How to Build Your Global Real Estate Empire | Uncommon Wisdom ...

Real estate in the U.S. is finally starting to see some recovery. So you might want to consider companies with strong exposure to the building boom in the regions with the biggest potential.

But some of the best regions might be south of our border.

We?ll take a look at two companies that are in those prime areas in just a moment. For now, let?s ?

Consider the Big U.S. Reaction
To a Small New-Sales Pullback

U.S. homebuilders got hammered this week after the U.S. Commerce Department said new-home sales eased slightly in August.

Even though inventories of unsold new homes are generally trending downward, the latest figures show that new-home sales dipped 0.3%. That translates into an annual rate of 373,000 in August, from an upwardly revised pace of 374,000 a month earlier.

Dip or not, however, new-home sales are still close to their two-year high, as is construction of new single-family homes.

In other words, the news wasn?t bad ? certainly not terrible enough to warrant the pounding the stocks took. But it was less-encouraging than the previous month?s figures.

That?s because the July sales rate, originally reported at an annual rate of 372,000, represented a record 11% surge from the previous month. So the pace in August, even though marginally lower than in July, was actually 28% higher than a year earlier!

But in a market where the air has already started leaking from Ben Bernanke?s money-printing-filled balloon, it?s no surprise that homebuilder stocks are starting to lose their pop. However, don?t expect the homebuilders as a whole to stay down for too long.

Where those stocks go from here depends largely on the regional markets they serve.

Sales Slide Slightly,
But Prices Push Higher!

Regionally, gains in new-home sales of 20% in the Northeast region of the country, 1.8% in the Midwest, and 0.9% in the West were more than enough to offset a nearly 5% decline in the South.

The national median price of a new home was up too: $256,900 in August ? a 17% gain from a year earlier.

Mortgage rates are likely to remain at historically low levels for some time to come as a result of the Federal Reserve?s latest ?quantitative easing? program to purchase billions of dollars of mortgage securities.

This generosity by the Fed is likely to result in an upward momentum in demand for new and existing homes.

Eventually the stocks of U.S. homebuilders should resume their uptrend. My two favorite names are Lennar (LEN) and Toll Brothers (TOL). These have moved 150%-170% in the last 52 weeks.

But I prefer to play the housing sector by investing in markets that have not appreciated as much.

How to Build Your Global
Real Estate Empire

To get the most exposure to homebuilders outside the United States, here are two, U.S. listed, companies you might consider:

• The Mexican builder Desarrolladora Homex (HXM), with operations in Brazil as well as its home country
• And Brazil-domiciled Gafisa S.A. (GFA)

Both have been relatively volatile in recent months.

Homex, with a market capitalization of $740 million, has been trending lower since February.

And shares of Gafisa, currently capitalized by the market at $960 million, suffered a 20-month slide beginning in November 2010 that erased close to 90% of their value. However, they?ve doubled since July of this year.

Homex was flat over the last year while Gafisa was down 30%, and I?m watching for the upcoming earnings releases to decide on these two. Check out my Emerging Market Winners service for more ideas like these, plus detailed trading instructions that you can?t get anywhere else!

Until next time,

Rudy

Rudy Martin, editor of Emerging Market Winners, is widely recognized as an authority on stock and ETF investing. With more than 25 years of investing experience, Rudy started his investment career by co-managing a $2 billion private equity portfolio for Transamerica. He also served as an analyst for DeanWitter and Fidelity Investments, and research director of a quantitative research firm that is now part of TheStreet.com. Recently he has been providing his investment ideas directly to a select list of global hedge funds as Managing Director of Latin Capital Management, an institutional money management firm with more than $180 million in assets under management. For more information on Emerging Market Winners, click here.

Source: http://www.uncommonwisdomdaily.com/how-to-build-your-global-real-estate-empire-15009

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Google's Niantic Labs launches Field Trip app for Android, helps the working world play hooky

While Apple struggles to figure out how to help its users find their way, the mapping experts at Google have just launched a way to get folks to diverge a bit from their given path. Field Trip, released for Android by Google-owned Niantic Labs, runs in the background on your Android handset, eagerly waiting for you to get near a point of interest. Once that happens, it leaps into action, showing you a card for one of thousands of cool locations -- historic spots, museums, restaurants and the like. Google's partnered with a bunch of taste makers for the project, including Flavorpill, Cool Hunting and its own Zagat, to get things done. You can vote choices up and down, change the frequency of pop ups and post your findings to Twitter, Facebook and that one Plus social network. There's also a driving mode serves as an auditory tour guide when you're behind the wheel. The app's available now as a free download in Play. The iOS version, on the other hand, is coming soon.

Psst... yes, it appears to be US-only for now. Bah, humbug.

Continue reading Google's Niantic Labs launches Field Trip app for Android, helps the working world play hooky

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile

Google's Niantic Labs launches Field Trip app for Android, helps the working world play hooky originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/trmmLzmWEqU/

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DeMistifying the Cloud | BriteCore? Insurance Processing System

Adapting to the New World

Few people would disagree that the business world changed when Henry Ford perfected the assembly line concept in 1913. The manufacturers who adopted this new process thrived, while those who clung to the traditional ways of doing business slowly faded away. ?Likewise, companies today face a similar decision concerning the adoption of new technology. The 21st century has been called the Age of Information and technological advancements are sure to change the way we live for years to come.

Two of the most dynamic advancements in technology in the last several years have been cloud computing and the virtually unlimited access to information through the Internet. Just as the assembly line hurtled our country forward in the production of automobiles, textiles, and other products, these technologies have rapidly advanced the flow and availability of information.

What is ?The Cloud??

Simply defined, the cloud is a collection of servers, typically housed in secure data warehouse facilities throughout the world. These servers can be accessed from any device in any location, as long as that device has an internet connection.

