Emerging vector-borne diseases create new public health challenges

ScienceDaily (Nov. 30, 2012) ? West Nile virus, Lyme disease, dengue fever, and plague are examples of "vector-borne zoonotic diseases," caused by pathogens that naturally infect wildlife and are transmitted to humans by vectors such as mosquitoes or ticks.

According to Marm Kilpatrick, who studies the ecology of infectious diseases at the University of California, Santa Cruz, a broad range of human activities can affect the spread of zoonotic diseases. In an article in the December 1 issue of the British medical journal Lancet, Kilpatrick and coauthor Sarah Randolph of the University of Oxford describe how widespread land-use change, globalization of trade and travel, and social upheaval are driving the emergence of zoonotic vector-borne diseases around the world. The article is part of a special series of papers focused on emerging zoonotic diseases.

"This collection of papers offers a bridge between ecologists and clinicians whose combined efforts are needed to address the ongoing challenges of emerging zoonotic diseases," said Kilpatrick, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz.

Emerging infectious diseases can be roughly split between introduced and locally emerging diseases. Introduced diseases arise from the spread of a pathogen to a new location, as when West Nile virus arrived in New York in 1999 and subsequently spread across North America. Locally emerging diseases increase in importance in areas where they are endemic, as with Lyme disease in the United States over the past three decades. These two types of emerging diseases can differ markedly with respect to infection dynamics, or the number of cases over time, Kilpatrick said.

"Introduced diseases often cause a big spike in infections and then decrease substantially. Locally emerging diseases often show a steady, sustained increase," he said.

The movement of pathogens by global trade and travel results in the emergence of diseases in new regions. Once established, introduced pathogens often evolve to take advantage of their new environment, including new hosts and vectors. With so much of the landscape shaped by human activities, pathogens may thrive by infecting hosts and vectors that do well in humanmade environments.

"Increasing human population and the urbanization and agricultural intensification of landscapes puts strong selective pressure on vector-borne pathogens to infect humans and be transmitted by vectors and hosts that live around humans," Kilpatrick said.

Emergence of endemic vector-borne diseases can result from changes in land use, such as expansion of people into new habitats, or environmental changes affecting the wild animals that serve as natural hosts or the insect vectors that spread the disease to humans. Although vector-borne diseases are highly sensitive to climate, climate change does not appear to be a major driving force behind emerging diseases, the authors said.

"So far, climate change has been a relatively minor player compared to land use and socioeconomic factors in the emergence of vector-borne disease," Kilpatrick said.

Social and economic changes, ranging from economic downturns to displacement of populations by armed conflict, frequently precipitate disease outbreaks through their impacts on public health systems, sanitation systems, behavioral patterns, and uses of natural environmental resources. One example cited in the article is a large upsurge of tick-borne encephalitis after an economic downturn in eastern Europe resulted in more people harvesting food from forests.

The incidence of any vector-borne disease involves a complex interplay of multiple factors affecting animal hosts, vectors, and people. Kilpatrick and Randolph emphasize that control of these diseases requires combined efforts by clinicians and public health officials to treat patients, promote behavior likely to minimize the risk of infection, and advise on efforts to reverse the ecological drivers of transmission through vector control, urban planning, and ecological restoration.

Publication of the Lancet series coincides with an Institute of Medicine (IOM) symposium on Emerging Infections, Microbial Threats to Health, and the Microbiome, December 11-12 in Washington, D.C. The symposium marks the 20th anniversary of an influential 1992 IOM report on emerging diseases.

"Humans are altering the environment and moving themselves and other organisms around the globe at an ever-increasing pace," said Sam Scheiner, program director for the Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases program at the National Science Foundation (NSF), a joint effort with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). "That has led to a growing disease threat. These papers show how and why that's happening, and what we need to know to ease the disease burden."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of California - Santa Cruz. The original article was written by Tim Stephens.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. A Marm Kilpatrick, Sarah E Randolph. Drivers, dynamics, and control of emerging vector-borne zoonotic diseases. The Lancet, 2012; 380 (9857): 1946 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61151-9

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/kFn4ZbavZZw/121130151653.htm

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ZCorum to Showcase Managed Broadband Services at CeBIT Show ...

Alpharetta, GA (PRWEB) November 27, 2012

ZCorum, a leading provider of managed broadband services, will be exhibiting at the CeBIT Bilisim Eurasia 2012 International Trade Fair. ZCorums President, Julie Compann, along with Vice President of Business Development Arthur Skinner, will be on hand to demonstrate TruVizion, ZCorums broadband diagnostics software, as well as to answer questions about ZCorums other services, such as their hosted provisioning service for data and VoIP, and a new product that helps providers enforce broadband usage limits.

Were excited to be expanding internationally, and being at CeBIT will be a great opportunity for us to show what we have to offer, said Compann. ZCorum will be sharing a booth with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, a state organization dedicated to helping companies in Georgia expand domestically and internationally. They will be located in Hall 8 in booth # A28. We encourage any broadband providers who will be at CeBIT to stop by and see how we can make their broadband service better, said Compann.

About ZCorum

ZCorum is a premier provider of broadband Internet and communication solutions to telcos, cable companies, utilities, and municipalities, assisting in all facets of broadband implementation, integration, engineering and consulting, network monitoring and diagnostics. ZCorum also offers wholesale, private-labeled Internet services, including data and VoIP provisioning, email, Web hosting, and 24?7 support for end-users, enabling service providers to compete effectively in their local rural and suburban markets. ZCorum is headquartered in Alpharetta, GA. For more information, please visit http://www.ZCorum.com.

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Source: http://www.78hosting.com/hosting/?p=355

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Gene involved in lung tumor growth identified

ScienceDaily (Nov. 29, 2012) ? Lung cancer researchers at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz., in collaboration with researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute and other institutions, have identified a gene that plays a role in the growth and spread of non-small cell lung cancer tumors, opening the door for potential new treatment options.

