Sears, Penney sever ties with Paula Deen

NEW YORK (AP) ? Paula Deen's media and merchandising empire is collapsing.

Sears, J.C. Penney and Walgreen said Friday that they're cutting ties with Deen, adding to the growing list of companies severing their relationship following revelations that the Southern celebrity chef used racial slurs in the past.

Meanwhile, Deen's publisher has canceled a deal with her for multiple books, including an upcoming cookbook that was the No. 1 seller on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.

Ballantine Books said Friday it would not release "Paula Deen's New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes, All Lightened Up," which was scheduled for October and was the first of a five-book deal announced early last year. Interest in it had surged as Deen, who grew up in Albany, Ga., and specializes in Southern comfort food, came under increasing attack for acknowledging she had used the N-word.

Ballantine, an imprint of Random House Inc., said it decided to cancel the book's publication after "careful consideration." It had no comment beyond what was in its brief statement, spokesman Stuart Applebaum said.

Sears Holdings Corp. said it will phase out all products tied to the Paula Deen brand after "careful consideration of all available information."

"We will continue to evaluate the situation," said the parent company of Sears and Kmart stores.

Both Sears and Kmart sold Paula Deen products.

In an email statement to The Associated Press, J.C. Penney Co. Inc. said it will stop selling Deen-branded products.

Walgreen Co. said it was phasing out Paula Deen-branded products, which include tortilla chips and a selection of soups.

QVC took a more gentle approach on Friday and said that it has decided to "take a pause" from Deen. The home shopping network said that Deen won't be appearing on any upcoming broadcasts, and it will phase out her product assortment on its online sales channels over the next few months.

"We all think it's important, at this moment, for Paula, to concentrate on responding to the allegations against her and on her path forward," said Mike George, QVC's president and CEO in a letter posted on the company's website.

But QVC left the door open for Deen to return. "Some of you wonder whether this is a 'forever' decision ? whether we are simply ending our association with Paula," continued George. "We don't think that's how relationships work. People deserve second chances."

Deen issued her own statement that was posted on QVC's webpage. "As you know, I have some important things to work on right now, both personally and professionally. And so we've agreed that it's best for me to step back from QVC and focus on setting things right

The developments are the latest blows dealt to Deen since comments she made in a court deposition became public.

Earlier this week, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp. and Home Depot all announced that they plan to stop selling cookware and other items with Deen's brand.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Novo Nordisk said it and Deen have "mutually agreed to suspend our patient education activities for now." Deen had been promoting the company's drug Victoza since last year, when she announced she had Type 2 diabetes

On Monday, pork producer Smithfield Foods dropped her as a spokeswoman.

Caesars Entertainment also announced that Paula Deen's name is being stripped from four buffet restaurants owned by the company. Caesars said that its decision to rebrand its restaurants in Joliet, Ill.; Tunica, Miss.; Cherokee, N.C.; and Elizabeth, Ind., was a mutual one with Deen.

Last week, the Food Network said that it would not renew her contract.

The stakes are high for Deen, who Forbes magazine ranked as the fourth highest-earning celebrity chef last year, bringing in $17 million. She's behind Gordon Ramsay, Rachael Ray and Wolfgang Puck, according to Forbes.

Paula Deen Enterprises, which spans from TV shows to cookware and furniture, generates total annual revenue of nearly $100 million, estimates Burt Flickinger III, president of retail consultancy Strategic Resource Group.

But Flickinger estimates she could lose up to 80 percent of her business by next year as suppliers extricate themselves from their agreements.

Not every company Deen does business with has severed ties. Among other stores that sell her products, Kohl's Corp. declined to comment, while Macy's Inc. said Thursday that it continues to "monitor the situation."

Hoffman Media LLC, the publisher of "Cooking with Paula Deen" magazine, announced Friday that it will continue publishing her bi-monthly publication.

