>>> this in today's professionals.
>>> this whale watching video will have you wondering who is watching whom. a pair of humpback whales seem to enjoy their upclose look at an australian teenager and her father. at one point, the girl became terrified that the whales would flip their boat. but the giant mammals eventually swam away leaving the humans with a great story to tell and a viral video to prove this really happened.
Magna Rumble all set for taking down the Bags Track Championship Dogs field
The Grade IT Bags Track Championship Dogs has pulled together a highly competitive field in which each contestant has their own versatile style and proficiency. The 500 metres flat challenge will be hosted by Sheffield on Thursday, 29th November, 2012. Every entry in the line-up tonight can bag the winner?s prize money out of the ?200.
Some among the participants have already taken part in the inter track contests which were held before and there are those for whom the experience tonight will be the very first one.
However, the one who catches the eye right away is the 2 to 1 shot for the race, Magna Rumble. The most impressive element on the profile of the brindle dog is the recent open race success. It will be the very first time for the two-year-old that he will compete in the 2012 Bags Track Championship series.
Rumble Impact?s son struck a hat-trick by winning the Grade A1 500 metres flatrace on 9th October, 2012 at Sheffield. The third trap broke into an early pace almost instantly and reeled in for the wire from the very first position. The favourite entry of the race made it to the other end of the wire in 29.44 seconds.
His dominance over the final half-length had Russelena Blue qualifying as the runner-up.
The B. Draper trained then went all out in the Grade OR Sheffield Stadium 480 ? Dup on 4th November, 2012 at Sheffield over 480 metres.
This time the two-year-old out of, Droopys Bubble, raced from the red trap. He used the same tactic as before, his early pace gave him the right on lead. Magna Rumble concluded the matter in 28.10 seconds and defeated Endova Rossi by four lengths.
The brindle dog struck a back-to-back by landing the Grade A1 Diane Crossley Stakes on 16th November, 2012 at Sheffield over 500 metres. The most popular entry completed the trip in 29.58 seconds.
Magna Rumble has been allotted the third trap which presents no threat to him as he knows his way to wire from there, however, he will need to keep a very stern check on the level of competition.
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Getty ImagesCould we see Danny Woodhead and the Patriots face Michael Boley and the Giants in the Super Bowl again this season? Seems like it.
By Scott Kacsmar
NBCSports.com
updated 11:13 a.m. ET Nov. 29, 2012
The NFL loves to sell parity. Teams can turn things around quickly, and anyone can go on a Super Bowl run. Fans are so used to picking five or six new playoff teams each season, because that is what history says will happen.
But not this year.
Even though the 2012 season has had an odd script, it's building toward a familiar final act. Expect this year?s postseason to look like a recycled version of last year?s with at least 75 percent of the same teams.
Based on standings through Week 12, there will be just three new playoff teams and two new division winners. That is the most realistic scenario. The numbers could be even smaller should a team like New Orleans make a run down the stretch.
There was already chatter after the two dominating wins in MetLife Stadium this week of a third Super Bowl in six years between New England and the New York Giants.
We may see some playoff rematches from last season. It is not far-fetched for the Giants to go through the Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers on their way to the Super Bowl. In case you forgot, those are the three teams they beat last season to get to Super Bowl XLVI.
An unusual season indeed, but the same cream from last year is starting to rise to the top once again.
Long forgotten are the Arizona Cardinals starting 4-0 or the Philadelphia Eagles at 3-1. They have each lost seven straight, though history pointed us in that direction. Minnesota was 5-2, but now sits at 6-5 with games against Green Bay (twice), Chicago and Houston remaining on the schedule. Good luck getting to 8-8.
The AFC is even more straightforward, with each division leader holding at least a three-game lead, which is a rare occurrence.However, the AFC does include the one real surprise team of the season, the Indianapolis Colts (7-4) following their 2-14 demise last year. But it has been a quick rebuild aided by a down year for the conference.
The surprising numbers on division winners
The four AFC teams comfortably leading their divisions ? Houston, Baltimore, New England and Denver ? all won those divisions last season. No conference has ever repeated all four division winners, and only once (AFC in 2006-2007) has a conference had three repeat winners.
