Author: Andrew Toth | Total views: 66 Comments: 0 Word Count: 1050 Date:
It goes without saying that not all teachers (of any subject) are equal and that is probably multiplied to the nth degree in the martial arts which doesn't allow for standardization to quite the same degree as other subjects might. There are of course ongoing attempts at standardization and classification but the martial arts are still very much of a melting pot and one is often left wondering who is teaching what and where did it come from.
Enter the beginner?
Given this prodigious output of styles and teachers, how is a beginner, who knows virtually nothing about the martial arts?how is such a person to find the right teacher?
And is that the right question?
Maybe there is no "right" teacher. Maybe the right teacher for me is not the right teacher for you.
So it can get a bit complicated?
But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Questions such as these simply do not arise for most people. They join their neighborhood club, pay their fees, get graded a few times, get a nice colored belt maybe even a trophy or two, tell their friends they are a brown belt in such and such a style and?that is all they want. And I'm not here to argue with that, but?
If you're real serious, if martial arts is your reason for living, you will need to find the Right Teacher and that means that you will have to do some serious searching. Both internally and externally.
Why?
Because the Right Teacher will not appear miraculously on the horizon when you first decide to be the next Bruce Lee. And so, almost by default, beginners tends to think of their first teacher as THE RIGHT TEACHER! Which is understandable because they don't know any better. They have nothing to compare their first teacher to, so the first teacher is THE BEST. The beginner is totally convinced of that.
However, as time moves on the beginner may begin to experience some disquiet. Some things don't add up. The first teacher may be a bit overweight, or not as fit as he could be. Maybe he doesn't answer questions satisfactorily?but hey! nobody's perfect and all things considered the first teacher is still The Best, and that's all there is to it, right? Nonetheless there is talk...there is talk of another teacher down the road who is (blasphemy!) even better. The beginner puts all those preposterous notions aside of course, but...
There are now some cracks in the facade.
Not fatal, but it is through these cracks that the doubts seep in.
That, at least, is what happened to me. I was absolutely convinced that my first teacher was the best, but?I checked out the new teacher down the road (no harm in that, is there?). Then I joined up and started the cycle all over again. And then again and again and again?
I tried judo, ju-jutsu, Hsing-i, Pa-kua, Tai chi, Shaolin and a number of other styles the names of which I now forget. Nothing changed. The teachers were all promising to begin with and, truth be told, they were all quite capable in their own way and I learned a lot from each and every one of them but they were only technicians. They knew the techniques, and that is all they knew. And I wanted more, so I moved on. Just what I wanted I was still not sure of?
An astute reader will now see the obvious. One's Search, one's Quest, is part of one's over-all Training. A very important part. Why?
Because it is all part of a learning curve. You are learning not only new techniques but you are learning something infinitely more important: the Art of Discernment! The Art of separating the wheat from the chaff. The Art of separating the Real from the False?
And yes, it is also the Art of recognizing the Real Teacher when he or she finally appears.
You see, that is the secret. Finding the right teacher is only the half of it. Recognizing them to be such is by far the more difficult and important half.
Let me ask you a question: how often does a student find the right teacher and continue to walk on by and not know the difference?
It happens more often than you might think! I've seen it again and again and again!
The thing to bear in mind is that the Right Teacher may not be (and usually isn't) the Hollywood stereotype. The Right Teacher may be an unassuming little fellow who runs a little corner store, is disarmingly self-effacing and has maybe one or two students who are equally unimpressive. In short this is not really the sort of person who matches your mental image of a deadly warrior. Or he may be crude and rude and obnoxious. And (blasphemy again!) he may not have your best interests at heart!
In other words, not all Masters fit the Hollywood mold! You really do have to keep your wits about you on this because the Right Teacher will confound your expectations nearly every time!
The "secret" then is to keep training, keep looking and to develop the Power of Discernment so that you can see below superficial appearances. (This will stand you in good stead not only in your search for a teacher and but also when you are in a fight!)
There is a saying that when the student is ready, the Teacher will appear. And that will happen when the student has developed a keen sense of discernment.*
*Author's note: by discernment I do not mean cynicism. The "been there, done that" attitude will not help you find a Teacher and if perchance you do, that Teacher will not be interested in teaching you. Real discernment has a quality of humility: you don't know the answer, you don't even know if there is an answer, but you will not stop searching.
Andrew Toth is the author of the book, Shaolin Temple Kung Fu, which is arguably the most advanced book available on the subject of martial arts. It is a must for anyone who is serious about this subject. You can read it HERE
Related to: fighting - karate - ju-jitsu - tai chi - pa-kua - kung fu - shaolin - Mixed Martial Arts - martial arts
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PHOENIX (AP) ? President Barack Obama has championed two sweeping policy changes that could transform how people live in the United States: affordable health care for all and a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants illegally in the country.
But many immigrants will have to wait more than a decade to qualify for health care benefits under the proposed immigration overhaul being debated by Congress, ensuring a huge swath of people will remain uninsured as the centerpiece of Obama's health care law launches next year.
Lawmakers pushing the immigration bill said adding more recipients to an already costly benefit would make it unaffordable.
Health care analysts and immigration proponents argue that denying coverage will saddle local governments with the burden of uninsured immigrants. They also fear a crisis down the road as immigrants become eligible for coverage, but are older, sicker and require more expensive care. Those placed on provisional status would become the nation's second-largest population of uninsured, or about 25 percent, according to a 2012 study by the Urban Institute.
"All health research shows that the older you get, the sicker you become, so these people will be sicker and will be more expensive on the system," said Matthew O'Brien, who runs a health clinic for immigrants in Philadelphia and researches health trends at Temple University.
The Affordable Care Act will make health insurance accessible for millions of uninsured people starting in January through taxpayer-subsidized private policies for middle-class families and expanded access to Medicaid, the program for low-income people funded by federal and state dollars. The proposed immigration overhaul explicitly states immigrants cannot receive Medicaid or buy coverage in new health care exchanges for more than a decade after they qualify for legal status, and only after certain financial and security requirements have been met.
Immigrants with provisional status may obtain insurance through employers once they have legal status to work, but many are unskilled and undereducated, and tend to work low-wage jobs at small businesses that don't have to provide the benefit under the health care law. Immigrants illegally in the country also can access community health centers, but the officials who run those clinics said they are overwhelmed by the demand.
"We can't help everybody," said Bethy Mathis, executive director of Wesley Community Center in Phoenix. The clinic serves 7,000 patients a year who seek everything from vaccinations and relief from minor medical problems to care for long-term health conditions such as diabetes.
Debate over whether immigrants illegally in the country should be eligible for federal benefits nearly sank Obama's health care reform before it was passed by Congress in 2010. For lawmakers pushing immigration reform, there was no question that immigrants would continue to be excluded.
"That's one of the privileges of citizenship," said Republican Sen. John McCain, one of the so-called Gang of Eight pushing the immigration bill, during a conference call with reporters. "That's just what it is. I don't know why we would want to provide Obamacare to someone who is not a citizen of this country."
The issue has received more attention in recent weeks. Some House Republicans have threatened to kill the immigration bill unless immigrants are required to pay for all their health care costs even after they receive green cards or become citizens. Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, meanwhile, said she wants the government to distribute at least $250 million to state and local governments because they are the ones who will feel the financial pain of immigrants being left out of the health care law.
Pregnant women, children, seniors and the disabled are eligible for emergency Medicaid services regardless of their immigration status.
The politics behind the bill offer little solace to immigrant families struggling with growing medical bills.
