Steven Spielberg to receive prestigious ACE Golden Eddie ...

Award winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg has been selected by the Board of Directors of the American Cinema Editors (ACE) to be honored with the organization?s prestigious ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award. The award will be presented at the 63rd Annual ACE Eddie Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 16, 2013 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel, it was announced today by the ACE Board of Directors.

?Steven Spielberg is a cinematic treasure,? stated the ACE Board of Directors. ?For over four decades he has been moving audiences around the world with his unique, powerful brand of storytelling. As one of the most successful directors in history, he has brought us beloved films, which have not only delighted us but have been indelibly woven into our cultural fabric. Throughout it all, he has worked side by side with the great Michael Kahn, A.C.E., forming a director-editor partnership that has lasted decades. It is our pleasure to recognize him with the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year honor, especially in a year where he has, once again, created a masterpiece with his latest film, Lincoln.?

Spielberg is one of the entertainment industry?s most successful and influential filmmakers and a principal partner of DreamWorks Studios. He is the top-grossing director of all time, having helmed such blockbusters as JAWS, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, the Indiana Jones franchise and Jurassic Park, earning billions at the box office. He is a three-time Academy Award? winner, having won his first two for Best Director and Best Picture for Schindler?s List, which received a total of seven Oscars? that year. He won his third Oscar? for Best Director for the WWII epic drama Saving Private Ryan. It was also one of the year?s most honored films, earning four additional Oscars?, as well as two Golden Globes for Best Picture and Best Director. He also earned Academy Award? nominations for Best Director for Munich, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Throughout his career he had also earned a staggering eleven DGA Award nominations, making him the most honored member of the DGA. Last year he successfully took on the challenge of working in 3D animation with The Adventures of Tintin, which won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature. Last year he also directed War Horse, which earned six Oscar? nominations including Best Picture. Most recently, Spielberg directs two-time Academy Award? winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln, based in part on Doris Kearns Goodwin?s ?Team of Rivals,? with a screenplay by Tony Kushner. The film opened November 9th to critical acclaim and has earned over $145 million at the domestic box office to date. It will release internationally in early 2013.

ACE, the entertainment industry?s honorary society of film editors, is comprised of over 704 accomplished editors working in film and television. The ACE Eddie Awards recognize outstanding editing in nine categories of film, television and documentaries. Nominees for the 63rd Annual ACE Eddie Awards will be announced on January 11th. Tickets to the black-tie ceremony are available by calling the ACE office at (818) 777-2900. To apply for credentials to cover the ACE Eddie Awards, please send your email to ace.credentials@gmail.com.

AMERICAN CINEMA EDITORS
AMERICAN CINEMA EDITORS (ACE) is an honorary society of motion picture editors founded in 1950. Film editors are voted into membership on the basis of their professional achievements, their dedication to the education of others and their commitment to the craft of editing.
The objectives and purposes of the AMERICAN CINEMA EDITORS are to advance the art and science of the editing profession; to increase the entertainment value of motion pictures by attaining artistic pre-eminence and scientific achievement in the creative art of editing; to bring into close alliance those editors who desire to advance the prestige and dignity of the editing profession.

ACE produces several annual events including EditFest (a bicoastal editing festival), Invisible Art/Visible Artists (annual panel of Oscar? nominated editors), and the ACE Eddie Awards, now in its 63rd year, recognizing outstanding editing in nine categories of film, television and documentaries.

The organization publishes a quarterly magazine, CinemaEditor, highlighting the art, craft and business of editing and editors.

For more information visit WWW.AMERICANCINEMAEDITORS.COM.

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Source: http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2013/01/30/steven-spielberg-to-receive-prestigious-ace-golden-eddie-filmmaker-of-the-year-award/

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GDP unexpectedly shrinks, decline seen temporary

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The economy unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter, suffering its first decline since the recession ended more than three years ago as businesses scaled back on restocking and government spending plunged.

Gross domestic product fell at a 0.1 percent annual rate after growing at a 3.1 percent clip in the third quarter, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday.

That was the worst performance since the second quarter of 2009 and showed the economy entering the new year with little momentum. Economists polled by Reuters had expected GDP to rise at a 1.1 percent rate and none had predicted a contraction.

But economists said there was no reason for panic.

Inventories and government spending sliced 2.6 percentage points from growth, a weight that was expected to lessen in the first three months of the year.

At the same time, consumer spending accelerated and business investment rebounded, suggesting some fundamental strength that should help to support the recovery even as Washington tightens its belt.

"We are not concerned that the economy is slipping back into recession," said John Ryding, chief economist at RDQ Economics in New York.

A second report showed private employers stepped up hiring in January, suggesting an improvement in the labor market. An increase in job gains could help the economy to weather the headwind of higher taxes and possible spending cuts this year.

The ADP National Employment Report showed private payrolls rose 192,000 in January after increasing 185,000 in December.

Stocks on Wall Street were mostly flat, while prices for U.S. Treasury debt fell and the dollar weakened against a basket of currencies.

The data was published as officials at the Federal Reserve wrap-up a two-day meeting. The report will likely provide ammunition for officials at the U.S. central bank to stay on their ultra-accommodative policy stance.

Economists say a growth pace in excess of 3 percent would be needed over a sustained period to significantly lower high unemployment. For the whole of 2012 the economy grew 2.2 percent, and a report on Friday is expected to show the jobless rate held at 7.8 percent for a third straight month in January.

INVENTORY DRAG

The economy was slammed by a monster storm in late October, which caused extensive damage along the East Coast. Economists said that could have cut around 0.5 percentage point off fourth-quarter growth.

The recovery also had to deal with uncertainty over the so-called fiscal cliff of scheduled tax hikes and budget cuts, which hurt confidence even though households and businesses seemed to largely shrug off the worries.

Businesses, caught with too much inventory in their warehouses in the third quarter, slowed their stock building in the final three months of the year.

That slowdown reduced GDP growth by 1.27 percentage points, the most in two years.

But with the pick-up in consumer spending in the fourth quarter, businesses now will need to replenish stocks, which should help lift growth early this year.

"The near stall in inventories and stronger durable spending suggest greater cyclical recovery momentum than expected," said Steven Wieting, an economist at Citigroup in New York.

Excluding inventories, the economy grew at a 1.1 percent rate, slowing from the third quarter's 2.4 percent.

Government spending tumbled at a 6.6 percent rate as defense outlays plunged at a 22.2 percent pace, wiping out the previous quarter's gains. The decline in defense spending was the largest since the third quarter of 1972.

Government subtracted 1.33 percentage points from growth. The likelihood of fresh spending cuts suggests government outlays will remain a drag on the economy, but not as big of a weight as in the fourth quarter.

Export weakness also cut into GDP. Exports have been hampered by a recession in Europe, a cooling Chinese economy and storm and strike-related port disruptions. Overall trade cut a quarter of a percentage point from the change in GDP. Exports fell for the first time since the first quarter of 2009.

RISING INCOME PROVIDES A BRIGHT SPOT

In one bright spot, the report showed that income available to households after taxes and inflation increased at a strong 6.8 percent rate in the fourth quarter.

In addition, the saving rate rose by more than a percentage point, which should cushion households against higher taxes.

