Chinook Communications Introduces Hosted Lync and Enterprise ...

Chinook?s Total Connect for Office 365 bundle enables small and medium-sized businesses to integrate cloud-based phone service across all Microsoft Office 365 Unified Messaging applications

SEATTLE, July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ? Chinook Communications has announced the introduction of a new service offering that enables small and medium-sized businesses to easily integrate enterprise voice and other hosted Lync services with Exchange Online Unified Messaging hosted by Microsoft Office 365. The new service, Total Connect for Office 365, is designed for businesses seeking to maximize the productivity and cost benefits of hosted unified messaging with integrated, cloud-based phone service.

Total Connect for Office 365 includes the full support of Exchange Online Unified Messaging, including voice mail, voice to text translation, and Outlook voice access. In addition to extensive voice capabilities (including PSTN inbound and outbound calling, response groups, call hold, forward and transfer, and simultaneous ring), Lync will provide secure instant messaging, presence, audio conferencing, online conferencing, video conferencing, desktop sharing, white boarding. Customers on E3 or E4 plans can be up and running with a complete enterprise voice and unified communications solution in less than four hours.

?We are very excited about the introduction of this new product,? said David Sommerville, vice president of sales and marketing. ?Microsoft?s Office 365 team has done an incredible job introducing people to the benefits of Unified Communications. Chinook?s new service completes the experience by integrating our cloud based phone service, which includes all the features a business demands, with their existing Office 365 subscription. Office 365 customers can now replace all of their communication services, and significantly reduce their overhead burden, with a complete communications offering in the cloud.?

The Total Connect for Office 365 announcement follows on the heels of Chinook Communications? release of Total Connect, the first ever production release worldwide of the Microsoft-supported Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting.

More at? chinookcommunications.com

Tags: mail voice, unified communications solution, enterprise voice, Office 365, David Sommerville

Source: http://mybestwebhosting.net/13877/chinook-communications-introduces-hosted-lync-and-enterprise-voice-integration-for-microsoft-office-365/

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Concocting The Right Business Strategy: Organizational Value ...

A cornerstone of corporate strategy is knowing your organization?s true value proposition and using that knowledge to innovate the business model so that existing customers can be better served and share of markets can be extended. Developing effective strategy requires business leaders to examine their value statements and to learn how to utilize and navigate the Organizational Value Quadrant (OVQ)¹ model. The four quadrants of organizational value define distinct operating models that relate the company?s positioning relative to the markets served by the business. Knowing which quadrant your business lives in and understanding how to navigate within the OVQ form the backbone of every strategic plan. This article explains the organizational value quadrants, and what they mean to a business in terms of strategy and investment.

Value Proposition; how well do you know it and live it?

For any business, understanding the company?s value proposition is the first step in strategy formulation and must be addressed as a key input to the OVQ discussion.

A value proposition can be thought of a business or marketing statement that summarizes why a consumer should?buy a product or use a service. In essence, this statement should help the firm connect with a potential target market in a way that differentiates a particular?product or service as to how it will add more?value or solve a problem better than other similar offerings.

?

The purest three elements of a value proposition are:

The connection: What is it that makes the product or service inspirational and innovative? The connection must compel the customer to want the product and say, ?I need this?.

The differentiation: What is it that makes the product or service indispensable? The differentiation should help eliminate the thought of substitutes in the mind of the buyer.

The substantiation: What facts can you state about the product or service to help create credibility and trust? The substantiation should help the potential buyer to believe in the product or service and take action.

Organizational Value Quadrants

Businesses operate on models designed for value creation that are in alignment with their stated value propositions for each class of products and services. While the value proposition helps communicate the marketing and sales message, the business model must deliver the value promised. That leads to the discussion of value quadrants.

Strategists should always be thinking in terms of value quadrants when considering their firm?s competitive positioning. Method Frameworks focuses on four primary quadrants to classify the business model a company is following. The quadrants are? shown in the graphic below:

?

Each quadrant represents the focus of a company or business unit and can be thought of as the strategy and business model generally being followed. Below is a synopsis of each quadrant:

The Customer Intimacy & Synergy Quadrant

Companies operating in the Customer Intimacy & Synergy Quadrant focus on the customization and tailoring of products / services. Their missions are geared toward know their customers well, delivering what specific customers want and ?personalizing? the experience.

Customers of businesses in this quadrant have the expectation of a close relationship that is solution-based for their needs. In return, they are willing to accept a higher cost for the goods or services they are purchasing.

The Operational & Organizational Excellence Quadrant

Companies operating in the Operational & Organizational Excellence Quadrant focus operational efficiencies, supply-chain optimization, maintaining low overhead and accomplishing more with lean structures. Their missions are focused on creating predictability in delivering quality, low price, no-hassle purchase experiences and ease of use.

Customers of businesses in this quadrant have the expectation of low cost and best pricing. In return, they are willing to accept less in the areas of service and relationship intimacy.

The Customer Enrichment & Fulfillment Quadrant

Companies operating in the Customer Enrichment & Fulfillment Quadrant focus on helping their customers reaching and fulfilling their potential. Their mission themes relate to creating better lives for their customers and the opportunity for self-actualization.

Customers of businesses in this quadrant have the expectation of enjoying an experience and learning through exploration and discovery. In return, they are willing to accept a higher cost for the goods or services they are purchasing.

The Product / Service Superiority & Innovation Quadrant

Companies operating in the Product / Service Superiority & Innovation Quadrant focus on creating superior or unique ?One-of-a-Kind? value-add services or products. Their missions are geared towards innovation and creating the best products and services available in their class.

Customers of businesses in this quadrant have the expectation of receiving high quality and benefiting from innovation in the products or services being purchased. In return, they are willing to accept a higher cost for the goods or services they are purchasing.

Utilizing The Quadrants In Strategic Planning

Each quadrant groups companies relative to their value propositions and respective customer expectations. Most companies standardize on a business model and force a fit of that model to all their customers. Although it may seem illogical to combine a strategy of individual service (custom-tailored and expensive) with a model of operational excellence (where cost-minimization requires a high degree of process standardization), it can and has been done successfully. A business does not have to be entirely committed to an exclusive relationship with only one category and can use strategy to navigate and position themselves in different quadrants of the OVQ.

