Divorce-Proof Marriage: 10 Reasons I'm Sure We'll Never Split

By Amber Doty for YourTango.com

By now, you've probably heard the widely-touted statistic that the divorce rate in the U.S. is 50 percent. According to the Pew Research Center, though, the rate of divorce is on the decline (along with the rate of marriage). This success is likely due, in large part, to the fact that people are waiting longer than ever to walk down the aisle.

While I agree that stability is certainly important, I don't buy into the idea that age is a deciding factor in whether a marriage ends in divorce. It's not the case at all with my marriage.

My husband and I met and began dating when I was a teenager and were married in our early twenties. More than eight years later, I am as confident as I was on our wedding day that our marriage will last a lifetime. In fact, I would go so far to say our union is divorce-proof. Here are 10 reasons why.

1. We wanted a marriage, not a wedding. Recently, I had coffee with a friend going through a divorce after only two years of marriage. When I asked what happened, she replied without pause, "I wanted a wedding, not a marriage." She went on to explain that, after years of dating, getting married seemed like the next logical step in their relationship and the timing was right for them to fund the wedding of her dreams. From seating arrangements to color schemes and everything in between, there are many decisions to be made while planning a walk down the aisle. It can be easy to lose sight of the ultimate goal: to begin a lifelong relationship with the person you love. But the hard part isn't in saying "I do," it's in choosing to say it again and again for the rest of your life. For my husband and me, the focus was always on the morning after (and every other morning after that) instead of the "big day."

2. We didn't wait until after the wedding to tackle important issues. It can be awkward when you're dating to discuss things like the number and timing of children, personal approaches to finances, where you see yourself living down the road, or what religion your family will practice, but knowing the answers to these questions before you marry can mean the difference between a rocky start and a smooth transition into your new lives together. Everyone has their dealbreakers, but identifying ours before we gathered 100 of our closest friends and family members to pledge our lives together for all eternity cut down on surprises after they had all gone home. I am always shocked by the number of marriages that end in divorce because a couple never bothered to discuss their ideas for the future.

3. We put each other and our marriage first. Our children come second. I?ve written about it before here on YourTango. I love my children, but I am in love with my husband and prioritizing our relationship is good for our family as a whole.

4. When it comes to our relationship, our in-laws are outlawed. Mother-in-laws are at the center of many a sitcom and romantic comedy shenanigan -- and for good reason. They're notorious for causing marital strife both on-screen and off. That's why my husband and I have made it clear that while I can't control his mother's opinion on my cooking and he will never escape my mom's incessant nagging on the upkeep of our yard, their thoughts on our relationship are unwelcome. When we need advice or just to vent, we seek out the listening ear of a friend, not a family member.

5. Our bedroom is a child-free zone. Nothing kills the mood faster than reaching under the sheets mid-romp to dislodge an uncomfortable object that turns out to be a half-empty sippy cup.

6. We use our past to our advantage, not our detriment. My husband and I both come from divorced families, a fact that many studies agree puts couples at greater risk for divorce themselves. But history doesn't have to repeat itself. We talk openly, both together and with therapists, about what went wrong in our parents' marriages and how it affected our lives and our perception of matrimony.

7. We maintain common interests. One of the very first conversations my husband and I shared was a discussion of a book we had both recently read. It's dorky, but we're suckers for a good horror novel. While the differences in our personalities and our day-to-day are vast (he works long hours in law enforcement; I work from home as a freelance writer), we share reading material and talk about it regularly. A book club for two may not be the foundation on which our marriage is built, but it is a reminder of why we got together in the first place beyond the roles we have assumed since our relationship began.

8. We practice emotional self-regulation. In an article highlighting the skills every person should master before getting married, YourTango expert, Dr. Susan Heitler, emphasizes the importance of learning to control your emotions. You can remove nails driven into a board, but you can't undo the holes they create. The same is true for words said in the heat of the moment. Taking time to cool down instead of entering into a shouting match has been the difference between a marital spat and a major blow-up.

9. We give each other space. When I step out for a much needed day away from the house, I am confident my phone will not ring unless there is an emergency. Likewise, when he arrives home from work, I give him time to relax before handing off the childcare responsibilities. A little independence and time to ourselves is as vital to the health of our marriage as fostering a common bond.

10. We split the parenting duties equally. Nothing breeds resentment faster in a marriage than feeling like you are solely responsible for the diaper changing and late-night feedings. Since the day our first child was born my husband and I have adopted a 50/50 approach to parenting. "You get this one. I got the last one," is a frequently uttered phrase in our home. We also share the burden that being a parent can place on a career. There is no expectation that, as the woman, I will shoulder the responsibility of taking a day off when our children are ill. Nothing makes me feel more supported and secure in our relationship than knowing my husband and I are partners in parenthood.

Are you confident your marriage is divorce-proof? How do you maintain a healthy relationship with your spouse?

More Stories On YourTango:

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Jessica Biel's Sexy Reason She Loves Life With Justin Timberlake

The Best Love Advice On YourTango

Affection: Does He Care?

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/26/divorce-proof-marriage_n_2281150.html

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Home Improvement | Tiny Houses

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Houses for : All Sale Order Your Home

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Source: http://tinyhouses.org/properties/home-improvement-9/

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What Are Workflow Software Applications?

Operating a business in the information age is a lot more complex than that of the 20th Century. Emails, printing and website designing are only among a few functions that enterprises should use to thrive and survive in today's economy. But these functions could be somewhat difficult and exhausting if done manually. As such, workflow software programs can help a business or organization operate faster and more efficiently. With a technological boom happening nowadays, the use of numerous workflow applications could help businesses and organizations of different kinds stay competitive and operational.

