Geithner predicts Republicans will accept higher tax rates

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner pressed Republicans to offer a plan to increase revenues and cut government spending, and predicted they would agree to raise tax rates on the wealthiest to secure a deal by year-end to avoid the "fiscal cliff."

In a blitz of appearances on five Sunday morning talk shows, Geithner insisted that tax rates on the richest needed to go up in order to reach a deal, a step Republicans have so far resisted, and he dismissed much of the contentious rhetoric from last week as "political theater."

"The only thing standing in the way of would be a refusal by Republicans to accept that rates are going to have to go up on the wealthiest Americans. And I don't really see them doing that," Geithner, who is leading the Obama administration's fiscal cliff negotiations, said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

The comments mark the latest round of high-stakes gamesmanship focusing on whether to extend the temporary tax cuts that originated under former President George W. Bush beyond their December 31 expiration date for all taxpayers, as Republicans want, or just for those with incomes under $250,000, as President Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats want.

Republicans, who control the House of Representatives but are the minority in the Senate, have expressed a willingness to raise revenues by taking steps such a limiting tax deductions, but they have largely held the line on increasing rates.

A handful of House Republicans expressed flexibility beyond that of their party leaders about considering an increase in tax rates for the wealthiest, as long as they are accompanied by significant spending cuts.

But most House Republicans refuse to back higher rates, preferring to raise revenue through tax reform.

"There's not going to be an agreement without rates heading up," Geithner said bluntly on CNN's "State of the Union."

The scheduled expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts and automatic reductions government spending set to take hold early next year would suck about $600 billion out of the economy and could spark a recession. The Obama administration and Congress are engaged in talks to avoid the fiscal cliff with a less-drastic plan to reduce U.S. budget deficits.

WHO SHOULD PAY?

Geithner's Sunday interviews are part of a broader push to build public support for the Democrats' position in the negotiations. Obama has made campaign-style appearances, including visiting a Pennsylvania toy factory on Friday where he portrayed Republicans as scrooges at Christmas time.

While breaking no new ground on the Obama administration's position on Sunday, Geithner repeatedly urged Republicans to provide their own plan.

"They said they're prepared to raise revenues but haven't said how, or how much, or who should pay," Geithner said on NBC.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Friday, the Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, asked Democrats to accept an increase in the Medicare eligibility age, impose higher Medicare premiums for the wealthy, and slow cost-of-living increases for Social Security.

At least one of those suggestions appears to have White House support. On CNN, Geithner said the administration's proposal included a modest rise in premiums for higher-income Medicare beneficiaries.

"What we can't do is sit here trying to figure out what works for them," Geithner said. "The ball really is with them now."

The administration has said it is willing to find savings in the Medicare and Medicaid healthcare programs for the elderly and poor, but Geithner reiterated in an interview with ABC's "This Week" that it would only be open to looking at changes in the Social Security retirement program outside of the context of a fiscal cliff deal.

(Reporting By Aruna Viswanatha; Editing by Eric Beech)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/geithner-predicts-republicans-accept-higher-tax-rates-140252681--business.html

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Egypt's Morsi announces vote on draft constitution

Mona El-Tahawy explains why President Mohammed Morsi's recent decree is very insulting to many Egyptians who demonstrated against Former President Hosni Mubarak's regime.

By Alistair Lyon and Tamim Elyan, Reuters

UPDATED AT 3:55 p.m. ET: CAIRO, Egypt?-- After Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi received a final draft of the constitution from the Islamist-dominated assembly, he called for a Dec. 15 referendum and urged a national dialogue.

This latest move indicates that the president aims to appease demonstrators who accused him last week of attempting to assume Pharoah-like status after he expanded his presidential powers.

The protests come from both sides -- on Saturday, at least 200,000 Islamists demonstrated in Cairo in support of Morsi.

---

"The people want the implementation of God's law," chanted flag-waving demonstrators, many of them bused in from the countryside, who choked streets leading to Cairo University, where Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood had called the protest.

