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Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood Premiere TOMORROW!
With a brand new book in the works, a brand new business and a brand new baby onboard, this season will be action-packed. The family that plays–and works–together stays together, and this season Tori, Dean, Liam and Stella show viewers again what a family living and working in Hollywood is all about. With a new [...]
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/MyL6sH9ti4s/story01.htm
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China limits ads in TV dramas in a bid for viewers
BEIJING (AP) ? China's government is prohibiting television stations from placing advertisements in the middle of TV dramas in a move meant to attract viewers and boost program quality.
The ban, which was published Monday and takes effect Jan. 1, said no ads may appear in any drama series, whose episodes typically run 45 minutes.
The order is the latest in a series since the ruling Communist Party last month endorsed a program to raise the entertainment and ideological value of cultural offerings to better hold the attention of Chinese increasingly turning to the Internet for alternate viewpoints.
TV is the most popular, lucrative and, hence, tightly controlled of all media in China. The ad ban follows a directive last month to limit reality shows and other entertainment fare.
The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said eliminating ads from programs will "improve the level of public cultural services, protect people's basic cultural rights ... and leave the people satisfied."
While ad revenue is expected to shrink, broadcasting executives and analysts quoted by state media said the ban will force TV stations to air higher quality series to keep viewers from switching stations.
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Ellen Siminoff: Your Grammar Is Not Married to Your Gramper
Poor grammar is ugly. To any lover of the English language who values a correctly constructed sentence, it can signify a lack of intelligence or effort. Are many of us limiting ourselves in terms of potential success by u'sing apo'strophes every time we see an 's?
Much of the problem stems from the fact that there are two schools of thought on the matter. You have those who are for teaching prescriptive grammar and nothing but. They insist on a strict set of rules with no wiggle room. Ending a sentence with a preposition (see "but" above) is tantamount to murder. Split infinitives are the devil's playthings. But then along came the new generation -- now descriptive grammar is the way to go. Allow for some flexibility and more accurately reflect the way we express ourselves. It shouldn't be a federal offense to start a sentence with "and" or "but." Go easy on the split infinitives -- they never hurt anyone.
Because of the confusion and controversy (perhaps this is a matter that should be slugged out on an episode of Hardball) the line between acceptable and unacceptable grammar has become a bit blurred. Even though the rules may have changed, they do still exist, and there are times that following them is especially vital. Here's a little guide to help you remember when it's important to exercise a bit of responsible grammaring (? not a real word):
Instances in which good grammar is essential:
1. You are filling out your college application. If the folks at Harvard catch you making an unnecessary shift in tense, they may just shift your application to the bottom of the pile.
2. You are writing the essay portion of the SAT or ACT. There's a reason this section doesn't have bubbles for you to fill in. They want to know if you can write. They are already quite satisfied with your "coloring-in" skills.
3. You are sending an SMS to your girlfriend asking her to marry you. She is going to be peeved enough that this is how you chose to pop the question -- no sense in ticking her off more by displaying a lack of subject-verb agreement.
4. You're penning a speech for the President of the U.S. to deliver on-air. If the American public hears our leader use a dangling modifier, everyone's going to start doing it.
5. You are applying for a writing gig at Shmoop. At the minimum, try to spell our name correctly.
Times when good grammar may not matter quite so much:
1. You get a gig writing packaging content for Frosted Flakes cereal. You're grrrreat!
2. You are Mark Twain ("I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make him feel that way") James Joyce ("Must have been that morning in Raymond terrace she was at the window, watching the two dogs at it by the wall of the cease to do evil") or Anthony Burgess ("I had to have a smeck, though, thinking of what I'd viddied once in one of these like articles on Modern Youth, about how Modern Youth would be better off if A Lively Appreciation of the Arts could be like encouraged"). None of those people? Then you should probably cross your Ts and dot your Is like the rest of us mere mortals.
This is just a sampling of the grander smorgasbord of literary situations, of course. Basically, you should follow this general rule: construct your sentences carefully and with great attention to detail any time you don't want your intended audience to think you're plagiarizing straight out of Huck Finn.
?
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-siminoff/your-grammar-is-not-marri_b_1116815.html
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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Britain blames euro crisis for lower growth (AP)
LONDON ? The British government blamed the euro crisis for a big downgrade of the country's growth projections and warned that it will only achieve its deficit-reduction goals if European leaders deliver a big, bold solution soon.
Britain's Treasury chief George Osborne said Tuesday that Europe's third-largest economy was being buffeted by the slowdown in the eurozone. Though Britain retains the pound, having opted out of joining the euro, around 50 percent of the country's exports go to the 17-nation eurozone.
"If the rest of Europe heads into recession, it may prove hard to avoid one here in the U.K.," Osborne told the House of Commons.
