The current real estate market is ripe for investment opportunities, even with the foreclosure inventory falling and home prices rising. We are definitely on the path toward real estate market recovery with many key cities already seeing significant progress.
Below is a look at some pertinent real estate market related news.
Election Day and Interest Deductions
Both Obama and Romney have tried to avoid talking about the real estate market as much as possible, especially in the debates. However, both claim to have a ?plan? with minimal details being released on said plans. One such plan involves interest deductions. However, a closer look at who would actually?benefit from these interest deductions?uncovers that very few middle class citizens would truly reap the benefits. Why? It all comes down to itemized deductions.
A vast majority of Americans opt for the standard deduction as opposed to selecting the itemized deductions route. Since the interest deduction would only be taken advantage of by those using itemized deductions, then families making between $100,000 and $500,000 per year would actually be the one benefiting from the interest deductions plan?not struggling Americans.
Investing Opportunities Galore
In other news, real estate investing is taking off yet again. Although Florida currently has a struggling real estate market, experts predict that the state will soon see a rise in not only domestic investors but also?international investors. The same thing is happening throughout much of the country, especially in California where progress toward recovery is occurring quicker than anticipated.
The specific interest of the investor varies greatly depending upon the individual and his or her specialties and interest; however, many investors are?investing in college towns. While some investors are purchasing foreclosures and other distressed properties and renting them out to students, faculty, and staff at local colleges, others are purchasing homes below market value and flipping them for a profit.
Either way, real estate market investing is definitely a current trend.
Rise in Foreclosure Assistance Programs
Partly due to the bank settlement agreement, many states now have foreclosure assistance programs to help struggling homeowners stay in their homes. As a result, there are a number of?alternatives to foreclosure?that more people are becoming increasingly aware of, especially with many state-wide programs designed to provide foreclosure counseling for those facing the possibility of losing their homes. Everything from loan modifications to short sales are possible in the current real estate market and the increased access to foreclosure support and counseling helps struggling homeowners make educated decisions that could help them avoid foreclosure.
In conclusion, real estate market progress is underway, but make sure to pay careful attention to talks of interest deductions as a plan to help the middle class. If you are an investor then consider investing in college towns. If you are a struggling homeowner make sure to look into foreclosure counseling before making a decision on an alternative to foreclosure.
If you?re one of those fortunate families with a fireplace, I imagine you have already stoked it up several times this fall. And if you?re a freezebaby like I am, you have probably moved that cushy chair and footstool a little closer so your feet can take their prominent place in this scenario! But what if your old 1970s cushy chair is looking its age, and the old oak footstool has been taken over by your cat or dog? How can you ever replace such well-loved family fixtures? By visiting Antiques on the Square in Chardon!
Pat Martin has been involved in the antique world for over 30 years and has confirmed her place as an established and well-loved business by receiving the #1 Antique Shop Award by the FOX 8 Cleveland ENGER HOT LIST four years in a row. With three floors brimming with relics and reminders of past decades and centuries, including some very handsome footstools, it is the perfect place to mosey away a Sunday afternoon ? or any other afternoon, for that matter. A visit to a quality antique shop does far more than while away an afternoon though. They have a way of bringing us back in touch with people, events, and emotions that have contributed to who we are today. As English author Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) states:
?I can only note that the past is beautiful because one never realises an emotion at the time. It expands later, and thus we don?t have complete emotions about the present, only about the past.?
For many, birthdays, anniversaries, and the holidays serve such a purpose. It?s a time when we remember those who are important to us with gifts that express gratitude, appreciation, and memories. Antiques on the Square offers many hundreds of such items for you to browse through.
?Many of our dealers have been here since the shop?s inception in 1985,? shares Pat. ?They bring a wealth of experience to our valued customers.?
One of my favorite memories about Christmas as a child is when I received any of the little Steiff animals. They were top-of-the-line and, in my imaginary world, as real as unreal could possibly get. To this day, when I see a Steiff, those same feelings are stirred. If you?re one of those nostalgic people, then you?re in luck!
?Several of our dealers have expertise in specific areas such as clock repair, Steiff, and antique dolls,? says Pat.
Are you an HO Railroad collector? Perhaps you?re looking to replicate the 1950s with some chrome and formica table and chairs? Maybe you?re creating a scrapbook and need some unusual artwork. Check out one of their paper rooms downstairs, and sift through box after box of interesting history and art in the form of postcards.
Antiques on the Square didn?t become the #1 antique shop in Northeast Ohio four years in a row without good reason. It?s an unending 6,000 square foot museum of memories and quality goods offering all kinds of collections and individual pieces of furniture, art, clothing, clocks, jewelry, dolls, toys, etc. in their restored 1868 building. Put it on your list of places to explore this fall. I bet it becomes a regular on your calendar after just one visit!
Antiques on the Square 101 Main Street Chardon, Ohio 44024
Posted by Logan Rapp on Friday, October 26, 2012 ? 10 Comments?
So?Wired?wrote a three-page feature explaining that the console market was going to die as a result of mobile gaming, the increasing strength of tablets as game devices, the resurgence of PC gaming and the free-to-play model as a bridge too far for consoles to adapt to.
They went on to say that, indeed, the age of the consoles died already, right at the moment when Sony and Microsoft introduced their massive upgrades to their respective consoles? software to turn them into all-encompassing entertainment hubs.
?The core model is eroding,? says David Reid of CCP Games (EVE Online, Dust 514).
This of course isn?t the first time that?Wired has written a sensationalist obituary. Last year it was the web site, which?Wired posted and promoted primarily on their very profitable web site.
Another supposed nail in the coffin: PC gaming has become cheaper than console gaming ?when you factor in the growing disparity in game prices.? This makes a false equivalence by throwing free-to-play games into the mix rather than comparing triple-A titles across platforms.
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What?Wired is seeing, and interpreting in the most fatalistic, sensationalist manner possible, is the decentralization of gaming. What we?re seeing is not the death of the console, but the expansion of gaming. When gaming tech was at?Doom?levels, we were constantly looking for bigger and better. Better graphics. Smoother frame-rates.
But after?Crysis, which in many ways forced gamers to question their willingness to spend their hard-earned dollars to upgrade for the next generation of graphics, we began to realize that glorified tech demos were no longer worth our time. It?s always nice to see the next game be prettier than the last, but as we?ve seen with?The Unfinished Swan, prettier does not necessarily mean higher-tech.
What?s happening is the gaming market is flattening out. We live in an age where our phones are more advanced than Apollo 11, and our PCs and consoles could run NASA Mission Control during that flight. The era of cramming hastily-made triple-A sequels down our throats and calling it a day is over.
But saying the era of the console is over when over $8 Million in crowdfunding was raised for an open source console seems asinine, to say the least.
The console isn?t dead. It?s evolving. Just as PC games had to evolve when the power of consoles started to match them. Just as everyone evolved when free-to-play games showed they could be profitable. Just as everyone had to evolve when they realized there was a huge market for digital distribution. Just as both PC and console makers were forced into that evolution when the GameStops of the world hit their apex with the used games racket market.