Morsi set?the date for a referendum on the constitution after it was hastily approved after a 19-hour session.

Morsi plunged Egypt into a crisis last week when he gave himself extensive powers and put his decisions beyond judicial challenge, saying this was a temporary measure to speed Egypt's democratic transition until the new constitution is in place.

His assertion of authority in a decree issued on November 22, a day after he won world praise for brokering a Gaza truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, dismayed his opponents and widened divisions among Egypt's 83 million people.

Analysis: Egyptians fear decades of Muslim Brotherhood rule, warn Morsi is no friend of US

Morsi, once a Muslim Brotherhood figure, has put his liberal, leftist, Christian and other opponents in a bind. If they boycott the referendum, the constitution would pass anyway.

If they secured a "no" vote to defeat the draft, the president could retain the powers he has unilaterally assumed.

As protesters clashes, President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt announced a referendum on a proposed constitution. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.

And Egypt's quest to replace the basic law that underpinned Mubarak's 30 years of army-backed one-man rule would also return to square one, creating more uncertainty in a nation in dire economic straits and seeking a $4.8 billion loan from the IMF.

Morsi's well-organized Muslim Brotherhood and its ultra-orthodox Salafi allies, however, are convinced they can win the referendum by mobilizing their own supporters and the millions of Egyptians weary of political turmoil and disruption.

"There is no place for dictatorship," the president said on Thursday while the constituent assembly was still voting on a constitution which Islamists say enshrines Egypt's new freedoms.

Video: Morsi loyalists rewrite Egyptian constitution

Human rights groups have voiced misgivings, especially about articles related to women's rights and freedom of speech.

The text limits the president to two four-year terms, requires him to secure parliamentary approval for his choice of prime minister, and introduces a degree of civilian oversight over the military - though not enough for critics.

The draft constitution also contains vague, Islamist-flavored language that its opponents say could be used to whittle away human rights and stifle criticism.

For example, it forbids blasphemy and "insults to any person", does not explicitly uphold women's rights and demands respect for "religion, traditions and family values."

The draft injects new Islamic references into Egypt's system of government but retains the previous constitution's reference to "the principles of sharia" as the main source of legislation.

"We fundamentally reject the referendum and constituent assembly because the assembly does not represent all sections of society," said Sayed el-Erian, 43, a protester in Tahrir and member of a party set up by opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei.

Several independent newspapers said they would not publish on Tuesday in protest. One of the papers also said three private satellite channels would halt broadcasts on Wednesday.

Egypt cannot hold a new parliamentary election until a new constitution is passed. The country has been without an elected legislature since the Supreme Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of the Islamist-dominated lower house in June.

The court is due to meet on Sunday to discuss the legality of parliament's upper house.

Meanwhile, at the protests, two people have been killed and hundreds wounded in protests by disparate opposition forces drawn together and re-energized by a decree they see as a dictatorial power grab.

PhotoBlog: Dueling demonstrations in Cairo

Tens of thousands of Egyptians had protested against Morsi on Friday. "The people want to bring down the regime," they chanted in Cairo's Tahrir Square, echoing the trademark slogan of the revolts against Hosni Mubarak and Arab leaders elsewhere.

In the protests supporting Morsi, Mohamed Noshi, 23, a pharmacist from Mansoura, north of Cairo, said he had joined the rally in Cairo to support the president's decree. "Those in Tahrir don't represent everyone. Most people support Morsi and aren't against the decree," he said.?

Mohamed Ibrahim, a hardline Salafi Islamist scholar and a member of the constituent assembly, said secular-minded Egyptians had been in a losing battle from the start.

"They will be sure of complete popular defeat today in a mass Egyptian protest that says 'no to the conspiratorial minority, no to destructive directions and yes for stability and sharia (Islamic law)'," he told Reuters.

