Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Transitioning from Buyer's Market to a Seller's Market | Albuquerque ...

? Posted by Rich Cederberg, Albuquerque Realtor on Aug 28, 2012 in For Buyers | 0 comments

?

The Albuquerque real estate market is changing. Fewer and fewer homes on the market and more sales means that not only are there less homes to choose from, but that buyer?s need to act differently.

Just like sellers who were left behind by the transitioning market back in 2007-2008 because they failed to adjust their prices and expectations, buyers who don?t adjust their expectations in 2012-2013 may be left behind, wishing they had purchased a home when both rates and prices were down.

By my calculations, we were stuck in a buyer?s market for an unusually long time: 4 years. Most people have probably forgotten what it was like before that, so with that in mind?what kind of adjustments do buyers need to make?

  • Buyers need to make quicker decisions. ?Average market times are not telling the whole story in the areas with the most demand. That?s because the best properties, the ones that come on the market in good condition and priced competitively, are selling super fast. If you?re a buyer out there looking for a home and you think you?ve found the right one, don?t delay in making an offer.
  • Buyers need to look more aggressively. Buyer?s should look at the available inventory in their price range and desired area to learn about house prices and then be poised and ready to strike when new listings come on the market.
  • Buyers will have to be less picky. ?With so many homes to choose from in a buyer?s market you can be pickier about condition. In a seller?s market, there will be other buyers lined up behind you willing to buy the same house for more money and asking for less repairs.

These are three things to keep in mind as the market shifts. There are still some good deals in some neighborhoods, but not like there were. Adjust your expectations or be left behind. You?ll be left wishing you had taken advantage of reduced prices and incredibly low interest rates.

?

Source: http://www.albuquerquerealestateplace.com/blog/transitioning-from-buyers-market-to-a-sellers-market/

ncaa basketball oikos kentucky wildcats oakland school shooting nike nfl jerseys katie couric barista

Sony unveils latest HX950 flagship HDTV in Japan with 'Intelligent Peak LED' backlighting

Sony unveils latest HX950 flagship HDTV in Japan with 'Intelligent Peak LED' backlighting

While Sony's current lineup of HDTVs has so far topped out with the HX929/920 series that's been kicking around since 2011, in Japan it has just unveiled a new top of the line model: the HX950. Often rumored in the last few months, it's available in 65- or 55-inch varieties and features Sony's now-trademark monolithic style as well as "Intelligent Peak LED" backlighting. Although Sony's brand name for the tech doesn't exactly reveal how it works, information leaks have suggested it is full array LED backlighting and not edge based, although we don't know how many zones (individually controlled light sources) are in play. What we do know, however is that it claims to outperform the LED backlighting in the old 929 quite handily, although we'll let our eyes be the judge of that.

It also includes MotionFlow XR960 (800 in the US) motion processing tech that can create 240fps from 60 frames and a glass panel mounted to the LCD itself with a special type of resin designed specifically to reduce glare. Finally, there's also the usual add-ins like 3D and Sony Entertainment Network streaming video. We haven't seen any European or US information for this model yet, although with IFA 2012 under way and CEDIA coming up that may change quickly. Currently pricing in Japan for the 65-inch is expected to be around 650,000 yen or $8,269 when it ships November 10th, but we should mention actual US prices are typically much lower than a direct conversion. Unofficially, one retailer is already listing the 55- and 65-inch models for sale in the US for $3,499 and $5,499, respectively, although we'd take that with a grain of salt until we know for sure.

Filed under: , ,

Sony unveils latest HX950 flagship HDTV in Japan with 'Intelligent Peak LED' backlighting originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink AV Watch  |  sourceSony Japan  | Email this | Comments


Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/4bSkm1jg4oo/

east west shrine game haywire underworld awakening dog the bounty hunter tacoma narrows bridge weather nyc open marriage

Sunday, August 26, 2012

A Master's Approach to Project Management


The elements of the golf swing are a perfect metaphor to illustrate the key tips for entrepreneurs in the startup phase of any new venture or project.

A successful swing has five components, but they must be integrated seamlessly in order to achieve the perfect shot. You don?t have to play golf to benefit from the tips. For entrepreneurs who hit the links, the analogy can add value to your golf swing as well as to starting your business(es).

1. Keep your eye on the ball (Initiating)

The Gaelic expression T?s maith leath na hoibre loosely translates as, ?A good start is half the battle.? It applies equally to a golf swing as it does to a new idea. The golfer must align the various parts of the swing (feet, shoulders, hands, and clubface), prior to initiating any movement. Similarly, the entrepreneur needs to align the new business idea (passions, skills, commitments, opportunities), before the planning kickoff.

The business case is the key document to record this alignment and may need several ?passes? to achieve correct alignment for the conditions. In a similar way, Canadian golfer Mike Weir has a distinctive ?waggle? as he sets up his alignment and becomes committed to the shot.

