Pistorius makes it to semifinals of Olympic 400

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius competes in a men's 400-meter heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius competes in a men's 400-meter heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius prepares to start in a men's 400-meter heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius competes in a men's 400-meter heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Dominican Republic's Luguelin Santos shakes the hand of South Africa's Oscar Pistorius in a men's 400-meter heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

(AP) ? It began with a smile at the starting line.

Moments later, Oscar Pistorius took off and the click-click-clicking of carbon on the track was all but drowned out by the 80,000 fans on hand to watch him make history Saturday. The first amputee to compete in track at the Olympics, Pistorius cruised past an opponent or two in the backstretch of his 400-meter heat, and by the end, the "Blade Runner" was coasting in for a stress-free success.

Typical. Except this time, it was anything but that.

"I've worked for six years ... to get my chance," said the South African, who finished second and advanced to Sunday night's semifinals. "I found myself smiling in the starting block. Which is very rare in the 400 meters."

Yes, this sun-splashed day at Olympic Stadium was a good one for Pistorius, a double-amputee who runs on carbon-fiber blades and whose fight to get to this point has often felt more like a marathon than a sprint. He walked out of the tunnel, looked into the stands, saw his friends and family there ? including his 89-year-old grandmother, who was carrying the South African flag.

"It's very difficult to separate the occasion from the race," Pistorius conceded.

But he figured it out. He finished in a season-best time of 45.44 seconds, crossing the line and looking up at the scoreboard, then covering his face with his hands when he saw the capital "Q'' ? for qualifier ? go up by his name.

"Couldn't have hoped for anything better," he said.

The 25-year-old runner was born without fibulas and his legs were amputated below the knee before he was a year old. His is one of those stories that is every bit as much about the journey ? one part dramatic, another part inspiring and yet another part controversial ? as the final result.

"I know Oscar was the protagonist in the race," said Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic, who actually won the heat by .4 but went virtually unnoticed. "But I love him. He's a good racer."

Erison Hurtault of Dominica, who trained with Pistorius in South Africa, agreed.

"One thing I can say about Oscar is he's an incredibly hard worker," Hurtault said. "I'm glad to see him out here. I'm glad he's getting a chance to finally compete and hopefully something emerges out of everyone else's mind."

Pistorius' race, of course, resonated beyond sports and beyond London.

The runner's father, Henk, and Gerry Versfeld, the surgeon who amputated Oscar's legs, watched the heat at a restaurant in Johannesburg with some friends. The father and the doctor hugged after the race and there were tears in Henk Pistorius' eyes.

"To now stand on the pinnacle of where you strived and you hoped and you dreamed to be must be an amazingly emotional feeling for him," he said. "I feel compassion and pride."

Pistorius is an accomplished runner, with four Paralympic gold medals, but he waged a long fight to run in the Olympics against able-bodied opponents.

After dozens of hearings in front of hundreds of men and women in suits charged with the task of deciding whether the blades gave Pistorius an unfair advantage ? then getting his country's Olympic committee to accept his qualifying times and enter him into the games ? Pistorius finally got his chance.

He shook hands with his opponents, crouched into the blocks, flashed that smile and then ? in so many ways, it was just another race, with Pistorius among the fastest men in it.

"You've got to understand that Oscar is an exceptional athlete," said Versfeld, the surgeon. "I mean, he is an amazingly talented person. I think the chances that there are going to be many other athletes with disabilities, amputations, I think the chances that they will be able to compete with able-bodied athletes is not high and I really think we are seeing a one-off type situation."

Bursting out of the crouch from Lane 6, Pistorius got going slowly, but built up steam in the backstretch. He made up the lag and was easily among the top three when the runners turned into the backstretch. He passed Russia's Maksim Dyldin and then, as all the top runners do in a 400 prelim, eased off the gas over the final few meters to save energy for the next one.

Though he knows his personal-best of 45.07 seconds isn't fast enough to truly contend for a medal, Pistorius wants to be more than simply a set piece at these Olympics. His goal was to be a factor, to earn a spot in the semifinals, and he did that ? something the defending champion in this event, LaShawn Merritt, did not.