Related: Christians, liberals left out as Islamists back Egypt's draft constitution

"We want stability. Every time, the constitutional court tears down institutions we elect," said Yasser Taha, a 30-year-old demonstrator at the Islamist rally in Cairo.

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/01/15594379-islamists-rally-behind-president-morsi-as-egypts-rifts-widen?lite

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Distributed User Support Specialist - HigherEdJobs

The Distributed User Support Specialist is based in a college or department and supports computer workstations and other technology in
offices, labs, and classrooms. The Distributed User Support Specialist may be responsible for scheduling student workers during the periods
the labs are open and selecting, training, and supervising student lab assistants. The Distributed Support Specialist installs, maintains,
and resolves problems with computers, software, and other equipment in labs, classrooms, and offices, helps to plan technology purchases for
the college or department, prepares specifications and configurations for new equipment, prepares documentation relating to hardware and
software, assists in installing and maintaining servers, and tracks software licensure renewals and warranty use.

Education: An Associate's degree or equivalent number of college credit hours is required. A Bachelor's degree, with an emphasis in a computer-related field, is preferred.

Experience: One year of experience installing and supporting a wide range of microcomputer hardware, peripherals, and software is required. Experience in web page design and development is preferred. Supervisory experience is preferred. Work experience in a higher education environment is preferred. Experience working in a help desk or customer service environment is preferred.

Skills: Excellent technical aptitude in the areas of microcomputers and related peripherals is required. A basic understanding of network topologies, file server administration, microcomputer-based application software, and computer-related diagnostic techniques is required. Effective verbal and written communication and customer services skills are required. Must be able to maintain confidentiality in regard to information processed, stored, or accessed by the systems. The ability to perform in a problem-solving capacity including the evaluation of crisis and emergency situations is required. Demonstrated supervisory ability is required. The ability to operate and troubleshoot multi-media presentation systems and other classroom-related equipment is preferred.

Other: Must be able to lift and carry objects weighing up to fifty pounds, have sufficient mobility to connect cables which may require climbing ladders or working under desks is required. Must possess visual acuity sufficient for installation and repairs of microcomputers and peripherals, as well as to inspect physical facility conditions.

Source: http://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=175697935

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Syria rebels bombed as opposition open to peacekeepers

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian jets bombed rebel-held areas of Damascus on Saturday, residents said, as the opposition indicated it could accept an international peacekeeping force if President Bashar al-Assad is forced from power.

Warplanes attacked the Damascus suburbs of Kafar Souseh and Darraya, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition-linked group. The air strikes follow intensified rebel activity in the capital, Assad's seat of power, as well as successful stormings of government military bases in recent weeks.

"Syrian regular forces are trying to control the areas surrounding the capital," the Observatory said. Bombings targeted a continuous arc of rebel presence in the capital's outer districts from the northeast to the southwest.

Activists reported clashes and air strikes in the provinces of Homs, Deir al-Zor, Idlib and in Aleppo, where they said 14 rebel fighters were killed during an assault on an army base in the town of Khanasser early on Saturday.

It is difficult to verify such reports due to government restrictions on media access to Syria.

Syria's Internet connections began working again on Saturday after a two-day blackout, the worst communications outage in the 20-month-old uprising against Assad in which 40,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee the country.

Opposition umbrella group the Syrian National Coalition might allow an international peacekeeping force into Syria if Assad and his allies leave power, coalition spokesman Walid al-Bunni said on Saturday.

Some opposition members have argued against international troops, saying their arrival could serve as a rallying call for Assad loyalists in an area near the Mediterranean where many of his minority Alawite sect live.

Assad, whose family has ruled autocratically for four decades, draws much of his support from the sect, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam. Most of the rebels are Sunni Muslims.

Bunni said the coalition was open to any proposal if Assad and his allies, including top officers in the military and security apparatus, were removed.

"If this is the first condition then we can start discussing everything. There will be no political process until the ruling family and all those who underpin the regime leave," he added.