It is hard not to expect a full repeat in the AFC. The NFC is cloudier, but San Francisco and the Giants are in good shape to repeat. That just leaves Atlanta (10-1), who has a considerable lead in the NFC South, especially over last year?s winner New Orleans (5-6). The only other difference is Chicago (8-3) leading last year?s winner, Green Bay (7-4), but even that can change with one head-to-head game left.
Since the league went to eight divisions in 2002, there has been an average of 5.2 new division winners. Each season has had at least four new division winners, and just last year the league set a record with seven new division winners. The only repeat was New England winning the AFC East for the eighth time in 10 years.
That just goes to show how hard it is to repeat as a division champion. Teams have only done it 25 of 72 times (34.7 percent). Here is how often it has happened from 2002 to 2011 for each division.
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The fact that so many new teams won their division last year makes it more impressive how many are sustaining it in 2012. Here is a yearly breakdown of the division winners from 2002 to 2006.
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It sure does help to have a Tom Brady or Peyton Manning starting every game.
Finally, here is the list of winners for 2007-2011 with the current standings in 2012 included.
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Obviously the best quarterback in the division gives that team a real advantage, but the player must stay healthy. When Tom Brady missed the 2008 season, it marked the only time since 2003 New England did not win the AFC East.
Ben Roethlisberger?s high-ankle sprain last season and his shoulder/rib injuries this year have given Baltimore enough of an edge to sustain their AFC North success. Joe Flacco may not be on the same level, but he has never missed a start in his career.
When Peyton Manning was out last season it opened the door for Houston in the AFC South. Now that Manning is back, but in Denver, he is solidifying the AFC West for the Broncos after last year?s fortunate 8-8 division title.
The Bears won the NFC North by a game in 2010, while Aaron Rodgers saw the Packers go 0-2 in the games he left or missed with injury. Last season, the Bears fell apart after Jay Cutler was lost, and this season they are back in the lead as they hope Cutler stays healthy.
The NFC South always has a new champion. Unusual circumstances surrounding Sean Payton and Bounty-gate led to New Orleans digging an early hole at 0-4, and Matt Ryan has taken advantage by leading the Falcons to a 10-1 record.
If the Saints can somehow catch up to manage a wild-card berth, then they will further recycle the 2011 playoff group.
Recycled playoff teams
Looking beyond divisions, since 2002 the NFL has averaged 6.3 new playoff teams. That is more than half of the entire 12-team playoff field. The previous low is five, and the high was eight from 2002 to 2003. Here is a handy table to show the playoff seeds for 2002 to 2006.
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There is very little consistency in seeding from year to year. The 2010-11 Patriots and 2002-04 Eagles are the only teams to repeat as the No. 1 seed. The Harbaugh brothers will hope to coach the first teams to repeat as the No. 2 seed. Actually, they would probably prefer No. 1, even if it has been cursed in recent years.
Here is the table for 2007 to 2012, with the 2012 records being current and subject to change.
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In 2012, there should be no more than three new playoff teams, which would be the lowest yet.
The funny thing about Indianapolis and Chicago likely being two of those teams is that both likely make the postseason in 2011 had Peyton Manning and Jay Cutler not been significantly injured. That would have kicked out the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals.
The most likely scenario in the AFC is that either the Bengals (6-5) or Steelers (6-5) will be swapped for the Colts. It is still possible the young Colts can falter and the AFC North gets three teams again, which would mean all six AFC teams repeat from 2011.
NFC is harder to predict with more teams in the race, but it is practically a lock the Chicago Bears will replace the Detroit Lions, giving the NFC North two teams again. We just do not know if the Bears can close the division as well.
The other change likely comes from the sixth seed. Can the Saints rally against a tough schedule and return to the playoffs, with the Super Bowl being hosted in New Orleans? It would be a mini-miracle, but their competition is not the stiffest.
We already looked at Minnesota?s brutal schedule. Seattle (6-5) is 1-5 on the road and may be losing their starting cornerbacks to suspension for four games. They still play the Bears (Week 13) and 49ers (Week 16). Tampa Bay (6-5) has already lost to the Saints, will play them again in Week 15, and must face the Broncos in Denver this week.New Orleans is in 11th place in the NFC, yet is one game back of the team in sixth place. Dallas and Washington are the other two teams technically ahead of them, but the Saints can personally take care of the Cowboys in Week 16.