Isabel Castillo came to the U.S. illegally with her parents when she was a child. She's now 28 and has not gone for an annual physical exam since 2007. Every pain triggers debate over whether it's worth a medical visit or not.
"You are like, 'God, should I go, should I wait? The bill is going to be so high,'" Castillo said. "You just wait until you can't tolerate the pain anymore and then you go to the emergency room."
Immigrants who are U.S. citizens are also affected by the limits on health care access if they provide for family members here illegally.
High school student Jacqueline Garcia of Phoenix works two jobs to support her 13-year-old brother and 52-year-old grandmother, who has severe diabetes. The woman's mobility is limited, her vision and memory are fading and she sometimes suffers from seizures. The children were born in the United States and are being raised by the grandmother, who does not have lawful status and as a result does not qualify for Medicaid.
"Every time she gets sick, I have to take her to the doctor. It's really expensive," Garcia said. "What if my grandmother doesn't make it for the 10 years? I mean, I am always going to be struggling. That's too long."
Opponents said they understand the concerns of immigrants not getting health care, but it becomes an issue of the added expense.
"We aren't saying people shouldn't get health care. The question is who is going to pay for it?" said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a national group that opposes the immigration overhaul. "They would all be on Medicaid or heavily subsidized in some other way."
Critics of the decision said immigrants are eager to pay for affordable health care insurance and already support federal benefits by paying sales and income taxes. They note that adults unable to overcome health emergencies are less likely to contribute to the workforce and society.
"The risk of them being uninsured if they are in the country illegally is the same risk of anyone else in the country not being insured," said Stephen Zuckerman, a health economist for the Urban Institute. "It's always more expensive to treat people at a more advanced stage of disease."
In North Carolina, Jessica Sanchez-Rodriguez said she has undergone a series of surgeries and medicines to treat her spina bifida, a developmental congenital disorder, and an ailment that leads to brain swelling. Her parents brought her illegally from Mexico when she was 11 months old. As a minor, she received subsidized medical care, but she was cut off when she turned 18 in February.
Her family is trying to raise money for a $55,000 surgery to connect a catheter to her bladder.
"It's terrible," said Sanchez-Rodriguez. "I have to go to school with these pains."
The Huntington Study Group announces first-HD studyPublic release date: 21-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Gina DiGravio gina.digravio@bmc.org 617-638-8480 Boston University Medical Center
Novel drug for the treatment of Huntington Disease
The Huntington Study Group (HSG), under the leadership of Samuel Frank, MD, Principal Investigator, (Boston University School of Medicine) and Claudia Testa, MD, PhD, co-Principal Investigator (Virginia Commonwealth University), is conducting a clinical trial with a formulation of the novel drug SD-809 in the treatment of HD the United States and Canada. The trial is sponsored by Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. who is developing the drug for the treatment of Huntington disease, as well as Tourette syndrome and tardive dyskinesia.
First-HD is a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study that examines the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a formulation of the investigational drug known as SD-809 for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington Disease. The drug has the same mechanism of action as the FDA approved drug tetrabenazine that is used to lessen chorea in people with HD, an inherited disease that affects over 30,000 people in both the United States and Canada. HD is characterized by brain cell death that usually begins between the ages of 30 to 50. This cell loss results in motor, cognitive and behavioral signs and symptoms. Chorea, which is characterized by involuntary movements, is a hallmark of the disease.
Because SD-809 is more slowly metabolized than tetrabenazine, it provides more consistent and predictable drug levels and can be given less often than tetrabenazine. With these changes, a lower overall dose of SD-809 can be administered and it may be more convenient for persons with HD. This study will test the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a formulation of SD-809 in the management of chorea symptoms in HD patients who have not previously taken tetrabenazine. Participants will be involved in this trial for approximately 4 months.
Dr. Samuel Frank, the Principal Investigator of First-HD notes that "we are excited to work with Auspex to investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of this interesting and innovative new treatment for Huntington disease. We have few treatment options for Huntington disease, and only one for chorea. We hope this is a step forward in addressing this large unmet need for our patients."
There is no cost to participate in First-HD. Individuals with a diagnosis of HD who are interested in participating in First-HD should visit the HSG website: http://www.huntington-study-group.org or call toll free: 1(800) 487-7671 (North America). More information regarding this trial can also be found at http://clinicaltrials.gov
###
About the Huntington Study Group (HSG):
HSG is an independent not-for-profit network of more than 200 clinical investigators, coordinators, and scientists from 100 participating universities and clinics in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South America who provide comprehensive care for Huntington disease (HD) patients and families and carry out multi-center clinical research including observational studies and controlled clinical trials. The mission of the HSG is to relieve the burden of illness and develop treatments that make a difference for HD patients and families.
http://www.huntington-study-group.org
About Auspex Pharmaceuticals:
Auspex Pharmaceuticals is a privately held biopharmaceutical company located in La Jolla, California. The company is a pioneer in the use of deuterium in medicinal chemistry, and is focused on the treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders including Huntington disease, Tourette syndrome and tardive dyskinesia. Its lead compound, SD-809, is a novel inhibitor of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT-2). This drug offers the potential for significant advantages over existing therapies including improved safety, reduced drug-drug interactions, and less frequent dosing. Auspex is also exploiting its deuterium chemistry approach to optimize drugs in several additional therapeutic areas. Included in the Auspex portfolio are SD-900, a JAK kinase inhibitor for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and SD-560, for the treatment of fibrotic diseases, as well as other compounds.
http://www.auspexpharma.com
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
The Huntington Study Group announces first-HD studyPublic release date: 21-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Gina DiGravio gina.digravio@bmc.org 617-638-8480 Boston University Medical Center
Novel drug for the treatment of Huntington Disease
The Huntington Study Group (HSG), under the leadership of Samuel Frank, MD, Principal Investigator, (Boston University School of Medicine) and Claudia Testa, MD, PhD, co-Principal Investigator (Virginia Commonwealth University), is conducting a clinical trial with a formulation of the novel drug SD-809 in the treatment of HD the United States and Canada. The trial is sponsored by Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. who is developing the drug for the treatment of Huntington disease, as well as Tourette syndrome and tardive dyskinesia.
First-HD is a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study that examines the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a formulation of the investigational drug known as SD-809 for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington Disease. The drug has the same mechanism of action as the FDA approved drug tetrabenazine that is used to lessen chorea in people with HD, an inherited disease that affects over 30,000 people in both the United States and Canada. HD is characterized by brain cell death that usually begins between the ages of 30 to 50. This cell loss results in motor, cognitive and behavioral signs and symptoms. Chorea, which is characterized by involuntary movements, is a hallmark of the disease.
Because SD-809 is more slowly metabolized than tetrabenazine, it provides more consistent and predictable drug levels and can be given less often than tetrabenazine. With these changes, a lower overall dose of SD-809 can be administered and it may be more convenient for persons with HD. This study will test the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a formulation of SD-809 in the management of chorea symptoms in HD patients who have not previously taken tetrabenazine. Participants will be involved in this trial for approximately 4 months.
Dr. Samuel Frank, the Principal Investigator of First-HD notes that "we are excited to work with Auspex to investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of this interesting and innovative new treatment for Huntington disease. We have few treatment options for Huntington disease, and only one for chorea. We hope this is a step forward in addressing this large unmet need for our patients."