For many businesses, the traditional model of data storage involved the physical hosting of data on a server located in their office and maintained by onsite information technology professionals. If you and your peers decided to move all of your individual physical servers to one central location, your collection of servers would, in essence, form a portion of the cloud.

Every day many of us use web-based software products available through cloud computing. If you?ve accessed your medical records online or used Google applications, online banking, or done online shopping, you?ve used the cloud.

Business Benefits of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing offers businesses of all sizes the technology infrastructure benefits typically found only in large companies. A few of the benefits provided are listed below:

• greater cost efficiency
• scalability for growing businesses
• remote work capability
• data redundancy
• disaster recovery

In today?s economy, every business seeks the most cost effective processes for their needs. Using web-based software solutions benefits companies by decreasing costs from many perspectives including utility costs, IT infrastructure, and software licensing fees.

Accessing hosted services also provides the benefit of allowing your business to scale needed IT infrastructure at a rate that falls directly in step with its growth, only paying for the level of resources you use. Many companies are utilizing Amazon?s EC2 allowing them to initiate a new server in seconds and only pay for the time and space used. The concept is similar to using shared utility resources in a city. When you need electricity, you simply plug in your appliance and turn it on. The electricity comes from a remote plant; you don?t have to generate it yourself. Since utilities are on a pay-as-you-go basis, you can use however much or little of the utility you need, but none of this would be possible if you weren?t sharing resources with the rest of the user community.

The cloud provides mobility, which is critical for today?s workforce. Consider how you accessed data from remote locations in the past. If you wanted to view your work files from home, you stored your data on hardware like a cd, flash drive, or external hard drive, then physically transported the hardware to your home. If your business uses web-based systems, you can access your data instantly from any location with an internet connection. This ability allows your staff to work remotely with ease.

Web-based business solutions are a key asset to business continuity planning, especially for small to midsize companies. If you?ve ever experienced loss of data and productivity due to a power surge, power outage, or natural disaster, you understand the value of data redundancy and disaster recovery. By using technology hosted in a secure data facility, you gain access to IT infrastructure with failover capability. Simply stated, your data resides on more than one server and will automatically re-route when needed thus reducing downtime and loss of productivity.

Is the Cloud Secure?

One of the biggest concerns preventing some companies from progressing to the cloud is the question of security in web-based systems. It isn?t difficult to find instances of security breaches in the news. No data storage system, whether located in your office filing cabinet or available in the cloud, can guarantee absolute security.

Security surrounding web-based processing is sophisticated on many levels. For comparison purposes, in a typical small office environment, security consists of a physical server in a locked room. An advanced security system in the same office might include an alarm system and restricted access to the server. In a cloud-based environment, security has to start at the data level and continue up through the operating system to the actual physical security of the data center hosting the systems. Data level security includes access controls, user-level authorization and verifying the integrity of the individual files and data included in the system. The physical security of the data center itself is critical to the overall security of your data. Amazon EC2 is a well respected hosting facility. In the Physical Security section of their online FAQs, they share a good example of how to secure machines:

AAWS data centers are housed in nondescript facilities, and critical facilities have extensive setback and military grade perimeter control berms as well as other natural boundary protection. Physical access is strictly controlled both at the perimeter and at building ingress points by professional security staff utilizing video surveillance, state of the art intrusion detection systems, and other electronic means. Authorized staff must pass two-factor authentication no fewer than three times to access data center floors. All visitors and contractors are required to present identification and are signed in and continually escorted by authorized staff.

In today?s modern business environment, it?s important to remember that security is everyone?s responsibility. Even though cloud providers are heavily invested in the privacy and security of data, change often brings with it uncertainty and fear of the unknown. Arming yourself with information about new technologies, like the cloud, and how they relate to your business will allow you to make informed decisions and strategically place your company in a leadership position.

Definitions

• Cloud ? a network connection that gives you access to data stored in secure data warehouse centers all around the world (not stored on your computer).
• Server ? a computer that processes requests and delivers data to other computers over a local network or the Internet.
• Database ? a collection of information organized to provide efficient retrieval.
• Data Center ? a highly secure facility that houses and maintains multiple servers and other [computer] components.
• Hosting ? providing space on a server owned or leased for use by a company?s clients, as well as providing internet connectivity, typically in a data center.

Source: http://www.britecore.com/2012/09/demistifying-the-cloud/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=demistifying-the-cloud

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Mesothelioma What's Mesothelioma Cancer and can it Be Cured ...

What?s Mesothelioma Cancer and can it Be Cured

Article by Phybie Buffy

Prolonged coverage to asbestos for lengthy periods of time can consequence to mesothelioma. Research present that inhalation/ingestion of asbestos fiber is the only known induce for your disease. This kind of cancer is regarded rare but about two,000 people are diagnosed from the US each and every year. Diagnosis is quite difficult because warning signs usually appear immediately after several decades (thirty to fifty a long time) and generally resemble all those of other much more frequent diseases. Prognosis is often very poor, in particular when the ailment reached the sophisticated phases in advance of diagnosis.

You see the commercials every day on television for lawyers that deal in mesothelioma claims. Just before 1985, mesothelioma cancer was practically not known, but when asbestos was discovered to get a demonstrated carcinogen just after the health-related neighborhood suspected it for above fifty years of producing mesothelioma cancer as well as asbestos providers staunchly denied it, this kind of cancer became a household phrase to millions of American citizens.

Mesothelioma is due to coverage to asbestos and it is thought that anyone that is also uncovered to radion may make the enhancement from the cancer even more probably. At one point in time, the content was found in flooring, ceiling tiles, pipe fittings, caulking, roofing, plaster, along with other construction merchandise. Most amenities and ability plants that produced warmth had pipes wrapped in asbestos. Asbestos releases fibers to the air when it can be disturbed and personnel breathe it in when they are coping with it. It may possibly also get on their garments and sneakers which subsequently exposes family members members to it. Mesothelioma risks have reduced considerably given that 1985 plus the motion to remove the asbestos from as lots of areas as you possibly can. Even so older households and firms that have not had the materials eliminated still post significant mesothelioma hazards to everyone coming into get hold of with it.

