Do you Want to be a Software Developer? | Quality Life Resources

wall-ornamentSoftware Developers

Software developers are the reason why you can read this article on the Web. They are the people behind your browser, email client, office suite, mobile apps- basically just about anything that can run on a computer. Without them, these technologies that we enjoy today would not exist.

Computer programmers or software developers perform important roles in the IT industry. Some create software applications that allow end-users to perform tasks on their computers and gadgets, while others would create the fundamental systems that can control computer networks and devices. Their education usually consists of a degree or diploma in computer science, programming, information technology and other related fields. A developer?s responsibilities may vary from company to company, but their usual tasks include:

1. Reviewing and maintaining systems.

2. Writing code for ongoing projects.

3. Testing software in a controlled environment

4. Participating in software developments.

5. Preparing software training manuals and tutorials for users.

Other necessary traits to be a successful software developer are:

1. Excellent programming skills.

A thorough knowledge in at least one or more programming languages (especially modern languages like Ruby or Python) is a must. Most employers look for those with experience in PHP, Java, Oracle, Linux, C++ and Linux. There?s always a high demand for developers who know their way around these languages and programs.

2. Familiarity with industry standard hardware and software.

These are the tools and equipment that a developer needs to do his or her job successfully.

3. Communication skills.

Working on a software development project usually involves communicating with a whole team of people.

4. An eye for the smallest of details.

Software engineers and developers should be able to spot problems as they appear.

What Makes a Good Software Developer/ Programmer?

1. Studying

Companies usually provide training for their junior employees. But developers/ programmers who excel at their chosen fields constantly study new trends in the industry. They always go beyond what they?ve learned during training. Sometimes, they also undergo new software training to keep their minds fresh and up-to-date with the latest developments in IT.

A great way to improve programming skills is to read code written by others. This method allows newbie programmers to familiarize themselves with a programming language fast. They can also pick up new methods and techniques for them to utilize in future assignments.

2. Enjoying the Job

Passion always builds excellence. When people love what they do, the better they become at performing their jobs. The same goes for those who work in the IT industry and other computer-related professions.

Google allows their employees to allocate twenty percent of their work time for personal assignments. This time could be used on projects that they are genuinely interested in. A lot of innovative products have resulted from this system, including the famous Gmail and Google News service.

The same concept can be used for software developers. It pays to do projects that are not company mandated. They could do web or mobile apps on the side for fun and for practice. The important thing is to really immerse and enjoy one?s self with his or her chosen career.

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Source: http://www.qualityliferesources.com/technology/do-you-want-to-be-a-software-developer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=do-you-want-to-be-a-software-developer

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Even in this economy, America keeps on truckin'

19 hrs.

Truck buyers could be in for quite a holiday gift from General Motors this year. The maker is offering incentives of as much as $9,000 on some of its full-size pickups this month, hoping to clear out a massive backlog of Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras on dealer lots.

?We have the oldest trucks out there,? which means they need the biggest givebacks to remain competitive, conceded Mark Reuss, president of GM?s North American operations.

But GM isn?t alone. Ford, Chrysler, Nissan and Toyota have all ramped up givebacks on their pickups in recent months ? and the deals are made even sweeter when you consider today?s near record-low finance rates.

The heavy discounting might not seem much of a surprise considering what has happened in the truck market over the last half decade. But, in fact, after taking a big hit during the recession, sales of full-size pickups have actually been growing fast this past year ? and there?s even been a ?bump? in demand since Superstorm Sandy devastated the East Coast, said analyst Jim Hall, of 2953 Analytics, in Detroit.

That?s been great news for Ford, which will end 2012 with its big F-Series once again the best-selling vehicle in the U.S., and Chrysler?s Ram brand is scoring well with the 2013 remake of its full-size 1500 pickup.?

General Motors also hopes for a rebound when it launches all-new versions of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra around the middle of 2013.

?There is nothing more core to our business than trucks,? noted Reuss, during a well-attended preview of the two trucks at a movie soundstage in the Detroit suburbs. ?And we think we?re timing this very well.?

Since Henry Ford bolted a bed onto the back of a Model T a century ago, pickups have been a major factor in the American automotive market.? During their peak, a decade back, they accounted for as much as 17 percent of overall U.S. new vehicle sales, or 2.46 million during the record year of 2004.

