Latin America: Innovation Quotient Needs Improvement ? Miami ...

Posted on August 14, 2012 by The Victoria Law Group

I can?t think of any great business innovation that has come out of Latin America in recent memory that has made a big impact on the world.? I?m thinking in the league of Microsoft, or Google, or anything.? Sadly, it shouldn?t come as a big surprise that most Latin American countries ranked between the middle and the bottom of new United Nations index of innovation. What?s surprising-and depressing ? is that, with a few exceptions, they are not even making the list?s subgroup of ?innovation learners.?? Miami, we?ve got work to do!? I say Miami, because in many ways, and yes arrogantly, Miami is the innovation engine for Lat Am.? Lat Am, start your engines.

Read Andres Oppenheimer?s Miami Herald article here:

http://hrld.us/MWKVWS

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Brought to you by Bob Arnold from Miami International Business Attorney.

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Source: http://miamiinternationalbusinessattorneys.com/2012/08/14/latin-america-innovation-quotient-needs-improvement/

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Conn. homeowner billed 25 years for streetlights

CHESHIRE, Conn. (AP) ? A Connecticut utility has reimbursed a woman almost $10,500 after acknowledging it billed her for 25 years for the electricity used to power streetlights near her home.

Grace Edwards tells the Hartford Courant she discovered the billing error after a prospective buyer for the house in Cheshire asked for a history of utility charges.

Connecticut Light & Power says a developer who previously owned the home had agreed to pay for the lights.

The company initially refused to reimburse Edwards but relented when the state's Office of Consumer Counsel got involved.

The overcharges amounted to about $35 each month.

CL&P spokesman Mitch Gross says the utility has apologized to Edwards for the error and inconvenience.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/conn-homeowner-billed-25-years-streetlights-103724804--finance.html

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The Agony of Defeat and How Three Fighters Have Dealt with It

Watch a fighter's face when he's won and the story is all there ? the relief, the elation, the euphoria.? And yet, what of the other half to that equation?? What of those who've been forced to swallow the bitter pill of defeat?? It's an inescapable truth that, for someone to be the victor, someone else must lose, and that karmic flipside is what makes the sport a cruel and harsh mistress to all who dare strap on four-ounce gloves and step into the cage.? To compete is to flirt with a very particular, very exacting kind of agony.? For the sake of examining further what it means to be on the losing side of things, Cagewriter tracked down a trio of accomplished fighters to get their perspective.? The three all share two common denominators: they're very, very good at what they do, and they've all dealt with defeat.

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Tom DeBlass, UFC Fighter

In 2003, New Jersey native Tom DeBlass fought his first amateur bout.? He'd been a track star in college, and had only three months of martial arts training, but hey, what the heck, right?? Unfortunately, his opponent was veteran kickboxer and experienced mixed martial arts fighter, and things didn't go so well.? So DeBlass went back to the drawing board and sought to gain the skills necessary to succeed.? By the time he made his return to the cage, he was now a black belt under Ricardo Almeida, with successful runs as a competitor in everything from the Jiu-Jitsu Worlds to the Pan-Ams to the Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championship Trials.? He was, quite literally, a completely different person.

"I lost my first fight as a youngster because I really just ? I didn't even train jiu-jitsu, I didn't even know anything," says the 30-year-old DeBlass.? "With that skill set, I would've lost a hundred out of a hundred times, because I didn't know any better."

It took only seven pro fights in New Jersey's Ring of Combat promotion for DeBlass to earn his shot in the UFC's Octagon ? seven fights in a little over a year and a half, each one flawless and won by quick submission or knockout or protracted war.? But when that shot came, it was for a UFC on Fuel TV held in Sweden, and it was on short notice against a vastly more-experienced Cyrille Diabate.? No one says no when the UFC comes calling, so DeBlass took the fight; he lost via majority decision ? his first defeat as a pro and his first loss in nine years.

"This one with Cyrille, it hit me pretty hard," says DeBlass.? "I was pretty upset.? Just because I know, with all respect to him, I'd finish him probably fairly quickly if I was in a full training camp.? This was one fight where I was really, really out of shape.? Usually in between fights I stay in shape, but I'd hurt my ankle.? I'd pulled out of a Ring of Combat fight, and I was letting my ankle heal.? I was on vacation with my fianc?e the week before, and I got fat and I got out of shape.? I knew that, so it was kind of a terrible feeling going into a fight knowing you're not prepared for it.? But I still thought I could win.? And you know, the fight was going my way.? Not even just going my way, it was an easy fight.? I was dominating.? Then I just had nothing left.? I was so exhausted.? And when I lost, I was just very disappointed ? I'm still very disappointed."