A key complementary component of this tip is to have the correct takeaway of the golf club?not too close to the body nor too wayward. Similarly, the entrepreneur should conduct a stakeholder analysis to ensure that the planning for a venture gets off on the right track.

During this initiation and for the rest of the swing the golfer maintains a close eye on the ball (a tip here is to try to read the text or number on it). Similarly, the entrepreneur needs to maintain focus and keep track of the business case.

2. Pause at the top of the backswing (Planning)

Here?s one of the best golf tips I ever received: Listen for the church bell at the top of your swing. The golf professional involved was referring to the length of time I should pause at the top of the backswing before commencing the downswing. (The parish priest presumably had other reasons for ringing the bell.)

In a similar way, many Russians will advise you to sit on your luggage before embarking on a journey as a way to reflect on what lies ahead and what lies in the contents of your bags. Both tips relate to the same need to pause before the real action begins.

Likewise, the entrepreneur needs to find time to ?pause? at the end of planning before ?launching? into execution of the venture. The pause creates a trigger mechanism that allows you to create an end to the left-brain-driven logical and sequential thought processes that enable planning and to invite more of the right-brain and subconscious thought processes to start and flow.

Just as the orchestra conductor taps the baton on the stand to signal the beginning of the performance, so too should you call your team together for a kickoff meeting to signal the end of planning and the start of the fun part of the venture.

3. Accelerate through the ball (Execution)

Assuming that a golfer has correct alignment and backswing (see tips 1 and 2), then he or she can confidently attack the ball and enjoy the feeling of the clubface compressing it at top speed.

Similarly, if you have carried out proper initiation and planning of the idea, then you should be in a position to enjoy the exhilaration of seeing your team perform with talent and speed.

A golf tip to maintain focus at speed is to imagine two golf balls in a straight line behind your own ball and to try to extend the golf swing to hit all three golf balls.

A similar tip is to maintain focus on the business case by overcommunication during this expensive and critical stage of the venture. A simple way to do this is to continually ask the same three questions, mantra-like:

  1. Who is paying for this work?
  2. How will they get the money back?
  3. When will they get the money back?

If the answer to any of these questions varies from those obtained during the initiation of the idea, then it may be necessary to pause and initiate realignment again.

Article source: http://www.portfolio.com/resources/2012/04/02/frank-ryle-compares-golf-to-project-management

Tags: development, Google News, In the news, Leadership, Management, mindset, On the Net, personal development, Professional Development, Project Management

Source: http://projectcommunityonline.com/a-masters-approach-to-project-management.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-masters-approach-to-project-management

kellen moore guy fieri ryan braun bryce harper may day stoudemire jordan hill

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

NC Real Estate Commission Drafts New BPO Rules | Asheville ...

As previously discussed on this site, NC Senate Bill 521 will grant real estate agents the right to perform a Broker Price Opinion for compensation even if there is no reasonable expectation of obtaining the listing. ?Previously, to perform a BPO, the agent had to have some expectation of obtaining the listing or be licensed as an appraiser.

In order to comply with the new law, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission has drafted new rules to govern BPOs. ?The rules will go to a final vote on September 5, 2012.

The rules establish minimum requirements that must be met when performing a BPO without the expectation of getting the listing. ?Specifically, real estate brokers must:

  • Only accept an assignment to provide a BPO or CMA if the broker has knowledge of the real estate market, direct access to real estate market sales or leasing data and brokerage or appraisal experience in the subject property?s geographic location.
  • Not provide a BPO or CMA for a property unless the broker can exercise objective, independent judgment free of any influence from any interested party in the performance of his or her analysis of the facts relevant to determination of a probable selling or leasing price.
  • Not provide a BPO or CMA for a property unless the broker has personally inspected the exterior and interior of that property, provided, however, that an inspection of the exterior or interior shall not be required if this is specifically waived in writing by the party for whom the opinion or analysis is being performed.
  • When developing a BPO or CMA for a particular property or interest therein, a broker shall utilize methodology such as analysis of sales or income of recently sold or leased properties comparable to the subject property or capitalization, as is appropriate for the particular assignment and type of subject property.
  • When analyzing sales of comparable properties, a broker shall comply with the following standards:
    1. The broker shall select from reliable information sources a minimum of three recently sold or leased comparable properties for use in his or her analysis that are similar to the subject property with regard to characteristics such as property type, use, location, age, size, design, physical features, amenities, utility, property condition and conditions of sale. Comparables shall reflect the factors or local market conditions influencing the sales or lease prices of the comparables.
    2. The broker shall make adjustments to the selling or leasing price of selected comparable properties for differences between the characteristics of the comparable properties and the subject property that would significantly impact the estimate of the probable selling or leasing price if no adjustment is made. Adjustments shall be considered for differences in property characteristics such as location, age, size, design, physical features, amenities, utility, condition, economic or functional obsolescence and conditions of sales. The amounts of adjustments shall reflect the values that the local real estate market places on the differences in the characteristics in question.
  • Address, in addition to matters required to be addressed by G.S. 93A-83 and other provisions of this section, a description of the comparable properties used in the analysis (including any unsold properties listed for sale or rent that were used as comparables), the adjustments made to the selling or leasing prices of comparable properties, local real estate market conditions, and each method used in deriving the estimate of probable selling or leasing price.
  • In connection with a BPO or CMA, an estimated probable leasing price may be reported by a broker as a lease rate and an estimated probable selling or leasing price may be reported by a broker either as a single figure or as a price range. When the estimated probable selling or leasing price may be reported by a broker either as a single figure or as a price range. When the estimated probable selling or leasing price is stated as a range and the higher figure is more than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the lower figure, the broker shall include an explanation of why the higher figure exceeds the lower figure by more than ten (10%) percent.

