Inhabitat's Week in Green: Tesla Model X, Wendy the pavilion and a robot named Baxter

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

It's cold outside, but the cars at this week's North American International Auto Show were positively sizzling -- and Inhabitat sent several writers to report on the latest green cars to be unveiled at the show. Among the standouts at this year's auto show were Acura, which unveiled its sleek new NSX hybrid sports car, and Tesla, which showcased its all-electric Model X. Also on display in Detroit was Cadillac's 2014 ELR extended range EV with its gorgeous new interior. Want to see all the hottest rides from NAIAS 2013? Check out our roundup of the top seven hybrids and EVs from this year's show.

While we were mostly preoccupied with the shiny new cars in Detroit, there were also plenty of exciting green architecture developments this week. Ronald Lu & Partners just announced that ZCB, the first net-zero energy building in Hong Kong is now open to the public. Meanwhile in China, the 2013 Harbin Ice Festival just kicked off in Zhaolin Park near the Songhua River -- and it features some absolutely stunning castles made entirely from ice. And Wendy, the spiky blue pavilion from NYC-based architecture firm HWKN, made its debut in Abu Dhabi, and an Inhabitat reporter was on the scene to tour it.

Last week was a good one for renewable energy news. Japan announced that it will soon build the world's largest offshore wind farm near Fukushima to compensate for scaling back its use of nuclear power since the 2011 meltdown. Electronics giant Panasonic unveiled the next-generation Ene-Farm, which is the world's most efficient home fuel cell. Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed a device that detects weak or defective silicon wafers, which could save the solar industry billions of dollars. And the California Public Utilities Commission announced that California installed an impressive 1 GW of solar power by the end of 2012 -- the most of any state in the country.

Inhabitat also reported on a wide variety of green products last week, starting with the iRock, an ingenious rocking chair that recharges your iPad using kinetic energy. Industrial designer Max Gunawan unveiled the Lumio, a hardbound book that opens up to become a gorgeous low-energy lamp. A group of University of Toronto grads launched the NanoLight, which they claim is the world's most efficient LED light bulb. Rethink Robotics, a Boston-based robotics firm created a $22,000 humanoid robot named Baxter, which the company thinks can help revive American manufacturing. And finally, in case you missed it, Inhabitat recently launched a photo contest with LightCollector -- enter now for your chance to win $1,000!

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/20/tesla-model-x-wendy-pavilion-robot-baxter/

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French seize control of 2 key Mali towns

DIABALY, Mali (AP) ? French troops in armored personnel carriers rolled through the streets of Diabaly on Monday, winning praise from residents of this besieged town after Malian forces retook control of it with French help a week after radical Islamists invaded.

The Islamists also have deserted the town of Douentza, which they had held since September, according to a local official who said French and Malian forces arrived there on Monday as well.

The militants' occupation of Diabaly marked their deepest encroachment into government-held territory, and Monday's retaking of the town is a significant victory for the French-led intervention.

Diabaly, located about 320 miles (460 kilometers) north of the capital of Bamako, fell into rebel hands on Jan. 14. Residents said those who fled in the aftermath were forced to escape on foot through rice fields.

"We are truly really grateful to the French who came in the nick of time," said Gaoussou Kone, 34, the head of a local youth association. "Without the French, not only would there no longer be a Diabaly, there would soon no longer be a Mali. These people wanted to go all the way to Bamako."

On Monday, all that remained of the Islamists were the charred shells of their vehicles destroyed by the French air strikes. Three of them were clustered in one location, the machine gun cannon of one still pointing skyward.

The cluster of rebel vehicles was directly in front of the home of an elderly man, Adama Nantoume, who said the French bombs started falling at around 11 p.m. the same day that the Islamists occupied Diabaly.

"I was at home, sitting like this against the wall," he said, showing how he had hugged his knees to his chest in a fetal position. "The plane came and the bombs started to fall. After that, I saw that the cars had caught on fire. And the explosions were so loud that for awhile I thought I had gone deaf. I was suffocated by the smoke and the light burned my eyes. The gas made me cry."

Islamists had seized Diabaly just days after the French began their military operation on Jan. 11. The offensive is aimed at stopping the Islamists from encroaching toward the capital in Mali's south from their strongholds in the vast, desert north where they have been amputating the hands of thieves and forcing women to wear veils over the last nine months.

Malian military officials reported late Saturday that they had retaken the town after Islamists fled, but French officials later said Sunday that the town had not been recaptured.

On Monday, about 200 French infantrymen supported by six combat helicopters and reconnaissance planes made their way to Diabaly.

Associated Press reporters saw French troops in camouflage uniforms take up positions in front of a Malian military camp in the town on Monday.

"With the help of the French troops it's reassuring, but we must search, and search some more. There may still be a few pockets of enemy resistance," said a Malian army commander who gave only his last name, Samassa.

The Islamist fighters had insinuated themselves with civilians before leaving, so there was a possibility that some had remained. Malian soldiers on Diabaly's outskirts set up a roadblock south of the town where they checked the identity papers of travelers.

Farther north in Douentza, local town adviser Sali Maiga told The Associated Press that French and Malian forces came into the town around 11 a.m. local time to find no sign of the Islamist rebels.

The militants, who captured Douentza back in September, had deserted the town last week, Maiga said.

In an interview with France-5 TV, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the air strikes in Mali had caused "significant" ? though unspecified ? losses among the jihadists, and only minor skirmishes involved French forces on the ground.

Meanwhile, the extremist group behind the deadly hostage crisis in Algeria threatened more attacks against foreign targets if France does not bring an immediate halt to its military operation in Mali.

In a statement, the Masked Brigade warned of more such attacks against any country backing France's military intervention in Mali.

