Articles

Broadcasting from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Kelly Clarkson performed a medley of her greatest hits on Wednesday's "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Looking a little overdressed for the Florida sunshine, Kelly started off with a new, bluesier arrangement of "Miss Independent."

She segued into a rock-edged version of "Walk Away," proving why she absolutely deserved to win the first season of "American Idol" ten years ago.

She also worked in her hit single "Since U Been Gone" as the audience jumped up and down with her. She hit some spectacular notes and gave the ending of the song a new twist -- "now that that loser is gone," she sang.

After performing, Kelly checked out the attractions. "We spent all day yesterday at Universal Studios in Orlando and had the time of our lives! Loved the rides, LOVED all the Harry Potter stuff (especially butterbeer:), loved being on the Ellen show, and our guides were fantastic! Seriously, can't wait to go back!" she posted on Facebook.


(Source: http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2011/04/kelly-clarksons-greatest-hits-medley-on-ellen.html)

Even if your best friend owns a top publishing company, giving you an immediate "in," this does not guarantee publishing success.

First, you have to write a quality book that has a clear target audience. And your book must answer a common problem or need that audience shares. Then you have to develop a marketing plan, and stick to it for at least two years.

Let's begin with the process that should commence before you write your first word. Begin by reading A LOT. Read both books you passionately love and books you can't seem to make it past page five. Then figure out what the author did in the book you loved, and what was wrong with in the book you couldn't finish. Write down these points so they are crystal clear to you. Read other people's books for inspiration and to discover what you should avoid as a writer.

The next step is to plan out your book. Narrow down your subject, and then divide it into chapters. Each chapter should address a specific aspect of the problem your book is going to solve. In each chapter, break the specific aspect down into several parts.
This will help your readers take in your information a bit at a time instead of overwhelming them with every bit of information clogging up the pages until they feel like they're about to go blind. It's not quite spoon-feeding the information to your readers, but it's close.

The next two steps are obvious. Write your book and then revise it. And then revise it again. And perhaps again. Of course, writing is extremely hard, and writing a book can seem like an impossible task. There are many books out there that give you guidelines to help you become familiar - and even love - the process of writing and revision. Find a number of books about
writing. Better yet, find a number of books about writing the specific type of book you aspire to write. These can serve as roadmaps on your writing journey.

Once you've written your ebook and revised it at least twice, show it to someone else whose opinion you respect. If you're lucky enough to know a good editor, see if you have something to barter for him or her to go through your manuscript. Or join a writing group and let the other members critique your work.

Then take all these ideas from other people, and revise your manuscript one last time. And then stop! Put down that pen! Get your hands off the keyboard!

One of the most important steps to actually producing a book is to know when to stop writing and tinkering with it.

You've finally written your ebook! Pop open the bubbly! Give yourself a night out on the town!
Okay, now that this necessary celebration is out of your system, what do you do next?

How to turn your ebook into Profits

Ebooks are a revolutionary way to publish your book without incurring the costs of print production. All you need is a relevant and targeted subject and some inexpensive software, and you can transform your manuscript into a book.

The problem, in terms of actually seeing any profits from your ebook, is that the market is overwhelmed with ebooks, and many of them are not worth the time it takes to download them. Just because the ability exists to easily produce an ebook, doesn't make it good writing.

Make sure your book does not simply rehash old material. You will injure your credibility as an
author by claiming to offer valuable new insights and disappointing your audience with material they've read a zillion times before. So spend enough time writing and revising your book to make sure it's of the highest quality and presents the most current information. A good book will eventually sell itself; false claims about your book will make it extremely difficult to sell any future books you may write.

Assuming you have determined that you do indeed have a quality product that answers some question or need of your target audience with NEW information, how do you know how much to charge for it? Rule number 1: Set a price for your book equal to its value. An under-priced book will only give the impression that your book isn't worth very much.

To figure out a fair price, estimate how much time you put into creating it and how difficult it was to transform the necessary information into understandable and engaging writing. Figure out how much your time and effort is worth, and then price it accordingly. The goal is for you to be adequately compensated for your talent, your time, and your effort.

Once you've figured out a price that is high enough to convey the value of the book, but not so high as to be out of the reach of your target audience's mean budget, then it's time to offer it for sale on your website. To attract sales, you will need to develop a promotional campaign, particularly if you are an unknown author.

There are multitudes of books about self-promotion that will guide you in your efforts. Choose a plan that is both creative and professional. Learn how to write a catchy yet informative press release, and send copies of your ebook to sites that specialize in ebook reviews.

