Friday, August 31, 2012

Louie, Season 3

Louis C.K. and Jay Leno, right, in Louie. Louis C.K. and Jay Leno, right, in Louie.

Courtesy FX.

Sometimes opportunity knocks, and sometimes, despite that DO NOT DISTURB sign you hung on your doorknob, it calls you earlier in the morning than you?d like, ripping you from a deep, dark, African sleep afloat in a river of warm chocolate, where you receive fellatio from an ancient whore with twenty tongues who feeds syrupy heroin into your dick. That?s the incredible, indelible image of narcotic, self-obliterating slumber Louis C.K. painted onstage a couple years ago, and that?s the kind of sleep Louie seemed to be enjoying in tonight?s episode when housekeeping woke him up to ask when he?d like his room cleaned. Precisely speaking, Louie?s seemingly prepubescent manager, Doug, was the one ringing with an opportunity, but both calls were, on thematically complementary levels, about Louie getting on his feet and getting his shit in order.

Before this season began, C.K. told me that the onscreen Louie is lazier than the real one, and about three years or so behind him, career-wise. That three-year lag tracks with the events of this episode. These days, Louis C.K. makes a million dollars in an hour selling tour tickets. But three years ago, in 2009, C.K. wasn?t nearly as well known when he went on Conan O?Brien?s show and told a joke about modern technology and modern unhappiness. The bit, nicknamed ?Everything?s Amazing and Nobody?s Happy,? has been viewed more than six million times on YouTube, and is regarded, symbolically at least, as the tipping point in C.K.?s standup career, the moment he really broke big. In ?Late Show Pt. 1,? Louie, who makes in the neighborhood of $80,000 a year at best, went on Jay Leno and told a different joke about modern technology and modern unhappiness?this time about too-small remote-control buttons?and video of the bit notched a million views overnight, as Doug informs him. What?s more: CBS, impressed, has summoned him in for a meeting.

The foil of Louie?s Tonight Show joke?at least the part of it that he previewed for us at the Improv the night before, in the segment that opened the episode?was what people on Twitter mockingly call ?first-world problems.? The stakes are lower here than they are in, say, Afghanistan, but can prove fatal all the same: Over there, children see their uncles? heads blown open by artillery; over here, soul-sucked consumers kill their families and themselves after posting Blu-ray player reviews online. The episode ended with a call for Louie, ?circling failure in a rapidly decaying orbit,? in the words of Garry Marshall?s CBS chairman, to rise off his haunches, shed some weight, and take a potentially life-changing professional risk.

Risk-taking is emerging as one of this season?s big uniting motifs, and it can?t be a coincidence that images of Liz, who also challenged Louie to be more adventurous, arose him from his slumber last week just as housekeeping and CBS did tonight. The question he?s facing at the end of the episode is whether he can manage the leap from who he is to who he could be?a transformation as seemingly improbable as that of the woman in Leno?s Before and After gag.

The writer Matt Shafeek wrote an interesting article at Splitsider yesterday about Louis C.K. and ?the power of slow comedy,? noting, as we all have in different ways, that on Louie laughs can take a backseat to ?real, grounded characters that are vulnerable and affected by the world around them.? This episode had its laughs, for sure?Louie muttering, ?Ah, shit?bitch,? at the sight of some brilliant California sunlight; that unresponsive secretary at CBS; Marshall sitting on poor Doug?s armrest and shutting him out of the grown folks? business?but each of these grew out of, and reinforced, the episode?s dramatic material: namely, the plight of a comedian in a seeming make-or-break moment of career stagnation. There are two episodes left in this three part, season-closing arc. Tonight ended on a cliffhanger?what will Louie say to Marshall?s proposal??and it?s a testament to this show?s sublime unpredictability that I have no idea how it might play out.

One other thing. When Patton Oswalt joined us a few weeks back, he praised Louie for its portrayal of the working comic?s life. There was so much detail tonight along those lines: Doug asking Ross Mark?a real-life Tonight Show big?if Louie would get to be ?on panel? at the show; Improv founder Budd Friedman gliding past them and quickly complimenting Louie on his set, and the humbled face Louie makes in response; the fact that, in what seems to have been an actual Tonight Show dressing room, you could glimpse a piece of paper on the wall informing visitors of the name and password of NBC?s ?Leno-Guest? wireless internet network. Now that?s grain!

You ever flown on an airplane? You got airplane stories?

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=d22b58299f1f723ff9a093d6022a0245

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Dolores B. Devaney, 84, Cape Coral, Florida

Dolores was born on October 17, 1927 and passed away on Tuesday, August 28, 2012.

Dolores was a resident of Cape Coral, Florida at the time of her passing.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 am on Wednesday, September 5th at St. Andrew Catholic Church, Cape Coral with visitation from 9 to 10:30am at Coral Ridge Funeral Home, 1630 Pine Island Road, Cape Coral. Burial will be at Coral Ridge Cemetery.

Source: http://nbc2.tributes.com/show/Dolores-B.-Devaney-94355869

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When Facebook is an open door for thieves

GAINESVILLE - Do you or any of your social media friends post information on Facebook or elsewhere while on vacation, out to dinner or even, say, at the doctor's office or, maybe, WalMart?

You may not have thought about this, but such postings could be an open invitation for burglars to visit your home while you are away.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Atlanta, Athens and Northeast Georgia warns this is the "dark side of social media updates."

The BBB says one of the biggest mistakes travelers can make is to alert the world to the fact they are not in town by updating or posting on social media sites in "real time." Updates and tagged posts on sites like Facebook and Four Square can alert criminals to your exact location, leaving your home and personal belongings vulnerable, according to spokeswoman Dottie Callina.

Callina says it's best to keep your travel plans offline until you return from your vacation. If you must update, review your privacy settings before you leave. Change settings so that posts don?t identify where you are, and don't be too specific with your updates.

Callina says even if you set your privacy settings to prevent wholesale distribution of any postings, there's no guarantee a friend or family member, whose Facebook page is not as secure as yours, won't repost the information for the whole world to see.

She adds there a documented cases where burglars and other thieves "trolled" Facebook and other social media sites and then stole from people who were away from home and had posted that information.

Source: http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=252338

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Corvallis OR Real Estate - 2849 Nw Rolling Green Dr Corvallis OR ...

Search Properties

Source: http://www.findsalemhomes.com/blog/2849-nw-rolling-green-dr-corvallis-or-97330-656365.html

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Ryan says GOP ticket will create jobs

Republican vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Republican vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Republican vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan waves toward the delegates during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Paul Ryan, candidato a vicepresidente del Partido Republicano, saluda a su llegada a la Convbenci?n Nacional Republicana en Tampa, Florida, el mi?rcoles 29 de agosto de 2012. (Foto AP/Lynne Sladky)

Republican vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

(AP) ? Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan is telling Republicans that he and Mitt Romney will put the government on the side of people who create jobs through tax fairness and regulatory reform.

In speaking Wednesday night to the Republican National Convention, Ryan raised the question of what the next four years would look like without a change in leadership.

Ryan says the first signs of trouble under the Obama administration came with an economic stimulus package that led to more debt but didn't fix the economy.

