Relationships Initiate Self-Improvement ? Dr. Diva PhD Online ...

Relationships Initiate?Self-Improvement

Posted by Dr. Diva Verdun on December 21, 2012 ? Leave a Comment?

Looking at the way our relationships are structured we learn to use them as mirror reflections to find the things within ourselves that we need to focus our attention on.? As long as we are looking at the person that holds our affections with a critical eye, we are not focused on the reality that the reflection we see in the mirror is actually pointing at the issues we need to address within.

No matter how much we try to change someone else we cannot.? People only change when they find a reason to make improvements within and not before. By chastising and criticizing your beloved, you are actually driving a wedge into the relationship bond.? You are breaking down the bridge from which love freely flows.? Where you see they need to make self-improvement is also a marker that is pointing directly back to you, so that you can find the very same similarities within yourself.

Relationships are a slippery slope.? You can get so caught up in attempting to improve someone else?s behavior and character, that you are not even aware of your own.? A relationship can only level off to the height of your awareness of self.? Thus, if you are not aware of the internal struggles you are experiencing, you will continue to attract others into your experience that bring trials and challenges that are designed to point you in the direction of your own healing.

The miraculous thing about bonding relationships is the growth that both parties receive in the experience. When both people are working to improve themselves, the need to criticize and chastise each other falls away and becomes true deep loving support of each others individual and spiritual growth.

To often we want to control and force the other person into their healing to satisfy our own needs and fears.? The amazing thing about relationships is that the other person is limited in their growth and healing unless we are growing and healing as well.? Thus, no amount of force, pressure or control can move them one step forward in their own growth and healing.

If there is no growth and healing on an individual level, your relationship will become stagnant and dry-up resulting in either a break-up, because one person is growing and the other is not, or level off into a complacent and withered experience void of love and passion as the you both continue to simply co-exist in your pain.

Relationships Initiate Self-Improvement - Dr. Diva VerdunWhat you desire in a relationship is yours to have.? The person you attract to you is always right in the moment that they come into your experience.? They mirror exactly all you are at that particular moment, both the good and the bad.? Sadly, most people are not adept in many cases to be aware of this truth and don?t realize that the relationship is also mirroring your bad qualities as well, when you see them in your beloved.

Seeing yourself in the mirror of your relationship can be a beautiful experience when you see love, compassion, passion, trust, and all the other wonderful things that come with the union you are enjoying.? Sadly, you do not readily welcome seeing the bad.? However, when you begin to exercise self-mastery, you become aware that all things that happen for your bad, both big and small, in relationships and otherwise, are all designed for your good.? You become fully aware that your good manifest through you and you become disciplined to use every opportunity to work on your own issues, knowing that as you do everything else will level-off to your new state of awareness, including seeing growth and changes in your beloved and the relationship.

Relationships are not simply about love and passion and all the wonderful things that come with them.? They are key elements in your own growth in the equation of higher levels of awareness and spirituality. When you begin to exercise self-mastery to go deeper to carve out your own negative thinking and deal with your own pain, your behavior and character patterns change, which directly improve your relationship by either ending one that does not serve you, improving the one you have, as both people grow in Divine Love as Spirit makes the adjustments, or you begin to attract new people into your experience with fresh new mirrors.

Namaste!

Diva

Click here for a prayer treatment as you move into using your relationships for self-improvement

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Filed under Empowerment & Motivation, Exercising Independence, Love & Relationships, positive mental attitude, Spiritual ? Tagged with Acceptance, Achieving your dreams, divine power, divine presence, Dr Diva Phd, Empowerment, How to, infinite intelligence, Life, Life Coaching, lifestyle, living, living life, Love, love and relationships, love and relatioships, mental-health, Metaphysics, mirror reflections, mirrors, Motivation, Personal Development, positive spirituality, relationship mirrors, relationships, Self Help, Self-Esteem, self-improvement, self-mastery, Spiritual, spiritual mind treatment, spirituality, stop criticising your mate and look at yourself, Success, Success Coach

Source: http://drdivaphd.wordpress.com/2012/12/21/relationships-initiate-self-improvement/

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New data challenge old views about evolution of early life

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 23-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Iqbal Pittalwala
iqbal@ucr.edu
951-827-6050
University of California - Riverside

UC Riverside-led research team rules out zinc as a factor in the delayed diversification of single-celled and multicellular organisms

RIVERSIDE, Calif. A research team led by biogeochemists at the University of California, Riverside has tested a popular hypothesis in paleo-ocean chemistry, and proved it false.

