No clear successor to Assad's 'coup-proof' rule in Syria

WASHINGTON?? The Obama administration along with its Arab and European allies are trying to push Syria's leader from power, but U.S. officials acknowledge they see no good candidates to replace him, either inside the government or from the nation's fractured opposition.

That is due in no small part, the officials and experts on Syria said, to President Bashar Assad's determination to "coup proof" his rule to ensure no challenge emerged from within.

With the Assad family facing the greatest challenge to its 41-year rule, Syrian security forces killing thousands of protesters and bystanders, and U.S. officials predicting the government will eventually fall, the question of who rules Syria has taken on added urgency.

But there is, in short, no heir apparent. And it is unclear if one will emerge anytime soon.

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"The ruling establishment there is so entrenched and it is so self-interested, even if, and this is purely speculative, even if they overthrew Assad, it's not clear that we would like his successor much more," said a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "There is no heir apparent."

Syria OKs new constitution as shelling continues

Similarly, among the rebels, "there is no opposition figure who has come out and become the face of Syrian resistance," the official said.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday tried to exacerbate any divisions within Syria's elite, especially its security forces. "Their refusal to continue this slaughter will make them heroes in the eyes of not only Syrians but people of conscience everywhere," Clinton said.

Coup-proof?
Yet privately, officials say Assad, his close family and their inner circle will try to hang on to power as long as possible.

The Assads and many other power-brokers in Damascus are from the minority Alawite sect that makes up just 12 percent of the Syrian population. Their fortunes are tied to the president's.

There is also family history. The Syrian leader's late father, Hafez Assad, seized power as a result of a bloodless coup in 1970 and became the unquestioned ruler the following year.

"The Assads have been planning for this for 40 years, for a Sunni uprising against them. And that's why they've poured family members and sectarian members into the top upper ranks. It's all about loyalty to coup-proof this regime," said Joshua Landis, a professor at the University of Oklahoma who writes a newsletter on Syrian politics.

Syrian activist: 'You hear the sounds of torture all the time'

When the younger Assad took office, he kept the grip of power within the family, with his brother Maher commanding the Republican Guard and his brother-in-law a leader of the armed forces.

"The place is one exercise in nepotism," Landis said.

Individuals involved in bloodshed against noncombatants also have a strong incentive to fortify Assad because they will be in trouble if the government falls, experts say.

"Almost anyone in the security services as of today would have good reason to fear for their future in a Syria in which the regime has fallen," said Paul Pillar, a Georgetown University professor and former top CIA analyst.

Mukhabarat culture
For decades, the Assads worried about an uprising led by Syria's majority Sunni Muslims, who make up about 74 percent of the population - like that now underway.

They built a security apparatus that included a "Mukhabarat culture" of secret police and public fear to control the population. "Mukhabarat" is the Arabic word for an intelligence agency.

It would be difficult to mount a coup because the Assads engineered a system in which intelligence agencies have overlapping functions, said Murhaf Jouejati, a National Defense University professor and member of the opposition Syrian National Council. "So if there is the movement of any units of the Army they would all become aware of it."

The top tier is not immune from scrutiny by their peers. "Even these people are watched over by different intelligence agencies. So it really is difficult to mount a coup, although one can never say it is impossible," Jouejati said.

"Syria is a police state with a very strong military and intelligence capability inside Syria," the U.S. official said.

"They are pervasive throughout Syria, they have sophisticated means of obtaining information and that is something the opposition has to battle," the official said.

"They are heavily networked, literally and figuratively, inside the country. They use a variety of collection means at their disposal to obtain information. It is your classic police state," he said.

Elite watch
Clinton said on Thursday she would bet against Assad staying in power and that "there will be a breaking point."

"That breaking point may come when there is a convergence of international, diplomatic and economic pressure and enough of a boil inside Syria to create the writing on the wall for Assad. But it is not going to be easy, and it may take more time," the U.S. official said.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told a recent congressional hearing that one factor to watch is the "cohesion of the elites."

"And while we've seen signs of some of the seniors in the Assad regime making contingency plans to evacuate, move families, move financial resources, to this point they've held together," he said.

"Assad himself probably because of his psychological need to emulate his father, sees no other option, but to continue to try to crush the opposition," Clapper said. "Short of a coup or something like that, Assad will hang in there and continue to do as he's done."

But the popular uprising is evidence that some of the public is shaking off its fear, Jouejati said. "What is happening now in Syria is that this barrier of fear is breaking and people are discovering that they can trust one another and this is the greatest threat really to the Assad regime," he said.

So how does Assad leave power, as many are predicting?

"The hope is he would either step down or be forced to step down by his own people," the U.S. official said. But how it will actually happen "is really impossible to tell."

"He is doomed because he's the last minoritarian regime in the Middle East," Landis said. "One presumes that they will eventually fall in this age of democratic revolution and popular revolt."

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46545316/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

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Selecting A Health Care Career Leading To Certified Respiratory ...

New Health And Fitness.Org - Health Information You Can Use

Respiratory therapist works under general practitioners to take up some key responsibilities for individual therapeutic care providers. Patients possessing difficulty with breathing or any kind of breathing problems can consult respiratory care providers. Further, patients suffering from acute or severe cardiac along with respiratory diseases can too consult respiratory therapists for treatments. Further, as a part of their job, respiratory therapist oversee functioning of the heart as well as lungs. Around the globe, respiratory therapists are also popularly referred to as respiratory practitioners. On an average, a respiratory practitioner works around 35 to 40 hours every week. Clinical practice of few years can help a respiratory therapist become certified respiratory therapist.

To choose a career as a certified respiratory therapist is a big decision to make. You will need to deal with seriously ill patients and nurse the feeble and dependant newborns laid low with a respiratory ailment. As a person, you need to have a firm determination, be patient and caring and have strong dedication towards this career. So the question is how does one become a certified respiratory therapist?

