Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Smarter electric grids could help us weather stormy future

19 hrs.

As of Tuesday morning, Sandy was blamed for power outages affecting more than 8 million people. Although?of little help to people in the dark today, so-called smart-grid technologies being installed around the country will make the electric grid more resilient to future storms, according to an industry expert.

One caveat: ?It is economically unfeasible to storm-proof your system, and by storm-proof I mean resilient to anything that could happen,? Dean Oskvig, president of engineering consulting firm Black & Veatch?s global energy business, told NBC News Tuesday.

But utilities are installing technology such as self-healing switches that automatically route power around outages in an effort to minimize disruptions to service, he said.

Much of the smart grid is really about the installation of sensors and other equipment that offer utilities real-time monitoring of the grid so that they can detect and isolate power outages more quickly, which limits their spread and impact.?

Real-time monitoring of the grid also enables integration of small-scale distributed power stations onto the grid, which can provide electricity to a neighborhood, for example, when the city?s main plant is down.

Distributed power stations harken back to early days of the electric system when it was a hodgepodge of ?small individual generators all over the place and it was simply chaotic,? Oskvig said. As a result, greater reliability and efficiency drove evolution toward a system that relies on central power plants.

Today, however, the communications technology that underpins smart-grid systems ?has a way of accommodating a lot more distributed generation than we were able to do in the past,? he added.?

By the same token, a more intelligent grid is able to accommodate increased wind and solar power, which are plagued by intermittency.

?But, when you are faced with something like the storm out east, a smart grid will only take you so far,? Oskvig said.?

Utilities can make their grids more resilient with more traditional approaches such as?putting more of their power lines underground, which puts them out of the way of wind-toppled trees. But undergrounding lines costs several million dollars per mile versus a few hundred thousand dollars for overhead lines.

And even when lines are underground, that doesn?t mean the system is storm-proof. Power lines in New York City, for example, are already mostly underground. That didn?t stop floodwater from shutting down substations, Oskvig noted.

What measures a utility takes to make their systems more resilient to storms is a cost-benefit calculation. Sandy is considered a once-in-a-generation-type storm. Is it worth spending to put in?underground lines, install self-healing technology or build more, smaller distributed generation plants?

Given that Sandy is the type of storm that experts believe is consistent with global climate change, a more resilient grid seems prudent for our stormier future, a future that by some accounts is already here.

In the last year?New York, for example, has seen two tropical storms and a ?freak? snowstorm on Halloween 2011 that dumped a foot of snow. Each of those storms led to costly power outages that were, in isolation, considered rare events.

The cost of implementing the technologies required to smarten up and improve the grid will cost about $1.5 trillion over the next two decades, Mark Brownstein with the Environmental Defense Fund told American Public Media?s Marketplace on Monday.?

John Roach is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. To learn more about him, check out his website. For more of our Future of Technology series, watch the featured video below.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/smarter-electric-grids-could-help-us-weather-stormy-future-1C6759331

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Bloomberg PAC makes biggest buy yet - in Florida

WASHINGTON (AP) ? New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's political committee is making its biggest expenditure to date in this year's congressional campaigns, spending $1.1 million for TV ads opposing the re-election of a freshman Florida Republican from the Orlando area.

The ad attacks Rep. Daniel Webster for being "a professional politician" and supports his Democratic challenger, Val Demings, Orlando's former police chief. He credits her for getting "guns off our streets" ? a top issue for Bloomberg.

A spokesman for Bloomberg's Independence USA PAC, Josh Isay, says the political action committee anticipates spending $10 million to $15 million of the wealthy mayor's money in this year's elections.

Federal reports that the committee has filed indicate it had previously spent around $1.4 million, divided between Democrats and Republicans. Bloomberg is an independent.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bloomberg-pac-makes-biggest-buy-yet-florida-225602001--election.html

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Iran orchestra finale rings of hard-line pressure

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010, members of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra rehearse at the Roudaki hall in Tehran, Iran. Iran's national symphony orchestra has been disbanded for lack of funds, musicians said, another sign of the effects of Western economic sanctions. Orchestra members told the semiofficial ILNA news agency Monday Oct 29 2012 that they have not rehearsed together and have not been paid for three months(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010, members of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra rehearse at the Roudaki hall in Tehran, Iran. Iran's national symphony orchestra has been disbanded for lack of funds, musicians said, another sign of the effects of Western economic sanctions. Orchestra members told the semiofficial ILNA news agency Monday Oct 29 2012 that they have not rehearsed together and have not been paid for three months(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010, members of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra rehearse at the Roudaki hall in Tehran, Iran. Iran's national symphony orchestra has been disbanded for lack of funds, musicians said, another sign of the effects of Western economic sanctions. Orchestra members told the semiofficial ILNA news agency Monday Oct 29 2012 that they have not rehearsed together and have not been paid for three months(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? It was a VIP audience for what was likely the last performance of the venerable Tehran Symphony Orchestra. Watching from the front row in late August was Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in what was seen as an endorsement from the ruling theocracy, which once tried to stamp out all music as a violation of Islamic values.

Just two months later, the musicians are out of work, funding has run dry and a nearly 80-year-old institution that survived wars, coups and the 1979 Islamic Revolution was declared Tuesday in an apparently irreversible "coma" by media.

The apparent tipping point was financial. It could be counted as collateral damage from Western sanctions that have left Iran's economy so stressed that authorities are considering banning exports of staples such as rice and wheat in order to boost emergency stockpiles.

"We are currently facing a financial drought," Parliament speaker Ali Larijani told a group of officials Monday. "We will have a more difficult year ahead."

The full story of the orchestra's demise likely runs deeper. In a time of escalating showdowns with the West over Iran's suspect nuclear program, the opposition of Iran's clerical leadership toward anything deemed as too Western is gaining strength.

"Musicians have had no support in recent years," said Saba Radman, a music journalist and critic. "They feel very disillusioned."

The Tehran orchestra ? by far the oldest and biggest of several concert hall-style ensembles in Iran ? was often an easy target of hard-liners because of its roots during the era of the Western-backed monarchy toppled by the Islamic Revolution. During its heyday in the 1960s and 70s, it hosted performances by world famous musicians such as violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin.