"We promise all the countries that participated in the Crusader campaign ... that we will carry out more operations if they do not reverse their decision," it said, according to a transcript released by SITE Intelligence Group.

France has said that African nations must take the lead though it could be some weeks before they are ready to do so.

France has said that some 400 troops from Nigeria, Togo and Benin had arrived Sunday in Bamako to help train an African force for Mali. Troops from Chad, who are considered hardened fighters familiar with the desert-like terrain of northern Mali, also have arrived, Le Drian said.

A top official with the West African regional bloc said Sunday the cost of the African intervention could top $500 million.

ECOWAS Commission President Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, who gave an interview to state television in Ivory Coast, said the initial estimate "may vary depending on the needs" of the mission and the situation on the ground.

___

Associated Press writers Krista Larson in Segou, Mali; Jamey Keaten in Dakar, Senegal; and Robbie Corey-Boulet in Abidjan, Ivory Coast contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/french-seize-control-2-key-mali-towns-175339100.html

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96% Monsters, Inc. 3D

All Critics (189) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (193) | Rotten (8) | DVD (45)

This didn't need 3D to work. It long ago passed the kids-wear-out-the-DVD-rewatching-it test.

It may be harder nowadays to dazzle audiences with fancy visual effects, but Monsters, Inc. 3D proves that smart, imaginative storytelling still does the trick every time.

Most of the charm of "Monsters Inc." comes from its vocal cast.

If history is any guide, you and your family - whether young or old - will probably want to see "Monsters University" over and over.

The movie itself stands up well, even from an adult, two-dimensional perspective.

Its reassuring message is more relevant than ever.

[I] really don't see the point of paying extra for children under eight. Their eyes are still developing, their noses are still small for slippery glasses, and... isn't a trip to the pictures enough for them in any case?

If anything, it improves with age.

Monsters displays wonderful imagination which makes it worth reliving in an extra dimension - particularly the energetic chase scene along a conveyor belt of doors.

Pixar's soaringly lovely fourth feature ...

[An] exciting, imaginative and very likable adventure.

Despite its eternal message about physical differences and the importance of love over fear of the unknown, Monsters, Inc primarily remains an ambitious concept film.

It's in the visuals that 'Monsters Inc' comes to life, from the jazzy, Norman McLaren influenced opening to the hilarious, shakycam amateur-dramatic recap over the closing credits.

Another chance to see Pixar's most dazzling premise, now spruced up with a third dimension.

Now in 3D, the filmmakers have created a wonderful reality - the reality of Monstropolis, which like the worlds of Oz and Pleasantville, whisk us far, far away on a magic carpet of fantasy

A shrewdly timed reminder of Pixar's early, heady days, when the animation powerhouse could do no wrong.

There's really little reason to check out Monsters, Inc. 3D in... well, 3D, rather than going for a good old-fashioned 2D screening instead.

It does well, but not brilliantly: an amusing trifle from a studio whose best work still lay ahead of it.

Not quite a Pixar classic, but funny, witty and visually spectacular enough to be enjoyed again on the big screen.

Monsters, Inc. continues a positive 3D trend for the company, who appear to be selecting their upgraded titles wisely, choosing features that benefit from the additional depth.

Not even the opportunistic 3D-ification can squander the pure delight of the film's meticulously detailed world of ragtag creatures.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/monsters_inc_3d/

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Facebook declares war on Google

Now, why would you ever want to leave Facebook for anything?

If you love Facebook ? and golly who doesn?t? ? you?ll be happy to know that Mark Zuckerberg and his merry band of data sellers have a fresh, new FREE product for you and the other 1.1 billion other Facebook users.

Just today, Facebook launched a search engine to compete with Google.

It?s called Graph Search, and I?m sure it will change your life for the better. Head here for the details.

Why do I get the idea Facebook doesn?t want you to ever leave Facebook?

Daumeyer oversees the Courier's editorial department.

Source: http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_cincinnati/~3/Se6Goc9wm_g/facebook-declares-war-on-google.html

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Thousands of protesters rally in Pakistani capital

ISLAMABAD (AP) ? Thousands of Pakistanis fed up with a government they say is corrupt and indifferent to the plight of common citizens descended on the capital Monday, responding to the call of a charismatic cleric who has quickly become a powerful but mysterious political force.

The dramatic entry into Pakistani politics of Tahir-ul-Qadri, a preacher who until recently lived in Canada, has sparked concern from some that he is seeking to derail elections expected this spring at the behest of the powerful army.

Qadri has denied those allegations and insisted his vaguely worded demands for election reform are simply meant to root out corruption in the political system. He pledged several weeks ago to lead a "million-man march" on Islamabad on Monday to press his demands.

The turnout appeared to fall far short of Qadri's promise, but there was no lack of enthusiasm from the crowd. Many waved green and white Pakistani flags and wore buttons emblazoned with the cleric's picture. Although some spoke of election reform, most were focused on demands like fixing the country's rampant energy shortages and rooting out corruption.

"There is no electricity and no gas, and the government has done nothing," said Faizan Baig, a 23-year-old pharmaceutical company worker who traveled to Islamabad from the northwest town of Abbottabad. "Qadri feels pain for the people, while the government feels no pain for the people."

Baig was among about 10,000 people who streamed into the capital throughout the day Monday and camped out on the main avenue running through the city. Male protesters gathered on one side of the road while women and children were on the other, divided by a grass median.

Qadri left his home base in the eastern city of Lahore on Sunday accompanied by at least 15,000 people in hundreds of vehicles, but he had not yet arrived in Islamabad by Monday evening. The numbers were expected to grow as the procession reached the capital, and Qadri's spokesman, Shahid Mursaleen, claimed they still planned to deliver a massive crowd.

But Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who has not hidden his disdain for Qadri, estimated the total crowd in Islamabad would not exceed 25,000.

