High sustainability marks for Singapore real estate | Eco-Business.com

The mixed-use Bedok Mall and Residences was one of five CapitaLand properties to receive a Platinum green building rating from BCA's Green Mark scheme. Image: CapitaLand.

Singapore real estate firm CapitaLand this year passed a new milestone on its path to sustainability, said senior managers at a Friday press briefing.

The firm, which officially started Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives in 2000, launched a review this month of its sustainability progress and policies.

Recent accomplishments include becoming one of only four Singapore-based firms to have its sustainability report verified by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the developer of the most widely used corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting framework.

GRI provides industry-specific guidelines for firms to voluntarily rate themselves on a range of ESG factors. Companies have the option of obtaining audits from independent sources and verification of their report rating by the GRI.

Deputy chief corporate officer Tan Seng Chai said the company, which has a ?B+? rating from GRI, would like to achieve the maximum ?A+? rating ? but not if it meant excluding parts of the firm?s international operations from its reports.

The GRI guidelines require data that is not readily available in some of the areas where CapitaLand operates, he explained. The firm plans to progressively improve all of its sites in the 20 countries where operates, and that process was more important than the GRI rating, he added.

According to a 2011 study from the non-profit organisation Singapore Compact, 79 out of 562 listed companies produced sustainability reports for that year. Only six of those firms had their reports externally audited and four obtained GRI verification.

The study found that sectors such as mining and agriculture, which face higher regulatory requirements, were more likely to produce sustainability reports than other sectors.

Singapore?s stock exchange introduced voluntary reporting guidance for its members last year to encourage more listed companies to report on their ESG performance.

Meanwhile, the national Building and Construction Agency (BCA) has been raising sustainability standards for the real estate sector since Singapore set a target in 2008 to bring 80 per cent of its buildings to green building standards by 2035.

The sector has improved its CSR performance tracking and reporting alongside its growing awareness of sustainable buildings.

The Singapore Compact study singled out Singapore-based property developers such as CapitaLand and City Developments Limited for their progress in CSR reporting and said they stood out for the quality of reporting in areas such as workforce figures, risk mitigation, environmental factors and Occupational Health and Safety.

In January, the two firms became the only Singaporean firms to make the Corporate Knights annual list of the ?Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations.

Both firms have committed to obtaining at least a GoldPlus rating from BCA?s green building scheme for new and refurbished ? or retrofitted ? properties. GoldPlus is the second highest green building rating and is two levels above the standard Green Mark.

CDL, which in July obtained a GRI verified ?A+? rating on its sustainability report for its Singapore operations, regularly shares its CSR reporting expertise with other companies at sustainability seminars and workshops to show the benefits of implementing and tracking CSR policies.

Certified green buildings saved the firm and its customers about S$19.7 million in electricity costs for each year between 2008 and 2011, according to CDL data for 37 of its buildings.

CDL managing director Kwek Leng Joo said in a statement at the report?s release that efforts to spread awareness of sustainability within the industry were paying off.

?We are heartened to see increased interest and acceptance from our business peers and industry stakeholders, cognisant of the need to address more than just financial performance,? he added.

Source: http://www.eco-business.com/features/high-sustainability-marks-for-singapore-real-estate/

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Little Evidence on Value of Treatments for Autism: Report - - Health ...

TUESDAY, Aug. 28 (HealthDay News) ? There is just not enough evidence to determine whether or not current treatments actually help adolescents and young adults with autism, researchers report.

?Overall, there is very little evidence in all areas of care for adolescents and young adults with autism, and it is urgent that more rigorous studies be developed and conducted,? report senior author Melissa McPheeters, director of Vanderbilt University?s Evidence-Based Practice Center, said in a university news release.

Her team reviewed 32 studies published between 1980 and 2011 on therapies for people aged 13 to 30 with autism.

They found some evidence that treatments might boost social skills and educational outcomes such as vocabulary and reading, but the studies were generally small and had limited follow-up.

There was little evidence supporting the use of drug therapy for people with autism in these age groups. The most consistent findings showed that antipsychotic medications might lessen problem behaviors such as irritability and aggression. However, harmful side effects linked to these medications included weight gain and sedation.