The orchestra fell further from favor during a European tour after the riots triggered by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election in 2009. Opposition supporters in Europe used the concerts as forums to denounce Iran's ruling system and flash the green wrist bands and scarves that symbolized the protest movement.

Meanwhile, Islamic conservatives ? including forces within the powerful Revolutionary Guard ? have reclaimed influence since the widespread crackdowns on reformists and can even exert muscle over Supreme Leader Khamenei. Cultural groups outside direct state control, such as the Tehran orchestra, have often come under suspicion as potential liberal-leaning havens. In January, authorities closed down the House of Cinema, an independent film group that operated for 20 years.

"Many concerts have been canceled by local authorities over the past years, but the Culture Ministry raised no objections," said Radman.

Hamid Shahabadi, the deputy culture minister in charge of artistic affairs, acknowledged some delays in payments for musicians while insisting that the orchestra has not been disbanded, but he indicated that its musicians need to look for work elsewhere.

He suggested some could be absorbed into a planned state-run institution that would oversee all remaining orchestras. Those concentrate heavily on traditional Persian music.

Iran's Islamic authorities tried to ban all music in the early years of the Islamic Revolution, claiming it violated strict Muslim tenets. The clerics eventually relented, but, as recently as 2005, Ahmadinejad tried unsuccessfully to outlaw Western music on state-run television and radio.

At the same time, the Tehran Orchestra performed Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 ? drawing criticism from some conservatives because the piece was associated with liberals and secular groups during the early years of the Islamic Revolution.

A year later, it brought more grimaces from Islamic authorities for its program in Germany that included Tchaikovsky's Overture to "Romeo and Juliet" and Beethoven's Seventh Symphony ? with a snippet of "Dog Breath Variations" by American rock impresario Frank Zappa slipped in.

In late August, the orchestra may have played its last piece ? the Iranian national anthem ? at the opening of the Nonaligned Movement summit, which Iranian officials billed as a world gathering to challenge the economic pressures of the West over Tehran's nuclear program.

Orchestra members told the semiofficial ILNA news agency Monday that they have not rehearsed together or been paid for three months. An experienced musician may receive just 6 million rials, or less than $200 a month at the current exchange rates ? below an average taxi driver's pay ? and must supplement income through other performances or professions.

"Many (Iranian) artists are working as taxi drivers, office secretaries and accountants" rather than focusing on their profession, singer Fazel Jamshidi was quoted by the semiofficial Mehr news agency.

Arsalan Kamkar, a violinist in the orchestra, told The Associated Press on Monday that "only seven or eight members of the orchestra have valid contracts. Unfortunately, the rest have not had contracts over the past months, and it seems unlikely their contracts will be extended."

Kamkar said the shutdown highlights the dislike for Western-oriented culture by Iran's rulers, who are also sitting on one of the world's prized collections of European and American modern art.

In August, the Museum of Contemporary Art displayed about 100 works purchased by the late shah and his family ? including pieces by Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Jasper Johns. But most of the collection ? works by Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Francis Bacon and many others ? remains in vaults and basement storage.

___

Karimi reported from Tehran, Iran.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-10-30-Iran-Orchestra%20Silenced/id-7b65bbcaea1a4085b1247b1efbf77a37

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Monday, October 29, 2012

NJTechReviews | Sprint Prepares For Hurricane Sandy!

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), October 28, 2012 ? As Hurricane Sandy continues a path towards the East Coast and is projected to merge with a nor?easter in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions,?Sprint(NYSE:S) is preparing its network, mobilizing Network Disaster Recovery staff, and strategically staging?Sprint Emergency Response Team (ERT)?personnel and resources to serve customers and mitigate storm impact.

Sprint?s preparations include:

  • Actively monitoring the continued path of Hurricane Sandy and the nor?easter while instituting flood prevention measures at Sprint network facilities and retail stores.
  • Fully fueling all permanent generators and mobilizing portable generators into threatened areas to ensure they?re available to meet response needs based on the current track and intensity of Sandy and the nor?easter.
  • Verifying operational readiness of generators and emergency equipment at all mobile switching centers and network Points of Presence (POP) ? the facilities where traffic enters and leaves the company?s global IP network, which facilitate dedicated data services for Sprint?s corporate and government customers, as well as other critical communications.
  • Ensuring Sprint network strike teams are on standby and ready to deploy following Sandy?s landfall and the nor?easter?s impact.
  • Providing any local public safety agency in need of emergency communications assistance with 14 days of service free of charge for 25 Sprint ERT wireless devices in states where an official ?state of emergency? has been declared, including Connecticut Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
  • Preparing and mobilizing the Sprint Emergency Response Team?s SatCOLT (Satellite Cell on Light Truck) assets, mobile phone and broadband devices, reservist staff and other equipment at its Sterling, Va. hub to provide wireless communications service to local first responders, emergency command centers and other public safety officials in the field.

Additionally, throughout 2012, Sprint?s Network Disaster Recovery team conducted a series of exercises, workshops and drills in the Northeast focused on hurricane preparedness training, tactical planning, service restoration and incident management.

Sprint?s commitment to consumers, first responders and emergency medical officials

Created in 2002, the?Sprint Emergency Response Team is a group of seasoned personnel?with expertise in providing immediate restoration of wireless voice, data and IP service, Sprint Mobile Broadband devices, and fully charged?Sprint Direct Connect phones?to facilitate coordination among disaster relief and emergency response agencies, public safety officials and medical personnel.

Sprint ERT maintains a 24-hour hotline, 365 days a year, to rapidly address client needs. Since its creation, Sprint ERT has conducted more than 5,200 deployments, and provided emergency wireless support for more than 1,250 events.

Wireless consumers residing in Sandy?s projected path are also encouraged to use the following tips to prepare for a hurricane, severe flood or other natural disasters:

  • Keep your wireless phone and backup batteries fully charged, and be aware that an interruption of wireline and commercial power could affect wireless calls.
  • If possible, get extra batteries and charge them.
  • In times of commercial power outages, a car adapter for your wireless phone should enable you to recharge the battery.
  • Keep phones and necessary accessories in a sealed plastic bag to avoid water damage.
  • Load family and emergency numbers into your wireless phone.
  • Use your Sprint camera phone to take digital pictures or video of your property and valuables before the storm hits, so you have ?before? pictures in the event of any storm damage.
  • Wireless networks sometimes experience heavy traffic during emergency events, so rather than call, remember to use Sprint? Direct Connect??or send a text message.

