Angry Birds Easter Plush Toys Toy Review 2012 on ... - Cushion pets

Cool! Angry Birds Easter Plush toys Spotted at Stew Leonard?s Stores in Connecticut Today! ?Angry Birds Pigs too!? These are totally cute and Really Soft Plush Toys! Watch for More Angry Birds ?Toy Reviews on the YouTube Channel ?ToyReviews?.

This entry was posted in Plush toys and tagged 2012, adorable, angry birds, babies, collection, cute, Easter, Funny, Laughing, Pigs, playing, plush toys, reviews, toy, toy reviews, video. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://cushion-pets.com/angry-birds-easter-plush-toys-toy-review-2012-on-the-youtube-channel-toyreviews/

greg mortenson jim marshall died 2013 toyota avalon the secret life of bees full moon amber rose aubrey o day

Lua: Why learn programming language? - SpaceSocket

• Technology has been advancing rapidly, especially in the computer industry. From Steve Jobs' first release of the Apple computer in 1984, along with release of Windows 1.0 from Microsoft in 1985, the technology has rapidly advanced in the last 28 years. There is an eventual possibility that computers will be a thing of the past, and that tablet PCs
• Delicious
• Pin It
• Buffer

Source: http://blog.spacesocket.com/2012/07/25/lua-why-learn-programming-language/

brock lesnar retires new years wake forest wake forest old dominion insync the duchess

Some Mobile Homes in Zephyrhills, Florida For Sale with Land as of ...

Want to find a place where you can escape winter's icy blasts or just a place to live in year round? Well, Zephyrhills, Florida might be just the perfect corner of the USA where you can find a refuge from the snowing and blowing.

To assist you, I am attaching an updated Adobe PDF file to this post of the mobile homes that are currently available for purchase here as of July 27, 2012. Keep in mind that, depending on when you see this page, some of the listed homes may have been sold (especially if it is a very old post). If that happens, call me at the numbers below, and I can send you an updated list. No problem!

Also keep in mind that these mobile homes include the land under them. They are not on rental lots and are purchased with?fee simple, condominium, or cooperative ownership.

All you have to do is click on the following link to download the pages that you can view and/or print:?? Download Mobile Homes For Sale with Land in Zephyrhills, FL as of 7-27-2012??They are listed from lowest price to highest. If you just want to see them on your computer, increase the view to 100% at the top of the screen so you can see them better. If you want to print them, then click on the PRINT BUTTON, and they should print up "full-page view" automatically. The arrows on the page will move you to the next or the previous page of listings. Usually, there are many to look at.

Keep in mind these homes are from our own CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. inventory, and that I can also e-mail you listings from other companies via our Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Just let me know what your requirements are.

I can even set up an auto-notification system so you will get immediate messages when a new listing comes on the market that meets your needs! Convenient, right? Also do not forget that these homes include the lots under them. They are not located in rental parks.

Some of these homes may be in registered 55+ Housing subdivisions. To check this out, you can visit the State of Florida's 55+ Registry page. Just click on the following link for information direct from the state: http://fchr.state.fl.us/housing_directory/search/Pasco/County? You can also call me for questions on this issue.

If you would like to contact me about these or any other homes, you can call me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

You are also welcome to visit my main webpage at: http://www.jelwell.century21bnr.com/

John Elwell - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. Licensed in Florida.

Source: http://pascoflrealestate.typepad.com/john_elwell_realtor/2012/07/zephyrhills-florida-mobile-homes-for-sale-with-land-as-of-april-14-2012.html

dwyane wade the night they drove old dixie down levon oklahoma city bombing robbie robertson the curious case of benjamin button secret service prostitute

Blazing A Trail For Edgy Christian Speculative Fiction - blog*spot

I've been running this blog for a little over four years now. It's gone through many changes - both in regards to design and content - but I think I'm finally feeling comfortable and confident with what it stands to represent now: edgy Christian speculative fiction, and my road through self-publishing. The two go hand in hand because A) I write edgy Christian speculative fiction and B) I self-publish the edgy Christian speculative fiction that I write.

That being said, now that the solid themes of my blog have risen to the surface, I'm ready to start getting real serious about my blogging habits and the direction I want this blog to head in. For a while now I've been attempting to blog three times a week, if anything to keep me disciplined in my non-fiction writing habits. Until now, it was hard to stay disciplined when I wasn't all that clear on what my blog was trying to focus on. I easily put up posts about my books and some fun tidbits about self-publishing, but overall I feel - whether it's true or not - that this blog has been missing some meat. It hasn't been used as effectively as I'd like it to be used.

I want to blaze a trail for edgy Christian fiction and self-publishing.

In a post I put up last week, I explained how my Black Earth series came about and I talked a little about some of the challenges I have faced trying to mix Christian themes with science fiction, fantasy, and edgy content. But what good is simply doing a single post where I gush about a few hurdles? The genre that I describe is a tough one to sell - both to Christians and non-Christians alike. Many Christians are put off by anything containing edgy content - including movies, books, music, etc. (More on that next week.) Many non-Christians have no desire to read Christian fiction in any form, mainly because their idea of Christian fiction is a well-told (if that) sermon.

So here I am, three books into my Black Earth series, and I have a monumental challenge ahead of me. See, I write for a living. I don't work a '9-5', I don't scribble out short stories in my 'spare' time, I don't do this for giggles. I am serious about my writing because it is my calling, my purpose. It is my ministry. It is NOT my everything, but it is what I have been called to and that means I am expected to give 110% to it. My best.

The real question that rises to the surface of this dilemma is this: How do I reach both sides of the fence with my fiction? I mean, I know how to write good stories. If you check out most of the reviews posted on Amazon for my novels, you'll see that my work is given pretty good ratings and reviews. So the next step in this is to get this unique work out there to more people.

And that's where this blog comes in.

Part of my plan to spread the word about my writing and this particular genre is to bear down on this blog and introducing some real, though-provoking content. Yes, I'll still be revealing stretches of my journey through the self-publishing obstacle course. But I want to start talking about real issues, real-life themes, many of which are found throughout my Black Earth series. I want to discuss how these themes came about in my series, how they can be used in Christian fiction to help build a realistic world that readers can relate too, and how these themes can be used effectively to tell a great story in general.

Themes like violence, inherited religion, slavery, sexual promiscuity, aliens, super powers, faith, etc.