Only five studies tested interventions involving work skills training for young people with autism. All of the studies suggested that vocational interventions may be effective for some adolescents and young adults with autism, but the studies also had significant flaws that raised questions about their conclusions.

One expert said the paucity of data on this topic is disheartening.

?Only five studies that address vocation skills were published in the last three decades, and all were of poor quality,? said Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer at the advocacy group Autism Speaks. However, ?the meager evidence that exists suggests that vocational interventions improve rates of employment, reduce autism symptoms, and [improve] quality of life.?

She said more and better data is needed. ?Given the huge number of adolescents [with autism] who will be entering adulthood in the next several years, it is crucial that we address this knowledge gap,? Dawson said. ?There is a great need for research to identify the most effective strategies for helping young people with autism navigate the transition to adulthood successfully.?

Autism rates are rising, but much remains to be discovered about treatments, added the researchers, whose review was published by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The findings about vocational interventions were published separately in the Aug. 27 issue of the journal Pediatrics.

?There are growing numbers of adolescents and adults with autism in need of substantial support. Without a stronger evidence base, it is very hard to know which interventions will yield the most meaningful outcomes for individuals with autism and their families,? Zachary Warren, director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center?s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, said in the news release.

More information

Autism Speaks has more about autism treatments.

? Robert Preidt

SOURCES: Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., chief science officer, Autism Speaks; Vanderbilt University, news release, Aug. 27, 2012

Last Updated: Aug. 28, 2012

Copyright ? 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Source: http://news.health.com/2012/08/28/little-evidence-on-value-of-treatments-for-autism-report/

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No 'quick fix' in Lake Malawi border dispute: Tanzania

Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe on Saturday ruled out any "quick fix" in negotiations over a border dispute with Malawi.

"It's not a rush to negotiated settlement. There is no quick fix to negotiated settlement," Membe told a bilateral ministerial meeting on the dispute over Lake Malawi, where Lilongwe has awarded an oil exploration licence to a British firm.

"It is a long way with corners, sometimes with sharp corners, but we must negotiate through and we negotiate because we want a solution," he said. "This is a serious business that requires serious minds."

Technical experts from the two countries wrapped up five days of talks on Friday over a long-ignored dispute that has assumed new importance with the prospect of oil revenues in the region.

The experts presented their recommendations to the ministers but a final decision rests with the countries' two presidents.

"Each side has a serious case. If you think that the other side has no serious case, that is self-deception," Membe said.

Surestream of Britain has won the right to explore for oil in northeastern waters near Tanzania, a largely undeveloped swath of Lake Malawi.

Malawi claims ownership of the entire lake under an 1890 agreement -- whose validity is disputed by Tanzania.

Membe said: "Neighbours must endure, neighbours must always remain neighbours, and we are here because of differences in positions."

He said whatever the outcome of the negotiations, "the basis must be scientific for generations to come."

Membe's Malawian counterpart Ephraim Mganda Chiume, for his part, advocated a "quick solution" on the 50-year-old dispute.

"This issue has been going on for too long. ... It has brought tension among our people and the feeling is that we should resolve it for our people to continue to co-exist in peace."

He appealed for "amicable discussions and hopefully we should come up with a long-lasting and amicable solution."

The two ministers were expected to issue a statement on their talks late Saturday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/malawi-banks-history-cling-lake-malawi-203056905.html

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62-year-old?s swim from Cuba to Florida being live tweeted

Diana Nyad's epic attempt is taking her through shark and jellyfish infested waters

What are your plans for today? Chances are good that they don't include attempting to swim solo from Cuba to Florida. That's just what 62-year-old Diana Nyad is doing right now, however, and you can follow her adventure at sea as it happens via Twitter.

Nyad, who previously attempted the swim when she was 29, is being followed by teams in support boats who are chronicling her progress using social media. In addition to Twitter updates, they're providing more detailed accounts of her swim via her blog, which features photos and a real-time Google map of her current location.

The route for her swim takes her through areas known to be inhabited by sharks and jellyfish, and Nyad has already suffered a couple of jellyfish stings. According to her Twitter feed, the latest hurdle in Nyad's "Xtreme Dream" swim has come in the form of a strong squall that blew her off course and potentially damaged the GPS unit she was wearing.