There is no cost to participate in First-HD. Individuals with a diagnosis of HD who are interested in participating in First-HD should visit the HSG website: http://www.huntington-study-group.org or call toll free: 1(800) 487-7671 (North America). More information regarding this trial can also be found at http://clinicaltrials.gov
###
About the Huntington Study Group (HSG):
HSG is an independent not-for-profit network of more than 200 clinical investigators, coordinators, and scientists from 100 participating universities and clinics in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South America who provide comprehensive care for Huntington disease (HD) patients and families and carry out multi-center clinical research including observational studies and controlled clinical trials. The mission of the HSG is to relieve the burden of illness and develop treatments that make a difference for HD patients and families.
http://www.huntington-study-group.org
About Auspex Pharmaceuticals:
Auspex Pharmaceuticals is a privately held biopharmaceutical company located in La Jolla, California. The company is a pioneer in the use of deuterium in medicinal chemistry, and is focused on the treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders including Huntington disease, Tourette syndrome and tardive dyskinesia. Its lead compound, SD-809, is a novel inhibitor of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT-2). This drug offers the potential for significant advantages over existing therapies including improved safety, reduced drug-drug interactions, and less frequent dosing. Auspex is also exploiting its deuterium chemistry approach to optimize drugs in several additional therapeutic areas. Included in the Auspex portfolio are SD-900, a JAK kinase inhibitor for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and SD-560, for the treatment of fibrotic diseases, as well as other compounds.
http://www.auspexpharma.com
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
This photo provided by The Guardian Newspaper in London shows Edward Snowden, who worked as a contract employee at the National Security Agency, in Hong Kong, Sunday, June 9, 2013. The man who told the world about the U.S. government?s gigantic data grab also talked a lot about himself. Mostly through his own words, a picture of Edward Snowden is emerging: fresh-faced computer whiz, high school and Army dropout, independent thinker, trustee of official secrets. And leaker on the lam. (AP Photo/The Guardian) MANDATORY CREDIT
This photo provided by The Guardian Newspaper in London shows Edward Snowden, who worked as a contract employee at the National Security Agency, in Hong Kong, Sunday, June 9, 2013. The man who told the world about the U.S. government?s gigantic data grab also talked a lot about himself. Mostly through his own words, a picture of Edward Snowden is emerging: fresh-faced computer whiz, high school and Army dropout, independent thinker, trustee of official secrets. And leaker on the lam. (AP Photo/The Guardian) MANDATORY CREDIT
WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Justice Department has charged former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden with espionage and theft of government property in the NSA surveillance case.
Snowden, believed to be holed up in Hong Kong, has admitted providing information to the news media about two highly classified NSA surveillance programs.
A one-page criminal complaint unsealed Friday in federal court in Alexandria, Va., says Snowden engaged in unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified communications intelligence information. Both are charges under the Espionage Act. Snowden also is charged with theft of government property. All three crimes carry a maximum 10-year prison penalty.
The federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia where the complaint was filed is headquarters for Snowden's former employer, government contractor Booz Allen Hamilton.
The complaint is dated June 14, five days after Snowden's name first surfaced as the leaker of information about the two programs in which the NSA gathered telephone and Internet records to ferret out terror plots.
The complaint could become an integral part of a U.S. government effort to have Snowden extradited from Hong Kong, a process that could turn into a prolonged legal battle. Snowden could contest extradition on grounds of political persecution. In general, the extradition agreement between the U.S. and Hong Kong excepts political offenses from the obligation to turn over a person.
It was unclear late Friday whether the U.S. had made an extradition request. On Saturday, Hong Kong legislators said the Chinese government should make the final decision on whether Snowden should be extradited to the United States.
Outspoken legislator Leung Kwok-hung said Beijing should instruct Hong Kong to protect Snowden from extradition before his case gets dragged through the court system. Leung also urged the people of Hong Kong to "take to the streets to protect Snowden." The charges against Snowden were first reported by The Washington Post.
The Espionage Act arguably is a political offense. The Obama administration has now used the act in seven criminal cases in an unprecedented effort to stem leaks. In one of them, Army Pfc. Bradley Manning acknowledged he sent more than 700,000 battlefield reports, diplomatic cables and other materials to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. His military trial is on-going.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, welcomed the charges against Snowden. "I've always thought this was a treasonous act," he said in a statement. "I hope Hong Kong's government will take him into custody and extradite him to the U.S."
But the Government Accountability Project, a whistle-blower advocacy organization, said Snowden should be shielded from prosecution by whistle-blower protection laws. "He disclosed information about a secret program that he reasonably believed to be illegal, and his actions alone brought about the long-overdue national debate about the proper balance between privacy and civil liberties, on the one hand, and national security on the other," the group said in a statement.
Michael di Pretoro, a retired 30-year veteran with the FBI who served from 1990 to 1994 as the legal liaison officer at the American consulate in Hong Kong, said "relations between U.S. and Hong Kong law enforcement personnel are historically quite good."
"In my time, I felt the degree of cooperation was outstanding to the extent that I almost felt I was in an FBI field office," said di Pretoro.
The U.S. and Hong Kong have a standing agreement on the surrender of fugitives. However, Snowden's appeal rights could drag out any extradition proceeding.
The success or failure of any extradition proceeding depends on what the suspect is charged with under U.S. law and how it corresponds to Hong Kong law under the treaty. In order for Hong Kong officials to honor the extradition request, they have to have some applicable statute under their law that corresponds with a violation of U.S. law.
In Iceland, a business executive said Friday that a private plane was on standby to transport Snowden from Hong Kong to Iceland, although Iceland's government says it has not received an asylum request from Snowden.
Business executive Olafur Vignir Sigurvinsson said he has been in contact with someone representing Snowden and has not spoken to the American himself. Private donations are being collected to pay for the flight, he said.
"There are a number of people that are interested in freedom of speech and recognize the importance of knowing who is spying on us," Sigurvinsson said. "We are people that care about privacy."
Disclosure of the criminal complaint came as President Barack Obama held his first meeting with a privacy and civil liberties board as his intelligence chief sought ways to help Americans understand more about sweeping government surveillance efforts exposed by Snowden.
The five members of the little-known Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board met with Obama for an hour in the White House Situation Room, questioning the president on the two NSA programs that have stoked controversy.
One program collects billions of U.S. phone records. The second gathers audio, video, email, photographic and Internet search usage of foreign nationals overseas, and probably some Americans in the process, who use major providers such as Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Yahoo.
___
Associated Press writer Jenna Gottlieb in Reykjavik, Iceland, contributed to this report.
A riot police officer uses his front teeth to hold onto to a non-lethal grenade during an anti-government protest near the Cidade de Deus, or City of God slum, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, June 21, 2013. City centers around Brazil were still smoldering on Friday after 1 million protesters took to the streets amid growing calls on social media for a general strike next week. While most protesters were peaceful, some small groups clashed violently with police, who responded in some cases with tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A riot police officer uses his front teeth to hold onto to a non-lethal grenade during an anti-government protest near the Cidade de Deus, or City of God slum, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, June 21, 2013. City centers around Brazil were still smoldering on Friday after 1 million protesters took to the streets amid growing calls on social media for a general strike next week. While most protesters were peaceful, some small groups clashed violently with police, who responded in some cases with tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A message by Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff is broadcast live at the bus station in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, June 21, 2013. The Brazilian ended her near-silence about more than a week of massive, violent protests, saying in a prime time TV broadcast Friday that peaceful demonstrations were part of a strong democracy but that violence could not be tolerated. She promised to make improvements to public services, but said it couldn't be done overnight. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
People shout slogans during an anti-government protest at Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, June 21, 2013. The country's president, who is a former leftist guerrilla, has done little more than show brief support for the protesters since the demonstrations began a week ago. That's brought criticism that she has allowed the situation to spiral out of control. Rousseff was to meet Friday, with bishops from the Catholic Church about the possible impact of the protests on a papal visit that is still scheduled next month. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
People march during an anti-government protest at Ipanema beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, June 21, 2013. Demonstrations began as an outcry against a 10-cent hike in bus and subway fares in Brazil's largest cities, but have continued even after announcements that the increases would be rescinded. Protesters have expressed frustration with corruption and what they say are high taxes and poor public services. They've demanded everything from education reforms to free bus fares while denouncing the billions of public dollars spent on stadiums before the World Cup and the Olympics. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Residents of the Ipanema neighborhood shout during an anti-government protest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, June 21, 2013. Demonstrations began as an outcry against a 10-cent hike in bus and subway fares in Brazil's largest cities, but have continued even after announcements that the increases would be rescinded. Protesters have expressed frustration with corruption and what they say are high taxes and poor public services. They've demanded everything from education reforms to free bus fares while denouncing the billions of public dollars spent on stadiums before the World Cup and the Olympics. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) ? Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff ended her near-silence about days of massive, violent protests, saying in a prime-time TV broadcast Friday that peaceful demonstrations were part of a strong democracy but that violence could not be tolerated. She promised to improve public services and hold a dialogue with protest leaders.
