Tuesday, July 31, 2012

America's uneasy Gulf allies adding to arsenals

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? While Iran's military loudly trumpets every new project or purported advance in hopes of rattling the U.S. and its Gulf Arab allies, the U.S. is quietly answering with an array of proposed arms sales across the region as part of a wider effort to counter Tehran.

In the past two months, the Defense Department has notified Congress of possible deals totaling more than $11.3 billion to Gulf states such as Qatar and Kuwait, which are seen as some of America's critical front-line partners in containing Iran and protecting oil shipping lanes.

The proposed sales ? including Patriot missile batteries and Apache attack helicopters ? are still modest compared with massive Gulf purchases such as Saudi Arabia's $60 billion package last year. That deal included more than 80 new F-15SA fighter jets, missiles, radar warning systems and other equipment.

But the recent flurry of expected sales from U.S. firms, approved by the Pentagon and outlined in notifications to Congress, underscores the growing emphasis among nervous Gulf states on seeking quick upgrades to existing firepower and defensive networks.

Gulf worries about possible military action against Iran have increased with diplomatic efforts making little headway in easing the showdown over Tehran's nuclear program, which the West and others fear could eventually develop atomic weapons. Iran says it only seeks reactors for energy and medical uses.

An Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, reported Sunday that National Security Adviser Tom Donilon briefed Israeli officials on possible U.S. attack plans if diplomacy and sanctions fail to pressure Tehran to scale back its nuclear enrichment program. A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential talks, denied the Haaretz report.

The news reports reflect the uncertainties in the region with negotiations nearly stalled and Iran trying to push back against deepening sanctions on its vital oil exports.

"There was a bit of a breather in the region when (nuclear) talks resumed," said Bruno Tertrais, senior researcher at the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris. "That is quickly fading."

In its place: a sense of military adjustments moving at a faster pace.

Washington plans to keep at least 13,500 troops in Kuwait ? down slightly from the current 15,000 ? but with an expanded mission as a potential rapid-reaction force for the region. The Pentagon also has scores of warplanes and other assets across the Gulf, including air bases in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

At sea, the U.S. Navy plans to lead maneuvers in September that include minesweeping drills ? a clear response to Iran's threats to block oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf in retaliation for the tightening Western sanctions.

The U.S. is also boosting its Gulf flotilla, directed by the Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain. Among the additions: a floating assault base aboard the retrofitted USS Ponce and accelerated deployment of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis to ensure two carriers are in the Gulf region at all times.

"We are seeing more and more bluster from the Iranian side and the U.S. and Gulf allies showing the Iranians they are a united front," said Theodore Karasik, a regional security expert at the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis. "The Gulf states are nervous. They show this nervousness by buying more weapons."

Among the proposed U.S. sales is a $4.2 billion package to Kuwait for 60 Patriot missiles and related systems to "strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats," the Defense Department said in a statement. Kuwait could also buy, pending congressional approval, a $49 million arsenal of 300 Hellfire II missiles, which can be launched from helicopters or drones.

For Qatar ? which hosts one of the Pentagon's command hubs ? the Defense Department is seeking clearance for a $6.6 billion air support upgrade that includes 24 AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, 12 Blackhawk helicopters and 22 Seahawk helicopters, with options to buy six more.

The Apaches would assist with "protection of key oil and infrastructure and platforms which are vital to U.S. and Western economic interests," the Defense Department said.

Oman, which shares control of Hormuz with Iran, is seeking an $86 million purchase that includes 55 Sidewinder missiles as part of plans to upgrade its F-16 fighter fleet.

For decades, the Gulf had looked mostly to Washington for its weapons, but European arms deals also appear on the rise.

In Berlin, German government spokesman Georg Streiter said Monday there has been an "expression of interest" by Qatar in about 200 Leopard II tanks. A similar Leopard tank deal with Saudi Arabia was reported last year by German media.

In May, Saudi Arabia signed a $3 billion deal with Britain for air force training planes apparently linked to a 2007 agreement to buy 72 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters.

The weapons requests also reinforce the toughening stance against Iran by main rival Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf Arab states. The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council has repeatedly warned Tehran about "meddling" in Gulf affairs. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have taken a leading role in supporting Syrian rebels trying to topple Bashar Assad's regime, which is Iran's main Mideast ally.

Last week, a commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards warned that "hated Arab" rivals could face repercussions for their efforts to bring down Assad.

Although the Gulf Arab states have no direct ties to Israel, any military strike on Iran by the Jewish state could require some degree of coordination, with Washington likely to play an intermediary role. Gulf military forces also could be quickly drawn into a wider conflict or a confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz, the passageway for one-fifth of the world's oil.

"Amid the standoff between Iran, Israel and the West, there's another side that is often overlooked," said Sami al-Faraj, director of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies. "It is the Gulf states. They are the ones caught in the middle."

___

Associated Press writer Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/americas-uneasy-gulf-allies-adding-arsenals-180605065.html

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Amazon Cloud Player now matches iTunes purchases and CD rips

 

Amazon Cloud Player now matches iTunes purchases and CD rips

Amazon Cloud Player has been updated with a bunch of new features, including some hefty new licensing deals with Sony, EMI, Universal, and Warner to beef up their music selection for sale. There's also some new ways to make sure all of the music on your computer is in line with what's being stored in the cloud, namely that all of your music (even ripped or purchased iTunes music) is automatically added from Amazon in 256 Kbps audio. 

  • Amazon MP3 purchases — including music that customers purchased in the past — are automatically saved to Cloud Player, which means that customers have a secure backup copy of the music they buy from Amazon, free of charge.
  • Amazon scans customers’ iTunes and Windows Media Player libraries and matches the songs on their computers to Amazon’s 20 million song catalog.  All matched songs – even music purchased from iTunes or ripped from CDs – are instantly made available in Cloud Player and are upgraded for free to high-quality 256 Kbps audio.  Music that customers have already uploaded to Cloud Player also will be upgraded.
  • Any customer with a Kindle Fire, Android device, iPhone, iPod touch, or any web browser —and soon, a Roku streaming player or Sonos home entertainment system — can play their music anywhere.