Nyad's currently about 38 miles into her swim, which was originally pegged for 103 miles in all. The dangers she's encountering, along with pollution on the ocean's surface, are forcing her to take a longer route that passes further into the Gulf of Mexico. If she continues facing delays, she'll actually turn 63 while she's still out at sea.

[Image credit: Diana Nyad]

This article was written by Randy Nelson and originally appeared on Tecca

More from Tecca:

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/62-old-swim-cuba-florida-being-live-tweeted-204316405.html

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Light my Fire: Gov't Subsidized Automaker Recalls Hybrid Model ...

Electric-car maker Fisker Automotive is recalling all of its $100,000 Karma sports sedans to fix cooling fans that can catch fire. The recall comes after Fisker and a private fire investigation firm finished probing an Aug. 10 fire in a Karma in Woodside, Calif.

It was the second of its kind.

The company said the probe found that the blaze started in front of the Karma?s left front wheel where a cooling fan is located. Wiring in the fan failed and it overheated, causing the slow-burning fire, Fisker said Saturday.

Fisker said in a statement that the fire had nothing to do with car?s lithium-ion battery or other ?new technology? components:

The investigation located the ignition source to the left front of the Karma, forward of the wheel, where the low temperature cooling fan is located. The final conclusion was that this sealed component had an internal fault that caused it to fail, overheat and start a slow burning fire.

?This incident resulted from a single, faulty component,? Executive Chairman and co-founder Henrik Fisker said in the statement.

Financially speaking, the recall isn?t going to help Fisker, which has received $193 million of a $529 million federal loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy. Oh, and in case you weren?t aware, the company also has a midsize sedan, the Atlantic, in development, but that project has been on hold ever since the DOE suspended Fisker?s loan following the Karma battery trouble.

So, between the fan problem and the fact that the Karma had to be recalled earlier this summer because of coolant leak issues ? and despite Fisker?s assurances that the fan recall is not expected to have a ?material financial impact? ? it looks like the government subsidized automaker is having some serious problems.

FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2010 file photo, Fisker Automotive's Fisker Karma, a sports luxury plug-in hybrid car, sits on display at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles. Fisker says Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012, it is recalling the Karma sedan to fix cooling fans that can catch fire. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

?[T]hings ? are so bad that also last week Fisker announced its third CEO hire in the past year (when in a supremely ironic move it hired the former head of the Chevy Volt program Tony Posawatz),? Zero Hedge notes.

?Oh well: nothing that burning, quite literally, severeal [sic] hundred more million in taxpayer funding won?t solve,? the Hedge adds.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/light-my-fire-govt-subsidized-automaker-recalls-hybrid-model-over-safety-concerns/

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Microsoft eyes the iPad

The 10.6-inch Microsoft Surface RT tablet.

(Credit:
Josh Lowensohn/CNET)

Microsoft conceived Windows RT and Surface to compete with the
iPad.

And IDC?s Bob O?Donnell believes that will dictate pricing. For both Microsoft-branded Surface RT and other Windows RT products from companies like Asus and Dell.

The 32GB iPad (currently $599) has a big bull?s eye on its back, O?Donnell told me yesterday. For both Surface and RT devices from Microsoft partners. And throw Windows 8 Pro devices based on Intel?s power-efficient system-on-a-chip, aka Atom, into that mix too, said O?Donnell.

Remember, RT
tablets use power-frugal ARM chips and come with a version of Windows 8 that is not compatible with older Windows software. Windows 8 Pro tablets, on the other hand, are powered by Intel chips and can run the millions of older Windows programs out there.

The only product lines that won?t compete directly with the iPad are high-end tablets (and tabletlike devices) based on Intel?s fast Core i series chips used in ultrabooks, said O?Donnell. They will be priced in the $899 to $999 ballpark, he said.

And that will include Microsoft?s Surface Pro tablet coming out in early 2013.

And what about that rumored $199 Microsoft Surface tablet that theoretically would compete with Google?s $199 Nexus 7?

For guidance, I have been told repeatedly by Microsoft that ?suggested retail pricing?is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class PC.? (The same statement Microsoft made in June when it launched Surface.)

And I was told yesterday by someone familiar with Microsoft?s Surface strategy that ?comparable? does not apply to a 7-inch tablet, like the Nexus 7. Comparable products are 10-inch class tablets with the latest versions of
Android from a first-tier player like Samsung.