It may be a long shot, but the Saints have the opportunity to get this done, which would give us just two new playoff teams (Colts and Bears, who met in Week 1).
Will history win out?
Every team has five games left to decide these playoff seeds. History is strong at suggesting at least four new division winners and five new playoff teams, but this should be a historic year for returning teams to the postseason.
Barring miraculous upsets along the lines of Washington taking the NFC East or Houston?s leaky pass defense falling apart as the Colts win out to take the AFC South, we are getting a recycled postseason for a change.
For the fans longing for revenge and budding playoff rivalries, then that is not necessarily a bad thing. But if parity is what you seek, then better luck next season.
Scott Kacsmar (@CaptainComeback) writes for Cold, Hard Football Facts, Bleacher Report, Colts Authority, and contributes data to Pro-Football-Reference.com and NFL Network.
? 2012 NBC Sports.com? Reprintsadvertisement
More newsKacsmar: The NFL loves to sell parity. Fans are so used to picking five or six new playoff teams each season, because that is what history says will happen. But not this year.
Getty ImagesSource: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50010375/ns/sports-nfl/
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Microsoft will release Windows Phone 7.8 on Wednesday, according to "a little rumor" passed along this week by WMPowerUser and spotted earlier today by Mashable.
The Microsoft-centric blog cited an anonymous tip pointing to Nov. 28 as the arrival date of the software update for smartphones like Nokia's Lumia 510 and lineup of Lumia 900 devices. WMPowerUser said it wasn't able to verify the tip but noted that Microsoft and Nokia have been teasing the release of Windows Phone 7.8 for several months.
Microsoft released its next-generation handset operating system, Windows Phone 8, to great fanfare in late October. The new OS is the first handset platform from Microsoft that shares basic building blocks with the software giant's flagship PC operating system, Windows?the upshot being that WP8 and the new Windows 8 OS for PCs, tablets, and hybrids have more common features than ever, starting with the signature Windows 8 live-tile interface.
But Microsoft's decision to use the same Windows kernel across its next-gen handset and PC operating systems also means owners of older Windows Phones, most notably Nokia's recent batch of Lumia-branded devices, haven't been able to upgrade to Windows Phone 8 from Windows Phone 7 and older generations of the OS they've been running.
Back in June, when Microsoft offered its first official glimpse at Windows Phone 8, the company and its close partner Nokia also promised that there would be an updated version of WP7 sporting certain WP8 features like the start screen which would serve as a kind of consolation prize for Windows Phone 7 users.
The WP7 update rumored for release this week will bring the new start screen to older Windows Phones plus "new accent colors, Bing lock screen wallpaper, and on Nokia handsets, SMS drafts and the ability to keep WI-FI active when the device is suspended," WMPowerUser reported.
The site also tipped "the ability to send files via Bluetooth File Transfer" via the software update, which Microsoft has not officially confirmed is arriving on Wednesday.
For more from Damon, follow him on Twitter @dpoeter.
Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2412566,00.asp?kc=PCRSS05039TX1K0000762
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Over the past two years, many Republican governors held off taking steps to create a health insurance exchange (HIE) in the hopes that Mitt Romney would win the 2012 presidential election and repeal the?Affordable Care Act.
And now, some states, particularly those run by Republican governors, are faced with less time to make a big decision --?though the federal government?did?extend the deadline?for states to decide whether to establish and operate their own HIEs.
States have three options for an exchange, as dictated by the Affordable Care Act:
And it seems the third option may be what will happen in several red states.
Some governors, like Maine Gov. Paul LePage, have completely checked out of the HIE discussion, refusing to participate in any way. "I'm not lifting a finger," LePage told Bloomberg. LePage returned a $5.8 million federal grant that would have helped his state pay for setting up a partnership exchange.
Other Republican governors that have firmly opposed participation in the program include?Florida's Rick Scott, Louisiana's Bobby Jindal, Kansas' Sam Brownback, Texas' Rick Perry, South Carolina's Nikki Haley, Georgia's Nathan Deal, Virginia's Robert McDonnell, Alabama's Robert Bentley, Nebraska's Dave Heineman and Alaska's Sean Parnell.