First, you will have to find those colleges or institutes, which provide a course in respiratory treatment. It would be better to take counseling from an education counselor for clarifying your doubts. You can also take the aid of several online resources. Choosing the subjects is a very important thing. The curriculum that you choose should be such that it would give you all the knowledge regarding several facets of respiratory systems. This will include structure of the human body, patient care as well as other related subjects. You will then require passing the certified respiratory therapist exam (also known as the CRT exam) after you finish your associate program of two years or after you receive bachelor?s degree. This is not the same as registered respiratory therapist exam (also known as RRT exam). They both fall under the authority of NBRC or the National Board for Respiratory Care. The question that appear in these exams, are standard in those 49 states for licensure, which are having this profession.

The examination paper consists of multiple-choice questions that are 160 in total. The most vital parts are apparatus, remedial procedures and medical data. They will allot you three hours to complete this entry-level question paper. If you have any further doubts, you must visit NBRC website and check the FAQs.

If any doubts for any tests that the NBRC conducts, you can visit their website and check out the Self-Assessment paper. This will enable you to understand how well you may perform and get familiar with the format of examination. Moreover, this would also help you check the requirements for minimum educational qualification, which you must have.

Further, as a certified respiratory therapist, you can earn handsomely. In fact, one can expect to earn immediately after getting the certification. However, as a fresher you can take away $ 40,000 each year, which may rise to about $60,000 every year. You may search Internet to find salary trends in different countries globally.

With the growing demand in the healthcare field, learning to become certified respiratory therapy is critical as more and more hospitals are looking to employ extra respiratory therapy to meet demand.

Source: http://newhealthandfitness.org/2012/02/27/selecting-a-health-care-career-leading-to-certified-respiratory-therapist/

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Santorum: Romney isn't conservative enough for GOP (AP)

[unable to retrieve full-text content]AP - The question of whether Mitt Romney is conservative enough to deserve the Republican presidential nomination regained center stage in the GOP contest Sunday, with Rick Santorum saying the former Massachusetts governor fails the test.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120227/ap_on_el_pr/us_gop_campaign

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Evolving Your Recipes For The Slow Cooker - Mealtime for US

Now that you've started using your crock pot slow cooker continually, you are likely wondering how it's possible for you to adapt your traditional recipes to use in a crock-pot. The ease of cooking up a meal with a slow cooker has literally modified the lives of busy families. With aid from their slow cookers, families are eating better and consuming less oily fast-food.

These are some hints for evolving your favorite standard recipes for crock-pot cooking.

1.) Add plants like peas and broccoli to your recipe in the last 15 ?60 minutes. If you are using frozen vegetables, don't forget to add them to your crock pot recipe during the last 30 minutes.

2.) Make efforts to soak your dried beans in order that they are completely softened before adding them to your recipe. If your recipe includes tomatoes, salt, or sugar, then your beans should definitely be soaked before cooking.

3.) If your recipe needs pasta, any kind of seafood, milk or other dairy foods, then only add them in the last 60 minutes of cooking, and cook pasta to just a bit tender before adding them to the cooker. Condensed cream soups are good alternatives to dairy goods because they are able to resist longer cooking times.

4.) When cooking a recipe with rice, add an additional cup liquid for each cup of rice.

5.) Don't ever forget to reduce the liquid in your recipe by when you're employing a standard recipe in your slow cooker.

6.) A good idea for cooking soups and stews that call for veg is to put the veggies on the bottom and sides of the crock-pot and then place your meat on top.

Standard Recipe to Crock Pot Use:

15-30min standard = 1.5?2hrs High or 4-6hrs Low in Slow cooker

35-45min conventional = 3-4hrs High or 6-10hrs Low in Slow cooker

50min-3hrs standard = 4-6hrs High or 8-18hrs Low in Crock-pot

If you're like most families, your crock pot supplies lots of food per meal, so you may likely have remains. Always remember to never reheat your leftovers in the crock-pot. One of the additional rewards of slow cooking is the ability to make masses of food and freeze for future meals. Happy slow cooking!

Are you hunting for more information like this? Crock-pot.

Glenda Crimson is a writer with an interest in a wide variety of topics. Slow Cooker

You may visit her site for helpful tips. Recipes for Crock-pot

Source: http://mealtime.us/evolving-your-recipes-for-the-slow-cooker/by-Barbara-Cagle

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Harley Davidson Motorcycles a Credit to Early Automotive Layout ...

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Sixth Street Gallery ? Buying Your Home in a Real Estate Would ...

Owning a home is not easy especially when you are just starting out in the world, the most conventional thing to do is to rent an apartment, where you pay every month to the owner. Yes, it is a little bit unlikely but what could you do? You are just starting. What you can do is save up money and maybe buy yourself a home in the future.

If you do not want to be busy attending to the construction of your own home because you do not have enough time in your hands, then buying a home in a real estate is what you need. Real estate offers its clients the house and the land where it stands and they also provide all the necessary papers when owning the property, they are sold depending on the type of house you want to buy. Meaning, all you have to worry about is to pay the price and everything will be available in a short amount of time. You do not have to worry about the construction and wait for it to be finished.

Of course, there are also things that you should know about buying in a Real estate, although it?s very convenient, sometimes these homes are very expensive, and to those who have a limited budget, this might not work for you. You need to save up a little bit longer. But in business what you need to do to survive is fight the depleting economy, cope and adjust with the demand of every person. Yes, everyone has every right to own a home but could not afford too much luxury. That?s why realtors also offer houses that might not be as luxurious as that of other real estates but enough to shelter a family and enough to be called a home.

