Thursday, May 31, 2012

Fantastic Email Marketing Ideas To Let Your Business Expand

Reaching potential customers has taken on a whole new meaning since the rise of the Internet. An email marketing plan can help you build a loyal customer base and develop a rapport with your subscribers, as well. The information shared in this article can help launch your success with email marketing.

Prior to going any further, it?s essential to tell you that there are in fact many other ideas about e-mail marketing just like the courses pointed out in this online marketing reviews site: imexaminerreview.com.

Effectively marketing through email depends upon attention-grabbing messages. This might take a few tries to get it right. If something is not working for you, try a different approach. Even if you have a winning strategy, it is important to constantly see what the competition is doing.

Your subject lines should be brief and to the point. If your email subject is under 60 characters, you have a better chance of getting your customer?s attention. Long subjects can be distracting and put people off. If you can?t avoid a long subject, make sure that the most important information appears at the beginning of the subject, so it is less likely to be truncated in inboxes.

When people sign up for your newsletter, you probably want them to double-confirm their email address. Many people mistype their email, so this can ensure they input it correctly. These typos won?t happen as much if they enter it twice, which makes sure your emails get to the right spot.

Don?t waste the time of your customers. Only send out an email that has something important to show them. Don?t constantly send customers blatant sales petitions. Consider incorporating information on how to use a particular product, or troubleshoot a problem that many of your customers may have.

An email marketing campaign that offers more options to subscribers will generally be more effective. Tell the subscribers you have how many messages they?re going to get and when to expect them. Also let them know what kind of information you?re going to need from them. People will feel comfortable if they are in control.

In order to better your email marketing plan, consider joining emails with social network sites, including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Customers will then be able to share with others and put their stamp of approval on your campaign or special offers, increasing exposure and the number of people signing up with you.

Keep to a regular schedule with your emails and newsletters. Your newsletters need to be released weekly on the same day and during the same time period too. You want to provide consistency for your customers, as well as establish a periodic update from you about what?s new.

It is crucial that your email marketing campaign is relevant and interesting to your readers. If what you are sending is little more than spam, clients will flee your list. Utilize the advice you?ve read so that you can write high quality emails that your subscribers will look forward to reading.

If you really wish to take your business to the next level by implementing e-mail marketing, you can visit this Street Smart Profits bonus site.

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Robert Pattinson's Next Movie: A Modern-Day 'Bonnie And Clyde'?

'Twilight' producer says Pattinson would be 'fantastic' in the big-screen adaptation of 'The Professionals.'
By Kara Warner


Robert Pattinson
Photo: Getty Images

When it comes to knowing the comings and goings of Robert Pattinson, we'd like to consider ourselves experts, or very much in the know with regard to what movies we can expect to see the "Twilight" superstar make next.

We know about his roles in "Bel Ami", "Cosmopolis", and of course "Breaking Dawn - Part 2", but what do you think of Pattinson tackling a modern-day thriller a la "Bonnie and Clyde"?

When MTV News caught up with "Twilight" producer Wyck Godfrey recently to discuss Pattinson and Kristen Stewart's chances of another Best Kiss win at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards on Sunday (June 3), he revealed that he and Pattinson might be cooking up some post-"Breaking Dawn - Part 2" work plans, in the form of a big-screen adaptation of a crime thriller.

"There's a book called "The Professionals," which is a new crime thriller that Rob has read and really likes," Godfrey said of Owen Laukkanen's well-received debut novel. "We're just starting to look at a writer [to adapt it]. It's kind of a 'Bonnie and Clyde' for today, and he would be fantastic in the role. It's in the early days; we'll see."

A modern-day version of "Bonnie and Clyde" sounds gritty and violent no matter which way you look at it. We asked Godfrey if he sees this potential big-screen crime thriller as a PG-13- or R-rated film for Pattinson.

"Possibly R," he said. "[Rob's] an adult now."

Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live this Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET.

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Attack on candidate's HQ as vote polarizes Egypt

CAIRO (Reuters) - An arson attack on the headquarters of one of the two candidates in Egypt's presidential election has marred campaigning for the second round in a vote that has polarized the nation with the choice of an Islamist or Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister.

Protesters set fire to storage rooms and smashed computers late on Monday at the campaign headquarters of Ahmed Shafiq, a 70-year-old former air force chief and Mubarak official, who was confirmed as a run-off candidate after the first round vote.

His rival is Mohamed Mursi, a senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's main Islamist group which controls the biggest bloc in parliament after an earlier election. The deciding presidential vote is on June 16 and 17.

Mursi, 60, drew support from a disciplined group of backers of the Brotherhood, banned under Mubarak, and Shafiq attracted Egyptians who want a strongman to restore law, order and prosperity after 15 months of turmoil since Mubarak's ouster.

Neither won more than a quarter of votes cast in the first round, leaving an agonizing choice for a sizeable portion of the electorate who backed more centrist candidates and do not want a conservative Islamist or an ex-military officer at the helm.

Thousands of Egyptians took to the streets on Monday night in protest after the results of the first round were confirmed by the election committee. Some held up posters of Mursi with a cross over his face. But most were chanting against Shafiq.

Dozens then marched from the protests around Tahrir Square, where hundreds of thousands played out a drama that toppled Mubarak, to Shafiq's headquarters in the upscale Cairo district of Dokki.

"They seemed to know what they were after and they went directly to the storage rooms and set them on fire using petrol bombs," said Ahmed Abdel Ghani, 30, a member of Shafiq's campaign, surveying a scene of unusable, charred campaign flyers and leaflets scattered on the ground.

The main villa escaped the flames but protesters smashed laptops and computers inside, he said. Daubed on the wall outside the villa were the words: "No to Shafiq, no to feloul," an Arabic word referring to "remnants" of Mubarak's era.

Shafiq has made no secret of his admiration for Mubarak, describing him as a role model after his own father. Protesters threw stones and shoes at him when he voted in Cairo last week.

"We condemn the attack but we still don't know who is behind it and will wait for investigations. But we are continuing our work and path and hopefully all will end well," said one official in the campaign, who asked not to be named.

BLOODY TRANSITION

The flare-up was the latest in an already messy and often bloody transition to democracy since generals took over from Mubarak after a popular uprising forced him out on February 11, 2011. The army has pledged to hand over power by July 1.

Even before the first-round vote, revolutionaries who led the demonstrations that brought down Mubarak had promised to hit the streets if Shafiq progressed in the vote to become president of the Arab world's most populous nation.

