No school for 400,000 as Chicago teachers strike

After days of nonstop negotiations, the Chicago public school teachers have decided to go on strike for the first time in 25 years, leaving parents of more than 400,000 children scrambling to make child care plans. NBC's Kevin Tibbles reports.

By NBCChicago.com

For the first time in 25 years, teachers in the country's third-largest public school system hit the picket line early Monday.

After a weekend of unsuccessful 11th hour contract negotiations, the Chicago Teachers Union made good on its promise to walk out on more than 400,000 students at 675 schools.

"We have failed to reach an agreement that will prevent a labor strike," Chicago Teachers?Union President Karen Lewis said.

For more on the strike, visit NBCChicago.com

The strike follows more than a year of slow, contentious negotiations over salary, health benefits and job security after the school board unanimously voted last year to cancel teachers' 4 percent pay hike in the final year of their contract.

Chicago Public Schools went into full-on strike mode Monday, enacting a plan to keep 144 schools open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. And after a violent Chicago summer, police Supt. Garry McCarthy said he's?"emptying our offices"?to patrol the thousands of unsupervised kids on the streets.

"This is a difficult decision and one we hoped we could've avoided,"?Lewis said Sunday. "Throughout these negotiations, we've remained hopeful but determined. We must do things differently in this city if we are to provide students the education they so rightfully deserve."

Moments earlier, Chicago School Board President David Vitale said more than 20 offers had been made to teachers throughout the talks in hopes of preventing a strike.

Still, there was no deal.

"There's only so much money in the system," Vitale said. "There's only so many things we can do that are available to us that we actually believe will not hurt the educational agenda that we think is best for our children."

He said the deal they put on the table would cover four years and cost the city $400 million.

"Recognizing the board's fiscal woes,"?Lewis said the two sides were not far apart on compensation, which had previously been a major sticking point. Issues preventing a deal Sunday night were health benefits, the teacher evaluation system and job security, echoing debates that have played out in school systems across the country in recent years.

More than 26,000 teachers and support staff began hitting the picket lines Monday morning, while the school district and parents made plans for keeping students safe and occupied during the day.?Nearly 150 schools will be open for a half day, as will 60 churches. The Chicago Park District and the YMCA will offer day-camps.

M. Spencer Green / AP

Chicago teachers walk a picket line outside Benjamin Banneker Elementary School in Chicago, early Monday.

Lewis said talks would continue throughout the strike, but she said time had not yet been scheduled Sunday night as to when the two sides will next meet.

The strike sets up a historic confrontation between Mayor Rahm Emanuel, President Barack Obama's former top White House aide, and organized labor in the president's home city.

"I am disappointed that we have come to this point given that all the other parties acknowledged how close we are, because this is is a strike of choice,"? said Emanuel. "And because of how close we are, it is a strike that is unnecessary."

The work stoppage could hurt relations between Obama's Democrats and national labor unions, who are among the biggest financial supporters of the Democratic Party, and will be needed by the party to help get out the vote in the November 6 election.

While Emanuel has not attended the talks, he and Lewis have clashed. She has accused him of being a bully and using profanity in private meetings.

Teachers walked off the job for 19 days in October 1987. Prior to that, there had been nine strikes between 1969 and 1987.

Students who attend charter schools should go to school, officials reminded Sunday.

"We think our parents have gotten the message. We think our kids have gotten the message, but we wanted to make sure that we were very clear to every person who lives in Chicago that charter schools will be open tomorrow," said Beth Purvis, the CEO of Chicago International Charter Schools.

There are about 45,000 charter school students in the city -- about 12 percent of the city's total student enrollment.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/10/13778800-no-school-for-400000-students-as-chicago-teachers-strike?lite

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Chicago teachers to stage first strike in 25 years

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago public school teachers will strike for the first time in a quarter century on Monday after they failed to reach agreement with the nation's third-largest school district over education reforms sought by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

The historic confrontation between Emanuel, President Barack Obama's former top White House aide, and organized labor in the president's home city could have national implications for education reform and politics in an election year.

"We have failed to reach an agreement that will prevent a labor strike," Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said at a press conference on Sunday night. "In the morning, no CTU members will be inside our schools."