The fossil record indicates that eukaryotes single-celled and multicellular organisms with more complex cellular structures compared to prokaryotes, such as bacteria show limited morphological and functional diversity before 800-600 million years ago. Many researchers attribute the delayed diversification and proliferation of eukaryotes, which culminated in the appearance of complex animals about 600 million years ago, to very low levels of the trace metal zinc in seawater.

As it is for humans, zinc is essential for a wide range of basic cellular processes. Zinc-binding proteins, primarily located in the cell nucleus, are involved in the regulation of gene transcription.

Eukaryotes have increasingly incorporated zinc-binding structures during the last third of their evolutionary history and still employ both early- and late-evolving zinc-binding protein structures. Zinc is, therefore, of particular importance to eukaryotic organisms. And so it is not a stretch to blame the 1-2-billion-year delay in the diversification of eukaryotes on low bioavailability of this trace metal.

But after analyzing marine black shale samples from North America, Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe, ranging in age from 2.7 billion years to 580 million years old, the researchers found that the shales reflect high seawater zinc availability and that zinc concentrations during the Proterozoic (2.5 billion to 542 million years ago) were similar to modern concentrations. Zinc, the researchers posit, was never biolimiting.

Study results appear online Dec. 23 in Nature Geoscience.

"We argue that the concentration of zinc in ancient marine black shales is directly related to the concentrations of zinc in seawater and show that zinc is abundant in these rocks throughout Earth's history," said Clint Scott, the first author of the research paper and a former UC Riverside graduate student. "We found no evidence for zinc biolimitation in seawater."

Scott, now a research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, explained that the connection between zinc limitation and the evolution of eukaryotes was based largely on the hypothesis that Proterozoic oceans were broadly sulfidic. Under broadly sulfidic conditions, zinc should have been scarce because it would have rapidly precipitated in the oceans, he explained.

"However, a 2011 research paper in Nature also published by our group at UCR demonstrated that Proterozoic oceans were more likely broadly ferruginous that is, low in oxygen and iron-rich and that sulfidic conditions were more restricted than previously thought," said Scott, who performed the research in the lab of Timothy Lyons, a professor of biogeochemistry and the principal investigator of the research project.

The research team argues that ferruginous deep oceans, combined with large hydrothermal fluxes of zinc via volcanic activity on the seafloor, maintained high levels of dissolved zinc throughout the oceans and provided a relatively stable marine reservoir of the trace metal over the past 2.7 billion years.

"The key challenge in understanding the early evolution of life is recognizing the environmental conditions under which that life first appeared and diversified," Lyons said. "We have taken a very direct approach that specifically tracks the availability of essential micronutrients, and, to our surprise, zinc supplies in ancient seawater were much higher and less variable than previously imagined.

"We can imagine for the first time," he quipped, "that zinc supplements were not on the shopping lists of our early eukaryotic ancestors, and so we better find another reason to explain the mysterious delay in their rise in the ocean."

###

Scott, who graduated with a doctoral degree in geological sciences from UCR in 2009, and Lyons were joined in the study by Noah J. Planavsky, a former UCR graduate student in Lyons' lab; Chris L. Dupont at the J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, Calif.; Brian Kendall and Ariel D. Anbar at Arizona State University; Benjamin C. Gill at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and also a former member of the Lyons lab; Leslie J. Robbins and Kurt O. Konhauser at the University of Alberta, Canada; Kathryn F. Husband and Simon W. Poulton at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom; Gail L. Arnold at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Germany; Boswell A. Wing at McGill University, Canada; and Andrey Bekker at the University of Manitoba, Canada.

