Business Travel Coalition BTC presentation to US DOT Advisory ...

Jun 28, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer
Protection (ACACP), established by the U.S. Congress and overseen by the Department of Transportation, has invited Business Travel Coalition (BTC) to participate in its initial meeting today to represent the interests of large corporate purchasers of commercial airline services. BTC will implore the committee to support the restoration of comparison-shopping for air travelers.

Points BTC will make.

. For nearly half-a-decade all consumers have been forced to purchase airline tickets without the complete information (base fares and ancillary fees) necessary to easily evaluate the full cost of air travel. Airline fees have been expanding in number and rising in cost. They have become time-consuming to research and virtually impossible to compare in combination with base airfares across airlines. In most cases, base airfares are defined differently among airlines, and thus, have become meaningless. Robust price competition when it comes to ancillary fees doesn't exist.

. Consumers are being denied the complete and accurate price
information needed to make informed decisions. Since 2008 airlines have refused to provide ancillary fee information to travel distribution participants such as travel agencies and websites that allow across-airline price comparisons. Consumers need real-time, comprehensive fee information that enables them to purchase the complete air travel product.

. Consumers trying to figure out their vacation budgets need to be
allowed to easily compare prices across airlines including baggage and seat reservation fees. This means that airlines must be required to release their prices, including those for ancillary services, through local community travel agents, online travel companies and other outlets where airlines choose to sell their tickets.

. With respect to large corporate purchasers of commercial air
transportation services, who largely underwrite the aviation system, the ancillary fee issue can be even more vexing. The mission of modern managed travel is to control costs through travel policy, sourcing strategies, efficient travel management company and travel department operations and the ability of travelers to choose travel options that best balance cost, productivity, convenience and safety for each given trip.

. It takes massive computing power for travel management companies
(TMCs) - that support corporate travel departments - to efficiently present relevant routing options for business travelers, let alone if ancillary services and associated fees were included. Combined fare and ancillary services prices are currently not automated and presented to travelers for
comparison-shopping purposes because airlines have ignored their best customers' demands to provide TMCs with ancillary fee data in a transparent and purchasable format.

. Corporate travel managers understand this and are frustrated over the many wholly avoidable problems caused by airlines denying them the automated and dynamic ancillary fee data necessary to run managed travel programs effectively and efficiently. A static list of services and fees on an airline website hardly represents transparency and offers little benefit
for travel programs, particularly when you consider that these fees may or may not apply to any individual traveler on an itinerary-by-itinerary basis.

. Consider that the fees may apply to some fares, but not to others according to an individual airline's fare rules. It may apply for some negotiated rates but not for others. Some travelers may receive ancillary services for free based on the charge card used or frequent flyer tier status; others may not. The list goes on and on and on.

. In order for there to be true transparency, ancillary services and fees need to be combined with airfares via this massive computing power so that fully priced, side-by-side comparative travel options can be presented for a traveler's consideration. Otherwise, fees remain, for all intents and purposes, completely obfuscated from the millions of disparate options that were once so efficiently comparison-shopped.

. True transparency requires that fees be purchasable during the same transaction with airfares. In this symbiotic relationship, there can be no real transparency without purchasability and no effective purchasability without automated and real-time transparent fee data.

. The consequences of this problem for corporate travel managers are significant and growing with each day that airlines refuse to provide their best customers with what they require for success within modern managed travel programs.

. Consider these negative impacts:

- budgeting and forecasting are rendered unreliable;

- shopping, purchasing and data collection processes for TMCs are more costly;

- clarity of total air travel spend is clouded;

- airline negotiations are made more arduous from the lack of comprehensive data;

- ineffective comparison-shopping reduces marketplace pricing discipline on fares and fees;

- financial, travel policy and audit controls are rendered less effective;

- traveler confusion and frustration are growing; and

- managed travel programs are being undermined.

The most significant problem with hidden airline fees is the erosion of the effectiveness and benefits of a professionally administered managed-travel program - in short an escalation in costs deriving from diminished control. After four years of airlines stonewalling their most financially important customers' demands for ancillary fee data, the only reasonable conclusion is that there is a market failure that apparently will only be remedied with U.S. Department of Transportation intervention.

Source: http://www.eturbonews.com/29953/btc-presentation-us-dot-advisory-committee-aviation-consumer-pro

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Canada: Kleenex hand sanitizer recalled over bacterial contamination

About 430 containers of Kleenex Luxury Foam Hand Sanitizer were pulled from shelves after the manufacturer detected bacteria that could cause serious health issues for people with weakened immune systems.

Hand sanitizer is meant to fight germs, but a bad batch distributed throughout Canada is being recalled for fear it will expose consumers to dangerous bacteria.

About 430 containers of Kleenex Luxury Foam Hand Sanitizer were pulled from shelves after product testing by manufacturer Kimberly Clark detected bacteria that could cause serious health problems for people with weakened immune systems, the CBC reported.

The bacteria pose little threat to healthy individuals whose immune systems are able to fight infections.

"For someone whose immune sytem has been weakened by other serious illnesses, especially cystic fibrosis, these bacteria can cause serious infections, including pneumonia and blood infection," Health Canada told UPI.

Source: http://feeds.nydailynews.com/~r/nydnrss/latino/~3/SeVeMJLLzn8/canada-kleenex-hand-sanitizer-recalled-bacterial-contamination-article-1.1104783

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NCAA Football PS3 Rosters

Colorado Buffaloes

***Adjustments after looking at NCAA 13 roster in red***

Quarterback
#5 Connor Wood, 6'3 235, So(rs) Change QB #12 to #5 C. Wood
#8 Nick Hirschman 6'4 230, So(rs)
#14 John Schrock, 6'4 215, Fr(rs)
#11 QB Shane Dillon, 6'5 185, Fr

Tailback
#26 Tony Jones, 5'7 185, So(rs)
#21 D.D. Goodson, 5'7, 170, So Change to So
#42 Josh Ford, 5'9 205, Jr(rs) Change from HB #29
#44 Malcolm Creer, 5'11 205, So
#22 Donta Abron, 5'9 187, Fr

Fullback
#47 Alex Wood, 6'2 250, Jr(rs) Change from #46 FB
#36 Clay Norgard, 6'1 240, Fr Change from RT #78

Tight End
#84 Nick Kasa, 6'6 260, Sr(rs) Change from #99 TE
#88 Kyle Slavin, 6'4 245, So(rs)
#80 Austin Ray, 6'6 235, Fr

Wide Receiver
#6 Paul Richardson, 6'1 170, Jr *Blew out knee in spring ball. Will miss entire season* Bury in depth chart
#22 Nelson Spruce, 6'2 195, Fr(rs) Change from WR #86
#87 Tyler McCulloch, 6'5 210, So
#83 Dustin Ebner, 6'1 190, Sr(rs)
#18 Keenan Canty, 5'9 160, So(rs) Change from WR #84
#85 DaVaughn Thornton, 6'4 230, Jr(rs)
#81 Jeffrey Thomas, 6'3 180, Fr
#82 WR Gerald Thomas, 5'10 170, Fr