Yet any violence could help Shafiq's cause as his strongest card in the race is his promise swiftly to restore law and order, which collapsed after Mubarak's downfall.

Many Egyptians were happy to see the back of Mubarak, yet are now desperate for stability to revive the shattered economy. Shafiq is seen as having the army backing to achieve that.

Both Shafiq and the Brotherhood are now trying to rally support from more centrist voters in the second round. But youth leaders of the uprising fear they would be surrendering their revolution by voting for Mursi or Shafiq and liberals are also deeply uncomfortable with the available candidates.

Liberal and other political groups have often criticized the Brotherhood for being slow to join the anti-Mubarak revolt, acquiescing too quickly to the ruling generals and seeking to dominate the political scene after their parliamentary success.

Mursi's supporters believe Mursi and the Brotherhood, which has a social network with grass-roots support across Egypt, are the best hope for reforming a corrupt state.

"Protests are expected. Not everyone will be satisfied with the result, some will object to it but we hope that the people's choice will be with the revolution," said Fareed Ismail, a senior figure in the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party.

"The situation in Egypt is in a critical and dangerous phase. We must work together so that the revolution isn't lost," he told Reuters.

The Brotherhood denied any role in the attack on Shafiq's headquarters. Other candidates who lost in the first round also condemned the violence.

Hamdeen Sabahy, a leftist candidate who came third in the race and now being courted by the Brotherhood, said in a statement it was the "right of the people to express their opinion provided demonstrations were peaceful".

A Brotherhood source, who asked not to be named, said the Islamist group had prepared a menu of options to tempt rival groups and politicians to its side, including backers of first-round loser and ex-Brotherhood member Abdol Moneim Abol Fotouh.

Until now, fourth-placed Abol Fotouh has called for his supporters to "stand united against the symbols of corruption and oppression" - a reference to Shafiq - but has not explicitly said he would back Mursi.

Like Sabahy, fifth-placed former Arab League chief Amr Moussa, once a favorite, has not backed either candidate.

The ultra-orthodox Salafi Muslim Al-Nour party, which controls the second biggest bloc in parliament and had backed Abol Fotouh, has thrown its weight behind Mursi.

The Brotherhood source said the group has offered: creating a five-member advisory council to advise the president; assigning the posts of prime minister or vice-president to Abol Fotouh and Sabahy; distributing cabinet posts to other parties; and offering compromises on planned laws and on an assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution.

Four candidates complained about the vote conduct but the election committee dismissed all the complaints.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said he was broadly confident about the election process although Carter Center monitors highlighted several irregularities, notably lack of access in the final aggregation of national results.

(Additional reporting Tamim Elyan and Dina Zayed; Writing by Edmund Blair, editing by Peter Millership)

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First Lady says politics is tough, even for Obama girls

She said her daughters had learned to be thick-skinned in an election year.

By Nancy Benac,?The Associated Press / May 29, 2012

First Lady Michelle Obama on ABC's The View Tuesday morning.

ABC

Enlarge

Michelle Obama says her daughters are learning that even the kids of politicians have to have a thick skin.

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"Politics is tough," the first lady said Tuesday. "That's just sort of the nature of the beast."

But she said daughters Sasha and Malia, at ages 10 and 13, also know that no matter what happens in the November election, "their life is good either way."

Mrs. Obama chatted about family life, this year's re-election campaign and what's not ahead for her ? a career in politics ? during a round of interviews promoting the release of her new book on the White House garden.

As for the personal attacks that swirl around her husband in a campaign year, the first lady said: "You just sort of have to have a thick skin in this thing. And your kids do too."

Malia and Sasha "understand that their world is secure no matter what," Mrs. Obama said on ABC's "The View." ''They've grown to understand that home is wherever we are. ... And Dad is always going to be Dad. So they're good."

The first lady left no doubt on the question of a political future of her own.

"Those are other people's rumors," she said. "I have no interest in politics. Never have. Never will."

She added: "The one thing that is certain: I will serve. I will serve in some capacity."

Mrs. Obama said her work to support military families "is a forever proposition. They will always need a voice out there."

Later, with Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show," Mrs. Obama talked about the virtues of fresh veggies and wouldn't bite at a Stewart suggestion that she use her higher poll ratings as a weapon in any argument with her husband.

"I don't wield it over him," she said. "One of the things I've seen over the last 3 1/2 years, I've seen what it takes to be president. I kind of watch this thing pretty closely. You know, the president is getting all the hard decisions, where there is no easy answer."

During her media tour the first lady offered other tidbits about the Obama family, and her efforts to promote healthy eating and exercise:

?The president isn't much of a griller-in-chief. "He doesn't mind grilling, but I was the griller in our household. ... I love to grill anything," she said in an interview airing Thursday on "Rachael Ray."

?She doesn't have to worry about deer or other animals nibbling on plants in the White House garden, thanks to "a big fence and men with guns," she said on "The View." There were some pesky birds to contend with, however.

?Her effort to fight childhood obesity "isn't about government telling people what to do," she told ABC's "Good Morning America." It's designed to give families information, support and resources to find their own solutions.

The first lady's gardening book, released Tuesday by Crown Publishers, is "American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America."

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Man wows 'AGT' crowd with 'Love Boat' theme

By Sean Daly, AGTnews.com

NBC

"America's Got Talent" hopeful Ulysses wowed the crowd, but he failed to impress judge Howard Stern.

So does Tampa have talent? We?d assume so, but there wasn?t much of it on display during Monday night?s "America's Got Talent" audition episode.

You know things have gotten pretty bad when one of the highlights was a guy dressed in a Bill Cosby sweater singing TV theme songs. "Love? Exciting and new? Come aboard? We?re expecting you?"

Doc concerned about Horse?s nutty act

Judges Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel and Howard Stern were able to filter out a bearded-lady belly dancer, a hair stylist with "scissor hands" and a guy who considers himself "America?s escape?artist."

Here are a few of the acts that made it through:

All That! 23 - 36 (cloggers)
They looked like grown up frat boys with tap shoes. This muscle-bound group of professional cloggers from Myrtle Beach started off competing against each other before banding together 14 years ago. They brought perhaps the only act of the night that has a chance at making the top ten. "When you could bring (the crowd) to their feet with just your feet, I think you have done something," Howie said. Sharon loved it too. She even asked if they could give lessons to Ozzy. Three yeses!