Consumers were helped by an easing in inflation.

A price gauge in the report advanced at just a 1.2 percent pace, down from 1.6 percent in the third quarter. So-called core prices increase just 0.9 percent, the smallest gain in two years.

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity, rose at a 2.2 percent rate, accelerating from the prior quarter's 1.6 percent growth pace, while business investment rebounded after its first drop in 1-1/2 years.

The housing market was another positive.

Residential construction grew at a 15.3 percent rate after notching a 13.5 percent growth pace in the third quarter.

Homebuilding added to growth last year for the first time since 2005.

"A turnaround in the housing market will be a key support to the economy this year, with homebuilding contributing to growth and higher home prices supporting consumer spending," said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial in Pittsburgh.

(Additional reporting by Leah Schnurr in New York; Editing by Andrea Ricci)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-growth-seen-braking-inventories-government-weigh-060305476--sector.html

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Obama to Congress: Your move

Undocumented immigrant Katherine Taberes watches Obama's immigration speech from New York. (Mario Tama/Getty I??

President Barack Obama unveiled his vision for immigration reform in a speech on Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas, Nev., telling Congress that he will send them his own bill and call for a vote if they don't move fast.

"If Congress is unable to move forward in a timely fashion, I will send up a bill based on my proposal and insist that they vote on it right away," Obama said to applause from students at Del Sol High School.

"It looks like there's a genuine desire to get this done soon, and that's very encouraging," Obama said, mentioning a blueprint put forward by a bipartisan group of eight senators on Monday. "But this time action must follow."

Obama's speech was the latest move in a chess match between the White House and some Republicans in Congress to craft an outline for reform that can both be enacted into law while meeting the expectataions of the growing population of Hispanic voters who now overwhelmingly favor Democrats.

Some Republicans want to support immigration reform in part to combat the party's demographic challenges, but the more involved the president is with the bill, the politically riskier it becomes to support it.

In his speech, Obama laid out "markers" for reform, saying any comprehensive immigration bill must give most of the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants a chance to earn their citizenship gradually if they pay a fine, learn English and pass a background check. Immigrants would also have to get to "the back of the line," which means people who have already applied for green cards would have their applications processed first.

The president's bill would also include an employment verification system, more border security and a revamping of the legal immigration system to provide more visas for top graduates of U.S. universities and to reduce lengthy wait times for visas for relatives of U.S. citizens.

The president mentioned the blueprint for reform laid out by senators including rising Republican star Marco Rubio of Florida and John McCain of Arizona, Obama's 2008 GOP presidential rival.

The principles of that outline "are very much in line with the principles I?ve proposed and campaigned on for the last few years," Obama said.

The senators pre-empted Obama's speech by a day to release a blueprint that differs from Obama's earlier immigration proposal in some respects.

Both Obama and the senators agree that the nation's illegal immigrants should be given a chance to legalize and eventually become citizens if they meet certain conditions, but the senators' bill includes a spate of border security requirements that must go into effect before the immigrants are eligible for green cards. Rubio said on Tuesday that he will not sign onto a bill that does not include these border enforcement triggers.

Another potential difference between the plans is that the president believes same-sex partners should be able to sponsor their immigrant husband or wife for citizenship in the same way heterosexual married couples can do now. The Senate proposal does not mention same-sex couples.

Obama said he recognized that immigration is an issue that inflames "passions," but he called on Americans to remember that they belong to a nation of immigrants.

"It's easy sometimes for the discussion to take on a feeling of 'us' versus 'them,'" Obama said. "When that happens a lot of folks forget that most of us used to be them. ... Unless you?re one of the first Americans, a Native American, you came from some place else. Somebody brought you."

Welcoming immigrants has made the country stronger, he said. "That's how we will ensure this century is the same as the last, an American century, welcoming of everybody who aspires to do something more, is willing to work hard for it, is willing to pledge allegiance to our flag."

Leaders in the Republican-controlled House have not yet released a significant blueprint or proposal for immigration reform. In response to the speech, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner urged the president to keep his distance while Congress undergoes what will likely be a lengthy legislative process to reach a final bill addressing immigration reform.

?There are a lot of ideas about how best to fix our broken immigration system. Any solution should be a bipartisan one, and we hope the president is careful not to drag the debate to the left and ultimately disrupt the difficult work that is ahead in the House and Senate," said Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck in a statement.
McCain said in a statement after Obama's speech that despite the "differences" in their approaches, he is "cautiously optimistic" that a bill will go forward.

Immigrant groups and labor organizations are rallying behind the new push for reform. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka told Yahoo News on Tuesday that organized labor is ?entirely behind? comprehensive immigration reform and will mount a ?full-fledged? campaign to help drive it through Congress.

?Olivier Knox, Rachel Rose Hartman and Chris Moody contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-announce-immigration-reform-plan-las-vegas-113806207--election.html

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The New H.265 Video Format Will Help Chew Up Video So Your Network Can Swallow It

Streaming video is the future. Well, it's the present, but the future too. And as resolutions increase, it's going to be a tougher and tougher proposition to pipe all that data to your screen of choice in a timely fashion. Fortunately, the new H.265 standard has been approved by the ITU and it's here to help. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/w_7EeSdgF8A/the-new-h265-video-format-helps-chew-up-video-so-networks-can-swallow-it

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Sheryl Paul: Love is a Bowl of Oatmeal

One of my favorite authors, Jungian analyst Robert Johnson, says that good love is like a bowl of oatmeal. A bowl of oatmeal? How unromantic, you may say. How prosaic, you think. Love should be an ice cream sundae with cherries and sprinkles on top. Love should be a decadent Italian dessert. Oatmeal? How depressing.

In our romance-addicted culture, this concept rubs many people the wrong way and often elicits questions like: Where's the passion, the drama, the excitement? Isn't love supposed to make me feel alive? Isn't it supposed to fulfill my every need, even needs that I didn't know I had?

What Johnson means is that love is not the cure-all that we're set up to believe it is. When love is true and real, it feels warm and sweet in your soul the way oatmeal feel warms and nourishing in your belly. It just feel good. It's not over-the-top, heart-stopping romance -- the stuff Hollywood is made of. It just works. It's nice. It's solid. And it might not work all the time, but for the most part, the two of you connect and click in a special way. And, because this doesn't happen every day, this is something to appreciate and celebrate.

Many of the problems that people encounter during their engagement and early years of marriage is that the reality of their relationship falls terribly short of their expectations. Because of a culturally-induced brainwashing that creates a set of unrealistic and fantasy-based expectations, many people expect love to look and feel a certain way and are painfully plagued by a mental list of shoulds: I should feel in love all the time. I should want sex all the time (or at least 2-3 times a week). I should look as happy as all my friends look on Facebook. I should feel sparkly like the sprinkles on top of my ice-cream sundae. But ask any couple married more than 20 years and they'll tell you that the sprinkles are not what you base a marriage on. They may shimmer in your daily life as a result of a sweet kiss or a satisfying conversation, but they're not the foundation of a marriage.

So what is healthy love?

Let's start with what love isn't.

Love is not...