Left Tackle
#59 David Bakhtiari,6'4 295, Jr(rs)
#72 Marc Mustoe, 6'7 280, Fr(rs) Change from RG #72 to LT

Left Guard
#71 Alex Lewis, 6'6 285, So(rs) Change from LT #71 to LG
#54 Kaiwi Crabb, 6'3 285, So(rs)
#65 Jeromy Irwin, 6'5 289, Fr

Center
#76 Gus Handler, 6'3 300, Jr(rs)
#64 Brad Cotner, 6'4 280, So(rs)

Right Guard
#52 Daniel Munyer, 6'2 295, So(rs)
#53 Ryan Dannewitz, 6'6 310, Sr(rs) Change from RT #53 to RG
#74 Alex Kelley, 6'3 310, Fr Change from C #51 to RG #74

Right Tackle
#75 Jack Harris, 6'5 305, Jr(rs)
#77 Stephane Nemobt, 6'8 305, Fr(rs) Change from LT #77 to RT

Left Defensive End
#56 Juda Parker, 6'3 245, So Change from RE #2
#47 De'Jon Wilson, 6'3 240, Fr
#91 John Stuart, 6'4 230, Fr Change to dark skin color

Defensive Tackle
#83 Will Pericak, 6'4 285, Sr(rs) Change from LE #83 to DT
#99 Nate Bonsu, 6'1 300, Jr(rs) Change from DT #94
#70 Eric Richter, 6'3 315, Sr(rs)
#92 Josh Tupou, 6'4 302, Fr
#98 Justin Solis, 6'3 287, Fr

Right Defensive End
#96 Chidera Uzo-Diribe, 6'3 255, Jr Change from RE #9
#58 Samson Kafovalu, 6'3 253, Fr

SAM LB (LOLB)
#31 Jon Major, 6'2 240, SR(rs) Change from MLB #31 to LOLB
#37 Woodson Greer III, 6'3 225, So Change from ROLB #37 to LOLB
#45 Lowell Williams, 6'1 205, So(rs) Change from ROLB #45 to LOLB

Mike Linebacker (MLB)
#3 Doug Rippy, 6'3 240, Sr(rs) Change from LOLB #3 to MLB
#54 Brady Daigh, 6'2 245, So Change from LOLB #54 to MLB and white skin color

WILL LB (ROLB)
#1 Derrick Webb, 6'0 230, Jr(rs) Change from MLB #1 to ROLB
#4 Kyle Washington, 6'1 220, So Change from MLB #56 and dark skin color (played safety in 2011)
#42 K.T. Tu'umalo, 6'2 200, So Change from MLB #27 and darkest light skin color (played safety in 2011)
#30 Jermane Clark, 6'2 205, Fr(rs)

Cornerback
#20 Greg Henderson, 5'11 180, So
#39 Josh Moten, 6'0 195, So(rs)
#21 Jered Bell, 6'0 195, So(rs) Change from SS #4
#23 Sharrard Harrington, 6'1 175, Fr(rs) Change from FS 42
#38 Yuri Wright, 6'2 180, Fr
#35 Kenneth Crawley, 6'1 170, Fr

Free Safety
#26 Ray Polk, 6'1 205, Sr(rs)
#41 Terrel Smith, 5'9 195, Jr Change from SS #41 to FS
#32 Paul Vigo,6'1 195, Jr(rs)

Strong Safety
#13 Parker Orms, 5'11 195, Jr(rs) Change from CB #13 to SS
#28 Will Harlos, 6'3 205, Fr(rs)

Kicker
#28 Will Oliver, #28, 5'11 195, So Change to #28

Punter
#8 Darragh O'Neill, 6'2 185, So

Credit to cparrish

Source: http://www.operationsports.com/forums/showthread.php?t=558026&goto=newpost

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Oil gains $1 on EU hopes; set for worst qtr since 2008

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oil-gains-1-eu-hopes-set-worst-qtr-051454510--finance.html

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Using customer feedback to give location-specific, actionable insight ...

By Ashish Gambhir, co-founder, newBrandAnalytics

Online restaurant reviews have been skyrocketing in their popularity and influence and there is no slow-down in sight. An estimated 129 million consumers are talking about restaurants on social networks daily and that number is expected to swell to 220 million by 2015.

With social media providing a ready platform for one?s voice to be heard, diners are jumping online to share their opinions and evaluate their experiences. And their peers are listening. It is estimated that 82 percent of customers will use their smartphone to read online content when finding and selecting a restaurants in 2013. And, they?re flocking to sites such as Yelp, UrbanSpoon, Facebook, and Twitter to tap into the wisdom of the crowd to help them make their dining choices.

Despite the concerns regarding content credibility, most in the industry agree the better experience you provide, the better your rating and online reputation on these sites. Just as important, the better your online reputation, the more revenue you generate.

Gleaning location-specific insight from these online conversations is the key to driving the coveted positive reviews. By reading and understanding credible mentions online and translating it into location-specific data, restaurant executives can listen to and understand the real issues that impact the local customer experience and earn their continuous loyalty.

For instance, during a monthly review of their comment dashboard, a midscale restaurant?s management team member identified a negative trend in comments about the Chicken Caesar Salad at a particular location. Filtering the data by day part, they determined that most of the negative commentary attributed to the salad was during lunch service. Management retrained the lunch shift responsible for Chicken Caesar Salad food prep and effectively addressed the root source of the guest satisfaction issue: too much dressing. Negative commentary about the salad declined post retraining, positive elements of the dish shined, and unit sales increased over the month after the operational change.

Another restaurant group was able to glean similar operational insight. Reviewing the dashboards, management found a critical mass of mentions online warning potential guests that the restaurant had a slippery floor, particularly for women wearing heels. When drilling into the themes in feedback, management found that the issue was focused to one?specific?part of the restaurant: a high traffic area, on a turn from the restrooms, close to the food and beverage service area, and where airborne grease likely travels. The fix was simple enough: The restaurant now uses a longer mat in that area for an incremental charge of $5/week (they were already renting a mat in front of the area, but was not big enough to cover this area per customer feedback), and they also added this portion of the restaurant as part of a regular management inspection. Since making these slight changes, there have been no more mentions online about the floor being slippery ? thereby avoiding potential guest?embarrassment as well as slip and fall legal issues.

As these examples illustrate, listening to customer conversations and gleaning location-specific operational insight from this feedback enables restaurant organizations to ensure they are delivering a quality customer experience at each and every outlet. With consumers increasingly hopping on their smart phones to geo-locate and evaluate restaurants, arming yourself with location-specific intelligence has never been more important.