Workflow Programs Info 1: Workflow Software Applications in a Nutshell

Basically, a workflow software application can help a business manage its processes in a fast and cost effective manner. A lot of workflow applications emerge today, all varying in purpose and specialization. Some applications deal with the most complex functions while some could help a manager deal with the most simple, mundane tasks that can be a burden if done by human hands. In fact, tasks such as data entry and email filtering could be so simple, that it could be unproductive and costly to use human talent for such functions. By using workflow software programs, businesses can save time and concentrate instead on the most vital tasks in the business.

Workflow Programs Info 2: Some Programs can do Simple Tasks without Hassle

Through automating routines and subroutines, businesses can certainly save time. For instance, if you are operating a legal services business, it would be wise to use a workflow application. Instead of manually scanning the necessary documents, the workflow application and the specialized scanner can automatically scan documents and turn them into digital files. Then, printers could reproduce them quickly or attach such files through email. Some workflow applications even have the capacity to email the files to the corresponding email addresses of the clients, thereby

making the process a lot easier.

Similarly, some workflow software applications could automatically convert files from one format to another. For instance, some software applications can convert word or power point files to PDF files. And such programs can do so automatically if programmed. And there are a lot more functions of such software applications.

Workflow Programs Info 3: They're Apps that can help Online Businessmen

Operating an online business would be catastrophic if you do not use an automated system. To ensure quality service online, it is vital to use some workflow software applications. You should avail of software applications that would manage tasks such as order processing, email marketing, merchandise tracking, online payments and even refunds. With proper configuration and programming, your software program would be very accurate and reliable. And if your services become reliable, it would be likely that customers would buy again from you.

It would be beneficial for online printing services providers to use workflow applications. Through some workflow programs, they could make printing of materials such as brochures and booklets more efficient. Since they typically use machines and automatic printers, they could produce print materials with less costs and fewer errors at a faster turnaround period than materials printed with a lot of human intervention. So if you are in this line of business, you could benefit from such services. What it takes, however, is to invest in the software as well as the needed printing equipment.

Through technology, software innovations like workflow applications can enable business owners and employees to operate smoothly and efficiently. These applications can do both complex and simple tasks in the business, essential for the survival and growth of an enterprise.

Looking for a company which will do workflow software and workflow software for you? We offer the services at Tallega.com

Looking for a company which will do workflow software and workflow software for you? We offer the services at http://Tallega.com

Source: http://www.articlesbd.com/articles/297576/1/What-Are-Workflow-Software-Applications/Page1.html

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Nelson Mandela had gallstones removed, recovering: South Africa

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Nelson Mandela, the 94-year-old former South African president and Nobel Peace laureate hospitalized with a lung infection, has successfully undergone a procedure to have gallstones removed, the government said on Saturday.

"The former president underwent a procedure via endoscopy to have gallstones removed. The procedure was successful and Madiba is recovering," President Jacob Zuma's office said in a statement, using Mandela's clan name.

South Africa's first black president, who came to power in historic all-race elections in 1994 after decades struggling against apartheid, remains a symbol of resistance to racism and injustice at home and around the world.

Mandela was admitted to a Pretoria hospital on Saturday a week ago after being flown from his home village of Qunu in a remote, rural part of the Eastern Cape province.

Tests revealed a recurrence of a lung infection and that he had developed gallstones, the government statement said.

The medical team had decided to treat the lung infection before attending to the gallstones, it said.

Mandela spent 27 years in apartheid prisons, including 18 years on the windswept Robben Island off the coast of Cape Town.

He was released in 1990 and went on to use his unparalleled prestige to push for reconciliation between whites and blacks as the bedrock of the post-apartheid "Rainbow Nation".

He stepped down in 1999 after one term in office and has been largely removed from public life for the last decade.

Mandela spent time in a Johannesburg hospital in 2011 with a respiratory condition, and again in February this year because of abdominal pains. He was released the following day after a keyhole examination showed there was nothing serious.

He has since spent most of his time in Qunu.

His fragile health prevents him from making any public appearances in South Africa, although he has continued to receive high-profile domestic and international visitors, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton in July.

(Reporting by Agnieszka Flak; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Sonya Hepinstall)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/south-africas-mandela-had-gall-stones-removed-recovering-131518571.html

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Researchers find first evidence of Ice Age wolves in Nevada

Dec. 13, 2012 ? A University of Nevada, Las Vegas research team recently unearthed fossil remains from an extinct wolf species in a wash northwest of Las Vegas, revealing the first evidence that the Ice Age mammal once lived in Nevada.

The metapodial, or foot bone, was uncovered late last year by UNLV geologist Josh Bonde during a survey of the Upper Las Vegas Wash. They have now confirmed that the bone comes from a dire wolf.

The discovery site is near the proposed Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, a fossil-rich area known for its diversity and abundance of Ice Age animal remains. Scientists estimate the fossil to be 10,000 to 15,000 years old during the Late Pleistocene period.

"Dire wolves are known to have lived in almost all of North America south of Canada, but their historical presence in Nevada has been absent until now," said Bonde, a UNLV geology professor. He was a Ph.D. student at the university when he discovered the bone.

"The Tule Springs area has turned up many species, but it's exciting to fill in another part of the map for this animal and reveal a bit more about the Ice Age ecosystem in Southern Nevada."

The dire wolf, a larger relative of the gray wolf, was present in much of North and South America for more than a million years. Scientists theorize that competition from other wolf species and a possible food scarcity led to its extinction roughly 10,000 years ago.

