Mikulak shines on first day of gymnastics trials

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) ? Danell Leyva likes being right as much as he enjoys winning.

The world parallel bars champion has been saying for months there is not just one guy pushing him on the way to the London Olympics. And every competition, someone else comes along to back him up.

Leyva moved into the overall lead in the race for London on Thursday, but it was Sam Mikulak who won the first day of the Olympic trials. The 19-year-old who oozes California cool finished with 91.8 points, edging Leyva by a mere 0.1 points. John Orozco, who beat Leyva for the U.S. title earlier this month, was third.

"That's huge because I did a pretty good meet myself," Leyva said. "To know he had the highest all-around score today, that's awesome."

While individual prizes are nice, the Americans want that big shiny gold medal that goes to the best team. And for the first time since 1984, they just might have the goods to do it.

Leyva and Orozco remained in position to earn automatic spots on the five-man London squad, reserved for the top two all-arounders ? so long as they also rank among the top three in at least three of the six disciplines. At the moment, Orozco and Leyva both meet those criteria, with Mikulak closing fast.

Leyva has a total score of 276.500 going into Saturday's finals, followed by Orozco (275.550) and Mikulak (274.650). Jonathan Horton, a double Olympic medalist, is fourth, and Jake Dalton is fifth.

Chris Brooks, a former world team member, lost ground in his quest to get off the London bubble, falling on both vault and parallel bars. He is in sixth place, and is in the top five in only one event.

"I don't think anybody's out of it," Brooks said. "You've got to get your head back into the game and continue to fight."

Or, if you're Mikulak, keep doing what you're doing.

Mikulak has been one to watch since claiming the NCAA title as a freshman at Michigan. But he never had a shot at last year's world championships team after breaking both his ankles at a meet in Puerto Rico. His rehab set him back several months, and the legs remained so tender it wasn't until recently that coach Kurt Golder let his precocious star bust loose.

But look at him now. Cheered on by a raucous bunch of friends wearing "Team Sam" T-shirts ? complete with Mikulak's picture ? and moving around the arena with every event, Mikulak let everyone know from the start that he cannot be overlooked. His parallel bars routine was exquisite, filled with difficult skills and combinations but done with the precision of a Swiss watchmaker.

His handstands were so still he could have been a model for an art class, and when he hit the mat with an emphatic thump, the low-key Golder pumped his fists. His score of 15.7 included a 9.5 execution mark that would be matched by only one other person the rest of the day.

He had the crowd oohing and aahing with his acrobatic high bar routine, and he displayed cat-like reflexes on floor exercise. Looking as if he was about to go out of bounds on one of his tumbling passes, his toes almost seemed to pull back into his feet to keep him safely in bounds.

His only real "flaw" was on pommel horse, where he stalled before his dismount. But he managed to hang on, and walked off the podium with a grin.

"I was just able to zone everything out, breathe and keep control over all my skills," Mikulak said.

He was so in the zone he didn't even realize he'd finished ahead of Leyva and Orozco, the last two U.S. champions.

"What?" Mikulak said when Horton told him. "Seriously?"

"Kid's a gamer," Horton said. "He just knows how to perform. That's all there is to it. He just knows how to go out there and do his job."

Indeed, Mikulak was able to keep his cool while the high stakes seemed to get the best of his more seasoned competitors.

The dynamic Leyva was perhaps a little too amped up. Leading off on floor, he zipped through a sloppy set that included a step out of bounds, moving so quickly it appeared he'd chugged a fistful of Red Bulls during warmups.

Orozco, dubbed the "Silent Ninja" because of the way he sneaks up on the competition, stumbled a bit on pommel horse, stalling just before his dismount. Two events later he took a step back, literally on vault. He failed to get the proper height off the table and crouched while landing. His rear never hit the floor, but his hands did, and the 14.8 he received blunted his momentum.

"The only thing I would like to do is my best and show the committee I'm ready and ready to compete and represent the USA," Orozco said. "I think I didn't show enough of that tonight."

It was all the opening Leyva needed despite a somewhat ho-hum afternoon that lacked the "wow" factor that's made him perhaps the most charismatic gymnast of his generation.

But as Leyva has been telling everyone, there's plenty more where he came from.

"This is such a deep team and everybody is so good," Mikulak said. "This is such a deep USA team ... but if I keep hitting routines, and they see that I'm consistent and reliable, I think that's a good quality."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mikulak-shines-first-day-gymnastics-trials-002001264--oly.html

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Video: Conservative justice tips health care ruling

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Palestinians: UN heritage nod is political victory

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) ? The Palestinians on Friday persuaded the U.N. cultural agency to list the Church of the Nativity ? the place where Christians believe Jesus was born ? as an endangered World Heritage site despite misgivings by churches in charge of the basilica.

The Palestinians hailed the nod by UNESCO as a step forward in their quest for global recognition of an independent Palestine in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967.

The centuries-old basilica is located in a part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank where the Palestinians have self-rule. UNESCO's decision was seen by them as validation of their rights to the territory.

"We are ecstatic," Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi said of Friday's 13-6 by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The Palestinians had argued that the shrine faces imminent danger, both because of overdue repairs and Israel's continued occupation of the West Bank.

Israel and the U.S. strongly opposed the emergency bid, arguing that the church is not under threat, a position backed by a U.N. experts committee.

Israeli officials have said they don't object to the church being listed, but reject the "endangered" label which implies culpability of Israel, which in practice remains the ultimate sovereign in the West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Palestinians are "engaging in unilateral actions that only distance peace" and that UNESCO is driven by political considerations.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said the Palestinians now plan to submit more sites in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem. The new bids could stir more political tensions, particularly in east Jerusalem, which Israel annexed to its capital after the 1967 war.

Ashrawi said Friday's vote is the beginning of a process.

"Our identity, our place in civilization, in history, are being recognized, are beginning to be safeguarded in the face of the Israeli occupation's encroachment, the confiscation of our land, our culture," she said.

The U.S. ambassador to UNESCO, David Killion, said Washington was "profoundly disappointed" by the vote. The U.S. has been trying to block the Palestinian recognition campaign, and withdrew tens of millions of dollars in funding from UNESCO after the Paris-based agency accepted the Palestinians as a state member last year.

Joining UNESCO was part of a wider Palestinian attempt to win global recognition for a state of Palestine in the territories Israel occupied in 1967.

