Monday, 22 October 2012

Caterpillar sees weak economy as it cuts outlook

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ? Caterpillar says the world's economy is weaker than it thought, and it doesn't expect growth to pick up until the second half of next year.

The company on Monday cut its 2012 revenue and profit guidance, and took a very cautious view toward its performance in 2013.

Caterpillar makes the yellow-painted excavators, heavy tractors, and other construction equipment often seen on road-building projects. It's the world's largest maker of construction and mining equipment, and also makes engines. Its results are watched closely for signs of where the broader economy is headed.

Where it's headed right now is for some weak growth, based on what Caterpillar was saying on Monday.

It predicted worldwide economic growth of 2.7 percent for next year, up from the 2.5 percent growth it expects for 2012. It expects the cheap lending offered in most countries to continue next year, although "growth has been slow to respond," the company said.

"As a result, we are not expecting improvement in overall economic growth until the second half of 2013," the company said.

Caterpillar sells to dealers, who turn around and sell to end users like construction and mining companies. Those dealers are trying to cut inventory, so they're ordering less equipment than customers are buying.

In response, Caterpillar said it has reduced production, resulting in temporary shutdowns and layoffs. Lower production will continue until dealer demand lines up with end user demand, Caterpillar said.

The layoffs will generally be short-term, such as a factory shutting down for a week, the company's chief financial officer, Ed Rapp, said in an interview.

"We haven't seen the broad-based economic growth that we really anticipated in 2012," he said.

As a result, Caterpillar cut its 2012 outlook for the second time this year. Revenue is expected to grow 9.7 percent to $66 billion, after rising 41 percent in 2011. Profit is now forecast at $9 to $9.25 per share, down from a previous forecast of $9.60 per share.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet had expected revenue of $67.2 billion, with profit of $9.41 per share.

The company said growth was below expectations in the U.S. and China, and with much of Europe in recession.

The U.S., China and most developing economics should see modest improvement next year, Caterpillar said. But it sees "continuing difficulty" and only marginal growth in Europe.

"We're not expecting rapid growth, and we're not predicting a global recession," Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman said.

On Friday, General Electric Co. CEO Jeffrey Immelt said he's expecting economic conditions next year to be similar to this year. Most regions should show some improvement, but Europe's "going to be a grind," he said. Investors should get another view of the global economy from a major manufacturer when 3M Co. reports earnings on Tuesday.

Caterpillar expects 2013 revenue to be about the same as this year, plus or minus 5 percent.

The company said sales of mining gear will fall next year. Lower prices for metals and coal, along with higher operating costs, have hurt profit margins at many mining companies, Caterpillar said. Sales of construction gear are expected to increase, and it expects improving activity in the U.S. It expects engine sales to be flat.

Profit in the third quarter rose 49 percent to almost $1.7 billion, or $2.54 per share. That compares with profit of $1.14 billion, or $1.71 per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 4.6 percent to $16.45 billion.

The results included a gain of $273 million, or 27 cents per share, from selling a majority interest in a logistics business. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had been expecting a profit of $2.21 per share, on revenue of $16.64 billion.

Shares of Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar Inc. rose 5 cents to $83.91 in afternoon trading.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/caterpillar-sees-weak-economy-cuts-outlook-145310876--finance.html

the big chill tony blankley charles barkley beyonce troy polamalu james harrison james harrison

What Political Campaigns Learn About You From Social Networks ...

nation builder, cms, crm, social networks, online activism, election 2012With each presidential election cycle, political campaigns get dramatically more Internet savvy. 2012 may be remembered as the year campaigns got serious about social networks.

To find, track and leverage supporters, the Romney and Obama campaigns are using systems they?ve made themselves. But smaller campaigns, including that of the Green Party?s presidential candidate Jill Stein, are using NationBuilder, a combination CMS/CRM system that launched in April 2011.

California?s Yes on 37 campaign also uses NationBuilder.

NationBuilder, is in one sense, a social network: It allows people to join particular nations, or political causes. (They system also works for nonprofits and small businesses.) But the software also uses existing social networks to learn more about prospective supporters.

If a user signs a petition, NationBuilder will ask him or her to invite friends to do the same using Facebook or Twitter. The campaign behind the petition now has that user?s Facebook and Twitter handles and his or her Klout score.

The system grabs the user?s Twitter bio. From Facebook, it can grab a profile picture and any other information the user has shared publicly.

If a user shares his or her address with the campaign, organizers can see his or her house plotted on a Google map to evaluate how close it is to other supporters? residences in order to pick an optimal location for a fundraising event.

The organizers can also check out the house using Street View, to get a sense of the user?s socio-economic status.

Say the campaign puts on an event. Organizers may advertise it on Facebook and through Meetup, as well as on their own website. Marco may see it as a Facebook event and RSVP on Facebook. Vanessa may see it as a Meetup and RSVP on that website. But the organizers need to keep a single list of attendees so they can keep in touch with them in the future. NationBuilder automatically compiles all of the RSVPs into a single event list and adds all of those who say they will attend the event to a single master list of supporters.

Campaigns using NationBuilder can also get free lists of registered voters? voting history. The records, obtained from the states, document if, but not how, an individual has voted. NationBuilder provides these lists to subscribers free of charge. Previously, the lists went for as much as 2 cents per voter name. NationBuilder helps campaigns de-duplicate these records by comparing them to online user information.

Campaign administrators can use all of this information to better target particular subsets of reporters with different sorts of requests. For instance, an administrator could identify those who are influential on social networks and ask them to share a particular message or contact a particular person in their network. Administrators can also import their personal contacts from social networks, including LinkedIn, in order to bulk up their list.

The system?s interface with Google+ and LinkedIn is very light, however, essentially only allowing users to post content to those networks. Adriel Hampton, the NationBuilder?s chief organizer, said the company hasn?t had much demand for more because smaller campaigns are still catching up technologically.

