Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Soccer: Cold War edge as U.S. women beat North Korea

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - The U.S. women's soccer team beat North Korea 1-0 on Tuesday in a politically charged Olympic clash between the isolated Asian country and the global superpower it has loathed since they fought a Cold War conflict six decades ago.

A mixture of curious Britons and enthusiastic Americans piled into the stands at Old Trafford, home of English Premier League club Manchester United, to watch the contest, with no North Korean spectators in evidence.

In contrast to last week, when the same North Korean team walked off the pitch before a match because giant screens accidentally displayed the flag of their South Korean foes, Tuesday's match got off to a smooth start.

The blunder brought politics to the fore ahead of the clash with the Americans, whose former President George W. Bush once branded North Korea part of an "axis of evil" along with Iran and Iraq.

The hostility is very much a live issue in world diplomacy, with Washington intent on frustrating the North's nuclear armaments plans and Pyongyang seemingly impervious to external pressure.

"It definitely adds a little bit of extra drama to this match, like in the Cold War when the Americans would play the Russians," said Californian Christina Gustafson, sporting a shirt and strings of beads in patriotic red, white and blue.

She was among crowds of Americans, many waving flags or wearing USA sunglasses or hats, who converged on Manchester. But the stands at Old Trafford, a 75,000-seat stadium, appeared less than a third full.

The American players smiled at supporters as they walked out onto the pitch, while the North Korean players looked straight ahead and did not smile. When the players shook hands just before kick-off, some of the Americans attempted smiles and eye-contact with their opponents, who remained stony-faced.

At the end of the match, the American players lingered on the pitch and linked their hands to do a collective wave for the fans. After perfunctory handshakes, the North Koreans jogged off the pitch in a straight line.

"NOT ABOUT POLITICS"

It would be difficult to imagine a sporting contest between two more different nations.

On the one hand, a global economic powerhouse whose cultural influence can be felt across the globe, a society hooked on 24-hour media and the Internet, a land of plenty where the number one threat to public health is the high obesity rate.

On the other, an impenetrable fortress run by a dynasty of dictators, cut off from the rest of the planet by barbed wire and strict controls over any form of communication, an economic disaster zone where millions go short of food.

During the match, mass chants of "USA! USA!" repeatedly boomed around the stadium. At one point, a group of British fans apparently in the mood to annoy the Americans shouted "Korea! Korea!" but there was no other audible cheering for the Asians.

Some of the Americans in the stands were keen to show respect to their opponents.

"The Olympics is about sportsmanship and athletics, it's not about politics," said Oliver Spandow, from Florida, who was cheering for the Americans with his wife and three children. The whole family had the Stars and Stripes painted on their faces.

"It's important to show good sportsmanship, that's what we've told the kids. The North Korean players have worked hard to be here just like our team and they deserve to be here," said Kristin Spandow, Oliver's wife.

"SEIZED WITH JOY"

North Korea is an impressive fifth in the Olympics medals table so far, drawing enthusiastic coverage from the official news agency, KCNA.

"DPRK People Seized with Joy over Successes in Olympiad," said one KCNA headline on Tuesday. The DPRK is the acronym of the North's full name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"As the DPRK flag was hoisting higher than others, I got so excited that I could hardly repress my tears rolling down my cheek," said Jong In-ho, a teacher at Kim Il Sung University in Pyongyang, according to KCNA.

Organisers of London 2012 will be relieved that there were no errors such as the flag fiasco at Old Trafford.

One supporter of the North Koreans, British pensioner David Greenhough, expressed his own frustration at the mix-up.

"I was spitting feathers over the flag incident," said Greenhough, who was carrying a large North Korean flag and described himself as an independent Marxist historian.

The North Korean women's team won the 2008 Asian Football Confederation's tournament. But they were caught up in scandal at the 2011 women's World Cup in Germany, where five of the players tested positive for banned steroids.

North Korean officials said at the time that players had taken some traditional Chinese medication based on musk deer glands to help them recover from a lighting strike during a training match in North Korea weeks before the tournament.

The North Korean men's team claimed their place in sporting history during the 1966 World Cup in England when they knocked out favorites Italy in one of the greatest upsets ever.

(Additional reporting by Ju-min Park in Seoul; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/soccer-cold-war-edge-u-women-beat-north-190956276--sow.html

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Personal Finance manages the Good | Big Bang UK Finance

Personal Finance8 Personal Finance manages the Good

Many people who have substantial income every month, but almost every month, they feel deprived or run out of money. Conversely, many people whose income is arguably a mediocre but they almost never feel out of money.

Well, in this case we will discuss about management money for personal and family. It is good to manage personal finances, family, or organization is not easy.

Steps should be taken to manage our finances, to avoid financial problems is to distinguish and classify the treasures that we have, among others, revenue, business, investment, and savings. Why? because then we can use the money as needed. Breaks way possible to create a different account.

Revenue
For most of your income could be set aside for savings or investments, and some use for your expenses.

Business
Savings for businesses not to be used for personal or other interests besides business interests, it is to support the smooth running of your business.

Investment
Your investment can be gold, houses, land, etc.. Do not use your investment funds for personal use unless it is very important and even then use the profits from your investments, do not use all of it.

Savings
Saving is a very important property. Add the balance of your savings, minimizing the reduction in the balance. Do not use the money savings unless there is a very important example of death, school, etc..

In addition to the steps mentioned above, you should be able to control your spending so you do not consumptive and tend to spend money on something unnecessary. You also have to be berhidup efficient, so you?re not spending too much. If you can control yourself and do the steps mentioned above, your finances will definitely go well. May be useful for you all.

Source: http://bigbanguk.com/personal-finance-manages-the-good.html

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Hong Kong rallies against Chinese 'brainwashing'

HONG KONG - Tens of thousands of protesters paraded through Hong Kong Sunday waving placards denouncing "brainwashing" by China's ruling Communist Party and calling for the scrapping of plans for "national education" courses in local schools.

The protest, organized by local political organizations hostile to Beijing's one-party system, demonstrated deep opposition to the introduction of classes that aim to boost knowledge of China.

China recovered sovereignty over Hong Kong 15 year ago in a blaze of fireworks and patriotic fervor. It granted the metropolis a high degree of autonomy as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, but it has grown frustrated that many in Hong Kong don't identify much with the rest of the country.

Though increasingly dependent economically on mainland China, Hong Kong, according to a recent opinion poll by Hong Kong University, now has less trust in the central government in Beijing than at any time since the 1997 handover. Separate polls show that bonds of shared identity with the rest of China have grown weaker, not stronger.

In an effort to narrow the gap, the Hong Kong government has proposed courses to instruct pupils about China's political system, geography and history and also the correct etiquette for raising the national flag.

Sunday's protesters decried this as brainwashing. A group of parents and their children waved a poster reading: "Our previous generations came here to escape the Communist Party, don't let the next generation return to the grip of the demon."