A number of economic indicators have shown that the eurozone is heading for recession in the wake of a crippling debt crisis that's shown alarming signs of spreading from the relatively small economies of Greece and Ireland to much-bigger Italy and Spain.
Given the sharp deterioration in the eurozone, Osborne said the government was "undertaking extensive contingency planning to deal with all potential outcomes of the euro crisis."
Osborne told lawmakers that the independent Office for Budget Responsibility now expects Britain's GDP to grow by 0.9 percent this year, around half the 1.7 percent rate predicted in March. For next year, the OBR predicts growth of 0.7 percent, sharply down from the 2.5 percent prediction in March.
Its forecasts are in line with the Bank of England though slightly better than Monday's projection by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that showed Britain already slipping into a mild recession.
"Even though we believe there is an equal chance that growth will come in above or below our central forecast, the probability of a much worse outcome than the central forecast is greater than the probability of a much better one," the budget office warned.
Nevertheless the lower growth forecasts mean that government tax revenues will likely be lower than anticipated and that spending on such things as unemployment benefits will be higher.
Osborne argued that the independent analysis of the OBR found the debt challenge was "even greater than we thought because the boom was even bigger, the bust even deeper and the effects will last even longer."
As a result, he said the structural deficit ? the bit that doesn't go away when the economy improves ? won't be eliminated until 2016-17, later than previously thought.
He also said the debt-to-GDP ratio at 67.5 percent this fiscal year would increase to 78 percent in 2014/15 before falling. Though rising, Britain's debt burden is below many euro countries' equivalent rates, including Germany's.
In response, Osborne outlined a series of fresh spending cuts to keep the government on track. He also risked a fresh clash with the unions, who are preparing a big walkout Wednesday, by announcing that public sector pay rises will be capped at 1 percent for two years.
Job losses in the public sector are also expected to be way more than anticipated. The budget office said it anticipates 710,000 by early 2017, a big rise from the previous forecast of 400,000 by the first quarter of 2016.
Osborne became Britain's finance chief in May 2010 after an inconclusive election that saw the Conservative Party govern only in coalition with the Liberal Democrats. Deficit reduction has been the main economic purpose of the government after the banking crisis of 2008 pushed the British economy into recession and took a big swipe at the country's public finances.
Markets have so far given the government the benefit of the doubt, and the country's borrowing rates in the markets remain very low, especially in contrast to a number of the euro countries. Its ten-year yield stands at 2.06 percent, even lower than Germany's 2.33 percent.
The opposition Labour Party said the latest growth projections exposed the "truly colossal failure " of Osborne's focus on cutting spending.
"With prices rising, with unemployment soaring, families, pensioners and businesses already know it's hurting," said Labour's economic spokesman Ed Balls. "With billions of pounds more in borrowing to pay for rising unemployment, today we find out the truth: it's just not working."
Even after Tuesday's downgrades, many analysts think that the new growth projections are too rosy and that more spending reductions may have to be considered in the years ahead.
"Looking ahead, we expect further growth downgrades to push the borrowing forecasts even higher in future budgets and statements, deepening concerns about the U.K.'s fiscal position and testing Mr. Osborne's commitment to his own rules," said Jonathan Loynes, chief economist at Capital Economics.
Osborne offered a few treats for taxpayers: he canceled a rise in petrol tax due in January, curbed rises in rail fares and found more money for early education, infrastructure construction, state pensions and some benefits. As previously announced, he promised a 20 billion pounds ($31 billion) program to underwrite loans to small and medium-sized businesses.
He also raised the bank levy ? charged against the balance sheets of major banks ? from 0.075 percent to 0.088 percent ? but he repeated his opposition to a tax on financial transactions, calling that "a tax on pensions."
Osborne appealed to unions representing two million public sector workers to cancel a one-day strike set for Wednesday.
"Call off the strikes tomorrow. Come back to the table," Osborne appealed to the unions, which are angry about proposed changes to pensions.
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Jay-Z & Kanye West ? Watch The Throne ? Montreal, Canada [Video]
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Source: http://freshnewmusik.com/videos/jay-z-kanye-west-watch-the-throne-montreal-canada/
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Markets still buoyed by euro rescue hopes (AP)
LONDON ? Markets were boosted again on Tuesday by hopes that the 17 countries that use the euro will finally come up with a plan to deal with their crushing debt crisis, but the surprise announcement that American Airlines and its parent company are filing for bankruptcy protection checked the buying momentum.
As the 17 finance ministers of the eurozone converged on EU headquarters in a desperate bid to save their currency ? and to protect the global economy from a debt-induced financial tsunami ? investors were reminded of the urgency of the task at hand. Italy's borrowing rates in a pair of auctions shot up Tuesday to above 7 percent, an unsustainable level on a par with rates that forced the other nations to seek bailouts.