Israelis and Palestinians were to have negotiated the borders of a Palestinian state, but two decades of intermittent talks produced no results. The last round broke off in 2008, and the Israeli and Palestinian leaders have failed to agree on rules for renewing them.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who heads a self-rule government in charge of 38 percent of the West Bank, says negotiations with Israel remain his preferred choice, but wants global recognition to improve his leverage. An attempt to win full U.N. membership has stalled, but meanwhile Palestinians are pushing for membership in U.N. agencies.

In their first move at UNESCO, they submitted the Nativity Church and a nearby pilgrimage route as endangered heritage sites, asking to fast-track the nomination rather than go through the normal 18-month procedure.

They argued that the church is in urgent need of repairs, particularly a leaky wooden roof. Palestinian officials said foreign donors promised $20 million for the work, but so far have paid only $3 million, not enough to get started.

Palestinians argued that Israel's continued control over the area also threatens the site.

A decade ago, when Israel launched a major offensive against Palestinian militants, the church was caught in the crossfire: Palestinian gunmen holed up inside for more than a month, with Israeli tanks and troops surrounding the shrine.

Referring to the violent standoff in Friday's statement, Netanyahu put the blame on the Palestinians.

"The world needs to remember that the Church of the Nativity that is so sacred to Christianity was desecrated in the past by Palestinian terrorists," he said.

Today, Bethlehem is ringed on three sides by walls of cement slabs and fences of Israel's separation barrier ? to Israel a defense against Palestinians militants, and to Palestinians a blatant land grab disguised as a security measure.

A U.N. experts committee recommended that the Palestinians go through the normal procedure, instead of seeking the "endangered" label, but the Palestinians refused to withdraw the bid.

The churches in charge of the shrine ? Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian ? also expressed concern, apparently fearing a World Heritage designation would lead to interference by the Palestinian government and the U.N.

The church is run according to a 19th century codex, known as the Status Quo which assigns responsibilities for upkeep that are jealously guarded by each denomination.

Palestinian officials say they've addressed the concerns by the churches.

In Bethlehem's Manger Square, next to the shrine, reaction was relatively muted Friday.

A celebration organized by local officials only brought several dozen people to the square, including youngsters in yellow T-shirts with the inscription "I love Jesus."

Palestinian Tourism Minister Rula Ma'ayah said she hopes the new heritage listing will bring more visitors. Currently, some 100,000 tourists come to Bethlehem every month.

Shop and hotel owners routinely complain they lose business because Israeli-run tour buses stop in Bethlehem just long enough for a visit to the church and then take pilgrims back to Jerusalem, a few kilometers (miles) to the north. During a recent visit, most shops on Star Street, part of the pilgrimage route, were closed.

Nabil Ziacaman, a souvenir shop owner, said Friday's vote is a step toward recognizing a state of Palestine, but won't help his business. "Everyone in the world knows the Church of the Nativity and where it is located," he said. The new label "won't bring more tourism."

Christina Yacoub, 20, from Lakeland, Florida, was more enthusiastic. Emerging from the church, said she expected more pilgrims now. The vote "shows how important this country is."

___

Laub reported from Jericho, West Bank. Associated Press writer Aron Heller in Jerusalem and Elaine Ganley in Paris contributed reporting.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/palestinians-un-heritage-nod-political-victory-192304183--finance.html

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Article Marketing : The Best Usefulness! | Writing and Speaking Tips ...

Are you needing a little help in understanding article marketing and the process that is included? Being unsure of what you are doing could hold you back from receiving the full benefits from this form of marketing. Getting the help you need and starting in a comfortable position, means understanding more about this type of marketing and how it works. Use the following tips so that things may become a little clearer about the process and where it fits in with your business marketing plan.

Make sure the articles you post on your website are not only fresh and interesting but also well-written. An article that contains grammatical errors and misspellings instantly conveys a sense of incompetence. Proofread your work not once or twice but three times. Use a reliable spellchecker. An attention-grabbing, polished article is one that people are going to want to share.

A catchy title can take you far. Your title will catch your readers attention. Try putting in descriptive words that also have a way of making your product sound better than your competitors. Add words like guaranteed, amazing, unique, proven. Get out your thesaurus and come up with words that would catch your eye if you were a consumer.

Make sure that your articles are written properly before be submitted. They need to have proper grammar and spelling. Try to avoid using a bunch of caps, those should only be used sparingly for informal shouting and anger; leave them out of professional writing unless a company has a name in all caps.

A great article marketing tip that can help you is to simply search online for subjects that you?re interested in, when you?re looking to write your own articles. There are heaps of informative articles on the internet that can assist you if you?re planning on writing your own unique articles.

If you want to succeed in article marketing seriously, don?t let private label rights (PLR) articles be your main source of content. PLR articles are copied all over the web. It doesn?t matter how much you try to spin it or rephrase it, you will end up with something that a thousand other people have on the internet and your rankings will reflect that. PLR does have its place but don?t rely on it too heavily.

Consider including images with your articles, in order to attract more attention. Images can immediately draw the eye and incorporating them in your articles is a guaranteed way of getting the articles noticed. However, just be careful that you don?t use copyrighted images or images for which you don?t have the rights.

Write your articles in a how-to format. These types of articles are great for picking a specific things and writing concrete steps to completing it. Use the articles to give away part of the process of problem solving that your products helps with, but leave enough that the reader will want to buy your product to complete their solution.

If you have written a number of articles on a particular topic, consider putting them together into an ebook. You can use that as a bonus to get readers signed up for your email list, or as a bonus offer if you are doing some affiliate work as well.

To make sure potential customers looking to buy your products receive a quick email response, set up an auto-responder. An auto-responder is a type of program that answers any email sent to it automatically. A fast response from you will make them less likely to look elsewhere, and will help you to look more professional.

Don?t be afraid to try article marketing, especially, because it holds such great opportunities for a greater and better presence online. You can use this type of marketing to really boost your relationship with target consumers and current consumers, as well. This results in opening many doors for your business?s success. For great tips about this marketing method, try these tips on for size.

