Teaching job available in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang-RMB7000-8000 ...

Position:Teaching job available in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang-RMB7000-8000 monthly

Teaching condition:
1) Available start date:Sep.2012
2) Vacancy: 2-3
3) Salary: 7000-8000RMB/month
4) Teaching Load: 26 classes/week (40-60minutes each)
5) Free accommodation
6) Airfare: Round way
7) Holiday paid: One month
8) Working Visa: Yes
9) Student?s age: 5-18
10) Students per class: 10-15

Requirements:
a) Native speaker+20-50 years old
b) Bachelor degree or above +TEFL/TESOL+Teaching experience

If you are interested, Please send your CV/Resume, Passport, Education Diploma/Teaching certificate relevant, one recent photo copy and Reference Letter to: Ivy2003@eslengtop.com or eslengtop@yahoo.cn

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Source: http://www.eslhq.com/forums/jobs/asia/china/teaching-job-available-jiamusi-heilongjiang-rmb7000-8000-monthly-52058/

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Aid Anyone Sleep Much better Through The Night Using These ...

Handful of situations are far more exasperating than attempting to get an effective night?s relax when an individual is heavy snoring loudly only ? out of your ears. Luckily, there are numerous things which can be done to quit heavy snoring. Keep reading for some helpful details that you can use to stop snoring?your own personal or even your partner?s.

If snoring is an issue for you, consider getting rid of that last cup of wines just before bed. Alcohol consumption is a very common cause of loud snoring. Consuming prior to your bed can force you to sleeping much more seriously, and heavy snoring is a common end result. By pass that very last drink for any a lot more peaceful sleep at night.

If the area you sleep in is too dried up, it might be wise to buy a warm air humidifier. As soon as the atmosphere is simply too free of moisture, blockage can take place within your neck and nose, and will even make them swell. The congestion and puffiness ensure it is more difficult to inhale and results in one to snore loudly. A warm air humidifier can eliminate this issue.

In case you are postponing stop smoking due to issues about excess weight, never ever worry. Understand that it will consider approximately seventy-five pounds of excess weight into the future close to the health hazards associated with typical tobacco use. Should you be worried about putting on weight, think about exchanging your cigarette habit using a health and fitness center membership, alternatively.

An anti-heavy snoring mouth defend may help you rest far better in case you are troubled by loud snoring. A health care provider or dental practitioner can provide you with a perfectly appropriate mouth bit that will maintain your the teeth jointly, and thus preventing the muscle tissues in your mouth from relaxing a lot of, which happens to be probably leading to your snoring.

In the event you often discover youself to be snoring loudly during the night, prevent alcohol consumption. Alcohol can hold back the central nervous system, therefore leading to all of the muscle groups in your throat to fall under a calm condition. Your jaw muscle tissues will loosen up as well, increasing any heavy snoring issues. Only ingest without excess, if whatsoever, and you will definitely prevent this issue.

If snoring is really a frequent nightly combat to suit your needs, you may want to take into account buying a humidifier to include moisture into the oxygen and alleviate the dry skin in your neck, making it easier to breathe. A basic technique is usually to just operate very hot water and carry your face within the faucet to suck in the water vapor, briefly prior to going to rest. This will open your air passages and in addition, hydrate your throat and nasal tooth decay.

Use nose strips to assist you sleeping. Nose pieces increase the nostrils to aid air movement, which decreases heavy snoring. This will permit not just you to definitely sleep at night effectively, but you also won?t be troubling your loved ones when you slumber. Obtain brand-title nose strips in your nearby grocery store and implement them before heading to bed.

As previously stated, snoring is actually a deafening and noisy situation that a great many people need to handle. Loud snoring might not simply be a sound although, it could let you know some thing concerning your wellness. Using the over ideas to get the causes and ways to deal with snoring loudly could help everybody rest slightly much better.

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Source: http://houseofliteracy.com/?p=198561

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Looking past Europe's debt crisis to find quality stocks

? Jul 27, 2012 ? 2:25 PM ET | Last Updated: Jul 27, 2012 3:19 PM ET

Like some epic Wagnerian opera, we are in the third summer of European turmoil and this will likely be longer than a trilogy. At the moment, German chancellor Angela Merkel probably wishes she had a magic ring that would grant control over her fellow Euro leaders. If she did, she?d push austerity now and banish inflation forever, damn the consequences.

