Thursday, February 28, 2013

93% The Gatekeepers

All Critics (41) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (3)

A sobering but welcome dose of honesty regarding issues and events that have otherwise been shrouded in secrecy and overheated rhetoric.

Israelis, generally speaking, tend to be tough, but the men who've commanded Shin Bet, Israel's secret service, are in a whole other category.

A lesser filmmaker might've been tripped up by such a narrow focus. A lesser filmmaker might've misjudged the melange of archival footage, fabricated surveillance footage and talking heads, which Moreh handles with a blend of cinematic flash and tact.

The film makes explicit and implicit endorsements. The strategy of vengeance and overkill is ineffective and leads Israel to horrific behavior described only through metaphor.

The subjects' openness is refreshing - and sometimes frightening.

A feat - of access and of passionate and appropriately unsettling political commentary.

Filmmaker Dror Moreh gives a unique look, from those in the know, of the inner workings of Israel's home intelligence service.

As Moreh probes the men, we, whether we agree with them or not, find ourselves drawn into their moral maze in all of its complexity.

This is a film that leaves a knot in the stomach, and no easy solutions as to how to get rid of it.

The 'other' Oscar-nominated feature about a war on terror, Dror Moreh's documentary The Gatekeepers proves more intellectually engaging than Hollywood's Zero Dark Thirty, and at least as unsettling.

Important and incomplete.

A blunt, clear-eyed, first-hand take on decades of Middle Eastern history, from practically the founding of the Jewish state up through the recent fits and starts of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Moreh has assembled a thorough, evenhanded and fascinating examination of people and operations straight out of a spy novel.

This brave documentary draws a line in the sand. One just wishes Moreh had asked these men what they were doing to change the situation now other than having changed their minds.

From the moment you hear one of these former insiders admitting his misgivings over an act of violence he perpetrated, you can't help but be drawn in.

The access boggles the mind, and some of the stories are riveting.

[T]houghtfully examines the difficulties of protecting a democracy from internal enemies. . .with realpolitik towards peace [and] repeated criticism of government leaders.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_gatekeepers_2012/

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Euro zone sentiment rises for fourth month in February

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Economic and business confidence in the 17 countries using the euro improved for the fourth straight month in February, the European Commission said on Wednesday, as factories saw their order books filling up.

Economic sentiment in the euro zone rose by a better-than-expected 1.6 points to 91.1, continuing a recovery started in November last year, the Commission said.

The euro hit a session high against the dollar after the data release, before slipping back slightly to trade around 1.3093 by 1035 GMT.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected a reading of 89.8.

The euro zone was managing to eke out a small recovery, but it was too soon to be optimistic about a broader trend, Capital Economics economist Ben May said.

"Clearly the Italian election and the political uncertainty and the market uncertainty that resulted from that is potentially another trigger for a new downward leg in business and consumer sentiment, and given that this survey predates that I think you certainly wouldn't want to assume you are going to see this continued upward trend in sentiment over the months ahead," he said.

The Commission also said business morale increased by 0.36 points to -0.73, reaching a level last seen in May 2012.

The European Central Bank's unprecedented decision last year to buy the bonds of governments who ask for help calmed the euro zone crisis dramatically, removing the risk for businesses of a break-up of the currency bloc.

The mood in factories brightened in February and managers told the Commission they saw rosier outlooks on expected production and on the size of overall order books. Morale in services also drove the rise in confidence, with service confidence up slightly as managers revised past evaluations.

Optimism was due to "sharp improvements in managers' assessment of the past business situation, and to a lesser extent, their views on past demand", the Commission said.

Consumer confidence increased marginally in the euro zone, by 0.3 points. Consumers were more positive about the future economy in general, but pessimistic about their own ability to save money over the next 12 months.

For graphic on the data, click here:

http://link.reuters.com/bas36s

For European Commission data click on:

http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/db_indicators/surveys/index_en.htm

(Reporting By Ethan Bilby; editing by Robin Emmott and Rex Merrifield)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/euro-zone-sentiment-rises-fourth-month-february-100856216--business.html

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US to send $60M in aid direct to Syria rebels

Secretary of State John Kerry held a news conference in Rome where he announced a major policy shift, saying the United States "will be providing an additional $60 million immediately in non-lethal assistance to support the coalition in its operational needs."

By Catherine Chomiak, Producer, NBC News

ROME ??In a policy shift, the United States on Thursday announced plans to send military rations and medical supplies directly to Syrian opposition fighters, but fell short of providing weapons and?ammunition?that the rebels had been asking for.

"The simple fact is (Syrian President Bashar) Assad cannot shoot his way out of this,"?Secretary of State John Kerry said after his first meeting with Syrian opposition leaders?in Rome.?"For more than a year the U.S. and our partners who have gathered here in Rome have called on Assad to heed the voice of the Syrian people and halt his war machine. Instead what we have seen is his brutality increase."


For the first time, the U.S. will supply the Free Syrian Army with food for fighters on the ground and medical supplies for the wounded.

Kerry also announced $60 million in new aid to help the Syrian Opposition Coalition deliver basic goods and services, including security, sanitation, and education, to?communities that the rebels control.??The aid is intended to help counteract the influence of radical fighters.

The U.S. will also send "technical advisers" to support opposition staff in Egypt in implementing the assistance and ensure that it gets to the right people. The U.S. plan, forged with European allies, will not include weapons despite the calls of a growing number of American senators and members of the Syrian opposition.

When he was still a senator, John Kerry recommended looking into potentially arming the opposition and setting up safe zones inside the country. His predecessor, Secretary Hillary Clinton and then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also both urged last year that vetted units of the rebel force be armed and trained.?

/

A look back at the conflict that has overtaken the country.

Disappointed opposition?
The announcement is sure to also disappoint opponents of the Syrian regime who have been asking for weapons. ?Frustration with the West's stance had?prompted the opposition coalition to say last week that it would boycott the Rome talks. It changed its mind under U.S. pressure.

