OCT 15 How does a politician write off 47 per cent of his electorate by portraying them as having a victim mentality and still gain support? Mitt Romney has managed to close the gap between him and Barack Obama by simply admitting to it and moving on to other issues as fast as he could.

The underlying assumption being that his campaign plank of lowering taxes would have no appeal to those not paying any taxes at all and therefore are not likely to vote for him, so why bother talking to them at all?

Closer home, as elections draw ever nearer, politicians seem to be playing from the same songbook, making a couple of astonishing statements and then simply moving on.

After hounding Suaram for receiving foreign funding, the prime minister simply stated that he was not obligated to disclose the source of approximately RM40 million donated to Sabah Umno in cash across national borders.

Equally hypocritical was his assertion after years of George Soros bashing by his coalition for the billionaire financiers dealings with the opposition that he indeed had also met Soros, but only to fulfil a request for such a meeting by Soros himself.

For a man who constantly carps about cronyism, the opposition leader taking favours of rides in personal jets from friends for free when as economic adviser to Selangor he is in a position to reciprocate such favours is not exactly kosher either. He did not disclose the source of this favour to the opposition either. As far as the opposition is concerned, the issue is over and we all need to move on.

How can politicians who demonstrate such blatant hypocrisy get away with it? Why do they believe that transparency in such matters is of no consequence? Is it because like Romney they believe they only need to talk to their base and ignore the rest?

The answer may lie in their beliefs about how electoral politics plays out in the minds of the people. American politics has shown the way by demonstrating that elections can be won largely through the clever use of media over any number of well-meaning policies.

Recognising that sometimes the medium is the message, political parties emphasise media that is more in synch with their overall philosophy. In terms of media strategy, generally speaking, the Democrats in America rely on a grassroots campaign more than the big-budget mass media approach of the Republicans. In Malaysia that is mirrored by the ceramah circuit-dominated campaign of Pakatan Rakyat to the MSM-dominated campaign of Barisan Nasional.

The basic strategy is to use media to solidify the base of their own supporters first, try and win over the fence sitters by staking claims to issues of importance to them second, and immediately before the elections to go out on an all-out offensive on the other side without really responding to any counter-attacks. At the end its about slinging as much mud as possible on the other side and hoping some sticks.

Originally posted here:
Messaging and electoral success

Doug Bennett has been a personal trainer for more than 23 years. He owns the Body Studio a fitness studio near Cohasset Harbor. For more than a decade Bennett has helped hundreds of women and men lose anywhere from 5 to 100 pounds plus. As a former division 1A wrestler for Clemson University with degrees in biology and nutrition, Bennett now hopes to bring his brand of fitness to the world, specifically women, via an iTune app called Fit Girl.

Fit Girl was launched two months ago. Now a mainstream word, app is computer software that helps the consumer perform a specific task, in this case, a workout geared specifically towards women that can be downloaded and viewed on an Iphone or Ipad. Not everyone can afford or has access to a personal trainer and even those that do can not always find the time to work out at a gym, however, according to Bennett, this app, if done regularly can dramatically change ones fitness level and physique.

I want to reach a larger audience, beyond the South Shore..beyond New England, explains Bennett. I want to give women everywhere the tools they need to work out at home, or on vacation or a business trip, at a very small price.

Fit Girl has been a year in the making. Bennett first did a beta study a test for a computer product prior to commercial release. Beta testing is the last stage of product testing, and normally can involve sending the product to beta test sites outside the company for real-world exposure or offering the product for a free trial download over the Internet.

Bennett asked 60 women to try Fit Girl and followed them every step of the way offering daily advice and encouragement via email (and phone). This on-line group provided him with encouraging feedback, which encouraged him about the potential success of the program. Bennett is very excited about the fact that the test group lost an average of 18 pounds over three months using Fit Girls simple Body Thin Diet and exercise regimen both developed by Bennett, whose experience also includes being an assistant athletic trainer for Umass Amherst.

As for what it takes to create an app for iTunes...it is not for the faint of heart. According to Bennett the process was extremely challenging and very costly, well into the tens of thousand of dollars. In an effort to keep costs down he even wrote some of the computer code himself, having studied internet marketing for the last five years. In addition to Bennetts own time there were several costs associated with producing this program such as the cost of hiring a video production company; creating and writing the computer code; and the fee for the personal trainers who are featured in the app demonstrating the proper and safe way to do each of the exercises.

I wanted to give women workouts that could help them transform their shape, whether they have to lose 25 pounds or 125, says Bennett. The exercises focus on body concerns that affect the majority of women.

Bennett hopes that this app, which costs $1.99, will find its niche as an affordable and transportable training option. He stresses that old adage, for less than the price of a cup of coffee a woman can have all the benefits of a personal trainer or gym membership, as long as they put in the effort thats required.