Learn how to write powerful sales copy, or hire someone to write it for you. This is an essential. You absolutely need excellent sales copy to sell your book. Make sure the copy includes all the reasons your target audience needs your book, and the benefits they will derive from buying it.

Use graphics in your promotional materials. Beautiful graphics have the power to instantly convey the quality and value of your ebook. Graphics can also convey the amount of valuable information the book contains, and your careful attention to detail.
Professional graphics sell professional books. They reassure the customer that the product is what it claims to be.

Consider excerpting chapters for articles. You can offer these tidbits for free on your website as a sort of demo of your book. Include an order form for your ebook at the end of the excerpted articles.

Finally, when you set-up your download link, make sure to simplify the process. It's a good idea to offer a few bonuses that make your book even more enticing to purchase, but make sure the bonuses are valuable and high quality. Too many bonuses that are basically a load of useless stuff will compromise the impression your audience has of your ebook. The goal is to convey to your audience that they are getting a quality product for a good deal. That means applying restraint, especially when it comes to adding bonus items. Too much free stuff offered diminishes your credibility.

Make sure your book is a quality product. Make sure it is relevant and current. Develop an effective marketing plan that includes excellent sales copy and excerpted articles. Then offer your book for sale, and wait for your audience to discover you! hopefully useful!

"Daddy rocked us to sleep with the Rolling Stones; Mama woke us up with Loretta Lynn. So we get it honest." - Kimberly Perry

Inheriting a cross-pollinated love of country and rock & roll from their parents,
The Band Perry - siblings Kimberly, Reid, and Neil Perry - say that they bleed the
bright red blood of American music.

The three have always felt the drive to perform and create music, sweating out the
summers in Mobile, Alabama playing in any dusty roadhouse or church that would have
them. Kimberly strapped on her first Gibson - and fronted her first high school
band - at age 15, employing Reid, then 10, and Neil, only 8, as her roadies. Changing
guitar strings and polishing cymbals for their big sister lost its charm after awhile,
so the brothers formed their own band, opening for Kimberly's band.

"My bass and I've been attached at the hip since I was 10 years old," says Reid.
"While most of my friends were playing little league, I was sitting in my room learning
Rolling Stones' and Beatles' bass lines. It's really all I've ever known."

Even as the three worked in different bands, the siblings would spend nights at
home playing together: "I remember sitting out on our front porch singing old Hank
Williams and Bobbie Gentry songs in three-part harmony, hoping to channel the spirits
of old country through musical séance while fighting off the southern Alabama
mosquitoes," says Kimberly. "We always knew we'd take the stage together - all we
were waiting on was the right moment." That moment came in July of 2005, when -
after years of writing together - the siblings decided to join forces as one band.
The Band Perry was then invited by the Coca- Cola Bottling Company to open all of
the dates on their "New Faces Of Country" Tour that year.

In the summer of 2008, after spending a few years on the road honing their sound,
TBP met longtime Garth Brooks manager Bob Doyle. Partnering with Bob and Josh Pegram,
The Band Perry spent the fall and winter of 2008 writing in Nashville and collecting
songs for their first country recording session.

"The three of us bring different strengths into the writing room," Neil points out.
"Kimberly carries in a bag of melodies and lyrics, Reid always has some really great
musical ideas in his back pocket, and I bring in a sense of humor and some thread
that ties it all together."

The new recordings caught the ears of Scott Borchetta and Jimmy Harnen, the CEO
and President of Republic Nashville, signing to the new label in the summer of 2009.

When talking about The Band Perry, each member of the trio stresses how much family
figures into the mix: "Reid, Neil and I share genes and a musical pedigree," Kimberly
explains. "We read the same classics and cook from the same recipes. With all of
our likenesses though, I believe it's our distinctions that stir up the magic when
we create. When the three of us sit down to write songs together, we pull from all
of our individual perspectives and happenstances to create the most interesting
song concoctions."

"There's a tightness between the three of us that goes way beyond even best friends,"
Neil adds. "Family vocal harmonies can't be fabricated. And, besides - the three
of us know that through the thick and thin of life and the music business, we're
watching after each other."

"Blood runs thick. The music business can be hard, but the three of us are committed
not only to our lives in music, but to living them together," Reid says. "I think
the security of knowing that about each other allows us to be uninhibited when we
create. It's a democracy. It's a safe haven."

"We've walked a long way to find your ears," Kimberly Perry finishes with a grin.
"So play us long and play us loud. The Band Perry is here, and we just have so darn
much to say."



(Source: http://www.thebandperry.com/bio.aspx)

Digging Deeper: Jesse Ventura’s Alternative Take on American History

In his new book, “63 Documents the Government Doesn’t Want You to Read,” former wrestler turned governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura takes a close and at times disturbing look at major historical events. Ventura draws on public but often overlooked information about such events as John F. Kennedy’s assassination and the 9/11 attacks, offering fresh, often intriguing insights.

