Information and Advice on Freelance Careers. Building Business ...

Ever wonder why your competitors get featured in the local paper or magazines and you don't? It's not just luck that brings the reporters to their door - chances are it's a press release.

When you or your business is featured in a publication, unless the article's there to highlight something you've done wrong, it's a very good thing. That article is free advertising, and even the short one-paragraph blurbs can lead to a nice increase in business. Such articles help build credibility and educate the public about your philosophies, commitment, and the business itself.

Should you put out a press release?

Naturally, you'd like to benefit from such free advertising. But is this the right time to send a press release? Generally speaking, your release will be ignored if it's not newsworthy enough to interest the publication's readership. Grand openings, awards, major client contracts (really big ones!), seminars you're hosting, important policy changes, and other events that interest the business community or the public may qualify.

If you can't think of a reason to issue a release, consider doing something newsworthy just for that purpose. Hold a contest, launch a frequent buyer program, or host a seminar on a topic related to your business.

Goals of a press release

A press release has two main goals:

1. To be published as written, OR

2. To interest a staff writer in contacting you for further coverage.

The temptation to "just let them do it" is strong, especially if you're not a particularly strong writer. Even if your goal is to bring a reporter to your door, a professional writer can help you state things in a way that will hook the editor's interest and separate your release from the many - possibly hundreds - that hit his desk each day. A well-written press release also gives the reporter an easy structure to follow, copy points, and phrases he can use. This isn't plagiarism - it's teamwork.

There's an advantage to getting it published as written, though, and many publications will do just this if they're short on time or space...or if it's perfect as is. When you do this, you have control over the words. No need to worry about being misquoted, misunderstood, or having key elements omitted.

The key is having it perfect, as is, or as close to perfect as possible. A professional writer, with experience in writing press releases, can do this. It's not always easy to craft a piece that covers everything you need while still appearing objective. If the article is too much like an advertisement, the publication will reject it and instead suggest that you purchase ad space. But if the press release reads like "news", is in the publication's standard news article format and adheres to editorial policies, you've got a good chance of seeing it as submitted, or at least close.

Anatomy of a press release

A press release consists of five main parts: Contact information, Release Date, Title, Body, and Call to Action. Depending on the situation, a sixth part may also be included - the boilerplate.

Contact information states who the publication's editor - not the reader - should contact if additional information is needed. Release date is usually "for immediate release" but if a later date is specified, perhaps to tie in with a holiday or a specific event, the publication will honor it.

Title is important, because obviously it's the first thing the editor will read, but also because it may very well end up as the title of the published article - even if the reporter re-writes the body. The body itself delivers the information, and the call to action is the part that tells your reader what you want them to do after reading the article. Should the call you? Come in on a certain day? Don't leave that out.

A boilerplate is background information, and is crucial if you or your business isn't already well known in the community. This isn't part of the release and won't get printed; it just gives the editor and staff writers a bit more information about why your release is important.

What to do with a press release Your press release's destination depends on which segment of the population you wish to reach, and which publications are most likely to use such a release. Generally the larger the publication, the less likely it will use your release as written - it may use part, or may use the release as a launching point for something entirely different.

You can send your release directly to the publications via e-mail or regular mail, and as with any submission to an editor, it helps to know the correct person's name and title. A professional writer can help you there, too.

Also, services such as PR Newswire (http://www.prnewswire.com) or EWorldWire (http://www.eworldwire.com) can help, for a fee.

Many professionals also advocate purchasing advertising space in the publication for the issue that will run your press release, if it's possible to find that date out in advance.

When your press release has been distributed and published, the benefits don't stop there. You can often use the press release itself for other marketing purposes, such as assisting with copy for brochures, the wording for smaller print ads, sales letters, etc.

About the author: Pamela Kock is a freelance commerical copywriter. She can be reached at (513) 284-7124. Visit her website to find out more about her services: http://www.wayswriter.com.

Author: Pamela Kock

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Oil near $81 amid signs of improving US economy

SINGAPORE (AP) ? Oil rose slightly to near $81 a barrel Thursday in Asia amid signs the U.S. economy, the world's largest crude consumer, may be improving.

Benchmark oil for August delivery was up 30 cents at $80.51 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 85 cents to settle at $80.21 in New York on Wednesday.

In London, Brent crude for August delivery was up 1 cent at $93.51 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

On Wednesday, the U.S. said durable goods orders rose by 1.1 percent in May, reversing a two-month drop. Pending home sales also jumped in May.

Crude has plummeted from $106 early last month on expectations weak global economic growth will drag down oil demand. Some analysts expect crude to hover near $80 until U.S. demand picks up.

"This is the longest and slowest recovery from double digit unemployment ever" for the U.S., said Carl Larry of Oil Outlooks and Opinions. "Prices are going to be a fair value for producers and consumers around $80."

Investors will be eyeing a two-day European Union summit scheduled to start later Thursday. While most analysts don't expect E.U. leaders to announce a major policy initiative, traders will be closely watching for signs of progress toward a solution to the region's debt and economic woes.

Signs of a weakening Chinese economy have also dragged oil prices lower. Citigroup estimates China will account for about half of global oil consumption growth this year.

"While Europe concerns impact all asset markets, the slowdown in China is particularly daunting for commodities," Citigroup said in a report.

However, the recent drop in fuel costs should help Asian economies by easing inflation pressures and giving policymakers more room for fiscal and monetary stimulus measures.

"In general, cheaper oil is in itself a good thing for Asia," Capital Economics said in a report. "The trouble is that oil prices are falling because the global economy is getting weaker. This means that instead of pushing up Asian growth, lower oil prices will only cushion the downside."