Beside writing about Article Marketing, Elizebeth Barsanti also writes about Myarticlenetwork Discount? on her personal blogs. To know more about Simply PLR Discount, visit www.warriorforum.com

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Jaw-dropping switch saves 'Obamacare'

In his White House memoir, ?Courage and Consequence,? Karl Rove recalls being the lone non-lawyer among the group of George W. Bush aides who initially interviewed John Roberts for the Supreme Court in 2005. Rove asked Roberts to go back in history to name the justice whom he most revered. Roberts? answer, Robert Jackson, intrigued and reassured Rove. When appointed in 1941, Jackson was serving as Franklin Roosevelt?s attorney general and had been expected to be a pro-New Deal rubber-stamp on the court. But, as Rove put it, Jackson ?instead demonstrated a fidelity to the Constitution that Roberts admired.?

Thursday, in a jaw-dropping turnabout worthy of Justice Jackson, Roberts provided the swing vote in a 5-to-4 decision that upheld the constitutionality of almost all of Obamacare, the president?s signature legislative achievement. While an army of armchair court watchers expected Justice Anthony Kennedy to determine the fate of the Affordable Care Act (a recent Time cover called him ?The Decider?), it was Roberts who took his fidelity to the Constitution in an ideologically surprising direction. Kennedy voted with three other conservative justices to overturn the health insurance mandate at the heart of the law.

Constitutional law seminars and unlicensed political psychologists will spend years speculating about Roberts? motivations in joining the liberal bloc in probably the most important Supreme Court decision since Bush v. Gore in 2000. While we may wait decades to know for certain, it does seem plausible that Roberts may have been partly triggered by a desire to prevent the court from being seen as overtly political. Polls showing public respect for the Supreme Court at a quarter-century low reflect the growing view that the justices pursue partisan agendas.

One of the most important passages in Roberts? majority decision was the chief justice?s assertion: ?We do not consider whether the act embodied sound policies. That judgment is entrusted to the Nation?s elected leaders. We ask only whether Congress has the power under the Constitution to enact the challenge provisions.?

In short, if you want a national referendum on the health-care law, then the proper arena is the 2012 campaign?and not the inner sanctums of the Supreme Court.

The majority opinion in the health care case points up the inadequacy of the political clich?s used in the heat of an election year to describe the Supreme Court. Phrases like ?strict constructionist? and ?not making law from the bench? do not clarify complex Supreme Court opinions like Thursday?s ruling. Romney?s campaign website declares, ?As president, Mitt will nominate judges in the mold of Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Thomas and Alito.? There?s only one problem with this formulation: Roberts went in one direction and Scalia, Thomas and Alito went in the opposite on the constitutionality of the health care bill.

Obama?s own ability at prophecy is limited, as well. In 2005, the former constitutional law professor declared in a Senate address that he was opposing Roberts? nomination to the Supreme Court because ?I ultimately have to give more weight to his deeds and overarching political philosophy ? than to the assuring words he provided me in our meeting.?

While Obama has sharply disagreed with major decisions of the Roberts Court (particularly the anything-goes Citizen United ruling on campaign finance), it is tempting to wonder if the president now feels that he misjudged the man who saved his legislative legacy.

It is almost part of the job description of a president that he will make, at least, one blunder when picking Supreme Court justices. Harry Truman called one of his nominees, Tom Clark, a ?damn fool from Texas.? When George H.W. Bush tapped New Hampshire jurist David Souter in 1990, the president never expected that he would be reinforcing the court?s liberal wing. Now it is Roberts who has refused to stay in his pre-determined ideological cubbyhole.

With four current justices over the age of 70, it is likely that whoever is elected president this November will get an opportunity to put his stamp on the Supreme Court. But the potential for Lucy-and-the-football surprises endures. About the only ways a president can achieve some measure of certainty about the court are either to nominate fire-breathing ideologues like Antonin Scalia or political cronies like Abe Fortas, who kept open a back channel to Lyndon Johnson during his brief tenure as a justice. But even the Scalia precedent no longer works, because anyone with a sharply articulated judicial philosophy probably could not make it through today?s hyper-partisan Senate.

As for the health care law, its major provisions remain on schedule to take effect in 2014. Even a President Romney may find it difficult to reverse history, as he would have to face down a filibuster threat by Senate Democrats to get a repeal bill through Congress. (There are, however, administrative gambits that Romney could use to eviscerate Obamacare if Congress proves balky.) That?s why the Supreme Court seemed like such a beguiling short cut for conservatives who loathe Obamacare.

It?s also why back in 2005 Karl Rove may have badly misinterpreted John Roberts? stated intention to be an independent jurist like Robert Jackson.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/john-roberts-saves-obamacare--how-does-george-w--bush-feel-right-now-.html

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Virgin Mobile to carry iPhone from today, Sir Richard does his best Fonz impression

Virgin Mobile is offering the iPhone to its prepaid customers as of today. The Sprint-owned subsidiary is using the event to kickstart a new retail strategy that will see the company open branded retail stores in Chicago -- with a nationwide rollout dependent upon its success. Since all carriers have to make a minimum commitment to Apple in order to receive the handset, it's interesting to see that Virgin's allocation forms part of Sprint's $15.5 billion gamble on the handset that's still yet to pay off. The handset will set users back $650 for a 16GB iPhone 4S, while plans begin at $30 for 300 voice minutes, unlimited messages and data, but only if they commit to automatic monthly payments.

Continue reading Virgin Mobile to carry iPhone from today, Sir Richard does his best Fonz impression

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Video: Brees discusses concussions and bounties

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Nigerian president vows to 'deal' with Islamist sect

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Bryant Keith Alexander Named LMU Communications Dean ...

Loyola Marymount University has named Bryant Keith Alexander the new dean of the?College of Communication and Fine Arts.

Alexander was the interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters and acting chair of the Liberal Studies Department at?Cal State Los Angeles and is replacing?Barbara Busse, who served as the dean for a decade.

Prior to arriving at CSULA in 1998, Alexander worked at Minnesota State University Moorhead, Texas A&M?University?and Southern Illinois University Carbondale.?

?I am extremely excited about joining the College of Communication and Fine Arts as the new dean,? Alexander said in a statement. ?I look forward to working collaboratively with students, faculty and staff towards our joint academic, professional and personal goals as these align with the larger university mission and vision.?

Alexander starts his new?position?on July 1.

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PFT: Fujita accuses NFL of 'smear campaign'

Getty Images

A year after nearly making it to the playoffs following a total of six wins in three seasons, the planets aligned for another disastrous season in St. Louis.? And a disaster indeed unfolded, in the form of a 2-14 record.