Ryan celebrated his Irish immigrant ancestors and small-town values, offering a personal presentation of a lawmaker largely known for sober policy analysis.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-08-29-Ryan/id-44e70ef1fbc2417ab8432233bb16c7fc

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Buffett ups remaining gift to his kids' charities

FILE- In this Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, file photo, US billionaire investor Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, attends the opening ceremony of a plant at the headquarters of cemented carbide tool supplier Tungaloy Corporation in Iwaki city, in Northern Japan. Warren Buffett is celebrating his 82nd birthday by giving each of his three children a big present: about $600 million worth of his company's stock for their charitable foundations. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

FILE- In this Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, file photo, US billionaire investor Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, attends the opening ceremony of a plant at the headquarters of cemented carbide tool supplier Tungaloy Corporation in Iwaki city, in Northern Japan. Warren Buffett is celebrating his 82nd birthday by giving each of his three children a big present: about $600 million worth of his company's stock for their charitable foundations. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

FILE- In this Saturday, April 30, 2011, file photo, Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett, second right, sits with his children from left: Howard, Susie and Peter, at the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha, Neb. Buffett is celebrating his 82nd birthday Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, by giving each of his three children a big present: about $600 million worth of his company's stock for their charitable foundation. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)

(AP) ? Warren Buffett is celebrating his 82nd birthday by giving each of his three children a big present: about $600 million worth of his company's stock for their charitable foundations.

Buffett announced the gifts in a letter made public Thursday, saying he is rewarding his children for the way they've run their foundations.

The new contributions, added to previous gifts, mean they'll each receive about $2.1 billion in stock over time. In 2006, Buffett promised to give roughly $1.5 billion of Class B Berkshire Hathaway stock to each of the foundations his children run as part of a plan give the bulk of his fortune to charity.

The biggest share of Buffett's $44.7 billion fortune will go to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Another sizable gift will go to the Susan Thompson Buffett foundation that Buffett created with his first wife. He did not change those pledges on Thursday.

Buffett said he decided to increase the amount his children will receive because of the progress they've made.

"I'm very pleased about how all three of them have handled the contributions in the last six years," Buffett told The Associated Press.

Buffett said he is feeling fine and this decision was not prompted by any concern about his health. Berkshire Hathaway's chairman and CEO has been undergoing radiation treatment for prostate cancer this summer, but he has said his doctors do not believe the disease is life-threatening.

Each of Buffett's three children all chose a different focus for their foundations, based on their own interests.

Howard Buffett, 57, is helping farmers in impoverished nations produce more to help end world hunger. Susie Buffett, 59, is strengthening early childhood education and looking for ways to reduce teen pregnancy. Peter Buffett, 54, wants to empower women and girls worldwide through education, collaboration and economic development to end violence against women.

"They've done everything I've hoped for and more with the original gifts," Buffett said.

Peter Buffett said it's nice to hear his father praise the charitable work he has been doing. This latest gift should enable him and his wife to accomplish more with their foundation, he said.

"It means we get to go deeper essentially," Peter Buffett said.

Susie Buffett said her dad's latest gift is exciting because she'll able to do more to help improve early childhood education.

"I'm glad we're not getting it until next July because there are a lot of things to think about," Susie Buffett said.

Howard Buffett is traveling in Africa with limited access to phone or email and could not immediately be reached on Thursday.

As part of his giving plan, Warren Buffett has always said that all of his Berkshire stock ? which today includes 350,000 Class A shares and 3,770,934 Class B shares ? will eventually go to charity.

The pledges to the five foundations that Buffett outlined in 2006 accounted for about 85 percent of his stock. Buffett said that increasing the amount each of his three children will receive now means that about 90 percent of his stock is spoken for.

Buffett has also been making smaller gifts of Berkshire stock to mostly unnamed charitable foundations. He said those would continue.

"As the years go by, I will commit more and more to get to that 100 percent," Buffett said.

In his will, Buffett has specified that any shares he hasn't already pledged to charity at the time of his death will go to his Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. And he has requested that all proceeds from his giving be spent within 10 years after his estate is closed.

Buffett has been giving each of the five foundations 5 percent of his total pledge annually since 2006.

The gradual manner Buffett is giving his stock away makes it more difficult to say how much the gifts are worth because Berkshire's stock price changes. The $2.1 billion estimate is based on current stock prices.

Buffett said he estimates that his kids will wind up with roughly double the amount to give away because the change he made. Each of Buffett's children has been receiving stock worth about $50 million to $65 million for several years. Starting next year, they will receive stock worth roughly $100 million to $125 million.

Buffett said he's still never been tempted to give up his day job and become a full-time philanthropist. Instead, he's trusting others to distribute his wealth.

"They're doing a better job than I could, and I've got plenty to do running Berkshire," he said.

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is an Omaha-based conglomerate with more than 80 subsidiaries, including insurance, manufacturing, railroad, utility, furniture and restaurant firms. It also holds major investments in companies such as Wells Fargo & Co., Coca-Cola Co., Washington Post Co. and IBM.

Its holdings also include the Omaha World-Herald newspaper, which first published Buffett's letter outlining the latest gifts to his children's foundation.

___

Follow Josh Funk online at www.twitter.com/funkwrite

___

Online:

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: www.berkshirehathaway.com

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-08-30-Buffett's%20Benevolence/id-51a0b82211fa445ea8cab3b937ddb6ed

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

First mating humpback whale image wins photo prize

Caroline Morley, online picture researcher

xHumpback-Jason-Edwards.jpg

(Image: Jason Edwards)

Jason Edwards has won the New Scientist Eureka Prize for Science Photography for the second year running with this image of a pair of mating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).

Edwards took the first underwater photograph of humpbacks mating off the coast of Tonga in 2010. Edwards first watched a pod of male humpbacks compete in a battle of strength and endurance. The male who won this heat then mated with the cow, stroking her flanks with his pectoral fins and holding her to him during copulation.

Edwards described the encounter to Australia's The Daily Telegraph. He said that the embrace was brief - just 30 seconds - and afterwards the female released bubbles through her mouth, rather than though her blowhole.

"The purpose of this bubble release is still unclear. However, it may have signalled to the male that the reproductive act was over," Edwards said.

The annual Eureka Prizes are presented by the Australian Museum to reward excellence in science and science communication in Australia.

Gallery: "New Scientist Eureka Photography Prize 2012"

Subscribe to New Scientist Magazine

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/22d1e983/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cshortsharpscience0C20A120C0A80Cwhale0Emating0Eimage0Ewins0Escienc0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

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How To Get Rid Of Termites Within Your - Home Improvement ...

Whenever you hear the phrase pest control, one of the things that will pop in your head will be termites. These irritating creatures can cause lots of damage in your walls, beams, and posts. They will even find their way and chomp on a person?s most treasured items and accessories such as photo albums, footwear, clothes, and treasured literature. In the event that you?re not in a position to locate these tiny pests early, they could wind up causing your ceiling to collapse suddenly. Therefore, termite management is a serious and important subject that ought to be given undivided consideration so you?re in a position to fix the problem for good.

The first tip for resolving a problem is by being conscious of the challenge. The recent spike in communities has resulted in an emergence of houses that are being constructed on various kinds of terrain. Yet, termites continue to present an issue to home owners. For this reason, it is crucial for homeowners to use termite control measures as a way to safeguard their houses and properties from harmful termites. On the flip side, if these preventive steps don?t work, you need to obtain the expertise of professionals who possess technical know-how of dealing with and treating termite invasion. Such experts are devoted to the ability of eradicating harmful termites, with a much better knowledge of termites compared to common people. Nevertheless, there are several steps that home-owners could employ that can help to lessen or perhaps eliminate the prevalence of termites.