In other energy trading, heating oil was up 0.3 cent at $2.59 per gallon while gasoline futures gained 0.1 cent at $2.50 per gallon. Natural gas added 0.6 cent at $2.80 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Associated Press

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From My Wiki

Once upon a time folks had to check out a retail store to purchase products they needed or maybe wanted. Eventually the online world came along and presented people a different way to find the points they wanted with out leaving your home. It was great and individuals loved the theory. The following thing you understand internet shops became popular and changed greatly the way persons did internet business. Purchasing by auction but not only allowed individuals to get items they needed or even wanted without leaving home, in addition, they had the power obtain a excellent deal with some items and also have Work From Home carrying it out.

Currently enter in one more chapter within the history of how to obtain goods: penny deals or reverse auctions. Reverse deals or penny online auctions are shaking things up a lot more because people could possibly get what exactly needed or would like, without leaving their properties, while sporting fascinating they receive beyond a tremendous amount! Putting in a bid in a any amount of money auction is exclusive for the reason that lowest exclusive bid wins! No more strategy on how to find discounted products while not paying too much when you would not pay too much. Inside a reverse auction there exists a predetermined Penny Auction the bids ought to fall between and also the cost is always a new fraction of the actual item would cost. Picture getting a brand new car to the tariff of a bag of chips.

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Payment Gateway Developers Are In High Demand - New York Web ...

Written by: openwavebestservices | June 26, 2012 11:14 PM in Web Designers & Computer Services | 129 views | Tags: Web Application Development , Online Payment engine Development , Payment Gateway Developer , Payment Engine Development , Payment Gateway Development , Develop Online Payment Processing Solutions , Payment Engine Development , Online Payment Processing Development , Payment Gateway Developer , Payment Portal Development , Payment Engine , Online Payment Portals , Payment Systems , Payment Processing Systems , Develop Payment Processing Solutions , Financial Product Development , Online Payment Processing , Payment Gateway Development

In today?s world of Internet, E-commerce is becoming a highly developed business. Everyone who is now online business dealer needs a website as well as payment gateways. Payment gateways are almost a necessity for online stores that allow credit card/ debit card payment. A Payment Gateway Development is an essential component of any online business to take things forward.

Shopping Online Is Safe Now

Payment Processing Systems automatically process the payment transaction between the shopper and merchant. It is usually a third-party service that is actually a system of computer processes that process, verify, and accept or decline credit card transactions on behalf of the merchant through secure Internet connections. Payment engine is a software application designed to manage the processing of a transaction from card swipe to authorization.

Just Hire Payment Gateways Developers For A Successful Business

If you wish to grow your business without really expanding and spending on infrastructure, you don?t need to hire a roll of employees. Just hire payment gateway developers. They can build powerful and reliable applications including websites and other portals and boost your online business

Payment Gateway developers can create dynamic and interactive website for your online business according to your requirements. They are masters in developing online payment portals, content management system (CMS), collaborative networking systems, shopping carts, API Integration and numerous web applications. You can hire Payment Gateway developer to create professional application architecture and develop websites which are fully optimized, efficient and scalable. They are experts in improving the volume, quality of traffic to websites from Search Engine by optimizing your website.

These Are The Most Commonly Used Payment Gateways

1. Manual Payment Gateway: This type of payment gateway takes the customers' credit card details and stores them for you to access and process manually through a facility such as an eftpos machine which are inexpensive but they require manual processing for each payment.

?2. PayPal: This is one of the most professional payment gateways around. It processes the transaction real time thus when a customer provides the details, the funds are automatically transferred to you in no time.

3. Real time payment gateway: This is also very professional and an efficient gateway solution. In this, payments are processed at the point of the sale on your website

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Making Instant Approval Credit Card Applications Online | Finance ...

Instant approval credit cards are convenient ways in which to get you some instant credit. Apply for an instant approval credit card online and you can find out, within a few minutes if you are eligible for one or not. So an instant approval credit card is fast, its simple, and really a boon if you want some instant credit extensions. The key for getting an approval lies in making your application correctly and wisely. Here are tips that will help you get an instant approval credit card online.

Find the Right Instant Approval Credit Card

You will be spoilt for choice when you go shopping for an instant approval credit card online. It is easy to advice you to research each one of them thoroughly, but you need to know the precise factors to consider during your research. In order to give you immediate credit, the credit card company will take its pound of flesh with the following ? annual fees, interest rates, and other miscellaneous fees. A simple Google search will show you a quick comparison of the best rates of interest, annual fees, etc in your local area. If you have good credit, negotiate for a lesser interest rate or for zero annual fees. If you have a less than perfect credit history, find cards that offer a lower interest, less annual fees, etc

Secured Instant Approval Credit Cards

However, in case your credit history is really bad, find an instant approval credit card which offers a secured advance. You need to pay cash upfront in order to get credit. Ensure that the card reports this to the credit bureaus so that it helps you build a better credit history. Clear this point even before you apply for the card or you will have wasted your cash and your time.

Online Formalities for Instant Approval Credit Cards

You will see the online form you are required to fill out is pretty much the same as a regular credit card application form. Generally, the higher your household income, the better your chances of getting an approval. Avoid lying, as this information is useful for avoiding bankruptcy. If you inflate your household expenses, then the credit company will offer a higher credit limit. Anyone will be tempted to use up that credit limit. And if your income does not allow you to pay back your debts, you will find yourself falling quickly into the debt quicksand.

Applications for a secured instant approval credit card does not requires such details ? as long as you have the money and the facility to transfer the amount from your bank account, you will be able to get yourself an secured instant approval credit card. Just ensure the site is secure ? you can see a small lock appearing on the bottom right side of your browser window. This prevents hackers from accessing and misusing your credit card details.

Status of Instant Approval Credit Card Online

Generally, you will know the status of your application within a minute or two. If your application has been approved, then you can immediately start spending a limited amount. However, if the company needs to have a closer look at your accounts, they may defer their decision for a few days.

However, an instant approval credit card online is still the fastest way for getting a credit card or at least, some credit extension. Instant approval credit cards have their pros and cons and if you are aware the basic formalities of getting such a card, then there is no reason why your application should be rejected. But remember, an instant approval credit card may give you increased credit and may gratify your needs immediately, but they are double edged swords ? ensure that your credit history is not wounded in the process of acquiring too many credit cards.