"I'm Chinese, but China is not the Communist Party," said Cyrus Chan, a 16-year-student at a local Roman Catholic high school. "Germans are taught about Nazi crimes. They know what happened. In China, students only learn how to praise the party," he said.

Hong Kong officials deny that the new courses -- due to start in primary schools later this year and secondary schools in 2013 -- will mimic "patriotic education" on the mainland, which is mostly silent on the party's bloody past.

National education was first proposed for Hong Kong in 2010 and prompted a storm of protest. Anger calmed after a lengthy period of assurances by the government that it would not dictate content and leave this up to teachers. But fury flared again recently after the publication of a government-funded textbook, "The China Model." The text, prepared by a pro-Beijing organization, describes the Communist Party as "selfless and united" and presents it as an indispensable agent for stability.

After marching to the Hong Kong government's main office complex, protesters chanted "down with brainwashing" and called for Education Secretary Eddie Ng's resignation. Police said about 19,000 people took part but the crowd appeared much larger. Organizers said more than 90,000 joined the march.

Source: http://www.startribune.com/world/164217266.html

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Monday, July 30, 2012

PressNewsRoom ? Blog Archive ? CSP International Training ...

Christine Rae, President of CSP International Business Training Academy, a Home Staging Training company, announced today that Joy Gendusa CEO of PostcardMania will teach a complimentary webinar for stagers and real estate professionals.

Orlando, FL ? July 30, 2012 ? CSP International Business Training Academy, a Home Staging Training and Real Estate Strategy company, is offering a free webinar taking place on August 10th, 2012. This webinar is titled, ?Stop Worrying About Slow Seasons,? is complimentary and open to all staging professionals.? Joy Gendusa ?and Christine Rae will be hosting.

Overwhelmed by all the strategies and implementation that comes with marketing? This session will guide you to an integrated marketing plan for what is best for your business. Join Joy Gendusa, owner and CEO of the direct mail marketing firm, PostcardMania, as she guides you through marketing strategies and insider secrets of effective direct mail pieces to instantly grab attention.

?I am extremely excited to welcome Joy to conduct this workshop for CSP International Academy! I have no doubt home stagers and real estate professionals, whether just getting into the business or seasoned industry veterans, will take away incredibly valuable marketing lessons to help make their business the best and most profitable it can be!? remarked Christine Rae.

To register for this free event, please visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/606611106

Certified Staging Professionals trains home stagers through a comprehensive course of study that includes 3 days in a classroom, 4 weeks of home study and 6 weeks of hands-on market coaching. CSP is also a resource for Realtors and home sellers to find and hire graduates of this highly accredited staging education program, for assisting them in successfully closing their real estate sale.

To learn more about Certified Staging Professionals and Christine Rae, please visit http://www.stagingtraining.com.

About CSP International? Business Training Academy:

CSP began as the brainchild of its founder and president, Christine Rae. A long-time corporate executive, Christine began with the CSP program and a goal of bringing her penchant for high standards and business ethics, together with her knowledge of design and the real estate industry to an industry without a map. Her own extensive training from across North America includes New York City, California, Texas and the Carolinas as well as the United Kingdom.? From her research Christine knew there was a need for a distinctly different approach to staging and staging training. Growing from one course to a complete school with several physical locations and a group of well trained instructors, the CSP program is the leading global source for finding highly trained stagers and is the primary destination for anyone wanting to become a stager, it is the company more real estate agents turn to, on behalf of their clients. CSP International is a Certified Women?s Business Enterprise having expanded to the United States in 2006 and Australia in 2009.? The program has been translated into Mandarin; Global license opportunities currently under review include China, Germany and France.

About the CSP? designation:

The CSP? designation is recognized by real estate professionals, builders, home stagers, decorators and home sellers for its brand reputation of excellence. The designation identifies home staging consultants who have achieved certification in the staging industry which included quality hands-on training with vigorous testing, apprenticeship, business process and ethics.

Source: http://www.pressnewsroom.com/index.php/2012/07/30/csp-international-training-academy-hosts-free-skill-building-webinar-for-home-staging-professionals/

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Eco-Friendly Landscaping: 3 Storm-Water Solutions | Blue Planet ...

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Creative landscaping with native plants and rock gardens offer a way to capture rain and (as Santa Cruz, California says) "Slow it. Spread it. Sink it." Photo courtesy Landscape East & West

Creative landscaping with native plants and rock gardens offer a way to capture rain and (as Santa Cruz, California says) ?Slow it. Spread it. Sink it.? Photo courtesy Landscape East & West

For those of us experiencing drought, a post about storm water solutions may seem ironic. But think again: With the earth parched and dry, when rain does come, we desperately need that water to stay. If we don?t act now to retain the much-needed rain when it does come, it will run off and do us little good. Wherever you live, what can you do now to preserve the rainfall that inevitably will return? Please read and consider. ~Julia Wasson, Publisher


Rain happens. Apart from blessing it for watering our plants ? or cursing it for keeping us indoors ? many homeowners don?t think much about where all of that water goes once it hits our property. However, as our neighborhoods become increasingly covered with impervious surfaces (roofs, patios, roads and driveways), that needs to change.

Roofs and other impervious surfaces change the way rainwater behaves, increasing the volume of runoff and accelerating the rate at which it flows through our local watersheds. This ultimately leads to erosion of stream banks, degraded wildlife habitats and the introduction of pollutants picked up along the way.

If you want to make your home more Earth-friendly, one of the most significant things you can do is incorporate storm-water management techniques into your landscape. By combining some of these methods, you can help diffuse the runoff from your home in order to minimize its impact on the environment. Or, as eco-conscious cities such as Santa Cruz, Calif., put it: ?Slow it. Spread it. Sink it.?

1. Plant Trees

The simple act of planting more trees on your property will provide manifold storm-water benefits down the road. Not only do trees capture and store rainwater in their leaves and branches, but they also improve water quality by acting as a filter and holding soil in place so less sediment enters the water stream. In a small storm, trees can reduce runoff volume by as much as 35%, and a single mature tree with a 30-foot crown can intercept more than 700 gallons of rainfall every year, according to the Bureau of Environmental Services in Portland, Oregon.

To maximize the environmental impact of your trees:

  • Position them so their canopy covers impervious areas, such as patios and driveways, where they can capture the water before it reaches the ground.
  • Include evergreens, which will intercept more water in winter than their deciduous counterparts.

2. Minimize Impervious Surfaces

You can reduce the amount of impervious surface area on your property by replacing concrete patios, walkways and other high-traffic surfaces with permeable pavers. Unlike concrete, permeable pavers have gaps that allow storm water to pass through and soak into the ground. They?re so effective they can reduce (and in some cases eliminate) the need for an underground storm drain system.