Here is an excerpt from “63 Docrments the Goverment Doesn’t Want You to Read”:

There is little value in ensuring the survival of our nation if our traditions do not survive with it. And there is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon by those anxious to expand its meaning to the very limits of official censorship and concealment.” – John F. Kennedy

This book is titled “63 Documents the Government Doesn’t Want You to Read,” lest we forget that 1963 was the year that claimed the life of our 35th President. The conspiracy that killed JFK, and the cover-up that followed, is the forerunner for a lot of what you’re going to read about in these pages. In fact, the idea behind this book came out of writing my last one, American Conspiracies.

There I presented a close look at whether or not our historical record reflects what really went on, based on facts that most of the media have chosen to ignore – from the Kennedy assassination through the tragedy of September 11th and the debacle on Wall Street. In poring through numerous documents, many of them available through the Freedom-of-Information Act (FOIA), I came to realize the importance of the public’s right to know. And I decided to see what new picture might be revealed if you laid out certain documents that the powers-that-be would just as soon stay buried.
Read full article
(Source: http://www.infowars.com/jesse-ventura-talks-911-wtc7-on-good-morning-america/)

US President Barack Obama has officially launched his re-election bid for the 2012 US Presidential Elections by posting a video on his website and by sending e-mail to supporters.

Obama is expected to utilize again his online network of millions of Americans that has been the key to his successful campaign in 2008.

Reports say that the Obama 2012 re-election campaign could raise as much as $1billion (£620m) compared to his 2008 campaign of $750million, according to analysts estimates.
Below is a tag line on US President Barack Obama‘s website that explains that Obama‘s 2012 campaign has begun.

This campaign is just kicking off. We’re opening up offices, unpacking boxes, and starting a conversation with supporters like you to help shape our path to victory. 2012 begins now, and this is where you say you’re in.

Here is the video that launches the 2012 US Presidential Elections bid by US President Barack Obama.

(Source: http://www.batangastoday.com/obama-2012-campaign-launched-for-us-presidential-election-2012-video/11339/)

The Masters 2011 countdown is finally underway. By the time the tournament begins Thursday morning, the golf world will be flooded with the old Augusta stories - and with the latest Tiger and Phil buzz. As is the case with every single major, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are the major storylines. Heading into the 2011 edition, one of them is being considered the favorite while the other is faced with a lot of question marks.

For many years, Woods was the unquestioned favorite, as Mickelson was riddled with doubters. But this time around, "Lefty" comes into Augusta with all the momentum, as Woods continues to slide further down the ranks.

The buzz for Mickelson went higher yesterday after he won the Shell Houston Open by three shots. It was a symbolic victory in another way as well, since he passed Woods on the World Rankings for the first time since 1997. When he was the world's No. 2, he had countless opportunities to pass Tiger as No. 1 last year, but could never take advantage.

Even now, Mickelson is only the world's No. 3, while Woods is all the way down to seventh. The two former 1-2 players haven't been dominant for some time, as the likes of Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald have risen up. But heading into the Masters, Mickelson and Woods are once again the names on everyone's lips.

Mickelson hadn't won at all in 2011, yet his 63 and 65 over the weekend in Houston made everyone rush to declare him a favorite in Augusta. He used to fall short there every year, but he has won three green jackets now, and is out to win his second straight. Although his luck in majors has gotten better, his biggest rival has gotten worse.

2010 was the first calendar year in a long time in which Woods didn't take a major. It looked like he would easily surpass Jack Nicklaus' six green jackets, if not his overall major records. But he has been stuck on four Augusta victories since 2005, and now Mickelson can tie him by winning this week.
See more click here
(Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7931195/the_masters_2011_revs_up_old_tiger.html?cat=14)

The 46th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards took place last night in what turned out to be a major star-studded ceremony. The show took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and was broadcasted live on CBS. This year was record breaking with nearly 600,000 fans casting their vote for Entertainer of the Year! This was the largest vote EVER in that category!

So who took home the award? Taylor Swift was the big winner, taking home the evening’s biggest honor – Entertainer of the Year. She is the youngest female to ever take home the award, following in the footsteps of the greats like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and Shania Twain (just to name few).

Miranda Lambert was another big winner taking home four awards!

Check out the list of last night’s winner’s below. Do you agree with the wins? Anyone you feel was overlooked this year?