For more information about Sprint?s hurricane preparation efforts, retail store closings, and to learn what you can do to prepare for a major storm, visit?www.sprint.com/hurricaneinformation. Public safety officials seeking information about services from the?Sprint Emergency Response Team?should call 1-888-639-0020, emailERTRequests@sprint.com, or visit Sprint ERT?s?Facebook page.

Source: http://njtechreviews.com/2012/10/28/sprint-prepares-for-hurricane-sandy/

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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Microsoft unveils Windows 8, Surface tablet

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/microsoft-set-unveil-windows-8-surface-tablet-152901193--sector.html

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Leomoo.com ? Veteran Miami Tech Entrepreneur Launches ...

MIAMI, FL?(Marketwire ? Oct 24, 2012) ? A new venture from a recognized technology visionary promises to get employers and employees alike to fall back in love with information technology (IT).?By harnessing the power of cloud computing, Jonathan Lieberman and Miami-based itopia are simplifying the way companies purchase, utilize and maintain the systems and equipment that have become the lifeblood of today?s businesses, dramatically reducing the costs and complexity associated with traditional office IT infrastructures.

With itopia?s ?desktop as a service? (DaaS) offering ? the itopia Cloud Desktop solution ? companies will no longer have to spend countless hours and dollars keeping their desktop computers and servers up and running, installing software upgrades and security patches and backing-up data because itopia does it for them, seamlessly and all at once, across the entire enterprise. Costly servers and PCs are replaced by inexpensive thin clients and all software, computing power and data storage resides in a secure and private cloud infrastructure housed in itopia?s state-of-the-art data centers. With the itopia platform, users can access their ?real work computers? from any device, anytime, anywhere, and a lost or stolen laptop no longer means lost or stolen data. Enabling workshifting and mobile workforces has never been easier.

?The itopia Cloud Desktop solution is a true game-changer,? said itopia Founder, President and CEO Lieberman. ?Companies will be blown away by the lower overhead costs and increased workforce productivity. Employees will love the flexibility and mobility, and our MSP partners can deliver a high-performance

We recommend you visit the following site for more complete information and related topics. Article source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/veteran-miami-tech-entrepreneur-launches-140000228.html

Source: http://leomoo.com/2012/10/veteran-miami-tech-entrepreneur-launches-innovative-cloud-computing-venture/

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Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office West Bank crime report, Oct. 24 ...

This information reflects initial calls for service reported by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office for the west bank of Jefferson Parish. Locations are approximate due to automated location methods and address inconsistencies, the Sheriff's Office says. Burglar alarm calls are excluded.