Soon, Amazon Cloud users will be able to access their remote libraries through Sonos and Roku boxes too - a palatable option for real music junkies. Currently, Amazon Cloud offers 5 GB of free storage with plenty more available for $24.99 annually. Of course, any music you buy on Amazon doesn't count towards your storage limit, which is a nice touch. A significant change starting today is that Amazon Cloud Player and Cloud Drive will be separate storage bins and have their own subscription fees. That's not so great news for those that use the service for both tunes as well as documents, though they've lowered the Cloud Drive price to $10/year for 20 GB.  

You can get more information about signing up here, but us international folks are out of luck on this one, unfortunately. How many of y'all are already Amazon Cloud Player users? Are you happy with the experience, or is Google Music doing the job for you just fine? Would these new features get you to switch?



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/MNJ8VgL6ge8/story01.htm

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Russia's Medvedev plays down split with West on Syria

Russia's differences with the West on Syria are not as great as they appear, as both agree on the need to prevent civil war, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview published Monday.

Russia has repeatedly vetoed UN Security Council action against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, but Medvedev told The Times newspaper it was unclear what kind of role Assad would have in any future political set-up.

"Despite differences in emphasis, the positions of Russia, the US and Britain are not as sharply different as sometimes suggested," Medvedev, who was in London for the Olympics, told the Times.

"We all start from the position that the worst outcome would be a full civil war in Syria," he said.

Russia has, along with China, so far protected its Soviet-era ally from UN sanctions but Moscow insists that it has an even-handed approach to the crisis, while rebuking the West for siding with the rebels.

Medvedev said Syrians themselves had to decide their own future and repeated President Vladimir Putin's criticism of the NATO intervention in Libya last year.

"I don't know how exactly the political balance will look in the future, and what sort of position Assad would have in it," he said.

"That must be decided by the Syrian people. Our partners are urging us to support more decisive action. But then the question arises: where do resolutions end and military actions begin?"

Syrian forces and rebels on Monday clashed violently in and around Aleppo before dawn on Monday as the battle for control of the northern city raged into a third day, sending some 200,000 civilians fleeing.

Medvedev meanwhile praised US President Barack Obama for helping Russia enter the World Trade Organization, saying that he "keeps his word."

He also refused to rule out running for a second term as president, having given way last year to Putin.

"I'm still a young man. I've not ruled out running again if people are interested," he said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russias-medvedev-plays-down-split-west-syria-103855004.html

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Monday, July 30, 2012

BrentButt: RT @DanielWassenaar Brent!! I'll be in Italy, Rome tomorrow, there for a week! Want to hang out?

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Source: http://twitter.com/BrentButt/statuses/229625315817840640

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A look at tech companies with recent IPOs

Two newly traded tech companies, Zynga and Facebook, both reported quarterly earnings that disappointed investors. Others will be reporting in the coming weeks.

Here's a look at earnings reports from some tech companies that had IPOs since last year. The companies are all loosely Internet-related, though their businesses vary widely.

? July 25: Zynga Inc. says it lost money and received less revenue than anticipated in the second quarter because "CityVille," ''FarmVille" and other games are not attracting as many paying players as they should. Its stock tanked and dragged Facebook's shares as well because the social networking icon relies on Zynga for a good chunk of its revenue ? 12 percent last year. Revenue fell below Wall Street forecast, while expenses grew. The company says the number of players increased only because it got more players from its acquisition of OMGPop, the maker of the mobile game "Draw Something." Zynga began trading on Dec. 16, 2011.

Angie's List Inc. reports that its losses are still piling up as the company spends more to lure people to its online business-review service and persuade them to pay to see ratings on everything from plastic surgeons to sewer cleaners. Angie's List began trading on Nov. 17, 2011.

? July 26: Facebook Inc. says revenue grew 32 percent to $1.18 billion in the second quarter, slightly above analyst expectations. It had a net loss of 8 cents per share, mainly due to stock compensation expenses following its IPO. Adjusted earnings of 12 cents per share matched Wall Street's expectations. Investors weren't impressed and after a brief spike, Facebook's stock tumbled. It was Facebook's first quarterly earnings report since public trading began on May 18, 2012. Facebook now has 955 million users, up about 50 million during the quarter.

Coming up:

? Wednesday: Yelp Inc. (first day of trading on March 2, 2012)

? Thursday: LinkedIn Corp. (first day of trading on May 19, 2011)

? Aug. 7: Jive Software Inc. (first day of trading on Dec. 13, 2011)

? Aug. 13: Groupon Inc. (first day of trading on Nov. 4, 2011)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/look-tech-companies-recent-ipos-214354594.html

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Lu lashes out at China Olympic swim training methods

Olympic butterfly silver medallist Lu Ying has criticised China's restrictive training methods compared to the freedom of working out in Australia.

Lu, who finished runner-up to American Dana Vollmer in Sunday's 100m butterfly final, gave a rare insight into the closed world of Chinese swimming.

The 23-year-old, who was a bronze medallist behind Vollmer in the 100m butterfly at last year's Shanghai world championships, said the emphasis in Australian swimming was on having fun.

"Before training they (the Australians) go and have fun, they are not afraid of being tired before training," she said.

"In China, before any competition, you have to be rested and focused and you can't think of anything else.

"It is really different in Australia, I think our way of thinking has many limits and we set the limits.

"They (Australia) have an enthusiasm for swimming which makes me feel different and you ask yourself 'do you train for yourself or someone else?'"

Lu, who had a spell training in Australia, praised the social side of her time abroad, being invited to barbecues and meals in people's homes.

"Australian friends and families have invited me to barbecues or even for breakfast and in China that never happens," she said.