But there are quality European equities trading in the shadow of the continental credit crisis, which, though still not resolved, is at least moving in the right direction, presenting investors, including archerETF, some opportunities. Contrary to what you might expect given the disaster-filled headlines, the credit crisis has had a mixed effect on European equities.

Most of the euro market damage has been confined to Spain and Italy, with total year-to-date returns down 29% and 15%, respectively, in Canadian dollar terms. The blue-chip Eurostoxx 50 Index of the largest companies is down a more manageable 4.9% and the broader Stoxx 600, which includes mid- and small-cap names, is actually up 1.8%. Germany is up 4.9%, but France is down about 1.4%, similar to the S&P/TSX 60?s performance.

Valuations across the indices are also mixed. Prices relative to next year?s earnings estimates are around 10 times for all the major European indices, with the cheapest being Italy at 8.4x and the richest being Switzerland at 12.6x. By comparison, the S&P/TSX 60 is at 12.6x and the S&P 500 is at 13.2x.

Dividends on European indices are generous, in the range of 4.5% to 5.5%: Spain?s IBEX is at a grand 8.4% compared to rates of 2.2% and 3.1% for the S&P 500 and the S&P/TSX 60, respectively.

However, as compelling as these valuations may be, until the crisis is fully resolved, European stock markets will remain volatile. As portfolio managers, over the last year, we have steered toward lower-risk, lower-beta, higher-dividend investments, a strategy that has worked consistently well for our clients.

We believe a similar strategy applied to Europe would provide better risk-adjusted returns. The difficulty is that there are few Euro-centric exchange-traded funds (ETFs) readily available here. Indeed, there are less than 50 European-focused ETFs listed in North America. Most of them offer exposure to either a broad pan-Euro index such as the Stoxx 50 or 600, although several offer country specific exposure. One holds European banks ? a sector we are not keen on.

The only ETF we?ve found that offers safer European exposure is the SPDR S&P International Consumer Staples Sector ETF (IPS/NYSE). Even that one is not purely Europe, since about 75% of its allocation is in Euro companies and the balance is in firms in Japan, Australia and elsewhere.

What we like about IPS is that it?s focused on recession-proof firms such as Nestl? S.A., British American Tobacco plc, Diageo and Unilever plc. In total, IPS holds about 70 companies, most of them large-cap multinationals with significant operations in both Europe and fast-growing emerging markets.

IPS?s returns are highly correlated to those of broad European ETFs such as the Vanguard MSCI Europe ETF (VGK/NYSE), but with about half the volatility and half the beta.

For the 12 months ended June 30, IPS returned a modest 2.4%, soundly beating the broad VGK which lost 16.2%. The difference over three years ended June 30 is just as dramatic: IPS returned nearly 50% versus VGK?s 19%.

IPS?s better returns with lower risk mean it?s not as cheap as VGK on a valuation basis. IPS has higher price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios than VGK. But IPS also has a debt-to-equity ratio that is about a third of VGK?s, mainly because it doesn?t have exposure to banks and insurers.

The one shortcoming of IPS is that it has a small asset base of about $20 million. But given the liquidity of its underlying companies, this should not be an issue for individual investors.

Wagner?s operas tended to end in a blaze of fire and destruction. While Europe?s credit crisis may at times feel like it will end similarly, the reality is it will close on a much more positive note and rational investors will profit.

Vikash Jain, MSc, CFA, is vice-president and portfolio manager with archerETF Portfolio Management, a division of Bellwether Investment Management Inc. Visit archerETF IQ blog at archeretf.com/blog. The author may hold positions in securities mentioned in this report

Source: http://business.financialpost.com/2012/07/27/looking-past-europes-debt-crisis-to-find-quality-stocks/

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Stock futures inch up as investors eye stimulus

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures edged higher on Friday at the end of a volatile week that has reinvigorated hopes that both the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank will act next week to shore up flagging economies and stabilize the euro zone.

Stocks leapt nearly 2 percent in the last session, erasing most of their losses for the week, as ECB chief Mario Draghi said he would do whatever it takes to save the euro. That followed a story in the Wall Street Journal Wednesday which was widely seen as heralding a new round of stimulus from the Fed.