Foot bones of the extinct dire wolf are difficult to distinguish from those of the gray wolf. Researchers conclude bone is likely from a dire wolf because of the abundance of dire wolf fossils?and scarcity of gray wolf fossils?in similar-aged excavation sites throughout the Southwest.

Fossil remains of dire wolves are abundant in the La Brea tar pits and have been found in other Southwestern states. Many of the same species of Ice Age animals found at La Brea have also been recovered in the Las Vegas Valley, including Columbian mammoths, camels, horses, bison, and ground sloths.

"This discovery helps flesh out Southern Nevada's Pleistocene ecosystem and shows that there are still important discoveries to be made in the Upper Las Vegas Wash," said UNLV geology professor Steve Rowland, a collaborator with Bonde on the study of local Ice Age fossils. "To understand why certain species became extinct and others did not, we need to learn as much as possible about predatory habits and which species were especially sensitive to changes in the environment."

The announcement comes on the heels of a recent discovery in the same wash of a saber-tooth cat by researchers from the San Bernardino County Museum. Like dire wolves, saber-tooth cats were Pleistocene predators that had been conspicuously absent from the Southern Nevada fossil record.

According to Rowland, Tule Springs was a spring-fed, swampy area during periods of the Late Pleistocene, an ideal spot for plant-eating animals and their carnivorous predators.

The recent discoveries come exactly 50 years after scientists conducted a 'big dig' at Tule Springs, revealing the site to be rich with Ice Age fossils.

"Tule Springs likely had the highest density of large animals in the area during the Late Pleistocene, and the marshy environment was very good for preserving at least some of the bones and teeth of animals that died there," said Rowland.

"In the 50 years since the 'big dig,' the scientists have confirmed that humans interacted with Ice Age animals. We now have a new list of questions about life and death in the Pleistocene, and a new tool kit of research techniques to help us get the answers."

The identity of the find was confirmed by Xiaoming Wang of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, an expert on extinct species of the dog family. Bonde has been surveying the Tule Springs area since 2007, and he and a group of UNLV undergraduate studentss are prospecting for more fossils.

The center of the original 'big dig' is on the same parcel of land where Bonde discovered the wolf fossil.

The dire wolf bone, in addition to other bones collected by UNLV researchers, are cataloged, studied, and stored at UNLV.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The original article was written by Tony Allen.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/p1RPANMGUDE/121213181107.htm

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ETA News Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION

USDL 12-2428-NAT

Program Contact:	TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS
Scott Gibbons: (202) 693-3008	RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
Tony Sznoluch: (202) 693-3176	8:30 A.M. (EDT), THURSDAY
Media Contact: (202) 693-4676	December 13, 2012

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

??????????SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending December 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 343,000, a decrease of 29,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 372,000. The 4-week moving average was 381,500, a decrease of 27,000 from the previous week's revised average of 408,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent for the week ending December 1, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending December 1 was 3,198,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,221,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,270,750, a decrease of 42,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,313,000.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 428,814 in the week ending December 8, a decrease of 72,117 from the previous week. There were 435,863 initial claims in the comparable week in 2011.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent during the week ending December 1, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,159,199, a decrease of 158,195 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.8 percent and the volume was 3,540,663.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending November 24 was 5,642,678, an increase of 683,477 from the previous week. There were 7,449,508 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2011.

Extended Benefits were only available in New York during the week ending November 24.

Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,017 in the week ending December 1, an increase of 389 from the prior week. There were 2,910 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 1,047 from the preceding week.

There were 20,778 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending November 24, an increase of 1,930 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 41,391, an increase of 4,501 from the prior week.

States reported 2,194,253 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending November 24, an increase of 185,645 from the prior week. There were 3,048,926 persons claiming EUC in the comparable week in 2011. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending November 24 were in Alaska (5.8), New Jersey (4.5), Puerto Rico (4.0), Oregon (3.8), Pennsylvania (3.7), California (3.5), Wisconsin (3.5), Montana (3.4), Connecticut (3.3), Nevada (3.2), and West Virginia (3.2).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending December 1 were in California (+24,411), Pennsylvania (+14,636), North Carolina (+13,961), New York (+11,025), and Texas (+10,435), while the largest decreases were in Kentucky (-615), Idaho (-481), Vermont (-402), Florida (-348) and Wisconsin (-91).

---

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

---

WEEK ENDING	Advance Dec. 8	Dec. 1	Change	Nov. 24	Prior Year1

---

Initial Claims (SA)	343,000	372,000	-29,000	395,000	371,000
Initial Claims (NSA)	428,814	500,931	-72,117	358,869	435,863
4-Wk Moving Average (SA)	381,500	408,500	-27,000	405,750	386,000

WEEK ENDING	Advance Dec. 1	Nov. 24	Change	Nov. 17	Prior Year1

---

Ins. Unemployment (SA)	3,198,000	3,221,000	-23,000	3,305,000	3,609,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA)	3,159,199	3,317,394	-158,195	2,835,628	3,540,663
4-Wk Moving Average (SA)	3,270,750	3,313,000	-42,250	3,301,250	3,649,250

---

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2	2.5%	2.5%	0.0	2.6%	2.9%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2	2.5%	2.6%	-0.1	2.2%	2.8%

---

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

---

WEEK ENDING

Federal Employees	2,017	1,628	+389	2,369
Newly Discharged Veterans	2,910	1,863	+1,047	2,879

---

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

---

WEEK ENDING

Regular State	3,309,627	2,829,876	+479,751	3,685,651
Federal Employees (UCFE)	20,778	18,848	+1,930	30,893
Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX)	41,391	36,890	+4,501	44,325
EUC 20083	2,194,253	2,008,608	+185,645	3,048,926
Extended Benefits4	40,523	37,096	+3,427	593,097
State Additional Benefits 5	5,974	5,820	+154	4,728
STC / Workshare 6	30,132	22,063	+8,069	41,888
TOTAL	5,642,678	4,959,201	+683,477	7,449,508