Inspire the Fire, 13 - 29 (singers & dancers)
It?s ?urban Glee? with a side order of inspiration. The talented crew -- which took the stage in khakis and bright colored sweaters -- represents a non-profit organization that helps teens find their way through the arts. Their interpretation of the Bill Withers classic ?Lean On Me? was straight out of a (off-off-off-) Broadway musical, inspiring a standing-O from the judges. "You guys are so upbeat. You make us smile. You can sing, you can dance?you do it all!? Howard said. ?By the way, I hate 'Glee,' but I love you.?

7-year-old rapper Mir Money posts message to fans

Distinguished Men of Brass, 24 - 60 (brass band)
They lost their jobs working at a local theme park when the economy went south. ?But that?s OK. ?We took a bad situation and turned it into a new dream for us,? one member told the judges.?Now clad in black suits, white shorts and fedoras, the nine men of d?Mo Brass are ready to bring some Mardi Gras heat to the "AGT" stage. Howie loved it ??"Just one word described watching you ? fun!"? So did Sharon -- "All your hard work has paid off. ?I adore you."? And Howard?? "There are people who can?t get to the next level, and you know what? ?You are not one of them," he praised.? "You are there. ?Thank God for bad times." Yes, yes, and yes.

Ulysses, 49 (singer)
He?s been singing since the age of three and said it had been a lifelong dream to be in show business. But the theme to ?The Love Boat?"? He wasn't serious, right? ?Howard didn?t even let him finish and dropped an "X" -- but by then the damage was already done. The entire crowd was on its feet and whipped into a bit of a retro-schmaltz frenzy. "I haven?t heard that song since the early ?80s," Howie joked before passing him through. But Howard remained unimpressed -- even after getting the poor guy to drop in a few bars of "Green Acres" and "The Addams Family."? Still Sharon wouldn?t let him go home disappointed:? "You thoroughly entertained me," she said.? "Everybody could sing along. ?I want to hear more!" So on he goes to the capital of schmaltz -- Las Vegas.

Which act was best of the night? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Want a Great Commercial Real Estate Investing Experience? | Real ...

Read this article to find out how to make your commercial real estate investing experience the best it can be.

If you are going to invest in commercial real estate, check out this article that is posted below. ?It will give you some great tips on making your commercial real estate investing experience the best it can be. ?Read all the tips below.

?

Be patient when handling a deal with a commercial property. The initial legwork is more involved than buying a home. There are more inspections, more work to be done and more paperwork to do. Build this time into your investment plans so that you won?t be caught off guard.

Remember that the best time for you to drive to a location and analyze it is on a Sunday morning. During this time there is not going to be a lot of traffic, and it is also the most serene time of the week. Factor this into your evaluation procedures.

Is it possible to work with real estate without using an agent? Well, technically it is, but it is generally not recommended. You are not merely paying an agent for their expertise, but more importantly for their network. With the contacts they have, your real estate will receive much greater exposure and will sell considerably quicker.

Surround yourself with positivity. Make sure everyone you work with has a positive attitude, from the inspectors, to the sellers and buyers, to yourself. You do not want to have someone detracting from your positive attitude, as this may make you think less of a property you would have otherwise purchased.

Don?t let someone disrespect you when searching for your commercial real estate property. It is easy for property owners to dupe their customers and end up ruining their businesses. Whether the policy be crooked or the building isn?t sound, it is important to find the flaws in the sale if there are any.

Do not let your emotions take away from your logical focus. You are buying homes to resell them, and should not allow yourself to develop an emotional attachment. If you feel that you are getting to attached to a house you are interested in purchasing, take a step back and ask yourself if this house is really worth the money.

Carefully research the commercial real estate broker that you are considering working with to buy a property. You want to be sure that the broker that you are working with has a great deal of experience and that he is working to serve your best interests through the entire process.

Understand that when you get into commercial real estate, most of the deals are made towards the end of the bargaining process. Thus, if you do not like the initial price that you are being offered, don?t panic, as you will have a chance to negotiate your price towards the end.

Consider location when purchasing commercial real estate. Even if the location is small, as long as it is in a popular area you will be able to get your investment back plus some if you ever choose to sell. You will also have an easier time of leasing it as it will be in high demand. Spend lots of time investigating the area. Ask questions like: Does it have a lot of foot-traffic? Is there plenty of parking? What is the crime rate?

Investing in commercial real estate is more complex than residential home trading, for a very good reason: The potential profits are much greater. The traders who realize these profits are the ones who do their homework. A well-prepared, well-educated commercial real estate investor is less likely to fall prey to the common pitfalls and more likely to get the most out of his or her money.

Pauly Permizio

GoArticles.com ? 2012, All Rights Reserved.

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Video: Trader's View of the Markets

A look at what traders will be watching ahead of the opening bell, with Kevin Ferry, Cronus Futures Management.

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Global Home Improvements Ireland - Human Edited Directory

ID:26240Title:Global Home Improvements IrelandURL:http://www.globalhomeimprovements.ieCategory:Home: Home ImprovementDescription:Global Home Improvements have over 30 years experience manufacturing and installing a wide range of products including Windows, Doors and Rooflines.Meta Keywords:Home, Improvement, Doors, Rooflines, WindowsMeta Description:Global Home Improvements have over 30 years experience manufacturing and installing a wide range of products including Windows, Doors and Rooflines.Pagerank:4Tell a friend
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Monday, May 28, 2012

How Indian textile manufacturers can become ... - India Business Blog

2 comments

The business of Indian textile industry largely relies on catering to the needs of foreign customers. That?s by all means a good business model that works well for most of the companies. It allows of running a focused and specialized operation, limits risks related to issues related to retailing, logistics and etc. But overall, outsourcing model is way more beneficial to fashion brands, not to the manufacturers. F

or anecdotal evidence of that, you may check how many persons on Forbes Billionaires top 10 list, are from the fashion retail business and how many from the textile manufacturing business (hint: 3 and 0).

During the last few decades garment manufacturing has become to great extent a commoditized service. In most cases fashion brands can easily shift from supplier to supplier without customer ever noticing the change. It?s one of the main reasons why profit distribution within the supply chain is skewed towards the retailer?s side (Figure given below illustrates value distribution with the supply chain for a shirt). It doesn?t seem likely that this major trend will change any time soon.

Reverse-outsourcing business model is enabling manufacturers from a low cost country of becoming retailers in a higher income one. The concept is essentially the same as in outsourcing of manufacturing to a lower cost location, but in reverse ? in this case services of the retailing, distribution and marketing are being outsourced to the end market.?