Realtors have realised that by adjusting the real estate business, it would help pull clients in and it turns out that they were not wrong. Real estate houses are also advantageous because everything is put into its place and all you have to do is maintain or improve it in your own terms. Not only is it time saver but it also is very convenient. Having bought a home in a real estate comes with other factors too, realtors know that selling these homes have corresponding rules and regulations that must be abided to avoid any problems in the realty. Well your right is protected by the law, but these laws also vary in different places, so you should know your rights.

Well, after all it?s your own choice to do whatever you think would be right for you. Homes in a real estate are well made so you don?t have to worry about the quality, and if not, you know your rights.

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Source: http://sixthstreetgallery.com/buying-your-home-in-a-real-estate-would-save-you-time

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Russell Brand Steps Out With New Girlfriend

Russell Brand Steps Out With New Girlfriend

Russell Brand has already moved on from his ex-wife, singer Katy Perry, and is dating Mexican artist Oriela Medellin Amieiro, 25. Brand was photographed shopping [...]

Russell Brand Steps Out With New Girlfriend Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

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Video: Osama bin Laden?s lair razed

The Pakistani government begins to demolish the infamous compound where the al-Qaida leader spent his last years before Navy SEALs killed him. NBC?s Lester Holt reports.

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46526810/

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New Carrera Subway Size 18 City Bike : North London : £140

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Holtkoetter lighting ? the stop for ultimate lighting machines

? Arranging stuff in the Shelves | Home | Enhance Beauty with Faux Finish ?

By admin | February 26, 2012

Holtkoetter,lighting

This fine manufacturer from Germany with production facilities in the U.S. promises to provide the ?ultimate lighting machines? for all purpose usage. At Holtkoetter people work with the vision to provide the maximum outcome towards the prime functionality of light fixtures ? that is to generate immensely powered and high quality lights. The perfect functionality of the lighting devices is what is of prime consideration to the developers here. Following the satisfactory fulfillment of this factor, the next criterion is the successful and elegant designing of the same. A thorough dedicated group of developers and workers work towards building a product that is efficient in its performance as well as grants a good look and feel to the user.

At Holtkoetter, professionalism is never compromised upon and designers and developers work with immense dedication. The lamps or lighting fixtures manufactured here guarantee that it suits the needs of all occasions and environments whether it is home or office. Blending the touch of conventional and contemporary, the lightings here are extremely fashionable and at the same time are highly affordable to be used by people of all classes and all generations.

Enhancement of your home or office is not too far away with the usage of Holtkoetter lighting products. Holtkoetter lighting was founded way back in 1964 by Franz Holtkoetter who was himself an expert in giving an artistic touch to an effective functional lighting device and this thought has been put into action by one and all at this company since its establishment. Thus, being the reason it has gained such immense popularity and followers at this present day.

Technology used at Holtkoetter lightings:

Halogen light and Halogen light bulbs: Halogen bulbs are considered to be 40% more efficient than standard incandescent bulbs. It has low cost of replacements and can be easily disposed off. It does not require expensive ballasts. Completely safe to be used with various lighting fixtures.

Lighting and the Ageing Eye: This has been taken up keeping in mind the task lighting feature for the elderly. ?With age the eye vision may reduce its ability to clearly view especially while reading. This technology is meant to support this factor. Specific research has been undergone and the corresponding study results are incorporated into building up a technology which is capable of supporting the physical requirements of the weakening eyesight. The lighting devices are available in the form of table and chair side lamps as well as strong based floor lamps.

Secumdum Dimming Technology: The dimmers available in the market were not up to the satisfactory quality and thus at Holtkoetter they have taken up to their own dimming technology wherein the dimmer is controllable with a potentiometer. ?It is capable of dimming from the full brightness range to as low as 0.001th time of 1 percent. ?In case the lamp is imbalanced and tends to fall, then the dimmer has the capability to automatically get switched off due to the presence of a tilt switch. It is always ensured during the manufacturing of these dimmers that no forms of hazardous elements are used.

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Source: http://www.logancountyhomebuilders.com/home-improvements/holtkoetter-lighting-the-stop-for-ultimate-lighting-machines/

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PFT: Peyton's center 'can assure you' he'll play in '12

Getty Images

Last month, Mike Silver of Yahoo! Sports compared new Raiders owner Mark Davis to Tommy Boy, the charmingly incompetent son of a deceased business owner who proceeded to drive the business into the ground.? Many fans, however, would be more likely to envision Colts owner Jim Irsay tweeting out the lyrics to Fat Guy in a Little Coat (then again, the title contains all of the lyrics).? But in Silver?s latest item, a very long but very well done look at the situation in Indianapolis, Silver makes Irsay look like Einstein for his handling of a franchise that suddenly has run aground.

Regardless of whether anyone agrees or disagrees with all or part of Silver?s assessment, some news is buried in the 1,973-word opus, even if it takes a staff with a specially-designed crystal catching a ray of sunlight at a precise moment in the late afternoon to find it.

Silver says that Irsay has decided to move on from Peyton Manning, and to draft Andrew Luck.

?Luck is The Guy,? an unnamed source told Silver.? ?I don?t care what happens [at the Combine]. I don?t care if Griffin flies.?

That said, Silver leaves the door very slightly open on Manning returning.? Per Silver, it will take ?something dramatic and unexpected? for Manning to play again for the Colts, an outcome that ?almost certainly? won?t happen.

Silver also compares the latter days of Brett Favre?s time in Green Bay to Manning?s looming departure from Indy, but there?s one major difference.? The powers-that-be in Green Bay never took Brett?s bait, refusing to engage him in a battle of wits and/or words (OK, words), even if Packers had to hire former George W. Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer to hold their hands and/or muzzle their mouths.

Irsay has no one with the ability or the nerve to comment on the emperor?s choice of attire, and so Irsay largely has lost the P.R. battle by calling Peyton a ?politician,? by failing to control the impulse to type 140 characters or less on the ultimate test of impulse control, and (possibly) by strategically leaking negative information regarding Manning?s health in the hopes of persuading the locals not to storm the castle when Peyton is cut, or as part of an exercise in wishful thinking that Manning will play neither for the Colts nor anyone else.