But it remained unclear exactly who could represent the massive and decentralized groups of demonstrators taking to the streets, venting anger against woeful public services despite a high tax burden.
"I'm going to meet with the leaders of the peaceful protests, I want institutions that are more transparent, more resistant to wrongdoing," Rousseff said in reference to perceptions of deep corruption in Brazilian politics, which is emerging as a focal point of the protests. "It's citizenship and not economic power that must be heard first."
Though offering no details, Rousseff said that her government would create a national plan for public transportation in cities ? a hike in bus and subway fares in many cities was the original complaint of the protests. She also reiterated her backing for a plan before congress to invest all oil revenue royalties in education and a promise she made earlier to bring in foreign doctors to areas that lack physicians.
The leader, a former Marxist rebel who fought against Brazil's 1964-1985 military regime and was imprisoned for three years and tortured by the junta, pointedly referred to earlier sacrifices made to free the nation from dictatorship.
"My generation fought a lot so that the voice of the streets could be heard," Rousseff said. "Many were persecuted, tortured and many died for this. The voice of the street must be heard and respected and it can't be confused with the noise and truculence of some troublemakers."
She'd been widely criticized for being all but invisible amid the protests and failing to engage with the people who were demanding her government's attention.
Edvaldo Chaves, a 61-year-old doorman in Rio's upscale Flamengo neighborhood, said he found Friday's speech convincing.
"I thought she seemed calm and cool. Plus, because she was a guerrilla and was in exile, she talks about the issue of protests convincingly," Chaves said. "I think things are going to calm down. We'll probably keep seeing people in the streets but probably small numbers now."
But Bruna Romao, an 18-year-old store clerk in Sao Paulo, said Rousseff's words probably wouldn't have an impact.
"Brazilians are passionate," she said. "We boil over quickly but also cool down fast. But this time it's different, people are in full revolt. I don't see things calming down anytime soon."
Trying to decipher the president's reaction to the unrest had become a national guessing game, especially after some 1 million anti-government demonstrators took to the streets nationwide Thursday night to denounce everything from poor public services to the billions of dollars spent preparing for next year's World Cup soccer tournament and the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
The protests continued Friday, as about 1,000 people marched in western Rio de Janeiro city, with some looting stores and invading an enormous $250 million arts center that remains empty after several years of construction. Police tried to disperse the crowd with tear gas as they were pelted with rocks. Police said some in the crowd were armed and firing at officers.
Local radio was also reporting that protesters were heading to the apartment of Rio state Gov. Sergio Cabral in the posh Rio neighborhood of Ipanema.
Other protests broke out in the country's biggest city, Sao Paulo, where traffic was paralyzed but no violence reported, and in Fortaleza in the country's northeast. Demonstrators were calling for more mobilizations in 10 cities on Saturday.
The National Conference of Brazilian Bishops came out in favor of the protests, saying that it maintains "solidarity and support for the demonstrations, as long as they remain peaceful."
"This is a phenomenon involving the Brazilian people and the awakening of a new consciousness," church leaders said in the statement. "The protests show all of us that we cannot live in a country with so much inequality."
Rousseff had never held elected office before she became president in 2011 and remains clearly uncomfortable in the spotlight.
She's the political protege of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a charismatic ex-union leader whose tremendous popularity helped usher his former chief of staff to the country's top office. A career technocrat and trained economist, Rousseff's tough managerial style under Silva earned her the moniker "the Iron Lady," a name she has said she detests.
"The government has to respond, even if the agenda seems unclear and wide open," Marlise Matos, a political science professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, said before Rousseff spoke. "What I'd like to see as a response is a call for a referendum on political reform. Let the people decide what kind of political and electoral system we have."
Brazil watchers outside the country were puzzled by the government's long silence amid the biggest protests in decades, although Peter Hakim, president emeritus at the U.S.-based Inter-American Dialogue think-tank, said he appreciated the complicated political picture, especially with protests flaring in some areas where political opponents to Rousseff hold sway.
Hakim called said that for the government the protests were "a puzzle in the midst of a huge labyrinth maze and she can't figure out the best direction to take."
Carlos Cardozo, a 62-year-old financial consultant who joined Friday's protest in Rio, said he thought the unrest could cost Rousseff next year's elections. Even as recently as last week, Rousseff had enjoyed a 74 percent approval rating in a poll by the business group the National Transport Confederation.
"People want to see real action, real decisions, and it's not this government that's capable of delivering," Cardozo said.
Social media and mass emails were buzzing with calls for a general strike next week. However, Brazil's two largest nationwide unions, the Central Workers Union and the Union Force, said they knew nothing about such an action, though they do support the protests.
A Thursday night march in Sao Paulo was the first with a strong union presence, as a drum corps led members wearing matching shirts down the city's main avenue. Many protesters have called for a movement with no ties to political parties or unions, which are widely considered corrupt here.
In the absence of such groups, the protests have largely lacked organization or even concrete demands, making a coherent government response nearly impossible. Several cities have cancelled the transit fare hikes that had originally sparked the demonstrations a week ago.
Demonstrations for Saturday have been called by a group opposing a federal bill that would limit the power of prosecutors to investigate crimes.
The one group behind the reversal of the fare hike, the Free Fare Movement, said it would not call any more protests. However, it wasn't clear what impact that might have on a movement that has moved far beyond its original complaint.
Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota hit back at protesters the morning after his modernist ministry building was attacked by an enraged crowd Thursday night. At one point, smoke had billowed from the building, while demonstrators shattered windows along its perimeter.
Standing before the ministry, Patriota told reporters he "was very angry" that protesters attacked a structure "that represents the search for understanding through dialogue." Patriota called for protesters "to convey their demands peacefully."
Most protesters have been peaceful, and crowds have taken to chanting "No violence! No violence!" when small groups have prepared to burn and smash. The more violent demonstrators have usually taken over once night has fallen.
At least one protester was killed in Sao Paulo state Thursday night when a driver apparently became enraged about being unable to travel along a street and rammed his car into demonstrators. News reports also said a 54-year-old cleaning woman had died Friday after inhaling tear gas the night before while taking cover in a restored trolley car.
The unrest is hitting the nation as it hosts the Confederations Cup soccer tournament, with tens of thousands of foreign visitors in attendance.
For some, the police response to the protests has been yet another reason to hit the streets.
"Even though I didn't see much of police violence on TV because the coverage was focused on the vandalism, I heard about it from friends and family," said 26-year-old journalist Marcela Barreto, who was marching in Rio Friday. "And I wanted to show the government it's not going to work. We're not scared."