It may be disconcerting to realize just how much a political group can learn about you from social networks, but NationBuilder has built in privacy protections to avoid abuses.

Administrators can learn quite a bit about supporters, but a supporter can only see the actions other supporters have taken publicly. And while administrators get access to Twitter bios, Klout scores and followers, they don?t see supporters? tweets, unless they?ve used a campaign hashtag. Each ?nation,? or campaign, is stored separately on the company?s databases so that no one can build a composite user profile of someone who?s participated in multiple campaigns. NationBuilder also says it promotes online marketing best practices on its blog.

Still, it seems social networks are transforming the age-old activities of politicking and voting.

Source: http://socialtimes.com/what-political-campaigns-learn-about-you-from-social-networks_b107933

fiona apple awkward awkward chase CJ Spiller tracy morgan Chase.com

Sunday, 21 October 2012

video MyReviewsNow.net Shopping Blog - product reviews, online ...

Description:

Click here http://www.myreviewsnow.net/blog/ now! MyReviewsNow.net product-review editors pick the best electronics, appliances and services by comparing professional product reviews. MyReviewsNow.net [...]

Description:

Click here http://www.myreviewsnow.net/blog/ now! MyReviewsNow.net product-review editors pick the best electronics, appliances and services by comparing professional product reviews. MyReviewsNow.net Shopping Blog

Video added on: 10-18-2012 at 03:31:31 am
Categories: News
Keywords: product reviews online shop buyers guide best products

Language: English
Shooting location: United States / 77098

Video address: http://www.kewego.com/video/50091538316s.html
Add this video to your blog or website (Copy/paste the HTML text below) :

Source: http://www.kewego.com/video/50091538316s.html

hanukkah gpa calculator menorah chanukah chanukah david archuleta david archuleta

Source: http://feltonmendoza.typepad.com/blog/2012/10/video-myreviewsnownet-shopping-blog-product-reviews-online.html

david archuleta david archuleta hobbit trailer greenhill nj plane crash plane crash new jersey beef o bradys bowl

Source: http://ydiuyvi.posterous.com/video-myreviewsnownet-shopping-blog-product-r

grammy winners obama budget woolly mammoth belize resorts nikki minaj grammy performance shel silverstein niki minaj grammy performance

Oh No They Didn't! - Victoria Coren: Responds to 'Elementary ...

>

Last week, in this space, I broke the law. Technically, I could be prosecuted. Technically, my only hope is that Rowan Atkinson can get the law changed before a gloved hand knocks at my door.

My column about Elementary was one of the most-read articles on the Comment Is Free website for days. What an accolade, the casual observer might think. After all, we live in a serious world. Some girl's unenthusiasm for a TV series in which Sherlock Holmes is a New York junkie and Doctor Watson is a sexy lady from Charlie's Angels is not a serious matter. If thousands of web-surfers are poring over that column, what a tremendously entertaining piece it must be.

But no. It was not my creative writing that fascinated people, but my racism. And as a little sweetener, like sprinkles on an ice cream, my sexism. Ideologically, I am the new Bernard Manning. (Unfortunately, the resemblance doesn't end there.)

Many of the messages I've since received on Twitter have been accompanied by the hashtags #racist and #sexist and, in one charming case, #youdumbbitch. This is why I read with particular interest about Rowan Atkinson's launch of the Reform Section 5 campaign, to repeal that part of the Public Order Act that makes it a crime to use "abusive or insulting" words within earshot (or eyeshot) of anyone likely to be offended by them. I would quite like this section to be reformed, in time for me to swerve jail.

The sexism charge was nuanced; some believe that Lucy Liu's casting as "Doctor Joan Watson" is a positive step for women in Hollywood; I do not, and those who disagree think I must therefore be a misogynist. Fine; give me a couple of hours round a pub table and I'll have that debate with pleasure.

But the racism charge was based on the following two paragraphs, which appeared about halfway through my column:

"Lucy Liu [told] the Times, 'It was a very big deal for me to play an Asian-American in Charlie's Angels; Watson's ethnicity is also a big deal', as if someone had bet her ?100 that she couldn't cause at least three Conan Doyle fans to suffer a pulmonary embolism.

"Personally, I'd like to press Liu's face into a bowl of cold pea soup for that statement. It's not just her failure to distinguish between creating a new character and mangling a beloved old one (Tread softly! You tread on my dreams!), but the triumphant tone over such an appalling and offensive racial change. Let me be clear: I rather like the idea of an Asian Watson, but American? God save us all."

Now, I think it's fairly obvious that this is a silly joke about Americans, as imagined by a tweedy old fan of Victorian literature. It is not a difficult joke to spot. It's a standard structure: set up an expectation based on one half of a sentence (or, in this case, word), then say something based on the other half. As in: "My boyfriend's got a dog. I'm revolted by the hairiness and the smell. But I like his dog."

My furious online correspondents, however, reacted as though the last two sentences simply weren't there, managing somehow to take those lines as a statement of anti-Asian feeling. If I were more famous, the Daily Mail would have reported the complaints under the headline "COREN IN RACE ROW" and I would have been marked down forever as that woman who used to host a quiz show until her hatred of Asians was revealed and she was forced into hiding forever.

As it is, I will be remembered as a racist only by those too daft to get my silly joke, and those who saw the damning internet blogs that failed to quote exactly what I'd said.

Nevertheless, those people were genuinely offended. Some may be quite stupid ("How can you defend the BBC's male-dominated, all-white Sherlock?" asked one angry lady, the answer to which is so obvious that I couldn't be bothered to type it) ? but I deliberately allowed readers to believe for two seconds that I was about to make an anti-Asian statement, in the full knowledge that some people are stupid and that even so familiar and simple a comic U-turn might be too much for them. Technically, and illegally, I invited offence.

