CEOs step up pressure on Obama, Congress for deal

(AP) ? The nation's top corporate executives are stepping up pressure on Congress and on President Barack Obama to negotiate a deal to avoid a fiscal cliff, warning that failure will result in "significant negative economic, employment, and social consequences."

The CEOs, all members of the Business Roundtable, delivered letters to the White House and to congressional leaders urging a compromise that includes revenue, even if it means raising tax rates, and structural and benefit changes to social programs. Their letter says spending reductions must be a "multiple of increased revenues."

The 158 CEOs include Boeing Co.'s James McNerney, David Cote of Honeywell International Inc. and Jeffrey Immelt of General Electric Co.

Separately, top home building executives also wrote to Obama and House Speaker John Boehner calling for an agreement.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-11-Fiscal%20Cliff-CEO%20Letter/id-2410cb7ccee14aa7ad8dc3d4427f3d3a

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RFK, Jr. blames political climate on Fox News - BizPac Review

RFK, JrRobert F. Kennedy, Jr., son of the late attorney general and nephew to the late President John F. Kennedy felt compelled to comment to the liberal media on the state of American politics today. He placed the source for the rancor and division between the political parties squarely on the doorstep of conservative talk radio and Fox News during a recent Skype interview with Huffington Post Live host Josh Zepps.

Zepps began by comparing the political climate of today with that during the Kennedy administration. ?It did seem that politics was an easier game to play, or that there was more collaboration. Do you have any thoughts on that??

There are two things that?s happening. One is the influence of big money. The other is the right-wing control of the American media ? particularly ? ah, starting with Fox News. But 95 percent of talk radio radio in our country is righ-wing.

Twenty-two percent of Americans say their primary news source is Fox News. It?s divided our country in a way that we haven?t been divided probably since the Civil War, and its empowered large corporations to get certain kinds of politicians and ideologues who are in the United State Congress elected ? the Tea Party ideologues who control the Republican Party.

Last January, the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University concluded that ?Special Report,? Fox News Channel?s evening news show, was more balanced in its political coverage than it?s traditional network news competitors.

The pertinent part of the HuffPost ? Kennedy interview follows:

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Source: http://www.bizpacreview.com/2012/12/10/rfk-jr-blames-political-climate-on-fox-news-10837

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Why Aren't We Afraid Of A Tsunami Hitting San Francisco?

When a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan's eastern coast early Friday morning, we all feared a tsunami. But San Francisco gets earthquakes all the time, and we're not scared of a tsunami there. Why? More »

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Italy parties begin campaigning, supporters press Monti

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's political parties began manoeuvring on Sunday before elections expected in February as supporters of technocrat Prime Minister Mario Monti tried to persuade him to stay in politics and continue his economic reform agenda.

Monti has previously said he would be available to serve if needed but did not intend to stand as a candidate, although potential allies in the smaller centrist parties noted that he has not definitively ruled out the idea.

"Everyone's just waiting for Monti to break his silence and say what he is going to do," said an official in former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) party who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Everything depends on that."

Berlusconi abruptly withdrew his support from the government last week, prompting Monti's decision to resign early and bringing forward the election.

As a Life Senator, Monti may not be able to stand as a candidate himself but he is the undoubted favorite of the business community and could also have a role as Italian president if he does not return to government.

The head of the centrist UDC party Pier Ferdinando Casini said moderates across party lines "identify with the reasonable and responsible policies Monti has made".

"A large part of civil society does not want to return to the populism and demagoguery of the past. We must give them the political offering they seek," he told SkyTG24 television.

After three days of tension following Berlusconi's move, attention turned to the likely reaction when financial markets re-open on Monday.

Much will depend on how investors view the prospect of a possibly messy election campaign pitting the scandal-plagued Berlusconi against a centre-left bloc led by Pier Luigi Bersani, victor in last week's Democratic Party primary.