___
Barchfield reported from Rio de Janeiro and Brooks from Sao Paulo. Associated Press writers Stan Lehman in Sao Paulo and Jack Chang in Mexico City contributed to this report.
In the world of short-term rentals, it?s all about Memorial Day to Labor Day. Homes in popular vacation spots from Malibu to The Hamptons are emerging with rental prices from $100,000 to more than?$1 million total for the summer.
While many associate these numbers with buying a home?? not renting?one for three months?? these listings typically attract renters soon after they hit the market. For those who can afford it, they offer the chance to live in the lap of luxury ? without having to think about a mortgage or resale value.
Here?s a look at a few high-end summer rentals currently on the market.?Some are offered for a flat fee; others have a monthly rate for the 3-month peak vacation season. (You might have some negotiating power with Memorial Day behind us, but don?t expect to rent one of these pricey pads for less than six figures.)
Beverly Hills: $1.8 million ($600,000/mo.)
Perched above the Beverly Hills Hotel at 1011 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, the Beverly House was a for-sale listing asking $115 million before becoming a rental. Whether you?re in the market for a summer home or a year-long lease, the price remains $600,000 per month.
While its ornate architecture and furnishings are notable, the home is most-known for its celebrity history ? from publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, who was given the home by actress Marion Davies in 1946, to John and Jacqueline Kennedy, who spent time there during their honeymoon. The 3.7-acre compound has also served as a set for ?The Godfather? and ?The Bodyguard.?
Water Mill: $550,000 (flat fee)
Located on Mecox Bay between Bridgehampton and Southampton, Water Mill, NY is an exclusive destination for the rich and famous (Jennifer Lopez just dropped $10 million on a 3-acre estate in the area).
Similar to the Beverly Hills listing above, this Water Mill home first hit the market as a for-sale listing in 2011. After several price changes, the home is now being marketed as a summer rental for a flat fee of $550,000 for Memorial Day through Labor Day. The house includes a master suite with a private terrace, 3 additional bedrooms, an oversized granite pool and spa.
Bridgehampton: $475,000 (flat fee)
Bridgehampton is another coveted Hamptons locale, with Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein recently buying a house listed for $32.5 million. Last summer, Beyonce and Jay-Z escaped Manhattan with a Bridgehampton summer rental coined ?The Sandcastle.?
Measuring 10,000 square feet, this Bridgehampton home has 7 bedrooms, 9.5 baths, a pool, movie theater, gym, 4 fireplaces and a wine cellar. Close to local shops, restaurants and the beach, it?s an ideal getaway during the summer months, and the price reflects this with a $475,000 flat fee from Memorial Day to Labor Day versus $150,000 for the winter.
Southampton: $395,000 (flat fee)
Live like Kate Spade with this Southampton summer home located on your own private pond. The property features 5,800 square feet of living space on 2 landscaped acres with a heated pool and tennis court. Located a block from the Hamptons waterfront, the estate also comes with deeded beach access.
If you?re looking for a longer-term rental, listing agent Nancy Hardy of Halstead Property says additional prices are available.
Malibu: $300,000 ($100,000/mo.)
Located behind Malibu Colony?s prestigious gated entrance at 23716 Malibu Colony Rd #28, this home is available only for the summer months, as the homeowners live there the rest of the year. For $100,000 a month, the Cape Cod-style beach house comes with a private deck right on the beach, 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths and an attached gym.
Malibu is a popular second-home destination for the celebrity set flocking from nearby L.A. While some like to buy their own place, others including?Usher and P. Diddy have gone the rental route.
Related:
Catherine Sherman,?a real estate writer for Zillow Blog, covers celebrity real estate, industry trends and home improvement tips. Read more of her work?here.
WASHINGTON (AP) ? U.S. sales of previously occupied homes surpassed the 5 million mark in May, the first time that's happened in 3 ? years. The gain shows the housing recovery is strengthening.
The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that home re-sales rose 4.2 percent in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.18 million. That's up from April's pace of 4.97 million.
Sales last exceeded 5 million in November 2009. During that month and October 2009, a home-buying tax credit briefly inflated the sales pace. Prior to that, sales hadn't been above 5 million since July 2007.
While the sales pace is still below the 5.5 million that is consistent with healthy markets, it has risen nearly 13 percent in the past 12 months.
And with a tight supply of homes on the market, the median sales price rose to $208,000 ? the highest since July 2008.
"Housing is now the strongest part of the economy in growth terms," said Jim O'Sullivan, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics.
The housing recovery is looking more sustainable and should continue to boost economic growth this year, offsetting some of the drag from higher taxes and federal spending cuts.
Steady hiring and low mortgage rates have encouraged more people to buy homes. And with demand up, prices rising and few homes on the market, builders have grown more optimistic about their prospects, leading to more construction and jobs.
Sales of previously occupied homes rose last month in every region of the country. They increased 8 percent in the Midwest, 4 percent in the South, 2.5 percent in the West and 1.6 percent in the Northeast.
The supply of homes for sales also grew, a sign that more homeowners are confident that they can lure buyers. The number of homes on the market rose 3.3 percent in May to 2.22 million. Still, inventories are 10 percent below year-ago levels.
Still, the report showed that a critical part of the market remains weak. First-time buyers represented only 28 percent of buyers in May. That's down from 34 percent a year ago and significantly below more normal levels above 40 percent. The decline in first-time buyers suggests many younger Americas are unable to get financing.
Banks have raised lending standards since the housing crisis, requiring higher credit scores, larger down payments and more detailed employment records.
Distressed sales, which include foreclosures and short sales, accounted for 18 percent of May sales, unchanged from April. Both months matched the lowest share of distressed sales since the Realtors began tracking this data in October 2008. Distressed sales stood at 25 percent of sales in May 2012.
On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke cited the housing gains as a major reason the Fed's economic outlook has brightened.
Still, mortgage rates have jumped in recent weeks. And they are expected to rise further now that the Fed has signaled it plans to scale back its bond purchases this year if the economy continues to strengthen. Higher mortgage rates could slow some of the housing market's momentum.
A better outlook for housing has made builders more optimistic. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index rose in June to 52, up from 44 in May. It was the highest reading in more than seven years and the largest monthly increase in more than a decade. A reading above 50 indicates more builders view sales conditions as good rather than poor.
??For those who know me and the Cosmic Code?jurisdictions, no explanation is necessary;??For those who do?not, none will ever suffice? If every 8 year old in the world is taught Astropsychology and meditation, we will eliminate ignorance and violence from the world within one generation.? ?Watch the future!
Following my newsletter titled ??The Real Reasons Why Two N.Y Life-coach Radio Hosts Committed Suicide? I received an email from Angel with the following on ?Psychic Abuse.? ?Indeed confirming that she is a very sensitive?Neptunian?re-affirming that??those who?pretend to be the experts in their own field of expertise are often?the least knowledgeable on the subject.? ?Angel is probably a cosmic unconscious psychic who truly believe only love will save the world? I say add a hell of a lot of Cosmic education and we will change the world!
Psychic Abuse is: (IF YOU DO NOT GET THESE!)
Judging yourself or another.?
Resenting yourself or another.
Holding love back for any reason from yourself or another.
Wishing harm on yourself or another.
Being Jealous of yourself or another.
Gossip, Guilt Trips, Threats, Seduction, Mocking and Manipulation also come
Under the Psychic Abuse Flag!
These actions do great harm to ourselves, each other and the Universe.
Added by Dr. Turi ? Psychic accident is. (Expect much more?)
