Stock futures dip after jobless claims data (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) ? Stock index futures pointed to a flat open on Thursday as investors found little reason to buy after three days of gains on the S&P 500 and a weaker report on jobless claims.

Nasdaq futures were pressured as Apple Inc (AAPL.O) fell 2.7 percent to $366.15 in premarket trading. Co-founder Steve Jobs resigned as chief executive of the iPhone and iPad maker, which briefly became the largest S&P 500 component by market capitalization last month.

Jobs, who has fought and survived a rare form of pancreatic cancer, said he could no longer perform the duties of the job. Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook takes over as CEO.

"The resignation won't impact the dynamics of the company, but it will have an impact on the investor psyche when it comes to the stock," said Rick Fier, vice president at Conifer Securities in New York, which has about $7 billion in assets under administration. "It becomes a 'show me' stock now, though the decline today creates a good entry point for buying."

Jobless claims rose more than forecast in the latest week, lifted by striking Verizon Communications (VZ.N) workers, a government report showed.

S&P 500 futures dipped 0.4 point but were below fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures added 11 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 6.75 points.

The labor report was one of the final pieces of data before a keenly awaited speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who many investors hope will offers hints of new stimulus to aid the struggling economy.

Some have said recent discouraging data increased the odds of such a plan, but more gradual measures are considered the most likely outcome of the speech during the central bank's annual symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

"Unemployment is still weaker than anyone would like ... (but) this shouldn't have too big of an impact on Bernanke tomorrow," said Mitch Rubin, chief investment officer at RiverPark Advisors in New York.

"People will be marginally disappointed" if no big plan is offered, he added, "but who can say what the impact will be after such a weak month?"

Wall Street has been marked by steep volatility in recent weeks on concerns about the global economy and sovereign debt woes in Europe. The CBOE Volatility index (.VIX) is up 42 percent so far in August, while the S&P has fallen 8.9 percent.

Credit Suisse Global Equity Strategist Andrew Garthwaite cut his S&P year-end target to 1,220 from 1,350.

Banks have born the brunt of the volatility, and the sector is likely to remain in focus Thursday. Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) rose 1.4 percent to $7.09 before the bell, extending a rally from the previous session. The stock remains 28 percent lower for the month and hit a 2-1/2-year low earlier this week.

Both discount chain Big Lots Inc's (BIG.N) and Hormel Foods Corp (HRL.N) reported quarterly profits that beat estimates and raised their full-year outlooks.

U.S. stocks rallied for a second day Wednesday as investors bought beaten-down financial shares and unloaded gold.

(Editing by Jeff Benkoe)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/stocks/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110825/bs_nm/us_markets_stocks

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Be Prepared for Natural Disaster! | FIRST 6 MONTHS WITH YOUR PET

Whenever natural disaster warnings go out, pet owners begin to scramble.? Here is a list of items and actions you should take to make sure you are prepared should the big bad wolf ?Huff and Puff? and try to blow your house down!

Understand the possibilities of Natural Disasters.

Recognize the different types of natural and man-made disasters that can occur in your area and know how to effectively plan for them.

Research animal-friendly places.

Many pet owners complain they were turned away from evacuation shelters because they brought pets. Call your local and county officials and find out where you can take your pet before the natural disaster hits.? Your veterinarian or boarding facility may also take in pets during severe weather.

Find out your options and make plans for your pet well in advance.

Get Your Pet Identified

Make sure your pet wears current identification at all times that includes his name, rabies tag and your cell phone number since you will not be at home.? If you are in a hurricane, tornado zone, etc. having your pet micro-chipped is a must.? Microchips are often the only means to positively identify lost pets after a natural disaster.? Each year, thousands of pets are never returned to their owners because owners are unable to positively identify their pets and prove ownership.? So many pets find their way home after being separated for months after a natural disaster!!

If you don?t have an ID tag, write your information in indelible ink on the collar and carrier.?? If possible, include a contact not traveling with you in a safe area.

Have a pet carrier.

One of the most important pieces of pet-equipment you can have during a natural disaster or an evacuation is a pet carrier.? This is especially vital when transporting small dogs and cats.? Pet carriers are often required at shelters and can serve as a safe space for your scared pet.? Be sure to label your carrier with your pet?s name, breed, sex, date of birth, your current address and cell phone numbers and any important medical information.