Other tactics for reducing impermeable surfaces around your home:

  • Replace the center of your driveway with mulch or grass, leaving only two strips of pavement to accommodate your car?s tires.
  • Use mulch or gravel for low-traffic areas of your landscape and turf block for medium-traffic areas.

3. Collect Roof Runoff

In many developed cities, roofs cover 20% or more of the total surface area ? which means they account for a significant chunk of storm runoff. On a day with ? inch rainfall, a 1,000-square-foot roof will yield more than 300 gallons of rainwater. Instead of letting this water flood into the local sewer system, you can install rain barrels at each of your home?s downspouts to capture and store your relatively clean roof runoff for use around your property.

4. Build a Rain Garden

A drainage canyon traps storm water to slow its runoff from the property. Photo: Courtesy Landscape East & West

A drainage canyon traps storm water to slow its runoff from the property. Photo: Courtesy Landscape East & West

A rain garden (a shallow depression in your yard filled with water-loving plants) will capture much of your home?s runoff and allow it to slowly sink into the ground. When designed well, such a feature can dramatically reduce the volume and flow rate of storm water. When planning your rain garden, consider the following:

  • Rain gardens should be planted at least 10 feet away from your home?s foundation. You can use downspout extensions to send roof runoff directly to your rain garden.
  • Design your rain garden so it drains within 30-48 hours after a rainfall in order to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

These are just a few of the many storm water solutions you can apply to your home.

Steve Stewart

Guest Writer

Blue Planet Green Living (Home Page)

?Steve Stewart is president of?Landscape East & West, an award winning full-service landscaping and garden-design company based in Portland, Oregon. The company was recently recognized as one of the Top 100 Green Companies to Work for in Oregon by Oregon Business Magazine.

Source: http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2012/07/29/eco-friendly-landscaping-3-storm-water-solutions/

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Saturday, July 28, 2012

A Beginner's Guide To Decorating Your Home Using Window Blinds ...

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Window blinds were initially designed for use in commercial buildings. They were utilitarian, easy to clean, filtered sunlight in just right, and were great for providing privacy. With time however, the blinds stopped being the preserve of office buildings. People started adopting them into their homes.

It is not difficult to understand why. Home owners wanted to experience for themselves the great benefits that blinds offered. The only thing however was that the plain, formal blinds used in offices would just not be good for homes that needed to be warm and cosy. They had to be made to look attractive.

Different designers took up the challenge and came up with a variety of blinds made with different materials and having different designs that were perfect for the contemporary home. There are a variety of styles available for blinds now which mean that it has become much easier to use them as a decorating tool, no matter the type of house you live in.

Window blinds can be used in any room in the house. If you have a smaller space, choosing them as the only window treatment can make the room look large and chic. They can also be combined with curtains to create a warm effect in the room.

There are two main things that you should consider while choosing they type of blinds that you should put on your windows. These are material and style. Choosing the best combination of these that will go with the general d?cor in your home is essential.

There are a variety of materials used in creating blinds. These range from wood to aluminium, plastic to cane. Aluminium is durable and easy to clean. It also comes in a variety of colours. Wood gives an ethnic sense of beauty to the room and communicates strength.

PVC can be used as a substitute to both these materials and is much cheaper, and easy to clean too. Stiffened fabric is also used in making slats of some blinds. If you are choosing this type of blinds then make sure that the fabric can easily blend with the rest of the decoration in your home.

The various and popular styles of window blinds are listed as follows:

1. Venetian

These blinds can be opened from any angle and pulled to the top of the window. They are very versatile thus quite popular. They are usually made from aluminium but some are made of plastic. There are also those made of wood, but these are generally referred to as wood slats. The slats are 1-3 inches apart and are usually slightly curved. When closed shut they provide maximum privacy.

2. Mini blind

These are also a type of Venetian blinds but they have slats which are much narrower, ? to 1 inches wide. When closed they give the window quite a smooth appearance and are thus very popular too. They are mainly made of aluminium though some are made of PVC, and come in a wide variety of colours.

3. Vertical

These ones unlike the other blinds mentioned, hang from the top of the window all the way down. They can also be used on doors. They can be opened and closed just like the other types of blinds, or just simply pulled to the side. Some are designed with a cord at the bottom to hold them together while other types are left to hang free. They are made of either PVC or aluminium.

If you have a bit extra to spend, electric blinds would be a great option. These can be opened and closed easily using a remote control.

4. Woven

These types of blinds do not open or close like the Venetian ones. Their slats are narrowly woven together. The small spaces that are left in between allow sunlight to stream in. more light can be allowed in by pulling up the blinds so that the window is exposed.

They obviously do not provide as much privacy because the slats cannot be tightly shut together. They are mainly made of wood or cane.

For those seeking a more permanent solution, there are ready made windows already fitted with blinds that exist. These also come in a variety of styles and can be a great addition to the room, but installing them requires a lot of work, first you have to get rid of the windows you have, so that you can install these.

The author, Matt M, is a home improvement blogger and shares home improvement tips through his guest posts. He recommends visiting blinds supermarket, online solution providers for window blinds.

Source: http://www.ourhometools.com/a-beginners-guide-to-decorating-your-home-using-window-blinds

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Hardwood flooring installation Danville condo progression mass

Hardwood flooring installation Danville condo progression mass
by Gregory J Garver
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While the economy has slowed since the financial down turn and triggered constructing to return to an entire halt and even put many construction companies out of business Lafayette has seen important increases in residential building. This has been largely due to excessive tech jobs which have pulled talent from all over the world of that many employees have gone to the outer edge of Pleasant hills. This inflow of excessive paying opportunities has elevated custom constructing and apartment building as well. In some circumstances many business owners are even offering careers with a place to stay and a 10,000 moving expense blank expense account for moving cost. This sort of inflow of high paying jobs has increased the general construction in the San Ramon area from construction jobs to home decor. These houses and flats are absolutely up to date with wood floors. Corporations in the San Ramon space which has induced a trickle effect helping the over all economy for the general area. I had a chance to look at a few of the properties that were being restored and whereas I was there they were laying new wood floors. The corporate Fine Floorz from the city of Walnut Creek was placing the brand new floors in the living room and bamboo flooring within the lavatory and cooking area areas. The person installing stated that they'd been very busy the last few months and went on to elucidate the various kinds of terrazzo they were installing. Flooring is available in many alternative materials and styles, and each sort of Flooring companies Walnut Creek has a look that can change a house and give it its personal specific and original style. It is important to find flooring materials that is similar to the age and style of your home or condo. Tiles are a sort of onerous flooring and are available in a wide range of natural and man-made materials. Ceramic tiles, glass tiles, slate and marble are simply a few of the selections accessible and each include their very own professionals and cons. The primary advantage of tiles is that they're extremely hard and if well maintained will last a really lengthy time. As they are waterproof they are effectively suited to areas akin to bathrooms and utility rooms straightforward to wash and are additionally perfect for kitchens. However, tiles can be chilly underfoot and could be slippery when moist so are usually not suited for older folks or kids. If they've an complex pattern they can be tough to fit as well as being expensive and semi-permanent. They're also noisy and require different softer surfaces to scale back the amount of sound in a area. Flooring companies Danville additionally seen as hard hardwood flooring but being a bit softer than tiles they are also hotter underfoot. With the huge range of natural tones obtainable they may also help and make a warm and happy feeling and although they are often noisy, if sprung it may well help to scale back clamor and add bounce to the floorboards. The downside of wood floors is that they're normally manufactured from softer wood and subsequently can dimple easily especially by the heels of boots and shoes. Wood floors are subsequently finest suited for rooms that don't obtain heavy usage comparable to dining areas. The dark wood floors the hardwood contractor was laying was very attractive so We decided to really give the specialist a call or email to have them make available the flooring craftmanship for my wife seeing as they seemed so stunning. About, a small number of days shortly We made the jump and had the wood floor installers at our house. My wood flooring came out wonderful! I had a remarkable encounter with Wood floor installation Pleasant hills and would propose them to everybody looking a wood floor company in Pleasant Hills.