The main barometer of investor confidence, the yield on the 10-year Italian government bond, stood at 4.5 percent at the end of last week. This was 323 basis points higher than the yield on the lower risk German equivalent, but well below the 7.3 percent hit last year.

Analysts said some initial jitters were likely in the markets but there was little sign of deep concern from senior business or financial leaders.

"It's obvious that it would have been preferable to come to the natural end of Monti's term. But this at least allows us to clarify more rapidly Italy's political situation. And this is not negative (and) could actually help the country," said a senior executive at one of Italy's biggest companies.

"MENACE"

Berlusconi's sudden attack on Monti has opened an election campaign likely to be fought over whether Italy should stick to the technocrat's fiscal rigor and broadly pro-European economic reforms.

Berlusconi's centre-right PDL lags the PD by as much as 20 percentage points in opinion polls, and also trails the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, which has surged to prominence on a tide of public anger against the mainstream political class.

With memories still fresh of the crisis which led to Monti's appointment a year ago, senior European policymakers lined up to warn that any government would have to pursue broadly similar policies.

"Whoever governs Italy, a founding member of the EU, is going to have to pursue this course with the same seriousness," European Central Bank executive board member Joerg Asmussen told Germany's Bild newspaper.

Martin Schulz, the German president of the European parliament - whom Berlusconi once compared with a concentration camp guard - told Italy's Ansa news agency that a return by the 76 year-old billionaire would be "menace for Italy and Europe".

Monti, a former European Commissioner, came to power at the height of the financial crisis a year ago and won praise for restoring Italy's credibility with investors and European partners after the scandal-plagued Berlusconi era.

President Giorgio Napolitano, the 87 year-old former communist who will have to dissolve parliament, said on Sunday he would make a statement in a week's time, when he is due to issue his traditional Christmas greetings.

Once he dissolves parliament, elections must be held within 70 days and most commentators said February now seemed the most likely time. The election will take place during a recession which has driven up unemployment, cut into living standards and caused a mood of deep national gloom.

"Eggs and potatoes, eggs and potatoes, that's all we can afford to eat right now," said Roberta Uzzo, who lives near the ancient walls of Rome. "It's a very ugly period. My husband is unable to find any work and with one sole income it's very difficult to go forward."

(Additional reporting by James Mackenzie and Hanna; Rantala in Rome and Lisa Jucca in Milan; Editing by Stephen Powell and David Stamp)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/italian-parties-begin-campaigning-cajole-monti-153437304--business.html

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Helping Domestic Pets Left Behind From Exotic ? Matters Dunaway

Burlington, Vt ?

Storm Soft sand forced countless evacuations across the Northeast shoreline. Meaning several loved ones animals got put aside.

The Gentle Modern society associated with Chittenden County is actually helping move dogs coming from New York and also the higher City region. Disaster pet reaction groups are generally providing motorists in order to move animals to Vermont when area is open up for strays. The particular leader from the humane society says you can find countless pets that require a new home.

Gentle Society associated with Chittenden County, Ben Ayres, said, I do believe theres going to be a stable supply associated with pets heading northward for some time since services way up here are capable to help make space to take these in? the actual symptoms tend to be which their likely to carry on for quite a while.

The business states at the moment they could be recycled confident when they will start moving puppies to the shelter.

Source: http://www.mattersdunaway.com/helping-domestic-pets-left-behind-from-exotic/

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Note: All listings are paid advertisements.

UNITY

Unity in the Foothills

102 Prospect Street, Torrington, Ct 06790

www.unityinthefoothills.org

A Course in Miracles Tuesday evenings 7 p.m

Transformational Prayer Group Thursday 1:15 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.

METHODIST

First United Methodist Church

21 Fern Drive, Torrington, CT 06790

Rev. Barbara B. Shaffer, Pastor

860-489-8084 www.fumctorr.org

Email fumctorr@sbcglobal.net

Sunday Service at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

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Northfield Bible Church

10 Camp Hill Road, Northfield, CT 06778

860-283-9598 www.nccindependent.org

Bible Doctrines Class: Sunday at 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Service at 10:00 a.m.

Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Pot Luck Supper every 4th Friday of the Month at 6:15 p.m.

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

First Assembly of God

387 New Harwinton Road, Torrington, CT 06790

860-482-7464 www.firstagtorr.org

Sunday School for all ages 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship Service at 10:45 a.m.

Family Night Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Adult Bible Study Prayer Service: Saturday at 9:15 a.m.

Cable 5 Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3 p.m.

CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES

Founders Congregational Church

41 Birge Park Road, Harwinton, CT 06791

860-485-1120

www.founderscongregationalchurch.com

Sunday School and Services 10:00 a.m.

Bible Study: Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. and Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

Center Congregational Church

155 Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790

860-489-8301

www.centerchurchtor.org

Email info@centerchurchtor.org

Sunday Services and Church School at 10:00 a.m.

Second Congregational Church of Winsted

Biblical, Traditional, Protestant Worship

800 Main Street, Winsted, CT 06098

860-379-4766

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Baptist and Congregational

Worship 10:00 a.m.

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Source: http://www.registercitizen.com/articles/2012/12/08/news/doc50c3893c48c99803507428.txt

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7-year-old fatally shot outside gun store in Pa.

By Isolde Raftery, NBC News

Updated at 5:50 p.m. ET: A 7-year-old boy was fatally shot by his father outside a gun shop in western Pennsylvania, according to a Pennsylvania State Police report.

Joseph Loughrey, the father, had gone in?to Twig?s Reloading Den in East Lackawannock Township some time before 11 a.m. to try to sell a 9 mm Taurus handgun and a scope rifle,?according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Store managers weren't interested.

Loughrey, 44, and his son, Craig Loughrey, returned to the truck, where Loughrey secured his son in a booster seat on the passenger side. He then placed the long gun in the bed of the truck.?


As he got into the truck, he reached to place the handgun into a glove box storage unit, police told the Tribune-Review. That's when it fired.

Authorities were called at 10:53 a.m. local time and found the boy lying next to the truck after a failed attempt at resuscitation. They stayed on scene until after 1 p.m., dispatchers said.

"All evidence at this point would suggest that this incident is accidental," the Pennsylvania State Police report stated.?

According to the Tribune-Review, Loughrey didn't realize that a round remained in the gun's chamber.

?This happens all too often where people think the gun was empty,? State Police Lt. Eric Hermick.

?Twig?s Reloading Den is an outdoor supply store about 70 miles from Pittsburgh.

Imy Howard, owner of Howard & Son Meat Packing store next door, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that her son heard a shot this morning. She said that Twig?s Reloading Den hosted target shooting in the back parking lot last week but not this week. ?

A Twig?s employee told the Post-Gazette that the incident was ?just an unfortunate accident.??

More content from NBCNews.com:

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/08/15780233-police-7-year-old-fatally-shot-by-father-outside-gun-store-in-pennsylvania?lite

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Report: Honda to export more American-built vehicles than it imports from Japan by 2014

Honda Builds 1 Millionth Automobile for Export From U.S.

-Honda Will Become "Net Exporter" from North America in Two Years --
-Marysville, Ohio Auto Plant Began Building Vehicles for Export 25 Years Ago --

12/05/2012 - MARYSVILLE, Ohio

Twenty-five years after the first U.S.-made Honda automobile was exported to overseas markets, associates at the company's Marysville Auto Plant today marked production of the 1 millionth Honda automobile to be exported from the U.S. The silver 2013 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan will be shipped to South Korea.

Within two years, Honda will become a "net exporter" of automobiles from North America - exporting more vehicles built in its auto plants in North America than it imports from Japan - as these local production operations take on a larger responsibility for the introduction of global automobiles sold in multiple countries.