Last week, a caller to the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 said that Andrew Mitchell should be jailed for swearing at the police because "there is too little respect for them".

As someone who remembers from childhood the timid, furtive voices of east European cousins on the phone ? those few who had survived the concentration camps ? who dared not speak freely from behind the Iron Curtain because they feared being tapped and followed, I am extremely offended by the suggestion that my own beautiful British society should become a police state, in which rudeness to these authority figures is punished by incarceration. But do I think the caller should be jailed for offending me? No, I think there should be no such thing as a speech crime. However foul a thing you want to say, you can say it freely as far as I'm concerned. And I'm including the skinheads who shouted "Yid" at me during my grandfather's funeral.

Yet, even if you believe that offensive remarks should be proscribed by law, what about remarks that are misunderstood as offensive? It's nigh impossible to speak without any risk of misinterpretation, especially when mobs are out there looking to be outraged.

You don't have to support the campaign to reform Section 5. But one day, your teasing dig in a colleague's leaving card will be taken the wrong way; or your mobile phone comment will be misheard by passers-by in a crowded street; and then they will come for you.</blockquote>

SOURCE

Source: http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/72921623.html

shroud of turin warren sapp the masters i robot the big c the visitor king of kings

White House prepared to meet one-on-one with Iran

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2012 file photo, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks to a gathering at the University of Havana, in Havana, Cuba, The White House says it is prepared to talk one-on-one with Iran to find a diplomatic settlement to the impasse over Tehran's reported pursuit of nuclear weapons, but there's no agreement now to meet, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2012 file photo, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks to a gathering at the University of Havana, in Havana, Cuba, The White House says it is prepared to talk one-on-one with Iran to find a diplomatic settlement to the impasse over Tehran's reported pursuit of nuclear weapons, but there's no agreement now to meet, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The White House says it is prepared to talk one-on-one with Iran to find a diplomatic settlement to the impasse over Tehran's reported pursuit of nuclear weapons, but there's no agreement now to meet.

National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said Saturday that President Barack Obama has made clear that he will prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and will do whatever's necessary to prevent that from happening. Vietor said Iran must come in line with its obligations, or else faced increased pressure.

"The onus is on the Iranians to do so, otherwise they will continue to face crippling sanctions and increased pressure," Vietor's statement said.

Iran has been a recurring issue in the presidential election. The New York Times reported Saturday that the U.S. and Iran have agreed in principle for the first time to negotiations. The paper said Iran has insisted the talks wait until after the Nov. 6 election.

Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will meet Monday night in a debate focusing on foreign policy and Iran's nuclear ambitions will likely be a topic. Obama has said he'll prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He hopes sanctions alongside negotiations can get Iran to halt uranium enrichment. But the strategy hasn't worked yet. Obama holds out the threat of military action as a last resort. Romney has accused Obama of being weak on Iran and says the U.S. needs to present a greater military threat.

Despite unprecedented global penalties, Iran's nuclear program is advancing. Western nations fear the Islamic republic is determined to develop nuclear weapons and fundamentally reshape the balance of power in the Middle East. That would pose a grave threat to Israel. Iran says its program is for peaceful energy and research purposes.

With the Iraq war over and Afghanistan winding down, worries about the possibility of a new U.S. military conflict focus on Iran.

Iran's suspect nuclear program has topped the international agenda and pressures on Tehran are mounting.

Israel has threatened to strike Iran's nuclear facilities if Tehran doesn't stop uranium enrichment a process that can be a pathway to nuclear arms. Israel could decide to strike Iran's nuclear sites on its own, and Israeli leaders say time to act is running out.

___

Associated Press writer Andrew Miga contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-10-20-US-Iran/id-23b3434df302451faa78f9f1afbb4742

foxnews Colorado shootings dark knight rises Aurora shooting James Eagan Holmes jeremy lin Sage Stallone

Saturday, 20 October 2012

AP Photos: Saturday's College Football Action

Florida's Quinton Dunbar, right, breaks away from South Carolina linebacker DeVonte Holloman (21) on a 13-yard touchdown pass play during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in Gainesville, Fla.(AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)

Florida's Quinton Dunbar, right, breaks away from South Carolina linebacker DeVonte Holloman (21) on a 13-yard touchdown pass play during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in Gainesville, Fla.(AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)

Florida linebacker Jelani Jenkins (3) goes airborne after assisting on a tackle on South Carolina's Kenny Miles (31) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Boise State's Lee Hightower (29) is the first to take the field as Boise State wears black uniforms for an NCAA college football game against UNLV on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012 in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won 32-7. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley)

Notre Dame running back George Atkinson III is hit by BYU defensive back Daniel Sorensen as he dives in for a 20-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012. Notre Dame defeated BYU 17-14. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Michigan kicker Brendan Gibbons (34) and placeholder Drew Dileo (9) watch as Gibbons game-winning field goal clears the posts with seconds remaining to defeat Michigan State in an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

The third-ranked Florida Gators on Saturday avenge consecutive losses to South Carolina with a 44-11 drubbing of the No. 9 Gamecocks in one of several key college football matchups across the country.

Florida's latest whatever-it-takes win keeps coach Will Muschamp's team undefeated and puts it on the cusp of the Southeasten Conference's Eastern Division title.

In other games Saturday, fifth-ranked Notre Dame beats BYU 17-14, No. 6 LSU defeats No. 20 Texas A&M 24-19, and No. 7 Ohio State beats Purdue 29-22 in overtime.

Here's a gallery of photos from Saturday's college contests.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-10-20-AP-US-College-Football-Photo-Gallery/id-ae20c8ef99b545178bc95be61cddcc90

dick clark dies ibogaine jamie moyer bone cancer hossa the cell dickclark

Exclusive And Exciting Ideas For Affiliate Marketers | Make Money ...