"Hoffman Media has worked closely with Ms. Deen since 2005," said Eric Hoffman, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Hoffman Media in a statement. "The recent images portrayed by the media do not reflect the person we know on a personal or a professional level."

___

AP National Writer Hillel Italie contributed to this report

Follow Anne D'Innocenzio on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sears-penney-sever-ties-paula-deen-194710329.html

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Perry, filibuster star clash over Texas abortions

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) ? Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday admonished the star of a Democratic filibuster that helped kill new Texas abortion restrictions, saying state Sen. Wendy Davis' rise from a tough upbringing to Harvard Law graduate should have taught her the value of each human life.

The Republican governor expanded on those remarks later, publicly wondering what might have happened if Davis' own mother had undergone an abortion rather than carry her child to term.

Davis, a Fort Worth Democrat, shot back that Perry's statement "tarnishes the high office he holds."

Before the white-hot battle over abortion in the nation's second-largest state turned personal, Davis staged a marathon filibuster Tuesday helping to defeat an omnibus bill that would have further limited abortions in a place where it's already difficult to undergo them. But Perry called lawmakers back for a second special session next week to try and finish the job.

"Who are we to say that children born in the worst of circumstances can't lead successful lives?" Perry said in a speech to nearly 1,000 delegates at the National Right to Life Conference in suburban Dallas. "Even the woman who filibustered the Senate the other day was born into difficult circumstances."

Davis, 50, has rocketed to sudden, national political stardom thanks to donning pink running shoes and delivering the marathon speech on the floor of the state Senate.

She started working at age 14 to help support a household of her single mother and three siblings. By 19, she was already married and divorced with a child of her own, but she eventually graduated with honors from Harvard Law School and won her Senate seat in an upset.

Davis' surge in popularity came as no surprise to Texas Democrats, who chose her as the face of the battle to block the bill. Since arriving at the Texas Capitol, she has earned derision and respect for her ability to dissect a complex bill and make her opponents squirm under tough questioning.

Perry pointed out Davis' personal history in his speech, adding "it's just unfortunate that she hasn't learned from her own example that every life must be given a chance to realize its full potential and that every life matters."

In comments to reporters afterward, he went even further.

"I'm proud that she's been able to take advantage of her intellect and her hard work, but she didn't come from particularly good circumstances," the governor said. "What if her mom had said, 'I just can't do this. I don't want to do this.' At that particular point in time I think it becomes very personal."

Davis quickly fired off an email blasting Perry's comments.

"They are small words that reflect a dark and negative point of view," she said. "Our governor should reflect our Texas values. Sadly, Gov. Perry fails that test."

Davis' supporters argued Perry never would have made such suggestions to a male politician.

"Rick Perry's remarks are incredibly condescending and insulting to women," Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in a statement. "This is exactly why the vast majority of Texans believe that politicians shouldn't be involved in a woman's personal health care decisions."

The Texas Legislature adjourned May 27, but Perry called legislators into a first 30-day special session to pass stricter limits on abortion, including banning the procedure after 20 weeks of pregnancy. But with the extra session set to end at midnight on Tuesday, Davis was on her feet for more than 12 hours ? speaking most of that time ? as Senate Democrats attempted a filibuster.

Just before the final gavel, Republican lawmakers silenced her for addressing a topic other than the bill she was opposing ? only to have hundreds of abortion rights activists cheer so loudly from the public gallery that all business in the chamber halted until it was too late.

Perry, a conservative and devout Christian, has put the abortion measure at the top of the agenda for the second special session, which begins Monday. It would force many clinics that perform abortions to upgrade their facilities to be classified as ambulatory surgical centers. Doctors also would be required to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles.

Opponents say such improvements are so expensive that only five of Texas' 42 abortion clinics would remain in operation.

Abortion rights groups have promised to respond with more protests, including one scheduled Monday for the state Capitol. Perry, meanwhile, called those who oppose abortion to action, telling the conference, "the world has seen images of pro-abortion activists screaming, cheering. Going forward, we have to match their intensity."