"He's fought to get here. He's here. Great guy, friend of mine," said Merritt, who pulled up lame with an injured hamstring halfway through his race and won't get to face Pistorius on the track.

One man who might, Britain's Nigel Levine, is among those who sounded less than thrilled about all the hype over Pistorius, who will also compete for South Africa in the 4x400-meter relay next week.

"Ask him," Levine said when asked if Pistorius had an advantage. "I'll keep my opinion to myself on that one. It has nothing to do with me."

Advantage or no, getting to the semifinals was never a sure thing. Then again, there haven't been many sure things for the "Blade Runner" on this Olympic road. And so, he appreciates every moment.

"It sometimes difficult to think the athletes and the friends and family of those who are here really understand what it's about," Pistorius said. "To be out here and to know you sacrificed 'X' amount to achieve this is just really mind-blowing."

___

Associated Press reporter Ed Brown in Johannesburg contributed to this report.

(This version CORRECTS Corrects style on 'Henk'. This story is part of AP's general news and sports services.)

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-08-04-OLY-ATH-Track-and-Field-Pistorius/id-fee926e1699e48e0bc2a463e0cd344dd

taylor momsen xbox live update joan rivers gary carter dies oolong tea survivor one world lil kim

Bicycle Family Card Games Review | Fun Rpg Games ... - Mann ...

Bicycle Family Card Games
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought this because the Hoyle games got such bad reviews but this one has to be right up there on top of BAD! First of all after it downloaded, only the top half of the home page showed up. I was finally able to click "start" and it took me to the website to register the game. I did that, thinking that was how to get it to start working. W-R-O-N-G!!! It still didn't work. I tried re-booting, removing the program and re-loading. Nothing worked. Finally I removed it, contacted Amazon and got an immediate response for sending it back for a full refund. Would advise NOT to buy this product! Thanks Amazon for such great support and the best prices! That's why I check Amazon prices before anyone else's. They usually cannot be beat!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bicycle Family Card Games

Buy NowGet 68% OFF

Click here for more information about Bicycle Family Card Games

Source: http://fun-rpggames.blogspot.com/2012/08/bicycle-family-card-games-review.html

cheney tori spelling marion barber marion barber syracuse ohio state girl with the dragon tattoo

Source: http://figueroasung726.typepad.com/blog/2012/08/bicycle-family-card-games-review-fun-rpg-games.html

varez ward solar storms uganda the parent trap invisible children kony 2012 space weather sunspots

Source: http://lionel2.typepad.com/blog/2012/08/bicycle-family-card-games-review-fun-rpg-games.html

chrissy teigen chia seeds embers shannon brown mike rowe shld 2012 sec football schedule

See Below For Some Amazing Tips To Help You With Arthritis

Is arthritis affecting your everyday life? There are coping mechanisms and strategies that you can use to make your life more bearable. That is what this article is all about. Keep reading to learn some helpful arthritis tips.

Moist heating pads applied to the sore joint can help with arthritis flare-ups. Combining heat and moisture offers relief from inflammation caused by arthritis. Keep this pad on the joint for about ten or fifteen minutes.

TIP! Conquer your weight and fitness issues. Issues, such as weight, can make your arthritis worse.

After you eat dinner, go walking. Walking at night could help you feel much better and provide you with an energy boost. Get motivated to walk more by finding a walking friend.

Try acupuncture to fight off arthritis pain. It can sound a bit intimidating for those who haven?t tried it. Talk to a professional to learn more about acupuncture. If it is used in specific areas, it releases pain and tension.

Many people who have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis feel some degree of guilt because they are unable to live their life as before. Whenever possible, just try to do things that are less taxing when your arthritis symptoms are particularly troublesome as a way of alleviating your guilt.

TIP! Use assistant devices when you do strenuous activities. Excessive movement, heavy lifting and even prolonged standing can stress already weakened joints.

People who suffer from arthritis may want to prioritize comfortable footwear over fashionable footwear. Any heeled shoe puts undue strain on your feet and legs, amplifying the pain and inflammation already caused by arthritis. Trade in your dress shoes for running shoes when you can and you will surely see a decrease in your pain level.