Entertainer Of The Year – Taylor Swift

Vocal Group Of The Year – Lady Antebellum

Vocal Duo Of The Year – Sugarland

Male Vocalist Of The Year – Brad Paisley

Female Vocalist Of The Year – Miranda Lambert

New Solo Vocalist Of The Year – Eric Church

Group Of The Year/ New Vocal Duo - The Band Perry

New Artist Of The Year - The Band Perry

Album Of The Year – Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

Single Record Of The Year – The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert

Song Of The Year – The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert

Video Of The Year – The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert

Vocal Event Of The Year – As She’s Walking Away
(Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/04/04/who-won-the-2011-annual-academy-of-country-music-awards-winners-list/)

Amanda Lambert & Martina McBride Go Grecian For The Country Music Awards

Both Martina McBride and Amanda Lambert wore stunning Grecian inspired gowns last night
(April 3) at the 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. I’m such a sucker for these gowns, they are so simple yet incredibly elegant. GORGEOUS!
(Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/04/04/amanda-lambert-martina-mcbride-go-grecian-for-the-country-music-awards/)

Johnny Depp slimes audience of Kids’ Choice Awards 2011

Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and Johnny Depp top the list of Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2011 winners (KCA 2011), which was held on Saturday, April 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, with Jack Black as the show host.

Justin Bieber won as ‘Favorite Male Singer‘, whose ‘Baby’ song also won the Favorite Song, while Katy Perry won the Favorite Female Singer award on the 24th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards on Saturday.

On the other hand, Johnny Depp won the Favorite Movie Actor for his role in the film “Alice in Wonderland”, who slimmed the audience in front of him while receiving the award.

“You guys are the future; take good care of us.” Depp told the Nickelodeon fans, adding that he truly appreciate the award.

Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus won the Favorite Movie Actress for her performance in the film ‘The Last Song’, who thanked her family for supporting her movie career.

Among the funniest moments of the show was when Russell Brand and Rico Rodriguez went on stage to present the Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie, which was won by Eddie Murphy for his voice at ‘Shrek Forever After’.

Both actors got slimmed by the audience, apparently a ‘revenge’ from the earlier scene created by the ‘Wonderland’ star, which later Heidi Klum and Snoop Dogg as among the next victims.

On the serious note, Justin Timberlake received the Big Help Award for his work with the Shriners Hospital for Children.

Below is the complete list of the Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2011 winners (KCA 2011), as taken from Nick.com.

TV:
• Favorite TV Show: iCarly
• Favorite Television Actor: Dylan Sprouse
• Favorite Television Actress: Selena Gomez
• Favorite Cartoon: Spongebob Squarepants

Movies:
• Favorite Movie: The Karate Kid
• Favorite Animated Movie: Despicable Me
• Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie: Eddie Murphy
• Favorite Movie Actor: Johnny Depp
• Favorite Movie Actress: Miley Cyrus
• Favorite Butt Kicker: Jackie Chan, The Karate Kid

Music:
• Favorite Male Singer: Justin Bieber
• Favorite Female Singer: Katy Perry
• Favorite Song: “Baby,” Justin Bieber
• Favorite Music Group: Black Eyed Peas

Sports:
• Favorite Male Athlete: Shaquille O’Neal
• Favorite Female Athlete: Lindsey Vonn

Other Categories:
• Favorite Video Game: “Just Dance 2″
• Favorite Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
(Source: http://www.batangastoday.com/justin-bieber-katy-perry-johnny-depp-top-the-list-of-nickelodeons-kids-choice-awards-2011-winners/11300/)

A teacher requires being professional in every aspect of learning. It needs dedication and hard work in order to be a successful teacher someday. Being a yoga instructor is just like any other teachers. It is a rewarding job wherein you can let yourself grow and at the same time serve others.

You will help your students to increase their strength and flexibility, improve their self-esteem and awareness and provide them with peace and joy. If you are wondering what kind of opportunities you will have with yoga, well the answer to that is quite numerous. You can have the ability to express your spiritual creativity in your class.

A lot of fields are offering yoga nowadays. You can choose which field you want to enter like yoga for the purpose of physical fitness, therapy, spiritual, pre- or post natal therapy, retreat or workshop program, and a lot more. If ever you will decide to run your own yoga studio, you’ll have the full freedom on how you’ll manage your class and time.

For people who have been yoga students, they are having quite a difficulty on reflecting when was the day that they decide for themselves that they want to a yoga training teacher. Well if you are one of them, you are not alone. A lot of this decision goes to your yoga instructors.

Maybe it all started when you were admiring your instructor and becoming aware on how she is changing your life in some ways. The power of yoga transformed you to become a person eager to share one’s knowledge to another. In preparing yourself to teach you go, you must:

1. Learn how your students can develop the skills needed. This will reflect on how much skills and knowledge you have in assisting them and in turn becoming an effective teacher.