The study, titled "Elevated Expression of Fn14 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Correlates with Activated EGFR and Promotes Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion," was published in the May 2012 issue of The American Journal of Pathology. Landon J. Inge, PhD, is the lead scientist in the thoracic oncology laboratory at St. Joseph's Center for Thoracic Disease and Transplantation and was a member of the study's research team.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and approximately 85 percent of these cancers are non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Patients with NSCLC frequently have tumors with mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. When activated, this mutated gene leads to tumor development and growth. By studying lung cancer samples from patients who had undergone tumor resection, the researchers discovered that many patients with EGFR mutations also exhibited higher than normal levels of the gene fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14). The researchers believe that activation of EGFR can lead to increased expression and activity of the Fn14 gene.

The research team also discovered that while over-expression of Fn14 enhances lung tumor formation and metastasis, suppression of Fn14 reduces metastasis in NSCLC.

"Our data suggest that Fn14 levels can contribute to NSCLC cell migration and invasion," says Dr. Inge. "Thus, tumor suppression through the targeting of Fn14 may prove to be a therapeutic intervention in NSCLC and other tumor types."

The Fn14 gene has been found to be elevated in other types of tumors, as well, including glioblastoma and certain types of breast cancer, suggesting that Fn14 may be a therapeutic target for multiple cancer therapies.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Timothy G. Whitsett, Emily Cheng, Landon Inge, Kaushal Asrani, Nathan M. Jameson, Galen Hostetter, Glen J. Weiss, Christopher B. Kingsley, Joseph C. Loftus, Ross Bremner, Nhan L. Tran, Jeffrey A. Winkles. Elevated Expression of Fn14 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Correlates with Activated EGFR and Promotes Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion. The American Journal of Pathology, 2012; 181 (1): 111 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2012.03.026

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/-5y1oM3L6bw/121129162154.htm

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Recreational Sport ? Steps to Follow When Choosing Your Leisure ...

How do you know which recreational sport is right for you? Though this is a simple question, it may not have a simple answer. Before answering this question, it makes sense to know the definition of a recreational sport. In simple terms, a recreational sport is any sport activity or event that one engages in during leisure time. In other words, it is a sport activity or event performed primarily for entertainment and fun. Though in some cases there may be monetary rewards associated with passtime sport, it is not usually the main goal. Other reasons associated with participating in a leisure activities includes: fitness, health, socialization, competition and sport support among others.

There are several options of leisure activities available for all age categories ranging from indoor to outdoor. Making the decision on which choice to pursue can be a real challenge and this varies significantly from one person to the other. For former professional athletes, the decision may be easier especially if they continue participating in their particular former professional sports (i.e. recreational level). The big task of choosing the right recreational sport is however on beginners. In order to make the right choice(s) if you are a beginner, it is important to consider the following general guidelines:

1. Choose a sport that you understand and are passionate about: Leisure sport in a way becomes part of your lifestyle and therefore needs to be entertaining and enjoyable. Choosing something that you don?t like or have no knowledge about can be frustrating even if your friends adore it. It only makes sense to pursue something that you know its rules and regulations. However, this does not mean one cannot learn a new sport or game, but it easier to do so if you love the sport.

2. Consider your goals and objectives: As mentioned above, there are different reasons that drive people into recreational sports. Choosing a sport that is in line with your goals, for example losing weight will only enrich the whole recreational experience. Some one looking for a recreational sport to aid in cutting down some extra body weight may benefit from running, jogging, walking, hiking or swimming among other high calorie burning sport activities as opposed to playing cards or video games. On the other hand somebody looking for a recreational sport that favors socialization may benefit from the latter.

3. Facilities, tools and equipment required: Different recreational sports may require different tools, facilities or equipment or in some cases may require none at all. These tools, facilities or equipment may also vary depending on the needs of every person. For example if you want to play golf for recreation, you will definitely have to purchase a golf club, balls and perhaps shoes. You will also need an available and accessible golf course to play. In some cases if you have more than one favorite recreational sport, you may have to choose what is more convenient based on availability of facilities. It makes more sense to go running at a nearby track especially if you get off work late in the evenings than having to drive for several miles to get to a golf course (i.e. if you like both golf and running).

4. Availability of time: Since a recreational sport is a pastime sport, choosing the right one may be dictated by how much free time is at one?s disposal. Some leisure sports are more time consuming than others. Additionally some of these sports must only be played outside. Where as some sports such as running, jogging, walking, playing tennis, playing basketball or swimming offers both indoor and outdoor options, some of them, for example playing golf, hiking, kayaking, surfing among other don?t. The more time one has, the more the options to choose from and the vice versa.

5. Seasonality: Though this may not be a big deal to people living along the equatorial line geographically, it definitely affects people living in areas with winter and summer climatic seasons. Some recreational sports such as those requiring snow may only be available during winter and only in some parts of the world. So if skiing is the only favorite recreational sport that one can participate in, it means there will be nothing to do for most of the year i.e. during the other seasons. When deciding on the right sport for recreation, it is advisable to have more than one option especially in a situation where one is affected by seasonal changes.

6. Number of participants required: Where as most sports require participation of more than one person at one time, some can be pursued individually. If your schedule does not allow group or team participation, choosing a recreational sport that will enable you to participate alone is a good idea. Jogging, walking, swimming, biking and running are great examples.

As mentioned earlier, this is not an exhaustive list of guidelines, but it is only meant to give you an idea of how to pick the best sport that will make your recreational life a success. Remember the bottom line is fun and entertainment.

Author: Philip Rotich

The author has masters in sports and leisure management. He is a former professional track and field athlete. He is currently pursuing Ph. D program as well coaching and counseling athletes and recreational sports individuals of all ages. For information visit Lose Abdominal Fat

Contents About : Recreational Sport ? Steps to Follow When Choosing Your Leisure Sport

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Why greenhouse gases hit record high in 2011

Carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas emitted by human activities, reached 390.9 parts per million last year, or 40 percent above the pre-industrial level, the World Meteorological Organization said. It cited fossil fuel as the primary source.

By Staff,?Reuters / November 20, 2012

This month, California?s largest greenhouse gas emitters began buying permits in a landmark ?cap-and-trade? system meant to control emissions of heat-trapping gases and spur investment in clean technologies. At left, an oil refinery o in Bakersfield, Calif.