An unnamed European diplomat who spoke to Reuters held out the prospect of possible Western military support, saying the coalition and its Western and Arab backers would meet in Istanbul next week to discuss military and humanitarian support to the rebels. ?

Kerry, who is in Europe on his first foreign trip in his new position, has said that Washington is looking for new ways to help rebels fighting Assad's government and speed up political transition in the country.?

"We are working and will continue to work closely with the Syrian Opposition Coalition and our international partners in order to make sure that the assistance we give reaches who need it and that we want to have receive it, even those who are trapped in some of the hard to reach areas," Kerry said.

Secretary of State John Kerry met with Syrian opposition leaders today and has announced the U.S. will supply Syrian rebels with non-lethal aid. NBC's Richard Engel reports.

The West and Syria's neighbors have been looking for a solution to the two-year-old civil war in Syria that has claimed approximately 70,000 lives, forced at least 2.5 million people from their homes, and sent hundreds of thousands fleeing into neighboring countries. ?The conflict also threatens to destabilize the region, in particular neighboring Lebanon.

U.S. policymakers also are trying to make sure the aid does not fall into the hands of al-Qaida sympathizers fighting with the rebels.

A senior State Department official told NBC News on Thursday:

"We are concerned that we have extremists operating in and among the opposition who don't share the goals of a future Syria that is democratic, that's united, that is just, and that respects the human rights of all Syrians citizens and provides for all of them. So those members of the opposition that support our shared values need to be able to demonstrate that they can deliver a better day and need to set an example of a Syria where daily life is governed neither by the brutality of the Assad regime nor by the agenda of al-Qaida affiliated extremists."

Hardline groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamist Ahrar al-Sham have already waged some of the deadliest attacks in Syria, including car bombings in Damascus, Aleppo and elsewhere. Their ranks have been swollen by jihadi fighters from around the Muslim world.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Related:

US, allies planning direct aid to Syrian rebels

Huge blast rocks central Damascus as Assad hints at talks

In initial coup for Kerry, Syria's opposition to attend Rome meeting

This story was originally published on

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/28/17129047-us-to-send-rations-medical-supplies-to-syrian-rebels-but-not-weapons?lite

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Unplug From Technology: 19 Ways To Spend Time Off The Grid

We've got a serious addiction to our cell phones.

In fact, research has shown that more than half of us may have "nomophobia," or the fear of being phone-less. Cell phone addictions can be just as real as other substance addictions. And students between ages 18 and 24 send an average of 109.5 text messages a day and check their phones an average of 60 times per day.

While it has yet to be defined in the DSM, experts characterize cell phone addiction by feelings of withdrawal when you're without it, compulsive checking of the phone and using it to feel good.

But we're here to tell you: There is more to life than texting. While we may fear the absence of our smartphones, unplugging does have its benefits: Taking 10-minute breaks can improve your productivity. And practicing mindfulness -- or the act of being present (read: not buried in your phone) -- has been shown to reduce stress, ward off symptoms of depression and anxiety and improve the ability to focus.

So, you want to unplug, but aren't sure where to begin. We've rounded up 19 things to do without your cell. Try them out, then let us know your other ideas for unplugging in the comments below.

  • Cook Yourself Up A Luxurious Brunch

    You deserve a breakfast that doesn't come shrink-wrapped every now and again, and cooking it yourself will make it all the more scrumptious. (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/05/egg-recipes-breakfast-brunch_n_987844.html">Get some <em>egg</em>cellent inspiration, here.</a>)

  • Write A Note Of Gratitude To Your Best Friend

    ...when it <em>isn't</em> her birthday. Make a list of all the reasons she earns the title of BFF: She'll feel appreciated and grateful to have <em>you</em> in her life, and writing it will remind you how lucky you are to have her, too.

  • Get Moving

    Lace up your sneaks, leash up your love and GO. No matter how you decide to move, choose to leave your cell at home -- grant yourself this time to be present with <em>your own</em> thoughts, and not the thoughts of the Twittersphere.

  • Take A Nap

    You'll wake up refreshed and ready to tackle any problem that seemed impossible pre-snooze. (Want to take a nap at work? We're all for it! <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/26/how-to-nap-at-work_n_1232352.html">Find some tips, here.</a>)

  • Get Lost In Your City

    Google Maps has saved your life again and again, but it's dulled the wonders of wandering. Why not take a break from knowing where you're going and instead explore the undiscovered?

  • Ritualize Your Morning Cup Of Joe

    For a lot of us, our A.M. cup of coffee blends into the frantic "routine" of getting to work on time. Consider setting your alarm 10 minutes earlier to enjoy every aspect of your delicious morning ritual. (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ora-nadrich/meditation-practice_b_2114526.html">Some tips to turn your morning cup of coffee into a meditation -- it works for tea, too!</a>)

  • Sit Like This

    Maybe you don't have time to unplug today. Fine. What about five minutes to sit? Good. Get yourself in this postion -- <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/22/stress-tips-yoga-poses_n_2736129.html?utm_hp_ref=gps-for-the-soul&ir=GPS%20for%20the%20Soul">Viparita Karani, or Legs Up the Wall</a> -- for just five minutes and feel the stress of the day evaporate.

  • Take An Art Class

    Remember when Art was your favorite subject in school? Relive that release of creativity. (Sampling the Elmer's Glue is not encouraged.)

  • Take A Page From Your Grandmother's Recipe Book

    Try crafting a meal from your roots, whether it's from a page of your Grandma's passed-down recipe book or the extravagant birthday dinner your dad used to cook you as a kid. One rule: No looking up the steps online!

  • Read A Book

    Preferably one with pages that you turn, not tap.

  • Dig Through Some Childhood Memorabilia

    Dust off those boxes of fourth grade genius: No one could compete with your report on Ulysses S. Grant (or so said your No. 1 fan: Mom). Revel in that fantastic feeling of nostalgia -- you are sure to find some gems!