Though Irsay deserves credit for being decisive regarding the need for a new power structure, he also needs to be faulted for putting together a franchise that in 2011 stared down adversity by shriveling into a tumbleweed.? And he should be called out for failing to follow his own advice to keep things in house regarding the delicate process of untangling the franchise quarterback from the franchise.

Despite the fact that Luck has yet to say or do anything to suggest that he?ll do to Jim Irsay what John Elway once did to Irsay?s father, the manner in which Jim Irsay handles the Manning situation eventually could prompt Luck to have the same opinion regarding Irsay that Silver has regarding Mark Davis.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/25/jeff-saturday-i-assure-you-peyton-manning-will-play-in-2012/related

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Should Global-Warming Activists Lie to Defend Their Cause?

When, if ever, is lying justified? I talked about this conundrum this week in a freshmen humanities class, in which we were reading Immanuel Kant on morality. Kant proposed that we judge the rightness or wrongness of an act, such as breaking a promise, by considering what happens if everyone does it. If you don?t want to live in a world in which everyone routinely breaks promises, then you shouldn?t do so.

That?s a fine principle, in the abstract, but my students and I agreed that in certain situations lying is excusable. Shouldn?t you lie if your girlfriend asks you if you like her new haircut? If your boss, who?s a vindictive bastard, asks your opinion of his new business plan? What about lying in order to reveal a plot that you believe imperils all of humanity?

That brings me to the latest scandal to emerge from the debate over global warming. Two weeks ago, an anonymous source distributed internal documents from the Heartland Institute, a conservative organization, to journalists and bloggers. As reported on this site on February 15, the documents revealed, among other facts, that the Heartland Institute, as part of a larger strategy for undermining support for global warming, was supporting prominent skeptics such as physicist Fred Singer and geologist Robert Carter.

Last week, Peter Gleick, a global-warming researcher and environmental activist, admitted on Huffington Post that he had been the source of the documents. Gleick confessed that he obtained the documents by approaching the Heartland Institute under a feigned identity.

The incident has exposed a deep fissure not just between global-warming deniers and believers but within the green community. For example, the journalist Andy Revkin, author of the blog Dot Earth, deplored Gleick?s actions, for the following reasons:

?One way or the other, Gleick?s use of deception in pursuit of his cause after years of calling out climate deception has destroyed his credibility and harmed others. (Some of the released documents contain information about Heartland employees that has no bearing on the climate fight.) That is his personal tragedy and shame (and I?m sure devastating for his colleagues, friends and family). The broader tragedy is that his decision to go to such extremes in his fight with Heartland has greatly set back any prospects of the country having the ?rational public debate? that he wrote?correctly?is so desperately needed.?

Another blogger, Joe Romm of Climate Progress, granted that Gleick ?committed a?serious lapse of professional judgment and ethics. He is right to regret his actions and make a personal apology.? But Romm went on to demand that Revkin apologize for quoting global-warming sources who, according to Romm, have ?been repeatedly debunked, the disinformers and confusionists.? Romm is referring not to deniers but to believers?such as Roger Pielke, a respected scientist?who do not accept the most extreme climate-change scenarios and solutions. To my mind, Romm is faulting Revkin?who is one of the most knowledgeable, conscientious, hard-working journalists I know?for doing his job well.

Gleick himself sounded contrite. He put it this way: ?My judgment was blinded by my frustration with the ongoing efforts?often anonymous, well-funded, and coordinated?to attack climate science and scientists and prevent this debate, and by the lack of transparency of the organizations involved. Nevertheless I deeply regret my own actions in this case. I offer my personal apologies to all those affected.?

Kant said that when judging the morality of an act, we must weigh the intentions of the actor. Was he acting selfishly, to benefit himself, or selflessly, to help others? By this criterion, Gleick?s lie was clearly moral, because he was defending a cause that he passionately views as righteous. Gleick, you might say, is a hero comparable to Daniel Ellsberg, the military analyst who in 1971 stole and released documents that revealed that U.S. officials lied to justify the war in Vietnam.

But another philosopher my students and I are reading, the utilitarian John Stuart Mill, said that judging acts according to intentions is not enough. We also have to look at consequences. And if Gleick?s deception has any consequences, they will probably be harmful. His exposure of the Heartland Institute?s plans, far from convincing skeptics to reconsider their position, will probably just confirm their suspicions about environmentalists. Even if Gleick?s lie was morally right, it was strategically wrong.

I?ll give the last word to one of my students. The Gleick incident, he said, shows that the ?debate? over global warming is not really a debate any more. It?s a war, and when people are waging war, they always lie for their cause.

Image by Dave Burnham, courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

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Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=676d319f61c6fc5c17dbe15337932c7f

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Benefits Of Using Marketing Agencies Melbourne For Online Business

A small company is abusiness that is in private owned and managed with a small number of workers. Most of the time starting a small business may also be probably the most achievement in our life as you?re giving time and money for it. Somewhat, each and every particular business owners had not been given the best fortune considering that it needs to be through with well-researched producing a step for looking the proper a technique of improving and advertising your product or service. Provided that, there are a variety details to contemplate to make business to get it to the number one page. Choosing marketing agencies Melbourne will simply help you to definitely develop your internet business and attain your business interest goal.

The Marketing agencies Melbourne are agencies that focused entirely on dominating your internet business to obtain additional traffic, leads, sales and customers. If you just aren?t competent at any marketing plans and strategy, they are happy to assist you in most way.