The fear is that the crisis ? which led to bailouts of Greece, Ireland and Portugal ? could engulf bigger economies such as Italy, the eurozone's third-largest. If Italy were to default on its debt of euro1.9 trillion ($2.5 trillion), the fallout could spell ruin for the euro project itself and send shock waves throughout the global economy.
Though no specific details have yet emerged of what will likely result from a Dec. 9 summit of EU leaders, the ministers are thought to be discussing ideas that would have been taboo only recently: countries ceding fiscal sovereignty to a central authority; some kind of elite group of euro nations that would guarantee one another's loans ? but require strong fiscal discipline from anyone wanting membership.
At a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, finance ministers also were likely to discuss the options ? plus a possible way to boost the region's rescue fund, the European Financial Stability Facility.
"The relatively benign market mood reflects both some rebound after last week's sharp declines, as well as hopes for progress on the European debt crisis front," said Nick Bennenbroek, an analyst at Wells Fargo Bank.
On Monday, stocks recouped some of last week's losses, particularly in Europe, with the CAC-40 in France up a massive 5 percent. As a result, the gains Tuesday were never expected to match the previous session's, especially after the bankruptcy protection decision by American Airlines, the third-largest U.S. carrier.
In Europe, Germany's DAX closed up 1 percent at 5,799.91, while the CAC-40 rose 0.5 percent at 3,026.76. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares ended 0.5 percent higher at 5,337.
The euro, meanwhile, was up 0.4 percent at $1.3347.
In the U.S., the Dow Jones industrial average was up 0.7 percent at 11,599, while the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 0.7 percent to 1,200.
Earlier, most Asian markets ended higher, with the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo climbing 2.3 percent to close at 8,477.82.
Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea's Kospi rose 2.3 percent to 1,856.52 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 1.2 percent to 18,256.20. Benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan and Australia were also higher.
Mainland Chinese shares advanced, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gaining 1.2 percent to 2,412.39.
Oil prices tracked equities modestly higher ? benchmark crude for January delivery was up $1.22 to $99.43 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
____
Pamela Sampson in Bangkok contributed to this report.
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College Prep: Top 10 Largest American Schools
Arizona State University has four campuses, but the Tempe location has the largest enrollment with over 50,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Tempe is in metropolitan Phoenix, so you'll have the experiences of both going to a large university and going to college in an urban city, so if you're a small-town girl, ASU will definitely help you come out of your shell! ASU is known for its football team, the Sun Devils, but their academic renown in engineering and nursing programs attracts scholars from all over the globe in addition to athletes on their way to the professional level. Arizona State boasts more than 13,300 out-of-state and international students, and has a freshman retention rate of over 80 percent, which is significantly higher than most undergraduate institutions. It's been ranked as one of the Top 100 world universities by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, and has top programs in a variety of concentrations. Its Tillman Center also offers one of the best support facilities for student veterans.
Arizona State University has four campuses, but the Tempe location has the largest enrollment with over 50,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Tempe is in metropolitan Phoenix, so you'll have the experiences of both going to a large university and going to college in an urban city, so if you're a small-town girl, ASU will definitely help you come out of your shell!ASU is known for its football team, the Sun Devils, but their academic renown in engineering and nursing programs attracts scholars from all over the globe in addition to athletes on their way to the professional level. Arizona State boasts more than 13,300 out-of-state and international students, and has a freshman retention rate of over 80 percent, which is significantly higher than most undergraduate institutions. It's been ranked as one of the Top 100 world universities by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, and has top programs in a variety of concentrations. Its Tillman Center also offers one of the best support facilities for student veterans.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/27/college-prep-top-10-bigge_n_1114740.html
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Cyber Monday gives Black Friday a run for its money
PORTLAND, Ore.?? Cyber Monday. Green Tuesday. Black Friday. Magenta Saturday.
Chances are you won't find any of these holidays on your calendar. Yet retailers are coming up with names for just about every day of the week during the holiday shopping season.
During T-Mobile's "Magenta Saturday," the event named for the company's pinkish-purple logo earlier this month offered shoppers the chance to buy cellphones and some tablets on a layaway plan. Mattel lured customers in with discounts of 60 percent off toys for girls and boys on "Pink Friday and "Blue Friday." And outdoor retailer Gander Mountain is giving shoppers deals on camouflage and other gear every Thursday through December during "Camo Thursdays."
"There are hundreds of promotions going on this time of year," says Steve Uline, head of marketing for Gander. "We needed to do something a little bit different."