Earlier, Chicago School Board President David Vitale said the talks had broken down after the city had made its "best offer" to the union, which included a proposed pay rise of 16 percent over four years.

"We've done everything we can," Vitale said.

Emanuel said the union chose to strike even though the two sides were close to agreement. "This is totally unnecessary, it is avoidable and our kids do not deserve this," he said at a press conference after the strike was announced.

About 29,000 teachers and support staff will not report for work on Monday morning, affecting some 350,000 students.

The strike means parents will have to scramble to make arrangements for children either by sending them to alternative facilities like churches or keeping them home.

Community leaders had begged both sides to come to an agreement and keep children in school.

"We can't afford to have young people in harm's way," said Cy Fields, senior pastor of New Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, which is located in a violence-torn community.

A protracted stoppage could hurt relations between Obama's Democrats and national labor unions, which are among the biggest financial supporters of the Democratic Party and will be needed by the party to get out the vote in the November 6 election.

The union wants Chicago to drastically reduce class sizes and increase funding for education.

It is suspicious of efforts to erode traditional job protections such as tenure, teacher autonomy and seniority. The union believes charter schools supported by Emanuel, which are taxpayer-funded but not subject to all public school regulations, will undermine public education.

'A LOT AT STAKE'

Just over 12 percent of Chicago public school students go to the non-union charter schools, which will be open for classes on Monday, school officials said.

Emanuel said the two unresolved issues in the negotiations are his demand for teacher evaluations tied to the standardized test results of students, and giving principals of schools more authority and autonomy.

Teacher evaluations based on student results on tests is at the heart of the national school reform debate.

Jesse Sharkey, the union vice president, said the evaluations sought by Emanuel would distort the curriculum, cheapen education and hurt school performance.

Both sides in Chicago agree the city's public schools need fixing. Chicago students lag national averages in key tests of reading math and science achievement, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Only about 60 percent of high school students in Chicago graduate, compared with a national average of 75 percent and more than 90 percent in some affluent Chicago suburbs. More than 80 percent of Chicago public school students qualify for free lunches because they are from low-income families.

Chicago Public Schools has projected a $3 billion budget deficit over the next three years and faces a crushing burden of pensions promised to retiring teachers.

During the strike, the city has allocated $25 million to provide breakfast and lunch to students in the district and to pay for half a day of supervision at 144 of the city's 675 schools. Children also will be housed at churches, community centers and other locations under the plan.

The union has expressed concern about the plan for supervising children, calling it a "train wreck." Many of the people supervising children have not received proper training, the union said. And parents are uneasy about putting students from different schools together in neighborhoods which have suffered from gang-related shootings this summer.

(Additional reporting by Adam Kirby, Mary Wisniewski and Peter Bohan; Editing by Greg McCune and Todd Eastham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chicago-teachers-still-negotiating-hours-strike-deadline-003920042.html

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Red's True BBQ, Leeds restaurant review | Restaurants | Lay the table

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Red's True BBQ rack of ribsRed's True BBQ rack of ribs

I was incredibly fortunate to be invited to the latest Leeds restaurant opening in the form of Red?s True BBQ on Saturday. I heard about it on Twitter and managed to wangle myself an invite. Unfortunately I was a bit of Billy No Mates as Mr LTT was off getting drunk at the Leeds Beer Festival and my other friends were busy doing their own things. I didn?t mind though, I don?t get too awkward in my own company!

Red's True BBQ menuRed's True BBQ menu

Right from the moment I arrived, I knew that Red?s was going to be amazing. The hosting throughout the night was exceptionally attentive and the staff well-informed about the menu. I was fortunate enough to talk to James, one of the owners about the new venture and find out a bit more about the restaurant. This isn?t just a couple of chancers trying to wing it (like I?ve heard about some other restaurants in Leeds?.scandalous? Moi?) but people who have taken the time to really research what they?re selling. Because the one thing that you can?t buy but can taste in the food is the love that?s gone into it. For instance, they spent some time travelling all over America and getting into the kitchens with the chefs themselves rather than just tasting the food. They spent 18 months getting their sweet potato fries just right, so that they?re a bit crispy on the outside (a rarity with sweet potato!). The meat is locally sourced and it seems a good deal of work has gone into working with the supplier to get the ribs with enough meat on (and made sure that others will purchase the different cuts caused by making that change). Everything is home made by the way ? the BBQ sauce is what started the idea off apparently and it grew from there!