Do not underestimate the power of good posture. Posture can also have a negative or positive affect on your arthritis, depending on whether you maintain good posture, and this is true even if you eat healthily and embrace a fit lifestyle. Keep your back straight as you sit up, and keep your feet twelve inches apart from each other. By improving your posture, you can decrease joint pain and stress.

Instead, you should also search for items which help prevent further damage to your aching joints. If you only numb your pain, then you could end up doing more damage.

TIP! Yoga might be a good way to alleviate your arthritis symptoms. These relaxation techniques can take the edge off of troublesome arthritis symptoms, and help you cope with stress.

Record your diet, activities and any pain you experience to determine things that may elicit arthritic symptoms. This record might give you some insight on what kinds of behaviors or actions are triggering arthritis flare-ups. Include detailed accounts of the severity of the pain, combined with details like foods, location and anything else that might be connected.

If you are overweight, consider a weight-reduction program to ease the symptoms of arthritis. If you?re overweight, this will add extra stress to your joints, and likely make arthritis worse. When weight loss occurs, the body will experience less inflammation than it does in an overweight state. So to reduce the painful symptoms of arthritis, it is a good idea to bring one?s body weight down to a normal level.

Always keep arthritic joints moving. Despite the fact that moving afflicted joints can prove painful, doing so is really ideal. Even if you can only make small movements, this will still help your joints. An appropriate fitness regime is crucial to gaining control of arthritic conditions and alleviating the pain.

TIP! Starting your day with a hot shower can help your joints by providing the warmth and moisture that they need. Taking a hot shower when you first get up can prevent your joints from becoming tight, thus preventing flare-ups.

If your arthritis pain is on the moderate side, consider massage. Your muscles will be more relaxed and you will not be as stressed. You should make sure you visit a professional who can take care of patients with arthritis. If your joints feel too sore, getting a massage will be extremely painful and you should probably wait for the next day.

Arthritis can be extremely painful, and at times can be down right debilitating. There are ways to treat this pain; you just have to learn what they are and put them to use. It?s important to start by undertanding your specific type of arthritis so you can research proper treatment options.

To reduce pain and arthritis in your knees, get your weight closer to what is recommended for your height. Increased inflammation will cause an increase in swelling and other painful symptoms. Increased pressure equals increased pain, which is why you should do what you can to prevent it. Keep your weight at a healthy number to ward off painful arthritis.

TIP! Be proactive, and educate yourself about your symptoms and the best ways to treat them. There are a lot of resources out there for people who have arthritis, you can find a lot of tips about nutrition and managing your pain.

Take preventive care in supporting your joints. If you know that you have rheumatoid arthritis, you should take measures to avoid putting impact onto your joints as much as possible if you are having problems with pain.

Consider taking a hot shower or bath to soothe your arthritic pain. This type of heat application will be a great way to relax your muscles, and heal your body. Moist heating pads can provide similar relief. The best place to find these pads is at a local pharmacy. No need to worry about electrocuting yourself as they are designed to be wet while activated.

Exercise often and do your best to stay in shape if you want to minimize the symptoms associated with your arthritis. If weight-bearing exercise is a problem for you, try a low-impact workout, such as swimming or water aerobics. Water supports body weight and eases joint pain. When you are suffering from arthritis, you will definitely find relief with water therapy.

TIP! Hand arthritis may be helped by getting a hand massage. Not only is massage relaxing, it will relieve some of the pressure in your body.

Just because you may have been diagnosed with an arthritic condition does not mean you need to forgo the things in life you love doing. While the things you like to do can possibly make your arthritis flare up, you can always find ways to modify the activities to make the impact lower. Sewing, cooking and other hobbies can be enjoyable if you consider how you can make them easier to perform.

Arthritis is a very painful condition that involves the inflammation of joints. Don?t despair, however, as there are a number of treatment options available. You could try the natural method of urtication which involves using nettles to help your arthritis pain. You might as well try since it?s an all natural remedy and may possibly relieve many of your symptoms.

Living with arthritis becomes easier with some simple modifications. This article offers many good ways to work with your arthritis.

