One in ten men would take a new iPad over a new lover

A recent survey by UK-based online casino, RoxyPalace, found that 11% of single men would prefer to have a new iPad rather than a new lover. In fact, 3% would even be willing to leave their current partner for the latest iOS tablet.

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Russia protests are overblown by West. Putin is here to stay.

Mesmerized by Moscow protests, Western observers predict President-elect Vladimir Putin?s demise. But the politically active middle class is small and limited. US policy must be based on a realistic analysis of Putin?s support, not unfounded assessments that he's on his last legs.

A fairy tale is enchanting the West ? the end of the Putin era. Scarcely a day goes by without some Western observer or pundit announcing the demise of Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin. The mass protests in Moscow and other large cities since the parliamentary elections in early December are portrayed as signaling ?the beginning of the end of Putin era.? Some observers predict that Putin will be unable to serve his full six-year term.

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However, these assessments are based more on wishful thinking ? and groupthink ? than on hard facts. The protests represent the emergence in Russia of a bold and politically active middle class that is fed up with the growing corruption and constraints on basic political rights under Mr. Putin and his successor, current President Dmitri Medvedev.

Yet one should not exaggerate the political influence of this middle class. While highly active and vocal, it is relatively small and limited to Moscow and a few other large Russian cities. Outside these cities, support for Putin is much stronger and more widespread. Voters in these areas are far from satisfied with conditions. But they fear political change could bring a return to the chaos and instability of the Yeltsin years. For them, Putin represents stability and a barricade against things getting worse.

This factor is overlooked by many Western pundits and analysts. Mesmerized by the protests in Moscow, many analysts predicted that Putin would not receive 50 percent of the votes in the first round and would be forced into a second round run-off. However, Putin won 64 percent of the vote in the first round ? significantly less than the support he received in the presidential elections in his first two terms, but a respectable victory nonetheless.

This is not to suggest that Putin is a born-again democrat or that Washington should overlook the seedy aspects of his rule. But if US policy is to be successful, it must be based on a realistic analysis of Putin?s support and the political balance of forces in Russia. It cannot be based on unfounded assessments that Putin is on his last legs and likely be forced into early retirement, as some Western observers have suggested.

To be sure, Putin faces a very different Russia than one he ruled 12 years ago. During his first tenure as president, he benefited from high oil prices that provided an economic cushion and allowed Russia to recover economically much more quickly than many observers expected. The improvement in the economy was the main reason for Putin?s high approval ratings during his first two terms as president.

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Halle Berry confirms her engagement

By Us Weekly

David Livingston / Getty Images file

Halle Berry is finally confirming that she is engaged to boyfriend Olivier Martinez.

Sounds like Halle Berry has learned her lesson.

The Oscar winning actress once swore she'd "never, never" get married again. Then Olivier Martinez entered her life.

Dating since 2010, Us Weekly broke the news in January that the French actor, 46, had proposed to Berry -- who has been married twice before, to baseball player David Justice and R&B singer Eric Benet -- over the holidays.

Still, Berry, 45, had refused to confirm her and Martinez's happy news until now.

Photos from Us: Halle's sexy, age-defying style

Opening up to "Extra" at an event Saturday, the "Dark Tide" star laughed when asked about her engagement to Martinez. "Who knew? I swore [marriage] off, right?"

Added Berry, "Never say never, people!"

Photos from Us: Zoom in on Hollywood's most stunning engagement rings

Martinez, for his part, finally confirmed the couple's engagement in March, telling Miami.com, "Yes, of course we're engaged!"

Prior to meeting the actor-turned-restauranteur, a source told Us that Berry really had "given up" on marriage -- but changed her tune as soon as she got to know Martinez, and saw how wonderful a father he would make to Nahla, her 4-year-old daughter with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry.

Photos from? Us: Spectacular celebrity weddings

"She trusts Olivier," the source shared. "He makes her feel safe. He's a keeper!"

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Finding the Most Effective Flower Design Online - PDF

Finding the most effective Flower design Online

Searching for flower bouquets online can be exciting
and challenging. Choosing the correct flowers can be
vital in relaying a message of emotion or brightening
the mood of a room. Flowers for this reason will always
be important and with the growth of the internet,
online purchasing is fast becoming a popular form of
ordering flowers. The Internet offers an array of
flowers and floral arrangement services and suitable
gifts. With the unlimited reach of the web, businesses
are coming on-line and flowers online Melbourne is
becoming extremely competitive.