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About the Author: Find tips about normal wbc, reticular veins and other information at the Health And Nutrition Tips website.

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Landing Pages for Online and Offline Businesses

?I have a website; isn?t that enough??

?Landing pages are something only those Internet businesses use.?

?My customers don?t look for my services and products online.?

Fortunately most businesses have realized those are false beliefs. Or maybe it?s that businesses that didn?t change their beliefs have died away.

Either way businesses that know how to use online marketing to their advantage are thriving.

Email marketing has the highest response rate out of all marketing methods, PPC advertising can create huge returns, and affiliates can reach audiences you wouldn?t otherwise even know of.

Landing pages make all that success possible; without them, online marketing is useless to you.

Without effective landing pages your email list will stay limited to your mom. You?ll waste thousands of dollars into AdWords. And affiliates won?t touch your product ? not even by accident.

In other words, landing pages enable you to sell more, regardless of what it is that you offer.

So, how should offline businesses use landing pages and what are the most important landing pages to have?

And oh, the same principles apply just as much to online businesses?

Your Home Page

Have you ever visited a website, only to turn away when you saw the home page?

At least I do that quite often and for several different reasons:

1. The design is so poor that I can?t expect much of the other content.
2. I don?t really know what I?d get if I stayed.
3. All the blinking ads, product pictures, and other clutter gives me a panic attack.

Your home page is the most important landing page you?ll ever build.

It will get more views than any other page, or even more than all other pages combined.

Should it say, ?Come closer. Take a look at all the great content we can offer. Here?s what you wanted, right??

Or should it say, ?Check out me awesome blinking navigation bar with 49 links!?

Should it say, ?This is what I offer and I?m sure you?d benefit from having it.?

Or should it say, ??ber-cool-life-changing-ideas-by-ME! Subscribe, Subscribe, Subscribe!?

Should it say, ?Choose what you?re most interested in and get quality content related to that topic.?

Or should it say, ?OMG! I just broke some record of how many product ads I can fit into just one page!?

Your home page needs to do four things?

1. Say Hello

Many of the people who come to your home page have never before visited your site, nor know who you are.

What would you do if you had houseguests like that?

You?d welcome them and tell them they came to the right place.

What if those guests are some celebrities that all of your neighbors would love to have as guests too; you?d have to convince you?re a better host than your neighbors.

That?s the situation online; your visitors are potential customers that your competitors would love to have. And many visitors are inclined to check out your competition before even contacting you.

The next three things help keep your visitors from leaving, and at least from forgetting who you are in case they do leave.

2. Be Very Clear about What You Offer

If you run a real estate business, you?d say you sell houses. Right?

No! All your competitors can say that too. You need to tell your story in a way that?s best for your potential customers.

You have to be specific: ?I sell affordable family homes in the lovely west-region of Antarctica for people who value beautiful nature and peacefulness, and I have 245 years of experience doing it.?

But don?t say it like that. Break the idea into pieces; tell it with pictures and videos, testimonials and bullet-points.

But what if you sell houses at the North Pole too?

3. Self-Selection

So, what if you offer more than just one thing? For example houses on the Antarctica and on the North Pole.

Your home page can no longer serve all of your potential customers perfectly, since you can?t know what exactly they?re looking for.

Fortunately they know what they?re looking for and your home page?s job is to make sure they get closer to it.

Many huge multinational companies force you to choose your country before anything else. That?s probably not a good idea for your site, but the principle works; you force visitors to pick the content that best suits them.

If you had the real estate company, your home page could have two huge buttons (a certain type of call to action), one for each location or buttons for each type of house you offer. The next pages would then be optimized for the selection the visitor made.

4. Call to Action

Call to action is the small difference between a page that informs and a page that converts.

What the call to action should be on your home page then? It can be just a ?self-selection? button, email list sign up form, contact form, or even a ?buy now? button.

Example of a front page that has clear self-selection options and also asks for an opt in.

What?s the best call to action on a home page depends on several things.

• Your goals
• Your products
• Your visitors
• Other elements on the page
• Etc.

Unfortunately I can?t give you a simple answer. The only rule I can offer is this: ask for the biggest commitment that your potential customers are willing to make at that point. And offer smaller commitments for those who aren?t quite there yet.

That ?large? commitment could be contacting you for a quote. And the smaller commitment could be watching a video about what you offer, or just clicking a link.

Check out this crazy example that hopefully explains some of the last ideas?

What Else Should Be on Your Home Page?

Nothing. It?s that simple.

Always make your home page as simple as possible; tell and show enough to keep visitors from leaving, but nothing more.

Have you ever stood in front of the ice cream shelf feeling as confused as after reading this sentence, ?The hamburger, ?Hamburg hamburger?, in Hamburg at, ?Hamburgers of Hamburg?, is the Hamburgers? favorite hamburger??

The confusion with ice creams comes from having too many choices. The same happens on many home pages; as well as other landing pages.

Even the best home page should only be the first in a series of pages meant to drive visitors to action. Next up: the most usual type of landing page, which is also the one people most often do a poor job with.

Product Pages

?But I don?t sell anything online??

You do sell something, right? That something needs a landing page.

80% of Americans use the Internet. That?s including infants, elderly, the blind, and those who believe using electricity is a sin.

In other words, your audience uses the Internet. Should they find you and your products there too?

Lets say you sell bricks in your, ?Quality Bricks for Builders?, store. And you refuse to see that many people would probably like to order your bricks online.

Well, you should still create landing pages for your bricks.

If you don?t sell the product online, then your landing pages? function is to make decision-making easy.

Good product pages help your potential customers find what they want and encourage making the purchase.

Some offline companies are ? quite successfully ? using shopping lists on their web sites. They let you browse their catalog and make a shopping list that you can print out and take with you to the actual store.