Judging yourself or another.?Being cosmic conscious allow you to accurately auto?analyse?and judge yourself ?and others accordingly ?in all areas of the human experience?- A young non cosmic conscious soul will judge others through his/her five limited human senses, education, intelligence, emotions,?experiences?and karmic?UCI?. Usually the result of a natal or?hidden?Dragon?s Tail (negative)?located?in ?the critical analytical?born perfectionist?sign of?Virgo?afflicting the 3rd house of communication.
Resenting yourself or another.?Being cosmic conscious allow you to accurately auto?analyse?and judge yourself ?and others accordingly ?in all areas of the human experience?- A young non cosmic conscious soul will resent himself or others because on an?inborn?inferiority and/or insecurity complex.?Those?are dark emotions that will always overrule logic and curiosity. Usually the result of a natal or?hidden?Dragon?s Tail (negative)?located?in ?the critical sign of?Capricorn? afflicting the 10th house of public standing and career?accomplishments. ?The young soul is envious of another more advanced and?successful?soul.
Holding love back for any reason from yourself or another.?Being cosmic conscious allow you to accurately auto?analyse?and judge yourself ?and others accordingly in all areas of the human experience -?A young non cosmic conscious soul will suffer in all affairs of love because ?the soul abused the ego and love in previous?past-lives.???Usually the result of a natal or?hidden?Dragon?s Tail (negative)?located?in ?the royal sign of?Leo?afflicting the 5th house of love/romance and attraction?between human beings.
I will finish this educational Cosmic Code newsletters and post it in the ?Astropsychology Students Only? group for my VIP?s soon. I will add much quotes and more information to Angels? quotes so don?t miss the secrets of the Cosmic Code,?become a VIP join thousands of people now!
?Consciousness ? is the awareness of being awake and aware of a divine cosmic ?power ?and?make a good use of it??anything else is deceptive enlightenment! Psychics, modern Prophets,?Religious leaders, Monks, Gurus,?televangelists, priests etc. are cosmic ?unconscious ?born Neptunians?who can not read God? signs?
??Over sensitive souls who takes my direct approach to life and brutal honesty personally while missing the essence of my teachings suffers both inferiority and insecurity?complexes.?
Dr. Turi
THE COSMIC CODE WITH DR. TURI
NOW AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WORLD WIDE!?
World renowned author and lecturer Dr. Turi present ?The Cosmic Code? website and endless discussions on the Universal Rules and Parapsychology teachings offering extraordinary levels of Supra-consciousness and human karmic residue awareness.?Author of many popular books and ?Who is Who in America? Dr. Turi ?discuss the depth of the subconscious? creative forces taught to the Law Enforcement Agency, NASA, FBI agents, psychologists and psychiatrists students in his world wide reading audience. Understanding the dynamic of Astropsychology (the Universal Mind) is a major contribution to assimilate the working of the human psyche outside of traditionally accepted disciplines.?What is Astropsychology or the Cosmic Code? Described as an art as well as a science it reflects the subtle connection between the human mind and the Universal Mind. The human ability to accurately perceive and ?describe any person neurological inborn positive or negative traits and reactions to other human beings, beliefs, situations or events.
In the Cosmic Code Dr. Turi ?explain ?some of the techniques developed while training the new Cosmic Coder student to build the mental ?reflex? needed to accurately assert anyone hidden motives, true personality, mental potential, inner fears, strengths, gifts and weaknesses. Indeed this website is the only one on the Internet that will lead to a new perception of what it means to be human and the transformation experience will stay with you for the rest of your life.
With the assistance of a lap top and specially modified Halloran Software all VIP?s are guided through the Cosmic Code secrets giving everyone a fun opportunity to test their own Unique Celestial Identity and use their own psychic abilities in a controlled experiment. History, applications and success ? learn the amazing truth about your relationship with the Universal mind. Join the thousands of people, share your wisdom, concern, hopes and communicate with highly spiritual friends who vibrate at your curious perceptive psychical level.?
About Dr. Turi:
BIO
Turi is a proficient author and a charismatic captivating speaker, endowed with a profound Universal Wisdom that astonishes everyone. He was recognized in the 2003 Marquis ?Who?s Who in America? as an accomplished Clinical Hypnotherapist, Astropsychologist and Natural Healer.
?Dr. Turi is the personal?counsellor?of many celebrities such as?Ivana Trump,?Peter Fonda,?Gary Busey,?Denis Haysbert,?John Gray?and many others.?He appeared in numerous magazines worldwide and is a?favorite guest of George Noory on Coast-To-Coast AM radio and the BBC in London. He appeared in numerous television programs worldwide.?Dr. Turi will travel anywhere and to any College and Universities to teach and entertain you with ?The Cosmic Code secrets.?
??Incredible experiences breed incredible people that have incredible gifts to share?? ?- Dr. Turi
Dr. Turi has also written the following books?
??
A Master Piece ?Beyond The Secret? ?The Power of the Dragon? ? And God Created The Stars ?
Apr. 28, 2013 ? s living in areas near natural gas operations, also known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, are concerned their illnesses may be a result of nearby drilling operations. Twenty-two percent of the participants in a small pilot study surmise that hydrofracking may be the cause of such health concerns as sinus problems, sleeping difficulties, and gastrointestinal problems.
The findings will be presented at the American Occupational Health Conference on April 28 in Orlando, Florida.
Scientists collected responses from 72 adults visiting a primary care physician's office in the hydrofracking-heavy area of Bradford County, Pa., who volunteered to complete an investigator-faciliated survey.
"Almost a quarter of participants consider natural gas operations to be a contributor to their health issues, indicating that there is clearly a concern among residents that should be addressed," says Poun? Saberi, MD, MPH, the study's principal investigator with the department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. She is also an investigator with the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology (CEET) at Penn.
Within these 22 percent of responders, 13 percent viewed drilling to be the cause of their current health complaints and 9 percent were concerned that future health problems can be caused by natural gas operations. The previous health complaints by participants were thought to be anecdotal in nature as they were individual cases reported publicly only by popular media.
"What is significant about this study is that the prevalence of impressions about medical symptoms attributed to natural gas operations had not been previously solicited in Pennsylvania. This survey indicates that there is a larger group of people with health concerns than originally assumed," explains Saberi.
The survey included questions about 29 health symptoms, including those previously anecdotally reported by other residents and workers in other areas where drilling occurs. Some patient medical records were also reviewed to compare reported symptoms with those that had been previously documented. "Sinus problems, sleeping difficulties, and gastrointestinal problems were the most common symptoms reported on the Bradford survey," notes Saberi. "Of the few studied charts, there were no one-to-one correlations between the participants' reported symptoms on the survey and the presenting symptom to the medical provider in the records. This raises the possibility of communication gaps between residents with concerns and the medical community and needs further exploration. An opportunity exists to educate shale region communities and workers to report, as well as health care providers to document, the attributed symptoms as precisely as possible."
The CEET team also mapped the addresses of patients who agreed to provide them in relation to drilling to determine if proximity to drilling operations may relate to health problems.
"We hope this pilot study will guide the development of future epidemiological studies to determine whether health effects in communities in which natural gas operations are occurring is associated with air, water, and food-shed exposures and will provide a basis for health care provider education," says CEET director Trevor Penning, PhD. "The goal of science should be to protect the public and the environment before harm occurs; not simply to treat it after the damage has been done."