Manufacturer has various benefits to be gained from going into such a business. First, this way the demand for what?s produced is created. And that is beneficial for limiting the risks related to seasonal fluctuations or loss of client. Second, it allows capturing profits within a more lucrative segment of a supply chain ? i.e. retailing [Figure 1]. Third, geographical diversification might be beneficial balancing effects of economic cycles.

Most, even medium sized, Indian manufacturers are well placed to run such an operation ? usually management has decades of business experience, deep knowledge of garmenting business, and follows global trends often better than many fashion brands. The fact that garment manufacturing in India is predominantly family-owned business, is also advantageous in this case ? it allows taking fast and bold decisions.

Within this framework, Eastern Europe is a market where Indian manufacturers have high potential of being successful with their own fashion labels. The market is rapidly growing and is not yet saturated (due to this fact, average price level is often higher than it is in highly competitive Western Europe). Second, competition from other Indian businessman (who potentially, have access to the same skills, technologies and labor) is very low.

Starting retailing business in your own country might seem as an easier undertaking, but exactly for the same reason growing abroad is might be more rewarding financially. It?s about having competitive advantages. There are tens of thousands of textile related enterprises in NCR alone, and many have similar access to recourses and skills. While in a country such as Lithuania, an Indian businessman is a rare find.

In no way, I would claim that it is easy to build a leading fashion brand, or a big business in Easter Europe (or to that matter, anywhere else). The point I?m trying to make is that Eastern Europe is currently underserved, less explored, rapidly developing market, which is largely undiscovered by Indian businesses. These peculiarities enable professional Indian manufacturers (and there are so many of them) to realistically aim of building a healthy, few million-euro in turnover, business.

The world is changing all the time, and there is no doubt that we will see many more supply chain innovations initiated by the manufacturers. I?m experiencing changes myself as some of the forward-thinking Indian entrepreneurs have chosen to take the path of ?reverse-outsourcing? with us in Lithuania.

[Author: Mantas Balcius is an entrepreneur and business development consultant in Lithuania, Turkey and India. He?s a creator of www.indialithuniabusiness.com. Twitter @mantasbalcius]

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Sony cancels Android ICS update for Xperia Play

Sony Mobile has cancelled the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for its Xperia Play smartphone. The smartphone manufacturer has cited lack of stable and consistent performance during testing for the cancellation of the update for Xperia Play.

Sony had announced the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for Xperia branded devices. First in the line are the Xperia NXT devices - Xperia S, Xperia P and Xperia U, for the Android 4.0 ICS update. Surprisingly, now Sony Mobile has decided against releasing Android 4.0 ICS update for the Xperia Play.

Android ICS update

The company noted at its official blog that after extensive in house testing with developer teams and partners, the Xperia Play cannot provide consistent and stable experience, especially with gaming. The company noted that feedback from the beta ICS ROM testers also played important role in this decision.

Android ICS update

Sony had begun its Android 4.0 ICS roll out for its 2011 Xperia devices - Arc S, Ray and Neo V. Other 2011 Xperia devices that are to receive the Android 4.0 ICS update are Xperia arc, Xperia Neo, Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro, Xperia Pro, Xperia Active and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman.

In the new Xperia NXT series, the Xperia S will be the first lucky device to get the Android 4.0 ICS update by the end of the June. Following that, the Xperia P and Xperia U will receive an update later in the third quarter of this year.

Sony Mobile will push out the Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich update for all its 2011 Xperia and Xperia NXT devices later this year.

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Sunday, May 27, 2012

Rainy Memorial Day forecast for southeast coast

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Read ?Rules of the Hunt? and Start Playing ... - Small Business Trends

Rules of the HuntTo say that Rules of the Hunt: Real World Advice for Entrepreneurial and Business Success? is one of the most unusual business books?I?ve?ever read or reviewed would be an understatement.? The whole experience of getting this book and reviewing it was rather serendipitous.

As is the usual case, I received an email from a publicist who asked if I?d be interested in reviewing the book.? Of course, I said ?Yes.?? The book arrived and I opened the envelope and just put it on the pile ? you know the pile I?m talking about ? it?s the one my husband just went bananas over this morning ? yeah ? that one!

But then I got a call from Michael Dalton Johnson (@RulesoftheHunt).? At first I thought he was talking about the book ? but it turned out to be about a completely unrelated reason.? As we were ending the conversation he said that the book had an unusual format ? but he wouldn?t say more. ?Well, you know what happened next.? I went home, routed through the pile until I found the book, and promptly took it upstairs to read that evening.

Rules of the Hunt Looks Like a Book and Reads Like a Blog

When you get your copy of Rules of the Hunt you?re going to think you got a book.? It looks like a book at first.? In fact, it looks like any other business book you?ve ever seen; it has a businessy title and subtitle, acknowledgements, a forward by famous sales guru, Jeffery Gitomer and even a disclaimer.? Then you get to the table of contents and you see that there are, what look like ten chapters.? The introduction subtly lets me know that I don?t have to read the book cover to cover.? OK.? A lot of books say that, so I?m not surprised.

It isn?t until I turn to page two that I notice the difference ? when Michael Johnson said ?Rules? ? he was being literal.? This was a book of RULES ; paragraphs and sections of things that Michael Johnson has learned over the length of his more than 30 years of attending the school of entrepreneurial hard knocks.

Let me give you an example.? I?m going to select just a couple of short ?rules? so that you can get a flavor for what I mean:

?With money or time, new customers are bought.? The question is how much will new customers cost you?? There are many inexpensive ways to acquire customers ? word of mouth being the cheapest of them all.? Clever advertising, publicity, and promotion are also very effective.? You must determine, with a fair degree of accuracy what your acquisition costs are.?

OK.? So what, you might say.? But then there are wonderful, golden nuggets of just plain raw and honest business wisdom like this one:

?The immutable law of business gift giving.? Women like chocolates and flowers, men like food, gadgets and toys.? Quality trumps quantity.? A small box of exquisite chocolate truffles is remembered long after a two-pound of so-so candy.? That?s all you need to know.?

Here?s another one I really liked:

?Hire traits, not degrees. The fact that a job applicant has a degree doesn?t reveal much about the candidate?s capabilities.? Many people with advanced degrees lack common sense.? The Wizard of Oz couldn?t give the Scarecrow brains, but he could give him a diploma.? Lots of incompetents have diplomas.? Don?t be too impressed by these.? Honesty, loyalty, initiative and dedication can?t be taught.? The real world of business requires trats and abilities that are not attained by simply having a degree.?