The government set up dozens of shipping containers in the capital to prevent protesters from reaching key government areas. Thousands of paramilitary forces and police in riot gear were also deployed throughout the city and cell phones were jammed after the government warned that militants were planning to attack the protesters.

The demonstrators established a make-shift stage on top of one of the shipping containers set up by the government, and people took turns delivering fiery speeches extolling Qadri. Helicopters providing security buzzed low overhead to the delight of the protesters, who waved their flags and cheered.

"I have responded to the call of our leader for a revolution," said Mohammed Aslam, a 52-year-old farmer who traveled from the central Pakistani city of Sargodha. "The country's leaders usually ignore the voice of the poor, but I think this event may change that."

Qadri returned to Pakistan in December after years in Canada, where he's also a citizen. He heads a religious network in Lahore and gained some international prominence by writing a 2010 fatwa, or religious opinion, condemning terrorism.

But he was never a national political figure until this winter, when his calls for reforms ahead of elections galvanized many Pakistanis disenchanted by the existing parties. The cleric's vaguely worded demands include vetting of political candidates to make sure they're honest and taking steps to even out the playing field so more people can participate in the political process.

Qadri has pledged that he and his supporters will remain in Islamabad until their demands are met, and many brought food and blankets with them so they could hunker down. That could set up a clash with the government.

Some of Qadri's comments have sparked concern that the cleric is a front for the Pakistani military to disrupt the democratic process just as it prepares for a historic transfer of power from one civilian government to another.

He has called for a military role in picking the caretaker government that will take over temporarily ahead of elections and has said it could stay in place longer than normal to enact necessary reforms.

Those comments, as well as questions about where his funding is coming from, have sparked fears Qadri is really trying to derail the upcoming vote on behalf of the military, which is believed to dislike both the main political parties vying for power, and pave the way for a military-backed caretaker to hold power indefinitely. Qadri has denied any such involvement.

____

Associated Press writers Zarar Khan in Islamabad and Abdul Sattar in Quetta, Pakistan contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/thousands-protesters-rally-pakistani-capital-132631486.html

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Obama digs in heels, refuses to negotiate debt ceiling (reuters)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/277018318?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Swatch Buys Luxury Brand Harry Winston For $1 Billion - Business ...

GENEVA (AP) ? Switzerland's biggest watch maker, Swatch Group AG, says it has agreed to pay about $1 billion to acquire Canada's Harry Winston watch and jewelry brand.

The Biel, Switzerland-based company says it will pay $750 million to acquire the brand from Toronto-based Harry Winston Diamond Corp. and will also assume as much as $250 million in debt.

The acquisition includes the Harry Winston production company in Geneva and more than 500 employees globally.

Swatch Group's chairwoman, Nayla Hayek, said in a statement Monday that the addition of a jewelry-watch brand "brilliantly complements the prestige segment" of Swatch's portfolio, helping it compete against luxury watch makers.

Harry Winston Diamond Corp.'s chairman, Robert Gannicott, said that his company would change its name to Dominion Diamond Corporation.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/swatch-buys-luxury-brand-harry-winston-for-1-billion-2013-1

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Oracle updates Java, security experts say bugs remain

BOSTON (Reuters) - Oracle Corp released an emergency update to its Java software for surfing the Web on Sunday, but security experts said the update fails to protect PCs from attack by hackers intent on committing cyber crimes.

The software maker released the update just days after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security urged PC users to disable the program because of bugs in the software that were being exploited to commit identity theft and other crimes.

Oracle's failure to quickly secure the software means that PCs running Java in their browsers remain vulnerable to attack by criminals seeking to steal credit-card numbers, banking credentials, passwords and commit other types of computer crimes.

Adam Gowdiak, a researcher with Poland's Security Explorations who has discovered several bugs in the software over the past year, said that the update from Oracle leaves unfixed several critical security flaws.

"We don't dare to tell users that it's safe to enable Java again," said Gowdiak.

Some security consultants are advising businesses to remove Java from the browsers of all employees except for those who absolutely need to use the technology for critical business purposes.

HD Moore, chief security officer with Rapid7, a company that helps businesses identify critical security vulnerabilities in their networks, said it could take two years for Oracle to fix all the security bugs that have currently been identified in the version of Java that is used for surfing the Web.

"The safest thing to do at this point is just assume that Java is always going to be vulnerable. Folks don't really need Java on their desktop," Moore said.

An Oracle spokeswoman declined to comment.

ORACLE'S UPDATE

Oracle said on its security blog on Sunday that its update fixed two vulnerabilities in the version of Java 7 for Web browsers.

It said that it also switched Java's security settings to "high" by default, making it more difficult for suspicious programs to run on a personal computer without the knowledge of the user.

Java is a computer language that enables programmers to write software utilizing just one set of code that will run on virtually any type of computer, including ones that use Microsoft Corp's Windows, Apple Inc's OS X and Linux, an operating system widely employed by corporations.

One version is installed in Internet browsers to access web content. Separate versions are installed directly on PCs, server computers and other devices including phones, webcams, and Blu-ray players.

The Department of Homeland Security and computer security experts said on Thursday that hackers figured out how to exploit the bug in a version of Java used with Internet browsers to install malicious software on PCs. That has enabled them to commit crimes from identity theft to making infected computers part of an ad-hoc networks that used to attack websites.

Oracle said that the flaws only affect Java 7, the program's most-recent version, and versions of Java software designed to run on browsers.

Java is so widely used that the software has become a prime target for hackers. Last year, Java surpassed Adobe Systems Inc's Reader software as the most frequently attacked piece of software, according to security software maker Kaspersky Lab.

Java was responsible for 50 percent of all cyberattacks last year in which hackers broke into computers by exploiting software bugs, according to Kaspersky. That was followed by Adobe Reader, which was involved in 28 percent of all incidents. Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer were involved in about 3 percent of incidents, according to the survey.

