UBS faces $1 billion day of reckoning over interest rate rigging

LONDON/ZURICH (Reuters) - UBS AG is expected to be hit with a $1 billion-plus fine to settle charges of rigging Libor interest rates this week, making it the second bank to be brought to book for its role in the global scandal.

The fine, to be imposed by regulators in Britain and the United States, would be the latest blow for the Swiss bank that suffered a rogue trading scandal last year, paid a $780 million fine to settle a U.S. tax investigation in 2009 and nearly collapsed in 2008 under the weight of huge subprime losses.

Sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters the fine will be $1 billion or more, which would be more than double the $450 million levied on British bank Barclays Plc in June for interest rate manipulation.

The penalty could be as high as $1.6 billion and UBS will admit 36 traders around the globe manipulated yen Libor between 2005 and 2010, Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger said, citing unnamed sources.

UBS declined to comment on the report or on the timing of a settlement. Reuters could not independently verify the $1.6 billion figure.

"It's a little bit astonishing from a shareholder perspective that the fine could be double the amount of Barclays," said Peter Stenz, portfolio manager at investment and pensions manager Swisscanto and a holder of UBS shares.

"The good thing is that it is ended then ... The bad thing is the amount, which raises the question of how important UBS was in this story," Stenz said.

While Barclays' settlement touched off a firestorm that forced its chairman and chief executive to quit, previous scandals at UBS have already prompted culls of top bosses as well a decision to wind down parts of the investment bank that have tarnished the bank's name.

Swiss commentators suggested the Libor affair would stiffen the resolve of UBS top management - all installed after the period under investigation - to focus on the core business of wealth management as they trim risky trading activities.

However, the settlement - which sources say is likely to come sometime this week - could add to global public and political anger about standards and culture across the industry.

The settlement will be with U.S., British and Swiss regulators, although the last has no power to fine the bank. Japanese regulators are also involved, some sources said, although it was not clear if they would be formally involved in the penalties.

RATE MANIPULATION

UBS will admit to criminal wrongdoing by its Japanese arm, where one of its traders manipulated yen Libor and euro yen contracts, sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters. UBS declined to comment.

Admitting to criminal wrongdoing can be fatal for a bank, as it can lose its license but by admitting to wrongdoing at its Japanese subsidiary, UBS would be stopping short of admitting to wrongdoing at a group level.

Individuals are also being targeted. The UBS investigation centers on former UBS trader Thomas Hayes, but also includes other UBS bankers, the sources said. Hayes, who joined Citigroup after leaving UBS in 2009, is one of three British men arrested last week by London police but later released on bail, according to a source. Reuters has been unable to contact Hayes.

More than a dozen banks have been caught in the international inquiry into Libor rates, with most of the focus being on how rates were set between 2005 and 2008.

Royal Bank of Scotland is also expected to shortly reach a settlement on Libor manipulation. The bank will receive a penalty of more than 350 million pounds ($564 million), the Sunday Times newspaper reported, without citing sources. RBS declined to comment.

Libor benchmarks are used to help price trillions of dollars worth of loans around the world, ranging from home loans and credit cards to complex derivatives.

Tiny shifts in the rates, compiled from daily polls of bankers, could benefit any given bank by millions of dollars. But every dollar a bank benefits could mean an equal loss by another bank, hedge fund or investor on the other side of the trade - raising the threat of a raft of civil lawsuits.

Barclays in June admitted it improperly took its own trading positions into account when reporting interest rates used to calculate the Libor benchmark, touching off a firestorm that forced its chairman and chief executive to quit.

At UBS, Libor is the latest in a series of serious problems that have damaged its reputation. In 2009, UBS paid $780 million to settle a U.S. investigation into tax issues, while former London-based trader Kweku Adoboli was convicted last month over a $2.3 billion rogue trading fraud.

Reuters' parent company Thomson Reuters Corp collects information from banks and uses it to calculate Libor rates according to specifications drawn up by the British Bankers Association (BBA).

(Additional reporting by Emma Thomasson and Matthew Scuffham; Editing by Alexander Smith, David Holmes and Marguerita Choy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ubs-faces-1-billion-day-reckoning-over-interest-000221643--sector.html

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Hamilton, Angels finalize $125M, 5-year deal

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) ? Feeling "a little upset" that Texas didn't move quickly enough to re-sign him, free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton donned a Los Angeles Angels jersey on Saturday after finalizing a $125 million, five-year contract that he called a new chapter in his life.