How Michael Dalton Johnson Can Pull off a Book Like Rules of the Hunt

Not everyone can write a book like this.? It takes someone who has lived it and learned from his mistakes to write a book like this and have you actually believe it.? Michael Dalton Johnson certainly fits this description.

At the age of 15, Johnson dropped out of high school to take a full-time job.? He joined the army at age 17.? Then, after serving in the military, he worked as a ranch hand, factory worker and construction laborer before venturing into the business world.? He?s never taken a business course and it seems like he?s proud of it.

Now, let me tell you about what he?s accomplished inside the world of business.? Johnson is an award-winning trade book and magazine publisher.? He?s been an entrepreneur for over 30 years and is the founder of SalesDog.com.? He hasn?t lived an obscure entrepreneurial life, rather, he?s been on more than 200 radio shows and been featured in U.S. News and World Report, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal and many, many more publications that are too numerous to mention here.

I had the opportunity to have a conversation with Michael a few weeks ago and I can tell you that the creative marketing and sales secrets he shared with me can ONLY come from someone who has gotten his PhD from the real world of work and not a classroom.

Rules of the Hunt is a Mentoring Textbook

With so many young people graduating from college and looking to contribute and get to work ? this book would be a fantastic graduation present.? It?s easy to read and will give them just the right amount of insight to think about ? but leave them the freedom to see how they would put it to work.

If you?ve been running a business, but not getting as far ahead in the process as you?d like ? you might find some clues as to what?s been missing in your strategy.

Overall, this is a great general read for anyone who love reading business books.? You don?t have to read it cover to cover.? You can simply keep it at your desk and open to a random page to see what pops up for you.

I really enjoyed Rules of the Hunt and I think you will too.


About the Author

Ivana Taylor Ivana Taylor is the publisher of DIYMarketers , where she shares daily do-it-yourself marketing tips, and is the President of Third Force, Inc., a marketing firm that specializes in getting your ideal customer to choose you. Ivana is the book editor for Small Business Trends and co-author of the book "Excel for Marketing Managers."

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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Katy Perry Hits Water Park In New 'Part Of Me' Clip

'When we have a day off, she always likes me to explore something fun with her,' sister Angela Hudson says of Katy in upcoming film.
By James Dinh


Katy Perry in the trailer for "Part Of Me"
Photo: Imagine Entertainment

's 3-D docu-concert "Part of Me" will showcase the darker side of the pop darling's roller-coaster ride to fame, including her divorce from Russell Brand.

Still, there will be tons of fun thrown in the mix. In between scenes from her 2011 worldwide California Dreams trek, the July 5 film will also feature footage of the singer's family, including a water-park outing with her sister.

In an almost minute-long teaser clip from the film, Katy's older sister, Angela Hudson, talks about how she grew up promising to work with Katy "when she made it big." In between takes of the duo in choir and backstage at concert halls, Angela explains, "My sister, not only does she work hard on tour, but she likes to play hard on tour.

"Anytime we go to a city when we have a day off, she always likes me to explore something fun with her," she continues.

With her hit "Firework" serving as appropriate background music, KatyCats catch a glimpse of the Perry sisters basking in the adventures of a water park. But what would any amusement park be without a little action-ride anxiety? Asked how she's feeling before going on a bungee-jumping ride, the pop star responds, "I feel great. I'm really, really excited about my sister, who is scared of heights."

Unfortunately, Angela doesn't appear to enjoy the ride as much as Katy thought she would, as the older sis offers cameras a frown.

MTV News recently caught up with Perry at the Pepsi Fleet Week "Part of Me" Concert, where the patriotically-dressed songstress told us about how deep the film will take fans.

"It's the most intimate I've ever been. I mean that in a non-sexual way ... I mean it in a vulnerable way," she explained. "And so I'm not scared of it because I think it's important for me, and important these days, for people to not think people in my position are perfect and that if they want to achieve this type of dream or achieve a goal that they have to be flawless. They don't."

What do you think of the new "Part of Me" clip? Share your opinion in the comment section!

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For Christians, Pentecost signifies gift of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church

Tomorrow is Pentecost. It is one of Christianity's three primary festivals. However, unlike the other two, Christmas and Easter, there is no tree to decorate, no cookies to bake, no cards to send, no eggs to dye, no marshmallow Peeps or chocolate bunnies to purchase, no stockings or baskets to fill. Pentecost is the least commercial of the church's holidays. But its proclamation is vitally important and its power is deeply spiritual.

Pentecost has its roots in the fertile soil of Judaism. Ancient Israel observed a Pentecost (literally meaning "50th day") after Passover.

It commemorated the gift of the Law at Mt. Sinai.

An historic event is described in the New Testament, Acts 2:1-21. It occurs 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, from death to lLife. Please read about it for yourself sometime during the next 24 hours.

People from many nations come together in Jerusalem. Suddenly, there is a roar like the rush of a mighty wind. Tongues, as flames of fire, appear. Astounded, this great diversity of folk hear of God's powerful deeds in their own native languages. And the Apostle Peter quotes the Prophet Joel: "God declares, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh ... Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'"

For Christians, Pentecost signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. That day 3,000 believers are added to thecommunity of faith. There is a dramatic, dynamic realization ofGod's presence and God's

power. It is good news to celebrate.

At the church I pastored in Ohio, a few members of the congregation would show up a day or two before Pentecost and fill the flower boxes at the front of the building with bright red geraniums. We would hang white Heavenly Dove symbols on red banners in the sanctuary.

On Pentecost Sunday many people would wear red clothing to worship. It was a grand and festive occasion.

So, here we are, on the 50th day of proclaiming Christ's resurrection, Pentecost.

We are not abandoned; we have an advocate. We are not helpless; we have a counselor and comforter. We are gifted with and empowered by God's Holy Spirit. And, we rejoice. Let's gather as God's people tomorrow in church to celebrate this good news.

Berniece Ayers Hall provides this poignant poem for us to ponder:

"As long as pilgrims of this Earth

Can turn from wars and things

To celebrate a baby's birth

And know the joy He brings;

As long as through the halls of death

Where grieving millions grope,

People catch the glad, victorious breath

Of Easter's shining hope;

Let us recall an upper room,

Warm hearts and eager feet

That sped to light a world of gloom.