Source: http://www.online-health-resources.com/arthritis/see-below-for-some-amazing-tips-to-help-you-with-arthritis/

steelers vs broncos chris herren jay z patsy cline pierre thomas beyonce gives birth portlandia

Gas Powered - Hot Water Pressure Washer Machines for Heavy ...

There is no doubt that a hot water pressure washer scores heavily over others, when it comes to cleaning hard surfaces of various types. They are the best cleaning machines for commercial and industrial cleaning. In the automobile detailing industry, having a hot water pressure washer eases the various challenges associated with automobile detailing considerably.

The special thing about a hot water pressure washer that endears it to cleaning industry professionals is the high pressure output it delivers. It is capable of eliminating the toughest of dirt buildup from hard surfaces with consummate ease. A non-heated pressure cleaning machine can be used for cleaning hard surfaces, such as external walls, concrete floorings, driveways, pathways, and tiled surfaces. Well, if you want to clean an industrial floor or equipment, then heated pressure washing systems are best suited for the purpose.

The unbeatable combination of hot water and high pressure

Industrial flooring can get stained quickly, due to the high traffic and spills caused by chemicals, oils, and grease. It can be difficult to eliminate such dirt buildup completely by using cold water. The use of only pressurized cold water output may not dislodge tough grease buildup, as it is in an emulsion form and does not dissolve in water. The combination of hot water and high pressure can work wonders and help eliminate grease and oil buildup quickly. The high temperature output of hot water and steam breaks the bond between the dirt and oil buildup, dislodging these substances from the surface.

When used with special eco-friendly green chemicals, the cleaning power of the hot water pressure washer is enhanced considerably. These machines can be used to tackle the most demanding of cleaning jobs that you mostly come across in commercial and industrial settings. It also obliterates the need to use harsh chemicals and strong detergents, which can cause damage to your costly equipment. Chemicals can also affect the health of operators adversely, as they are exposed to fumes on a regular basis.

Single source heating and cleaning operation is a real time saver
Electric pressure washers that power and heat at the same time are convenient to use, due to the common power source for operating and heating the machine. The operation of a pressure washer is simplified to a great extent by using the single power source. It also saves time, as there is no need to stop the cleaning process for heating the pressure washing equipment.

Electric pressure washers are easier to operate, as compared to gas pressure washers. They operate with minimal sound, do not emit fumes, and are convenient to use. You just have to plug the pressure washer into a power source and it is ready to use. A pressure washing equipment that runs on electricity can deliver extremely high hot water output. It can melt away the most difficult-to-remove buildup quickly. The best pressure washing machine offers both hot water and cold water emission, vastly improving its versatility.

Gas pressure washers are used primarily for outdoor cleaning operations, as they offer easy mobility. A hot water pressure washer, powered by propane, can be used to cover larger areas quickly, as their functioning is not restricted by cables and wires. They are ideal for industrial and commercial cleaning, which involves cleaning larger areas.

Keywords: Hot Water Pressure Washer, Pressure Washing Equipment, Pressure Washer, Electric Pressure Washer

This article has been viewed 10 time(s).

It is a violation of our terms and conditions for writers to submit material which they did not write and claim it as their own. If this article infringes on your copyrights, you MUST either call us at 706-866-2295 or send proof of infringement along with the offending article's title, URL, and writer name to

IdeaMarketers.com
Attn: Marnie Pehrson - Copyright Concern
514 Old Hickory Ln
Ringgold GA 30736 USA
If you email us or use our problem submission form, we CANNOT guarantee we'll receive your notice!

Source: http://www.ideamarketers.com/?articleid=3452391

international criminal court ios 5.1 apple tv update new ipad release pregnant jessica simpson international womens day joe the plumber

Benefits of Low Cost Reseller Hosting | ApostolicCM.com Answers

Reseller web hosting is among the best method of making several sites which are attached to the primary domain with a lot of space for the free usage of the buyer is generally termed as reseller web hosting. You can find wide variety of economical reseller hosting program in the market you are able to access your internet site for the advertising of your online business. Some reseller hosting companies will grant the huge storage which can often be employed by the owners of the internet sites according to their need and wish. Reseller web hosting service has some programs under which owners of the websites can sell their space of site to other people to make their particular services of personal hosting which can often be acquired by their buddies for further promoting.