"Quality for the world, made in America, has been an important Honda commitment for the past 25 years," said Takanobu Ito, president & CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., in a video message to the gathering. "In the coming years, we will take on the challenge of helping even more customers around the world enjoy Honda products made in the USA."

Since 1987, Honda has exported more than $22 billion worth of automobiles and components from the U.S. This includes its exports of finished vehicles as well as component parts sets from suppliers in the U.S. that are used to produce automobiles at Honda plants overseas.

The export milestone Accord Sedan that rolled off the assembly line in Marysville, Ohio, now embarks on a more than 8,000-mile journey across the United States to Port Hueneme in Southern California, and then across the Pacific Ocean to Seoul, South Korea, where the company recently began sales of its U.S.-made vehicles. Honda currently exports automobiles to more than 40 countries (Honda does not include shipments from the U.S. to Canada as exports), with total exports expected to reach nearly 100,000 Honda and Acura vehicles from the U.S. in 2012.

Honda recently marked its 30th anniversary of producing automobiles in America, becoming the first Japanese carmaker to make automobiles in America on Nov. 1, 1982. Five years later, Honda became the first international automaker to export U.S.-made automobiles to overseas markets when it began shipping Ohio-made Accords to Taiwan in fall 1987. A year later, Honda exported its first U.S.-made Accord Coupe to Japan.

With an investment of more than $2.2 billion in its North American operations over the past two years, Honda will increase automobile production capacity in North America from the current 1.63 million to 1.92 million units per year in 2014. As a result, in the coming years, annual exports of Honda and Acura automobiles from the U.S. are expected to far surpass the company's previous single-year export record of 105,511 vehicles set in 1994.

Every Honda auto plant in North America builds cars and trucks for export to global markets, including operations in Ohio, Alabama and Indiana. Exported models include the Honda Civic, Accord, CR-V, Pilot, Odyssey, Crosstour and Ridgeline and the Acura ILX, TL, RDX and MDX. Further, many of the vehicles exported from the U.S. were designed and developed in the U.S. by Honda R&D Americas.

Honda currently exports automobiles to more than 40 countries from the U.S. through seven port facilities in three states:
-Port Hueneme, Calif.
-Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa, Fla.
-Brunswick, Ga.
-Baltimore, Md.
-Newark, N.J.

The one million automobiles exported from America represents a value of $19 billion dollars since the first export to Taiwan in 1987. Further, the cumulative export of component parts sets is valued at more than $3.24 billion.

In addition to the export of automobiles and automobile parts, American Honda also exports power sports (ATVs) and power equipment products made at Honda's U.S. plants to overseas markets:

-Cumulative exports of power sports products from the U.S., including ATVs now produced in Timmonsville, S.C., total more than 500,000 units, since 1980.
-Cumulative exports of power equipment products from the U.S., including lawn mowers, general purpose engines, surpassed the 2 million-unit mark in 2012, since the start of power equipment production in Swepsonville, N.C. in 1984.

A complete, year-by-year history of Honda's automobile, power sports and power equipment exports can be found in the Honda Digital FactBook. To see a video about Honda's U.S. manufacturing and export efforts, please click here.

About Honda
Honda established operations in America in 1959, and now employs more than 26,000 associates in its U.S. sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with a capital investment of more than $12.5 billion.

Based on its longstanding commitment to "build products close to the customer" Honda operates 14 major manufacturing facilities in North America, producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, and power equipment products such as lawn mowers, mini-tillers and general purpose engines, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Seven Honda auto plants in the region, including four in the U.S., have the capacity to produce 1.63 million automobiles each year. In 2011, 85 percent of the Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in North America. This will increase to 1.92 million vehicles per year in 2014, when the sales percentage of locally produced automobiles is expected to rise to more than 90 percent.

Honda operates major research and development centers in the U.S. that fully design, develop and engineer many of the products Honda produces in North America.