The idea for the study was a direct consequence of the 2011 Nature paper by Planavsky, Scott, Lyons and others that challenged the hypothesis of broadly sulfidic oceans.

The international collaboration received funding for the study from numerous sources. In the U.S., funding came from the National Science Foundation, the NASA Astrobiology Institute and the Agouron Institute.

The University of California, Riverside (www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment has exceeded 21,000 students. The campus will open a medical school in 2013 and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of more than $1 billion. A broadcast studio with fiber cable to the AT&T Hollywood hub is available for live or taped interviews. UCR also has ISDN for radio interviews. To learn more, call (951) UCR-NEWS.



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?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 23-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Iqbal Pittalwala
iqbal@ucr.edu
951-827-6050
University of California - Riverside

UC Riverside-led research team rules out zinc as a factor in the delayed diversification of single-celled and multicellular organisms

RIVERSIDE, Calif. A research team led by biogeochemists at the University of California, Riverside has tested a popular hypothesis in paleo-ocean chemistry, and proved it false.

The fossil record indicates that eukaryotes single-celled and multicellular organisms with more complex cellular structures compared to prokaryotes, such as bacteria show limited morphological and functional diversity before 800-600 million years ago. Many researchers attribute the delayed diversification and proliferation of eukaryotes, which culminated in the appearance of complex animals about 600 million years ago, to very low levels of the trace metal zinc in seawater.

As it is for humans, zinc is essential for a wide range of basic cellular processes. Zinc-binding proteins, primarily located in the cell nucleus, are involved in the regulation of gene transcription.

Eukaryotes have increasingly incorporated zinc-binding structures during the last third of their evolutionary history and still employ both early- and late-evolving zinc-binding protein structures. Zinc is, therefore, of particular importance to eukaryotic organisms. And so it is not a stretch to blame the 1-2-billion-year delay in the diversification of eukaryotes on low bioavailability of this trace metal.

But after analyzing marine black shale samples from North America, Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe, ranging in age from 2.7 billion years to 580 million years old, the researchers found that the shales reflect high seawater zinc availability and that zinc concentrations during the Proterozoic (2.5 billion to 542 million years ago) were similar to modern concentrations. Zinc, the researchers posit, was never biolimiting.

Study results appear online Dec. 23 in Nature Geoscience.

"We argue that the concentration of zinc in ancient marine black shales is directly related to the concentrations of zinc in seawater and show that zinc is abundant in these rocks throughout Earth's history," said Clint Scott, the first author of the research paper and a former UC Riverside graduate student. "We found no evidence for zinc biolimitation in seawater."

Scott, now a research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, explained that the connection between zinc limitation and the evolution of eukaryotes was based largely on the hypothesis that Proterozoic oceans were broadly sulfidic. Under broadly sulfidic conditions, zinc should have been scarce because it would have rapidly precipitated in the oceans, he explained.

"However, a 2011 research paper in Nature also published by our group at UCR demonstrated that Proterozoic oceans were more likely broadly ferruginous that is, low in oxygen and iron-rich and that sulfidic conditions were more restricted than previously thought," said Scott, who performed the research in the lab of Timothy Lyons, a professor of biogeochemistry and the principal investigator of the research project.

The research team argues that ferruginous deep oceans, combined with large hydrothermal fluxes of zinc via volcanic activity on the seafloor, maintained high levels of dissolved zinc throughout the oceans and provided a relatively stable marine reservoir of the trace metal over the past 2.7 billion years.

"The key challenge in understanding the early evolution of life is recognizing the environmental conditions under which that life first appeared and diversified," Lyons said. "We have taken a very direct approach that specifically tracks the availability of essential micronutrients, and, to our surprise, zinc supplies in ancient seawater were much higher and less variable than previously imagined.

"We can imagine for the first time," he quipped, "that zinc supplements were not on the shopping lists of our early eukaryotic ancestors, and so we better find another reason to explain the mysterious delay in their rise in the ocean."