And then there?s the business aspect: platform exclusivity. Legend of Zelda will never be played on a Microsoft console. Uncharted will never be played on a Nintendo console.
Nintendo consoles are different. The Wii did different things than the 360 or the PS3. And next cycle, someone else may be doing something different. Who knows where the Kinect goes next? Maybe nowhere, but we just don?t know.
Wired?argues that the ?it just works? explanation for consoles longer life is null and void because the iPad ?just works.? Except the iPad has other limitations. Just as some gamers can?t or won?t play an FPS without a mouse and keyboard, so too will gamers refuse to do so without a controller.
There?s also the simple hardware question ? no matter how well coded, iPad games will not (with current hardware, including 4th gen iPad) have the same sense of expansive reach as, say, most Bethesda games. To do so, it will have to reuse assets in more obvious ways than?Skyrim.
While we?re rapidly reaching the ceiling on how important graphics are to us, we?ve got a long way to go before we hit the ceiling on how much game we want in our games.?Fallout: New Vegas was great but Caesar?s Legion was clearly a truncated affair. The Bethesda worlds, the Bioware worlds ? we?ve still got a long way to go before games feel genuinely well-populated, and not just for ?game? standards. That still requires much more powerful technology than can realistically be fit into a tablet. Naturally, that?s a ?for now? statement, but even this generation?s consoles didn?t stand still ? the 360 Elite and its launch predecessor don?t even compare when you look under the hood.
Quite frankly, guys, tablets and mobile games can?t do this, yet, and won?t for this generation:
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It?s no surprise that Wired is quick to declare something dead. And on a long enough timeline, I?m sure?something will die out. Consoles and PCs just merge and that may be that. Or the power of tablets grows such that you?ll just be able to connect it to your TV and use a controller of your choice.?But today is not that day. Tomorrow isn?t, either. It?s way down the line.
But the truth is everything is evolving ? not just consoles. Will we be hitting a singularity where hardware is no longer a concern, or will we decentralize, where all of our devices are in effect gaming systems, and each system ? be it PC, console or mobile ? carves out their specialties?
Clearly I believe it?s the latter, at least in the short term. In the long term, anyone who claims to know where it?s going is either lying or the Time Cube guy. It?s all just noise.
Emily Walsh sent these thoughts along a few weeks ago. Because of the heavy load of pieces we?ve received as well as the busy campaign, we just got around to putting this up. But it does detail the aftermath that a modern day Veteran must deal with in post war Iraq and Afghanistan.?
Health Risks of the Military and Dealing With Them?
Whether serving just one tour or retiring after thirty years of active duty, military personnel of all branches of the armed forces face a variety of risks to emotional and physical health, just because of their service. Because military service can cause damage, both major and minor, to an individual?s well being, the US armed forces and the Department of Veterans? affairs continue to develop a variety of support services for both active duty personnel and veterans. In addition to the obvious risks of combat duty and the well-publicized aftermath, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, military personnel are at risk for developing a variety of illness when stationed at various locations around the world. For all personnel, whether in combat or not, severe stress can affect mood, sleep, appetite and job performance ? or trigger a substance abuse problem, depression or suicide. Those stationed far from home are forced to miss children?s births and family special occasions, or even the deaths of loved ones. In some cases, experiences during active duty have long lasting effects that don?t manifest themselves immediately, but cause long-term problems for soldiers and their families. Combat troops exposed to blasts from explosive devices may not show signs of traumatic brain injury until months later. Likewise, those exposed to chemicals like the Vietnam-era Agent Orange may find themselves battling a variety of neurological problems, while those exposed to asbestos ? widely used in military applications between World War II and Vietnam ? are at high risk for mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer caused by asbestos fibers in the tissues. Acknowledging the potential health risks of military service, a variety of medical, legal and social services have been introduced to help active duty personnel, veterans and their families to cope with the aftereffect of the many health risks caused by military service. On most military bases, counselors and social workers are available to offer assistance to spouses and families left behind when a soldier is away, and these services are also available to help returning soldiers cope with the transition back to family life. Services supporting active duty personnel include substance abuse and mental health services, and ongoing counseling, therapy and rehabilitation for those injured in combat or accidents while serving. Veterans, too, are eligible for a variety of services to help them cope with the aftermath of experiences during their service, including legal advice, referrals for social services, and support groups to deal with ongoing mental and physical health issues. For those with life threatening illnesses such as mesothelioma from long-term asbestos exposure or exposure to military-mandated toxic substances, services include legal advocacy to file claims for assistance, as well as specialized health services and family support. Although military service can pose serious health risks, soldiers and their families can expect support and assistance in dealing with those risks.?
Emily Walsh is a Community Outreach Blogger for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.?
?WRITE ON WEDNESDAY 2?
?WHAT?S CHARLIE UP TO??
Last year during the election for Luzerne County Council, Jenkins Township resident Charlie Hatcko was a frequent traveler on the campaign trail ?Bible Buck? is not sitting still in this Presidential election and has lent his support to a Pro Life candidate. Here are his thoughts: Let us look at what Scripture and what the Church Fathers have stated about Abortion. (Exodus 20:13) and (Deut. 5:17) says --Thou shalt not kill. Human life must be respected and protected. Life begins at conception. Abortion is homicide yes murder. Sacred Scripture condemns murder. Look at (Job 24:13-14) gives evidence the murderer rebels against the light. (Jeremiah 22:3) gives evidence to do not shed innocent blood. Abortion is an abomination against the Almighty God. Abortion is called "the culture of death" by former Pope John Paul II. Human life must be absolutely protected and respected from birth to death. The inviolable right of every human being must be respected from conception to death. In America there is a false pluralism regarding issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage and euthanasia. Sacred Scripture gives a grave warning regarding falsehood. (Isaiah 5:20) states-Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil. In (Matthew 18:7)- Jesus exhort --Woe to those who cause scandals, who through scandals come. (Jude 11) says--Woe to those who walk in the way of Cain. Cain who was the first creature created by human beings, was was a murderer, an apostate, a reviler of God, a deceiver and the leader in humanistic worldly culture. Cain is a model of unbelief and fratracide. (Genesis 4:8-10)-- gives evidence that Cain was a murderer. Abortion is murder in the eyes of God. In (John 10:10)-- Jesus exhorts---I came to give life and give life abundantly. Although Scripture nowhere mentions the word "abortion", there can be a deducible inferences taken from Biblical Revelation regarding abortion. Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium absolutely forbids abortion. Look at the following Biblical texts closely,--(Jeremiah 1:5)-- Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. Look at Sacred Scripture--(Job 10:8-12)---Thy hands fashioned and made me; Will you now turn and destroy me? Remember that thou molded me like clay, and thou will turn me to dust again. You clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and steadfast love. Look closely at the following Biblical Text--(Psalm 139:13-15)---For You created my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise thee, for thou are fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well; my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance. Look closely at (Isaiah 44:2)--Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you in the womb and will help you. (Psalm 22:10-11) and (Wisdom 7:1-6)-- give affirmative Biblical evidence regarding the formation of man by God. Tradition of the Church Fathers absolutely condemns abortion. Abortion was forbidden in the early foundation of the Church. The Didache ? the writings of the Apostles from about 70 to 80 A.D. ? gives absolute affirmative evidence that one must not procure an abortion; The Epistle of Barnabas (75A.D.), Section 19 gives absolute affirmation that one may not slay the child procuring an abortion. Athenagoras, writing in 177 A.D., gives evidence that women who use drugs to bring on an abortion are murderers. In fact the word Sorcerer --Greek--Adjective-(pharmakia) (Rev. 9:21)--(Rev. 22:15)--means medicines and potions-- one who made drugs for killing the fetus. Terullian, throughout 197-210 A.D., gives numerous writings that absolutely forbid abortion, especially through surgery. He has written that life begins at conception because the soul is given by God at conception. St. Hippolytus, in 228 A.D. in his Refutation of All Heresies, gives evidence of woman taken drugs to prevent conception. St. Basil the Great, St. Jerome, and St. John Chrysostum all wrote of the evils of abortion.Divine Tradition--(paradosis)-- condemns and castigates abortion. When we look at the biological process occurring in the conception and gestation of the human body in the female uterus, many have claimed that the blastula is not really a human body, but a mass of undeveloped tissue. Modern medical science has shown the gestation process under a microscope, assigning terms to the primitive stages of development such as zygote, blastula, embryo and fetus. Medical science has proven the Church Magisterium regarding abortion correct. The Bible condems murder. (Matt. 5:21) Jesus gives evidence Thou shalt not murder. (Matt. 19:18) gives evidence--Do not murder. (Mark 10:19) gives evidence--Do not murder. (Luke 18:20) states--Do not murder. The Psalms gives evidence the Lord abhors murder--Yes the bloodthirsty. Look at (Psalm 9:12)--When He avenges blood He remembers them.. Abortion is used by politicians sometimes for political expediency. Look at (Isaiah 59:3)--(Ezekiel 22:8) regarding the shedding of blood. --(Romans 13:9) gives evidence--Thou shalt not murder. (1 Tim. 1:9) gives evidence the law is made for the murder.(James 2:11) gives evidence Do not murder. (1 John 3:15) gives evidence whoever hates his brother is a murderer and that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Mitt Romney is the Pro-Life candidate by many Pro-Life Groups--Look at my reasons--(Matt. 24:4)--Mark 13:5)--(Luke 21:8) Jesus exhorts--Do not be deceived. (Malachi 1:14) states--Cursed be the deceiver. In the years 2002 to 2004 -There was a Reublican Supreme Court--A Republican US Congress--A Republican US Senate and a Republican President--George W. Bush--Bottom Line We still have abortion--Republicans are experts using Pro-Life in political expediency. President Obama actions are abominable --he supports abortion and same-sex marriage. Mitt Romney has supported abortion and same sex in his political career-as Governor of Mass. Life Site--A Pro-Life Website has reported the Chief Executive Officer of the Morning After Abortion Pill --Yes CEO Phil Frost ran a $50,000 dollar a plate Fund Raiser for Mitt Romney--several months ago.Yes May 11th 2012 in Flordia I will not be deceived--I will Support and Vote America's Party Candidate Tom Hoefling--from Iowa-- for President. America's Party is the former American Independent Party. I know the best Pro-Life Candidate. Even Gary Johnson New Mexico Governor --Liberatarian party and Virgil Goode Virginia -Congressman Constituition Party have much better--yes much better voting records on abortion than Mitt.Romney. That is why the Republican Party has challenged their right to run in Penn. for President.? Principles over Politics--- True Pro-Life Pennsylvania Voters Write in America's Party Candidate -Tom Hoefling America's Party is the former American Independent Party. Alan Keyes a close associate with Tom Hoefling ran on this Party for President in 2008--Tom Hoefling as worked for Pro-Life for many many years-- Again True Pennsylvania moral Pro-Lifers Write In --Tim Hoefling --President--?
God Bless You--Thank You Elector for America's Party
ST. LOUIS (AP) ? Offense has a lot to do with San Francisco's streak of 13 consecutive victories when Barry Zito is on the mound, given they're averaging more than six runs.
In Game 5 of the NL championship series Friday night, with their season on the line, they didn't need all that production. Not with the pitcher they thought they signed a half-dozen years ago showing up in shutdown form.
Zito dominated into the eighth inning of a 5-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals that sent the best-of-seven series back to San Francisco. The Giants cut their series deficit to 3-2 heading into Game 6 on Sunday night, with Ryan Vogelsong set to face Chris Carpenter for the second time in the series.
"We needed that kind of performance from him because there is no tomorrow for us," second baseman Marco Scutaro said. "We just needed to get back home."
The defending-champion Cardinals still have two chances to make it to back-to-back World Series as a wild card.
"It should be another battle," St. Louis third baseman David Freese said. "San Francisco is a great city, but I wish we weren't going back."
The 34-year-old Zito looked like the pitcher who won 23 games and the 2002 AL Cy Young with the Athletics. He retired 11 batters in a row at one stretch while scattering six hits with six strikeouts in 7 2-3 innings.
Giants catcher Buster Posey twice tapped Zito on the chest when he was pulled in the eighth. It was Zito's fifth postseason win but first since 2006, shortly before he left the A's and signed a $126 million, seven-year contract with San Francisco.
"This is definitely it for me," Zito said. "Coming here, really doing it in a Giants uniform. A lot of people were saying stuff about my A's days. And for me, the most important thing is doing everything for San Francisco right now."
Zito was left off the postseason roster when the Giants won the 2010 World Series because he had pitched so ineffectively.
"Well, you know, it was certainly a huge blow just personally to be left off that roster," Zito said. "But you've got to be professional, you can't pout and such like that.
"I worked on a lot of things that offseason, came back stronger for it, I think."
Zito's 15-8 record this year was his first winning mark since joining the Giants. He started Game 4 of the division series against the Reds earlier in this year's playoffs and lasted only 2 2-3 innings.
"He's been through a lot, I know," manager Bruce Bochy said. "But this guy, he is some kind of tough. He put on quite a show."
The Cardinals might have thrown away a chance to clinch a second straight World Series trip. Pitcher Lance Lynn's toss on a possible forceout deflected off the second base bag, paving the way for the Giants' four-run fourth.
Lynn was trying to turn the front end of a double play.
"I turned to throw it and I just threw it in the ground," Lynn said. "Just a bad play. You make a good throw there and we are out of the inning. It was one of those times where I just short-armed it a little bit."
Pablo Sandoval homered for the second straight night and Zito made an extremely rare offensive contribution with a perfectly executed bunt for an RBI single.
Giants defenders made several nice plays behind Zito, including a juggling catch in right by Hunter Pence and a spectacular sliding stop by Scutaro to rob pinch hitter Shane Robinson on consecutive at-bats.
"They were all huge," Zito said.
Once again this postseason, the Giants benefited from a big error.
Needing three straight wins at Cincinnati to avoid elimination in the division series, San Francisco began its comeback on a bobble by third baseman Scott Rolen in the 10th inning that gave the Giants the go-ahead run in Game 3.