(AP Photo/The Bakersfield Californian, Casey Christie/File)

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Atmospheric volumes of greenhouse gases blamed for climate change hit a new record in 2011, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin on Tuesday.

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The volume of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas emitted by human activities, grew at a similar rate to the previous decade and reached 390.9 parts per million (ppm), 40 percent above the pre-industrial level, the survey said.

It has increased by an average of 2 ppm for the past 10 years.

RECOMMENDED: Are you scientifically literate? Take the quiz.

Fossil fuels are the primary source of about 375 billion tonnes of carbon that has been released into the atmosphere since the industrial era began in 1750, the WMO said.

WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said the billions of tonnes of extra carbon dioxide would stay in the atmosphere for centuries, causing the planet to warm further.

"We have already seen that the oceans are becoming more acidic as a result of the carbon dioxide uptake, with potential repercussions for the underwater food chain and coral reefs," he said in a statement.

Levels of methane, another long-lived greenhouse gas, have risen steadily for the past three years after levelling off for about seven years. The reasons for that evening out are unclear.

Growth in volumes of a third gas, nitrous oxide, quickened in 2011. It has a long-term climate impact that is 298 times greater than carbon dioxide.

The WMO, the United Nations' weather agency, said the three gases, which are closely linked to human activities such as fossil fuel use, deforestation and intensive agriculture, had increased the warming effect on the climate by 30 percent between 1990 and 2011.

The prevalence of several less abundant greenhouse gases was also growing fast, it said.

Sulphur hexafluoride, used as an electrical insulator in power distribution equipment, had doubled in volume since the mid-1990s, while hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were growing at a rapid rate from a low base.

But chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and most halons were decreasing, it said.

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Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/j2ox4ZvcxUA/Why-greenhouse-gases-hit-record-high-in-2011

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IHeart Organizing: UHeart Organizing: Binder Bliss for Scrapbooking

A huge welcome to Sarah, who is back today to share more super organized and awesome scrapbooking/crafting tips!? Today, she is letting us peek inside the rest of her binders, and sharing why they work so well for her and her scrapping system!

I am so excited to be back at IHeart Organizing. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends.

During my last visit, I introduced you to my number one scrapbooking tool: my Inspiration Binder. I hope it provided you with some ideas on how to get started bring order to your own inspiration.

Last time, I promised I would talk more about the other binders that live on the shelf with my Inspiration Binder. My current collection includes 3 binders in addition to the Inspiration Binder: a binder to house my various stencils, one for embellishments and a final one for letter stickers.

The materials I used to create and gussy up my Inspiration Binder were the same for all four binders:

• Patterned craft paper
• Die cutting machine, sticker letters or stencils
• Paper cutter
• Xyron sticker maker
• Three-ring binders with sleeves on the front, back and spine
• Plastic page protectors
• Card stock or construction paper

Since my binders were all going to share the same shelf, I chose 4 different pieces of patterned paper that would coordinate with one another as well as the d?cor in my craft room. Each binder got a different piece of paper for its front, back and spine. The binder sizes varied based on how much content each would hold, so I had to custom cut each piece of paper to fit the specifications of its binder. But with a ruler and my handy-dandy paper cutter, I made quick work of each. Finally, I used my die cutting machine to cut out a definitive verb to label each binder?s spine, selecting solid colored card stock that coordinated with {and stood out from} the patterned paper on the spine.
Once everything was cut out, I used my sticker maker to adhere the letters to the appropriate spine. I then slipped the paper into the sleeves on the front, back and spine of each binder and popped them on their shelf. When not in use, these four friends add a bright and inspiring spot of pattern to my craft space.

While we all love pretty things, though, I?m sure what you?re really wondering is what?s going on inside those other three binders.

The Stencil Binder

The Stencil Binder was actually the original inspiration behind my love of organizing with binders. I was trying to figure out a better way to store ? and more importantly, promote use of ? my stencils, when I noticed that some of the stencils were pre-punched for a three-ring binder {so really, I can?t take credit for this idea all on my own}.

But then my bubble temporarily burst: what about all those small stencils that are too small to hole punch, even if I wanted to attempt to add the holes myself? Luckily, inspiration wasn?t too far behind. The larger stencils I inserted in my binder using their holes. For the smaller or more I awkwardly shaped stencils, I used plastic sleeves to store the them. I placed a piece of card stock in each plastic sleeve, which increased the durability of the sleeve while also creating two sides. This way, I could store even more stencils in each sleeve without creating a jumbled mess. When placing stencils in the sleeves, I store like items together. Stencils with similar fonts get stored in a sleeve together, while shapes and borders get their own sleeves.

Now, finding and using stencils is super easy. And added bonus: the stencils are kept in pristine condition, free of the folds and bends that were constantly plaguing me when I stored the more delicate stencils in a storage bin.

The Embellishment Binder

Once I had finished putting together my Stencil Binder, I excitedly looked around for other uses to which I could put my new binder system. And that?s when it hit me: embellishments!

If I purchased an embellishment for a specific purpose, it usually got used, no problem. But if I had purchased an adorable embellishment on a whim {come on, admit it, you do it, too!} without a designated project in mind or had embellishments left over from a project, they inevitably got put in a bin, never to heard from again. I needed a solution that would keep the embellishments both organized and top of mind. My new friend the binder provided the perfect solution.

My Embellishment Binder started out the same as all the other binders. I picked an appropriately sized three-ringer binder, filled it with plastic sleeves and inserted card stock into each sleeve to add heft and create two-sided storage. Since I had a fair number of embellishments and the dimensionality of the embellishments added some bulk to the binder, I selected a 2.5? one.

The interior of the Embellishment Binder was organized in a very similar fashion to the Inspiration Binder I shared with you back in October. The plastic sleeves were divided into the main categories of embellishments:

• Decoration
• Relationships
• Travel
• Nature
• Seasons
• Holiday
• Milestones
• Food
• Sports
• Home

Each category section was identified by a repositionable, write-on label, which I adhered to the first plastic sleeve in the section. These were the same labels I used in my Inspiration Binder. ? Where appropriate, I divided the plastic sleeves within each category into sub-sections, to ensure everything was organized in a way that made embellishments easy to find and visible enough that they would get maximum use. For example, the Milestones section was comprised of Wedding, Baby, Child and Accomplishments. To minimize the number of labels, I identified these sub-sections by stenciling the name of the section right on the card stock I had placed in the sleeve, rather than using the repositionable labels like I had for the category identifiers. By organizing my binder in this way, I was able to easily modify the binder over time, as the number of categories or sub-sections increased or contracted, without having to spend too much time on the updates. ??