When it comes to pest management, there are several methods which might be used to prevent unwanted pests including termites. Most of these preventive techniques could be divided into a few; mechanical, physical and chemical prevention techniques. But, prior to using any protective strategy to get rid of termites, it?s always best to determine the kind of termites that have invaded your home. In most cases, the most common types of termites are the type that begin with ground level traveling upwards as a result it is possible to find these termites inside the soil within your yard. In these cases, you need to start treating such unwanted pests utilizing a pest control product which will be specifically made for soil treatment. Having said that, it is always necessary to adhere to the instructions of such products because, typically, the products are chemicals of higher concentration that should be dissolved in water prior to applying or spraying them in the ground. Nonetheless, the use of toxic chemical substances to eliminate termites is the best choice available. There are several natural techniques that are able to reduce the prevalence of termites but they don?t eliminate all of them.

One of the basic steps of getting rid of termites is lowering moisture in termite ridden spots. Nearly all termites flourish in wet spots thus it is wise to fix all anomalies such as defective pipes that may increase dampness because of h2o leakage. Additionally, make sure that you dry up areas occupied by stagnated water therefore decreasing termites? ability to survive. Also, constantly ensure that your flower beds around your house are clean because this is one more organic termite control technique. Make sure you get rid of unnecessary cardboard and solid wood boxes, replacing them with new ones. In addition to that, it?s also possible to make use of pressure-treated timber for your interiors and furnishings. This is because termites don?t survive on this kind of wood.

And finally, make certain that there?s less or zero ground-wood contact as termites originate from wood-ground connection. To be able to avoid this, always make sure that wooden parts like foundations, windows, and doors aren?t fewer than 6 inches above the ground.

Dalton is knowledgeable at termites, termite treatment solutions, bug control, in addition to numerous other extermination methods. One can click this site to find out more about {} termite inspection. You may additionally find out more about pest control: Go To This Page Capitol Pest Control, 939 Baytree Dr., Flowood, MS 39232, (601) 919-9191

Source: http://www.niutranslations.com/how-to-get-rid-of-termites-within-your-surroundings.html

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You Have To See It To Believe It ? Ray White The Paradise Property ...

Click one of the photos to see a larger version.

You Have To See It To Believe It???

Stunning & Beautiful

This spacious traditional Balinese villa is built with an extensive Javanese teak wood & hand carved Joglo, this 4 -bedroom retreat is located in a quiet Kerobokan ? close to Canggu club.
The property lies on 4000m2 of freehold land, boasting a lovely atmosphere enjoying cool breezes and has a large tropical garden, also has a large swimming pool, 4 Bedrooms with en-suite bath rooms, Media room, Family room, Games room with pool table & light and bright living and dining areas, laundry, staff quarters, parking area, AC in every room gives this villa all the modern convenience as a permanent family residence or a ? Holiday villa ? the villa is perfect for a wedding or a special event.

Location: Kerobokan
Price in USD: Upon request
Land Size: 4000 sqm
Build Size: 753 sqm
Number of Bedrooms: 4 or more
Number of Bathrooms: 4 En-suites plus 2-guest toilet
Views: Pool & Garden
Title: Freehold
Swimming Pool: length: 25m
Pool Filtration: Salt
Furnished: fully furnished with all the interior decoration included
Water Supplies: Well or Bore water
Year Built: 2004
Electric : 3300mg
Map Reference: Kerobokan ? Area

Should you need further information and property viewing please do not hesitate to contact me either email annie@raywhiteparadise.com
Or + 62 81339455009

Please call +62 (0)361 773 540 and quote SKER295, or you can fill out the form below and we'll get back to you shortly.

Source: http://raywhiteparadise.com/villa/you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it.html

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Celebrating #CookiesKids Back-to-School Fashion & 40 Years ...

? Entry #1518, August 27, 2012

I remember when my sister and I were school-aged, going back to school shopping was the most exciting time of the year, well after Christmas shopping of course! Today, my husband and I are proud parents of 3 kids, only one of which still enjoys back to school shopping. My two older boys, 18 & 14 think shopping is a chore, and when my 6 year old daughter came to the family, boy was I happy to share in the love of back to school shopping with her!

cookies kids logo

Cookies Kids_Park_HKB3

Avrielle in her Cookie?s Kids ? Hello Kitty 2-piece outfit

We were both excited to hear that we would pair up with Cookie?s Kids Department Store to show Stagetecture reader?s their great selection and my daughter Avrielle, was doubly excited because she got to have a say in choosing what she wanted! CookiesKids.com has been outfitting kids for last 40 years and this year they are celebrating with tremendous back to school fashions, sales, and online deals that are too good to pass up. Have any of you shopped at Cookies Kids.com before? I?d love to hear your experience too ? leave comments at the end of the post!

My daughter actually thought we were going to get cookies with this opportunity! :) I explained to her that we weren?t going to be eating, but getting cool back to school fashions, and she was like, ?Cool!?? I decided to tell her how #CookiesKids got their name and how they started:

In 1972, a young man named Cookie and his brother Marvin went into business together. They rented a 1600 square foot store in Jamaica, Queens, fixed it up, bought inventory and Summer and Fall, and opened a day after Thanksgiving with a full stock of holiday toys. The toys were a success and they put the extra money toward buying children?s clothing for the next season. When that did well, they bought more clothing. The business was on it?s way.

As the brothers Cookie, Marvin and Sonny, who had come in as a third partner in the business, began to open new stores in new locations, inventory expanded. Besides the latest fashions, our customers wanted shoes, toys, backpacks and accessories and we were prepared to deliver.

By the late 1990?s there were six superstores throughout the NYC area, and though they previously had different names, by that time they were all named Cookie?s Kids. Also in the late ?90s came an important addition to Cookie?s Kids? inventory: school uniforms. It was the steady success in uniform sales that paved the way for founding?CookiesKids.com in 2007, which originally sold uniforms and soon after the entire Cookie?s Kids Inventory.

Cookies Kids Girls category

The girls fashion category had an unbelievable selection

Avrielle and I headed over to the girls fashion area on Cookie?s Kids.com to get started.

Google+ Album

To see Avrielle and I?s full online Cookie?s Kids adventure, I invite you to see my Google+ album where you will see pictures of her in all of the great outfits and see what I liked about the shopping experience. From how I decided what school clothes she needed before we went online to the final pictures in her ?photo shoot?. :)

Cookies Kids Google plus screenshot

Follow my shopping experience and Avrielle?s photos on the Google+ album

Shopping for Avrielle on Cookies Kids.com

Since my daughter was born in 2005 it is time consuming to go to a physical store. So for the last 6 years, I shop for EVERYTHING for my kids online. From textbooks to toys for birthday?s and Christmas to back to school shopping. As Avrielle got older I started realizing part of the fun of shopping for kids is being able to choose what they want to wear. When Avrielle went to the Cookies Kids.com we were excited about all of the name brands they offered, at a very affordable prices.

Cookies Kids main page

Avrielle instantly saw the Hello Kitty logo and said ?Ooh I want that!?