The Department of Homeland Security said attackers could trick targets into visiting malicious websites that would infect their PCs with software capable of exploiting the bug in Java.

It said an attacker could also infect a legitimate website by uploading malicious software that would infect machines of computer users who trust that site because they have previously visited it without experiencing any problems.

Security experts have been scrutinizing the safety of Java since a similar security scare in August, which prompted some of them to advise using the software only on an as-needed basis.

Meanwhile, Microsoft said on Sunday that would it release an update on Monday to fix a previously disclosed flaw in Internet Explorer versions 6, 7 and 8 that made PCs vulnerable to attacks in which hackers can gain remote control of the machines. Microsoft previously released a temporary fix to prevent such attacks.

(Reporting by Jim Finkle; Editing by Diane Craft and Matt Driskill)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oracle-updates-java-security-experts-bugs-remain-041707439--sector.html

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Megan Fox Gives Up Twitter Account, Likes Facebook

Megan Fox doesn?t speak much on the social-networking sites, but the actress told her fans that there?s no reason to have a Twitter account and didn?t see any point to maintaining it when she already has millions of followers on Facebook.

?I?m incredibly late to the party but I?m here nonetheless, so what now?? Fox said on January 4, when she created her official page. However, just five days later she didn?t see any point in it.

?5 days on Twitter and I have yet to discern it?s purpose. #WhatIsThePoint ???? Fox wrote.

We can only guess that Megan?s page won?t last long, but she still amassed more than 260,000 Twitter followers, which is decent.

However, the decision to pull the plug on her account shouldn?t be surprising, because she has tried to keep a private life, and even though she does have a Facebook page, she rarely uses it.

Fox did announce the birth of her first child on Facebook, but she posted it several weeks after giving birth, keeping her personal life private to prevent media speculation.

Fox named her child Noah Shannon, and he is ?healthy, happy, and perfect,? as she wrote on her page at the time.

?We are humbled to have the opportunity to call ourselves the parents of this beautiful soul and I am forever grateful to God for allowing me to know this kind of boundless, immaculate love,? Fox also said.

The actress is quite different than other celebrities, keeping a low profile and posting little, if not at all. But this could be a good thing because whenever Fox does make a post, it?s newsworthy, and it does get a lot of attention.

Source: http://www.newsoxy.com/entertainment/megan-fox-111309.html

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Haiti remembers 2010 earthquake in subdued ceremony

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haiti marked the third anniversary of the earthquake that destroyed much of the capital and killed more than 250,000 people with a purposely low-key commemoration on Saturday that included former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Clinton, who is the U.N. special envoy for Haiti, joined the country's president, Michel Martelly, for a simple wreath-laying ceremony held at a mass burial site on a barren hillside at the outskirts of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince.

"Today we're here so that we don't forget, and to do better," Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe told reporters. "We were heavily hit, that's true. But we're standing strong to rebuild our country."

Earlier in the day, Haiti's government marked the occasion with a subdued ceremony on the grounds of the razed national palace in downtown Port-au-Prince. In a short address, Martelly paid homage to those who perished and praised the courage of those who survived.

"A little more lonely, a little more vulnerable," Martelly said. "I express to you my compassion."

He thanked donors and international aid organizations, and reassured them that the ongoing reconstruction effort would be closely evaluated to avoid waste and corruption. "I understand your concern," he said.

Martelly also announced the launch of a new building code, vowing that another tragedy like that of 2010 would never happen again.

This year's anniversary was a marked change from the hours-long commemorations organized by the government the first two years. The previous anniversaries included live musical performances, prayers from Haiti's spiritual leaders and press conferences.

Three years after the massive earthquake, reconstruction progress has been painfully slow, and barely half of the $5 billion in aid pledged by donors has been delivered.

About 350,000 displaced earthquake victims still live in camps, with little relief in sight. Only about 6,000 permanent houses have been built.

SIGNS OF PROGRESS

Still, there are some visible signs of progress. Most of the rubble from collapsed buildings has been cleaned up, and some long-term development projects in Haiti's north were inaugurated in recent months, including a $300 million industrial park and an airport expansion to accommodate international flights.

More than 80 schools have been built by the Jamaica-based cellphone company Digicel. And in the town of Mirebalais in central Haiti, construction of a modern teaching hospital, built by the Partners In Health charity, was completed.

The Clinton Foundation says it has spent a total of $28 million in Haiti since the earthquake, including relief funds as well as development projects.

"I'm encouraged by the work that's being done on the airports, some of the road construction that's been built, but we still need a lot more infrastructure work," Clinton told Reuters after visiting a housing project for displaced earthquake victims and an agricultural and technical training center run by the Mission of Hope, an evangelical development group.

"From my point of view, keeping the investment coming in, dealing with the housing and unlocking the education, those are the things I'd like to see real progress on this year," Clinton added.

(Editing by David Adams, Jackie Frank and Eric Beech)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/haiti-remembers-2010-earthquake-subdued-ceremony-005717187.html

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Union Seeks To Make All Md. Teachers Pay Union Fees

By Meg Tully, for MarylandReporter.com

Maryland teachers statewide could be required to pay union fees even if they are not members, according to legislation expected to be introduced this session in Annapolis on behalf of Maryland State Education Association (MSEA).

The ?fair share? fee is a top priority of the teachers union that represents about 70,000 people ? or 80% of school employees.

According to MSEA, the new fee would be about 68% of current union dues, which vary by county. There are already 10 jurisdictions in the state which require a ?fair share? fee, also called an ?agency fee.?

Making everyone contribute to representation

MSEA spokesman Adam Mendelson said that the fee is intended to make sure everyone contributes to the cost of contract negotiations, from which all employees benefit. In addition, state law requires that the union provide representation for all educators who want to resolve a grievance, whether they are union members or not.