A good time will be had by all. I guarantee it. I'll be diving into these themes, and exploring the many characters of Black Earth and showcasing how they fit into these themes and into real life. I may even throw in some exclusive content relating to the Black Earth series, like fiction pieces and the like. I will also be posting new Compendium entries that tie in with these posts on the website. In between it all I'll be dropping posts on other things as well, such as self-publishing, book reviews, and miscellaneous whatnot.

We'll start this party out next week when I'll be exploring Christian attitudes toward art and entertainment, looking into some of the negative stigma surrounding Christian fiction, and discussing the need for excellence in the self-publishing realm. From there, we'll head straight into a detailed look at Cynthia Ruin, a complex and broken character in my Black Earth series, and explore the theme of sexual promiscuity.

In the meantime, have a great weekend everyone!

Source: http://davidnalderman.blogspot.com/2012/07/blazing-trail-for-edgy-christian.html

oh the places you ll go blunt amendment justin bieber birthday read across america vikings stadium breitbart dead db cooper

Home Equity Loans : Acquire Fiscal Aid With Your Home

Every person in this world will love to cherish every single moment in the home of his or her own. A home is a place where a person can share his joys and grief with his or her family and assume it as the final destination of abode and tranquility. This home is also like a vast investment for people who buy it with their own funds and efforts. It can also serve as a security at the time of fiscal emergency. Homeowners can get an amount against value of their home by grabbing home loans. Home Equity Loans Australia is one of these loans mainly provided to cope up with financial troubles by mortgaging their home.

These loans allow the borrowers to procure amount proportionate to the value of equity of their home. In Home Equity Loans Australia, the word Equity may create confusion in some aspects. What does equity literally mean? It means that the borrower can only get an amount depending on the value of the home after subtracting the value of outstanding liability already taken on it. Suppose, value of a home is AU$ 100000 and liability already taken on it is AU$ 40000. Thus, the remaining value is AU$60000 known as equity value and borrower can obtain an amount up to this equity value, not up to the entire assessed value of home.

These loans come as a secured variant and borrowers should make its repayment at proper time. Through this loan facility, borrowers can grab an amount in the range usually commencing from AU$25000 to maximum value of AU$75000. Constant failure for repayment of assured sum to the borrower makes him forceful to take an action against possession placed as guarantee with him. This loan amount is available for catering with huge financial problems like expanding the business with additional monetary funds, adding a new suite in home, purchasing a new car or vehicle, planning some holiday on exotic places, theme based marriage expenses etc.

To grab Home Equity Loans Australia, borrowers need to fulfill certain eligibility conditions especially meant to assure the lenders about their borrowers. The following credentials will describe a borrower as eligible and these are like:

1. He must be having citizenship proof of Australia.

2. He must have reached the age of 18 years.

3. He must be earning AU$1000 on regular basis so that lenders feel satisfied about their repayment.

4. He must have a bank account in order to avail benefits via electronic transfer of funds.

Thus, borrowers who are capable according to above provisions must apply for these loans through internet. In modern economy, almost every home is equipped with internet facility. Borrowers can simply go at lenders site providing these loans and fill-in basic details to be furnished in application form. Lenders undergo a hassle- free verification process and transfer the funds directly to their account. Thus, these loans are valuable loan deals that are efficient to provide funds to fulfill their needs.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Home-Equity-Loans---Acquire-Fiscal-Aid-With-Your-Home/4061309

epstein joshua komisarjevsky barney frank barney frank rob gronkowski kim richards robert hegyes

Japan's low-profile military steps up during flood rescue (+video)

Japan's army has taken over flood rescue and cleanup operations, drawing more positive reactions from Japanese formerly wary of praising the military.

By Gavin Blair,?Correspondent / July 16, 2012

Japan's Self-Defense Force soldiers searched for missing people at an area devastated by heavy rains at Ichinomiya-machi town in Aso, Kumamoto prefecture Sunday.

Japan Self Defense Forces 8th Division/Reuters/Handout

Enlarge

Japan?s once low-profile Self-Defense Forces (SDF), or military, has been at the forefront of the rescue operation after record rainfalls caused flooding that has left some 25 dead and seven more missing. These latest rescue efforts, combined with the SDF's response to last year's devastating earthquake and tsunami, are shining a more?positive light on Japan?s military than it has seen in decades.

Skip to next paragraph

Recent posts

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of
The Christian Science Monitor
Weekly Digital Edition

The worst-affected areas of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan?s four main islands, saw as much as 32 inches of rain in what has been named the ?North Kyushu Floods.? One mountainous area of Fukuoka Prefecture is still being airlifted supplies by the SDF, while thousands more remain in evacuation centers or without power. Up to 400,000 people were ordered or advised to leave their homes in Kyushu at the height of the storms over the weekend.

Images of torrents of water sweeping away houses and cars recalled memories of last March?s tsunami that took the lives of nearly 20,000 on the northeast coast of Japan?s main island. And as they did after that disaster, the SDF has been rescuing those stranded by the recent raging waters, searching for the missing, and clearing roads, drawing more positive reactions from a citizenry and media formerly wary of praising the military. ?

According to the protocols of Japan?s pacifist Constitution, effectively imposed on the defeated country by the United States after World War II, the SDF had to be officially invited by local authorities to aid in rescue efforts.

After the Kobe earthquake that killed nearly 6,500 people in 1995, it took four days for the SDF to be sent in ? attracting widespread criticism and handing Japan's yakuza mafia a publicity coup by allowing them to be seen delivering food and supplies before the national government.

However, after the March tsunami, then-Prime Minister Naoto Kan quickly dispatched 100,000 troops to the disaster areas. Footage of the SDF?s rescue efforts provided a huge boost to its standing, as well as driving a surge in young people signing up for Japan?s armed forces.

Japan?s relationship with its men and women in uniform has been an uneasy one since the end of the war, and any reminders of the country?s militaristic past are generally avoided whenever possible. The SDF?s recent humanitarian work following natural disasters has gone some way toward breaking that taboo.

The SDF may have another opportunity to gain more kudos before the week is out. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, typhoon No. 7, a powerful tropical storm, is currently making its way across the Pacific and is predicted to hit Kyushu on Wednesday. ??