But demand began to collapse even before the nation fell into a recession and dipped to just 1.5 million for 2011.? Part of the problem was that trucks had lost their cool at a time when the hippest buyers were likely to look at a fuel-sipping Prius rather than a gas-guzzling pickup.

?The recreational pickup market is now pretty minor,? and not likely to bounce back, according to analyst Hall.?

But the commercial market is another matter entirely.? As the economy has slowly recovered, so has demand for trucks.? There has traditionally been a close link between the housing industry and demand for pickups, noted GM?s Reuss.? And the latest numbers for housing starts, he said, suggests that sales will likely get even stronger in the months ahead.

Dealers are already reporting a surge in sales along the East Coast, in part due to the need to replace vehicles destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. And ?contractors who might have needed one truck before may now need two to take on all the added work? repairing the damage wrought by the storm.

For the industry, that?s the good news.? ?The market is getting stronger,? beamed Reuss during the Silverado and Sierra preview, but ?it is very, very competitive.?

GM clearly had to increase incentives to cut back on a 140-day dealer supply of the two trucks ? about double the normal industry inventory.? But even Chrysler, which has seen strong demand for its new Ram 1500, has been forking over rebates and other incentives adding up to about $4,700 per truck in recent months.

?Everyone?s been discounting,? said?analyst Hall.? ?Trucks are always going to have some discount on them considering the market is so competitive.?

In an unusual twist, Asian makers are adding to that pressure. Despite bold pronouncements, Toyota and Nissan have largely failed to make inroads with their Tundra and Titan models, and have had to be even more aggressive just to maintain their own meager shares.

Manufacturers are hoping they can compete with more than just cashback deals, of course.? The new GM pickups have gone through significant redesigns for 2014 that Phillippi calls ?evolutionary? on the outside, while he describes the interior updating as ?huge.?

Gone are the days when driving a truck meant living the hard life.? Those old-fashioned metal or plastic instrument panels have been gilded with leather and aluminum accents.? Even the most basic cloth seats now can be ordered with seat heaters.? And the Silverado and Sierra updates will get many of the high-tech infotainment and safety features more commonly found in up-market sedans or crossovers.?

They even can be ordered with WiFi to easily allow an owner to conduct business on the road ? the center console concealing a cavernous storage area big enough for hanging folders and a large laptop computer.

The pickup truck market is likely never to reach the peaks set in the early years of the new millennium. But even without the urban cowboys that drove it to record levels, sales are clearly rebounding.? Pickups are back up to nearly 12 percent?of the U.S. market and if the housing market continues its own revival trucks will gain another point or two in the coming years, most analysts predict.

The good news is that competition will likely remain intense, forcing makers to continue upgrading their products even while offering hefty incentives.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/even-economy-america-keeps-truckin-1C7660205

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A Complete Guide to Replacement Windows ?? Unique Home ...

A Complete Guide to Replacement Windows

Indianapolis South and Indianapolis North LIVING WELL Magazines

Windows seem so simple; they let light into the house and they let you view the outside.

So, why is there so much confusion as to what makes a low or high quality window?

After all, isn?t a window just some panes of glass? And hasn?t glass been around forever?

Glass-making is over 5,000 years old. It was first learned by Egyptians who observed that desert sand was fused into solid glass by the heat of lightning. It was first used for decorative purposes and for vessels that held liquids.

Colored glass came first

Melted sand had many other chemicals in it, and was never clear in the way we know it. It wasn?t until the 1290s that glass makers in Venice perfected a way to make both colored and Crystallo glass, which was nearly clear. ?Stained? glass appeared in early Gothic cathedrals, but it would be centuries until windows were made of clear glass.

George Ravenscroft, an English glass-maker, added lead oxide to his formula to produce glass clear enough to make telescopes and other optical instruments from. This was ?leaded glass,? and had nothing to do with the use of melted lead to hold panes of glass together. It?s why fine crystal glasses? are so heavy.

Window glass in America

The first American glass making operations started in Jamestown, Virginia in 1608. That operation was mostly occupied with the production of ?cut? glass for fine bowls and platters. It wasn?t until the early 1820s that a fore-runner of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (now PPG Industries) mass produced window glass on an affordable basis. It involved spinning molten glass with air that produced clear glass, yet those very old windows had bubbles in them from trapped air.