The fee would pay for bargaining and grievance services and could not go toward costs for political activities, he said.

?The bill does not force anyone to join the association,? Mendelson said. ?It forces a choice about if you join or not.?

The idea doesn?t sit well with some Republican legislators. Sen. David Brinkley, a Republican who represents Frederick and Carroll counties, said it will mean the unions don?t have to earn their business like other professional organizations.

?It?s a forced tax on those who choose to teach,? Brinkley said.

Jurisdictions which currently have fair share include: Baltimore City and Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Charles, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George?s counties. For teachers, those fees annually are about $400 in Howard County and $500 in Anne Arundel County, as examples of fee amounts, Mendelson said. Member fees are less than 1 percent of an educator?s annual salary because of salary percentage weights in the bylaws of the National Education Association and MSEA, and ?fair share? fees would be less.

?It?s really about ending the patchwork approach and creating equity among all educators,? Mendelson said.

State employees already pay agency fees

Sean Johnson, political and legislative affairs director for MSEA, said that until now, the state has traditionally dealt with fair share fees jurisdiction by jurisdiction. The General Assembly has passed either enabling legislation for a fee or required a fee for those 10 jurisdictions, and not addressed it on a statewide basis.

In 2009, the state passed ?fair share? legislation at the request of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) requiring all state employees to pay a union fee, but that did not affect employees under MSEA, which represents school workers in every jurisdiction except Baltimore City.

?Our goal here is to bring in line the equity across the board and not have these outlier school districts where you?ve really created a bifurcated system of school employees where some are members of the union and some are not where all receive the benefits of the contracts,? Johnson said.

Johnson said House Ways and Means Chair Sheila Hixson, a Montgomery County Democrat, will be introducing the bill in the House. He expects it will also be introduced in the Senate by a member of the Senate Finance Committee. The bill will likely include protections for political objectors to pay a smaller fee, and for those who have religious objections to donate to charity instead of paying a fee, he said.

Source: http://somd.com/news/headlines/2013/16391.shtml

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Making Sure Home Care Services in Media, PA Remains Respectful ...

For many people, their marriage is the most important relationship that they will ever have. Often seniors have been married for many decades, and can?t imagine life without their partner. When it becomes obvious that home care services will need to be an important element of their lives as well, it is critical that you act as an advocate not just for your aging loved ones, but also for the sanctity of their marriage. Ensuring that all forms of senior care remain respectful of your parents? marriage will help them to feel more comfortable with the arrangements, and make sure that they are more compliant. This will help them to receive much more benefit from the care while also keeping their relationship with each other, and with you, strong and secure.

Married couples generally want to take care of each other. With this becomes physically impossible for one or both of them, the results can be very upsetting. No one wants to feel as though they are no longer capable of protecting or taking care of the person that they love most in the world. By carefully discussing this need with a senior care provider, however, you can help to ensure that both parents are given the opportunity to be a part of each other?s ongoing care and vitality.

Seniors that feel as though a caregiver is attempting to take their place in the life and care of their partners may become despondent and angry. This can cause them to stop adequately taking care of themselves, and become resistant to the care that is being provided to them by their own caregiver, or by the caregiver that is also caring for their partner. It is critical when you hire a senior care provider that you discuss with that person the importance of understanding the closeness of your parents, and respecting this bond. Ask that the caregiver make special arrangements to ensure that each parent is able to help in the care of the other so that each continues to feel useful and loved.

Some of the ways that senior care can remain respectful of marriages include:

• Allowing one partner to describe favorite meals or beverages to the caregiver so that she is able to provide these to the other partner.
• Offering for either partner to be present during the bathing and dressing of the other partner.
• Providing medication reminders to one partner for the other if that partner is capable of helping the other partner take the medication in the proper dosage.
• Allowing one partner to fold laundry, even if it is only a few items, if that is something that that person is accustomed to doing for the other.
• Listening to the needs of both partners, and allowing each to discuss his or her concerns for the other partner.
• Giving the couple plenty of time to simply be together, rather than trying to engage each in different activities, or separating the partner that requires more care from the one that doesn?t.
• Regularly verbally emphasizing the importance of the marriage, and each partner in the life of the other.
• Asking for the couple to talk about their relationship. Encourage them to share stories about how they met, their dating, the wedding and any special memories that they have together.

The caregivers at Right at Home are available to talk with you and your family about all of your home care needs. Right at Home In Home Care and Assistance is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable home care services in Media, PA and the surrounding areas. Call (610) 624-5442 for more information.

Source: http://rightathomepade.com/home-care-services-in-media-pa

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Financial Peace University classes to begin in Kirkland Monday

More than one and a half million families have positively changed their financial future through Dave Ramsey?s Financial Peace University (FPU).

Updated in summer 2012, the now nine-week course provides families and individuals with practical tools to gain control of their finances and set themselves up for long-term financial success. The course meets once a week where a different lesson is taught by Dave on DVD followed by a small-group discussion. Lessons include budgeting, relationships and money, getting out of debt, saving for emergencies and investing.

FPU will be held at Saint John Vianney located at 12600 84th Ave. N.E. in Kirkland. The classes will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7. Contact David Almond at (425)823-0787 for more information or to register.

Since its inception in 1994 FPU has helped more than 1.6 million families positively change their financial future. Through common-sense principles and small-group accountability, FPU gives people the tools they need to change their behavior and succeed financially. On average families who complete FPU pay off $5,300 and save $2,700 in the first 90 days. Following the class nearly 94 percent of those families budget regularly.

?FPU will not only transform the way you handle money, but also your marriage and other areas of your life,? says Ramsey. ?This isn?t a boring financial class. We make learning about money fun and easy to understand so people in every situation can benefit from the information.?