The finish resulted in owner Stan Kroenke cleaning most of the house, firing G.M. Billy Devaney and coach Steve Spagnuolo.? On Saturday, Devaney joined Doug Farrar and Rob Rang of KJR radio (via NFL.com), and Devaney offered up a wide variety of excuses for the team?s re-collapse in 2011.

The laundry list of lamentations for losing include:? (1) the team went up for sale as soon as Devaney and Spagnuolo were hired; (2) the team had ?an old roster,? a ?really old roster?; (3) there were ?some guaranteed contracts on there that we have to live with?; (4) the lineup was essentially ?Steven Jackson and the Pips,? and Devaney said he ?probably would have been happier with some of the Pips? (oh . . . snap); (5) the team had to make tough and unpopular decisions regarding receiver Torry Holt and Orlando Pace; (6) there wasn?t much money being put into a team that was for sale; (7) after a successful season, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur left to coach the Browns; (8) a ton of injuries in 2011; (9) no offseason in 2011; and (10) a ?ridiculous? schedule in 2011.

?It was just one thing after another,? Devaney said.? ?I could tell in training camp ? I mean early on, I don?t even know if we started playing a preseason game ? things just, especially on offense, things just looked really . . . nobody looked comfortable.?

Then came the regular season, with an opening slate of games against the Eagles, Giants, Ravens, Redskins, Packers, Cowboys, and Saints.? But for a postseason-altering upset win over the Saints (if New Orleans had won, the Saints would have hosted the 49ers in the divisional round), the Rams would have started the year 0-8.

?I mean, we were hoping, and this is ? we?re trying to be optimistic ? we were hoping at the halfway point, we may have had two wins,? Devaney said.? ?We thought if we could scratch out two wins, the back end of the schedule, we could win a couple of more games.? Well, I don?t know if we won any.? We may have won one, but by that time, the roster was decimated.? We were working corners out on Tuesday and they were lining up and starting for us on Sunday. . . .? Five or six of those guys, I couldn?t even tell you who they were.?

The points are all valid, but the lesson for other General Managers and coaches is that, when a team is facing that kind of adversity, it?s important to manage expectations, both inside and outside the building.

It didn?t work internally, or Devaney and Spagnuolo would have gotten another chance to preside over another stunning turnaround.

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Iraq orders Voice of America, BBC to close

Matt Cardy / Getty Images, file

BBC journalist Huw Edwards faces the camera as soldiers march past prior to a memorial service at Basra International Airport on April 30, 2009.

By msnbc.com staff and news services

BAGHDAD - An Iraqi regulatory body has ordered the closure of 44 media outlets in the country including the BBC and Voice of America in a dispute over broadcast licenses, sources with knowledge of the order said on Sunday. However, no action was immediately taken.

Other organizations targeted for shutdown include privately-owned local TV channels Sharqiya and Baghdadia as well as U.S.-financed Radio Sawa.

---

A senior source at the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), the body responsible for the order, said the move had nothing to do with the way the outlets had reported on sectarian conflict in the country, as some reports have suggested.

US forces formally ended their nine-year war in Iraq with a low-key flag ceremony in Baghdad on Thursday. NBC's Richard Engel reports.

"The CMC sent such a letter warning them that they're going to shut down their services because they didn't pay (their license fees)," a senior source at the CMC told Reuters.

At least 70 killed during religious festival as bombers target Iraq pilgrims, cops

The regulator had passed its order to the Baghdad operations command, the source added, referring to the local law enforcement forces who would carry out the closures.

"This is totally wrong and unwise as it comes at a time when the country is plunged into political uncertainty," Ziyad al-Aajely, head of the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, said.

Saddam's Iraq is gone, but in its place is a state with close ties to one of America's biggest and most unpredictable enemies: Iran. NBC's Richard Engel has been covering the war from the start, and went back for this historic week to take a closer look at the Iran connection.

"What we are confident of is that the decision was not political, but its negative implications will definitely have political implications on the government and harm the reputation of Iraq as a free country," he added.

'Guiding and financing terrorist attacks': Interpol issues alert for Iraq's vice president

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, he called the move "a government message to the media outlets that if you are not with us, then you are against us."

'Technicalities'
The BBC said it was negotiating the renewal of its license with the Iraqi authorities.

"The delay is due to technicalities," it said in a statement. "The BBC's journalists in Baghdad are not currently experiencing any issues reporting from the country, and it is important that the BBC and other international news organizations are able to operate freely and bring independent and impartial news to audiences in Iraq and the wider region."

Saddam regime's fugitive 'king of clubs' appears in new video?

Some of the outlets on the list no longer operate bureaux in Iraq.

However, Radio Sawa, the U.S.-funded station operated by Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., told The Associated Press that it does have a license despite being on the shutdown list.

US Embassy in Iraq facing cuts amid ongoing violence

"We were surprised to see our radio station on the list because we think that we work in accordance with all Iraqi laws," Sawa deputy director Salah Nasrawi said according to the AP. He added that "bureaucracy and the delays in the government offices might be behind this."

When the U.S. military withdraws from Iraq, thousands of Americans will remain. The United States' largest embassy is in Baghdad and there are two huge consulates in the region too.? Ambassador Jim Jeffrey compared the size of the U.S. Embassy and diplomatic efforts to when he was in Saigon in 1973. Ted Koppel reports.

Iraq's main political factions have been locked in a crisis since December, with opponents of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki accusing the Shiite leader of trying to consolidate power at their expense.

Maliki is trying to fend off attempts by Sunni, Kurd and some Shiite rivals to organize a vote of no-confidence against him.

Reuters and msnbc.com staff contributed to this report.

More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world

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Congressman accused in campaign finance probes (CNN)

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Partial roof collapse at Canada mall, evacuation

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Japan unveils 10% energy-saving target

Japan on Friday said its industrial heartland must cut electricity use by 10 percent this summer as the country grapples with a power shortage in the aftermath of last year's Fukushima atomic crisis.

A week after ordering the restart of two nuclear reactors, ending a brief period without any atomic power generation, the government said the expected shortfall would not be quite as bad as earlier thought.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and other senior ministers had previously said they wanted a 15 percent cut in peak electricity usage in and around the industrial hub of Osaka in western Japan from July to September.

But the bringing back online of two idled reactors at Oi has eased the expected crunch. The reactors are due to begin generating power in late July.

A power-saving order was issued last year as nuclear plants began to be shuttered in response to public disquiet over the technology in the months following the tsunami-sparked meltdowns at Fukushima.