* Ashish Gambhir is co-founder of newBrandAnalytics, a provider of social business intelligence solutions for the restaurant and hospitality industries.

?As seen in FastCasual.com, please click here to see this article:?http://www.fastcasual.com/article/196233/Using-customer-feedback-to-give-location-specific-actionable-insight?

Source: http://www.newbrandanalytics.com/blog/2012/06/using-customer-feedback-to-give-location-specific-actionable-insight/

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What the health care ruling means to you | Health and Fitness

(CNN) ? The Supreme Court?s decision Thursday to uphold the Affordable Care Act means that the predictions about how it will affect all Americans remain in place.

Here are some highlights:

The uninsured

The decision leaves in place the so-called individual mandate ? the requirement on Americans to have or buy health insurance beginning in 2014 or face a penalty ? although many are exempt from that provision.

In 2014, the penalty will be $285 per family or 1% of income, whichever is greater. By 2016, it goes up to $2,085 per family or 2.5% of income.

Health care exchanges, which are designed to offer cheaper health care plans, remain in place as well.

The insured

Because the requirement remains for people to have or buy insurance, the revenue stream designed to help pay for the law remains in place. So insured Americans may be avoiding a spike in premiums that could have resulted if the high court had tossed out the individual mandate but left other requirements on insurers in place.

Young adults

Millions of young adults up to age 26 who have gained health insurance due to the law will be able to keep it. The law requires insurers to cover the children of those they insure up to age 26. About 2.5 million young adults from age 19 to 25 obtained health coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Two of the nation?s largest insurers, United Healthcare and Humana, recently announced they would voluntarily maintain some aspects of health care reform, including coverage of adult dependents up to age 26, even if the law was scrapped.

People with pre-existing conditions

Since the law remains in place, the requirement that insurers cover people with pre-existing medical conditions remains active.

The law also established that children under the age of 19 could no longer have limited benefits or be denied benefits because they had a pre-existing condition.

Starting in 2014, the law makes it illegal for any health insurance plan to use pre-existing conditions to exclude, limit or set unrealistic rates on coverage.

It also established national high-risk pools that people with such conditions could join sooner to get health insurance. As of April, a total of only about 67,000 people were enrolled in federally-funded pools established by the health care law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

More than 13 million American non-elderly adults have been denied insurance specifically because of their medical conditions, according to the Commonwealth Fund. The Kaiser Family Foundation says 21% of people who apply for health insurance on their own get turned down, are charged a higher price, or offered a plan that excludes coverage for their pre-existing condition.

All taxpayers

No matter what the Supreme Court had decided, it would have been a mixed bag for all Americans when it comes to federal spending. There is heated dispute over what impact the health care law will have on the country over the long term.

The federal government is set to spend more than $1 trillion over the next decade to subsidize coverage and expand eligibility for Medicaid. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that the law could reduce deficits modestly in the first 10 years and then much more significantly in the second decade.

The CBO said a repeal of the mandate could reduce deficits by $282 billion over 10 years, because the government would be subsidizing insurance for fewer people. But the nation faces costs in various ways for having people who are uninsured. The Urban Institute?s Health Policy Center estimated that without a mandate, 40 million Americans would remain uninsured.

Meanwhile, the Flexible Spending Accounts that millions of Americans use to save money tax-free for medical expenses will be sliced under the law. FSAs often allow people to put aside up to $5,000 pre-tax; as of 2013, they were to face an annual limit of $2,500.

Small business owners

The rules and benefits small business owners face as a result of the health care law remain in place.

As CNN has chronicled, the law brought a mix of both. The director of the National Federation of Independent Business is one of the plaintiffs who pushed the court to strike down the law. Meanwhile, a group called Small Business Majority fought to protect the law, saying its loss could be a nightmare.

As of 2014, under the law, small firms with more than 50 full-time employees would have to provide coverage or face expensive fines.

All Americans, in lesser known ways

The massive health care law requires doctors to report goodies they get from medical supply companies; demands more breastfeeding rooms; requires all chain restaurants to list calories under every menu item, and includes numerous other provisions, which now remain in place.

Doctors and other health care providers

Health care providers have already begun making changes based on the 2010 law, and in preparation for what will go into effect in 2014. Those plans continue.

In the short term, doctors avoid ?chaos? that may have resulted from the law suddenly being dropped or changed, according to Bob Doherty, senior vice president of governmental affairs at the American College of Physicians, who wrote a blog post on the website kevinmd.com this spring.

Medical groups have disagreed over the law.

CNN?s Miriam Falco, Caleb Hellerman and Jennifer Bixler contributed to this report.

Share this on:

Article source: http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/28/politics/supreme-court-health-effects/index.html

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Update With The Latest Football News

Football is one of the most popular games all over the world and its fans are well known for their craziness for their favorite player. They always want to update about a minute to major news for their favorite players. In this Internet Era, there are various online resources for the news along with traditional mediums such as television, radio, newspapers etc. With involvement of Internet, myriads of news sources have become available but there are many resources for which you can't get authentic news. These resources always try to use spicy news which is not 100% true. They use to do these things to make them popular but you can't trust news provided by them. So, you should avoid these kinds of news sources under any circumstances.

Being one of the most popular games, their fans use to wait eagerly for the complete fixtures for their favorite teams along with players. They always want to update with the all major tournaments' fixtures so that they could never miss to watch the favorite games along with favorite players. These fixtures include Euro Cup, Premiere Leagues, LA Giga, Series A, World Cups along with many others. Moreover, they also want to update in case of announcements of new tournaments. These kinds of news are usually updated with official websites. There are many third party news websites where you can get the latest happening about the craziest game football.

You can also view scores of matches online as well as you can also view live matches through various websites. These websites usually buy telecast rights to live telecast of matches through their portals. You can also subscribe news and RSS feeds on many websites so that you could be updated with the latest soccer news and events for any part in the world. You should always visit third party sites that provide true news and information about soccer. Many websites use to emphasize on rumors and gossips about players. You should avoid such websites for visiting as you can only get false news and information there.
If you want to know about reputed websites that provide genuine, true and authentic information & news about football major leagues and tournaments, you can get them online. There are numerous reviews websites where you can get detailed information about these soccer news sites which are always updated with the latest events, scores and fixtures. This will help you to be updated with the latest happenings about Football game throughout the world.

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Ronaldo's decision to wait didn't help Portugal

By CHRIS LEHOURITES

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 9:56 a.m. ET June 28, 2012

WARSAW, Poland (AP) -Cristiano Ronaldo is the kind of player that can change a game with one moment of excellence, the kind of player every team wants to have when the game is on the line.

Until, maybe, when it comes down to a penalty shootout.