So, that means theoretically that Surface RT and other RT products could compete with a low-end 10-inch class Wi-Fi-only Android product from Samsung, for example.

Whatever the case, all of the low-end 10-inch class Android tablets from top-tier vendors, like the $399 Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, are competing with the $399 iPad 2.

But $199? I?ll leave that to readers to speculate (e.g., $199 with a monthly Microsoft subscription), but I don?t see any new 10-inch $199 tablets from Samsung, Motorola, or Asus.

Source: http://www.news.medubai.com/microsoft-eyes-the-ipad/

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Hits 1000 business internet marketing strategies | Hits 1000

bit.ly ?how do I use the internet in my business? is one of the most common questions asked by work from home individuals, small business owners as well as corporate executives. Based on my international marketing strategy development experience as well as internet marketing involvement I have developed the Internet Channel Marketing seminar to help answer this question for business executives around the world ? let me know if we can help you ?
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This entry was posted in Business Online Marketing and tagged Business, Internet, Marketing, Strategies. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://hits1k.com/business-internet-marketing-strategies/

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Emma Watson Held Out For 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' Role

'Harry Potter' star explains why she took so long to play someone other than Hermione.
By Jocelyn Vena

Emma Watson and Logan Lerman in "The Perks of Being A Wallflower"
Photo: Summit Entertainment

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1692074/emma-watson-perks-of-being-a-wallflower.jhtml

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Massachusetts butterflies move north as climate warms

ScienceDaily (Aug. 19, 2012) ? The authors of a Harvard study published August 19 in Nature Climate Change gathered their data from an unlikely source -- the trip accounts of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club. During the past 19 years, the amateur naturalist group has logged species counts on nearly 20,000 expeditions throughout Massachusetts. Their records fill a crucial gap in the scientific record.

Once analyzed, the data show a clear trend. "Over the past 19 years, a warming climate has been reshaping Massachusetts butterfly communities," notes Greg Breed, lead author on the study and a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard Forest in Petersham.

Subtropical and warm-climate species such as the giant swallowtail and zabulon skipper -- many of which were rare or absent in Massachusetts as recently as the late 1980s -- show the sharpest increases. At the same time, more than three-quarters of northerly species (species with a range centered north of Boston) are now declining in Massachusetts, many of them rapidly. Most impacted are the species that overwinter as eggs or small larvae, indicating that these overwintering stages may be much more sensitive to drought or lack of snow cover.

The study creates new questions for managing threatened species. "For most butterfly species, climate change seems to be a stronger change-agent than habitat loss," says Breed. "Protecting habitat remains a key management strategy, and that may help some butterfly species. However, for many others, habitat protection will not mitigate the impacts of warming."

Breed points to the frosted elfin, a species that receives formal habitat protection from the state. This southerly distributed butterfly is now one of the most rapidly increasing species in Massachusetts, with an estimated 1,000 percent increase since 1992. Some of this increase may be due to habitat protections, Breed allows. But over the same period, atlantis and aphrodite fritillaries, historically common summer butterflies in Massachusetts, have declined by nearly 90 percent -- yet these northerly species remain unprotected.

The kind of information collected by the Massachusetts Butterfly Club is becoming increasingly valuable to scientists and land managers alike. Elizabeth Crone, senior ecologist at the Harvard Forest and another co-author on the study, notes, "Careful datasets from amateur naturalists play a valuable role in our understanding of species dynamics. Scientists constantly ask questions, but sometimes the data just isn't there to provide the answers, and we can't go back in time to collect it. This study would not have been possible without the dedication and knowledge of the data collectors on those 19,000 club trips."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Harvard University.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Greg A. Breed, Sharon Stichter, Elizabeth E. Crone. Climate-driven changes in northeastern US butterfly communities. Nature Climate Change, 2012; DOI: 10.1038/nclimate1663

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/dWIDC_xz5AA/120819153741.htm

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Mine violence hits at South Africa's political problem

MARIKANA, South Africa (Reuters) - The bloody protest by South African miners that ended in a hail of police gunfire and 34 deaths this week could also wound the ruling ANC and its main labor ally, laying bare workers' anger over enduring inequalities in Africa's biggest economy.