"When I trained in Australia, I had a coach who specialised in short distances and I trained with men, not just women," Lu said, highlighting the differences between the two disparate sporting cultures.

China has sent more of their elite swimmers to train under Australian coaches in recent years.

Sun Yang, who became the first Chinese men's Olympic swimming champion when he won the 400m freestyle gold on Saturday, showed the benefits of his time in Australia under Grant Hackett's former coach Denis Cotterell on Queensland's Gold Coast.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lu-lashes-china-olympic-swim-training-methods-104051160--oly.html

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Sunday, July 29, 2012

Unconventional Sources of a Loan for Home Improvement ...

Home equity loans, credit cards and other more popular methods of financing are what people usually turn to when looking for a loan for home improvement.? However, there are other sources available for home improvement loans that many people don?t think about.? These sources can come from the government, your power company, and even the company you are purchasing the windows from.

In many cases, these unconventional sources can offer you better financing options and are worth looking in to.

Government Loan for Home Improvement

The United State Government has so many different departments that it is hard to even know what one department does from the next.? Unknown to a lot of citizens, there are a number of different departments that do help with housing, home loans, and even providing a loan for home improvement.

You may be able to find the loan you need to make improvements on your home through anyone of these five departments:

Your eligibility for the programs offered in these departments will depend on your financial circumstances, your background and even where your home is located.? For information about programs and eligibility requirements contact the above departments directly.

Power Company Loan for Home Improvement

Most of the loans provide through power companies are to increase the energy efficiency for your home.? These types of home improvements include: energy-efficient windows, adding or replacing insulation and new siding.? Loans for these types of home improvements greatly vary from one utility company to another.

To find out if there is a program available to you and the terms of the program, contact your power company during office hours.

Renewal by Andersen 0% Loan for Home Improvement

For home improvement projects that involve replacing your windows, Renewal by Andersen offers 0% interest program through EnerBank USA.? You can apply for funds from $4,000 to $45,000 to fully cover the amount of the replacement windows you wish to order.

To find out if you qualify, call 866-279-3800 and provide them with the following information:

Company Name: Renewal by Andersen

Dealer ID: (Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky) ID# 576

(Evansville, Lexington & Louisville) ID# 575

Type of Home Improvement: (ie. replacement windows, patio door, etc.)

Total Project Budget: Use an estimated project budget amount.

No Interest Promotion Code: 6945CK

Source: http://renewalky.com/2012/07/28/unconventional-sources-of-a-loan-for-home-improvement/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=unconventional-sources-of-a-loan-for-home-improvement

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Missouri: Claire McCaskill trails all three potential Republican opponents (Michellemalkin)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/238461374?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Saturday, July 28, 2012

Seattle, federal officials agree to police reforms

SEATTLE (AP) ? Seattle officials agreed to an independent monitor and court oversight of the city's police department as part of an agreement announced Friday with the Justice Department following a damning report that found officers routinely used excessive force.

City and federal negotiators were involved in tense talks over the scope of a deal for months, and Justice Department lawyers had threatened to sue the city if a deal was not reached by July 31.

"It's no secret there were a few bumps in the road to get here," Mayor Mike McGinn said. "We do have a lot of work in front of us."

The Justice Department launched its civil rights investigation early last year after the fatal shooting of a homeless, Native American woodcarver and other incidents involving force used against minority suspects. In December, a DOJ report found officers were too quick to reach for weapons, such as flashlights and batons, even when arresting people for minor offenses.

The agreement was announced at City Hall by McGinn, Jennifer Durkan, U.S. attorney for Seattle, and Thomas Perez, the Justice Department's chief civil rights enforcer.

The deal also calls for a special commission, appointed by the mayor, to concentrate on use of force issues.

Talks between Seattle officials and the Justice Department had been hung up after city officials initially balked at some federal proposals for reform.

The settlement, which must be approved by a federal judge, requires the Seattle Police Department to revise use of force policies and enhance training, reporting, investigation and supervision for situations involving use force. Police also would have to change policies and training concerning "bias-free" policing and stops, and create a Community Police Commission, which would be a civilian oversight body.

Court oversight would continue for five years, but the city could ask to end the scrutiny earlier if it has complied with the agreements for two years.

"This city is committed to eliminating bias," McGinn said.

Perez said the agreement could serve as a way to help reduce crime and increase public confidence in the city's police officers.

"We must continue to be well aware of the very raw feelings that many Seattle residents continue to have toward the Seattle Police Department," Perez said.

Surveillance cameras and police-cruiser videos had captured officers beating civilians, including stomping on a prone Latino man who was mistakenly thought to be a robbery suspect, and an officer kicking a non-resisting black youth in a convenience store.

The earlier Justice Department report found that force was used unconstitutionally one out of every five times an officer resorted to it. The department failed to adequately review the use of force and lacked policies and training related to the use of force, it said.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other community groups called for scrutiny of the department after a Seattle officer shot and killed the woodcarver, John T. Williams, in 2010.

Video from Officer Ian Birk's patrol car showed Williams crossing the street holding a piece of wood and a small knife, and Birk exiting the vehicle to pursue him. Off-camera, Birk quickly shouted three times for Williams to drop the knife then fired five shots. The knife was found folded at the scene, but Birk later maintained Williams had threatened him. Birk resigned from the force and was not charged. A review board found the shooting unjustified.

Seattle Councilman Tim Burgess, a former city police officer, said the agreement was a good one.

The fact that a federal judge and federal monitor will be involved was key, Burgess said. "That will provide the muscle behind the reforms that will be necessary," he said.

Doug Honig, spokesman for the ACLU of Washington, was also pleased.

"The city and the DOJ appear to have taken our concerns about excessive force, racially biased policing and flaws in the oversight system seriously," Honig said. "The implementation is what's going to matter."

Since the beginning of 2010, the Justice Department's civil rights division has previously reached settlements to reform police practices in New Orleans and in Warren, Ohio.