The Portugal captain was one of the best players at the year's European Championship. Some would argue he was THE best, while others wouldn't even deign to argue about something that so many believe to be pure fact.

But against Spain, on the big stage of the Euro 2012 semifinals, there was no shot from Ronaldo in the penalty shootout. No chance for the Real Madrid winger to lift his team to victory.

And not even a reason why.

After his team was eliminated at the Donbass Arena, Ronaldo said he told Portugal coach Paulo Bento he wanted to take the fifth kick. That's the same spot he was in back in 2006, when Portugal beat England in a shootout in the World Cup quarterfinals.

"He said to me, 'You want a kick?' And I said, 'Yes, in the fifth,"' Ronaldo said late Wednesday night, shortly after Portugal lost the match. "We missed two penalties so it's frustration."

Before the shootout, Ronaldo was improving with every match. He had scored three goals in his previous two games at Euro 2012, and had several chances to break the scoreless draw against Spain - including a 90th-minute shot from just inside the area that he sent high over the bar. He also sent a pair of free kicks into the same space way above the crossbar, somewhat closer to the top row of spectators than Spain's goal.

And then came the shootout, football's version of a coin toss.

Ronaldo hasn't had the best of times in shootouts in recent years. While still with Manchester United, his spot kick against Chelsea in the Champions League final was saved. And this year, his attempt against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals was again saved.

Two big misses for a big player on the big stage, and no chance for redemption in Donetsk.

"If it would have been 4-4, he would have taken the last penalty and we would have talked in another way (now)," Bento said through a translator. "We defined beforehand what would be the best conditions to succeed and now we didn't. I don't regret anything."

Ronaldo came into Wednesday's match on a roll. He was less-than-stellar in Portugal's opening two matches, but he scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands to guarantee a spot in the quarterfinals. Then he scored the lone goal in the win over the Czech Republic.

Those two displays certainly quieted the distracting chants of "Messi, Messi" that he endured earlier in the tournament. And they went a long way to easing the somewhat commonly held view that Ronaldo is no good on the international stage.

But his decision to wait - possibly only in the hope that he would be the hero - in the shootout did nothing to keep the team in the tournament.

And in the end, the lasting image from the shootout - maybe even more memorable than Cesc Fabregas' winning shot off the post - will be Ronaldo with his face hidden in his hands, probably wondering what went wrong.

"It's always difficult moments," Ronaldo said. "I expressed myself in the way that I feel."

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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More newsKai Pfaffenbach / Reuters

Balotelli, Italy stun Germany

PST: Star scores two goals in the first half to send the Italians into the Euro 12 championship match against Spain on Sunday.

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Software Is Feeding The World: Agriculture Startup Solum Raises $17M Led by Andreessen Horowitz

Solum, a startup building tools for a more data-driven approach to agriculture, has raised $17 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz, and partner John O'Farrell will be joining the Solum board. The company's PR team sent me a copy of the blog post that O'Farrell has written about the funding, where he reveals that his team's nickname for the startup was "Software Eats Dirt." Solum isn't just a software company, but I guess O'Farrell couldn't resist echoing his partner Marc Andreessen's famous editorial on "Why Software Is Eating The World". (And as you can see from my headline, I couldn't resist, either.) O'Farrell says Solum presents another opportunity for a Silicon Valley company to transform an industry:

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Alisan Porter Celebrates Her Baby Shower

Curly Sue star Alisan Porter is all grown up and celebrated the impending birth of her first child, a son, with a baby shower Saturday in Agoura Hills, Calif.

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Four Home Improvement Projects That Harness The Elements To ...

Realtor.com is working with Tecca.com, to bring you the latest information on technology for the home. Join us here every Tuesday for wisdom directly from the Tecca team:

Everyone wants to save money on their home energy bill, and there are a lot of little things you can do to make a dent in it. But even if you install a system to monitor your energy use, switch to a smart thermostat, and replace all your lightbulbs with CFLs or LED bulbs so that you use less power, you still have to get power from somewhere.

Whether you?re looking to go off the grid completely or just supplement your power consumption, the earth itself has a lot to offer beyond oil and coal, especially if you?re willing to devote a bit of time and effort to harnessing its power. Some things like solar power are pretty well known, so we?ll run down some more unusual ways to tap into Mother Nature?s wealth. Your budget and the environment will thank you!

1. Feel the power of the sun. Solar panels and tiles are among the first things that most people think of when you mention eco-friendly energy, and with good reason. They?ve been around for years, and the technology keeps getting cheaper and more efficient.

When you say solar power, most people probably think of traditional solar panels, the most common method for harnessing the sun?s energy. In recent years, however, manufacturers have made great strides in other products such as solar tiles or shingles, which more closely resemble typical roof tiles and are great for people who don?t like the aesthetics of large solar panels on their roof.

Depending on what you decide to install, where you live, and how your house is situated in relation to the sun, solar power can come close to replacing your standard power supply. While such systems are somewhat pricey to install, the return on your investment will be significant.

2. Dig deep into the earth?s warmth. Geothermal heating systems use the heat of the earth itself to both heat and cool your home. Simply speaking, the system works by pumping a carrier fluid (usually a mix of water and antifreeze) through pipes buried underground. During cold weather, the liquid absorbs heat from the ground, which is then extracted and used to heat the house. In warm weather, the system is reversed, with heat from the house pumped into the ground and cooler liquid used to cool the house.

Systems such as this, known as geo-exchange systems, have been shown to save homeowners 30% to 70% in heating costs and 20% to 50% on cooling costs, according to the EPA. Bear in mind, though, that since installing a geothermal system does involve digging, installation can be a somewhat involved process. But even existing homes can be retrofitted with a geothermal system by a competent contractor.

3. Catch a light breeze. Residential wind turbines are another growing area of green power. Unlike geothermal energy, which is always there, wind power varies significantly according to location and weather patterns. Most small-scale wind turbines are designed to work best with wind speeds between 10 and 25 mph, with faster speeds risking damage to the machinery, so it?s an option that works best for locations with fairly constant, relatively light winds.

While residential wind turbines are becoming much more viable as alternative energy resources, be sure that you do some research before dropping $10,000 or more on a system for your home. In some locations, such a system is absolutely worthwhile, but others will find the investment much slower to pay for itself.

4. Go with the flow. If you?re lucky enough to have a relatively large amount of property with a source of running water such as a river or stream, micro-hydro power might be a viable option. Don?t worry, we?re not talking about installing Hoover Dam in your back yard!

Residential micro-hydro power systems usually involve diverting some amount of water from the flow of a stream or river through a turbine of some sort and then back into the source farther downstream. As long as the source of water is relatively constant and there?s enough of a vertical drop to support the flow of water back to the source, even a small stream can provide a significant amount of power.