The news they bore, how sweet!

Would Christmas, Easter, not be lost

Indeed, without a Pentecost?"

Tom Shifflet is a retired pastor of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

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Gunman in Indiana standoff dies after shooting himself

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Obama blames Romney for spreading 'cow pie of distortion.' Is he right?

Mitt Romney had criticized the Obama administration's accumulation of US debt. Big numbers such as America?s debt may seem solid, but they?re not.

By Peter Grier / May 25, 2012

President Obama speaks at a campaign grassroots event at the Iowa state fairgrounds, in Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday.

Nati Harnik/AP

Enlarge

President Obama during an Iowa campaign appearance on Thursday went after Mitt Romney with a vengeance. Among other things, Mr. Obama said that a recent Romney speech criticizing the administration?s accumulation of US debt was a ?cow pie of distortion.?

Skip to next paragraph Peter Grier

Washington Editor

Peter Grier is The Christian Science Monitor's Washington editor. In this capacity, he helps direct coverage for the paper on most news events in the nation's capital.

Recent posts

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?I don?t know whose record he twisted the most ? mine or his,? said Obama to laughter from the crowd at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

Um, OK. That?s a pretty pungent metaphor for those of us who aren?t hearing it in the context of a Midwestern livestock arena. Is the president right?

We?ll note first of all that big numbers such as America?s annual deficit and the accumulated debt seem solid, but they?re not. They?re prone to manipulation in analysis, depending on which numbers you choose, what your start and end dates are, and so forth.

In particular, Obama was responding to a Romney charge that a ?prairie fire of debt? is sweeping the United States. (Do speechwriters get together in a bipartisan manner to dream up unfortunate metaphors? Dried cow patties could fuel a prairie fire, though. Just saying.)

In Iowa Thursday, Obama said that it?s true the recession has added to the debt. More people need unemployment insurance. Tax receipts are lower.

Obama kind of glided past the unpopular phrase ?stimulus spending,? however, saying only that his administration?s efforts had helped keep the US auto industry alive and more teachers on the job.

?But what my opponents didn?t tell you was that federal spending since I took office has risen at the slowest pace of any president in almost 60 years,? said Obama.

This assertion has become an article of faith among Democrats in recent days. It stems from an analysis by Rex Nutting of MarketWatch in The Wall Street Journal that found federal spending under Obama has risen at an annualized rate of only 1.4 percent.

That?s the slowest pace since President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

?Of all the falsehoods told about President Barack Obama, the biggest whopper is the one about his reckless spending spree,? Mr. Nutting writes.

However, a new Washington Post analysis of that same ground on Friday finds methodological problems with Nutting?s analysis. (See our warning about the fluidity of apparently solid numbers, above.)

We won?t go into depth here, beyond noting that according to the Post, Nutting shaves off much of Obama?s first year in office, attributing that to locked-in budgets put in place by President Bush. He also assumes that drastic automatic cuts now looming because of a congressional budget clash will, in fact, happen.

Under Obama, federal spending as a percentage of the US gross domestic product has risen from 20.8 percent to 23.3 percent. Washington Post fact checker Glenn Kessler gives the ?slowest since Ike? assertion, which was repeated Thursday by White House spokesman Jay Carney, a rating of Three Pinocchios. That means Mr. Kessler finds it mostly wrong.

?The White House might have a case that some of the rhetoric concerning Obama?s spending patterns has been overblown, but ... the picture is not as rosy as [Mr. Carney] portrayed it when accurate numbers, taken in context, are used,? writes Kessler.

Think this is the final word on the subject? We doubt it. We suggest reading the analyses listed above, and the inevitable responses and counterresponses, for yourselves.

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Even if NATO rushes to the exits, Afghan collapse is not inevitable

As French President Hollande promises troop withdrawal this year, and the rest of NATO plans to exit by 2014, Afghanistan's best hope may be the disunity and ill-discipline of the Taliban.

By Scott Baldauf,?Staff writer / May 25, 2012

Afghan President Hamid Karzai shakes hands with French President Francois Hollande upon his arrival to Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, May, 25. Hollande announced that his country's troops had carried out their mission in Afghanistan and that it was time for them to leave, an early pullout that will be coordinated with the United States and other allies.

Omar Sobhani/AP

Enlarge

In August 2010, when the Netherlands pulled 1,900 soldiers out of the Afghan province of Urozgan, NATO officials played down the significance of the withdrawal. Dutch Gen. Peter van Uhm praised his troops for restoring peace to their area, but admitted that ?a lot still has to happen? in Afghanistan to guarantee the peace.

Skip to next paragraph

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Today, as newly elected French President Fran?ois Hollande visits 3,500 French troops based in the Afghan province of Kapisa, preparing them for an early departure by the end of 2012, NATO officials are wearing the brave face again. At the Afghan summit in Chicago, no NATO official publicly criticized the French leader?s decision following a decisive victory for Hollande?s party, which had promised an early exit from Afghanistan.

?Only France can decide what France does. It will be conducted in good understanding with our allies, especially President Obama, who understands the reasons, and in close consultation with Afghan authorities," President Hollande told reporters in Kabul during a brief stopover. ?Without having totally disappeared, the terrorist threat from Afghanistan to our and our allies' territory has been partially curbed," he added.

In his meetings with French soldiers in Kapisa, Hollande came close to his own ?Mission Accomplie? moment, telling his troops that one reason for their early departure is that ?simply, you have carried out your mission."

In NATO?s 130,000 man International Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan, the departure of 3,500 soldiers is not significant, particularly if the bulk of those 126,500 other soldiers will be leaving in two years? time anyway. President Obama himself plans to withdraw some 30,000 US troops this year, and most, but not all, of the remaining 60,000 troops by 2014. Afghan officials say that Afghan Army soldiers will take over the French base in Nijrab, Kapisa, and with it, the responsibility of maintaining security in that northeastern part of the country.

Yet as the Dutch departure of 2,000 troops in 2010 ? prompted by a resounding defeat of the pro-NATO government of Jan-Peter Balkenende ? and the French departure in 2012 ? prompted by the defeat of Nicolas Sarkozy ? shows, European patience with the 10-year Afghan operation has worn out. The rush for the exits has begun.

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Friday, May 25, 2012

Baird defends support of Israel, offers few details on religious freedom office

WASHINGTON - Canada's foreign affairs minister was the keynote speaker Thursday at an event in the U.S. capital honouring religious freedom, forcefully defending his government's strong support of Israel while promoting its plans for an Office of Religious Freedom.