Mesothelioma signs or symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, weight reduction, persistence cough, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and fever. However mesothelioma warning signs consider a long time to establish and by the point they do, the person with mesothelioma may very well be diagnosed as getting some other ailment or variety of cancer. It is also not only a type of lung cancer. The cancer begins in the lung lining or inside the stomach cavities and it may gradually spread to other organs, normally the heart and reproductive organs. It is actually an uncontrolled mobile growth that brings about the mesothelium layers inside body to thicken and retain fluid and when some instances are benign, the vast majority are certainly not.

As a lot more conditions are properly diagnosed, the rise in mesothelioma statements rise. It doesn?t produce typical tumors like an everyday cancer would and it is actually generally caught properly following the asbestos from the process has metastasized an organ. This is a sluggish killer, the asbestos taking decades to corrupt the entire body to your position of no return. Additionally the signs or symptoms are so equivalent to other health conditions that mesothelioma solutions from time to time appear too late to generate any distinction.

Early diagnosis will be the only way an individual might be treated for mesothelioma. Though there exists ongoing investigate into treatment selections, treatment method tends to steer in the direction of slowing down the expansion of the cells generally by means of chemotherapy or medical procedures it the mesothelioma may be the pleural style and caught only in its earliest stages. Radiation remedy is also applied in blend together with the chemotherapy and in lots of conditions, this can be simply not sufficient. Mesothelioma can be an illness that is certainly often diagnosed also late and many physicians are just resigned to carry out anything they can to produce their patients comfy as therapies even now should be perfected towards reversing the damage.

About the Author

Johnson has done substantial research on choice treatment options of Asbestosis Mesothelioma and would like to help persons by sharing her expertise. Also he need to share know-how about NLP Courses with you.

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author?s information and copyright must be included.

Source: http://meso-attorney.com/mesothelioma-whats-mesothelioma-cancer-and-can-it-be-cured/

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Conmemora Calderon 202 aniversario del inicio de Independencia de Mexico

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Students required to buy art textbook with no pictures of art

Samsung (005930) is looking to build on the success of its Galaxy S III smartphone?and will reportedly unveil a sequel to the popular device in February 2013, according to a rumor from The Korea Times. ?Samsung is ready to unveil the next Galaxy smartphone ? the Galaxy S4 ? at early next year?s mobile world congress in the Spanish city of Barcelona,? an anonymous Samsung official told the publication. As expected, the Galaxy S IV will be the company?s most powerful smartphone to date and is said to include a 5-inch display, a quad-core Exynos processor and 4G LTE capabilities. The official noted, however, that Samsung has not yet decided whether it will use a flexible display due to a

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/students-required-buy-art-text-book-no-pictures-201950042.html

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Lauren Zander: Beginning the End of the Year

The end of summer is here and fall is just around the corner. I've always liked this time, probably because it feels like the start of a new year. In September, kids have gone back to school, the leaves begin to turn and the weather gets cooler. There is a real change in the air. The changes of fall are an inspiring time to look at life and confront what you have not accomplished this year. Have you achieved the goals you set for yourself back in January? If the answer is no, it's okay. It's never too late. You have a few months to turn it around.

September to the end of December is a great time to assess your life, regroup and make a plan of attack in order to achieve what you want before the end of the year -- but you have to start today. Otherwise, before you know it, it'll be Halloween, Thanksgiving, and then the holidays. You don't want to wake up on January 1 bleary-eyed and disappointed because you didn't make any of your goals happen. Come on, the clock is ticking. There is nothing better than pulling out a success in the last few months of the year to end 2012 on a high.

In my last blog, I wrote about how failure can be a good thing, because it reveals a pattern or behavior you need to change or fix. Failure makes you look at yourself and learn your lessons. It goes well with this blog because I want you to look back over the year and see where you have failed, or where haven't gotten something you wanted. You are going to look at that list, regroup, then figure out a new plan and make your goal happen. Here are the steps to do that.

Step One: Make a List of Goals.

At the beginning of this year, what goals did you have? What did you swear you were going to make happen? Write down everything you wanted to accomplish this year, but haven't yet. There could be 10 things on the list or two things; write them all down.

Now, if you never made your list for 2012, don't worry, just make one now. Your goals don't have to be huge. They could be as small as spending more time on the weekends connecting with your family, or as big as changing your career. But don't forget, you need to be realistic. You only have a few months to make it happen.

Step Two: Create a Ratings Scale and Rate Your Goals.

I want you to make and define your own rating scale from 1-10, where 1 is the lowest rating, and 10 is the highest. Then define what each number means to you. Write your own for each number, but here are some examples to start: 1 = unsustainable level of displeasure; 3 = a serious monkey on my back, ain't happening this year; 7 = pretty good, but not a source of pride, could happen but it'd be a stretch; 9 = proud, beaming, nearly perfect, done and handled. This exercise will get you to differentiate how you feel and what you think about your levels of happiness, using your own terminology that speaks to you. You are writing out your own "happy meter." Have a sense of humor about it and be creative!

Next, go down your list of goals and rate how you are doing with each one. Use your rating scale to assess where you are, and whether you're going to be able to achieve it or not. Be honest about your rating. This is about being realistic and knowing where you stand with each of your goals.

Step Three: Figure Out the Failure.

Now it's time to look at each goal on your list and figure out why you have not yet achieved that goal this year. Where is the failure? My failure blog may help you if you're upset and stuck about a failure this year. (Read my blog: "Failure Is Not A Dirty Word.")

So, when looking at your list, you need to look at three different aspects of you: your heart, your mind and your body. The Handel Group's core philosophy is Personal Integrity?, which is the alignment of your heart, mind and body with your dreams: ultimately keeping promises to yourself that are connected to what you want. When you're achieving your dreams, you will see that your heart, mind and body are all working together to make the dream come true. If you are not succeeding at a goal or dream, you are failing at connecting one or more of those areas.