FOOTNOTES
SA - Seasonally Adjusted Data, NSA - Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
¹ - Prior year is comparable to most recent data.
² - Most recent week used covered employment of 128,066,082 as denominator.
³ - EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity. Tier-specific EUC data can be found here: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/docs/persons.xls
⁴ - Information on the EB program can be found here: http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/extenben.asp
⁵ - Some states maintain additional benefit programs for those claimants who exhaust regular, extended and emergency benefits. Information on states that participate,
????????and the extent of benefits paid, can be found starting on page 4-5 of this link: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf
⁶ - Information on STC/Worksharing can be found starting on page 4-9 of the following link: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 11/24/2012

---

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

---

State	Change	?	State Supplied Comment
None	?	?	?

---

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000?

---

State

Change

?

State Supplied Comment

CA	+24,411	?	Increase a result of processing claims from prior week when offices were closed due to Thanksgiving holiday. Layoffs in the service, agriculture, forestry, and fishing industries.
PA	+14,636	?	Layoffs in the construction, professional, scientific and technology service, transportation, entertainment, and accommodations and food service industries.
NC	+13,961	?	No Comment .
NY	+11,025	?	Layoffs in the transportation, construction, and food service industries.
TX	+10,435	?	Increase a result of processing claims from prior week when offices were closed due to Thanksgiving holiday.
GA	+8,708	?	Layoffs in the manufacturing, administrative service, construction, trade, healthcare and social assistance, and accommodations and food service industries.
IL	+8,478	?	Layoffs in the construction, manufacturing, and administrative industries.
SC	+5,009	?	Layoffs in the machinery manufacturing, textile, and fabricated metal products industries.
MI	+4,065	?	Layoffs in the administrative service industry.
TN	+3,846	?	Layoffs in the administrative service, manufacturing, trade, food service industries.
VA	+3,326	?	Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
MN	+3,168	?	No comment.
MO	+3,053	?	Layoffs in the construction and administrative service industries
AL	+2,668	?	Layoffs in the construction, administrative service, accommodations and food service, and retail industries.
NJ	+2,191	?	Layoffs in the construction, administrative, and retail industries.
MD	+1,737	?	No comment.
NV	+1,704	?	Increase a result of processing claims from prior week when offices were closed due to Thanksgiving holiday.
PR	+1,699	?	No comment.
MA	+1,654	?	No comment.
WV	+1,477	?	Layoffs in the mining, manufacturing, information, managing, administrative service, waste, and accomadations and food service industries.
AZ	+1,462	?	No comment.
OR	+1,348	?	Increase in initial claims are due layoffs in seasonal industries and occupations and processing claims from prior week when offices were closed due to Thanksgiving holiday.
LA	+1,343	?	No comment.
OH	+1,269	?	Layoffs in the automobile and manufacturing industries.
CT	+1,252	?	No comment.
IN	+1,246	?	Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

---

This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-693-4676. TDD Message Phone: 1-800-326-2577. News releases from the U.S. Department of Labor are accessible on the Internet at: http://www.dol.gov/ and http://www.ows.doleta.gov/

Source: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20122428.htm

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Text of Susan Rice's letter to Obama

Susan Rice, the embattled U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, abruptly withdrew from consideration to be the next secretary of state on Thursday after a standoff with Republicans. Here is the text of the letter she submitted to President Barack Obama:

It has been and remains my highest professional privilege to serve as your United Nations ambassador. I am deeply grateful for your steadfast support for all we do at the U.S. Mission to the U.N. and for my dedicated colleagues. Your vision and leadership have enabled the U.S. to restore our global standing, strengthen our national security, repair our relationship with the United Nations and advance U.S. interests and values. I am proud of the many U.S. successes at the United Nations, including the protection of civilians from Libya to Cote D'Ivoire, strengthening the nuclear nonproliferation regime and increasing international pressure on Iran and North Korea through the toughest sanctions ever, our unwavering support for Israel, our contribution to the birth of the world's newest state, South Sudan, accelerating U.N. reform and our bold defense of the equal rights of all human beings regardless of their race, religion, economic status or whom they love. I look forward to building on this major progress in your second term.

I am highly honored to be considered by you for appointment as secretary of state. I am fully confident that I could serve our country ably and effectively in that role. However, if nominated, I am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy disruptive and costly? to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities. That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country. It is far more important that we devote precious legislative hours and energy to enacting your core goals, including comprehensive immigration reform, balanced deficit reduction, job creation and maintaining a robust national defense and effective U.S. global leadership. Therefore, I respectfully request that you no longer consider my candidacy at this time.

The position of secretary of state should never be politicized. As someone who grew up in an era of comparative bipartisanship and as a sitting U.S. national security official who has served in two U.S. administrations, I am saddened that we have reached this point, even before you have decided whom to nominate. We cannot afford such an irresponsible distraction from the most pressing issues facing the American people.