  • Take A Bath

    It won't be long until waterproof phones become the norm. For now, light a candle and take a nice, long tech-free soak -- you'll emerge <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/09/bath-bomb-recipe_n_2431955.html">relaxed</a> and peaceful.

  • Feed The Ducks

    Talk about appreciating the present moment: Those ducks won't ignore you for their Instagram feed. You'll get their full attention in exchange for a little bread.

  • Declutter

    Pick a space in your home and get organized. Doing a bit of a home-cleanse will help you feel <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sophie-keller/declutter-home-cleanse_b_1166467.html">less chaotic on the inside</a>.

  • Write Stream Of Consciousness

    Whip out a pen and start scribbling -- you might be surprised to see all that's on your mind, without the interruptions and distractions from your external gadgets.

  • People Watch

    Pick a crowded part of town and observe: People are always up to curious things that you won't notice unless your head's up!

  • Host A Phone-Free Potluck

    Gather your gang for a night of culinary joy -- everyone should bring a dish, but leave their cells behind.

  • Volunteer

    Spend some time doing something good for someone else -- you'll reap the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/terri-cole/volunteering-health_b_2189477.html">many benefits of altruism</a>, and maybe even dig up a new hobby.

  • Play A Board Game

    Just because they recently <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/06/monopoly-cat-piece_n_2629561.html">swapped the iconic iron piece for a cat </a>doesn't mean your favorite classics aren't worth a revisit.

  • Related Video: The Doctors' 48-Hour Technology Detox

Make sure to join our ?Social Media Anxiety Disorder? Twitter chat before you unplug this Friday, March 1 at 12 p.m. ET. We'll be tweeting from @HealthyLiving and @GPSforSoul with the hashtag #SMAD.

For more on unplugging and recharging, click here.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/27/unplug-from-technology_n_2762116.html

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

How would using Mexico for outsourcing benefit U.S. businesses ...

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Source: http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/how-would-using-mexico-outsourcing-benefit-u-s-419091

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Stuxnet deployed against Iran in 2007: report

Researchers at Symantec have uncovered a version of the Stuxnet computer virus that was used to attack Iran's nuclear program in November 2007, two years earlier than previously thought.

Planning for the cyber weapon, the first publicly known example of a virus being used to attack industrial machinery, began at least as early as 2005, according to an 18-page report that the security software company published on Tuesday.

Stuxnet, which is widely believed to have been developed by the United States and Israel, was uncovered in 2010 after it was used to attack a uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, Iran. That facility has been the subject of intense scrutiny by the United States, Israel and allies, who charge that Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb.

Symantec said its researchers had uncovered a piece of code, which they called "Stuxnet 0.5," among the thousands of versions of the virus that they had recovered from infected machines.

Stuxnet 0.5 was designed to attack the Natanz facility by opening and closing valves that feed uranium hexafluoride gas into centrifuges, without the knowledge of the operators of the facility, according to Symantec.

The virus was being developed early as 2005, when Iran was still setting up its uranium enrichment facility, said Symantec researcher Liam O'Murchu. That facility went online in 2007.

"It is really mind blowing that they were thinking about creating a project like that in 2005," O'Murchu told Reuters in ahead of the report's release at the RSA security conference, an event attended by more than 20,000 security professionals, in San Francisco on Tuesday.

Symantec had previously uncovered evidence that planning for Stuxnet began in 2007. The New York Times reported in June 2012 that the impetus for the project dated back to 2006, when U.S. President George W. Bush was looking for options to slow Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Previously discovered versions of Stuxnet are all believed to have been used to sabotage the enrichment process by changing the speeds of those gas-spinning centrifuges without the knowledge of their operators.

Since Stuxnet's discovery in 2010, security researchers have uncovered a handful of other sophisticated pieces of computer code that they believe were developed to engage in espionage and warfare. These include Flame, Duqu and Gauss.

Stuxnet 0.5 was written using much of the same code as Flame, a sophisticated virus that researchers have previously said was primarily used for espionage, Symantec said.

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/stuxnet-was-deployed-against-iran-2007-researchers-say-1C8563843

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

The Easiest Guitar Tuner in the World

Guitar tuners aren't always the simplest gadgets in the world, even if they're mostly charged with an impossibly simple task. In fact, advanced features on more expensive tuners might confuse someone who doesn't know what they're doing. This one, though, opts for simple and cheap. There's something to be said for that. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/rgZ48l260vI/the-easiest-guitar-tuner-in-the-world

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Carestream Health for sale, may fetch $3.5 billion - sources

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Carestream Health Inc, which provides medical imaging systems and other healthcare technology solutions, is looking for a buyer in a deal that could fetch as much as $3.5 billion, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Carestream, which was acquired by private equity firm Onex Corp for $2.35 billion in 2007, has hired Goldman Sachs Group, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse Group to run a sale process, the people said.

The Rochester, New York-based company was formed in 2007 when the Canadian buyout firm bought Eastman Kodak Company's health group and renamed the business Carestream. The company provides digital X-ray systems, molecular imaging systems and dental imaging products, software and services.

The auction of Carestream, which is in early stages, has drawn initial interest from several large private equity firms, the people said, adding that industry buyers are less likely to participate given the company's low to negative growth.

First-round offers are due this week, one of the people added.

Carestream has around $450 million in annual earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and could be sold for 7 to 8 times EBITDA, two of the people said.

All the people asked not to be named because the auction is not public. A Carestream spokesman said the company does not comment on rumor or speculation. Onex could not be immediately reached for comment, while Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and Credit Suisse declined to comment.

