Silversea Lines Up Impressive Roster Of Speakers For Silver ...

Ft. Lauderdale, FL ? February 2^nd, 2012:? Acclaimed news correspondents Bernard Kalb and Morton Dean, famed hostage negotiator Terry Waite, culinary icon Maggie Beer, renowned broadcaster and monarchy expert Brian Hoey, award-winning television producer/director Terry Hughes, and Sky News and BBC commentator Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, OBE, are among an impressive array of guest speakers participating in Silversea?s Silver Perspectives^SM enrichment program this year.

?Once again, we?ve assembled an eclectic mix of renowned speakers from around the globe to enrich our guests? vacation experience with insights covering a broad spectrum of topics,? said Steve Tucker, Silversea?s vice president of field sales for North America.

Following is a small sampling of guest speakers with abbreviated biographies and their respective voyages in 2012:

Silver Shadow- February 4 ? Voyage 3203 (Auckland to Freemantle)

MAGGIE BEER: On Australia?s ABC television network, this self-taught cook and champion of traditional cooking methods co-hosted the popular cooking program The Cook and the Chef with Simon Bryant, head chef for the Hilton Hotel in Adelaide. She has written several books about food and in 2001 was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society through cooking and writing.

Silver Shadow ? February 4 ? Voyage 3203 (Auckland to Freemantle) & February 23 ? Voyage 3204 (Freemantle to Singapore)

TERRY WAITE: As envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Terry Waite successfully negotiated the release of hostages in Iran and Libya during the 1980s. ?In 1987, negotiating the release of hostages in Beirut, Waite was himself taken hostage and held in captivity for 1,763 days.

Silver Spirit ? April 12 ? Voyage 5210 (Barbados to Lisbon)

MORTON DEAN: As a correspondent for CBS News and ABC News, this Emmy-Award nominated reporter covered many historic, headline-making stories around the world. He covered the Vietnam War with distinction, and when a deadly terror bomb blasted the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen, he was dispatched there as ABC?s lead reporter.

Silver Shadow ? April 25 ? Voyage 3211 (Tokyo to Shanghai) & May 6 ? Voyage 3212 (Shanghai to Tokyo)

BERNARD KALB: A veteran journalist, media critic and author, he was the founding anchor and a panelist on the weekly CNN program Reliable Sources for a decade. He traveled the globe for more than three decades as a correspondent covering world affairs for CBS News, NBC News and The New York Times.

Silver Spirit ? November 16 ? Voyage 5236 (Las Palmas to Fort Lauderdale)

ALASTAIR BRUCE OF CRIONAICH, OBE: A descendant of Robert the Bruce, he is the author of numerous books on British royalty and a commentator for Britain?s Sky News and the BBC. He is also a documentary filmmaker and was historical advisor to recent award-winning films such as The Young Victoria and The King?s Speech, as well as the new Masterpiece Classic television series Downton Abbey.

Silver Spirit ? December 20 ? Voyage 5239 (Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale)

TERRY HUGHES:? He was head of BBC TV Variety during the ?golden years? of Morecame & Wise and The Two Ronnies.? He also co-produced and co-directed the acclaimed Ripping Yarns, written by and starring Michael Palin.? Moving to Los Angeles, he soon became one of the premiere producers and directors of television?s The Golden Girls, 3rd Rock from the Sun and episodes of 8 Simple Rules, Friends, Blossom and That ?70s Show.

And as previously announced, bestselling authors Bill Bryson (A Short History of Nearly Everything) and James Bradley (Flags of our Fathers) will be hosting two segments of Silver Whisper?s World Cruise 2012. Bryson is slated to host Voyage 4206, March 3 ? 14, Singapore to Shanghai, and Bradley will host Voyage 4207, March 14 ? 26, Shanghai to Bangkok.

For a complete list of upcoming guest lecturers, including their photos, biographies and voyage dates, go to http://www.silversea.com/life-onboard/enrichment/guest-lecturers/.

About Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the luxury cruise line industry, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard its intimate, all-suite vessels: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit ? all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. With the inclusion of the expedition ship Silver Explorer, Silversea Cruises? itineraries encompass all seven continents and feature worldwide luxury cruises to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, both polar regions and over 450 fascinating destinations in between.