A copy of the proposed rule changes can be found here.

Source: http://ashevilleshortsales.com/blog/2012/08/nc-real-estate-commission-drafts-new-bpo-rules/

palmetto rob lowe sanctum the notebook duke basketball miranda july joe paterno near death

#fitness #exercise #workout #p90x #insanity #health after a week of ...

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

Source: http://con-workouts.blogspot.com/2012/08/fitness-exercise-workout-p90x-insanity.html

jenelle evans jenelle evans mlb 12 the show sabu google play franchise tag lesotho

Monday, August 20, 2012

Community mural to adorn Fisgard Street

Published: August 18, 2012 10:00 AM

A downtown Victoria shelter is inviting the community to help paint a 900 sq. ft. mural to beautify the neighbourhood.

Pacifica Housing, at 827 Fisgard St., will hold a ?$2 for 10? event throughout the day on Aug. 29, where aspiring artists will be given 10 minutes to contribute to the mural by donating $2.

?This is definitely a community project and we hope folks will drop by to watch and possibly participate as the mural progresses.? said Karyn French, executive director of Pacifica Housing.

Local businesses Home Depot, Garside Signs and Industrial Coatings are donating material, services and their time to the project as well.

The City of Victoria and Capital Regional District have also contributed to the project through their arts grant programs.

The completed mural will be unveiled sometime this fall.

?

'; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } google_ad_client = 'pub-9774721429222771'; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_ad_channel ='3389691084'; google_max_num_ads = '4'; google_feedback = 'on'; google_ad_type = 'text'; google_adtest = 'on'; google_image_size = '300x250'; google_skip = '3'; // -->

Source: http://www.vicnews.com/community/166597436.html

chrissy teigen chia seeds embers shannon brown mike rowe shld 2012 sec football schedule

MobileMondayMI: These Telecommuting Jobs Will Surprise You http://t.co/jzii6CUx

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

Source: http://twitter.com/MobileMondayMI/statuses/237245466650226688

kim zolciak kim zolciak quinton coples a.j. jenkins riley reiff david decastro travis pastrana

Washington Capitals and Elliot Segal ... - District Sports Page

Elliot Segal from the Elliot in the Morning show participates in the S.T.A.R.S. Playground at Hopkins-Tancil Court design day at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Alexandria, Va., on Wednesday, Aug. 15. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals and Elliot Segal Participate in Playground Design Day

ARLINGTON, Va. ? The Washington Capitals and mascot Slapshot, So Kids Can co-founder Elliot Segal from the Elliot in the Morning show, the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) and organizers from KaBOOM! hosted a playground design day for children at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Alexandria, Va., on Wednesday, Aug. 15. The Capitals and So Kids Can are partnering with KaBOOM! and ARHA to build a playground at the Hopkins-Tancil Court development in Old Town in September.

The new S.T.A.R.S. Playground will provide hundreds of children in the Alexandria community with a safe place to play. Currently the existing playground equipment is outdated, not wheel chair accessible and in need of replacement.

During the design session Segal, Slapshot and 40 children from the neighborhood sketched their dream playgrounds. Elements from their drawings will be incorporated into the final design of the new playground to be built by So Kids Can participants Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green, Brooks Laich and Segal along with 200 volunteers on Thursday, Sept. 13. The playground planning committee, which has been meeting since early January, will now have the next four weeks to finalize plans and prepare for the construction of the new playground and related side projects to create a unique family space.

Funds for the playground were raised through So Kids Can during the 2011-12 season. Capitals defenseman Green and Segal created the So Kids Can program in 2008 to benefit youth focused, nonprofit organizations. Last season Capitals forwards Backstrom and Laich also joined the cause.

The playground will be the second built by KaBOOM!, the Washington Capitals and So Kids Can. More than $75,000 was donated to KaBOOM! during the 2010-11 season to help build a Caps-themed playground at Associates for Renewal In Education in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Washington, D.C. That site now serves more than 600 community members.

Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority
The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) is a public agency that has established itself in Virginia as a leader in the provision, preservation and expansion of high quality affordable housing and the empowerment of low and moderate income families in the city of Alexandria. ARHA owns and manages 883 units of publicly assisted housing. Of this total number 713 are family assisted units with another 170 units for elderly and disabled individuals. ARHA also provides educational and career advancement opportunities to residents through social service programs in an effort to help residents on a path of self-sufficiency. Of the over 7,000 residents served, roughly 1/7th are children ages 4 to 17. Operating under the slogan of ?Building Community Partnerships? ARHA takes great pride in working with a diverse group of partners to deliver value added programs and services to residents. For more information, visit www.ARHA.us.

KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to saving play. Children today spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation, a fact that is having disastrous consequences on their health, achievement levels, and overall well-being. To fight this play deficit, social entrepreneur Darell Hammond founded non-profit KaBOOM! in 1996 in Washington, D.C. with a vision of creating a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since then, KaBOOM! has mapped over 89,000 places to play, built more than 2,100 playgrounds, and successfully advocated for play policies in hundreds of cities across the country. KaBOOM! also provides communities with online tools to self-organize and take action to support play on both a local and national level. Hammond chronicles the founding of the organization and the importance of the cause of play in his The New York Times Best Seller KaBOOM!: How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play. The book details how businesses and communities can work together to save play for children across the country. All author proceeds support KaBOOM!. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.

Washington Capitals mascot Slapshot interacts with children during the S.T.A.R.S. Playground at Hopkins-Tancil Court design day at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Alexandria, Va., on Wednesday, Aug. 15. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

The Capitals and So Kids Can are partnering with KaBOOM! and ARHA to replace the playground at S.T.A.R.S. Playground at Hopkins-Tancil Court in Old Town in September. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Source: http://districtsportspage.com/washington-capitals-and-elliot-segal-participate-in-playground-design-day/9848

post grad arpaio carol burnett neil degrasse tyson neil degrasse tyson davy jones death born this way foundation

An Unlikely Change Management Essential ? johnponders

Two companies merged, creating redundant jobs in most divisions.

One division manager called his people together and gave a gloomy speech that emphasized the number of people who would likely soon be fired.? The manager of another division also met with his people to share the realities; but he also was up-front about his own worry and confusion, and he promised to keep people informed and to treat everyone fairly.

The first manager saw his division sink as many demoralized people, especially the most talented, departed. The second manager retained his best people; his division remained as productive as ever.

? Adapted from What Makes a Leader? ?Harvard Business Review;? Daniel Goleman.? Rutgers Graduate School of Applied Professional Psychology.

Bad manager; good manager?? Happens every day, pretty much everywhere.? That?s life at work.? That?s business.

But business is personal.? Rational and emotional.? Logical and psychological.? Profits and people.

There is no denying the?affective domain of work.

One of the managers above gets this.? He may or may not have been trained in change and change management, but it is clear that he possesses the essence of really effective change management.

Empathy.

The first manager was too worried about his own fate to consider the feelings of his anxiety-stricken associates.? The second knew intuitively what his people were feeling, and he acknowledged their fears with his words.

When it comes to business, we rarely speak of empathy. ? The very word seems unbusinesslike, out of place amid the tough realities of the workplace.? Even more rarely do we hear of managers being praised, let alone rewarded, for their empathy.

And it?s not, I believe, because they are not capable.? Even in the most formal leaders, I see and hear empathy in breakfast meetings, over lunch, in parking lot conversations?

But it tends not to be exhibited in the office.? As if it would be perceived as a weakness.? Ironically, it really is just the opposite!

And when business managers are empathetic at work, with their people, in times of change, positive things happen.

Whatever the change management model, they all teach that with the right support people can move beyond fear and resistance.? They can cope; they will adapt; they do transition.

To get a handle on what the ?right support? is, empathy is essential.

Because business is personal ? rational and emotional ? logical and psychological.

And profits come through people.? And people must work through change.

And leaders must manage with empathy.

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

Source: http://johnponders.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/an-unlikely-change-management-essential/

frank gore nfl games jesus montero hiroki kuroda kuroda nfl scores nfl scores

62-year-old woman swimming strong in her attempt to cross the Florida Straits

Navigating shark and jellyfish-infested waters, an American woman is attempting to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida, unaided by a shark cage or wetsuit.

By Peter Orsi,?Associated Press / August 19, 2012

US swimmer Diana Nyad adjusts her swimming cap as a woman applies a protective ointment to her skin as she prepares to jump into the water and start her swim to Florida from Havana, Cuba, Saturday. Endurance athlete Nyad launched another bid Saturday to set an open-water record by swimming from Havana to the Florida Keys without a protective shark cage.

Ramon Espinosa/AP

Enlarge

American Diana Nyad endured several jellyfish stings as the 62-year-old endurance athlete sought to become the first person to swim unaided from Cuba to Florida without a wetsuit or a shark cage.