The Commerce Department releases its first estimate for second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT), expected to show the economy expanded at a 1.5 percent annual rate between April and June, down from 1.9 percent in the first three months of the year. A miss there could reinforce expectation of Fed action.

S&P 500 futures rose 2.9 points and were above fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration of the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures added 5 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 4.75 points.

Hopes of more stimulus have helped offset a mixed U.S. corporate earnings season, with many companies beating profit forecasts but often missing revenue projections and warning about sluggish global growth.

So far, about half of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings. Of those, about two thirds have beat profit forecasts. Three in five of the companies, however, have missed Wall Street's revenue projection, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Facebook Inc reported a drastic slowdown in revenue growth on Thursday and failed to offer financial forecasts to quell fears about its ability to boost advertising growth, sending its shares plummeting to a record low. The stock was down 9.5 percent at $24.30 in premarket trade.

Starbucks Corp cut its outlook for the current quarter, citing global economic weakness and a recent slowdown in visits in the United States, its biggest market for sales and profits, sending shares tumbling more than 11 percent premarket.

European shares offered support with a second consecutive rise due to renewed hopes of more stimulus from global policymakers. The FTSEurofirst 300 index was up 0.3 percent Friday, after surging 2.4 percent on Thursday.

Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers at 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT) is expected by economists to show a reading of 72.0 on its index of consumer sentiment, in line with a preliminary figure.

Merck , whose sales disappointed in the prior period, is expected to report moderate earnings gains in the second quarter, helped by growing demand for its Januvia diabetes drugs. Other major companies announcing results include Chevron and Legg Mason .

Amazon.com shares were also down 0.5 percent after the close following the release of its results. The online retailer forecast third-quarter revenue that lagged Wall Street's projections.

(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stock-futures-signal-higher-open-focus-data-084156869--finance.html

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Have you visited your discount grocery store lately?

You probably can't get everything you need at a discount grocery store, but you can get most of your items for the week at a much lower price. Save the higher-end places for fresh produce and specialty items.

By Trent Hamm,?Guest blogger / July 28, 2012

Shoppers stock up on produce at an ALDI in Roswell, Ga. in this May 2012 file photo. Hamm recommends shopping at discount grocers like ALDI for all but special grocery needs.

John Amis/AP/File

Enlarge

All grocery stores are not created equal.

Skip to next paragraph Trent Hamm

The Simple Dollar is a blog for those of us who need both cents and sense: people fighting debt and bad spending habits while building a financially secure future and still affording a latte or two. Our busy lives are crazy enough without having to compare five hundred mutual funds ? we just want simple ways to manage our finances and save a little money.

Recent posts

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In our area, you?ll find food co-ops that specialize in fresh groceries and items with quality ingredients, but the prices are high. You?ll find chains that try to appeal to all shoppers, like Hy-Vee.

You?ll also find discount grocers. For me, the two store chains that fall firmly into that group in my area are Aldi and Fareway.

When I?m grocery shopping, I do the majority of my shopping at Fareway.

For me, it always comes down to what is really on offer at a grocery store. Is it clean? Are the items there easy to find? Are the prices reasonable? Do they have the items I actually need? Do they have items that I desire? Do they have a large, varied selection?

My experience has been that each store has its own balance between these features. In order to get some of the features listed above, you?re going to have to give up on other features.

For example, the local food co-op tends to excel with cleanliness, interesting items, and a varied selection, but it?s mediocre in terms of easy-to-find things and having everything I need, and it?s terrible in terms of price. The local all-in-one grocery store tends to excel with having everything I need and is average in about every other category. On the other hand, the local discount store excels on price and is mediocre at the other factors.

For me, the solution is obvious: I use all three of them. I buy most of the needed items at the local Fareway, where the prices are low and all of the items I need can easily be found. This takes care of most of my weekly grocery stops.

If I have more esoteric needs, I?ll go to the other stores, but it?s on a less frequent basis and it tends to be only for the specific things I need. I?ll go into the food co-op looking only for three or four specific items, and I?ll go maybe once a month.

Because of these choices, my weekly grocery bill tends to be a lot lower than it otherwise would be. However, saving that money takes a bit of extra planning. Most of the time, my meal plans tend to avoid unusual ingredients that can?t be stored for a long time (like fresh fruits or vegetables that aren?t commonly found). This way, I can avoid the more expensive food co-op or all-in-one store most of the time. I don?t avoid such meals, I just tend to set them aside for a later date.