2. You need to know and as well as understand the yoga’s philosophy. In order for you to further inspire your students you got to have a good foundation of yoga. Philosophy will help you on how you can effectively teach your students.

3. Get some help with the professionals. You can consult your former yoga instructors on how you can be a good yoga instructor. These people have stood the test of time and for sure they all have their own pieces of advices on how you can be just like them in the near future.

4. You can ask your yoga teachers to volunteer in becoming an assistant instructor in their classes. Experience will help you gain more knowledge and thus will help a lot when you become a teacher someday.

Once you are all ready for your class, planning on how you’ll start and end your class is the next step. Proper arrangement of exercises is essential in teaching yoga. Each class should begin with an introductory phase wherein the students will have the time to forget all their problems and stressors for a while and focus on the yoga practice. This is to help relax and connect their mind and body.

After connecting your students with their mind and spirit, the warm up phase can now be started. It depends upon you on which type to start with but it is very important to focus on the joints so that the muscles will be warmth. There are various ranges of motions for the joints.

Many people mistaken as yoga as something that gives priority to the posture of every form of exercise. The truth is that the pose of every individual is just there waiting for the right time to be unleashed. You must encourage your students to do every form with comfort in order to attain success.

The poses are divided into categories of backward bends, forward bends, lateral bends, twist, inversions, balance and extensions. Every poses has its benefits and as well as risks. So as an instructor, you have the responsibility to know these risks and inform your students.

Becoming a yoga training teacher is not an easy task. But it is a fulfilling and rewarding job if you will just love it. Having the ability to transform people by just teaching them skills that you know is indeed wonderful. Be the best that you can be and never stop learning so that you can share more to your students. hopefully useful!

United looked set to open the door for Arsenal and Chelsea when their defence went into meltdown to gift the Hammers two penalties which Mark Noble fired home before the break.

But the leaders were rewarded for going for broke in the second half, Rooney starting the fightback with just 25 minutes remaining and completing his 14-minute treble from the spot before substitute Javier Hernandez sealed the points.

"(Dimitar) Berbatov was fantastic for us holding up the ball and making things happen," Rooney told Sky Sports.

"The substitutions were good substitutions and they won us the game."

Good stuff

The comeback not only opened up a bigger lead at the top of the table for Sir Alex Ferguson's men but also dropped the Hammers into the bottom three on goal difference.

Ryan Giggs found himself in the unfamiliar position of left-back for the second half, but he was certain the game was not beyond the team.

"In the first half we played some good stuff and gave silly goals away," he said.


"We felt that if we kept going and got a goal we knew we could do it. We don't give up, no matter what the score.

"We were brilliant all over the park but even when he haven't been playing well we have been grinding out results."

Calm

With Ferguson banned from the touchline the first chance he got to talk to his players came at half-time, but even at 2-0 Giggs insisted the United boss was not angry with the team.

"He was calm because we were playing well," said Giggs. "We just got into some good areas and the final ball wasn't good enough, we knew the goals would come."

Rooney acknowledged that visiting Upton Park always leads to a hard game and knew how vital his free-kick was in the victory.

"It is a difficult place to come, the next goal [at 2-0] was the most important one and we managed to control the game after that," he said.

The United forward also scored his 100th Premier League goal for United as he curled in an effort from just inside the area, before scoring his third from the penalty spot.
(Source: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12040_6848317,00.html)

Civic group members protest against Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) over the nuclear leakage at the company's Fukushima nuclear power plant, outside the TEPCO headquarters in Tokyo on March 30, 2011.

The prospective decision by Japan's government to take control of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) may seem belated to the rest of the world, given the confusing way the firm has managed the Fukishima nuclear reactor crisis. But it seems to reflect official recognition of the relatively quiet but deep public frustration with TEPCO. Indeed, while a large part of the rationale for potentially taking up to 50% of TEPCO may be to prevent Asia's largest utility from being completely overwhelmed by liability claims, an important reason may be to help manage an ongoing calamity that the company has shown little aptitude for.

The Japanese are known for their respect towards authority and enduring tolerance. The country's heated student demonstrations of the 1960s and 70s are long gone. But the magnitude of the Fukushima debacle has led to expressions of discontent — even if not really through public confrontation.