Red's True BBQ lightingRed's True BBQ lighting Red's True BBQ on the grillRed's True BBQ on the grill

The location is also fantastic too ? just by the Corn Exchange right on the corner where Venture Photography used to be. I asked whether they felt they were in competition with Rib Shakk barely a 30 second walk away. James said that Rib Shakk cooks their ribs sous-vide and also don?t offer the variety of menu options that Red?s does. The ambience is great ? rock music, low lighting and good use of the space split between eating area and a bar style area. The kitchen is open and you can see the grills and smokers right while you sit at your table.

Red's True BBQ open kitchenRed's True BBQ open kitchen

Anyway, I?m sure you?re dying to hear about the food so here we go?

The cocktail menu is fairly impressive and I couldn?t resist trying an apple and elderflower martini. If you look down the menu you?ll see that all the savoury items have a drink designed to pair perfectly with it.

I ordered a half rock of St Louis ribs, sweet potato fries and the onion rings which I?d also been told had been subject to rigorous testing. I have to say it arrived pretty quickly (and it IS cooked fresh by the way!) ? I was busy taking photographs and had barely a minute to consider that I was in fact a lonely diner before the delicious plate of food arrived at my table. There?s five home made sauces to add to your dishes (shown below) ? my favourite?s being the BBQ and the Hot Sauce (hot and amazingly sour). Red's True BBQ sauces

Red's True BBQ sauces

The ribs! OH THE RIBS! Eat mouthful was a taste of meaty heaven, the sweet sauce on meat that pulls off the bone ans still has a good chew. The smoky flavour from 8 hours in the smoker. I am salivating recalling them!

Red's True BBQ St Louis ribsRed's True BBQ St Louis ribs

The sweet potato fries had that glorious crispy outer that I was told about ? such a good idea and a break from the normal chips that you get in BBQ restaurants. The portion was just right for one and it was a good platform for sampling all the sauces.

Red's True BBQ sweet potato friesRed's True BBQ sweet potato fries

The onion rings however were just not to my personal liking. They?re designed to be layers of half an onion but this proved a problem when trying to eat them. I just couldn?t wrap my jaws around them. The batter was crispy, but I thought the onions were just a little too far on the crunchy side and not enough softness. In that respect, Cattle Grid?s onion strings are still kings of the onion sidedish for me.

Red's True BBQ onion ringsRed's True BBQ onion rings

I cleared my plate save for a stray onion ring and was too full to manage a pudding. I had wanted to try the apple pie shake but they didn?t have it in yet. An excuse to make a return journey tout suite.

The pricing is competitive ? aimed to lure the Nando?s crowd as well as the foodies. The half rack of ribs was ?13.95 with chips and a side. My cocktail was ?6.50. High street pricing, independent quality.

I have no doubt that Red?s is going to successful. There were so many people peering through the window, looking at the menu. Leeds has been waiting for something like this for a while and no-one else is offering this here. It?s also really great to see that London doesn?t get all the amazing stuff ? the North is always way behind in many respects but I feel like we truly deserve this!

Website coming soon, fan page here

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Source: http://laythetable.com/reviews/reds-true-bbq-leeds/

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The NFL and you! - Health, Fitness, and Sports

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PostPosted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 5:45 pm?? ?Post subject: The NFL and you! Reply with quote

Who here is looking forward to this NFL season (in 2012)? I am- the Seahawks may be contenders again, at last! They went undefeated in the preseason; so I'd say things may be looking up for them- but I think they will be neck-and-neck with the resurgent San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West. But ya never know.....
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<--- Seahawks supporter.
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We all are though my team from the start has been The packers.
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I don't follow the NFL that much, but I'm a Cowboys fan. So you can see why I don't watch the NFL. Rolling Eyes
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I enjoy the nfl. I am a Detroit Lions fan although I enjoy the Cardinals since I live in Phoenix. It has finally been fun watching the lions the past couple of years although I hope they can fix there discipline issues. In regards to the Cardinals I just wish we had a quarterback who was even decent.
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Cotswolds. Heart of England / Bodnant Garden, Conwy and ...