The Giants improved to 4-2 on the road this postseason and have won Zito's last 13 starts, with the last setback on Aug. 2. They're averaging more than six runs during the streak, although the lefty didn't need much help in this one.
Lynn, an 18-game winner in his first year in the rotation, failed to make it out of the fourth for the second time in the series.
The Cardinals are seeking consecutive pennants for the first time since 1967-68, and trying to advance for the second year in a row as a wild-card entry. One more win would set up a rematch of the 2006 World Series against the Tigers, which the Cardinals took in five games.
Lynn struck out five of the first 10 batters, sailing through the first three innings with no balls hit out of the infield. His wild throw to second proved his undoing.
The Giants had runners on first and second with one out when Lynn gloved a tapper by Pence, wheeled and threw while Kozma hustled to second. Lynn's throw wound up in shallow right field and Scutaro scored without a play from second.
Eighth-place hitter Brandon Crawford singled up the middle with the bases loaded on a full count with two outs as Lynn just missed with a kick save for two more runs. Zito, who has just 30 hits in 310 at-bats in the regular season with no extra-base hits and nine RBIs, laid down a perfect bunt for a fourth run.
Lynn has allowed four runs in both of his NLCS starts, although all four were unearned in Game 5.
NOTES: Standing room attendance for Game 5 was 47,075, a franchise-best for league championship play, topping the previous best in Game 4 by 13. ... Longtime Cardinals broadcaster Mike Shannon bounced a ceremonial first pitch from in front of the mound to Lou Brock, teammates on the last St. Louis team to go to consecutive World Series in 1967 and '68. ... Cardinals rookie RHP Trevor Rosenthal struck out four in two scoreless innings. He has fanned 11 in 6 2-3 scoreless innings in the postseason while allowing just one hit. ... The Cardinals were shut out for the first time since Game 4 of the 2011 World Series, a 4-0 loss at Texas. ... Freese doubled in the second and has gotten at least one hit in all of his 14 postseason starts at home. It's the third-longest home hitting streak to start a postseason career.
Time for the weekly Virtual Tailgate -- Good virtual food and drink, and a little game talk.
Greetings and welcome, Kentucky Wildcats fans, to the Saturday Virtual Tailgate in honor of the Georgia Bulldogs, our opponent for tonight's game.
Tonight is homecoming for the Wildcats, and also Dermotti Dawson night in honor of the former Kentucky Wildcat, Pittsburgh Steeler, and newly-minted Professional Football Hall of Famer.
So let's get ourselves a cocktail, sit back and get ready for the game. Tonight's cocktail will be:
Rendezvous (via yosoynuts)
A rendezvous cocktail. It consists of gin, cherry brandy, and Campari. Three of these, and a hangover is guaranteed.
Moving on to the appetizer, there is nothing better in the world for a bunch of southerners than:
blue cheese on fried tomato (via jeffreyw)
Fried green tomatoes with blue cheese and basil. Tasty. Yes, I know we have had them before, but hey, that's why they are a favorite.
The main course? Hmm.... let's see. We haven't had:
Fried Chicken (via delgaudm)
Everybody's favorite. You don't have to be from the south to appreciate this classic.
Side dishes? Yes, we have them. First and foremost:
Grilled Corn on the Cob (via Cuponeando)
Oh, heck yes. With tons of butter. Tons.
And also:
mashed potatoes (via rick)
What's fried chicken without mashed potatoes?
For those of you inclined to drink a few cold ones, like me, we have:
Schooner Of Cold Ass Beer @ Fred's Texas Cafe (via Robert W. Howington)
Lone Star Beer by the schooner.
Finally, for desert, there can be only one:
Peach Cobbler (via purdman1)
Georgia peach cobbler a la mode. A classic finish to a classic Southern meal
Time to talk some football. Once again, as it has all season, the Wildcats find themselves in a very tough spot. Georgia is a much better team, and they are rested to boot, coming off a bye week. Not only that, they are still smarting from the last game they played, a beat-down by the South Carolina Gamecocks. They may well look to take out their frustrations on Kentucky.
The one advantage, if you can call it that, that Kentucky has is that Georgia will be looking past them to the Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville, their annual tilt against their hated foe, the Florida Gators. That will give Kentucky an opportunity to get a few punches in, and who knows, maybe Georgia will panic. I wouldn't count on it, though.
Georgia, with their running game, can simply grind Kentucky's defense into the turf of Commonwealth Stadium. Hopefully, they won't be as efficient in Kentucky as the Arkansas Razorbacks were in Fayetteville, or we could be looking at another embarrassing beat-down. Personally, I am looking at best for a "moral victory" here, keeping the final score within two touchdowns. Sadly, if UK team we have seen lately shows up again, that seems like a vain hope at best.
Word is that we'll be seeing more of Morgan Newton this game. I know that will frighten most of you, but frankly, I don't think it makes that much difference. Jalen Whitlow is talented, but he struggled mightily in the last couple of games, and unless he finds his confidence, it really doesn't matter all that much. On the better news side, Patrick Towles is on the mend, and may be ready for the next game. He didn't practice this week, but very well may next week.
That's what I have. Enjoy the virtual meal, and the open game thread will be up about 15 minutes prior to the game, as usual.
New work suggests that a hormone that makes the body think it?s starving could prolong life about as long as severely cutting calories does but without the denial.
A hormone called fibroblast growth factor-21, or FGF21, lengthened the lives of mice that had been genetically engineered to constantly produce large amounts of the protein, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas report online October 15 in eLife. The hormone is normally made by the liver during fasting and may tap into some of the same life-extending biochemical processes as does caloric restriction, a proven longevity booster.
Caloric restriction ? usually defined as cutting calorie intake to 75 to 80 percent of the amount needed to maintain normal body weight, while still maintaining good nutrition ? has been shown lengthen life in a wide variety of species, such as fruit flies and dogs. Minimal calorie consumption turns on many different biological processes that slow aging, says Cynthia Kenyon, a developmental biologist at the University of California, San Francisco. The hormone in the study somehow interferes with a chain reaction anchored by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a process that is also shut down by caloric restriction and thought to be responsible for many of its life-extending effects.?
In the study, researchers led by UT Southwestern?s David Mangelsdorf and Steven Kliewer genetically engineered mice to constantly make five to 10 times as much FGF21 as normal. These engineered mice lived 30 to 40 percent longer than normal mice on a standard diet. Female mice benefitted from the hormone even more than males; about a third of the FGF21-producing female mice still were alive at 44 months old. Average survival for normal mice in the study was about 28 months.
Hormone-producing mice were leaner than normal mice despite eating slightly more. They also had improved health measures, such as greater sensitivity to insulin and lower triglyceride levels. The mice tended to burned fat instead of sugar for energy, the researchers found. But the news was not all good. Higher levels of FGF21 were associated with low bone density and female infertility. Both drawbacks are part of the body?s normal response to starvation and could pose problems if the hormone is used to treat people, says Mangelsdorf, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. The researchers have already begun testing whether the hormone can extend longevity in mice if its production is delayed until adulthood.