If the hundred-or-so peaceful demonstrators in front of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) headquarters in Tokyo on Thursday were an indication of citizen alarm over the Fukushima nuclear power plant crisis, then the mood was decidedly docile. The march lasted just about two hours with the participants ranging from their 20s to the 70s. They chanted a bit and a few placards were waved. The police even took three students into custody for unknown reasons. Undercover cops had been videotaping and photographing the proceedings even as Japanese TV broadcast trucks were parked nearby. Media coverage was conspicuously sparse. "The Japanese media voluntarily refrained from covering the event," says Yasuhiro Tanaka, chairman of Doro Chiba, a labor union assisting the All Japan Federation of Student Unions, which organized the event. "We were trying to demonstrate against nuclear plants but there was little we could accomplish because of the police."

Instead of marching in the streets, the Japanese have taken to social media. Twitter has become the safe medium of critical opinion, as well as a resource for relief efforts. "If you can follow the twitter stream in Japanese, there is probably 60 or 70% [with comments] saying 'we can't believe the government or TEPCO anymore'," says Kevin Carroll, a partner with EA International, a Tokyo-based environmental engineering company. Carroll is volunteering with the Twitter-sourced "#quakebook" book project, a growing collection of personal accounts of the earthquake/tsunami. (All proceeds will go to the Japanese Red Cross.)

On Twitter, the potential combination of TEPCO and the government was not exactly met with applause. Several Tweeps were appalled that public funds would go to TEPCO officers; some called it an April Fool's Day joke. "When the International Atomic Energy Agency comes in and says you should extend your evacuation zone and the government says, 'No, we don't have to,' people start to get very concerned," says Carroll. The Japanese government made the announcement on Thursday that it would not extend the evacuation zone despite the IAEA's findings that radiation from Cesium-137 in the town of Iitate, 40 kilometers northwest of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, is double their recommended limit.

Among the growing complaints, TEPCO was accused of ignoring warnings that the Fukushima plant was in a precarious location. "TEPCO has said the accident was beyond what they could have expected, but that's what crisis management is for," said Tomohiro Takanashi, chairman of the Crisis and Risk Management Society of Japan. "They are supposed to be prepared for the unpredictable."

TEPCO is one of the world's biggest power companies with over 44 million customers. The Japanese have found it strange that president Masataka Shimizu, 66, has not appeared in public since March 13. On Wednesday the company announced that he had been hospitalized the day before due to high blood pressure and dizziness. Meanwhile, other company officials instead have been bowing apologetically to the public. TEPCO has also come under criticism by other corporations. "It is very unfortunate that ego and complacency plagued the organization, which had lost strength to deal with its biggest-ever crisis in an urgent manner," said Kazuo Inamori, chairman of national carrier Japan Airlines and one of the country's most respected business leaders.

The government had to get into the act — if only to stanch TEPCO's financial wounds. On Wednesday, the company said that even $24 billion in emergency loans from Japan's biggest banks would not be sufficient to cover the costs it was racking up. An analyst at Merrill Lynch said that if the nuclear crisis drags on for two more years, liabilities for compensation claims alone could mount to $133 billion — nearly four times TEPCO's equity. The company is boxed in by societal norms as well. It could very well claim immunity from legal claims because the earthquake and tsunami that caused the crisis were, so to speak, "acts of God." But the likely public reaction to such a claim makes it shameful and thus untenable.

One burning question has been whether TEPCO has the capacity to deliver power reliably to its customers in the near future. Before news broke of a potential government takeover, people were wondering what the company would do if Tokyo was faced with another record-breaking heat wave this summer and air conditioning needs go full blast.

"I think the main concern will be the stability and level of the power supply over the summer," says Edward Brogan, Managing Director of Japan Advisory. "Right now we're in a period of very low power demand. In the summer as people move to air conditioning, power demand usually goes up 30 to 35%. The government will need to have a strategy of dealing with that potential issue." Kathy Matsui, Chief Strategist of Goldman Sachs in Tokyo says, "The power shortage is resulting in supply chain disruption which is very disruptive for business growth, and for consumers as well. Trains have to stop. Stores have to close early. It's all connected. The negative impact will be bigger than the Hanshin [Kobe] earthquake 16 years ago."

Brogan points to the need for a clear government response to the challenges ahead. "The government should have a program that supports the move to energy saving technologies. Things like LED lighting that use a lot less power; subsidies to people that have energy efficient offices, etc. That kind of policy, if done correctly, will have enormous positive economic impact." He adds, "I think there will be considerable spending on new technology to make Japan more energy efficient." "There will definitely be a rebound but we'll first have to see the economy take a hit," says Matsui. "We're assuming further outages probably until February 2012."