"I started off with the Devil Rays and now I'm an Angel," said the five-time All-Star who was drafted by Tampa Bay before making his major league debut with Cincinnati in 2007.

Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP, joins a batting order that already includes Albert Pujols and AL Rookie of the Year Mike Trout. The 31-year-old Hamilton hit a career-high 43 home runs last season and batted .285 with 128 RBIs in 148 games.

"To get a guy like Josh and combine him with Albert is going to give us building blocks for what we hope is years to come," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We can't wait."

Neither can dozens of red-clad Angels fans, who lined up outside a restaurant where Hamilton was introduced. The team had a table set up for ticket sales and he signed autographs on his way inside.

Hamilton's $25 million average salary matches Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard for the second-highest in baseball, trailing only Alex Rodriguez's $27.5 million average with the New York Yankees.

"It was a great investment," said Angels owner Arte Moreno, who insisted he wasn't trying to keep up with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are on track to surpass the New York Yankees as baseball's biggest spending team in 2013.

"I think it's just great," he said about the Dodgers' spending spree this week that got them former Angels pitcher Zack Greinke for a $147 million, six-year deal and South Korean left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin for a $36 million, six-year contract.

"Why would I ever want to wish something bad on someone? I really liked Greinke, but you make a decision how much you're going to spend on one player. We said we're going to get a couple relievers and a pitcher. I personally can't wait to play them."

Hamilton agreed to the deal with the Angels on Wednesday after having talked with them since the winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn.

"They like to get after it," he said.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels had hoped to re-sign Hamilton, who led Texas to consecutive World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. He said he was disappointed the Rangers never got a chance to match any offer during the process, as they had expected, or be contacted before Hamilton agreed with another team.

"I gave them everything I had for five years," Hamilton said. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little upset they didn't put the press on."

Hamilton's wife, Katie, spoke up and compared the situation to dating.

"We were with them for five years. If you're going to date someone, you make it known and official pretty quick," she said. "They let us date other teams and Josh had said he would give them first chance and they didn't (make a move)."

Hamilton interjected, saying, "She said, 'You should have put a ring on it.'"

He said he met with Daniels a week earlier and "told him where my heart was. I was feeling like it was time for me to move on in general. There was no specific thing, like I'm upset or anything like that. It was just time to move on."

The slugger was considered a risk by some teams because of his history of alcohol and substance abuse, which derailed his career before his surge with the Rangers over the past five seasons. Hamilton had a relapse with alcohol last January and another one in 2009.

"I have a past history of making mistakes with drugs and alcohol, drinking twice in seven years, which is not good for me," he said. "They're going to help me with my support system to put things in place that I had with the Rangers. Nothing that is straining the organization or the clubhouse."

However, Moreno said there's no special protection for the Angels in Hamilton's contract if he relapses other than what is standard in any MLB contract.

Shayne Kelley, who worked in a support role for Hamilton in Texas, will be a daily presence with the team, according to Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto.

"We've done our fair share of due diligence," Dipoto said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hamilton-angels-finalize-125m-5-deal-193402119--mlb.html

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ACN Multi Level Marketing Business Review

Have you thought about starting your own ACN multi level marketing business?

If that?s a yes, you?ve most likely taken a very close look at ACN multi level marketing business plan, and if you have come this far you could have very possibly reached the conclusion that it would be a terrific method to better? your family?s finances as well as your quality of life. However if you haven?t learned what goes into building this kind of business thoroughly, your foray into this sort of marketing could end up in financial disaster and be a full waste of your time! So we?re going to lay down some relevant points beneath.

ACN on The Celebrity Apprentice

The ACN business model is basically? no different from other network marketing systems. The company sells a wide range of common consumable products that the majority of ordinary people use every single day. All you have to do to earn commissions is to promote these products to people you know or who might be interested to learn more. To develop your business further you?ll want to go on to recruit a team of other people from whose sales you also earn commissions.

At the organization level the ACN multilevel marketing business is fine. ACN sells internet services, telecommunications services, wireless, and utilities. It?s also rated as among the list of leading 20 direct marketing firms within the United States by the Direct Selling Association.