Exclusive And Exciting Ideas For Affiliate Marketers

Many people experience great difficulty when attempting to set up an web marketing program, but the process does not need to be as complex as you might think. Technological innovations can help you create that network of referrals, without great time or expense. This article will give you advice and helpful tips to help you begin your internet marketing program.

Consider peripherals as you place affiliate links throughout your site. Another item would be a water bottle that can be held over the shoulder for easy carrying.

Being an affiliate marketer, a highly effective way to promote your product is by using the product yourself. You can demonstrate your product?s usefulness by submitting informational material and reviews to directories and blogs. Try getting on some related forums and posting about how much you?ve enjoyed the product. Putting an affiliate link on your website gives customers easier access to purchase from you.

There are a wide variety of affiliate programs. They may offer a wide range of products and a variety of working conditions.

Try using web marketing to make yourself more visible on the Internet. Online marketing programs are more effective than other advertising approaches, like banner ads or contextual networks. Choose your affiliate partners wisely. Look for those that pay generous commissions, are easy for customers to use, and maintain track records for reliability.

Some programs assign tasks to their affiliates via email, but constantly checking such emails can be very time-consuming. You can save yourself some time by copying the information you need the first time you read the email, and then pasting it into a master document on your desktop. Simply refer to your saved list of jobs to be accomplished and be ready to work.

Make sure that you are honest with those who read your websites about your affiliations. They will appreciate you being honest and will feel better about using your affiliate ads to help you earn money.

The most effective affiliate companies support affiliates and assist in cross-selling products. These companies are in it to make profit just like you are. They do a lot of research to find out what kind of marketing is most successful for converting customers. The better companies share that data with affiliates, so that the affiliates can customize their campaigns to sell more products and get more commissions.

Always have your target audience in mind when you are choosing affiliates. If your a shoe seller, why would you want to advertise dish detergent on your site? Keep in mind that the visitors to your site are looking for particular things. Remember this and have ads on your site that will appeal to them.

Make sure that your partners don?t take advantage of cookies, and certainly don?t do it yourself. Most consumers are put off by sellers that abuse their cookies. At worst, this could spread viruses, or break customer tracking chains.

Joining an affiliate marketing forum or group is a great way to learn new marketing tips and strategies. You can go on various forums and groups to share ideas, codes, programs and other information for questions you may have.

You will get the most income out of your affiliate programs by paying advertisers like Google Ads. If you ads target specific keywords with proven results, sales-wise, you can substantially increase your site traffic, attracting visitors who are interested in the same keywords.

Using trivia questions on banner ads can be quite effective in increasing site traffic. Users will have to visit your website to get the correct answer to the question. Most internet surfers will likely not resist the click temptation of that banner. Make it even more attractive by giving discounts to the people who answer the question correctly.

An affiliate program can provide other uses for your products. One good example is showing a shoe mat being used as a dog tray or dish drainer.

When selecting an affiliate company, check the different ways they can pay you, especially if you need a quick payment turnaround. Companies have different payment options such as check by mail, direct deposit through your bank and online options like AlertPay and PayPal.

To make the most out of your affiliate programs, be sure you keep only the programs that generate the highest profits. Do a regular checkup on how your various affiliates are performing relative to each other. Taking out affiliates that perform poorly can let you free up spaces for better partners.

Try and restrict your business so that you deal with fair and generous affiliate companies. The botom line is tha you will not work with any business that provides less than 20% of the income on each item that is sold. A good affiliate partner will reward you well for solid sales.

Getting a lot of backlinks into your website is a critical piece of an online marketing plan, but the links should not lead readers to deceptive or overly ?salesy? content. If you want to sell iPads, an off-site link advertising HP tablet PCs will not bring you many potential customers ? at least, not happy ones. You may think that this is a clever strategy, but this mismatch will simply make you appear untrustworthy to site visitors.

You need to do things especially for your audience, especially if they are older. By making your font size larger by even a point or two, you can increase your sales opportunities. If customers can read about your product, they are more likely to purchase it.

Real time statistics are very important. This information can reveal the amount of traffic to your website and provide details about purchasing habits.

It will likely take you a decent bit of time to discover which affiliate advertisements have been the most effective for your particular demographic. You will have to tailor your approach to advertisement depending on your audience and products. Perhaps an unobtrusive ad is better than a flashy one for your audience. Make sure you adequately consider your target audience when selecting ads.

Affiliate marketing programs were once difficult to set up and costly to operate. However, modern advancements have reduced both the cost and learning curve, opening the field to anyone who is willing to put in the necessary work. Follow this advice to keep your costs low while creating a great web marketing program.

Tags: affiliate programs, banner ads, site traffic, target audience, web marketing program

Source: http://make-money-blog.com/exclusive-and-exciting-ideas-for-affiliate-marketers/

new nfl uniforms easter derbyshire the matrix oceans 11 ferris state hockey mary poppins

Biden, Ryan battle for voters in Tampa Bay area (tbo)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/256893486?client_source=feed&format=rss

evelyn lozada UFC 150 Caster Semenya Medal Count 2012 Olympics victoria beckham London 2012 rhythmic gymnastics Meteor Shower August 2012

What are the Career Options in HR? | HR Blog | Human Resources ...

HR is not just about liking people.?HR?isn?t?the job for you if you?re not a ?people?person?, but liking people won?t be enough on?its own. More precisely, you have to be interested?in Human Resources Bloggetting the absolute best out of people.