Look at your list and ask yourself, where is your issue located?

Your heart -- tells you what you want.
Is it in your heart? Are you broken-hearted with this dream? How deep is your desire with this goal? How much do you care? Do you even have a vision for it?

Your mind -- tells you how to get it.
Next, look and see if it's your mind. Do you have a solid plan of action for your dream? Have you really mapped out how to make the goal happen? Are you smart about your plan?

Your body -- has you do it.
Or is it your body? Are you doing the actions you need to do to make the dream come true? Or are you being lazy?

After you've written where your failure is located, write the reason why. For example, "I want to lose weight. I'm on a diet, but I keep cheating." Which one is that? It's definitely body, because your body is eating the food when it's supposed to be on a diet. It also could be your heart, too, because maybe you just don't care enough and need to rewrite your dream and envision yourself in your new body.

Step Four: Edit Your List.

It's time to be realistic. Look at your list and see if there is anything you need to take off your list. You may realize that you're not committed to a particular goal or dream anymore. Or you may be broken-hearted about failing at a goal and have already quit. It's time to own the failure, tell the truth about it and forgive yourself. For example, "I've given up on trying to buy a house this year. I didn't save enough for the down payment. Maybe next year." It's important to own when you have failed, instead of living within that vision and hiding from the truth about it. Take it off the list and let it go for now. You can always look at it again in January. It's okay to let go of something for a while. This is your life, your design and your happiness. Don't put anything on your list that you don't absolutely love and want to make happen now.

Step Five: Make a Plan of Action.

Look at your list and pick your top three goals that are most important to you and you want to hit out of the park by the end of the year. Make a plan for how to make them happen. Remember to look at why (heart, mind, body) you've been failing at that goal, and address it when you start making promises surrounding your dreams.

a) Make specific promises connected to your dreams. For example, if you want a boyfriend, that means making promises to go to singles events or join an online dating service.

b) Implement consequences so you want to keep your promise. For example, if you don't go on at least one date a week, you don't get to drink your wine on Friday night. Come up with consequences that will help you keep your promises!

c) Bonus! I also highly recommend getting a coach or buddy to hold you accountable. Make sure there's someone else holding your dreams so you can't just give up when you stop "feeling like it."

Step Six: Create a Picture of Your Success.

Lastly, I want you to see yourself in a few months celebrating New Year's Eve with friends and feeling proud about how you finished the year. Come up with a toast you're going to make about how you succeeded at your goals this year. Write down the scene and share it with the people in your life; re-read it daily to keep it fresh in your mind.

Now spend the next few months picturing this scene as you make your dream happen. May you be the reason all your dreams come true!

Love,
Lauren

P.S. Considering the rush, come to our Mastering Time teleseminar on Sep 20. We will help you figure out how to fit in what's important without neglecting your responsibilities.

For more by Lauren Zander, click here.

For more on success and motivation, click here.

?

Follow Lauren Zander on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Hglifecoaching

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauren-zander/self-improvement_b_1878551.html

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Farrah Abraham Teen Mom Spinoff: Coming Soon!

Her Teen Mom days are over, but Farrah Abraham's MTV career is not.

She's currently finalizing a deal to star in her own reality show spinoff!

"I'm just closing on it," she said. "It's gonna be about me and my life."

You're kidding. REALLY?!?

Farrah Abraham didn't reveal may specifics or details, but she sure has been making the most of her time in the spotlight since Teen Mom's series finale.

Abraham released two songs - "On My Own" and "Finally Getting Up From Rock Bottom" - in conjunction with her first memoir, My Teenage Dream Ended.

"Happily it's a New York Times best seller, and so many moms come with babies [to book events], so [Sophia] has been playing with them," she says.

"At every book signing, it's a huge turnout - even in my hometown! I was so surprised."

Farrah, who just broke up with John Parra, insists three-year-old Sophia gets the love and attention she deserves, despite how busy she is lately.

"She's wonderful. I've been working so much, but I fly out tomorrow to see her ... I'm so excited," Abraham said. "She's like my mini-me. I'm in love with her."

[Photo: WENN.com]

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/09/farrah-abraham-teen-mom-spinoff-coming-soon/

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PSA: iPhone 5 pre-orders kick off on September 14th at 3:01AM ET

Ready to hop on the iPhone 5 bandwagon after tuning into yesterday's unveiling? Keep an eye on the clock and pull out a credit card, because Apple, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon will kick off online pre-orders tomorrow at 3:01AM (or at 12:01AM PT for folks on the West Coast). Sixth generation iPhones begin shipping on September 21st and start at $199.99 for 16GB models bound to two-year contracts. Those who relish a healthy dose of suspense can always test the hand of fate -- and retail availability -- by visiting Apple's brick-and-mortar establishments at 8AM on launch day.

Continue reading PSA: iPhone 5 pre-orders kick off on September 14th at 3:01AM ET

Filed under: Cellphones

PSA: iPhone 5 pre-orders kick off on September 14th at 3:01AM ET originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 19:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink 9to5 Mac, Wired  |  AT&T (Twitter), Sprint  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/124Oq2vcqw0/

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BPW Career Center: Real Estate/Property Management jobs, Site ...