... infatuation. A relationship may start as a feeling in a burst of excitement and passion, butterflies and fireworks, but this isn't real love (and it may not start this way, which doesn't render the relationship any less worthy or viable). Eventually the flames die down and then the process of learning about real loving begins.

... an answer to your problems or the missing piece of your puzzle. The only person who can rescue you from your challenges is you. The only person who can create your sense of aliveness and wholeness is you.

... fitting into an image from a Meg Ryan rom-com or People magazine.

... unwavering certainty that you've met "the One."

... scintillating conversation every time you see each other.

... always feeling attracted to your partner.

Now let's explore what love is.

Love is...

... action. When you truly love someone, you learn what their love language is and make efforts as often as possible to express your love in the language that your partner can receive. For example, if your partner's love language is physical touch, you can say "I love you" all day long, but nothing will communicate your love as effectively as giving your partner a hug, a shoulder massage, or a kiss.

... a choice. We choose to take the risk of loving. We choose to practice opening our whole heart to our committed partner. We choose to break down the fear-barriers that try to convince us to run. We choose to challenge the false beliefs and unrealistic expectations propagated by popular culture that says that you must be 100 percent certain that you're with the "right" person, "the one", your soulmate. We choose to commit, and through the commitment we allow ourselves to unfold into a lifetime of learning about love.

... work. Real love may ask you to extend yourself for your partner in ways that stretch you beyond your comfort zone. I can already hear the outcries, "Love is work?! That's crazy! Love shouldn't have to be work." And I can hear the comments from the long-term married couples who will say that love isn't work. But if we understand work simply as effort, perhaps the outcries will quiet into understanding. Can a long-term marriage truly sustain and thrive without effort, without each person working to put themselves into their partner's shoes and practice empathy and compromise? I don't think so.

... an opportunity to grow and learn about yourself. Love asks you to extend yourself for the sake of the other. Love invites you to open your heart even when your habitual response is to shut down or withdraw from fear. Love pushes you to your edge, and on the projection screen of your partner's face, where every fear, insecurity, and old wound will be reflected, you will be asked to take full responsibility for your pain, and through the willingness to feel this pain your heart will open to the joy of loving.

... a risk. Love says, "Risk everything that you are. Risk everything that you've known. Risk the safety and familiarity of your safe, single life." Because when you choose to say yes to love, you render your heart vulnerable to the risk of being hurt. Most of us construct elaborate defenses as a way to avoid taking this risk, even going so far as convincing ourselves that we must walk away from a loving, wonderful, honest relationship when the truth is that we're too scared to take the risk of loving.

... why we're here.

***

Sheryl Paul, M.A., has counseled thousands of people worldwide through her private practice, her bestselling books, her e-courses and her website. She has appeared several times on "The Oprah Winfrey Show", as well as on "Good Morning America" and other top media shows and publications around the globe. To sign up for her free 78-page eBook, "Conscious Transitions: The 7 Most Common (and Traumatic) Life Changes", visit her website at http://conscious-transitions.com. And if you're suffering from relationship anxiety - whether single, dating, engaged, or married - give yourself the gift of her popular E-Course.

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Follow Sheryl Paul on Twitter: www.twitter.com/consciousbride

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sheryl-paul/love-is-a-bowl-of-oatmeal_b_2523318.html

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AmCham Vietnam | APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Getting ...

?At the very latest, the ABTC should be up and running by the time of the 2013 APEC Summit in Indonesia.?

Letter from Steve Okun, APCAC Chairman, Jan 26, 2013

Dear APCAC Members:

Getting APCAC members the ability to obtain an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) from the U.S. government has been one of our key priorities over the past couple of years. Access to business travel cards will significantly enhance business travel, investment, and trade opportunities for U.S. citizens in the rapidly growing economies in the APEC region.

APCAC, and many chambers individually, have been at the forefront in working with the Congress to ensure passage of legislation that would grant the Department of Homeland Security the authority to issue these cards. This support led to the passage of the legislation signed by President Obama at the APEC summit in Honolulu in late 2011.

Unfortunately, despite the Administration?s focus on the region and the passage of the legislation over a year ago, our U.S. citizen members and all American businesspeople are not yet able to fully enjoy reciprocal rights as US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has not yet established a mechanism to issue the ABTC to eligible U.S. citizens doing business in the APEC region

Since passage of the legislation, APCAC has been working with key members of Congress to urge that the implementing regulations be issued. This was a key message during our Washington Door Knock in June 2012, and our Washington representatives, BGR Group, have been engaged on our behalf pushing this issue.

In December 2012, APCAC wrote to Senator Maria Cantwell and other key members of Congress asking for their continued support and action. We requested that, at the very latest, the ABTC should be up and running by the time of the 2013 APEC Summit in Indonesia.

In response to our letter, and with follow-up from BGR Group, Senator Maria Cantwell?s?(D, WA) staff, along with staffs from Senators Mazie Hirona and Brian Shatz of Hawaii and Congressman John Larsen from Connecticut, met last week with representatives from US Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security.? Congressional staff were assured by the CPB that they are planning a full implementation of the ABTC legislation by April or May of this year. It will be part of the Global Entry Trusted Traveler Program with an additional fee of no more than $100. CBP also pledged a one-week turnaround from the time they confirm receipt of an application and the issuance of the new card. Citizens not already part of the Global Entry Trusted Traveler?will need to apply for both programs.

APCAC will remain engaged on this issue to ensure our goals are met. We will discuss this at our upcoming Business Summit in Taipei March 21-22, as well as at our Washington Door Knock June 9-12. I urge you and your members to participate in these important APCAC events. I will keep you informed of our efforts, as well as the continued support that individual chambers can provide.

Sincerely,

Steven R. Okun
Chairman
Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC)

P.S. Check out the?APCAC Advocacy Update, by Tom Clark, Vice Chair for Washington, APEC, and TPP

Source: http://www.amchamvietnam.com/9263/apec-business-travel-card-abtc-getting-closer/

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Small Talk: Small business uneasy about tax collection bills | The ...

In this Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, photo, CEO and President Mike Faith of Headsets.com checks his inventory in his offices in San Francisco. Headsets.com, might have to hire two staffers to handle the administrative work if what's called remote tax collection becomes law, says Faith. The company has operations in California and Tennessee, but sells to all 50 states. Currently, federal law only requires the company to collect tax in those two states. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Small-business owners may be closer to losing an advantage they?ve enjoyed during the e-commerce boom ? being exempt from collecting sales tax in states where they?re not located. And they?re worried they will have to spend more money in the process.

Under federal law, a state or local government cannot force a company to collect sales tax on a purchase unless the business has a physical presence in that state. The physical presence could range from an actual store to an office, warehouse or distribution center. The sale could be conducted online, over the phone or through mail-order.

The arrangement saves money for shoppers who use price comparison websites or mobile apps, and those who spend time surfing for the best overall deal.

But Washington lawmakers currently have several bills in the works that would end all that by forcing companies to collect the tax. Businesses are split over the issue.

On one side are small retailers who say they wouldn?t be able to bear the costs of collecting the tax and filing reports states and local governments require. They?re worried they?ll have to buy software, hire staffers and deal with the hassle of keeping up with collecting tax from states and thousands of municipalities.