###

Scott, who graduated with a doctoral degree in geological sciences from UCR in 2009, and Lyons were joined in the study by Noah J. Planavsky, a former UCR graduate student in Lyons' lab; Chris L. Dupont at the J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, Calif.; Brian Kendall and Ariel D. Anbar at Arizona State University; Benjamin C. Gill at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and also a former member of the Lyons lab; Leslie J. Robbins and Kurt O. Konhauser at the University of Alberta, Canada; Kathryn F. Husband and Simon W. Poulton at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom; Gail L. Arnold at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Germany; Boswell A. Wing at McGill University, Canada; and Andrey Bekker at the University of Manitoba, Canada.

The idea for the study was a direct consequence of the 2011 Nature paper by Planavsky, Scott, Lyons and others that challenged the hypothesis of broadly sulfidic oceans.

The international collaboration received funding for the study from numerous sources. In the U.S., funding came from the National Science Foundation, the NASA Astrobiology Institute and the Agouron Institute.

The University of California, Riverside (www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment has exceeded 21,000 students. The campus will open a medical school in 2013 and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of more than $1 billion. A broadcast studio with fiber cable to the AT&T Hollywood hub is available for live or taped interviews. UCR also has ISDN for radio interviews. To learn more, call (951) UCR-NEWS.



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-12/uoc--ndc122112.php

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prosecutor yakked: Health & Fitness 2016: Nursing EMT Deluxe ...

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Source: http://ethanmartinez.typepad.com/blog/2012/12/health-fitness-2016-nursing-emt-deluxe.html

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Source: http://prosecutor-yakked.blogspot.com/2012/12/health-fitness-2016-nursing-emt-deluxe.html

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Fla. governor asks Obama to block possible ports strike

MIAMI (Reuters) - Florida's Republican governor wants President Barack Obama to invoke federal law and order a cooling-off period if nearly 15,000 longshoremen walk off the job in a looming strike that would be a big blow to the state's economy, according to a letter he sent the president this week.

The International Longshoremen's Association union and the U.S. Maritime Alliance grouping of shippers and ports have been bargaining since March but reportedly remain far from a deal covering cargo handling at 15 ports on the U.S. Gulf and eastern coasts.

In October, when a previous contract expired, the sides agreed to a 90-day extension of terms that runs out on December 29.

Florida ports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale would be directly hit by a strike or lockout but a stoppage would also rattle overall transport and trade, which accounts for 550,000 jobs in the state and $66 billion in economic activity, Florida Governor Rick Scott said in a letter dated Thursday.

"The threat to national safety and security that would result from mass closure of ports cannot be overstated," Scott told Obama.

Scott said Obama had the power under 1947's Taft-Hartley Act to prevent or interrupt a work stoppage at the ports. Presidents Richard Nixon and George W. Bush both used Taft-Hartley, which calls for 80-day cooling-off periods and mediation, Scott said.

"The Taft-Hartley Act provides your administration with tools that can help avoid this threat," Scott said. "On behalf of the State of Florida, I respectfully request that you invoke the act when the contract ... expires at the end of the month."

(Reporting By Michael Connor in Miami; Editing by Cynthia Johnston)

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50280271/ns/politics/

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Why Choose A Limousine Service | The Board Magazine

Copyright ? 2012 South Florida Limo

Picture this: An important occasion ? wedding, prom night, bachelorette/bachelor party, funeral or business meeting?

All the preparations are done. Right from the venue, to d?cor and other arrangements. But there?s something missing. What could it possibly be? Yes, a fancy ride. Whether you have a VIP business client or a group of high school students to drop off for their prom night, an exclusive limousine is suited for all occasions. Limo buses, stretch limos, hummer limos and luxury sedans are a great way to make a long lasting impression. Equally important is hiring a good limousine service. There are a few minor differences that separate the good from the best.

If you?re still questioning hiring a limousine service, here is why?

Why Choose A Limousine Service?