Cookies Kids Girls hello kitty

Hello Kitty clothing in most stores aren?t in my small budget!

I had to tell Avrielle that we had a $30 shopping spree budget, so she wasn?t going to be able to buy everything on the site! :) I was excited to see a clearance area and so both Avrielle and myself were thrilled to find both of these Hello Kitty outfits.

The Hello Kitty ?Bubble Kitty? 2 piece orange sweatshirt was my favorite. While the Hello Kitty ?Heart Bubble? 2 piece black shirt and leggings were Avrielle?s favs!

Cookies Kids Girls hello kitty_cart_2 items

These 2 Hello Kitty outfits were on sale too!

Cookies Kids_Park_HK3

Avrielle loved how soft the material was!

Cookies Kids_Park_HKB1

This Hello Kitty leggings 2-piece outfit will transition well into Fall in Florida

I told Avrielle we need to find an outfit for fall too. Sure it?s 90 degrees here now, but once November ? here in Jacksonville, Florida it gets chilly. So we decided on a long sleeved shirt ? the Pretty Peace long sleeved shirt and some Stretch skinny jeans.

Cookies Kids_Park_Stripes2

I love the fun colors of this long sleeved shirt

The best part of this whole experience was for $30 I bought 3 entire outfits and some Hello Kitty ?Je t?aime? 2-Pack Crew Socks! Hey, you can never have enough socks right? I did like how you can search the site by brand, color, size. Wouldn?t it be great if you could shop by season? Like summer, winter, spring, fall? I didn?t see this option on the site, but may be a good suggestion.

Cookies Kids Girls hello kitty socks

Hello Kitty socks go perfectly with her black leggings outfit

To see how I put all of the fashions together, take a look at my Polyvore board. From her fun outfits, to back to school inspiration ? this was a nice way to compile them all in one area.

Polyvore inspiration board ? Cookie?s Kids back to school fashion

?

What a great experience we had shopping for back to school fashions on Cookies Kids.com. I also started following them on Facebook and Twitter. I absolutely loved their post yesterday:

?Blast from the past ? Did you have a Trapper Keeper? What?s the must-have back to school item that your kids won?t be caught dead without??

Oh how I do remember Trapper Keepers! My daughter now loves the rolling backpacks? wish we had those 20 years ago! I included the Hello Kitty backpack in my Polyvore board. While we didn?t get it this time.. we will be sure to come back for it!

Please note:

?I am a member of the Collective Bias? Social Fabric? Community. ?This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for?Collective Bias?. and?CookiesKids.com #CBias #SocialFabric. All the content and opinions are strictly my own.. and my daughter?s. :)

For more kids ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Source: http://stagetecture.com/2012/08/celebrating-cookieskids-back-to-school-fashion-40-years-outfitting-kids/

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Man Breaks Into Osborn Retirement Community In Rye, Beats Up ...

(file / credit: Osborn Retirement Community)

(file / credit: Osborn Retirement Community)

RYE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - An elderly resident at a Westchester County nursing home was apparently beaten up by an intruder overnight.

Police say a 72-year-old woman woke up just after 2 a.m. Monday and found a hooded intruder with a knife in her fourth floor apartment at the exclusive Osborn Retirement Community in Rye.

WCBS 880?s Sean Adams On The Story

Rye Police Commissioner William Connors said the man assaulted her.

?Both her eyes were swollen shut. She had some lacerations to the face and head. There was some blood around the apartment. It appeared to be a pretty significant struggle,? Connors told WCBS 880 reporter Sean Adams.

The woman, who managed to pull a knife on her attacker, is recovering.

The intruder got away but left behind a bag with a suspicious device that looked like a pipe bomb, police said. The bomb squad was called in to investigate.

Police suspect the woman might have been targeted and perhaps the intruder had some kind of inside knowledge of the community.

?It?s highly unusual for something like this to happen in that facility,? Connors said.

Osborn security apparently first spotted the man and called police but the attack occurred as officers arrived at the scene.

Source: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/08/27/police-man-breaks-into-rye-retirement-community-beats-up-elderly-woman/

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Motivation Mondays: Maja Launches Her Health & Fitness Blog ...

I think this is my most exciting Motivation Monday...ever! ?My gorgeous friend Maja was the first to ever be featured in Motivation Mondays and for more than a year, I begged her incessantly to start a blog.

Maja is a huge inspiration to me because in addition to living an extremely healthy lifestyle (she and her husband even grow their own vegetables), she is also incredibly kind, intelligent and beautiful inside and out.

I annoyed Maja enough and I am thrilled to tell you that she finally launched her very own blog, HautePNK!



Maja's blog focuses on health and fitness, with a little style and beauty mixed in. ?The best part is that she shares her workouts (her body is amazing---and she works hard for it!) and also shows photos of how to do each move. ?If you ever don't know what to do at the gym, you can use your phone to pull up HautePNK and try one of Maja's workouts.

In celebration of the launch of her very own blog, I asked Maja to share with us some of her fitness updates, favorite foods and overall fitness advice and motivation.?




Over a year ago, you were my first Motivation Monday feature---I think you pretty much inspired the entire series---so what made you finally decide to start your own blog (after me badgering you for well over a year?)
I am a big blog reader, but had never envisioned being one myself until that first Motivation Monday post. Veronika?s Blushing is what really sparked the fire! The one thing I admire most from you and other blogs I follow is that they really earn my trust. You see a real person with real life experiences and over time you trust their feedback. In parallel, I had a growing number of friends seeking advice on workouts, recipes, products I use, etc. It kind of all clicked together and realized I wanted to take the love I had for blogs and action it with something I am passionate about. I love the community, support, and the feedback from like-minded people. I think most of all, I wanted to take the opportunity to share all that I?ve learned (and am learning) through real life experiences to reach anyone who is looking for it. What is the overall goal of your blog?
As clich? as it sounds, if my blog reaches even one person and positively impacts them or helps them reach their goals in any way shape or form, I feel I?ll have fulfilled the intent. The thought of someone changing their lifestyle to get in shape and eat better while using some of my feedback as a guide, blows me away. I want to create a positive community where we can support one another and share feedback.?
As your blog grows, what kinds of posts can we expect to see from you?
HautePNK is still in its infancy stages. I tried to start with a vast taste of what?s to come when I launched. In short, it will have a strong focus on workouts, diet and nutrition, tons of tips and tricks that work for me - it?s what I LOVE most! I?ll also plan to post reviews of products I love (and ones I don't). Also, some outfits of the days/nights and maybe the odd shopping haul. It?ll almost be a mash of all the things I find most interesting in the blogs I follow. I am hugely open to feedback and requests too.

Will you also blog about style and beauty? You have amazing makeup/hair/everything!
I most definitely intend to! Some of the most common questions I get are about hair and makeup, so I figure I?ll consolidate my response and just make a blog post about it. I?m not one of those quirky people who can pull off various different unique/adventurous styles, but I think there is still something nice and classic about the girly girl conservative look. Maybe this blog and the people I meet through it will eventually take me out of my comfort zone and I?ll try some new things.