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/honda-to-export-more-american-built-vehicles-than-it-imports-fro/

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USDA to allow more meat, grains in school lunches

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2012, file photo, side salads await the students of Eastside Elementary School in Clinton, Miss. The Agriculture Department is responding to criticism over new school lunch rules by allowing kids to eat more grains and meat in the lunchroom. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a letter to members of Congress Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, that the department will do away with daily and weekly maximums of meats and grains. Several members of Congress have written the department since the new rules went into effect in September saying kids aren?t getting enough to eat. School administrators have also complained, saying that set maximums on grains and meats are too limiting as they try to plan daily meals. "This flexibility is being provided to allow more time for the development of products that fit within the new standards while granting schools additional weekly menu planning options to help ensure that children receive a wholesome, nutritious meal every day of the week," Vilsack said in a letter to Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2012, file photo, side salads await the students of Eastside Elementary School in Clinton, Miss. The Agriculture Department is responding to criticism over new school lunch rules by allowing kids to eat more grains and meat in the lunchroom. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a letter to members of Congress Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, that the department will do away with daily and weekly maximums of meats and grains. Several members of Congress have written the department since the new rules went into effect in September saying kids aren?t getting enough to eat. School administrators have also complained, saying that set maximums on grains and meats are too limiting as they try to plan daily meals. "This flexibility is being provided to allow more time for the development of products that fit within the new standards while granting schools additional weekly menu planning options to help ensure that children receive a wholesome, nutritious meal every day of the week," Vilsack said in a letter to Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Agriculture Department is responding to criticism over new school lunch rules by allowing more grains and meat in kids' meals.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told members of Congress in a letter Friday that the department will do away with daily and weekly limits of meats and grains. Several lawmakers wrote the department after the new rules went into effect in September saying kids aren't getting enough to eat.

School administrators also complained, saying set maximums on grains and meats are too limiting as they try to plan daily meals.

"This flexibility is being provided to allow more time for the development of products that fit within the new standards while granting schools additional weekly menu planning options to help ensure that children receive a wholesome, nutritious meal every day of the week," Vilsack said in a letter to Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D.

The new guidelines were intended to address increasing childhood obesity levels. They set limits on calories and salt, and phase in more whole grains. Schools must offer at least one vegetable or fruit per meal. The department also dictated how much of certain food groups could be served.

While nutritionists and some parents have praised the new school lunch standards, others, including many conservative lawmakers, refer to them as government overreach. Yet many of those same lawmakers also have complained about hearing from constituents who say their kids are hungry at school.

Though broader calorie limits are still in place, the rules tweak will allow school lunch planners to use as many grains and as much meat as they want. In comments to USDA, many had said grains shouldn't be limited because they are a part of so many meals, and that it was difficult to always find the right size of meat.

The new tweak doesn't upset nutritionists who fought for the school lunch overhaul.

Margo Wootan, a nutrition lobbyist for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, says the change is minor and the new guidance shows that USDA will work with school nutrition officials and others who have concerns.

"It takes time to work out the kinks," Wootan said. "This should show Congress that they don't need to interfere legislatively."

Congress has already interfered with the rules. Last year, after USDA first proposed the new guidelines, Congress prohibited USDA from limiting potatoes and French fries and allowed school lunchrooms to continue counting tomato paste on pizza as a vegetable.

The school lunch rules apply to federally subsidized lunches served to low-income children. Those meals have always been subject to nutritional guidelines because they are partially paid for by the federal government, but the new rules put broader restrictions on what could be served as childhood obesity rates have skyrocketed.

School kids can still buy additional foods in other parts of the lunchroom and the school. Congress two years ago directed USDA to regulate those foods as well, but the department has yet to issue those rules.

Sen. Hoeven, who had written Vilsack to express concern about the rules, said he will be supportive of the meals overhaul if the USDA continues to be flexible when problems arise.

"This is an important step," he said. "They are responding and that's what they need to do."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-12-08-School%20Lunches/id-995738899f0b48e780979c1c46155fc0

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