The services that provided by the reseller hosting services are featured with all of new technologies and computer software. Wide variety of tools features in the website making the process of running the web site way simpler and the time is mechanically saved. So these types of automatic methods of cheap reseller web hosting gives you the promotion of your work on-line in a gigantic area and optimisation of the site quickly . Some extra options are included in the additional features of the site like the unrestriced space for storage with even the unrestricted data transfer, which is truly an extra ordinary attribute and capability. These functions increase the prospective of the consumers to optimize their online business. Number of advantages of the economical reseller hosting plans may be found in the market and as well the amount of web hosting suppliers. But we want to select both the plans and the provider according our need.

The plan that we choose should be the most affordable plan for our web site. Additionally there ought to be some features available in them we will be able to make change in our website freely. The host should be selected as specified in the trust and also the most offers its providing in the reasonable prices. So a virtual host may be chose for the cheap hosting that may offer you the most long term advantages for your internet site. Cheap reseller hosting can be obtained at decent prices because of the augmenting levels of competition.

Good domain hosting may be employed at low costs can save you money. The plans can be choose as per the need. If you are not looking forward to the regular payment system you can select the yearly payment procedure if you plan on using that domain for a while. Selecting the plans annually also saves the price tag as compare to the monthly payment. While using inexpensive reseller web hosting you can add some internet pages each month to your internet site of its optimization at a very small cost. Additionally it will have a great appeal to consumers to your business. Several features like PHP and MySQL can be added to the database for its correct working.

It hardly matters that what kind of business you own, you can take the advantages of cheap reseller hosting. A low cost plan for your first internet site will be a good option to begin the advertising thru the strength of world wide web and you?ll see the results quite soon.

For quality reseller web hosting India plans that suit your wants can be obtained here. For additional updates, click the link.

Source: http://answers.apostoliccm.com/2012/08/benefits-of-low-cost-reseller-hosting/

asexual jim carrey san francisco chronicle kourtney kardashian pregnant kourtney kardashian pregnant chip kelly billy cundiff

MIA on Climate Change

This year?s unremitting heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and freak storms have thrust climate change back into the spotlight. But even with the issue fresh in people?s minds?not to mention in media coverage and Washington?s echo chamber?climate change hasn?t made it onto the priority list that matters most: the presidential campaign trail.

President Obama and presumptive GOP opponent Mitt Romney seem to have ?reached a point of d?tente on the issue,? said Dirk Forrister, who worked on climate issues in the Clinton administration and now heads the International Emissions Trading Association. ?Neither of the presidential candidates seems to want to talk about it, and yet it is an issue that both of them would have to deal with.?

Other issues will force the election?s winner to deal with climate change regardless of what he or his supporters might prefer.

A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upholding the Environmental Protection Agency?s plan to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions means those efforts can be nullified by Congress only through changes in the Clean Air Act, which hasn?t been amended since 1990?and only then after years of debate. Romney has pledged to exempt carbon dioxide from the Clean Air Act, and legal scholars on both sides of the fight agree that kind of significant legislative change would be a Herculean task no matter what the results come Election Day.

The pressures facing the next president to work with other nations on climate change will only become greater, both as part of the formal United Nations process and through related issues. To wit: The State and Transportation departments must address a European Union cap-and-trade law aimed at forcing airlines to pay fees for greenhouse gases emitted by all flights to and from Europe.

Yet neither candidate is addressing these unavoidable realities?at least not yet. Obama and Romney both have plenty of reason not to want to remind voters about their track records on global warming.

Dealing with a gridlocked Congress, Obama has managed to make progress around the edges?tougher fuel-economy standards that cut emissions from cars, for instance?but he has been unable to fulfill his 2008 campaign promise to fight climate change by putting a price on carbon emissions. Having failed on that front, the president still faces attacks from fossil-fuel interests for having tried. He doesn?t want to remind his environmental base that he hasn?t kept his promise, and he doesn?t want to fuel his opponents? attacks by saying he will try again if reelected.

It?s no coincidence that when Obama made a fleeting mention of global warming during a campaign fundraiser in California last week, he stressed that it was important to ?have smart regulations in place that are going to deal with issues like climate change.? He has replaced his 2008 promise to pass legislation pricing carbon with a quieter pledge to effectively regulate greenhouse-gas emissions.