The end result is a lower monthly food budget. The backbone of our diet comes from food purchased at a discount store, with some supplementation from other places (like the farmers? market, the food co-op, the all-in-one grocery store, the warehouse club, and our garden).

Try out your local discount grocer. You might just find that it perfectly takes care of your weekly grocery list without emptying the cash from your pockets.

This post is part of a yearlong series called ?365 Ways to Live Cheap (Revisited),? in which I?m revisiting the entries from my book ?365 Ways to Live Cheap,? which is available at Amazon and at bookstores everywhere.

The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of the best economy-related bloggers out there. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here. To add or view a comment on a guest blog, please go to the blogger's own site by clicking on www.thesimpledollar.com.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/8_HLLkqK36Y/Have-you-visited-your-discount-grocery-store-lately

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Apollo Moon Landing Flags Still Standing, Photos Reveal

An enduring question ever since the manned moon landings of the 1960s has been: Are the flags planted by the astronauts still standing?

Now, lunar scientists say the verdict is in from the latest photos of the moon taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC): Most do, in fact, still stand.

"From the LROC images it is now certain that the American flags are still standingand casting shadows at all of the sites, except Apollo 11," LROC principal investigator Mark Robinson wrote in a blog post today(July 27). "Astronaut Buzz Aldrin reported that the flag was blown over by the exhaust from the ascent engine during liftoff of Apollo 11, and it looks like he was correct!"

Each of the six manned Apollo missions that landed on the moon planted an American flag in the lunar dirt.

Scientists have examined images of the Apollo landing sites before for signs of the flags, and seen hints of what might be shadows cast by the flags. However, this wasn't considered strong evidence that the flags were still standing. Now, researchers have examined photos taken of the same spots at various points in the day, and observed shadows circling the point where the flag is thought to be. [Video: Moon Photos Prove Apollo Flags Still Stand]

Robinson calls these photos "convincing."

"Personally I was a bit surprised that the flags survived the harsh ultraviolet light and temperatures of the lunar surface, but they did," Robinson wrote. "What they look like is another question (badly faded?)."

Most scientists had assumed the flags hadn't survived more than four decades of harsh conditions on the moon.

"Intuitively, experts mostly think it highly unlikely the Apollo flags could have endured the 42 years of exposure to vacuum, about 500 temperature swings from 242 F during the day to -280 F during the night, micrometeorites, radiation and ultraviolet light, some thinking the flags have all but disintegrated under such an assault of the environment," scientist James Fincannon, of the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, wrote in the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal.

In recent years, photos from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have also shown other unprecedented details of the Apollo landing sites, such as views of the lunar landers, rovers, scientific instruments left behind on the surface, and even the astronauts' boot prints. These details are visible in photos snapped by the probe while it was skimming just 15 miles (24 kilometers) above the moon's surface.

LRO launched in June 2009, and first captured close-up images of the Apollo landing sites in July of that year. The $504 million car-size spacecraft is currently on an extended mission through at least September 2012.

Follow Clara Moskowitz on Twitter?@ClaraMoskowitz?or SPACE.com?@Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook?&?Google+.

Copyright 2012 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/apollo-moon-landing-flags-still-standing-photos-reveal-212000880.html

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Phelps-Lochte matchup highlights day 1 of swimming

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps uses his camera phone to take photos of journalists gathered at a press conference held at the media center of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 26, 2012, in London. Phelps insists these will be his last games. The 14-time gold medalist will go out with a bang, aiming to claim the unofficial title of greatest Olympian ever from Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps uses his camera phone to take photos of journalists gathered at a press conference held at the media center of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 26, 2012, in London. Phelps insists these will be his last games. The 14-time gold medalist will go out with a bang, aiming to claim the unofficial title of greatest Olympian ever from Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps speaks at a press conference held at the media center of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 26, 2012, in London. Phelps insists these will be his last games. The 14-time gold medalist will go out with a bang, aiming to claim the unofficial title of greatest Olympian ever from Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps speaks at a press conference held at the media center of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 26, 2012, in London. Phelps insists these will be his last games. The 14-time gold medalist will go out with a bang, aiming to claim the unofficial title of greatest Olympian ever from Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

LONDON (AP) ? The retiring star with more gold medals than anyone. The friendly rival who intends to be the biggest star in London.