ACN stands for American Communications Network and has grown to serve the telecommunications and internet demands of more than 23 other nations worldwide, which includes the Pacific, Asia, Europe and North America. The firm was founded in 1992 by Robert Stevanowski, Greg Provenzano, Tony Cupisz and Mike Cupisz and since 1993 its network marketing sales force has been developing by leaps and bounds from 20 core distributors.

But does this mean this business opportunity is right for you personally? Not necessarily?

The ACN Multilevel Marketing Plan Revealed

Even when you only comprehend the basic fundamentals of ACN multilevel marketing business you realize that in order for any business to create profit, they ought to sell products. In order for an independent distributor to accomplish the same point ? i.e. make a living, he must do specifically the same ? sell products. Have you thought how you will go about promoting ACN?s particularly specialized menu of services? Remember, in order to make a great living you?re going to have to sell plenty of them!

Behind every network marketing opportunity is? the promise of generating a big team of distributors from which you will earn a modest commission off of their time and effort. The idea being that out of these people, every single one is? doing a bit which? will add to the volume of sales. This sounds fantastic in theory, but like many great theories, does this realistically work?

Bottom line? Most people who get involved in MLM don?t even make their initial investment back. This? is not because the business, products, services or compensation plan leaves something to be desired, but rather because? most people do not have any sales or marketing knowledge and after all? MLM is really a direct marketing business.

One of the most frequent points that most new network marketers are told is always to promote to buddies, family and people they know. But what takes place when they run out of willing ears or just don?t have that several close friends and relatives? Obviously it tends to make sense to promote to people you happen to know, but what do you do when every single name in your list is scratched out?

Even while you?re going via the method of working down your ?warm? market place list you need to be researching ways of reaching other people once that list is exhausted. That does not mean talking to a few people a week ? you will in no way create a sizable team or even a decent revenue that way ? you are going to have to discover approaches of acquiring your message across to hundreds or even thousands of people every week. And that requires a great deal of marketing knowledge and organizing.

If you are looking for ways to build your ACN multi level marketing business to a new level you must learn how to properly market online. MLSP has taught thousands of MLM marketers to reach their goals and helped them to climb up to the top of their company payplan. If you are interested to learn more click here and get more information without any commitment. MLSP offers most up-to-date online marketing training available that will help you to be one of the top producers in your chosen network marketing or direct sales company.

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Source: http://karilappi.com/acn-multi-level-marketing-business-review/

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Crop insurance juicy target in 'fiscal cliff' deal

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Rural lawmakers worry that $9 billion in annual federal crop insurance subsidies are an easy target for spending cuts in a "fiscal cliff" deal so they're shopping around for a late compromise on a farm bill to protect them.

The chairmen of the House and Senate Agriculture committees already were set to make a sizable contribution to deficit reduction through a new farm bill. There were $2.3 billion in annual cuts to other farm programs and food stamps in a Senate-passed version and $3.5 billion in annual cuts in a measure awaiting House action.

But they hit an impasse this past week while trying to merge the bills into a single package. It's the same problem confronting President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who so far are unable to come up with an alternative to the broad wave of automatic tax increases and spending cuts that begin to hit in the new year.

The farm-state leaders hope that if they can agree on a farm bill, the White House and Boehner might include it as a deficit-reducing component of a broader fiscal cliff deal.

While cutting food stamps and other farm programs, both the Senate and House agriculture bills preserve crop insurance subsidies that cover a big portion of farmers' losses due to bad weather. Those subsidies buoyed a strong agricultural economy even through last summer's scorching drought. Committee leaders from both parties say farmers consistently tell them crop insurance is the program they depend on most.

But both bills also create an insurance program that would give farmers additional protection against any kind of revenue losses, such as from a drop in commodity prices. The Senate bill's version would cost almost $3 billion annually, with the House bill a little under $1 billion.

The concern about the fate of crop insurance stems from previous efforts by the Obama White House to target the program for cuts. Obama proposed cutting the subsidies by $760 million a year in his budget proposal last February. Conservatives long have eyed the program as a pot of money that could be used for other things.

Without giving details or numbers, Obama administration officials have made it clear in fiscal cliff negotiations that they see farm programs like crop insurance as a source for savings.

"Reforming farm subsidies, very important to do, lots of room to do sensible reforms in that context. And they can raise substantial amounts of money," Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said on CBS "Face the Nation."