About Pinnacle. We invest in great people. That's why clients trust us with their real estate investments! At Pinnacle, we consider our employees our most valuable asset. In fact, our number one key business objective is to attract and retain the best talent in the industry! At Pinnacle, the key to our continued success and competitive advantage is our people. We offer a total compensation and benefits package to help with your needs today and build for your future tomorrow. We recognize that each employee is an individual with individual needs, lifestyles, and interests. Our benefits package was created with the flexibility to support employees who are at different places in their lives and careers. Pinnacle values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment. We offer a safe, healthy work environment for employees through a commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace. Pinnacle has ongoing employment opportunities at our headquarters in Seattle, our more than 40 branch office locations nationally and our many managed communities throughout the country. Pinnacle is the national leader in third-party fee management of investment real estate encompassing multi-family, commercial space, affordable housing and military housing. Pinnacle is built on four basic principles: Quality people Strong customer service Solid market knowledge Superior systems and support capabilities At Pinnacle, success is about more than having a healthy bottom line. Guided by our principles and values, we are committed to making Pinnacle an amazing and unique place to work for each member of our team. About the job.. As a Business Manager at Pinnacle, youll put your outstanding leadership and savvy business skills to work at one of the most respected apartment companies in a management opportunity that offers real leadership, innovation and support. Our Business Managers are the cornerstone of our team. Theyre responsible for keeping our communities in the top-notch condition our residents have come to expect, building motivated and trustworthy teams who consistently deliver a notably higher level of service and maximizing the operating performance of our community. Be ready to be busy! This challenging position includes: Operations. Ensuring the smooth running of our community in a fast-paced environment. Overseeing all operations including maintenance, capital improvements, lease administration, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, collections, evictions, vacancy anticipation, marketing, lease renewals, service contracts, expense control, audits, etc. Customer service. Providing superior customer service and communication to our residents and prospects to enhance customer satisfaction and increase renewals, revenue, reputation and profitability. People development. Developing, mentoring, leading, and managing a high-performing, cohesive team, including leasing, customer service, maintenance and management personnel, in order to maximize their engagement and minimize turnover. Marketing. Driving revenues with your thorough understanding and analysis of competition and development of creative marketing programs. Leading by example. Instilling, maintaining and modeling the Pinnacle mission to be the best national management company. Essential Responsibilities: Supervise day-to-day operations of entire on-site team, ensuring that all Pinnacle policies and procedures are being followed. Maintain effective on-site staff through interviewing, hiring, and terminating as necessary. Maintain a positive living environment for community residents through prompt conflict resolution and consistent follow-up. Manage and maintain all aspects of overall community budget and finances Work with leasing staff to ensure that leasing/marketing goals are being met. Maintain positive relations with all community vendors. Coordinate special projects as requested by Investment (Regional) Manager. Personal Competencies: A competitive spirit High-energy Demonstrated leadership and strategic thinking skills Supervisory experience Warm, friendly and service-oriented philosophy High degree of flexibility and tolerance for change Ability to train, develop, lead and mentor Superior written and verbal communications skills Extremely computer literate Organized and detail-oriented Customer-service driven Able to multitask Financials experience/experience working with a budget Qualifications: Minimum of a high school diploma, Bachelors degree preferred 3+ years of on-site property management experience Excellent oral and written communication skills Experience in supervisory role and managing staff Experience in writing and maintaining budgets Proficient in Yardi property management software or other similar property management software. General office, bookkeeping and sales skills Computer literate, including Microsoft Office Suite Pinnacle has grown to become America's largest apartment manager through many different successes. Yet, in today's ultra-competitive market, each success must fuel the next and speed is essential in the ongoing race to lead the industry. If you are ready to work hard and be empowered and encouraged to innovate, contribute ideas and discover solution to provide current and potential residents with unparalleled, world class customer service please click Apply Online.

Source: http://careers.bpwusa.org/jobs/4911276/business-manager

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Perceived insults to Islam trigger Muslim anger

Muslim anger over perceived Western insults to Islam has exploded several times, most recently in Tuesday's attacks against U.S. diplomatic posts in the Middle East in which U.S. ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed.

The violence, fueled mostly by religious zealots, reflects the tension between Muslims and the secular West that followed the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Here are some of the most serious incidents:

MUHAMMAD CARTOONS

The September 2005 publication by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad unleashed a wave of violent protests by Muslims, who believe any image of their religion's founder is forbidden. Dozens of people were killed in weeks of protests that included violent attacks against Danish missions in Syria, Iran, Afghanistan and Lebanon. At least six people were killed in a June 2008 suicide bombing at the Danish embassy in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Al-Qaida claimed responsibility, citing anger over the cartoons. The Danish government described the Muslim backlash as the country's worst international crisis since World War II.

SATANIC VERSES

British author Salman Rushdie's 1988 novel, "Satanic Verses," inspired in part by the life of Muhammad, won kudos from critics in Britain but prompted outrage among many Muslims, who considered it slanderous. Deadly riots against the book erupted in Islamabad, Pakistan and Mumbai, India, and the book was banned in South Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and several other countries. Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a religious edict in 1989 calling for Rushdie's death, leading the writer to live in hiding for a decade. Although Rushdie was never physically harmed, his Japanese translator was stabbed to death in 1991 and his Italian translator was injured in a stabbing that same year

VAN GOGH ASSASSINATION

Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, an outspoken critic of Islam whose film "Submission" criticized the treatment of Muslim women, was shot dead in November 2004 as he bicycled in the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. A 26-year-old Dutch citizen of Moroccan origin, Mohammed Bouyeri, was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Van Gogh's assassination set off a wave of more than 170 small reprisal attacks against mosques and churches over the following weeks, according to a report by the Anne Frank Foundation and the University of Leiden.

"BURN A QURAN DAY"

A 2010 call by Florida preacher Terry Jones to burn Qurans on the ninth anniversary of 9/11 alarmed the U.S. military, which feared the move would endanger the lives of American troops fighting Islamist extremists in Afghanistan and Iraq. Although Jones called off the burning, thousands of Afghans encouraged by the Taliban set fire to tires in the streets of the Afghan capital, Kabul, and other cities and chanted "Death to America." Police in a province near Kabul fired shots in the air to disperse a crowd trying to storm the governor's residence.

Jones' congregation went ahead with a Quran burning in March 2011, triggering protests across Afghanistan after video of the ceremony was posted on the Internet. In the most violent protest, hundreds of protesters stormed a U.N. compound in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, killing seven foreigners, including four Nepalese guards.