What did DeBlass do to cope?? "Right away, as soon as possible, I tried to find the positive," he says.? "I changed my whole training.? As much as I was doing before, I'm doing things differently now, working on different aspects.? And everything happens for a reason, man.? In this sport, you've got to be ready for anything."

The UFC already had DeBlass scheduled to fight on another UFC on Fuel TV, but the bout was cancelled when his opponent got injured. ?Regardless, DeBlass ? who's moving down to middleweight for the first time ? fully anticipates being ready for anything when the UFC calls again.? Just as he did after losing that first amateur bout all those years ago, he's making the adjustments necessary to assure future success.

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James Jenkins, Ring of Combat Fighter

Things were going great for James Jenkins until he walked face-first into a nose-breaking right hand.? Up to that point, the 26-year-old Matt Serra/Ray Longo product was beating all comers in Ring of Combat ? so much so that, to give Jenkins someone to fight for the promotion's featherweight belt, an opponent was flown in from Chicago.? Still, Jenkins was the heavy favorite going into the bout.? But all it takes is one mistake in this game.? One mistake.

"I felt absolutely horrible," says the Long Island, N.Y. native.? "I felt like I had a great shot in front of me and I had worked hard to get this far.? I didn't have any regrets as far as training hard, I didn't take him lightly ? I could be fighting a 13-year old and I wouldn't take him lightly."

Says Jenkins: "I'm a prideful guy.? I don't take losing? I couldn't lose at a game of Monopoly.? So this was pretty rough.? It was hard.? A lot of bad feelings.? I don't want to have to feel it again for ? well, if I could have my way, never."

What was it like for Jenkins after the fight? ?"I get down to the locker room, and I was just trying to wash the blood off my face and everything," he says.? "I think for a few days I did nothing but think about it.? I'd be sitting in a car with my girlfriend and I was just start zoning out thinking about it.? For a while, I had this feeling like I could just go back in time.? Like if I could just think about it hard enough, I could go back in time and I could fix it and I could make it all better.? I had to sit there and really tell myself, 'You can't go backwards.? What's done is done.? The only thing I can do is work for the future.'? That's the only thing you can do when [expletive] goes wrong, you just have to work to make sure it doesn't happen again."

What's next for the still-rising featherweight star?? "I took a little time off to be with my friends and family, but now I want to be back in the gym and fighting at the next Ring of Combat.? I want to come out with a strong showing.? I really think that's the only thing that will take away some of the bad feelings.? You know, to get a win."

When Cagewriter interviewed Jenkins, it was outside of former UFC champ Matt Serra's gym, right before a training session; clearly, Jenkins is already on his way back to the cage.

Dan Miller, UFC Fighter

There are few fighters in the UFC ? or even the world ? who can impress in defeat like the veteran middleweight-turned-welterweight Dan Miller.? In eleven fights in the Octagon, Miller has amassed a 6-5 record, and those five losses were after hard-fought scraps against the likes of Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia, Michael Bisping, Nate Marquardt and Rousimar Palhares ? tough guys, one and all.? Still, the New Jersey native knows of the sting a fresh "L" on your record can leave.

"It is tough," he says.? "I going into every fight believing that I can win, and wanting to win, but it's part of the sport and somebody has to lose."? He adds: "The way I feel is, as long as I put everything I had into it and got beaten by a better fighter that night, it makes it a little easier."?

"For me it was never okay.? I never walked out of the ring not disappointed in myself.? But again, it's something that sucks, but it's not the end of the world.? I go into the gym and it makes me work harder.? Every time I lost I just tried to get better and improve myself."

Miller's advice to any young bucks out there who find themselves on the inevitable losing end?? "Keep your head up and learn from it, basically.? Pretty much everyone is going to lose at some point in their career, and it's one of those things where you're going to have to learn from it.? If you didn't learn from it, then it's bad."

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That's it for me, folks.? It's been a blast writing for Cagewriter, and hopefully you'll see me again.? Follow me here on Twitter; this is where I blog about local fights shows of both the sanctioned and unsanctioned variety; this is the book I wrote on underground fighting.? I've been writing about MMA since 2001, and I sure as hell ain't stopping now!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/agony-defeat-three-fighters-dealt-003155154--mma.html

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Ramadan Thoughts over Tamarind Chutney - Hobbsmichal245's blog

My mother and I are in the kitchen on a bright Sunday afternoon right before Ramadan. Spices overwhelm our shared counterspace as my mother toasts and grinds spices for her garam masala, the ubiquitous Indian spice blend.