Sales organizations have developed impressive sophistication in analyzing their customers and segmenting them appropriately. Likewise, CFOs are highly tuned into profit analysis and many have developed the equivalent of ?heat maps? for profitability. Together, they have analyzed their sales and profit data and have developed a clear understanding of which customers are providing them with high sustained profitability. With this combined insight, customer segmentation can then be applied to strategically approach these profit areas with segment sub-strategies. Segment strategy can be applied to invest resources in securing and growing key customer relationships through integration of the company?s operations with those of the key customer?s in a tailored? and effective approach. When this approach is followed, the investments can result in lowering key customer?s cost while increasing the profits of the supplier business.

Customer integration within a value quadrant can be accomplished by tuning customer inventories, smoothing order patterns and even deploying substitute products in carefully-selected situations. The key is to partner with key customers and shift the focus of supply chain efficiency initiatives from optimization solely within the organization?s supply-chain ecosystem to an optimization of the joint vendor-customer supply chain domain. This shift creates enormous new efficiencies for both organizations and helps increase the cost of switching vendors for the customer in the future.

The example above illustrates how an organization can straddle both the operational excellence and the customer intimacy quadrants. With strategic positioning companies can begin to dominate in other quadrants through the creation of other differentiated serving models for important customer segments. Through careful strategic planning and follow-though in execution, a business can actually implement and sustain multiple parallel service models to operate successfully across quadrants.

Recap

Business leaders must begin with a clear and realistic understanding of their value proposition, the first step in strategy formulation that must be addressed as a key input to the Organizational Value Quadrant analysis. A value proposition can be thought of a business or marketing statement that summarizes why a consumer should?buy a product or use a service.

The purest three elements of a value proposition are the connection, the differentiation and the substantiation. While the value proposition helps communicate the marketing and sales message, the business model (represented by quadrants of the OVQ model) must deliver the value promised. Each quadrant represents the focus of a company or business unit and can be thought of as the strategy and business model generally being followed. The four primary quadrants to classify the business model a company are:

- Operational & Organizational Excellence

- Product / Service Superiority & Innovation

- Customer Enrichment & Fulfillment

- Customer Intimacy & Synergy

Most importantly, a business does not have to be entirely committed to an exclusive relationship with only one category and can use strategy to navigate and position themselves in different quadrants of the OVQ.

Suggested Reading:

-? Organizational Authenticity

-? Corporate Strategy: 5 Critical Alignments To Assess

-? Value: Create ? Capture ? Share

-? Corporate Strategy: Multinational Organizations

^{1 ? Organizational Value Quadrant based on the work of Edgar Papke}

?

Source: http://blog.vistage.com/business-strategy-and-management/concocting-the-right-business-strategy-organizational-value-quadrants/

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Mental health clinic offers anger management, other self-improvement

This post was originally published by F.E. Warren Air Force Base - News

July 27, 2012 in F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming by clevine

The F. E. Warren Mental Health Clinic offers several self-improvement workshops including an anger management class, which was most recently held July 17.

"It's one of our most popular classes," said Glenn Garcia, 90th Medical Operations Squadron Family Advocacy outreach manager.

Garcia taught those attending the class what causes anger, how to avoid losing control of one's temper, why people should control their anger and why it is important for people to keep their anger in check.
more...

Continue Reading ?

Source: http://www.armedforces.com/mental-health-clinic-offers-anger-management-other-self-improvement-classes/

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BREAKING NEWS : | My Best Web Hosting

Fencing Academy hosting youth camps in Bellevue

The city of Bellevue is offering a host of youth sports and recreation camps this summer (full list available online at ci.bellevue.wa.us/parks) and is bringing the forgotten pastime of swordplay into the equation with the help of Washington Fencing Academy.

Washington Fencing Academy will host a camp teaching participants age 9-16 the basics of Olympic fencing and take part in a mini-tournament.

Girls and boys of all fitness levels are welcome and no prior experience is required.

The camp will take place at South Bellevue Community Center from Aug. 6-10 from 1-4 p.m. and cost is $150 for residents and $180 for nonresidents.

Former BC player, Harlem All-Star holding basketball skills camps

Kyle Keyes, formerly a standout at Bellevue College and a player with the Globetrotter?s Harlem All-Stars, is hosting the final two basketball camps of the summer for kids age 6-15 through i-Ball.

International School, July 30-Aug. 1, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Crossroads Community Center, Aug. 27-31, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

For information on cost and registration, visit the city of Bellevue website.

Related Stories

Tags: South Bellevue Community Center, youth sports, crossroads community, Washington Fencing, basketball camps

Source: http://mybestwebhosting.net/13844/breaking-news/

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'GMA' host may take medical leave late next month

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) ? "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts is planning to take a medical leave around the end of August for her bone marrow transplant.

But during her absence from the ABC morning show, she'll be getting a little help from her friends, she said Thursday.

Roberts listed Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric among her "wonderful, wonderful friends at ABC News" who will be subbing for her. Others mentioned: talk-show host Kelly Ripa and panelists from the ABC talk show "The View."

Roberts announced last month that she has MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease once known as preleukemia.

On Thursday, she told reporters gathered for the Television Critics Association conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., that her leave would "most likely" start at the end of August or early September.

"It's fascinating-slash-scary how to prepare yourself for something like this," she said, appearing by satellite from ABC's studios in New York. And when asked how she's feeling, she replied, "I do go through moments of fatigue."

But citing the continuing resurgence of "Good Morning America" against its long-dominant NBC rival "Today," she brightened.

"The run that we've had has truly energized me," she said. "It's pretty good medicine, I gotta say, to be taking!"

In particular, ABC was crowing Thursday that, for the first time in 17 years, "GMA" had seized first place among total viewers (almost 4.6 million vs. 4.25 million for "Today") as well as tying "Today" for first place in the 25- to 54-year-old demographic, each with 1.74 million.

ABC News President Ben Sherwood was inspired to frame the victory in Olympic terms.

"For 852 straight (weekly) races, the 'Today' show won the gold medal, going back to 1995," he said. Then, several weeks ago, "GMA" snapped the "Today" winning streak, "and stood there alone for the first time in 16 years to get its own gold medal."