The Letter Binder

I?m going to start to sound like a broken record now, but the organizational ideas I used in my Inspiration and Embellishment Binders were perfectly suited to one last solution: a Letter Sticker binder. The set up was the same: three-ring binder, plastic-sleeves stuffed with card-stock, repositionable labels.

This time, though, the binder was organized by color scheme:

• Black & White
• Brown & Tan
• Red
• Blue
• Green
• Orange & Yellow
• Pink & Purple
• Silver & Gold
• Multi-Color

?

Because letter stickers store relatively flat and my collection isn?t overly large, I selected a narrow binder, but of course, the size of your collection should dictate the size of the binder.

Because sticker sheets are often too large for the plastic sleeves or contain multiple colors, I take a scissors to them when necessary, cutting them down to size or dividing up the colors. I typically store a couple of sheets in each sleeve, so I can see what I have without having to pull all the sheets out.

What about my collection of adorable themed letters, you may be asking? Great question! I suffer from two serious afflictions ?clutterphobia and out-of-sight-out-of-mindness ? whose solutions tend to be in opposition to one another. If I store things away to kill the clutter, I forget I have them. But if I keep them on display, I go insane. You can see the problem. Therefore, the driving force behind all my crafting storage is to create solutions that will keep my space clutter-free while also ensuring that all of my supplies get used. So while I have a designated storage solution for letter stickers ?my Letter Binder ? I actually store my themed letters in my Embellishment Binder.

Before you decide I don?t know a thing about organization and storm away from your computer in disgust, hear me out. I used to, logically, store all my letter stickers in my Letter Binder. But I would find that unless I specifically planned to use letter stickers in a particular layout, I would forget those themed letters were in there until it was too late. But I always skim through my Embellishment Binder when working on a scrapbooking layout or card, to determine if I have an embellishment that is perfect for the specific craft project. So now I keep themed letters stored in the appropriate section of the Embellishment Binder. For example, I have some adorable animal print letters in the Nature section of my Embellishment Binder, patiently waiting for the perfect layout before being liberated. Now my themed letters get used with equal regularity to their color-coded counterparts in the Letter Binder.

With the advent of personal die cutting machines, many of you may have found that your supply of store-bought embellishments and letter stickers has significantly dwindled, now that you can create your own. I know mine have. But as a result, I find the binder solution to be even more essential. Because there are fewer of them and I reach for them less often, keeping stencils, embellishments and letter stickers organized and close at hand ensures I still use these solutions often and therefore infuse greater variety into my crafts.

There you have it. My love affair with binders has now been revealed. But there is one more secret to share. As I mentioned in my last post, there is one more reason to love binders, aside from their storage versatility. They travel well. When I am on the go, my binders slip perfectly into my travel case, like they were made to be travel companions.

{I plan to share more about my traveling secrets in a future post}.

I hope this binder confessional has given you a few ideas on how you can corral your craft clutter and bring those delightful accoutrement like stencils, embellishments and letter stickers to the light of day again. What brilliant uses have you put binders to recently? Do you have any bright new ideas on how you can reinvent the binder?

I look forward to being back with some new ideas in the new year. In the meantime, our furry little children, Hermes and Bronte, wanted to wish you a happy, crafty holiday season.


"My name is Sarah Eelkema and I live in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN with my husband of almost two years, Eric, and our two adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Hermes and Bront?. I am a Communications Consultant by day and by night/weekend/any spare moment, I indulge in my passion for writing, crafting and organizing. I am honored to share with all you dedicated iHeart fans my tips, tricks and secrets for organized crafting, which will not only help you get control of your craft clutter but also allow you to make more efficient and productive use of your precious crafting time. While I am blessed with an entire craft room, I promise to explain how all the solutions I share can be tailored to your specific situation, whether it be a dedicated room, a small storage space or mobile crafting. In the meantime, Happy Crafting!"

Source: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2012/11/uheart-organizing-binder-bliss-for.html

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PCQuest : Enterprise Solutions : Airtel has helped TowerVision to ...

Airtel has helped TowerVision to deploy cost-effective managed telecom services across 18 offices which handles 8500 sites

The national level tower asset management company adopted Bharti airtel's network infrastructure to reduce cost, improve communication, and honor its business commitments.

Binesh Kutty & Anil Chopra

Friday, November 30, 2012

While Indian wireless telecom operators are increasing their reach across the country by rolling out wireless infrastructure, it is the tower asset management companies like TowerVision who have to ensure maximum competitiveness by assuring maximum sharing and reduced cost of network expansions to these telecom players. TowerVision provides passive infrastructure to wireless telecom players by facilitating their long term operational needs. The company acquires, develops, maintains and manages assets of telecommunication towers-all while maintaining the highest of standards. The company provides 24x7 preventive and breakdown maintenance and technical support, uninterrupted power supply, service level efficiency and a centralized fault management system.

Business Challenges Faced

The company grew to become a nationwide player in a short spam of 6 years, and faced a lot of challenges to sustain the momentum. These include:

Erratic Communication: TowerVision has 18 offices and 19 warehouses across all the country. Ensuring consistent communication between offices is key for company's success, for which the company needed a communication service provider with national presence.

Losses due to lack of communication: Though TowerVision has 18 offices, its team members work across 8500 sites. In case of weak connectivity or no connectivity, the company had to bear losses due to lack of communication. The company wanted to ensure proper communication among its spread out team via audio-video conferencing facilities, which require higher bandwidth.

Difficulty finding 24x7 customer support: TowerVision has adopted a 'non-linear' business model, wherein, they possess lesser manpower, but aim at higher productivity. They were looking for a communications provider, who would ensure 24x7 technical support without any delay.