I am grateful, as always, for your unwavering confidence in me and, especially, for your extraordinary personal support during these past several weeks. I look forward to continuing to serve you and our great country with enthusiasm and pride as U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations and as a member of your Cabinet and National Security Council.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/text-susan-rices-letter-obama-091935927.html

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Watson returns as Ryder Cup captain

AAA??Dec. 13, 2012?8:35 AM ET
Watson returns as Ryder Cup captain
AP

FILE - This Sept. 26, 1993, file photo shows American Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson, center, posing with his winning team after they were presented with the trophy at the Belfry Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield, England. Standing at rear from left are John Cook, Raymond Floyd, Lanny Wadkins, Corey Pavin and Lee Janzen. Kneeling are Tom Kite, foreground, and and Chip Beck. Obscured player at top right is unidentified. Golf Digest reported on its website Tuesday night, Dec. 11, 2012, that the PGA of America plans to pick Watson as the 2014 Ryder Cup captain. (AP Photo/ Michel Euler, File)

FILE - This Sept. 26, 1993, file photo shows American Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson, center, posing with his winning team after they were presented with the trophy at the Belfry Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield, England. Standing at rear from left are John Cook, Raymond Floyd, Lanny Wadkins, Corey Pavin and Lee Janzen. Kneeling are Tom Kite, foreground, and and Chip Beck. Obscured player at top right is unidentified. Golf Digest reported on its website Tuesday night, Dec. 11, 2012, that the PGA of America plans to pick Watson as the 2014 Ryder Cup captain. (AP Photo/ Michel Euler, File)

FILE - This July 20, 2012 file photo shows Tom Watson reacting on the 18th green after his second round of the British Open Golf Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes golf club in Lytham St Annes, England. Golf Digest reported on its website Tuesday night, Dec. 11, 2012, that the PGA of America plans to pick Watson as the 2014 Ryder Cup captain. (AP Photo/File) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES

NEW YORK (AP) ? The Americans are bringing back Tom Watson as their Ryder Cup captain with hopes of ending two decades of losing in Europe.

The PGA of America announced Watson's selection Thursday morning on the "Today." Watson, an eight-time major champion and one of the most respected figures in golf, will be 65 when the 2014 Ryder Cup is played at Gleneagles in Scotland. That will make him the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history.

He also is the first repeat captain for the U.S. team since Jack Nicklaus in 1987. Watson also was captain in 1993 at The Belfry, the last time the Americans won the Ryder Cup away from home.

Watson is beloved in Scotland, where he won four of his five British Open titles, the most of any American.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-13-Ryder%20Cup/id-8061966230fd46e8993bf8649303ad8c

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shipwreck dinky: jamey shrillness: Recreation And Sports Activities ...

According to some 2007 article within the Telegraph out of the United Kingdom, this extreme sport has decided to become a popular daredevil sport the same as bungee jumping and skydiving. The Shimano Di2 is built to last in fact it is also the bike that will withstand any weather condition. Road con ?

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Recreation And Sports Activities: Boxing Report Category | Click ?

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Source: http://world-business-news-blog.blogspot.com/2012/12/jamey-shrillness-recreation-and-sports.html

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Prime Time at T Street: Surfing America's third Prime event of the ...

Colt Ward of San Clemente won the Boys U18 division at the Surfing America Prime contest at T Street Beach, December 8-9. Photo by Jack McDaniel

By Andrea Swayne

The third event of the six-contest Surfing America Prime West series went down December 8 and 9 at T Street Beach in San Clemente with plenty of success for local surfers, a live webcast and a charity toy drive.

Two of five divisions and five of 20 trophies were won by local surfers as a worldwide audience looked on via a live webcast. The annual Prime Series tradition of hosting a Camp Pendleton Marines? Toys for Tots toy drive also showed the generosity of competitors as they filled the giant ?toy box? with new, unwrapped toys as they checked in for their heats.

The waves were on the weak side, and true to form for T Street, a bit tricky. But that didn?t hamper the performances by this talented group of surfers as they displayed wave after wave of high scoring maneuvers both critical, in the classic style, and progressive, with high-flying aerials.

San Clemente?s Tia Blanco (Girls U16) and Colt Ward (Boys U18) capitalized on the home break advantage, battling their way through heats filled with some of the best surfers under 18 on the West Coast to win their divisions at the invitation only event.

Blanco also took a second-place finish in the Girls U18 and was joined on the podium by fellow San Clemente surfer Malia Osterkamp in fourth. Josh Benjoya of Dana Point took the fourth-place spot in Boys U18.

Day two of the event was webcast live through a partnership with iBN Sports Network and The Surf Channel. The play-by-play was expertly called by PacSun USA Surf Team coach Ryan Simmons and big wave pro surfer Peter Mel. Surf Channel network reporters were on hand to interview heat winning surfers following each round, as well.

If you weren?t able the action live, no worries, all of the exciting footage will be available on demand via a link through the Surfing America website at www.surfingamerica.org or directly via the iBN Sports Network YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/ibnsportsnetwork. The Surfing America website and Facebook page have also been loaded up with great photos from the event, thanks to official photographer Jack McDaniel.

Wildcard slots into the upcoming event No. 3 of the three-contest American Pro Surfing Series set for Saturday in Huntington Beach were up for grabs, raising the stakes a bit for the eldest age divisions in the Prime contest. The wildcards were awarded to Girls U18 winner Samantha Lamirand of Cardiff and Boys U18 winner Kanoa Igarashi of Huntington Beach.

The next Surfing America Prime West contest is set for January 20 and 21 in Santa Cruz.

?

