Asia stocks muted after subdued day on Wall Street

BANGKOK (AP) ? Asian stock markets were muted Thursday after mixed U.S. housing data and a subdued day on Wall Street kept investors on the sidelines

Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.4 percent to 10,126.71 as its battered export sector clawed back gains. Hong Kong's benchmark struggled for direction. After a higher open, the Hang Seng fell 0.1 percent to 20,832.82.

South Korea's Kospi lost 0.2 percent to 2,022.35. Financial companies helped lead Australia's S&P/ASX 200 into positive territory with a gain of 0.4 percent to 4,269.40.

Benchmarks in New Zealand, Malaysia and Taiwan also rose. Mainland China and Singapore fell.

On Wednesday in the U.S., the National Association of Realtors released a mixed report about the state of the housing market. Sales of previously occupied homes dipped last month, but the sales pace for the winter was the best in five years, NAR said.

Housing has been dragging on the economic recovery. An oversupply of homes has weakened construction and other trades in many parts of the country.

Wall Street reacted with caution. The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 0.4 percent to 13,124.62. The Standard & Poor's 500 index closed down 0.2 percent at 1,402.89. The Nasdaq composite average closed up marginally at 3,075.32.

Other important data due out of the U.S. this week includes weekly jobless claims and the release of leading indicators by the Conference Board in Washington. On the corporate side, both FedEx Corp. and Nike Inc. will report quarterly financial results.

Benchmark oil for May delivery was down 19 cents to $107.08 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.20 to finish at $107.27 per barrel in New York.

In currencies, the euro rose to $1.3242 from $1.3204 late Tuesday in New York. The dollar fell to 83.26 yen from 83.47 yen.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-03-21-World%20Markets/id-5f03374c67ca466ab8bda8c569b160ba

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Let us feed your 'Hunger' for Jennifer Lawrence

Jason Merritt / Getty Images

By Kurt Schlosser

"The Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence is on the verge of going from that actress who you should have heard of to that actress who you never stop hearing about.

Her much-anticipated film opens Friday, and the 21-year-old has been hitting premieres and screenings and talk shows?across the globe. This is as good a time as any to pull together a bunch of her recent red-carpet looks.

When the mania fully sets in and the publicity shots start to blur with the paparazzi, you can look back on this moment. We've watched Kristen Stewart go through it, although the attention on her has much to do with her romance with "Twilight" co-star Robert Pattinson. When Rooney Mara did a worldwide blitz for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," we called her out for her particularly consistent style.

Here's Lawrence, below from left, at a screening Tuesday night in New York; outside of the Ed Sullivan Theater after doing the "Late Show"; and at the film's premiere in Paris on March 15.

AP (2), Getty Images

Lawrence dazzled in London on March 14; in Berlin she was on fire?in a red lace Marchesa dress on March 16; and in Los Angeles on March 12 she was the golden girl.

Getty Images

And finally, let's step away?from the red carpet for?the reason we're all here: Katniss Everdeen in a scene from "The Hunger Games."

Lionsgate

How do you rate Jennifer Lawrence on the red carpet? Share your thoughts on Facebook.

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Source: http://todayentertainment.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/21/10794698-let-us-feed-your-hunger-for-jennifer-lawrence

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Obtain the Targeted traffic You'll need together with Link Building ...

When individuals as well as organizations use link building service in an effort to carry much more traffic to their internet sites have much more exposure on-line. It?s no more possible for individuals to become effective with no using link constructing. Numerous individuals do not location adequate importance on these solutions. Not employing these specialist solutions their organization and other on-line efforts suffer. Below is some further data which individuals as well as organizations who?re looking for exposure on the web wants to know about these critical solutions.

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30 Indonesian women founded Madagascar

The land of freaky animals and amazing biodiversity, Madagascar was also one of the last places to be settled by humans. And new research suggests that didn't happen until about 1,200 years ago.

The colonization might even have been an accident, the researchers say. A small group of Indonesian women settled the island in one fell swoop, possibly making their way there after their trading vessel capsized.

"The unusual thing about this island is Madagascar is a long way away from Indonesia. ? It was also settled very recently; by this time, most of the world had already been settled," study researcher Murray Cox, of Massey University in New Zealand, told LiveScience. "We are talking about an entire culture being trans-located across the Indian Ocean."