Couldn't find a single solution provider to cater to all needs: The company did not want to take different services from different service providers, which would involve dealing with different Service Level Agreements (SLAs), customer care representatives and different cost structures. Along with having nationwide presence, TowerVision was looking for a communication service provider who would offer various solutions like Internet connectivity, audio-video conferencing facilities, baseline connectivity and PRI solutions in one comprehensive package.

TowerVision had approached two vendors to streamline its communications, who carried out their operations at three to four locations. The company had faced problems getting continued connectivity and support. We were not getting continued connectivity or 24x7 support. There were different service level agreements with each player, with different metrics. It was not easy to maintain different SLAs and metrics for each service, nor was it cost effective, as it required setting up different infrastructures, IT setups, and configurations. For all this, we needed more manpower, said Sandeep Kumar, Senior Manager IT, TowerVision India Pvt. Ltd.

The Solution

After assessing all major communication services providers, TowerVision decided to partner with airtel, as it offered every solution in a single package.

Initially, TowerVision deployed airtel's services in some of its locations, because it wanted to assess solutions from other vendors as well. Soon, it discovered that the other vendors did not meet all of its requirements, so the company decided to go for all the services and solutions from airtel alone.

According to Kumar of TowerVision, airtel offered the best network infrastructure, and the most secure MPLS connectivity (certified by Cisco). Bharti airtel has optical fiber connectivity spread across across the country's landscape. TowerVision is now able to avail airtel's solutions and services in every location that it's carrying out its business operations.

Page(s)???1??2??

Source: http://pcquest.ciol.com/content/enterprise/2012/112113001.asp

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Make The Most Of Jason Witten Jersey Your Online Advertising and ...

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How to spot a buried fuel oil tank

If you're buying an old house in the Twin Cities with pipes sticking out of the ground in your yard, heads up. ?You might have an oil tank somewhere at the property. ? While the vast majority of homes in the Twin Cities are heated with natural gas, there is still a small percentage of homes in the metro area that are heated with fuel oil, and far more properties with abandoned oil tanks.

When a home gets converted from fuel oil to natural gas, the fuel oil tank becomes abandoned. ?Once the tank is abandoned, it needs to be dealt with.

When tanks are abandoned

If the tank is buried, it needs to be removed or filled in place ?If a fuel oil tank is left buried, it could eventually leak. ?A leaking underground storage tank (LUST) can contaminate the soil as well as the home, creating an environmental hazard that can cost a ridiculous amount of money to clean up. ?You can visit the?EPA's web site on LUSTs?for more info.

When a tank is located inside the house but not buried, it needs to be properly disconnected, and sometimes removed. ?A fuel oil tank takes up a large amount of room, so most people choose to have them removed, but requirements vary from city to city. ?For example, once a fuel oil tank is abandoned in Minneapolis, it needs to be removed from the property. ?This is written in to their?Truth-In-Sale of Housing?Evaluator Guidelines under item #25. ?The guidelines state:

"The evaluator shall determine if there are any abandoned fuel oil tanks. If found, mark as?RRP?or?RRE. A licensed contractor must properly remove them. (A permit is not needed if the tank is less than 200 gallons.). (Per Uniform Fire Code Sec. 79 and Mpls. Code 48.145)"

Another option for an abandoned fuel oil tank is to stick it out in your front yard and paint it like a cow. ?You might think I'm kidding, but I've seen it done more than once.

Clues to a buried fuel oil tank

The easiest way to identify a potential buried fuel oil tank is to look for a fill pipe and vent pipe at the exterior of the home. ?Sometimes the pipes will go through the foundation wall of the home.

Sometimes they just go down in to the ground.

When fuel oil tanks are removed, the fill and vent pipes need to be removed or cut off and filled with concrete. ?If you find pipes sticking out of the ground or foundation wall like the ones shown above, it probably means one of two things: either the tank is still there, or it was removed by a hack. ?No professional oil tank removal contractor is going to leave the vent and fill pipes looking like that.

According to Dean Nething of Dean's Tanks, there were many 'erroneous deliveries' that happened during the 60's and 70's, where one house address got confused with another. ?About once a year, a basement would get contaminated with hundreds of gallons of fuel oil. ?In every one of these cases, the contamination was so bad that the fuel oil company, Standard Oil, had to buy the property so they could tear it down and dig out the basement. ?This is why the fill pipes?always?need to be removed when the tank is removed.

When the pipes are right next to each other like in the photos above, there's a good chance that the fuel oil tank is (or was) located inside the house or under the house. ?When the pipes are separated from each other, there's a very good possibility that there's a buried fuel oil tank in the yard. ?The photo below came from a house in Minneapolis - these pipes led to a 1,000 gallon tank buried in the yard.

Here's another example - the fill and vent pipes were located in the front yard behind some bushes at a home in Edina. ?These innocuous, nearly hidden pipes led to an enormous buried tank in the front yard.

There are a few diagrams floating around online that show an?indoor?style of tank buried in the ground, like the big green one that I showed at the beginning of this post. ? Those indoor style of tanks are extremely unusual to find buried - or according to Dean's Tank, "once in a blue moon". ?The vast majority of buried tanks look a lot more like big drums, like the ones shown below. ?These photos are courtesy of Dean's Tank.

Here's another example of pipes sticking out of the ground leading to a buried oil tank in the yard. ?In this particular case, the fill pipe had a cap that could be opened. ?I stuck my tape measure down the pipe, and it came out soaked in fuel oil. ?It smelled like fuel oil for the next two weeks, despite my half-hearted efforts to clean it off. ?Fuel oil has a strong odor, and takes a long time to go away. ?It's easy to understand how a leaking tank can create such a nasty problem.

The person buying this home had the sellers remove the tank; here's what the site looked like after the tank was removed.

What to do if you suspect a buried oil tank

If you suspect a buried oil tank, call?Dean's Tank, Inc.? They've been specializing in fuel oil tank removal / abandonment in the Twin Cities for over 25 years. ?If a fuel oil tank has been professionally removed from a property, there's a good chance that this was the company that did it. ?To determine if a fuel oil tank is present, they'll come out and do a site inspection for $200.

Dean estimates his company has removed between ten and twenty thousand?tanks. ?The cost of removing a buried fuel oil tank varies greatly from property to property, but costs will typically range from $2,000 to $3,000. ?Having a tank filled in place typically costs just a little bit less.