Modern American Windows?

All early American windows were encased in sashes of wood, with a single pane of glass. Wealthy Americans had ?French Windows?, small panes with mitered wooden mill work around each pane.

Yet, there was a single pane of glass between them and the outside.

After World War II, the ?storm window? appeared. This was an aluminum frame that held a single pane of glass and allowed for window screens. Their purpose was to keep rain and snow from the wood frames. They could not insulate at all, because plain glass cannot insulate.

In the 1980s, the same company that mass produced windows found a new technology to coat glass to make it reflect heat energy back to where it came from.

The ?bounce? effect of nano-coating

A New Breakthrough

Heat wants to travel from high to low. A college professor might talk about the First Law of Thermodynamics. If you want to sound New Age, talk about balance in nature. Either way, if it?s cold outside, the heat in your home wants out. If it?s hot, and you have AC, the heat wants in. The newest coated glass has an outside coating to bounce the heat away, and an inside coating to bounce the heat back in.

Advanced-technology glass also has filters that protect against ultraviolet rays from the sun. If you have a treasured family picture framed, the framer will recommend the same kind of glass. ?Bargain? windows have none of this.

Why multiple panes?

Bob Dillon, owner of Unique Home Solutions of Indianapolis explains, ?If you have three panes of glass, that means you have two spaces between panes that can be filled with harmless insulating gas like Argon, between them.? Without these inert gasses,? you just have air between the panes with barely noticeable insulation.

Can the gas escape?

?Sure it can,? says Dillon. ?That?s why we have spacers between the glass that flex as the glass does with temperature. If the spacers between the glass can?t flex with the glass, the seal will break. If you notice a fog between your multiple-pane windows, you have broken seals. That?s why we buy only from American manufacturers. Yes, we?re patriotic, but it doesn?t hurt our business to give our customers the finest materials.??

Why different frames?

There are four types of frames and sashes on the market now:

1) Wood

There are still wood-frame windows, yet the cheap ones are never solid hardwood. They can be attractive, but even with very high quality paint, they are subject to wet rot. Frost or fog on the inside of your windows in winter is moisture condensation, and the wood will absorb it. Wood that is basically compressed sawdust will ?de-laminate? with moisture. At that point, they begin falling apart.

2) Aluminum

Popular in the 1950s, aluminum looked great when new, but radiates heat very quickly. A sheet of aluminum foil out of a hot oven can safely be touched within a minute. These window frames radiate the heat quickly to the outside.

3) Vinyl

Most vinyl window frames and sashes are hollow plastic. They flex with raising and lowering the window, resulting in warping and energy-wasting gaps. They will be difficult to raise and lower after just a few years.

4) Re-enforced composite

These are advanced co-polymers that are stiffened by internal composites for rigidness. They are also filled with additional insulating materials to prevent energy loss. They retain their shape and add insulation.

Notice the warranty

No matter where you buy replacement windows, ask about the warranty. If the warranty is for five years, it will be rare for you to get seven years of the performance promised. Also ask about ?pro-rating.? As Dillon of Unique Home Solutions points-out, ?A pro-rated warranty means that if you try to redeem your fifty-year warranty after 40 years, they will deduct for the 40 years you have had the product. Our warranties are never pro-rated.?

Also ask about the labor coverage on the warranty. Many warranties only cover the product, and not the labor involved in replacement. Ask where the product was made. If the answer is ?China,? then you have no enforceable warranty at all.

The retailer will tell you to contact the manufacturer; the manufacturer will tell you to contact the retailer. The installer will tell you to contact both. Importers of Asian-made windows (including well-known brands), have reduced their costs by eliminating inspection and quality control operations. The consumer becomes the quality control operation, leaving you on your own to obtain satisfaction. Unless the windows in your home are literally rotting away, and you are considering cheap Asian-made windows, you are likely better-off just keeping the windows you have now.

?You work too hard for your money to waste it on things that won?t last,? says Dillon.

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Source: http://www.livingwellmag.com/complete-guide-replacement-windows-unique-home-improvement/

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New ?Dating, Marriage, Relationship? Resource from Yeshiva ...