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/Y9dWDG47ltM/Japan-s-low-profile-military-steps-up-during-flood-rescue-video

shawshank redemption 3 10 to yuma west virginia football west virginia football black friday violence black friday violence il postino

Concentra health - HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS

When a citizen opens an HAS and also the fund includes a balance, the citizen may apply it qualified medical expenses regardless if the citizen remains capable of make contributions. Request questions for example: Do you know the insurance deductibles? Fortunately you will find many mental health care professionals who? re working in a reduced rate to make certain that individuals are able to afford to find the help they require. If over spicy meals are taken, if proper quantity of intake of water isn? t done, if had something bubbly on empty stomach, then such concentra harms prevail. Another situation is how among out every hundred pregnancy, her pregnancy evolves outdoors the womb which has high- risk to maternal existence. The Institute for Integrative Diet situated in New You are able to City is really a leader in creating licensed health coaches and advisors. Put aside a place free of charge weights ( which aren? t costly), making room for classes health and therapeutic massage. Case a few of the many health advantages of taking coconut water, family health services family safe oneself and your loved ones some medical bills by testing out a number of this tips, I guarantee it really works likes miracle. Both pills and capsules ought to be drawn in original form avoid breaking, if whatsoever possible. Soft and simple body stretches and synchronized breathing are crucial for yoga to lead to larger and extended actions for the joints and muscles. Radiation levels decrease like a person moves from the source. Vitamin D deficiency can also be credited to depression and Periodic Affective Disorder ( SAD), frequently known as the ? winter blues,? triggered by deficiencies in sunshine. Humana also provides three fundamental coverage plans in Kentucky: HumanaOne Portrait, HumanaOne Monogram and HumanaOne Autograph. Illness normally has serious mental risks to someone because they regularly have low self- confidence, are afflicted by depression as well as seclude themselves due to embarrassment. Another role of tap dance DVD would be to keep up with the physical fitness of the person because it is regarded as the easiest method to exercise. When the the years have passed dependent might not be concentra health approved because of normal underwriting recommendations. 3) Get yourself a National Provider Identifier ( NPI). You might choose to cover all your employees? rates should you choose so, you won? t be needed to lead almost anything to their dependents? plans. Many people are purchasing a set of pants without considering the work behind it. Which means that the non- public health insurance provider risk turning you lower for coverage according to pre- existing health conditions or they might approve you for health care insurance coverage but exclude benefits offered underneath the health plan you have selected. You? ll be able to too get about items from wholesale concentra health companies which are services functional internet. Physical Benefits Keeping fit Image by Flickr. com, thanks to David Cobb Playing an activity will get you into an energetic routine. Because of the growing quantity of Internet customers, you can now buy the items online. s . This really is most likely probably the most likely medical health insurance for youthful self- employed people. Presently the Amexem- Moor- Empire: Arrange For The Universal- Health- Care will come in the Amexem- Moor- Empire: Imperial- City = Agade- Medina, Port- Hannah- City, Mu- Atlantis, Ta- Memfis, Ar- Rabati and growing in to the Al- Tia [ misnomer = CLEVELAND], Fatima [ misnomer = Charlotte now], and Zagoramor [ misnomer = BALTIMORE] immediately upon His- Imperial- Majesty? s: Local- Procedures in individuals particular- locations becoming, fully- operational- going ahead. Eco- friendly tea has been utilized in Chinese Medicine for hundreds of years and what we should have here offers the scientific evidence why it might be effective against a few of the key illnesses we face today.? Tea is among the many common and natural nutritional staples in Asian cultures proven health by modern science to possess multiple unique health advantages.

Related Post Concentra health

Selecting work within haven this area can rely on a lot of things, including curiosity about the task description, the kind and period of You will find some plans which have a 30- day health waiting period. Klamath lake algae are wealthy in beta- carotene, chlorophyll, e vitamin, It is not advisable for hair pieces for use for any couple of days before the incisions made while planting the grafts have cured. However, it? s been recognized like a health health drink. Hit Search Contact Pr release created and marketed Hit Search. It is necessary to Health insurance providers, companies and government authorities will search for methods to control costs and increase efficiency county in healthcare leon facilities. A quercetin

Source: http://curryrecipe-jp.net/health-2/concentra-health/

real housewives of atlanta colton bo ryan the last waltz earth day activities mel gibson splunk

Tulsa OK Real Estate - 1311 W Archer Tulsa OK 74127 MLS ...

Property Class:

City:

Low Price:

High Price:

Beds:

Baths:

Source: http://www.davenportcompany.com/blog/1311-w-archer-tulsa-ok-74127-1222140.html

lea michele michael buble michael buble teddy roosevelt rita hayworth rita hayworth lakers rumors

DessyGroup: Fancy a personalised monogram for your #wedding day? http://t.co/9Wdu5JcJ We've teamed up with @ananyacards who are offering ?50 off.

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://twitter.com/DessyGroup/statuses/225911801823502338

vanessa bryant vanessa bryant adam lambert incendiary floyd mayweather winter solstice x factor finale

Video shows highlights of SpaceX Dragon ISS docking

Dragon is the first US spacecraft to attach to the International Space Station since the end of the Space Shuttle program,?in July 2011.

By Ken Kremer,?Universe Today / July 18, 2012

On May 25, 2012 SpaceX made history when the Dragon spacecraft became the first privately developed vehicle in history to successfully attach to the International Space Station. Previously only four governments -- the United States, Russia, Japan and the European Space Agency -- had achieved this feat. This video features highlights from the mission.

SpaceX has released a cool video recapping the mission highlights of the historic May 22 blastoff of the firm?s Falcon 9 rocket with the Dragon spacecraft that went on to become the first privately developed vehicle in history to successfully dock to the International Space Station (ISS) on May 25, 2012.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of
The Christian Science Monitor
Weekly Digital Edition

Dragon was captured with a robotic arm operated by astronauts Don Pettit and Andre Kuipers working in tandem aboard the ISS as it approached the massive orbiting lab complex and was then berthed at an Earth facing port.

Dragon was the first US spacecraft to attach to the ISS since the retirement of NASA?s Space Shuttle program last July 2011 following the STS-135 mission of shuttle Atlantis. The 14.4 ft (4.4 meter) long resupply vehicle delivered over 1000 pounds of non-critical gear, food, clothing and science equipment to the ISS.

After spending six days at the ISS, the Dragon undocked and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean some 560 miles off the coast of California on May 31, 2012.

The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo carrier were designed, developed and built by Hawthorne, Calif., based SpaceX Corporation, founded in 2002 by CEO and Chief Designer Elon Musk.

SpaceX signed a contract with NASA in 2006 to conduct twelve Falcon 9/Dragon resupply missions to carry about 44,000 pounds of cargo to the ISS at a cost of some $1.6 Billion over the next few years. The first operational Dragon CRS mission is slated to blast off around October 2012.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/l4YJGKEX6Cw/Video-shows-highlights-of-SpaceX-Dragon-ISS-docking

xbox live update joan rivers gary carter dies oolong tea survivor one world lil kim progeria

Business Continuity Management Evolves, Meet ISO: ISO 22301 ...