If getting outside the local market was his goal, Bennett has already achieved success. Most of his downloads are coming from Australia where he has focused the majority of his marketing energy via the internet. Fit Girl first debuted over the summer on the website greatapps.com. It has reached # 4 in the list of the top iPad apps for health and fitness and has stayed in the top 100 since it launched. With more than 6,000 apps that promise health and wellness, the market is extremely competitive, however, Bennett is hopeful about the future success of this app. and has already begun working on another app and a Kindle book.

I studied all the fitness apps out there and found there is a lack of programs with a workout sequence like this, says Bennett. Many apps have celebrity names on them but there were not many that impressed me. I designed Fit Girl to truly be a blueprint for a womans body, with laser focus on their biggest concerns. I believe it works.

Read the original here:
Local trainer hopes Fit Girl App is an App-solute success

Today: Heart Walk 5K, Angelo State University, http://www.angelo.edu/asufit

Today: ASUFit Cyclocross race, http://www.angelo.edu/asufit

Wednesday: ASUFit CX series, http://www.angelo.edu/asufit

Oct 24: ASUFit CX series, http://www.angelo.edu/asufit

Oct 27: Concho Valley Paws 5K, roadlizards.org

SAN ANGELO, Texas Could the half dhanurasana, downward facing dog, or the crescent moon make you a better cyclist, runner, or triathlete?

You'll have to give yoga a try to get that question answered.

Ask the average person to describe a yoga class and he or she will probably answer with words like flexibility poses, controlled breathing, relaxation, balance exercises, and overall body toning.

That's exactly what most cyclists and runners need as part of their weekly workout schedule.

Many athletes tend to stay in a "workout rut," pushing to bike harder and longer, run more miles, do some strength work, and occasionally (maybe) stretch a little afterward.

Go here to read the rest:
BILL CULLINS: Cyclists, runners, need yoga to tone muscles

Stephen Fleming has confirmed that he has no ambitions of coaching at the international level, despite his success with the Chennai Super Kings. Fleming has taken the team to three trophies - two IPL titles and one Champions League win - and has formed a strong partnership with Indian captain MS Dhoni, but has no desire to extend that any further.

"I get my cricket fix doing this," he told ESPNcricinfo. "And then I am just enjoying living a normal life. With all the travelling I did as a player, it's nice to just have a normal life. It's great to be able to do this for a few weeks a year but that is it."

Fleming's decision will be a loss to the coaching fraternity, especially as he is regarded as one of the most astute men in the job. His players, like Faf du Plessis, describe him as authoritative but not dictatorial, and helpfully instructive without being overbearing.

That much was on display during the team's arrival press conference in Johannesburg. A question was asked to the table on the way Dhoni thought about R Ashwin and Fleming allowed S Badrinath to answer instead of him. "He has confidence in Ashwin to bowl in the Powerplays. Ashwin has also been bowling a few new balls with a new action. He comes up with something new every day, so to have a guy like him in the team gives more options to the captain," Badrinath said.

"Very good, that's absolutely right," Fleming told him and added nothing to the assessment. Badrinath is not a youngster and as one of the core members of the squad was thought more than capable of handling questions over their strategy. The smile that crept over Fleming's face spoke of his satisfaction that the players are capable of holding their own.

Fleming's philosophy lies in relying on individual strengths rather than actively cultivating a team ethos. That is one of the reasons he has been able to bring the best out of someone like Albie Morkel, who is a CSK superstar but has not been able to replicate those performances at national level. Fleming explained that he has given Morkel certain reassurances that he does not have when playing for South Africa.

"He is a bit more secure with us and a bit more in spotlight which may make him more comfortable with CSK in his role," Fleming said. "When you have got a talented side like South Africa, they try different techniques and tactics all the way through and he may be searching a bit for his role within the side."

Having complete definition of what is expected of him has seen Morkel turn in far better performances, especially with the ball, for CSK. "He wants to be more consistent with the ball. He tends to be more inconsistent with the international stuff rather than with us," Fleming said. "There will be a pressure aspect there, a composure aspect especially where he is searching more for that magic formula. When he comes back to us, he has that confidence and has those good thoughts again and performs well."

Morkel is of particular importance to this CSK campaign because he will also add an insider's knowledge of conditions. "He also arranges golf brilliantly and [is] magnificent with safaris," Fleming joked. "The biggest challenge is trying to find the right team for the conditions at this time of year so Albie will be useful to us in getting that right."

Bowlers are expected to have a good time on South Africa's bouncy pitches which should even the contest between what is thought to be a batsmen's game and them. "It was initially tailor-made for the batsmen, now the bowlers have improved a lot," Michael Hussey, another CSK stalwart, said. "The onus over the next couple of years is for the batters to step up their game."