13th Street and Avenue A - Oct. 24, 8:35 a.m., suspicious person.
2nd Avenue and 7th Street - Oct. 24, 8:01 a.m., vehicle wreck.
1200 block of Aberdeen Drive - Oct. 24, 11:23 a.m., battery.
Acre Road and Ames Boulevard - Oct. 24, 4:03 p.m., battery.
1100 block of Ames Boulevard - Oct. 24, 1:08 a.m., theft.
Ames Boulevard and 4th Avenue - Oct. 24, 7:49 p.m., suspicious person.
Ames Boulevard and East Ames Boulevard - Oct. 24, 12:18 a.m., suspicious person.
Ames Boulevard and Ehret Road - Oct. 24, 4:59 p.m., suspicious person.
Ames Boulevard and Rue Jesann Street - Oct. 24, 6:23 a.m., suspicious person.
Avenue A and Westbank Exp - Oct. 24, 7:53 p.m., disturbing the peace.
1200 block of Avenue D - Oct. 24, 1:47 a.m., battery.
1200 block of Barataria Boulevard - Oct. 24, 2:39 p.m., theft.
600 block of Barataria Boulevard - Oct. 24, 6:54 p.m., business burglary.
Barataria Boulevard and Bergeron Court - Oct. 24, 12:32 a.m., suspicious person.
Barataria Boulevard and Westbank Exp - Oct. 24, 9:04 p.m., suspicious person.
900 block of Beechgrove Boulevard - Oct. 24, 3:20 p.m., suspicious person.
Behrman Highway and South Monterey Court - Oct. 24, 1:15 p.m., suspicious person.
2700 block of Belle Chasse Highway - Oct. 24, 6:28 p.m., suspicious person.
Belle Chasse Highway and Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 10:06 a.m., suspicious person.
100 block of Blanche Drive - Oct. 24, 7:09 a.m., suspicious person.
1100 block of Blk Candlelight Drive - Oct. 24, 10:45 p.m., illegal discharge of weapon.
500 block of Blk Cohen Avenue - Oct. 24, 10:27 a.m., suspicious person.
2500 block of Blk Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 1:45 p.m., suspicious person.
3000 block of Blk Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 8:56 a.m., suspicious person.
1100 block of Blk Medical Center Boulevard - Oct. 24, 1:11 a.m., suspicious person.
500 block of Blk Terry Parkway - Oct. 24, 5:01 p.m., vehicle wreck.
Chenevert Road and South Kenner Road - Oct. 24, 7:48 p.m., suspicious person.
1100 block of Cohen Avenue - Oct. 24, 7:31 p.m., suspicious person.
Crestridge Cir and Ehret Road - Oct. 24, 7:48 a.m., suspicious person.
10 Davenport Street - Oct. 24, 12:53 p.m., suspicious person.
3200 block of Destrehan Avenue - Oct. 24, 7:42 a.m., theft.
Destrehan Avenue and Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 11:09 a.m., drug law violation.
Destrehan Avenue and Liro Lane - Oct. 24, 12:06 a.m., suspicious person.
Destrehan Avenue and Liro Lane - Oct. 24, 3:47 p.m., suspicious person.
Destrehan Avenue and Sandy Lane - Oct. 24, 4:43 p.m., suspicious person.
Destrehan Avenue and Sandy Lane - Oct. 24, 4:51 p.m., suspicious person.
100 block of Dexter Drive - Oct. 24, 1:09 p.m., theft.
1000 block of Di Marco Drive - Oct. 24, 10:53 a.m., disturbing the peace.
3800 block of Eastview Drive - Oct. 24, 2:26 p.m., suspicious person.
1800 block of Estalote Avenue - Oct. 24, 4:22 a.m., suspicious person.
1900 block of South Forest Lawn Drive - Oct. 24, 5:35 p.m., suspicious person.
700 block of Gladstone Court - Oct. 24, 5:37 a.m., vehicle wreck.
2100 block of Grape Place - Oct. 24, 4:24 p.m., residence burglary.
Hector Avenue and Terry Parkway - Oct. 24, 8:07 p.m., suspicious person.
Highway 90 and Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 8:23 p.m., suspicious person.
4000 block of Hillcrest Drive - Oct. 24, 3:23 p.m., vehicle burglary.
700 block of Hinyub Avenue - Oct. 24, 9:32 p.m., illegal discharge of weapon.
2600 block of Jean Lafitte Boulevard - Oct. 24, 10:57 a.m., vehicle wreck.
600 block of Jean Lafitte Boulevard - Oct. 24, 11:08 a.m., suspicious person.
200 block of Jeffer Drive - Oct. 24, 9:04 p.m., residence burglary.
5500 block of Jordan Drive - Oct. 24, 9:26 a.m., disturbing the peace.
South Judah Drive and Ames Boulevard - Oct. 24, 7:32 p.m., suspicious person.
2800 block of Keith Way Drive - Oct. 24, 2:05 p.m., suspicious person.
2800 block of Keith Way Drive - Oct. 24, 8:25 p.m., vehicle wreck.
4200 block of Lac Bienville Drive - Oct. 24, 4:15 p.m., residence burglary.
2300 block of Lafayette Avenue - Oct. 24, 10:46 p.m., suspicious person.
900 block of Lamar Avenue - Oct. 24, 9:04 a.m., theft.
900 block of Lamar Avenue - Oct. 24, 1:35 p.m., battery.
800 block of Lander Street - Oct. 24, 7:52 p.m., disturbing the peace.
100 block of Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 8:25 p.m., disturbing the peace.
1600 block of Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 6:20 p.m., theft.
1600 block of Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 7:46 p.m., disturbing the peace.
3600 block of Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 6:04 a.m., vehicle wreck.
4800 block of Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 7:48 p.m., suspicious person.
6500 block of Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 2:16 p.m., suspicious person.
6500 block of Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 2:23 p.m., drug law violation.
7200 block of Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 11:44 a.m., disturbing the peace.
7200 block of Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 12:14 p.m., battery.
Lapalco Boulevard and Behrman Highway - Oct. 24, 1:28 p.m., suspicious person.
Lapalco Boulevard and Berger Road - Oct. 24, 5:19 p.m., vehicle wreck.
500 block of Lester Street - Oct. 24, 10:45 a.m., criminal damage.
Longleaf Lane and Max Drive - Oct. 24, 4:02 p.m., suspicious person.
1500 block of Lorene Drive - Oct. 24, 3:45 p.m., disturbing the peace.
1500 block of Lorene Drive - Oct. 24, 8:45 p.m., disturbing the peace.
Mac Arthur Avenue and Westbank Exp - Oct. 24, 12:08 p.m., suspicious person.
1500 block of Manhattan Boulevard - Oct. 24, 11:42 a.m., theft.
1500 block of Manhattan Boulevard - Oct. 24, 2:08 p.m., theft.
1700 block of Manhattan Boulevard - Oct. 24, 4:29 p.m., suspicious person.
1700 block of Manhattan Boulevard - Oct. 24, 10:51 p.m., suspicious person.
600 block of Manhattan Boulevard - Oct. 24, 8:45 a.m., vehicle wreck.
Manhattan Boulevard and 8th Street - Oct. 24, 12:44 p.m., suspicious person.
Manhattan Boulevard and Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 12:48 a.m., suspicious person.
Manhattan Boulevard and Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 6:51 a.m., suspicious person.
Manhattan Boulevard and Pine Street - Oct. 24, 8:10 a.m., vehicle wreck.
Manhattan Boulevard and Westbank Exp - Oct. 24, 1:05 a.m., suspicious person.
2600 block of Max Drive - Oct. 24, 3:44 p.m., suspicious person.
700 block of Morningside Drive - Oct. 24, 8:33 a.m., residence burglary.
600 block of Oak Avenue - Oct. 24, 3:53 p.m., suspicious person.
2400 block of Oxford Place - Oct. 24, 7:39 a.m., theft.
3900 block of Post Drive - Oct. 24, 10:27 p.m., residence burglary.
Post Drive and Deerlick Lane - Oct. 24, 1:52 p.m., suspicious person.
Promanade Boulevard and Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 3:51 p.m., vehicle wreck.
500 block of Rene Street - Oct. 24, 12:16 a.m., disturbing the peace.
Rene Street and Gwen Street - Oct. 24, 6:58 p.m., suspicious person.
100 block of Rosalie Drive - Oct. 24, 7:50 p.m., disturbing the peace.
7300 block of Runnymede Drive - Oct. 24, 10:06 p.m., battery.
200 block of Senate Drive - Oct. 24, 5:00 p.m., criminal damage.
3000 block of Sienna Drive - Oct. 24, 11:11 a.m., suspicious person.
Sweet Bay Lane and Rivet Boulevard - Oct. 24, 11:13 p.m., suspicious person.
1000 block of Tallow Tree Lane - Oct. 24, 11:52 p.m., suspicious person.
500 block of Terry Parkway - Oct. 24, 8:59 a.m., vehicle wreck.
600 block of Terry Parkway - Oct. 24, 8:21 p.m., theft.
Terry Parkway and Westbank Exp - Oct. 24, 11:26 a.m., suspicious person.
4200 block of Teton Street - Oct. 24, 11:17 a.m., vehicle wreck.
5000 block of Towering Oaks Avenue - Oct. 24, 8:07 p.m., disturbing the peace.
600 block of Wall Boulevard - Oct. 24, 3:33 p.m., suspicious person.
Wall Boulevard and Lapalco Boulevard - Oct. 24, 8:31 a.m., suspicious person.
Wall Boulevard and North Carlisle Drive - Oct. 24, 3:49 a.m., suspicious person.
100 block of Westbank Exp - Oct. 24, 3:28 p.m., theft.
Westbank Exp and Ames Boulevard - Oct. 24, 5:46 p.m., vehicle wreck.
Westbank Exp and Brown Avenue - Oct. 24, 8:40 a.m., suspicious person.
500 block of Westwood Drive - Oct. 24, 9:18 p.m., vehicle burglary.
Wichers Drive and Avenue B - Oct. 24, 11:39 a.m., suspicious person.
500 block of Willowbrook Drive - Oct. 24, 1:08 p.m., criminal damage.
2000 block of Woodmere Boulevard - Oct. 24, 7:39 a.m., suspicious person.
2400 block of Woodmere Boulevard - Oct. 24, 12:25 a.m., suspicious person.
2400 block of Woodmere Boulevard - Oct. 24, 4:26 p.m., suspicious person.
1100 block of Wright Avenue - Oct. 24, 11:54 a.m., suspicious person.
Wright Avenue and Cooper Road - Oct. 24, 2:32 p.m., suspicious person.