It has sued the Maricopa County, Ariz., sheriff's office and the East Haven, Conn., police department for a pattern and practice of discrimination against Latinos and Hispanics. It is also investigating the Newark, N.J., police department for a pattern and practice of excessive force and unconstitutional stops, searches, arrests and seizures, and discriminatory policing; the Miami, Fla., police department and the Portland, Ore., Police Bureau over patterns of excessive deadly force; and Missoula, Mont., police over handling of sexual assault cases.

____

Associated Press writers Gene Johnson in Seattle and Michael J. Sniffen in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/seattle-federal-officials-agree-police-reforms-003704360.html

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Appcelerator: Developer Interest In Android - Business Insider

Despite the explosive growth of Android's market share, it hasn't won over developers.

In fact, developer interest in Android has been in decline for a year now, according to the latest report from Appcelerator/IDC. They survey over 3,000 developers to get their take on the which platforms are most interesting.

As you can see in the chart below (click to enlarge it) interest in Android has been declining. However, they say, "the recent erosion in developer interest in Android appears to have been arrested." To our eyes it looks like it's still in decline.

Two reasons the decline has slowed down is the huge growth of Android handset sales coupled with Google's "Play" store, which developers hope will rival iTunes, according to the report.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/appcelerator-developer-interest-in-android-2012-7

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Record-setting opening ceremony for NBC

Fireworks ignite over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Fireworks ignite over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Fireworks explode over the stadium at the end of the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in London, Saturday, July 28, 2012. (AP Photo/ Ezra Shaw, Pool)

(AP) ? The Olympics opening ceremony was seen in the U.S. by 40.7 million people, making it the most-watched opening ceremony for a summer or winter Olympics.

The Nielsen company said Saturday that the average viewership topped the previous record of 39.8 million people who watched the opening of the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta. The London festivities bucked a tradition that American viewers are generally more interested in these ceremonies when they are on U.S. soil.

The 2008 ceremony in Beijing reached slightly fewer than 36 million people.

The strong ratings came despite ? or perhaps because of ? complaints about NBC not streaming the ceremony live online.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-07-28-AP-OLY-TV-Ratings/id-d528b200a577427c8dc3537a2e1c79f9

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Friday, July 27, 2012

Loans No Credit Check: Instant pecuniary help to bad credit holders ...

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Are you in need of suitable cash assistance for handling some financial requirements? Are you searching for a feasible monetary option that can help you in removing your financial issues? Are you suffering from poor credit records and scores? In such circumstances, you can apply with Loans No Credit Check. This loan offers instant financial assistance to bad credit holders.

Loans No Credit Check is basically a short term loan service by which you can easily meet your urgent temporary expenses. Even, you need not to pledge any collateral against the borrowed loan. You have full freedom to use the approved loan as per you need. You can meet your expenses such as paying for medical expenses, home rent, grocery bills, credit card dues, old debts and many others.

The approval of No Credit Check Loans is very convenient. You just have to meet few simple norms given by lenders:

You should be a permanent dweller of Australia Age should be at least 18 years or above Must be an employee and earning a fixed monthly income In addition, a bank account is required

With the help of this loan, you can borrow a loan up to AU$100 to AU$1500 and can resolve your sudden financial needs. To repay back the borrowed loan one month will be given to you.

You don?t have to worry about your bad credit history as we do not implement any credit check formalities. Even, if you are facing poor credit scores and records such as foreclosures, defaults, missed payments, late and skipped payments, arrears, bankruptcy and so on then also you can apply freely with us.

Our application procedure is simple, safe and convenient and saves your precious time. There is no need of faxing any documents to us for verification. After approval by the lenders, amount will be deposited in your account directly.

Are you searching for a feasible monetary option that can help you in removing your financial issues? Are you suffering from poor credit records and scores? In such circumstances, you can apply with Loans No Credit Check. This loan offers instant financial assistance to bad credit holders.

You have full freedom to use the approved loan as per you need. You can meet your expenses such as paying for medical expenses, home rent, grocery bills, credit card dues, old debts and many others.

Even, if you are facing poor credit scores and records such as foreclosures, defaults, missed payments, late and skipped payments, arrears, bankruptcy and so on then also you can apply freely with us.

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Source: http://rawbusinesslaw.com/2012/07/27/loans-no-credit-check-instant-pecuniary-help-to-bad-credit-holders-finance-loans-2/

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Exclusive - Human Genome rejected Amgen's $7 billion bid in 2010: sources

NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Amgen Inc , the world's largest biotech company, had offered to acquire Human Genome Sciences Inc for $35 per share two years ago, but the preliminary $7 billion (4.4 billion pounds) bid was rejected by its smaller U.S. rival, two people familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

Amgen, at the time, was hunting aggressively for potential acquisitions to reinvigorate its product portfolio.

Human Genome, which last week agreed to be bought by British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline Plc for $14.25 per share -- or $3 billion -- said in a filing with regulators last week that the company had received, and rebuffed, a preliminary takeover bid at $35 per share in August 2010. It did not identify the prospective buyer.

News of the $35 per share offer suggests GSK played its hand well by biding its time before pouncing on its long-time partner when the stock was down in the dumps earlier this year.

Human Genome's board, consulted by its advisers at the time, decided not to pursue a sale at the proposed price, given that regulatory approval for Benlysta -- the first new treatment for lupus in 50 years -- was expected later in 2010, the company said in the filing last week.

According to the people familiar with the situation, Amgen was the company that made that approach in 2010. The people asked not to be identified because the matter was not public.

Representatives for Amgen declined to comment. Human Genome did not return calls for a comment.

Amgen itself proved uninterested when invited back by Human Genome as a potential "white knight" to fend off GSK's initial unsolicited approach in April this year.

According to the filing by Human Genome, the company received a letter from an unnamed third party on August 3, 2010, indicating its "preliminary interest in pursuing a possible acquisition of all of the outstanding common stock of the company at a price of $35.00 per share in cash."