"And after 879 weeks running behind in younger viewers, 25-to-54," Sherwood went on, "GMA" is "standing there at the gold-medal podium, unbelievably in an actual statistical tie with the previous champs."

Meanwhile, Sherwood acknowledged a mistake ABC News made last week during coverage of the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 people and injured dozens more.

ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross speculated on the air about the political ties of the alleged gunman, James Holmes, erroneously identifying him as a member of the tea party.

"It was a mistake," Sherwood said. "We recognized it immediately. We owned it immediately. We corrected it immediately. We apologized for it."

Declaring, "That particular moment didn't live up to the standards and practices of ABC News," he said, "I take responsibility for it. The news division knows how displeased I am about it. And we will do everything we can to prevent it ever happening again."

___

Online:

http://abcnews.go.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gma-host-may-medical-leave-next-month-215838413.html

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Galliani opens door for Kaka to return to AC Milan

Associated Press Sports

updated 9:09 a.m. ET July 25, 2012

MILAN (AP) -AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has opened the door to a return for Rossoneri icon Kaka from Real Madrid.

Kaka's days at Madrid appear to be numbered, and the Brazil star was left behind for Tuesday's friendly win against Real Oviedo.

Galliani has reportedly held informal talks with Kaka's agent and, when asked about a possible return, says "certain loves never die, they just go round on a long journey and come back again."

Kaka is still idolized by Milan fans after a golden six-year spell during which he helped it to the Serie A title and the Champions League, becoming a global superstar.

He moved to Madrid in 2009 for ?65 million (then $92 million), making him the second most expensive football signing ever after Cristiano Ronaldo.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Wondolowski nears scoring record

PST: Chris Wondolowski stands on 17 goals, easily best in MLS. His Earthquakes have 12 games remaining. Wondolowski?s rate of scoring puts him in Roy Lassiter territory.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/48316273/ns/sports-soccer/

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Mobile users upgrading to smartphones at record rates, and choosing Android

16 hrs.

Devin Coldewey

New numbers from ComScore show that users of feature phones are upgrading to smartphones?at record rates, and are overwhelmingly choosing Android for their new platform.

In April,?2011, just over 60 percent of feature?phone users chose to stay with a feature phone when they got a new one. In April of this year, that number is down to 50 percent; meanwhile, the proportion of?users choosing to upgrade to smartphones has gone from 38% percent?to 47.5 percent in the same period. It's the tipping point for smartphone adoption: it's very likely that within a few months, smartphone upgraders will outnumber feature?phone keepers.

Android is the platform of choice for these new users, according to ComScore's numbers: 61.5 percent of new smartphone users in April chose Android, while a significant but still much smaller 25.2 percent picked up?an iPhone. Meanwhile, 7.1 percent went with Microsoft and just 4.8 percent with BlackBerry.

This is likely due to the fact that Android phones are present on every carrier, often for free. Many people are simply?looking to get GPS and email on their phones, but are?not particularly interested in the premium features of more expensive Android models or the iPhone 4S. A cheap Android-based phone may not excite enthusiasts who keep up with the latest hardware, but as a free complement to a new carrier contract, it appears to be very compelling to customers.

The study comes on the heels of another by Nielsen concluding that two-thirds of all phones bought in the U.S. are smartphones. Now it appears that the remaining third, which was the subject of the ComScore's research, is going to be shrinking even faster than before.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News. His personal website is coldewey.cc.

Source: http://www.gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/technology/gadgetbox/mobile-users-upgrading-smartphones-record-rates-choosing-android-910682

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Do sports products really enhance your workout? Maybe not

Do sports drinks really give your workout an extra edge? A recent study of the performance-enhancing claims of more than 100 fitness products says probably not. In fact, of the hundreds of such claims identified in product advertisements and websites, researchers couldn't find a single one that was backed by solid scientific evidence.

For the study, researchers at the University of Oxford looked at advertisements for sports drinks, oral supplements, footwear, clothing and fitness devices like wristbands and compression sleeves in 100 general interest magazines and the top 10 sport and fitness magazines in the U.K. and the U.S. The team also searched the websites of any product making claims to enhance athletic performance or improve recovery, seeking references for scientific studies supporting these claims.

The researchers found 235 magazine ads for sports products, of which 54 made claims to improve performance or recovery. Only three products provided references; many simply offered celebrity athlete endorsement instead. The 53 websites the researchers examined contained 431 performance-enhancing claims for 104 products, with a total of 146 references. More than half of the sites provided no references at all.

(SPECIAL: 5 common mistakes you're making at the gym)

The researchers then contacted 42 companies for references that couldn't otherwise be found, and heard back from 16, nine of which offered additional material. Among the companies that didn't provide usable references, two, Panache and New Balance, said they were unwilling to share their research; one, Nike, offered a video of its product in use and said it was "sufficient"; and one, Merrell, pointed to the work of a researcher but didn't say whether the company had any research on its actual product.

After sifting through the available references, the researchers discarded half for being unfit for scientific appraisal; they pointed to books without clinical studies, nonexistent studies, conference abstracts or online surveys without data, or nonhuman studies, such as a study of the effects of different diets on rat metabolism published in 1930. Of the 74 studies that could be evaluated, the team found that only three were of high quality and low risk for bias. Notably, all three reported no significant effects of the intervention studied.

Victor Katch, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor who was not affiliated with the current research but studies the validity of fitness products, says the findings aren't surprising. "We are in a culture where testimonial evidence and talking heads have a lot of power and sway, especially in areas where people have little knowledge," he says. "People want to do something about their fitness and wellness and they're willing to give products a chance. Almost every week there's a new diet or fitness book out, and they're all nonsense."

(MORE: Teens don't need energy or sports drinks, pediatricians say)

The marketing of sports products has become a multibillion dollar industry, the authors note, and each year consumers increasingly buy into the claims of performance-enhancing products, especially so-called energy drinks. But the "current evidence is not of sufficient quality to inform the public about the benefits and harms of sports products," the authors write.

To be fair, there may yet be evidence, not included in the new study published in the journal BMJ Open, that backs some of the products' claims. The authors also acknowledge that while they attempted to include a representative sample of products in their study, it's possible that the ones they analyzed were "on the worst end of the spectrum." The scientists note further that they didn't give manufacturers much time to respond to their requests for more information.