Headsets.com, for instance, might have to hire two staffers to handle the administrative work if what?s called remote tax collection becomes law, says CEO Mike Faith. The company has operations in California and Tennessee, but sells to all 50 states. Currently, federal law only requires the company to collect tax in those two states.

Faith expects the law would force him to hire workers to help his San Francisco-based company comply with it. "It?s useless employment. It doesn?t add value to the company It?s just another cost burden."

On the other side are in-state sellers and larger retailers with physical locations dotted across the country who sometimes lose business to competitors who don?t have to collect the tax. Even if two retailers charge the same amount for an item, many shoppers choose the seller that doesn?t collect taxes.

"It?s a problem that needs to be addressed. It?s an un-level playing field," says David French, a National Retail Federation lobbyist.

And on yet another side, are state and local governments that stand to collect billions in uncollected revenue if a bill makes it through Congress. States have wanted the tax money for decades and are particularly anxious for it now because tax revenue is down following the recession. The payoff could be substantial. In 2012, there was as much as $11.4 billion in uncollected taxes on Internet sales alone, according to University of Tennessee researchers.

story continues below

State and local government officials have wanted to change the law for years, even before the catalog boom of the 1980s and the Internet boom of the ?90s.

Small-business owners have resisted along the way. They argue that the burden of keeping up with the estimated 15,000 different sales tax rates charged by the 7,500 to 9,600 jurisdictions made up of states, counties, cities and towns, is just too much.

They have a point. Knowing how much to tax, and where, can be complicated. For example, Elgin, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, is located in two counties, Cook and Kane. In Cook County, Elgin?s sales tax on general merchandise is 9.25 percent. In Kane, it?s 8.25 percent. The state?s base sales tax is 6.25 percent.

What is taxed also varies widely. In Massachusetts, baby oil is tax-free, but baby lotion and powder aren?t. In states including New York, there?s a tax on shipping charges on items. Others, including California, don?t charge if you get merchandise delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or delivery services like UPS and FedEx.

The effort to change the law intensified as the growth of the Internet increased and companies? out-of-state sales volume swelled. Many sellers felt protected by a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states could not force out-of-state sellers to collect sales tax. But the court, in effect, invited Congress to create a law that would give the states the authority to require that taxes be collected.

States have a lot of incentive to go after the revenue. The combined budgets of all the states had deficits of more than $100 billion a year from 2009 through 2012, primarily because of the drop in tax receipts during and after the recession, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, an organization that studies tax issues.

Three separate bills were introduced in the last Congress that would authorize the states to require remote sellers to collect taxes. In the Senate, the Marketplace Fairness Act had bipartisan support but did not come to a vote. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., one of the bill?s sponsors, has told The Associated Press the bill was tabled because of concerns by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., about the burdens tax collection would place on companies in his state, where there is no sales tax.

Joyce Rosenberg covers small business for The Associated Press.

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/55692690-79/tax-states-sales-state.html.csp

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Lov-3 ? Acupuncture And Its Works By Using - Collinsoscar79's blog

As Acupuncture is actually a drug no cost remedy, there aren?t any unwanted side effects. This is actually the rationale why quite a few folks are turning for the acupuncture to help remedy their health issues. Acupuncturists feel that, as soon as the electricity circulation is blocked or disrupted it brings about aches, pains and health issues. As a result of needle insertions, acupuncturists unblock the flow of energy, and it regulates the bodies normal ability to treat itself. Needle insertion grows a degree of endorphins, which can be a all-natural soreness relief hormone. This manner, it lowers the need of medical intervention and drug usage for soreness aid. Acupuncture for agony relieving has its long lasting strengths. Acupuncture proves exceptionally valuable to ease human body aches and pains irrespective of age and gender on the man or woman. Aside from treating illness, acupuncture is helpful to help remedy the assorted health and fitness issues during pregnancy and hormonal treatment. For the duration of every step, from being pregnant to labor and postpartum, acupuncture will be the risk-free, useful and final results focused remedy. Many women put up with the early morning sickness, again agony, nausea, headache, vomiting, pelvic discomfort, depression, stress and anxiety, sleeplessness, heartburn, leg cramps and a variety of these kinds of other well being difficulties, during and after being pregnant. Treatment of Acupuncture for pregnancy is protected, for the reason that it cures health challenges without exposing a mom and yet-to-born boy or girl for the chemical dependent medication. Acupuncture decreases the labor duration and in many cases lessens the child Blues signs and symptoms. It truly is similarly advantageous to solve lots of breastfeeding problems. Acupuncture can be used to help remedy infants? overall health troubles like diarrhea, sinus, pores and skin rashes, ear, throat, nose infections, fevers, colic, asthma, etcetera. However it challenging to see your infant becoming addressed with needles, acupuncture needles are hair thin, and also the method is way extra gentle compared to schedule vaccinations. Infants do not need needle phobia like almost all of the elders. So, you can notice that your little one is definitely relishing the procedure. Acupuncture fastens the postpartum therapeutic method and improvises the general wellbeing of a child and mother, in addition. Individuals, who are dealing with infertility, acupuncture treatment is immensely useful for them, too. Acupuncture regulates the body?s possess operating. Irregular ovulation and menstrual cycle, blockage of sperms ducts are a few with the contributing factors to infertility. Acupuncture reduces the depth of these irregularities by balancing the move of significant power while in the shape. Acupuncture cure, coupled together with the natural medications, proves most effective to improvise the reproductive system of both of those, males and women. As a substitute of swapping body?s personal natural therapeutic system, acupuncture promotes and compliments it. It maintains the harmony using the normal approach. This prospects to long lasting results and improvement in health and fitness with none dangerous remedies.

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Verizon adds 'record-high' 2.1 million subscribers in Q4 2012, but still makes a loss

Verizon has just announced that the last quarter was its best yet -- in regard to subscriber numbers. Those 2.1 million new additions mean that Verizon can now lay claim to 98.2 million customers in total, while smartphones have now claimed an additional 5 percent of this base, up to 58 percent. Since its last report, Q4 consolidated revenues totaled $30 billion for the first time, although profits were hit by $135 million in damages from Hurricane Sandy as well as a one-time pension cost that meant the company took a charge of between $9 and 10 billion for the quarter. This made up a $1.93 billion loss for the carrier, which remained, unsurprisingly, upbeat. Verizon's FiOS internet and TV businesses added 144,000 and 134,000 customers, respectively. According to Verizon, its LTE network is now available to 273 million people and CEO Lowell McAdam is calling the last twelve months "a year of solid progress."

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Earnings Impacted by Previously Announced Non-Operational Charges

4Q 2012 HIGHLIGHTS
Wireless

8.5 percent year-over-year increase in service revenues in 4Q 2012; 8.4 percent year-over-year increase in retail service revenues.
2.2 million retail net additions, excluding acquisitions and adjustments, including a record-high 2.1 million retail postpaid net connections; low retail postpaid churn of 0.95 percent; 98.2 million total retail connections, 92.5 million total retail postpaid connections.
4G LTE service now available to more than 273 million people in 476 markets across the U.S.
Wireline

4.1 percent year-over-year increase in consumer revenues; consumer ARPU (average revenue per user) up 9.5 percent year over year, to $105.63.
144,000 FiOS Internet and 134,000 FiOS Video net additions, with continued increased sales penetration for both services; 5.4 million total FiOS Internet, 4.7 million total FiOS Video customers.
Consolidated Earnings

A loss of $1.48 in earnings per share (EPS), compared with a loss of 71 cents per share in 4Q 2011, impacted by non-cash pension items in both quarters and additional non-operational debt retirement and other restructuring items in 4Q 2012.
A 7-cent-per-share impact due to Superstorm Sandy yielded 38 cents per share in adjusted EPS (non-GAAP), compared with 52 cents in adjusted EPS in 4Q 2011.
NEW YORK - Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) today reported strong customer and revenue growth in Verizon Wireless and Verizon FiOS services in fourth-quarter 2012 -- positioning the company well for 2013.