Romney, meanwhile, doesn?t want to provoke charges of flip-flopping on yet another issue. As governor of Massachusetts, he acknowledged climate change was occurring and pledged to address it. Facing pressure from tea partiers and other conservative groups who deny man-made global warming, Romney has equivocated on climate science? for the past year and abandoned the rather modest policies he implemented as governor.

New polls by Yale University and the Brookings Institution show that Americans are increasingly linking extreme weather to climate change and acknowledging that the Earth is warming. Yet other polling? shows that Americans are not concerned about global warming compared with other issues: Economic and job concerns dominate.

The prevailing wisdom is that neither candidate could benefit politically from addressing global warming; Obama and Romney probably won?t talk about it much at all until or unless they?re explicitly asked. But that conventional wisdom is challenged in a new study by Stanford University professors and the polling director at The Washington Post. It finds that a presidential candidate could benefit politically benefit by talking about the issue. The study, conducted in part by Stanford social psychology professor Jon Krosnick, finds that Obama in particular could gain by touting his position on global warming.

The research finds that about 15 percent of the country is engaged on climate change and that most of that group supports action to solve the problem. ?In this election, most likely the president stands to gain,? Krosnick said. ?The more explicitly green he is, the better off he is.? If Romney had not equivocated on his positions, Krosnick said, he ?could have nullified the advantage that it looks like Obama has at this point.?

Krosnick has presented his findings to people in the Obama administration on multiple occasions. But at least for now, it appears that the president?s campaign doesn?t think he has much to gain by talking about climate change, no matter how crazy the weather gets.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mia-climate-change-061316766.html

uss enterprise white house easter egg roll 2012 andy cohen andy cohen mozambique oosthuizen great expectations

Portable Pivoting Power Adapter Maximizes Your Hotel's Outlets [Power]

Even fancy new hotel rooms with flat screen TVs and iPhone alarm clocks catering to our gadget-laden lifestyles never seem to have enough outlets for charging all your toys. So a portable power bar is the most important thing you can travel with, particularly this folding model which can handle even the bulkiest of wall warts. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/4QSWbKzDdZA/portable-pivoting-power-adapter-maximizes-your-hotels-outlets

les paul fred thompson fred thompson red hook romney tax return the tree of life movie academy award nominees 2012

Kim promises 'happy and civilized' North Korea

The once-mysterious well-dressed woman often seen by Kim Jong Un's side, was revealed to be his wife, Ri Sol Ju. News of the newlyweds took U.S. officials by surprise. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.

By NBC News staff and wire reports

BEIJING -- North Korea's new young leader has told chief backer China that his priority is to develop the decaying economy and improve living standards in one of the world's poorest states, the latest sign that he may be planning economic reforms.

Kim Jong Un, who took over the family dictatorship last December, has presented a sharply contrasting image to his austere father. He was shown most recently in public at a Pyongyang theme park with his young wife on his arm and riding a roller coaster in the company of a man reported to be a British diplomat.


"Developing the economy and improving livelihoods, so that the Korean people lead happy and civilized lives, is the goal the Korean Workers' Party is struggling towards," he was quoted by China's Xinhua news agency on Friday as telling Wang Jiarui, visiting head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Department and Beijing's key interlocutor with the North.

Mismanagement, sanctions
Though the report offered no details, there has been mounting speculation that Kim's one-party state is looking at reforms to help lift an economy dragged down by decades of mismanagement and international sanctions, and rarely far from famine.

Those economic problems have been compounded by drought and then, last month, torrential rain and widespread flooding which left nearly 120 people dead and damaging some 46,000 hectares of crops.

North Korea's new leader Kim Jong Un has been appointed the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army ? further consolidating his power in the reclusive country. NBC News' Ed Flanagan reports from Beijing.

That is equivalent to 2 percent of the North's arable land, according to World Bank data, and the damage is certain to lower this year's harvest, which even in good years is not enough to feed the population.

The BBC also reported Friday?that Pyongyang had requested food aid from the United Nations in the wake of the floods.