According to Dean and?Minnesota Real Estate Attorney?John Braun, some homeowners may qualify for free oil tank removal by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, but certain conditions apply. ?You can read more about this program in the first link included at the end of this post under 'Useful Links'.

Buried Fuel Oil Tanks and Home Inspection Standards

Home Inspection Standards of Practice specifically state that buried fuel oil tanks are not something that home inspectors are required to inspect. ?Here's some SOP language from different home inspection organizations:

• ASHI: ?Inspectors?are NOT required to?inspect:?underground items including, but not limited to underground storage tanks or other underground indications of their presence, whether abandoned or active.
• NAHI:?The inspector is not required to record location of any on-site visible fuel tanks within or directly adjacent to the structure.
• InterNACHI:?The inspector is not required to inspect fuel tanks or underground or concealed fuel supply systems.

Does this mean that if a home inspector sees obvious clues that a buried fuel oil tank is present, they should keep their mouth shut? ?Heck no. ?A buried fuel oil tank is important to know about when buying a house. ?If a home inspector has enough experience to suspect a buried fuel tank, they should say so, even though they're not?required?to.

?

Useful Links:

?

Source: http://activerain.com/blogsview/3534862/how-to-spot-a-buried-fuel-oil-tank

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Factory owner: I didn't know fire exits needed

Boxes of garments lay near equipment charred in the fire that killed 112 workers Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory,on the outskirts of Dhaha, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of them ? Wal-Mart ? had been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. (AP Photo/Ashraful Alam Tito)

Boxes of garments lay near equipment charred in the fire that killed 112 workers Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory,on the outskirts of Dhaha, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of them ? Wal-Mart ? had been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. (AP Photo/Ashraful Alam Tito)

A Disney brand sweater lays among equipment charred in the fire that killed 112 workers Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory, on the outskirts of Dhaha, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of them ? Wal-Mart ? had been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. (AP Photo/Ashraful Alam Tito)

Walmart's Faded Glory label is seen on a piece of clothing laying among equipment charred in the fire that killed 112 workers Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory, on the outskirts of Dhaha, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of them ? Wal-Mart ? had been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. (AP Photo/Ashraful Alam Tito)

A Disney brand sweater lays among the equipment charred in the fire that killed 112 people Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory, on the outskirts of Dhaha, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of them ? Wal-Mart ? had been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. (AP Photo/Ashraful Alam Tito)

A piece of clothing with a label referring to German brand KIK as the buyer lays among equipment charred in the fire that killed 112 workers Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory, on the outskirts of Dhaha, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of them ? Wal-Mart ? had been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. (AP Photo/Ashraful Alam Tito)

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) ? The owner of a Bangladesh clothing factory where a fire killed 112 people says he was never informed the facility was required to have an emergency exit, a sign of how far removed the leaders of the nation's garment industry are from issues of worker safety.

"It was my fault. But nobody told me that there was no emergency exit, which could be made accessible from outside," factory owner Delwar Hossain was quoted Thursday as telling The Daily Star newspaper. "Nobody even advised me to install one like that, apart from the existing ones."

"I could have done it. But nobody ever suggested that I do it," said Hossain, who could not be reached for comment by The Associated Press on Thursday.

Activists in the South Asian country hope the tragedy will invigorate their lengthy ? but so far fruitless ? efforts to upgrade safety standards and force stronger government oversight of the powerful industry.

The Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory in a Dhaka suburb was making clothes for Wal-Mart, Sears, Disney and other major global retailers. When a fire broke out over the weekend, many of the 1,400 workers were trapped inside the eight-story building because exit doors were locked. A fire official said the death toll would have been much lower if the factory had had an emergency exit.

Police said they were interrogating three factory managers on possible negligence charges. Workers said as they tried to escape the fire they found exit doors were locked.

An AP reporter who visited the damaged factory Wednesday found three stairways but no special fire exits.

Hossain, a former accounts manager at another garment factory, set up his own clothing business, Tuba Textiles Mills Ltd. in 2004. The Tazreen factory was one of a dozen owned by his company.

Workers interviewed by the AP have expressed support for Hossain, and describe him as a bearded man in his 50s who usually wears white clothes. Worker Mohammad Rajib said he is a "gentle man" who gave them raises and fired some managers after workers protested against low pay and abuse.

"He did not sack any worker. He told us: 'You are my people, if you survive, I will survive,'" Rajib said.

The factory employed about 1,400 workers, most from a poor region of northern Bangladesh and about 70 percent of them women.

Labor Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju said that factories without emergency exits ? or with only one such exit ? will be forced to close until they upgrade their safety infrastructure. It was not clear when and how that directive will be enforced.

Nazma Akhter, president of the Bangladesh Combined Garment Workers Federation trade union, called for the arrest of the factory's owners and management to send a message to the industry as a whole.

"There should be a criminal case against them. It could stop the recurrence of such incidents," she said.

In 2001, Bangladesh's High Court directed the government to set up a committee to oversee the safety of garment workers after a similar fire in a factory killed 24 people. But that directive was never implemented, and more than 300 people have been killed in garment factory fires since 2006.

"It's unfortunate that the government has ignored the directive. Had the government complied with it there would have been fewer accidents, I believe," said Sultana Kamal, executive director of Ain O Salish Kendra, a legal and human rights group that had petitioned the court for the ruling.

Government officials did not respond to calls for comment.

An Associated Press reporter at the factory discovered children's shorts with Wal-Mart's Faded Glory label, hooded sweat shirts emblazoned with Disney cartoons, shorts with hip-hop star Sean Combs' ENYCE tag, and sweaters from the French company Teddy Smith and the Scottish company Edinburgh Woollen Mill. Sears was among the companies listed in the account books.

Wal-Mart said it received a safety audit that showed the factory was "high-risk" and had decided well before the blaze to stop doing business with Tazreen. But it said a supplier had continued to use Tazreen without authorization. The retailer said it stopped doing business with the supplier Monday.