I love how you show photos of how to do all of the moves---it's so easy to look up the workouts on your iPhone when you get to the gym---what inspired you to make your blog so user-friendly?
When I really started thinking of a blog, one of the things I wanted to put lots of attention on was planning out was the site map, usability and most importantly reader experience. I have spent the better part of my career in technology, so it was natural for me. It doesn?t follow the standard blog format where the whole post is on the landing page, but I had this vision all along, so I went with the tiles. I wanted to make a nice browsing experience (I feel it?s easy to browse through older posts), and I put lots of attention in the details (i.e the animations when you scroll over the post name, the custom twitter bird, swipe feature from a smart phone/iPad etc).





What is the best fitness advice you've ever gotten?
This is an easy question because there are a couple of definitive things that I was told and think of every single day ? I mulled over this and couldn?t pick just one, so here they are:

1.???? It isn?t the number of reps you do to feel a burn, it?s the number of reps you ?push out after you start feeling the burn

o??? This one statement stands out in my mind every time I work out and just give it that extra push. As soon as I think I am done because I can start feeling it, that?s when I know I have to step up and keep going. That is where the results are hiding.

2.???? PATIENCE

o??? Patience truly is a virtue. A lot of people are really good at starting a program and being dedicated, but what I find mostly (true for me some days as well) is that you think that you?re going to start seeing amazing results within the first week. Reality check: you need to be patient and trust the system. Keep going and do not get distracted ? remain focused and be patient.


What are some of your current favorite snacks?
I snack a lot! When I post food journals to give a glimpse into some of my daily meals, you will find that I snack in between every meal. Some of my favourites are baby carrots, bananas, apples, berries, salads and of coure; homemadeoat bars.



How about dinners?
FISH! I love cod, haddock, tilapia, and salmon the most. I will post some great healthy recipes for baking fish and their benefits. Other than that, I find some tiny pleasures in having breakfast-y items in the evening, so I might make some omelettes or scrambled eggs. Alongside, I will always have a salad, zucchini or some kind of veggie. For carbs, it usually a small sweet potato, rice or something like that.

Tell us about your vegetable garden? What made you decide to grow one? What vegetables do you grow?
I grew up with my dad planting a huge garden every summer. I distinctly remember the difference in taste between everything we grew at home and what we were forced to buy in the winters from a grocery store (same with my husband when he grew up). So when we got married and bought our first home we immediately converted over half of our back yard into a vegetable garden. We don?t use any pesticides and all the soil and seeds we use are certified organic. We grow TONS of lettuce, kale, swiss chard, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, eggplant, hot peppers, green onions, beets, radishes and spinach. Again, I plan on doing a whole tutorial on the garden and how little of space you actually need to grow a large amount of vegetables.



Your husband is so supportive of you---what is his involvement with the blog?
He?s amazing ? I am truly blessed. From the first minute I mentioned that I wanted to start a blog he?s always offered his advice and infinite support. He owns a full service design and advertising company and he took me on in his spare time, then had his developers build ?the dream?. The team did an amazing job through design, build and testing. I am so thankful to all of them!

Where do you see your blog a year from now??
If someone told me I?d even have a blog one year ago, I probably wouldn?t have believed them. So thinking a year ahead, I am hoping that I will have developed a community that can learn and share with me. I have no intention of slowing down and will continue to always share my honest opinion, feedback and tips.



What other interests do you have other than fitness that your readers might want to know about?
I have a deep appreciation for art and music. I love high fashion. I love movies, but not TV (we don't even have cable or the basic channels at home). I aspire to be an advanced seamstress one day and admire anyone who is really good at sewing. I adore baking! I never bake for myself, but jump on the opportunity to bring a treat when we are invited to a party or dinner. I'm also very crafty and put a lot of effort into something as little as decorating a cake or wrapping a gift.?

Thank you Maja, for motivating us this Monday! I am personally so thrilled that we will all have your blog as such an amazing resource to learn more about fitness and health so thank you for all of the time and effort you put into it!

Source: http://veronabrit.blogspot.com/2012/08/motivation-mondays-maja-launches-her.html

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Monday, August 27, 2012

How Free Apps Can Make More Money Than Paid Apps

Screen Shot 2012-08-26 at 10.30.11 AMEditor's note:?John Manoogian III is co-founder and CTO at?140 Proof, a venture-backed startup for targeted Twitter advertising. While building apps for Apple and Android app stores can be highly lucrative ventures for developers, one of the hardest decisions an app developer has to make is how to get the app to pay for itself. Often the ?monetization strategy? ? shorthand for ?how will this app make money?? ? is left for last. It's hard enough to get discovered by consumers among the millions of already existing apps, not to mention convince people to buy it. People increasingly prefer free, ad-supported apps for their tablets and smartphones, yet many developers still aren't sure how to tackle the free vs. paid issue. Deciding when to charge for your app, and when to try an ad-supported model, is one of the hardest decisions developers must make.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/WfKfu5agYew/

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Analysis: Akin row shows GOP's social-fiscal rift

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife Ann leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after church service on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, in Wolfeboro, N.H. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife Ann leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after church service on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, in Wolfeboro, N.H. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Medea Benjamin of Washington, D.C. displays her sign during a Code Pink protest before Republican National Convention, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

(AP) ? Every now and then, an event awakens the ever-slumbering tensions between the Republican Party's two core wings: social conservatives and corporate interests.

A Missouri congressman's comment about rape and pregnancy was one such moment, and it came just as Republicans were hoping for a united front at their convention to nominate Mitt Romney for president.

A full-blown rupture ? such as the one at the 1992 convention, when a defeated candidate declared a national "culture war" ? seems unlikely. But even a modest squabble between key party factions might raise concerns in a tight presidential race.

Romney joined other mainstream Republicans in denouncing the Aug. 19 remarks by Rep. Todd Akin, the party's Senate nominee in Missouri. Akin said rape victims can generally avoid pregnancy because "if it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."

Romney called Akin's comments "offensive and wrong." He unsuccessfully urged Akin to quit the Senate race.

Like many other top Republicans, Romney stopped short of criticizing Akin's stand on abortion, as opposed to his comments about rape and conception. Akin opposes abortion in all cases, including rape.

Romney would allow abortions in instances of rape and incest. He showed no interest, however, in picking a fight with his party's most ardent abortion opponents, a crucial source of GOP votes and volunteers. And he downplayed the fact that his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, has often joined Akin in anti-abortion measures, including some that sought to differentiate between forcible and non-forcible rapes.

It's hardly surprising that Romney, who's running mainly on economic issues, is trying to maintain a quiet balance between fiscal and social conservatives. The Republican Party cannot win national elections without an alliance between the two groups.

Corporate titans know they must hold hands with anti-abortion crusaders to elect politicians who will keep government regulations and taxes low. Evangelicals and other social conservatives realize they must join ranks with business executives ? even if they would never mingle at a country club ? to elect champions of public prayer, abortion limits and so on.

Romney, who made a fortune heading the private equity firm Bain Capital, comes from the corporate wing. He seems less convincing when talking about the social issues that animate many on the right.

As Massachusetts governor, Romney supported abortion rights, gun control and gay rights. He abandoned those positions as he prepared to run for president in 2008, but many "movement conservatives" remain wary of him.

Romney had to struggle for their support during the Republican primaries, when Newt Gingrich briefly depicted him as a "vulture capitalist." Romney's most persistent rival was Rick Santorum, a hero to anti-abortion activists and home-schoolers.