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Cotswolds. Heart of England

Cotswolds - a mountain range in the west-central England. These places are not just called the Heart of England, as there are preserved tradition and traditional architecture. This area, 25 miles wide and 90 miles long, is the Cotswold conservation area

Cotswolds is famous among the English and tourists from other countries for its beautiful valleys and hills, to rural landscapes and river valleys, meadows and beech forests, traditional villages by limestone cliffs and historic small settlements. Here you can see the typical time to stop in England for what it was about 300 years ago

Visitors come from all over the world to see the Cotswolds and its unusual village

Now it is primarily a tourist destination, but once flourished here life, to promote trade with hair, then weaving industry. It was she who made the famous Cotswolds. Stone houses were built hundreds of years ago, they provide a unique opportunity to look at what was in the 17-18 century England

Most of the stone buildings were built of limestone mined in the nearby hills. This limestone is still mined here. Let's just admire the scenery of classic England:

Cotswolds is famous among the English and tourists from other countries for its beautiful valleys and hills, to rural landscapes and river valleys, meadows and beech forests, traditional villages by limestone cliffs and historic small settlements. Here you can see the typical time to stop in England for what it was about 300 years ago


A>

Visitors come from all over the world to see the Cotswolds and its unusual village


Now it is primarily a tourist destination, but once flourished here life, to promote trade with hair, then weaving industry. It was she who made the famous Cotswolds. Stone houses were built hundreds of years ago, they provide a unique opportunity to look at what was in the 17-18 century England

Most of the stone buildings were built of limestone mined in the nearby hills. This limestone is still mined here. Let's just admire the scenery of classic England:

///////////////////////

Bodnant Garden, Conwy and Llandudno, Wales.

The garden is located in the county of Conwy, he, in one of the most picturesque valleys of Snowdonia National Park.

Bodnant Garden History, covers an area of ??80 hectares, began in 1875. Then a successful English industrialist Henry Davis Pochin ordered to plant the first trees and shrubs in the neighborhood of his home was built in 1792. After his death, inherited the estate of Henry McLaren - a son and daughter of Henry Lord Aberkonuey mend.

Today the house is the family nest Bodnant family Aberkonuey Lord, and the garden placed under protection of the National Trust in 1949. Family members were followers of Aberkonuey landscaping traditions and now in its fourth generation are the most active participants in the management of Bodnant Garden.

Garden extraordinarily beautiful at any time of year, because it gathers flowering plants from around the world that are able to survive in the Welsh climate. In spring you can enjoy the beauty of blooming camellias, magnolias, daffodils and a large collection of rhododendrons. Summer blooming roses, water lilies, grasses and shrubs, and autumn charm kaleidoscope of yellow, red, purple, gold and brown colors of fruit plants.

The garden is so large that visitors are offered a map, without which of the countless paths, thickets of rhododendron and magnolia can simply get lost. Conditionally garden is divided into two zones. The upper zone is located on a site adjacent to the house. It is built on the principle of the Italian terraces, gently down into the valley of the rivers Conwy and Hiratlin (Hiraethlyn), taking place on the territory of the estate, where the garden is the "wild park Hollow".

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Source: http://blog.daum.net/_blog/hdn/ArticleContentsView.do?blogid=02SkM&articleno=13707478&looping=0&longOpen=

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Rees rescues No. 22 ND in 20-17 win over Purdue

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) ? Tommy Rees came off the bench to lead Notre Dame on a last-minute, winning drive Saturday as the No. 22 Irish got a 27-yard field goal from Kyle Brindza with seven seconds to go and beat Purdue 20-17.

Rees, who was suspended for the opener after he was involved in a skirmish with police at a party in May, relieved starter Everett Golson late in the fourth quarter.

Purdue (1-1) had tied the game at 17-17 when Caleb TerBush threw a 15-yard TD pass to Antavian Edison with 2:12 left, the score set up by Josh Johnson's recovery of a Golson fumble. Golson was shaken up on the play and the Irish turned to Rees, who started 12 games last season.