The offer was declined around a week later, the filing shows.

Times, of course, were different then. Human Genome was still riding high on hopes for Benlysta -- rights to which are shared equally with GSK -- and the stock closed at $26.33 on August 2, 2010.

Benlysta went on to win approval by the Food and Drug Administration in March 2011, though early sales since its launch have disappointed investors and Human Genome's shares have plummeted since.

"The company then believed that its best long-term strategic alternative was to remain an independent company and pursue the commercialization of Benlysta and the development of the other products then in its pipeline," Human Genome said in the filing.

"Following the receipt of the $13.00 Offer from GSK, that third party declined the company's invitation to participate in the company's strategic alternative review process," Human Genome added.

The U.S. pioneer of gene-based drug discovery was formed 20 years ago with the mission to isolate genes and identify their function in order to develop new drugs. Over the years it has had a rollercoaster ride as hopes for its drugs have waxed and waned.

Human Genome, whose shares touched as high as $30 last year, were trading at around $7 just before GSK's initial $13 per share offer was made public on April 19. The British drugmaker eventually sweetened its offer to $14.25 per share to clinch the deal.

GSK's successful offer may have represented a 99 percent premium to the price before it stepped into the fray, but it is still a bargain compared with what Amgen was ready to pay.

Amgen's then-CEO, Kevin Sharer, told a Goldman Sachs conference in June 2010 that he was "aggressively" looking at acquisitions.

"We will take a risk in acquisitions, but it will be a measured risk. It sure won't be a bet-the-company risk," he said at the time.

For Amgen, with a market value of some $60 billion, Human Genome would certainly have fitted the bill as a significant, if not transformational, bolt-on deal.

In fact, some industry analysts, including Michael Yee of RBC Capital Markets, said at the time that Human Genome was the most sensible takeover target for Sharer's acquisition-hungry team.

Other companies touted as possible targets for Amgen in 2010 and into 2011 included Actelion , a Swiss biotech company with a dominant position in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare heart and lung condition.

(Reporting by Soyoung Kim in New York and Ben Hirschler in London; additional reporting by Deena Beasley in Los Angeles; editing by Matthew Lewis)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-human-genome-rejected-amgens-7-billion-bid-022940745--finance.html

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VINCI Launches First Kid-Focused App Library, Woos Developers With 75% Rev Share

Screen shot 2012-07-26 at 7.17.14 PMLike many parents, Dan Yang was fascinated by her young daughter's obsession with her iPhone. As she went through the process of planning the best way to introduce her to technology, apps, and games, she quickly became frustrated with the lack of educational technology made specifically for children. Unlike most parents, however, Yang is an entrepreneur and optical engineer, so she did what any entrepreneurial, geeky mom would do: She decided to hack her own solution. Yang developed VINCI Early Learning Systems and VINCI tablets -- which she believes to be the first FDA-safety-compliant tablet that is designed purely for younguns. Of course, a tablet and learning tool without a supporting network or resource to supply it with content is a lonely device. So, today, the startup is announcing the release of the VINCI Kids Library, a library for kid-focused digital content and apps, including interactive stories, learning games, and over 500 titles at launch -- with what Yang expects to be 1,000 titles before the end of the year.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/aEFEaK6_9vI/

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Thursday, July 26, 2012

Video: Knowledge about voter ID law low as Nov. nears

Circumcision advocate tackles the cringe factor

It?s an idea that can make a grown man cringe, and no one knows better than Angelo Kaggwa. But Kaggwa finally got circumcised last year and immediately reduced his risk of HIV infection dramatically. Now, he wants everyone to know: It?s not so bad.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/48344762#48344762

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Turkey warns it would strike PKK fighters inside Syria

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Syria of letting Turkey's Kurdish rebels operate inside the north of the country and warned that Ankara would not hesitate to strike against them.

"In the north, it (President Bashar al-Assad's regime) has allotted five provinces to the Kurds, to the terrorist organisation," Erdogan said on Turkish television late Wednesday, referring to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK).

He said the move was explicitly aimed against Turkey and warned that "there will undoubtedly be a response on our part to this attitude."

Asked if Ankara would strike fleeing rebels after an attack on Turkish soil, Erdogan said: "That's not even a matter of discussion, it is a given. That is the objective, that is what must be done."

"That is what we have been doing and will continue to do in Iraq," he said during a programme aired on Kanal 24.

"If we occasionally launch aerial strikes against terrorist areas it's because these are measures taken because of defence needs."

Turkey regularly bombs suspected Kurdish rebel hideouts in northern Iraq.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and by much of the international community, took up arms in Kurdish-majority southeastern Turkey in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed some 45,000 lives.

Relations between Turkey and Syria have steadily soured since the start of the uprising against Assad's rule in Syria in March 2011, with Erdogan criticising the regime's crackdown against the revolt.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-warns-strike-pkk-fighters-inside-syria-105151811.html

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Ensuring Safety During Rain And Snow - IdeaMarketers.com


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Wet location emergency lights are special types of fixtures for illuminating that will not be affected by rain-water and snow, etc. These fixtures are provided with fiberglass enclosures in order to protect the delicate components inside from moisture and to keep them in good condition. Since they are for outdoor use metallic enclosures will not suit for them as it may get corroded due to presence of moisture. They are of lower voltage and wattage when compared to the models used at industrial areas. However, they provide sufficient illumination and brightness in all weather conditions. During freezing conditions, the fixtures can be connected to an internal battery heater. Combined fixtures are also available that can be used as both exit signs and emergency illuminants. There are various companies manufacturing these types of equipments and customers can browse the websites of these companies and select the models that meet their requirements.