RESULTS

Surfing America Prime West, Event No. 3, December 8-9, San Clemente, T Street

Boys U18: 1. Kanoa Igarashi, Huntington Beach; 2. Parker Coffin, Santa Barbara; 3. Andrew Jacobson, Malibu; 4. Josh Benjoya, Dana Point. Girls U18: 1. Samantha Lamirand, Cardiff by the Sea; 2. Tia Blanco, San Clemente; 3. Danielle Wyman, Laguna Niguel; 4. Malia Osterkamp, San Clemente. Boys U16: 1. Colt Ward, San Clemente; 2. Kanoa Igarashi, Huntington Beach; 3. Jake Marshall, Encinitas; 4. Nolan Rapoza, Long Beach. Girls U16: 1. Tia Blanco, San Clemente; 2. Kylie Loveland, Carlsbad; 3. Meah Collins, Costa Mesa; 4. Steffi Kerson, Pacific Palisades. Boys U14: 1. Eithan Osborne, Ventura; 2. John Mel, Newport Beach; 3. Zach McCormick, Encinitas; 4. Ryland Rubens, Pacific Beach

Source: http://www.danapointtimes.com/2012/12/12/prime-time-at-t-street-surfing-americas-third-prime-event-of-the-season-held-in-san-clemente/

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Do you listen ? or wait to talk? ? Business Management Daily ...

Most leaders acknowledge the importance of listening. But few know how to do it well.

Listening raptly requires more than keeping quiet and maintaining eye contact with the speaker. You need to signal that you?re intent on understanding what you hear?and retaining it. Here?s how:

?? Invite speakers to elaborate. Just because someone finishes a sentence and hesitates to say more doesn?t mean you should jump in and fill the silence. Pause a few seconds to see if the person wishes to add anything. If not, say, ?Please go on? or ?Tell me more about that.?

?? Dig to clarify what you hear. If you hear a term that you don?t understand, say so. Ask, ?What does that mean?? When speakers explain an acronym, slang expression or other word or phrase that?s unfamiliar to you, they feel affirmed.

?? Hold up a mirror. Recognize a ?speaker?s feelings. Use phrases such as, ?I get that you?re angry about this? or ?Boy, you?ve sure faced your share of difficulties lately.? These statements give permission for speakers to reveal more of themselves, which in turn en??ables you to keep learning from them.

?? Share how you?d react. If you make others feel normal, they?re more apt to speak more openly and honestly to you. Look for opportunities to say, ?I?d do the same thing? or ?I?d probably react similarly.? Indicating your acceptance paves the way for people to confide in you more deeply.

? Adapted from Resolving Conflicts at Work, Kenneth Cloke and Joan Goldsmith, Jossey-Bass.

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We believe great content should be read and passed around. After all, knowledge IS power. And good business can become great with the right information at their fingertips. If you'd like to share any of the insightful articles on BusinessManagementDaily.com, you may republish or syndicate it without charge.

The only thing we ask is that you keep the article exactly as it was written and formatted. You also need to include an attribution statement and link to the article.

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Source: http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/33786/do-you-listen-or-wait-to-talk

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lern2play Resources and Information. This website is for sale!

By using our site, you consent to this privacy policy: This website allows third-party advertising companies for the purpose of reporting website traffic, statistics, advertisements, "click-throughs" and/or other activities to use Cookies and /or Web Beacons and other monitoring technologies to serve ads and to compile anonymous statistics about you when you visit this website. Cookies are small text files stored on your local internet browser cache. A Web Beacon is an often-transparent graphic image, usually no larger than 1 pixel x 1 pixel that is placed on a Web site. Both are created for the main purpose of helping your browser process the special features of websites that use Cookies or Web Beacons. The gathered information about your visits to this and other websites are used by these third party companies in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. The information do not include any personal data like your name, address, email address, or telephone number. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.

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Video: JPMorgan's 2013 Equity Outlook

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/50179944/

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Select Some Good Tools For Home Improvement - Joe Aldeguer

When you?re forced to choose between putting food on the table and the monthly expense of a home security alarm, many people have no choice but to leave their safety and security up to chance. But when financial times are tough, the last thing you want to do is leave your home and your valuables at risk of being stolen from you. Not only will having to replace your life?s belongings add to your financial burden, you may never be able to restore your sense of security and peace of mind.

Make sure you have adequate insurance on your home and its contents. Consider it part of your home security strategy. Review your policy annually and make sure you have any particularly valuable items like special collections or jewelry scheduled on the policy or separately insured otherwise you might find they?re not covered in the event of a burglary. When it comes to home insurance policies always check the exclusions and when you receive any letters from an insurer advising of changes to the policy read them carefully. Difficult financial times don?t mean having to forego home security. To prevent windows that slide vertically up and down from being opened, install a large screw a few inches above the top of the window on both sides of the frame. This will allow you to open the window to enjoy fresh air when needed, yet prevent the window from being opened any wider than a few inches.

For your safety and the safety of your family, however, make sure you have a hammer or similar tool to shatter the glass in case the window is needed as an escape route during a fire or other emergency. When you want to improve your home, some equipment just like 16 channel dvr or siamese cable is good choice in cameras systems.

Source: http://joealdegueronline.com/select-some-good-tools-for-home-improvement/

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Mozilla Launches Firefox OS Simulator 1.0, Brings Per-Windows Private Browsing To Firefox Nightly

It's a busy day for Mozilla today. The company just announced that its Firefox OS Simulator, which it officially launched just three weeks ago, is now stable enough for a formal 1.0 launch.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/t2Z8aUDMbss/

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Justin Bieber Makes Carly Rae Jepsen's Year-End Faves: Watch Her 2012 Countdown Wednesday!

Jepsen reveals rest of her top 2012 moments on 'Big & Best' live stream on 12/12/12 at 12 p.m. ET on MTV.com, VH1.com, CMT.com and ComedyCentral.com.
By Jocelyn Vena

Carly Rae Jepsen
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1698618/justin-bieber-carly-rae-jepsen-2012.jhtml

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Daily Kos: What Obamacare means for businesses: Facts vs. fiction

It's the law.