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Friday, July 27, 2012

10 Things to Know for Thursday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today (all times EDT):

1. THE POLITICS OF GUNS LEAPS TO THE TOP OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE

In the wake of the Colorado shootings, President Obama calls for stiffer regulations while Mitt Romney says he doesn't believe America needs new gun laws.

2. WHAT'S ON THE LINE FOR ROMNEY ABROAD

The GOP candidate's trip to Britain, Israel and Poland amounts to an international audition.

3. THE NEXT FRONTIER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS

The epidemic increasingly is a female one, and curbing it will require focusing on poverty and violence, not just pregnancy and pills.

4. USE OF SYNTHETIC DRUGS SURGES

People are inventing so many new, legal ways to get high that lawmakers can't seem to keep up.

5. THAT'S NO LADY. THAT'S MY WIFE

Now we know the identity of the mystery woman accompanying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at recent public events.

6. A POSTHUMOUS REVELATION

In her obituary, which she co-wrote with her partner, pioneering astronaut Sally Ride disclosed publicly that she was gay.

7. THE WEAR AND TEAR OF LIFE IN A TALIBAN STRONGHOLD

In Pakistan's northwest, psychiatrists estimate millions suffer post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological illnesses after years of violence.

8. WHY 'TWILIGHT' FANS ARE HEARTBROKEN

Kristen Stewart admits she cheated on her boyfriend and co-star Robert Pattinson. But the scandal seems unlikely to affect box-office returns.

9. DOs AND DON'Ts FOR OLYMPIC TRAVELERS

Welcome to Britain! The line forms to the right. Here are some tips for Olympic visitors hoping to get the most out of their experience.

10. WE PLEDGE ALLEGIANGE ... HEY! WAIT A SEC!

The South Korean flag is mistakenly displayed on a jumbo screen instead of North Korea's before a women's soccer match, prompting the North Koreans to refuse to take the field for nearly an hour.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/10-things-know-thursday-104756375.html

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Thursday, July 26, 2012

Leading disruptive innovation - Ivey Business Journal

While we may be able to appreciate a disruptive innovation in retrospect, it is debatable whether we can convert our understanding into a formal, repeatable process.? In today?s turbulent environment, leading disruptive innovation is likely more about best principles than best practices, and requires a disruptive approach to management itself. Down with convention, then, and up with what this author terms LEAPS, an original but potentially very effective way of leading and managing disruptive innovation.

In today?s complex, dynamic world, having a disruptive innovation capability is mandatory, both for growing a business and protecting existing markets.? But leading disruptive innovation requires new mindsets and behaviours, for leaders themselves and for the organizations that develop them. This author describes the qualities and competencies required for leading disruptive innovation

Disruptive innovation that transforms or creates new markets has become the Holy Grail for many companies.?? Books like The Innovator?s Dilemma[i], along with Apple?s remarkable success and the high-profile failures of Blockbuster, Borders, and Kodak, have created a heightened awareness and a desire for game-changing innovation.? More resources, models, and tools exist to help companies innovate than ever before.

Leaders today, however, face a big challenge when it comes to disruptive innovation.? Many executives rise through the ranks of management, where predictability and control are valued and rewarded.? Unlike operations management, disruptive innovation ? whether creating it or responding to it ? involves extreme uncertainty.? Unexpected events, inevitable failures, and a fundamental lack of control are inherent to the process.? But few leaders are formally prepared to deal with the realities of leading or responding to disruption.

This article highlights the key dynamics involved in leading disruptive innovation.? My goal is to outline the core leadership experiences and practices involved in the process.? A five-phase model, using the acronym ?LEAPS,? provides a structure for understanding the ways leaders create clarity during times of great uncertainty.? This model was developed during the research for my book, Leapfrogging[ii].? In addition to specific company examples, empirical research from U.S. and European universities provides insight into some of the more subtle social and psychological success factors that distinguish leaders who are best suited to drive disruptive change.

Leaping into uncertainty

Perhaps the most defining characteristic of disruptive innovation is the great uncertainty that it creates for leaders, organizations, and entire industries.? The music, entertainment, computing, mobile phone, book publishing, photography, and healthcare industries have all experienced dramatic change due to new technologies, business models, distribution channels, government regulations, and market expectations.? Companies in these industries have been forced to experiment and introduce new technologies and business models, not just to compete, but to survive.

While most organizations possess a general awareness of the importance and necessity of disruptive innovation and change in general, there is a gap when it comes to understanding the deeper leadership qualities necessary for driving them.? Many leaders rely on research and data for decision-making to manage daily operations, for example, but during times of disruption, waiting for hard data to make decisions can quickly result in failure.? Leaders must be comfortable using whatever information they have on hand, integrating inputs from diverse sources around them, and then using their intuition to round out the decision-making process.

The challenge for any business is that the competencies necessary for leading disruptive innovation are not formulaic or quantifiable.? As Gary Hamel says, ?New problems demand new principles. Put bluntly, there?s simply no way to build tomorrow?s essential organizational capabilities?resilience, innovation and employee engagement?atop the scaffolding of 20th century management principles.? Hamel goes on to say, ?In an age of wrenching change and hyper-competition, the most valuable human capabilities are precisely those that are least manage-able[iii].?

While a disruptive innovation can be seen and understood in retrospect, it is debatable whether it can be transferred into a formal, repeatable process.? In today?s turbulent environment, leading disruptive innovation is likely more about best principles than best practices, and requires a disruptive approach to management itself.