(Reporting by Soyoung Kim in New York; Editing by Gary Hill and Tim Dobbyn)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-carestream-health-sale-may-fetch-3-5-200937944--sector.html

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The Wham Spot | Small Business Accounting Firms

You should never take shortcuts when it comes to business finances. Proper business finances will ensure that your business is profitable and compliant with all state and federal regulations. Luckily, there is assistance available for companies that struggle with financial management. By hiring a CFO advisory services company, you can have a skilled team of professionals take care of these important financial matters. A few of the valuable necessities that a CFO company can manage include inventory management, funding assistance, M&A consulting, transaction services, and employee training. No matter if you are a growing business that wants to obtain capital or a thriving business that doesn?t have the time to devote to finances, an outsourced CFO can create the solutions that will best help you. Call our CFO advisory services company and all your financial worries will become a thing of the past. CFO consulting services Phoenix

This entry was posted in Car and Motorcycle Insurance, Consultancy. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://www.thewahmspot.com/small-business-accounting-firms/

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Cuba's Raul Castro announces retirement in 5 years

Cuba's new Vice-President Miguel Diaz-Canel, right, listens to Cuba's President Raul Castro during the closing session at the National Assembly in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2012. Raul Castro accepted a new five-year term that will be, he said, his last as Cuba's president and tapped rising star Miguel Diaz-Canel, 52, as vice-president and first in the line of succession. Diaz-Canel has risen higher than any other Cuban official who didn't directly participate in the 1959 Cuban revolution. At center Cuba's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez.(AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Cuba's new Vice-President Miguel Diaz-Canel, right, listens to Cuba's President Raul Castro during the closing session at the National Assembly in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2012. Raul Castro accepted a new five-year term that will be, he said, his last as Cuba's president and tapped rising star Miguel Diaz-Canel, 52, as vice-president and first in the line of succession. Diaz-Canel has risen higher than any other Cuban official who didn't directly participate in the 1959 Cuban revolution. At center Cuba's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez.(AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Cuba's leader Fidel Castro and his brother Cuba's President Raul Castro talk during the opening session of the National Assemby in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2012. Cuba's parliament reconvened Sunday with new membership and was expected to name Raul Castro to a new five-year-term as president. Raul Castro fueled speculation on Friday when he talked of his possible retirement and suggested he has plans to resign at some point.(AP Photo/Ismael Francisco, Cubadebate)

Cuba's leader Fidel Castro and his brother Cuba's President Raul Castro attend the opening session of the National Assemby in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2012. Cuba's parliament reconvened Sunday with new membership and was expected to name Raul Castro to a new five-year-term as president. Raul Castro fueled speculation on Friday when he talked of his possible retirement and suggested he has plans to resign at some point.(AP Photo/Ismael Francisco, Cubadebate)

Newly appointed Cuba's Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel participates in the closure session of the National Assembly in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2012. Raul Castro accepted a new five-year term that will be, he said, his last as Cuba's president and tapped rising star Diaz-Canel, 52, as vice-president and first in the line of succession. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Newly appointed Cuba's Vice-President Miguel Diaz-Canel, bottom center, and Cuba's President Raul Castro, bottom left, participate in the closing session of the National Assembly in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2012. Raul Castro accepted a new five-year term that will be, he said, his last as Cuba's president and tapped rising star Diaz-Canel, 52, as vice-president and first in the line of succession. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

(AP) ? Raul Castro announced Sunday that he will step down as Cuba's president in 2018 following a final five-year term, for the first time putting a date on the end of the Castro era. He tapped rising star Miguel Diaz-Canel as his top lieutenant and first in the line of succession.

The 81-year-old Castro also said he hopes to establish two-term limits and age caps for political offices including the presidency ? an astonishing prospect for a nation led by Castro or his older brother Fidel since their 1959 revolution.

The 52-year-old Diaz-Canel is now a heartbeat from the presidency and has risen higher than any other Cuban official who didn't directly participate in the heady days of the revolution.

"This will be my last term," Castro said, his voice firm, shortly after National Assembly elected him to a second term.

In his 35-minute speech, Castro hinted at other changes to the constitution, some so dramatic that they will have to be ratified by the Cuban people in a referendum. Still, he scotched any idea that the country would soon abandon socialism, saying he had not assumed the presidency in order to destroy Cuba's system.

"I was not chosen to be president to restore capitalism to Cuba," he said. "I was elected to defend, maintain and continue to perfect socialism, not destroy it."

Castro fueled interest in Sunday's legislative gathering after mentioning on Friday his possible retirement and suggesting lightheartedly that he had plans to resign at some point.

It's now clear that he was serious when he promised that Sunday's speech would have fireworks, and would touch on his future in leadership.

Cuba is at a moment of "historic transcendence," Castro told lawmakers in speaking of his decision to name Diaz-Canel to the No. 2 job, replacing the 81-year-old Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, who fought with the Castros in the Sierra Maestra.

Castro praised Machado Ventura and another aging revolutionary for offering to leave their positions so that younger leaders could move up.

Their selflessness is "a concrete demonstration of their genuine revolutionary fiber ... That is the essence of the founding generation of this revolution."

Castro said that Diaz-Canel's promotion "represents a definitive step in the configuration of the future leadership of the nation through the gradual and orderly transfer of key roles to new generations."

"Our greatest satisfaction is the tranquility and serene confidence we feel as we deliver to the new generations the responsibility to continue building socialism," he added.

On the streets of Havana, where people often express a jaded skepticism of all things political, there was genuine excitement.

"This is the start of a new era," said Roberto Delgado, a 68-year-old retiree walking down a street in the leafy Miramar neighborhood. "It will undoubtedly be a complicated and difficult process, but something important happened today."

"I'm mesmerized," added Regla Blanco, 48. "You thought that with all these old men, it would never end. I am very satisfied with what Raul said. He is keeping his promise."

Since taking over from Fidel in 2006, Castro has instituted a slate of important economic and social changes, expanding private enterprise, legalizing a real estate market and relaxing hated travel restrictions.

Still, the country remains ruled by the Communist Party and any opposition to it lacks legal recognition.

Castro has mentioned term limits before, but he has never said specifically when he would step down, and the concept has yet to be codified into Cuban law.

If he keeps his word, Castro will leave office no later than 2018. Cuban-American exiles in the United States have waited decades for the end of the Castro era, although they will likely be dismayed if it ends on the brothers' terms.

Nevertheless, the promise of a change at the top could have deep significance for U.S.-Cuba ties. The wording of Washington's 51-year economic embargo on the island specifies that it cannot be lifted while a Castro is in charge.

