Year-End Online Gifts are Bigger, but Number of Donations Slows ...

Donors are making bigger online gifts to charity this month than they did last year at this time, but they are making fewer gifts, according to data provided by Network for Good, a giving site that provided information on online contributions to 8,700 charities.

Last week, the average online gift made through Network for Good was $122.55, up from $113.57 for the same week in 2011.? The average gift size rose by a similar percentage in the previous week.

The gain could be a sign that concerns about the economy are starting to ease, says Katya Andresen, chief operating officer for the giving site. However, she noted that a growing number of companies are using Network for Good to run employee-giving drives, making year-to-year comparisons tricky.

And signs of a slowdown in the number of gifts last week could be worrisome. In the first week of December, the number of donations made through Network for Good grew by 7 percent, but last week they fell by 6 percent.

One reason for more numerous gifts earlier in the month is that many charities participated in #Giving Tuesday, an effort to draw donations just after Thanksgiving. Some fundraisers worry that the day may have simply shifted when people made contributions, rather than prompting more people to give.

December is a crucial month for online giving, as many charities attract their largest gifts then. Blackbaud, the fundraising software company, found that the average gift was $180.04 in December of last year, more than double the average $82.53 given in January. (The company has not released figures yet for this month.)

See our interactive graphic to track year-end online giving by day.

How the Size of Average Online Donations Is Growing

Week	2011	2012	Change
October 1-6	$78.03	$83.30	$5.27
October 7-13	$62.74	$81.94	$19.20
October 14-20	$73.54	$86.26	$12.72
October 21-27	$68.68	$91.21	$22.53
October 28-November 3	$74.59	$79.35	$4.76
November 4-10	$75.79	$87.52	$11.74
November 11-17	$74.14	$104.22	$30.08
November 18-24	$82.12	$98.11	$15.99
November 25-December 1	$98.33	$112.93	$14.60
December 2-8	$108.24	$114.77	$6.53
December 9-15	$113.57	$122.55	$8.98

Source: Network for Good

Emily Gipple contributed to this report. Send an e-mail to Holly Hall.

Source: http://philanthropy.com/blogs/prospecting/year-end-online-gifts-are-bigger-but-number-of-donations-slows/37077

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KPN shares drop on dividend cut, costly licenses

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Shares in Dutch telecoms group KPN, now part of Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim's empire, plunged as much as 15 percent after it cut its dividend for this year and next to meet the higher-than-expected cost of new mobile licenses.

A new player, Sweden's Tele2, also won licenses in Friday's Dutch auction of 4G wireless spectrum, a move likely to increase competition in one of Europe's most lucrative telecoms markets as the winners roll out faster services that allow users to watch video and surf the Internet on the move.

"This is negative news for KPN as we estimate KPN generates about 15-20 percent of group EBITDA (core earnings) from its mobile business in the Netherlands," ING analyst Emmanuel Carlier said on Monday.

The fallout from the auction is the latest blow for KPN after cut-throat competition in text messaging and slowing European economies led it to cut profit and dividend forecasts, its chief financial officer abruptly left and competition authorities launched a probe into possible price fixing.

Some analysts also questioned whether the dividend cut would be enough, suggesting the group might have to sell assets or raise capital to fend off credit rating downgrades.

At 7:30 a.m. ET, KPN shares were down 13.7 percent at 3.997 euros, the second-biggest fall by a European blue-chip stock. The stock briefly touched 3.9 euros, matching a 10-year low hit in November.

The Dutch spectrum auction raised 3.8 billion euros ($5 billion) for state coffers, well above the 800 million euros or so that analysts had predicted.

"This has negative implications for all mobile players in the market," Exane BNP Paribas analysts said in a research note, adding it would raise concerns about the cost of ongoing and upcoming auctions in the rest of Europe.

Slim's investments in European telecoms in KPN and Telekom Austria are below the valuations he bought them and the firms are the worst performers on the European telecoms index this year. KPN, in which Slim's America Movil owns 28 percent, is down 50 percent. Telekom Austria down is 41 percent.

RIGHTS ISSUE?

KPN said on Friday it had paid 1.35 billion euros for 15 separate 4G wireless licenses in the Dutch auction, much higher than the 400-500 million euros analysts had expected. Incumbents Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom also won licenses.

As a result, KPN warned it would not pay a final dividend for 2012 and would pay out only 0.03 euro per share for 2013, far lower than already reduced forecasts. The Dutch group had previously cut its dividend forecast for this year to 0.35 euro from an initial 0.90 euros.

KPN had been planning a payout for 2013 of at least 0.35 euro. However, traders and analysts have long expressed concern about the ability of KPN to pay dividends given it has a debt to core profit ratio exceeding its own targets.