Friends and family occasions are days to be cherished by everyone. Settling for something average ? old clothes, boring restaurants or the same old cars is not how you make it special. A wise man once said that you won?t know the value of a moment till it?s a memory. The same holds true for a special day. Instead of regretting not having made memorable arrangements, it is best to hire a limousine for the following reasons:

You Travel In Style

There is no questioning the fact that no other car makes a style statement as much as a limo. So if you have to travel and alight fashionably for your high school prom or receive a visiting delegate, there is nothing better than a luxurious limousine. Hire a limo best suited to your needs and get the VIP experience like no other.

The Driver?s In charge

For you to enjoy your big day, it is important to forget your worries. And by hiring a limousine, this is exactly what you do. Trained chauffeurs take driving responsibility and make sure that you reach your destination without stressing about driving. In a limousine the real experience is the journey and the journey ? complete with a polished chauffeur.

Squeaky Clean Vehicles

It is an added burden to buff up your vehicle before an important occasion, so why should you? Simply hire an exquisite limousine from the Palm Beach Limo Company and forget about all your travel worries. Hiring a limousine ensures clean, shiny vehicles ? up to date with the latest features and upgrades. A good limousine services truly spoils you for anything less.

Exclusive Deals

A good limo company will always have a range of packages and offers for customers. So if you?re thinking of hiring a limo but discouraged because of the cost factor ? you have nothing to worry about. Packages are tailor made to suit requirements of all customers making sure they get a great deal.

While it is highly recommended to hire a limousine service, it is also important that you find a service provider par excellence. The Boca Raton Limo Company is a great way to find all these features at one place. Go ahead and book yours, today!

Don?t choose just any Limousine Service. Make sure you choose wisely for your event to run smoothly and for the your safety. South Florida Limo can make sure that happens. http://www.AllVipLimo.com

Do You Want To Rock Your Online World? At VA-Live We Show You How...

Source: http://theboardmagazine.com/2012/12/why-choose-a-limousine-service/

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jahedaaos: Finding A Home Remedy For Eczema | health and ...

Approximately eight percent of the population suffer from eczema. The skin condition is caused by a misfiring of one's immune system. The technical term for the disorder is is atopic dermatitis. It is characterized by a relentless inflammation of the skin's top layer, which ultimately leads to crusting, scaling, flaking and other unsightly side effects. The continuous itching and burning associated with its presence, along with its unattractive appearance, leads many people to begin searching for a home remedy for eczema.

Additional scars frequently form because of the continuous scratching many sufferers find hard to control. Numerous individuals search for homeopathic cures or natural remedies to find relief from such symptoms when traditional treatments have not been helpful. In most cases it is not difficult to discover an effective natural cure for eczema. However, a person may find that it is necessary to try different remedies before the most suitable one is found.

Red clover is an option that should be considered by those in search of an herbal supplement for the aforementioned condition. Red clover is popular among patients suffering from particularly severe cases of eczema. This is because it can be placed on blistering skin directly. Many people discover that it only takes one application to notice the difference. The herb is also available in capsule form; however, topical use provides quicker relief of symptoms.

Black current oil and evening primrose oil are two substances containing high levels of essential fatty acids. Such acids play an essential role in one's general health, and are particularly advantageous to those afflicted with skin disorders. Both oil's can be found in capsule form, and the correct dosage will depend on the individual's weight. In most cases, however, up to 8000 milligrams on a daily basis is typically regarded as a safe dose for adults.

Green tea is another effective natural cure for this disorder. In addition to the numerous health benefits for which it is renowned, green tea is full of anti-inflammatory properties, making it an ideal option for those suffering from eczema. One should drink a minimum of three cups each day, and it makes no difference whether the tea is consumed cold or hot.

Gamma Linolenic Acid, more often called simply GLA, has received much attention lately from health care professionals. It is an omega-6 essential fatty acid, and can alleviate the symptoms of this troublesome skin disorder. Its effectiveness is due in part to one of its ingredients called dihomo-gammalinolenic, which bolsters the human immune system, and therefore reduces the length and severity of one's flareups.

It is also essential to keep in mind that simple activities such as maintaining clean skin and avoiding too much exposure to the sun are also vital to general skin health. Consuming a multivitamin that contains many different antioxidants can also lessen the intensity and frequency of a person's outbreaks.