Using LEAPS to drive disruption

Whether going after disruptive innovations that leapfrog competitors and customer expectations, or focusing on ?blue oceans[iv]? that represent white-space opportunities to create entirely new markets, the leadership issues are similar.? Leaders must embrace ambiguity, live with uncertainty for long periods of time, and confront the critiques of naysayers both inside and outside of their organizations.? Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, summarized the essence of the leadership challenge when he said, ?Any time you do something big, that?s disruptive, there will be critics? We are willing to be misunderstood for long periods of time[v].?? Few business schools, let alone companies, prepare their leaders to live with being misunderstood or criticized, especially for extended periods of time.? When it comes to leading for disruption, recognizing that ?the soft stuff is the hard stuff? can make the difference between success and failure.

I have developed five strategies to address the inherent uncertainty of disruptive innovation and change.? Falling under the acronym LEAPS, each strategy contains specific principles that provide the basis by which leaders harness uncertainty, ambiguity, and even surprises to reinvent their organizations and industries.

?LEAPS Strategy

Listen ? Start with Yourself, Not the Market

Contrary to conventional wisdom, disruptive leadership is not about analyzing customer needs, creating specifications to meet each need, and building great products and services to meet them. Bob Ulrich, the former CEO of the retailer Target, was opposed to direct consumer market research, and focus groups especially.? During Target?s breakthrough growth years, the Target team used its own instincts to infuse everything with leading edge design, from transforming store layouts to creating partnerships with designers like Philippe Starck.? Consumers didn?t know what they had been missing when going to Wal-Mart or Sears until Target showed them how ?Tar-zjay? could give them ?cheap chic? in a way no other retailer could.

Leaders like these don?t get bogged down in data, but rather find opportunities to deliver an entirely new level of value.? Research from the University of Amsterdam[vi] reveals the dyanmics behind how these leaders rise above the complexity of today?s business environment.? Researchers found that when subjects were presented with large amounts of data, those that conducted the most analysis and spent the most time reviewing options and choices were not the best decision-makers.? In fact, those who were forced to ignore detailed data through intentional distractions from the researchers used ?unconscious thinking time? in their thinking process. They not only made superior decisions but were better able to recognize patterns in the complex data.

Steve Jobs and Apple never conducted market research as they developed the iPod, iPhone and iPad[vii].? Rather, Jobs and his team at Apple defined products and a user experience they, themselves, wanted.? Asking the market what it wanted would have been fruitless since consumers didn?t know what they were missing until they were given it by the company.? Leading through disruption involves determining what one values and where we want to make a difference ? both in what we do and how we do it.? Disruptive innovations come from people and? organizations who ?innovate for themselves? because they want to make a difference for others.

?

Explore ? Go outside to stretch the inside

Leading through disruption requires an agile mind that appreciates ambiguity.? Disruptive innovators know that uncertainty contains as much opportunity as it does risk.? But to make this mindset practical, it is essential to push personal, team, and organizational comfort zones.? Borders, the recently bankrupt bookseller, stuck to its retail knitting even while Amazon, Apple, and Barnes & Noble were introducing eBook platforms to transform the industry.? When leaders remain safely rooted in how things are done today, they miss the kind of insight and market impact needed to protect themselves from, or create, a true disruption.

A series of research studies from INSEAD and Northwestern University[viii] sheds light on how leaders can overcome the paralysis that characterized Borders? leadership.? Researchers studied the problem-solving skills and creativity levels of individuals who have lived in two or more cultures versus those who have never lived abroad.? The findings from the research demonstrates that when individuals are forced to confront competing assumptions and norms through living abroad, the boundaries of their assumptions and related defenses soften.? The concepts of ?the right way? versus ?the wrong way? break down. Instead of responding to a challenge like a deer in the headlights, they see connections and patterns that most others don?t see and find the most creative opportunities.

Leaders who possess a track record of pushing their own personal boundaries are best equipped for tackling the gray areas.? These individuals stretch their comfort zones by taking on roles spanning different functions, working across diverse industries or living in different cultures.? As a result, they?re most comfotable taking themselves, their teams, and their organizations out of the proverbial corporate comfort zone and into uncharted territory.

Act ? Take small simple steps, again and again and again

Paradoxically, leading disruptive innovation involves simultaneously focusing on your own intentions and motivations to make a difference, like Target and Apple did, while at the same time gathering as much external input as possible ? from customers, employees, partners, or anyone else deemed relevant to the opportunity.? Disruptive leadership involves putting a flexible stake in the ground around a specific opportunity, and then taking a series of actions to intentionally challenge assumptions and rapidly change direction as many times as necessary.

Researchers from the University of Virginia[ix] explored the differences in problem-solving styles and thinking between serial entrepreneurs (individuals with at least 15 years experience and who had taken one or more companies public in their careers) and professional managers from large corporations (including leaders from Shell, Philip Morris, and Nestle).? Each cohort was provided a hypothetical case of a start-up and was asked how they would help it develop and grow.

The entrepreneurs first looked at the resources and information they had at their disposal, defined short-term actions, and then improvised.? They looked for ways to solicit input from anyone and everyone who would listen.? Their primary objective was to deliver something tangible to customers, even if it wasn?t fully developed, in order to gain feedback, challenge their assumptions, learn, and iterate to better ideas. Professional managers, on the other hand, began by listing concrete goals and plans.? They too viewed customer input as important, but saw it as a single up-front input to help them understand customer requirements.

The researchers concluded that the greatest difference between entrepreneurs and corporate managers lies in the difference of a single belief about the future.? Professional managers assume the future can be predicted; they create goals and plans and then attempt to control how things will unfold.? The fundamental assumption, therefore, is that personal assumptions and learning happens primarily in the beginning of the process.? Serial entrepreneurs, on the other hand, find ways to use external inputs of all types to challenge their assumptions throughout the journey to their breakthroughs.? They use a multitude of small steps and activities to help them adapt and and modify their goals and strategies.

Leading disruptive innovation requires a mindset of continuous adaptation.? Going after big opportunities doesn?t mean we must bet the farm.? Leading disruptive innovation involves determining which small steps will have the greatest impact.? While taking this approach can indeed help minimize risk, it requires leaders to approach ?planning? in a flexible way that allows for major shifts in goals, metrics, and timelines.

Persist ? Take the surprise out of failure

When Sarah Robb O?Hagan, President of Gatorade, learned that many young football players pack bananas in their sport bags but find them mashed between their cleats before practice, she asked her product development team to develop a pre-workout drink pouch packed with carbohydrates.? Gatorade launched the pouch with the goal of tapping into a white-space opportunity.

?We knew drink bottles like the backs of our hands, but pouches were a completely new animal,? according to O?Hagan.? But while the pouches tested well in the lab, some of them leaked on store shelves.? In many companies, customer complaints would have halted the innovation in its tracks.? Rather than run for cover, O?Hagan helped Gatorade ?reframe failure? by emphasizing the importance of trial and error.? ?We could have waited another six months to ?get it right, but we would have missed both the summer season and a great learning opportunity. In fact, the leaky pouches caused everyone to revisit their assumptions about the packaging, which led to an even better ergonomic design and superior packaging materials,? she told her team[x].? Leadership like O?Hagan?s characterizes the reframe required for disruptive innovation.? While few leaders want failure, setbacks are a natural part of the process when leading disruptive innovation.