Product pages are also ideal for PPC (Pay Per Click) advertising (like AdWords). They?re highly focused, they tell the visitor all they need to know to make a decision, and they?re easily customizable for different ads.

But product pages aren?t just about PPC advertising, search engine optimization, and customer service; you need product landing pages for effective email marketing.

Email Marketing

As mentioned before email marketing has the highest response rate out of any direct marketing method.

And it works just as well for offline businesses as it does for online businesses.

The first step is always building a list; without one, there?s no email marketing.

And when you have the list, you can drive your business with it.

But you can do neither ? effectively ? without good landing pages for both steps.

Opt In Landing Page

To get people to subscribe to your list, you need a landing page that accomplishes that. Sure, you can just add an opt in form to your sidebar, but a dedicated landing page will have a much higher conversion rate.

There are several things most businesses do wrong with opt in landing pages.

1. They don?t give a good reason for subscribing.
2. They don?t directly ask you to subscribe.
3. They make subscribing too difficult.
4. They mess up the design.
5. They attract the wrong people.

Here?s a video that explains these ideas and shows you how to build an opt in landing page that works:

More about landing page optimization.

Check out the example that works.

But building the list is only the first step. Sending the emails and creating results is a different thing completely. But again landing pages make that easier?

The Email Landing Page

First of all, What the hell is an ?email landing page??

Have you ever received an email that has a link to a web page?

What about an email that gets you to click the link, but you leave the page where it lead without taking any action?

Most email marketing needs landing pages to be the conversion point, regardless of which of the three email marketing strategies you use. And most companies don?t know how to build landing pages that ?seal the deal?.

If you don?t sell the product online then your goal with the product page is either to inform (which will hopefully lead to sales) or to get the visitor to make the purchase decision and contact you.

So, how do you build an effective email landing page?

Here are a few guidelines to help you get started:

1. The landing page has to continue from where the email left the reader.
2. Stay focused on the message and your goal.
3. Add value (information, promises, proof) to the email.
4. Make the offer simple, clear, and easy to act on.
5. Too simple is always better than too complicated.

What to Do Right Now?

Okay, you know you need landing pages to promote your offline (or online) business effectively. And you probably have some ideas about how you can use them or make them better.

But before you start writing code, A/B-testing, and obsessing over conversion statistics, do this very short thought exercise:

1. Think what you want new visitors to do when they come to your site. Do you want them to contact you? Do you want them to find the best products for them? Do you want them to opt in to your email list? Something else?
2. Open your home page.
3. Look at each element on the page and think do they direct the visitor to your goals?
4. Now imagine removing every element that doesn?t help your goals.
5. And finally make the remaining elements more powerful with the extra space you now have.

Are you serious about making your landing pages better? What would happen to your business if your conversion rate would increase?

If you want to better your landing pages? conversion, here?s what I can do to help:

1. Leave a link to your landing page in the comments below. I promise to check it out and reply to you. Can you think of a reason why you wouldn?t use this opportunity? If you don?t have dedicated landing pages then use your home page.
2. Download my FREE Landing Page Checklist. It explains the 11 most important keys to high conversion. Once you read it, you?ll know more about landing pages than 90% of other business owners.
3. Get a Full Landing Page Evaluation that tells you clearly how you can increase your conversion. This is what I do and know. If you don?t agree, you pay absolutely nothing for it

Peter Sandeen is a marketing consultant specializing in landing pages. If you?ll only read one thing he?s written, then check out his FREE 46-page ?101 Headline Formulas? eBook. If you want more, go to Affect Selling.

Tagged as: Guest Appearances, Peter Sandeen

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Sea rise faster on East Coast than rest of globe

WASHINGTON (AP) ? From Cape Hatteras, N.C., to just north of Boston, sea levels are rising much faster than they are around the globe, putting one of the world's most costly coasts in danger of flooding, government researchers report.

U.S. Geological Survey scientists call the 600-mile swath a "hot spot" for climbing sea levels caused by global warming. Along the region, the Atlantic Ocean is rising at an annual rate three times to four times faster than the global average since 1990, according to the study published Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change.

It's not just a faster rate, but at a faster pace, like a car on a highway "jamming on the accelerator," said the study's lead author, Asbury Sallenger Jr., an oceanographer at the agency. He looked at sea levels starting in 1950, and noticed a change beginning in 1990.

Since then, sea levels have gone up globally about 2 inches. But in Norfolk, Va., where officials are scrambling to fight more frequent flooding, sea level has jumped a total of 4.8 inches, the research showed. For Philadelphia, levels went up 3.7 inches, and in New York City, it was 2.8 inches.

Climate change pushes up sea levels by melting ice sheets in Greenland and west Antarctica, and because warmer water expands.

Computer models long have projected higher levels along parts of the East Coast because of changes in ocean currents from global warming, but this is the first study to show that's already happened.

By 2100, scientists and computer models estimate that sea levels globally could rise as much as 3.3 feet. The accelerated rate along the East Coast could add about 8 inches to 11 inches more, Sallenger said.

"Where that kind of thing becomes important is during a storm," Sallenger said. That's when it can damage buildings and erode coastlines.

On the West Coast, a National Research Council report released Friday projects an average 3-foot rise in sea level in California by the year 2100, and 2 feet in Oregon and Washington. The land mass north of the San Andreas Fault is expected to rise, offsetting the rising sea level in those two states.

The USGS study suggests the Northeast would get hit harder because of ocean currents. When the Gulf Stream and its northern extension slow down, the slope of the seas changes to balance against the slowing current. That slope then pushes up sea levels in the Northeast. It is like a see-saw effect, Sallenger theorizes.

Scientists believe that with global warming, the Gulf Stream and other ocean currents are slowing and will slow further, Sallenger said.

Jeff Williams, a retired USGS expert who wasn't part of the study, and Stefan Rahmstorf, a professor of ocean physics at the Potsdam Institute in Germany, said the study does a good job of making the case for sea level rise acceleration.