Have a properly-sized pet carrier for each pet.? Carriers should be large enough for the pet to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably.

Make sure you have at least two weeks of your pet?s medications on hand.

After some severe natural disasters, many homeowners aren?t allowed to return home for a week or more.? In the unlikely event a natural disaster strikes your area, make sure you have more than just a few days? worth of your pet?s medications.? Make sure you have at least 14 days of prescription medications, heartworm and flea preventives,etc.? Pack them in a bag with your pet?s essentials and write down your current administration schedule in case you must leave your pet at a kennel or other facility.? Even if it?s not time, you should apply heartworm and flea preventive prior to putting your pet in an evacuation facility. Your pet could get exposed to fleas and mosquitoes and the extra protection will only help.

Carry a week?s worth of food and water.

If possible, divide your pet?s meals into individual storage bins or bags. This will ensure you bring enough food and assist others who may have to care for your pet during an evacuation following a natural disaster.

Carry bottled water (figure 24 ounces per day for a 20-pound dog and 8 ounces per day for a 10-pound cat) and bowls.? Many shelters will not have adequate food and water for pets.

Bring at least two slip leashes.

I recommend you have the simple slip-type webbing or nylon leashes with you at all times. A frightened dog can slip out of a collar while a slip leash can hold them securely.? A slip leash can also be used to restrain a cat in a pinch.? Carry an extra leash in your pocket in case someone else needs it or you lose yours.? Remember, not everyone will be prepared for a natural disaster like you are.

Bring a printed copy of your pet?s vaccine and pertinent medical history.

Contact your veterinarian a couple of day?s before a storm approaches to obtain any needed forms.? This serves as a reminder to keep a medical folder for your pets that contains their latest physical exam reports, blood tests and proof of vaccines or licenses. If you wait until a natural disaster is imminent, your veterinarian may not be able to provide you with these documents.? If your pet has a serious medical condition, make sure you fully understand the diagnosis, most recent diagnostic test results, treatment and prognosis.? In case of an emergency, quick access to this information can save your pet?s life.

Take a photo of your pet before you leave your home.

A current photograph on a cell phone can be the difference between lost and found in the event you become separated during a natural disaster.

Prepare for anxiety.

Natural disasters can last for many hours. Even the most storm-hardened pet can crack after numerous hours of howling wind, changes in barometric pressure and being confined in a carrier.? You should carry anxiety wraps (check out the Thundershirt to the right of this post), calming herbal remedies and prescription medications if you suspect your pet needs it.? Talk to your veterinarian a few days beforehand to stock up on aides for your pet?s anxiety.

Litter, piddle pads and trash bags.

I can?t tell you how often even the most prepared pet owner forgets this one vital necessity.? Bring a small baking pan and litter for cats, piddle pads, newspapers, towels and trash bags for dogs ? plenty of them.

Shampoo, brushes and towels.

If you?re evacuated during a natural disaster, things can get messy. Be prepared by stashing a small bottle of shampoo and a brush in your pet?s emergency kit.

Pack plenty of patience during a natural disaster.?????

Keep in mind that everyone is just as stressed nervous and worried as you are. Be courteous, understanding and helpful. I?ve had pet owners make unreasonable demands (imagine being asked if we had time to bathe and groom a pet during a Category 3 hurricane!), and be downright rude to the staff members that were taking time from their homes and families to care for pets during a crisis. If everyone remains calm, stays focused and slows down, everything will go that much more smoothly.

No one plans on a major storm disrupting their lives. What you can prepare for is how you?ll respond when the natural disaster watches and warnings are announced. Good luck, be safe, and may we all be organized and ready.

About Christina Babulal

I have spent the last 25 years in the pet industry. I started teaching Western Horse Riding and attended Humber College Equine Studies for 2 years. For 2 years, I worked at the Woodbine Racetrack with Thoroughbreds as a Groom. Following that, I attended Seneca College and received my Veterinary Technician/Technologist Diploma. After graduation, I worked in Veterinary Clinics for 6 years before starting my own Pet Sitting Business. Now, I want to share my years of experience with people looking for the "Right" family pet.