The report said:

UN officials in Pyongyang said the need for aid was urgent after visiting flood-hit parts of the country to assess damage ...?Damage to infrastructure and farmland has affected the country's already dire food shortage problem.

?

In the face of broad sanctions over its missile and nuclear weapons programs, the North has been forced to rely heavily on aid from its giant neighbor China, the nearest the ostracized state has to an ally.

Richard Engel journeys to North Korea in this latest episode of Hidden Planet. Engel witnesses a military parade, one of the state events that North Korea has come to be known for, but he also journeys through parts of the country rarely seen by American eyes. Engel goes shopping in a North Korean store, visits computer science students who have never heard of Facebook and takes a train ride through parts of the country that reveal barren fields.

Any suggestions of strain in relations were brushed aside by the young leader, who was quoted a saying to Wang: "It is the unswerving will of the North Korean (ruling) party and government to continue (his father) Comrade Kim Jong Il's teachings of constantly deepening the traditional friendship between North Korea and China across the generations."

It appears to be the highest level diplomatic meeting Kim has held since taking power over 7 months ago.

Elizabeth Dalziel / AP

From work to play, see pictures from inside the secretive country.

In a sign he may be looking to emerge from such isolation, he has dispatched his head of parliament, Kim Yong Nam, to Vietnam and Laos, the North Korean KCNA news agency reported.

Kim, in his late twenties, has sought to impose his own stamp on the top leadership of North Korea, and recently ousted Vice Marshal Ri Yong Ho, the country's leading military figure, who was seen as close to Kim Jong Il.

State TV: North Korea leader Kim gets married, tours amusement park

Kim Jong Un was named marshal of the army in a move that cemented his power. He already heads the Workers' Party of Korea and is First Chairman of the National Defense Commission.

When North Korea's new young leader spoke in public he surprised his own people and the world. Nothing like that had been seen or heard for years. Kim Jong Un's apparent openness was revolutionary, so too was his promise to end hunger. ITN's Angus Walker reports.

He is gearing up to experiment with agricultural and economic reforms after purging Ri Yong Ho for opposing change, a source with ties to both Pyongyang and Beijing told Reuters.

Experts in Beijing say their government fears that economic malaise in North Korea could give way to damaging instability and torrents of refugees across the border in China, and Chinese leaders have long nudged Pyongyang to draw lessons from their own route to economic reform.

Analysts in Seoul said Kim was probably preparing for a package of reform measures on the economy and Wang's visit could be seen as a public show of support from China.

Richard Engel, NBC's chief foreign correspondent, shares a rare and revealing look inside the reclusive kingdom of North Korea.

"By emphasizing the importance of food and civilized living conditions, I think he wanted to request for China's support," said Yang Moo-jin, professor at University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. He said he expects Kim to unveil his reforms early next year after the scheduled government changes in China, South Korea and the United States.

But to date, Pyongyang has resisted any dramatic changes in its traditional top-down management of the economy.

China has also hosted now moribund talks among regional powers to coax North Korea into abandoning its nuclear weapons program. Xinhua reported that Kim said he was committed to "peace and stability" on the Korean peninsula, but did not mention those talks.

David Guttenfelder / AP

In this March 9, 2011 photo, a girl plays the piano inside the Changgwang Elementary School in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

Reuters contributed to this report.

More world stories from NBC News:

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/03/13097711-kim-jong-un-promises-happy-and-civilized-north-korea?lite

amanda bynes arrested f 18 jet crash in virginia beach john tortorella nicki minaj beez in the trap video food network good friday

CareCrunch Answers ? Answers Archive ? Search Engine ...

Search Engine Optimization Business in Calgary have actually gained popularity nowadays due to the fact that they are providing services that have actually become vital in every internet site marketing. Search Engine Optimization Solutions are process of optimizing the internet site which entails the change of the internet sites to place it higher in search engine ranking page (SERP). SEO Provider supplies lots of types of services to their clients. A a good idea and normal Search Engine Optimization provider proposes budget friendly search engine marketing solutions for almost all small and middle sized companies. However, the sorts of Search Engine Optimization solutions can be generally classified into 2 categories namely on-page optimization as well as off-page optimization.