Deutsche Bank analyst Matthew Bloxham warned KPN would end 2012 with a ratio of net debt to EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) of 2.8 times, above KPN's target of 2.5 times.

"We expect leverage to remain above 2.5 times until 2016, assuming a zero dividend policy is maintained until then. We will now have to wait and see if this negative surprise encourages the rating agencies to downgrade KPN's credit rating of Baa2/BBB and, if so, what implications there could be for management's open mind on a possible capital increase," he said.

Fitch, one of the agencies, on Monday cut its credit rating for KPN to BBB- from BBB.

KPN has already been under pressure to sell off non-core assets to keep debt levels under control. Separately on Monday, it said it had sold its Spanish operations to France Telecom, but did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.

In November, KPN agreed to sell some of its German mobile towers for 393 million euros. But it was forced to call off the sale in August of its Belgian mobile business BASE, which it had hoped would raise up to 1.8 billion euros, saying the offers it received were too low.

"If KPN cannot find a buyer for BASE or a partner for network synergies in Germany, then we believe that a rights issue might be the only option left to cut debt," said analysts at Raymond James Euro Equities in a note.

(Reporting by Sara Webb; Editing by Erica Billingham and Mark Potter)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kpn-shares-plunge-dividend-cut-123433737--finance.html

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Libya orders temporary closure of borders: state agency

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's ruling national congress ordered the temporary closure of its borders with four of its neighbors on Sunday and declared its vast desert south a closed military zone in the face of growing unrest.

The national assembly ordered the "temporary closure of the land borders with Chad, Niger, Sudan and Algeria pending new regulations", a decree carried by the official LANA news agency said.

It added that the provinces of Ghadames, Ghat, Obari, al-Shati, Sabha, Murzuq and Kufra "are considered as closed military zones".

The decree also gave the defence ministry powers to appoint a military governor, from outside the area, with authority to arrest fugitives from justice and deport illegal immigrants.

Prime Minister Ali Zeidan returned from a regional tour last week, during which he called for a meeting in Libya with Niger, Mali, Chad and Sudan to secure regional borders.

Several southern members of the congress have boycotted sessions recently in protest against lawlessness plaguing the south, citing increased violence by armed groups there as well as drug trafficking.

"This decision shows that the congress understands the situation in the south, where the security is bad," Mohamed Menawi Al-Houdhiery, a congress member from Sabha, told Reuters.

Earlier this month, nearly 200 prisoners escaped from a jail in Sabha, which has also seen tribal clashes since the end of last year's war that ousted Muammar Gaddafi.

Restoring order in the south is not only important internally for Libya but also for stability in the wider region.

In the chaos that followed Gaddafi's fall, the south was used as a smuggling route for weapons reaching al Qaeda in the Sahara.

(Reporting by Ali Shuaib; Editing by Stephen Powell)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/libya-orders-temporary-closure-borders-state-agency-224926630.html

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A Prominent Sport- Horse Racing Around Australia - Recreation and ...

Alongside Australian Rules football and Rugby is the third most popular spectator sport around australia. Since its official race in 1842, Horse Racing in Australia flourished. Originally popularized through the British as the Sport of Kings, Horse racing made its way from the UK to Australia throughout the early years of British settlement. During the year 1788, the first horses arrived in the shores of Australia. Growing in numbers in the 19th Century, the first horses arriving Australia are consisting of a stallion, a colt, a filly and four manes. In the Australia culture, horse racing has turned into a huge part since then. To the Australian people, the sport has had great recognition and a very important tradition for having been witnessed by the people for centuries. Today, the country has the most racecourses in the world and second to have the most horses next to US. Throughout the year, the Australian Racing Board administers races. Melbourne autumn racing carnival, and spring racing carnival, Sydney autumn and spring carnival, Brisbane winter racing carnival, Adelaide autumn racing carnival, Perth summer racing carnival and Tasmanian summer racing carnival are the major races in the country. The favourite and biggest of which is the Melbourne spring festival which showcase the Melbourne cup.

The Melbourne cup first started as domestic sport and it has become the most awaited even in horse racing every year. Horse Racing in Australia comes about weekly with the oncoming of racing season every 1st of August each year and ends on the 30th of July. Metropolitan, provincial and country race clubs conducts race meetings. The race carnivals host not only domestic but also internationally famous races each year. Over the years, horse racing has continuously evolved and improved. The impressive race tracks serving these prestigious horse racing events is among the major improvements. Along with one of the best race tracks, Australia can also be known for the best competitive jockeys in the world. Australia???s beloved sport also distinguishes women jockeys today and it has recognized some of the best women jockeys worldwide.

