Premium level but would get only two or three Basic sign-ups.

Really, since I have to do nothing but send the lessons to the Basic students, it costs me zero to offer. Anything I earn over that is gravy.

Also, I was attracted to the idea of letting students place a value on what I was offering; this was a great way to see what people really thought of my course and also give me an idea of what the market will really bear.

So I decided to give it a try.

How I set up my revenue model

I planned to charge a $30 minimum for the Basic version of my e-course.

There were no scientific calculations involved here ? I just made an intelligent guess at what price would attract students based on the market, while simultaneously not making me not feel resentful over charging too little.

Then I set up a PayPal button that let buyers enter whatever amount they were willing to pay.

I sent an e-mail to my mailing list of about 2,200 names ? and waited.

I didn?t have to wait long.

The results of my experiment

I got my first sales almost immediately, and over the course of a few weeks I sold 128 Basic spots. Usually, I would sell a maximum of three (for total sales of $360). Instead, I made over 10 times that much.

And something funny happened: Many people paid $35 and $40. Several paid $50. One paid $75.

Then, I offered my next e-course session for a pay-what-you-want pricing model, and got similar results.

I?ve now offered the course with this payment model three times for a total of $10,134 from 228 students.

That?s an average of $44.45 per student. Which means students paid an average of $14.45 over the minimum asking price.

Now, if I actually charged $44.00 from the get-go, would I have gotten as many students as did? I don?t think so. I think people are intrigued and attracted by the idea of choosing what to pay. Even better, people feel good about themselves for offering an extra 5 or 10 bucks.

And, if you?ve spent months or years building an audience that knows, likes and trusts you, this model should work even better. Your audience wants to support you, why not let them?

Since then, Carol Tice of the Freelance Writers Den and I have used the pay-what-you-want pricing model for the Audit version of two e-courses we collaborate on, and the results have been similar.

It?s been thrilling to have actual proof that people value what I have to offer, and to have a mechanism by which they can reward me for that value, even if it?s more than my asking price!

A caveat

Now, it has to be said that I work damn hard to offer information of value to my readers and clients; I didn?t just pull an info product out of the air and hope to make it big.

I?ve spent years building trust, nurturing relationships, working in the trenches as a freelance writer, and sharing valuable, free information on my blog and through email and social networks.

To make pay-what-you-want pricing work, you have to start with an audience or readership that trusts you, and a product that?s the very best you can make it.

You also need to have a product that makes sense to sell at varying price points. Don?t implement pay-what-you-want for something like your consulting time, or a product with fixed costs.

Many entrepreneurs, writers, and bloggers offer e-books, special reports, and e-courses in addition to their main services. Could experimenting with a pay-what-you-want pricing model help them earn more? I?d love to hear your insights and experiences in the comments below ?

About the Author: Linda Formichelli has written for more than 130 magazines and 25 corporate clients, and is the co-author of The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success. Visit the Renegade Writer blog to get free copies of her e-books Editors Unleashed: Magazine Editors Growl About Their Writer Peeves and 10 Query Letters That Rocked.

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Tags: Small Business Internet Marketing

Source: http://www.frontlinemarketingsystems.com/blog/small-business-marketing/case-study-how-a-pay-what-you-want-pricing-model-can-generate-more-revenue/

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These Massively Powerful Bowers & Wilkins AirPlay Speakers Need to Get Into My Living Room Immediately [Audio]

If you want quality wireless audio, AirPlay is the only way to go. There are plenty of AirPlay speaker systems to choose from, but on style alone the new Bowers and Wilkins A7's handsome design has us sold. And they're freaking powerful too. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/-lIJEX4Trug/these-massively-powerful-bowers--wilkens-airplay-speakers-need-to-get-into-my-living-room-immediately

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