Rees connected on key third down passes of 10 yards to John Goodman and 21 yards to Robby Toma to get Brindza in position for the game-winning kick. Notre Dame is 2-0 for the first time since 2008.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rees-rescues-no-22-nd-20-17-win-233512483--spt.html

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Health articles on asthma - HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS

health articles on asthmaBefore getting an worldwide health insurance plan, you need to to begin with clearly identify your unique needs. health care debate 2. A nutritious diet to have an obese person should contain a healthy breakfast then a properly- balanced lunch, after which top everything having a light dinner composed of of easily digestible meals- half cooked or steamed veggies ( the health dietary values of those health articles on asthma meals aren? t lost), periodic fruits and low ? carbs? food products. It? s utilized in thermostats plus some thermometers since it grows when heated, but it? s also very dangerous to human health. 3. It may raise bloodstream pressure ( a primary reason your cheekbones debate turn red- colored when you? re consuming). However, an area by which we frequently don? t have the same care motivation is taking care of our eyes. You will articles get the particulars on exam and exam venues at the desktop computers without walking from your houses. Generally, it? s advised not to choose the initial recommendation you get. Finding affordable and cheap medical guidelines isn? t difficult in Florida. The cost that asthma you? ll purchase coverage will rely on numerous factors including how big your organization, the kind of coverage and insurance deductibles. But when the household under consideration is bigger and includes more and more people, health then moving in for any family health plan would turn to considerably less expensive than covering every member individually. States utilizes a private medical health insurance system with laws and regulations that regulate certain facets of the policy provided. It? s essentially a brand new situation where you possess an on ex- spouse using the insurance provider, and they? re needed under federal law to provide an insurance policy. Inch The spouse finding the COBRA benefit must also make certain the insurance provider is informed from the divorce within thirty days following the divorce continues to be granted. Many health problems lie dormant without signs and symptoms for some time before they surface in most cases when they? re creating notable signs and symptoms the individual is within crisis. 370 BC), who? s known as the daddy of drugs, authored that silver had advantageous healing and anti- disease qualities. Making health articles on asthma the best pick is rather easy because of the numerous affordable medical health insurance rates that are offered nowadays. They? ve contained healthcare costs growth via a government system, as the U . It had not been that sometime ago that dental professional were getting rid of teeth which were periodontally involved simply because they were considered a resource of other infections. Also, time- release formulations are actually a real possibility, with Transmax being the very first product which releases resveratrol supplements on the controlled period to increase its good things about your body. Parameter name: length at System. String. InternalSubStringWithChecks( Int32 startIndex, Int32 length, Boolean fAlwaysCopy) at ( Object , Int32 , Int32 ) at ..( Object , Int32 , Int32 ) at ..

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Obama, Romney open the homestretch

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney campaigns at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Va., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney campaigns at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Va., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Obama urges supporters to knock on doors to get people out to vote during a campaign rally Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in Seminole, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

President Obama laughs as he greets supporters after speaking at a campaign rally Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in Seminole, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gives a thumbs up as he leaves his campaign office in Boston, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Obama smiles at supporters during a campaign rally Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in Seminole, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

(AP) ? President Barack Obama on Saturday pronounced Republicans "dead wrong" for calling America a country in decline, offering a rebuttal to the "naysayers" who drew attention to the nation's staggering debt and anemic job growth. Republican rival Mitt Romney said there's nothing wrong that a new president can't fix.

Both clawed for advantage in a post-convention push through some of the most closely contested states, Obama on a Florida bus tour, Romney rallying in Virginia, opening the homestretch to the election in less than two months.

Obama told a spirited rally that America's "basic bargain" is at stake in the election, the promise that "if you work hard it will pay off." He pledged to make education more affordable, reduce dependence on foreign oil and slash deficits "without sticking it to the middle class" if he gets another term.

He reached for some Ronald Reagan-like optimism in hard times, telling his audience that much about America is essentially right.

"When our opponents say this nation is in decline they are dead wrong," he said. "This is America. We still have the best workers in the world and the best entrepreneurs in the world. We've got the best scientists and the best researchers. We've got the best colleges and the best universities."

He went on: "We are a young nation with the greatest diversity of talent and ingenuity from every corner of the globe so no matter what the naysayers may say for political reasons, no matter how dark they try to make everything look, there's not a country on Earth that wouldn't gladly trade places with the United States of America."