Bunni, a physician who spent most of the period after Assad inherited power from his father in 2000 in jail as a political prisoner, was speaking at a news conference marking the conclusion of the first full meeting of the 60-member opposition coalition in Cairo.

"IRON AND BLOOD"

Britain, France and Gulf countries have recognized the Syrian National Coalition as the sole representative of the Syrian people.

Most foreign powers have condemned Assad, who has relied on his allies to stay afloat, especially regional powerhouse Iran. Russia, Syria's main arms supplier, and China have vetoed three U.N. Security Council resolutions condemning Assad and reject the idea of sanctioning his government.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Western states on Saturday of trying to advance democracy abroad through "iron and blood."

"Advancing democracy through iron and blood just does not work, and this has been made clear in recent months - the past year-and-a-half," Lavrov said, according to state-run news agency Itar-Tass.

Russia repeated its opposition on Friday to NATO's potential deployment of Patriot missiles in Turkey, which wants them because of fears of a spillover from the war in Syria.

Syrian state television quoted a ministry of information statement saying Damascus international airport was open on Saturday and that the road leading to it was safe.

Since Thursday, clashes have been reported near the Aqraba and Babilla districts on the southeastern outskirts of Damascus which lead to the airport, effectively closing the road and leading EgyptAir and Emirates to suspend flights.

U.S. web tracking firm Renesys said in a blog post that it could confirm "a largely complete restoration of the Syrian Internet."

Rights groups said the communications drop off was a precursor to a wider offensive by government forces in the capital. Syrian security sources and diplomats say the government intends to seal off central Damascus from the restive suburbs.

Authorities had attributed the Internet outage to a "terrorist" attack or a technical fault. On Saturday, state news agency SANA gave a third reason for the outage, which is said was now restored: "maintenance work."

Residents contacted by Reuters in the capital, the central city of Homs, and northern Aleppo said they had connectivity.

(Additional reporting by Steve Gutterman in Moscow and Khaled Yacoub Oweis in Cairo; editing by Jason Webb)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-jets-bomb-rebels-internet-down-third-day-113622908.html

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Home Care in Pembroke, MA Makes Daily Tasks Easier for Seniors

Home care is a great solution for seniors who need a bit of extra help but who can still function fairly well in their own homes. This concept allows seniors to remain within comfortable and familiar surroundings instead of living in an institutionalized setting. Home care makes daily tasks easier because home care companions are expertly trained to help with numerous activities of daily living.

First, home care companions can help seniors to move around their home. They will assist with walking and can help seniors to arise from bed or from a chair. Sometimes, it is difficult for an older individual to arise in the morning after lying in one place for so long.

Second, home care companions can help seniors with dressing. This could include getting clean laundry or simply putting on fresh clothes for the day. This is an important activity since it may be difficult for the senior to bend over to put on socks or shoes.

Third, home care companions help with bathing and other personal care activities. These can include brushing the teeth or dentures, cleaning eyeglasses, shaving or hair styling. The senior may need help getting to the bathroom, getting into the shower or rising from the toilet.

Fourth, home care companions can help seniors with their nutritional and eating needs. The senior may need help cooking his meals or may need someone to pick up pre-packaged meals for him. Other seniors with different needs may need assistance with holding utensils and feeding themselves. Since nutrition is such a vital part of life, home care companions can greatly ease this area of concern.

Having a home care companion to assist with some of these tasks can greatly aid the senior as well as his family. Family may be concerned that their loved one receives the amount of care and attention that he needs and deserves. However, with today?s busy work and leisure schedules, family members may have difficulty helping with many of these daily tasks.

Home care can greatly ease the burden of everyday tasks as a specially trained individual can come to help. Seniors may need this type of care seven days each week or only a few days. In addition, they may need help with only one or two things, such as dressing and bathing. Professional home care companions can help seniors maintain their usual lifestyle within their own homes.