Source: http://www.first6monthswithyourpet.com/2011/08/25/natural-disasters-your-pets-and-you-how-to-prepare/

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Furniture has constantly been a crucial portion of early ...

Posted: August 25, 2011 at 6:08 pm | Tags: chinese cabinet, chinese cabinets, chinese furniture, chinese history

As man evolves, so do the makings of his hands. Furniture has often been an integral component of our lives and its history dates back to the beginning of civilisations. Amongst the early civilisations, China has produced a permanent mark on the history of furniture making.

Ancient Chinese at 1st didn?t have furniture pieces of any form in their homes until the period 471-221 BC. Given that this period, they have begun producing lots of beds and mats which had been at first, intended for use only by members of royal families across the different dynastic periods.
During the Ming dynasty, furniture generating and style reached its heights ? elegant and elaborate furniture designs were developed which has improved further through the Ching dynasty period up to the present.

This terrific development in China furniture industry?s is often attributed to the country?s wealthy natural resources including wood, which was extremely considerably instrumental in offering China a substantial, yet prevalent material for their craft. Huganhuali mu (yellow flower pear wood), jichi mu (phoenix tail or chicken wing wood) and zitan mu (dark-purple sandalwood) were one of the most precious and crucial woods utilised in generating furniture back in the old times. These wood varieties are identified to yield a durable and dense lumber. Aside from these 3, the Chinese also created Chinese antique furniture which just isn?t only typical and much less expensive, but is also widely out there even these days.

Though the exceptional and elaborate artistry reflected in Chinese furniture designs was only recognized in the course of the rise of communism in China, foreigners had been already taking notice of the intricate designs in Chinese furniture pieces and have began to collect some of their fabulous pieces which can now be discovered in numerous museums around the world. These include Victoria Museum and Albert Museum in London, and Beijing?s Palace Museum.

This brief overview of Chinese history demonstrates China?s resolve to uphold beauty and sophistication in their culture, which was in turn reflected inside the bearings of their workmanship. The choice of material by the Chinese persons in furniture producing also proves their commitment to excellent and durability at the same time as other countries do.

Would you like to fully understand just how Chinese furniture could make benefits for the house? Make sure that you go to my brand new site as it is possible to get lots of advice about Chinese furniture. Right now we are now showcasing a Chinese cabinet.

Source: http://homeimprovement.therefinedgeek.com.au/index.php/2011/08/furniture-has-constantly-been-a-crucial-portion-of-early-civilisations/

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Arrest warrants issued for LSU players over fight

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) ? Police obtained arrest warrants Friday for LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and a teammate, Joshua Johns, on charges of second-degree battery for a bar fight that injured four people last week, and the players have been suspended indefinitely by the school.

Baton Rouge police Sgt. Don Stone said investigators have contacted the players' attorney, Nathan Fisher, and LSU coach Les Miles, and asked for the players to turn themselves in.

Jefferson and Johns, a linebacker, face felony charges for their alleged roles in a fight outside Shady's bar in Baton Rouge on Aug. 19.

"We will continue to cooperate with the authorities in an effort to find out exactly what took place during the incident," Miles said. "As sad as this incident is, it's important that we learn from this and that we take away a valuable lesson. This has weighed on all of us. It's time for us to come together as a team and focus on what we are here to do."

A police report says a 19-year-old woman named Victoria Long said she witnessed several LSU players beating one of the alleged victims and saw Jefferson kick that man in the face.

Four people were treated and released at a hospital in the hours after the fight, and police have said one person had three fractured vertebrae, injuries serious enough to warrant felony charges.

Two witnesses who work at the bar told The Associated Press that the players did not throw the first punch, but added that once the melee began, it was difficult to see who hit whom, and could not verify the extent to which Jefferson and Johns were involved.

Shady's door manager Jordan Neldare, who said he witnessed the fight, said he noticed that Jefferson removed himself from the brawl before it was over, and was standing alone near the bar's entrance, looking upset.

Police have identified Jefferson, Johns, offensive lineman Chris Davenport, and receiver Jarvis Landry as people of interest in the fight.