When Raul Castro hinted at his retirement plans on Friday, it earned a sharp response from Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Cuban-American Republican from Florida, who called it a ploy.

"If dictator Raul Castro states that he will retire in five years, there will still be no real change for the Cuban people so long as the Castro brothers remain in any form of leadership position, even behind the scenes," she said. "The U.S. should not change its policy of isolation of the Cuban regime."

Fidel Castro is 86 and retired, and has appeared increasingly frail in recent months. He made a surprise appearance at Sunday's gathering, receiving a thunderous ovation from lawmakers.

Some analysts have speculated that the Castros would push a younger member of their family into a top job, but there was no hint of that Sunday.

While few things are ever clear in Cuba's hermetically sealed news environment, rumblings that Diaz-Canel, an electrical engineer by training and ex-minister of higher education, might be in line for a senior post have grown.

In recent weeks, he has frequently been featured on state television news broadcasts in an apparent attempt to raise his profile.

He also traveled to Venezuela in January for the symbolic inauguration of Hugo Chavez, a key Cuban ally who had been re-elected president but was too ill to be sworn in.

The 612 lawmakers sworn in Sunday also named Esteban Lazo as the National Assembly's first new chief in 20 years, replacing Ricardo Alarcon.

Lazo, who turns 69 on Tuesday, is a vice president and member of the Communist Party's ruling political bureau. Parliament meets only twice a year and generally passes legislation unanimously without visible debate.

The legislature also named as vice presidents of the ruling Council Machado Ventura; comptroller general Gladys Bejerano; second Vice President Ramiro Valdes; Havana Communist Party secretary Lazara Mercedes Lopez Acea; and Salvador Valdes Mesa, head of Cuba's labor union.

___

Anne Marie-Garcia and Paul Haven contributed to this report.

___

Peter Orsi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Peter_Orsi

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-24-Cuba-President/id-95b19c1f34b74b0ba8f18df67c4e809a

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Siemens shareholders plan to challenge Osram spin-off: report

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - A group of investors plans to challenge German industrial conglomerate Siemens' move to spin off its lighting division Osram, German paper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported, without saying where it obtained the information.

Nine unidentified investors on Monday plan to file a lawsuit which could lead to a delay in the planned listing of Osram, because the division cannot become registered while the lawsuit is ongoing, the paper said.

Shareholders agreed at a meeting on January 23 to spin off 80.5 percent of Osram, which has a book value of 2.3 billion euros ($3 billion). Siemens investors would receive one Osram share for each ten Siemens shares they hold.

The nine investors plan to argue that Siemens did not conduct the shareholder meeting properly because of acoustics problems, as Chief Financial Officer Joe Kaeser partly spoke in an inaudible manner, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported.

Siemens was not immediately available to comment.

Osram generates annual sales of about 5 billion euros and has about 39,000 employees worldwide. Its lamps are used to light up Disneyland Paris, the Hippodrom beer tent at Munich's Oktoberfest and the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, which will host the opening match of the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament.

($1 = 0.7598 euros)

(Reporting by Peter Dinkloh; Editing by Mark Potter)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/siemens-shareholders-plan-challenge-osram-spin-off-report-153139531--sector.html

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Monday, February 25, 2013

Pistorius' brother facing charge in traffic death

Carl Pistorius, brother of Olympian athlete, Oscar Pistorius, arrives at home, Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, where his brother has been staying in Pretoria, South Africa, since being granted bail Friday for the Valentine's Day shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Reports emerged Sunday that Carl Pistorius is facing charges of culpable homicide for the death of a woman biker who was knocked down in 2010. (AP Photo)

Carl Pistorius, brother of Olympian athlete, Oscar Pistorius, arrives at home, Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, where his brother has been staying in Pretoria, South Africa, since being granted bail Friday for the Valentine's Day shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Reports emerged Sunday that Carl Pistorius is facing charges of culpable homicide for the death of a woman biker who was knocked down in 2010. (AP Photo)

FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2013 file photo, Carl Pistorius, right, and Henke Pistorius, the brother and father of Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend attend Oscar's bail hearing at the magistrate court in Pretoria, South Africa. A report by a local television station on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, revealed that Carl Pistorius is facing a charge of culpable homicide for the death of a woman knocked down on her motorbike in 2010. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius' father Henke Pistorius, right, with his son Carl watch as Oscar Pistorius walks in during his bail hearing at the magistrate court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Olympian Oscar Pistorius, foreground, stands following his bail hearing, as his brother Carl, left, and father Henke, second from left, look on in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. Pistorius fired into the door of a small bathroom where his girlfriend was cowering after a shouting match on Valentine's Day, hitting her three times, a South African prosecutor said Tuesday as he charged the sports icon with premeditated murder. The magistrate ruled that Pistorius faces the harshest bail requirements available in South African law. (AP Photo)

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius's brother Carl Pistorius looks on after his bail application appearance at the magistrate court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. Pistorius was formally charged at Pretoria Magistrate?s Court with one count of murder after his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, a model and budding reality TV show participant, was shot multiple times and killed at Pistorius' upmarket home in the predawn hours of Thursday. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

(AP) ? The murder case involving Olympic star Oscar Pistorius took another unexpected turn Sunday with the news that his older brother, Carl, is himself facing charges for the death of a woman in a traffic accident.

Carl Pistorius faces a charge of unlawful, negligent killing for a 2008 road death, "in which a woman motorcyclist sadly lost her life," Kenneth Oldwage, the Pistorius family lawyer said on Sunday. The accident happened in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg. The charge of "culpable homicide" was dropped and then reinstated and will be challenged in court, the lawyer told The Associated Press.

It is the second time someone associated with the Pistorius case has been found to face a serious charge that has been dropped and then reinstated. It was revealed that the chief police investigator in the case is facing charges of seven counts of attempted murder for shooting at a vehicle with seven passengers. Following the revelations, Hilton Botha was removed from the Pistorius investigation and a new chief detective was appointed on Thursday.