But the cuts sparked complaints from businesses and fears manufacturers would move production overseas.

Prior to the quake-tsunami sparked Fukushima crisis, nuclear power supplied a third of Japan's electricity needs. In the months since, power companies have been increasingly dependent on imported -- and expensive -- fossil fuels.

Policymakers fear Japan's electricity demand could outstrip supply as summer temperatures soar and air-conditioners get cranked up, a worry for companies already battling uncertain economic times both at home and abroad.

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Southern California Edison Opens Solicitation for New Power Contracts

Southern California Edison (NYSE: EIX) issued a competitive Request for Offers Friday, for new power contracts with independent generators and marketers. The RFO seeks up to 48-month agreements to enhance the electricity supply for the 14 million Californians the utility serves.

Contracts being sought include dispatchable unit contingent energy only tolling agreements, non-dispatchable qualifying facilities resources and resource adequacy capacity products.

?Our goal through this annual solicitation is to find the most competitive and reliable energy resources and products to meet our customers' needs,? said Steven Eisenberg, vice president of Energy Supply and Management. ?Each year through this RFO, we reach out to the independent generator and energy marketing communities to find the most attractively valued resources for our customers.?

(c) 2012 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Posted in: News, Contracts, After-Hours Center

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SmackDown Five-Point Preview: June 22, 2012

Last Sunday at No Way Out, Dolph Ziggler challenged World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus, coming extremely close to capturing the illustrious title. And though he now has three straight loses to The Great White, number four could very well prove to be The Showoff?s lucky number.

Ziggler is, above all else, one of the smartest competitors in WWE. Sure, his motivations are completely self-serving, but that?s the point here. Someone once said, the best way to get to know a Superstar is the face him in the ring. Well, Dolph has taken close note of Sheamus at every pass, and the determined grappler may finally have the perfect plan to triumph over The Great White.

With Vickie Guerrero firmly in his corner after his victory Monday night over Jack Swagger, Ziggler looks to make a huge statement on SmackDown by dropping the Irish Champion ? easier said than done. Standing across the ring from him will be perhaps WWE?s hottest Superstar. Sheamus has done so in the past, but for how long can The Great White hold off such a determined tour-de-force?

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My Molesters

The next event came when I was 15, a freshman in high school. I was at the house of a friend, ?Diane.? We had been doing homework together, and it was time for me to go. It was winter, cold and dark, so her father offered to give me a ride. He was a quiet man, a bit of a nebbish, and on the brief ride we talked innocuously about school. He pulled up just short of the driveway to my home, turned off the engine, then turned to face me. His voice choked with emotion, he started babbling about how men have sexual needs. If a man?s wife won?t have sex, he said, that leaves him angry and frustrated. I knew I should just open the door, but I was so shocked that I froze. Then he lunged at me, a hand on each breast, his face pressed to mine. I pushed him away, got out of the car, and ran into my house.

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Insurance companies owe $1 billion in rebates, if ObamaCare not struck down (Americablog)

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Talk about marriage...

Yesterday, 11:34 AM ? #9 (permalink)

Member

?

Join Date: Apr 2012

Location: In a swamp!!!!

Posts: 2,712

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Quote:

somebody needs a hobby

PFFFT I have SEVERAL!! But they are all.. slowish stuff like that... lol. Can't exactly plant anything else right now so gardening is limited to my desert rose and zombie zucchini. __________________
"Feelings get you in relationships quickly, and feelings get you out of relationships quickly. Feelings do not fill in the for the sacrifice and dedication needed to make a relationship work. Feelings get themselves hurt."

~Nsweet~

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Iran impasse to stir sanctions pressure, tensions

MOSCOW/LONDON (Reuters) - Western diplomatic efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program may not have breathed their last but the troubled process appears to be on life support after talks this week failed to resolve a row stirring regional tensions and unsettling oil markets.

Mindful of a possible Israel strike, both Iran and its negotiating partners are keen to pursue even a minimal level of contact to shore up the process despite the failure of the negotiations in Moscow on Monday and Tuesday.

A technical discussion is scheduled for July 3 in Istanbul, but no further political talks have been agreed. The West, suspicious Tehran is working towards a nuclear bomb, is due to introduce hard-hitting trade sanctions in the two weeks before that.

"Diplomacy in now on a respirator," said Cliff Kupchan of the Eurasia Group consultancy. "Both sides underestimated the difficulty of moving talks forward. How little progress was made underlines how far apart the sides are on substance."

U.S.-based Iran expert Trita Parsi said if a compromise was not vigorously pursued, "war will become far more likely."

"It really does seem like the Iranians just haven't made the decision to accept limits on their nuclear program," a Western diplomat said.

"If they haven't made that decision then all the talking in the world really isn't going to get us anywhere."

"Iran really pressed for this experts meeting and Russia wanted it so we agreed to do it. It doesn't feel to us like there is a lot of progress that is going to be made even there.

"(But) nobody is going to shut the door entirely."

The six powers - the United States, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany - want Iran to scale back its nuclear work and, in particular, stop enriching uranium to levels that could bring it close to making an atom bomb.

Last month, and again in Moscow, the powers asked Tehran to shut down the Fordow underground facility where uranium is being enriched to the 20-percent level of fissile purity and ship any stockpile out of the country.

IRAN SEEKS SANCTIONS RELIEF

In return, they have offered fuel to keep Iran's medical isotope reactor running, assistance in nuclear safety and an end to a ban on spare parts for Iran's ageing civilian aircraft.

Iran denies its work has any military purpose and says the powers should offer it relief from sanctions and acknowledge its right to enriching uranium before it meets their demands.

New U.S. and European sanctions are due to come into effect in the next two weeks. In addition to totally banning Iranian oil imports, the EU measures prohibit European insurers from covering Iranian oil exports anywhere in the world, which would leave importers exposed to personal injury and pollution claims.

Western officials are suggesting that even further punitive measures may now be in prospect.

After the Moscow discussions broke up, a senior U.S. administration official said the talks would not go on indefinitely and Tehran should expect more sanctions if it fails to address international suspicions over the nature of its work.

"Sanctions will be increasing. We have told the Iranians there will be more pressure coming if this (lack of progress) proceeds forward," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

There was no immediate world from Israeli officials on the failure of the Moscow talks.