Green energy for any budget Whatever your budget, there are ways to supplement your energy needs without burning fossil fuels. Even if you?re not quite ready to replace your roof with solar shingles or install a geothermal system, try using a rain barrel to help you recycle rainwater to use in the garden, or install a tubular skylight to let a bit of natural light into your living room. Every little bit will help the planet and your wallet!

[Image credits: Cariliv, Matt Montagne, SteFou!, TechnoSpin Inc., SciDevNet]

This article was written by Katherine Gray and originally appeared on Tecca

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DuPont City Administrator's Friday Letter, June 22 | The Suburban ...

By Dawn Masko, City Administrator, City of DuPont

1. Financial Strategy Recommendations.?Mayor Michael Grayum proposed his sustainable plan forward to address the financial stability of the City at the June 12^thCity Council meeting.? His plan is intended to be proactive and forge a new path forward towards a prosperous future for our city.? His recommendations were developed after listening to the feedback from the Community Finance Committee, and comments from business owners and citizens at the Town Hall meeting.

The City Council held a workshop on Tuesday, June 19^th?to begin discussing the Mayor?s proposed financial solvency plan.? The Mayor?s proposed plan includes a temporary 6-year property tax levy lid lift to fund the debt service payments for City Hall, Police and Fire facilities, and preserve the 3 firefighters who are currently funded by a SAFER grant.? The temporary levy lid lift will provide the City with time to strengthen economic development and look at other revenue options, including a more cost effective restructuring of our debt, which is currently not an available option.? Although not part of the Mayor?s official proposal, another option put forward for Council consideration was a public safety sales tax which would be used to hire an additional police officer.

The City Council received information regarding the different options available for property tax levy lid lifts.? Additionally, the timeline and documents needed to place a tax measure on the November ballot were reviewed. ?Information documents that were distributed to the Council relating to each of these topics have been posted to the City?s website on a new Financial Strategy webpage.? The workshop continued with each Council member stating their views of the Mayor?s proposal, offering up their own ideas for long-term solutions and future improvements, and voicing support, concerns and questions they had related to the proposed property tax measure.

Council will continue their deliberations on the financial strategy at the June 26^th?City Council regular meeting.? Follow up information will be provided to Council related to the timing and rate of the proposed property tax measure as well as clarification of questions surrounding the ballot title and eligible uses for Real Estate Excise Tax (REET).? Please visit the Financial Strategy?webpage?on the City?s website to see more details about the financial strategy discussions, view Council meeting materials and presentations, and link to the work of the?Community Finance Committee.

?

2.?????July 4^th?Vendors Needed

The July 4^th?Planning Committee is currently looking for Arts & Crafts vendors for the July 4^th?celebration.? Vendors will be set up in Clocktower Park.? The booth cost is $50.? This serves as an excellent opportunity to showcase your craft to a large audience.? Interested vendors are encouraged to contact Vendor Coordinator Roy Coffey at?roy@tailboard.net.

?

3.?????DuPont PowderWorks Park Field Repairs

The PowderWorks Park soccer field is closed for scheduled turf repair and maintenance until July 8^th.? No practices, games or other uses of the field are authorized during this period.? The soccer field will reopen for use on Monday, July 9^thin time for the Skyhawks youth soccer camp.? We appreciate your assistance in observing the field closure!

?

4.?????Upcoming Meetings ? Week of June 25^th?? 29^th

• Planning Agency Meeting???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Monday, June 25^th?at 7:00 PM
• City Council Meeting????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Tuesday, June 26^th?at 7:00 PM

?

5.?????Council Agenda Items ? June 26^th, 2012????????????????????????????????????

• Consent Agenda Items:? Council Meeting Minutes; Claims Vouchers; Environmental Covenant
• Discussion Item:? Financial Strategy

?

6.?????Community Development Update

• Sign Code Update??The Planning Agency will continue their discussion of the draft Sign Code at the June 25^thmeeting.

?

• Planning Agency Vacancy?- The City is seeking interested residents for appointment to the Planning Agency.? Eligible applicants must be residents of DuPont for at least one year.? Please submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk that includes your relevant professional experience, your reasons for desiring to be appointed to this position, and your thoughts on the most significant planning issues facing the City in both the short and long term.

?

7.?????FEMA Emergency Management Training

From June 25^th?? 29^th?the City Administrator (who is the City?s Emergency Manager) , along with representatives from throughout Pierce County, will attend the Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC) hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at their National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.? The focus of the course will be to provide local governmental jurisdictions the opportunity to work together and improve their ability to respond to various crisis events.? Attendees will receive special emergency response training and be put through a simulated disaster scenario.?? Costs for this training and associated expenses will be fully funded by FEMA.

?

8.?????Fireworks Regulations

The DuPont Police and Fire Departments want to help keep families safe this Independence Holiday and make citizens aware of our fireworks regulations.? In the City of DuPont it is only legal to discharge fireworks on July 3^rd?and 4^th?between the hours of Noon and Midnight.? It is illegal to discharge fireworks on any public property, including streets, sidewalks and public parks.? Illegal fireworks in DuPont are firecrackers, bottle rockets and individual missiles and rockets, cherry bombs, and any altered or homemade fireworks.? Legal fireworks in DuPont include roman candles, cones and fountains, reloadable tubes and multiple aerials.? A comprehensive list of legal fireworks devices and illegal explosive devices can be found?here.

?

The City encourages its residents to have a safe and fun 4^th?of July and enjoy the liberty of discharging fireworks in DuPont, but please do so safely and with consideration for others and within the limitations of City law.? Please contact the Police Department?(253-964-7060) or the Fire Department?(253-964-8414) for additional information.

?

9.?????PCTV Cameras Installed in Council Chambers

If you don?t see the Pierce County TV production truck at the next taped DuPont City Council meeting, don?t be alarmed.? PCTV has recently installed cameras inside the Council Chambers.? The remotely controlled wall-mounted cameras will allow PCTV to record the Council meetings more efficiently, utilize fewer crew, and require a much shorter set-up and tear-down time.? Funding for the cameras comes from combinations of Pierce County resources and PEG (Public, Education & Government use) fees, which are passed through on subscribers? cable bills.

?

10.??Parks & Recreation

Please call?(253) 912-5245?or go to the City?s website at?www.ci.dupont.wa.us?for registration information, questions on Parks & Recreation activities, or for volunteer opportunities.??Want to know more?? Like us on Facebook at?"City of DuPont Events, Recreation & Tourism".

?

• July 4^th?Mandatory Volunteer Meeting?? A mandatory volunteer meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 27^th?at 6:00 PM at the Community Center (303 Barksdale Avenue).? A BBQ dinner will be served.? If you have not yet registered as a volunteer but are planning to help, please contact Gina Irvin at?irvjam@msn.com.

?