To drop and then reinstate charges is "not uncommon in South African criminal law. The law specifically makes provision to allow charges to be dropped and then to be reinstated as a result of further investigations," said Jacob van Garderen, director of Lawyers for Human Rights. "It is a practical procedure, a process that is there to assist both sides."

In another twist this weekend, model Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot to death by Oscar Pistorius on Valentine's Day was on television again in a new episode of the reality show "Tropika Island of Treasure 5" even though she was buried last Tuesday.

On Monday, Oscar Pistorius must report to the police station in Brooklyn, a suburb of the nation's capital Pretoria, and sign in, a twice-weekly procedure which is part of his bail conditions.

Pistorius was released on bail Friday and stayed at the home of his uncle Arnold in Waterkloof, an affluent suburb of Pretoria, where Oscar is now staying. His brother, Carl, came to visit the house Sunday.

The problem confronting his older brother Carl is the latest complication in a case that has transfixed South Africa and much of the world.

"It's also doubly sad because it's involved with Oscar and his brother and all the family ? so they have double sort of trouble," said Johannesburg resident Jim Plester.

Lawyer Oldwage said that "Carl deeply regrets the accident" and that a blood test showed he was not drunk at the time. He said the charges had initially been dropped, only to be reinstated later.

Oscar Pistorius was charged with premeditated murder, but the athlete says he killed his girlfriend accidentally, opening fire after mistaking her for an intruder in his home.

The character of Pistorius also continued to take center stage. For many, it mirrors his public appearances as an articulate, well-spoken advocate for Paralympic athletes facing hardship. Witness statements describing Pistorius as a down-to-earth guy were presented at the hearing.

Others have described him as a reckless risk taker who has been in trouble before, such as a boating accident in 2009 which put him into a hospital intensive care unit.

But in a report on Sunday, a South African man who said Steenkamp had stayed at his home since September, described Pistorius as moody and impatient. Cecil Myers, whose daughter was close friends with Steenkamp, said in an interview in the City Press newspaper, that Pistorius will have the killing of Steenkamp on his conscience. "I hope he gets a long sentence. Gets what he deserves," said Myers.

Pistorius appeared "very nice and charming to us when they started dating," said Myers. Myers said Pistorius initially used to come into the house but later just dropped Steenkamp off and picked her up when they began to date steadily, and he described the change as a lack of respect.

Myers recalled their first date and told the newspaper: "After that he wouldn't leave her alone. He kept pestering her, phoning and phoning and phoning her."

According to Myers, Steenkamp "told me he pushed her a bit into a corner. She felt caged in."

Myers said he told Pistorius "not to force himself on her. Back off." He said that after initially agreeing with him, it appeared that Pistorius soon took no heed.

Myers declined to respond to a request for more information from Associated Press.

In the bail hearing, a character reference for Pistorius, acknowledged that "the only issue in the relationship that I was made aware of was that Reeva sometimes thought Oscar was moving a little fast."

Pistorius was born without fibula bones due to a congenital defect and his legs were amputated when he was 11 months old. He has run on carbon-fiber blades and was originally banned from competing against able-bodied peers because many argued that his blades gave him an unfair advantage. He was later cleared to compete. He is a multiple Paralympic medalist, and won a silver medal at the 2011 Daegu world championships with South Africa's 4x400 relay team. But he failed to win a medal at the London Olympics, where he ran in the 400 meter race and the 4x400 relay race.

___

AP Sports Writers Gerald Imray contributed from Centurion and John Leicester from Johannesburg. AP Writers Christopher Torchia and Andrew Meldrum contributed from Johannesburg.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-24-OLY-Pistorius-Shooting/id-65a11f6f660746aeb261c4bc5aa940d7

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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Can a wallet be articulate?

Browse through Kickstarter on any given week, and you’ll be greated with no less than half a dozen campaigns for a slimline wallet. ?Many of these don’t seem to be any more original than a rubber band over a piece of plastic. ?What drew my eye to this new campaign for the Articulate Wallet was [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/02/24/can-a-wallet-be-articulate/

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No. 22 Colorado State lose 2nd straight as Williams scores 46 in No. 16 New Mexico's 91-82 win


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FORT COLLINS, Colorado ? The 22nd-ranked Colorado State Rams had the 16th-ranked New Mexico Lobos and their hot-shooting guard Kendall Williams right where they wanted them.

Six minutes to go. Up six. Arena rocking.

Williams on the bench with four fouls ? and 28 points.

They were about to lock up their 28th straight home win and vault into a first-place tie with the Lobos atop the Mountain West Conference standings.

After a timeout, however, Williams returned to the Lobos' lineup and, incredibly, scored 18 more points in a 27-12 run that sent the Rams trudging off the court with their first home loss since Nov. 11, 2012.

Williams' 46 points included a league record 10 3-pointers and New Mexico's 91-82 win Saturday gave them a sweep of the season series.

The Lobos (23-4, 10-2) took a two-game lead over the second-place Rams (21-5, 8-4).

"After this one, you've got to start to taste it," Williams said. "If we handle business this week then we can really feel confident in our abilities to get this ring."

The Rams surrendered 45 points to Air Force's Michael Lyons a week earlier and their second straight loss will almost certainly send them tumbling from the rankings that they reached this month for the first time since 1954.

The Rams' 27-game winning streak was the nation's third-longest. Syracuse had the longest at 38 games, but it was snapped by Georgetown on Saturday, leaving South Dakota State's 30-game home winning streak as the best in the nation.

Nobody had ever scored this many points at Moby Arena, which opened in 1966.

"Luckily, some shots went in," said Williams, a junior guard from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who had never scored more than 24 and who bested the arena record of 44 set by Portland State's Freeman Williams on Nov. 29, 1975.

"He should be hands-down player of the week, I would think," Lobos coach Steve Alford deadpanned.

Williams helped the Lobos overcome that 70-64 deficit at the 6-minute mark by hitting a trio of 3-pointers, a dunk and seven free throws down the stretch.