Ramsey knows first-hand the pain that financial stress can cause. After creating a net worth of more than a million dollars by age 26, he quickly lost it all. Since then Ramsey has helped families and individuals across the country learn how to get control of their finances and avoid debt so they don?t have to experience the same pain he did.

FPU lessons also include guest speakers Rachel Cruze, speaker and daughter of Dave Ramsey; Jon Acuff, author of Wall Street Journal best-seller Quitter and popular blog Stuff Christians Like; and Chris Hogan, counselor and speaker for the Dave Ramsey organization.

The revised FPU will be offered through churches and community centers. After purchasing a membership each participant receives a workbook, Dave Ramsey?s Complete Guide to Money, an envelope system and an audio CD library. Participants will also have access to budgeting forms and MP3s of all the lessons. For more information or to purchase a membership, go to www.daveramsey.com.

?

Source: http://feeds.soundpublishing.com/~r/kirbusiness/~3/4zs-5SdSyiQ/185715341.html

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UK's Savile abused hundreds over six decades: report

LONDON (Reuters) - The late British TV presenter Jimmy Savile physically abused hundreds of people over six decades, according to a police-led report on Friday which said he carried out attacks at the BBC and at hospitals where he did voluntary work.

Of his victims, 73 percent were under 18 and 82 percent were female. The oldest was 47 and the youngest just 8.

"Savile's offending footprint was vast, predatory and opportunistic," Commander Peter Spindler told reporters.

Savile, one of the BBC's biggest stars of the 1970s and 80s received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth for charity work. He died in 2011, aged 84, a year before allegations about his abusive behavior emerged in a TV documentary.

Friday's report said he had committed 214 criminal offences including 34 rapes or serious sexual assaults across the country.

His offending first occurred in 1955 in the northern English city of Manchester and the last attack was in 2009, the report said. He abused people at the BBC from 1965 including in 2006 at the last recording of popular weekly show Top of the Pops.

He also targeted people at hospitals over 30 years from 1965, including at the renowned Great Ormond Street children's hospital in London.

"It is now clear that Savile was hiding in plain sight and using his celebrity status and fund-raising activity to gain uncontrolled access to vulnerable people across six decades," the report said.

In all, 600 people had come forward to police with information of which 450 related to Savile.

The report, issued jointly by London police and the NSPCC children's charity, said it was likely there would be more victims who did not feel able to come forward.

Friday's report is one of 14 launched since the allegations about Savile emerged, including four at the BBC.

The revelations about Savile plunged the BBC into weeks of turmoil and led to resignation of the publicly funded broadcaster's director general just 54 days into his job.

OTHER STARS QUESTIONED

Detectives have also been looking into allegations against Savile acting with others and into related sex crimes which had no direct link to Savile.

They have since questioned 10 men, including Jim Davidson, a comedian who hosted prime time shows on the BBC in the 1990s, former BBC radio DJ Dave Lee Travis, and Max Clifford, Britain's most high-profile celebrity publicist.

They all deny any wrongdoing.

A one-time professional wrestler, Savile became famous as a pioneering DJ in the 1960s before becoming a regular fixture on TV hosting prime-time pop and children's shows until the 1990s.

He also ran about 200 marathons for charity, raising tens of millions of pounds for hospitals, leading some to give him keys to rooms where victims now allege they were abused.

While many colleagues and viewers thought the cigar-chomping Savile was weird, with his long blonde hair, penchant for garish outfits and flashy jewellery, he was considered a "national treasure", honored not just by the queen but also by the late Pope John Paul II who made him a papal knight in 1990.

Despite rumors and suspicions, his sex crimes only came to light when rival broadcaster ITV aired allegations against him.

That prompted allegations the BBC had covered up allegations of sex abuse after it was revealed it had dropped its own expose shortly after Savile's death and had run tribute shows about him instead.

A lengthy report last month cleared of the BBC of any cover-up but said it had missed numerous warnings and proved incapable of dealing with the scandal when it finally broke.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uks-savile-abused-hundreds-over-six-decades-report-102238598--finance.html

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Jets fire OC Tony Sparano

AP

[Editor's note:? Every day, we'll post a new update on the various coaching and G.M. vacancies, until all of them are filled.? Or until we lose interest.? Or forget to do it.]

Arizona Cardinals:? The Cardinals reportedly are negotiating with Steve Keim for the franchise?s G.M. position.? The Cardinals also have interviewed defensive coordinator Ray Horton and Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy to fill their coaching vacancy.? They plan to interview Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden.? The Cardinals also sought permission to interview Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley, but to date Haley has not accepted.

Carolina Panthers:? The G.M. candidates include in-house interim hire Brandon Beane, Titans V.P. of player personnel Lake Dawson, Giants senior pro personnel analyst Dave Gettleman, Vikings assistant G.M. George Paton, Montral Alouettes G.M. Jim Popp, and Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Chicago Bears:? G.M. Phil Emery?s list of candidates for head coach is now at 13:? Bears special-teams coordinator Dave Toub, Vikings linebackers coach Mike Singletary, Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman, Texans offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, Falcons special-teams coordinator Keith Armstrong, Buccaneers offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan, Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, Cowboys special-teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis, Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements, Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, and Vikings special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer.

Cleveland Browns:? The Browns are looking at Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton, former Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt, Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, and Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman.? A Monday reported that the Browns ?might? be interested in Jon Gruden was quickly shot down by a source with direct knowledge of the search process.

Jacksonville Jaguars:? Candidates for the vacant G.M. job include Falcons director of player personnel Dave Caldwell, Cardinals V.P. of player personnel Steve Keim, 49ers director of player personnel Tom Gamble, and Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross.? Caldwell has interviewed three times, but some believe Caldwell and the Jags are at impasse over money.