Making garam masala. Note the coffee grinder in the corner. It?s never been acquainted with coffee.

I?m squishing tamarind pulp that?s been soaking in warm water through my fingers?my mother assures me that the food processor won?t give the same results.

After years of avoiding learning from my mother?s kitchen skills, I find myself this year asking her to show me how to make tamarind chutney?a sweet+tangy condiment that?s only made during Ramadan at our home, that I eat in unhealthy amounts with everything during the month. It?s time I learned how to make it for myself.?

Despite the lack of food consumed during the day, there is an eclectic abundance towards the end as everyone at home prepares their own favorites to share. Our family?s iftars consist of dates, almonds, a cool sweetened milk drink called sharbat, and a spiced fruit salad. There is usually some sort of deep fried Indian snack?my sister?s dahi vadas, my dad?s bhagias (always tending more towards onion ones), samosas (the flat, triangular kinds at my home) prepared en masse and frozen to be fried at a moment?s notice, kebabs. All of the snacks go fantastically with the tamarind chutney; many are lovingly shared with friends who live close by.

Here?s an example of an iftar at home: a glass of sharbat topped with takmariya and almonds, a potato cutlet with spiced ground beef (known as the ?potato chop? at home), a chicken kebab, dates, almonds, imli chutney. Fruit salad is off to the side. A small jar of imli chutney takes up residence near my plate for easy access.

And then there is always something else on the plate too, anything from a variety of different foods that reflect our family members? own likes and upbringings. My mother always makes mandazi (fried triangular bread), barazi (a type of saucy bean accompaniment for the mandazi), and futari (cassava soup) at least once during the month?a reminder of both of my parents? upbringing in Tanzania. Various pasta dishes, farmers market finds coaxed into sides, and other Indian foods round out our meals.

I?ve moved on to squishing dates that have been soaking in water through my fingers for the imli chutney as my mother and I talk about how she learned how to make it?first from my grandmother, and then mostly by trial and error every time thereafter. It?s never quite clear what the proportion of tamarind to dates is supposed to be?the chutney tastes slightly different every year. Luckily, we?ll be able to taste it and adjust as we?re not yet fasting.?

Growing up as a kid (and, who am I kidding, even now), the food we eat during Ramadan at home has been one of the biggest highlights and blessings of the month. Many of the foods I mentioned only come into existence during Ramadan (or when my siblings and I visited our grandmother; she was shocked to hear we only ate samosas during Ramadan).? This mini food fest, in part, became what we looked forward to as kids after a day of fasting.

But this time well spent in the kitchen is only a small part of what the month is about. There?s a sort of hyperawareness of the small moments that make up the day?an awareness that seems to become clearer as the month progresses:

Eating my pre-fajr breakfast with family. Listening to my mother read Quran as I get ready for work. Weekend farmers market visits in preparation for lazy afternoons in the kitchen. Quiet walks around a nearby lake before iftar. Tarawih prayers in the evenings surrounded by women wearing abayas, shalwar kameez, sweatshirts and jeans. Interspersed throughout, reaching out to dear friends and family?both those fasting and not. Free time spent reading Quran and various blogs and reflecting on the month and on myself?am I leading a personal, spiritual life of conviction in a way that is meaningful to me?

When I was a kid, these moments escaped my notice. Ramadan was a time for Dad?s bhagias, evenings at the masjid for Tarawih prayers, and gifts of money on Eid for every successfully completed fast. The moments were a blur; the month passed by without much reflection. Perhaps as it should be during those ages of innocence.

I find myself as a grown-up now increasingly looking forward to the month for personal reflection. With every additional year, there is so much to be grateful for. The month serves as a reminder that it?s never too late to learn something new?be it learning how to make a chutney or to memorize another surah, to take up or leave habits behind, seek forgiveness for ourselves and others and grow in our lives.

It?s also an incredible opportunity for sharing my beliefs with others who are unfamiliar with what the month entails for Muslims. These conversations occur with every passing year and I enjoy them more each time. They?re never the same but always serve to help bridge an understanding of some of our beliefs and festivities.

I?m directed to strain the tamarind, removing seeds and unsquishable fibers. The tamarind and date pulp then bubbles for a few minutes on the stove?turns out it needs sugar (the dates aren?t as sweet this year). My mother adds freshly toasted and ground cumin, pepper, and salt. We each try a spoonful. It?s thick, sweet+tangy the way I like it, perfectly spiced, not quite the same as last year?s. We fill a large pickle jar and keep it in the fridge, ready for the month ahead. ?