Michael Phelps vs. Ryan Lochte.

What a way to start eight days of swimming at the Olympic pool!

The two Americans will go head-to-head Saturday in the 400-meter individual medley, a grueling race encompassing all four strokes, an appropriate way for one or the other to fire the first salvo in this most intriguing of rivalries.

"A very rough race," said Phelps' coach, Bob Bowman, smiling at the possibilities. "It will be a coach's dream, but also a spectator's dream. It will be fantastic."

For Phelps, it's a chance to add to his record total of 14 gold medals and become the first male swimmer to win the same event at three straight Olympics. But Lochte is the defending world champion and defeated Phelps rather easily at the U.S. trials last month.

Lochte is certainly not lacking for confidence.

"Right after Beijing, I had a four-year plan for getting here to London," he said. "I thought I could go a lot faster. I knew I could, just because of the training I've done. That's why I knew this was going to be my year."

Lochte started following the same training regimen used by burly athletes who can compete in Strongman competitions ? rolling large tires, tossing kegs, dragging chains. He believes it's made him stronger than anyone else in the pool. He believes it's the edge he needs to beat Phelps, and everyone else.

"It's going to pay off," Lochte said. "I just know it."

The Phelps-Lochte showdown won't be the only event on the opening night of swimming.

The home crowd will be cheering on Britain's Hannah Miley in the women's 400 IM, where she'll be competing against American teenager Elizabeth Beisel and California-based Katinka Hosszu, the latest in a long line of Hungarian medley specialists. The men's 400 freestyle figures to be a tussle among China's Sun Yang, South Korea's Park Tae-hwan and France's Yannick Angel. Ranomi Kromowidjojo leads the Flying Dutch in the women's 4x100 free relay, an event the Netherlands won at the last Olympics and the past two world championships.

The Americans will look to challenge with a relay squad that potentially includes Natalie Coughlin, who won six medals in Beijing but didn't even qualify for an individual event for these games. The 29-year-old was knocked off at the U.S. trials by an emerging wave of teenage stars, including Missy Franklin, but managed to claim a spot on the team as a possible relay swimmer by finishing sixth in the 100 free.

Without a strong showing in the preliminaries, she might not even get a chance to swim the evening final. But, if the Americans finish on the podium, a morning swim would be good enough to give Coughlin the 12th medal of her career, tying Dara Torres and Jenny Thompson as America's most decorated female Olympian.

But those races are mere warmups to the main event.

Phelps is chasing more history at these games, having already claimed the record for most golds ? five more than anyone else ? and knocked off Mark Spitz's iconic Olympic standard with eight wins in Beijing. Next up: Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, who is two ahead of Phelps with 18 career medals. It shouldn't be too much of a challenge for him to take down that record, since he's got seven events in London and figures to win a medal of some color in every one of them.

Lochte doesn't mind Phelps winning silver or bronze. Those colors don't interest the laid-back Floridian in the least.

"You should be going in with the mindset of winning," Lochte said. "That's what I'm going to be doing each race. I'm going up there to win. I'm not going for silver or bronze, I'm going for gold."

The winningest Olympian ever will certainly have something to say about that. Phelps struggled to stay motivated after Beijing, and some lackluster training showed at last year's world championships, where he was beaten by Lochte in both the 200 free and 200 individual medley. But Phelps has clearly regained his racing edge, wanting to go out in style at what he insists will be the final meet of his career. He intends to retire as soon as his final Olympic race is done.

"Last workout ever," Phelps tweeted Friday morning, joking that he wouldn't have to do anymore "garbage yardage" and thanking his coach for guiding him throughout his career. "Now let's have some fun this week."

Phelps showed he means business by beating Lochte in both the 200 free and the 200 IM at the U.S. trials. While Lochte took the 400 IM, Phelps only restored that event to his program earlier this year, after vowing to give it up after Beijing. He figures to be faster in London than he was in Omaha.

"It's always a challenge to have things go perfectly," Phelps said. "For the very first night, it is going to be a challenging race. It's going to be an exciting race. Bob and I have changed a few things over the past few weeks, and we'll see what's going to happen in that race. I feel confident. Everything feels good."