Verizon Wireless reported record-setting customer additions in the quarter, while Verizon FiOS customer additions were higher in fourth-quarter 2012 than in the prior two quarters, despite the impact of Superstorm Sandy.

"Verizon seized growth opportunities in the fourth quarter to cap a year of solid progress across the entire business," said Lowell McAdam, Verizon chairman and CEO. "We delivered a total return of 13.2 percent to shareholders in 2012, and we enter 2013 ready to accelerate the momentum we've achieved and create significant shareholder value in the years to come."

4Q and Full-Year Earnings Results

Due to the impact of non-operational items announced earlier this month, Verizon reported a loss of $1.48 in EPS in fourth-quarter 2012, compared with a fourth-quarter 2011 loss of 71 cents per share.

A reduction of 7 cents per share due to impacts from Superstorm Sandy yielded a total of 38 cents per share in adjusted fourth-quarter 2012 earnings (non-GAAP). Fourth-quarter 2012 charges totaled $1.86 per share: $1.55 per share related to severance, pension and benefit charges primarily for the annual actuarial valuation of Verizon's benefit plans as well as the annuitization of various pension liabilities during the quarter, and 31 cents per share related to the early retirement of debt and other restructuring activities.

Comparable adjusted fourth-quarter 2011 earnings of 52 cents per share excluded charges of $1.23 per share, primarily related to the valuation of pension plans.

On an annual basis, Verizon reported 31 cents in 2012 EPS, compared with 85 cents per share in 2011. Adjusted annual EPS (non-GAAP) was $2.24 in 2012, compared with $2.15 in 2011.

Revenue Growth Across All Strategic Areas; Continued Strong Cash Flow

In fourth-quarter 2012, Verizon's consolidated quarterly operating revenues exceeded $30.0 billion for the first time in company history. This represented a 5.7 percent increase compared with fourth-quarter 2011 and was the company's highest year-over-year quarterly growth rate in 2012.

For full-year 2012, Verizon's revenues totaled $115.8 billion, an increase of 4.5 percent, or $5.0 billion, compared with 2011. In fourth-quarter 2012, Verizon saw year-over-year revenue increases across all strategic growth areas: 8.5 percent for Verizon Wireless service revenues, 15.7 percent for FiOS revenues and 5.3 percent for strategic enterprise services.

Cash flow from operating activities totaled $31.5 billion in 2012, an increase of 5.7 percent compared with $29.8 billion in 2011.

Capital expenditures were $16.2 billion in 2012, including $135 million in companywide capital related to Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts, and totaled about $70 million less than in 2011. Free cash flow (non-GAAP, cash flow from operations less capex) was $15.3 billion for the year, an increase of 13.1 percent compared with $13.5 billion in 2011.

Verizon maintained a strong balance sheet, with year-end 2012 total debt of $52.0 billion, down from $55.2 billion at year-end 2011.

Verizon Wireless Delivers Record-High Customer Additions and Strong Revenue Growth

In fourth-quarter 2012, Verizon Wireless delivered the highest number of retail postpaid net additions of any quarter in its history, strong growth in revenues, an increase in smartphone penetration, and continued low retail postpaid churn.

Wireless Financial Highlights

Total revenues were $20.0 billion in fourth-quarter 2012, up 9.5 percent year over year. Service revenues in the quarter totaled $16.4 billion, up 8.5 percent year over year. Retail service revenues grew 8.4 percent year over year, to $15.8 billion.
For full-year 2012, total revenues were $75.9 billion, up 8.1 percent over full-year 2011, and service revenues were $63.7 billion in 2012, up 7.7 percent year over year.
Retail postpaid ARPA (average revenue per account) grew 6.6 percent over fourth-quarter 2011, to $146.80 per month. As customers continue to add multiple devices to accounts following the introduction of the Share Everything Plan in June, Verizon Wireless now reports ARPA instead of ARPU since customers can share data among multiple devices.
In fourth-quarter 2012, wireless operating income margin was 24.0 percent and segment EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP) was 41.4 percent, down 80 basis points from fourth-quarter 2011. For full-year 2012, operating income margin was 28.7 percent, up 230 basis points from full-year 2011; segment EBITDA margin was 46.6 percent, up 180 basis points year over year.
Wireless Operational Highlights

Verizon Wireless added 2.2 million net retail connections in the fourth quarter, including a record-high 2.1 million retail postpaid net connections. The company added 5.0 million net retail postpaid connections in 2012, the most in four years. These additions exclude acquisitions and adjustments.
At the end of 2012, the company had 98.2 million retail connections, a 6.6 percent increase year over year -- including 92.5 million retail postpaid connections.
Verizon Wireless had 35.1 million retail postpaid accounts at the end of the fourth quarter, a 1.4 percent increase over the fourth quarter 2011, and an average of 2.6 connections per account, up 4.3 percent year over year.
At year-end 2012, smartphones accounted for more than 58 percent of the Verizon Wireless retail postpaid customer phone base, up from 53 percent at the end of third-quarter 2012.
Retail postpaid churn was 0.95 percent in the fourth quarter and retail churn was 1.24 percent, both up 1 basis point year over year.
Verizon Wireless continued to roll out its 4G LTE mobile broadband network, the largest 4G LTE network in the U.S. As of today (Jan. 22), Verizon Wireless 4G LTE service is available to more than 273 million people -- close to 89 percent of the population -- in 476 markets across the U.S.
The company continued to enhance its device lineup with new smartphones and tablets. In the fourth quarter, Verizon Wireless launched eight 4G LTE smartphones: the DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD by Motorola; Windows Phone 8X by HTC; Nokia Lumia 822; Samsung Galaxy Note II; Spectrum 2 by LG; Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere II; and the DROID DNA by HTC. In addition, Verizon Wireless launched three tablets in the quarter: the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, Apple iPad with Retina display and Apple iPad mini.
Verizon Wireless announced it will begin offering shared data plans for business on Jan. 24, 2013, with the Share Everything Plan for Small Business and the Nationwide for Business Data Packages and Plans.
Wireline Reports Continued Strong FiOS Customer and Revenue Growth

In the Wireline segment, FiOS customer growth in fourth-quarter 2012 was greater than in the prior two quarters, despite the disruption caused by Superstorm Sandy. In global enterprise and wholesale, increased sales of strategic services continued to help mitigate lower revenues resulting from secular and global economic impacts.