In the U.S., Silversea has been voted ?World?s Best? by the readers of Cond? Nast Traveler (nine times) and Travel + Leisure (seven times), and rated Number-One luxury cruise line by high-net-worth consumers in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI). International awards include ?Best Innovation in Products and Services? from the Italian Innovazione Marketing Oggi Awards (2009); ?World?s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line? from World Travel Awards (2009); ?Five Star Diamond Award? from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (2010); ?Number One? small-ship line in the Readers? Choice survey conducted by Britain?s Cond? Nast Traveller magazine (2010); ?Best Luxury Cruise Line? Excellence Award by Spain?s Cruise News Media Group (2009); ?Best Luxury Cruise Line? by Australia?s Luxury Travel & Style Magazine (2011); and ?Best Luxury Cruise Operator? according to Travel Weekly China (2010).

About Relais & Ch?teaux

Relais & Ch?teaux is an exclusive collection of 500 of the finest hotels and gourmet restaurants in 60 countries. Established in France in 1954, the Association?s mission is to spread its unique art de vivre across the globe by selecting outstanding properties with a truly unique character. It is also a family of hoteliers and Grands Chefs from all over the world who share a passion for and a personal commitment to ensuring their guests are privy to moments of exceptional harmony. For information on Relais & Ch?teaux, please call (800) 735-2478 (U.S./Canada) or 00 800 2000 00 02 (U.K.) or visit www.relaischateaux.com.

# # #

For more information on Silversea Cruises, please contact a travel agent.

For a complimentary brochure, please call toll-free (877) 215-9986 or visit www.silversea.com.

?

Media Contact:??
Kate Hillyar
Siren Communications
416-351-0777
kate@sirencommunications.com

Source: http://www.sirencommunications.com/clientnews/2012/02/02/silversea-lines-up-impressive-roster-of-speakers-for-silver-perspectives-program/

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Recommendations To Find A Rental In Panama | Dating Advice ...

Vacationing in Panama is great if you know where to look for great rental houses and villas to stay in the duration of your stay in the country. Panama hotels are impressive but are just not practical if you?ll be staying in Panama for a longer period of vacation. It won?t be practical also to book for a hotel for a bigger group of people who are on a wonderful Panamanian tour like friends and families who are having a reunion or even just a simple get away. An apartment in Panama City is a good choice of accommodation if you are on a budget and with a group of friends. Rentals vary greatly in kinds, there are villas and houses as well as flats and apartments.

Rentals in Panama are priced competitively. A rental condo or house will enable you to negotiate for a good price. Everything you need is right there in a Panama house rental. This will help you reduce the price of your trip. Sometimes, if you?re lucky, houses come with their own swimming pools that you, as visitors, can also enjoy. You won?t pay extra to have a warm swim into a pool. It?s always great to rent out for people who are within a bigger group. The price of rent usually depends on the duration of your stay.

An apartment or a villa with lots of amenities will fetch a higher price. Guests may use kitchen facilities so they may be able to save money since they won?t have to dine out. Most of these places are also child and pet-friendly and provide helpers who clean up the area as you go.

Rented houses are truly practical choices for accommodation in Panama. Most of these are also located near markets and places of interest.

Renting out a house or an apartment in Panama is a wise thing to do. The only other thing you must be worried about is transportation, specifically if you will be holidaying in some distant villas in the country. You can balance out this little negative aspect by hiring a cruiser for the whole family. The advantage is that you?ll be able to share expenses with the group. You may also be capable to watch each other?s items while some of you are shopping. These are only some of the advantages of rentals in Panama.

David Bess helps tourists establish themselves in Panama.To search for short term and long term rentals, visit our website panama city panama condos.