For now, the streets of Tokyo seem quieter than normal, and certainly darker. "If you walk the streets at night everything seems closed," says Kevin Carroll. "The izakaya [Japanese pubs serving food] are empty, and in Roppongi no one seems to be shopping in the brand stores. Maybe it's the Japanese sense of self-sacrifice; that it's bad form to be seen buying luxury goods or going out to eat or drink." The true test will come next week when Tokyo's cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the annual hanami rite-of-partying normally ensues. It could be the catharsis everyone, and the economy needs, perhaps under moonlight, pondering the transience and unpredictability of life with a raised glass of sake.
(Source: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2062591,00.html)

When we look at a certain object, a painting for example – we won’t be able to appreciate what’s in it, what is painted and what else goes with it if the painting is just an inch away from our face. But if we try to take it a little further, we’ll have a clearer vision of the whole art work.

We reach a point in our life when we are ready for change and a whole bunch of information that will help us unlock our self improvement power. Until then, something can be staring us right under our nose but we don’t see it. The only time we think of unlocking our self improvement power is when everything got worst. Take the frog principle for example –

Try placing Frog A in a pot of boiling water. What happens? He twerps! He jumps off! Why? Because he is not able to tolerate sudden change in his environment – the water’s temperature. Then try Frog B: place him in a luke warm water, then turn the gas stove on. Wait til the water reaches a certain boiling point. Frog B then thinks “Ooh… it’s a bit warm in here”.

People are like Frog B in general. Today, Anna thinks Carl hates her. Tomorrow, Patrick walks up to her and told her he hates her. Anna stays the same and doesn’t mind her what her friends says. The next day, she learned that Kim and John also abhors her. Anna doesn’t realize at once the importance and the need for self improvement until the entire community hates her.

We learn our lessons when we experience pain. We finally see the warning signs and signals when things get rough and tough. When do we realize that we need to change diets? When none of our jeans and shirts would fit us. When do we stop eating candies and chocolates? When all of our teeth has fallen off. When do we realize that we need to stop smoking? When our lungs have gone bad. When do we pray and ask for help? When we realize that we’re gonna die tomorrow.

The only time most of us ever learn about unlocking our self improvement power is when the whole world is crashing and falling apart. We think and feel this way because it is not easy to change. But change becomes more painful when we ignore it.

Change will happen, like it or hate it. At one point or another, we are all going to experience different turning points in our life – and we are all going to eventually unlock our self improvement power not because the world says so, not because our friends are nagging us, but because we realized its for our own good.

Happy people don’t just accept change, they embrace it. Now, you don’t have to feel a tremendous heat before realizing the need for self improvement. Unlocking your self improvement power means unlocking yourself up in the cage of thought that “its just the way I am”. It is such a poor excuse for people who fear and resist change. Most of us program our minds like computers.

Jen repeatedly tells everyone that she doesn’t have the guts to be around groups of people. She heard her mom, her dad, her sister, her teacher tell the same things about her to other people. Over the years, that is what Jen believes. She believes its her story. And what happens? Every time a great crowd would troop over their house, in school, and in the community – she tends to step back, shy away and lock herself up in a room. Jen didn’t only believed in her story, she lived it.

Jen has to realize that she is not what she is in her story. Instead of having her story post around her face for everyone to remember, she has to have the spirit and show people “I am an important person and I should be treated accordingly!”

Self improvement may not be everybody’s favorite word, but if we look at things in a different point of view, we might have greater chances of enjoying the whole process instead of counting the days until we are fully improved. Three sessions in a week at the gym would result to a healthier life, reading books instead of looking at porns will shape up a more profound knowledge, going out with friends and peers will help you take a step back from work and unwind. And just when you are enjoying the whole process of unlocking your self improvement power, you’ll realize that you’re beginning to take things light and become happy. hopefully useful!

Your inside source for college planning tools and advice. Find everything you need to connect to colleges and universities. Visit the College Board website the mostOur college search engine finds colleges and universities just right for you. Quickly perform a college search by major, location, type of college, financial aid, andCollege search based on the type of college or university you are looking for.

The College Board is a nonprofit membership association in the United States that was formed in 1900 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB).Get connected to your college. Find official college planning and preparation tools to help you succeed. Visit the College Board website your inside source.

Get connected to your college. Find official college planning and preparation tools to help you succeed. Visit the College Board website your inside source.The SAT is the nation's most widely used college admission exam. Learn more about how the SAT can help you show colleges what you know and what you know you can do.

College Board Online's college search engine finds colleges and universities just right for you. Quickly perform a college search by major, location, type of The College Board is a nonprofit membership association in the United States that was formed in 1900 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB)
(Source: http://scorlibz.com/news/college-board.html)

NEW YORK (AP)—Darth Vader’s theme music blared from the speakers at Yankee Stadium while the team worked out under sunny skies as if the Yankees needed a reminder that they are indeed still the “Evil Empire” and not the underdogs that they have been labeled.