"We contend that modern anti-Semitism lives in the disproportionate criticism Israel receives, and the refusal to accept its right to exist," John Baird told the annual Religious Liberty Dinner.

"The world cannot take the words of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran as mere rhetoric and risk appeasing these malicious actors in the same way the world appeased the Nazis .... Under our prime minister, and under this foreign minister, Canada will stand with the Jewish state and people as they struggle to protect their very right to exist."

The Religious Liberty Dinner is a big event in the U.S. capital, attracting VIPs, diplomats from around the world and top-level American lawmakers. Past keynote speakers have included senators John Kerry, John McCain and Hillary Clinton before she became U.S. secretary of state.

Baird was asked to speak at the dinner, organizers said, due to Canada's intention to open a religious freedom office.

But one of the dinner's key sponsors, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, is vehemently opposed to same-sex marriage and homosexuality, in opposition to Baird's outspoken support of gay rights around the world.

The minister has often assailed other nations for persecuting gays and lesbians. Just this week, he commended the government of Malawi for repealing laws that targeted homosexuals.

Baird didn't touch explicitly on those hot-button issues in his remarks on Thursday at the dinner, held this year at the Canadian Embassy on Pennsylvania Avenue.

But at one point in his remarks, Baird noted: "We cannot be selective in which basic human rights we defend, nor can we be arbitrary in whose rights we protect. We don't compromise on basic rights. Nor do we consider these rights to be the privilege of a select few."

His remarks focused mostly, however, on those persecuted for their religious leanings, not their sexuality.

"Reformers and reformists around the world are literally under daily attack," he said. "In too many countries, the right to believe and practise one's faith in peace and security is still measured in blood spilled and lives lost."

Christians are "far too often" targeted, Baird added.

"In Iran, we have grave concerns about the persistent and serious violations of the rights of Iranian citizens to practise Christianity," he said.

"In Egypt, Coptic Christians have come under frequent attack .... And elsewhere, Roman Catholic priests and other Christian clergy and their laity are driven underground to worship while their leaders are detained by the state."

Canada speaks out and takes action against these "truly egregious situations and abhorrent acts," he said.

It's showing its commitment to the cause by establishing the Office of Religious Freedom, Baird suggested.

The office was part of the Conservative platform in the last federal election, but since then there have been scant details about its establishment.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has touted the new office, viewing it as an opportunity for Canada to step forward as a high-profile champion of international religious rights. Critics have suggested the office represents a potentially dangerous mix of politics and religion, a charge Baird has dismissed.

The minister didn't offer up many fresh details on the office on Thursday, except to say Canada was consulting with various stakeholders at home and abroad as it worked to set it up.

"As anyone who has ever worked in, or with, government can appreciate, an endeavour like this takes some doing," he said.

"Nothing is easy. And you really only get one chance to get it right .... So we in Canada have consulted widely and listened intently. We are taking the time to get it right the first time, and to set it up for success."

Announcements about the office will be forthcoming "in due course," he added.

And he noted that Canada's diplomatic corps will play a role in its work.

"What most excites me about this new office is how it might help our diplomats around the world support religious freedom," Baird said.

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Baku, Doha face scrutiny in 2020 bid choice

QUEBEC CITY (AP) ? The field of candidates for the 2020 Summer Olympics could be reduced from five to three, with Doha and Baku in danger of missing the cut.

Tokyo, Istanbul and Madrid look certain to make the list when the International Olympic Committee executive board announces the group of finalists on Wednesday evening in Quebec City.

Whether the IOC keeps all five cities or pares the list to four or three remains the issue, a tricky choice at a time of global economic and political uncertainty.

"Risk is part of the assessment ? political risk, economic risk," IOC board member Denis Oswald said Tuesday.

Madrid is bidding for a third consecutive time, Tokyo a second time in a row and Istanbul a fifth time overall.

Doha, capital of the Gulf state of Qatar, and Baku, capital of the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan, are back after failing to make the shortlist for the 2016 Games and face the most scrutiny again.

The cities selected Wednesday will go forward to the final phase, a 17-month race that will end with a secret vote by the full IOC in Buenos Aires in September 2013.

The 15-member executive board, headed by IOC President Jacques Rogge, will choose the finalists after examining a technical evaluation report compiled by a panel of Olympic experts.

IOC Vice President Thomas Bach called it "the most difficult decision we have ever had to take with regard to a shortlist."

The dynamics of the race changed dramatically when Rome, considered a potential 2020 favorite, pulled out of the bidding in February after the Italian government declined to provide financial guarantees at a time of economic austerity.

If there is a cut Wednesday, Baku is expected to be eliminated first. If the IOC decides to keep four cities, Doha would be safe. If it's three finalists, Doha would likely be dropped.

Baku is seen as lacking in experience in hosting international sports events and officials believe it's too soon for the city to be considered a viable contender.

Qatar is already hosting the 2022 World Cup, but faces questions over the heat, the timing and other issues for the Olympics. The IOC agreed to let Doha bid based on Qatar's proposal to hold the games from Oct. 2-18 to avoid the brutal summer heat, but officials remain concerned about the weather, conditions for athletes and potential conflicts with television and other sports events going on during that time of year.

Doha, saying it's bidding for the entire Middle East, insists it has the backing of international sports federations for its October proposal.

"We have done all that was requested from the international federations and the IOC," Qatar Olympic Committee secretary general Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said Tuesday. "We have communicated with them. We are confident that we fulfill all the requirements. We just have to wait for their decision."

Madrid is bidding against the backdrop of Spain's financial crisis, something the IOC said it will take into account.

Madrid bid leader Alejandro Blanco said the city would go the distance until the vote in Buenos Aires, brushing off suggestions that it could drop out as "rumors" spread by rivals. He insisted the Spanish government fully backs the project and said the games would be a catalyst for economic recovery.

"The economy is not a problem only for Madrid," Blanco said. "The crisis is global. History shows it's impossible to always be in a peak economic situation. There are always ups and downs. We are talking about 2020. Things can only go up."

Tokyo is bidding in the aftermath of last year's earthquake and tsunami disaster.

"We need something to lift up the country," said Tsunekazu Takeda, president of the Japanese Olympic Committee. "The games will help re-energize the people."

Istanbul bid official Hasan Arat insisted the Olympics is Turkey's main priority. The country is also bidding for soccer's 2020 European Championship, but the IOC has said Turkey can't do both.