Leaders who face the fear of failure head on ? and who help their teams and organizations do the same ? are most prepared to use setbacks as springboards to success.? A Harvard University study on the impact of fear on decision-making, for example, found that fear creates pessimism, which leads to risk-averse behavior.? This same dynamic occurs on a widespread scale when the stock market falls and investors sell at the bottom to ?get out? in order to regain a sense of certainty.

Leading for disruptive innovation involves creating ?optimistic persistence? in order to combat fear, pessimism and the tendency to retrench back into the safety of the existing business model.? Research from Columbia and Harvard Universities[xi] found that when people were asked to act assertively, they experienced a biological response consistent with feelings of being powerful.? When compared to people who were asked to act passively, those who felt more powerful took greater risks when given the opportunity to gamble money.

Leading disruptive innovation involves taking action in the face of uncertainty, seeing results, learning from them, and modifying assumptions and behaviors based on these results.? Even when the results are ?negative,? the goal is to persist in using the insights gained from the experience.? Such an approach creates a sense of progress where positive results can be celebrated and setbacks can be seen as learning opportunities.? This mental model feeds optimism and inspires further action, which results in the type of optimistic persistence required to weather the tough times.

Seize ? Make the journey part of the (surprising) destination

Canon recently launched the EOS 5D Mark II camera, targeting general photo enthusiasts.? But something surprising happened within months of the launch. Professional videographers started using the point-and-shoot camera. With video quality equal to more specialized cameras used for television commercials, this less expensive alternative packed a big punch. To Canon?s own surprise, the Mark II had unexpectedly started disrupting the high-end professional video market. Canon is now developing cameras specifically designed for this industry ? and disrupting the market in the process.

A whole basket of examples shows how companies begin with one focus and end up succeeding with another.? Wrigley started out selling baking soda and soap.? Giving away gum was a perk for customers who responded with such surprising delight that the company shifted its entire focus to chewing gum.? YouTube began as a dating web site before becoming the de-facto standard for sharing videos on the web.? Hasbro initially sold pencils and school supplies before stumbling upon an independent inventor who sold the company the rights to Mr. Potato Head.

The path to disruptive innovation is not always predictable or linear.? For example, Jim Collins and Morten Hansen, authors of Great by Choice, discovered that ?luck events? play a significant role in long-term business success[xii].? Leaders who capitalize on good luck, and who are best prepared for bad luck, achieve far superior results than their peers.? Collins and Hansen?s research shows that leaders need to find comfort in uncertainty, but also be well prepared to respond to unanticipated events.

Most companies view uncertainty, and especially surprises, as things to prevent and avoid. Even positive surprises like Canon?s are simply seen as lucky happenstance, far from being connected to real strategy. The underlying assumption is that predictability and control are the cornerstones of leadership.? No wonder every management book on Amazon with ?surprise? in its title is about how to minimize the possibility of experiencing the dreaded phenomenon.

Leading disruptive innovation, however, is a process fundamentally laden with surprise, the core essence of uncertainty.? Recognizing the potential power of surprise when we receive unexpected jolts to our strategies, plans, and assumptions, allows us to respond with purposeful agility ? versus dismiss surprises as problems while concurrently disregarding the insights or messages they may contain.

Disruptive innovation requires Disrupting Leadership

More and more leaders and companies recognize that they must proactively disrupt, or risk being disrupted.? But business-as-usual leadership, where big visions are followed by detailed roadmaps and action plans, do more than stifle disruptive innovation. They represent liabilities to success.? Leading disruptive innovation involves adopting principles that fall outside the traditional training of managers and leaders.

New leadership competencies are required to navigate disruption. This means uncovering one?s deeper motivations to drive meaningful opportunities for others; pushing personal boundaries to challenge one?s own assumptions; taking steps into the unknown with the view that failure isn?t failure at all but rather a stepping stone to learning and progress; and tuning into surprises as a kind of portal for gaining new insights and uncovering opportunities.? To lead disruptive innovation successfully requires that we disrupt the most fundamental mindsets and behaviors that have led us to our current success.


[i] Christensen, C. (2003), The Innovator?s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fall, Harper Paperbacks, New York.

[ii] Kaplan, S. (2012), Leapfrogging: Harness the Power of Surprise for Business Breakthroughs, Berrett-Koehler, San Francisco.

[iii] Hamel, Gary & Breen, Bill (2007).? The Future of Management, Harvard Business School Press.

[iv] Kim, W. and Mauborgne, R. (2005), Blue Ocean Strategy, Harvard Business School Press, Boston.

[vi] A. Dijksterhuis and L. F. Nordgren, ?A Theory of Unconscious Thought,? Perspectives on Psychological Science 1 (2006): 95?109.

[viii] Maddux, William & Galinsky, Adam (2009).? Cultural Borders and Mental Barriers:

The Relationship Between Living Abroad and Creativity, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Published by the American Psychological Association, Vol. 96, No. 5, 1047?1061

[x] Kaplan, S. (2012), Leapfrogging: Harness the Power of Surprise for Business Breakthroughs, Berrett-Koehler, San Francisco.

[xi] D. R. Carney, A. J. C. Cuddy, and A. J. Yap, ?Power Posing: Brief Nonverbal Displays Affect Neuroendocrine Levels and Risk Tolerance,? Psychological Science 21 (2010): 1?6.

[xii] Collins, J. and Hansen, M. (2011), Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck?Why Some Thrive Despite Them All, HarperCollins Publishers, New York.

?

Source: http://www.iveybusinessjournal.com/topics/innovation/leading-disruptive-innovation

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Mitt Romney's Trip to Israel: Is the Jewish Vote up for Grabs? (Atlantic Politics Channel)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/238247941?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Marriage researcher Brad Wilcox's lecture on marriage and society ...

There are two parts. The lecture and then the Q&A.

Let?s learn a bit about Brad first:

W. Bradford Wilcox is Director of the?National Marriage Project?at the University of Virginia,?Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia, and a member of the James Madison Society at Princeton University.

He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia and his Ph.D. at Princeton University. Prior to coming to the University of Virginia, he held research fellowships at Princeton University, Yale University and the Brookings Institution.