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'; // -->

A team member posted on Nyad's Twitter account that the American was steadily stroking onward early Sunday despite jellyfish stings to the lips, feet and legs. Her goal: to become the first person to set a record 103-mile (166-kilometer) unaided crossing of the Florida Straits.

"There are so many jellyfish," said one of the tweets, adding, "Diana is swimming backstroke right now leading with the cap-covered part of her head to minimize contact."

While sharks were among Nyad's concerns along with potentially treacherous currents and surprise weather changes, jellyfish that tend to surface at night were a worry, her team signaled. Another tweet said there were jellyfish particles everywhere in the water as Nyad swam through the night. The tweet added that "the backstroke is working!"

Nyad, who is less than a week shy of her 63rd birthday, jumped into the warm waters near Havana on Saturday in her latest bid to make the crossing since last summer, when first an asthma attack and then jellyfish stings forced her to abandon separate attempts.

Australian Susie Maroney used a cage when she swam across the Straits of Florida in 1997.

Just before departing Saturday afternoon, Nyad spoke of how the monotony and sensory deprivation of marathon swimming is most intense at night, leading the mind down contemplative paths.

"I do enjoy, when I stop in the middle of the night and I see the stars, you start thinking out there," she said. "It becomes very metaphysical. ... You're tired and you've been having this metronomic stroke taking you into a different world, all of a sudden you're out there and you're thinking about the meaning of life and the grandeur of the universe and the mystery of it all."

There will be less time for introspective breaks this trip, however, as shifting forecasts showed Nyad's window of flat, calm seas threatening to slam shut a day earlier than expected.

That forced the go-time to be moved up nearly 15 hours to Saturday afternoon instead of around dawn Sunday, a time that had been chosen to minimize Nyad's exposure to the jellyfish that tend to surface more at night.

A member of Nyad's team posted an initial message on her Twitter account late Saturday saying the swimmer had been stung on the neck by a Flower Hat jellyfish. The second sting was to the lips, a later tweet said.

The third and fourth stings, to the hand and forehead, came from box jellyfish, the more dangerous variety that frustrated her last attempt.

This time Nyad had hoped a custom-made swimsuit would protect her from stings. It covers her head-to-toe with a pantyhose face and holes only for the eyes, nose and mouth.

A kayak-borne apparatus shadowing her in the water creates a faint electric field designed to repel most sharks, and a team of handlers was on alert to dive in and gently nudge away any that make it through.

Deeply tanned with freckles and goggle-eyes from long hours training in the sun, Nyad admitted to a minor case of nerves before departing Saturday. But she sounded confident.

"I feel really excited," she said. "I respect this. I know how difficult it is. There's a reason no one's ever done it, but I'm prepared. ... I may suffer some, but I'm prepared for that, too."

Nyad has been training for three years, and Stoll said she had a good 24-hour practice swim last week.

"We are in peak shape," Stoll said.

Nyad's team expected it would take at least 60 hours to complete the swim to the Florida Keys.

In June, Australian endurance swimmer Penny Palfrey made it 79 miles toward Florida before throwing in the towel in the face of strong currents.

A fiercely driven competitor, Nyad acknowledged it was hard to watch Palfrey come close to snatching away her long-held goal.

"If she had succeeded I would have congratulated her, because I know how difficult it is, more than anybody. And after all, this is not my ocean," Nyad said. "But it is my dream. ... Frankly - how can I lie? - I'm glad that I still have the chance to be first."

Nyad also tried to swim the straits as a 28-year-old in 1978 with the aid of a shark cage, but fell short.

Speaking with reporters Saturday, Nyad would not rule out another attempt should this one fail, but she seemed to acknowledge that even she has a limit.

"This Cuba swim obsession of mine, dating back to 1978 ... is at the last horizon," she wrote in an essay published on the Huffington Post.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/e4Fy-pjcTTk/62-year-old-woman-swimming-strong-in-her-attempt-to-cross-the-Florida-Straits

bastille day breaking bad breaking bad food network star jeremy lin Sage Stallone Michael Clarke Duncan

Sword-wielding robber killed at Vegas Dairy Queen (Providence Journal)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/242030484?client_source=feed&format=rss

google goggles one tree hill projectglass stock act new york auto show khalid sheikh mohammed masters par 3

Break Free From Problem Skin By Following These Acne Fighting Tips

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

Source: http://www.twenty4seven365.com/2012/08/19/break-free-from-problem-skin-by-following-these-acne-fighting-tips/

marine helicopter crash chicago weather star jones wheres my refund photo of whitney houston in casket carrot top george huguely

Monday, August 13, 2012

The Best Ski Resorts For Hitting The Slopes

When you feel that itch you know it is time to look for ski resorts that can scratch it sufficiently. Sun and beach and all-inclusive deals are all fine and dandy, but you fancy yourself a bit of an adventurer and a year without speeding down a snow-covered hilltop is a year wasted in your book. So where to look and where to go?