Adding intrigue to his grudge match with Davis is the fact that Perry had been expected to announce this week if he will seek a fourth full term as governor next year. But he said Thursday that announcement will now be delayed until lawmakers can finish the extra work he's given them.

Davis is up for re-election too next year, but had been urged by Democratic operatives even before her filibuster to consider running for governor.

She has acknowledged mulling a run for statewide office but says she wants to wait for the right time. A Democrat hasn't won such a post in Texas since 1994, and the state Democratic Party would face a major challenge establishing the organization or infrastructure necessary to deliver enough votes.

Asked what he thought of Davis as a possible gubernatorial candidate, Perry shrugged and said: "I don't have a clue."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/perry-filibuster-star-clash-over-texas-abortions-175240836.html

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Ivory Coast may seek Chinese financing for post-war recovery: Finance Minister

By Joe Bavier and Ange Aboa

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Ivory Coast may turn to China for more loans to finance a post-war recovery in French-speaking Africa's largest economy, the minister in charge of finance and the economy said, as President Barack Obama visited the region to revive U.S. engagement.

Niale Kaba said the world's top cocoa grower is also planning to relaunch a privatisation scheme that should see the state liquidate its stakes in a range of sectors, starting with several banks of which it is majority owner.

After winning a 2010 election and the brief civil war that followed, President Alassane Ouattara is pushing investment in critical infrastructure left neglected during Ivory Coast's decade-long political crisis.

"We have a lot of potential and a lot of ambition. And that ambition requires financing," said Kaba, who manages the finance and economy portfolio taken over by Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan in a November reshuffle.

A national development programme calls for investments of around $20 billion over the next five years and Ivory Coast is seeking financing for several large infrastructure projects from traditional donors and public-private partnerships.

However, Kaba said the conditions offered by China's Exim Bank made its loans particularly attractive.

Chinese financing could be used for projects including an expansion of Ivory Coast's main port, a plan to link up regional rail lines, and the extension of existing motorways, she said.

"I believe the loans from Exim Bank are loans that can finance in a relevant way certain sectors ... It's a good opportunity for Ivory Coast to make the structural investments necessary to sustain growth," she said in an interview.

"The rates are low, the time-frame is long, and we have grace periods of seven to nine years. So that allows you to make the investment and wait a bit for the investment to bear fruit before you start paying it back," Kaba said.

Ivory Coast has secured two loans totalling $615 million from Exim Bank to fund a motorway and hydroelectric power plant.

LONG WAY TO GO ON PRIVATISATIONS

Obama, the U.S.'s first African-American president, was in Senegal on Thursday on his second visit to the continent since taking office in 2008.

Administration officials say the trip is an opportunity to jump-start the relationship. Analysts say U.S. neglect of Africa's potential has left it to play catch-up with China.

During his own African tour earlier this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping renewed an offer of $20 billion of loans between 2013 and 2015.

Ivory Coast adopted its first privatisation programme in 1990 well before most of its neighbours. However, the project slowed during the political crisis of the last decade.

"The prime minister has reactivated the privatisation committee," Kaba said. "We will look at which sectors the state can withdraw from. We're at the beginning of the process."

Kaba said privatisations were expected to begin with the banking sector. The Ivorian state holds majority stakes in five banks: Versus Bank, BNI, BFA, CECP and BHCI.

The government has commissioned an audit of the five institutions, with initial results due in late August.

"The banks from which the state will withdraw will be defined by the study ... And it will only be then that we will be able to make a financial evaluation of the expected earnings," Kaba said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ivory-coast-may-seek-chinese-financing-post-war-070906113.html

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Voyager 1 comes closer to leaving the solar system...again

Scientists have detected one of the critical signs that the Voyager 1 is nearly in interstellar space. But this has happened before.