Exactly how the hormone works is still under investigation, Mangelsdorf says. The researchers know FGF21 is made in the liver and indirectly affects that organ?s function, but they aren?t sure where else in the body it works. It is also not clear how the hormone prolongs life. It does not affect the same biological processes as caloric restriction, except for the IGF-1 pathway in the liver, yet has many of the same benefits.
But the hormone must be doing something more than simply shutting down IGF-1, says Luigi Fontana, a physician and gerontologist at Washington University in St. Louis. People who have mutations that inactivate IGF-1 are dwarves who generally don?t get cancer, but they don?t live much longer than anyone else, so the longevity benefit of the hormone may be due to some other action. Anti-aging properties of the hormone probably depend upon multiple different effects, and turning off only one biological process won?t work, Fontana says. ?Many biologists are looking for the magic bullet,? he says, ?but maybe there isn?t one.?
L. Beil. Healthy aging in a pill. Science News. Vol. 179, June 4, 2011, p. 22. Available online: [Go to]
N. Seppa. Low-cal longevity questioned. Science News. Vol. 182, October 6, 2012, p. 8. Available online: [Go to]
T. H. Saey. Don?t forget diet composition. Science News. Vol. 174, October 25, 2008, p. 17 Available online: [Go to]
At age 68, Russ Caswell is on the verge of losing the business that?s been in his family for two generations. And it?s not for lack of customers.
Mr. Caswell is another object lesson that ?If you?ve done nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about? no longer applies.
On Nov. 5, a federal trial will begin with the curious name of United States of America v. 434 Main Street, Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
The defendant is not Mr. Caswell, but rather the Motel Caswell ? a $1.5 million property Caswell owns mortgage-free. He had an eye toward possibly selling it so he could retire comfortably and take care of his gravely ill wife.
?I may sell it eventually, but the government doesn?t have the right to take it,? he tells the local Patch.com site. ?It?s not right.?
Caswell is one of a growing number of Americans subject to ?civil asset forfeiture? ? or CAF.
?Asset forfeiture,? explains Duke professor Gary Hull, ?is used by federal and state officials to seize cars, boats, cash, houses, businesses ? all on the grounds that the asset might have been used or could conceivably be used in the commission of a crime, by someone, somewhere, at some point.?
Thus do the feds, along with the local police, allege that the Motel Caswell has been used for drug-related offenses going back to 1994. Note well: Russ Caswell stands accused of no crime. Nor is he accused of committing or facilitating crimes. Or that he was aware any crimes were going on at his motel.
The feds alone collected $2.5 billion last year from 15,000 CAF cases.
Recourse is, to say the least, a challenge. ?To retrieve that asset, you must enter Kafka?s universe,? professor Hull says.
?Even if you have the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars necessary to mount a defense, CAF reverses the burden of proof and forces on the property owner an impossible standard ? to prove that the asset was not used to facilitate a crime, or if it was, that you did not know that the property was being used for facilitation. Further, you have to prove that you did everything possible (whatever that means) to prevent the crime(s).?
The Motel Caswell: Guilty until proven innocent?
The feds have been on Caswell?s case for three years now. Should they prevail in court, both the feds and the Tewksbury police stand to profit: Under a program called ?equitable sharing,? the locals get up to 80% of the booty.
?In the Caswell case,? Hull says, ?that could mean $1.2 million for the Tewksbury police to spend on new cars, uniforms, hi-tech equipment, junkets to Hawaii. Meanwhile, Caswell and his wife will have been impoverished.?
The ?Hawaii junkets? is not hyperbole on the professor?s part.
Over the past four years, the Milwaukee County Sheriff?s Office in Wisconsin has hauled in forfeiture money totaling $825,577. An audit released last week reveals some of the ways that money was spent?
$11,400 on workout gear for Sheriff David Clarke Jr.?s command staff
$8,200 for 9 flat-screen TVs, also for the command staff
$24,900 for ?customer-service training? provided by an outfit called Disney Destinations
$77,000 for upkeep of the sheriff?s mounted patrol ($43,000 of that was to buy a Dodge Ram pickup to haul the horses around).
But it?s all good: The audit found, ?none of the spending violated federal rules governing asset forfeiture money,? according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
You don?t have to own property like Mr. Caswell to fall into Kafka?s universe. All you need to do is commit a moving violation and carry a wad of cash.
On Jan. 7, 2009, Anthony Smelley was pulled over on Interstate 70 in Putnam County, Ind. He was on his way from Detroit to St. Louis to visit his aunt. He?d had recently won a $50,000 settlement from a car accident. He was taking $17,500 of it to St. Louis to buy his aunt a new car.
You can see where this is going: Smelley was pulled over for an unsafe lane change and an obscured license plate. He was also driving with an expired license. During the stop, the officer asked Smelley to get out of the car and patted him down, discovering the cash. The dogs were called in and ?alerted? to the presence of drugs.
But a search of the car turned up no drugs, and Smelley never faced criminal charges. The $17,500, however, was judged guilty as hell.
?To make matters worse,? wrote Reason?s Radley Balko, ?the county was represented not by an elected public official, but by Christopher Gambill, an attorney in private practice who handles several Indiana counties? forfeiture cases on a contingency basis, earning 25-33% of what he wins in court, a system stacked with twisted incentives.?
In the end, Smelley did prevail and got his money back. But it took 13 months? and he wasn?t compensated for his time, interest on the money, court costs or attorney?s fees.
Cheers, Dave Gonigam
Dave Gonigam
Treading a fine line between contrarian thinking and conspiracy theory, Dave Gonigam explores the nexus of finance, politics, and the media for Agora Financial's 5 Minute Forecast. He joined kindred spirits at Agora Financial in 2007 after a 20-year career as an Emmy award-winning writer, producer, and manager in local TV newsrooms nationwide.
T-Mobile has just sent out invites to the press for a product launch event on the evening of October 29th. We weren't given any clues as to what this new item (or items) could be -- aside from the fact that it will include T-Mobile's full fall lineup -- but we certainly have a few suspicions considering the timing of such an event. Microsoft and Google are both holding press events earlier in the day, after all, which means we're either going to be treated to T-Mobile's Windows Phone 8 lineup or (this is less likely, but anything's possible) a T-Mobile Nexus. Feel free to put your wagers in the comments below, and we'll work to sort out the craziness that will most certainly ensue that day.
Tokyo, Japan ? Fullcircle Innovations today announces GreenITers Mobile II 4.0 free for iOS, a major update of their social networking app for anyone interested in sustainable living and ecological innovation. With more than 300,000 followers on Twitter and nearly 11,000 registered members, GreenITers is one of the fastest growing, global communities of eco-minded individuals. Registration is free and takes less than 30 seconds. GreenITers provides an online green community, where those with an interest in preserving the planet through eco-friendly technology, whether a top academic or an average person, can get together online and share ideas, new gadgets, scientific news, and breakthroughs. The beautifully designed mobile app gives members access to the community News, plus the group?s Twitter, and YouTube pages. Facebook, Twitter, and email connectivity are integrated into the app.