Mr. Wilcox?s research focuses on marriage, parenthood, and cohabitation, and on the ways that gender, religion, and children influence the quality and stability of American marriages and family life. He has published articles on marriage, cohabitation, parenting, and fatherhood in?The American Sociological Review, Social Forces, The Journal of Marriage and Family?and?The Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. His first book,?Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and Husbands?(Chicago, 2004), examines the ways in which the religious beliefs and practices of American Protestant men influence their approach to parenting, household labor, and marriage. With Nicholas Wolfinger, Wilcox is now writing a book titled,?Soul Mates: Religion, Sex, Children, & Marriage among African Americans and Latinos, for Oxford University Press. With Eric Kaufmann, Wilcox is finishing a book on the causes and consequences of low fertility in the West.

The MP3 file for the lecture is here.

The MP3 file for the Q&A is here.

This lecture covers marriage, cohabitation, single parenthood and divorce.

Filed under: Podcasts, Brad Wilcox, Children, Cohabitation, Divorce, Family, Father, Marriage, Mother, National Marriage Project, Poor, Poverty, Single Parenthood, Single-Motherhood, Social Justice, University of Virginia, Working Class

Source: http://winteryknight.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/marriage-researcher-brad-wilcoxs-lecture-on-marriage-and-society-2/

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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Thai Troops Shot Italian Photographer

Government troops are believed to have shot an Italian photographer who was killed during mass opposition street protests in 2010 in Bangkok, police told an official inquest in Thailand on Monday.

Police Colonel Suebsak Pansura, who is heading a team investigating the case, said they had questioned 47 witnesses and experts over the death of Fabio Polenghi and gathered evidence to submit to prosecutors.

"The conclusion found that the cause of his death was believed to have been a gunshot from the authorities on duty," he told Bangkok's Criminal Court on the opening day of the inquest.

Polenghi was shot and killed on May 19 2010, the day when soldiers firing live ammunition stormed the anti-government "Red Shirt" protest movement's sprawling rally base in the center of Bangkok.

Police could not find the bullet which fatally wounded him in the heart, but experts said he was shot by a high-velocity gun. The inquest will attempt to ascertain who was responsible.

Polenghi, 48, was working as a freelance photographer covering the protests in which tens of thousands of Red Shirts brought central Bangkok to a standstill for two months with demands for snap elections.

Street battles between soldiers with rifles and mostly unarmed protesters claimed more than 90 lives and left nearly 1,900 people injured, mainly civilians.

The kingdom, which remains deeply divided by the bloodshed, now has a new government allied to the Red Shirts' hero, fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, whose sister Yingluck is prime minister.

No soldiers or officials have been prosecuted in connection with the deaths during the unrest, prompting anger from relatives and rights groups, who say those responsible are being protected by a culture of impunity in Thailand.

Yingluck's government said in November there was clear evidence that troops were responsible for the death of another journalist during the unrest, Japanese cameraman Hiroyuki Muramoto of the Thomson Reuters news agency.

Source: http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/47493-thai-troops-shot-italian-photographer

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What's your best Summer Olympic memory?

Mark Humphrey / AP

Michael Phelps created many lasting Olympic memories in 2008, and he's hoping to do the same in 2012.

The best athletes in the world are gathering in London for the 2012 Games. Swimmers, gymnasts, track stars, cyclists, weightlifters, boxers, basketball players and more are bringing their best game in hopes of taking home a medal.

It's impossible to think about the Olympics without remembering all the golden moments that have come before. We want to know your favorite memory of Summer Olympics past.

Did Olga Korbut or Nadia Comaneci make you start balancing on curbs and benches around your home and school??Was your heart in your throat?when Kerri Strug made that vault on her injured ankle? Did the poster of Mark Spitz and all his medals inspire you to spend hours swimming laps? Did you?cheer for?the Dream Team? Root on Usain Bolt? Were you screaming like Michael Phelps when the U.S. relay team beat the trash-talking French? Or maybe your memory isn't from a sporting contest -- did you tear up when Muhammed Ali lit the Olympic cauldron in Atlanta?

Whether your memory is vintage or recent, and no matter what country, event, or athlete it involves, share it with us on Facebook. We'll collect the best for a post on Friday, the day of the opening ceremonies.

?Related content:

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/24/12926709-whats-your-best-memory-of-the-summer-olympics?lite

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Monday, July 23, 2012

Police: Colo. suspect planned massacre for months

Investigators remove computer equipment as evidence from the apartment of alleged gunman James Holmes, Saturday, July 21, 2012 in Aurora, Colo. Authorities reported that 12 died and more than three dozen people were shot during an assault at a movie theatre midnight premiere of "The Dark Knight Rises." (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Investigators remove computer equipment as evidence from the apartment of alleged gunman James Holmes, Saturday, July 21, 2012 in Aurora, Colo. Authorities reported that 12 died and more than three dozen people were shot during an assault at a movie theatre midnight premiere of "The Dark Knight Rises." (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Investigators remove computer equipment as evidence from the apartment of alleged gunman James Holmes, Saturday, July 21, 2012 in Aurora, Colo. Authorities reported that 12 died and more than three dozen people were shot during an assault at a movie theatre midnight premiere of "The Dark Knight Rises." (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Firefighters and police gather after an explosion could be heard in front the apartment of shooting suspect James Holmes in Aurora, Colo., Saturday, July 21, 2012. Federal authorities detonated one small explosive and disarmed another inside Holmes' apartment, but several other explosive devices remained, said Aurora police Sgt. Cassidee Carlson. Twelve people were killed and dozens were injured in a shooting attack early Friday at a packed movie theater during a showing of the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises." Police have identified Holmes, 24, as the suspected shooter. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Federal agents outside the apartment of James Holmes in Aurora, Colo., Saturday, July 21, 2012. Federal authorities detonated one small explosive and disarmed another inside Holmes' apartment, but several other explosive devices remained, said Aurora police Sgt. Cassidee Carlson. Twelve people were killed and dozens were injured in a shooting attack early Friday at a packed movie theater during a showing of the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises." Police have identified Holmes, 24, as the suspected shooter. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Emergency crews, including a bomb squad unit, surround the apartment of alleged gunman James Holmes Saturday, July 21, 2012 in Aurora , Colo. The "water shot" is exploded and used to disrupt the device. Authorities reported that 12 died and more than three dozen people were shot during an assault at a movie theatre midnight premiere of "The Dark Knight Rises." (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Andy Cross) TV, INTERNET AND MAGAZINES CALL FOR RATES AND TERMS

(AP) ? Details emerging on the Colorado massacre suspect show a budding scientist, brimming with potential, who pursued a graduate program even as he assembled weaponry he would allegedly use in the deadly midnight rampage inside an Aurora movie theater.

James Holmes planned the attack with "calculation and deliberation," police said Saturday, receiving deliveries by mail that authorities believe armed him for battle and were used to rig his apartment with dozens of bombs.

Meanwhile, a federal law enforcement official provided an updated account about the gunfire inside the theater, saying that a semi-automatic assault rifle used by the shooter jammed during the attack, forcing him to switch to another weapon.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to in order to discuss the investigation, said that the jammed weapon had a high-capacity ammunition magazine. Police have said that a 100-round drum magazine was recovered at the scene and that such a weapon would be able to fire 50 to 60 rounds a minute.