Source: http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/10/jefferson_parish_sheriffs_offi_1107.html

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Pro-government forces seize old Gaddafi bastion Bani Walid

BANI WALID, Libya (Reuters) - Forces loyal to Libya's government took control of the former Gaddafi stronghold of Bani Walid on Wednesday, commanders said, after weeks of fighting that have underlined the weakness of central authority more than a year after Libya's revolution.

Pro-government fighters shouted "Bani Walid is free!" as pick-up trucks mounted with weapons poured into the center of the isolated hilltop town, one of the last to surrender last year to the rebels who toppled Muammar Gaddafi.

Thousands have this month fled the bloodshed between rival militias, and pockets of resistance were still reported on Wednesday on the outskirts of Bani Walid, some 170 km (105 miles) south of Tripoli.

Bent on making their mark on a town they say still harbors many of the late dictator's followers, pro-government forces fired rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft weapons at empty buildings.

Heavy gunfire thundered non-stop and smoke billowed over part of the town.

The fighters cried "Allahu Akbar!" (God is Great) and "Today Bani Walid is finished!", honking car horns and blasting patriotic music from their trucks.

Some of them climbed onto the roof of one building to hoist Libya's tricolor flag and then fired their rifles in the air.

Posters of Shaban as well as historical Misrata hero Ramadan al-Swehli hung atop one town-center building. But next to it, a coffee shop stood empty with its plastic chairs still outside, and residents were notably absent from main streets.

"BANI WALID IS FREE"

"On this day - October 24 - Bani Walid is free. There are no more Gaddafi militias inside," said Fathi Shahoud, a commander of Libya Shield, a grouping of militias operating under the umbrella of the Defense Ministry. "Now we control the city and we will stay to ensure safety."

Tarek Nouri Abu-Shabi, a 21-year-old member of the Free Libya militia, said: "The revolutionaries have been in control since yesterday. These are rebels from Misrata, Tripoli and from other places. There are still small pockets of fighting on the outskirts. We found weapons inside the town."

Pro-government forces moved on Bani Walid this month after Omran Shaban, the fighter who found Gaddafi hiding in a drain in Sirte two months after rebels took Tripoli, died following two months of detention in the town.

The standoff highlighted the Tripoli government's inability to reconcile groups with long-running grievances, as well as its failure to bring many of the militias that deposed Gaddafi fully under its control.

The pro-government militias set out to find those suspected of abducting and torturing Shaban, and the national congress gave Bani Walid a deadline to hand them over.

"The military act is now finished. We now are working to make the city stable and more secure," army chief of staff Youssef al-Mangoush told reporters. "That doesn't mean that there isn't some resistance here or there. Now the government is in charge."

He said the pro-government forces had freed a number of people from detention and captured some fighters who used to belong to Gaddafi's son Khamis's brigade.

THOUSANDS FLED

According to the Libyan state news agency, the clashes in Bani Walid killed at least 22 people and injured hundreds. Thousands of families fled, saying there was no water or electricity in the city and a shortage of food and medicine.

There were unconfirmed reports on Tuesday of retribution by pro-government forces.

"The militias have entered the suburbs with bulldozers and have begun to demolish homes without reason," Abdel-Hamid Saleh, a member of a Bani Walid civil society group, said by phone.

"A woman called me yesterday screaming 'They have come for me, they have come for me' in fear. The city is falling on our heads."

The Bani Walid General Hospital was evacuated this week when, according to residents, it came under a rocket and mortar barrage.

"The patients have been moved to hiding places, homes and mosques because they were under fire in the hospital," tribal elder Mohammed al-Shetwai told Reuters.

A Reuters team was unable to reach the hospital on Wednesday because of widespread shooting.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it had previously delivered surgical supplies to treat around 100 patients wounded by shooting inside the city, as well as other urgently needed medical supplies.

(Additional reporting by Hadeel Al-Shalchi; Writing By Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Hadeel Al-Shalchi; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pro-government-forces-control-old-gaddafi-bastion-bani-133858569.html

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Liberty Ross Fuels Rumors She?s Reconciled With Rupert Sanders (VIDEO)

Liberty Ross Fuels Rumors She’s Reconciled With Rupert Sanders (VIDEO)

Actress/model Liberty Ross has fueled rumours she has reunited with her estranged husband Rupert Sanders following his affair with “Twilight” actress Kristen Stewart by insisting [...]

Liberty Ross Fuels Rumors She’s Reconciled With Rupert Sanders (VIDEO) Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2012/10/liberty-ross-fuels-rumors-shes-reconciled-with-rupert-sanders-video/

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How makers of phones and tablets are faring

Makers of phones and tablet computers have begun releasing results for the latest quarter. Many companies including Nokia and Research in Motion have been struggling to compete with Apple and manufacturers of devices running Google's Android software. Here's a look at how makers of phones and tablet computers are doing.