(Extracted from Green Road Synagogue Letter to Congregants by Rabbi Blau)

?This week I want start by shifting slightly from my usual pattern and share with you some news about an important initiative coordinated by Yeshiva University entitled YU Connnects.

YU Connects is a subdivision of the Center for the Jewish Future and its mission is to conduct educational studies and develop programs that foster healthy meeting opportunities and relationships toward marriage. They do wonderful work and have recently published a magazine as part of the YU-To-Go series.

This publication contains numerous articles relating to relationships, dating and marriage and features a fascinating array of insights by?YU Roshei Yeshiva, faculty, and mental health experts renowned in their field. Download here:? www.yutorah.org/togo/yuconnects .?

-->

Source: http://www.localjewishnews.com/2012/12/22/new-dating-marriage-relationship-resource-from-yeshiva-university/

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British Psychological Society ? Job Seekers Website - Psychologist ...

Position: Senior Occupational/Business Psychologist
Job Reference: SP/MH/23262
Department: Human Resources
Company / Division: Emirates Airline
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Salary: Attractive tax-free package

http://ekgrpapplications.emirates.com/CareersOnlineApps/JOB_VACANCIES/JobDeta...//psychapp

Tomorrow you could be living in dynamic Dubai and earning a tax-free salary with global benefits. Starting with two aircraft and a handful of enthusiastic people, we have grown at a phenomenal rate. We are now one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, flying to over 125 destinations across 6 continents.

We are looking for people to join our global family of over 54,000 people from 160 nationalities across a diverse range of disciplines. If you are a high performer, seeking unparalleled career opportunities, join the Emirates team and help us create the future of travel.

The Position:

Senior Occupational/Business Psychologist - the role holder will assess, evaluate and recommend suitability of candidates for employment or promotion, and act as a consultant to senior managers in the building of strong teams, resolution of work related conflicts and managing the psychological aspects of change in the workplace.

Job Outline
-Research, assess, administer, and recommend the most appropriate psychological tools for recruitment, workshops and training leading to enhanced quality of selection and staff development.
-Ensure tools used are appropriately normed and/or adapted to the needs of the organisation as required.
-Proactively develop and deliver relevant workshops across the Group depending on the business requirement and an understanding of the business and its challenges.
-Thereby support staff and managers facing challenges of continuous expansion, growth and business.
-Support management and the HR-Business Support team in implementing corporate change by facilitating interventions, developing appropriate workshops to assist individuals to cope with change, and provide other support in order to minimize resistance to change and facilitate positive forward movement.
-Facilitate team sessions across the business to support the forming of new teams or the growth and development of intact teams.
-Conduct detailed leadership profiling to support promotion, development and high potential assessment.
-Design and conduct assessment and development centres for various purposes as required.
-Research and benchmark international practices particularly in the area of Aviation Psychology ensuring the Emirates Group continues to follow best practice in this area.

Salary & Benefits: We offer an attractive tax-free salary, paid in Dirhams, the local currency of the UAE.

Experience and Qualifications:
-Masters degree in Occupational or Business Psychology; Chartership or its equivalent will be of added advantage.
-At least 6 years experience post Masters.
-Membership of the BPS, APS or other international professional body.
-Qualifications and experience on the WAVE, Hogan, EQi would be an advantage.
-Experience facilitating team dynamics sessions using a tool such as the MBTI is essential.
-Significant experience designing and conducting assessment and development centres is also essential.
-Should have worked in an occupational setting in a large corporate; aviation experience would be an added advantage as would the change aspects of M&A and other large organisational change scenarios.
-Practical knowledge of the Gulf culture an advantage.
-Fluency in English language is essential both spoken and written.

Source: http://www.psychapp.co.uk/JobSeeker/Search/default.cfm?VacancyID=15255&Action=ShowVacancy&fromRSS=true

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Kindles Slices brings digestible essays and short stories to the UK

Kindles Slices bring digestible essays and short stories to the UK

After a relatively successful stint in the US, Amazon is bringing its "vast spectrum " of reports, memoirs and narratives to the British Isles. Former Penguin Press managing director, Andrew Rosenheim, has been drafted in to curate what appears in Kindle Slices. at the moment, there's plenty of 99p titles from notable authors and journalists, with subjects encompassing video games, Lincoln and short stories involving window cleaners -- hopefully, then, a suitable read in there for any UK readers unwrapping a new Kindle next week.