While some say that not participating in establishing and operating a HIE will rob states of the opportunity to negotiate the best rates with insurers, some Republicans have argued that they are not prepared to foot a large bill for a program they do not necessarily support. Now faced with the reality of four more years of an Obama administration, other Republican governors are working with the federal government's deadline extensions to run their own exchange.
Enrollment in health-care plans is scheduled to begin in October 2013, as all Americans are required to be enrolled in a health-care plan by Jan. 1, 2014. But with some Republican leaders dragging their feet and the federal government seemingly willing to offer states flexibility, that timeline could change.
The deadline for states was extended in response to direct requests from some states that wanted more time, according to a spokesperson from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. ?Our preference is for each state to establish its own exchange because a state-based exchange (SBE) provides states with the most amount of flexibility,? a spokesperson said via email. ?There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and an SBE allows a state to structure its exchange in its own way that works for its citizens. For example, a state with its own exchange will be able to make needed changes to enrollment and eligibility, determine how to select plans to participate and how to subsequently manage those plans directly, and how best to educate consumers about the exchange.?
The deadline extensions are a further demonstration of the federal government's intent to allow states to participate in not only the final rules of their exchanges, but also to be active participants in the whole process, said Gartner Research Director Rick Howard. While the practical effect of the deadline extension may not be to persuade stout opponents of the program to participate, it's a ?good-faith effort? by the federal government to encourage participation, he said.
Florida, Ohio and Missouri seem to be reconsidering some level of involvement in running their own program, Howard said, and Arizona, Utah and Pennsylvania may also find a way to meet the new deadlines. ?I think that those governors who have resisted the exchange are doing so on the idea that they've seen some price tags that seem to be pretty expensive,? Howard said, adding that Republican governors may just be managing risk conservatively, and many of those now opposed to state-based exchanges may adopt an exchange once real-world models have been developed and demonstrated by other states.
Ultimately, Howard said, exchanges are the future, no matter who is in the White House. ?You can wish away the Affordable Care Act, but that's not going to change the underlying dynamics of the marketplace,? he said. ?We're seeing through merger and acquisitions activities that that's being borne out. Health plans are looking to survive in a much more consumer-oriented marketplace that they just haven't had to face before.?
Commercial health care was already headed toward a side-by-side comparison model because the advancement of technology has led consumers to expect more options while shopping, he said, and the Obama administration is trying to bring government up to speed with the marketplace.
Image from Shutterstock
Source: http://www.govtech.com/health/Health-Insurance-Exchanges-Are-the-Future.html
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GAZA (Reuters) - Gazans offered very public thanks to Iran on Tuesday for helping them in this month's fight against Israel, when Iranian-made missiles were fired out of the Palestinian enclave towards Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
"Thank you Iran", said large billboards on three major road junctions in the Gaza Strip - the first time there has been such public acknowledgement of Iran's role in the arming of Islamic militants in the tiny territory.
The message was written in Arabic, English, Hebrew and Farsi. The posters also depicted the Iranian Fajr 5 rockets that were used for the first time to target Israel's two largest population centers. No one was injured in the attacks.
The billboards were not signed, but a senior official with the militant group Islamic Jihad, Khader Habib, said it was only natural to show gratitude for Iran's role in the conflict.
"Iranian rockets struck at Tel Aviv. They reached out to Jerusalem. Therefore it was our duty to thank those who helped our people," he told Reuters.
"We have distinctive, good relations with Iran and such a relationship will continue as long as Iran supports the Palestinian people and backs up the resistance," he added.
Israel launched an air offensive on November 14 with the stated aim of stopping Gaza militants from firing rockets at its southern towns and cities.
About 170 Palestinians, more than half of them civilians, died in the fighting that ended in a ceasefire last Wednesday. Six Israelis were also killed, four of them civilians.
Israel has always asserted that arch-foe Tehran supplied Gaza with weapons, but until the latest conflict both Iran and Gaza's dominant Islamist group Hamas had side-stepped the issue, acknowledging only financial backing and warm political ties.
During the eight-day conflagration, the Iranian speaker of parliament, Ali Larijani, said Iran was "honored" to have provided Gaza with military aid. Following the ceasefire, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal thanked Iran for arms and funding.
The public statements appeared aimed at dispelling speculation that the mainly Sunni Muslim Gaza Strip was shutting the door on Shi'ite Iran and turning instead to neighboring Egypt for support and protection.