Sears said it learned after the blaze that its merchandise was being produced there without its approval through a vendor that has since been fired. Walt Disney Co., which licenses its characters to clothing makers, said its records indicate that none of its licensees have been permitted to make Disney-brand products at the factory for at least a year.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association fears the repercussions if Western companies pull out of the country's $20 billion a year garment business. Wal-Mart alone buys about $1 billion of garments here.

"It's the time of solidarity, not to go away. Wal-Mart should come forward to resolve existing issues through discussion and an attitude of partnership," said Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, president of the trade group. "Otherwise, what will happen? Manufacturers would lose orders, workers will lose their jobs. This could create another complicated situation. For whose interest? None will benefit from it."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-11-29-Bangladesh-Factory%20Fire/id-9d6349c194ab460eb68f82a8eb3d7667

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Stocks climb on hopes for 'cliff'-skirting deal

Stocks?rose in afternoon trading Wednesday?on signs that the US may avoid the 'fiscal cliff' after all. 'Fiscal cliff'?concerns have weighed on stocks since the election.

By Steve Rothwell,?AP Business Writer / November 28, 2012

In this November 2012 file photo, James Dresch of MND Partners Inc. works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. With the market's attention focused on the outcome of the 'fiscal cliff' negotiations, some investors caution that the weakness in third-quarter corporate earnings bode poorly for the stock market.

Henny Ray Abrams/AP/File

Enlarge

Stocks?gained on signs that lawmakers are edging toward a deal that would help the U.S. avoid the "fiscal cliff."

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Indexes shrugged off an early loss and rose in afternoon trading Wednesday. The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 106.98 points, or 0.8 percent, at 12,985.11. It had been down as much as 112 points in early trading.

The Standard and Poor's 500 was up 10.99 points at 1,409.93. The Nasdaq composite rose 23.99 points to at 2,991.78.

Huge tax increases and spending cuts will come into effect Jan. 1 if no deal on the U.S. budget is reached. Economists say the measures could push the country back into recession. President Barack Obama said he believed both parties can reach a "framework" on a debt-cutting deal before Christmas, while House Speaker John Boehner told reporters that he was optimistic a deal could be reached, according news outlets including CNBC.

Craig Johnson, a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based technical market strategist at Piper Jaffray, said lawmakers realize that there is too much at stake to allow the deadline to pass.

"I don't think that anybody in Washington is going to do something so draconian, or so negative, that we're going to trigger a recession," Johnson said. "There will be some compromise."

Concern that the U.S. will go over the fiscal "cliff" has weighed on?stocks?since the Nov. 6 elections returned a divided government to power, with President Barack Obama staying in the White House and Republicans retaining control of the House.

Uncertainty about a possible increase in capital gains taxes has been prompting investors to sell?stocks, said Johnson.

As the third-quarter corporate earnings period draws to a close, investors and traders have become increasingly fixated on the negotiations to cut the budget deficit. Before Wednesday's gain, the market slumped Tuesday after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he was frustrated by the lack of progress in talks. The two moves canceled each other out, leaving both the Dow and the S&P 500 little changed for the week.

"We're all on pins and needles waiting for every bit of news, or rumors, coming out of Washington," said Ryan Detrick, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based technical analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research. "That's what Wall Street is focused on. Everybody is watching the fiscal cliff."

Many companies are making special end-of-year dividend payments or moving up their quarterly payouts because investors will have to pay higher taxes on dividend income starting in 2013, unless lawmakers reach a compromise on taxes and government spending.

Costco, the wholesale club operator, surged $6.07 to $102.58 after the company said it would pay a special dividend of $7 a share next month, in addition to its regular quarterly dividend. Las Vegas Sands Corp. rose 5.3 percent Tuesday after the casino operator said it would distribute about $2.26 billion to shareholders before the end of the year. It rose another 1.3 percent Wednesday, gaining 60 cents to $49.96.

With the market's attention focused on the outcome of the "cliff" negotiations, some investors caution that the weakness in third-quarter corporate earnings bode poorly for the?stock?market.

"Think of corporate earnings as the canary in the coal mine," said Douglas Cote, chief market strategist at ING U.S. Investment Management. "Corporations are the first ones to signal that there is something going on with economic growth around the world."

Company earnings fell 0.9 percent in the third quarter, data provider FactSet said in a report Nov. 23. If they earning finish the period lower, it would mark the first decline in three years.

In economic news, U.S. sales of new homes dipped 0.3 percent in October, though they're up 20.4 percent for the year, according to a government report. Stable home prices suggest the housing market is steadily recovering.

A pickup in consumer spending and steady home sales helped lift economic growth in October and early November in most parts of the United States, the Federal Reserve said in its Beige Book survey released Wednesday. The one exception was the Northeast, which was slowed by Superstorm Sandy.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.63 percent from 1.64 percent.

Among?stocks?making big moves:

? Green Mountain Coffee Roasters surged $7.91, or 27.3 percent, to $36.86 after the beleaguered coffee company reported strong fourth-quarter results and issued earnings and revenue forecasts that far exceeded the market's expectations.

?Fresh Market Inc. plunged $7.46, or 12 percent, to $52.78, after the company's fiscal third-quarter profit fell short of analysts' expectations.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/TMR8BU2Ak1Y/Stocks-climb-on-hopes-for-cliff-skirting-deal

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Keiji Inafune: 'Gaming Technology Has Become Too Advanced ...

Specs and technology in gaming has 'become too advanced', according to former Capcom legend Keiji Inafune

Inafune was talking to Play magazine about Soul Sacrifice, a third-person action title for Vita with a concept he created. Play asked what it was about Soul Sacrifice than energised Inafune as a games designer.

"In the 25 years of gaming history that I have witnessed, there have been many technological revolutions and evolutions in the creation of games," Inafune replied. "However, recently the specs and technology have become too advanced, and I feel that the element of surprise is lost.

"When thinking about the next level of creativity, I thought that I could implement emotion in to the game system, such as 'emotional conflict', 'doubts' and 'the suffering of having to make the ultimate decisions' therefore taking a challenge with Soul Sacrifice that no-one has taken before."

It's an interesting time to make those comments, given the Wii U has just launched and the rumbling from Xbox 720 and PlayStation4 is growing louder by the day. But is Inafune right?