The four players, who each were interviewed by investigators Tuesday, have hired defense attorney Nathan Fisher, who did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment on the arrest warrants.

On Wednesday, police executed a search warrant of Jefferson's apartment and took 49 pairs of shoes, along with a DNA swab.

Under team orders, LSU players have not discussed the fight publicly since it happened.

Fourth-ranked LSU opens its season Sept. 3 against No. 3 Oregon in Dallas. Although Johns is a reserve, Jefferson was expected to start.

Now fellow senior Jarrett Lee is the likely starter, with sophomore Zach Mettenberger, a junior college transfer, next in line.

Jefferson, a senior, guided LSU to an 11-2 record last season. He is 20-7 as a starter, but the team ranked last in passing in the Southeastern Conference last season, with 155.6 yards per game.

Still, LSU has numerous key players returning and was expected to compete for Southeastern Conference and national championships this season.

The team's success now will ride on how the players are able to regroup from a series of setbacks this offseason, one of which occurred Thursday when LSU suspended starting wide receiver Russell Shepard for violating school and NCAA codes that pertain to discussing NCAA inquiries with teammates who are also scheduled to be interviewed on the same matter.

LSU plans to apply for Shepard's reinstatement, but it is unclear how long that will take. The receiver will miss at least the opener and possibly more games.

Shepard had been interviewed about the NCAA's ongoing investigation into the relationship that scouting services provider and purported street agent Willie Lyles has had with a number of college football programs, including both LSU and Oregon.

Earlier this summer, Steve Kragthorpe, who was hired after last season as the Tigers' new offensive coordinator, announced he had Parkinson's disease. He has remained on staff as quarterbacks coach, but relinquished offensive coordinator duties. Miles has since promoted offensive line coach Greg Studrawa to fill that void.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-08-26-LSU-Bar%20Fight/id-6a95fd53bdd44138a4cc87640d3cf72e

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Earth's meteorites linked to single asteroid

The first dust samples ever retrieved from an asteroid and brought back for study show that a portion of the most common meteorites to hit Earth may have come from a single rocky ancestor out in space, Japanese researchers say.

In a wide-ranging analysis of tiny fragments collected from the asteroid Itokawa during a spacecraft visit in 2005, six studies by several teams of scientists released Thursday by the journal Science piece together a detailed description, and history, of this particular space rock.

The more than 1,500 dust grains gathered by Japan's Hayabusa spacecraft ? which are uncontaminated by our atmosphere, unlike meteorites that fall to Earth ? show that meteorites contain the primitive elements that formed the early solar system.

That knowledge, and study of the grains, will allow scientists to better understand what our part of the Milky Way looked like billions of years ago when the ring of gas and dust surrounding the Sun began to coalesce to form planets, asteroids and comets.

"These dust particles are the building blocks of the planets," said Tomoki Nakamura, a planetary scientist at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan, who is one of the studies' lead authors.

The fact that Hayabusa returned any particles at all is a small miracle in itself. Launched in 2003, the spacecraft was designed to shoot an impactor into the surface of the stony asteroid Itokawa and then scoop up dust kicked up by the collision.

The impactor failed to fire; but the mission scientists got the craft to at least touch the asteroid's surface.

"They didn't know whether they trapped any particles or not," said Alexander Krot, a cosmochemist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa who was not involved in the study. "Before it returned to Earth, they didn't even know whether it was successful."

Navigation issues plagued the mission on its earthbound journey, but when the return capsule landed in South Australia in 2010, researchers were relieved to find enough particles for years of study.

After slicing, scanning and irradiating the particles, scientists have pieced together what happened to Itokawa.

They estimate that the 500-meter-long Itokawa was once perhaps 20 kilometers long but was smashed to bits in earlier times. A study looking at the shapes of the grains found that the asteroid was porous, with about one-third empty space ? which means it was created when those fragments were pulled back by gravity to form a "rubble pile."

Analysis by Nakamura's team showed that the mineral chemistry of Itokawa, which is a silica-rich "S-type" asteroid, matched one particular class of meteorites found on Earth, called low-total-iron, low metal ordinary chondrites.