Days earlier, GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan noted that the national debt was reported to have passed $16 trillion on the first day of the Democratic convention. "That's a country in decline," Ryan said. Unemployment remains stubbornly high, clocking in at 8.1 percent on Friday and keeping joblessness and economic weakness on the boil as top campaign issues.

Romney drew cheers in a Navy town when he pledged to strengthen the armed forces and roll back future defense cuts that he blamed on Obama but were negotiated between the president and congressional Republican leaders.

"We must have a military second to none," he told the Virginia Beach rally. "I will maintain our military commitment." He also plans to expand the naval fleet.

Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, Romney went through it phrase by phrase to suggest Obama has fallen short of its promise in a nation with painfully high unemployment, millions more on food stamps, and one in six people in poverty. "How can a nation so prosperous stand by with such a national tragedy?" he asked. "That is not 'justice for all.'"

His answer: "We're going to have to get a new president."

Obama opened a two-day bus tour in Florida, campaigning in a state with the highest elderly population and an unemployment rate of 8.8 percent, higher than the national average.

As both candidates enter the sprint to the election, Romney is casting Obama as an inept steward of the nation's post-recession recovery. It's a portrayal Obama has been fighting for months as the unemployment rate sticks stubbornly above 8 percent.

On Friday, the government reported that employers added just 96,000 jobs in August and that, aided by frustrated job hunters giving up, the jobless rate dropped only marginally from 8.3 percent the month before.

Obama is countering by presenting himself as a champion of the middle class and by repeatedly decrying Romney's economic remedies as failed throwbacks that would further endanger the economy.

But Obama is also eager to turn the debate away from the economy and on to issues that favor Democrats. Obama repeatedly reminds audiences that Romney's running mate has proposed to overhaul Medicare, the government health program for older Americans, with a voucher-like system that could cost beneficiaries more out of their pocket.

Obama's team says the Medicare argument could help attract undecided voters approaching retirement age, more so than elderly voters whose political views are already set.

Obama's visit to Florida is his first since Romney and the GOP held their convention in Tampa last month. With 29 electoral votes, the state is a lynchpin in both candidates' strategies for winning the election.

Romney and Obama are deadlocked in Virginia, where the Democrat is strong in the northern suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Romney does better in the south and rural areas.

Romney sees working-class white voters, who have at times voted for moderate Democrats such as Sen. Mark Warner, as ripe for picking. Polls suggest those voters prefer Romney over Obama. Romney was visiting a NASCAR race in Richmond later Saturday, a nod to this potentially pivotal voting bloc in Virginia.

Deep spending cuts, including to the armed forces, are to begin automatically next year unless Congress negotiates a debt-reduction package. Obama has opposed the depth of the cuts but has said Republicans need to adopt a plan that includes increases in revenue.

___

Beaumont reported from Virginia Beach, Va. Associated Press writer Matthew Daly in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-09-08-Presidential%20Campaign/id-b3e0a4da69b14c37a5b336d0f0734111

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Amazon will sell ad-free Kindle Fire HD for extra $15

4 hrs.

With all the excitement surrounding the Kindle Fire HD, few took note of the fact that every time a user unlocks its screen, they have to look at an advertisement for a special offer. Well, Amazon realized quickly that this may irk some otherwise happy customers, so the company will be providing a way to make the ads vanish.

Here's the statement NBC News received from Amazon on Saturday evening:

With Kindle Fire HD there will be a special offers opt-out option for $15. We know from our Kindle reader line that customers love our special offers and very few people choose to opt out. We're happy to offer customers the choice.

The current pre-order page does not offer the ad?opt-out just yet. Amazon says it will be available "when we start shipping to customers." For the 7-inch Kindle?Fire HD, this means Sept. 14.

The whole ad thing isn't a dealbreaker, necessarily. In fact, it's part of the reason why Kindles in general have gotten so cheap so fast. But knowing that you can pay a pretty low fee to make them go away forever, that's reassuring.