Israeli analyst Meir Javedanfar said he thought the Iranians would regret telling the world they supplied Hamas with arms.
"Now that such high-ranking officials openly admit to having supplied weapons to groups in Gaza, the job of isolating Iran will be even easier than before," said Javedanfar, an Iranian expert at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Herzliya.
Israel and many Western countries say Iran is developing nuclear weapons and have imposed increasingly stringent sanctions on the Islamic Republic to get it to halt its uranium enrichment drive. Tehran says its atomic program is peaceful.
Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist and is shunned as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
(Editing by Crispian Balmer and Alison Williams)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gazans-thank-iran-israel-conflagration-163912342.html
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Nicole Oliver is a newcomer to District 20-5A, but Lamar?s new head girls basketball coach believes the Redskins can shift the league?s balance of power.
Oliver, an assistant coach the past two seasons at Northbrook, is confident that Lamar can challenge Bellaire and Westside for first place. The Redskins finished third behind the Cardinals and Wolves a year ago.
Read more ?
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/instantnewsbellaire/UKsx/~3/hO7LwKOCZjg/
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APAt a time when few young players are signing long-term deals, 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman has decided to take the money and run ? before he can?t run anymore.
Per a league source, the deal that Bowman accepted includes less than $8 million in fully-guaranteed money, via a $7.5 million signing bonus and the balance of his $540,000 base salary for 2012.? But the deal contains millions more in salary guaranteed for injury only, for now.
In 2013, a $4 million option bonus is due to Bowman; it?s fully guaranteed for now.? Ditto for Bowman?s $630,000 base salary in 2013.? The salary becomes fully guaranteed at the start of the 2013 league year.
In 2014, Bowman has a $4 million base salary, which is guaranted for injury, for now.? It becomes fully guaranteed at the start of the 2014 league year.? He also can earn per-game active roster bonuses that total, if all earned, $750,000.
In 2015, Bowman?s base salary is $4.7 million.? Again, it?s guaranteed for now for injury only.? It becomes fully guaranteed at the start of the 2015 league year.? Bowman also has the per-game roster bonuses that total $750,000.
In 2016, the base salary is $5.85 million.? $4.17 million of it is guaranteed for injury only for now; it becomes fully guaranteed at the start of the 2016 league year.? Bowman once again has the per-game roster bonuses that total $750,000.
In 2017, Bowman?s base salary is $6.75 million, non-guaranteed, with the per-game roster bonuses that total $750,000.
In 2018, the salary pushes to $8.7 million, with the per-game roster bonuses that total $750,000.
Given the free-agent market for linebackers (it?s nearly as soft as the veteran running back market) and the ever-present injury risk for a young player making minimum salaries, it makes sense for Bowman to take an offer that, in reality, he couldn?t have refused.
Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/27/year-round-adderall-ban-makes-no-sense/related/
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Source: http://sportspyder.com/teams/green-bay-packers/articles/7887353
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Google is now legally responsible for every crazy thing on the Internet--at least, in Australia. The Supreme Court of Victoria?fined Google $200,000 for not removing defamatory rumors linking music promoter, Milorad Trkulja, to organized crime. The court reasoned that Google is a "publisher" because it displays content and links to offending websites.Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/LGLMRzQqyGQ/
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Posted by 4closureFraud on November 26, 2012 ? Leave a Comment?
As signatories to the National Mortgage Settlement, we the undersigned state attorneys general write to urge you to pass legislation extending tax relief for citizens who have mortgage debt canceled or forgiven because of financial hardship or a decline in housing values. Such legislation is currently included in Section 112 of the Family and Business Tax Cut Certainty Act of 2012 (S. 3521), which was recently passed out of the Senate Finance Committee with bipartisan support. We strongly urge Congress to extend this critical tax exclusion, which expires on December 31, 2012, so that distressed homeowners are not stuck with an unexpected tax bill or deterred from participating in this historic settlement.
Full letter below?