MORE QURAN BURNING

In February, U.S. soldiers at Bagram prison in Afghanistan burned 315 copies of the Qurans and other religious materials that had been taken from Bagram's facility library for disposal. Word of the burning, which the U.S. said was unintentional, triggered scores of anti-American protests across the country which left more than 30 Afghans and six U.S. soldiers dead. They included two U.S. troops who were shot by an Afghan soldier and two U.S. military advisers who were gunned down at their desks at the Afghan Interior Ministry. Six U.S. Army soldiers received unspecified administrative punishment for the burning, the Pentagon announced last month.

_______

Associated Press correspondents Karl Ritter in Stockholm, Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Sebastian Abbot in Islamabad and Deb Riechmann and Patrick Quinn in Kabul contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-09-12-Muslim%20Anger/id-0c8f48be530948c28b68d1e946d22c22

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LA BioMed investigator, Dr. Rodney White, receives the 2012 Golden Goose Award

Public release date: 13-Sep-2012
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Contact: Diana Soltesz
diana@dsmmedia.com
818-592-6747
Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed)

LOS ANGELES (Sept. 13, 2012) Rodney White, M.D., lead investigator at The Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed), and Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery at Harbor-UCLA, has been chosen as a recipient for the 2012 Golden Goose Award for his work with coralline ceramics. The Golden Goose Award recognizes scientists whose federally funded research has produced important discoveries that have affected society in a positive way. Dr. White and his fellow recipients are being honored on Sept. 13, 2012 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

The Golden Goose Award was created by U.S. Representatives Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), and Robert J. Dold (R-Ill.) to highlight the often unexpected or serendipitous nature of basic scientific research by honoring federally funded researchers whose work may once have been viewed as unusual, odd, or obscure but has produced important discoveries benefitting society in significant ways. Other members of Congress lending support to the Golden Goose Award include Representatives Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.).

"We congratulate Dr. White on receiving this prestigious honor," said David I. Meyer, Ph.D., President and CEO of LA BioMed. "Dr. White's many contributions, particularly in the area of new technologies and alternative treatments to traditional surgery have enabled patients to undergo less invasive procedures to treat various vascular conditions."

Dr. White was recognized by the Golden Goose Award selection committee for his work with coralline ceramics, which are synthetics that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s as some of the first bone substitutes available. Dr. White's work with coralline ceramics began in the 1970s, when he began comparing the structure of coral found in tropical oceans to the porous ceramics and metals that were being used in bone grafts. The coral's structure was ideal for allowing blood vessels to grow into an implant made with the coral, promoting the growth of new bone. Today, coralline ceramics are used in many of the approximately 500,000 bone grafting procedures performed each year in the United States.

During his tenure at LA BioMed, Dr. White has spent much time investigating new treatments and approaches to preventing aneurysm ruptures and reducing surgical risks to patients. He and his team have pioneered the use of endovascular stent grafts as an alternative to traditional surgery for aortic aneurysms, which can occur in the part of the aorta that passes through the abdomen, and also in the part that passes through the chest, or thorax. According to Dr. White, patients who undergo this procedure instead of the more invasive surgery recover much faster and experience far fewer discomforts.

The Golden Goose Award was launched by a coalition of scientific, business, university and public policy groups, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the Breakthrough Institute, the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), The Science Coalition (TSC), and the Task Force on American Innovation. These groups share the belief that federally funded basic scientific research is the cornerstone of American innovation and essential to the nation's economic growth and global competitiveness.

###

About LA BioMed

Founded in 1952, LA BioMed is one of the country's leading nonprofit independent biomedical research institutes. It has approximately 100 principal researchers conducting studies into improved treatments and cures for cancer, inherited diseases, infectious diseases, illnesses caused by environmental factors and more. It also educates young scientists and provides community services, including prenatal counseling and childhood nutrition programs. LA BioMed is academically affiliated with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and located on the campus of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. For more information, please visit www.LABioMed.org.

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 13-Sep-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Diana Soltesz
diana@dsmmedia.com
818-592-6747
Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed)

LOS ANGELES (Sept. 13, 2012) Rodney White, M.D., lead investigator at The Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed), and Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery at Harbor-UCLA, has been chosen as a recipient for the 2012 Golden Goose Award for his work with coralline ceramics. The Golden Goose Award recognizes scientists whose federally funded research has produced important discoveries that have affected society in a positive way. Dr. White and his fellow recipients are being honored on Sept. 13, 2012 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

The Golden Goose Award was created by U.S. Representatives Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), and Robert J. Dold (R-Ill.) to highlight the often unexpected or serendipitous nature of basic scientific research by honoring federally funded researchers whose work may once have been viewed as unusual, odd, or obscure but has produced important discoveries benefitting society in significant ways. Other members of Congress lending support to the Golden Goose Award include Representatives Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.).

"We congratulate Dr. White on receiving this prestigious honor," said David I. Meyer, Ph.D., President and CEO of LA BioMed. "Dr. White's many contributions, particularly in the area of new technologies and alternative treatments to traditional surgery have enabled patients to undergo less invasive procedures to treat various vascular conditions."

Dr. White was recognized by the Golden Goose Award selection committee for his work with coralline ceramics, which are synthetics that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s as some of the first bone substitutes available. Dr. White's work with coralline ceramics began in the 1970s, when he began comparing the structure of coral found in tropical oceans to the porous ceramics and metals that were being used in bone grafts. The coral's structure was ideal for allowing blood vessels to grow into an implant made with the coral, promoting the growth of new bone. Today, coralline ceramics are used in many of the approximately 500,000 bone grafting procedures performed each year in the United States.

During his tenure at LA BioMed, Dr. White has spent much time investigating new treatments and approaches to preventing aneurysm ruptures and reducing surgical risks to patients. He and his team have pioneered the use of endovascular stent grafts as an alternative to traditional surgery for aortic aneurysms, which can occur in the part of the aorta that passes through the abdomen, and also in the part that passes through the chest, or thorax. According to Dr. White, patients who undergo this procedure instead of the more invasive surgery recover much faster and experience far fewer discomforts.