When researching options for?home care agencies?in Pembroke, MA?call us at?(339) 707-0012. Home care counselors at?Hahn Home Health Care?are available to talk with you about your home care?needs including how to reduce?caregiver?stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an?elder care?agency providing home care?in Pembroke, MA.

Source: http://www.hahnhomehealthcare.com/home-care-in-pembroke-ma-2/

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Increase Your Self Improvement Success By Trying These Tips ...

Trying to grow through self improvement may seem like a daunting task. You need to see what will work for you. Nothing works the same for everyone in terms of self improvement. To get the most out of your own self-improvement process, you should be searching constantly for good advice and new practices to make use of. You may find some helpful information in the tips below.

By using love, you can re-energize your faith and get closer to your personal development goals. Without love, it?s impossible to have faith. Therefore, you should never just be idle on your faith. Faith and love can lead you to help those in need, and believe in people when they need it most, especially yourself.

Read some good books about self improvement. When you read a really good self improvement book, you may come away with life-changing advice and ideas. It is always best to check the reviews for a book. Personal development books can be very poorly written.

The condition in which you keep your body can significantly impact your mental state. Exercising regularly and eating well helps tremendously. If you want a healthy mind, make sure it resides in a healthy body.

One part of depression you may not thought of to look at is your diet and increasing the amount of complex carbohydrates that you consume. Without adequate complex carbohydrates, your body may burn too quickly through serotonin. You can do this by eating more raw veggies, fruits, nuts, brown rice, whole grains and assorted beans.

Each person needs to improve in different life areas, so grab the most useful tips for your situation from this article. Trying out and practicing what you?ve learned is the only reliable method for improving your personal development results. If you know of anyone who could also pick up useful advice from this piece, pass it along and help them begin the journey to becoming a more well-rounded individual.

Source: http://stumblepeach.com/increase-your-self-improvement-success-by-trying-these-tips/

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The Best Holiday Gifts and Deals, Facebook?s Fake Privacy Notice, and Noisy Neighbors

This week on the podcast we're talking about the inevitable shopping season and how to get some great deals as well as plenty of free stuff. We're also answering your questions about DSLR lenses, noisy neighbors, keeping your gadgets clean when you're sick, and much more.

How to Listen to This Week's Episode

Here's how you can listen to our episode:

News and Top Stories

Questions and Answers

Each week we answer five questions from readers and listeners. Here's what we tackled this week.

• My girlfriend is a photographer and I want to get her a lens for Christmas. The problem is that I'm completely daft about camera stuff. Are there lenses that are better for some things than other lenses? Are there certain lenses that don't work with certain cameras? We answered this question with a post, specifically, earlier in the week! You can read it here.
• How Do I Clean Gadgets During/After a Cold? Alcohol for non-touch screens or touch screens with a screen protector, and special touch screen device cleaner for touch screens. You can learn the specifics here.
• How do I deal with noisy neighbors? Read this!
• Do all Usenet providers cost money? All good ones do, such as Newshosting, Astraweb, and Giganews, but if you want a free one to try out then take a look at XS Usenet.
• Why does iTunes Match just sync playlists and not the content? How do I get it to sync the content? You can't. iTunes Match is unfortunately very limited in how it works and you don't get to decide. Hopefully Apple will change this in the future, but so far that's not an option.

Tips of the Week

Downloads of the Week

How Do I Submit a Question?

There are three ways to send in your question:

Please keep your questions as brief as possible. This means about 3-5 sentences for emails and 30-60 seconds for calls and videos. Your questions can be specific, but broader questions are generally better because they'll apply to more people. For example, "how can I breathe new life into my old PDA?" is much better than "what can I do with an old HP iPAQ 210?" Either way, we look forward to hearing from you!

Newspaper, Computer, Clock (by Brandon Hopkins), and Alert (by Dima Yagnyuk) provided by the Noun Project.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/ARa3_rPtPSQ/the-best-holiday-gifts-and-deals-facebooks-fake-privacy-notice-and-noisy-neighbors

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