Purveyor
Purveyor's JournalWintry Storm Expected to Chill Thanksgiving Travelers
By Brian K. Sullivan - Nov 20, 2013
A storm may sweep up the East Coast as temperatures drop next week, bringing cold and rain to travelers on the road for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, said Matt Rogers, president of Commodity Weather Group LLC.
Computer models show a storm developing by midweek, Rogers said. Rain will fall in the big cities of the Northeast, while some interior areas may have snow.
“This could change if the early week cold gets trapped in,” Rogers said in e-mail interview from Bethesda, Maryland. It is “worth watching.”
Heavy rain, winds and snow can disrupt air travel across the U.S. especially if storms strike airports in New York and New Jersey. The U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, on Nov. 28 for 2013, is one of the busiest travel times of the year.
Temperatures from Texas to New York and New England may be at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 Celsius) below normal from Nov. 25 to 29, Rogers said in his forecast. Readings may be about 5 degrees below average in Chicago and the upper Midwest.
more...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-20/wintry-storm-expected-to-chill-thanksgiving-travelers.html
Four Senate Republicans Back Yellen for Fed Chairman
By Kathleen Hunter and Cheyenne Hopkins - Nov 20, 2013
Five Senate Republicans say they’re inclined to support Janet Yellen to be chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, which should give her the 60 she needs to be confirmed.
Republicans Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Susan Collins of Maine, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Orrin Hatch of Utah said in interviews at the Capitol that they would probably support Yellen when the nomination comes to the Senate floor, which may occur the week of Dec. 9. Republican Bob Corker of Tennessee announced today in a news release that he also would support her. The Banking Committee plans to vote tomorrow on advancing Yellen.
“In the end, I do believe she has the qualifications necessary to be the Fed chairman and plan to support her nomination,” Corker said in his statement.
Corker’s support would give Yellen the 60 votes needed to overcome a procedural obstacle and win confirmation. Democrats, who control 55 seats in the Senate, are united behind Yellen. She needs the support of at least five Republicans to overcome opponents’ attempts to thwart her confirmation.
“I’m inclined to,” Coburn said yesterday when asked if he would back her nomination. “She’s obviously qualified. I don’t agree with a lot of her philosophy, but she’s qualified.”
more...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-20/four-senate-republicans-back-yellen-for-u-s-fed-chairman.html
Consumer Prices in U.S. Decline for First Time in Six Months
By Shobhana Chandra and Victoria Stilwell - Nov 20, 2013
The cost of living in the U.S. declined in October for the first time in six months, showing inflation remains below the Federal Reserve’s goal.
The consumer-price index dropped 0.1 percent, reflecting cheaper energy, clothing and new cars, after a 0.2 percent gain the prior month, a Labor Department report showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 85 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for no change. Excluding volatile food and fuel, the so-called core measure rose 0.1 percent.
Companies from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) to Macy’s Inc. (M) are holding the line on prices to attract more customers heading into the holiday-shopping period. Limited inflation also gives Fed officials the flexibility to maintain their $85 billion-a-month bond purchase program to stimulate the economy.
“Inflation is a distant concern at this time,” Russell Price, senior economist at Ameriprise Financial Inc. in Detroit, said before the report. “It gives the Fed room for its continued quantitative-easing efforts.”
Estimates for the consumer-price index ranged from a drop of 0.2 percent to a gain of 0.2 percent, according to the Bloomberg survey. Economists projected the core gauge would rise 0.1 percent.
more...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-20/consumer-prices-in-u-s-decline-for-first-time-in-six-months.html
Data Shows Worsening Situation For Children In Israeli Military Detention
A UNICEF report indicates a measurable deterioration in the treatment of Palestinian children held in Israeli military detention in the months since the UN organization recommended serious changes.By Gerard Horton
In March 2013, UNICEF published a report – Children in Israeli Military Detention. The report’s main finding was that the ill-treatment of children who come in contact with the military detention system appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalized throughout the process.
In response to these findings, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated it would study the conclusions and work to implement the 38 recommendations through ongoing cooperation with UNICEF.
Since the publication of the report in March, UNICEF has continued to monitor the treatment of children through the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on Grave Child Rights Violations. Pursuant to this mechanism, UNICEF has collected 19 affidavits from children detained between April and June 2013. Following an analysis of these affidavits, UNICEF found that in 100 percent of cases boys reported being painfully tied and 84 percent said they were blindfolded. Without exception, every boy reported being subjected to physical violence, including beatings to the head and face or being hit with metal objects.
According to UNICEF, in no case were boys informed that they had a right to consult with a lawyer before being interrogated and no child was accompanied by a parent during questioning – rights generally afforded to Israeli children living in the settlements – a situation that amounts to unlawful discrimination. UNICEF’s findings also accords with evidence collected by Military Court Watch which suggests that very few children are being informed of their right to silence prior to interrogation.
MORE...
http://972mag.com/data-shows-worsening-situation-for-children-in-israeli-military-detention/82152/
New Allegation Made Against Zimmerman In Court
SANFORD, Fla. (AP) -- A prosecutor says George Zimmerman's girlfriend claims he choked her about a week ago but she didn't report it to police at the time.