By Elizabeth Barber,?Contributor / June 27, 2013

This artist's concept shows NASA's twin Voyager spacecraft exploring a turbulent region of space known as the heliosheath.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Reuters

Enlarge

No, we aren?t there yet. But we're closer.

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Spacecraft Voyager 1 is closer to being the first human-made object to leave the solar system ? but what exactly ?closer? means is still unknown.

Researchers are waiting for Voyager 1, launched some 35 years ago and now more than 11 billion miles away, to exit the heliosheath,?a region that extends past all the planets in our solar system by about 8 billion miles, into interstellar space. But ?about? is the critical word here, because the trouble is that scientists don?t know exactly how big that region is.?

But three papers, published in Science, report that scientists have observed one of the signs that they expect to see as Voyager 1 nears the solar system?s edge: the total disappearance of charged particles, known as termination shock particles, which have been steadily present for seven years.

That means Voyager 1 entered a previously unknown space region called the magnetic highway, or the depletion region, on August 25th, 2012, when the disappearance was observed. In that zone, which had to been in existing space models, the charged particles travel in and out of the heliosheath along a smooth magnetic field line. Scientists believe that it is the final zone through which the spacecraft must pass before it reaches the heliopause, the exact boundary between the heliosheath and interstellar space.?

?We entered an entirely new region on August 25th,? Ed Stone, lead project scientist for the Voyager spacecraft told the Monitor. ?We think this is the zone that connects to interstellar space.?

Scientists have not yet seen the critical third sign that would mark Voyager 1?s actual passage into interstellar space: a shift in the direction of the magnetic field. The heliosheath's queen is our sun, and the sun?s east-west magnetic field governs the zone. As the space probe exits the solar system, scientists would expect to see a magnetic shift as it enters a regional field with a completely different orientation.

Another sign that Voyager 1 is still in our solar system is that the cosmic rays the craft has begun to detect from interstellar space are traveling unevenly in multiple directions. In interstellar space, scientists expect those rays to be distributed uniformly, Stone said.

Voyager 1 was launched with its sibling, Voyager 2, in 1977, and both craft have already made tours of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune before veering toward interstellar space in 1990. Even though it was launched 15 days earlier, Voyager 2 is some 2 billion miles Voyager 1.

Voyager 1?s triumphant departure has been heralded before. In December 2004, the Voyager reached what is now known as the termination shock boundary, where particles blown outward from the sun suddenly slow down.?

Voyager 1 saw this solar wind hit a dead calm in April 2010, which again suggested that the craft was coming tantalizingly close to the edge of the solar system. That region is now known as the stagnation zone. At that time, the existence of the depletion zone up ahead was unknown.

Scientists aren?t being deliberately cruel by repeatedly announcing that Voyager 1 has departed. The heliosheath is a baffling, mysterious place, and information about its outer reaches is collected only as Voyager 1 continues its unprecedented journey.

So we don't know how long it will be before Voyager 1 leaves for good.

?It could be several more months, or it could also be several more years,? said Stone. ?There could be things we still don?t know about out there. Almost every day we?re learning something new.?

?That?s the nature of exploration ? you find out how nature really does things,? he said.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/n8A8OM11KiA/Voyager-1-comes-closer-to-leaving-the-solar-system-again

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'Lola' tops 204 mph, breaking electric vehicle land speed record

Autos

Paul A. Eisenstein The Detroit Bureau

4 hours ago

Drayson Racing/The Detroit Bureau

Drayson Racing team members celebrate their land speed record.

With all the emphasis on electric propulsion these days, it might seem hard to believe that it?s been 39 years since General Electric ? yes, GE ? set the FIA World Electric Land Speed Record. But that achievement has finally been bested by a sleek, Le Mans Prototype dubbed ?Lola.?

On an RAF airbase in Yorkshire, England, an 850-horsepower battery-electric built by Drayson Racing hit a top speed of 204.185 miles per hour during a pair of runs down a 3-kilometer (nearly 2-mile) track. That was a full 29 mph faster than the 175 mph record set way back in 1974 by the Battery Box General Electric.