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack warned the congressional committees this past week that, if they don't strike a deal soon, the White House and Republicans working to avert the fiscal cliff may cut farm programs that lawmakers want to protect.

"Don't let somebody else craft the farm legislation who may not fully understand all of the implications," he said.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who leads the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, agreed.

"It's one of the many reasons we need to get a five-year farm bill done so people who don't support crop insurance don't come back at it and try to cut it," said Stabenow, D-Mich.

Farmers buy crop insurance to protect against weather-related losses such as drought or flooding. Farmers pay a percentage of the premium cost and the federal government covers the rest. Companies selling the insurance also get direct subsidies from the government.

Both the House and Senate made room for the new insurance program by eliminating a different type of subsidy called direct payments, in which farmers collect money from the government whether they farm or not and regardless of prices or crop yields. Cutting that program would save almost $5 billion annually and contribute to the overall savings in the bill.

Supporters of crop insurance say fewer subsidies would mean fewer farmers would buy coverage.

"Crop insurance proved its value once again this year by helping keep the rural economy on track and helping farmers pick up the pieces after a crippling drought," said Tom Zacharias, president of National Crop Insurance Services, an industry trade group. "Farmers are telling lawmakers to 'do no harm' to crop insurance."

Critics say farmers could survive with much less federal help.

Crop insurance isn't farm-state lawmakers' only concern in the fiscal cliff negotiations. Milk prices could double if expiring dairy support programs aren't renewed before Jan. 1. Stabenow said she's also concerned there will be less money for a farm bill next year.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/crop-insurance-juicy-target-fiscal-cliff-deal-080827331--finance.html

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Egyptians vote on Islamist-backed constitution

CAIRO (AP) ? With their nation's future at stake, Egyptians lined up Saturday to vote on a draft constitution after weeks of turmoil that have left them deeply divided between Islamist supporters of the charter and those who fear it will usher in religious rule.

The referendum caps a nearly two-year struggle over the post-revolutionary identity of Egypt after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak's authoritarian regime.

The vote has turned into a dispute over whether Egypt should move toward a religious state under President Mhoammed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and ultraconservative Salafi allies, or one that retains secular traditions and an Islamic character. But many Egyptians said they were mainly looking for stability.

Many also fear the newly empowered Muslim Brotherhood and more ultraconservative Islamists are taking advantage of their current political dominance to adopt a charter that will be nearly impossible to amend.

According to the draft, articles 217 and 218 state that the president and parliament have the right to make a "request" to "amend an article or more," then parliament must discuss the request within 30 days. Two thirds of parliament members are needed to pass the request. Then parliament has 60 days to finalize the amended articles, and a third of parliament is needed to pass the final text before putting them to a national referendum.

Highlighting the tension in the run-up to the vote, nearly 120,000 army troops were deployed on Saturday to protect polling stations. Clashes between Morsi's supporters and opponents over the past three weeks have left at least 10 people dead and about 1,000 wounded.

"The times of silence are over," bank employee Essam el-Guindy said as he waited to cast his ballot in Cairo's upscale Zamalek district. "I am not OK with the constitution. Morsi should not have let the country split like this."

El-Guindy was one of about 20 men standing in line. A separate women's line had twice as many people. Elsewhere in the city, hundreds of voters waited outside polling stations for nearly two hours before stations opened at 8 a.m.

"I read parts of the constitution and saw no reason to vote against it," said Rania Wafik as she held her newborn baby while waiting in line. "We need to move on and I just see no reason to vote against the constitution."

Morsi, whose narrow win in June made him Egypt's first freely elected president, cast his ballot at a school in the upscale Heliopolis district. He did not speak to reporters, but waved to dozens of supporters who were chanting his name outside.

In Cairo's crowded Sayedah Zeinab district, home to a revered Muslim shrine, 23-year-old engineer Mohammed Gamal said he was voting "yes" although he felt the proposed constitution needed more, not less, Islamic content.

"Islam has to be a part of everything," said Gamal, who wore the mustache-less beard that is a hallmark of hard-line Salafi Muslims. "All laws have to be in line with Shariah," he said, referring to Islamic law.