PRESSURE WILL RATCHET UP

But on June 4, a U.S. official was quoted as saying the United States was conferring with Israel about new sanctions planned against Iran should the Moscow talks fail.

"If we don't get a breakthrough in Moscow there is no question we will continue to ratchet up the pressure," said David Cohen, U.S. Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Haaretz newspaper reported.

The comment offered a strong hint that Washington is continuing to apply the brakes on any plan by Israel to attack Iranian nuclear facilities preemptively.

In Paris, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France would continue to strengthen sanctions against Iran. Some analysts say they suspect U.S. President Barack Obama, seeking a second term in November elections, cannot afford politically to make concessions to Tehran right now.

TALKS SEEN AVERTING ISRAELI STRIKE RISK

The Democratic White House has strongly rejected a Republican charge that Obama, who sought to ease 30 years of enmity with Iran after he came to power in early 2009, has shown a lack of resolve abroad.

Bijan Khajehpour, an Iranian and managing partner of Atieh International, a Vienna-based consultancy on the Middle East, told Reuters there were two reasons why the two sides were prepared to engage without a clear result.

One of them was that the continuation of such contacts, both sides calculated, reduced the risk of an Israeli strike.

The other reason was that either side suspected time would change the strategic situation in their favor.

"Western governments think the sanctions will bite further, Iran will come to its knee and then it will be more willing to compromise," he said. "From the Iranian perspective, the Americans have an election and it is not clear whether Obama will win 'so let's just wait and see what happens'."

Meir Javedanfar, lecturer on Iranian politics at Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel, said that despite the failure of the Moscow gathering diplomacy was not dead.

Neither side would want to show that it was not interested in diplomacy as the costs at home and abroad would be high, he said. "It just means that for this route to succeed, more time and effort will be needed. Until then, both sides will try to use their own leverages to pressure the other side to compromise at the next round, whenever that may be."

(Additional reporting by Fredrik Dahl in Vienna, Marcus George in Dubai and Yeganeh Torbati, Thomas Grove and Tim Heritage in Moscow)

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Nikon D3200

The Nikon D3200 ($699.95 direct with 18-55mm lens) is the company's entry-level D-SLR, and as such offers a wealth of features that should appeal to photographers in search of their first interchangeable lens camera. The 24-megapixel shooter improves upon the 14-megapixel resolution of the D3100 ($699.95, 4 stars) and also provides full manual shooting controls for seasoned shutterbugs. It does well in low light, and offers continuous autofocus during video recording, but doesn't quite oust our current under-$1,000 Editors' Choice D-SLR, the Nikon D5100 ($899.99, 4.5 stars),?with its broader feature set including a sharp, articulating rear LCD.

Design and Features
Even though it dwarfs point-and-shoot cameras, the D3200 ?is quite compact for an SLR. The body measures 3.8 by 5.0 by 3.1 inches and weighs an even pound (sans lens), slightly smaller than the 3.9-by-5.1-by-3.1, 1.1-pound Canon EOS Rebel T3 ($599.99, 3.5 stars). Even though the included 18-55mm (27-82.5mm equivalent) zoom lens is small compared with professional telephoto zoom lenses, it feels larger than it is when mounted on the small camera.

The biggest advantage that an SLR has over a mirrorless compact interchangeable lens camera like the Sony Alpha NEX-F3 ($599.99, 4.5 stars) is its optical viewfinder. While you do have the option of adding an EVF to many mirrorless compacts, it isn't the same as looking through the lens. However, like most other entry-level SLRs, the D3200 skimps a bit on viewfinder quality. It uses a pentamirror design, which uses a series of mirrors to direct the light captured by the lens to your eye. Enthusiast and professional D-SLRs, like the Pentax K-5 ($1,249.95, 3.5 stars) and Nikon D800 ($2,999.95, 4 stars), use a solid glass pentaprism to redirect the light, which results in a larger, brighter image. If you're accustomed to a point-and-shoot, the D3200's viewfinder will be a huge step up, but old-school photographers may be surprised at just how small the finder is compared with classic 35mm SLRs.

If you have a stable of old Nikkor lenses that you would like to put to use on a digital body, you'll be happy to know that pretty much any lens manufactured after 1977 will mount on the D3200. Most, even those that support screw-drive autofocus, will be limited to manual focus mode only?the D3200 doesn't have a focus screw to support these lenses that lack internal focus motors. Couple that with the relatively small viewfinder, and you'll quickly realize that this was not a camera that was designed with manual focus in mind. If you have autofocus Nikon lenses without internal motors, you should consider the D5100 , since it includes the hardware needed to focus them.

If, on the other hand, you're a complete novice, you'll like the D3200's killer feature?its Guide Mode. Switching the Mode Dial to Guide brings up a colorful menu on the rear display that asks you if you'd like to shoot, review photos, or configure the camera. The Shoot menu is broken up into Easy and Advanced situations which feature presets for landscapes, close ups, low light portraits, fast action, and other common photographic subjects. This, along with select number of scene modes that live on the Mode Dial, goes a long way into configuring the camera to best capture the image at hand, without the need for encyclopedic knowledge of photographic technique.

The D3200's shooting controls are scattered about its body. The Movie Record, Info, and EV Compensation buttons are located directly behind the shutter release, and you'll only find a four-way controller, Drive Mode control, Exposure Lock, and Live View button on the rear of the camera. The button to raise the flash and control its output, as well as a Function button, round out the shooting controls?they both live on the front left of the camera, right above the Lens Release button.

Aside from EV Compensation, shutter speed, and aperture, which are visible in the viewfinder, you'll need to use the rear 3-inch LCD to view settings as you adjust them. The 4:3 display is quite bright and sharp thanks to a 921k-dot resolution, but it doesn't tilt away from the camera's body like that of the Canon EOS Rebel T3i ($899.99, 3.5 stars) or the Sony Alpha 65 ($999.99, 4 stars). Hitting the I button, which is located to the left of the LCD, gives you quick access to Image Quality, White Balance, ISO, Drive Mode, Focus Mode, AF Area, Metering, EV Compensation, Flash Compensation, and Flash Mode. If you need to adjust anything else, you'll have to dive into the full menu.

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Museum: Fast action may help save Picasso painting

HOUSTON (AP) ? Within minutes of a vandal spray painting a Pablo Picasso painting, Houston museum officials had rushed the valuable artwork into their onsite conservation lab as if it was an injured patient in need of emergency surgery.