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Source: Amazon UK

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/6eialvaUgB4/

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Should you invest in high-end condos? - Malaysia Property News

Posted on | December 22, 2012

By THE STAR

INVESTING your money in property is said to be one of the safest forms of investments.

However, like any form of investment, one can always choose to either ?play it safe? and get low, stable returns; or ?up the ante, take on high risks and get equally satisfactory gains.?

Investing in high-end condominiums is considered one sure-fire way to make great returns. However, given its risk appetite, it might not be suitable for everyone.

?It?s a very niche form of investment and ideally for the super rich or those with good spending power,? notes Standard Financial Planner Sdn Bhd?s Jeremy Tan.

A good investment?

According to Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) president Nixon Paul, a high-end apartment is more than just about premium pricing.

?It?s more than just about the interior. The criteria for a high-end condominium is defined based on its location, the finishes, managements fees and amenities that comes with it. And of course, there is a premium placed on all of these,? he says.

MIEA deputy president Siva Shanker believes that investing in high-end condominiums is a great form of investment ? if you have the money.

?High-end condominiums are good investments but they?re not for everyone as they?re very expensive!?

Still, investing in high-end condominiums is still a very popular investment option for many. According to Siva, take up for Bandar Raya Developments Bhd?s (BRDB) upcoming luxury condominium project, Serai, has been quite overwhelming in just a few short months.

?There has been very low-key marketing done and by the time the advertisements came out, there were a lot of bookings,? he says, adding that over 50% of the units have already been snapped up.

Located at Bukit Bandaraya, Kuala Lumpur, Serai comprises 121 condo units located in two 21-storey towers. Sold at between RM1,300 and RM1,500 per sq ft, the units range from 4,025 to 6,913 sq ft.

There will be two penthouses of 14,000 sq ft, priced between RM19mil and RM22mil.

Serai sits on six acres, the last piece of prime real estate in the Bukit Bandaraya area. Serai will have a gross development value of about RM900mil. According to reports, a majority of the buyers were Malaysians.

?The reason take-up for Serai has been so popular is because the location where the property is being built is one of the last large parcels of land available in the area, and people don?t want to lose out.?

Siva also points out that a selling point was the fact that the project?s developer, BRDB, had a good track record.

He also cites BRDB?s One Menerung high-end condominium development, which was priced at around RM600 per sq ft half a decade ago, but is now hovering at the RM1,200 per sq ft level.

?In five short years or less, you would have doubled your money! That?s a 20% increase on returns per year, which is fantastic!?

Should you invest?

MyFP Services Sdn Bhd managing director Robert Foo says a person who wants to invest in high-end condominiums should first evaluate his wealth position before ?taking the plunge?.

?A potential investor should first consider if the investment will take up a big part of his investment. If it?s too much, then it might not be a wise thing to do.?

Age is also something to consider, says Foo, who feels that investing in high-end condominiums should be for older investors with a stable income base.

?If you?re only 25 years old, then you shouldn?t be investing in this, unless you have rich parents,? he enthuses.

Foo adds that one should definitely conduct thorough research if they want to invest in high-end condominiums.

?If the market turns on you and you can?t sell later, then you?re in trouble!?

Nixon says those looking to gain returns on high-end apartments should take a long-term view on it and not hope to make quick gains overnight.

?It?s a good investment but you should only do it for the long-haul ? perhaps have a five-year view on it.?

Demographic shift

Siva, however, points out that the increasing level of affluence has seen more Malaysians buying into high-end condominiums ? not to invest, but to occupy.

?It?s a trend that is shifting. In the past, you had Malaysians buying low-rise properties but today many are buying condominiums, especially high-end ones, in light of the fact that we are becoming more westernised and affluent.?

He also notes that many expatriates in the past that used to live in high-end condominiums in the city are now living in the suburbs.

?This is to accommodate the international schools that are now being set up in the outskirts of the city,? he says.

- Malaysia Property News


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Source: http://www.malaysiapropertynews.net/2012/12/invest-high-end-condos.html

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MoD lost over 200 computers in the last year - An improvement ...