The Golden Goose Award was launched by a coalition of scientific, business, university and public policy groups, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the Breakthrough Institute, the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), The Science Coalition (TSC), and the Task Force on American Innovation. These groups share the belief that federally funded basic scientific research is the cornerstone of American innovation and essential to the nation's economic growth and global competitiveness.

###

About LA BioMed

Founded in 1952, LA BioMed is one of the country's leading nonprofit independent biomedical research institutes. It has approximately 100 principal researchers conducting studies into improved treatments and cures for cancer, inherited diseases, infectious diseases, illnesses caused by environmental factors and more. It also educates young scientists and provides community services, including prenatal counseling and childhood nutrition programs. LA BioMed is academically affiliated with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and located on the campus of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. For more information, please visit www.LABioMed.org.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-09/labr-lbi091312.php

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N.C. Retailer Rolls With Times; Expands Service | RV Business

The economy may not be what it used to be, but some companies can adapt. Such is the case with the sale of large-ticket items from Country Roads RV Center and Sunset Marine in Lexington, N.C.

As reported by the Lexington Dispatch, the economy is changing business, the two owners would tell anyone. Sales are not what they used to be, and a typical sale four years ago now might be a rarity. But Jeff Zimmerman of Country Roads RV Center and Sammie Bray of Sunset Marine didn?t fight the change, but embraced it, and now both companies are expanding.

Country Roads RV Center officially began in 2007 after separating from the family automotive business. After recreational vehicle sales overtook their vehicle sales at Enterprise Auto Sales, the RV center was located in a small section of the old country store building on Enterprise Road. The building was originally built in the 1940s.

The RV Center has grown three times since the opening, and the Independence Day holiday brought the fourth expansion when the company completed a new 10-bay service facility. This expansion was five times the room they had previously.

?We are now a 10-bay service facility with full retail parts as well. We are the only business to carry a full line of retail parts in the county as well as the only service facility in the county,? Zimmerman said.

But the hardest part for the Zimmerman family is managing the facility?s growth, he said. They started constructing the new facility over a year and a half ago. Zimmerman knew that if the economy ever straightened out, he would be covered up with service work having only a two-bay service garage.

To read the entire article click here.

?

Source: http://www.rvbusiness.com/2012/09/n-c-retailer-rolls-with-times-expands-service/

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Remembering When Rudy Giuliani Was America's Mayor (Atlantic Politics Channel)

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Boehner expresses no confidence on budget deal

WASHINGTON (AP) ? House Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday that he's not confident Congress can reach a budget deal and avoid a downgrading of the U.S. debt rating. His Democratic counterpart in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid, was far more hopeful that "some kind of agreement" would be reached after the elections.

Boehner was asked at a Capitol Hill news conference how confident he was that negotiations would prevent the government from hitting the so-called fiscal cliff ? an economy rattling set of across-the-board spending cuts and higher taxes caused by the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts that are set to hit in January.

"I'm not confident at all," said Boehner, R-Ohio.

Boehner reminded reporters that the House has passed legislation to both avoid the automatic, across-the-board cuts next year and to renew the Bush era tax cuts for one year as well. Republicans warned of the impact of the impending cuts on the military and implored Senate Democrats to act to avoid them.

"I'm hopeful we will reach some kind of agreement," countered Reid, D-Nev., suggesting that the results of the election will weaken the GOP's resolve to block tax increases on wealthier earners and that Republicans will be more willing to compromise.

"I believe that once the elections are over, the tea party's strength will be significantly weakened," Reid added.

The Senate, however, has deadlocked over taxes and failed to address the across-the-board cuts, known as a sequester in Washington parlance.

"Listen, the House has done its job, both on the sequester and the looming debt fights that'll cost our economy some 700,000 jobs," Boehner said. "On both of these, where's the president, where's the leadership."

Obama has called for replacing the sequester with a combination of tax hikes and cuts elsewhere in the budget. But his call for higher taxes on upper bracket earners has been repeatedly rejected by Republicans.

Any real negotiations on avoiding the combination of fiscal austerity are not expected until after the November elections ? and the outcome is sure to play a huge role in how the issue plays out in a post-election lame duck congressional session.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-09-11-House%20Speaker-Debt%20Rating/id-a063ecc2b3bf4c069d53c26e94097c2f

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Iraq's fugitive VP convicted as attacks kill 92

Security forces inspect the scene of a car bomb attack in Basra, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. In violence, which struck at least 10 cities across the nation Insurgents killed at least 39 people in a wave of attacks against Iraqi security forces on Sunday, gunning down soldiers at an army post and bombing police recruits waiting in line to apply for jobs, officials said. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)

Security forces inspect the scene of a car bomb attack in Basra, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. In violence, which struck at least 10 cities across the nation Insurgents killed at least 39 people in a wave of attacks against Iraqi security forces on Sunday, gunning down soldiers at an army post and bombing police recruits waiting in line to apply for jobs, officials said. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)

Security forces inspect the scene of a car bomb attack in Basra, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. In violence, which struck at least 10 cities across the nation, insurgents killed at least 39 people in a wave of attacks against Iraqi security forces on Sunday, gunning down soldiers at an army post and bombing police recruits waiting in line to apply for jobs, officials said. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)

An Iraqi soldier stands guard as security forces inspect the scene of a car bomb attack in Basra, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. In violence, which struck at least 10 cities across the nation Insurgents killed at least 39 people in a wave of attacks against Iraqi security forces on Sunday, gunning down soldiers at an army post and bombing police recruits waiting in line to apply for jobs, officials said. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)

Security forces inspect the scene of a car bomb attack in Basra, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. In violence, which struck at least 10 cities across the nation Insurgents killed at least 39 people in a wave of attacks against Iraqi security forces on Sunday, gunning down soldiers at an army post and bombing police recruits waiting in line to apply for jobs, officials said. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)

FILE - In this Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012 file photo, Iraq's vice president Tariq al-Hashemi speaks in Istanbul, Turkey. An Iraqi court found the nation's Sunni vice president guilty Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012 of running death squads against security forces and Shiites, and sentenced him to death in absentia. (AP Photo, File)

BAGHDAD (AP) ? Iraq's fugitive Sunni vice president was sentenced Sunday to death by hanging on charges he masterminded death squads against rivals in a terror trial that has fueled sectarian tensions in the country. Underscoring the instability, insurgents unleashed an onslaught of bombings and shootings across Iraq, killing at least 92 people in one of the deadliest days this year.