Lochte vows he'll also be a lot faster than he was at the trials.

"I knew that wasn't my meet," he said. "That was just a little appetizer, I guess. This is the big show. This is what I've been working for. I wasn't working for trials. I was working for the Olympics."

Because of his unique training program, he believes he's got an edge on everyone at the pool ? Phelps included. Lochte is convinced that flipping an 850-pound tire 20 or 30 times down a lonely Florida road is just what he needed to knock off the guy with all those gold medals.

"That Strongman stuff, it helped me out a lot," Lochte said. "I knew no other swimmer was doing the stuff I was doing. I knew I had an edge. That gave me the confidence that I needed."

Now, we'll see if that's enough.

What an opening night indeed.

__

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-07-28-OLY-SWM-Swimming-Begins/id-654505a1cb514c1b95145eb5d3658d3d

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EYES ON LONDON: Gasol's got nothing to wear

LONDON (AP) ? Around the 2012 Olympics and its host city with journalists from The Associated Press bringing the flavor and details of the games to you:

___

WHAT WILL I WEAR?

If something doesn't happen fast, Spain's Pau Gasol will be looking a little casual when he carries his national flag at Friday's opening ceremony.

He still hasn't received his official team clothing. Perhaps it's a height issue? The Los Angeles Lakers star isn't the easiest person to dress given that he's 2.15 meters (7 foot) tall.

"Everything's up in the air," says Gasol.

?Jorge Sainz ? Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Sainz-Jorge

___

OLYMPIC RETURN

Carly Patterson is back at an Olympics for the first time since winning the gymnastics all-around title in Athens, and she's enjoying the trip down memory lane.

"Honestly, in my everyday life at home, I'm no one special. Just Carly, going about my everyday life, cleaning my house," says Patterson, who doesn't even have her gold medal in her own house. "So it feels really nice to actually be reminded of what I've done because I don't think about it a lot. And I am proud of it."

Patterson, the first U.S. woman since Mary Lou Retton to win the all-around title, is in London with P&G. She showed off another of her talents Friday, singing the national anthem at the opening ceremony for P&G's U.S. Family Home.

? Nancy Armour ? Twitter http://twitter.com/nrarmour

___

TEST OF FIRE

U. S. rider Boyd Martin passed his first Olympic hurdle Friday as his horse Otis Barbotiere was accepted in the veterinary inspection that signaled the start of the equestrian eventing competition at Greenwich Park.

He faced a much more perilous trial in the spring of 2011 when his training barn west of Philadelphia caught fire in the middle of the night. Martin ran into the flaming barn and saved several horses, including Otis Barbotiere ? but seven other horses perished.

?Margaret Freeman ? Twitter http://twitter.com/MFequestrian

___

SPECULATION EVERYWHERE

There's only one thing that people here in the Olympic Park talk about when they have the chance on Friday ? and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Yes, even the most seasoned of hacks are taking part in the guessing game about the Olympic ceremony. Who will light the flame, and just how British can it really get?

Will Mary Poppins really be there? What about Harry Potter? And how will James Bond make his appearance? Is it possible to work a Briton's favourite (yes, FAVOURITE) canned food ? baked beans ? into an opening ceremony?

In just a couple of hours we'll all know. Luckily there is a bit of sport coming up for everyone to talk about next.

?Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb

___

AFTER THE RIOTS, A REWARD

He was the online organizer who urged Londoners to grab their brooms and take to the streets after the August 2011 riots that saw stores looted and cars torched in the capital's worst unrest in decades.

Now activist Dan Thompson is among 17 people who were handed free tickets for Friday's Olympic opening ceremony by British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Thompson used social networks to mobilize volunteers to sweep up debris in communities across London after nights of violent disorder.

Cameron has also offered tickets to youth workers and graduates of Britain's National Citizen Service, a program which sees young people carry out community work.

?David Stringer - Twitter http://twitter.com/david_stringer

___

TOUGH LUCK

Dozens of people have been turned away from the archery event in central London ? victims, it seems, of hoax tickets.

Others arrived at Lord's Cricket Ground because of a misunderstanding. They thought the event ? billed as "unticketed" ? meant you could just turn up on the day.

Many vented their anger at volunteers but were told that their tickets ? presumably purchased from unofficial sites ? weren't valid because Friday's preliminary rounds weren't even open to the public.