"I think that's a dramatic analogy, but I think that's apt," said Vance Muse, a spokesman for the Menil Collection, which owns the more than 80-year-old painting.

The fast action increased the odds of saving the painting, Muse said. The museum's chief conservator has been working on it tirelessly since it was damaged June 13, and the restoration is going very well, he added.

The act of vandalism was caught in a 24-second video posted on YouTube. It shows a man dressed in black holding a stencil up to the work of art and then spray-painting the stencil before ripping it away and walking off. An image of a bullfighter, a bull and the word "conquista," which is Spanish for conquest, is left behind.

Once the man walks away, the person taking the video walks up to the painting, recording the damage. This, plus the fact that the witness happened to film the vandal at the moment he damaged the painting, has some speculating whether the two were working together.

"People have wondered if this YouTube (video) was shot by a bystander who just happened to be there at that moment or if it's more akin to perpetrators, plural," Muse said. "I just don't know. But I hope we find out."

Houston police spokeswoman Jodi Silva said investigators are reviewing both surveillance video from the museum and the video posted on YouTube. When asked if police think the vandal and witness were working together, she said, "We're taking all the information and we're looking at all aspects of the incident."

She would not say whether police have spoken to the witness who shot the video.

Muse, who spoke to The Associated Press by telephone from Berlin, said he didn't have specific details about the restoration process because he was out of the country. However, he believed it was going well.

"Most of the damage, virtually all has been taken care of," he said. "But you have to wait and see."

He also didn't know when the painting, "Woman in a Red Armchair," would return to display.

"Even if the treatment is completed, it would need rest for quite a while," he said. "We would not want to bring it out of the conservation lab prematurely."

The museum's chief conservator Brad Epley wasn't available for questions Tuesday because he was working on the painting.

The key thing in restoration probably would be identifying what chemicals are in the spray paint to determine which solvent would be best to remove it, said Jennifer Logan, a chemistry professor who has taught courses on art conservation at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa.

Logan theorized a range of solvents were probably tested to determine which one was strong enough to remove the spray paint without also dissolving the work's original paint.

"It was most likely a tedious process," she said. "If they have the motivation and the skill and ability to carefully remove the spray paint, that's not surprising to me (that most of the damage has been fixed). I've read about much more drastic restoration cases. In the art world, this doesn't seem as bad."

This is not the first time one of Picasso's works has been vandalized. In 1999, an escaped mental patient in Amsterdam cut a hole in the middle of his "Woman Nude Before Garden," a 1956 painting.

Other works of art have also been the target of vandals. Rembrandt's "Night Watch" masterpiece has been slashed twice and sprayed once with sulfuric acid. The "Mona Lisa" has been attacked several times, including with acid, a rock and even a teacup.

The Menil, which opened in 1987 and is free to the public, will review its security measures, which include surveillance cameras and two dozen guards, Muse said. But he didn't anticipate major changes, such as placing paintings behind protective glass or keeping visitors farther from the works of art.

"I think a museum-goer always appreciates it when a work of art seems more accessible than that. You don't have all those layers," he said. "And I think the Menil loves the fact the art there is very accessible. It's almost like entering someone's wonderful house."

Associated Press

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I want to refinance my mortgage due to the recent low rate should i ...

I bought an apartment in 2007 and the mortgage rate for 30 years is I recently went to a bank and they gave me the rate of as of April 09 for refinancing. It seems like Obamas plan is working which is great. But do you think the rate will even go lower Should I wait longer or better to settle now.

Basic things about I want to refinance my mortgage due to the recent low rate should i wait longer

Refinancing
Some cases your payment will be the same, in that case you would want to. External links ? Streamlining your Mortgage ? Mortgage Refinancing Information

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A balloon payment mortgage is a mortgage which does not fully amortize over the term of the note, thus leaving a balance due at maturity The. rate mortgages do not need to be.

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? targets homeowners who are current on their monthly mortgage payments but are unable to refinance due to. The good news is you don?t need to go to your current lender.

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can I link to my refinance quote page? and why does quicken get to be the only lender here? we either need to list all. I have a number of refinance mortgage.

Honestly the rate changing a little bit doesnt make a huge difference. Is a great rate and waiting longer takes on a risk of it going up too. Id just lock in now and get your payments down. The longer you wait the longer you are making your higher payments too.

You never have to worry about the mortgage woes anymore. Just get a quick help from the experts and just click on the website link here and you are saved.

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Whats the best way to refinance my mortgage.

Go to the bank and say I want to refinance my mortgage.

I have a one bedroom condo in Cape Canaveral where the real estate market is pretty depressed. What are the pros and cons of selling the condo and holding the mortgage There are no liens or mortages on the condo at this time.

The economy and real estate market will rebound eventually. It may not be next month next year or even the year after that but it will probably be within the next few years. As for holding a mortgage on the property it could be a somewhat risky venture as mentioned above the property could be devalued you could end up having to foreclose on the property andor some type of disaster could hit the property. The buyer could also decide they want to refinance shortly after you selling them the home and they could get rid of you as the mortgage holder.

However by selling the property and holding the mortgage you would also be able to create an instant cash flow on the property that would hopefully continue for quite some time. My recommendation is that when you look at the risk versus reward I would simply cut my ties sell the property and invest the money in something else that has a much lower risk and just as much if not more of a reward. There are many investments out there averaging roughly 10 per year. Mutual funds are somewhat safe and there are many producing a decent return.

If you really want to hold a mortgage still I would forget about the mortgage rent the property out and wait until the market improves in a few years to sell. This still gives you the cash flow and allows you to wait on selling until the market rebounds. Good luck.

I want to refinance my mortgage THANKS.

Refinance is my choice. I see it this wayYou want to refinance your mortgage therefore you are making an application to refinance your mortgage. So you are making a refinance application. You dont want to refinancing your mortgage do you Thats why I choose refinance although I had to give the question some thought.

Mortgage & Refinance Questions

Is low enough to force a rate change Both are listed on the deed.In a refinance are appraisalsbe removed after the refi closes It wouldnt appear that the rate could change then.Why are refinance. My purchase loan rate was 6. Refinance will be Originally Posted By benjammingWhats .

My purchase loan rate was 6. Refinance will be Originally Posted By benjammingWhats along with it. Incidentally I timed my first refi right my house was up in value and I dumped PMI experience. When I was on .

Mortgage experts, should we refinance?