• Youth Summer Baseball League?? Parks & Recreation is offering a summer baseball league for kids entering Kindergarten through 3^rd?grade.? The cost is $25 and includes a tee shirt.? The season runs from July 9^th?? August 2^nd?on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 ? 7:30 PM at DuPont PowderWorks Park.? Players are guaranteed 4 clinics and 4 scrimmages.? Registration forms are available on the City?s?website.? If you would like to volunteer to help or have any questions, please contact Tom Bradbury at?dupontbaseball@yahoo.com.

?

• Summer Olympics are headed to DuPont?? If you love the Olympics but just can?t quite get to London, consider joining our Olympic Team right here in DuPont!? Applications to participate are now available?online.? The cost to participate is $25 per person or $75 per family if registered by July 13^th.? Fee includes Olympic events, BBQ lunch and a tee shirt.? ?Events will run throughout the day on July 21^st?at Pioneer Middle School and will consist of track and field events similar to the Olympic Games.? Many, many helping hands are needed.? Please contact Amy Walker at?(253) 912-5245?if you are interested in helping.

?

Seniors, be sure to join us for Day 2 of our Summer Olympics by participating in the Northwest Senior Games Golf Tournament at The Home Course on July 22^nd.? Registration forms are available atwww.northwestseniorgames.com.??

?

• July 4^th?Parade & Celebration?? Special thanks to Northwest Landing ROA for sponsoring the July 4^th?Parade & Celebration!? This event has become a hometown favorite and this year is no exception.? Vendor applications are currently available by contacting Roy Coffey at?roy@tailboard.com.? Thanks to the DuPont Lions who are overseeing the vendors this year.

?

Want to build a float or decorate your car for the parade?? Contact Parade Coordinator Anna Skretting atcranaberry@aol.com.? Please note, participants in the Bike, Buggy & Pet Parade do not need to register.

?

• Youth Block Party?? The DuPont Youth Council is holding a Block Party in conjunction with National Night Out.? The event will be from 6:00 ? 8:00 PM on Tuesday, August 7^th?at Clocktower Park, 1401 Palisade Blvd.? The cost is $5.00.? Ages 13-18 are welcome.? Join the Youth Council for a night of fun, BBQ, live music, and visits from the Police & Fire departments.? Please bring any school supplies that may be donated to a local family this fall.? Registration forms are available on the City?s?website.

?

• Summer Sports Camps? Register today for summer sports camps in DuPont by logging on to?www.skyhawks.comor?www.challengersports.com?.? Sports camps are open to kids ages 4-16 and include soccer, baseball and basketball.? All camps will occur at PowderWorks Park.

?

• Visit our website for information on other programs and events including Karate, Yoga, Track, Kidz Love Soccer, Dance4Life, summer camps, and more!

?

11.??National Night Out Block Parties

National Night Out is always the first Tuesday in August and this year?s event is on August 7^th. The Police Chief and Fire Chief are encouraging residents of DuPont to organize a Block Party that evening to get better acquainted with their neighbors and discuss public safety issues.? Generally the block parties are held between the hours of 4 PM and 9 PM and usually include a BBQ for all to enjoy.? Police Chief Ron Goodpaster and his police officers and Fire Chief Greg Hull and his firefighters will be available to attend all events.? This is a great time to get acquainted with your public safety responders in DuPont and get your questions answered.? For more information please contact Heidi Wiser at?(253) 964-8414.

?

12.??Debris Disposal

The City would like to remind all residents and businesses that dumping on vacant property is not allowed.? Please properly dispose of refuse, yard waste and construction debris.

?

13.??Pierce County Seeks Applicants

The Pierce County Council invites members of the public to apply for positions on the committees that will write ?for? and ?against? statements in the voters? pamphlet about a ballot measure regarding tax increases.? The Council recently voted to put a proposed amendment to the Pierce County Charter on the November 6^th?ballot.? If approved, the amendment would require a two-thirds vote of the Council (five out of seven members) to raise new taxes after January 1, 2013.? The current threshold is a simple majority of four votes.? More information about the proposal, Ordinance 2012-15s, is available?here.

?

Under state law, the Council has the authority to appoint up to three members to each committee.? The Council invites people who want to participate to submit letters of interest by July 2, 2012.? Letters should be sent to Denise Johnson, Clerk of the Council, 930 Tacoma Ave. S., Room 1046, Tacoma, WA 98402 or?djohnso@co.pierce.wa.us.? The Council intends to select the members by Resolution at a public hearing on July 10, 2012.? Once selected by the Council, the two committees have until August 7^th?to submit the ballot statements to the County Auditor.

?

14.??Intense DUI Crackdown Begins

Law enforcement will be highly visible beginning this weekend as they launch a nearly two-week statewide campaign to remove impaired drivers from the road.? City, county and state police in King and Pierce counties will be targeting roads where motorists are most at risk for being hit by a drug- or alcohol-impaired driver.? More than 25 law enforcement agencies will participate in the stepped-up enforcement, including both counties? dedicated Target Zero DUI teams and two dozen drug recognition experts who test drivers to determine if they are impaired by either illegal or prescription drugs.? Within the last two years, DUI fatalities and serious injuries in King and Pierce counties have been reduced by more than 40 percent through the deployment of Target Zero?s dedicated, full-time officer teams.

?

Officer teams, including the Washington State Liquor Control Board, will be visiting bars as part of the Home Safe Bar program.? Officers will give bar patron?s cards that can be scanned by a smart phone to call a taxi.? Additionally, taxi chips for members of the military to use to get home will be given to bouncers, bartenders and servers.

?

15.??Low Tides will affect Pierce County ferry service

Pierce County ferry riders in large vehicles should plan ahead to avoid low tides from July 1-8.? Load restrictions will be in place on some sailings on ferry service between Steilacoom, Anderson Island and Ketron Island.? More information is available at?www.piercecountywa.org/ferry.

?

16.??Summer Reading Program

The DuPont Library?s Summer Reading Program starts June 23^rd?and runs through September 2^nd.? This year?s theme is ?Dream Big ? Read!?? Summer reading helps children continue to learn and hold steady in their reading skills.? More information can be found at?Summer Reading Program.

?

17.??Lakewood Station Open for Sounder Service this Fall

Sounder trains will begin service at stations in Lakewood and South Tacoma this fall.? Once open, Sounder will offer service between Lakewood, South Tacoma and Seattle, with stops along the way in downtown Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent and Tukwila.? Trains have plush seating, outlets for computers, bicycle storage, restrooms and fantastic views.

?

Sounder trains run Monday through Friday in the morning and afternoons.? There will be five roundtrips between Lakewood, South Tacoma, and Seattle.? Rides from Lakewood and South Tacoma to Seattle will take about an hour and 10 minutes.

?