Wireline Financial Highlights

Fourth-quarter 2012 operating revenues were $10.0 billion, a decline of 1.5 percent compared with fourth-quarter 2011. Consumer revenues grew 4.1 percent compared with fourth-quarter 2011. On an annual basis, 2012 consumer revenues totaled $14.0 billion, an increase of 3.2 percent compared with 2011 and Verizon's highest annual revenue growth rate in consumer wireline in 10 years.
Consumer ARPU for wireline services increased to $105.63 in fourth-quarter 2012, up 9.5 percent compared with fourth-quarter 2011.
ARPU for FiOS customers continues to be more than $150. FiOS services produced about 68 percent of consumer wireline revenues in fourth-quarter 2012. About two-thirds of FiOS consumer customers have purchased a "triple play" of phone, Internet and video services.
Global enterprise revenues totaled $3.8 billion in the quarter, down 2.1 percent compared with fourth-quarter 2011. Sales of strategic services increased 5.3 percent compared with fourth-quarter 2011 and represented 54 percent of global enterprise revenues. Strategic services include Verizon Terremark cloud and data center services, security and IT solutions, advanced communications, and strategic networking.
For 2012, wireline operating income margin was 0.2 percent and wireline EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 21.3 percent, including the negative impact of fourth-quarter storm recovery. Excluding identifiable storm impacts (non-GAAP), wireline operating income margin was 1.0 percent and wireline EBITDA margin was 22.1 percent.
Wireline Operational Highlights

Verizon added 144,000 net new FiOS Internet connections and 134,000 net new FiOS Video connections in fourth-quarter 2012. Verizon had a total of 5.4 million FiOS Internet and 4.7 million FiOS Video connections at the end of the quarter, representing year-over-year increases of 12.6 percent and 13.3 percent, respectively.
FiOS penetration (subscribers as a percentage of potential subscribers) continued to increase. FiOS Internet penetration was 37.3 percent at the end of fourth-quarter 2012, compared with 35.5 percent at the end of fourth-quarter 2011. In the same periods, FiOS Video penetration was 33.3 percent, compared with 31.5 percent. The FiOS network passed 17.6 million premises at year-end 2012.
Broadband connections totaled 8.8 million at year-end 2012, a 1.4 percent year-over-year increase. Revenues from broadband connections grew 3.1 percent -- to $3.5 billion for full-year 2012 -- over the same period, driven by customer purchases of higher-speed FiOS services.
Verizon has been replacing high-maintenance portions of its residential copper network with fiber optics to provide enhanced services and to reduce ongoing repair costs. In 2012, Verizon migrated 223,000 homes to fiber, which contributed to an 11 percent improvement in trouble reports across Verizon's entire copper network for the year. The company has a target of 300,000 additional migrations within FiOS markets in 2013.
To meet rapidly growing customer-traffic demands, Verizon deployed additional 100G (gigabits per second) technology on network routes in the U.S. and Europe in fourth-quarter 2012. In the U.S., these high-capacity routes included Atlanta to Tampa, Kansas City to Dallas and Salt Lake City to Seattle. During 2012, the company added 13,000 miles to its 100G network in the U.S.
Verizon Enterprise Solutions completed agreements with multinational and U.S. corporations The Coca-Cola Company, Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd., Bridgestone Americas, CME Group, Redbox and Shred-It for advanced business technology solutions.
Verizon Enterprise Solutions launched a comprehensive cloud and data center infrastructure portfolio specifically designed to help the health care industry meet the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements for safeguarding electronic protected health information.

Filed under: Cellphones, HD, Mobile, Verizon

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Source: Verizon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/22/verizon-q4-2012-financials/

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Kim Suozzi Cryogenically Preserved After Battle With Brain Cancer

A 23-year-old who died of brain cancer in January raised enough money before her death to pay for her own cryonic preservation.

Truman State neuroscience student Kim Suozzi was diagnosed in March 2011 with recurrent Glioblastoma multiforme, a highly aggressive brain cancer, according to the Society for Venturism, a pro-cryonics nonprofit.

In August 2012, when Suozzi's life expectancy was only three to six months, the Missouri resident wrote on her blog that her final wish was to be cryogenically preserved. This would mean that, after her death, her body would be preserved at an extremely low temperature until the day when technology had advanced enough to revive her and treat her brain cancer.

She wrote on her blog:

Many of you know that I?m agnostic; I don?t have any clue what happens when you die, but have no reason to think that my consciousness will continue on after death. The only thing that I can think to make me feel a little more at ease with my death is to secure cryopreservation plans on the off-chance that they figure out how to revive people in the future. The way I see it, it?s a better bet than decomposing or getting cremated.

Suozzi went on to explain that she did not have "even close to the finances" she needed for the service -- a figure she quoted at $30,000 - $35,000 when the procedure was performed through the Cryonics Institute.

That same month, Suozzi posted about her predicament on Reddit. She noted that in earlier months, other Redditors had wanted to start a fundraiser to aid her in "doing fun things" before she died. "I am hoping that redditors will still have some interest in helping me even if it's not going towards vacation or skydiving," she wrote. "Cryopreservation is sincerely what will bring me the most peace in death."

She raised at least $2,100 through donations on Reddit. Additionally, the Society for Venturism set up a fund for Suozzi's cryopreservation. The group raised $27,000 over the course of one week, according to io9.

The Alcor Life Extension Foundation, a nonprofit cryonics organization, also set up a donations page for Suozzi's cryopreservation. This organization quoted the cost as $80,000, though the donation page notes that cost would be "reduced" by Suozzi relocating closer to the Scottsdale, Ariz. facility, which she planned to do once she secured the necessary funds.

Ultimately, Suozzi raised enough money to cover the procedure. She passed away on January 17, and was transported to the Alcor facility for cryopreservation that same day, according to the Alcor website.

CORRECTION: A previous photo caption incorrectly stated that Suozzi died in January 2012. She died in January 2013.

A video Suozzi filmed in August 2012:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/22/kim-suozzi-cryogenicallly-preserved-cancer_n_2526415.html

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Must-see: A Review of the Movie ?Happy? | Care2 Healthy Living

?The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.? ? Benjamin Franklin

This is the intro line from the movie, Happy.

Happiness and how to achieve it are becoming increasingly popular, interesting, and relevant topics. And for good reason.

Statistical, scientific information and research on happiness, why it matters, and how to attain it are becoming hard to ignore, dismiss, or write off as soft science.

Ask yourself this: Are you happy?

It?s a rhetorical question, so you can answer honestly.

Whether your answer is yes or no, ask yourself, Why? Why are you happy? Why aren?t you happy? There?s no right or wrong answer. There?s just your answer.

This compelling picture is for anyone who thinks they?re happy; anyone who?s ever been depressed; anyone who?s tasted happiness and then watched it slip out of their fingers; anyone who feels like they?ve spent their whole life chasing happiness; and especially for anyone who?s given up on happiness or are feeling like they want to give up.

This movie is for you. For me. For everyone.

It brings full circle a wealth of scientific, empirical, and national research on happiness and delivers it in a documentary-type format so mesmerizing, you?ll be recommending it to friends and family before you get halfway through.

It?s a movie so revealing, inspiring, sobering, and convincing that I personally feel we should watch this movie in groups. As couples, as families, as friends, as coworkers, as companies. It?s that powerful.