?I?m delighted we?ve beaten the record tonight and can show the world EVs can be fast and reliable,? said Lord Paul Drayson, whose firm built the 2,200 battery, and who personally piloted it during the record run. ?It is not the outright speed of 204.185 mph that is most impressive about this record, but the engineering challenge of accelerating a 1000 kilogram electric vehicle on a short runway over a measured mile.?

Officially known as the Drayson B12 69/EV the enclosed racer used ultra-light carbon fiber for its chassis and body to compensate for the heft of a 30 kilowatt-hour battery pack. It also relied on custom-designed Michelin LM P1 tires.

Though most folks likely associate electric propulsion with ? but slow ? vehicles like the Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt, the reality is that battery power can also deliver some impressive performance as an electric motor yields maximum torque the moment it starts spinning.

Drayson?s Lola can launch from 0 to 60 in less than 4 seconds, for example, and keep gaining speed until it?s pushed well past 200 mph. In fact, Lord Drayson is apparently looking to soon beat his own record, tweeting to fans that on an additional run the car was ?very lively at 216 mph.?

While he may be celebrating victory, the claimed record could come under dispute. The Buckeye Bullet, an EV built by students at Ohio State University, actually achieved a 307.7 mph average during two runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in August 2010 ? and was seen as capable of reaching 400 mph. But that effort was not officially sanctioned by the FIA, leaving GE?s Battery Box the certified record-holder for another three years.

To proponents, what matters most is the increasing focus in electric racing and battery propulsion, in general.

There?s clearly a lot more interest, for example, has nudged its ZEOD RC battery race car up to 186 mph, and Top EV Racing claims to have launched its battery dragster from 0 to 100 in a mind-boggling 0.8 seconds.

What could put battery racing square in the public eye is the new Formula E series set to launch in 2015. Not surprisingly, Lord Drayson is looking to participate when that program gets underway.

Copyright ? 2009-2013, The Detroit Bureau

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663286/s/2defcb70/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Cbusiness0Clola0Etops0E20A40Emph0Ebreaking0Eelectric0Evehicle0Eland0Espeed0Erecord0E6C10A464452/story01.htm

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Is Your Headline Losing Business? ? Thunderpaw ? Web ...

Thursday, June 27, 2013
By: Angela Render

While his headlines don?t always draw me in, I do appreciate print marketing expert Denny Hatch?s opinions and observations. This time, it was a commentary on print-ad headlines that broke all the rules in a bad way and how expensive that can be. It got me to thinking about headlines in general, how important they are, and how often they?re overlooked or thrown in as an after-thought.

For those of you who have taken my blogging and social media classes, this should be a familiar phrase, ?Your title is the most important part of your post. If it?s poor, it may be the only thing anyone ever sees. Treat it like a headline.? Ring any bells?

From blog post titles to ads to emails to tweets and social media posts, those few opening characters have to pull a dis-proportionate amount of weight. A headline has to be:

• engaging,
• relevant, and
• concise.

It has to inspire a person to perform a desired action: click to find out more. If that click doesn?t happen, the headline failed.

Mobile email marketing even makes you do it twice. First with the subject line and then with the first 100 characters or so of your emailing. Many mobile email programs display this first line of text so make sure it?s something more engaging than, ?If you have trouble reading this?? or ?White-list us to make sure you receive all our important SPAM?er valuable content.?

Take some time to get to know your market?s interests, emotional triggers, and frame of mind so you can tailor your headlines accordingly. Practice. Yes, practice. You practiced sentence structure, grammar, and spelling. You practiced in your area of expertise enough to become an expert with a message worth listening to. So practice crafting stellar headlines so that people will click to see what you have to offer.

Source: http://www.thunderpaw.com/2013/is-your-headline-losing-business

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My climb out of poverty wouldn't be possible today (Washington Post)

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