The Bradford County health concerns pilot study is one of three hydrofracking studies currently underway at CEET, one of 20 Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers (EHSCC) in the US, funded by the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
CEET is also partnering with Columbia University's EHSCC to measure water quality and billable health outcomes in areas with and without hydrofracking on the Pennsylvania-New York border. Using a new mapping tool developed by Harvard University, CEET and Harvard researchers are creating maps of drilling sites, air quality, water quality, and health effects to locate possible associations. Initial studies will focus on Pennsylvania. Results of both studies are expected in early 2014. These collaborative studies are funded by pilot project funds from the respective EHSCCs, which in turn obtain their financial support from NIEHS.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
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Internet Sales Tax Bill Gains Ground In Senate Rate Topic:
#1 ? Zanu Bob?
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Posts:12,033
Joined:29-October 07
Posted Yesterday, 10:08 AM
http://www.nytimes.c...-in-senate.html
' WASHINGTON ?
It has been labeled a tax grab and a bureaucratic nightmare by conservative antitax activists, an infringement on states? rights and a federal encroachment on the almost-sacred ground of Internet commerce.
Yet legislation to help states force online retailers to collect sales taxes easily cleared its first procedural hurdle on Monday evening, and even its fiercest opponents are looking to the House for a last stand. The Senate voted 74-20 to take up the legislation for debate and amendment.
The bill, known as the Marketplace Fairness Act, is that rare piece of legislation that has turned Democrat against Democrat, Republican against Republican and business against business, while uniting states as different as New Hampshire, Montana and Oregon ? which have no sales taxes ? against virtually every other state.
An odd confluence of events has swung the political momentum to one side. Less than a week after the Senate could not muster 60 votes to expand gun background checks supported by a vast majority of voters, lawmakers from both parties are poised to steamroll opponents and greatly broaden the imposition of sales taxes on the Internet.
Under the bill, online retailers would collect an estimated $22 billion to $24 billion that now goes uncollected. A final vote is expected in the Senate by the end of the week. When the House will take up the issue is uncertain.
Old-fashioned retailers are going bust, leaving towns marred by vast, empty storefronts. Those that remain complain of ?showrooming,? when shoppers inspect their wares, then leave the store to buy the same products on the Internet, finding lower prices and avoiding sales taxes.
Republicans including Senators Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee are as adamantly in favor of the bill as Democrats.
Finally, Senate Democratic leaders needed a bill to move to quickly after gun legislation all but died last week, and the Internet tax bill was ready.
President Obama on Monday threw his support behind the bill, which the White House said ?will level the playing field for local small business retailers that are in competition every day with large out-of-state online companies.?
The bill would allow states to require all Internet sellers to collect sales taxes for the state and local governments of the buyers. State governments would be required to provide software free to Internet retailers to calculate sales taxes. Online retailers with out-of-state sales of less than $1 million a year would be exempt.
Many of the largest Web retailers have already begun collecting sales taxes. Amazon.com has joined a vast constellation of brick-and-mortar retailers in collecting taxes, leaving eBay to fight an increasingly lonely battle. In March, the Senate held a test vote of sorts, a nonbinding amendment to the Senate budget that mirrored the Marketplace Fairness Act. '
the interweb is destroying a whole layer of tax revenues,pension plans and economic wealth built on shopping.they had to do soemthing.wonder how they'll balance it out here?
Blaming greed for a banking crisis is like blaming gravity for an airplane crash. Injin 10/12/2009 (a rare moment of clarity)
Red Kharma, on 31 May 2010 - 11:51 AM, said:
Most gold buyers will get creamed, eventually and for the very reasons they think they won't.
#2 ? durhamborn?
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Posted Yesterday, 10:42 AM
Do you know who is pushing this the hardest? Amazon.
Why? Because it will destroy the thousands of small internet sellers and those who use Ebay.
Amazon is building vast warehouses in run down states and in return is getting deal that exempt it from certain tax.
This isnt about protecting the shops.Its about Amazon killing off the one thing that can be more competitive than them and long term destroy their business.Small internet retailers with websites and on Ebay.
#3 ? geezer466?
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Posted Yesterday, 11:05 AM
durhamborn, on 28 April 2013 - 10:42 AM, said:
Do you know who is pushing this the hardest? Amazon.
Why? Because it will destroy the thousands of small internet sellers and those who use Ebay.
Amazon is building vast warehouses in run down states and in return is getting deal that exempt it from certain tax.
This isnt about protecting the shops.Its about Amazon killing off the one thing that can be more competitive than them and long term destroy their business.Small internet retailers with websites and on Ebay.
You have knocked the nail on the head Durham.
Many small retailers were lured in by Amazon and listed their products only to become dismayed at the amount of commission they were charging.
Subsequently they lost faith and bailed out of Amazon only to find Amazon never ever deleted their product listings. So searches for their products Amazon now outrank them in google even though they mark the product out of stock and with no resupply date.
The march of the globalists and their moves to eradicate the small people gathers pace.
Google search results in the last year or so are now freezing out the smaller operators in favour of the bigger brands. Some schools of thought take the view this is what panda and penguin updates was about.
An example, if I want a small cosy hotel close to Lake Windermere I want a list of independent hotels which I can compare. I don't want booking.com at the top of the list and other operators like tripadvisor and laterooms trying to get me to buy what they consider I want based on the amount of commission they can screw from the hotel. Half the time these places won't even return results in the area I want.
This is the space for the signature thingy.........
#4 ? GradualCringe?
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Posted Yesterday, 11:15 AM
durhamborn, on 28 April 2013 - 10:42 AM, said:
Do you know who is pushing this the hardest? Amazon.
Why? Because it will destroy the thousands of small internet sellers and those who use Ebay.
Amazon is building vast warehouses in run down states and in return is getting deal that exempt it from certain tax.
This isnt about protecting the shops.Its about Amazon killing off the one thing that can be more competitive than them and long term destroy their business.Small internet retailers with websites and on Ebay.
It's "Baptists and Bootleggers" legislation i.e. ostensibly to make sure everyone "pays their fair share" (Baptist side of the argument), however, sponsored and lobbied for by a huge corporate to create a legal monopoly.
#5 ? Executive Sadman?
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Posted Yesterday, 01:02 PM
Yep. What ive heard is the big boys will easily cope with this, processing the tax code for 50+ states. If your'e a small supplier, it will be near impossible, and hugely expensive.
Its just using govt to create another barrier to entry and thwart any semblance of a free market and consumer choice. Hence why majorities of both parties are on board.
Is the tax due? Or is the bill coming in to force tax to be charged in the buyer's state? If it is needed, then how can the likes of Amazon etc already be collecting these sales taxes?
And isn't this just the same as the VAT scene in the EU? If you are selling your goods in another EU country then, subject to a smallish threshold (and much less that $1m) you need to start charging local rates of VAT to your consumers?
And finally if the threshold is $1m, then doesn't this protect the smaller businesses that some of the earlier posts portray as the victims here? And more, protect those local small businesses in the states where sales tax is levied already?
The facts above belong to everybody; the opinions to me.... the distinction is yours to draw.
#7 ? happy_renting?
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Posted Yesterday, 02:33 PM
Red-Cardinal, on 28 April 2013 - 01:30 PM, said:
Am not sure what is going on here?
Is the tax due? Or is the bill coming in to force tax to be charged in the buyer's state? If it is needed, then how can the likes of Amazon etc already be collecting these sales taxes?
And isn't this just the same as the VAT scene in the EU? If you are selling your goods in another EU country then, subject to a smallish threshold (and much less that $1m) you need to start charging local rates of VAT to your consumers?
And finally if the threshold is $1m, then doesn't this protect the smaller businesses that some of the earlier posts portray as the victims here? And more, protect those local small businesses in the states where sales tax is levied already?