But, by and large, many experts in the field agree that the evidence shoring up sports product claims is thin. "There is a need to improve the quality of the research conducted in this area and its reporting, and a move towards using systematic review evidence across the board for decision-making," the authors conclude.

(MORE: What a workout! Women report that exercise triggers orgasm)

Unfortunately, many manufacturers are unwilling to put in the time, money or effort required for solid research, says Katch. "[As experts in the field], we have a responsibility to offer proper information to the public. If we don't, no one will. It's very unregulated," he says.

For consumers left wondering which fitness products are worth the money and which aren't, the answer is that there isn't enough evidence to say. But for the average American, it's less important to try to boost performance than it is to just get moving, says Katch. If you want to know whether your fancy running shoes will help shave seconds from your time, you'll need to get out there and hit the pavement.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/do-sports-products-really-enhance-your-workout--maybe-not.html

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Startup Stay Helps Entrepreneurs Ditch ... - Small Business Trends

Business professionals, including startup entrepreneurs, often travel to different cities around the globe for meetings, presentations, or other important business functions. However, the cost of accommodations can sometimes prevent these professionals from making the most of their travel opportunities, especially for entrepreneurs who often don?t have large corporations financially supporting their travels. But now a new site hopes to make traveling much easier for those who travel on behalf of a startup.

Startup Stay is a brand new online community for entrepreneurs who travel. It is open to those around the globe so that business professionals can travel anywhere without incurring overwhelming accommodation costs, while also making new business contacts along the way.

Instead of staying at an expensive hotel, you can connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and possibly stay with them.

Upon registration, you?re asked where you live and what cities you travel to often. You can meet others who live in those cities and even stay with host entrepreneurs when you travel to new locations. You can also create an itinerary for your future travel plans and find helpful information about the cities you travel to from like-minded entrepreneurs who call those cities home.

Hosting other entrepreneurs is not mandatory for membership. And those who cannot host others can still help out by showing a guest entrepreneur around their city, meeting up with them for dinner or coffee, or even just sharing useful contacts.

Says co-founder Fred Caballero:

?It is really a no-brainer in terms of costs savings for entrepreneurs that travel. According to our initial surveys the average entrepreneur travels at least four times per year. Multiply this by $80 ? $120 for the average hotel and the savings are evident (substantially bigger for power-travelers of course). However, while savings are important, the strongest benefit in using Startup Stay is the networking and enhancement of your trip?s quality. Being hosted by a local means access to quality advice in terms of how to move around in the city and who to meet or which events to attend. Our aim is for each ?startup stay? to spark long term real-world relationships between members.?

This screenshot shows how you can search for entrepreneurs to stay with, along with itineraries on the left:

Startup Stay is targeting young entrepreneurs from ages 18 to 35, but the membership isn?t limited to those in that age range. The only qualification to become a member is that you must be an entrepreneur. The site was launched just last month (June 2012) and already has a membership that includes entrepreneurs from 200 cities and 60 different countries around the globe.

Currently, Startup Stay is invite only, but those interested can either request to be invited via email by a current member, or apply for an application through the website. The site is tentatively scheduled for a full launch around March. To request a Beta invitation, visit Startup Stay.

Disclosure: Small Business Trends? CEO, Anita Campbell, is partners with the founders of this site on another venture called TweakYourBiz.

About Annie Pilon

Annie Pilon is a freelance writer specializing inmarketing, social media, and creative topics. When she?s not writing for her various freelance projects or her personal blog Wattlebird, she can be found exploring all that her home state of Michigan has to offer.

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Source: http://smallbiztrends.com/2012/07/startup-stay-travel-for-entrepreneurs.html

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Makeup of new Egyptian government seen complete next week

CAIRO (Reuters) - The makeup of a new Egyptian government is likely to be decided by the middle of next week, a presidential spokesman said on Wednesday, a day after the new prime minister was named by President Mohamed Mursi.

Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Hisham Kandil was designated as premier on Tuesday but some critics questioned whether the little-known technocrat had the political or economic experience for the job.

"Negotiations over the formation of the new government will end by the middle of next week," Yasser Ali told reporters.

"A statement will be issued soon or maybe tomorrow about what was achieved with regard to the formation of the presidential team," Ali added, in reference to talks to appoint Mursi's deputies and advisers.

Investors had been hoping for a premier able to tackle Egypt's urgent economic problems. The main index declined to a 1.5 percent close for the second day on investor skepticism about Kandil's political and economic experience.

Mursi himself was sworn in three weeks ago. The time it had taken him to name his prime minister underlined how Egypt is struggling to turn the new political freedoms brought by the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in a popular uprising a year and half ago into an effective government.

Mursi, a Muslim Brotherhood politician and the country's first freely elected civilian president, is seeking to stamp his authority on a state where the military that assumed power from Mubarak still looms large.

Highlighting the continued influence of the generals, Kandil said Mursi was in contact with them on the choice of the new defense minister, a post currently held by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who held the post for 20 years under Mubarak.

(Reporting by Yasmine Saleh; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/makeup-egyptian-government-seen-complete-next-week-160233077.html

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Should poverty be defined by a single international poverty line, or ...

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012 | Posted by From Poverty to Power By From Poverty to Power

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This guest post comes from ubercrunchers Ugo Gentilini (World Food Programme), left?and Andy Sumner (Institute of Development Studies), right International poverty lines are calculated by the World Bank: $1.25 per day per person is said to represent the ?absolute poverty line?, below which a person can hardly survive. This is calculated from the mean of the national

Link:
Should poverty be defined by a single international poverty line, or?

Related posts:

1. AP Examines Debate Over India?s Poverty Line
2. It?s International Poverty Eradication Day
3. Questionable South Sudan Poverty Statistics
4. World Statistics Day ? how numbers can help us beat poverty
5. Guest post: Why we are building an international support network for?

Posted by From Poverty to Power on Jul 24 2012. Filed under Aid & Development, Hub Selects. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Source: http://www.globalhealthhub.org/2012/07/24/should-poverty-be-defined-by-a-single-international-poverty-line-or/

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Richfield Director, Business Relationship Management, Connectivity ...