More in-depth studies have recently been launched regarding natural remedies for this disorder. It might be necessary for sufferers to use various treatments prior to finding a beneficial home remedy for eczema. As with all supplements, one should discuss their use with a physician prior to adding such products to their diet.

Source: http://healthandfitnessupdates.blogspot.com/2012/12/finding-home-remedy-for-eczema.html

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Source: http://jahedaaos.blogspot.com/2012/12/finding-home-remedy-for-eczema-health.html

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Adding More Bricks to the Great Firewall of China - NYTimes.com

HONG KONG ? China appears to have reinforced its Internet firewall in recent days, blocking some of the leading services that allow people on the mainland to access forbidden sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

International business transactions also are being affected, Internet analysts said. The Chinese-language edition of The New York Times remains 100 percent blocked.

At least three foreign companies ? Astrill, WiTopia and StrongVPN ? have apologized to customers whose virtual private networks, or VPNs, have been slowed or disabled. VPNs are used to circumvent the Communist government?s firewall. The companies, meanwhile, were suggesting some work-arounds.

The daily newspaper Global Times, affiliated with the Communist Party, acknowledged the firewall had been ?upgraded,? but it also warned that foreign providers of VPN services were operating illegally.

China blocks online searches of politically sensitive terms, smothers embarrassing news events, blocks online messages from dissidents and simply deletes any microblog posts that it dislikes.

The firewall also blocks countless Web sites that are openly available to users elsewhere around the world ? from pornography sites and commercial come-ons to news reporting, political activism and religious proselytizing. Users on the mainland thus have to use VPNs to reach the banned sites.

Liu Xiao Ming, the Chinese ambassador to Britain, told the BBC on Friday that there was ?a misconception about the Internet and development in China.?

?In fact, the Chinese are very much open in terms of the Internet,? he said, quoted in an article in The South China Morning Post. ?In fact, we have the most number of Internet users in China today.?

An estimated 600 million Chinese have access to the Internet.

Foreign businesses also use VPNs not only to safeguard their transactions but also to keep government censors and rival companies from seeing their corporate communications.

Global Times quoted an anonymous executive at a foreign technology company operating in China who said the lack of a VPN would damage the firm?s operations.

Josh Ong, China editor of the tech monitoring site The Next Web, said in an interview with the Voice of America that international companies were reporting disruptions in their corporate VPN services.

?A lot of companies have a general policy that they must use their own proxy network in order to transfer data, especially into and out of China,? Mr. Ong said. ?So you are looking at banks or e-commerce companies, anyone who is transferring very sensitive information, a lot of them use corporate VPNs.?

Mr. Ong suggested that the tightening of the firewall could be tied to the recent leadership change in the Chinese Communist Party.

?It is certainly possible that some of it is just a general flexing of might, kind of coming in with a strong arm to really show who?s in control,? he said. ?But there is definitely something intentional happening when these VPN services are being restricted.?

As Bill Bishop wrote recently on DealBook, China?s management of the Internet ?has not been encouraging for those who want to believe the leadership will push reforms.?

?I have lived in Beijing since 2005, and these have been the most draconian few days of Internet restrictions I have experienced,? he said last month.

?Indiscriminate blocking of major parts of the global Internet is not going to help China in its quest to internationalize the renminbi and make it a reserve currency,? Bill said. ?Internet controls at the level of the last few days may also deter foreign firms from moving their regional headquarters to China.?

Barbara Demick of The Los Angeles Times bureau in Beijing offered this cautionary tweet:

My colleagues Sharon LaFraniere and David Barboza wrote about similar concerns over China?s Internet censorship last year, and they spoke to Duncan Clark, chairman of BDA China, an investment and strategy consultancy based in Beijing.

?It has been double the guard, and double the guard, and you never hear proclamations about things being relaxed,? said Mr. Clark, a 17-year resident of China. ?We have never seen this level of control in the time I have been here, and I have been here since the beginning of the Internet.?