Margaret Davidson, director of the Coastal Services Center for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Charleston, S.C., said the implications of the new research are "huge when you think about it. Somewhere between Maryland and Massachusetts, you've got some bodaciously expensive property at risk."

Sea level projections matter in coastal states because flood maps based on those predictions can result in restrictions on property development and affect flood insurance rates.

Those estimates became an issue in North Carolina recently when the Legislature proposed using historic figures to calculate future sea levels, rejecting higher rates from a state panel of experts. The USGS study suggests an even higher level than the panel's estimate for 2100.

The North Carolina proposal used data from University of Florida professor Robert Dean, who had found no regional differences in sea level rise. Dean said he can't argue with the results from Sallenger's study showing accelerating sea level rise in the region, but he said it's more likely to be from natural cycles. Sallenger said there is no evidence to support that claim.

___

Associated Press writers Allen Reed in Raleigh, N.C., and Jeff Barnard in Grants Pass, Ore., contributed to this report.

___

Online:

Nature Climate Change: http://www.nature.com/nclimate

___

Seth Borenstein can be followed at http://twitter.com/borenbears

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Video: Mourdock prematurely celebrates Supreme Court health care decision

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Leading Financial Web Site Penny Stock Detectives Makes Special Report on Green Energy Play: Geothermal

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Grassley disputes claim on Fast and Furious documents (CNN)

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The Author's Business Plan | Writing and Publishing News

In order to determine the potential for a product, you develop a business plan. When that product is a book, you write a book proposal.

Even before writing a book, there are certain things that you need to know. And this is true whether you?re writing a memoir, novel, children?s storybook, chapbook, historical, how-to, self-help or coffee table book. If you are seeking some measure of success with your book project, you must find out:

? Is there a market for this book?
? What titles compete with yours?
? How does your book differ from others on this topic?
? Will your novel appeal to the same audiences as other top selling books?
? Who is your target audience and how can you reach them?
? What are your publishing options?
? What are the possible consequences of your publishing choices?
? What are your responsibilities as a published author?
? How will you promote your book once it is published?

A well designed book proposal will answer these important questions. It will also help you to determine:

? How realistic is your vision for this book?
? What is the best way to organize or present your book?
? How can you make it more salable?

I?m one of many professionals who recommend writing a book proposal even before writing the book. You might argue (and believe me, many new authors do), ?But, I?m in creative mode?I need to write this book now.? Sure, go ahead and write a book on a whim. I?ve done it. It?s great fun?an enjoyable exercise. But should you decide that this book must be published, be aware that you might need to do some rewriting in order to snag a traditional publisher or to address a measurable segment of readers to make your book worthwhile.

Memoir authors seem especially reluctant to let anything outside of them influence their book. I was told recently, ?This is my memoir and it must be told my way.? Okay, but if you write a book proposal first, you might discover even subtle ways to make your memoir more desirable to a publisher and, even more important, your audience.

But even an excellent book will fail if there?s nobody promoting it. And promotion is the author?s job. So, while you are planning your book, you should also be building your platform.

Establish Your Platform Before Writing the Book
Your platform is your reach, your way of attracting readers, your connections to your audience. It includes your mailing lists and your promotional skills, for example. If your platform is lacking, here are some steps to take.

? Become a better public speaker. Join a Toastmasters club. Seek opportunities to practice your speaking skills. Go out and speak on your topic, if applicable. If you?re writing a historical novel, establish a connection with local, regional and state historical societies, clubs and associations where you might give talks, etc.

? Prepare to give readings. This is a popular method of promoting fiction books or memoirs. Do you have a good reading voice? If you need voice work, get help. And then go out and practice.

? Write articles for national magazines on your topic or in your genre.

? Become columnist or regular contributor to a Web site, newsletter or magazine related to your topic.

? Seek an endorsement for your book or support for your project from a well-known national organization.

? Establish and nurture connections with high profile people in your field or genre.

? Build a massive mailing list and keep adding to it.

? Build a Web site and start a blog related to your book. Offer something of value and promote, promote, promote.

? Take a class or read several good books about promotion in general and book promotion in particular.

? Become familiar with appropriate talk TV and radio shows nationwide and how to land interviews.

? Do something newsworthy.

The book proposal is so important that there have been whole books written on the topic. For complete information on writing your book proposal, reference my latest book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. This is an all-inclusive book on the publishing industry and how you can more successfully navigate it. It?s available at Amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores.

The Author?s Series continues tomorrow with a lesson on the importance of and how to keep your audience in mind while you?re writing your book.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 22nd, 2012 at 5:00 am and is filed under Authorship, Book Proposals. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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PowerSkin (for iPhone 4 and 4S)

For a phone design that hasn't changed in two years, there's a seemingly infinite number of case variations available for the Apple iPhone. From Xpal Power, the PowerSkin ($69.99 direct) for the iPhone 4/4S is slightly different from all of the other battery cases we've tested thus far in that it's made out of soft silicone rubber instead of hard plastic. That gives it a more protective feel than other cases, and its one-piece design adds to the sense of security. But it's little too heavy, and provides a little less power than many other cases out there.

Design and Features
Battery cases aren't known for their svelte design, but the PowerSkin is the largest we've seen yet. At 5.1 by 2.5 by 0.8 inches (HWD) and 3.36 ounces, it adds a considerable amount of bulk to your iPhone. The PhoneSuit Elite?($79.95, 4.5 stars), our current Editors' Choice, measures 4.90 by 2.40 by 0.67 inches and weighs 2.78 ounces by comparison. That large size makes the PowerSkin even less portable than most battery cases. It isn't comfortable to carry this around in your pocket?provided your pocket is large enough to fit it.