? Oct. 18: Google Inc. says its Motorola Mobility device-making business suffered an operating loss of $527 million, more than tripling from the same time last year, when it was still an independent company. Google is planning job cuts at Motorola, but says it still could take a few years for Google to turn that business around.

Nokia Corp. reports that its third-quarter net loss widened further to ?969 million ($1.27 billion) with a 19 percent plunge in revenue, as it struggles against the dominance of Samsung and the iPhone in the tough smartphone market. Nokia gave a grim outlook for the rest of the year as it prepares for this fall's launch of Microsoft Corp.'s new phone software, Windows Phone 8. The Finnish firm acknowledges it expects no quick gains from the new Windows launch.

? Tuesday: Apple Inc. unveils a faster, full-sized iPad and a smaller one called the iPad Mini. The smaller one will start at $329, much more than its competitors. Both new iPads will be available starting Nov. 2.

Coming up:

? Thursday: Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc.

? Friday: Samsung Electronics Co., HTC Corp.

? Nov. 1: Sony Corp.

? Dec. 20: Research in Motion Ltd.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/makers-phones-tablets-faring-145513655--finance.html

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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Dell announces its first multi-touch monitor, the S2340T, and a wireless trackpad for Windows 8

Dell announces its first multi-touch monitor, the S2340T, and a wireless trackpad for Windows 8

In addition to trotting out a new Windows 8 Ultrabook and putting its Windows RT tablet up for pre-order, Dell just announced its first multi-touch display along with a wireless trackpad optimized for Win 8. Starting with the 23-inch S2340T, it has 1080p resolution and a 90-degree articulating stand that allows the display to lie nearly face-up. At the base, you'll find various inputs, including USB 3.0, HDMI, DisplayPort and Ethernet. There's also a webcam up top for those of you who plan on giving the new version of Skype a try. Meanwhile, the TP713 (pictured) is a Magic Trackpad-style touchpad designed to support Windows 8 gestures, such as swiping in from the left to toggle through applications. Both are up on Dell's site now, with the monitor priced at $650 and the trackpad going for $70. Both are expected to begin shipping this week.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/23/dell-s2340T-multitouch-monitor-TP713-wireless-trackpad/

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Spielberg: Bullying led me to deny my Judaism

CBS

By Peter Gicas, E! Online

Steven Spielberg has opened up about his younger years and the bullying he endured that would later influence many of his films.

"I was a nerd in those days. Outsider," the director admitted during an interview that aired on Sunday's "60 Minutes." "Like the kid that played the clarinet in the band and orchestra, which I did."

Spielberg's mom, who also spoke to the CBS TV news magazine, revealed that the Spielbergs lived in a non-Jewish neighborhood and that folks would often yell out, "The Spielbergs are dirty Jews."

New Lincoln trailer premieres during 2012 presidential debate

As a result of the constant taunting, the man behind such classics as "Jaws," "E.T." and "Schindler's List" said that for a long time he "denied" his Judaism.

"I often told people my last name was German, not Jewish," the Oscar winner shared. "I'm sure my grandparents are rolling over in their graves right now, hearing me say that."

As a teenager, though, Spielberg discovered the craft that would eventually change his life, and that of moviegoers, forever.

"I had found a way to accept myself in my own life by making movies," he said. "I found that I could do something well."

Spielberg's latest film, "Lincoln," opens Nov. 16.

Check out other movies that are coming to a theater near you

More in The Clicker:

Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2012/10/22/14620081-steven-spielberg-i-denied-my-judaism-after-being-bullied?lite

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Oil price drops below $87; pump prices down again

NEW YORK (AP) ? The price of oil fell to a three-month low Tuesday as big corporations cut earnings forecasts, raising concerns about economic growth and oil demand.

Benchmark oil dropped $1.98, or 2.3 percent, to finish at $86.67 per barrel in New York. Oil has lost about 6 percent since Thursday, the biggest three-day drop in a month.

That's starting to mean more relief at the gas pump for U.S. drivers. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline dropped 2 cents overnight to $3.65. The price has fallen 17 cents in the past 12 days.

Gas prices tend to fall at this time of year. Refiners make a cheaper blend of gasoline for the cooler months, and people drive fewer miles. This year, tepid economic growth means demand could be slower than normal. That's why gasoline futures have plunged 12 percent in less than two weeks, including a 4.3-cent drop Tuesday to $2.61 per gallon.

That could put a few more dollars in consumers' pockets by the holidays. AAA predicted Monday that the average price of gas should be down to between $3.25 and $3.40 by Thanksgiving. The average was $3.32 a gallon on Thanksgiving last year.

Oil has plunged as jitters on Wall Street have migrated to the energy markets. 3M Co., with products ranging from Scotch tape to traffic sign coatings, and Posco, the big Korean steel maker, were among the major companies on Tuesday that cut forecasts because of weak economic growth in China and Europe. Caterpillar Inc., the big machinery company, did the same on Monday. That gloominess has sent most global stock markets sharply lower.

"The poor earnings reports seem to have rekindled worries that the global economy is under pressure and slowing," said Tradition Energy oil analyst Gene McGillian.

Brent crude fell $1.19, or 1.1 percent, to end at $108.25 per barrel in London. Brent has dropped more than 5 percent in the past six trading sessions.

In other futures trading in New York:

? Heating oil fell 3.33 cents to finish at $3.043 per gallon.