Source: http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/adding-more-bricks-to-the-great-firewall-of-china/

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Key events in Egypt's revolution and transition

Islamist protesters chant slogans supporting Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi as they protest in front of the Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. Since the country's political crisis erupted more than three weeks ago, the opposition has kept the pressure on the government of President Mohammed Morsi with mass marches that at times have seen turnouts of hundreds of thousands. Morsi's Islamist supporters have countered with rallies of their own. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Islamist protesters chant slogans supporting Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi as they protest in front of the Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. Since the country's political crisis erupted more than three weeks ago, the opposition has kept the pressure on the government of President Mohammed Morsi with mass marches that at times have seen turnouts of hundreds of thousands. Morsi's Islamist supporters have countered with rallies of their own. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

(AP) ? Egyptians are voting Saturday in the second round of a referendum on disputed draft constitution that has polarized the country and plunged it into its worst crisis since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak in last year's uprising.

The referendum and draft charter have pitted supporters of the Islamist Morsi against liberal parties, youth groups, Christians and a large group of moderate Muslims who fear the new document enshrines too big a role for Islam and undermines freedoms of expression, gender equality and rights of minorities.

The new crisis means that the political instability that followed Mubarak's February 2011 overthrow will likely continue.

Here are some key events from 23 months of turmoil and transition.

Jan. 25, 2011 ? Egyptians hold nationwide demonstrations against the authoritarian rule of Mubarak, who has led the country for nearly three decades, protesting against police brutality and demanding social justice.

Jan. 26 ? A large security force moves into Cairo's Tahrir Square, beating and arresting protesters, using rubber bullets and tear gas. Three protesters are killed in similar protests outside of Cairo ? among the first of what will become about 900 dead from clashes during the uprising.

Jan. 28 ? Protesters burn down the ruling party's headquarters and the military is deployed. Police virtually vanish from Egypt's streets, leading to a wave of looting, robbery and arson. Protesters occupy Tahrir square for a prolonged sit-in.

Feb. 11 ? Mubarak steps down and turns power over to the military. Two days later the body of top generals, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, dissolves parliament and suspends the constitution, meeting two key demands of protesters.

March 19 ? Egyptians cast their first vote on constitutional amendments sponsored by the ruling military which set the timeline for the country's transition to democracy, including the first parliamentary and presidential elections.

Nov. 28 ? Voting begins in Egypt's first parliamentary elections since Mubarak's ouster. The election is held over a period of several weeks and concludes in January with nearly half the seats won by the previously banned Muslim Brotherhood.

April 20, 2012 ? The presidential campaign officially begins. A first round of voting on May 23-24 determines that Morsi and Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister under Mubarak, will face each other in a runoff.

June 14 ? The Supreme Constitutional Court rules to dissolve the Islamist-dominated lower house of parliament on grounds that a third of the chamber members were elected illegally. The military swiftly closes down parliament.

June 16-17 ? Egyptians vote in the runoff between Morsi and Shafiq. The generals issue a "constitutional declaration" giving them sweeping authority to maintain their grip on power and limiting the powers of the president.

June 24 ? Election officials declare Morsi the winner of Egypt's first free election, with 51.7 percent of the vote.

June 29 ? Morsi, now president-elect, delivers a rousing speech in Tahrir Square, vowing to fight on behalf of the people and to restore powers the generals have taken away from him.

June 30 ? Morsi takes his formal oath before the Supreme Constitutional Court. A day earlier he had read a symbolic oath in Tahrir Square, the birthplace of the revolution.

July 8 ? Morsi issues a surprise decree overruling the court's dissolution of parliament and challenging the generals.

July 9 ? Parliament convenes in defiance of the court ruling disbanding it. In a short session it approves a new law that effectively places the panel tasked with writing the country's new constitution above judicial review.

Aug. 12 ? In a bold move, Morsi orders the retirement of the head of the ruling military council, longtime defense minister Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and his chief of staff. He also cancels the military-declared constitutional amendments that gave the top generals wide powers and undermined his authority. The move was seen as way to curb the military's role in political affairs but it also gave Morsi the power to legislate in the absence of parliament.