Now that the primaries are over, and unaffiliated voters are crucial this fall, Republican leaders would rather keep the abortion debate to a simmer, not a boil.

Last week, the party's platform committee approved a provision that backs the "Human Life Amendment," a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban abortion, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The Republican platforms in 2004 and 2008 did the same. That might surprise some GOP-leaning centrists, who rarely hear Republican presidents or congressional leaders make loud, full-bore pushes to outlaw abortion.

"Ronald Reagan used to talk about the party's three-legged stool: fiscal conservatives, social conservatives and national-security conservatives," said Dan Schnur, a former Republican adviser who now teaches political science at the University of Southern California.

"At best, it's a three-legged stool," Schnur said. "At worst, it's three scorpions in a bottle."

The party's factions usually coexist peacefully, he said, but "the Akin matter makes it a lot harder."

The visibility and prominence of national-security conservatives have waned in recent years, partly because of widespread disillusionment with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. But business-oriented fiscal conservatives remain vitally important, as do social conservatives, who play big roles in swing states including Iowa, Florida and North Carolina.

The Akin episode ignited new tensions between the groups. Mike Huckabee, the Baptist minister and former Arkansas governor, ripped into establishment Republicans for trying to force Akin from the Senate race.

Huckabee, who ran for president in 2008, likened the National Republican Senatorial Committee to "union goons" trying to kneecap rivals.

Romney needs as much peace between the factions as possible.

Corporate conservatives provide a disproportionate amount of funding for the GOP. Casino owner Sheldon Adelson, for instance, has pledged more than $10 million for groups opposing President Barack Obama. The wealthy industrialist brothers David and Charles Koch have donated and helped raise millions more.

Religious conservatives and anti-abortion activists, meanwhile, provide thousands of foot soldiers to knock on doors and make phone calls for candidates they support.

Akin's remarks gave Democrats new ammunition to accuse the GOP of encouraging zealots who operate on the political fringe. Democrats note, for example, that convention speakers in Tampa will include Donald Trump and others who still question whether Obama was born in the United States.

"The Akin case shows that the Republican establishment will pander to the social conservatives until they become a liability," said Democratic strategist Doug Hattaway. "But the Wall Street/country club set still rely on the right-wing religious vote to prop up the party at the polls."

Even some veteran Republican operatives question why Romney maintains ties with Trump, whom they view as a distracting glory hound.

A hard, clean break with Trump, however, might alienate a small but fervent group of conservatives who, for now, are in Romney's corner. In a presidential race that conceivably could turn on a few votes in one or two states, the loss of a tiny faction ? led by Donald Trump, Todd Akin or someone else unloved by the Republican establishment ? could prove crucial.

___

EDITOR'S NOTE ? Charles Babington covers national politics for The Associated Press.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-08-26-Republicans-Analysis/id-52fbd2aef8114eaca952f2d25bd85bad

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Ravens cut K Billy Cundiff, keep rookie Tucker

BALTIMORE (AP) ? Kicker Billy Cundiff was cut Sunday by the Baltimore Ravens, who decided to keep rookie Justin Tucker instead of the former Pro Bowl star.

Tucker went 5 for 5 on field goal tries during Baltimore's first three preseason games and showed more leg strength than the 32-year-old Cundiff. Tucker made two field goals of 50 yards or longer; Cundiff was 1 for 6 last year from that distance.

Tucker also comes at a cheaper price.

Cundiff's place on the roster appeared in peril after coach John Harbaugh used Tucker for all the placekicking chores in Thursday night's preseason win over Jacksonville.

Tucker was invited to camp as an undrafted free agent to challenge Cundiff, who made the Pro Bowl in 2010 but last season missed a potential game-tying, 32-yarder against New England in the waning seconds of the AFC title game.

Harbaugh liked the way Cundiff rebounded from the pivotal miss, but decided Tucker was simply the better choice for Baltimore in 2012.

"These decisions are never easy, and this one was difficult for all of us," Harbaugh said. "Billy had a great camp, the best he has had with us. He showed, like he always has, a toughness and an ability to come back and be a top flight NFL kicker."

If Cundiff is to continue his career in the NFL, it will likely be with another team.

After Thursday's game against the Jaguars, Cundiff insisted he had done everything possible to put that miss against the Patriots behind him.

"Let's be honest, I feel like I've been through enough," he said. "There's not a single thing that I think somebody can trap me that I'm not prepared for. So, I know my confidence has been high, I know when I came into training camp a lot of people asked me where my head was at and kind of questioned whether I'd be able to even kick. Whatever the case may be, I felt like I proved continually throughout training camp that I came in prepared. And regardless of what's thrown at me, what the situation is, I feel like I'm ready to kick."

Tucker, a standout at Texas, believes he's become an even better kicker during training camp.

"To the naked eye, it doesn't look like I've made a lot of changes, but I've made a complete transformation from the kicker I was in college to the kicker I am today," he said Thursday. "I feel like I'm kicking the best I ever kicked."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ravens-cut-k-billy-cundiff-keep-rookie-tucker-184251658--nfl.html

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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Refinery blast kills 26 in Venezuela, dozens hurt

Fire rises over the Amuay refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. A huge explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery, killing at least 24 people and injuring dozens, an official said. (AP Photo/Daniela Primera)

Fire rises over the Amuay refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. A huge explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery, killing at least 24 people and injuring dozens, an official said. (AP Photo/Daniela Primera)

Firefighters and rescue teams work at the Amuay oil refinery in Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. A huge explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery and unleashed a ferocious fire Saturday, killing over 20 people and injuring dozens in the deadliest disaster in memory for the country's key oil industry. (AP Photo/Diario EL Amanecer)

Fire rises over the Amuay oil refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. A huge explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery and unleashed a ferocious fire Saturday, killing over 20 people and injuring dozens in the deadliest disaster in memory for the country's key oil industry. (AP Photo/Diario EL Amanecer)

Fire rises over the Amuay oil refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. A huge explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery and unleashed a ferocious fire Saturday, killing over 20 people and injuring dozens in the deadliest disaster in memory for the country's key oil industry. (AP Photo/Diario EL Amanecer)

Large plumes of smoke rise from the Amuay refinery as national guardsmen watch near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. A huge explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery, killing and injuring dozens, an official said. (AP Photo/Abisaid Cermeno)

(AP) ? A huge explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery and unleashed a ferocious fire on Saturday, killing at least 26 people and injuring more than 80 others in one of the deadliest disasters ever to hit the country's key oil industry.

Balls of fire rose over the Amuay refinery, among the largest in the world, in video posted on the Internet by people who were nearby at the time. Government officials pledged to restart the refinery within two days and said the country has plenty of fuel supplies on hand to meet domestic needs as well as its export commitments.

The explosion shattered walls of nearby shops, ripped out windows from homes and left the surrounding streets covered with rubble and twisted scraps of metal.

President Hugo Chavez declared three days of mourning and ordered an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion. "This affects all of us," Chavez said by phone on state television. "It's very sad, very painful."

In a neighborhood next to the refinery, shopkeeper Yolimar Romero said she was at her computer when a shock wave swept over the area shortly after 1 a.m.

"At that instant, the whole house shook as if it were an earthquake," she said. "The windows went flying off with their frames and everything."

Electricity was knocked out, leaving Romero in the dark and her house filled with smoke. She found a flashlight and started looking for her husband and three children.