Thursday's shooting, bringing back memories of apartheid-era violence, underlined that after 18 years in power the African National Congress and its union partner have not been able to heal the fissures of income disparity, poverty and joblessness scarring the country.

The deadliest security incident since the end of apartheid has exposed grass roots discontent among the rank and file of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the country's biggest union that has been a training ground for ANC leadership and a staunch supporter of President Jacob Zuma.

"The NUM is all about politics. They have forgotten about the man in the mine shaft," said Lazarus Letsoele, one of the striking miners at the Lonmin Marikana mine, about 100 km (60 miles) northwest of Johannesburg.

He escaped on Thursday when police opened fire on the strikers in what has been dubbed "the Marikana Massacre", prompting a government inquiry and a wave of soul-searching in post-apartheid South Africa.

Despite billions of dollars of spending by the ANC on poverty reduction and union friendly laws to protect workers exploited by the past white-minority regime, the gap between haves and have-nots is still one of the highest in the world.

Per capita GDP is over $8,000 a year but nearly 40 percent of the population lives on less than $3 a day.

At the Lonmin mine producing the precious metal platinum used in vehicle catalytic converters and jewelry, stray dogs pick over litter-strewn, wind-swept fields of dust near the clustered corrugated tin homes that are mining settlements.

"We want more money and we want someone who can get it for us," said a mineworker who asked to be called by his first name Paulo and lives in a shanty facing the field where the miners were gunned down.

Platinum sells for about $1,440 an ounce but a worker drilling underground at tonnes of rock face to extract it makes less than $500 a month.

"This is a strike against the state and the haves, not just a union matter," political analyst Justice Malala wrote in the British daily Guardian in reference to people like Letsoele, who live in the mine's shantytowns.

POWER PLAYS

Thursday's shooting, in which a rank of police fired automatic weapons against advancing strikers, has been likened to the 1960 Sharpeville township massacre near Johannesburg under apartheid, when white-led police fired on a crowd of black protesters, killing more than 50.

South Africa's police, now predominantly black, said they fired in self-defense at Marikana to protect themselves against men armed with spears, machetes and pistols.

Peter Major, mining consultant at Cadiz Corporate Solutions in Cape Town, said the Lonmin unrest was an ugly reminder of the social instabilities that still persist, but are often hidden by the ANC's electoral dominance.

"These people aren't just going on strike for better wages. There are power plays and rogue elements involved as well. And remember: these mines are surrounded by townships of thousands of unemployed people, tens of thousands often, of volatile, unemployed, uneducated people," he said.

The ANC has enjoyed virtual one-party rule since taking over in 1994, with its nearest opponent more than 40 percent behind in the last 2011 elections. Its base of support is among poor blacks, who are loath to vote for the main opposition Democratic Alliance, seen as the party of white privilege.

Labor federation COSATU, with more than 2 million members has been a vote-gathering machine powering the ANC to victories.

Critics see what they call an "iron triangle" of power among the ANC, traditional unions and industry that enriches the politically connected and protects COSATU's dominance, but shuts out masses of poor looking for jobs.

At Lonmin, many striking workers said they saw NUM as out of touch and too cozy with tight-fisted management.

"Workers have become increasingly disaffected by the traditional entrenched unions affiliated to COSATU - seeing cadre deployment of union management, increasingly remote and politically involved management not close to the concerns of workers on the ground," said Peter Attard Montalto, an emerging market economist at Nomura International.

ENTWINED INTERESTS

ANC heavyweight Cyril Ramaphosa is an example of how the interests of the former liberation movement are entwined with unionism, but also with the fortunes of industry.

Anti-apartheid activist Ramaphosa helped forge the NUM in the 1980s to fight mine owners, staging several deadly strikes. He moved into the ANC's senior leadership, using his political connections to become one of the wealthiest businessmen in South Africa. He sits on the Lonmin board as a non-executive director.

NUM has said its feud with the militant and upstart AMCU union, seen as behind the Lonmin strike, could spread, threatening a setback for labor relations in South Africa.

This could in turn feed into lower levels of investment, possibly lower growth, and a deteriorating fiscal balance.

Zuma tried to reassure investors their money would be safe, saying at a tour of the bloodied Marikana mine on Friday: "We remain committed to ensuring that this country remains a peaceful, stable, productive and thriving nation."