Nov. 19 ? Several members of liberal parties and representatives of Egypt's churches announce their withdrawal from the 100-member constituent assembly tasked with writing Egypt's constitution, protesting what they said were attempts to impose ultraconservative Islamist content.

Nov. 21- Morsi negotiates a cease-fire deal between Hamas and Israel, after an 8-day conflict that threatened to widen into an Israeli ground operation into the Gaza Strip. It was a major diplomatic triumph for Morsi, establishing his role as a regional player with sway over the militant group Hamas, and influence with Israel and the U.S.

Nov. 22 ? In a surprise move, Morsi unilaterally decreed greater authorities for himself, giving the presidency, the panel writing the constitution and the upper house of parliament, both dominated by Islamists, immunity from judicial oversight. The move came just ahead of court decisions that could have dissolved the bodies.

Nov. 23 ? Days of protests follow Morsi's decrees, which were perceived as a power grab. Clashes between pro- and anti-Morsi supporters also erupted, and the offices of the Muslim Brotherhood were attacked in different governorates.

Nov. 24 ? Judges push back against Morsi's decrees, calling them an "unprecedented assault." Many courts begin an open-ended strike.

Nov. 26 ? Morsi meets with judges to tell them he doesn't intend to infringe on their authority. He does not back down from his decree, however.

Nov. 27 ? The opposition holds the largest rally to date against Islamists in Tahrir square. More than 200,000 people pack the square, chanting that Morsi should "leave." Clashes between the president's supporters and opponents break out in other governorates.

Nov. 30 ? In a marathon session overnight, the Islamist-dominated panel writing the constitution rushes the draft through, seeking to preempt the court ruling that could dissolve the panel. The move renewed mass protests.

Dec. 1 ? Despite the protests, Morsi sets the referendum date for the disputed charter for Dec. 15. Hundreds of Islamist protesters besiege the Supreme Constitutional Court, a day before it is set to rule on the legality of the panel that drafted the constitution.

Dec. 2 ? The Islamist protest outside the Supreme Constitutional Court leads it to cancel its ruling on the legality of the constitutional panel and declare an open-ended strike, calling it the "blackest day" in the history of Egypt's judiciary.

Dec. 4 ? More than 100,000 protesters march on the presidential palace, demanding the cancellation of the referendum on the constitution and the writing of a new one.

Dec. 5 ? Supporters of Morsi attack a sit-in outside the presidential palace in clashes that last through the night. At least 10 die in the fighting.

Dec. 6 ? Morsi refuses to call off the referendum, calling for a national dialogue in an address to the nation. The opposition rejects the call, saying it was not serious since Morsi refused to rescind any of his recent moves.

Dec. 8 ? Morsi cancels the decrees that gave him immunity from judicial oversight but keeps the referendum on time. Opposition vows to continue protests.

Dec. 12 ? Opposition calls on its supporters to vote no in the referendum. Pro- and anti-constitution demonstrations continue.

Dec. 15 ? Around a third of the 25 million voters eligible for the first leg of the constitutional referendum cast ballots, despite the judges' boycott. Unofficial results show that 56 percent voted "yes" for the draft constitution.

Dec. 16 ? Egypt's rights groups say the constitutional referendum was marred by widespread violations.

Dec. 18 ? Prosecutor General Talaat Abdullah submits his resignation just a month after Morsi appointed him, following a sit-in by fellow prosecutors who accused him of pressuring a judge not to release some 130 anti-Morsi protesters from detention.

Dec. 19 ? Top elections official Zaghloul el-Balshi resigns, citing medical problem.

Dec. 20 ? Prosecutor General Talaat Abdaullah withdraws his resignation.

Dec. 21 ? Islamists hold massive rally in the country's second largest city of Alexandria to show solidarity with religious clerics.

Dec. 22 ? More than 25 million Egyptians eligible to vote will head to polling stations in 17 provinces to cast their ballots in the second round.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-22-Egypt-Timeline/id-9329a8fa3d96431aa3158dd9b9ab2425

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