MoD lost over 200 computers in the last year -

The Ministry of Defence had 206 computers stolen in the past year, along with a number of BlackBerry phones and other mobile devices, department figures have revealed.

As well as the loss of computers, 34 BlackBerry devices went missing during the financial year 2011-12, as well as 24 other mobile devices.

The number of PCs and laptops being lost or stolen from the department is lower than the previous year, when 371 hardware items went missing. ?There was an increase in the number of mobiles that were unaccounted for, including BlackBerry devices used by civil servants and Ministers for departmental business. ?

MoD minister Mark Francois said in a statement that the department is looking at new ways to prevent the theft or loss of devices.

"The Ministry of Defence takes any theft of, loss of, attacks on, or misuse of, its information, networks and associated media storage devices very seriously and has robust procedures in place to mitigate against and investigate such occurrences," the Conservative MP said.?
"Furthermore, new processes, instructions and technological aids are continually being implemented to mitigate human errors and raise the awareness of every individual in the Department."

TechEye has approached the MoD to find out whether this includes the use of device tracking software, but is yet to receive a reply. ??

Francois added that there has been no reason to believe that any sensitive information has been accessed as a result of the theft or loss of IT equipment.

"Following thorough investigations, the Joint Security Co-ordination Centre has not received any evidence that demonstrates that the information has been compromised," ?he said.

"A significant number of the incidents involve information that had been encrypted to government standards and, while the data was lost, the chance of compromise of encrypted information is deemed to be minimal," Francois said.

Source: http://news.techeye.net/business/mod-lost-over-200-computers-in-the-last-year

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Still time to dodge the cliff, Obama, Boehner say

President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks to reporters about the fiscal cliff in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks to reporters about the fiscal cliff in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, speaks to reporters about the fiscal cliff negotiations at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Hopes for avoiding the "fiscal cliff" that threatens the U.S. economy fell Friday after fighting among congressional Republicans cast doubt on whether any deal reached with President Barack Obama could win approval ahead of automatic tax increases and deep spending cuts kick in Jan. 1. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

President Barack Obama speaks to reporters about the fiscal cliff in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, joined by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., left, speaks to reporters about the fiscal cliff negotiations at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Hopes for avoiding the "fiscal cliff" that threatens the U.S. economy fell Friday after fighting among congressional Republicans cast doubt on whether any deal reached with President Barack Obama could win approval ahead of automatic tax increases and deep spending cuts kick in Jan. 1. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., meets with reporters about the fiscal cliff negotiations at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. She is joined by House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., left, and Assistant Minority Leader James Clyburn, D-S.C., right. Hopes for avoiding the "fiscal cliff" that threatens the U.S. economy fell Friday after fighting among congressional Republicans cast doubt on whether any deal reached with President Barack Obama could win approval ahead of automatic tax increases and deep spending cuts kick in Jan. 1. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

(AP) ? With Congress in gridlock and stocks taking a fall, President Barack Obama issued a stern summons to lawmakers Friday to pass legislation to prevent year-end fiscal cliff tax increases on millions and avoid an imminent expiration of benefits for the long-term unemployed.

Republican House Speaker John Boehner said Obama himself must give more ground to reach an agreement. He added, "How we get there, God only knows."

Congress was shutting down, and Obama was headed to Hawaii to join his family for the holidays. But both men indicated they'd be back working to beat the fast-approaching Jan. 1 deadline with an agreement between Christmas and New Year's.

One day after House anti-tax rebels torpedoed Boehner's 'Plan B' legislation because it would raise rates on million-dollar-earners, Obama said he still wants a bill that requires the well-to-do to pay more. "Everybody's got to give a little bit in a sensible way" to prevent the economy from pitching over a recession-threatening fiscal cliff, he said.

He spoke after talking by phone with Boehner ? architect of the failed House bill ? and meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Boehner's office quickly issued a statement saying the Ohio Republican intends to return to the Capitol after Christmas "ready to find a solution that can pass both houses of Congress." At the same time, spokesman Brendan Buck said, "we remain hopeful he (Obama) is finally ready to get serious about averting the fiscal cliff."

At the White House, Obama projected optimism as he struggled to deal with the wreckage of weeks of failed negotiations and political maneuvering. "So call me a hopeless optimist, but I actually still think we can get it done," he said of an elusive deal.