But the knives are out for Zuma, who is seeking re-election as the ANC's leader at a major conference in December. If he wins the party vote, he is almost assured of an another term as the country's president, which would last until 2019.

Zuma is close to the NUM: his right hand man ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe is a former NUM leader. Any damage NUM suffers could hurt Zuma, especially with some other unions in the COSATU group indicating they want him gone.

($1 = 8.3335 South African rand)

(Editing by Pascal Fletcher)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mine-violence-hits-south-africa-political-power-nexus-210847591--finance.html

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Some green shoots in housing, but full recovery remains to be seen ...

?It?s most encouraging to see a growing number of metro areas with rising median prices, which is improving the equity position of existing homeowners. Inventory has been trending down, and home builders are still under-producing in relation to growing demand,? said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, in a press release announcing the findings. ?Some of the improvement in prices is due to a smaller share of sales in low price ranges where inventory is tight.?

He believes home prices are set to rise in even more markets during upcoming quarters. CoreLogic, in its June Home Price Index, said housing prices rose 2.5 percent, on a year-over-year basis ? although if you exclude distressed sales, home prices rose 3.2 percent during the same period.

Still, when home prices rise, it?s good news for lenders, sellers and especially underwater homeowners.

An estimated 750,000 to 1 million more homeowners may now have positive equity in their homes, according to the latest data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and CoreLogic. CoreLogic reported that in the first quarter of 2012, just 23.7 percent of all homeowners with a mortgage were underwater, compared with more than 25 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011.

But does all this mean the housing crisis is over? That the housing market has finally hit rock bottom and is now heading up? The outlook is less clear.

For one thing, the number of homeowners who are behind in their mortgage payments or who were in foreclosure rose in the second quarter, according to the latest figures from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

About 11.9 percent of all mortgages on single-family homes, townhomes, condos and multifamily buildings up to 4 units are delinquent in their payments or are in foreclosure. That number is down from 2011, but ticked up slightly from 11.8 percent at the end of March.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association chief economist Jay Brinkmann, those numbers are consistent with the slowing of the economy.

And the number of foreclosures that are available for sale is set to rise again, after several months of decline. Once those properties go on the market, home prices in some of the hardest-hit areas could start falling again.

It all goes back to jobs and the unemployment level. At the heart of it, jobs and real estate are inextricably tied together. If you don?t have a job that pays the bills, you can?t pay your mortgage, and if you?re renting, you can?t buy a home. Until more people have better-paying jobs, we won?t see a real recovery in real estate.

(Ilyce R. Glink?s latest book is ?Buy, Close, Move In!? Samuel J. Tamkin is a Chicago-based real estate attorney. If you have questions, you can call Ilyce?s radio show toll-free (800-972-8255) any Sunday, from 11a-1p EST. Contact Ilyce and Sam through her website, http://www.thinkglink.com.)

Source: http://www.robertpaulsells.com/blog/some-green-shoots-in-housing-but-full-recovery-remains-to-be-seen-katonah-realtor/

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Autism, Asperger's, and Roleplaying Study: Survey Two Out!

Hello! Many of you very graciously participated in the first exploratory survey of a study on autism, Asperger's, and roleplaying sometime between July 2011 and the present, and the second survey has been in the works for many months now. This second, more focused survey has now been released!

Our study is exploring the habits, attitudes, experiences, and behavior of Autistic roleplayers compared to the habits, attitudes, experiences, and behavior of non-Autistic roleplayers. We would love to have responses from both Autistic people and non-Autistic people. In the second survey, we will be asking more focused questions to elicit information about all types of roleplayers, though we have maintained a focus toward text-based types of roleplaying and collaborative writing.

We need any and all roleplayers to participate, whether they have disabilities or not. Here is the link to the survey. If that link doesn't work, try copying and pasting this URL into your browser instead -- http://goo.gl/plVdu. The survey may take around an hour to complete if uninterrupted, but you may pause the survey for as long as you want provided that you do not close the tab or window or shut down your computer. Some of the questions may be sensitive or triggering, and pausing is encouraged.

If you have any questions or concerns about the survey, please don't hesitate to contact us at this email address (autismandroleplaying@gmail.com).

Thank you!

~ Your resident Ylanne

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/0qRiH4BiOAc/viewtopic.php

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I Found a Way to Be Healthy on Dina's Asian Diet, Nutrition and ...