Source: http://datingadvicesingles.com/love/?p=44652

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First lady promotes healthy food in California

First lady Michelle Obama arrives at the future site of a Northgate Market in Inglewood, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, to showcase efforts being made to draw grocers to low-income neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

First lady Michelle Obama arrives at the future site of a Northgate Market in Inglewood, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, to showcase efforts being made to draw grocers to low-income neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

First lady Michelle Obama speaks at the future site of a Northgate Market in Inglewood, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Michelle Obama says the proposed new supermarket in the middle of a blue-collar Hispanic neighborhood in Southern California is an example of how the effort to bring healthy foods to low-income communities is paying off. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

First lady Michelle Obama speaks at the future site of a Northgate Market in Inglewood, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Michelle Obama says the proposed new supermarket in the middle of a blue-collar Hispanic neighborhood in Southern California is an example of how the effort to bring healthy foods to low-income communities is paying off. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

First lady Michelle Obama, joined by Inglewood Mayor James Butts, background, speaks at the future site of a Northgate Market in Inglewood, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Michelle Obama says the proposed new supermarket in the middle of a blue-collar Hispanic neighborhood in Southern California is an example of how the effort to bring healthy foods to low-income communities is paying off. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

First lady Michelle Obama speaks at the future site of a Northgate Market in Inglewood, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Michelle Obama says the proposed new supermarket in the middle of a blue-collar Hispanic neighborhood in Southern California is an example of how the effort to bring healthy foods to low-income communities is paying off. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) ? First lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday said the campaign to bring healthy food to all Americans is happening neighborhood by neighborhood.

Standing in a vacant Southern California store set to be refurbished and reopened this summer, Obama lauded efforts to bring large grocery retailers to inner-city areas that traditional supermarket chains spurn.

"That's how we solve this problem ? one community, one household at a time," Obama said, speaking in front of a display depicting an old-fashioned grocery store with crates stocked with fresh fruit and vegetables. "We're not just making this generation healthy. We're making the next, and the next and the next."

Obama, who is on the second day of her two-day visit to the Los Angeles area, made the stop in the blue-collar, largely Hispanic neighborhood as part of her "Let's Move!" campaign to boost healthy food and fitness.

Part of the campaign includes promoting initiatives such as the $264 million California FreshWorks Fund, which finances grocery businesses willing to open in urban areas.

One of the fund's first projects was a $20 million loan to Anaheim-based Northgate Gonzalez Markets, which operates 34 supermarkets around Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, to build the Inglewood store and two others.

The FreshWorks Fund is one of a mushrooming number of initiatives to tackle so-called "food deserts," which are mostly urban areas where conventional supermarket chains are reluctant to operate because of the low-income customer base and safety concerns.

Nutrition experts point to food deserts as a key reason why obesity and weight-related ailments beleaguer inner-city residents, since they must buy much of their food at overpriced corner stores that sell a lot of highly processed packaged foods and snacks but little fresh produce, meat and dairy items.

The FreshWorks Fund, which is a partnership of The California Endowment, banks and health organizations, was launched last July at the White House.

Besides Northgate, other projects include financing a farmer's market near a housing project and a food delivery service for outlying rural communities, said Tina Castro, director of impact investing for The California Endowment, a Los Angeles-based foundation that focuses on health issues.

"Health really happens in neighborhoods," she said. "We're looking for those small to medium-sized, independent grocers to give them access to capital and real estate."

Northgate opened the first of the three new markets last fall in the City Heights area of San Diego. The next will be a renovation of the Inglewood building. The third will be the construction of a store in South Los Angeles, slated for completion next year. Each store creates about 120 jobs.

The locations match the company's three-decade-long focus of providing quality, affordable foods in low income neighborhoods, which primarily comprise Hispanic immigrants but also include black and Asian residents, said Carl Middleton, president of Northgate Gonzalez Real Estate Co.

"We provide that homeland experience for immigrants," Middleton said.

The stores typically offer tortilla and taco counters, as well as products from Mexico and Central America, including Coca-Cola made in Mexico, as well as fresh produce, meats, seafood, dairy and bakeries. It also caters to its immigrant customers by providing payroll check cashing and wire transfers.

Part of the company's mission has been to promote nutrition by providing lean cuts of meat, preservative-free baked products and good quality fruits and vegetables, Middleton said.

The chain has launched a "Viva la Salud" (Long Live Health) campaign, which puts a special tag to denote healthy foods, such as olive oil rather than lard, and holds cooking classes in stores.

The company was founded by Mexican immigrant Miguel Gonzalez in 1980, who came to the United States after his shoe store burned down in Jalisco.