Director, Business Relationship Management, Connectivity Business Group

Job Number: 12000002VX

Description

Be A Part of the Transformation and Make an Impact!

Best Buy is not only a retailer but also a technology-based company, where technology itself is at the heart of our operation. Our Information Technology organization is transforming to play an even more integral role in helping the company define and execute key elements of the business model. Since 2004 Best Buy has operated its information technology functions in a largely outsourced structure and maintained a small internal team focused on aligning business strategies and the work of our outsourcing partners. Today, Best Buy is moving to a multidimensional IT model and expanding the internal teams and capabilities necessary to drive the IT strategy, architecture and technology solutions that support Best Buy's growth. Our IT environment is fast-paced and constantly changing to meet the demands of our diverse business offerings. We seek talented, motivated professionals with a sense of adventure, diversity of thought, and the combination of creativity and experience to make a difference.

The Business Relationship Management team members are responsible for the efficient and effective delivery of Global Business Services (GBS) solutions to internal business clients and business units in support of the overall business strategy. The Director will work closely with the Vice President/Sr. Directors of Connectivity Business Group and respective leadership teams to define growth strategies and leverage GBS services to deliver those strategies. Key areas of focus include developing strategic technology roadmaps and investment plans that support the delivery of Connectivity in the small format stores (SAS), Services business (Geek Squad, Tech Support, Digital Content) and the emerging Health and Fitness market. This business team is responsible for driving edge of the Connectivity technology strategies and innovations. Experience with innovation or start-ups will serve the candidate well.

Responsibilities:
Long Term Planning

- Develop deep understanding of multi-year business goals to aid in defining business strategies and drive complementary multi-year IT investment plans
- Collaborates with GBS leaders to identify strategic and innovative uses of technology to drive business growth and profitability
- Acts as an advisor to business units on ways to exploit technology for competitive advantage

Fiscal Year Planning and Delivery:

- Responsible for translating multi-year investment plans into fiscal year capital expenditure requests.

- Works with Architecture, Application Development, and Project Management Office branches of IT to smoothly initiate funded capabilities and projects
- Monitors key initiatives and overall portfolio spend, working with Application Development leaders to resolve budgetary variances and open dollars for new business opportunities.

- Drives new business initiative analysis and overall project prioritization within the investment portfolio

Relationship Management:
- Conducts meetings with senior leadership and key stakeholders across the organization to validate understanding of business goals and effectively communicate the GBS strategy
- Acts as business liaison to and from GBS, covering escalations as necessary

- Manages the portfolio of cross-functional GBS solutions (IT, Procurement, HR, Finance) for a business unit
- Works with Application Delivery leaders and Architects to identify opportunities to offer process and technology improvements through Global Business Services for improved operational efficiency

Required Qualifications:

- High School Diploma or equivalent

- 12 or more years experience in IT management, line of business management and /or managing business functions or shared services organizations such as HR, Finance or Procurement

- 4 or more years experience in a leadership role managing senior level business relationships

- 4 or more year's experience leading cross functional teams

- 2 or more years managing portfolio budgets in excess of $15MM

- 2 or more years working in an agile or iterative development environment

- Demonstrated executive level competencies; specifically leadership, communication, partnerships, process and change management in complex/matrix environments

- Strong business acumen: understands key financial drivers and dynamics related to growth and revenue goals of an organization

- Demonstrated ability to challenge, convince and manage stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in IT, Computer Science, business or related field
- Experience with Mobile, Social, Connectivity, Retail in a Telecoms environment.
- Prior experience in business relationship management or similar role supporting a shared services organization
- Prior experience driving or aid a business leader drive P&L delivery
- 6 or more years of experience gathering business needs and creating into workable outcomes
- 6 or more years experience in technology implementation
- 5 or more years experience managing partner and vendor relationships to achieve business outcomes
- 4 or more years experience at a manager level in a global consumer orientated retail organization
- 4 or more years experience at a manager level in a multi-channel, multi-brand business environment
- 4 or more years of project management experience
- 4 or more years of experience with digital/mobile technology
- 2 or more years working in an IT multi-vendor delivery provider environment

Job: Information Systems

Primary Location: United States-MN-Richfield

Organization: Best Buy US Corporate

Job Posting: Jul 23, 2012

Source: http://www.bestbuy-jobs.com/job/Richfield-Director,-Business-Relationship-Management,-Connectivity-Business-Group-Job-MN-55423/2045230/?utm_source=J2WRSS&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=J2W_RSS

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Sri Lanka's Perera, Mathews restrict Indian batsmen

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/india-elect-bat-against-sri-lanka-odi-105040918.html

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Women who survived Colo. shooting grieve for hero boyfriends

Of the 12 people killed in the Aurora theater shooting, four of them were men who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their girlfriends. Now, each of these women are struggling to come to terms with both their grief and their gratitude.

Alexander Teves, 24, attended the midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" with his girlfriend Amanda Lindgren , 24,and another friend.

When suspected gunman James Holmes opened fire in the sold out theater, Teves immediately lunged to block Lindgren from the gunfire.

"I was really, really confused at first about what was going on, so confused," Lindgren told ABC News. "But, it's like Alex didn't even hesitate. Because I sat there for a minute, not knowing what was going on, and he held me down and he covered my head and he said, 'Shh stay down. It's ok. Shh just stay down.' So I did."

Teves blocked the bullets from Lindgren but he was shot and killed. She was not hit.

"He was my angel that night, but he was my angel every day I knew him," Lindgren said. "I'm broken."

Lindgren reflected on the profoundly close relationship she had with Teves, saying that the couple would not go an hour in the day "without missing each other terribly."

"My other half was just ripped apart from me and so for me it's still unreal," she said. "I can't picture my life without him. How do you? When someone loves you that much and you love somebody that much?how do you believe that this is real? And of all places. We were in that theater, that specific room. We were just supposed to watch a movie."

When asked if she thought Teves knew he was putting himself in danger for her, Lindgren said, "I know he did. He'd do anything for me. He always told me that, too. I just wish I could have protected him the same way he protected me."

Teves' father Tom Teves is also devastated, but said that his son is still with him.