A number of high profile conservative business owners have made a lot of news lately over their threats to cut back workers hours and even lay people off as a result of Mitt Romney's election loss, and the certainty that the Affordable Care Act is going to be implemented. For some, those pronouncements provided a strong enough backlash among customers that they've had to backtrack, attempting to end the bad publicity by not being terrible employers.

Those are the really high profile cases; the business owners who are obnoxious enough to publicly threaten their employees and to tell the world what rotten employers they are. Because of them, because of Fox News, because of a lack of good public education about the Affordable Care Act from the administration and supportive members of Congress, other business owners, especially small business owners, are left with the idea that maybe this Obamacare is just going to be too expensive and too burdensome. That's a big problem, especially for employees of small businesses. Because for those businesses there are some pretty good deals.

Follow me over the jump to see how businesses, small and big, will be affected by Obamacare, and why some of the loudest complainers are the most full of it.

Small business

The smallest employers are not only exempt from any potential fine for not providing insurance, if they do or want to provide insurance to employees, they can get tax credits to help do that. That's in effect now for companies with few than 25 employees and wages below $50,000 each. If they offer insurance and pay at least half the premiums, they can receive a tax credit of up to 35 percent of their contributions. After 2014, the tax credit goes up to 50 percent if the business buys coverage through the insurance exchange. Companies that have up to 50 employees and who do not provide health care benefits are not subject to any fines for not providing that coverage. Their employees will be able to get their coverage in the health exchanges the law creates starting in 2014.

Here's one of the greatest things for small business owners: they can afford health insurance for themselves! The Kaiser Family Foundation surveyed large and small businesses this fall for their regular Employer Health Benefits Survey. Their findings for small business owners were striking.

• About one in four small business owners is uninsured, roughly the same as for non-elderly adults generally.
• Just 40% of small business owners get job-based insurance, either from their own job or through a family member. In contrast, almost six in ten non-elderly adults get their insurance through an employer.
• Small business owners rely heavily on the individual insurance market, with 30% of them buying ?other private insurance? (the vast majority of which is coverage purchased in the individual market).

[...] In fact, an estimated 60% of small business owners now buying insurance in the individual market have incomes up to 400% of the poverty level and would be eligible for tax credits in exchanges or Medicaid, and 83% of owners who are now uninsured would be eligible for subsidized coverage (split about equally between tax credits and Medicaid).

These are the job creators, the folks conservative so laud. And they're struggling just as hard as anyone else to find good, affordable health insurance, with 30 percent of them (at least) paying a boatload of money to do it. Now they'll be able to afford health insurance. Maybe they'll even be able to expand their businesses, hire more people, and grow this economy for

Big business

For employers with 50 or more employees, well, yes, they'll have to decide whether they want to be good citizens, good employers, and ultimately save taxpayers and themselves money, and provide health insurance. These are the employers that will have to pay a penalty if they do not provide health insurance for their full time employees:

or don't pay a significant portion of their employees' coverage.
This is the penalty that the Obamacare haters are screaming about now, that they are threatening their employees over now. Even though these changes don't take place until 2014. Even though the penalties are not in place now. Even though it's pretty much only companies within the health care industry that face any additional tax burden (and indoor tanning salons, arguably not the most effective "sin" tax) and?here's the crux of the matter for these corporate opponents?wealthy individuals who will eventually be paying the tax bill for Obamacare.

Individuals making more than $200,000 a year will see a 0.9 percent increase in the Medicare payroll tax paid beginning next year. That same two percent of the population will be subject to a 3.8 percent surtax on investment income. Beginning in 2018, there's going to be a big tax hike on high-value health insurance plans, those above $10,200 for an individual plan and $27,500 for a family plan.

But let's get back to those penalties companies will have to pay beginning in 2014, and focus particularly on the businesses that have been most vocal about how the law is going to break them. At HealthBeatBlog.com, Maggie Mahar sums up analysis by other health care writers and economists on just what the costs might be for specific restaurant chains.

Managed Care Matters? Joe Paduda recently took a hard look at the numbers that led Papa John Pizza founder and CEO John Schnatter to announce that he?s going to have to hike the price of his pizzas by 10 to 14 cents to cover the added cost of complying with Obamacare?s provisions.

?Turns out that it?s only 3.4 to 4.6 cents? for an average-sized pie,? Paduda observes. ??Let?s think about that,? he continues. ?Fourteen cents a pizza gets all of his employees excellent health coverage (only about a third are covered now), even though Schnatter says he?d ?like to cover all of them.??

Over at Forbes, Caleb Malby eyeballed Schnatter?s balance sheet and confirms Paduda?s appraisal: Obmacare does not constitute a major threat to profit margins. ?Last year, Papa John?s International captured $1.218 billion in revenue,? he reports. ?Operating expenses were $1.131 billion.? Schnatter claims that Obamacare will his cost his company $5-8 million annually. ?If Schnatter?s math is accurate,? Malby writes, ? the new regulation translates into a .4% to .7% (yes, fractions of a percent) expense increase.?

?Using Schnatter?s figures,? he concludes, ?the costs his company will incur due to Obamacare are not equal to the price increases he mentions. Those increases would more than make up for damage done to the company?s net income through increases to operational expenses.?

Here's a thought for these companies: having healthy employees, who feel that their employer gives a shit about their well-being might just increase job satisfaction, and might just decrease absenteeism and employee turnover, increase productivity, and with all that, might just increase profits. It could happen.

So if your employer, particularly if your employer has 25 or fewer employees, is telling you that your hours have to be cut or your job is in jeopardy in 2013, they are likely very full of shit. Because their profits are not endangered now. They're not making smart business decisions. They're making vindictive political ones.