Feature Highlights: * GreenITers is the social networking site for eco-aware iOS users * Registration and membership is free, fast, and easy * Mobile app accesses community News, plus YouTube channel, and Twitter page. * Join a wide variety of groups exploring green technologies * Post green news, experiences, eco-ideas, and share your opinions with other eco minded individuals.
Advances in green technology are critical to combating climate change and for making a more eco-friendly society. As with all technology, it is people with the passion to be advocates and early-adopters who make the biggest contribution. And in the case of green technology solutions, there are many individuals, both expert and amateur alike, who want to be part of a community to discuss ideas and improvements in this field.
New in GreenITers Mobile II 4.0: * New design with Sign In, View Profile function, and ability to post direct from the app (Share on) * Photo streams from pictures featured on GreenITers community * GreenITers Twitter feed * What?s Happening function that allows you to know what?s going on in the GreenITers community blog * GreenITers YouTube feed * Check the GreenITers groups * Integrated log in/sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Yahoo!, Windows Live, and LinkedIn * Complete re-write of the app from the ground up
GreenITers provides such an online community, and it is free, fast, and easy to join. As a member, users can start new groups or join existing groups covering such topics as: Renewable Energy (Biofuel, Biomass, Geothermal, Hydroelectricity, Solar, Tidal Wave, Wind), Electric/Hybrid Vehicles, Green IT, Green Building, Eco Projects, Nature Protection, Climate Change, Recycling, and Green Innovations.
Members are welcome to post images and videos, discuss ideas, and collaborate on projects. Other features include a news share, photo library, and blog. Whether members are interested in green motoring technology or solar powered gadget re-chargers, or even how to generate energy from trees, GreenITers is the ideal forum for the exchange of ideas, opinions, news, and experiences.
It is going to take a global, team effort to have an impact on climate change, and GreenITers provides a social networking app where like-minded, eco-aware individuals can come together make real progress toward achieving clean technology solutions for the world.
?GreenITers.com is an exciting, new green community for everyone interested in learn more about green technology as well use those technologies to ?green it!? the world around us? stated Joe Hansen of Fullcircle Innovations. ?Join us today. It?s free, quick, and easy.?
Device Requirements: * iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch * Optimized for iPhone 5 * Requires iOS 4.3 or later * 7.6 MB
Pricing and Availability: GreenITers Mobile II 4.0 is free and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Social Networking category. The app is also available for Android devices.
Fullcircle Innovations GreenITers Mobile II 4.0 Download from iTunes Screenshot 1 Screenshot 2 App Icon
Based in Tokyo, Japan, Fullcircle Innovations was founded by Flavio Souza in 2010. A Red Herring 100 Asia Award winner, Fullcircle Innovations is about meaningful digital innovations. They are working for the convergence of high-tech and green-tech, with the goal that information becomes not just knowledge but wisdom. They promote your eco-friendly brand and sustainable products & services to the core green segment. For example, in the social media space, they help your dialog with passionate eco-evangelists who can turn your green product or services. Their mission statement is to wisely develop and promote technological innovations in favor of a better sustainable planet. Their treasures are: GreenITers.com, EcoAppsFree.com and their inspired individuals. Their team and partners have the unique combination of technical expertise, environmental consciousness, result oriented management and extensive experience to consult and deliver your digital green project right. All Rights Reserved, copyright (C) 2012 Fullcircle. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.
Young people who go out drinking start earlier and consume more and more alcoholPublic release date: 19-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: SINC info@agenciasinc.es 34-914-251-820 FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology
Teenagers and university students are unaware of the negative consequences of alcohol consumption or the chances of developing an addiction as a result. In addition, they start at a younger and younger age and drink more and stronger alcohol according to a study headed by the University of Valencia.
Current drinking trends amongst Spanish youth are characterised by what is known as botelln or drinking in the streets. Researchers at Valencia's universities, Miguel Hernndez de Elche and Jaume I de Castelln, have conducted a study funded by the Spanish National Drugs Plan identifying the different types of alcohol consumers and defining the profiles of each. It has been published in the 'The Spanish Journal of Psychology'.
"The general tendency is to think that university students drink more alcohol than teenagers as they are older and can access it more easily. But this is not true. Males in secondary school and university drink the same amount of alcohol while practicing botelln. The same is the case for females," as explained to SINC by Begoa Espejo Tort, lead researcher of the study at the University of Valencia.
The scientists gathered data from 6009 youngsters between the ages of 14 and 25 from 2007 to 2009 in three Spanish cities (Valencia, Castelln and Alicante). For the study they selected those who reported episodes of intensive alcohol consumption.
According to results, males drink more and aim to get drunk yet they associate their alcohol intake with the possibility of developing an addiction to a lesser extent than females.
"We have observed that university students progressed to drink more alcohol. When they were adolescents they drank less alcohol and then more when reaching university. Nonetheless, today's adolescents drink the same amount as university students," outlines Espejo.
What will happen to these adolescents in a few years?
If intake levels for secondary school and university students of the same sex are similar, this means that when secondary school students reach the age of 20, the consequences will be much greater than those seen amongst current university students. The expert highlights that this will have negative repercussions "on their studies, their work, and personal relationships and their finances."
"Nearly all adolescents who consumed alcohol started at around 13 or 14 years of age by drinking distilled alcohol (drinks with high alcohol content) in large quantities. On the other hand, university students started between 14 and 15 with fermented drinks like beer in relatively low quantities," confirms the expert.
Furthermore, adolescents allude to personal aspects to justify their alcohol intake whereas university students link their drinking to control of leisure.
That said, the main reason for alcohol consumption in both groups is to have fun. Espejo explains that "drinking is the objective. Only university students mention financial reasons. Almost 70% of students refer to financial reasons for practicing botelln compared to 20% of adolescents.
The consequences are not understood
As for the consequences associated with alcohol consumption, neither youngsters nor university students are aware of the consequences. The same can be said for those who drink a lot or those who drink less. They only take into consideration those consequences that repeatedly appear in television campaigns, like those relating to drink driving and personal relationship problems due to aggression. They are also only aware of the immediate physical consequences like vomiting, dizziness, falling over and hangovers, etc.
In general, youngsters feel that their alcohol consumption will have no negative consequences. They believe that for this to occur they would have to greatly increase their alcohol consumption. This, however, does not imply that the problem does not already exist but rather that it is not recognised," concludes the researcher.
The authors of the study warn of the need to take action amongst these groups to reduce and change alcohol consumption. In the case of the youngest, who refer to confidence reasons when justifying why they drink alcohol, campaigns on self-esteem and interpersonal relationship management should be reinforced. For university students, education on leisure habits is the key.
###
References:
Begoa Espejo, Mara Teresa Corts, Beatriz Martn del Ro, Jos Antonio Gimnez, and Consolacin Gmez. "Traits that Define the Different Alcohol Intensive Consume Type during the Practice of 'Botellon'. The Spanish Journal of Psychology 15 (1): 256-264, 2012.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Young people who go out drinking start earlier and consume more and more alcoholPublic release date: 19-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: SINC info@agenciasinc.es 34-914-251-820 FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology
Teenagers and university students are unaware of the negative consequences of alcohol consumption or the chances of developing an addiction as a result. In addition, they start at a younger and younger age and drink more and stronger alcohol according to a study headed by the University of Valencia.