Wet location emergency lights ensure safety to those who work in commercial buildings that are situated in areas that are prone to flood. They are of very much use at the exteriors of these building and especially at the exit points in order to ensure safe departure. According to the building codes, it is compulsory for most of the areas to be provided with these illuminants. They help to a great extent to prevent stampede during darkness. They are basically weather-proof lights. For the lights at wet locations an internal battery heater is essential which enables the battery backup system to function even at freezing temperature. In addition to humid conditions, they are of great use at commercial buildings during a fire breakout or an unforeseen sudden power failure, etc. They can also be used at locations that are beyond the electricity supply network.

Different models of lights are available for lighting of wet places. The fixtures that have NEMA rating are considered to be more reliable with respect to quality as well as reliability. Those fixtures with NEMA rating are already tested for quality under severe conditions such as rain and snow. Most of these lighting products are provided with warranty for minimum 5 years. Even when other lights fail due to rain these lights provide illumination. These lights can be tested using the push button and LED indicator. They can provide bright light since they are Dual 7.2 watt lamps. The components have durability up to 10 years and the battery has a lifespan of 5 years.

Emergencylights is the best online store that offers you widest selection of emergency lights and Hazardous Location Emergency Lights at extremely affordable prices. All of the Wet Location Emergency Lights that we offer are UL Listed for the United States and come with a five-year warranty. For more details, please visit us online.

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Penn State president says 4-year ban was floated

FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2012 file photo, Penn State University President Rodney Erickson speaks during a town hall meeting with alumni in King of Prussia, Pa. The Penn State board of trustees gathered Wednesday afternoon, July 25, 2012 to discuss whether President Rodney Erickson had the authority to agree to unprecedented NCAA sanctions against the football program without first getting the board's approval, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2012 file photo, Penn State University President Rodney Erickson speaks during a town hall meeting with alumni in King of Prussia, Pa. The Penn State board of trustees gathered Wednesday afternoon, July 25, 2012 to discuss whether President Rodney Erickson had the authority to agree to unprecedented NCAA sanctions against the football program without first getting the board's approval, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Penn State faced the threat of a four-year ban on playing football before the NCAA issued its punishment this week for how it handled the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal, a university spokesman said Wednesday.

David La Torre said the potential for the multiyear "death penalty" was floated during discussions between Penn State President Rodney Erickson and NCAA officials before Monday, when Penn State was issued a $60 million fine, a four-year bowl game ban, reduced football scholarships and the forfeiture of 112 wins.

The school trustees met on the subject at State College hotel Wednesday, and afterward issued a statement calling the NCAA punishment "unfortunate" but better than the alternatives. Reporters were barred from the conference room where they met, and trustees avoided them after the meeting broke up.

The potential for a four-year ban, first reported by ESPN, showed how high the stakes were as college sports' governing body considered how to respond to an internal school investigation by former FBI Director Louis Freeh that found former coach Joe Paterno and three other top college officials helped conceal reports that Sandusky was abusing children.

NCAA president Mark Emmert said this week that if a total football ban had been imposed, other penalties would have accompanied it.

"If the death penalty were to be imposed, I'm quite sure that the executive committee and I ... would not have agreed to just the death penalty. It would have included other penalties as well," Emmert said as the sanctions were unveiled.

Many alumni, and some trustees, have expressed dismay at the NCAA action, which will cost Penn State tens of millions of dollars and likely cripple its football team for years to come.

Some trustees had expressed concern that Erickson may have violated a board rule that says the board must authorize the signing of "contracts, legal documents, and other obligations," but the board statement made no reference to that, saying they held a discussion but did not take any votes.

"The board finds the punitive sanctions difficult and the process with the NCAA unfortunate," they said. "But as we understand it, the alternatives were worse as confirmed by NCAA President Mark Emmert's recent statement that Penn State was likely facing a multi-year death sentence."

La Torre said Wednesday that Erickson had authority to act without the approval of the full board.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-07-25-Penn%20State-Abuse/id-e6c7490078c049ff9167b2590d236a1a

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Judge appoints temp guardian for Jackson children

FILE - This Jan. 26, 2012 file photo shows, from left, Prince Jackson, Blanket Jackson and Paris Jackson after a hand and footprint ceremony honoring their father musician Michael Jackson in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. The executors of Michael Jackson's estate say they are concerned about the welfare of the singer's mother and his three children. In a letter posted on fan sites Tuesday, July 24, executors John Branca and John McClain says they are doing what they can to protect them from ?undue influences, bullying, greed, and other unfortunate circumstances.? The letter came hours after sheriff's deputies responded for a family disturbance at the hilltop home where Katherine Jackson and her three grandchildren live. No arrests were made, but there is an active battery investigation. Katherine Jackson was reported missing over the weekend, but is with relatives in Arizona. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

FILE - This Jan. 26, 2012 file photo shows, from left, Prince Jackson, Blanket Jackson and Paris Jackson after a hand and footprint ceremony honoring their father musician Michael Jackson in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. The executors of Michael Jackson's estate say they are concerned about the welfare of the singer's mother and his three children. In a letter posted on fan sites Tuesday, July 24, executors John Branca and John McClain says they are doing what they can to protect them from ?undue influences, bullying, greed, and other unfortunate circumstances.? The letter came hours after sheriff's deputies responded for a family disturbance at the hilltop home where Katherine Jackson and her three grandchildren live. No arrests were made, but there is an active battery investigation. Katherine Jackson was reported missing over the weekend, but is with relatives in Arizona. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

(AP) ? A judge on Wednesday intervened in the turmoil roiling the Jackson family, appointing the son of Tito Jackson to serve as temporary guardian of Michael Jackson's children in the absence of the family matriarch and amid a feud over the pop superstar's estate.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff temporarily suspended Katherine Jackson as the children's guardian because she was in Arizona and hadn't spoken with them in several days. He appointed Tito Joe "TJ" Jackson to serve as temporary guardian with the ability to control the hilltop home where the children live and to take on other supervision duties.

Katherine Jackson told ABC News that she was hurt by the court ruling and it was "based on a bunch of lies."

"I am devastated that while I've been away, that my children, my grandchildren, have been taken away from me, and I'm coming home to see about that, also," she said reading from a prepared statement.