After working for several years in various jobs, he had saved enough to buy an old liquor store in Anaheim and convert it to a grocery store that became a community gathering spot, recalled his youngest son Oscar Gonzalez, who heads the company.

Seeing a niche in catering to fellow immigrants, he expanded the business with the help of his 13 children. It now employs 5,000 people.

Obama said she was impressed by the family's commitment to the communities they serve. "Their story is so inspiring on so many different levels," she said.

After the Inglewood event, Obama was scheduled to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and to deliver a luncheon speech at the Democratic National Committee.

___

Contact the reporter at http://twitter.com/ChristinaHoag.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2012-02-01-Michelle%20Obama-Grocery/id-1476947e9c1e4a5786cefd3a9119d2ac

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electronic ? Travel related | vomitrainbow.com

Abstract

Have a look at Nielsen Online evaluations for the greatest five internet sites (Seven on the web take a trip businesses and three flight companies companies) throughout Tourism segment throughout 2008.

Expedia arrived initial together with 13.6 000 0000 site visitors, Travelocity arrived minute, together with 10.Two million special site visitors. Orbitz arrived 3rd (6.A few mil), as well as Free airline Airline carriers (A few.Two million), then arrived Low-cost lotto tickets (Four.Four mil), American Airline carriers (Four.Two million), Bing! Take a trip (Four.Two million), Delta Airline carriers (Several.Hunting for mil), Priceline (Several.8 mil) as well as AOL take a trip (Several.6 000 0000).

Practically Fifty seven mil site visitors stopped at top internet sites seeking one particular alternative ( space ) ?Happy traveling?.

(Origin: Nielsen Online evaluations)

Launch

Facts & Connection Technologies is becoming key element for each & every single sectors morning clean morning. This time it is on Tourism.

Marketplace Review

Europe is actually before other land masses throughout growth of take a trip marketplace together with nearly Forty-nine Per cent share of the market. The united states is actually on minute together with 25 Per cent as well as Parts of asia together with 18 Per cent masses achieved on 3rd position.

Trends throughout Marketplace (applicable to many regarding places)

One particular. As being a cut-throat marketplace together with brand new entry of worldwide gamers originating from in foreign countries.
2. Continuously alteration of client requirements.
Several. Objectives of the visitor are usually elevated to investigate a lot more comfort as well as value.
Four. Holidaymakers are receiving educated.
A few. We have a demand of automatic systems.

Marketplace & The idea

Tourism Marketplace ( space ) some sort of heterogeneous marketplace crafted from complicated as well as contains numerous parts pieces. Intangible, disposable as well as international services marketplace is obtaining right enterprise necessities insured by information technology these days.

The most beneficial illustration showing information technology software throughout Tourism will offer here?s Computerized reservation system intended for Railways & Airline carriers.

You can find The idea options intended for motels, hotels, hospitality, take a trip intermediaries, leisure as well as travel and leisure on componen intended for improve enterprise functions, improving client interactions plus more successful surgical procedures.

Exactly who requirements facts?

Before beginning utilization of information technology in your floor, it?s important for you to realize ones floor requirements of information sharing & availability.

Tourism Market is crafted from visitor, travel companies, service providers as well as Govt. & personal travel and leisure places of work as well as professionals.

Visitor ( space ) an important customer requirements details on locations, features, availibilities, costs, landscape & climate facts. Whether it?s outside of state then perimeter handles & contact.

Travel specialists appear facts & specifics of visitor (customer) movements out there, service providers, locations, features, availibilities, costs, trip packages as well as direct contact with other divisions.

Carrier?s networks need to find out information on customer, travel companies, competitors as well as businesses.

Tourism places of work seek out movements throughout marketplace, size as well as dynamics regarding travel and leisure moves, procedures as well as strategies intended for improvement.

Answers refined..

The idea permitted same day payday loans travel and leisure is actually being called while ? age ( space ) tourism?. On the internet travel and leisure are at some sort of platform that allows direct arranging, simple transaction intended for end-user, business-to-business dealing intended for product or service providers, travel companies as well as shops.