The prosecutor told a judge about the allegation during a first appearance Tuesday on domestic violence-related charges of aggravated assault, battery and criminal mischief.
The judge set George Zimmerman's bond at $9,000 and ordered that he not possess guns or ammunition. He was ordered to stay away from the girlfriend's house and wear a monitoring device.
Zimmerman was taken into custody Monday after girlfriend Samantha Scheibe told deputies he pointed a shotgun at her during an argument.
more...
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ZIMMERMAN_ARRESTED?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-11-19-13-51-23
Judge Sets Bond For George Zimmerman At $9,000 In Domestic Assault Case.
UPDATE:
Judge sets bond for George Zimmerman at $9,000 in domestic assault case.
PREVIOUS STORY:
SANFORD, Fla. -- George Zimmerman's arrest following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend marks the latest in a series of brushes with the law he has had since his acquittal in a murder case that sparked nationwide debates about race and self-defense laws.
Zimmerman, the former neighborhood watch volunteer who was acquitted of any charges in the 2012 fatal shooting of unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin, was charged Monday with aggravated assault, battery and criminal mischief after his 27-year-old girlfriend called 911. He was due in court Tuesday, where a judge would decide whether to grant bond for Zimmerman.
Samantha Scheibe claimed Zimmerman had smashed a glass table, threatened her with a shotgun and ultimately pushed her out of the house she rented.
MORE...
http://www.wcpo.com/news/national/george-zimmerman-bail-hearing-live-video-stream-watch-zimmerman-in-court-video-live-online
Nuclear Deal With Iran Comes Closer As Tehran Concedes On Right To Enrich
Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS
VIENNA (AP) — Since the start of talks on Iran's nuclear program, Iran has asserted it has a right to enrich uranium — and the United States has disagreed. Both have refused to budge over nearly a decade of negotiations.
Until now.
Iran has suddenly gone public with a significant concession just days ahead of a new round of talks with six world powers later this week in Geneva. It still insists that it has a right to the program, but it now says that the six no longer need to publicly acknowledge its claim, opening a way to sidestep the dispute and focus on more practical steps both sides can agree on.
It is the latest sign of Iran's new pragmatic approach to the nuclear issue. Tehran is unlikely to ever completely stop enrichment. But by dropping a demand that makes no practical difference, it can move on to its most pressing concern; an easing of sanctions crippling its economy.
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/19/iran-nuclear-deal_n_4303196.html?utm_hp_ref=world
Obama Makes Personal Appeal To Lawmakers To Hold Off On More Iran Sanctions
Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has personally appealed to senators to hold off on seeking additional sanctions on Iran while the U.S. and world powers negotiate a nuclear deal with Tehran.
Republican Sen. Bob Corker, who attended the White House meeting, says Obama asked lawmakers to pause for "a period of time." Corker did not specify how long the president asked lawmakers to wait.
Corker says some lawmakers want to be able to at least announce new sanctions proposals in the coming days. But he says there will not be any sanctions amendments added before a Nov. 28 hoiliday to the annual defence bill, which could be the vehicle for new imposing economic penalties.
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/world/Obama+makes+personal+appeal+lawmakers+hold+more+Iran+sanctions/9184929/story.html
UN Official Warns That New Israeli Settlement Building Could Torpedo Palestinian Peace Talks
Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The U.N. political chief is warning that chances of peacefully ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may be "irreparably damaged" unless steps are taken to prevent new Israeli settlement building and other "negative developments."
Jeffrey Feltman told the Security Council on Tuesday that four months since the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks aimed at a two-state solution, negotiators "have gone some way towards narrowing their differences."
But he said "strains have been growing dangerously between the parties."
Feltman cited "a significant setback" following a series of Israeli announcements of settlement plans in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, especially the Nov. 13 announcement of 24,000 new units.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/un-official-warns-that-new-israeli-settlement-building-could-torpedo-palestinian-peace-talks/2013/11/19/dce95c94-5144-11e3-9ee6-2580086d8254_story.html
Study: Kids Are Less Fit Than Their Parents Were
DALLAS (AP) -- Today's kids can't keep up with their parents. An analysis of studies on millions of children around the world finds they don't run as fast or as far as their parents did when they were young.
On average, it takes children 90 seconds longer to run a mile than their counterparts did 30 years ago. Heart-related fitness has declined 5 percent per decade since 1975 for children ages 9 to 17.
The American Heart Association, whose conference featured the research on Tuesday, says it's the first to show that children's fitness has declined worldwide over the last three decades.
"It makes sense. We have kids that are less active than before," said Dr. Stephen Daniels, a University of Colorado pediatrician and spokesman for the heart association.
Health experts recommend that children 6 and older get 60 minutes of moderately vigorous activity accumulated over a day. Only one-third of American kids do now.
more...
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MED_KIDS_DECLINING_FITNESS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-11-19-13-04-34
One only need to a walk through a mall on saturday to confirm this 'study'...
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