? Natural gas broke the trend, rising 8.3 cents to end at $3.535 per 1,000 cubic feet after falling sharply Monday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oil-price-drops-below-87-pump-prices-down-193302450--finance.html

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Monday, October 22, 2012

Caterpillar sees weak economy as it cuts outlook

FILE - In this Wednesday, June 20, 2012, file photo a caterpillar machine is used at the Clinton Landfill in Clinton, Ill. Caterpillar cut its profit and revenue guidance on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, saying the world?s economic conditions ?are weaker than we had previously expected.? Caterpillar Inc. is the world?s largest construction and mining equipment maker, so its results are watched closely as a sign of where the broader economy is headed. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)

FILE - In this Wednesday, June 20, 2012, file photo a caterpillar machine is used at the Clinton Landfill in Clinton, Ill. Caterpillar cut its profit and revenue guidance on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, saying the world?s economic conditions ?are weaker than we had previously expected.? Caterpillar Inc. is the world?s largest construction and mining equipment maker, so its results are watched closely as a sign of where the broader economy is headed. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)

FILE - In this Wednesday, June 20, 2012, file photo, shows Caterpillar logos on earth moving tractors and equipment in Clinton, Ill. Caterpillar cut its profit and revenue guidance on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, saying the world?s economic conditions ?are weaker than we had previously expected.? Caterpillar Inc. is the world?s largest construction and mining equipment maker, so its results are watched closely as a sign of where the broader economy is headed. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ? Caterpillar says the world's economy is weaker than it thought, and it doesn't expect growth to pick up until the second half of next year.

The company on Monday cut its 2012 revenue and profit guidance, and took a very cautious view toward its performance in 2013.

Caterpillar makes the yellow-painted excavators, heavy tractors, and other construction equipment often seen on road-building projects. It's the world's largest maker of construction and mining equipment, and also makes engines. Its results are watched closely for signs of where the broader economy is headed.

Where it's headed right now is for some weak growth, based on what Caterpillar was saying on Monday.

It predicted worldwide economic growth of 2.7 percent for next year, up from the 2.5 percent growth it expects for 2012. It expects the cheap lending offered in most countries to continue next year, although "growth has been slow to respond," the company said.

"As a result, we are not expecting improvement in overall economic growth until the second half of 2013," the company said.

Caterpillar sells to dealers, who turn around and sell to end users like construction and mining companies. Those dealers are trying to cut inventory, so they're ordering less equipment than customers are buying.

In response, Caterpillar said it has reduced production, resulting in temporary shutdowns and layoffs. Lower production will continue until dealer demand lines up with end user demand, Caterpillar said.

The layoffs will generally be short-term, such as a factory shutting down for a week, the company's chief financial officer, Ed Rapp, said in an interview.

"We haven't seen the broad-based economic growth that we really anticipated in 2012," he said.

As a result, Caterpillar cut its 2012 outlook for the second time this year. Revenue is expected to grow 9.7 percent to $66 billion, after rising 41 percent in 2011. Profit is now forecast at $9 to $9.25 per share, down from a previous forecast of $9.60 per share.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet had expected revenue of $67.2 billion, with profit of $9.41 per share.

The company said growth was below expectations in the U.S. and China, and with much of Europe in recession.

The U.S., China and most developing economics should see modest improvement next year, Caterpillar said. But it sees "continuing difficulty" and only marginal growth in Europe.

"We're not expecting rapid growth, and we're not predicting a global recession," Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman said.

On Friday, General Electric Co. CEO Jeffrey Immelt said he's expecting economic conditions next year to be similar to this year. Most regions should show some improvement, but Europe's "going to be a grind," he said. Investors should get another view of the global economy from a major manufacturer when 3M Co. reports earnings on Tuesday.

Caterpillar expects 2013 revenue to be about the same as this year, plus or minus 5 percent.

The company said sales of mining gear will fall next year. Lower prices for metals and coal, along with higher operating costs, have hurt profit margins at many mining companies, Caterpillar said. Sales of construction gear are expected to increase, and it expects improving activity in the U.S. It expects engine sales to be flat.

Profit in the third quarter rose 49 percent to almost $1.7 billion, or $2.54 per share. That compares with profit of $1.14 billion, or $1.71 per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 4.6 percent to $16.45 billion.

The results included a gain of $273 million, or 27 cents per share, from selling a majority interest in a logistics business. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had been expecting a profit of $2.21 per share, on revenue of $16.64 billion.

Shares of Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar Inc. rose $1.22 to close at $85.08 Monday.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-10-22-US-Earns-Caterpillar/id-617590b99a3c490699f081797e16a7f1

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Responding to Facebook Page Reach Decrease | Social Media Today

For small businesses looking to their Facebook Page as a cost-effective way to help build their social media brand online, the news that significant changes were made in September 2012 to the Facebook algorithm?is concerning.

That said, Facebook is a business, and more recently a publicly traded one. And, like any business a key objective is to make money. As a publicly traded one, it is to thrive and grow it?s profitability, to keep shareholders (and creditors) happy.

This is small consolation for the small business owner working hard to build their brand online using social media.

But, the reality is the reality. Facebook is unlikely to change their algorithm to favour those in business who are, in truth, benefitting from their service at no cost (at least in terms of writing a cheque to Facebook).

And, as a well-written blog on the topic appearing on Social.Ogilvy.com stated ?The crux of the change is centered strictly on organic brand page posts, in an effort to de-clutter the amount of posts served up to mobile and tablet users by brands.?

The blog on?Ogilvy?notes, ?The change comes at a time when Facebook is trying to maximize the amount of paid advertising it has on the platform, in an effort to bump its share price after a struggling stock share post-IPO.?

And who can blame them? They are in fact a business, providing a service that is free for most and with an opportunity for businesses to buy further exposure through advertising with or without sponsored stories, and promoted posts.

Even without paying, or using advertising and promoted posts sparingly, small businesses can still benefit from having a Facebook Page.

Gokul Rajaram, Facebook?s Director of Product Management Ads, is quoted in a blog by Trevor Dayley as saying, ?Organically, you get anywhere from 15 percent to 20 percent of your fans, that you reach organically. In order to reach the remaining 80 to 85 percent, sponsoring posts is important.?

My guess is the average Facebook fan is quite happy to not see a plethora of posts from businesses in their Facebook newsfeed. After all, most are on the site to connect with family and friends not brands. That said, posts that they find interesting and helpful from brands are likely welcomed.

In a nutshell, the old saying ?you get what you pay for? is true here. You will get a certain level of exposure without paying for it, but if you want more exposure you?ll have to pony up the dollars.

One caveat, just because you pay for posts won?t mean people will engage with them. Paying for the ad is one thing and ensuring the content you?re promoting is shareable, comment provoking and likeable is something else altogether.

If you?re going to pay for advertising, make sure that when people see your posts on Facebook they?ll be glad they did. Otherwise, you may just be spending money and not seeing any results.