The Mammoth Mountain

Just three hours outside of the greater Los Angeles area you can find this gem among mountains. They sport 150 trails and 214 skiable acres and the beauty of its surrounding are any other mountain hard-pressed to beat. And the best thing about it is that the sun is almost constantly shining. So enjoy the many slopes while soaking up all the sun you can handle.

Colorado Is More Than Just Aspen

Everybody keeps raving about Aspen as the IT-destination of the state, and it is within its rights, however there are a bundle of options available all through this ski-friendly state and it would be a shame if you never got around to checking them out.

The Keystone is one of those places, with beautiful, winding slopes. With a reputation for being family friendly, which they still are, not nowadays they have made increasing efforts of attracting the young.

The state also houses a lot of other different places, making them attractive to any skier no matter at what stage you find yourself in. Skiing can be used as enjoyable for the first-timer as for the experienced, even at the same destination, all it comes down to is finding the right one.

So head on out and hit the steepest trails available or just gently ski your way down a slope offering just the right amount of resistance.

Whistle Your Way To Whistler

One of the most famous places for skiing in north America is Whistler, in British Columbia Canada. Here as well you can find every type of skiing and accommodation that is right for you or you and your family. Here, skiing is just part of the fun, and with its worldwide notoriety the streets of Whistler is like walking on the skiing equivalent of the Hollywood walk of fame. You can feel the traditions and the pride in the air, and the after ski opportunities just keep coming at you.

Here you will find families walking side by side with trendy slope hot shots, and the range of restaurants and bars surely will offer something for everyone.

So you see there are plenty of places that can offer you another one of those life-time memories of a skiing vacation, with luxurious hotels and spa treatments working together to make your experience of ski resorts as enjoyable as it possibly can be.

About the Author:
This is an attempt to try to explain exactly what ski resorts are and the article lists some major ski resorts.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/The-Best-Ski-Resorts-For-Hitting-The-Slopes/4099703

mike adams janoris jenkins john edwards trial brandon weeden felicia day nfl 2012 draft st louis rams

Friday, August 3, 2012

Discovery Of 7,000th Amphibian Celebrated In Song

The website AmphibiaWeb celebrated the discovery of the 7,000th species of amphibian this week. The website is run by the University of California, Berkeley. Audie Cornish has more.

Copyright ? 2012 National Public Radio. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Now to a celebration. Well, it's actually more along the lines of...

(SOUNDBITE OF FROGS CREEKING)

CORNISH: Yes. Today, we, the warm-blooded, honor those who are not - namely, amphibians. That's because of the discovery of the 7,000th species of amphibian. A website called AmphibiaWeb at the University of California, Berkeley is keeping count.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "7,000 KINDS OF AMPHIBIANS")

CONNOR LOCKRIDGE: (Singing) From the slimiest frog to the tiniest toad...

CORNISH: Oh, and they wrote a song about it.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "7,000 KINDS OF AMPHIBIANS")

LOCKRIDGE: (Singing) ...to the larva which go by the name tadpoles to the Sicilian (unitelligible) wiggling in their holes to the giant salamanders that grow and grow. Most lay eggs. Their blood runs cold, but they're not lizards. No, no, no. Amphibians, amphibians. Seven thousand kinds of amphibians.

CORNISH: Well, the song is written and performed by a friend of AmphibiaWeb, Connor Lockridge, so in his rock star moments, he goes by the name The Wiggly Tendrils.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "7,000 KINDS OF AMPHIBIANS")

LOCKRIDGE: (Singing) ...back. Rhino derma (unintelligible), external gills on its head. (Unintelligible).

DAVID WAKE: You listen to it a couple of times and it sort of catches in there, doesn't it?

CORNISH: That's David Wake. He's the website's founding member and an expert on salamanders at Berkeley. By the way, for those keeping track at home, the 7,000th species of amphibian is called Centrolene sabini, a type of glass frog from Peru, but Wake says they've already surpassed that number.

WAKE: We have - oh, let me check AmphibiaWeb. We list the number of species. We're already up to 7,006.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "7,000 KINDS OF AMPHIBIANS")

LOCKRIDGE: (Singing) Seven thousand kinds of amphibians (unintelligible) your tail, secrete your glands. Seven thousand kinds of amphibians.

CORNISH: That's a lot of amphibians, but write a song about it? Seriously?

WAKE: Most people have positive feelings towards amphibians. Just think about "The Muppets," for example. You know, Kermit the Frog. They're kind of harmless, benign organisms that speak to our childhood. I remember the first time I found a salamander. I remember it to this day.

CORNISH: Man or muppet or amphibian, it's kind of sweet, actually.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE RAINBOW CONNECTION")

KERMIT THE FROG: (Singing) Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side? Rainbows are visions, but only illusions and rainbows have nothing to hide. So we've been told and conclude to believe it.

CORNISH: You're listening to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News.