Given below are some of the benefits that you can get from choosing marketing agencies Melbourne:

Promotes and advertise your website

The marketing agencies Melbourne are equipped for promoting your online business in numerous methods. Those methods include banner advertising and e-mail marketing. Advertising is probably the vital kinds of communication accustomed to persuade a client in making use of or when using business services you could have. It will increase your online business traffic by advertising your internet site or product and promotes it to your targeted audience. E-mail marketing is the method of sending email to prospective customers to develop loyalty and brand awareness. This might also persuade customers to acquire or utilize a particular business product available. Moreover, this may also likely building and helping the relationship relating to the company owner as well as the customers that eventually contributes to generate repeat sales, increase sales conversion and gain valuable feedback from a visitor.

Boost the level of sales and traffic for the website.

The sales and traffic with your website varies once you have enough idea driving your targeted customers to inspect from your site. There are certain methods you can actually apply of generating more leads and targeted traffic your internet business by the use of linking building strategy; to build your web site and this will be very visible for viewer?s attention. As being more specific, link are intended in between the website and diversifying it together with other relevant topic to get it further realistic and not a spam. Therefore, in case the Google goes to your website, the url shall be consider as a do follow link and you could acquire a higher ranking website which totally means your web site have lots of sales and traffic.

If you?d like for a marketing partner who?s able to take on the marketing business, go to out of the box solutions today: http://www.outoftheboxsolutions.com.au/

Source: http://sensibleairspace.org/benefits-of-using-marketing-agencies-melbourne-for-online-business/

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Video: Law student advocates for contraception coverage

>> the price of gas isn't the only contentious campaign issue tonight. birth control seems to have become as one headline writer put it today, the third rail of american politics right now and this happened really out of nowhere. in fact, it was a question about birth control that got the biggest audience response at last night's gop debate in arizona. nbc's kelly o'donnell has more on the politics of birth control and womens health.

>> reporter: protests today in richmond, virginia.

>> our bodies! our lives!

>> reporter: a flashpoint in the political fight over government's place in women's health and reproduction. so provocative the mere mention of birth control prompted boos.

>> i don't support that.

>> reporter: at the republican debate.

>> just because i'm talking about it doesn't mean i want a government program to fix it.

>> reporter: and rare applause at a democrats-only staged hearing today. set off by the outraged democrats vented when republicans called only men to testify last week on religious institutions and birth control .

>> we've heard from over 300,000 people saying we want womens' voices to be heard.

>> democrats invited one woman, a georgetown law student to talk about hardships for some women that don't have insurance that covers birth control .

>> without her taking birth control a massive sift the size of a tennis ball had grown on her ovary.

>> reporter: more than 11 million women use birth control , the most common method of contraception. some states restrict abortion and funding for womens health programs. in virginia late today after protefrts and a national spotlight, legislators changed a controversial bill that would have required an invasive procedure before a woman could have an abortion. some republican voters want this debate.

>> social issues should play a very high priority in the campaign.

>> reporter: analysts say these social issues are more likely to help democrats.

>> this issue has given democrats at every level an issue to talk to women voters about and particularly independent women .

>> reporter: making women without party ties the most sought-after voters this year. kelly o'donnell, nbc news, washington.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46505240/

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Death, taxes, etc. | Halifax Magazine

Related Articles

Financial Resolutions for the New Year

Guest blogger?Leanne Salyzyn?is an insolvency counselor, licensed restructuring professional and trustee in bankruptcy.?Post a comment or contact her on?Twitter?with your ?

The stigma of bankruptcy

Guest blogger?Leanne Salyzyn?is an insolvency counselor, licensed restructuring professional and trustee in bankruptcy.?Post a comment or contact her on?Twitter?with your ?

Money matters

We have a new guest blogger: Leanne Salyzyn, an insolvency counselor, licensed restructuring professional and trustee in bankruptcy. Post a ?

Death, taxes, etc.

By Trevor J. Adams | Feb 24, 2012
Tags: Leanne Salyzyn, money management, personal finance, taxes

Guest blogger?Leanne Salyzyn?is an insolvency counselor, licensed restructuring professional and trustee in bankruptcy.?Post a comment or contact her on?Twitter?with your personal-finance questions.

I have a joke in my office that reads ?There are two kinds of people who hate filing their income tax return. Men and women.? There?s a lot of truth in that joke.

Preparing you income tax return is a chore that few enjoy. For many, they prefer to farm out the requirement to a qualified tax preparer rather than take the task on themselves. In either case, there are few key points that every taxpayer should be made aware.

The 2011 income tax filing deadline is April 30, 2012. Self-employed persons have until June 15, 2012 to file their return, however if there is a balance owing, interest starts accumulating after April 30, 2012.

While the end of April may still seem quite far away, the deadline for RRSP contributions is less than a week away (February 29, 2012). This is a critical deadline if you intend to contribute to savings in the form of an RRSP for the tax year of 2011 while reducing your taxable income for 2011. I suggest marking this date on the calendar and not leaving a conversation with the bank or a financial advisor until the last moment. Often contributions to RRSP?s will reduce taxable income to allow a refund to be generated, which can then be reinvested or at the very least, avoid a tax liability from being incurred.

I?m often surprised by the number of taxpayers who seek my financial advice and do not believe they are required to file an income tax return. If you must pay income tax or have earnings on which CPP contributions must be paid, you are required to file a tax return. Furthermore, if you disposed of investments, capital property or if the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requests that you file a return you must do so. Many individuals may also choose to file an income tax return as a way to take advantage of such credits as GST rebates or the Child Tax Benefit Credit (CTBC).

You don?t need to be an accountant to annually familiarize yourself with changes to the Income Tax Act. We sometimes forget that circumstances such as a change of martial status, relocation or caregiving an ageing parent can affect the way we file our return. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a free on-line tutorial explaining the basics of taxation, the tax filing process in Canada, roles and responsibilities and how to complete a basic tax return. www.cra-arc.gc.ca

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Source: http://halifaxmag.com/2012/02/blog/death-taxes-etc/

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Extra Bonus Quote of the Day (Taegan Goddard's Political Wire)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/203873093?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Video: Michigan: A Must-Win for Mitt Romney?