Mad about Madagascar
Previous genetic research showed that, surprisingly, instead of coming from Africa, the people living on the island off the east coast of Africa seem to have come from Indonesia, another island nation a quarter of the world, or some 3,500 miles (about 5,600 kilometers), away.

"What we haven't known is exactly how that happened. When did those people arrive and how did they arrive?" Cox said.

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To find out, Cox and his colleagues analyzed genes from the mitochondria of 300 native Madagascans and 3,000 Indonesians. Mitochondria are the cell's energy factories, but they are special because their genes are inherited only from our mothers.

These genes showed a clear similarity between the Indonesian and Madagascar genomes. To find out how long ago and how many Indonesian settlers there were when the island's population was founded, the team ran various computer simulations that started out with different founding populations at different times until the results matched their real-life data. The researchers found that the island was most likely settled by a small population of about 30 women, who arrived in Madagascar around 1,200 years ago. Ninety-three percent (28) of these women were Indonesian, and the other 7 percent (two individuals) were African.

Almost all native Madagascans are related to these 30 women, they found.

What about the men?
Previous research on Madagascans, specifically on the Y sex chromosome (passed from father to son), indicates that the males of this founding population were also from Southeast Asia, though they don't know how many there were.

"You see there are Indonesian Y chromosomes in the population," Cox said. "We know that both Madagascan men and women come from Indonesia, we just don't know exactly how many men. Our evidence suggests it's also a small number."

Archaeological evidence suggests that these few settlers quickly set down roots: "You have this rise and spread very rapidly to take over the island," Cox said, "perhaps in the matter of a few generations." [Gallery: Images of Uncontacted Tribes]

Surprise shipwreck
So, how did they get there? The researchers aren't sure. The fact that there were only 30 women, and likely no more than that of men, means it probably wasn't intentional, Cox said. He suggests that a shipping vessel, which can hold up to 500 people, could have capsized, and its travelers could have ended up on the shores of the African island.

"I wouldn't say we were sure it was an accidental voyage, but the new evidence suggests this is a good idea," Cox said.

Major ocean currents also could have pushed shipwreck survivors toward the island. During World War II, wreckage from bombings in Japan floated all the way to Africa, landing on the shores of Madagascar.

"There was even a person in a lifeboat that made it across," Cox said.

The study were published Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

You can follow LiveScience staff writer Jennifer Welsh on Twitter @microbelover. Follow LiveScience for the latest in science news and discoveries on Twitter @livescience and on Facebook.

? 2012 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46809678/ns/technology_and_science-science/

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Smoke Increases Asthma and Wheezing in Kids ... - Kiefit.com

Yesterday's top story: A retrospective analysis of 70 studies shows a strong link between secondhand exposure to smoke and wheezing and asthma in children, especially when they are exposed in utero or as newborns.Lab Notes: Smoke Increases Asthma and Wheezing in Kids; Director of Kony 2012 Has Reactive Psychosis is a post from: CalorieLab - Health News & Information Blog

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Construction Resources - Atlanta Real Estate Forum

Atlanta Kitchen, Inc., a Construction Resources, Inc. company, is proud to announce their participation in the Spring Atlanta Home Show. The show, hosted Friday, March 23 through Sunday, March 25, 2012, is one of the largest in the Southeast and has over 20,000 attendees every year. Construction Resources, Inc. can be found at booth #553 at the Cobb Galleria Centre during show hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

This year, Atlanta Kitchen, Inc. highlights its partnership with Cambria, the only American manufacturer of the popular quartz surface. The large booth will showcase full slabs of some of Cambria?s most popular colors, including Bellingham, the warm rose quartz Buckingham, the rich mid-tone Canterbury and the white hot marble-style Torquay. The booth will also feature a Cambria Windermere kitchen prep island countertop, fabricated by Atlanta Kitchen, Inc.?s experts at its state-of-the-art facility. Show attendees can also experience the full spectrum of Designs offered by Cambria through 96 12? x12? samples of Cambria Quartz material displayed on-site.