Since events such as 9/11, Katrina, the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) pandemic of 2002/3, the 2011 Tohaku earthquake in Japan, and others, the field of Business Continuity Management (BCM) has become more formal and taken on greater visibility in overall organizational risk management.

Some of this evolution is seen in the recently published ISO Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) standard, ISO 23301:2012. The ISO Technical Committee (TC) that developed 22301:2012 is ISO/TC 223.? This TC?s overall subject area is ?Societal Security.?? ISO indicates that TC 223 is working on a ISO 22301 companion guidance document that will be called ISO 22313

ISO Focus+ reports that work on ISO 22301 originated in 2006 during a workshop on Emergency Preparedness and that an interim guidance document (ISO/PAS 22399:2007) was prepared that addressed business continuity (BC) and incident preparedness.On first blush, ISO 22301:2012 appears to do a good job of integrating a wide range of national standard requirements, from, for example: Singapore?s SS540:2008; Britain?s BS25999; and, America?s ANSI/ASIS SPC.1.

Aside from ISO 22301?s content, a historical point is that this is the second published management system standard (MSS) that has adopted ISO?s new high-level structure for MSSs.? While this shift to a new MSS structure is not a big deal for new standards, it has been a contentious issue for existing MSSs such as ISO 14001:2004.? ISO?s goal with the high level, generic MSS framework, is to aid with the integration of all ISO MSSs within an organization.

ISO 22301:2012 has 11 main grouping.? The standard?s meat starts with ?4-Context of the Organization.? This term ?context of the organization? is a phrase that has been evolving in ISO standards, and is formalized in the new MSS framework.? This initial step, in some circles referred to as an initial review, involves gaining an understanding of the organizations internal and external needs and defining clear boundaries for the MS scope. This includes identifying pertinent interested parties, legal and other requirements.

I will tease out nuances and offer insights on 22301:2012 in future posts.? As future ISO MSSs move to the new framework, there are important things to consider if you begin to migrate your existing MSs (e.g. EHS, Security, etc) to the new approach.? Another intriguing and powerful piece is how to fold in the ISO 31000 risk management recommendations to a generic MS structure.

---

&copy Redinger EHS, Inc. (2010)

Posted By Charles Redinger | in ISO News, Management Systems, Risk Management | Tags: Business Continuity, contingency planning, ISO 22301, ISO 31000, ISO/TC 223, Societal Security | No Comments ?

Source: http://www.strategicehs.com/2012/07/business-continuity-management-evolves-meet-iso-iso-223012012/

10 minute trainer sarah burke death etta james funeral erin brockovich dodgeball 2012 pro bowl postsecret

STRIPPED: THE LAST BLOG OF ORGANIZED NOISE: Friends ...

As the old saying goes, "good friends make good lovers". As much as I'd like to test that idea out . . . I mean, I don't know if there's any truth to that, but since I have based all of my relationships on good friendships, I tend to agree with it. At the same time, logically speaking, you'd have to agree that the inverse of this statement is true, which means bad lovers make for bad friends. Being one of the few people who actually talk to most of his ex's and even considers some of them more than just casual acquaintances, I sometimes wonder if an ex can make for a good friend.

I was speaking to a friend earlier today. So was at a low because she found out that the person that she was dealing with was already in a relationship and she felt like a fool. As we continued talking, she said that her ex came over and provided a shoulder for her to cry on. I knew they still kept in contact because they have children together, but didn't know that after being divorced for a few years he had turned into her confidant and go-to guy. To get her mind off of her current circumstances, and to satisfy my own couriousity, I started asking about their friendship. She went on to tell me that the first year after the divorce she couldn't stand him. He would flaunt his new girlfriend in her face and still try to sleep with her at the same time. Then after a while, things started to change. He started coming to her with his problems and vice versa. Next thing you know they were good friends.

Like I said before, I think I'm in the minority when it comes to being friends with ex's, but at the same time, I think it's good to see that some people can overcome their bad relationship to be good friends. Then again, I think that if more people took the time to be friends before they become anything else the idea of being friends with an ex would become more common place. Then again, that's just this man's opinion.

Source: http://resurrectionofcrazy.blogspot.com/2012/07/friends-come-in-strangest-places.html

jeff probst king jong il dead south korea baron davis duggar family gilbert arenas dexter

Pets and More Pets ? Keeping Finch Birds

Raising finch birds could possibly be the simplest thing you will ever do, nevertheless it can also be the toughest. All this depends on how you have prepared oneself for that set-up. In case you have carried out ones reading and research even before you have taken your finch birds home, then you will have been able to make the required plans for them. Not just that, you will have likewise prepared yourself to handle virtually any potential crisis or even difficulty that you may possibly find. This is how significant planning is! It could entirely change your experience with these kinds of finch birds!

If you have always wanted to keep finch birds, maybe for future breeding reasons, or simply for home pets, then you can definitely begin ones education now. We have some invaluable tips on how to raise finch birds right! Educate yourself as well as learn a thing for too, so that your finches go to a happy as well as healthy home.

Tips for Ones Finch Birds

1.Understand the particular nature of the finch- Finch birds are generally social pets, hence they naturally look for mates. It could make no sense to buy a single finch bird. He or she would feel lonely, and probably die in just weeks. Keep the finch birds pleased and engaged by ensuring that you get a pair, or even numerous finches.

2. Find out what your finches like to eat- study will tell you what most finch birds eat, but you can also use your powers of observation to see if they like one sort of food from the other. While you are at it, please don?t forget to offer your own finch birds enough water. Lack of either may kill them.

3. Locate a means for your finch birds to get a few exercise- a fat or even overweight finch would not be ideal for breeding. Not just that, in the same way that people suffer from being fat or overweight, finches might also encounter problems from keeping a similar problem. A great way to get the finch birds moving would be to supply them with a spacious cage. Perches as well as swings are also great upgrades so they can acquire some exercise. Lastly, clever placement of their particular water and food containers may possibly force them to move from one end of the cage towards the other to have either.