?

Article by Kristina Dizon

When my doctor informed me that the reason for my constant headaches and dizziness is hypertension, I was shocked. I thought only old and obese people can get that condition. I was only twenty eight years old and I may have been just 5-8 lbs over my ideal weight. Seeing my disbelief, my doctor explained to me that just because I was young and not overweight does not mean I cannot get hypertension. According to him an unhealthy diet and lifestyle may be the culprit in my case.

My doctor was actually right. I am blessed with a fast metabolism that even though I eat a lot of junk foods like burgers, fries, pizzas, cakes, potato chips, sodas and microwavable dinners, I dont gain weight, or if I do, just a little bit. On top of that, I smoke two packs of cigarettes a day, as well as party and drink during weekends. I told my doctor of my unhealthy way of life, so that he can help me get better.

My doctor told me honestly that the only thing that will completely cure me is not with the help of conventional medicine, but rather, a change to a healthy lifestyle and diet. He advised me to get 8 hours of sleep a day, quit smoking and drinking alcohol, eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, and exercise regularly. He said that the medicines he prescribed were only maintenance medicines to make my blood pressure be on a normal level.

Scared of dying young and leaving my young kids with no mother, I decided to follow my doctor

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Source: http://howcanyouloseweighttoday.com/2012/08/12/i-found-a-way-to-be-healthy-on-dinas-asian-diet-nutrition-and-fitness-blog-how-do-i-lose-weight-fast/

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UN: Tens of Thousands Without Drinking Water in N.Korea (Voice Of America)

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Distracted Pedestrian ER Visits Rise

60-Second Tech | Technology

The number of gadget-distracted walkers injured seriously enough to be treated at emergency rooms has quadrupled in the past seven years. Larry Greenemeier reports.

August 2, 2012?|

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With more and more car accidents attributed to "distracted driving" it's become clear just how dangerous it can be to fiddle with your cell phone while behind the wheel. Now it seems more and more people are failing to safely use their mobile gadgets while walking.

The number of distracted walkers injured seriously enough to be treated at hospital emergency rooms have more than quadrupled in the past seven years, according to the Associated Press.

That's not even counting the untold incidents of stubbing your toe or doing that little trip-run move across the sidewalk.

These hospital cases are people who get hit by cars, fall off curbs or even onto train tracks because they're too busy texting, surfing the Web or in some other way too distracted to watch where they're going. There were about 1,150 such incidents last year.?

There isn't any hard evidence yet that proves pedestrian gadget distraction increases the chances of pedestrian mishaps. Still, it's hard to argue with the anecdotal evidence available at the nearest street corner. Perhaps you?ve seen the video of the walker in California who?s concentrating so hard on his mobile device that he almost bumps into a bear? Don?t be that guy.

?Larry Greenemeier

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast]

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roofing company, roofing tiles - Find a Good Roofing Company by ...

by Russell Hook
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roofing company, roofing tiles More Details about roofing company, roofing tiles here.

There is nothing quite like having a beautiful new roof, especially if it is in stunning slate or beautiful clay. If you need to find a good roofing company that can deliver a top flight roof in time and on budget with exquisite workmanship then you need to jump online to find the perfect people for the job.

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When looking for a good company to help with your roofing needs you should look for one that has years and years experience in the industry as there really is no substitute for time on the job as it provides a depth and breadth of knowledge, skill and understanding that simply cannot be gained any other way. It means that you will get a better job that is done on time and in budget. Also look for a company that has experience specializing in slate, clay and peg tiles and lead related roofing work. Find one that prides themselves on their highly qualified workmanship, excellent customer service, and the premium class roofing products. One that is dedicated to conducting their business in an environmentally responsible manner whenever possible is also great as there are a number of companies that do not have this forward looking approach yet and it is good to encourage this type of thinking.

Find one that takes pride in the job from start to finish, one that has the best roofing tiles and uses all the best techniques. You want a company that will exceed your expectations.

For expert slate roofing, head online to find the best.

Author Bio:

For the past 3 years I have been writing informative and high quality articles on topic such as roofing company, roofing tiles, slate roofing and many more.

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Russell Hook

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Dezan Dezan Shira & Associates: China's Neighbors (PDF ...

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