Unlike other cases, the Powerskin features a one-piece design made mostly of soft silicone rubber. That means you never have to worry about the top part of the case accidentally snapping off, and the thick rubber provides a more protective feeling that other battery cases. The back of the case is solid plastic, with a rubberized, soft touch coating. I don't like how the case covers up your Volume and Power buttons. There are rubber indicators you can press, but I prefer the tactile feel of the buttons themselves.

Now, I'm not willing to test it out with an actual phone inside, but I'd feel safer if my phone dropped while in the PowerSkin than, say, the Mophie Juice Pack Plus?($99, 4 stars). Still, if you drop your phone face down, none of these battery cases offer very much protection.

To use the PowerSkin, simply slide your phone in until it docks with the 30-pin Apple connector, then make sure the sides of it are tucked beneath the silicone. The bottom of the case contains a battery status button that triggers four blue status LEDs. This same button can also be used to power the case on or off when connected to your phone?simply hold it down until it stops (or starts) charging. There's a micro USB port on the bottom right hand side of the case, which allows you to connect the case to a computer for simultaneous charging and syncing with an included cable.

Performance and Conclusions
On its own, the iPhone 4S I tested lasted 9 hours and 22 minutes on a continuous 3G call. The PowerSkin uses a 2000 mAh battery that added 8 hours and 48 minutes. That nearly doubles your battery life, which is definitely long enough to get you through a full day of heavy phone usage. Still, this result isn't as long as some of the other battery results we've seen, like the PhoneSuit, which added 10 hours and 43 minutes of talk time.

If you're looking for a combination of security and battery life, the PowerSkin may be the right case for you. But if you're seeking something in a more manageable size, the PhoneSuit Elite is easier to carry, provides nearly two additional hours of battery life, and costs just $10 more. Or if you want to save some money, the ChargeIt! 2X?(4 stars) will double your iPhone's battery life for just $49.95.

More Cases & Carrying Gear Reviews:
??? PowerSkin (for iPhone 4 and 4S)
??? Apple iPad Smart Case
??? Crumpler Nhill Heist Laptop Bag
??? Chrome Berlin - PRO Laptop Bag
??? Octa Vacuum Dock + WhaleTail
?? more

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Advanced Pok?mon RP: A Trainer's Destiny Revisited

Interested in a "literate" Pok?mon RP? Check this out!

Hello everyone. I am back from an extremely long hiatus (officially back; I joined and quickly dropped from RPs recently due to end of high school/start of college business), and maybe looking to try again with this RP that I did... last year I believe (my the time flies!). Anyway, I the link to it is here. I consider that very, very successful for an RP, especially when you look at how many can't even make it off the ground. Unfortunately, due to both personal issues and RP issues, it came to an unfortunate and untimely end.

This summer, I would really love to try this idea again considering I should actually have some free time now. However, it is an extremely massive undertaking, and this time around I realize that it would be absolutely impossible for me to do this myself like I tried to before. To be responsible for an entire world, a gigantic array of NPC characters, doing the battles themselves, catering to the needs of the players... honestly it's a real project for one person. So, this interest check is not only for those of you willing to participate in a Pok?mon-themed RP, but it is also to check for anyone willing to Co-GM this with me. Someone with photo-editing skills would be greatly appreciated. Someone who can stay organized and dedicate a portion of time to the RP a few days per week is a must. And of course, someone highly familiar with the Pok?mon series, or at least willing to take a crash course from a total Pok?mon nerd a professional. I'm also going to leave the link to the original interest check I did a year ago right here. Reading this should also help you to understand what exactly this RP is all about.

In summary, it is a Pok?mon game that chronicles the journeys of trainers, coordinators, evil organization members, whatever you want to be, really. However, what sets it apart from most Pok?mon RPs is the level of writing and attention to detail I expect. I expect actual moves, learned in legitimate ways according to the cartridge games, real stats taken into account... it's best to read through the linked pages if you're interested, or ask me here for more information. I believe that this has the potential to be something truly amazing; for the amount of time the original lasted, everyone seemed to enjoy it thoroughly, and players were quite disappointed when it ended from what I can gather.

So, if you enjoy Pok?mon, are willing to dedicate some time to this, shoot me a PM, reply to this thread, or in whatever way show me that you're interested. ESPECIALLY those who might be willing to put in the extra time to Co-GM with me.

Lots of love,
Queen of Ice

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U.S. close to seizing disputed dinosaur skeleton

By Marice Richter

Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:41am EDT

(Reuters) - U.S. authorities said they expect this week to seize a 70-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton that was discovered in Mongolia more 65 years ago and now is stored in New York and at the center of an international legal dispute.

A federal judge in New York has signed a warrant that allows the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to seize the skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus bataar - an Asian cousin of the North American Tyrannosaurus rex - from Dallas-based Heritage Auctions.

"We should have it by the end of the week," said Luis Martinez, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The seizure will be a "major step forward" for the government of Mongolia, which is claiming sovereign ownership and seeking the skeleton's return, said Robert Painter, a Houston attorney who represents Mongolian President Elbegdorj Tsakhia.

The skeleton - 8 feet (2.4m) tall and 24 feet (7.3m) long - has been stored in crates in New York City since Heritage sold it at auction to an unidentified buyer for more than $1 million on May 20.

At the request of the Mongolian government, a U.S. District judge in Dallas issued a restraining order preventing the skeleton from being moved or the ownership transferred while the dispute is pending.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking the forfeiture of the nearly intact skeleton and its return to the Mongolian government.

In New York, U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel on Tuesday issued an order to seize the fossil, ruling there was probable cause it was subject to forfeiture under federal laws.

"From a legal standpoint, the U.S. government's lawsuit shifts the burden of proof from Mongolia to Heritage and others who might make a claim to its ownership," Painter said.

Heritage officials have said they will continue to cooperate with authorities. They say the skeleton was legally obtained and brought to auction by a reputable consignor.

"We believe our consignor purchased fossils in good faith, then spent a year of his life and considerable expense identifying, restoring, mounting and preparing what had previously been a much less valuable matrix of unassembled, underlying bones and bone fragments," Jim Halperin, co-chairman of Heritage Auctions, said in a statement. "We sincerely hope there is a just and fair outcome for all parties."