Source: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/09/1168195/-What-Obamacare-means-for-businesses-Facts-vs-fiction

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Instagram Pictures In Twitter Are Now Totally Gone and Gone For Good

Instagram pictures have been wonky inside of Twitter ever since Instagram disabled Twitter cards in hopes of driving users to its own web interface. Now Instagram pictures aren't showing at all in Twitter's native web client, and that change is permanent. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/-GHLnIU0zww/instagram-pictures-in-twitter-are-now-totally-gone-and-gone-for-good

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Why Netflix's future is in "House of Cards," "Arrested Development" - not Disney

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Netflix hailed as a "game-changer" its landmark deal last week to bring Disney movies to the streaming service. But while that deal may be significant, it pales in importance next to another looming development - the February debut of its original series "House of Cards."

The economic benefits of the Disney deal, which gives the company streaming rights to much of Disney's catalog and straight-to-DVD movies as well as the exclusive rights to the studio's new movies from 2016 to 2018, won't be felt for years.

But the rollout of new, made-for-Netflix shows, which moves the company into a game owned by broadcast and cable - and follows a model set by everyone from HBO to AMC - will be a near-term bellwether of the company's future success, analysts and observers say.

"You don't identify a movie you watch on TV with a channel, but you definitely identify an original series with a channel," Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Securities, told TheWrap. "What Netflix is doing with its original series is getting something exclusive that makes you have to go to Netflix if you want to see it. It's branding."

They include the long-awaited rebirth of cult favorite "Arrested Development" and original pieces like Eli Roth's "Hemlock Grove," Jenji Kohan's "Orange Is the New Black" and "House of Cards," from director David Fincher and starring Kevin Spacey.

Like "Lilyhammer," all episodes of the shows' first seasons will be released at once, allowing for binge viewing by Netflix subscribers.

The Disney deal is momentous in that it marks the first time a digital pay-TV distributor has earned exclusive rights to a major studio's new releases. Both analysts and studio executives say Netflix will pay more than $300 million a year for those rights, a startling sum for a company that has minimized the importance of films. Netflix has declined to discuss any figures.

Some analysts argue the Disney deal is a positive development, but one that will not move the needle when it comes to attracting new members.

"Netflix customers will like it when Disney movies show up, but not many people will want to sign up for Netflix because they have 15 new movies a year I want to see," Pachter said.

That's why Netflix bankrolled "Arrested Development," a show canceled by Fox in 2006 that still has a small but loyal audience, one that will assuredly watch the new season on Netflix. That's also why it has invested in so many new shows from established artists like Kohan, who created "Weeds," and Roth, a successful horror filmmaker.

While the company's first foray into original programming - Steven Van Zandt's "Lilyhammer" - didn't make much of a splash, the new shows debuting next year look far more promising.

It also has committed a reported $100 million for two seasons of "House of Cards," as well as offering complete creative freedom to Fincher and his team.

The money the streaming service spends on its own shows is a pittance compared to what it shells out in licensing deals, but that original content will distinguish Netflix from competitors in broadcast, like HBO, and in digital, like Amazon.

"Everybody is trying to get their brand to the top of people's minds, and sometimes that requires a substantial expenditure and doing something different, like original production," Bill Carroll, vice president and director of programming at Katz Television Group, told TheWrap.

More than any of its competitors in the streaming-video market, Netflix is attempting to transform itself into a digitized form of HBO, which began by airing studio movies.

HBO later added lower-cost programming, such as stand-up comedy shows, and eventually original series and films. Showtime, Starz and others soon followed.

Because it is not locked into a schedule, Netflix can host an unlimited amount of programming and owns a wealth of information about its subscribers to tailor its offerings to specific viewers and track their success.

Figuring out just what constitutes a "hit," however, will be difficult. As it has with previous original shows like "Lilyhammer," Netflix will not release viewing numbers for its upcoming shows. The company stresses that immediate viewing is less important than developing a loyal following over time.

As for the Disney deal, Netflix already had rights to films from that studio and Sony under an agreement with Starz, which in September 2011 opted not to renew its deal.

"They got something they used to have and had to pay a lot more money for it," Seth Willenson, a library-valuation expert, producer and former studio executive told TheWrap.

So what changed? Exclusivity.

Disney's new releases will appear on Netflix during the same window when they would have been showing on an HBO or another pay channel. It also means that new rivals, such as Amazon and Hulu Plus, won't be getting the latest "Avengers" sequel at the same time - or the upcoming series of new "Star Wars" films.

"The argument is that what they are getting now from Disney will only be on Netflix," Vasily Karasyov, an analyst with Susquehanna told TheWrap. "What they were getting before was only on Starz. It's more exclusive. They are trying to do what Starz did in the '90s and buy up rights and put it on the map."

At the UBS conference last week in New York, Chief Creative Officer Ted Sarandos teased the possibility of pursuing exclusive deals with more studios as well.

This new attraction to movies represents a change of tune for the Los Altos, Calif.-based company. After all, Netflix has been publicly dismissive in recent months of film's importance to its service, stressing its viewers' penchant for binge-watching television shows, like AMC's "Breaking Bad" and "Mad Men."

About 60 percent of Netflix viewing time is spent on TV, a number that has only grown in recent years. Exclusivity increasingly motivates its decision-making on the TV side as well, which is one reason it allowed its deal with A&E Networks to expire in September, taking shows like "Storage Wars" and "Hoarders" off Netflix.

And nothing is more exclusive than content you fund yourself.

"It wants content unique to its platform," Karasyov said. "No one says, 'Come to my website because we have the same stuff everyone else does.'"

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/why-netflixs-future-house-cards-arrested-development-not-023005741.html

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