Robert Costa, National Review, has the latest details on the GOP race, and discussing whether Romney's 20% tax plan will be a game changer in Michigan's primary, with David Freddoso, The Washington Examiner; Jason Mattera, Human Events; and Tony Fratto...

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/46489856/

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'Occupy' to hold national conference in Philly (AP)

[unable to retrieve full-text content]AP - A group of protesters affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement plans to elect 876 "delegates" from around the country and hold a national "general assembly" in Philadelphia over the Fourth of July as part of ongoing protests over corporate excess and economic inequality.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120222/ap_on_re_us/us_occupy_conference

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Judge strikes down law mandating sale of contraception (Reuters)

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Reuters - A federal judge declared on Wednesday that a Washington state rule requiring pharmacists to dispense emergency contraceptives against their religious beliefs is unconstitutional.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/crime/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120223/ts_nm/us_usa_contraceptives_court

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Follow These Tips To Health And Fitness

Take some fresh fruit to snack on at work, do not eat unhealthy snacks. During your work break, take your fresh fruit and go for a stroll outside instead of sitting down in the break area. Continuing to make healthy choices will increase your fitness level.

There is a way to exercise and watch tv! Perform exercises during the commercials, and you?ll get a pretty decent workout done during an hour-long program.

When motivation for your workout is waning, a new article of exercise clothing, like a vibrant workout suit, might boost your enthusiasm. Even if you just buy one part of the workout outfit, it will still be a great motivator to get you to the gym.

Try and remain active throughout the day, even while resting as this has shown to greatly improve a persons fitness level. Arm and leg lifts can be done anytime you are watching television, and you can do stretches while you are at your desk.

Improve your contact skill ability for volleyball. It might surprise you that foosball is a great way to do this. The challenging competitive nature and quick reflexes required by foosball will help your hand-eye coordination and improve your game. Practice foosball and other games that require hand-eye coordination, and you will find your volleyball skills will increase as well.

Your core affects the way you perform nearly every exercise. If you have a strong core, it?ll help with your other exercises. Sit-ups not only help in core strength building, but they also improve your overall level of fitness. They can also increase your flexibility. Doing these types of exercises will target your ab muscles.

Make pears and apples a part of your daily fitness plan. It is common knowledge that diets containing fruits and vegetables are healthier than those that do not.

Stretching is an essential component when it comes to any fitness program. Muscles should be stretched properly prior to and immediately after every workout. Failing to stretch properly can result in injuries. When muscles stretch, they are given a chance to properly prepare and recover from an intense workout.

Break down each of your running sessions into three phases. Work your way to a running pace that is faster than you normally would run by starting slowly. During the last third, increase your speed more than you would normally be apt to. This helps increase your body?s endurance level, allowing you to push yourself further each time.

Lifting weight should be limited to an hour or less. Plus, your muscles get too much wear and tear after an hour of working out. Once 60 minutes has passed, put the weights down and give your body a break.

Did you known video games may help with your fitness? Many video games are designed to get you moving and with advanced technology you will be off your couch and an active participant in the game.

Make sure that you drink water often. Your body is losing moisture when you work out, and you must compensate for this moisture loss. In response to this, the body works to remove heat by using sweat glands, which may result in some dehydration issues.

Practice the ?invisible chair? exercise to strengthen up your legs. Start by finding an empty wall that fits your body. Stand with the wall behind you about 18 inches. As you bend your knees, lean backwards against the wall until your back makes full contact with the wall. You should then bend the knees until the thighs and the ground are parallel and your body is in a seated position. Remain in place for as long as you can tolerate it.

In order to get the most out of your workout and improve your fitness, your diet should consist of a balance of protein, healthy fats and carbohydrates. You need around 20 percent fat, 35 percent carbs, and 45 percent of protein. Proteins are a building block for most of your bodily functions.

Getting healthy and in shape can present many challenges, but it also offers enjoyable times too. Incorporate the tips from this article into your current fitness program. Think about getting fit as something that will require effort each day. The more often you exercise, the greater the progress toward your fitness goals.

RDA Protein

Source: http://rdaprotein.com/86/follow-these-tips-to-health-and-fitness/

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Fuller Brush Files for Bankruptcy Protection After 'Reboot ...

February 22, 2012, 11:28 AM EST

By Dawn McCarty

(Updates with asset and debt figures in second paragraph.)

Feb. 22 (Bloomberg) ? Fuller Brush Co., founded in 1906 and known for its door-to-door salesmen, filed for bankruptcy less than two months after saying it had ?completely rebooted itself.?

The cleaning-products company, based in Great Bend, Kansas, listed assets and debt of as much as $50 million each in Chapter 11 documents filed yesterday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan. CPAC Inc., Fuller?s parent company, also sought court protection from creditors.

Fuller Brush said Jan. 3 that 2012 would be a ?landmark year? as the company introduced a new marketing campaign, products, distribution channels and a revamped website.

Alfred C. Fuller began what became Fuller Brush in his sister?s New England home, according to the company website. The company?s factory near Great Bend, completed in 1973, turns out more than 2,000 products, Fuller Brush said.

The company was highlighted in the 1948 Columbia Pictures Corp. comedy ?The Fuller Brush Man,? starring Red Skelton and Janet Blair, according to IMDB.com. Publicity shots show Skelton carrying an armful of mops, cleaners and brushes on his door-to- door rounds.