Critics are questioning the charter's legitimacy after the majority of judges said they would not supervise the vote. Rights groups have also warned of opportunities for widespread fraud, and the opposition says a decision to hold the vote on two separate days to make up for the shortage of judges leaves the door open for initial results to sway voter opinion.

The shortage of judges was reflected in the chaos engulfing some polling stations, which by early afternoon had led the election commission to extend voting by two hours until 9 p.m.

Mohammed Ahmed, a retired army officer from Cairo, said bearded men he suspects of being Muslim Brotherhood members were whispering "vote yes" to men standing in line outside a polling center in Cairo's poor district of Arab el-Maadi.

"The Brotherhood wants to turn Egypt into its own fiefdom," he said. "I have no confidence in the whole process and I know they will be able to forge the results," he said.

In Cairo's Darb el-Ahmar, judge Mohammed Ibrahim appeared overwhelmed with the flow of voters, many of whom had to wait for close to two hours to cast their ballots. "I'm trying hard here, but responsibilities could have been better distributed," he said.

Egypt has 51 million eligible voters, half of whom are supposed to cast their ballots Saturday and the rest next week. Saturday's vote is held in 10 provinces, including Cairo and the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, the country's second largest and scene of violent clashes on Friday between opponents and supporters of Morsi.

"I am definitely voting no," Habiba el-Sayed, a 49-year-old house wife who wears the Muslim veil, or hijab, said in Alexandria. "Morsi took wrong decisions and there is no stability. They (Islamists) are going around calling people infidels. How can there be stability?"

Another female voter in Alexandria, 22-year-old English teacher Yomna Hesham said she was voting 'no' because the draft is "vague" and ignores women's rights.

"I don't know why we have become so divided ...now no one wants to look in the other's face," said Hesham, who also wears the hijab, after voting. "This will not end well either way. It is so sad that we have come to this."

Another newspaper, the pro-opposition al-Watan, published photographs of Morsi's supporters in Alexandria armed with knives, swords and sticks on the front page of its Saturday edition. "A referendum on their constitution," read the headline, alluding to the Islamists.

Egypt's latest crisis, the worst since Mubarak was ousted in a popular uprising in February 2011, began when Morsi issued a decree on Nov. 22 giving himself and the assembly writing the draft immunity from judicial oversight so the document could be finalized before an expected court ruling dissolving the panel.

On Nov. 30, the document was passed by an assembly composed mostly of Islamists, in a marathon session despite a walkout by secular activists and Christians from the 100-member panel.

If the constitution is approved by a simple majority of voters, the Islamists empowered when Mubarak was ousted would gain even more clout. The current upper house of parliament, dominated by Islamists, would be given the authority to legislate until a new parliament is elected.

If it is defeated, elections would be held within three months for a new panel to write a new constitution. In the meantime, legislative powers would remain with Morsi.

The opposition has called on its supporters to vote "no," while Morsi's supporters say the constitution will help end the political instability that has roiled Egypt since the autocratic Mubarak was overthrown. Clerics, from the pulpits of mosques, have defended the constitution as a document that champions Islam.

Opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei wrote Saturday on his Twitter account: "Listen to your conscience and the voice of reason and say 'no.'"

Morsi's opponents say minority concerns have been ignored and the charter is full of obscurely worded clauses that could allow the ruling Islamists to restrict civil liberties, ignore women's rights and undermine labor unions.

"At one point in our history, Cleopatra, a woman, ruled Egypt. Now you have a constitution that makes women not even second-class but third-class citizens," said businesswoman Olivia Ghita. "This constitution is tailored for one specific group (the Muslim Brotherhood). It's a shame. I am very upset."

___

El Deeb reported from Alexandria, Egypt. AP writer Maggie Michael contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egyptians-vote-islamist-backed-constitution-061522606.html

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Release of Hyundai Genesis Coupe | Car Finance, Loans & Leasing ...

Hyundai are said to announce that their North American car of the year, being the Genesis Coupe, will be made into a right-hand drive version for delivery to other countries, including Australia.

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It is rumoured that Hyundai will announce their decision at either the Frankfurt Motor Show in September or the Geneva Motor Show in March. It is believed that production of the new vehicle will start in 2011.