Meanwhile, inside, South Korea's team scored a world record with 2,087 points to take first place.

?Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/APkrawczynski.

___

UNEXPECTED HISTORY

It has become a symbol of the Olympics: a runner carrying a flaming torch on the final leg of a journey that began in Greece, then dramatically lighting a cauldron to symbolize the beginning of the most heralded event of international sports.

The torch relay has been dressed up in the pageantry of ancient Greek mythology. But the event has a darker origin.

Historians believe the ancient Greeks used a fire ritual in their games ? but no torch relay. That idea is actually the legacy of the Nazis, who conceived the event for the 1936 Berlin Olympics to glorify Adolf Hitler's regime.

Credit for the idea goes to Carl Diem, chief organizer of the 1936 Games. Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels seized on the idea to link the Nazis to the glory of ancient Greece. All the resources of the Nazi state were organized to make it happen.

Runners were chosen so their physical appearance matched the Nazi idea of the "Aryan Master Race." Radio broadcasts along the route from Greece to Berlin fueled public enthusiasm.

At the next Summer Games in 1948, British organizers chose to continue the relay despite its Nazi origins, advertising the event as a "relay of peace." The first runner symbolically removed his army uniform before grabbing the torch.

?Robert H. Reid ? Twitter http://twitter.com/rhreid

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PIT STOP

The USA men's basketball team was delayed a few minutes before taking the stage for a news conference this afternoon, but for good reason.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski and Lebron James were slightly lost in the halls of the Olympics Main Press Center as they were supposed to be appearing before hundreds of journalists.

"Where's the bathroom?" Krzyzewski asked.

Once resolved, he and James joined the rest of the coaches and players who are part of one of the biggest star-wattage attractions at the games.

?Lou Ferrara ? Twitter http://twitter.com/louferrara

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BIG STAR, BIG FAN

Two-time gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings is one of the biggest stars in beach volleyball, and her success in the sand hasn't done much to take the fan out of her.

When it comes to other big names at the games, Walsh Jennings reacts just like anyone else who meets a sporting hero face to face.

She has run into swimmer Michael Phelps and NBA players Tony Parker and Ronny Turiaf since arriving in London on Monday.

"I still feel like a giddy little girl," Walsh Jennings says. "The first couple of days are kind of like the first days of high school."

?Jimmy Golen ? Twitter http://www.twitter.com/jgolen

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FRIENDLY CONFINES

Any big-time baseball fan will be awash in familiarity when visiting Lord's Cricket Ground.

Lord's is home to the archery competition, and the event kicked off on Friday morning.

Lord's is an historic place, the cricket equivalent to Wrigley Field ? and the similarities are striking. Nestled in a neighborhood of London that has apartments just across the street (rooftop pint, anyone?), Lord's features brick archways, perfectly manicured lawns and an intimate atmosphere with seats right on top of the action.

?Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://www.twitter.com/APkrawczynski

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FLOATING FLOORS

Horses and riders are floating on air ? but not just because they're excited about the start of equestrian events Saturday.

The main equestrian arena, spectator walkways, exercise track and stables have all been built on platforms to protect the hallowed grass grounds of Greenwich Park, London's oldest royal park.

"It's amazing the lengths they've gone to to protect the grounds," says Linda Zang, dressage coach for the U.S. eventing team, whose five horses easily passed a pre-competition fitness test Friday.

Of the three elements that go into eventing ? dressage, jumping and cross country ? only the cross country will be run on solid ground.

?Nicole Winfield ? Twitter http://twitter.com/nwinfield

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WHICH FLAG, NOW

Diplomatic dispute? That means customers to be had.

One cheeky optician known for its humor is running a full page ad in a British newspaper that cashes in on the recent Korean flag mix-up at the women's soccer game between North Korea and Colombia.

The ad appears Friday in the pull-out Olympics section of Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper. It features both the North Korean and South Korean flags side-by-side. Underneath is Korean writing which, when translated, roughly matches the optician's famous advertising catch phrase: "Should have gone to Specsavers."

The South Korean flag was mistakenly displayed on the giant screen before the match in Glasgow, Scotland, on Wednesday night. The North Korean team refused to take the field for about an hour before the game started. London organizers have since apologized for the mix-up.