Starting this summer, Sounder trains will be running on the tracks between downtown Tacoma and Lakewood for testing.? Sounder trains are fast and quiet.? Obey all warning signs.? Look both ways, and pay special attention when crossing the tracks.? For additional information please visit the Sounders?website.

?

18.??Steilacoom Farmers? Market & Concert Series

The Steilacoom Farmers? Market is now open and will run each Wednesday through August 29^th.? The market is open from 3:00 ? 7:00 PM and runs in conjunction with the Steilacoom Concerts in the Park which start at 6:30 PM each Wednesday.? Fresh produce, flowers, cheese, baked goods (including gluten-free) and a variety of specialty foods and crafts will be offered.? For weekly ?fresh finds at the market? updates please follow the market on Facebook or join the mailing list atwww.steilacoomfarmersmarket.org. For more information contact Laura Johnson at?(253) 581-1912?orlaura.johnson@ci.steilacoom.wa.us.

?

The third concert of the series is the?Darren Motamedy (Smooth Jazz)?on June 27^th.? The concerts are held at Pioneer Park, 1700 Commercial Street.? In the event of inclement weather the alternate location is the Steilacoom Community Center, 2301 Worthington Street.? No alcoholic beverages are allowed.? The series is sponsored by the Town of Steilacoom and the MTC Group.? For more concert information please call?(253) 581-1076.

?

19.??Toll Increases Starting July 1^st

New toll rates for the Tacoma Narrows and State Route 520 bridges take effect at midnight July 1^st.? The change reflects the next necessary rate increase approved by the Washington State Transportation Commission to ensure both bridges generate enough revenue to meet construction-related bond payments.? The state Transportation Commission annually reviews traffic and revenue to determine whether new toll rates are needed to cover operational costs and debt payments.? The review process starts in the fall and if new rates are adopted, they are in effect the following July.

?

Tacoma Narrows:? The?Good To Go!?rate will increase from $2.75 to $4.00, cash tolls from $4.00 to $5.00 and Pay By Mail to $6.00, up from $5.50.

?

SR 520 Bridge:? Toll rates on the SR 520 bridge will increase 2.5 percent and continue to vary by time of day.? The current peak?Good To Go!?rate of $3.50 will increase to $3.59, and the peak Pay By Mail rate of $5.00 will rise to $5.13.? The toll increase affects all rate levels.

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Matrix2012 Ventures, Inc.: Harvard Business School Alumni Angels ...

Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of Greater New York and the National Association of Investment Companies Select Finalists for Venture Capital Access Program - NBC12.com-Richmond, VA News, Weather, Traffic & Sports

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What you should know about health care reform (CNN)

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Natural Gas Can Deepen U.S.-Israel Commercial Ties

Israel recently discovered world-class natural gas reserves off its coast, presenting a range of new possibilities for the country ? economic, strategic, and political. This news presents the nation with an opportunity to strengthen its energy sector while introducing a new revenue stream. Since Israel does not have the infrastructure in place yet to access and refine its natural gas resources, it has turned to U.S. private sector expertise.

For this reason, the U.S. Chamber?s U.S.-Israel Business Initiative announced the launch of a new program to enhance U.S.-Israel energy cooperation last week at a dinner with a high-ranking delegation of Israeli officials. Chaired by Noble Energy, the largest investor in Israel?s growing natural gas sector, the program aims to enhance the Israeli government?s understanding of the global energy sector while establishing robust and mutually rewarding commercial ties between Israel?s hydrocarbon sector and U.S. businesses.

The? Israeli delegation? discussed the challenges and opportunities in developing Israel?s new energy portfolio and ways in which energy cooperation could be a new vista for broader U.S.-Israel strategic cooperation.

The timing for this partnership could not be better. While American companies are establishing themselves to lead the way in developing Israel?s natural gas sector and other sectors that accompany growth of the industry, policymakers are establishing the regulatory regime that will shape the sector for future generations. Reflecting the range of potential areas for collaboration, discussions at the dinner included ways that the United States and Israel could cooperate on the implementation of regulations, export policy, environmental policies, and industry standards.

Louisiana?s senior Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) joined the dinner and discussed opportunities for states like Louisiana and Texas to share best practices and lessons learned in developing a natural gas industry. She said, ?Israel?s historic gas discovery of more than over 27 trillion cubic feet is a game changer, both economically, and geo-politically - the U.S. is eager to share our expertise to help this critical ally successfully develop these resources.?

Last week, the Chamber also co-hosted an event on Capitol Hill with Major General (Ret.) Danny Rothschild, Director of the Institute for Policy and Strategy at IDC Herzliya, who discussed the importance of greater U.S.-Israel cooperation on energy security in light of a volatile and ever-changing Middle East.

By bolstering these strategic relationships, we can promote long-term strategic relationships in the Middle East, while enhancing our economies and creating new employment opportunities for Americans and Israelis alike.

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Greece seeks to win Germany's respect at Euro 2012

GDANSK, Poland (AP) ? Now for the really important business between Greece and Germany: Football.

On Friday, thousands of fans from the two nations at opposite ends of the eurozone financial crisis are converging on neutral Polish turf for a European Championship quarterfinal match.

For Greece fans, Friday's clash in rainy Gdansk inevitably mixes sports and politics, Euro 2012 and the euro currency.

They seek respect for their country after its humiliating economic collapse ? and the German government's role in imposing strict austerity measures.

"It's not good that sports and politics are together, but today we have no other choice," said Greece fan Michalis Kalotrapesis, wearing a white national team shirt and tracksuit top. "We are playing for our country and for our image in Europe and all over the world."

Kalotrapesis, and three Greek friends who now live in Germany have driven through the night to support their native nation here.

Their pride in performing what they see as a patriotic duty fits into Greece's favored national narrative: In football as in finance, Germany is the traditional power and Greece the spirited underdog.

"We are a little bit crazy, but it's the Greek mentality," said Nikos Barzas, pointing out the bloodshot eyes of the group's designated driver, Georgios Kotiniotis.

They left Gifhorn, near Wolfsburg, at midnight with 750 kilometers (about 465 miles) of road ahead of them. In a city center cafe, the first coffees of the day were helping them bridge the 10 hours to kickoff.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's journey to Gdansk will surely be more comfortable. Merkel will attend the match after morning economic meetings in Italy that were brought forward to help fulfill her role as the supposed lucky charm of the national team.

Barzas is glad she is coming ? to further spur the team and 5,000 Greece fans expected to attend the match.

"(The players will) fight a little bit more because (they want) to beat Angela Merkel. (It would be) a little bit of a small kick in Germany's (backside)," he said.

About 15,000 Germans were expected to go to the match, according to the Football Supporters Europe group. Many of the Germans were arriving at Gdansk's main train station, with scalpers leading those without tickets to a nearby shopping center. The asking price was ?200 (about $250) for a ticket with a face value of ?75 ($95). There didn't appear to be any Greek fans in the market for them.