"For Turkey, hosting the games has always been the ultimate prize," Arat said. "Every level of government is right behind us. ... Turkey has never been more serious about hosting the games, and we have never been more ready to host the games."

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Suit up! New Men In Black III game now available from Gameloft

Men In Black III

Suit up, it's time! Men In Black III is a new game from Gameloft to celebrate the upcoming movie and now, it's available in the Google Play Store available for download. In it, you get to run the MIB Agency with some help from others but a new threat is now plotting against mankind and you must defend it. Are you ready?

  • CREATE AND MANAGE YOUR OWN MIB AGENCY
  • Train your agents and assign them to missions
  • Access a wide range of MIB weapons and gadgets like the Neuralyzer, the Deatomizer and the infamous Noisy Cricket.
  • Build dozens of different rooms to upgrade your weapons and develop your agency.
  • TAKE DOWN ENEMIES IN 1969 & 2012 NEW YORK
  • Travel in time to fight aliens in different areas of New York including Brooklyn, Times Square, and Central Park
  • Utilize your agent’s futuristic weapons and equipment
  • Meet dozens of aliens faithfully inspired by the Men in Black universe
  • ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN THE AGENCY
  • Invite your friends from Gameloft LIVE! & Facebook to play
  • Ask for your friends’ help during fights to defeat powerful aliens
  • Visit your friends’ headquarters and get rewarded for lending a hand

Unlike Mass Effect Infiltrator, this release is available for free and will only download an additional 60-70MB to your device. Sadly though, it doesn't seem to work on all devices. My Galaxy Note states it is incompatible though my Galaxy Nexus runs the game just fine. If you're looking for more info, jump below for the latest trailer as well as the download link.

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Romney on Education Reform | Jamie Dupree's Washington Insider ...

Mitt Romney today ventured into a policy arena that has received little attention in the 2012 race for the White House, that being education reform, as Romney used a speech to a Latino group in Washington, D.C. to roll out his plans for education change.

It was a big change for Romney, who other than a few forays into foreign policy and energy, has really stayed focused on economic issues. ?(I have covered many Romney events this year and couldn't even remember a reference to education, though it probably has been discussed a little.)

Romney though "buried the lead" in his speech, as he focused first on economic matters, arguing that President Obama is conducting a "war on job creators."

He then laid out his education reform ideas, taking a few jabs along the way at teachers unions, a sure-fire way to get cheers from a pro-Republican crowd.

What follows is the news release from Romney's campaign about his education plans:

Romney presented the details of his plan, titled "Education reform that will provide a chance for every child."

K-12: Promoting Choice And Innovation

Giving students trapped in bad schools a genuine alternative requires four things: (1) such alternatives must exist, (2) parents must receive clear information about the performance of their current school and of the alternatives, (3) students must be allowed to move to a new school, and (4) students must bring funding with them so that new schools can afford to serve them.? Romney?s reforms achieve each of these objectives:

  • Allow Low Income And Special Needs Students To Choose Which School To Attend. Make Title I and IDEA funds portable so that eligible students can choose which school to attend and bring funding with them. This plan will allow the student to choose from any district or public charter school, or a private school where permitted by state law, or to use funds toward a tutoring provider or digital course.
  • Provide Incentives For States To Increase Choices For Parents And Develop Quality Alternatives. Require states to adopt open-enrollment policies for students receiving Title I and IDEA funds, and to eliminate caps on charter and digital schools.
  • Build On The Success Of Effective Charter And Digital Schools. Amend the federal Charter School Program so that successful school management organizations can receive funding to replicate their efforts, serve more students, and take their programs to scale.
  • Expand The DC Opportunity Scholarship Program To Serve As A Model For The Nation. Reverse President Obama?s efforts to eliminate this popular and effective program.? Increase funding and raise caps on participation to allow more families to benefit.

K-12: Ensuring High Standards And Responsibility For Results

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Currently, there is little easily-available data for parents about their children?s schools. Providing better information for parents will empower them to hold districts and states responsible for results and, when combined with increased parental choice, give them more control over their children?s education. Romney?s reforms will improve transparency and give parents the information they need:

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  • Reform No Child Left Behind By Emphasizing Transparency And Responsibility For Results. Replace federally-mandated school interventions with a requirement that states create straightforward public report cards that evaluate each school on its contribution to student learning.?

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K-12: Recruiting And Rewarding Great Teachers

A school is only as strong as its teachers, but the most promising teachers often find it difficult to reach the classroom door or receive recognition for their efforts once inside.? Romney?s reforms smooth the path for talented individuals to join the profession and shape the next generation.

  • Attract And Reward Great Teachers Through Increased Flexibility And Block Grants. Consolidate the numerous and overlapping federal teacher quality programs. Offer states flexible block grants if they adopt policies to advance and reward teacher quality, such as eliminating or reforming teacher tenure and establishing evaluation systems that focus on effectiveness in advancing student achievement.
  • Eliminate Unnecessary Certification Requirements That Discourage New Teachers. For instance, the federal ?highly qualified teacher? requirement, while well-intentioned, only serves to reinforce hurdles that prevent talented individuals from entering the teaching profession in the first place.

Higher Ed: A New Vision Of Affordable And Applicable Learning

America?s traditional community and four-year colleges are the heart of our nation?s higher education system.? However, a flood of federal dollars is driving up tuition and burdening too many young Americans with substantial debt and too few opportunities.? Meanwhile, other models of advanced skills training are becoming ever more important to success in the American economy, and new educational institutions will be required to fill those roles. Romney?s reforms spur the access, affordability, innovation, and transparency needed to address all of these challenges:

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  • Strengthen And Simplify The Financial Aid System. Consolidate duplicative and overly complex programs within the Department of Education.? Focus the Department on giving students and families with financial need the appropriate information about completion and persistence, loan repayment rates, future earnings, and other indicators to intelligently weigh the risks and benefits of the many options available to them, rather than limiting choices through punitive regulations.?

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  • Welcome Private Sector Participation Instead Of Pushing It Away.? Reverse President Obama?s nationalization of the student loan market and welcome private sector participation in providing information, financing, and the education itself.? ?

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  • Replace Burdensome Regulation With Innovation And Competition. Encourage market entry by innovative new education models, emphasize skill attainment instead of time spent in the classroom, and support research and development. Repeal confusing and unnecessary regulations that primarily serve to drive costs higher, and replace them with common-sense reforms that ensure appropriate student outcomes.??

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