It?s not just the softer ?people skills? that are important. You?ll have a?strong interest in business and the strategy that underpins its success.?You?ll need a good level of numeracy and?analytical?skills. Being able?to work closely with your colleagues and earn their trust and respect is?another critical factor

Each organisation is unique and the scope of the HR function adapts accordingly. HR departments often embody the values of their organisations. You should look first for organisations whose values you share. Then you can choose between generalist HR positions and a wide variety of specialist roles.

What does a HR generalist do?

When you?re an HR Generalist, variety is the order of the day and you?ll get involved in a wide range of specialist areas. One day, you could be working with management to decide on the people you need to deliver your business strategy. The next, you could be running an employee focus group, getting to grips with the issues that motivate teams. You could even develop a new benefits package or make sure a new HR information system delivers streamlined processes and support.

As an HR Generalist, you may often find yourself supporting ? and even challenging ? managers as they lead their teams. Your insight into building lasting performance will be a vital tool of your trade.

What does a Recruitment /resourcing / talent planning person do?

If you?re working in a recruitment, resourcing and talent-planning role, you?ll need to manage resources (people in the organisation) to meet the changing needs of the business and in particular to fulfil the short and long-term requirements of the organisation?s strategy. To do this, you need to plan around changing demographics, supply and demand, staff turnover and scarce skills.

You?ll also be responsible for identifying and attracting key people who can create a competitive advantage for the organisation. In times of economic uncertainty where recruitment is frozen or limited, this might include keeping talent engaged and interested for when roles arise and developing effective networks of talented individuals that you can tap into cost-effectively.

Additionally, you?ll have an important role in developing processes to identify talent across the organisation and integrating them with succession planning and other HR activities such as performance management.

What does a Learning and Talent Development person do?

Getting the best out of people and linking their skills and capabilities drives performance. It can also help people find their strengths and potential. That?s where learning and talent development (L&TD) comes in. L&TD specialists manage learning and potential. In this role, you may deliver activities as diverse as firearms training for police officers and mentoring programmes for fund managers. Or you could be involved in supporting managers in your business to act as a ?coaches? to their team.. L&TD specialists But it won?t just be about the delivery of these learning and talent development events. Having the analytical skills to evaluate the benefits to the business will be vital.

Learning and talent development professionals are involved in supporting, developing and accelerating learning in order to build agile and responsive organisations with the capability they need to execute their chosen strategy.

What does an Organisation Development Expert do?

Organisations are constantly reinventing themselves. ?Change-ready? and agile businesses are best-placed to cope with the challenges of a fast-changing external environment. If you?re involved in organisation development (OD), you?ll have a crucial part to play in change management. You?ll also be maintaining the health of the organisation in the long term.

The change activities you lead or deliver could be about developing the organisation?s culture or the capability of its people. Or they may involve re-organisations and creating more effective and customer-focused processes. You?ll also require a focus on how you communicate with employees. Additionally, you need to paint a picture, not just of what successful change will look like, but the risks and challenges that lie ahead.

Organisation development practitioners work in a planned and systematic way ? diagnosing issues using relevant data. They consider the whole organisation and look to achieve sustained business performance by involving its people.

What is the role of Employee Relations professionals in HR?

Employee relations (ER) professionals have a wide-ranging brief to maintain and develop effective working relationships across the organisation. You?ll be looking to create a trust-based culture that drives long-term performance. To do this, you need a good understanding of what drives your organisation?s strategy, goals and performance. You?ll also need to speak the ?language of the business? and understand how people management drives organisation performance.

In practice, the job involves supporting line managers in motivating and engaging the workforce, treating people as individuals and ensuring fair access to opportunities. You may be involved in managing the organisation?s relationship with its trade unions and managing workplace conflict. A commitment to diversity and ensuring fairness in the workplace is an important part of employee relations. Another key aspect is supporting effective internal communications inside the organisation. Employees will perform best where they have a good understanding of the goals and purpose of the organisation. They?ll also be more motivated to deliver when they have the opportunity to feed their views upwards to senior management.

What is the role of Employee Engagement Resources in HR?

Employee engagement can sit alongside responsibilities for areas such as the employer ?brand? and internal communication. It also forms an important part of today?s employee relations roles. It?s about understanding what really makes your employees get out of bed in the morning ? and what motivates them to go the extra mile when they get to work.

An ability to use quantitative and qualitative information is important. You?ll need to help develop and analyse surveys to measure the attitudes of the workforce and, for example, gauge their understanding of company values or the trust they have in senior management. You?ll also need to sense the ?mood? of the business. You might do this through informal and formal means, such as focus groups and workshops, to make connections and share insights with your management colleagues.

Building a successful business depends on making sure people understand and want to deliver the organisation?s objectives. Your analysis and advice will be vital here.

What is the role of Performance and Reward Expert in HR?

Performance and reward is about ensuring people?s skills, behaviours, values, attitudes and contribution to the success of their organisations are rewarded and recognised in a fair, market-based and cost-effective way.
You?ll be involved in a wide range of reward activities such as establishing salary levels and allowances and managing pay relativities. You may create incentive and recognition schemes, establish the case for employee benefits, and manage the benefit package and evaluate its effectiveness. This is all part of the organisation?s aim to create and sustain a high-performance culture.

As well as being numerate and aware of legal and regulatory requirements, performance and reward specialists need to be able to communicate and educate employees and line managers about the reward strategy; work with colleagues in other departments to create a ?joined-up ?total reward? approach and support people related programmes initiatives such as talent and diversity. You will need to identify and manage the risks around pay and benefits. You?ll be able to get involved in government consultations relating to reward.?As well as taking part in public policy discussion and consultations on the subject, with issues on your agenda as important as pensions and bonuses, you will also be involved in facilitating senior management discussion around the role of reward.

?

The beauty of a career in HR is that you get such great insights into all aspects of business.

? The original article appears on the website of The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) ,the world?s largest Chartered HR and development professional body.