"I'm hollow. But Alex has come and brought me?from heaven, he's been bringing me hope," Teves told ABC News. "He's still my inspiration. And I know now more than ever that there is a God. Because of Alex. Because Alex is still coming through. Because that's the kind of man he is."

Elsewhere in theater nine, John Larimer and his girlfriend Julia Vojtsek went through a similar situation.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class John Larimer, 26, and his girlfriend Julia Vojtsek, 23, were sitting int the middle of the theater when the shooting began.

"John immediately and instinctively covered me and brought me to the ground in order to protect me from any danger," Vojtsek wrote in a statement. "Moments later, John knowingly shielded me from a spray of gunshots. It was then I believe John was hit with a bullet that would have very possibly struck me. I feel very strongly that I was saved by John and his ultimate kindness."

The couple had known each other since they were 21 and 18 years old when they met working at a Chili's in Illinois, where they are both from. Larimer was home for the summer from school and Vojtsek was getting ready to go to college. They became close and stayed in touch with Facebook and text messages.

This summer, Vojtsek's father Fred Vojtsek came to Colorado to work for an extended period of time. When Julia Vojtsek traveled to Colorado to spend part of her summer with her father, she told him that Larimer was stationed in Aurora and he encouraged her to see him.

Theater Survivors Grieve For Hero Boyfriends

"I wanted her to see him because he would have been a kid that a father wants to see his daughter with, a kid of values and things like that," Fred Vojtsek told ABCNews.com. He said his daughter and Larimer became boyfriend and girlfriend about three weeks ago. "So many kids these days don't really want to hear what parents have to say or engage or listen, and he did. That's what stood out with me."

"We were planning on going to church Saturday night," Vojstek said. "He was a good kid."

Fred Vojstek has been staying in a place just minutes away from from the Century 16 movie theater where the shooting took place. His panicked daughter called him as she was running out of the theater and he arrived within minutes of the shooting.

"She was hysterical and then she got more into a shock stage," Vojtsek said.

Since then, Julia Vojtsek has told her father that she was at the movie with Larimer, two other navy men and a woman. Fred Vojtsek said that after Larimer was shot, the other two navy members were "unbelievable" in making sure his daughter got out safely, even though they had just met her earlier that day.

"I'm grateful my daughter is alive and hopeful he can get through this," Vojtsek said, adding that she is "very, very traumatized."

He said that Larimer's family has been very good to his daughter and that he is "eternally grateful" for Larimer and his Navy friends for saving his daughter.

Vojtsek wrote that just weeks earlier, Larimer had spoken to her about his further advancement in the military.

"John convincingly stated to me that he wanted to be deployed for two simple reasons: He wanted to protect his country, and he wanted to save others from danger and harm," she wrote. "John adamantly wanted to make a difference in the world, and he thought that his military service would be the best chance for him to do so."

"John served his country to the fullest, fulfilling both of his goals," she added.

In addition to these two couples, Matthew McQuinn, 27, and Jon Blunk, 26, died saving their girlfriends in similar ways. Their girlfriends Samantha Yowler, 26, and Jansen Young, 21, did not respond to requests for comment.

Also Read

Source: http://gma.yahoo.com/women-survived-theater-shooting-grieve-hero-boyfriends-215438672--abc-news-topstories.html

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Video: NFA Takes Emergency Action Against PFGBest

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/48133906/

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Raw SuperShow live results: July 9, 2012

All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. ? 2012 WWE, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This website is based in the United States. By submitting personal information to this website you consent to your information being maintained in the U.S., subject to applicable U.S. laws. U.S. law may be different than the law of your home country. WrestleMania XXIX (NY/NJ) logo TM & ? 2012 WWE. All Rights Reserved. The Empire State Building design is a registered trademark and used with permission by ESBC.

Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2012-07-09/wwe-raw-results

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Obama, Romney clash over taxes, outsourcing jobs

President Barack Obama speaks during a grassroots campaign event at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tuesday, July 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

President Barack Obama speaks during a grassroots campaign event at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tuesday, July 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney shakes hands during a campaign stop at Central High School, Tuesday, July 10, 2012, in Grand Junction, Colo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) ? President Barack Obama says letting Bush era tax cuts expire at the end of the year for the middle class would be a "blow to the economy" and said those decade-old tax rates should be extended for households making less than $250,000 a year.

Obama was campaigning Tuesday in the battleground of Iowa a day after renewing his call for letting taxes go up on wealthier taxpayers. He reiterated his call for protecting 98 percent of taxpayers from higher taxes. Republicans want the tax cuts extended for all taxpayers.

Romney, campaigning in Grand Junction, Colo., called Obama the "outsourcer-in-chief," hitting back at Obama charges that as private equity executive Romney helped send jobs to China and elsewhere. Romney branded Obama an "extreme liberal" who is trying to raise taxes on businesses.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-07-10-Presidential%20Campaign/id-871ea044e80e4ebeacf9d8859dba609a

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Maybe we keep the peanut butter away from Florida for a while

Mark Miller allegedly used sword, sandwich in Florida attack http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/national/mark-miller-allegedly-used-sword-sandwich-i...

WINTER HAVEN, FL - A Florida man wound up in jail after he allegedly attacked three women with a 4-foot sword and a peanut butter sandwich, according to the Lakeland Ledger .

Deputies said it all began when Mark Christopher Miller heard a commotion outside his mobile home on U.S. 92 West.

He reportedly went outside, armed with a sword, and proceeded to threaten the three women, one of them pregnant.

At one point, he poked the sword at the pregnant woman's stomach and smeared another with the sandwich before deputies arrived an arrested him, according to the Ledger .

While being taken to the Polk County Jail, Miller, 50, ripped out some padding inside the patrol car with his teeth.

And

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48019937/ns/local_news-fort_myers_fl/t/man-arrested-pe...

A man was arrested after deputies say he stabbed someone for feeding his dog peanut butter.

Detectives arrested John William Vargo, 35, in Port Charlotte.

According to deputies, Vargo said he threw an empty plastic peanut butter container at the victim and the victim punched him in the head.

Deputies say the victim got a baseball bat from his house and came out yelling at Vargo.

Deputies say Vargo and his girlfriend then walked down the street and called the CCSO at 3:26 a.m. to report a man chased him with a baseball bat.