All these tips amount to finches that are happy as well as healthy, and believe us once we say that these are the types of finch birds that you want! For more tips on raising finches, do not forget to check our website!

http://www.keepingfinchesguide.com is the place to look for finch bird articles and information. Written by finch expert, Michael Stanford, you can rest assured that the information you get here is updated and accurate

Source: http://petsandmorepets.com/2012/07/keeping-finch-birds/

juliette lewis chelsea handler mitch daniels shirataki noodles john kerry prince fielder state of the union address 2012

Mitt Romney: Republican 'friendly fire' grows over tax returns

Romney's refusal to release more tax returns is drawing sharper barbs from members of his own party. Could the vice presidential pick stem the criticism?

By Liz Marlantes / July 16, 2012

Demonstrators stand outside a fundraiser for Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on Monday, July 16, in Baton Rouge, La.

Evan Vucci/AP

Enlarge

As Mitt Romney continues to fend off attacks from the Obama campaign, he?s facing a form of ?friendly fire? that?s becoming less and less friendly.

Skip to next paragraph Liz Marlantes

Liz Marlantes covers politics for the Monitor and is a regular?contributor to the Monitor's political blog, DC Decoder.?

Recent posts

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of
The Christian Science Monitor
Weekly Digital Edition

Prominent Republicans have been voicing frustration with Mr. Romney for weeks now, over everything from his unwillingness to release more of his tax returns to what they see as his campaign?s flat-footedness in responding to Democratic attacks.

Strategic ?advice? has been offered up on The Wall Street Journal?s editorial page, and in a series of high-profile tweets from NewsCorp CEO Rupert Murdoch. Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley have said publicly they thought Romney should release the tax returns.

And lately, the hand-wringing has taken a more stinging turn.

On ?Fox News Sunday? this week, Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol called Romney?s refusal to release more than two years of tax returns ?crazy.??

?He should release the tax returns tomorrow,? Mr. Kristol said. ?You've got to release six, eight, 10 years of back tax returns.?

Over on ABC?s ?This Week,? conservative columnist George Will chimed in by observing that Romney was ?losing at this point in a big way.? Mr. Will added:??I do not know why, given that Mitt Romney knew the day that McCain lost in 2008 that he was going to run for president again that he didn't get all of this out and tidy up some of his offshore accounts and all the rest.?

Former Bush strategist Matthew Dowd then twisted the knife further by actually speculating that there is something damaging in the tax returns:??There's obviously something there, because if there was nothing there, he would say, ?Have at it,?? Mr. Dowd commented. ?So there's obviously something there that compromises what he said in the past about something?. [I]f he had 20 years of great, clean, everything's fine, it'd all be out there.?

Yikes.

Some of these folks were conspicuously not in Romney?s corner during the GOP primary campaign. Mr. Will?s wife worked briefly on Texas Gov. Rick Perry?s ill-fated presidential bid, and Will was a fairly harsh critic of Romney throughout the primary season. Mr. Kristol was one of those calling for a new candidate to jump into the race even after it was pretty clear that the field was set.

But that doesn?t mean the comments won?t hurt.

Our question is whether there?s anything Romney can do at this point to appease these critics (aside from releasing the tax returns ?which at this point, we suspect, won't even do it). Maybe include them all in some campaign strategy sessions? Launch a personal charm offensive? Write some checks? (Just kidding.)

Actually, his best solution might lie with his vice presidential pick. By tapping a running mate who excites those Republicans least excited about Romney himself, Romney might finally silence some of the naysayers who?ve been nipping at him.

So who gets the most thumbs up from the down-on-Romney Republicans? Will has given his stamp of approval to Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. Kristol also likes Congresssman Ryan, as well as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. (He likes Condoleezza Rice, too ? though as we?ve written, we think that?s unlikely to happen.)

Of course, those are not the candidates most often cited as the true frontrunners (those would be Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty). Which means Romney may be about to disappoint his critics on the right again. Watch out for the knives.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/iWNfUuwT3Ok/Mitt-Romney-Republican-friendly-fire-grows-over-tax-returns

metta world peace ron artest gladys knight private practice deion sanders dancing with the stars aapl

Morning Feature ? GOP Working to Deny Health Insurance Credits ...

Posted on July 18th, 20122012-07-18T11:00:25ZF jS, Y by Winning Progressive in Morning Feature

Republicans have seized on a technical detail of the ACA to make insurance more expensive for millions of Americans. (More)

In yesterday?s post, we explained how Republicans? pathological opposition to health care reform is motivated by the GOP?s fear that reform will demonstrate that government can be successful in improving the lives of everyday Americans. Because of this fear, conservatives have sought to derail President Obama?s Affordable Care Act (ACA) through lawsuits, 31 separate and pointless votes by House Republicans to repeal the law, refusals by GOP Governors to implement various portions of the law, and more than a quarter-of-a-billion in advertising attacking the law.

Today?s post will look at perhaps the most cynical branch of the GOP?s anti-health care reform effort ? the refusal of various Republican-led states to develop health insurance exchanges. Such refusal initially appeared to be just symbolic, as the federal government will establish exchanges for those states. But conservatives are now pushing the argument that an apparent drafting error in the ACA means that families earning under $88,000 per year who purchase insurance through a federally-created exchange (rather than a state exchange) cannot receive the significant tax benefits that were included in the ACA to make purchasing insurance more affordable. In other words, the GOP?s obsession with trying to defeat health care reform is now threatening to come at the cost of hundreds or thousands of dollars per year for working and middle class families.

A core element of the ACA?s effort to expand insurance coverage to 32 million more Americans is a grand bargain under which people are required to purchase insurance (or else pay a fine) while insurance is to be made fairer and more affordable through health insurance exchanges and tax credits. The exchanges are essentially an on-line marketplace in which insurance companies are required to meet certain standards and where it will be easy to make side-by-side comparison of the insurance options available. Whether created by a state or the federal government, the exchanges will be overseen by the federal Office of Personnel Management and/or state-based non-profits to help ensure fairness and transparency. As for affordability, the ACA provides sliding scale refundable tax credits to people earning up to approximately $88,000 for a family of four, or $43,320 for an individual, in order to limit spending on health insurance premiums to between 2 and 9.5% of income.

Conservatives are seeking to disrupt this bargain by seizing on an apparent error in the drafting of the law. The error stems from the fact the provisions calling for states to create health insurance exchanges are found in Section 1311 of the ACA, while the ability of the federal government to create an exchange in a state that fails to do so is found in Section 1321 of the ACA. Yet Section 1401 of the ACA, which establishes the tax credits for families earning up to $88,000 per year, provides that the credits are for people who enrolled in a health insurance plan ?through an Exchange established by the State under 1311.? In other words, a strict reading of the text of the ACA suggests that refundable tax credits should only go to people purchasing insurance through an exchange created by a state under Section 1311, not through an exchange created by the federal government under Section 1321.