Source: http://socialmediatoday.com/suecockburn/933246/responding-facebook-page-reach-decrease

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Sunday, October 21, 2012

?Devil's ?Advocate ?

?Devil's ?Advocate ?

Looks like some poor kid's parents sold their soul to the Devil in a deal, fresh meat for the Sin City grinder.

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if my house was on fire i would probably run back in to save my laptop i?m not even joking

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China cabinet seeks ambitious economic reform agenda: advisers

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's top leaders have asked policy think-tanks to draw up their most ambitious economic reform proposals in decades that could curb the power of state firms and give more freedom to the setting of interest rates and the yuan currency.

But after almost 10 years of delay to painful structural reforms by the outgoing leadership, some of the authors of the proposals told Reuters they fear a nascent rebound in economic growth could derail the recommended agenda.

"China is approaching a stage when the government must embrace more fundamental reforms," said Shi Xiaomin, vice president of the China Society of Economic Reform, a think-tank under the National Development and Reform Commission, the top economic planning body.

China's once-in-a-decade leadership change will be finalized next month at the ruling Communist Party's 18th congress. Vice President Xi Jinping is set to take over from Hu Jintao as president and Li Keqiang will replace Wen Jiabao as premier at the meeting, which opens on November 8.

The congress convenes as the economy heads for its weakest annual growth rate in at least 13 years after three decades of near 10 percent annual expansion in the wake of sweeping reforms launched by former leader Deng Xiaoping.

Reuters interviewed five policy advisers involved in drawing up the reform proposals. They said the order for the agenda came from members of the State Council, or cabinet, although they declined to give specifics for fear of repercussions.

Significantly, planning sources said cabinet members had signaled an interest in seeing proposals from policy advisers outside Beijing, in the provincial hinterland, implying that a nationwide consensus is being sought on the content and timetable for painful structural reform.

High on the list drawn up by the advisers is how to contain the government's meddling in the economy and clip the wings of more than 100,000 state-owned enterprises (SOEs) which enjoy enormous privileges, including preferential access to bank lending and government contracts.

Other reforms include allowing the market to set the cost of bank credit, land and various natural resources.

Credit is currently basically allocated by the central government. It tells state-backed banks how much to lend and when - mainly to other big state-controlled businesses and projects. Meanwhile all land and basic resources are owned by the state, with private ownership limited to temporary leased rights to usage.

Analysts say reform of these two areas would bring fundamental change to China's economic structure, even more so than making the yuan currency more convertible - also on the table as part of a package of proposals to liberalize capital markets and boost the yuan's use in global trade settlement.

Reform to China's complex tax structures, under which the central government commands the lion's share of receipts while local governments do most of the spending, is needed if serious progress is to be made cleaning up local government debt that stood at 10.7 trillion yuan ($1.7 trillion) at the end of 2010.

"I think a consensus on reforms has been formed at the central level, even though people may have different considerations on when and how to implement reforms," said Wang Jun, senior economist at the China Centre for International Economic Exchanges, a top government think-tank in Beijing.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Experts say Chinese leaders must unlock fresh growth potential and put the economy on a more sustainable path to avoid the "middle-income trap", where wealth creation stagnates as market share is lost to lower cost competitors and the attainment of high-income country status stays out of reach.

The World Bank says China's GDP per capita was $5,500 last year, versus $22,400 in South Korea, $34,500 in Hong Kong and $46,200 in Singapore, which all avoided the middle-income trap.

There has been soul searching among Chinese academics about the 4 trillion yuan ($640 billion) stimulus package unveiled in late 2008, which led to excessive investment in white elephant projects, created mountains of local government debt and sent house prices rocketing in big cities.

The stimulus helped state-owned firms stage a comeback at the cost of private businesses.

SOEs have repeatedly fought off Beijing's plans to get them to pay higher dividends to state coffers and have sought to delay reforms on income distribution systems, which could imply capping hefty wages in monopoly sectors, government sources say.

The reforms aim to require SOEs to pay more dividends to the government to meet a funding shortfall in social welfare.

"We could see serious problems if we don't reform," said Zuo Xuejin, head of the Institute of Economics at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, which advises the local government in China's financial hub.

Still, some government advisers fear signs of a recovery in the economy could ease the pressure to act.

China's annual economic growth slowed to 7.4 percent in the third quarter from 7.6 percent in the second - the seventh consecutive quarter of slower expansion, but government officials have flagged signs of a modest rebound in September.

Industrial production, retail sales and investment data were all slightly ahead of forecasts in September and quarter-on-quarter GDP growth was strong, suggesting the worst may be over and the world's No.2 economy will pick up in the final quarter.

"They may have to change if there is an economic crisis, but they may choose to muddle through if the economy recovers," said an economist with a top government think-tank in Beijing, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

TRAJECTORY OF CHANGE

Past changes tend to support the anonymous economist's view.

Deng Xiaoping launched economic reforms in the late 1970s to rescue an economy on the verge of collapse after Mao Zedong's disastrous Cultural Revolution.

He made his famous tour of southern China in 1992 to jumpstart the second stage of reforms when the economy nosedived in the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. And sweeping market measures spearheaded by former Premier Zhu Rongji were introduced after the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s.

Chinese leaders have acknowledged that three decades of 10 percent average annual GDP expansion are over and that the economy needs fresh drivers, analysts say.

In February, the World Bank said in a report with the cabinet think-tank, endorsed by presumptive-premier Li, that Beijing must implement deep reforms to avert a crisis.

The World Bank said China's annual economic growth may slow to 5 percent a year by 2026-2030, from 8.5 percent in 2011-2015.

The mainstream view in Beijing is to blame the global financial crisis for China's slowdown, which also reflects diminishing gains from past reforms and market opening spurred by China's entry into the World Trade Organisation a decade ago.

Even fresh reforms may not deliver a swift turnaround.

"The easiest part of the reforms were carried out in the past 30 years, so we don't have many areas where reforms can deliver quick results," said Zuo at the Shanghai think-tank.

(Editing by Nick Edwards and Dean Yates)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-cabinet-seeks-ambitious-economic-reform-agenda-advisers-211004490--business.html

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