?The Spring Atlanta Home Show is an excellent time to show consumers the advantage to buying locally and to share the beauty and strength of Cambria,? says Mitch Hires, one of the owners of Construction Resources. Cambria, similar to Atlanta Kitchen, is Family Owned and Made in the USA. ?We have put a lot into this exhibit, and our impressive display serves to show Atlanta that we offer the best in materials and turn-key installation for residential and commercial construction.?

This is just a small sample of all the materials available at Construction Resources, Inc.?s indoor slab gallery. The slab gallery is open to builders, remodelers and homeowners who can find both traditional stone surfaces like granite, soapstone, marble and more alongside newer, environmentally-friendly counter surface options such as Cambria Quartz, Vetrazzo Glass and Paperstone recycled paper product. Construction Resources also offers a wide range of other home products and provides full service design and professional installation.

Construction Resources, Inc. is a 42-year-old company that provides residential and commercial builders/remodelers, as well as homeowners, with a one-stop shop for their kitchen and bath needs. The staff at Construction Resources, Inc. has the ability to provide products from several sister companies including Atlanta Marble Mfg., Atlanta Kitchen, Inc., and Atlanta Glass & Mirror, Inc. By offering a diverse selection, Construction Resources, Inc. allows customers to simplify their ordering, scheduling and vendor process by dealing with just one salesperson and company. Construction Resources, Inc. has local showroom locations in Alpharetta and Decatur. For more information on Construction Resources, Inc., call 404-419-1259 or visit http://www.constructionresourcesusa.com.

Source: http://www.atlantarealestateforum.com/construction-resources-brings-indoor-slab-gallery-to-spring-atlanta-home-show-59140/

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Credit Counseling: A Surefire Way to Manage Debts | Credit ...

Posted by admin Posted on Mar - 21 - 2012

By? Luminada Jenkins

Due to the awful consequences of being burdened with too many debts, a lot of people have sought the help of credit counseling agencies. These are companies that are dedicated in helping the borrowers in managing their debts so that they can effectively pay their creditors. Those who are having second thoughts about filing bankruptcy may just do well with debt counseling instead.

Filing for bankruptcy, although seen as the last resort, is often the most expensive legal action when it comes to debt cancellation. Even if it seems to guarantee the debtor of an end to all his financial obligations, the cost for running the proceedings is like paying a huge portion of the interests. Besides, some states have already made some stricter guidelines to keep irresponsible debtors from abusing their rights. A good alternative to this legal action is credit counseling.

Credit or debt counseling is a service that is generally offered for free. It involves the mediation of a credit counselor whose aim is to help the debtor in managing his finances so that he can pay all his debts in a much easier way. Because of the growing popularity of this service, it has been repackaged as a private and for-profit program. Hence, only a few nonprofit agencies now exist.

Debt counseling works by giving the borrower an expert advice on how he can effectively handle his debts. It mainly offers assistance regarding financial resources management and credit improvement concerns. Usually, after a series of financial analysis, the credit counselor will then try to negotiate with the creditors to reduce the amount of debt that the client owes. This process is referred to as DMP, or Debt Management Program. Under the DMP, the counseling agency prepares a repayment method for the debtor so his multiple monthly payments are consolidated in one payment schedule. This strategic payment plan promises the debtor to become debt-free in some three to six years time.

Because of the increasing number of consultancy firms that have mushroomed all over the place, it is indeed hard to find the one where you can entrust your debt payments. Some agencies that charge their clients often act like mere debt collectors for the creditors. It has been said that they are paid on a commission basis, by the creditors themselves, which tends to affect the credibility of their services. For this matter, it is advisable to consult a free counseling agency. A nonprofit debt counseling company does not charge for service that the credit counselors provide. It does not partake in the money that is intended for paying the debts to creditors. Still, if finding a free counseling program seems impossible, go for one that charge according to your financial capacity. Do not simply fall for advertisements that sound too good to be true, like in agencies that promise to slash off up to 50% in interest rates. While this might be negotiable, most reputable agencies cannot go beyond 20% since haggling for a higher reduction rate will only make the creditors more reluctant to forgive a good amount of debt.

Are you looking for more information regarding credit counseling [http://www.bilalrahim.com]? Visit [http://www.bilalrahim.com] today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luminada_Jenkins

Source: http://www.aldameergaza.org/credit-counseling-a-surefire-way-to-manage-debts.html

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