Marketing ebay

Dozens of websites as well as websites unveiled by authorities along with personal companies would certainly offer a lots of travel and leisure services such as flight companies, motels, dining establishments, camp-sites, tours, exercise centers, shows, festivities, purchasing and much more together with choicest regarding assortments regarding products and services.

Approach ones trip on the web through agents? websites. Reservation as well as purchasing regarding features intended for train, flight companies, sail, motels, hotels, hotels, car rentals as well as journeys can be carried out on the internet.

Nevertheless causing a component of basic online portal, which simply delivers static facts & gorgeous photos together with significantly less updated understanding as well as data transfer, travel and leisure marketplace is planning on a lot more realistic as well as pleased cycle options through I . t.

Advance systems throughout Tourism Marketplace

As an alternative to .Com & e-commerce travel and leisure marketplace is seeking alternative such as E-Business as well as U-Business (Worldwide Organization) options.

Customer relationship management

Customer relationship management based mostly system helps service agency to deliver understanding, value as well as successful intend to it is buyers. Customer relationship management helps service agency to formulate a lifetime romance through providing on time options. Specially travel and leisure marketplace requirements superb Customer relationship management ways of assist site visitors as well as buyers before traveling on trip, in the course of trip and try to immediately after trip products and services. Customer relationship management options could be presented to a visitor through internet, mail, answering services company, kiosks as well as touring facts places of work whenever & just about anywhere.

Just think about exactly how useful could it be for you to realize standing of the reservation by keying in simply 111.

Even if you are usually touring Japan?s small town region, you?ll be able to draw some good information in your preferred words concerning the place with a call up.

How much of an practical experience! You happen to be standing at ?Taj Mahal? and you are capable to study heritage specifics wonderful images as well as super-hero roles on hiburan kiosks. Possibly you can even examine ones even more take a trip registration ask approach through kiosks. A whole lot outside your creativity. Only consider and your jinn have been in your merchandise.

Value cycle incorporation

Tourism marketplace is a sequence of many service providers. Throughout long-term options, price slicing & efficiency throughout info & facts shift, speed throughout deals and seeking to weighty hiburan based mostly products and services ( space ) back-end systems Payday loan require an outstanding value cycle incorporation through options such as SCM, ERP as well as Customer relationship management. Nevertheless, right up until right now uses of SCM as well as ERP are not as much as the industrial statements while travel and leisure marketplace is style of services marketplace.

Expertise Supervision Devices

Kilometres as well as enterprise brains systems possess extensive setting regarding execution throughout Tourism marketplace.
Very well, nicely, you can think about the idea. Looking at heritage timelines as well as providing instance information about place on the spot tends to make needing to find out concerning place to some sort of visitor. Possibly Bisexual helps analyst to find tourist?s behaviour as well as movements together with info and data. To uncover client?s need isn?t much harder job.

Using enhance systems

Involved Electronic digital Tv set (IDTV), Portable here amazing information for this discussion systems as well as Web are usually chiselling brand new confronts throughout client products and services intended for travel and leisure marketplace. Employing GPRS as well as GIS, Kilometres as well as Bisexual can easily be bundled on roadmaps. It can be throughout approach. That is certainly ideal for venture visitor. Where by feel My partner and i ? You?re in unsafe forest. Be warned!!

By having a portable, visitor could be guided through societal history through multiple ( space ) words words, text as well as graphics. Possibly it is possible for just a visitor to find details on fees, opening days to weeks as well as timings intended for nearby locations. Uncover bookstore, cafe, cafe as well as Atm machine where previously you are.

Looking that you simply Content vacation

Throughout state-of-the-art places, age ( space ) travel and leisure concept ended up being employed and hang up in reality throughout past several years. Nevertheless, age ( space ) travel and leisure is still throughout rising stage together with enhance technology?s software. But for developing places as well as not developed places it is beneath utilization stage.

Along with using e-tourism, this vacation goers could create on the web reservation, concerns as well as acquire immediate confirmation; this could remove many obstacles which are confronted with a visitor.

Source: http://vomitrainbow.com/?p=765

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Researchers identify cell-permeable peptide that inhibits hepatitis C

ScienceDaily (Jan. 31, 2012) ? Researchers from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a cell-permeable peptide that inhibits a hepatitis C virus protein and blocks viral replication, which can lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis.