Kansas City Chiefs:? Packers director of operations John Dorsey and former Browns G.M. Tom Heckert are among the candidates to replace Scott Pioli as G.M.? Coach Andy Reid says that the hire will be made by owner Clark Hunt.

New York Jets:? 49ers director of player personnel Tom Gamble was believed to be the leading candidate, but some say his interview didn?t go well.? Other candidates include Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross and Falcons director of player personnel Dave Caldwell, who is getting a second interview.

Philadelphia Eagles:? The Eagles? current candidates include Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, Falcons special-teams coordinator Keith Armstrong, Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, and Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden.? Former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski has said that Jon Gruden would be interested in the job, but that the Eagles have yet to contact Gruden.

San Diego Chargers:? Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye and Colts vice president of football operations Tom Telesco are considered to be the top candidates for the G.M. job.?? 49ers director of player personnel Tom Gamble is due to interview on Tuesday.? Coaching candidates include Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, but that process won?t get rolling until the Chargers have a new G.M.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/08/jets-fire-offensive-coordinator-tony-sparano/related

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"General Hospi-Tale": Sung by The Afternoon Delights (1981) - From ...

For those of you who weren?t around in the early 1980s when daytime soaps were at their indisputable peak, The Afternoon Delights are ready to catch you up with their 1981 novelty song re-capping the happenings on the King of All Soaps, General Hospital.

My introduction to this show involved a pre-Robin Mattson Heather Webber dropping LSD into Diana Taylor?s iced tea as part of her plan to drive Diana to the mental ward and ?claim for her own Diana?s baby, who was actually Heather?s biological child sold months earlier on the black market. ?What Heather didn?t know was that the lazy susan the identical iced teas were sitting on was accidentally turned on when she wasn?t looking, and poor Heather ended up dosing herself. ?My mind exploded at the idea that this is what grown-ups got to do with their time. ?It explains a lot about my own personal life choices as an adult, but that?s a topic for another post.

The song chronicles the story lines happening in Port Charles post ?Luke Rapes Laura at the Campus Disco? and pre ?Remote Island Housing Evil Machine That Will Freeze the World? (as indicated by the line,?How it ends up nobody knows!?)

My favorite lyric in the song has to be??Alan was the father? of course. ?And he won?t give Monica? a divorce!? ?That?s followed closely by, ?Amy Vining likes to blab? Richard Simmons helps fight flab!?

The bad rap and the slutty horn section just add to the fun.

Click through to hear the song for yourself

general-hospi-tale.mp3

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Tags: Dr Noah Drake Rick Springfield, Freezing machine storyline General Hosptial, General Hospi-tale Afternoon Delights, General Hospital Afternoon Delights, General Hospital Novelty Song, General Hospital song 1981, Liz Taylor on General Hospital, Luke Spencer Tony Geary Genie Francis Laura Spencer, The Ice Princess storyline General Hospital

Posted in Uncategorized 6 hours, 2 minutes ago at 3:19 pm. Add a comment

Source: http://tvfoodanddrink.com/2013/01/general-hospi-tale-afternoon-delights-1981/

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Congress to vote Friday on Sandy flood aid | TribLIVE

By The Associated Press

Published: Thursday, January 3, 2013, 4:04?p.m.
Updated 16 hours ago

WASHINGTON ? Many home and business owners flooded out by Superstorm Sandy could get insurance payouts soon through congressional action expected Friday on a $9.7 billion bill to replenish the National Flood Insurance Program.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which runs the program, warned that it will run out of money next week if Congress doesn?t give it additional borrowing authority to pay out claims. Congress created the program in 1968 because few private insurers cover flood damage.

Northeast lawmakers say the money is urgently needed for storm victims awaiting claim checks from the late October storm that was one of the worst to strike the Northeast, ravaging the coast from North Carolina to Maine, with the worst flooding occurring in Atlantic City, N.J., New York City and Long Island and along the Connecticut coastline.

?People are waiting to be paid,? said Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., whose district includes Atlantic City and many other coastal communities hard hit by the storm. ?They?re sleeping in rented rooms on cots somewhere and they?re not happy. They want to get their lives back on track and it?s cold outside. They see no prospect of relief.?

House Speaker John Boehner promised a House vote on Friday after his decision earlier this week to delay an action on a broader Sandy relief package provoked outrage from Northeast Republicans, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who said he?d lost trust in GOP leaders in Congress after being promised a vote earlier this week.

If the House, as expected, approves the flood insurance proposal, the Senate plans to follow with a likely uncontested vote later Friday, according to a Senate Democratic leadership aide.

About 140,000 Sandy-related flood insurance claims have been filed, FEMA officials said, and most have yet to be closed out. Many flood victims have only received partial payments on their claims.

Philip Rock has received $8,000 in flood insurance payments so far, but said he is awaiting a statement on the final amount, which he expects to be much more. A house he owns in Toms River, N.J., had a $220,000 flood insurance policy. The house, which he rents out, was destroyed, and he needs to know the final payout before he can demolish it.

The house is a ?total loss,? Rock said. ?We don?t want to demolish the house and have them say, ?We have to go around and take more pictures.??

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were the states hardest hit by the storm in terms of damage from high winds, flooding and storm surges. The storm damaged or destroyed more than 72,000 homes and businesses in New Jersey. In New York, 305,000 housing units were damaged or destroyed and more than 265,000 businesses were affected.

The flood insurance measure is the first phase of a proposed Sandy aid package. Under Boehner?s new schedule, the House will vote Jan. 15 on an additional $51 billion in Sandy recovery money. Senate action on that measure is expected the following week. Fiscally pressured local governments are awaiting that money.

?This funding will give the city and state the much-needed resources to rebuild our damaged infrastructure and provide further aid to individuals and small businesses struggling to pick up the pieces of their lives,? said Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., whose district includes Staten Island, one of New York?s hardest-hit areas.