Story: Online sales surge 26 percent on Black FridayIt's difficult to get Americans to spend money when many are struggling with job losses, underwater mortgages or dwindling retirement savings. But merchants are hoping some creative marketing will generate excitement among shoppers during the last two months of the year, a time when many of them make up to 40 percent of their annual revenue. And they know that a catchy name can make a huge difference.
"The more special you make it sound, the more you might be able to get people," says Alan Adamson, a managing director at brand consulting firm Landor Associates. "It's tricky to come up with something simple and sticky."
Retailers have done it before.
"Black Friday," the day after Thanksgiving, in the 1960s became known as the point when merchants turn a profit or operate "in the black." Later, retailers began marketing it as the start of the holiday shopping season with earlier store hours and deep discounts of up to 70 percent off.
Black Friday shoppers get bargains, less brouhahaIt's since become the busiest shopping day of the year. This past weekend, "Black Friday" sales were $11.4 billion, up 7 percent, or nearly $1 billion from the same day last year, according to a report by ShopperTrak, which gathers data from 25,000 outlets across the country. It was the largest amount ever spent on that day.
U.S. retailers racked up a record $52.4 billion in sales over the Thanksgiving weekend, a 16.4 percent jump from a year ago, the National Retail Federation said Sunday. It also forecast a 2.8 percent increase in sales for the November-to-December holiday season, down from the 5.2 percent increase in the same period last year.
'Victim of its own success'
But "Black Friday" has been a blessing and a curse: In recent years, it's become so popular that it's known for its big crowds, long lines, and even disorder and violence among some shoppers.
"Black Friday has become a victim of its own success," says Adamson, the branding expert. "It has been successful to the point where it has created the opportunity that if you don't want to deal with the madness, come out on Tuesday or some other day."
Video: Black Friday marred by violence (on this page)"Cyber Monday" was coined in 2005 when a retail trade group noticed a spike in online sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving when people returned to their work computers and shopped. While more people now have Internet access at home, retailers still offer discounts and other online promotions for the day started by Shop.org, part of The National Retail Federation.
The day has grown increasingly popular. Last year, it was the busiest online shopping day ever, with sales of more than $1 billion, according to research firm ComScore Inc.
During this week's "Cyber Monday," the NRF says nearly 80 percent of retailers plan to offer special promotions. And a record 122.9 million of Americans are expected to shop on the day, up from 106.9 million who shopped on "Cyber Monday" last year, according to a survey conducted for Shop.org.
Video: Holiday shopping breaks records (on this page)Marketers are hoping to strike gold again. Many are doing so by appealing to Americans who've become disenchanted with big business and commercialism.
Nonprofit Green America is launching "Green Tuesday" this week to encourage people to buy gifts with the environment and local communities in mind. The group is planning to push the event every Tuesday through December.
Green America, which says it aims to support society and the environment through economic programs, plans to showcase deals on its website, including jewelry made from recycled nuclear bomb equipment from online retailer Fromwartopeace.com and a self-watering system for plants by Dri Water.
Story: Black Friday weekend 2011 sees record turnout"Mass culture encourages people to run out of their house, now at midnight, and go shopping," says Todd Larsen, director of corporate responsibility for Green America, which vetted the businesses it's highlighting on its website to ensure they meet certain environmental and ethical standards. "Why not wait another day or more and buy something that helps others?"
Last year, American Express named the Saturday after Thanksgiving "Small Business Saturday" to encourage Americans to shop at mom-and-pop shops. This year, it offered a $25 credit to cardholders who register on social media website Facebook and shop at participating stores.
The company launched a campaign to promote the day ? including TV ads and marketing materials for small businesses to display in stores.
The effort has worked. Small retailers that accept Amex had a 28 percent increase in revenue during the daylong event last year, compared with a 9 percent rise for all retailers, according to card activity measured by American Express. The company did not disclose the dollar amount spent that day.
Crazed weekend launches crucial retail seasonIt's not clear yet how small businesses fared during the event this past Saturday, but a company survey before "Small Business Saturday" showed that 89 million consumers had planned to "shop small" on the day.
"People get it; they are behind it 100 percent," says Yabette Alfaro, owner of Swankity Swank, a San Francisco home furnishings and accessories shop that participates in "Small Business Saturday." "Our customers don't want to participate in Black Friday. Most of them think anyone making a stand is great."
Lizbeth Turq, a 26-year old in Deerfield, Ill., this past weekend shopped at several local shops during "Small Business Saturday." She ended up buying some gifts for the holidays, including one for her mother at a home d?cor store. Most of the items she found were 20 percent off, she says.
"It's really not an issue of having a sale or not," Turq says, "It's an issue of supporting the community I live in and creating jobs, particularly in the economy we are in."
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45459573/ns/business-retail/
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