Williams' offensive display overshadowed a brilliant big man competition between Lobos center Alex Kirk (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Colorado State's Colton Iverson (26 points, 15 boards).

The Rams blamed themselves for Williams' big game.

"We had no answer for him," Rams coach Larry Eustachy said. "... He was completely unstoppable. I want to see film on how many of those shots were contested."

His bet is that not many were.

The Rams, who gave up 45 points to Air Force's Michael Lyons a week earlier, left Williams open early on while locking down Tony Snell, who scored 10 points Saturday after getting 23 in their first meeting last month.

"He hadn't been shooting well this year," Dorian Green said. "We gave him some uncontested looks, let him get hot. Guys are too good in our league to do that."

"We gave him open looks early," Wes Eikmeier added. "He got hot and then he was feeling it the rest of the night."

Williams' previous career best was 24 points against Indiana State and New Mexico State earlier this season.

Green (20) and Eikmeier (22) gave the Rams three 20-point scorers in their losing effort. Eikmeier scored 11 straight to put the Rams ahead 55-50.

The Lobos quieted the crowd with a 12-6 run to regain the lead at 62-61, but Williams, less than a minute after returning to the lineup, was whistled for his fourth foul and took a seat at the nine-minute mark.

Williams' 10th 3-pointer ? in 13 tries ? broke the conference mark of nine set by several players, most recently UNLV's Chace Stanback against Central Arkansas on Dec. 28, 2011.

It also put New Mexico ahead 78-72. He would add a dunk and then seven free throws as the Rams sent the Lobos to the line over the final two minutes in a desperate attempt to catch up.

"I would say he was more determined," Eustachy said of Williams. "Their team was far more determined than us, starting from myself on down.

The Rams were coming off a two-point loss at UNLV on Wednesday night that snapped their six-game winning streak, which began after a 66-61 loss to the Lobos in Albuquerque last month.

"I believe in these guys," Eustachy said. "I can't get a crystal ball and tell you how they're going to respond, but I believe in them as much as I did going into this week. I believe they'll respond. Face it, this team was picked fifth in a lot of magazines. They caught two really difficult opponents.

"When you play these types of teams, you're going to have to play near perfect. I'm not a coach sitting here dumbfounded and not knowing what the answer it. I know exactly what the answer is. The team needs to listen and execute better."

And if they face the Lobos again in the MWC tournament next month, they'll know better than to leave Williams open.


Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton

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Source: http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/c17882d99134419b92d9a54b4664540d/BKC--T25-Colorado-State/

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Saturday, February 23, 2013

Video: Republicans may still accept more tax revenue



>> for more on how all this is playing out we're joined by cnbc's chief washington correspondent john harwood . if we get to friday, they don't make a deal, do is they cuts all play out at once or does it transpire over a series of weeks or months?

>> they'll play out for a while, maybe not for a long while. even though body parties seem willing to let the sequester go into effect there's a lot not to like for both sides. if we see the effects like longer air travel delays you're going to see increasing pressure from their constituents to negotiate some sort of alternative.

>> for the last couple of years we've heard about the so-called grand bargain. is that just a dream or is it something we could see happen to solve all this?

>> it's hard to be optimistic but a republican member of congress told me this week that it's still possible that republicans would accept more tax revenue in the context of texas reform if democrats give ground on entitlements and because of the recent slow-down nationally in health care costs, reining in medicare is a more manageable problem than it's been in years.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50923041/

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Compose a New Email in Any Client with a Few Keystrokes

Compose a New Email in Any Client with a Few KeystrokesThere are a number of ways to quickly open Gmail's compose window, but reader germcd shares a handy tip that works with any mail client.

All it takes is a quick command in your address bar:

Typing mailto: into the address bar opens an empty compose window for me.

And, if you have a different program (like Thunderbird or Postbox) set as your default mail client, it'll open a compose window in those programs instead. Pretty handy! Just like our awesome custom searches you should enable in your browser, this is a quick shortcut that just requires a few keystrokes to complete (especially if you use Ctrl+L to focus the address bar). At least it's quicker than clicking on your email app!

Compose a New Email in Any Client with a Few Keystrokes | via germcd

Every week, we receive tons of reader tips, often in response to tips we've posted. Our Tip of the Week showcases our favorite tip from you that improves upon something else we've shared, shows us another way to do something, or otherwise deserves more attention than our regular tips roundups. Got a tip to share? Post it over at our tips forum or send it to us at tips@lifehacker.com.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/7iqtnZskQAs/compose-a-new-email-in-any-client-with-a-few-keystrokes

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Italy's Finmeccanica delays results over India probe

Italian defense group Finmeccanica has delayed publication of its 2012 results after a bribery probe connected with the sale of 12 helicopters to Indian authorities, it said on Thursday.

After a board meeting, Finmeccanica said it had postponed the approval of its full-year accounts from March 12 to a new meeting to be held no later than April 30, to "evaluate the impact of recent economic events on its balance sheet."

Finmeccanica is at the centre of an Italian probe alleging that it paid bribes to win the 560 million euro ($750 million) contract awarded in 2010 to its Anglo-Italian helicopter unit AgustaWestland.

An Indian delegation is in Italy to collect evidence relating to the probe, which escalated last week with the arrest of the then head of Finmeccanica, Giuseppe Orsi.

The Italian investigation is putting pressure on the Indian government, already buffeted by a string of graft cases. It has also become a political issue in Italy ahead of parliamentary elections on February 24-25.

Italian prosecutors accuse Orsi of paying bribes to intermediaries to secure the helicopter deal back in 2010, when he was head of AgustaWestland. According to the arrest warrant, the Indian tender was twisted to favor the Italian firm.

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday the government had nothing to hide.

Orsi has denied any wrongdoing.

Finmeccanica's executives met a senior Indian delegation in Italy on Thursday about the probe, and both sides said the talks were positive.