Gambling is yet another important part of the race together with Racing Horse know as a prominent sport. The excitement of the race is coupled with the profit making system of betting. Many Australians earn a living out of love of the race, great knowledge and professional tips in betting on horse racing. Huge amount of money are at stake in the esteemed event yearly. Australia has become recognized worldwide with its top quality horse racing reputation.

Tags: horse racing in Australia, racing horse

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 16th, 2012 at 2:01 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Source: http://recreationandsports.russiacourse.com/uncategorized/a-prominent-sport-horse-racing-around-australia/

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Jason Mraz tops Myanmar anti-trafficking concert

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) ? American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz mixed entertainment with education Sunday to become the first world-class entertainer in decades to perform in Myanmar, with a concert to raise awareness of human trafficking.

Mraz's 2008 hit "I'm Yours" was the finale for the nighttime concert before a crowd of about 50,000 people at the base of the famous hilltop Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, the country's biggest city.

Local artists, including a hip-hop singer, also played at the event organized by MTV in cooperation with U.S. and Australian government aid agencies and the anti-slavery organization Walk Free.

Myanmar is emerging from decades of isolation under a reformist elected government that took office last year after almost five decades of military rule. It has been one of the region's poorest countries, and its bad human rights record made it the target of political and economic sanctions by Western nations. But democratic reforms initiated by President Thein Sein have led to the lifting of most sanctions, and the country is hopeful of a political and economic revival. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy opposition leader, was released from house arrest in late 2010 and won a seat in parliament last April.

Mraz called his top-billed appearance at the concert a "tremendous honor."

"I think the country is, at this time, downloading lots of new information from all around the world. I've always wanted my music to be here, (for) hope and celebration, peace, love and happiness. And so I'm delighted that my music can be a part of this big download that Myanmar is experiencing right now," he said.

Organizers said Mraz was "the first international artist ever to perform at an open-air, mass public concert in Myanmar."

Jazz artists Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Charlie Byrd visited the country under U.S. government sponsorship in the 1970s, when it was still called Burma, but played at much smaller venues.

Many in the crowd queued for two hours before being admitted to the concert site. Yangon native Sann Oo, 31, wearing a white T-shirt with a sketch of Mraz, said he was pleased that Mraz had come and that there would be a broadcast of the event.

"His visit can promote the image of Myanmar, because people outside have been seeing the country as an insecure place, and poor. Now, they can see how we look like from the concert. It also opens the potential for more concerts by foreign artists," he said.

Mraz has a history of involvement with human rights and other social causes.

But there was some criticism of his visit by campaigners for Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya community, which has been the target of ethnic-based violence this year that has forced scores of thousands from their homes into makeshift refugees camps. They feel Myanmar's government has been complicit in the discrimination, and that Mraz's visit provides it cover with the image of being a defender of human rights.

Walk Free used the occasion of Sunday's concert to launch a campaign calling on the world's major corporations "to work together to end modern slavery by identifying, eradicating and preventing forced labor in their operations and supply chains." They are seeking to have the companies make a "Zero Tolerance for Slavery Pledge" by the end of March next year.

"While many think of slavery as a relic of history, experts estimate that there are currently 20.9 million people living under threat of violence, abuse and harsh penalties," the Australia-based group said in a press release. "Within this massive number, the majority of people -- more than 14.2 million -- are in a forced labor situation, used to source raw materials, and create products in sectors such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing and domestic work."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/jason-mraz-tops-myanmar-anti-trafficking-concert-175448791.html

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Thinking About Self Improvement? Try These Ideas! - Empower ...

You should work to improve your life if you are not satisfied. The following are some suggestions for getting started with bettering yourself.

You should be humble in your everyday interactions. Learn from daily situations and see what you can change about your circumstances. In addition, you have to realize there are things that can?t be changed. To stay inside the limits of what you can really do, practice modesty. You will also need wisdom to keep your past mistakes from straying into your future.

Follow your own principles as strictly as you can. Everyone has beliefs that are central to their sense of self. When your core beliefs are well-founded, your self esteem improves. Even better, when you act on your principles, you will become more consistent without having to make any effort to do so. This is an excellent trait to be cultivating.

TIP! Always do the best you can. Your aspiration to greatness is usually pointed to by your passion.

Only you can decide that you are ready for and want change. When we consciously choose to change, it is easier to do so.

Create a fund specifically for emergencies. It appears as though every time something unexpected happens, we charge more to our credit cards. Set aside a certain amount from each check for an emergency fund. It doesn?t have to be a great deal of money, but be consistent. Emergency funds help in the short-term and the long-term, as you begin to bring your total debt down.

When you are angered by something, take the time to take a breath and count up to ten before you react. Think peaceful thoughts and take a few deep breaths. Calm yourself in order to avoid saying things you will later regret.