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Robo-Signing Settlement is Doomed
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Filed under bankruptcy, cdo, cds, Corruption, Fannie Mae, foreclosure, Foreclosure Fraud, Foreclosuregate, freddie mac, MERS, mortgage electronic registration system, Mortgage Fraud, securities fraud
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Closing Date: 30 November 2012
Salary: Negotiable
Ref: 50019561NN
Base: East London
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Qualification:
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Skills
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Description:
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Enquiries: http://recruitment.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=26624
Application Process reply to http://recruitment.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=26624
Agency: Eskom
Green Job 193: Advisor Environmental Management (Officer SHEQ)
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Source: http://www.greenbusinessguide.co.za/green-job-advisor-environmental-management-officer-sheq/
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Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, but may initiate a long position in DE, CAT, DD over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors ever, has said "it's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price." In this article, I will discuss three companies which I believe are wonderful companies selling at a fair price. I will also mention three companies which appear to be quality companies selling at cheap valuations that I would avoid.
This stock discussed in this article will meet the following criteria:
1. High quality
2. Cheap or fair valuation relative to historic norms
3. Dividend yield greater than the current 10 year Treasury yield
I have chosen these criteria because I believe that for a company to be considered a "wonderful company at a fair price", it must meet these criteria.
Caterpillar (CAT)
CAT shares have come under pressure of late as investors have reacted to weak results. In particular, CAT's exposure to emerging markets such as China, Brazil, and other Latin American nations has been a cause for concern. However, despite these near term worries, I am confident that, over the long-term, CAT will continue to achieve great things. As shown by the chart below, over the past 10 years, CAT has gained more than 242% while the S&P 500 has gained just 50%. Caterpillar, which traces its roots back to 1925, is the global leader in construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives.
CAT data by YCharts
In addition to being a high quality company, as shown by the chart below, CAT is also trading at a cheap valuation relative to his historical norm.
CAT PE Ratio TTM data by YCharts
Finally, as shown by the chart below, CAT currently pays a dividend of 2.5%, which is well above the current 10 year Treasury yield of 1.66%
CAT Dividend Yield data by YCharts
Deere & Co (DE)
This year, DE is celebrating its 175th anniversary. Without doubt, DE is one of the oldest companies around. If you are interested, the company's website gives a terrific overview of DE's storied history. DE is the leading provider of machinery to farmers throughout the world. Recently, legendary investor Warren Buffett purchased a stake in DE. This move does not come as a surprise because DE fits so many of the typical Buffett investment qualifications. DE is engaged in a relatively easy-to-understand business, DE has outstanding brand recognition, and DE is trading at a reasonable valuation. Also, DE is exposed to what I believe, like Jim Rogers, will be an agriculture super cycle over the next decades, driven by demand from emerging economies such as India and China. Over the past 10 years, as shown by the chart below, DE has risen more than 230% while the S&P 500 has risen only 50%.
DE data by YCharts
In addition to being a high quality company, as shown by the chart below, DE is also trading at a cheap valuation relative to his historical norm.
DE PE Ratio TTM data by YCharts
Finally, as shown by the chart below, DE currently pays a dividend of 2.1%, which is well above the current 10 year Treasury yield of 1.66%
DE Dividend Yield data by YCharts
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co (DD)
From the company's website:
For more than 200 years, DuPont has brought world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace through innovative products, materials and services. Our market-driven innovation introduces thousands of new products and patent applications every year, serving markets as diverse as agriculture, nutrition, electronics and communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.
Today, DuPont is proud to build on this heritage by partnering with others to tackle the unprecedented challenges in food, energy and protection now facing our world. With global population expected to approach nine billion by 2050, DuPont is working with customers, governments, NGOs and thought leaders to discover solutions to today's toughest challenges.Together, we believe we can provide enough healthy food for people everywhere, decrease dependence on fossil fuels, and protect people and the environment for generations to come.
We look forward to what a third century of science and innovation can do.
Like CAT & DE, Dupont has as storied a history as any modern company. However, as shown by the chart below, unlike CAT & DE, Dupont has not had a great past 10 years. The weak stock performance over the past 10 years does not change the fact that DD is a high quality company. I view the recent underperformance as a chance to pick up a great long-term growth story.
DD data by YCharts
Currently, as shown by the chart below, DD is trading at a cheap valuation relative to its historic norms.