Copyright ? 2012 National Public Radio. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to National Public Radio. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2012/08/02/157880479/discovery-of-7-000th-amphibian-celebrated-in-song?ft=1&f=1007

dallas fort worth tornado dallas tornadoes dallas weather nike nfl uniforms ben and jerrys free cone day tornado in dallas texas the island president

How To: Scope Out Your Business Competition Online - Internet ...

Last updated 13 hours ago

No matter the size of your business, it?s important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your closest competitors online. Especially since research shows that 66% of U.S. adults have used the Internet to aid in a purchase, a business? online presence is more valuable than ever.

If you don?t already know who your local business competitors are, you can conduct a search for your own products or services in your area to see what other businesses appear in the search results, check local listings, or even ask friends and family if they know of other nearby businesses similar to yours.? Then, once you determine who your top competitors are, here are a few places you can check to gauge their effectiveness online.

Website

Your competitors? website is a good place to start when assessing their Web presence. It will tell you many things about them, such as some of the keywords and phrases they are using to optimize their website copy for search, their main value proposition or key message, their featured products or services, and their target market. This can not only help you understand more about your business competition and what differentiates you, it can also help you compare your online marketing efforts. Is it easy to identify what they do within the first few seconds? What products or services do they offer? How are they similar to you, and how are they different? Are they promoting themselves more effectively than you are? Understanding these key factors can help you develop a marketing plan that will help you bring customers to your business instead of theirs.

Search Engines

Gauging your competitors? placement on search engines isn?t always an easy task, especially since algorithms are continuously changing. However, it can help your own search advertising strategy to see the results of your competitors? organic and paid search tactics. Keep in mind, it?s best to perform searches in a private browser so the search engine won?t take into account your browsing history and you?ll see generic results. Here are a few things to look for:

Shelf Space ? Search for a competitor?s business name online to see how much ?shelf space? ? or links on the search results page ? they own, and what type of content is displayed, such as their website, blog, videos, reviews,? and even text ads. Remember which local listings, social media sites, and content sites are displayed and compare them against the ones that show up when you search for your own business name.

PPC Ads ? To see what your competitors may be doing in paid search advertising, start by identifying a list of 5-10 top local keywords and searching for them on top search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing If your competitor is also bidding on their own business name in search advertising, chances are their paid search ad will show in the sponsored section of the search results when you search for their name as well. Bidding on your business name is a cost-effective way to quickly get your brand to appear on the search engine results page.?

Organic Rank ? Also look at the organic listings when you search for those local keywords, as well as the keywords you are optimizing your own site for. Where do your competitors rank in comparison to you? What kinds of content are ranking ? is it just their site, or do other content and social sites show up as well?

Reviews & Local Listings

Take note of your competitors? online reputation by looking at their reviews online. You can check out review sites like Google + Local, Yelp, Citysearch, or industry-specific sites and see how they are ranking compared to you

and if those sites are optimized for search. In addition, conduct a search for your competitor?s reputation terms, like ?Business Name Reviews? on a search engine and see what turns up. Do your biggest competitors have more reviews than you? Is their reputation overall positive or negative? Either way, you may want to start asking some of your happy customers to leave you reviews on some of these sites, so that when a consumer is researching both you and a competitor, your glowing reputation can speak for you online.

Social Media Sites

Another place you want to audit your competitors online is on social media. Start by looking for their Facebook page, Twitter profile, and Google Plus pages. Do they have these pages created and optimized? If so, what types of profile photos and ?about? information are they using to represent their brand? In addition, take a look at how many fans they have, how frequently they post on each social network, and what kinds of content they are sharing. It?s important to know the kinds of messages they are sharing and how often so you can determine what?s most effective for your business type. You can also use this information to create unique messages for your social fans that will set you apart from your business competition.

Content Sites

Content sites like a company blog, YouTube channel, or photo site, are also key ways businesses can boost SEO and engagement online. See which of these of these sites your competitors have created and which they are using to their advantage. What types of blogs, images, infographics, or videos are they sharing? Are they using relevant descriptions and keyword-rich tags? Because these types of content can rank well in search engines and provide backlinks to a business website, seeing which sites work for your competitors can help you decide the types of sites you want a presence on as well.

Now that you have a good idea about your competitors? Web presence, you can take this information into consideration for building your own online strategy. What tactics work well for them that you can try in your own marketing? What are you doing more efficiently than your competitors that you can focus on to give your online presence a boost?

Have you ever scoped out the competition online? What did you learn, and what did you do with the information? Share your thoughts in a comment!

Tamara?Weintraub?helps equip small business owners with information about local online advertising, social media, and content marketing as a writer for?the?ReachLocal?blog.

?

Related Articles

Source: http://www.5280internetcoach.com/512079/2012/08/02/how-to-scope-out-your-business-competition-online.html

super bowl 2012 soul train nevada caucus ufc 143 what time does the super bowl start ben gazzara nfl hall of fame 2012

Big 3 U.S. automakers post lower-than-expected July sales

(Reuters) - All three U.S. automakers reported lower-than-expected July auto sales on Wednesday as high U.S. unemployment and weak consumer confidence kept would-be buyers on the sidelines.