This finding by Dr. Samuel French, an assistant professor of pathology and senior author of the study, builds on previous work by the French laboratory that identified two cellular proteins that are important factors in hepatitis C virus infection.

French and his team initially set out to identify the cellular factors involved in hepatitis C replication and, using mass spectrometry, found that heat shock proteins (HSPs) 40 and 70 were important for viral infection. HSP70 was previously known to be involved, but HSP40 was linked for the first time to hepatitis C infection, French said. They further showed that the natural compound Quercetin, which inhibits the synthesis of these proteins, significantly inhibits viral infection in tissue culture.

In this study, published Jan. 30, 2012 in the peer-reviewed journal Hepatology, French and his team demonstrated that the viral non-structural protein 5A (NS5A) directly binds to HSP70 and mapped the site of the NS5A/HSP70 complex on NS5A. While HSP70 was previously shown to bind NS5A in cells, a direct NS5A/HSP70 interaction and complex formation was established in this study. In an effort to stop this interaction, they tested peptides that might inhibit HSP70.

"This is important because we've developed a small peptide that binds to that site and blocks the interaction between the proteins that is important for viral replication," French said. "This is another, potentially highly efficacious way to block replication of hepatitis C."

An estimated 160 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C and the conventional treatments -- interferon and ribavirin -- can have significant side effects. A new drug targeting cellular proteins rather than viral proteins would be a valuable addition to the treatment arsenal, French said.

"We were surprised that this peptide works this well," French said. "While its mechanism is different, the activity of this peptide is comparable to other newly developed anti-virals."

The study, done in tissue culture, shows that the peptide gains entry into the cell easily and blocks the cascade of cellular events that allows the virus to replicate, French said. Blocking the HSP70 protein rather than a viral protein also reduces the chance of patients with the hepatitis C virus developing resistance to the peptide.

"There's no direct pressure on the virus, so it is less likely to mutate and develop resistance," French said. "The goal is to achieve a sustained response, essentially a cure, meaning there is no more virus replication. There are a lot of drugs coming out now that are designed to stop hepatitis C replication, but resistance is still an issue. About 10 to 20 percent of patients on the new drugs become resistant. This new peptide may help combat resistance."

Going forward, French and his team are testing variants of the newly discovered peptide to see if they can develop one with an even higher affinity and can decrease the size of the peptide to improve cellular penetration and liver targeting. The new and improved peptides will be tested in animal models.

This peptide "may be a candidate for hepatitis C therapy," the study states. "Considering the potency of the peptide in suppressing viral translation levels, treatment with this peptide may significantly improve the efficacy of conventional treatments in patients who become resistant to conventional therapies."

The study was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health and by the California Center for Antiviral Drug Discovery at the University of California.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/50VGuDNKj_Q/120131092458.htm

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Hong Kong says economy slowed in 2011 (AP)

HONG KONG ? Hong Kong's economic growth fell further in the final quarter of 2011 as global trade weakened, and the government forecast an anemic expansion this year.

The economy expanded by 3 percent in the three months ending in December, following a steady decline from 7.6 percent in the first quarter, Finance Secretary John Tsang said in an annual budget speech.

Inflation jumped to 5.3 percent from 2010's 1.7 percent as stimulus measures by major governments caused an influx of money into the territory, Tsang said, according to a text released by the government. He said pressures eased in the fourth quarter but he gave no inflation forecast for this year.

Tsang forecast 2012 growth of no more than 1 to 3 percent. He said the government plans to spend 80 billion Hong Kong dollars ($10.3 billion) on stimulus measures.

Hong Kong's open markets and status as a major trading center have made it one of Asia's most prosperous economies but also left it exposed to the plunge in U.S. and European demand. Hong Kong is also one of Asia's busiest ports, handling a large share of goods from China, the world's biggest exporter.

"Given the bleak economic prospects in Europe and the U.S., the risk of a sharp deterioration of the external environment is increasing," Tsang said.

"I am not optimistic about Hong Kong's export performance in the first half of this year, and if exports of goods were to plunge in the first quarter, the overall economy might take a downturn in that quarter," he said.