Thanks

Jappreet Sethi

Source: http://www.humanresourcesblog.in/2012/10/19/what-are-the-career-options-in-hr/

red hot chili peppers tour orange juice photos doomsday clock nate robinson sharia law sharia law

Friday, 19 October 2012

Money men: Who are top 5 donors to Romney?

WASHINGTON (AP) ? For a casino mogul worth an estimated $25 billion, $34.2 million may sound like chump change. Yet that's how much money Sheldon Adelson has donated so far to aid Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and organizations supporting Romney this election, making him the donor of donors for the GOP.

Other top donors giving millions of dollars to aid Romney's campaign include a trio of Texas money moguls and the head of a south Florida-based energy conglomerate. Those donors and others are funding a presidential election on track to cost nearly $2 billion, with money going toward individual Democratic and Republican campaigns as well as independent, "super" political committees working on the campaigns' behalf.

Political donations can open doors that are closed to most people. Big-dollar donors are often invited to state dinners at the White House and other events with the president. They also may be asked to weigh in on public policy, especially if it affects their own financial interests. And the ranks of ambassadors, advisory panels and other government jobs traditionally are filled with those who have been unusually generous during the campaign.

Based on an examination of more than 2.3 million campaign contributions ? the methodology is below ? The Associated Press has ranked the top five financial supporters bankrolling the Republican presidential run:

___

No. 1: Sheldon Adelson, 79, owner of the Las Vegas Sands casino empire.

Total: $34.2 million

Adelson is the largest declared donor to the Romney campaign and supporting political committees, providing more than $34.2 million this election season. He and his wife, Miriam, a physician who heads the Nevada-based Adelson Drug Clinic, have given $10 million to the Restore Our Future, a super PAC backing Romney. Adelson also joined relatives to give $24 million to committees backing former GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. And he has made public pledges vowing to give $10 million to Karl Rove's American Crossroads super PAC and as much as $100 million this election more broadly to the GOP. Worth an estimated $25 billion, Adelson oversees the Las Vegas Sands Corp., which runs casino and resort interests in Las Vegas, Singapore and Bethlehem, Pa., and Sands China Ltd., a cluster of casinos in the Chinese territory of Macau. He would benefit from loosened trade restrictions and a rise in the Chinese currency rate against the dollar. His company devoted $60,000 this year to lobby on tax issues, foreign tourist visas, travel and Internet gambling issues ? and has spent $1.86 million lobbying on legislation dealing with China trade, gambling and travel since 2002. A staunch supporter of Israel, he also is a contributor to the Republican Jewish Coalition, which spent $920,000 since 2002 backing bills aimed at pressuring Iran and enhancing U.S. security cooperation with Israel. Adelson's casino company has advised shareholders that it was under investigation by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investigators were said to be focusing on the Macau casinos and reports of missing money and possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

___

No. 2: Harold Simmons, 81, owner of Contran Corp., a Dallas-based conglomerate worth an estimated $9 billion that specializes in metals and chemical production and waste management.

Total: $16 million

Simmons is a longtime backer of GOP and conservative causes. He has donated $16 million to the party's efforts this year, including more than $11 million to American Crossroads and $800,000 to Restore Our Future. Simmons and his wife, Annette, also gave $2.2 million to Super PACs backing former GOP presidential candidates Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Rick Perry. Simmons has been active in political fundraising since the 1990s and in 2004 was a $4 million backer of the Swift Vets campaign, the GOP-backed effort to discredit Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's military record in the Vietnam War. Simmons' Titanium Metals Corp. reportedly is a top producer of titanium for weapons and other industrial uses. He also owns a majority stake in Valhi Inc., a Texas-based waste management company, and could benefit from a proposed Nuclear Regulatory Commission rule change that would allow the company's Texas facility to store spent uranium from nuclear power and weapons plants. Contran's subsidiaries have spent $200,000 this year lobbying the NRC, Energy Department, the Senate and House on metals and waste issues, and $4.3 over the past decade, including efforts to protect a Pentagon rule limiting titanium purchases to U.S. producers. Simmons was fined $19,800 by the Federal Election Commission in 1993 for exceeding the then-annual $25,000 limit on individual campaign contributions, which has since been lowered.

___

No. 3: Bob J. Perry, 80, head of a Houston real estate empire worth an estimated $650 million.

Total: $15.3 million

Perry has given about $15.3 million to aid the Romney campaign and allied causes so far this election season. Long active in Texas and national GOP politics, Perry donated nearly $9 million to Restore Our Future and a total of $6.5 million to American Crossroads. Before backing Romney this year, Perry gave $100,000 to the super PAC backing Texas Gov. Rick Perry (no relation). Bob Perry has been a fixture of GOP fundraising in Texas and nationally dating back to former President George W. Bush's Texas gubernatorial races in the mid-1990s. Perry was a top Bush presidential "bundler" and also gave big to the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth campaign in 2004, donating $4.4 million to the effort to discredit Kerry.

___

No. 4: Robert Rowling, 58, head of Dallas-based TRT Holdings.

Total: $4.1 million

Rowling has given at least $4.1 million to Republican Party and candidates this election. Most of his donations, $4 million, went to Rove's American Crossroads, both through personal donations and through his firm. Rowling also has given $100,000 to the pro-Romney Restore Our Future super PAC. Rowling's holdings are worth an estimated $4.8 billion and include Omni Hotels, Gold's Gym and Tana Exploration, his family's oil company. Rowling once told the Texas Tribune he prefers political donations to lobbying efforts. Rowling has been a big donor in Texas political circles, winning a role for Omni as operator of Dallas' convention center hotel after a 2009 city referendum fight.

___

No. 5: William Koch, 72, an industrialist whose South Florida-based energy and mining conglomerate is worth an estimated $4 billion.