The largest U.S. automaker, General Motors Co, reported a 6 percent drop in July U.S. sales, while Ford Motor Co reported a 4 percent drop. Smaller U.S. rival Chrysler Group LLC posted a 13 percent increase.

Lack of job growth and confusion about government policy on tax cuts and spending tempered sales in July, said George Magliano, senior economist with IHS Automotive.

"It's the economy. There is no way around it," Magliano said. "In this kind of environment, it's very difficult for light vehicle sales to get any traction."

GM and Magliano forecast the annual auto sales pace would be between 13.8 million and 14 million in July. Analysts' average forecast was 14 million.

GM sold 201,237 cars and trucks last month. It said sales to consumers, which are more profitable, fell 3 percent, while fleet sales dropped 41 percent, in line with the company's expectations.

Ford, the No. 2 U.S. automaker, sold 173,966 cars and trucks last month. Ford attributed its sales decline to a 16 percent reduction in sales to fleet customers. Sales to consumers rose 2 percent.

Chrysler, majority-owned by Italian automaker Fiat SpA, sold 126,089 cars and trucks, its best July in five years.

Auto research firm Edmunds had expected GM to report 214,315 vehicle sales and Ford at least 175,791. Chrysler beat Edmunds' forecast for its sales but fell short of the Barclays Capital estimate of 129,453 vehicles and the RBC Capital Markets projection of 127,889.

U.S. auto sales for Japan's Nissan Motor Co rose 16.2 percent in July to 98,341. German automaker Volkswagen AG reported sales of 37,014, up 27.3 percent from a year ago.

Analysts had expected better financing deals, pent-up demand and increased construction spending to boost sales in July.

(Reporting by Deepa Seetharaman, Bernie Woodall and Paul Lienert; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and John Wallace)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chrysler-reports-13-percent-jump-july-auto-sales-124818600--business.html

grand jury ozzie guillen fidel castro darvish george zimmerman website edmund fitzgerald uss enterprise white house easter egg roll 2012

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Olympics: Gold for travel scaremongers? ? Business 360 - CNN.com ...

London (CNN) ? Did London 2012 Olympic organizers scare off too many people?

It started to occur to me last week that I was getting seats on trains and buses at times that I shouldn?t. I had the fastest commute home in 22 years. I beat my best by ten minutes and now compare myself to a certain female swimmer.

Transport For London (TFL) warned us for years that there would be a 20% increase in travel during the Games and that certain stations would be "exceptionally busy."

The crabby newspaper writers warned about so-called "Limousine Lanes" clogging traffic in London. These were set aside for those in the "Olympic Family" to get to venues and back to the Olympic Park. Taxis complained they could not use them.

The social media games?

I used one of these lanes on Monday (CNN has one car with the special pass) and there were few vehicles using it at the time and there were few cars in the other lanes.

Then, I got an email from a friend who owns a restaurant in Soho. "Where are the punters?" she asked. Her takings were down 30%. On top of that, after years of warnings, she booked night deliveries and bought extra refrigeration and paid for extra security to take these deliveries.

Michael Phelps cements position as all-time great

I can tell you the streets around the area are eerily quiet.

Companies prepared by renting sleeping pods and getting staff to take trains. Others told staff to work from home or take long holidays.

It worked. Too well.

So far, other than the usual train problems, London is working fine.

Shall we call it Y-2-12?

Think back to the late 1990s, and Y2K. That was?when people started to warn that older computers could not handle the date change from 12/31/1999 to 01/01/2000. Millions (billions?) of dollars were spent upgrading software or buying new gear to prepare.

I remember CNN deploying people to command bunkers for nuclear power plants in Japan to military installations in Colorado and giving updates throughout the night.

Little went wrong (apart from planes crashing in that wonderful Simpsons Y2K episode) and a lot of people made money scaring us into spending a lot of money to fix it.

Catching dope cheats at London 2012

West London traders are now pleading for visitors to leave the Olympic Park and come have a pint or meal around Regent St.

Shops are reminding us locals they are open and the tube is working fine, so far.

Given the ways of the British media, I know organizers would have been pilloried if they didn?t prepare for the worst, and athletes suffered from clogged roads and companies could not get vital supplies.

On Friday, when 80,000 people head for the stadium for athletics, maybe London?s Victorian transport system will start to strain.

Frankly, it may be time to stop calling it that. The (underused) overground is not that old and has new carriages; the Dockland?s Light Rail through East London has many new stations; the airports are modern and now well connected to public transport.

Given the first week, it will take a lot of simultaneous problems and the return of many locals in order to cause problems.

Let?s hope it does not happen.

I need to get to Gatwick Airport on Saturday.

Source: http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/01/olympics-a-gold-for-transport-scaremongers/

anchorman capybara duggars peter facinelli bobby rush supreme court justices 19 kids and counting