"A very positive meeting for our side. The company has assured us it will provide all the papers to satisfy our concerns about the allegations ... in the shortest possible time," an Indian official with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

India's defense ministry has threatened to cancel the helicopter deal unless Finmeccanica can give assurances that no bribes were paid. Three AW101 helicopters, manufactured in Yeovil in the UK, have already been delivered to India.

Italian financial newspaper MF said on Thursday the group would make a writedown on the Indian helicopters order.

Finmeccanica, Italy's second-largest private sector employer, was not immediately available to comment on the report.

The four-man Indian delegation, led by Indian Ministry of Defence Joint Secretary Shri Arun Kumar Bal and Central Bureau of Investigation official Mahipal Yadav, arrived in northern Italy earlier this week and has already met judge Luca Labianca, who signed off Orsi's arrest warrant.

The Indian official said on Thursday the team would also meet a high-ranking official at Italy's Foreign Affairs Ministry in Rome on Thursday as well as Eugenio Fusco, the Italian prosecutor investigating the case, on Friday.

Finmeccanica said in its statement its board had also discussed the sale of its Ansaldo Energia unit but no decision on this issue was taken.

The group has put Ansaldo Energia up for sale as part of an asset disposal plan aimed at streamlining the company and avoiding credit rating downgrades, but the sale process has dragged on for months.

Finmeccanica also named Daniele Romiti as the chief of its helicopter unit, replacing Bruno Spagnolini, who was arrested earlier in February with Finmeccanica's former CEO as part of the probe.

($1 = 0.7479 euros)

(Editing by Erica Billingham, Phil Berlowitz and Tim Dobbyn)

Source: http://feeds.foxbusiness.com/~r/foxbusiness/markets/~3/jIJYbqQ3RDE/

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Friday, February 22, 2013

California wins at No. 23 Oregon 48-46

Justin Cobbs' jumper with 0.7 seconds to play gave California a 48-46 victory over No. 23 Oregon on Thursday night.

Cobbs' shot, which came after the Golden Bears (17-9, 9-5 Pac-12) ran nearly all of the final 26 seconds off the clock, hit nothing but net.

Cobbs finished with 14 points and Allen Crabbe had 12 for Cal, which has won four straight.

Arsalan Kazemi had 11 points and a season-high 18 rebounds for the Ducks (21-6, 10-4), who lost their 11th straight game to the Bears. Carlos Emory scored 13 points.

Oregon, which led 26-21 at halftime, was up 46-43 with 2:06 to play when Robert Thurman recorded a three-point play for Cal on a dunk and free throw to tie it.

The Ducks had a turnover and two missed shots in their final possessions.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/21/3247169/california-wins-at-no-23-oregon.html

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Technion and the Evolution of Israel: MBAs and Systems Engineers

The oldest University in Israel is the Technion, located in Haifa and established in 1924. The impetus for its creation was based on the fact that Jewish students, due to academic anti-Semitism, were having a difficult time being able to enroll in Technical Universities in their countries of origin. The founders of Israel also recognized the fact that nation building needed a generation of technically proficient engineers and scientists to accomplish essential tasks. The story of how Technion came to be involves luminaries like Herzl, Chaim Weizman, Martin Buber, Ahad Ha?am and even one Kalonymous Zeev Wissotzky, a wealthy tea merchant for whom that tea that everyone drinks here is named after.

There were of course questions and conflicts. For instance where would this Tech University be located? Jerusalem wanted it bad but ultimately Haifa was chosen for its neutrality and in the hopes that locating the University there would attract more Jews to live in the then sparsely populated North. Another issue revolved around the language of instruction. At one point it was decided that courses would be taught in German. The modern Hebrew language was still in its infancy and not perfectly suited for technical and scientific instruction. But once again, it was understood that the Technion was tasked with the mission of nation-building and what kind of nation doesn?t have it?s own language? Eventually, spurred on by a strike by teachers and students, the decision was made to teach in English and thus the Technion was born.

Today, thanks in no small measure to the Technion, Israel is a thriving, technologically advanced country. Furthermore, it is also a hub for world-class innovation and entrepreneurship. It is no longer the embattled little country hanging on by a thread for dear life, subject to existential dilemmas regarding its survival and evolution. As such the role of the Technion is no longer what it was in 1924.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the institution of two new programs ? namely the StartUp MBA and the Masters (ME) Degree in Systems Engineering, both of which are being taught in English. Why? Well, in the early days, Technion?s mission was internal, focused on Israel, Jews and Israelis. Now with the great success of of its Tech and Business sectors, Israel is seeking to export the methodology of this success to others, and now language is no longer a barrier! Make no mistake about it, these programs are world class in both their conception and execution.

The Systems Engineering Degree is being offered and taught by faculty in what is the 25th best Engineering faculty in the world. More importantly, the 15-month course will immerse students in Israeli culture and society, and give them an intimate experience of Israeli resolve and the ?can-do? attitude that allows interdisciplinary efforts like System Engineering to thrive! I mean, think about it. What was Israel like in 1948? What is it like now? How was that accomplished in a country with so few resources? The ME in Systems Engineering will expose you to those answers and instill in its students the methodology that fuels the country.

The StartUp MBA is an otherwise conventional MBA program designed specifically for those interested in entrepreneurial pursuits, particularly in the methods and conditions that helped Israel develop into the ?StartUp Nation? that it is today. As such the courses, taught entirely in English of course, will take place in a new campus located in the heart of exciting Tel Aviv. Let?s just say that students will not have a lack of things to do in their spare time, and good coffee will be ubiquitously available! The course of study will also bring students in close contact with the major players in Israel?s Startup community as well as the innovators in Technion?s Nobel studded faculty.

These programs are both world-class and uniquely Israeli, and they are accepting applications right now from smart and motivated prospective students. To find out more visit the StartUp MBA web site or The ME in Systems Engineering web site. Apply today or pass this on to someone you know who you think might be interested.

Source: http://www.jewlicious.com/2013/02/technion-and-the-evolution-of-israel-mbas-and-systems-engineers/

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