Source: http://h3sean.typepad.com/blog/2012/12/release-of-hyundai-genesis-coupe-car-finance-loans-leasing-blog-roche-finance.html

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Smartphone-Controlled Toilet Includes Built-in Speakers So You Can Listen to Music, Costs Nearly $5,000

"Welcome. I am honored to accept your waste" says the Japanese toilet to Homer Simpson as a rainbow springs from the bowl.?Japan is full of toilets from the ingenious to the insane and the country has built up a reputation as the origin of some of the world's most multi-functional commodes. More »

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3 Most Popular Pets in U.S. Homes - The Latest Demographics

Which pets are the most popular ones in the United States?? Dogs and cats, of course, but Number Three on the list just might surprise you.? And, of all of the various pets we have in our homes, which one reigns as Number One?? ?

Almost 73 million households in the United States have at least one pet, according to the 2011-2012 American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey.? That means that pet owners make up more than 60 percent of the U.S. population!?

The survey results also confirm what has become fairly well known about the many benefits of having a pet; namely that pets, in addition to providing companionship for their owners, also help relieve stress and make a pleasant change to our otherwise daily routines.? People who have a close relationship with their pet also seem to live longer and healthier lives.? Those who suffer from depression or illness especially benefit.

So, among all of the many types of animals that provide these benefits to their owners, which pets are the most popular?? The APPA maintains a list based on the results of its survey.? The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) also maintains a list of the most popular pets.? And the results are quite similar for both groups.? Dogs, cats and fish are the top three most popular pets in U.S.?

Dogs top the list as the most popular pet in America, with 36.5 percent of all households owning a dog, according to the AVMA 2012 U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook.? Cats are found in 30.4 percent of all U.S. homes.? And fish come in at a distant 6.5 percent.? Keep in mind, this ranking has to do with number of households owning at least one pet, not number of animals owned.?

DOGS

Dogs have lots of advantages as pets when compared to other animals.? They are great companions, can make good guardians (even if they just bark to let you know someone is at your door or on your property), aren't too expensive to purchase,? especially if you get one from a local animal shelter, and don't take a whole lot of care.? But they do take more of a time commitment than most other pets.?

That commitment usually begins with house breaking them and leads to regular walks, playing with them (hey, just throw a stick or a ball and let the dog do all of the work) , spaying/neutering, grooming them, annual check-ups with a vet , training them not to jump on visitors, keeping them on the property, etc.? Many communities have laws prohibiting dogs from wondering around on their own, which means you may have to fence in your yard, install an invisible fence, or put Rover on a leash and wire run when he goes outside. ? ?

Dogs are great with kids ... in most cases.? There are particular breeds that have a reputation, rightfully or wrongfully so, of having the propensity to attack and cause serious injury to children.? There are other breeds generally recognized for their gentleness. ? Regardless, any dog that has been abused or neglected may exhibit nasty aggression by snapping at and biting a child. ?

As far as expenses go, unless you have to fence in your yard, dogs are fairly inexpensive to maintain.? Dog food, a pet bed or crate, a few doggy toys, annual license,? and yearly check-up with the vet are about all that's required. ? Not a lot to invest in a pet that's going to bond with you like no other.? "Man's best friend" -- it's a title appropriately earned.

CATS

According to both the AMVA sourcebook and the APPA survey, cats are the second most popular pet.? They are affordable, especially if you get one from a shelter, which is what many cat lovers suggest you do.? Typically cats don't need much attention, but that doesn't mean they don't require commitment and care.? There is the matter of the litter tray to be dealt with regularly.? But, generally, you can leave them alone for the duration of the workday or if there are other obligations that take you out of the house or keep you otherwise occupied. ?

Cats usually make good pets for children.? Kittens are cute, inquisitive, playful and don't mind being carried around by kids.? As they get older, some cats still like to be held, some don't.? Some cats play with their claws extended and they will leave scratch marks on your hands and arms.? Some cats like to bite, even while playing.? Because of a multitude of bacteria in a cat's mouth, if the bite breaks the skin a serious infection can result.? You'll need to clean the wound immediately and then seek medical treatment with your physician, at a local walk-in clinic or hospital emergency room..

Cats typically have a lifespan of about 14 years. ? Expenses include the usual items of food, kitty litter, visits to the vet for annual or semi-annual check-ups, spaying/neutering,? and occasional medical treatment for any ailments.? Compared to other pets, they are fairly low maintenance animals.? And, yes, they also are great companions.?