Outside on the street, the family saw scattered hunks of brick walls and ruins of a National Guard post and about 20 other homes. Bodies were being pulled from buildings down the street.

At least 86 people were injured, nine of them seriously, Health Minister Eugenia Sader said at a hospital where the wounded were taken. She said 77 people suffered light injuries and were released.

Officials said those killed included a 10-year-old boy, and that 17 of the 26 victims were National Guard troops stationed at the post next to the refinery.

Vice President Elias Jaua, who traveled to the area in western Venezuela, said the authorities tried "to save the greatest number of lives."

Officials said firefighters had largely controlled the fire at the refinery on the Paraguana Peninsula, where flames were still visible on Saturday night after billowing dark smoke all day.

The blast occurred about 1:15 a.m. when a natural gas leak created a cloud that ignited, Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said.

"That gas generated a cloud that later exploded and has caused fires in at least two tanks of the refinery and surrounding areas," Ramirez said.

Images shortly after the explosion showed the flames casting an orange glow against the night sky, and injured survivors on a stretcher and in a wheelchair. The bloodied bodies of victims were loaded onto pickup trucks.

Ramirez said a panel of investigators was being formed to determine the cause of the gas leak. A prosecutor was appointed to lead the investigation and troops were deployed to the area.

While the cause of the disaster remains unclear, some oil workers and critics of Chavez's government have recently pointed to increasing numbers of smaller accidents and spills as an indication of problems within the state-run company.

"We warned that something was going to happen, a catastrophic event," said Ivan Freites, secretary general of a 1,200-member union of oil and natural gas industry workers in Falcon state where the refinery is located. He spoke in a telephone interview from an area near the refinery, where he could see the flames raging in the distance.

The refinery complex's general manager, Jesus Luongo, denied that a lack of maintenance was to blame, saying in the past three years more than $6 billion has been invested in maintaining the country's refineries.

Ramirez said the explosion hit an area of storage tanks, damaging nine tanks.

"All of the events happened very quickly," Ramirez said. "When we got here in the middle of the night, at 3 or 3:30 in the morning, the fire was at its peak."

The oil minister said that supplies of fuel had been cut off to part of the refinery and that firefighters were using foam to extinguish the flames in one of the remaining tanks.

"This regrettable and sad event is controlled, is under control," Ramirez said on television, while plumes of smoke continued to billow.

Amuay is part of the Paraguana Refinery Complex, which also includes the adjacent Cardon refinery. Together, the two refineries process about 900,000 barrels of crude per day and 200,000 barrels of gasoline. Venezuela is a major supplier of oil to the U.S. and a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Ramirez said the state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA should be able to "restart operations in a maximum of two days."

"We want to tell the country that we have sufficient inventories of fuel. We have 10 days of inventory of fuel," Ramirez said. He said the country's other refineries were operating at full capacity and would be able to "deal with any situation in our domestic market."

An official of the state oil company, known as PDVSA, said the country also has enough supplies on hand to guarantee its international supply commitments. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

In terms of international oil markets, the disaster is not likely to cause much of a ripple, said Jason Schenker, an energy analyst and president of Austin, Texas-based Prestige Economics LLC. Noting that other refinery accidents and shutdowns regularly occur around the world, he said: "There's likely to be relatively limited impact on global crude or product pricing."

"The real tragedy," he said, "is that these events continue to happen, not just in Venezuela but everywhere. It is a dangerous business."

Gustavo Coronel, an energy consultant and former PDVSA executive, called the tragedy "probably the worst one the oil industry has had in many years."

"Accidents happen, of course, although the problem with PDVSA is the inordinate amount of accidents that have taken place during the last years," Coronel said. Considering the overall record, "we are not talking about bad luck but about lack of maintenance and inept management," he said.

The labor leader Freites, who has worked at the refinery for 29 years, said workers had repeatedly alerted state oil company officials to problems that they feared could lead to an accident. "We've been complaining about problems and risks, including fires, broken pipes and a lack of spare parts," Freites said.

One opposition group comprised of former PDVSA employees, Gente del Petroleo, or Oil People, said it could not yet pass judgment on the cause of the explosion. But it but noted there had been ample concerns about lack of maintenance and poor management.

The group said in a statement that since 2003, 79 other serious accidents have been reported at the Paraguana Refinery Complex, collectively killing a total of 19 workers and injuring 67 others.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who is challenging Chavez in the country's Oct. 7 presidential election, expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

"We Venezuelans are one, and we grow in the face of this type of situations," Capriles said.

____

Associated Press writers Jorge Rueda and Christopher Toothaker contributed to this report.

____

Ian James on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ianjamesap

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-08-25-Venezuela-Refinery%20Explosion/id-0371729fb32945d3aab3c217981b795c

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How To Use Podcast Directories To Promote Your Online Business

Here?s just another marketing method to get your teeth into. Podcasts I hear you say with trepidation, ?what are they, how do they work and how do I make them?? All valid questions and concerns but its like so many things relating to the internet that at first glace look pretty scary and the initial reaction is ?I can?t do that!? And sure this article just covers the opportunity in a brief way & you?ll need to do a bit more research, but honestly once you get your head around it ? you?ll wonder why you didn?t do it before, trust me and read on??

What?s a Podcast? A podcast is an internet channel used to communicate. It?s like a niche-specific radio station. Podcast directories are similar to article directories, but people subscribe to them. When you submit your podcasts here, they go out to all the directory?s subscribers.

The cool thing about podcast directories is that there?s a built-in audience who are already interested in your niche. You can use these directories to show your expertise, advertise your products or services, brand yourself and generate leads. If you do it right and offer high quality information, you?ll have a community of loyal listeners tuning in every week.

How To Create Podcasts

To make quality podcasts, all you need is a computer, a microphone and some type of recording software. Record your podcast and save it to MP3 format; now, it?s ready to submit.

You can use your articles or other web content as a script. Or you can use it as an outline and just talk about your topic. The important thing is just to offer quality information and make it valuable for your listeners.

Each directory has different submission rules, but most of them allow you to create a description. Optimize that for your keywords and make it something that will draw them in. Some directories work like social networking sites, so you can interact with other users and create communities and groups.

When you?re looking for directories to use, be sure to read their terms of use because each is different.

Tips For Creating Great Podcasts

To make a good podcast, all you really need to do is talk. That?s it. But, I?d recommend including some intro music and maybe outro music. This kind of brands your podcasts and also makes them smoother. It?s kind of abrupt when it just suddenly starts with somebody talking.

Once you?ve got your podcast action going, stick to your schedule and be consistent. Just like a radio show, podcasts are usually daily, weekly, or monthly. Before you even get started, decide on this schedule based on how committed you?re going to be. Your listeners will be expecting regular shows.

One great way to create excellent high-quality podcasts with little fuss and bother is to interview people in your niche. It?s a win-win situation ? interviewing a known name in your niche will get people tuning in to check out your podcast; and the person you?re interviewing gets some exposure and a chance to build their authority out of the deal.

Finally, market your podcasts. Let everybody know on your list, website and social media sites when the next show is going to be. Once you get started making podcasts, it?s a lot of fun!