Federal officials said smugglers made false statements about the skeleton when it was imported into the United States from Britain in 2010. The skeleton did not originate in Britain nor was its value only $15,000 as claimed, they said.

The skeleton was discovered in 1946 during a joint Soviet-Mongolian expedition to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia's Omnogovi Province, Bharara said. Mongolia has had laws in place since 1924 prohibiting the export of dinosaur fossils that are considered national treasures and government property.

Heritage Auctions and the Mongolian government agreed in May to jointly investigate the ownership of the skeleton. Several paleontologists examined the skeleton several weeks ago and determined it was removed from the western Gobi Desert in Mongolia between 1995 and 2005.

(Editing by Daniel Trotta and Bill Trott)

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What Siri Says About Improving Your Relationship | World of ...

When I upgraded to an iPhone 4s I had no idea what to expect from Siri, or how she would actually help manage my busy life.

Over the past couple of months I?ve grown to appreciate Siri?s suggestions, assistance, and dry sense of humor. While she occasionally misunderstanding my requests, I can?t fault her entirely. I have to take responsibility for my part in our communication breakdowns. So, I?m working on clear diction and stating my requests more concisely (which my husband is thrilled about).

Even after two months of daily communication, Siri still has her guard up. She always deflects questions about her gender (she sure sounds like a woman), her marital status, her family life, and her dreams for the future.

I can?t help but wondered if she has has an avoidant attachment style due to childhood trauma or something. Maybe she just has very strong boundaries when it comes to work relationships ? she doesn?t mix personal and business.

In spite of her reluctance to open up emotionally, she often catches me off guard offering profound nuggets of relationship advice which cause me to reflect on my life and relationships.

Here are just a few of Siri?s gems of wisdom.

1. Don?t be afraid to ask for clarification.

2. Focus on what really matters to you.

3. Find joy in other?s successes.

4. Be open to new possibilities in your relationships.

5. Be ready and willing to offer help.

6. Don?t react. When you?re caught off guard, take time to respond.

7. Keep your word and do what you?ve promised to do.

8. Remember that you don?t have to have all of the answers.

9. Validate other?s feelings and point of view (and call them by name frequently during conversations).

10. Show caring and concern without trying to control their behavior.

11. Readily accept compliments with enthusiasm.

12. Focus on the positives in your life.

13. Listen more than you talk.

14. Think before you speak.

15. Appreciate what you have.

Now, I?m going to add my own final relationship tip?wait, I learned this from Siri, too!

?

?

Do you have any other words of wisdom about happy relationships? Please share!

Dynamic self & relationship expert Julie de Azevedo Hanks, LCSW loves to make a difference. Whether it's performing her songs, helping therapy clients, or giving advice in media interviews, Julie's down-to-earth professionalism and helpful advice inspires everyone to take good care of themselves and their relationships. Watch Julie on KSL TV's Studio 5, get counseling from her clinic Wasatch Family Therapy & read her national advice columns on Psych Central's Ask the Therapist, and Private Practice Toolbox. Connect on Facebook & Twitter... and watch for her new book releasing in 2013.

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Catch up on other posts by Julie de Azevedo Hanks, LCSW (or subscribe to their feed).

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????Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 19 Jun 2012
????Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

APA Reference
de Azevedo Hanks, J. (2012). What Siri Says About Improving Your Relationship. Psych Central. Retrieved on June 21, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/06/20/what-siri-says-about-improving-your-relationship/

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Campaigns buy into 'swag factor' as volunteer push (Star Tribune)

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'Breaking Dawn' And 'Dark Knight Rises': The Trouble With Trailers

Josh Horowitz takes a stand against the teaser-trailer obsession.
By Josh Horowitz

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in "Breaking Dawn - Part 2"
Photo:

This is the actual thing. It's not the preview of the thing. It's not the tease of the preview of the thing. It's not even the glimpse of the tease of the preview of the thing. It's the actual thing. I know — weird, right?

If you're an insatiable consumer of media like me (and if you're not, you're in the wrong place. Go commune with nature, you hippie; I'm juggling an iPad, a laptop and a Blackberry with one hand!), you're probably getting sick of the parsing out of "exclusives" during the last few months. I write the following acknowledging there's some hypocrisy here. I (and MTV News) am after all guilty of exactly what I'm claiming to be tired of: the teaser culture. But I'm taking a stand — I hereby go on record saying I am officially sick of 10-second previews of previews. As I write this, a bunch of new trailers and teases and commercials (figuring out the appropriate terminology is a headache in and of itself) just landed on the Interwebs.

Perhaps most notable in your world is the latest from "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" that came out Tuesday morning (June 19). Yes, Summit has released what it calls a "ten-second sneak peek of the teaser trailer" in anticipation of the actual teaser trailer for said movie, which presumably will give way to a non-teaser (er, regular?) trailer in a few months. Still with me? Now don't get me wrong: I love seeing early imagery from films I'm anxiously awaiting, but this is not the way to do it. At least not for me. Mind you, this snippet is still worlds better than the time-honored entertainment-show tradition of showing snippets of an exclusive trailer while a breathless correspondent narrates exactly what you're seeing. "There's Bella! And there's Edward!" Yeah, we see that. Thanks, Billy Bush.

Also out Tuesday morning are two examples of advertisements for upcoming flicks that definitely get things right, in my estimation. In the — let's call it "traditional" — category, there's the brand-new trailer for "The Dark Knight Rises," which frankly doesn't show a ton more than we've seen already. But it does package the material so artfully, with a keen sense of self-serious awesomeness ("This year a fire will rise" — yes!), that I doff my broken cowl in its favor.