The case is The Fuller Brush Co. Inc., 12-10714, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

?With assistance from Phil Milford in Wilmington, Delaware. Editors: Stephen Farr, Mary Romano

To contact the reporter on this story: Dawn McCarty in Wilmington at dmccarty@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: John Pickering at jpickering@bloomberg.net

Source: http://g7finance.com/global-news/fuller-brush-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-after-reboot/

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Apple store to open in London's Harrods store mid-March, same day as iPad 3 launch? (Digital Trends)

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Digital Trends - Last month we learned that Apple was planning to open a store inside one of the world???s most famous department, Harrods in London.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/applecomputer/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/digitaltrends/20120223/tc_digitaltrends/applestoretoopeninlondonsharrodsstoremidmarchsamedayasipad3launch

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National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse: Families Protect ...

Your aging mother can no longer drive and forgets to turn off the stove. It's no longer safe for her to live on her own, but taking her into your home simply isn't realistic.

For the many Americans who find themselves in the described situation, nursing homes provide the best option for elder care. Forty-three percent of Americans over the age of 65 will spend part of their life in a nursing home, according to the The United States Government Accountability Office. As the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that, by 2050, the population of Americans aged 65 and older will reach 89 million, it's safe to assume that the demand for high-quality elder care will only increase.

Unfortunately, many nursing homes and adult family homes are overburdened, leading to a lower quality of care. Cases of elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes often pop up in the media.

In Tacoma, Wash., adult family home resident Nadra McSherry died in pain when her caretakers did not tell her family, doctor or nurse that McSherry had developed an infected bedsore. Bedsores are often a sign that a facility does not have enough staff to meet the number of patients, as preventing them involves moving patients every few hours, something that overwhelmed caretakers may struggle to accomplish.

McSherry's family sued the adult family home, Narrows View Manor, as well as the Department of Social and Health Services, which allowed the home to remain open despite numerous past health violations.

"Stories like Nadra McSherry are all too familiar," says Hagens Berman's Tony Shapiro, the lead attorney. "It's up to the families to take action and protect their mom or dad."

Full Article and Source:
Families Protect Loved Ones in Old Age

See Also:
BoomersBewareOfGuardianshipAbuse

Source: http://nasga-stopguardianabuse.blogspot.com/2012/02/families-protect-loved-ones-in-old-age.html

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Information For Cat Breeds ? Family ? Pets | Raw Business Law

When you have decided that the cat is the right pet for you, there are many other decisions you need to do before you?re ready to get your cat. Choose a breed of cat can be one of the most important decisions you make for your pet. Simply choose the race that will be best for you. There are many types of cat breeds to choose from, and they all vary in shapes and sizes and their behavior.

If you are considering buying a cat or a kitten, you want to know more about some of the most popular breeds of cat, to help you make an informed decision about the type of adoption. What kind of cat are you drawn to? The simple, elegant carved face of a Siamese, or the beautiful long fur of the Persian, perhaps? There are many breeds and choose a number of mixed race and now.

Each cat breed has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, the Himalayas and elegant Ragdoll cats have fur, but they require more grooming. And the Siamese and Persian are regal carriage, but Siamese cats are very vocal, which will be problematic if you have a young child trying to sleep.

Some of these races you might consider Abyssinian cats, which look much like a Siamese, with the exception of coloring; Exotic Shorthairs, which have the appearance of royalty, with less fur, Maine Coon cats with their trademark or missing stubby tail; Bengals, who are in fact a hybrid between a Bengal cat and a domestic cat. Bengal cats should be handled with a lot of kittens and cats, or some of them return to wilderness.

Burma may be the cat for you if you are looking for an intelligent and active cat. They generally get along well with children, and they even give the dogs a chance.

Another of the family of races is the Turkish Angora cat. This race seems to require a groomer on call, but in fact, you can answer this cat needs a coat, once-through every day. These cats are very playful and gentle, and they are great pets.

The American Shorthair is the descendant of the first litter of cats in America with the Puritans. They are excellent hunters of rodents and are often very active and curious. They are adorable and easy and may adapt to other cats, dogs and children.

The Ocicat is a human cat breed, which Siamese and Abyssinian breeds in its background. It is considered a short-haired, and is very active and affectionate, but it looks a little on the wild side. May it welcomes visitors, and is dedicated and loyal to its owners.

Devon Rex cat is a short, thin and soft coat, big eyes and wide. Their coat is curly, but short enough that you can wash without a brush, using a glove rather mild. These cats have their history in England, but they have been bred at the American Shorthair to propagate the race in the United States.

Whatever the breed of cat you check in, try your best to choose a cat that fits your family and your routine. A large number of bad results can be avoided if you do your research first.

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Source: http://rawbusinesslaw.com/2012/02/22/information-for-cat-breeds-family-pets/

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Guideline gets kids the right drug for pneumonia (Reuters)

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Reuters - After one hospital set guidelines for how to treat children with pneumonia, the number getting the right antibiotic shot up, a new study finds.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/parenting/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120221/hl_nm/us_kids_pneumonia

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Introducing VIBE Visionary Award Winner Ralph Brennan ...

February 20, 2012 By: Emily Hanna Mayock

---

Even as a child, Ralph Brennan knew he was destined for the restaurant industry. After decades in the business ? first as a prep cook in his teens and now as the owner and operator of some of New Orleans? finest restaurants ? he will be honored as the third recipient of the VIBE Visionary Award during the VIBE Conference March 13-14 in Las Vegas. Brennan is president and CEO of the New Orleans-based Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group and oversees restaurants such as Red Fish Grill, Ralph?s on the Park, caf? NOMA, Heritage Grille, caf? b and Ralph Brennan?s Jazz Kitchen. See more of Brennan's profile here.

Today, Brennan celebrates one of his favorite days of the year: the culmination of New Orleans? acclaimed Mardi Gras festival. Before he cruised the city in two parade appearances, VIBE caught up with Brennan to discuss his career, his commitment to service and, of course, his favorite cocktails.

Promo Power (PP): You're from a family of restaurateurs: Did you always know you wanted to join the family business?