Total: $3 million

Koch has given $3 million to the Restore Our Future, including a $250,000 personal donation and $2.75 million through his corporation, Oxbow Carbon LLC, and a subsidiary, Huron Carbon.? Unlike his brothers, Charles and David Koch, who are longtime supporters of Republican and conservative causes, Bill Koch has funded both GOP and Democratic Party candidates in the past. Koch's corporate interests have repeatedly battled against what company officials have decried as government interference. Oxbow spent $570,000 last year on lobbying in Washington, mostly aimed at mining, safety issues and climate change. The company has complained in federal filings about government delays on permits and has raised concerns about administration changes in regulations that would aid collective bargaining. Koch also has pushed for approval of the Central Rockies Land Exchange, a proposed swap of land tracts in Colorado and Utah to enlarge his 4,500-acre Bear Ranch. The proposal, which requires congressional approval, has sparked local opposition.

___

METHODOLOGY

These rankings by The Associated Press, based on campaign financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission, include contributions to super PACs, presidential campaigns, political parties and joint-fundraising committees. Federal law limits maximum contributions to campaigns, parties and affiliated committees, but federal court rulings have stripped away such limits to super PACs. This analysis excludes secret-but-legal contributions that might have been made to nonprofit groups, which can pay for so-called issue ads that don't explicitly advocate for or against a candidate. Such groups are not required to identify their donors.

Where available, the analysis considered donations "bundled," or raised, from other wealthy donors for Romney and President Barack Obama. Obama periodically identifies his bundlers, although Romney has resisted calls to do the same.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/money-men-top-5-donors-romney-083800490--election.html

pac 12 tournament sun storm tri international criminal court ios 5.1 apple tv update new ipad release

Who Is the Highest-Paid Actor on Television?

Ashton Kutcher has a lot to be thankful for this year. Not only is he dating the sexiest woman alive and portraying one of the brightest minds of our generation in a new movie, he's also the highest paid actor on television.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/ashton-kutcher-tvs-highest-paid-actor-0/1-a-495248?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Aashton-kutcher-tvs-highest-paid-actor-0-495248

ravens steven tyler national anthem paterno newt gingrich joe pa joe pa joe paterno dead

NAHB Cautiously Optimistic | Daily Business News

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), while noting their prediction of a 21% rise in single-family housing starts this year to 528,000 units, and next year to 665,000, says the uncertainty of how the Dodd-Frank Act plays out is preventing lenders from loosening credit, and further constraining the housing recovery. In addition, the unknown effects of the ?fiscal cliff? of mandatory budget cuts and tax increases at the beginning of 2013 have put some investors on hold. Mark Zandi of Moody?s Analytics, forecasting optimism, says the GDP will grow two percent for the year and housing starts will total 1.1 for 2013. But he also notes hiring will not pick up until the ?fiscal cliff? is resolved. And as MHProNews has learned, the economy will be stymied until hiring increases.

(Photo credit: Fotosearch)

Categories: Advocacy, Economy, home buyers, News Item, Trends Tags: analytics, budget cuts, dodd, economy, GDP, investors, lenders, Mark Zandi, MHProNews, NAHB, National Association of Home Builders, optimism, single family, tax increases, uncertainty

Source: http://www.mhmarketingsalesmanagement.com/blogs/daily-business-news/nahb-cautiously-optimistic/

philadelphia flyers 4/20 student loan forgiveness ufc 145 weigh ins record store day 2012 detroit red wings jose canseco

Thursday, 18 October 2012

Boots and Barkley Pig Ears and Dog Treats Recall

October 17, 2012 ? Kasel Associated Industries of Denver, CO is voluntarily recalling its Boots and Barkley Roasted American Pig Ears and American Variety Pack Dog Treats product because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The event was reported by the FDA in a news release dated October 17, 2012.

According to the FDA bulletin:

Salmonella can sicken animals that eat these products and humans are at risk for salmonella poisoning from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the pet products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.

Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms.

Consumers exhibiting these symptoms after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.

Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has any of these signs, please contact your veterinarian.

According to the bulletin, the affected Roasted Pig Ears and Variety Pack Dog Treats were distributed nationwide through Target Stores in August 2012.

What Products Are Being Recalled?

The recalled Roasted Pig Ears product comes in a clear plastic bag containing 12 pig ears marked with UPC bar code 647263899158.

The Variety Pack Dog Treats product also comes in a clear plastic bag weighing 32oz and marked with UPC bar code 490830400086.

Kasel Industries is recalling lot number BESTBY 13SEP2014DEN for both products because this lot code tested positive for the Salmonella bacteria through analysis by the Colorado Department Of Agriculture.

No illnesses have been reported to date in animals or humans in connection with this problem.

What to Do?

Consumers are urged to return the recalled product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Those with questions may contact Kasel Associated Industries at 1-800-218-4417 Monday thru Friday from 7am to 5pm MDT.

You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Get Dog Food Recall Alerts
Delivered to You by Email

Get dog food recall alerts delivered right to your Inbox the moment we become aware of them. Subscribe to The Dog Food Advisor?s Dog Food Recall Alert email notification list now.

Dog Food Advisor IconThe Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.

Source: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/boots-barkley-pig-ears-dog-treats-recal/

wrestlemania country music awards 2012 wrestlemania 28 results earl scruggs game of thrones game of thrones season 2 wrestlemania 28

Consider These Drew Brees Jersey Straightforward Self ...

A successful self improvement software, will take greater than a desire to boost oneself. Properly-picked objectives and comprehensive Drew Brees Youth Jersey organizing are crucial to having the most out of self improvement. Even so, it can do not take a lot of learning to learn to prepare well for private development. Recommendations like these may help any individual set objectives by themselves and achieve them quickly.