She denied the suggestion made in court and in court filings to support TJ Jackson's appointment that she was being held against her will.

"I am here today to let everybody know that I am fine and I am here with my children, and my children would never do a thing to me like that, holding me against my will," she said while her children Randy, Janet and Rebbie were seated next to her. "It's very stupid for people to think that."

Beckloff said there was no evidence that Katherine Jackson had done anything wrong but instead it appeared she was being prevented from fulfilling her role as guardian through the "intentional acts of third parties." He didn't elaborate but made the decision after reading court filings in which TJ Jackson expressed concern that Katherine Jackson was being prevented from returning

He cited a Monday incident in which Janet, Randy and Jermaine Jackson arrived at the children's home and told them they could speak with their grandmother but had to leave with them.

"This was odd and disturbing to me and (the children) and heightened our concern that our grandmother was being prohibited from returning home," TJ Jackson wrote in a sworn statement. The incident turned into a confrontation between two male adults at the house and sheriff's officials say it remains an ongoing battery investigation.

Beckloff listened as attorneys described Katherine Jackson's demeanor as unusual on phone calls placed to the children hours before the hearing.

"His performance in court today breaks my heart," Randy Jackson wrote on Twitter. "He knows his Aunts and Uncles would never hold their mother against her will. That's ABSURD."

TJ Jackson's attorney Charles Shultz also revealed in court filings that the children were forced to miss school Wednesday because of concerns about their security. Shultz wrote in a filing that around 3:30 a.m., a new security team arrived at the Jackson home in suburban Calabasas claiming they had been authorized by Katherine Jackson to take charge.

He wrote that the guards asked about the children's school. "That last inquiry caused the head of security to be concerned and he advised that (the children) stay home from school on Wednesday."

Beckloff ruled the Jackson children could not leave California without court approval.

Katherine Jackson's attorney Perry Sanders Jr. said after the hearing that he spoke with his client as she was driving back to Los Angeles from Tucson, Ariz., where she had been since July 15.

"She sounded absolutely fine, lucid and her normal self," he said.

Sanders plans to ask the court to reinstate Katherine Jackson as guardian of the children when she is back in Los Angeles. He was looking forward to meeting with her in person on Thursday.

The public battle was revealed early Sunday after a relative reported Katherine Jackson missing, but she was later located safely with other family members in Arizona.

Jermaine Jackson has said his mother was following doctor's orders to cut off communications with the children, who range in age from 10 to 15. He didn't provide further details.

Sanders said he was told she had high blood pressure before she left for Arizona.

His co-counsel, Sandra Ribera, expressed concerns during the hearing that Katherine Jackson may have been held against her will. Ribera said one of the singer's children told her a conversation with the 82-year-old woman on Tuesday seemed to be monitored and influenced by others in the room.

Arizona authorities contacted Katherine Jackson on Sunday evening and it was determined she was safe, though her lack of communication with her grandchildren was described by TJ Jackson and others as unusual and unprecedented.

In her statement to ABC News, Katherine Jackson said she didn't want any calls during her vacation and thought she had made appropriate arrangements for her grandchildren.

In addition to concerns about the safety of Jackson's children, some of Michael Jackson's siblings have recently called on the executors of his estate to resign.

Randy Jackson appeared Tuesday on Al Sharpton's MSNBC show PoliticsNation and said he believes his brother's will is a fake and that the executors have engaged in criminal activity.

The estate, which recently reported it saw $475 million in gross earnings since Jackson's death in June 2009, has denied wrongdoing and called the accusations "false and defamatory."

Beckloff, who also oversees financial issues affecting Jackson's estate, was initially reluctant to appoint a temporary guardian but changed his mind after hearing from several attorneys who expressed concern about the family's problems.

He made the ruling after hearing TJ Jackson's description of a "strange" conversation he had with Katherine Jackson on Tuesday evening.

"I've never heard my grandmother talk like that," he said reluctantly. "In every way. The sound in her voice. The pauses."

He said some of her speech sounded slurred and she used words that made him wonder if she was speaking in code.

The children's guardian ad litem, Margaret Lodise, said she spoke with the children and the two oldest, Prince and Paris, supported the appointment of a temporary guardian. Lodise did not ask the youngest son, 10-year-old Blanket, for his views.

Lodise is responsible for overseeing the children's interests in the estate of their father.

Schultz said TJ Jackson didn't want to replace Katherine Jackson as permanent guardian. Still, the judge noted that TJ Jackson would have to petition to become the permanent guardian within 48 hours and added that such a petition might not be heard if Katherine Jackson re-emerges.

Sanders said he would fight any move to have her permanently replaced.

He said he met with Randy and Janet Jackson in Tucson, Ariz., on Tuesday, but he was not allowed to see his client. He said he still hoped the recent events were a misunderstanding, but he described them as "chaos."

___

Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-07-25-Jackson%20Family%20Dispute/id-78ad8a18d24647af9860afa40fb07164

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James Holmes may have sent shooting plans to school

Accused movie theater shooter James Holmes may have mailed a notebook to his school detailing his plans to carry out a massacre, sources say.

The notebook that is believed to have been written by Holmes was mailed to the University of Colorado, where Holmes had been a student until dropping out last month, ABC News has learned.

Fox News reported that the notebook was mailed to a specific psychiatrist at the university and that it contained "full details about how he was going to kill people, drawings of what he was going to do in it, and drawings and illustrations of the massacre."

There are conflicting reports on whether the notebook arrived at the university before or after the massacre, but it was found on Monday during a search of the mailroom, ABC News learned today.

Holmes is believed to have walked into the Aurora, Colo., theater dressed in riot gear and brandishing at least three weapons at the front of "The Dark Knight Rises" movie premiere around midnight on Friday. He allegedly set off two smoke bombs before opening fire on the movie theater patrons with an assault rifle, shotgun and a handgun.