Wilson Rothman is the Technology & Science?editor at NBC News Digital. Catch up with him on Twitter at @wjrothman, and join our conversation on Facebook.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/amazon-will-sell-ad-free-kindle-fire-hd-extra-15-987503

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Glencore set to detail $36 billion Xstrata bid: sources

LONDON/DUBAI (Reuters) - Glencore hammered out a revised $36 billion bid for miner Xstrata in intense weekend negotiations and is set to detail its new offer to the market as early as Monday, days after proposing 11th-hour changes to save the deal.

Sources familiar with the deal said commodities trader Glencore, keen to clarify its own position but also under pressure from Xstrata and UK regulators, would publish details of the higher offer imminently. Two sources said the new, firm, offer - with some concessions to win over recalcitrant Xstrata shareholders - was expected on Monday.

The firm offer will be studied by Xstrata's board and non-executive directors, who on Friday questioned Glencore's new proposal and said they required more details in order to decide on whether or not to recommend it. The Xstrata board will also discuss the proposal with top independent shareholders, one other source familiar with the deal said.

Glencore, the world's largest diversified commodities trader and Xstrata's largest shareholder with a stake of 34 percent, made a long-awaited takeover bid for the miner in February. But the offer ran into trouble in recent months and was expected to fail as shareholders prepared to vote on Friday, after number two shareholder Qatar and other investors opposed the terms of the deal, while Glencore refused to yield.

Living up to Chief Executive Ivan Glasenberg's reputation as an unpredictable negotiator, however, a higher proposal from Glencore was announced just minutes before the miner's shareholders met to cast their ballots on the existing offer.

Friday's fresh proposal, disclosed to the market by Xstrata, included an increase in the offer to 3.05 new shares for every Xstrata share held, up from 2.8. Conditions, however, also include the appointment of Glasenberg as chief executive of the combined group, at the expense of Xstrata boss Mick Davis.

Davis, who has shares in Xstrata worth some 25 million pounds ($40 million), will miss out on a bumper three-year retention package worth almost 30 million pounds if the deal spells the end of his decade-long stint at Xstrata. But he could still be in line for a termination payment of at least 8 million pounds, sources familiar with the deal said.

Monday's announcement, however, will attempt to allay the concerns of some Xstrata shareholders fretting over the company's operations by retaining mining veteran Davis for an interim period and holding on to Xstrata chairman John Bond, as chairman of the merged group, one of the sources said.

A former chairman of Vodafone and HSBC, Bond is considered a steadier hand than Glencore chairman Simon Murray, but has also been criticized by some minority shareholders for recommending the initial Glencore offer.

Glencore's proposal on Friday had allowed for the deal to be structured as a straightforward takeover, instead of the previous mechanism, which required approval from 75 percent of shareholders excluding Glencore - meaning investors representing just 16.5 percent of the total could block it. That had allowed Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, with 12 percent, to act as kingmaker.

In another effort to appease shareholders, Monday's announcement is expected to retain the 75 percent threshold, unless a change is approved by Xstrata's board, the source said.

Both Glencore and Xstrata declined to comment on Sunday.

LATE-NIGHT TALKS

Glencore broke a months-long impasse with Qatar's sovereign wealth fund in the early hours of Friday, after a night of last-ditch talks in London between Glasenberg, Qatari prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani and advisers.

Qatar had in June demanded an offer of at least 3.25 new shares for every Xstrata share held, but in recent weeks had been said to have softened that stance.

Qatar, which sources familiar with the matter have said still opposes elements of the new proposal, is expected to study the final details on Monday before making its position public.

Other big shareholders are divided on the proposal, with many choosing to wait for the firm offer to form a view. Activist fund Knight Vinke, however, said on Sunday it rejected the proposed bid and called on Glencore to "pay an appropriate premium" for the change of control.

Thursday's late-night talks were held after a rapprochement facilitated by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, brought in by Michael Klein, a former Citigroup banker acting for both Glasenberg and Davis, one source said.

The Sunday Times newspaper said Blair had made $1 million in fees for his efforts at the meetings in London's Claridges hotel, but sources familiar with the talks told Reuters his involvement was not central and fees would be lower.

(Reporting by Clara Ferreira-Marques; Editing by Peter Graff and Diane Craft)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/glencore-set-detail-36-billion-xstrata-bid-sources-160748024--sector.html

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