Sandy was the most costly natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and was blamed for at least 120 deaths. Northeast lawmakers have complained that it took just 10 days for Congress to approve about $50 billion in aid for Katrina but that it hasn?t provided aid for Sandy relief in more than two months.

?States and local communities need to know the money will be there before they can give a green light to start rebuilding,? said LoBiondo.

More than $2 billion in federal money has been spent so far on relief efforts for 11 states and the District of Columbia struck by the storm. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, New Hampshire, Delaware, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia are receiving FEMA aid.

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Source: http://triblive.com/news/editorspicks/3234215-74/flood-sandy-insurance

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Congress tightens belt, trims spy budget for 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Congress has drastically trimmed the budget for U.S. spies and satellites for 2013, though not quite as deeply as the White House wanted.

In one of the last votes of the year, House lawmakers voted Monday 373-29 in favor of a Senate-passed bill to slightly boost the president's $72 billion budget request for intelligence agencies including the CIA, adding extra cash for the counterterrorism fight against al-Qaida, and the counterintelligence fight against foreign governments trying to spy on the U.S.

That's down sharply from roughly $80 billion in 2012, which marked the peak of intelligence spending since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"The bill holds personnel levels, one of the biggest cost drivers, generally at last year's levels," said House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich. "Even so, the bill adds a limited number of new personnel positions for select, high-priority positions, such as FBI surveillance officers to keep watch on terrorists."

The House Intelligence Committee's ranking member, Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., said the bill "invests in personnel and programs that are working and cuts things that aren't."

The bill was stripped of several measures meant to block the leaking of classified information, including a provision that would have limited which government officials could brief journalists on intelligence. The measures had been drafted after lawmakers objected to a series of news stories that anonymously quoted senior administration sources describing sensitive intelligence programs, such as the process by which targets are chosen for lethal drone strikes overseas.

The chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., says the measures were taken out to get the bill passed but that the issue remains a problem.

"Unfortunately, I am certain that damaging leaks of classified information will continue, and so the committee will need to continue to look for acceptable ways to address this problem," Feinstein said Friday after the Senate version of the bill passed.

The legislation, if signed into law by President Barack Obama, will require the White House to inform Congress when it decides to share classified information with reporters, giving lawmakers a heads-up before they read about it in the media.

___

Dozier can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/KimberlyDozier

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-01-01-US-Intelligence-Budget/id-2cb03a892642466cbe3ae49f09689c14

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Food price outlook: Will Buffalo wings break your budget in 2013?

Buffalo wings are only the most dramatic example of 2013 food price rises. Beef and corn prices are headed up, too, for the new year

By Schuyler Velasco,?Staff writer / December 31, 2012

A bowl of Buffalo wings from Buffalo Wings & Rings is shown in this commercial file photo. Buffalo wings are projected to get more expensive in the coming year, as demand rises.

Buffalo Wings & Rings/PRNewsFoto/File

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Feeding guests at your Super Bowl party could get a little expensive this year.

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Why? The price of Buffalo wings has spiked 52 percent in the past year, and analysts expect that to continue. ?The wings are really causing some issues,? says Bruce Reinstein, vice president of strategic development and sourcing for Consolidating Concepts, based in Boston. The firm works with over 15,000 of small to mid-size food service chains to help them plan out their food supply purchases.

?Wings are the new popular quick service food,? Mr. Reinstein says, as the fast casual landscape becomes more sports-bar oriented and demands a larger amount of wings. Plus, fast food giant McDonald?s tested bone-in chicken wings in a few Atlanta locations over the summer. If a national rollout follows ?they have so much buying power they will distort the market.??

Another problem: Poultry farms are producing larger and larger chickens, making the smaller wings and legs used for Buffalo wings few and far between.

The Buffalo wing isn?t the only food item projected to jump in price next year, though it is one of the more dramatic upward shifts. ?Because of a drought that parched the Midwestern part of the country this past summer, nearly every food product tied to corn will see price increases in 2013. And overall, household food prices are expected to rise between 3 and 4 percent, according to projections from the 2012-2013 Food Price Outlook from the US Department of Agriculture.

In addition to the corn itself, which had a weak crop as a result of the drought, prices will go up on proteins like beef and chicken, because livestock feed is primarily made of corn.?

The drought also affected wheat and soy crops, which will translate to higher prices on things like bread and cooking oil.

Beef in particular will increase, analysts predict, in part due to the drought and in part due to the high demand of cheap meat cuts in restaurants ? flank steak, and skirt steak, for instance ? and ground beef, because of the popularity of hamburgers. Wholesale ground beef cost $1.71 per pound a year ago; now, it?s at $1.89 per pound

?Companies are trying to keep costs down, so products that aren?t as expensive per pound, they are very much in demand,? Reinstein says.

Prices are already higher than last year, but the impact of the summer drought will be felt most acutely in the new year.

?The impact of a drought takes time There?s still inventory of corn, but then the old corn is gone, you have to build it up. It?s a cycle,? he says.

Still, not everything on your grocery list is getting more expensive. Sugar was cheaper in 2012, and dairy products this November were 1.1 percent below the average price they were a year ago, according to the USDA. But Reinstein is hesitant to make any predictions that prices will go down, at least until we?ve seen how mild or severe the coming winter will be. This past year, produce prices were down thanks to an unusually mild winter, but the market is likely to correct itself, especially if chilly weather hits key planting spots like Florida and California.

?There?s no way of really knowing if we?re going to have that kind of luck again,? he says. ?If we have any issues with weather that will make information about produce more clear.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/AT6B-8HOw94/Food-price-outlook-Will-Buffalo-wings-break-your-budget-in-2013

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