Twelve people died and 58 were wounded in the carnage.

The university has not confirmed the existence of the note, but issued a statement saying that the "Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus can confirm that the suspicious package discovered at the Facilities Services building on Monday, July 23, 2012, was delivered to the campus by the United States Postal Service that same day."

Discovery of the package prompted the evacuation of the building for about 90 minutes starting at 12:26 p.m., the school said.

The school also refused to say whether Holmes was seeing a psychiatrist. Campus officials have insisted they handled the Holmes case correctly.

"To the best of our knowledge, we did everything we should have done," the statement read.

The detail of the mailed notebook adds to other information emerging about Holmes' troubles at the University of Colorado, where he spiraled down from a successful and apparently happy student to an accused mass murderer in a matter of months. He reportedly struggled academically in the PhD program he enrolled in last fall.

On June 7, hours after he took a key oral exam which, according to ABC News affiliate KMGH, he failed, Holmes went out to a sporting goods store and bought a high-powered rifle, adding it to his growing arsenal.

Three days later he withdrew from the PhD program with no explanation.

Experts have told ABC News that it's possible Holmes has a mental illness that was exacerbated by the stress of failure.

Holmes was arrested in the parking lot outside the Aurora theater after the shooting. He was wearing a gas mask, bullet proof helmet and vest, and all black clothing, and told the police that he was the "Joker," a character from the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight."

Holmes will be arraigned July 30 in Aurora District Court.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/james-holmes-may-sent-notebook-detailing-shooting-plans-214646645--abc-news-topstories.html

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Burned By Bad Self-Help ? Acculturated

By Christine B. Whelan

What would you do for spiritual enlightenment and personal success? Would you walk barefoot over 1,000-degree hot coals? Would you agree to spend 36 hours alone in the desert without food or water to help clear your mind and find your true potential? Would you follow a trusted leader into a dark, hot room to experience some version of a centuries-old Native American sweat lodge ritual? Decades of psychological research suggest, in the right circumstances, you would do just that?and more.

Last week more than 21 people were treated for second- and third-degree burns in San Jose, CA, after walking over hot coals at a Tony Robbins self-help workshop. One witness described ?wails of pain and screams of agony? as people were burned. The guru, who has led people through similar exercises for since the 1980s, is just one of many inspirational leaders asking participants to push their physical limits and overcome fears?sometimes at great personal cost.

In 2010, three people died and more than a dozen others were injured during a James Arthur Ray retreat in Sedona, AZ. At that event, within hours of returning from a desert ?vision quest,? and still dehydrated from a lack of food or water in the previous days, Ray led more than 50 people into a makeshift sweat lodge of wood, plastic tarps and blankets.

What happened in San Jose and Sedona are not simply fringe events gone awry. We have a long history of self-help in America and to properly understand the horror of these injuries and deaths, we must first understand the inspiration and guidance that Tony Robbins and James Ray offer. Robbins and Ray, and many other gurus like them, inspire thousands of smart, accomplished adults by borrowing from two very powerful thought traditions?modern psychology and esoteric spirituality?creating a one-two punch that?s nearly impossible to resist.

Many of the most popular inspirational self-help leaders combine the spiritual wisdom of the ancients with cutting-edge science have been popular tools of American self-help gurus for more than a century?pairing logic and emotion, usually with benign results. The New Thought movement, which rose to prominence between 1900 and 1920, offered a path to success through ?mind power,? sincere prayer, and positive thinking. For New Thought adherents, doctors and priests were a team joined together to harness the power of God and the skills of man, and faith was a psychological medicine that would cure all ills. Before long, these ideas became mainstream: New Thought writers had a column in Good Housekeeping, and Norman Vincent Peale?s The Power of Positive Thinking (1952) sold more than 5 million copies and spent 186 consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

In the last several decades, the quest for self-improvement in the United States has continued to blossom: By sampling from cognitive behavioral therapies and incorporating increasingly exotic spiritual practices, motivational gurus build their brand and hold the attention of their audience by claiming skills well beyond their field of expertise.

Charismatic leaders from Tony Robbins to Deepak Chopra create special vocabulary and rituals for their group. If you know the definition of terms like ?rapid planning methods? and ?synchrodestiny? you are part of the club. In addition, a good motivational speaker uses repetition of core concepts, alternating ideas of empowerment (you can do it!) and victimization (you?ve been hurt and must heal!) to encourage listeners to follow their particular protocol.

Beyond the jargon, though, it?s the spiritual element that has the most persuasive effect. Religious authority figures claim to have knowledge not just about our fate in this life?why we?re in a dead-end job and what to do about it?but our eternal wellbeing as well.

Like self-help gurus before him, Robbins and Ray borrow from different cultural and spiritual traditions. When run properly, walking on hot coals isn?t especially dangerous?you don?t linger on the coals, and the coals themselves don?t conduct enough heat to burn your feet?rather, it?s an ancient rite of passage that has been used for centuries as a display of courage. Similarly, a sweat lodge is an ancient Native American purification ritual, not a physical endurance test.

The self-help tradition blends the certainty we respect in medical science with the gut-level search for truth we seek through our faith lives. There was no one forcing the men and women at the Robbins event to walk over hot coals. There was no locked door trapping the men and women inside the sweat lodge tent. But Robbins and Ray used something equally powerful: They tapped into persuasive psychological and spiritual traditions, and in doing so with apparent recklessness, reaped a dangerous result.

Dr. Christine B. Whelan is an author, speaker and professor. She is one of the foremost experts on the genre of self-help literature and her latest publication is?Generation WTF:?From ?What the %#$@?? to a Wise, Tenacious, and?Fearless?You.

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Tags: acculturated, Christine Whelan, Deepak Chopra, firewalk, James Arthur Ray, New Thought, Norman Vincent Peale, Power of Positive Thinking, self help, sweatlodge, Tony Robbins

Source: http://acculturated.com/2012/07/23/burned-by-bad-self-help/

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