DD PE Ratio TTM data by YCharts
Finally, as shown by the chart below, DD currently pays a dividend of 4%, which is well above the current 10 year Treasury yield of 1.66%
DD Dividend Yield data by YCharts
Avoid Microsoft, Ford, and Wal-Mart
There are many companies that fit the criteria used in this article including Microsoft (MSFT), Ford (F), and Wal-Mart (WMT). I am not certain about the long-term outlook for these companies as they are all closely tied to the tastes and preferences of consumers, which tend to change with time. While the average age of CAT, DD, and DE is well over 100 years, the average age of MSFT, WMT, and F is just over 65 years. Age is not the only difference between CAT, DE, and DD vs MSFT, WMT, and F. It must be noted that F came very close to bankruptcy during the 2008 recession, proving that it is at best fair quality. MSFT has stagnated over the past decade as other companies such as Oracle (ORCL) and Apple (AAPL) have caused problems for Microsoft. With PC sales on the decline, the future for Microsoft looks mixed, at best. Finally, the global retail leader, WMT will continue to face increased online competition from the likes of Amazon.com for the foreseeable future. Another risk facing WMT over the long-term is a change in consumer behavior. What if, perhaps, the economy proves stronger than most expect and consumers decide to switch from WMT to more expensive, higher quality retailers?
Cyclical vs Secular Headwinds
While CAT, DE, and DD certainly face headwinds, I believe these headwinds are of a cyclical nature, not a secular nature. Throughout history, there have always been ups and downs with the global economy and CAT, DE, and DD seem to always emerge as stronger after each cycle. Comparably, I view the potential headwinds facing MSFT, F, and WMT as secular. Companies facing secular issues have often fallen on difficult times despite the cyclical outlook. Some examples today include Hewlett- Packard (HPQ), Radio Shack Corp (RSH), and Eastman Kodak (EKDKQ.PK). At one time, all of these companies were considered "high quality value plays" however, they all turned out to be value traps as the issues they faced were of a secular nature. Let me be clear, I am not saying that MSFT, F, and WMT will go the way of Kodak, HPQ, or RSH. Rather, I am saying that I cannot endorse MSFT, F, and WMT as buy and hold forever investments.
Conclusion
No, this article does not address the outlook for these companies over the next six weeks, six months, or even six years. For those looking for a shorter-term view, there are many terrific pieces available on Seeking Alpha. Rather, I believe that now is good time to purchase CAT, DD, or DE as a long-term investment. Warren Buffett has often said that his favorite holding period is "forever" and I believe that now is a great time to buy CAT, DD, or DE with the intention of holding forever. Contrastingly, despite fitting my criteria, I cannot endorse MFST, F, or WMT as a buy and hold forever.
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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) ? Hector "Macho" Camacho was a brash fighter with a mean jab and an aggressive style, launching himself furiously against some of the biggest names in boxing. And his bad-boy persona was not entirely an act, with a history of legal scrapes that began in his teens and continued throughout his life.
The man who once starred at the pinnacle of boxing, winning several world titles, died Saturday back in the Puerto Rican town of Bayamon where he was born, ambushed in a parking lot in a car where packets of cocaine were found.
Camacho, 50, left behind a reputation for flamboyance ? leading fans in cheers of "It's Macho time!" before fights ? and for fearsome skills as one of the top fighters of his generation.
"He excited boxing fans around the world with his inimitable style," promoter Don King told The Associated Press.
Camacho fought professionally for three decades, from his humble debut against David Brown at New York's Felt Forum in 1980 to an equally forgettable swansong against Saul Duran in Kissimmee, Florida, in 2010.
In between, he fought some of the biggest stars spanning two eras, including Sugar Ray Leonard, Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya and Roberto Duran.
"Hector was a fighter who brought a lot of excitement to boxing," said Ed Brophy, executive director of International the Boxing Hall of Fame. "He was a good champion. Roberto Duran is kind of in a class of his own, but Hector surely was an exciting fighter that gave his all to the sport."
Camacho's family moved to New York when he was young and he grew up in Spanish Harlem, which at the time was rife with crime. Camacho landed in jail as a teenager before turning to boxing, which for many kids in his neighborhood provided an outlet for their aggression.
"This is something I've done all my life, you know?" Camacho told The Associated Press after a workout in 2010. "A couple years back, when I was doing it, I was still enjoying it. The competition, to see myself perform. I know I'm at the age that some people can't do this no more."