Conservatives have seized on this language as another way to attack health care reform. For example, in a paper ridiculously titled ?Taxation Without Representation,? conservative law professor Jonathan Adler and the Cato Institute?s Michael Cannon contend that Congress intended to limit tax credits to only state-created exchanges and that, even if Congress did not specifically intend such limitation, the plain language of the statute should govern on this issue. And conservative legislators, such as Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have attacked IRS regulations that extend the tax credits to everyone purchasing insurance instead of just people purchasing insurance through state-created exchanges. Other scholars, such as Law Professor Timothy S. Jost, counter that this is clearly a situation of poor drafting that a court can ignore or correct because it is obvious that Congress never intended to limit health care tax credits only to states where the state itself created the exchange.

To our knowledge, no one so far has filed any litigation challenging the IRS regulations extending the tax credit to all exchanges, rather than to just state exchanges. But, in the absence of a Congressional fix ? which is a virtual impossibility given GOP control of the House ? it seems inevitable that such a challenge will be pursued. And if and when such litigation is pursued, it will be useful to remind voters and the media that the only impact of such litigation would be to significantly increase the cost of health insurance to middle and working class Americans in states like Texas where the Governor had decided to forgo creating a state level health insurance exchange.

+++++

Source: http://bpicampus.com/2012/07/18/morning-feature-gop-working-to-deny-health-insurance-credits-to-working-families/

shrimp scampi kate upton si cover lobster recipes hearts roses flower delivery e cards

Mediterranean Pasta Salad is a perfect partner for grilled food ...

Posted by grownups on Jul 17, 2012 | Comments Off

Mediterranean Pasta Salad is a perfect partner for grilled food

During the hot summer months, Canadians are often looking for the perfect barbecue dish. This easy-to-make pasta salad is the perfect side dish for any summer day and features local, seasonal veggies too.

Serves: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

235 mL (1 cup) penne or twist pasta

175 mL (3/4 cup) Hellmann?s Real Mayonnaise

1 jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

65 mL (1 can) sliced pitted ripe olives, drained

120 mL (1/2 cup) crumbled feta cheese

120 mL (1/2 cup) chopped roasted red peppers

1/4 cup Italian dressing

Instructions:

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water until completely cool. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine all ingredients except pasta. Add pasta and toss to coat. Season, if desired, with salt and ground black pepper. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Did you know?

There are good fats and bad fats ? nutrition guidelines suggest that we should choose more mono and polyunsaturated fats, like those found in vegetable oils, soft, non-hydrogenated margarine and mayonnaise, instead of saturated fats like those found in butter and cream. Trans fat, found in hydrogenated oils and shortening, should be avoided as much as possible.

Complete nutritional information (including saturated fat content) can be found at www.hellmanns.ca along with more recipe ideas.

News Canada

Source: http://www.grownups55plus.com/?p=4354

bob beckel anna paquin warren buffett 2012 nfl schedule dishonored april 18 nfl schedule

Seo marketing : Apple Daniels

Developing a website on your own business and utilizing online SEO marketing is the best way to talk with your loyal customers, whilst attracting a too, with respect to the varieties of services and products you are offering. When you are interested in growing your internet site far more, considering it is likely that incorporating higher online SEO marketing is just one solution that will serve to improve the rankings in the website looking engines everywhere across the planet. Taking a look at determining more details on this web marketing strategy and the easiest method to help it yourself is possible. Which can be done without a professional or working with companies focusing on working together with SEO strategies. Without having how much cash to rent such professionals and also the here we are at it to implement this web marketing strategy alone, taking care of your site?s SEO all on your own is a great strategy.

Before starting to check more into working online and utilizing SEO marketing, you will need to first determine your website?s audience and demographic and the main keywords you need to target if you do hire someone or begin researching SEO marketing for the site?s presence. Understanding the people you?ll need your web site to interest can help you with gaining these and customers you wish, without spending unnecessary funds on advertising which may attract an audience which isn?t serious about your company or site and what that you can do.

After you have an agenda available with regards to whom you are targeting making use of your site and exactly how you desire to reach them, then you?re able to figure out how to research online SEO marketing from your own home by reading books, seeking out a region online marketing company using traditional phone books along with other business directories nearer your home, or joining a web based marketing community that can show you the ropes. Once you begin looking more helpful information on SEO marketing from your own home, one can learn free of charge using a couple video tutorials through reading online in depth guides for utilizing SEO on your site?s coding all on your own, without having to hire someone for assistance.

Just one benefit of adding SEO in your own website includes striving to increase how frequent your link is viewed in the listings (ultimately contributing to more visitors and page views online at the same time along with prospective customers or clients). Additionally, an additional benefit utilizing some SEO techniques in your site, would be to assistance with gaining brand recognition, regardless of the type of company or business you are currently running. The harder your reputation and business URL appears online and it?s also scattered about the same web, greater others will backlink to your website, spreading the word of your respective site and also the name of it too. This can help to further improve branding with out to secure a service professionally. Considering online SEO marketing is essential for virtually any company today, as increasing numbers of transactions are completed online. This lets businesses which are not currently online to flourish inside eCommerce world, helping improve sales and increase customer loyalty ultimately.

With some time and the right online SEO marketing training, you can achieve the results of a professional seo services for a fraction of the cost. Seoservicesx dot net is an online seo services company that offers search engine optimization services to all clients online.

Source: http://appledaniels.com/seo-marketing

chuck series finale welcome back kotter 2001 a space odyssey barefoot bandit polar bear plunge lovelace antioch

Unsolicited Advice Alert (talking-points-memo)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/237761604?client_source=feed&format=rss

jon jones vs rashad evans earth day 2012 jon jones rashad evans ufc jones vs evans watergate mlb pregnant man

Iran drought part of 'soft war' by West: VP

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iran-drought-part-soft-war-west-vp-191444201.html

rodney atkins fergie one republic michael dyer suspended new years ball drop new years rockin eve new york times square

Click Here To Read More - Articles - FCA Direct

Your retirement years can be some of the best years of your life, but they can also be extremely stressful if you haven?t got everything working in your favour, so if you are getting closer to your golden years, you had better make a plan. The following books all offer an enormous amount of insight and practical advice, and are sure to have you better prepared to make the most of your retirement.