And then there's my personal obsession, the latest work from Paul Thomas Anderson, "The Master." The second of what I'm guessing will be a series of shorts (calling these trailers doesn't do them justice) has been released, and each is slowly but surely introducing the upcoming flick's key figures. (Joaquin Phoenix is going to steal the film! Wait, no, I take it back — it's Philip Seymour Hoffman's movie!) Make no mistake, "The Master" is the "Dark Knight Rises" for the Sight & Sound-subscribing crowd this year.

Of course, this assortment of teases/ trailers/ shorts/ whatever doesn't even get into the most interesting area of film advertising going today — let's call it the viral short. "Prometheus" may have divided fanboys, but I think we all can agree that "Happy birthday David" was mesmerizing and creepy in all the right ways. So where is the viral video of the Cullens sitting at home watching a "True Blood" marathon? Oh, the possibilities ...

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Lyme Disease Outfoxes Deer

60-Second Science | More Science

In some locations, the incidence of Lyme disease tracks less with the abundance of deer than it does with the disappearance of foxes. Karen Hopkin reports.

June 18, 2012

More 60-Second Science

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How does a Venus flytrap know when to snap shut? Can it actually feel an insect?s tiny, spindly legs? And how do cherry blossoms know when to bloom? Can they...

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Deer ticks and Lyme disease go hand-in-hand in some places. But you can?t always put the blame on Bambi. Because new research shows that the incidence of Lyme disease tracks less with the abundance of deer than it does with the disappearance of foxes. The study is in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [Taal Levi et al, Deer, predators, and the emergence of Lyme disease]

To see where foxes come in, you have to look at the tick life cycle.

When deer ticks are young, they feed on small mammals like the white-footed mouse. It?s from infected rodents that the ticks pick up the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.

Foxes, of course, prey on mice and other small mammals. So fewer foxes means more mice, and potentially more disease.

To come up with that connection, researchers modeled the relative contributions of various animal populations in areas where Lyme disease is rife. And they found that, in New York State, for one, the incidence of Lyme could be directly predicted by the dearth of foxes.

The foxes were pushed out by coyotes, which have been on the rise since New York lost its wolves. Which were driven away by humans. Who now get bit by ticks.

?Karen Hopkin

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast]??????

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Video: Santelli's Morning Bond Update

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McCartney turns 70, shows no sign of slowing down

FILE - In this Monday, June 4, 2012 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, 2nd from left, is joined on stage by performers Sir Tom Jones, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John at the conclusion of the Queen's Jubilee Concert in front of Buckingham Palace, London. McCartney turned 70 years of age Monday June 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)

FILE - In this Monday, June 4, 2012 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, 2nd from left, is joined on stage by performers Sir Tom Jones, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John at the conclusion of the Queen's Jubilee Concert in front of Buckingham Palace, London. McCartney turned 70 years of age Monday June 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 5, 2009 file photo, British musician Paul McCartney, and his companion Nancy Shevell arrive for the presentation of his daughter British fashion designer Stella McCartney's Ready to Wear Spring Summer 2010 fashion collection, in Paris. McCartney turned 70 years of age Monday June 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

FILE - In this Wednesday, July 15, 2009 file photo Paul McCartney peeks through the curtains during rehearsals for a performance atop the Ed Sullivan Theater marquee during a taping of "The Late Show with David Letterman" in New York. McCartney turned 70 years of age Monday June 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)

FILE - In this Feb. 1964 file photo, the Beatles' Paul McCartney is shown on the set of the Ed Sullivan Show. McCartney turned 70 Monday June 18, 2012. McCartney turned 70 Monday June 18, 2012. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 1964, file photo, three members of the Beatles pose on a stack of rowboats in New York's Central Park. From the top are: Ringo Starr, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. McCartney turned 70 Monday June 18, 2012. (AP Photo)

LONDON (AP) ? Paul McCartney can still rock at 70. What more could a former Beatle want?

He celebrated his birthday in private Monday, perhaps resting up between gigantic gigs this summer. But he shows no sign of slowing down as his music is passed on to generations too young to have seen him in Wings, much less the Beatles.

Once a pot-smoking counterculture rebel, "Sir Paul" is very much part of the British establishment now, closing Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee concert earlier this month with a mix of favorites that included a raucous "All My Loving," one of the Beatles' first smash hits.

He's also preparing for a featured role as the final act at the July 27 opening ceremony of the London Olympics ? just another global audience of a billion or more for one of the most popular performers in pop history.

Even McCartney may be a bit nervous for that one, but he won't be short of material: Consider a back catalog that includes "Yesterday," ''Eleanor Rigby," ''Penny Lane" and a few dozen other classics, including perennial crowd pleasers "Let It Be" and "Hey Jude."

It's been a strong year for McCartney, who in October married his third wife, dark-haired American heiress Nancy Shevell, closing the book on his failed union and messy divorce from second wife Heather Mills. His first wife, Linda, died of breast cancer in 1998.

McCartney has appeared relaxed and almost jovial in recent months as he eases into his role as one of rock's eminent elder statesmen, a position he shares with Bob Dylan (71) and Mick Jagger (68).

And while there are plenty of other musicians of his generation still playing, McCartney manages to keep his act squarely in the mainstream, rather than becoming just another oldies show. He still puts out new music and attracts new fans. His latest album, "Kisses on the Bottom," was released in February.

McCartney has admitted dyeing his hair (which sometimes seems to have an odd burgundy tint), but his musical ability has not diminished with age.

He can still captivate a large arena with a simple acoustic performance of "Blackbird" and can shift gears at the drop of a hat for a mean, Vegas-style, pyrotechnic-aided rendition of "Live and Let Die," a James Bond theme song that has become a favorite part of his repertoire.

John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, tweeted birthday wishes to McCartney on Monday. And Paul Weller made a one-day-only digital release of the Beatles song "Birthday" as a tribute, with proceeds going to charity.

In the run-up to his birthday, McCartney, a longtime vegetarian, urged the public to cut back on meat consumption to help cut greenhouse gas emissions and ease the global warming crisis.

Associated Press

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