Vargo told deputies he and his girlfriend were at a friend's house in the 21300 block of Gladis Avenue where the victim rents a room.

Source: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/maybe-we-keep-the-peanut-butter-away-from-florida-/51658/page1/

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PFT: Fans making it clear they want lower prices

AP

Bills coach Chan Gailey can?t decide how to pick between Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller.

So the answer, in short bursts at least, is to use both.

Gailey said he wanted to use the two talented running backs in tandem at times this year, in order to maximize their effectiveness.

?You don?t want to do too much when they?re both in there because if you lose one of them then you?re without a big part of your package,? Gailey told Chris Brown of the team?s official website. ?So you?re trying to construct enough to create problems for the defense, but not so much that you?re relying totally on having both of them at the same time.

?That?s a fine line that you walk creating offenses to be able to take advantage of both good players.?

Like the Bills, Jackson was off to a good start last year, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, and showing an impressive ability to make plays as a receiver.?But when he broke his right fibula in Week 11, Spiller didn?t miss a beat, producing at a near-Jackson level, with four 100-yards from scrimmage games and five touchdowns over the last five weeks.

Having a pair of backs who can average more than 5.0 yards per carry creates its own problems, and Gailey?s up-front about the challenge.

?I can promise you this, we will not make everybody happy,? Gailey said. ?That will not happen this year. The only thing that will make everybody happy is winning. That?s what the goal is, to come up with plans that incorporate everybody?s abilities that allow us to win.

?Other than that I can?t predict what?s going to happen as far as percentages for their touches.?

Spiller has the kind of open-field ability to split wide, but both backs have shown they could be the guy if need be. Managing their expectations will be central to Gailey?s job this year, because if he can keep them focused on team goals, there?s a chance they could give the Bills offense the kind of balance it needs.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/10/fans-making-clear-that-they-want-lower-prices/related/

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Romney bests Obama donations with help of rich few

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama on Monday said he raised $71 million in June for his re-election campaign, after Republican candidate Mitt Romney reported $106 million during the same period. It was the second consecutive month that Romney collected more cash and underscores the challenge for Obama ahead of November.

The grim news for Obama came as his campaign officials have publicly worried they were on track to lose the money race. Obama's campaign manager, Jim Messina, in an email to supporters just three days ago, said: "Their gap is getting wider, and if it continues at this pace, it could cost us the election."

Obama is fighting on two fronts to keep the presidency: On one hand, he faces Romney's own war chest that pays for campaign operations. On the other, he has to push back against the hundreds of millions of dollars flowing to GOP-aligned "super" political action committees, or PACs, which have aired continual attack ads aimed at Obama and his record.

Indeed, wealthy donors have been instrumental in helping Romney beat Obama. When he broke fundraising records last month, Romney's campaign praised small-dollar donors it said made it possible. But it was actually a small and often wealthy number of donors responsible, who gave an average of about $2,400 each, according to an Associated Press analysis.

Like Obama, Romney often touts the high percentage of donors who gave less than $250, underscoring the perception that a large, grassroots group of Americans want him in the White House. Romney's campaign said that about 94 percent of 571,000 donors gave those amounts in June, or about $22 million.

But that leaves a little more than 34,000 responsible for the rest of the $83.8 million, the AP found. That's about $2,400 on average per person.

Just as first-class passengers pay the bulk of an airline flight's costs, wealthy donors to Romney and Obama often make the difference for campaigns. Even for Obama, who harnessed the power of small, grassroots donations to help clinch the presidency four years ago, more than two-thirds of his supporters gave $200 or more.

Both men have broad geographic appeal, with contributions from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Discounting small donors would ignore an important measure of support for the candidates, particularly as Romney is gaining on the president in terms of cash left in the bank.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Romney surrogate, said June's contributions point to an increasing grassroots-fundraising movement that he said is exceeding expectations. "People feel the country is on the wrong track," Pawlenty said in an interview. "They're hopeful and excited. And they're willing to chip in."

Meanwhile, large contributors ? up to the legal limit of $2,500 for the campaign during the primary and another $2,500 during the general election - are vital in an election whose cost might surpass $1 billion.

In May, for example, a month after Romney began raising money with the Republican Party, he raised $76.8 million - more than Obama and Democrats by about $16 million. During that month, only one in six donors accounted for $64.8 million - or 84 percent - of that cash.

The importance of high-dollar donors underscores the more than 100 fundraising events Romney has held since earlier this spring, in tony locales like Park City, Utah; Aspen, Colo.; and the Hamptons. Just this weekend, an evening dinner at the ocean-front Hamptons estate of billionaire industrialist David Koch cost $50,000 per person or $75,000 per couple.

Obama's campaign hosts glitzy campaign events of its own, more recently at actor George Clooney's mansion in California. But Romney's fundraising surge underscores how wealthy donors are creating a financial challenge for Obama - who once assailed the influence of corporate money and super PACs.

Republican-aligned super PACs, including Restore Our Future and American Crossroads, plan to spend hundreds of millions of dollars this election to defeat Obama. While Obama has super PACs working in his favor, they haven't harnessed the large sums of money that the pro-Romney groups have been able to do so far.

As a result, Obama's campaign has said repeatedly and publicly that the president could be the first incumbent to be out-raised by his challenger. That message has come lately in the form of online fundraising pleas, asking supporters for small donations - usually $3 - to help push back against Romney.

"We exceeded expectations - more than 706,000 people like you stepped up and pitched in for a grand total of $71 million raised for this campaign and the Democratic Party," said Ann Marie Habershaw, the Obama campaign's chief operating officer.

"Bad news? We still got beat," she said. "Handily."

___

Associated Press writer Steve Peoples in Southampton, N.Y., contributed reporting.

Follow Jack Gillum on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jackgillum

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/romney-bests-obama-donations-help-rich-few-180531843.html

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Kourtney Kardashian has baby girl, Penelope Scotland

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images file

Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick.

By Gina Serpe and Ken Baker, E! Online

Look out, world: there's an adorable new Kardashian to keep up with now!

Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick have welcomed their second child -- and first daughter -- E! News has exclusively learned.