FISH

If you look at just the numbers of pets owned, freshwater fish, at more than 151 million, outnumber cats and dogs combined.? Gee, no big surprise here.? You can house lots of fish in one large tank.? Some of them may even get together now and then and produce little fish, so you may end up with even more fish in the tank.? Not to worry, all fish eat other fish if they are small enough.? So, unless you separate them, many of the little guys are going to get gobbled up by their larger tankmates soon after arrival.??

Beautifully colored, gliding peacefully through clear water in a tank filled with small gently waving aquatic vegetation, fish swimming around will almost put you in a trance.? Unless, of course, the fish tank happens to be located in your dentist's office, where the high-pitched whine of a drill in the background will snap you back into reality quicker than a piranha slurping up a goldfish.

Fish come in a large assortment of colors and sizes and a fish tank with the right fish and waterscape can be an attractive addition to almost any room in your house.? They are a popular choice for a pet because most fish are fairly inexpensive to purchase and to feed and maintain.? You do need to keep a correct water temperature for them and the tank should be cleaned when necessary.? There are even fish you can buy that will help you keep it clean.? And the space fish need is only as large as the tank you keep them in, as opposed to much larger pets. ?

On the downside of keeping fish as pets, Gilda and Finn aren't going to bond with you.? If you're looking for a pet that will come when you call it, do tricks for you, or just serve as a companion, fish obviously aren't going to fill any of those needs.? Yes, they will come to the top of the tank and blow bubbles at you when you feed them.? This has nothing to do with the fish liking you.? They're instinctively reacting to being fed. ??

?NUMBER OF PETS VS. NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH A PET

When it comes to? counting the actual? number of pets versus the number of households with a pet, cats actually outnumber dogs by about 74 million to 70 million.? These? numbers and those in almost all pet categories have gone down in the last five years, according to the AVMA sourcebook.? Why is this the case?? Probably a major factor has been the nation's sagging economy.? People simply don't have the money it takes to care for a pet.? Other speculation blames the decline on the shrinking number of traditional families. ? Single parents struggling to work and maintain a household, children involved in a bunch of out-of-the-home activities, an aging population, and more, all help contribute to a decrease in pet ownership. ? ? ?

Okay, so if those are the top three most popular pets in the U.S., what are some other pets in terms of their popularity?? The AVMA lists birds as fourth on the list, followed by livestock (at about 11 million), followed by horses (more than 7 million).? If you're interested and would like a whole lot of great information about pet rankings and much more, the 2012 AVMA sourcebook is available online (PDF download for nonmembers is $295) and as a softcover book for nonmembers is $315.

Look, forget about the APPA survey and the AVMA sourcebook.? What's your pick for the most popular pet in the U.S.? ? I already know the answer.? Just like our house,? the most popular pet in the U.S., in the whole wide world for that matter, is your very own critter ... furry, feathered, or covered with scales. ? ?

(sources: www.avma.org; and incommunitymagazines.com; Fall 2012)

Source: http://petslady.com/articles/top_3_most_populat_pets_us_homes_60381

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Michigan governor reviewing new gun bill; stance unclear

DETROIT (Reuters) - Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is carefully assessing legislation passed late on Thursday that would allow certain gun owners to bring concealed weapons to schools, churches and other areas that are currently gun-free, his office said.

Snyder, a Republican, has not said if he will sign the bill, part of a wider effort to relax Michigan gun laws. His stance was still unclear on Friday after a mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school left 26 people dead, including 20 children.

On Friday, Snyder's office said he had been planning to carefully analyze the bill before the shooting. He conveyed his condolences to the victims and families.

"He also said these situations always must and should give pause as they're so tragic," said Sara Wurfel, Snyder's press secretary. "But that we can't jump to conclusions either."

The Michigan House of Representatives passed the bill late on Thursday in a 68-41 vote. The Senate approved it 27-11. It was one of the last bills passed during an especially busy lame-duck session.

Both legislative chambers are dominated by Republicans.

The gun bill allows concealed pistol license holders to carry guns in areas where they are currently barred, provided they get additional training. The bill provides that these places, which also include day care centers and sports stadiums, could still prohibit guns under Michigan trespass laws.

(Reporting by Deepa Seetharaman and Bernie Woodall; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/michigan-governor-reviewing-gun-bill-stance-unclear-233606798.html

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