Weak global demand means "unexciting trade performance" will persist in early 2012, said Citigroup economist Adrienne Lui in a report.

Hong Kong is a Chinese territory but has a high degree of autonomy and its own currency and customs system.

Exports rebounded in 2010 following the global crisis but fell again in mid-2011, Tsang said. He said exports contracted in the third quarter and grew by just 3.6 percent for the full year.

Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang has warned that the territory faces an unusually severe shock due to the European debt crisis. He has said conditions are more worrisome than they were during the 1998 Asian financial crisis.

"I have never been as scared as now about the world," the chief executive said this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

(This version CORRECTS Corrects to 2011 in first paragraph, not 2012)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120201/ap_on_bi_ge/as_hong_kong_economy

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CSN: The dangers of being 'all-in'

January 30, 2012, 2:47 pm

The Detroit Tigers won the American League Central by 15 games last season. They have the reigning MVP and Cy Young Award winner in Justin Verlander. Now they've added Prince Fielder for nine-years, $214 million, the largest contract in franchise history, in the hopes of getting 82-year-old owner Mike Ilitch a World Series ring.

But Detroit, before you crown your Tigers World Series Champions, or even division champions, be aware of the dangers of going "All-In" like you appear to be.

"If they're using that slogan, then I like our chances because the Red Sox had that slogan, we had that slogan and it didn't work out for either one of us," said A.J. Pierzynski in an interview with Comcast SportsNet.

A.J. knows from experience.

Last season, Jerry Reinsdorf and Kenny Williams bet heavy on free agents Pierzynski, Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, and Jesse Crain with the hopes of bringing another title to Chicago. What did they get for it? 79 wins and a whole lot of heartache.

Pierzynski was also the featured star in an "All-In" commercial that seemed to run on a loop everyday from April through October.

"I'm glad it's over to say the least," Pierzynski said about the 2011 season. "Frustrating, confusing, everything. Every word you can use to describe craziness is about how it went last year. It wasn't good. It wasn't fun. It wasn't the way it was supposed to be. Things just didn't work out."

Go ahead and point the finger at Dunn, Alex Rios, and Gordon Beckham. Everyone else is. But really,? if you look at how the whole season unfolded, with the exceptions of maybe Mark Buehrle and Konerko, every single White Sox player had a role in it: Matt Thornton unable to save games early, Juan Pierre's struggles on the basepaths and in the outfield, John Danks 0-8 start, Sergio Santos giving up 7 runs in back-to-back losses just as the Sox were making a move in June. There's plenty of blame to go around.

"It's not one person's fault. People want to look at this person to blame, that person, but it was everybody," Pierzynski said.

While the White Sox were crushing the Indians on Opening Day in Cleveland, Jim Thome says he and his Twins teammates were watching the game on television in the clubhouse.

?And I remember our guys saying, ?It looks like Chicago is going to be tough to handle,'" Thome said. "And then as baseball goes, you just never know."

The White Sox won the first two games of the season and led the division by a half-game. They'd only be in first place one more time. Four days later. And they were tied.

Meanwhile, after a slow start themselves, the Tigers won 95 games thanks to an all-world season by Verlander, closer Jose Valverde not blowing a single save all season, and 24-year-old catcher Alex Avila suddenly hitting like Johnny Bench. Now after winning the division, and the pressure and expectations to win it all in 2012, could the Tigers find themselves in the same boat the White Sox were last year?

"One break here or there, one tough loss, you never know how people are going to react," Pierzynski said. "One guy goes down like Dunn last year with the appendectomy, and it seemed to affect him the whole year. You just never know. One little thing can affect the team for a long time. If [the Tigers] don't get off to the start they're supposed to get off to, maybe the pressure will rise, expectations mount, fans will get on them and they might struggle. But if you look at them on paper, they're as good as anybody."

The Tigers are good. Potentially great. The last time we said this about them was 2008 when they traded for Miguel Cabrera. What happened that season?

They finished in last place.

You just never know.

Source: http://www.csnchicago.com/blog/whitesox-talk/post/Sox-Drawer-The-dangers-of-being-All-In?blockID=641252&feedID=621

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