The baby girl was born early Sunday in Los Angeles at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and joins big brother Mason in the ever-expanding Kardashian-Disick household. So how did the birth go down? And, most importantly, what's the cutie pie's name?

MORE: Keeping Up With the Kardashians Recap: Trouble in Family Vacay Paradise?

Let's say hello to Penelope Scotland Disick.

"Scott and I are overjoyed to welcome our precious angel Penelope Scotland Disick into our lives. We are forever blessed. Mommy and baby are resting comfortably," Kourtney tells E! News.

The 33-year-old E! star had an all-natural birth, and her new mini-me tipped the scales at 7 pounds, 14 ounces.

"It was a great. She had an easy delivery," matriarch Kris Jenner tells us. "[Penelope] is so cute. She looks just like Mason. She's so beautiful. We are so happy."

As it happens, this has been one highly anticipated birth (complete with a headline-grabbing false alarm), and not just among the fans.

Kourtney and Scott announced the news?of the impending stork delivery last November, and revealed that they were expecting their first daughter?in February of this year (son Mason turned the big 0-2 in December).

MORE: Kourtney's New L.A. Dash Boutique: Take a Look!

Simon Russell / Getty Images Contributor

In May, the family -- along with Kim Kardashian's beau, Kanye West -- celebrated the baby-to-be with a femme-fueled, pink-themed baby shower.

As for the million-dollar question: as Mason's birth was must-see TV, are the proud new parents going to once again share with fans the miracle of life?

"I don't know," Kourtney said?on the "Tonight Show" a few weeks ago. "We're gonna film it again ourselves, and honestly, my experience last time was so peaceful and calm and everything you don't see in the movies. And I really wanted to share that with people so they knew it doesn't have to be a crazy screaming session."

Watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians every Sunday at 9 p.m. on E!

This time around, we'll have to wait and see. While Kourtney said she and Scott planned on filming the birth, they would decide after the fact if they were going to go public with the footage. And something tells us that's not their biggest priority at the moment.

Congrats, you two!

PHOTOS: Flashback! Kourtney Kardashian Baby Shower

Related content:

Source: http://entertainment.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/09/12635425-kourtney-kardashian-has-baby-girl-penelope-scotland?lite

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North Korea TV shows Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh

North Koreans visit the statues of late leaders Kim Il Sung, left, and Kim Jong Il, right, on Sunday, July 8, 2012, on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang, North Korea, to pay tribute to Kim Il Sung on the 18th anniversary of the former North Korean leader's death. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

North Koreans visit the statues of late leaders Kim Il Sung, left, and Kim Jong Il, right, on Sunday, July 8, 2012, on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang, North Korea, to pay tribute to Kim Il Sung on the 18th anniversary of the former North Korean leader's death. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

North Koreans lay flowers at the statues on Mansu Hill of the country's late leaders, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, to mark the 18th anniversary of Kim Il Sung's death on Sunday, July 8, 2012, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

North Koreans bow in front of a statue of Kim Il Sung on the 18th anniversary of the late North Korea founder's death on Sunday, July 8, 2012, at Mansu Hill in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) ? Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh took the stage in North Korea during a concert for new leader Kim Jong Un in an unusual performance featuring Disney characters.

Performers dressed as some of America's most memorable cartoon characters danced and pranced as footage from "Snow White," ''Dumbo," ''Beauty and the Beast" and other popular Disney movies played on a massive backdrop, according to still photos shown on state TV Saturday.

The inclusion of characters popular in the West ? particularly from the United States, North Korea's wartime enemy ? is a notable change in direction for performance arts in Pyongyang.

In recent years, performances such as the "Arirang" mass games featured performers dressed as panda bears in homage to North Korean ally China.

This appears to be the first time Disney characters have been included in a major performance, though Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse have been popular among children for several years. Backpacks, pencil cases and pajamas imported from China often feature Disney characters, and stories such as "Dumbo" have been translated into Korean for North Korean schoolchildren. However, it is unusual to make such images a central part of a North Korean performance and to publicize it on state TV.

The performance was staged Friday by the new Moranbong band, which was making its debut after being assembled by Kim himself, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said.

Kim, who took power after his father, longtime leader Kim Jong Il, died in December, has a "grandiose plan to bring about a dramatic turn in the field of literature and arts this year," KCNA said.

The dispatch made no mention of Disney characters, but said the concert included the traditional folk tune "Arirang" as well as a number of upbeat foreign songs.

Featuring Disney characters signals that Kim may be seeking to carve out a different image than his father and grandfather by easing restrictions on Western culture, said Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea professor based in Seoul, South Korea.

Kim, who is in his late 20s, has sought to project an image of youth, vitality and modernity.

Early Sunday, he led top officials in paying their respects to his late grandfather, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, at the mausoleum where he lies in state. Kim died 18 years ago Sunday.

Earlier in the year, a quintet of accordionists became a YouTube sensation for their arrangement of "Take on Me," a pop song by the Swedish band A-ha.

North Korea and the United States remain in a technical state of war because they signed a truce, not a peace treaty, after three years of fighting in 1953. The foes do not have diplomatic relations.

___

Associated Press writers Jean H. Lee and Hyung-jin Kim contributed to this report from Seoul, South Korea.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-07-08-NKorea-Disney%20Characters/id-82cec15cc6e4466b86487c9043e880d3

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'The Host' Cast Answer Fans' Twitter Questions

Saoirse Ronan and Max Irons field queries during MTV News' visit to the set of the upcoming adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's book.
By Amy Wilkinson, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Saoirse Ronan and Jake Abel in "The Host"
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1689195/host-cast-fan-twitter-questions.jhtml

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Kansas taps oil, gas wells for additional revenue

Amid the tax cuts passed by the Kansas Legislature this session is an increase in the state?s severance tax on oil and gas wells, The Lawrence Journal-World reports.

The state repealed a 24-month severance tax exemption for gas wells and for oil wells producing more than 50 barrels a day. The change, effective July 1, is expected to generate $18 million this fiscal year and $45 million in the next year.

Experts said the legislation shouldn?t hit most small producers in the state, and will let Kansas benefit from an increase in oil production.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vertical_16/~3/8W5x25CMdZg/kansas-taps-oil-gas-wells-for.html

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