The president spoke at the end of a day in which stocks tumbled and congressional leaders squabbled as the fiscal cliff drew implacably closer.

Boehner spoke in the morning, describing the increasingly tangled attempts to beat the Jan. 1 deadline and head off the perilous combination of across-the-board tax hikes and deep spending cuts.

Obama spoke shortly before a scheduled departure to join his family in Hawaii for Christmas, but in an indication of the importance of the issue, he told reporters he would be returning to the White House next week.

He said that in his negotiations with Boehner, he had offered to meet Republicans halfway when it came to taxes, and "more than halfway" toward their target for spending cuts.

He said he remains committed to working toward a goal of longer-term deficit reduction, but in the meantime he said quick action is needed to keep taxes from rising for tens of millions.

"Averting this middle class tax hike is not a Democratic responsibility or a Republican responsibility. With their votes, the American people have decided that government is a shared responsibility," he said, referring to a Congress where power is divided between the two parties.

"We move forward together or we don't move forward at all," he added.

Progress was invisible one day after House Republican rebels thwarted Boehner's plan to prevent tax increases for all but the nation's million-dollar earners. And while neither House is expected to meet again until after Christmas, officials in both parties said there was still time to prevent the changes from kicking in with the new year.

Yet they pointedly disagreed which side needed to make the first move.

"It's time for the speaker and all Republicans to return to the negotiating table," said Senate Democratic leader Reid.

He said that, for now, Boehner should allow a vote on legislation that would block all tax increases except for individuals making more than $200,000 and couples making $250,000 ? the position that Obama carried through his successful campaign for re-election.

Reid said it would pass the House with votes from lawmakers from both parties, and, separately, some Democrats said it was possible similar legislation may yet be launched in the Senate.

Moments later, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Democrats had "spent all day yesterday defeating" the legislation in the House ? even though Boehner himself said it had been deep-sixed by GOP opposition.

Countering Reid's offer, McConnell said the Senate should pass legislation extending tax cuts at all income levels and requiring a comprehensive overhaul of the tax code. Beyond that, he said, "''Look: It's the president's job to find a solution that can pass Congress. He's the only one who can do it."

Rhetoric aside, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 121 points in what analysts said was a reaction to the events in the capital.

The developments marked yet another baffling turn in a week that began with news that Obama and Boehner had significantly narrowed their differences on a plan to erase the cliff. Both were offering a cut in taxes for most Americans, an increase for a relative few and cuts of roughly $1 trillion in spending over a year. Also included was a provision to scale back future cost-of-living increases for Social Security recipients ? a concession on the president's part as much as agreeing to higher tax rates was for the House speaker.

GOP officials said some senior Republicans balked at the emerging terms.

Boehner stepped back and announced what he called Plan B, legislation to let tax rates rise on incomes of $1 million or more while preventing increases for all other taxpayers.

Despite statements of confidence, he and his lieutenants decided late Thursday they were not going to be able to secure the votes needed to pass the measure in the face of opposition from conservatives unwilling to violate decades-old party orthodoxy never to raise tax rates.

Officials said as many as two dozen rank-and-file Republicans had made it clear they would oppose the bill, more than enough to send it to defeat given unanimous Democratic opposition.

At his Friday morning news conference several hours later, Boehner dismissed suggestions that he was concerned the turn of events could cost him his speakership.

"No, I am not," he said.

"While we may have not been able to get the votes last night to avert 99.81 percent of the tax increases, I don't think ? they weren't taking that out on me," Boehner said of the Republican rank and file. "They were dealing with the perception that somebody might accuse them of raising taxes."

Boehner also said that last Monday he had told Obama he had submitted his bottom line proposal.

"The president told me that his numbers ? the $1.3 trillion in new revenues, $850 billion in spending cuts ? was his bottom line, that he couldn't go any further."

That contradicted remarks by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, who said on Thursday that Obama has "never said either in private or in public that this was his final offer. He understands that to reach a deal it would require some further negotiation. There is not much further he could go."

___

Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor, Alan Fram and Jim Kuhnhenn contributed to this story.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-12-21-Fiscal%20Cliff/id-ad5e186ec9bc48e9b113e6af3e8f2329

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