And here?s a list of the best podcast directories to get you started:

Podcasting News? Podcast Directory ? www.podcastingnews.com/forum/links.php Podcast Alley ? www.podcastalley.com/ Odeo.com ? www.odeo.com iPodder.org ? www.ipodder.org/ PodcastPickle ? www.podcastpickle.com/ Digital Podcast ? www.digitalpodcast.com/ PodcastDirectory.com ? podcastdirectory.com/ iPodderX ? ipodderx.com/ Learn Out Loud ? www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory Public Radio Fan ? www.publicradiofan.com/podcasts.html

So there you are, get stuck and get podcasting, just another marketing avenue you really should be utilising, let us know how you get on?

Toby Russell offers tried and tested methods to help you succeed on line.Hear his Exclusive Interview with Top Internet marketer revealing His Secrets to start & profit online plus his 94 page popular Free Special Report, available at =>
http://www.startinternetmarketingonline.com

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Source: http://articles.whatismycomputerip.com/407972/how-to-use-podcast-directories-to-promote-your-online-business.html

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Unsecured And Secured Finance: Learn The Ins And Outs

Personal finance is a great enabler of modern existence. If it is essential acquisition of a much wanted family vehicle or a nice boat purchase. Even if you are making a budget-friendly swap to motorbike travel. Private finance solutions can make your dream occur without forcing you to part with big money outlay. Yet your goals and circumstances are as one-off as the asset you covet. So to gain uttermost benefit from your purchase it is essential you choose the right private finance. Fortunately you've got a choice. Private finance falls into 2 primary categories: unsecured and secured. Ensure you word yourself up on these options before locking yourself into a personal loan.

Save on interest with secured personal finance

Wish to own and use your new asset straight away? If you're prepared to put up collateral as security, secured personal finance may well be for you. This private finance solution makes you the proud new owner of your backed asset immediately. Ride it, drive it, put it to use ? simply enjoy. Meanwhile your nominated collateral secures your loan. This could be your new asset itself. Or you might put up your house, automobile or valuable papers. Forget upfront loan fees as well. These can be consolidated into your private loan.

In the meantime you can harvest many further benefits from secured personal finance, including:

  • Freedom to make extra payments on your personal loan anytime with no penalties attached
  • Daily worked out interest so the more that you clear the less interest you pay
  • Fixed interest rates throughout your personal loan so you usually know what you are up for
  • Flexible loan repayment schedules to fit your private life-style and budget
  • Balloon payment option to scale back your monthly payments

So what will occur if you miss payments on your secured personal loan? Simply your lender is entitled to recover their finance via your nominated collateral. Your home or automobile might be sold. Should your collateral not satisfy the full outstanding amount of your loan, you will be personally responsible for this.

Unsecured personal finance leaves your assets unfettered

Need finance without compromising pliability? Unsecured personal finance lets you acquire a loan without putting up collateral. This is the primary difference between secured and unsecured personal finance. Unsecured personal loans offer the ultimate in versatility. These may be employed for just about any endeavour requiring funding, from home renovations to debt consolidation.

Feature-wise, unsecured personal finance shares many traits of its secured counterpart. Like swift possession of the financed asset by you. And daily figuring out interest, flexible repayment schedules and fixed rates. Yet because your lender holds no security, unsecured personal loans attract increased interest rates.

Should you miss payments on your unsecured personal finance you will not lose any personal assets. Expect your credit history to suffer a beating though.

Natloans is an expert finance broker. Experienced in pairing you with the right personal loan to match your needs and circumstances. Talk over your private finance options with the pros. You may speedily identify whether secured or unsecured finance is most fitted to your personal situation. And you can be assured you will be matched with the best terms available.

Mary Nebotakis ? has a B.Economics, Dip.Financial Services, Cert IV Workplace Learning & Assessment. On her website she has got many interesting videos and articles on secured loans. You will also find more information on unsecured loans.

Source: http://blog-finance-bankruptcy.mysurechoice.com/3390/unsecured-and-secured-finance-learn-the-ins-and-outs/

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Saturday, August 25, 2012

Adam Bergman, Esq 401(k) Expert & Tax Attorney Launches Free ...


Miami, FL (PRWEB) August 15, 2012

Adam Bergman, Esq., a tax attorney with the IRA Financial Group and tax partner with the Bergman Law Group LLC announces the launch of http://www.Bergman401KReport.com which will be a free news site specifically focusing on all tax and ERISA aspects on the 401(k) plan and qualified retirement profit sharing plan. The website will have a sizable research staff that will be delivering current news reports and updates in the law on the topic of 401(k) plans. With over 2 million 401(k) plans in the United States, there is an enormous demand for current and in-depth information on the 401(k) plan and the various tax and investment rules, stated Adam Bergman, Esq. Bergman401KReport.com will provide updated news reports and commentaries on all news, proposed laws, regulations, investment trends, and much more on the area of 401(k) and profit sharing plans, stated Mr. Bergman.

Adam Bergman is a senior tax attorney at the IRA Financial Group, LLC, the only attorney owned and operated Self Directed IRA LLC and Solo 401(k) facilitator. Mr. Bergman is also the managing partner of the law firm The Bergman Law Group, LLC. Mr. Bergman has been quoted in a number of major publications on the area of self-directed retirement plans. Mr. Bergman is also a frequent contributor to Forbes magazine and Forbes.com on the subject of retirement funds and tax law.

Mr. Bergman has been quoted in a number of major publications on the area of retirement plans and taxation. Mr. Bergman is also a frequent contributor to Forbes magazine and Forbes.com on the subject of retirement funds and tax law. Mr. Bergman has been interviewed on CBS News and has been quoted in Businessweek, Crains NY Business, Forbes, Dallas Morning News, Daily Business Review, Law.com, San Francisco Chronicle, U.S. Tax News, the Miami Herald, Bloomberg, Arizona Republic, San Antonio Express, Findlaw, Smart Money, USA Today, Houston Chronicle, Morningstar, and American Lawyer on the area of retirement funds and tax law.

Prior to joining the IRA Financial Group, LLC, Mr. Bergman worked as a tax and ERISA attorney at White & Case LLP, Dewey LeBoeuf LLP, and Thelen LLP, three of the most prominent corporate law firms in the world. He has advised thousands of clients on a wide range of tax and ERISA matters involving limited liability companies and retirement plans for over 12 years. Mr. Bergman received his B.A. (with distinction) from McGill University and his law degree (cum laude) from Syracuse University College of Law. Mr. Bergman also received his Masters of Taxation (LL.M.) from New York University School of Law.

Mr. Bergman is recognized as a leading retirement tax-planning expert and has lectured attorneys on the legal and tax aspects of retirement plans and the taxation of retirement plan investments. Mr. Bergman is a member of the Tax Division of the American Bar Association and New York State Bar Association.

The Bergman401KReport.com is the largest online free news site focused exclusively on the world of qualified retirement 401(k) and profit sharing plans Bergman401KReport.com offers a current and continuously updated news portal with in-depth analysis and reports of all tax, legal, and investment matters involving 401(k) plans.

To learn more about the Bergman401KReport please visit our website at http://www.Bergman401KReport.com

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Source: http://www.broker-site.com/adam-bergman-esq-401k-expert-tax-attorney-launches-free-401k-plan-retirement-news-site/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=adam-bergman-esq-401k-expert-tax-attorney-launches-free-401k-plan-retirement-news-site

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