Ralph Brennan: I did. I grew up in the business. When I was in high school, I started working in the original Brennan?s, which my cousins now own. I started as a prep cook and then I went to college [at Tulane University in New Orleans]. After graduation, I worked as a CPA at PricewaterhouseCoopers. I had a great opportunity with them, but when my aunt called and said it was time to come back, I came back.

PP: What makes your restaurants stand out among others in New Orleans?

Brennan: That?s a tough question, because there are so many great restaurants in this city. It?s a combination of things ? the food is very good and consistent, and we have very talented people in the kitchen. Also, our commitment to service is key. We focus on the local customers, and then the visitors usually follow. We want to make our restaurants a local favorite. There are many, many components to [standing out in New Orleans], but for me it?s a combination of food and service.

PP: What do you think is the key to a successful restaurant business?

Brennan: I think the key is to understand that it?s a 24/7 business, that you need to be on top of it every day and every meal period, and that you need great people. You can?t be everywhere all the time. It takes a huge commitment to really be successful in this business, and it takes exceptional people to execute for you and with you.

PP: Obviously, you're a lover of New Orleans. What is it you love most about the city?

Brennan: It?s home, so that?s important. I think it?s just an exciting city. Food is so important to the lifestyle of New Orleans. You see that in the numbers. Post-[Hurricane] Katrina we have a couple hundred more restaurants than before, but the population is down. Food is obviously very important, and it?s exciting to be involved in that. It?s a fun city, too. It?s different.

PP: How important is a strong alcohol beverage program to a full-service restaurant's success?

Brennan: It?s very important. As you may know, people enjoy a drink every once in a while here in New Orleans. It?s rumored that the first cocktail was served here in New Orleans a long time ago, so it?s very important. People enjoy a lot of New Orleans-style drinks, and, of course, a good glass of wine.

PP: Do you offer beverage alcohol training for your staff?

Brennan: Oh, yes. First, employees need to be certified through the Louisiana Restaurant Association. Then, we have a beverage staff, who are responsible for operating and maintaining bars. They?re the ones responsible for creating the trainings. It?s a continuous, ongoing training with local beverage providers, distillers, etc., and it?s part of our pre-shift every day. My daughter is actually one of the beverage managers at Ralph?s on the Park.

PP: Do your other children have an interest in being involved with the family business?

Brennan: I have a son who?s at the [Culinary Institute of America] in Napa Valley; he just started a two-year training program out there. I talked to him yesterday, and he said how excited he is. He thought he knew a lot about the industry before he started, but now he?s like, ?Dad, I am just learning so much more.?

PP: Of course they're all important, but do any of your restaurants hold a special sense of pride for you?

Brennan: No, they?re all special. Each one is different and unique, and it?s done for a reason. I?ve never really duplicated a restaurant ? some things have carried over from restaurant to restaurant, but as far as concept, they?re all new.

BACCO, though, was the first restaurant I opened myself, and it closed a year ago now. There is a lot of sentimental value in that restaurant, and I hated to see it go and close, but the time was right to do it. The market had changed in the [French] Quarter.

It was an Italian restaurant, and Italians ? mostly Sicilians ? played a very important role in the development of cuisine here in the late 1800s. I like the idea of keeping that going. We may reopen it in a new location.

PP: Are there any other future business plans you'd like to share?

Brennan: I am looking at a couple of different projects. I had a very busy year last year where we opened two new restaurants, re-concepted another one and started a catering business. So I?m wrapping my arms around it all, but we are looking into some other projects.

PP: What's your proudest moment, professionally?

Brennan: We?ve been lucky to be honored as an Employer of Choice by the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation, and a publication here called City Business does an annual study, and most years we get recognized as an employer of choice. To me, that?s the most important because our business is our people. That kind of recognition is what I?m proud of because we?re doing the right thing if our employees are happy. ? It?s just all about the people.

PP: If you weren't in the restaurant business, what do you think you'd be doing today?

Brennan: I would probably be in some sort of service business. I?d love to own a golf course ? to own and operate a golf club or country club. I?ve often thought I should have pursued that instead of PwC. I?ve always been impressed by what they do.

PP: I know Mardi Gras is happening. What's it like at your restaurants during that time?

Brennan: Up until the final weekend, it?s pretty normal. The final weekend before Mardi Gras, especially downtown in the Quarter, it gets crazy. You get a lot of people visiting, a lot of people in the streets. It?s all about people celebrating and having fun. As the parades roll all day, you get waves of business. When the parades end, there?s a rush into the restaurants, and then there?s a break between business while parades happen. Business-wise it puts a little pressure on, but everyone?s having a great time, and that?s what it?s all about here.

PP: What's your favorite thing about Mardi Gras?

Brennan: Clearly, I like parades. I like to be in them, and I like to watch them. I?m in two this year ? I?ll ride on Monday night and Tuesday morning. It makes for a very short night, but it?s a lot of fun. My wife rides in a parade on Saturday, so I?ll watch her. I?ll be up and down the street, visiting friends and maybe having a couple of beers.

PP: What's your favorite cocktail?

Brennan: Well it depends on the time of day. In the morning, I love a Brandy Milk Punch. Tuesday morning ? Mardi Gras morning ? I ride on a float with my friends and we drink those. In the evening, it?s a Sazerac. I got hooked on them about 15 years ago. We have a restaurant in Anaheim, Calif. [Ralph Brennan?s Jazz Kitchen] in Downtown Disney, and we flew a bartender out there [from New Orleans] so he could train the bartenders on New Orleans-style cocktails. I started tasting Sazeracs made by the bartenders training, and I got hooked on them again. ? It?s a great drink. What I love about it is it?s one where you just sip on it.

Source: http://www.nightclub.com/ncb-newsletters/vibe-newsletter/introducing-vibe-visionary-award-winner-ralph-brennan

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