"Online retailers with out-of-state sales of less than $1 million a year would be exempt."
A little confusing here - does that mean $1m of on-line sales, or $1m of sales in total? Some retailers will sell on-line, over the phone, and also from a shop.
Does the sales tax apply depending on the state the seller is in, or the buyer is in? It would seem the latter. So what happens if you buy from a bricks-and-mortar shop? Do they check to see what state you live in? I doubt it. Are there customs at state boundaries? Nope.
It does seem unfair that shop sellers have to charge tax, but online sellers don't. But it may be unfair because sales are taxed, period.
So this legislation means that if you go into an Oregon shop, you will be able to buy tax-free, and take it home to, say, NY. But if you buy online from an Oregon shop, you will have to pay NY sales tax when it is delivered to you. In other words, it's still going to be a mess.
I thought European VAT rule inconsistencies were bad enough.
#8 ? gadget?
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Posted Yesterday, 03:48 PM
Executive Sadman, on 28 April 2013 - 01:02 PM, said:
. If your'e a small supplier, it will be near impossible, and hugely expensive.
What ARE you talking about?
It's basic functionlaity already built into any accounting package or online selling software they're already using.
And even if not it'll take about an hour in Excel to work out.
It's not even a increase in taxes: the taxes are already due it's just with the sellers not charging it the buyer is meant to go down his local tax office and settle up.
#9 ? durhamborn?
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Posted Yesterday, 03:49 PM
happy_renting, on 28 April 2013 - 02:33 PM, said:
"Online retailers with out-of-state sales of less than $1 million a year would be exempt."
A little confusing here - does that mean $1m of on-line sales, or $1m of sales in total? Some retailers will sell on-line, over the phone, and also from a shop.
Does the sales tax apply depending on the state the seller is in, or the buyer is in? It would seem the latter. So what happens if you buy from a bricks-and-mortar shop? Do they check to see what state you live in? I doubt it. Are there customs at state boundaries? Nope.
It does seem unfair that shop sellers have to charge tax, but online sellers don't. But it may be unfair because sales are taxed, period.
So this legislation means that if you go into an Oregon shop, you will be able to buy tax-free, and take it home to, say, NY. But if you buy online from an Oregon shop, you will have to pay NY sales tax when it is delivered to you. In other words, it's still going to be a mess.
I thought European VAT rule inconsistencies were bad enough.
First once in whos to say this wont be reduced.Also this puts a massive ceiling on online sales and a business growing.This is simply Amazon mainly trying to kill small business.Ebay is fighting hard to stop it because it will hit hard a lot of their small business sellers.
Amazon are losing the battle against smaller sellers.Many warehouses now offer very similar systems to Amazon for small sellers.I use one.Amazon cant compete and they want to kill these small companies.
The internet is the one place a small person can take on the big companies.Amazon want to kill that.
#10 ? easy2012?
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Posted Yesterday, 03:56 PM
gadget, on 28 April 2013 - 03:48 PM, said:
What ARE you talking about?
It's basic functionlaity already built into any accounting package or online selling software they're already using.
And even if not it'll take about an hour in Excel to work out.
Really? Do you mind showing me some links to these accounting packages ?
You tend to be able to create those codes - but that is a hugely laborious process for a small business (and nothing for AMZN of course). An example here: http://crmconsultanc...lude-tax-codes/
Also these rates changes from time to time (even UK VAT went from 15% to 17.5% then back to 17.5% and then 20%). The sales tax exemption list also changes from time to time.
Now, the online shopping carts also need to take into account of these rates.
Quote
It's not even a increase in taxes: the taxes are already due it's just with the sellers not charging it the buyer is meant to go down his local tax office and settle up.
Then clearly we should just do nothing ( why waste congress time) and just let the buyer do what they meant to do then..
This post has been edited by easy2012: Yesterday, 04:02 PM
#11 ? easy2012?
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Posted Yesterday, 03:56 PM
durhamborn, on 28 April 2013 - 03:49 PM, said:
First once in whos to say this wont be reduced.Also this puts a massive ceiling on online sales and a business growing.This is simply Amazon mainly trying to kill small business.Ebay is fighting hard to stop it because it will hit hard a lot of their small business sellers.
Amazon are losing the battle against smaller sellers.Many warehouses now offer very similar systems to Amazon for small sellers.I use one.Amazon cant compete and they want to kill these small companies.
The internet is the one place a small person can take on the big companies.Amazon want to kill that.
Durhamborn - do you mean the fullfillment service ?
#12 ? Secure Tenant?
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Posted Yesterday, 04:03 PM
durhamborn, on 28 April 2013 - 10:42 AM, said:
Do you know who is pushing this the hardest? Amazon.
Why? Because it will destroy the thousands of small internet sellers and those who use Ebay.
Amazon is building vast warehouses in run down states and in return is getting deal that exempt it from certain tax.
This isnt about protecting the shops.Its about Amazon killing off the one thing that can be more competitive than them and long term destroy their business.Small internet retailers with websites and on Ebay.
Don't a lot of small businesses selling on Ebay also sell on Amazon and other sites?
Was recently playing around with software called Linn Works, which is stock inventory and shipping inventory software for online traders and it integrates with Ebay, Amazon as well as Magento and other e-commerce sites.
Linn Systems also produce software called "Mean Pricer" or something which allows to monitor and undercut competitors on Amazon. Your own race to the bottom, if the comp also has the same software!
The other thing that the traditional items such as s/h CD's and DVD's now seem almost unsellable unless you let them go often less than they cost to post and pack.
This post has been edited by Secure Tenant: Yesterday, 04:08 PM
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#13 ? LJAR?
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Posted Yesterday, 04:10 PM
gadget, on 28 April 2013 - 03:48 PM, said:
It's not even a increase in taxes: the taxes are already due it's just with the sellers not charging it the buyer is meant to go down his local tax office and settle up.
Nope - there is case law in the US stating that sales tax is not due on items sold over the internet in different states. if you sell over the internet in the same state, then tax is due. Otherwise, no.
@ durhamborn - spot on.
#14 ? durhamborn?
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Posted Yesterday, 04:16 PM
easy2012, on 28 April 2013 - 03:56 PM, said:
Durhamborn - do you mean the fullfillment service ?
Yes,iv now got all my stock in a shared warehouse where we all book in from home and its then sent out from the warehouse.The couriers are based in the same warehouse as well.It undercuts Amazons operation.I also get the containers into there so its a one stop option.
http://www.guardian....tax-bill-amazon
Ebay lobby against it for the very reasons said on here.
#15 ? durhamborn?
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Posted Yesterday, 04:23 PM
Secure Tenant, on 28 April 2013 - 04:03 PM, said:
Don't a lot of small businesses selling on Ebay also sell on Amazon and other sites?
Was recently playing around with software called Linn Works, which is stock inventory and shipping inventory software for online traders and it integrates with Ebay, Amazon as well as Magento and other e-commerce sites.
Linn Systems also produce software called "Mean Pricer" or something which allows to monitor and undercut competitors on Amazon. Your own race to the bottom, if the comp also has the same software!
The other thing that the traditional items such as s/h CD's and DVD's now seem almost unsellable unless you let them go often less than they cost to post and pack.
Yes they do ,and so do i. However i never stock anything thats a common item as like you say on Amazon everyone cuts and cuts to be cheapest and there is no margin. Ebay is a far better platform for small companies IMO.Google drives a lot of sales. Postage is a massive problem now for online sellers and iv moved to higher value items that can carry postage easier.Mid range items are getting almost priced out now due to postage,and most of thats down to fuel costs.
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