Aside from considering what style of flower you would like to buy, it's necessary to consider the price
points and make certain you're getting the best deal. The advantage of a competitive industry, is that
you can compare from a range of prices and styles. You might wish to contemplate additionally the
geography and the distance from your home. That way, you can search locally and narrow down your
searches, save on delivery charges, and guarantee the freshness of the flowers.

It is important to consider these factors when selecting a Melbourne Flower Shop, For individuals in
Melbourne or Australia wide, Blossoms on Bell is one of the florists you can find online and easily
purchase from. Blossoms on Bell offer outstanding customer service with a positive reputation for fresh
flowers and fast delivery.

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Factors to Consider About Wedding Flowers and Its Florist

Everyone will certainly agree that one of the most
essential items to consider in weddings is the flowers
and the florist you choose. This may sound cliche
however flowers offer life and colour to weddings.
However, you may also need to consider other factors
when searching for wedding flowers Melbourne. Other
factors to consider:

Budget: One common issue in selecting a florist is
finding a business that offers a product that suits your
budget, plus offers the best customer service.
Individual Style: Your individual tastes and the wedding
theme will influence your selection.
Florist: There are many florists to choose from and therefore your research on the internet is
vital in assisting in your ideal flower selection.

Blossom on Bell, a Melbourne Flower Shop delivers in its creativity as well as offering the bride
and groom outstanding customer service. This is one florist you need to consider for your bridal
flowers.

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Public Service Compensation ? The Next Bubble? | Sustainable ...

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Since talking about ?bubbles? is in vogue these days (ie?oil bubble,?real estate bubble, post-secondary bubble, etc.) I figured I?d tackle the somewhat thorny issue that appears to be creeping up more?and more in this new era of austerity that we have entered in the Western World. The bubble I?m talking about of course is the public service compensation bubble. I want to point out that the views I express are not supported or indicative of those held by the owners of this blog in any way! I should state up front that I am a civil servant (teacher) and I definitely am benefitting from the current labour environment as a public employee.

Taxpayers = Golden Goose

In a recent survey put out in British Columbia, nearly 75% of the 804 people surveyed agreed that legislation that would limit the compensation of provincial and municipal employees to that of the private sector was a good thing. From my anecdotal experience, I would say that this view is held by many Canadians and that it is only going to get worse if many of the trends over the past couple of decades continue. The Globe and Mail also touched on the subject, and reported that in these economic down times, ?Public-sector hikes have outstripped increases in the private sector for the past four years, prompting howls of outrage from some who see them as examples of government excess.?

The Seesaw Is Stuck On One Side

The balance that has existed in the past between the compensation levels of private employees, and those of public-sector employees has clearly come undone in the minds of many Canadians. It used to be commonly known that while the public sector offered substantially better benefit packages, including items such as better pensions, more sick time, better holiday considerations etc., the private sector held advantages such as better pay, more opportunity for advancement, and other financial considerations. In doing a little keyboard research for this article I found varying positions supported by slanted research in a variety of ways. The one consistent finding in all of these reports however, was that public workers are simply doing better by pretty much any measure compared to their private counterparts. The real debate is by what degree this is the case and what effect could this have on the labour market in Canada.

Study Study On The Wall? Who?s The Most Accurate of Them All?

At opposite ends of the spectrum were a recent study done by the CUPE and a 2007 study done by Treasury Board of Canada (to me, the arguments are even more relevant now given the gains public sector employees have made relative to the private sphere). This isn?t surprising when you consider it is in the CUPE?s best interests to play down any differences in compensation levels that could be used to leverage their compensation packages down, and the Treasury Board represents the businesses that want to pay lower compensation levels and are sick of competing with the government they pay taxes to.

The Treasury Board released an 800-page study that said in 2003 the average salary of workers in the core public services was $53,000, and this increased to $73,400 when benefits were factored in. They also claimed that in the private sector, the average salary was $38,885. The report goes on to state, ?Exceptional bargaining strength derived from the privilege of serving the public should not justify going beyond what is reasonably comparable in equivalent circumstances in the private sector.?

Interestingly enough, even the CUPE study revealed that the public sector was better paying (although only by .5% overall). When taking into account all forms of public service compensation, the gap widens to 4.6%. These numbers are obviously the most beneficial presentation of statistics that the union could put together, and I would argue the real truth is probably somewhere between the two studies. Regardless of what the most accurate numbers would be, the very fact that the union that is in charge of lobbying for better compensation can?t figure out a way to hide the fact that the public-private balance has come unhinged is noteworthy in my mind.