Former featherweight champion Juan Laporte, a friend since childhood, described Camacho as "like a little brother who was always getting into trouble," but otherwise combined a friendly nature with a powerful jab.
"He's a good human being, a good hearted person," Laporte said as he waited with other friends and members of the boxer's family outside the hospital in San Juan after the shooting. "A lot of people think of him as a cocky person but that was his motto ... Inside he was just a kid looking for something."
Laporte lamented that Camacho never found a mentor to guide him outside the boxing ring.
"The people around him didn't have the guts or strength to lead him in the right direction," Laporte said. "There was no one strong enough to put a hand on his shoulder and tell him how to do it."
George Lozada, a longtime friend from New York who flew to Puerto Rico on Saturday, recalled that just hours after he was released from prison after serving a murder sentence, he received a call from Camacho, who was waiting outside his apartment in a black Porsche.
"He said, 'Come down, I'm taking you shopping,'" Lozada said, wiping away tears.
"Because of him, man, I got what I got today," he said, pointing to pictures on his smartphone of his 6-year-old daughter. "Because of Hector, I stopped the drug scene ... He's helped so many people."
Drug, alcohol and other problems trailed Camacho himself after the prime of his boxing career. He was sentenced in 2007 to seven years in prison for the burglary of a computer store in Mississippi. While arresting him on the burglary charge in January 2005, police also found the drug ecstasy.
A judge eventually suspended all but one year of the sentence and gave Camacho probation. He wound up serving two weeks in jail, though, after violating that probation.
Camacho's former wife, Amy, obtained a restraining order against him in 1998, alleging he threatened her and one of their children. The couple, who had two children at the time, later divorced.
He divided his time between Puerto Rico and Florida in recent years, appearing on Spanish-language television as well as on a reality show called "Es Macho Time!" on YouTube.
Inside the boxing ring, Camacho flourished. He won three Golden Gloves titles as an amateur, and after turning pro, he quickly became a contender with an all-action style reminiscent of other Puerto Rican fighters.
Long promoted by Don King, Camacho won his first world title by beating Rafael Limon in a super-featherweight bout in Puerto Rico on Aug. 7, 1983. He moved up in weight two years later to capture a lightweight title by defeating Jose Luis Ramirez, and successfully defended the belt against fellow countryman Edwin Rosario.
The Rosario fight, in which the victorious Camacho still took a savage beating, persuaded him to scale back his ultra-aggressive style in favor of a more cerebral, defensive approach.
The change in style was a big reason that Camacho, at the time 38-0, lost a close split decision to Greg Haugen at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in 1991.
Camacho won the rematch to set up his signature fight against Mexico's Julio Cesar Chavez, this time at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Camacho was roundly criticized for his lack of action, and the Mexican champion won a lopsided unanimous decision to retain the lightweight title.
"Even though people say I beat him easily, it wasn't that way," Chavez told Mexico's ESPN-Radio Formula this week. "He was a very fast fighter, he faced everything and it was very hard for me."
"He revolutionized boxing, Chavez said. "It's a shame he got mixed up in so many problems."
After that loss, Camacho became the name opponent for other rising contenders, rather than the headliner fighting for his own glory.
He lost a unanimous decision to another young Puerto Rican fighter, Trinidad, and was soundly defeated by De La Hoya. In 1997, Camacho ended Leonard's final comeback with a fifth-round knockout. It was Camacho's last big victory even though he boxed for another decade.
The fighter's last title bout came in 1997 against welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya, who won by unanimous decision. Camacho's last fight was his defeat by Saul Duran in May 2010. He had a career record of 79-6-3.
Doctors pronounced Camacho dead on Saturday after he was removed from life support at his family's direction. He never regained consciousness after at least at least one gunman crept up to the car in a darkened parking lot and opened fire.
No arrests and have been made, and authorities have not revealed many details beyond the facts that police found cocaine in the car and that the boxer and his friend, who was killed at the scene, had no idea the attack was coming. "Apparently, this was a surprise," said Alex Diaz, a police spokesman.
Survivors include his mother; three sisters, Raquel, Estrella and Ester; a brother, Felix; and four sons, Hector Jr., Taylor, Christian and Justin.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/brash-boxer-macho-camacho-dies-puerto-rico-165739879--spt.html
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