The current mortgage for 3 years. It seems like a good idea what do you thinkto refinance in my is difference of 1 in the rate. You might want to see if you can do better on those closing .

To refinance in my situation. there is difference of 1 in the rate. You might want to see if you can do better on those closing Why would you want to save 100month to reset the clock On the back end youll be paying .

Mortgage refinance

My wife and I have lived in our house for two and a half years. We owe 150 000 on our mortgageGreetings everyoneI have been a reader on this website for a few months but this is my firstmortgage right now. Banks dont want to see more than 40 of your income going to debt repayment .

mortgage right now. Banks dont want to see more than 40 of your income going to debt repayment.To be honest Im not even sure you could qualify for a new mortgage right now. Banks dont want to see ratings. Thats ? .

What?s better to refinance through online mortgage vs. Regular banks

Whats better to refinance through online mortgage vs. regular banks From closing cost and long term prospective is is better to go through regular bank or online mortgage providerswant to ask the question with any prospective bank or online mortgage provider how long will it take .

want to ask the question with any prospective bank or online mortgage provider how long will it takeThe mortgage experience can be excellent with either option. It really boils down to the individual that are seeking a .

Mortgage & Refinance Questions

Is low enough to force a rate change Both are listed on the deed.In a refinance are appraisalsbe removed after the refi closes It wouldnt appear that the rate could change then.Why are refinance. My purchase loan rate was 6. Refinance will be Originally Posted By benjammingWhats .

My purchase loan rate was 6. Refinance will be Originally Posted By benjammingWhats along with it. Incidentally I timed my first refi right my house was up in value and I dumped PMI experience. When I was on .

Financing: My house was appraised in March 2009, now I want to refinance,?

My house was appraised in March 2009 now I want to refinance do I need to have another appraisalcan still refinance up to 105 of the value of their home. For all mortgage financing always ask whatthat will allow you to basically refinance your mortgage by signing a bunch of papers .

Can still refinance up to 105 of the value of their home. For all mortgage financing always ask what that will allow you to basically refinance your mortgage by signing a bunch of papers refinance but they .

Bank refusing refinance to more affordable rate

Approached my branch for a staff mortgage on a repayment basis which on the babsis of their Quote of the debt reducing. I have been advised however that given my current mortgage with them was doneit into your costingsOff the top of my head the HMRC rate for a staff mortgage is 4 so youre .

It into your costingsOff the top of my head the HMRC rate for a staff mortgage is 4 so youre talking be careful of what you post. Never know who is reading Did you obtain your current mortgage through not staff product. He ? .

Who to refinance with

Who to refinance with DW I are looking to refinance. Not only do we want to lower our interestold we bought it new. We are 3 12 years into a 30 year refinance have 26 12 years leftI was paying escrow with my mortgage payment but that was the number they used when the settled the .

I was paying escrow with my mortgage payment but that was the number they used when the settled the account. Of course there was more than that because I was paying escrow with my mortgage payment. With our .

Home refinance appraisal holy crap

And Bill Clinton for your effort in pushing the Community Reinvestment Act on the mortgage companiesand starting the socalled mortgage crisis. May both of you go straight to hellin winter and cool in summer.My folks sold a cottage today that was worth 225K more 6 years ago. B .

In winter and cool in summer.My folks sold a cottage today that was worth 225K more 6 years ago. B in winter and cool in summer.My folks sold a cottage today that was worth 225K more 6 years ago was passed on October 12 1977 .

FHA Loan Streamline Refinance and Subordinating NJ smart Start Program

?. My wife and I want to simply Streamline Refinance to take advantage of current low rates Loan Streamline Refinance and Subordinating NJ smart Start Program We took out a FHA MortgageYou were given the incorrect information. i have completed a streamline refinance on two other .

You were given the incorrect information. i have completed a streamline refinance on two other an individual from the mortgage. I would be happy to help you with the process. Camille Marotta Branch Manager NMLS 9838 First Alliance Home ? .

Mortgages For Dummies

Need a mortgage but worried about the market? In Mortgages For Dummies, 3rd Edition, bestselling authors Eric Tyson and Ray Brown give you proven solutions for obtaining a mortgage, whether you want to buy your first home, refinance, or tap into your equity.

You get the latest on sub-prime and adjustable-rate mortgages, finding the best lender, avoiding fiscal pitfalls and foreclosure, and much, much, more!This easy-to-understand, objective, and jargon-free guide helps you fine-tune your finances, figure out what you can afford, and improve your credit score before you go mortgage shopping.

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Discover how to:Match your mortgage to your financial goalsQualify for a mortgage even when money is tightFind the right loan for youChoose the best lender/brokerNegotiate the best termsCalculate your costs and paymentsUnderstand and complete all paperworkRefinance an existing mortgageUnderstand and consider special situation loansExplore reverse mortgages and other optionsDecipher amortization tables and comparison worksheetsUse the Internet wisely when mortgage shoppingNow, more than ever, you need clear, reliable information that helps you get the mortgage you need at a price you can afford.

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Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

Enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis authorizing the administer a national program to help homeowners refinance their mortgages. .

United States housing market correction

A mortgages made in difficult to refinance? or catch Most of them are homeowners, and many of them will presumably want to sell their .

Merrill Lynch

Subprime mortgage crisis Trading partners? loss of confidence in Merrill Lynch?s solvency and ability to refinance short-term debt .

Barney Frank

No mortgages would purchase or refinance homes and engine project that the Pentagon does not want Frank told MSNBC ?s Keith Olbermann that .

Sharon Lechter

Community First Financial a mortgage brokering company in Scottsdale , Ariz. We want people to own assets; we want people to be able to .

Political positions of Mitt Romney

I think the idea of helping people refinance homes to stay in them believe as we want, but we will not force our beliefs on others on that matter. .

Tea Party protests

Criticized the government plan to refinance mortgages , which had just com/id/29471026 Rick Santelli: I Want to Set the Record Straight CNBC .

Tea Party movement

To refinance mortgages , which had just been announced the day before. party?they want to see leadership that reflects their values first? .

Richard Blumenthal

Illinois and Florida in suing subprime mortgage lender Countrywide homeowners could refinance, condemning them to hopelessly unaffordable loans.? .

United States Senate career of Hillary Rodham Clinton

Owners? Loan Corporation , to help homeowners refinance their mortgages. care reform Party leaders did not want to dislodge any existing .

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