North Korea's IOC member, Chang Ung, has now proposed that Olympic protocol officials meet with team leaders before every medal ceremony to check that the correct flags and national anthems are used.

?Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb

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NOT SO HOT DOG

Tennis players call it the "hot dog" ? the flashy, between-the-legs, back-to-the-opponent shot when chasing down a lob into the backcourt.

On Friday, No 8 seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark tried the difficult maneuver twice during a practice session with No. 10 seed Li Na of China, ahead of the Olympic event at Wimbledon. Both times, she failed to swing her racket under the ball, and it trickled into the grass on her side of the net.

"I want to do it so much but I can't," Wozniacki said with a laugh to Li. Then the Chinese player tried it when Wozniacki lobbed her, and she too failed.

Players usually stick to the conventional in training, and try the "hot dog" for fun. Once in a while, though, the crowd-pleasing shot comes in handy in a match.

In 2009, Roger Federer set up a matchpoint with a "hot dog" in a three-set win over Novak Djokovic in the semifinals at the U.S. Open.

?Christopher Torchia

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WHAT'S THE FORECAST?

Those in London for the Games will be getting a more authentic British weather experience today as rainy spells hit the capital.

Thursday was the hottest day of the year in Britain ? temperatures reached 31.4 Celsius 89 Fahrenheit) at the Olympic Park ? but Friday started off much cooler indeed.

The good news? Forecasters say that any rain should have cleared by early evening with the British Met Office predicting just a 10 percent chance of a downpour at the opening ceremony. The event begins at 8.12 p.m. (3:12 p.m. EDT) so if things play out as expected the 60,000 spectators in the Olympic Stadium should stay dry.

Whatever happens with the weather, you can bet the Brits will be talking about it.

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EDITOR'S NOTE ? "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item, and get even more AP updates from the Games here: http://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/eyes-london-gasols-got-nothing-wear-141134469--oly.html

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'GMA' host may take medical leave late next month

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) ? "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts is planning to take a medical leave around the end of August for her bone marrow transplant.

But during her absence from the ABC morning show, she'll be getting a little help from her friends, she said Thursday.

Roberts listed Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric among her "wonderful, wonderful friends at ABC News" who will be subbing for her. Others mentioned: talk-show host Kelly Ripa and panelists from the ABC talk show "The View."

Roberts announced last month that she has MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease once known as preleukemia.

On Thursday, she told reporters gathered for the Television Critics Association conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., that her leave would "most likely" start at the end of August or early September.

"It's fascinating-slash-scary how to prepare yourself for something like this," she said, appearing by satellite from ABC's studios in New York. And when asked how she's feeling, she replied, "I do go through moments of fatigue."

But citing the continuing resurgence of "Good Morning America" against its long-dominant NBC rival "Today," she brightened.

"The run that we've had has truly energized me," she said. "It's pretty good medicine, I gotta say, to be taking!"

In particular, ABC was crowing Thursday that, for the first time in 17 years, "GMA" had seized first place among total viewers (almost 4.6 million vs. 4.25 million for "Today") as well as tying "Today" for first place in the 25- to 54-year-old demographic, each with 1.74 million.

ABC News President Ben Sherwood was inspired to frame the victory in Olympic terms.

"For 852 straight (weekly) races, the 'Today' show won the gold medal, going back to 1995," he said. Then, several weeks ago, "GMA" snapped the "Today" winning streak, "and stood there alone for the first time in 16 years to get its own gold medal."

"And after 879 weeks running behind in younger viewers, 25-to-54," Sherwood went on, "GMA" is "standing there at the gold-medal podium, unbelievably in an actual statistical tie with the previous champs."

Meanwhile, Sherwood acknowledged a mistake ABC News made last week during coverage of the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 people and injured dozens more.

ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross speculated on the air about the political ties of the alleged gunman, James Holmes, erroneously identifying him as a member of the tea party.

"It was a mistake," Sherwood said. "We recognized it immediately. We owned it immediately. We corrected it immediately. We apologized for it."

Declaring, "That particular moment didn't live up to the standards and practices of ABC News," he said, "I take responsibility for it. The news division knows how displeased I am about it. And we will do everything we can to prevent it ever happening again."

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ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gma-host-may-medical-leave-next-month-215838413.html

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