How to Retire Happy by Stan Hinden

This is an extremely useful read for anyone starting to creep up on their retirement. It looks at 12 of the biggest decisions you need to make before calling an end to your work life. Hinden offers advice on everything from investing and insurance companies to emotional and psychological issues, so if you are starting to plan for your retirement, this book has some wonderful tips for getting you on the right track.

How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free by Ernie J. Zelinski

This light-hearted and easy-to-read book takes a well-rounded viewpoint on retirement, focusing on not just the financial aspects, but also the social, psychological and health related elements. Zelinski portrays retirement as a huge opportunity, and he offers some extremely useful advice to help you make the most of it.

Can I Retire? by Mike Piper

You may have enough money to retire right now, and this fantastic book makes it easy to find out whether or not you do. Piper provides a clear look at the nuts and bolts of financial planning for retirement, so if you are unsure if or when you?ll finally get to retire, this book should give you a pretty accurate idea.

The 7 Steps to a Worry-Free Retirement by David L. Almond

Almond breaks down the finances of retirement into seven simple steps, making it easy to understand even the most complicated of retirement planning factors. Looking at everything from self-managed superannuation funds to funding your retirement through investments, Almond?s seven steps are sure to have you ready for the type of retirement you have always dreamed of.

Retirement?s Harsh New Realities by Gordon Pape

This no-nonsense book takes a clear and practical approach to some of the stressful financial factors that are a reality for today?s retirees. It offers advice on taxes, investing and creating a financial plan that will actually work for you. With the global financial markets growing more unpredictable by the day, Pape presents lucid advice to help you protect yourself and your family in retirement and avoid losing everything to another financial crash.

The New Retirement by Sherry Cooper

Cooper does an incredible job in this book of making some of the more daunting aspects of retirement a lot less scary, as she goes about answering many of those big questions that can make or break your retirement plan. The New Retirement debunks the myth that you have to be a millionaire to be able to afford to retire in comfort, and also has plenty of wisdom to impart regarding the psychological impact of retirement, and how to make the transition into retirement a healthy and happy one.

Source: http://www.fcadirect.com.au/blog/important-books-read-retirement/

starship troopers nfl nfl cruise ship italy patriots broncos game saints willis mcgahee

Why 'Made in China' is gold for US Olympic team

Ralph Lauren's line of clothes for the US Olympic team was made in China, which has some members of Congress furious. It put the US Olympic Committee in a tough spot.?

By Mark Sappenfield,?Staff writer / July 13, 2012

US Olympic athletes rower Giuseppe Lanzone (l.) and swimmer Ryan Lochte are pictured wearing the 2012 US Olympic team uniforms, made by Ralph Lauren. REUTERS/

Ralph Lauren/REUTERS

Enlarge

If there is one good thing to come out of this controversy over where the US Olympic uniforms are made, it is this: That, just for an afternoon, we all got to imagine Senate majority leader Harry Reid in a wrestling singlet.?

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of
The Christian Science Monitor
Weekly Digital Edition

Yes, that glorious image was provided by none other than the silver-haired and bespectacled majority leader himself, who was apoplectic upon learning that the US Olympic team's uniforms were made in China. He suggested that the team should be clothed with "made in the USA" garb, even if that meant wearing raggedy singlets painted with "USA."?

Now, roughly half the NBC viewing demographic would probably have no qualms about seeing Ryan Lochte wearing a singlet of any sort. And we would have had no qualms if Senator Reid had focused his fire on those silly berets Ralph Lauren insists upon Americans wearing during opening ceremonies.?

But if we're really trying to bring the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) into the "outsourcer in chief" argument here, let's make something plain.?

The USOC probably cares a whole lot more about what Ralph Lauren says than what Harry Reid says, and the reason is simple. Ralph Lauren gives it money and clothes. Congress gives it bupkis.

In the end, Reid and the other members of Congress who cried foul got what they wanted: Ralph Lauren said future US Olympic uniforms will be made in the US. But the ruckus put the USOC uncomfortably in the middle of a fight that it surely did not want.?

The quite remarkable thing about America's medal success in the Summer and Winter Olympics is that, unlike China or Russia or Great Britain or Germany ? basically every top Olympic nation on earth ? the USOC gets no money from the government. While China is harvesting farms girls from remote provinces to be canoeists, gymnasts, and weightlifters ? training them in state-owned facilities and paying top dollar to lure top coaches ? the USOC is panhandling on the doorstep of corporate America.?

Ralph Lauren? NBC? Visa? McDonalds? They are the lifeblood of American Olympic success because they pay to be associated with the brand.?Reid's office probably isn't even on the USOC's speed dial.

The USOC was suitably calm in responding to the uproar, but surely what it wanted to say was: If you want American-made uniforms, Mr. Reid, we'd be happy to have you pay for them.?

In fact, reading between the lines, that is precisely what it did say.

"Unlike most Olympic teams around the world, the US Olympic Team is privately funded and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said in a statement. "We're proud of our partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company, and excited to watch America's finest athletes compete at the upcoming Games in London."

Then, as if that wasn't enough, Mr. Sandusky added: Ralph Lauren?"financially supports our team. An American company that supports American athletes."

Translation: "Show me the money."

Should the USOC have insisted upon Ralph Lauren making its Olympic clothes in the US? That's hard to say. Surely, the Olympic brand gives the USOC some bargaining power, but in the end, it's the USOC who needs Ralph Lauren more than the reverse.?And this is hardly new. The outfitter for US team gear during the ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Games ? which were on American soil, no less ? was the Canadian company Roots.?

Perhaps it's not surprising that Reid, a former boxer, came out swinging at Olympics time. Maybe he just got the old tang of the gym in his nose. Or perhaps he really wants the entire US team to wear singlets.?

But his comments, as well as those from other members of Congress, threatened to cast the US Olympic movement as a villain at a time when it is achieving something extraordinary ? maintaining Olympic excellence without burdening taxpayers.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/x2Ki_h73DbE/Why-Made-in-China-is-gold-for-US-Olympic-team

jessica capshaw seattle times seattle times walker recall censor pipa and sopa sopa pipa

Education Rethink: 11 Reasons Teachers Aren't Using Technology ...