Two days after being sworn into office, the prime minister of Greece's new conservative-led coalition will stay at home to work.

Antonis Samaras, a Harvard-educated former finance minister, is better employed stabilizing the country after a tense election last weekend than cheerleading at a football match, fan Thomas Nikolopulos said.

"I'm glad they are at home," said Nikolopulos, who arrived with his son Daniel in Gdansk on a Friday morning flight from London.

Nikolopulos, who is originally from Athens, said the feeling back home is that "Germany has put them in the corner" over the euro currency crisis.

"This is Greece's opportunity to stand up and try to go back to being historical wonders," he said, with a blue-and-white striped national flag draped across his shoulders.

Greece fans takes faith in their team's surprise run to be Euro 2004 champion, founded on the same solid defense and dogged resistance shown by the current team in Poland.

For three-time European champion Germany, the match seems more routine ? its fourth straight quarterfinal at each World Cup and Euro since Greece's golden year.

"For me, it's a normal football match," said German fan Klaus Lehmkuhl, a technical consultant from Muenster. "I don't think the politics is important for the German team. They are football players, not politicians."

Still, some off-field tensions are expected when the German national anthem is played minutes before the match begins.

"We will respect it. But the (hardcore fans) from Greece, I don't think they will," Barzas said.

In Berlin, a German deputy government spokesman was peppered with questions about the match and asked whether, in view of the eurozone crisis, Merkel would feel the need to tone down any goal celebrations.

"It's hard to assess that in advance," Georg Streiter said. "I think it depends a bit on how the game goes, but I think you will see that she is glad if there's a goal on the right side."

Streiter also shrugged off a question as to whether Merkel would consider herself partly responsible if she doesn't bring luck to the team and German loses.

"I think you would be loading up the chancellor, who already has plenty of packages to carry, with an unjustified package," he said. "She's a spectator."

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Maine independent King could become key player in U.S. Senate (reuters)

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FACT CHECK: Romney's immigration promises

President Barack Obama speaks at The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials? Annual Conference at the Walt Disney World Resort, Friday, June 22, 2012, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Barack Obama speaks at The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials? Annual Conference at the Walt Disney World Resort, Friday, June 22, 2012, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, speaks at the NALEO (National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials) conference in Orlando, Fla., Thursday, June 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama speaks at The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials? Annual Conference at the Walt Disney World Resort, Friday, June 22, 2012, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama flatly blamed Republicans on Friday for failing to support immigration reforms in the last few years.

But Obama didn't tell the whole story in his speech to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. His own Democratic colleagues had a hand in defeating one immigration bill two years ago.

A day earlier, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney promised in a speech to the same group that he would ease the path to a green card, fix a complicated and cumbersome system to let farm workers into the United States and finish a high-tech fence along the Mexican border. He was glossing over how difficult some of those changes could be. Some already have been tried, with little or no success.

Here's a closer look at Obama's statement, Romney's assertions and how they match up with the facts:

OBAMA: "We should have passed the DREAM Act a long time ago. It was written by members of both parties. When it came up for a vote a year and a half ago, Republicans in Congress blocked it. The bill hadn't changed. The need hadn't changed. The only thing that had changed was politics."

THE FACTS: Five Senate Democrats voted against sending the DREAM Act to the Senate floor for full consideration. The bill would have created a path to citizenship for many young illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children. Last week, Obama announced plans to stop deporting illegal immigrants who would have qualified for the DREAM Act. The policy change does not include a path to citizenship.

ROMNEY: "As president, I'd reallocate green cards to those seeking to keep their families under one roof. And we will exempt from caps the spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents. And we will eliminate other forms of bureaucratic red tape that keep families from being together." He added: "And if you get an advanced degree here, we want you to stay here. So I'd staple a green card to the diploma of someone who gets an advanced degree in America."

THE FACTS: It's unclear whether Romney would have the authority if elected president to change the way green cards are issued, or whether he would need help from Congress. It is Congress that sets the annual limits for visas for foreigners who have advanced degrees in certain fields of science, math and other professions. Lately, Republicans and groups representing U.S. workers have blocked legislative attempts to increase those limits.

Advocates for immigration reform have long argued that the president can use executive powers to relax or change various immigration regulations. President Barack Obama has done that twice in the last year. First, he allowed prosecutors discretion to focus deportation of illegal immigrants on those with a criminal record or who otherwise pose a threat. Last week, he announced plans to stop deporting many young illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children who have not committed a crime in the U.S. and to grant them work permits.

Republicans have argued that Obama stretched his authority, but Romney seems to be suggesting he, too, could act alone to make broad changes.

And Romney's proposal for keeping educated foreigners in the U.S. isn't original. Obama, in a May 2011 immigration proposal, called for "encouraging foreign students to stay in the U.S. and contribute to our economy by stapling a green card to the diplomas" of those with advanced science, technology, engineering and math degrees.

ROMNEY: "I will work with states and employers to update our temporary worker visa program so that it meets our economic needs."

THE FACTS: Temporary and seasonal workers are considered a necessity for the U.S. agriculture industry, but importing legal workers has proved difficult. The Labor Department's visa program for temporary seasonal workers has long been viewed as costly, cumbersome and inefficient.

Several attempts to overhaul it that included a path to legalization for the workers have been blocked in Congress. Republicans have repeatedly said that any immigration bill offering a path to legalization would not win their support.

ROMNEY: "We should field enough Border Patrol agents, complete a high-tech fence and implement an improved exit verification system."

THE FACTS: Romney's plans don't take notice of what's already been done, including record-high staffing levels along the border and the failure of a Bush-era virtual fence plan.

The Border Patrol has more than 18,500 agents working on the southern border. In the year budget ending last September, agents apprehended about 340,000 illegal immigrants, the fewest in nearly 40 years ? an average of 18 apprehensions per agent. The decrease in apprehensions has been linked to a weak economy producing fewer jobs in the U.S. and to more law enforcement agents and technology being deployed along the border.

Under the Bush administration, the government built hundreds of miles of fencing along the Mexican border. A planned virtual fence was also started, but then scrapped by the Obama administration in 2010 after the project was deemed a failure. About 53 miles of virtual fencing is in place, at a cost of about $1 billion.

An exit verification system has been sought since after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but efforts to build one have been repeatedly stymied, most often because of the projected costs. Earlier this year, John Cohen, deputy counterterrorism coordinator for the Homeland Security Department, told a congressional panel that the agency was finalizing plans for a biometric data system to track who leaves the country and when. He didn't give details.

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Associated Press writer Suzanne Gamboa contributed to this report.

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Follow Alicia A. Caldwell on Twitter at www.twitte.com/acaldwellap

Associated Press

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