Read the original:
Fleming rules out international coaching

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms3oUVrUSRE

12-10-2012 18:30

See the original post:
Wildfit - The Evolution of Health and Fitness - Video

by Chai Li Tiing, bizhive@theborneopost.com. Posted on October 14, 2012, Sunday

In recent years, the cat city has seen a rise in the number of health and fitness establishments a landscape that is in stark contrast with just a decade ago, when there was virtually no semblance of an exercising culture among the Kuching city folk.

In a place where development is picking up pace rapidly, people are inevitably seeing many aspects of their lives change in tandem with the citys changes.

Among the changes that can be observed include an increasingly fastpaced lifestyle and work culture, better access to higher education and heightened standards of living.

These aspects, coupled with more exposure to foreign cultures from technological advancement, have set the stage for an increased awareness about the importance of health and bigger demand for fitness related facilities.

On the other hand, people are finding themselves chained to their desks and keeping indoors more and more as the Internet and online games take precedence over outdoor activities and sports.

In the modern fast food-eating couch-potato culture, the latent realisation has proven timely as body-building and group fitness exercises such as yoga, Pilates as well as the latest Zumba see a surge in popularity among Kuching folks.

There has been a longstanding misconception that exercises and workouts are aimed at losing weight per se.

As such, many made excuses for not exercising or believed that they were leading a healthy life, therefore need not make any changes.

However, an increasing number of yuppie s have brought on a shift in the fitness paradigm, likely influenced by western culture.

Link:
The Fitness Business

Send your news and events baxterj@broomfieldenterprise.com. Deadlines are 10 a.m. Monday for inclusion in Thursday editions, and 10 a.m. Wednesday for Sunday papers.

This week

MONDAY

Swim lessons

Classes for ages 9 to 14 work on improving strokes, endurance and overall health and physical fitness. At Paul Derda Recreation Center, 13201 Lowell Blvd., 5 to 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Oct. 15 through Nov. 14, cost, $53/$60. Register: 303-464-5500 or 303-460-6900.

Pathways to Parenting: Stress Relief

Psychologist Lisa Templeton from the Interpersonal Healing Clinic will lead discussion for parents of teens from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, at Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library, 3 Community Park Road. Registration required: at library Teen Zone desk or 720-887-2360.

CPR, AED, and First Aid Class

For ages 13 and older. Instruction includes emergency action principles, adult, child and infant CPR, other lifesaving techniques and traditional first aid. Meets 5 to 10 p.m. Mondays, Oct. 15 and 22, at Paul Derda Recreation Center, 13201 Lowell Blvd. Cost: $75/$85. Register: 303-460-6900.

Diving Class

Go here to see the original:
Broomfield Enterprise upcoming events -- Oct. 14

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQQvqVBrIKg

13-10-2012 17:12 Having escaped out of Earth's atmosphere two dozen times, the space shuttle Endeavour made a slow-speed trek through the streets of southern Los Angeles toward its retirement home at the California Science Center on Saturday. (Oct. 13)

Read the rest here:
Raw: Shuttle Inches Toward Retirement Home in LA - Video

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGOwGhKpMY8

14-10-2012 00:24 Former Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi has indicated that he could retire from sports administration. Kalmadi says he won't seek re-nomination in the IOA's upcoming elections on November 25th.The announcement comes in the middle of a raging controversy on Kalmadi's status following the CWG scandal. The International Olympic Committee has asked the IOA to suspend Kalmadi from the post pending disposal of the CWG scam. The IOA has so far refused to act against him. For more log on to

See original here:
Kalmadi not to contest IOA election, hints at retirement - NewsX - Video

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Elizabeth from NC, a new listener to "Jill on Money" kicked off the show with a multi-part question about her retirement accounts. We started with the best way to use her current plan and then moved onto old account consolidation and allocation.

Kevin from MI also had retirement account questions, because he is trying to juggle his 401K and his Roth contributions. (Check out Roth limits on the IRS web site.) Don't worry if you overfund your Roth, because the IRS allows you to remove the excess contribution by October 15 of the year following the year of contribution. If you do not remove the excess contribution (and the gains associated with it) by that date, you will be subject to a 6 percent excise tax on the excess contribution.

Paul from Buffalo was recently laid off and he wants to know whether at the ripe old age of 56, he has enough money to retire for good. I think he knew the answer to his question, but listen to the steps necessary to determine what he needs to do.

With four years to go before retirement, should Fay from KY pay down her mortgage? Here's your big hint: the only funds available are in retirement accounts!

Both Bill from AZ and Arthur from TX are in great shape for retirement. Bill has two old retirement plans that he wants to pass on to his kinds, while Arthur should have over $3 million in retirement assets when he retires in 5 years. Given his time horizon, it's a perfect time to meet with an advisor, preferably one who is a member of NAPFA.org. Finally, John from Seattle and his wife have $400 to put towards retirement and want to know where and how to invest it.

Here are web sites and resources mentioned in this week's show:

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Jill on Money: Retirement saving and investing