I know that all tools are technically technology. However, for the purpose of this post, I'm thinking computers, tablets and mobile devices. This is not a comprehensive list and I admit that it's limited entirely to my own experiences and my own local context:

1. Fear: Implementing new technology can be frightening on so many levels. Whether it's a fear of letting go of control or a sense that one doesn't have the right skills or a concern about digital footprint, privacy or cyber-bullying, many teachers are simply scared.?
2. Low Self-Efficacy: When I did my Master's research, I believed that professional development needed address skills and motivation. I wanted teachers to see that technology could be a positive thing. What I found, however, was that they were motivated and somewhat skilled. What they lacked was a belief in their own ability to create tech-integrated lessons.
3. Testing: To me, this is the biggest barrier. Teachers see quality, tech-integrated strategies. They know that these strategies work. They've seen it in action. And yet . . . the test is drill-and-kill, multiple choice. So, teachers find themselves pulling back due to the inconsistencies of teaching and assessment.?
4. Consumerism: In many cases, teachers themselves have only used computers for entertainment and social interaction. Often, this comes from a consumerist mentality. Books, no matter how poor the quality, might be escapist, but they are seen as "good escape" because "at least people are reading." This is because reading is viewed culturally as educational while all things techie tend to be viewed culturally as entertainment.
5. Lack of Leadership: When principals worry more about managing liability than pushing for change, technology becomes an easy scapegoat. What if they break it? What if they see inappropriate sites? What if they bully one another on Facebook? It becomes a hassle and to a busy or worried administrator, it's sometimes easier to create anti-technology policies in the name of safety.
6. Inconsistent Paradigms: I see teachers who say, "What am I supposed to do with eight computers?" or "How should I manage multiple devices?" And yet, the same teachers will do learning centers or use eight sheets of chart paper and have kids work in groups. Teachers worry about off-task behavior online and yet kids pass notes frequently. ?
7. Personal Experience: Certain teachers are comfortable with instructional strategies that match what they did growing up. Something as simple as a blog or social media sound extreme because they are different. If teachers themselves have never used these tools in their free time and schools haven't used these in professional development, the tools will always seem strange.
8. Humility: It takes a certain level of humility to say, "my non-tech approach is wrong and maybe I need to consider technology."?
9. It's Optional: I am not a fan compliance-driven leadership. However, in a culture of compliance, some teachers will only do what leaders mandate them to do. So, technology isn't required. Somehow, we treat it as if it's a matter of personal choice in a way that we would never do with pedagogy. Someone is still allowed to be a "good teacher" and use virtually no technology whatsoever. Failure isn't an option, but irrelevance is. Somehow we've screwed up our priorities. Somehow we've allowed teacher comfort level to drive what we use with students.
10. Lack of Technology: With recent budget cuts, schools aren't investing in technology. I'm hoping this will change with the movement toward digital textbooks (not a fan of textbooks, period, but it's at least a new device) and bring-your-own-device programs. However, I fear that those can be a cop-out. We need to invest in quality technology. We need to make it a policy priority.?
11. Lack of Research: There is solid research out there regarding some tech-integrated strategies. However, Larry Cuban is right in suggesting that computers have been oversold and underused. Part of this comes from the utopian hype of technophiles who convince teachers that a SmartBoard will cure leprosy and an iPod will turn water into wine. Another part of it comes from a lack of communication. We're not sharing the research well enough with the broader community of teachers.

What am I missing? (I'd love your feedback)

Source: http://www.educationrethink.com/2012/07/11-reasons-teachers-arent-using.html

stuttering james van der beek dyngus day indonesia quake stephen strasburg shabazz legion

Seniors Are the Fastest Growing Group of Bankruptcy Filers

Seniors are the fastest growing group of bankruptcy filers. There are several reasons for this, ranging from long term demographic trends to the recent economic downturn. Why are seniors the fastest growing group of bankruptcy filers?

Part of this is due to the gray wave, the aging of the population. Baby Boomers for decades have been the largest demographic group in the country. As they retire and occasionally file for bankruptcy, the rate of filings for this group increases simply because a greater percentage of the population is classified as senior.

Another reason is the housing bust. There are many people who expected to sell their house for a handsome profit, downsize to a smaller property at retirement, and live off capital gains in retirement. When someone had to sell the house due to an inability to maintain it, the lower property values mean that they do not have the expected nest egg to live on. Without this extra financial cushion, pension payments and Social Security don?t cover the bills, with seniors racking up credit card debt to make up the difference. In other cases, seniors took out reverse mortgages that were not paid off when the house was sold.

Home equity loans taken out to refurbish a home so that someone with declining mobility to live in increased the debt secured by the home. When the senior then moved into a nursing home and sold the home, it might sell for enough to pay off the debts but without money to pay for continued care. In worst case scenarios, they sold the house for less than it is worth and owes money on a home they no longer live in.

Bankruptcy has also grown due to shifts in public policy. Public sector union employees are seeing their pensions reduced because local governments did not pay enough into the funds during good years or made overly optimistic financial projections that don?t cover everyone who is now retiring. The federal government has held down cost of living adjustments to Social Security by understating the rate of inflation. This lowers the monthly payments that are paid to seniors on Social Security despite the growing Medicare premiums while flattening the interest that seniors would otherwise receive on their savings. Costs go up, but seniors get less money. This ruins a well planned retirement budget. Medicare also covers less and less, with hearing aids and dental services being two of the most costly but uncovered services seniors must pay for themselves. When unexpected medical costs arise, seniors may dip into their savings and have less future interest income to live upon. Or they end up making payments on medical bills or go into credit card debt.

Age can also bring disability that ruins a well planned retirement. Dementia and Alzheimer?s disease rates are increasing. Elders who forget to pay bills or simply fail to open mail belonging to a deceased loved one causes minor bills to grow into mountains of debt. A sudden heart attack or stroke can leave someone in the hospital without the means to pay for rehabilitation, ruining a retirement plan that required a few more years of working in order to work. An unplanned nursing home stay, even if the senior recovers and returns home, runs up tens of thousands of dollars that is not covered unless they had long term care insurance.

Relying up on family to pay these unexpected bills or make up for income shortfalls isn?t possible when 10% or more of the 25-55 population is unemployed or underemployed. The only solution for many of these seniors see to get rid of their medical debts or personal debts relative to their declining ability to pay is bankruptcy.

?Michael Bolinske is a Minnesota bankruptcy attorney at Bolinske & Bolinske helping families get a fresh financial start.

(examples: auto, banking, college, credit cards, debt, frugality, insurance, investing, loans etc.)

Tagged as:

Source: http://www.fullfinance.com/seniors-are-the-fastest-growing-group-of-bankruptcy-filers/

hitch justin beiber lamar odom perfect game jon jones vs rashad evans results justin bieber meteor shower