The creators translate subjects like Positive Psychology, Dopamine, and Hedonic adaptation into clear, concise, understandable terms for those of us who aren?t doctors or PhDs. They weave technical facts with human behavior so beautifully that it?s hard not to be moved. And not moved by a fiction, big-screen drama scene. Moved by seeing our own human spirit reflected back to us on-screen.

The relationship between happiness and exercise, connection, community, cooperation, and compassion are uniquely explored. A magnifying glass is held up to things we?ve been taught will make us happy, like success, money, and beauty.

Accessing all of this information in one place is invaluable because it gives us the power to turn the concept of ?being happy? into a starting point instead of an ending point.

This isn?t a movie that tells you what to do. Just like a good teacher, it shows you what?s possible, even in situations that seem impossible.

The rest is up to you.

Watch Happy for free on Gaiam TV with a 10-day trial here.

Monique Minahan is a writer, yogi, and lover of life. She?s inspired by nature?s simplicity and the healing power of love. She finds true liberation in living life fully from the inside out. Her intention is to offer her heart to the world through words that motivate, inspire, and encourage. Connect with her at mindfulmo.com.

Photo credit: TheHappyMovie, Gaiam TV

Read more by Intent here.

Follow Intent on Twitter: https://twitter.com/intentdotcom

Source: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/must-see-a-review-of-the-movie-happy.html

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Outsourcing and Coaching Combo | Mind Your Own Business Radio ...

By Deb, on January 19th, 2013

Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 9-11am

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Iran president: Sanctions fight requires oil shift

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday Iran must move away from dependence on oil revenue to overcome Western sanctions that have slowed the economy and disrupted foreign trade.

Many Iranian officials have described the Islamic Republic's reliance on crude oil exports as a weakness, but Ahmadinejad's call before parliament highlights the political will to try to broaden Iran's economy. It also represents the first major acknowledgment by Ahmadinejad that the economic squeeze from sanctions demands "structural changes" in Iran's industries and exports.

Tehran had long counted on crude oil sales as the backbone of the nation's economy, accounting for about 80 percent of foreign currency income. But Western sanctions over Iran's nuclear program have targeted oil exports and shut Iran out of the international banking system, making it hard for its remaining customers in Asia and elsewhere to pay.

Speaking to lawmakers, Ahmadinejad said "enemies" are using the weak points in Iran's economy to pressure the country. Iranian authorities have accused the West of waging an "economic war."

The U.S. and its allies fear Iran may ultimately be able to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charges, saying its nuclear program is peaceful and aimed at generating electricity and producing radioisotopes to treat cancer patients.

"We need to cut reliance on petrodollars in the government's spending budget," Ahmadinejad told lawmakers. We have to finish this once and for all."

In a clear admission of the blow from sanctions, Gholam Reza Kateb, head of the parliament's budget committee, said Iran's revenues from oil and gas exports have dropped by 45 percent.

The Iranian government is preparing to present an austerity budget to parliament for the next Iranian calendar year that begins March 21. It would substantially increase income taxes as a way of avoiding a budget deficit.

Instead of oil money, Ahmadinejad said natural resources such as mines and wood should be used to generate income.

"We have to change the flow of wealth and capital into the country. Problems will remain as long as this doesn't change ... 25 percent of gross national product is concentrated in Tehran. We need to make sure that the money is invested not just in one city but all over the country," Ahmadinejad said.

Ahmadinejad also said Iran must further cut government subsidies on energy, which give Iranians some of the cheapest fuel in the world. Parliament has opposed the move, saying it will boost already double-digit inflation.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iran-president-sanctions-fight-requires-oil-shift-132150888--finance.html

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Local sports briefs

Fishing

The Essex County Sportsmen?s Association?s annual Ice Fishing Tournament will be held Feb. 3, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Artichoke Reservoir, weather permitting. The event offers $1,000 in cash prizes. The entry fee is $20 and sign-up will occur at the tournament in the Turkey Hill parking area in Newburyport. All entrants will be eligible for a raffle at the end of the tournament.

Hockey

The Friends of Newburyport Hockey will be co-hosting a fundraiser with Triton in efforts to raise funds for the construction of a new locker room at the Graf Rink. The event will be held Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Elks Lodge immediately following the Triton/Newburyport hockey game (puck drops at 4 p.m.). Tickets for the event are $50 and will include a buffet dinner, silent auction as well as live entertainment provided by ?The Old Brigade?, who opened for the Dropkick Murphys last year for St. Patrick?s Day. Tickets will be available at the door; however, due to the level of interest, we suggest purchasing them prior to the event. For ticket information and silent auction donations, please contact friendsofnewburyporthockey@gmail.com.

Running

The 20th Annual Frigid Fiver 5-Mile Road Race will take place Feb. 3 at noon at Newburyport?s Michael?s Harborside. All race profits will go to local charities. This race will again be sponsored by the Rotary Club of Newburyport. Applications are available at Newburyport?s Ric Bayko?s running store and the Boston Running Store. You can also register at Active.com. Please go to joppaflatsrunningclub.com for additional details or email mjfiene@msn.com.

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The Frosty Knuckle 5K will be Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Hobo Cafe in Salisbury Beach. The registration closing date on Active.com will be Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. The cost is $20 pre-registration or $25 on race day.

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The Winner?s Circle Running Club Boston Training Run Series includes eight runs of increasing distances, held at two-week intervals, spanning the Boston training time frame. To make sure you don?t get bored, each run will be hosted by different WCRC members at different locations. All WCRC members are invited to participate, whether or not you are running Boston. Shorter courses will also be designed for each session for those not interested in marathon distances. Hosts are needed for Jan. 27, Feb. 10, Feb. 24, March 10 and March 22. Check www.runthecircle.org on the ?Running? tab for information. If you would like to host, contact Mike McCormick at 978-382-0738 or mamcc12@gmail.com.

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The Snowflake Series Running Camp with Nancy McCarthy is designed to motivate runners and walkers to continue their fitness programs outdoors all through the winter, increase their speed and endurance, and have some fun. The Snowflake Series meets at the Plum Island Coffee Roasters at 8 a.m. on Sunday mornings beginning Jan. 20 for five weeks. Contact Nancy McCarthy at 978-499-0993 or e-mail Nancy@getrealfitness.com for further information.

Learn to Skate

The Graf Rink, in cooperation with the Merrimack Valley Skating Club, is accepting applications for its Learn to Skate and Tiny Tots programs. Classes will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Please visit www.grafrink.com for more detailed information such as class times and cost.

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Newburyport Youth Hockey is running a holiday special accepting registrations for its Learn to Skate Program at a cost of $75. The program is open to boys and girls from ages of 3 to 9 and runs through the end of February. Classes are Sunday mornings from 10 to 10:50 a.m. at the Graf Rink. Any questions, call Dick Tierney at 978-465-0128.

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Triton Youth Hockey is accepting applications for its Learn to Play Hockey program. LTPH is open to boys and girls from area towns ages 4 through 10. The program runs for 10 sessions on Saturday mornings at 8 a.m. at the Graf Rink. The sessions begin Jan. 19. The cost is $99 per child. Contact Jon Lindholm (jon.lindholm@kraft.com) for registration questions. More details can be found at www.tritonyouthhockey.com.