Current drinking trends amongst Spanish youth are characterised by what is known as botelln or drinking in the streets. Researchers at Valencia's universities, Miguel Hernndez de Elche and Jaume I de Castelln, have conducted a study funded by the Spanish National Drugs Plan identifying the different types of alcohol consumers and defining the profiles of each. It has been published in the 'The Spanish Journal of Psychology'.
"The general tendency is to think that university students drink more alcohol than teenagers as they are older and can access it more easily. But this is not true. Males in secondary school and university drink the same amount of alcohol while practicing botelln. The same is the case for females," as explained to SINC by Begoa Espejo Tort, lead researcher of the study at the University of Valencia.
The scientists gathered data from 6009 youngsters between the ages of 14 and 25 from 2007 to 2009 in three Spanish cities (Valencia, Castelln and Alicante). For the study they selected those who reported episodes of intensive alcohol consumption.
According to results, males drink more and aim to get drunk yet they associate their alcohol intake with the possibility of developing an addiction to a lesser extent than females.
"We have observed that university students progressed to drink more alcohol. When they were adolescents they drank less alcohol and then more when reaching university. Nonetheless, today's adolescents drink the same amount as university students," outlines Espejo.
What will happen to these adolescents in a few years?
If intake levels for secondary school and university students of the same sex are similar, this means that when secondary school students reach the age of 20, the consequences will be much greater than those seen amongst current university students. The expert highlights that this will have negative repercussions "on their studies, their work, and personal relationships and their finances."
"Nearly all adolescents who consumed alcohol started at around 13 or 14 years of age by drinking distilled alcohol (drinks with high alcohol content) in large quantities. On the other hand, university students started between 14 and 15 with fermented drinks like beer in relatively low quantities," confirms the expert.
Furthermore, adolescents allude to personal aspects to justify their alcohol intake whereas university students link their drinking to control of leisure.
That said, the main reason for alcohol consumption in both groups is to have fun. Espejo explains that "drinking is the objective. Only university students mention financial reasons. Almost 70% of students refer to financial reasons for practicing botelln compared to 20% of adolescents.
The consequences are not understood
As for the consequences associated with alcohol consumption, neither youngsters nor university students are aware of the consequences. The same can be said for those who drink a lot or those who drink less. They only take into consideration those consequences that repeatedly appear in television campaigns, like those relating to drink driving and personal relationship problems due to aggression. They are also only aware of the immediate physical consequences like vomiting, dizziness, falling over and hangovers, etc.
In general, youngsters feel that their alcohol consumption will have no negative consequences. They believe that for this to occur they would have to greatly increase their alcohol consumption. This, however, does not imply that the problem does not already exist but rather that it is not recognised," concludes the researcher.
The authors of the study warn of the need to take action amongst these groups to reduce and change alcohol consumption. In the case of the youngest, who refer to confidence reasons when justifying why they drink alcohol, campaigns on self-esteem and interpersonal relationship management should be reinforced. For university students, education on leisure habits is the key.
###
References:
Begoa Espejo, Mara Teresa Corts, Beatriz Martn del Ro, Jos Antonio Gimnez, and Consolacin Gmez. "Traits that Define the Different Alcohol Intensive Consume Type during the Practice of 'Botellon'. The Spanish Journal of Psychology 15 (1): 256-264, 2012.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
(Reuters) - BlackRock Inc, the world's largest money manager, said third-quarter profit rose 8 percent as investors poured cash into its iShares line of exchange-traded funds.
The New York-based company fired on all cylinders during the quarter, showing strength in bond mutual funds, its Lifepath funds for 401(k)-type retirement accounts, hedge fund performance fees and risk management services.
Chief Executive Laurence Fink cited "robust new business generation across each of our channels." He pointed to record quarterly flows into iShares since BlackRock acquired the business in 2009 and the highest flow into retail bond funds in over 10 years.
Net income totaled $642 million, or $3.65 per share, compared with $595 million, or $3.23 per share, a year earlier, BlackRock said in a statement on Wednesday. Excluding certain items, BlackRock earned $3.47 per share. On that basis, analysts, on average, expected $3.31, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Overall, investors withdrew $43 billion from BlackRock's long-term funds and accounts. Excluding the impact of an institution withdrawing $74 billion from an indexed bond account, BlackRock said it took in $31 billion from investors.
That included a record $25 billion going into iShares funds, with more than three-quarters flowing into stock ETFs, $6 billion into retail bond funds and $10 billion into funds aimed at 401(k)-type defined contribution retirement accounts.
Total assets under management at BlackRock hit $3.67 trillion, up 3 percent during the quarter and up 10 percent from a year ago.
The strong quarter for iShares came despite competition from lower-cost competitors like Vanguard Group and Charles Schwab Corp . On Monday, BlackRock unveiled a plan to cut fees on six iShares funds and introduce four new low-cost funds.
Revenue rose 4 percent from a year earlier to $2.3 billion. Performance fees jumped 12 percent to $103 million on strong gains at BlackRock's hedge funds and other accounts that garner a portion of their profits based on their investing track records.
Revenue from risk management advice and other services at its BlackRock Solution unit rose 9 percent to $128 million.
Shares of BlackRock closed at $189.97 on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. The shares have gained 7 percent so far this year, trailing the 16 percent gain in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.spx>.
(Reporting by Aaron Pressman; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Jeffrey Benkoe)
Finding the perfect gift for a special occasion can be very challenging. There always seems to be that one person who already has everything. Giving a customized gift ensures that the recipient will be getting an original, one of a kind present that has been well thought out. These ideas for personalized gifts are a thoughtful way to show affection and without spending a fortune.
For the person with a sweet tooth nothing could be better than customized candy. Many candy companies offer sections on their web pages that allow complete personalization of popular candy brands with photos or monograms. The images can be stamped directly on the sweets or the wrappers can be personalized in any way imaginable. The cost of customized candy is only slightly more than the plain version.
An item that is personalized with a special photo is a great way to give a memorable gift without spending too much money. Mugs, t-shirts, and calendars are all useful items that can be a unique gift when a photograph is added. Some companies offer a service that changes a picture into a high quality canvas that looks like a work of art.
Everyday items can be instantly personalized by adding a monogram. Putting initials on an article of clothing or an everyday object instantly makes it special and more fun to use. Ordinary items like umbrellas, bathrobes, pajamas, flash drives and journals can be easily and affordably monogrammed. Engraving or embroidering a gift with a person?s name makes it an instant keepsake.
For those really short on funds, a scrapbook is a nearly free way to let a person know how much they are special. Free online programs allow photos to be uploaded and placed into customizable templates that make a professional looking scrapbook. This is a heartfelt gift that can be enjoyed for years.
Nothing makes a sweeter Christmas gift than a customized ornament. Many companies produce completely personalized ornaments at a very budget friendly price. Creating a personalized ornament from scratch is even less expensive, and nothing is quite so heartwarming as a handmade Christmas gift.