So why should anyone care about who makes more in the public vs private sectors? The main reason why this is worrisome is that the private sector feeds the public sector and not the other way around. The innovation and efficiency that comes out of the private sector is what produces wealth in society and this is then taxed to provide services for everyone. If public sector jobs continue to become more and more lucrative, it will take away more and more of the top talent that the private sector needs in order to flourish. It will also encourage a much less competitive overall economy. Also, if you look at what is happening across Canada, whether it is teachers in BC and Ontario, or Air Canada workers, the bigger we allow the wage bubble to grown

I believe one of the main reasons that this bubble has been created is the difference between public unions and private unions. As you?ve probably come to realize, I lean a little right on most financial issues, but I?m actually a supporter of collective bargaining in the private sector. This is because the raw truths of the market force the employer and employee to work together for the betterment of everyone.

The perfect example of this is the history of the United Auto Workers in the USA. For many years this union fought for its share of the profits and their workers were compensated very well for their basic labour. When the auto industry almost collapsed in 2008, the union realized that times had to change, and they worked together with management to reduce compensation packages in order to make the business model effective again and consequently, to allow most people to keep their jobs (albeit at lower wages). When you compare that process to the recent public union showdowns here in Canada, the difference is stark. Public unions do not have to worry about their industry being effective, and the people they are negotiating with are not spending an owner?s money (it is all tax dollars). This has led to a tremendous imbalance in the system overall.

People should be justifiably upset that the public sector is doing so well in these lean economic times. The reality is that people in the private sector should make considerable more money on average because their jobs are usually much less secure, and because they operate in a competitive environment. If the public sector is allowed to keep racing ahead, the economic bubble will only grow. Want to see what happens when a civil servant bubble pops? Google ?Greece austerity riots.? I?d much rather gradually suck the air of the bubble now, than watch it pop in panic in a few years, and I think most Canadians would agree (as long as their personal paycheque wasn?t affected of course!).

What are your thoughts about public service compensation?

?

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Microsoft outs three flavors of Windows 8: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT

We've known for what feels like ages that Windows 8 would come in at least two flavors: one supporting x86 devices and one for ARM machines. Now Microsoft's ready to put a naming scheme on its much-anticipated menu for the operating system. According to a post on the Windows blog, ARM devices will get Windows RT, while x86 / 64 devices will run Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro (also for x86 devices) will offer the suit-and-tie set added features for "encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity." Windows Media Center will be packaged as an add-on for the folks who go Pro. For a full break down of what each version will hold hit the source link below and check out our hands-on impressions of the OS preview here.

Microsoft outs three flavors of Windows 8: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Windows Team Blog  | Email this | Comments

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Internet Marketing ? How To Make And Use Podcasts ? Tourism And ...

When recording a podcast, you know, it can be difficult.?You need a good microphone and clear, a good topic to talk for 30 to 60 minutes, and a way to distribute your podcast all over the internet.?If you are new to the use of podcasts are so I guess today?s lesson will be of some use to you.

The first thing you should know is that podcasting is very simple to do.?You can create a podcast, and use it to back a ton of new visitors to your site on a daily basis.?You should know that the best way to lead your podcast is about to undertake themselves.?You are not using one of these inexpensive ?text to speech? software.?I assure you it is not good for your business.

Take time for your company so you can avoid the podcast.?It will not last long, and there is the chance that someone back and listen to your podcasts to enhance return.?The most common information you give, the more people come back for more, and your popularity will grow your fan base with podcasting.

After you record your podcast, you want to marketing do for them.?The first place you must submit your podcast on iTunes.?iTunes is the number one podcast directory on the Internet, and it receives many visitors to their site every day.People come to this site daily with new podcasts which you can download to improve their lives, or just some information and music that is pleasing to hear.

Make sure you get a good microphone to record your podcast.?There is something to do when you want to have the greatest success with your podcast today.?You do not want to save on a low quality webcam that a lot of noise and static in the background has.?This is just bad for business.

Instead, buy a high quality microphone, and use a good program, there is, is it lets you record your podcasts long easy and convenient.?But of course if you do not want the podcast for yourself ??You can always trust to someone else.?The downside is that you pay someone to do it for you, but if you?re a busy entrepreneur who wants to get more attention for your website, this can be a good option for you ? especially if you lower a price?made.

Podcasts are a great way to make your site or blog to market online.?You should consider them and makes them more money for your company today.?Make sure you convert your podcasts in MP3 format, so they have a small file, but still makes a lot of quality in it just to hear.

If you wanted to make records and make money in your business you were looking for, you want to take on podcasting in your business right away so you can have the best chance of success as possible when it comes to promoting your site online.

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