TIP! You must be able to lead if you want to develop personally. Although there are many different definitions of leadership, the most common being ?influence?.

Develop yourself by using love to grow and drive your faith. There is no way to have faith if you do not have love. Thus, it is important to always act on your faith and show your love. Do good for others and show that you love yourself through your love for others.

If you see that you are frequently not reaching the goals and expectations that you have set for yourself, stop and reassess what the problems might be. Look for resources related to your issues and ask your friends about their struggles. The problem might be that your expectations were set too high, important steps were not taken, or inadequate resources were allocated in working toward your goals.

Taking a few risks can help you feel happier. Taking risks has the potential for failure, so some people prefer to keep things the same and take no chances. They lead unfulfilled lives avoiding risk rather than trying new things. Taking some chances is a key component of happiness. It demonstrates courage and a lust for life.

TIP! Take a trip with a buddy to the movie theater as a method of conquering anxiety. This is a good way to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

Exercise should be a part of everyone?s routine. There are many reason you should do physical exercise. Exercise stimulates the production of substances in your body that help calm you.

You can use your willpower to make your life more positive, which means that the wishes you have for others can impact your circumstances, as well. In this sense, you should only wish the best for other people. If you keep your emotional self positive, you won?t be knocked down by all those negative feelings.

It shouldn?t be scary to make big changes in your life. If you take the initiative to make your life better, think of all joy and great things that you?ll be giving yourself.

TIP! Work more efficiently to get the most out of your effort. The simple trick is to take more breaks when you work.

Blogging is a great Personal empowerment tool ? just like a document of those awakening. It?s so quick in the Empower Network blogging platform. You could possibly even decide you want to use it to help make another income. Click this link to read more concerning the blogging system each travelers writing about:

http://www.PowerOfBlogging.com

Source: http://www.empowernetwork.com/kfreebern/thinking-about-self-improvement-try-these-ideas/

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95% Argo

All Critics (242) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (231) | Rotten (11)

'Argo' is one of the best movies of the year.

Argo has that solid, kick-the-tires feel of those studio films from the 70s that were about something but also entertained. Only it's as laugh outright amusing as it is sobering.

The movieland satire is laid on thick, but it's also deadly accurate. Schlock has never seemed so patriotic, and Arkin and Goodman have rarely been so good.

Argo is a rollicking yarn, easily the most cohesive and technically accomplished of Affleck's three films so far, but a part of me wishes the director hadn't cast himself in the lead role.

If nothing else, it proves that every so often, the CIA can pull something off - and that yes, Canadians are just about the nicest people on the planet.

The film is a whopper of a tale, one designed for Oscar nominations, Best Picture and Best Director among them.

When Tony (Ben Affleck) lands in Tehran and trains the frightened Americans to play their parts as a Canadian film crew, Argo compares the ruses run by governments and movie studios.

The whole thing is paced like a whip, and the third act may literally be the most suspenseful piece of film I've ever seen - and yes, I have seen Rear Window. Recommended without any reservation for every and any cinemagoer.

A terrific supporting cast, especially the non A-list actors, make the dramatic license taken justified and redeem Affleck for miscasting himself in the hero's role.

A brilliant thriller that's based on a historical incident, 'Argo' is one of the best films of 2012.

A wonderfully lively and engrossing movie ...

An enthralling and deliciously entertaining movie -- and a deserved triumph for its star and director.

The details make for a rip-roaring story, which Affleck invests with old-school directorial ?lan.

Ben Affleck leaps on to the A-list of directors with this relentlessly entertaining thriller, combining comedy and nerve-jangling suspense to maximum effect.

If you're a nailbiter, bring gloves, because the suspense will see you reach your knuckles.

Surprisingly enjoyable, given that you may have little prior commitment to this story and only mildly fancy Affleck.

Affleck skilfully turns the screw of suspense, gaining added traction from an extremely convincing recreation of the setting and period.

Ben Affleck's movie tells an amazing but true story set against the context of the Iranian hostage crisis.

Talent borrows and genius steals, but Affleck does something in between: he mimics.

It's impossible to be bored by a story this good, especially with that cast.

Part of what makes this headspinning story believable is the fact that it pans out in an oddly uncomplicated way.

The shaggy and bearded Ben Affleck, barely recognisable from his former self, gives a great lead performance. Understated, intense and steely-eyed, Affleck has the screen presence of legendary actor/director Clint Eastwood.

Affleck the director is utterly sure-footed with an instinctive feel for characterization, tension and pacing as he builds the action towards a nail-biting climax.

A dum-tight thriller demonstrating that Affleck is one of the most accomplished directors working in Hollywood today.

[A] gripping, beautifully performed and often very funny but dramatic thriller.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/argo_2012/

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