Learn to forgive yourself, forgive other people, inquire about forgiveness. If you?ve possessed an awful day time and yelled at your little ones, take a moment to say you are sorry even if you do not wish to accomplish it. Doing so is going to take a step forward on the road to personal development and display proper coping strategies simultaneously. Exact same goes should you yelled in a cashier or even a co-staff member. Show how of being able to require forgiveness and to forgive.

In relation to personal development, make sure that you not only know what you really are really worth and also which you ensure you are recognized consequently. When you are in a place you are simply being considered Drew Brees Jersey advantage of, escape it quickly and discover a thing that rewards you as being you.

Don?t trip your path to self improvement over a higher horse. Utilizing the enlightened course is great, however, you also have to work to understand why we occasionally consider the lower street as a way to minimize the time you would spend onto it. You can?t cope with these intuition without having initially acknowledging them. Understand that no-one actually foliage them right behind completely.

When you embark on any self improvement program, you will be far better prepared in case your mind and body are free of charge from man-made impacts. Do away with practices and vices, such as cigarette, caffeine, leisure time prescription drugs, and any other elements that may alter your Drew Brees Jersey perception and impact your emphasis. For an additional advantage, you may be far healthier and proud of your efforts!

A big factor to dealing with your major depression troubles is usually to consciously reroute your path of considering. Through intellectual behavior treatment method you can assist you understand once you begin to think lower a depressive course and teach you approaches to be a little more positive inside your contemplating. By thinking prior to feel, you may permit your self far more freedom from negative thoughts.

Learn to beat the ?I can?t? on the inside of you. The only real confidence when it comes to challenges is that you will want to respond to them. It?s how you take action Drew Brees Jersey that can make or break your personal development quest. Go ahead and take words and phrases, ?I can?t,? out of your vocabulary and extremely pinpoint the problem at hand. It?s the way you take care of the next step that designs you as being an individual.

Any consider at self improvement is laudable, but a prosperous consider is more amazing. As considering the variety of stuff in life, education and learning could possibly be the key to success Drew Brees Jersey with this discipline. You can get some expert consultancy regarding personal development, by keeping yourself open to little ideas and strategies, just like the types on this page.

Established Jimmy Graham Jersey Outlet shows a lot of low-cost Sedrick Ellis Jersey straight away with Extremely fast Delivery, Safeguarded Checkout & Excellent Customer Support.

Tags: Drew Brees Authentic Jersey, Drew Brees Jersey, Drew Brees Youth Jersey

Source: http://www.irfny.com/2012/10/18/consider-these-drew-brees-jersey-straightforward-self-improvement-tips-nowadays/

chicago bears Johnny Depp Dead college football rankings Steel Magnolias Niels Bohr the Rumble 2012 snl

BuildingBlox: Home Designing - Stylish Wood Furniture


Stylish wood furniture has made a comeback over the years. It's very versatility allows it to compliment any room's d?cor. It's part of a diverse furniture group that not only blends in with any d?cor, it enhances it. If you love the smoothness and durability of modern wood furniture, but can't afford to change all of your furniture, there's an answer for that. Just buy a few key furniture pieces that will bring new life to your home. This will help you start a new collection that will last a lifetime.
One of the key benefits of stylish wood furniture is its durability. Hardwood, like cherry, mahogany and oak, don't scratch or stain easily. They also keep their color and natural shape because they're resistant to shrinking and warping. Stylish wood furniture doesn't go out of style with the seasons. High quality wood furniture is created as a work of art. So, it holds it value for many years.
Today, one of the biggest goals of interior design is to utilize space efficiently. Modern furniture needs to serve this purpose in order to provide your home with a great look without making it look cluttered. Some furniture can add a decorative touch to a room, such as a sculpture. But, some pieces need to be fully functional in order to add value to your home furnishings. Some of these functional pieces include storage areas, drawers and desks. Although they serve a purpose, they can still be artfully created to add style to any room. Your functional furniture needs to bring a smile to your face, adding harmony and balance to the room. Every rectangle-shaped table is not necessarily a modern design. Modern wood furniture adds sophistication to a room. It takes the latest design and construction techniques to create furniture that brings out the natural beauty of the wood. A truly modern design will be able to stand alone, or harmonize with the d?cor of any room. Wooden furniture is great for kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, nurseries, even bathrooms. When used in an entry way or foyer, it makes a very eye-catching centerpiece. In a home library or home office, sturdy designs help to create a look of success.

Wooden bathroom furniture is becoming more popular with trendy interior designers. Wood furniture makes a bathroom more stylish and modern looking. Wood is being used for bathroom cabinets, mirrors and wall textures. People are even starting to get into the new trends of wooden bathtubs and wooden sinks for their bathrooms. And, since wood is durable and long lasting, it's becoming a great choice for people who want to keep the same fixtures for years.

Modern wood furniture is much more stylish and versatile than it was when our grandparents bought it decades ago. The pieces were usually very large and gaudy. They weren't exactly artsy focal points for a room. They consumed the room, taking the eye away from any other beautiful additions and d?cor. Nowadays, the various styles are endless. Styles can be small or huge, masculine or feminine, adult-like or child-like, sophisticated or fun. Wooden furniture designers understand the diverse styles needed to furnish a home. When it comes to bedrooms, there are designs that are created especially for children. Then, there are teen designs and multifunctional designs for college dorm rooms. And, there's a barrage of designs for adults who want high-quality furniture to compliment their modern, specialty beds.

Author Bio:

This article was written by Joyce Del Rosario and Princess Galsim, health and home improvement ambassador for IntelliBed. IntelliBed is a leader in specialty beds, which master the art of sleep.

Source: http://www.thebuildingblox.com/2012/10/home-designing-stylish-wood-furniture.html

aubrey o day masters live johan santana viktor bout ncaa hockey role models ferdinand porsche