It's unlikely that the attacks in 13 cities were all timed to coincide with the afternoon verdict that capped a monthslong case against Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a longtime foe of Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Still, taken together, the violence and verdict could energize Sunni insurgents bent on returning Iraq to the brink of civil war by targeting Shiites and undermining the government.

Al-Hashemi fled to Turkey in the months after the Shiite-led government accused him of playing a role in 150 bombings, assassinations and other attacks from 2005 to 2011 ? years in which the country was mired in retaliatory sectarian violence that followed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein's Sunni regime. Most of the attacks were allegedly carried out by al-Hashemi's bodyguards and other employees, and largely targeted government officials, security forces and Shiite pilgrims.

The vice president declined to immediately comment on the verdict after meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara. He said he would "tackle this issue in a statement" in coming hours.

The politically charged case ? which was announced the day after U.S. troops withdrew from the country last December ? sparked a government crisis and fueled Sunni Muslim and Kurdish resentment against al-Maliki, whom critics say is monopolizing power.

Violence has ebbed significantly, but insurgents continue to stage high-profile bombings and shooting rampages. Al-Qaida's Iraq branch has promised a comeback in predominantly Sunni areas from which it was routed by the U.S. and its local allies after sectarian fighting peaked in 2007.

"These attacks show al-Qaida's ability to hit any place in Iraq and at any time," said Ali Salem, 40, an elementary school teacher in Baghdad. "The lack of security could take us back to zero."

The worst violence on Sunday struck the capital, where bombs pounded a half-dozen neighborhoods ? both Sunni and Shiite ? thoughout the day. But the deadliest attacks in Baghdad hit Shiite areas Sunday evening, hours after the al-Hashemi verdict was announced. In all, 42 people were killed in the capital and 120 wounded, according to police and hospital officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

The countrywide attacks began before dawn, with gunmen killing soldiers at an army post in the central Iraqi city of Dujail. A few hours later, a car exploded in a lot where police recruits waiting in line to apply for jobs outside Kirkuk in the country's north. Both Dujail and Kirkuk are former insurgent strongholds.

Over the day, at least 92 people were killed and more than 360 wounded in at least 21 separate bombings and shootings, according to reports from police and hospital officials. No group immediately claimed responsibility, but Iraq's Interior Ministry blamed al-Qaida in Iraq.

"The attacks today on the markets and mosques are aimed at provoking sectarian and political tensions," the ministry said in a statement. "Our war against terrorism is continuing, and we are ready."

The courtroom at Baghdad's criminal court was silent Sunday as the presiding judge read out the verdict. It convicted al-Hashemi and his son-in-law, Ahmed Qahtan, of organizing the murders of a Shiite security official and a lawyer who had refused to help the vice president's allies in terror cases. The two defendants were acquitted in a third case of the killing of a security officer due to a lack of evidence.

The court sentenced both men in absentia to death by hanging. They have 30 days to appeal the verdict and could win a retrial if they return to Iraq to face the charges. Al-Hashemi ? who has been in office since 2006 ? is on Interpol's most-wanted list, but Turkey has shown no interest in sending the vice president back to Baghdad.

The defense team began its closing statement with a searing indictment of Iraq's justice system, accusing it of showing no independence and siding with the Shiite-led government.

"From the beginning and through all procedures it has become obvious that the Iraqi judicial system has been under political pressure," attorney Muayad Obeid al-Ezzi, the head of the defense team, told the court.

The presiding judge immediately interjected, warning that that the court would open legal proceedings against the defense team if it continued to heap accusations on the court or the legal system.

Reaction to the verdict was largely along sectarian lines on the streets of Baghdad.

Sunni lawyer Abdullah al-Azami called the trial "another farce to be added to the Iraqi judicial system."

Shiite pharmacist Khalid Saied, meanwhile, said he supported the verdict and hoped the government would broadcast all the evidence against al-Hashemi "so that the entire world knows him."

Sunday's violence came amid fears that the insurgency has gained new strength after suffering heavy setbacks in U.S. and Iraqi offensives. Four of the attacks targeted Kirkuk, where city police commander Brig. Gen. Sarhad Qadir blamed the violence on al-Qaida.

The carnage stretched into the country's south, where bombs stuck to two parked cars exploded in the Shiite-dominated city of Nasiriyah, 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Baghdad. The blasts were near the French consulate and a local hotel in the city, although the consulate did not appear to be a target of the attack.

Local deputy health director Dr. Adnan al-Musharifawi said two people were killed and three were wounded at the hotel, and one Iraqi policeman was wounded at the consulate. Al-Musharifawi said no French diplomats were among the casualties. In Paris, France's Foreign Ministry said it "condemns with the greatest severity" the wave of attacks.

A string of smaller attacks Sunday also struck nine other cities. It was one of the worst outbreaks of violence in Iraq in 2012, although the single deadliest day was July 23, which saw at least 115 people killed ? the most in more than two years.

___

Associated Press Writers Sinan Salaheddin and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad and Yahya Barzanji in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, contributed to this report. Follow Lara Jakes on Twitter at www.twitter.com/larajakesAP

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-09-09-Iraq/id-2270b797044646c8b03ccb022fd49b00

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