In Aurora, investigators spent hours Saturday removing explosive materials from inside Holmes' suburban Denver apartment a day after police said he opened fire and set off gas canisters in a theater minutes into a premiere of the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises." The massacre left 12 people dead and 58 injured.

His apartment was rigged with jars of liquids, explosives and chemicals that were booby trapped to kill "whoever entered it," Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said, noting it would have likely been one of his officers.

Holmes received several mail deliveries over four months to his home and school and bought thousands rounds of ammunition on the Internet.

"He had a high volume of deliveries," Oates said. "We think this explains how he got his hands on the magazine, ammunition," he said, as well as the rigged explosives in his apartment.

"What we're seeing here is evidence of some calculation and deliberation," Oates added.

Inside the apartment, FBI Special agent James Yacone said bomb technicians neutralized what he called a "hypergolic mixture" and an improvised explosive device containing an unknown substance. There also were multiple containers of accelerants.

"It was an extremely dangerous environment," Yacone said at a news conference, noting that anyone who walked in would have sustained "significant injuries" or been killed.

By late Saturday afternoon, all hazards had been removed from the Holmes' apartment and residents in surrounding buildings were allowed to return home, police said.

The exception was Holmes' apartment building, where authorities were still collecting evidence. Inside the apartment, authorities covered the windows with black plastic to prevent onlookers from seeing in. Before they did, a man in an ATF T-shirt could be seen measuring a poster on a closet that advertised a DVD called "Soldiers of Misfortune." The poster showed several figures in various positions playing paintball, some wearing masks.

About 8 p.m. Saturday, police left the apartment building carrying a laptop computer and a hard drive.

While authorities continued to refuse to discuss a possible motive for one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent U.S. history, details about Holmes' background as a student and would-be scientist trickled out.

Holmes had recently withdrawn from a competitive graduate program in neuroscience at the University of Colorado Denver, where he was one of six students at the school to get National Institutes of Health grant money. He recently took an intense three-part, oral exam that marks the end of the first year of the four-year program there, but university officials would not say if he passed, citing privacy concerns. The university said Holmes gave no reason for his withdrawal, a decision he made in June.

"The focus of the program is on training outstanding neuroscientists and academicians who will make significant contributions to neurobiology," the university said. The doctoral program usually takes five to seven years to complete, it said.

In a resume posted on Monster.com, Holmes listed himself as an "aspiring scientist" and said he was looking for a job as a laboratory technician.

The resume, first obtained in Holmes' home state of California by The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, paints a picture of a brilliant young man brimming with potential: He worked as a summer intern at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla in 2006 and mapped the neurons of Zebra finches and studied the flight muscles of hummingbirds while an undergraduate at the University of California, Riverside.

He also worked as a cabin counselor to underprivileged children at a summer camp in Los Angeles in 2008. In a statement, Camp Max Straus confirmed Holmes had worked there for eight weeks. The camp provided no other detail about Holmes but said such counselors are generally responsible for the care and guidance of roughly 10 children.

Neighbors and former classmates in California said although Holmes was whip-smart, he was a loner who said little and was easily forgotten ? until this week.

Mary Muscari, a criminology professor at Regis University in Denver who studies mass killings, said she was not surprised Holmes was studying neuroscience and mental disorders.

"It could be he was interested in that because he knows there's something different in him," she said.

Holmes was in solitary confinement for his protection at a Denver-area county detention facility, held without bond on suspicion of multiple counts of first-degree murder. He was set for an initial hearing on Monday and has been appointed a public defender.

Among the deceased victims was a 6-year-old girl and a man who died on his 27th birthday and a day before his wedding anniversary. Families grieved and waited at hospitals, which reported at least seven still in critical condition Saturday and others with injuries that likely are permanent.

Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6, had gone to the movies with her mother, who was drifting in and out of consciousness in a hospital intensive care unit, bullets lodged in her throat and a gunshot wound to her abdomen.

"Nobody can tell her about it," Annie Dalton said of her niece, Ashley Moser. "She is in critical condition, but all she's asking about is her daughter."

Veronica had just started swimming lessons on Tuesday, Dalton said.

"She was excited about life as she should be. She's a 6-year-old girl," her great aunt said.

Another victim, 27-year-old Matt McQuinn, was killed after diving in front of his girlfriend and her older brother to shield them from the gunfire, said his family's attorney, Rob Scott of Dayton, Ohio.

Alex Sullivan had planned a weekend of fun, first ringing in his 27th birthday with friends at the special midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" and then celebrating his first wedding anniversary on Sunday.

"He was a very, very good young man," said Sullivan's uncle, Joe Loewenguth. "He always had a smile, always made you laugh. He had a little bit of comic in him."

President Barack Obama, who called in his weekly radio address for prayer and reflection on the rampage, was scheduled to travel to Colorado on Sunday to visit with the families of victims.

During the attack early Friday, Holmes used a military-style semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun and a pistol to open fire on the unsuspecting theater-goers, Oates. Holmes had bought the weapons at local gun stores within the past two months. He recently purchased 6,000 rounds of ammunition over the Internet, the chief said.

Holmes also bought an urban assault vest, two magazine holders and a knife for just over $300 on July 2 from an online supplier of tactical gear for police and military personnel, according to the company.

Chad Weinman, CEO of TacticalGear.com, said his company processes thousands of orders each day, and there was nothing unusual in the one that Holmes placed.

"Everything Mr. Holmes purchased on July 2 is commercially available," Weinman said, adding he was "appalled" that the material was sold to Holmes before the shooting.

The Batman movie, the last in the trilogy starring Christian Bale, opened worldwide Friday with midnight showings in the U.S. "The Dark Knight Rises" earned $30.6 million in Friday morning midnight screenings and according to industry estimates roughly $75 million on that day. That put it on track for a weekend total of around $165 million, which would be the second-highest opening weekend ever, following "The Avengers."

The shooting was the worst in the U.S. since the Nov. 5, 2009, attack at Fort Hood, Texas. An Army psychiatrist was charged with killing 13 soldiers and civilians and wounding more than two dozen others.

_____

Associated Press contributors to this report include Kristen Wyatt, Steven K. Paulson, Ivan Moreno, P. Solomon Banda and Gillian Flaccus in Aurora; Dan Elliott, Nick Riccardi and Colleen Slevin in Denver; AP Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle in New York; M.L. Johnson in Chicago; Brian Skoloff in Salt Lake City; Monika Mathur and Jennifer Farrar at News Research Center in New York; and Alicia A. Caldwell and Eileen Sullivan in Washington.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-07-22-Colorado%20Shooting/id-c0bc1459b0c5476d9787944e1b40559a

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