As more people are trying to reduce their carbon footprint, reusable grocery bags are becoming increasingly popular. Giving the gift of green gives friends a reason to smile as they shop. Adding a cherished quote or a work of art from a favorite artist can perfectly customize reusable grocery bags. This is an extraordinary gift that will be loved and used all the time.
Garden stones are the perfect present for those with yards. This is a gift that is a fun do it yourself project. Stones can be imprinted with children?s handprints, names or favorite animals and flowers. All the materials needed are a mold and some mixable concrete. Home improvement stores sell kits that produce unique stones with different shapes and colors.
Gift baskets are the perfect customized gift to give. Everyone loves getting a basket full of his or her favorite goodies. It?s so easy to fill a basket with the best treats and trinkets that fit a friend?s personality. This is a project that is easy to do yourself and you can spend as much or as little money as you wish. Your imagination and the tastes of the gift receiver are the limit.
David Sheath is greatly experienced in the photo gifts industry. If you need to design a customized gift his store can certainly help. His website Photo Gifts Mall offers more than 400 fully customizable products that can be easily personalized with your own photos, logos, designs and text.
GROSSETO/GIGLIO, Italy - An Italian court heard on Tuesday that equipment aboard the Costa Concordia luxury liner may not have been functioning when she ran aground and capsized, killing 32 people.
The list of issues compiled by a panel of court-appointed experts included a wide range of alleged malfunctions, from lights that did not work during the disaster to the?possibility?that radar equipment had been turned off or broken.
The hearing is closed to the public because the huge media interest could not be accommodated.
The 114,500-ton luxury cruise ship capsized on Jan. 13 after approaching the Tuscan island of Giglio to perform a maneuver close to the shore known as a salute. It struck a rock which tore a gash in its hull.
Previous?story:?Packed court as Costa captain hears evidence
Also on Tuesday, Francesco Schettino,?the captain blamed for the disaster admitted he made?mistakes?but accused the cruise liner company of mishandling the response.?He said last week he was suing Costa Cruises, a unit of Carnival Corp., for unfair dismissal following the accident.
His lawyer Francesco Pepe said the hearing would show his client was not solely responsible for the disaster.
"Schettino's responsibility needs to be established and it needs to be established that others may have contributed as well," he said after the conclusion of the hearing's first day.
Meanwhile in Giglio, where the stricken liner still lays on her side awaiting salvage, news has emerged that thieves broke into the Costa Concordia earlier this year, stealing furniture, paintings and luxury goods from a gift shop. Sources at Costa Crociere say the thieves had used entry holes and guide ropes made by search and rescue teams to get into the ship.
'I saved your lives' Schettino?slipped into court by a back door on Tuesday, wearing dark glasses and offering just a brief wave to waiting journalists. According to Italian TV network Tg1, he spoke to two German Costa passengers inside court, saying, ?I saved your lives and those of many other passengers.?
This week?s hearings will help the judge decide if Schettino should stand trial. He is accused of manslaughter, causing the shipwreck and abandoning ship while passengers and crew were still aboard. He denies the accusations and has not been charged.
A key question is how much of the blame Schettino should shoulder himself and how much responsibility lies with his crew and employer, Costa Crociere, a division of the Miami-based Carnival Corp. Costa Crociere has denied negligence and has distanced itself from Schettino, firing him in July.
In all, nine people face the prospect of criminal trial, which would be unlikely to begin before next year.
The company's lawyer defended the ship's other crew.
"I believe that everything that came out yesterday -- and the conclusions drawn by the court appointed experts -- acknowledge that everything that could have been done by the Costa Concordia crew, was done,"?Marco de Luca, a lawyer for Costa Crociere, told NBC News, outside the courtroom.?
"The one fact that has been completely underestimated is that more than four thousand people were disembarked in a short period of time -- some two hours -- and this was done exclusively by Costa personnel.?
Praxilla Trabattoni and Claudio Lavanga of NBC News, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.?
More world stories from NBC News:
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on?Twitter?and?Facebook
By Tina Dirmann staff writer for BCBS of Louisiana Foundation
Grace Peterson, a nutrition agent with LSU?s AgCenter, has been on a mission ? to teach kids that a plate of vegetables can be every bit as tasty as a bag of french fries.
Perhaps she was a little overly ambitious?
But 4 years later, her collection of kids, drawn from Shreveport?s lower income communities, have gone from calling anything leafy and green ?nasty,? to this?
?I was in our community garden recently and I literally watched one of our kids pick a green bean straight off the plant, raw, and eat it,? Grace said. ?I watched our kids rinse off squash and zucchini, put them on a plate with a little dressing, and eat it? Amazing the change. But we?ve been here long enough now that we?ve changed the culture of the community. And we?ve changed the eating habits of these kids.?
Now, thanks to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation?s ground-breaking grant project, and matching funds from supporting community organizations, Grace?s program will get a $1.4 million boost to spread her work even further, opening 8 more community garden learning centers throughout Shreveport (offering gardens, cooking centers, outdoor activities, and nutrition education classes).
And that?s just the start.
Blue Cross Foundation?s Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana has begun fulfilling a multi-million dollar pledge to promote healthy living programs throughout the state.
?This really is a first of its kind program for Louisiana,? said Christy Reeves, executive director for the foundation. ?Nothing this large in scope has been done in Louisiana, involving so much money and so many organizations, all teaming up for one purpose ? to improve nutrition, fitness and health education in our state.?
BCBSLAF started earlier this year, challenging community leaders to develop projects for their schools, neighborhoods and non-profit organizations ? with a commitment to match, in funds and man power, any grant dollars.
The response was tremendous, with 49 applicants across Louisiana.
Last month, the foundation proudly named 12 programs that will be awarded $10.2 million in grants. And because those winning programs pledged $16.8 million in matching funds, $27 million has now been earmarked for projects aimed at slashing some of Louisiana?s most looming health problems, including obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
The projects ? stretching from New Orleans, Central Louisiana, Shreveport, Baton Rouge, New Iberia, Monroe, LaSalle and Lafayette ? must be completed within 3 years.
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, the internationally renowned nutritional research center dedicated to finding cures for chronic diseases, has partnered with the Blue Cross Foundation to oversee implementation of each project.
?We all have to work together to create resources and opportunities to be healthier and live more active lives,? said Jessica Erwin, director of programs and events for Pennington.
Check this site frequently for feature stories and blog updates highlighting individual projects and the people making them happen.
Pat Martin has been involved in the antique world for over 30 years and has confirmed her place as an established and well-loved business by receiving the #1 Antique Shop Award by the FOX 8 Cleveland ENGER HOT LIST four years in a row. With three floors brimming with relics and reminders of past decades and centuries, including some very handsome footstools, it is the perfect place to mosey away a Sunday afternoon ? or any other afternoon, for that matter. A visit to a quality antique shop does far more than while away an afternoon though. They have a way of bringing us back in touch with people, events, and emotions that have contributed to who we are today. As English author Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) states:
The Motel Caswell: Guilty until proven innocent?
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Public release date: 19-Oct-2012
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