Another team, peering at thin slices of the particles, explained why the asteroid had not entirely resembled the meteorites when analyzed from a distance: The asteroid had gotten a tan. The whitish iron oxide on its surface had been converted to dark iron through abrasion by tiny micrometeoroids and high-speed particles emanating from the Sun.

For all that Itokawa's dust has revealed, Krot said, scientists are still looking for direct evidence on asteroids of a molecule crucial for life as we know it: water. NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, which in 2016 will start toward an asteroid that might bear water, could be the key.

amina.khan@latimes.com

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/ExtBEOKk3kM/la-sci-asteroid-meteorites-20110826,0,4632492.story

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Make money online through the successful ... - Social media marketing

social media marketing

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Merchants specializes in products in need of service social media marketing to do business online. He is an expert and experienced social media marketing that can lead their companies by many folds through a set of strategies and solutions. Adequate publicity of the products to target potential customers is the key to the success of online businesses in the highly competitive world of web. Social media marketing is a good SEO to generate traffic in bulk to websites with online advertising and product promotion. Therefore, we are committed to providing social services for media strategies for the benefit of our clients.

At NimsSEO, we are particularly on the details of our procedure is precise and perfect. Our industry experienced social media marketing deliberately followed the step by step procedure with a careful eye to perfection. Here is an overview of our process of social media marketing for your understanding-

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Evaluate and innovate existing social media strategies.The implementation of new tactics

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Subscribe to ad networks promising. identification and recruitment of new social media, using personalized emails.service monitoring and performance of social media networks.

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The key to the successful implementation of social media marketing campaigns is the drive high quality traffic to websites. The lack of highly qualified traffic to websites is one of the reasons for the failure of most social media. We must lead our clients a lot of traffic potential sites for our clients to let them enjoy their expected returns on their investment. We provide several promising traffic-generating measures such as article marketing, forum posting and classified ads application. Three to five sales by the results of hundred visitors a good conversion that is central to our social media marketing mission.

At NimsSEO, we act as an effective and efficient network of social media among marketers and social media. Our money-making strategies, social media are interested in cutting tools internet marketing to serve our customers. We offer our customers a tremendous platform to boost the prospects of their companies and websites. In parallel with our marketing social media, we ensure customers benefits such as web promotion, fraud prevention, real-time monitoring without sign-ups and fast payouts.

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Source: http://footprint2pointo.com/social-media-marketing/money-online-successful-execution-marketing-strategies-social-media

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Moments like Diamonds: A round of bowling in Tokyo

Well it's my last night here in Tokyo again, its quite sad actually. I mean besides obviously being sad to leave, I am here in the apartment alone while my friend is working. I really wish we could have spent my last day together, but flights during the week were cheaper than the weekend.

I've been meaning to write some more proper posts about Japan, and it seems to write about a fun time I had spending with my friend last year. If we can't hang out today, at least I can reminisce right? ^^

The bowling alley was in this building, which included other fun activities

Now really, I don't like bowling that much. It's fun enough, but I am not so great at it. My lowest score was seriously 24 (but that was in high school gym class and I was more interested in messing around and being obnxious with my friends..yeah) anyhow, but bowling is one of the activities you can enjoy with friends here that doesn't involve food or alcohol or singing (but it can of course).

This is the entire alley XD

The main difference between bowling in the US and Japan of course is the size of the alley. There are bowling alleys here as big as in the US, but averagely there are fewer lanes. Furthermore I am used to bowling alleys that are attached to bars, restaurants, arcades, have full meal service etc.

Not the kind of set up you want to see TT

I guess I'm gonna bowl haha!

But I am not interested in those things, so going for a round at a smaller alley without a bunch of people inhaling pizza and booze was fine for me XD Indeed there were only a couple other people there that evening. The other thing I really liked was the shoes were dispensed from a vending machine!

The shoe vending lockers

Put in 300yen, press the button and get bowling shoes!

I didn't win the game of course, I only got one strike, but it was just fun to do something familiar but I had never done in Japan before. Bowling is something I can do just once or twice a year and be satisfied haha. That goes for mosts recreation sports! Though billiards and badminton are fairly fun^^

Do you like bowling? Or have a favorite recreation sport?

Source: http://chouzuru.blogspot.com/2011/08/round-of-bowling-in-tokyo.html

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