“As crazy as that sounds, nobody seems to believe in us but us,” opening-day starter CC Sabathia(notes) said Wednesday.

Sabathia and New York will get an early chance to prove to the rest of baseball that even though they lost out on free agent Cliff Lee(notes) and have a suspect rotation, the 2011 version of the Yankees is up to the challenge of recapturing the AL East.

Baseball is coming to the Bronx for the first time in March—weather permitting—when the Yankees open the season Thursday against formidable foes Justin Verlander(notes), Miguel Cabrera(notes) and the Detroit Tigers, and New York is ready to prove its critics wrong.

“I think with the winter that we’ve had, we’re all looking forward to this day,” manager Joe Girardi said.

It’s hard to find anything much odder in the Bronx than hearing the Yankees defend their chances—OK, knowing that a cobra has escaped from the Bronx Zoo and could be slithering around the rugged borough is pretty shocking.

“I told the guys, our guys, be the best that we can be,” Girardi said.

On ESPN.com, 45 baseball pundits offered predictions for the season. All 45 picked the Boston Red Sox to win the AL East.

Rain and temperatures more typical of the postseason may put a damper on the festivities that will be a little more subdued this year after the Yankees failed to repeat as World Series champions last October, losing to Texas in the AL championship series.

“It’s going to be perfect weather, 40s and rain. A good day to pitch,” Tigers starting catcher Alex Avila(notes) said.

With Verlander on the mound for Detroit on a chilly day, Derek Jeter(notes) might have to wait until Game 2 Saturday to move closer to his 3,000th hit. He starts the season 74 from becoming the first player in pinstripes to reach the milestone.

“We’re facing one of the best pitchers in baseball Day 1,” Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira(notes) said. “We’ve got to be ready to go or it could be a long day for hitters.”

Verlander spent his March preparing as if it were April, hoping to avoid the same type of start he had last year. The hard throwing right-hander was 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA in opening month of the season. He finished the year 18-9 with a 3.37 ERA.

“He figured out some things, some flaws that he had and some other ways to go about doing things that might help him,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “His concentration level improved on days that he doesn’t have to pitch.”

The first batter Verlander faces will not be Jeter, who slumped to a .270 average last year and eliminated his stride from his much-scrutinized swing. Girardi tapped left-handed hitting Brett Gardner(notes) to lead off against righties.

“The job that he did against right-handed pitching last season, he was second in on-base percentage against right-handers … his ability to disrupt defenses, the pressure that he puts on pitching staffs, his ability to score runs we thought it was a good fit,” said Girardi, who will use Jeter in the top spot against lefties.

Jeter is hitting .314 from the second hole and .313 in the leadoff spot for his career.

“It doesn’t make a difference,” Jeter said. “I’ve hit second more than I hit first, so who cares.”

Curtis Granderson(notes) will return to the Yankees lineup Thursday. Out with a strained muscle since March 22, the center fielder had two doubles and an RBI in a minor league game in Tampa, Fla., and said he was hoping to fly to New York Wednesday night.

Leyland was set on his lineup, and wasn’t feeling particularly interested in discussing the different looks his team could have this season, especially with second baseman Carlos Guillen(notes) starting the season on the disabled list.

“I don’t know why everybody keeps making a big deal about lineups,” Leyland said. “We’ve got the big boys in the middle, we’ve got some speed up top, we got a little power at the bottom. That’s what it is.”

NOTES: A.J. Burnett(notes) had a bad head cold and it was uncertain if he’ll be able to make his start for New York on Saturday. … Leyland said he will not talk about his contract status this season. In the last year of his two-year extension, Leyland said his father once gave him some advice, “If you go to work worrying about your job you don’t have a job.” … Tigers RHP Joel Zumaya(notes) (right elbow) was placed on the 15-day DL along with Guillen (left knee) on Wednesday. They both remained in Florida for rehabilitation as planned. … Detroit non-roster invitee RHP Enrique Gonzalez’s(notes) contract was purchased from Triple-A Toledo and he was added to the Tigers roster. To make room on the 40-man roster the, Tigers outrighted INF Audy Ciriaco to Double-A Erie. … The Yankees signed RHP Luis Ayala(notes), RHP Bartolo Colon(notes), RHP Freddy Garcia(notes) and C Gustavo Molina(notes) to major league contracts and added them to the Yankees’ roster. Ayala is taking the place of LHP Pedro Feliciano(notes), who was put on the 15-day disabled list along with C Francisco Cervelli(notes). Both are retroactive to March 22.
(Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Alpj2ZImXYmm41hWrwBo3TOpu7YF?slug=ap-yankees-homeopener)