On page optimization solutions essentially concentrated on strengthening the appropriate and also great subject matter on the site. This will certainly make the highest ranking of site in SERP. SEO Company Calgary supplies primary solutions included in on webpage marketing are keyword investigation, enhancing website content HTML coding, and also production key phrase rich content, production of enhanced title as well as Meta tags, and also specified application various strategies for different search engines to advertise the internet site demonstration.

A search engine marketing company gives so much to the on-line globe, and when it were not for brands like this on the internet ad would definitely be unusual. A company is able to publicize via material, as well as this will definitely offer even more website traffic with a web site, and also the even more people who consider the site will raise the company?s position. Taking even more traffic in order to one?s web site increases his or her position in that search results till they?re on one from the top web webpages of that search outcomes. This, in turn, will definitely assist companies to market countless better due to the rise entailing check outs to their web site.

Like a business owner, you could expect countless different online advertising. Immediately after signed up which has a company that specializes in Search Engine Optimization the business venture will certainly provide key phrases that are to be taken advantage of in the material. These posts is visiting be composed, modified, then use the businesses website to bring in goal, and also with the even more traffic coming to their net website, the item brings will certainly go up. Search engine optimized providers will definitely every little thing for their customers and also increase their position on engines like google.

Off-page optimization deals with the execution of the theme based hyperlink building method. This triggers strengthen hyperlink attraction and also track record of the site. It likewise ensures that business receive just trained hyperlinks. For example, by submitting your website to search engines to boost the sharing of the links will automatically detail your web site. Though, many of the different qualities of this kind of SEO solutions are every bit as very important for a website. Without the execution of Search Engine Optimization strategies, your website will definitely not show up long on the Internet.

Search Engine Optimization training, consulting, layout check-up and also website analysis are some other kinds of SEO services that SEO Company Calgary Gives to its clients.

For more information just visit this website:
seo company calgary

Source: http://answers.carecrunch.com/?p=155339&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=search-engine-optimization-company-offers-different-seo-solutions-in-calgary

extreme makeover home edition constitution day constitution day coachella 2012 dolly parton stephen colbert running for president richard threlkeld

Star Brit Campbell wins in front of legend Lewis

British bantamweight gold medal fancy Luke Campbell qualified for the Olympic quarter-finals Wednesday despite a nervy first appearance watched by former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

The 24-year-old world silver medallist admitted his nerves hadn't been helped by being told just before he entered the arena that Lewis, who won Olympic gold in 1988 for Canada but fought as a Briton when he turned professional, was sitting in the stands commentating.

"I was told just before I went into the arena that Lennox Lewis was up there watching me. I thought 'Wow' Lennox Lewis come to see me!" said Campbell, who was also watched by another ex-heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.

"It didn't exactly help my nerves," he added after his win over Jahyn Parrinello of Italy.

Campbell, who had a bye into the second round due to his being seeded third, said that his plan had been to try and stay calm but it had proved impossible given the circumstances.

"I told myself I wouldn't put pressure on myself but of course in practice it's impossible," he said.

"This is the biggest event on the planet. The crowd (10,000) would make anyone nervous!" added Campbell, who had 15 friends and family travel down from Hull to see the bout.

Campbell next faces experienced Bulgarian Detelin Dalakliev, who ended Australian Ibrahim Balla's interest in the competition with a 14-10 win, in what is the third time they have met at championships.

"I beat him in the 2008 European final (in Liverpool, which saw Campbell become the first Briton to win European gold since 1961) and last year at the world championships," he said.

"I am confident that I can beat him again as I am improving all the time."

Campbell has avoided the half of the draw containing Cuban Lazaro Alvarez, who beat him in last year's world final, said he didn't really take notice of the optimistic noises being made about his ability to win gold.

"Those are just people's opinions which is fine as far as they go," said Campbell, who didn't bother watching the afternoon session bantam contests preferring to go for a walk and read in his room.

"What counts though is how I feel, and I am confident in what I can do."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/star-brit-campbell-wins-front-legend-lewis-210844586--oly.html

occupy oakland morgellons disease arik armstead sag awards red carpet torrey pines nhl all star game 2012 pollyanna