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For more on Ramadan, and to read the rest of the posts in MMW?s Ramadan 2012 series, click here.

Source: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2012/08/ramadan-thoughts-over-tamarind-chutney/

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Source: http://hobbsmichal245.typepad.com/blog/2012/08/ramadan-thoughts-over-tamarind-chutney.html

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Snoring Issue? Resolve It With Sona Anti Snore Pillow And Different ...

Snoring can be irritating not only to the snorers, but to anyone who sleeps using them. You will find many available ways of support snorers handle snoring, and in many cases, eliminate it completely. In this specific article, there are alternatives of easy to implement tips that can help you to lower your snoring.First, make an effort to use a Sona anti snore pillow. It?s among the most useful, simplest, and best methods how to stop or decrease snoring and moderate snore. It is helpful, particularly if the cause of snoring could be the wrong position while asleep. Authorities suggest that the individual should sleep on the medial side and not on the rear. When a person rests on his back, since appropriate ventilation is blocked that he will snore. That is why this pillow has been established and tested to work because the snorer is disciplined by it not to sleep on his back.The prepared portion of the pillow inhibits the snorer from lying on his straight back. The either left or right hand ought to be placed under the pillow. The neck and head should be properly situated. Ideally, the chin should really be moved forward. In this situation circulation becomes patent. Therefore, snoring is paid off or stopped.But why you need to Sona anti snore pillow and not different brands of anti snore pillow? Listed here are the reasons:? It?s scientifically accepted and tried. A small grouping of rest and neurologist pro have examined and produced the mechanism of the pillow. ?? It doesn?t only help ease the snoring problem; but it is also advised to help in cases of moderate sleep apnea. Gentle snore is the lack of breathing for a few moments. It is distinctive from snoring, while often they go together. Slight sleep apnea advances other health problems. Like for example, it challenges the center that may lead to high blood pressure and on occasion even stroke. ?? It?s made for part sleeping. It might be a little awkward throughout the first couple weeks. However the snorer could adjust to it while the cushion gives Helpful Tips:You to comfort.Other must adjust when you eat if you wish to control your snoring. For supper, eat a light meal early later in the day. You want to avoid foods that are abundant and have milk products since these type of foods boost mucus build-up that block your airways. Also, a good solution to help you soothe your throat right before bedtime is to drink a little bit of tea with honey.To decrease the chances of snoring at night, restrict your intake of excess food and liquor for at least three hours before you go to sleep. A large meal or alcohol causes the neck muscles to relax. Both of these can cause snoring and must be avoided to eliminate this problem.As stated earlier, snoring can be annoying and frustrating for all. Unfortunately, several same people do not recognize that there are numerous treatments offered to alleviate, or eliminate, their snoring and its undesireable effects. Take to the tips you only read to simply help you liberate yourself from snoring problems.

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Source: http://articlereference.net/health-fitness/snoring-issue-resolve-it-with-sona-anti-snore-pillow-and-different-sleeping-guidelines.html

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Aspirin lowers risk of cancer mortality Lastupdate:- Mon, 13 Aug ...

Washington, Aug 12: Aspirin intake tends to lower the risk of cancer mortality, says a study.
?A recent pooled analysis of randomized trials looking at the effects of daily aspirin use as a preventive measure found a significant 37 percent fall in overall cancer mortality.
?But the effects of long-term daily aspirin use on cancer mortality remain largely unknown, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reports.
?Eric J. Jacobs, Epidemiology Research Programme at the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Atlanta looked at data on 100,139 men and women who had no prior history of cancer but had been taking aspirin daily, ACS said.
?The researchers found that among 5,138 participants who died because of cancer, daily aspirin usage was linked with slightly lower cancer mortality and was unrelated to the length of daily use. IANS

Lastupdate on : Sun, 12 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST

Source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Aug/13/aspirin-lowers-risk-of-cancer-mortality-16.asp

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Best Buy's Summer Gaming Blowout begins today | Joystiq

Best Buy's Summer Gaming Blowout includes massive deals on Just Dance 3, Rayman Origins, Crysis 2 and a bomb of other games, running from today, August 12, through August 18.

Just Dance 3, Rayman Origins, Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, Tekken Hybrid and Crysis 2 are running $10 each, along with a handful of other motion-sensitive and visually enchanting titles. Check out all the games and accessories right here.

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/12/best-buys-summer-gaming-blowout-begins-today/

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