Rugby

The Essex County Youth Rugby Football Club is holding an open sign-up and informational meeting for all U19 (15- to 18-year-olds) and U15 (12- to 14-year-olds) Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the West Newbury Town Annex located at 381 Main Street.

Lacrosse

Triton Youth Lacrosse registration is open Jan. 31. Visit Triton?s website at www.tri-lax.com. If you have questions, call Tom Galligan at 617-548-1407 or email trilax@comcast.net.

Swimming

The YWCA Greater Newburyport will expand its Junior Breakers Swim Development Program with the new Junior Breakers Black Program. To qualify for Black Program a swimmer must be able to swim 200 yards, non-stop, wall to wall, demonstrating the front crawl stroke using rotary breathing and open turns and flip turns. Swimmers should be comfortable diving and swimming under water. Junior Breakers Black meets on Monday and Wednesday, from 4:45 to 6 p.m. Tryouts for both the Junior Breakers Orange and Black can be arranged by contacting Ilene H. Grady at igrady@ywcanewburyport.org.

Baseball/Softball

The Salisbury Youth Baseball/Softball League will hold registration Jan. 23 (5 to 7 p.m.) at Salisbury Elementary or Jan. 26 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at Play Ball in Salisbury. The cost for coed instructional baseball is $95. The cost for baseball/softball is $115 per child, and $95 for each additional child.

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The Byfield-Newbury Baseball/Softball League is open for registration at www.byfieldnewburylittleleague.com. All players in grades 1 to 6 are required to attend the evaluations on Jan. 26 at Governor?s Academy.

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Amesbury Girls Youth Softball League is holding sign-ups for the 2013 season. Girls from Amesbury and South Hampton who are in grades 3 through 8 are invited to play in the league. Registration is being held at Play Ball in Salisbury Jan. 19 and Feb. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register by January 19 and pay $50. Tryouts will be March 23. Visit http://www.agysl.org/. Contact Jill Hooper at jill.tyler@verizon.net for more information.

Source: http://www.newburyportnews.com/sports/x1525006240/Local-sports-briefs

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Lessons learned, BofA makes a new mortgage push

In this Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012 photo people use a Bank of America ATM in Boston. Bank of America says its fourth-quarter earnings shrank as it cleaned up old problems from its mortgage unit. The bank made $367 million in the last three months of 2012, down from $1.6 billion in the same period a year ago. The earnings were equivalent to 3 cents per share. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

In this Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012 photo people use a Bank of America ATM in Boston. Bank of America says its fourth-quarter earnings shrank as it cleaned up old problems from its mortgage unit. The bank made $367 million in the last three months of 2012, down from $1.6 billion in the same period a year ago. The earnings were equivalent to 3 cents per share. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Bank of America wants a bigger slice of the mortgage market. This time, the bank is being more careful about how to get it.

On Thursday, the bank sketched out plans for regaining some of the ground it has lost in home lending. That's a change from the strategy of the last few years, when it has concentrated on shedding the parts of its mortgage business that it saw as undesirable.

Under its new approach, the bank is targeting people who are already customers. It also wants to focus on making loans directly to borrowers, rather than buying mortgages from other lenders. The restraint is a sign that the lessons of the financial crisis, when risky mortgages tarnished the bank's reputation and its results, are still fresh.

"We need to really focus on people that we are very comfortable with," CEO Brian Moynihan said in a call with analysts.

Bank of America has been dealing with the fallout from soured mortgages made before the financial crisis for years now. Thursday brought another reminder, when the bank said that fourth-quarter earnings shrank because it had to take big charges to settle two mortgage-related disputes.

Even so, the bank knows that the housing market, in many respects, is improving. It doesn't want to miss out on a boom that could provide a steady source of revenue.

Housing prices are rising in many parts of the country. On Thursday the government reported that home builders broke ground on homes last month at the fastest pace since 2008. Low interest rates and government programs are encouraging people to refinance.

To reach them, Bank of America is putting more mortgage loan officers into bank branches, so customers don't have to go to separate mortgage offices. It is trying to close loans more quickly. It is targeting ads to people who are already bank customers. Customers who log on to their Bank of America checking account, for instance, might see an ad touting low mortgage rates.

Many of Bank of America's mortgage problems stem from its decision in the summer of 2008 to buy Countrywide, a California mortgage lender known for making unconventional loans to borrowers with weak credit. The bank initially hailed the purchase as a coup, but it turned into a debacle after defaults mounted and the riskiness of Countrywide's lending practices became clear. Bank of America has endured a string of quarterly losses, government investigations and other regulatory headaches stemming from Countrywide.

The experience has driven Moynihan, who became CEO a year and a half after the Countrywide purchase, to scale back certain mortgage businesses. At the end of 2011, the bank got rid of its so-called correspondent lending mortgage business, where it bought mortgages that had been made by other lenders.

Bank officials say they'll work to sell more mortgages directly to customers to fill in the gap. They pointed to fourth-quarter results as proof. Mortgage originations were roughly flat compared to a year ago, up to $22.5 billion from $22.4 billion. However, the $22.4 billion of a year ago included $6.5 billion in correspondent lending.

Excluding the impact of the lost correspondent lending, Bank of America's mortgage originations jumped 41 percent.

Bank of America is a smaller player in mortgages than it used to be. It now makes about 4 percent of the mortgage loans in the U.S. That's down from nearly 22 percent in 2009, after it bought mortgage lender Countrywide, according to the trade publication Inside Mortgage Finance.

Wells Fargo controls 30 percent of the market, and JPMorgan Chase, 10 percent. Bank of America points out that those two rivals still get a large part of their mortgage revenue from buying mortgages from third-party lenders.

Despite the strides the bank has made, reminders of Bank of America's lingering mortgage mess were hard to miss in its fourth-quarter financial results.

Earnings and revenue slipped as the bank took big charges on two mortgage-related settlements. Earlier this month, Bank of America and other banks agreed to pay a combined $8.5 billion to settle government accusations that they had wrongfully foreclosed on struggling homeowners. It also settled disputes with Fannie Mae, the government-backed mortgage agency, which forced Bank of America to buy back some of the mortgages it had sold Fannie before the financial crisis.

Other mortgage fights, including repurchase demands from private investors, could hammer future financial results.

The bank took a charge of $2.7 billion because of the Fannie Mae settlement and a $1.1 billion charge for the foreclosure settlement, among other charges.

That sent earnings down sharply, a result that Bank of America had already warned about. The bank made $367 million in the last three months of 2012 after paying preferred dividends, down sharply from $1.6 billion in the same period a year ago. Those earnings amounted to 3 cents per share. Bank of America's stock fell 50 cents, or 4.2 percent, to close at $11.28 Thursday.

Revenue was also dragged down by the Fannie Mae settlement. Revenue dropped to $19.6 billion after stripping out an accounting charge, down from $26.4 billion in the same period a year ago.

The bank has been cutting jobs and other expenses. The number of employees fell to 267,190, down about 14,600 jobs since a year ago.

Analysts called it another quarter of earnings sacrificed to working through the mortgage problems. "Making expensive progress" is how Nomura analyst Glenn Schorr characterized the quarter.

Associated Press

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