For more on Soul Sacrifice including the full interview with Inafune, check out issue 225 of Play, which features more from Pachter plus Jesse Divinich and his thoughts on Sony's next console. Play issue 225 is on sale now in both print and half-price digital editions.

?

Source: http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1700979/keiji_inafune_gaming_technology_has_become_too_advanced.html

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Brad Pitt calls spoof of his Chanel ad 'fair play'

Andrew Kelly / Reuters

Brad Pitt at a screening of the film "Killing Them Softly" in New York on Monday, Nov. 26.

By Jesse Spero, Access Hollywood

Brad Pitt might have raised a few eyebrows -- and been the butt of a few jokes -- with his Chanel No. 5 ad, but the actor is standing by the spots.

Access Hollywood?s Michelle Beadle sat down with the actor at the junket for his latest movie, ?Killing Them Softly,? where he spoke candidly about the perfume campaign.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie

?I?ve been overseas, so I?ve been blissfully protected,? the 48-year-old actor said when asked about people?s reactions.

?I haven?t [seen the parodies], but I say absolutely fair play, fair play,? Brad continued.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Then & Now: The Lovely Angelina Jolie!

Despite the ad?s random and off-the-wall feel, the actor told Access he enjoyed the final product.

?I kind of liked it ... I respect what they do,? he said of the fashion house. ?They do some really quality things.?

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hot Shots Of Brad Pitt!

Brad might be proud of his Chanel ad, but when asked if he could identify the scent on the street, the actor was less confident.

?That I can?t,? Brad said.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Oscars? Red Carpet Dreams: Brad Pitt & George Clooney At The Academy Awards

For his latest role, Brad had to do something he put behind him -- smoking -- something he?s quit and started doing again and again.

"[I?ve quit] several times, I?m really good at it," he said about lighting up again for the role where he plays an enforcer in the Andrew Dominik-directed movie, which Brad also produced.

?It?s great, it?s great,? he said of having to smoke in the movie. ?But you have to know that you?re going to have to quit on the other end and that that ugly day is coming, so you over enjoy it I guess.?

The actor was glad to leave the habit on the big screen.

?I very conscious of health now and I want to be around for my kids, I don?t have that drive anymore,? he said. ?I don?t crave it all.?

?Killing Them Softly? hits theaters on Nov. 30, 2012.

Related content:

More on Brad Pitt:

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2012/11/27/15489357-brad-pitt-calls-spoof-of-his-chanel-ad-fair-play?lite

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Continental Coal commences production from Penumbra mine in South Africa

EBR Staff Writer Published 28 November 2012

South African thermal coal production, development and exploration company Continental Coal has achieved first thermal coal output from its Penumbra Coal Mine in the country.

Underground operations at the mine add to the two other operating thermal coal mines of the company.

Continental CEO Don Turvey said that first coal production from the Penumbra Coal Mine is a significant milestone for the company after 14 months under development.

"Penumbra will soon be making its first export thermal coal sales and generating its first cashflow," Turvey added.

"It is set to be a long-life and low-cost operation which should generate significant and sustainable returns for shareholders."

Hosting reserves of 5.4 million tons and resources of 68.3 million tons, the Penumbra mine is projected to generate 750,000 tons of ROM coal a year over an initial 10 year mine life at nearly $57 a ton.

Coal from the mine will be transported to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal by rail and sold under existing off-take agreements, with export sales scheduled for December 2012.

Source: http://coal.energy-business-review.com/news/continental-coal-commences-production-from-penumbra-mine-in-south-africa-281112

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ChannelAdvisor reports faster holiday sales growth on eBay

'Tis the season of giving, and a grocery-store owner is doing just that. Joe Lueken, who owns and manages two grocery stores in Bemidji, Minnesota, and one in Wahpeton, North Dakota, is retiring at age 70. Instead of selling his stores to the highest bidder, though, he will transfer ownership to the stores' 400 or [...]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/channeladvisor-reports-faster-holiday-sales-growth-ebay-175200006--sector.html

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Goodnight Mister Tom, Phoenix, London

Published Wednesday 28 November 2012 at 10:31 by Susan Elkin

Originally staged at Chichester Festival Theatre last year and then toured, this show has matured and developed. A 1940s wartime reworking of the Silas Marner story in which a battered, abused evacuee and a curmudgeonly old man, who has been shut away by grief for 40 years, are thrown together. Love, based on kindness, gradually develops between Tom Oakley (Oliver Ford Davies) and Willie Beech (Ewan Harris at the press performance) and they heal each other.

Ford Davies plays Tom as a man with dignified common sense and it?s a treat to hear him working in an r-rolling Dorset accent instead of the voice he normally uses for archbishops and other figured of educated authority. Ewan Harris gives a moving, thoughtful account of the initially terrified, later more relaxed Willie especially in the scenes when he is summoned back to London by his deeply troubled, double-thinking, cruel, irrational mother, nicely played by Aoife McMahon. William Price (one of three boys in the role) is a delight as the ebullient, irrepressible Zach. Sammy the full size dog, who snuffles, whines, paws and woofs, is engagingly puppeted by Elisa de Grey.

There are some pretty weepy episodes in this well-paced show but it stops short of sentimentality, confronting as it does death, both natural and otherwise, child abuse and religious intolerance without being didactic and including lots of witty bits and fine ensemble work. Few people will forget the moment when Ford Davies is in a London air raid shelter en route to find Willy. The shelter is full but there is complete stillness and no sound except the rumble of bombs overhead and Sammy?s puzzled, distressed whimpering. Dramatic magic.

Production information

Phoenix, London, November 27-January 26

Author:

Michelle Magorian, adapted by David Wood

Director:

Angus Jackson

Producers:

Fiery Angel, Ambassador Theatre Group, Fiery Dragons, The Children's Touring Partnership

Cast includes:

Oliver Ford Davies, Louise Collins, Elisa de Grey, Emma Drysdale, Bradley Hall, Joanne Howarth, Aoife McMahon, Freya Parker. Georgina Sutton, Alan Vicary, Jonathan Warde, Osmund Bullock

Running time:

2hrs

Production information can change over the run of the show.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~3/DhXk7OQt7W0/goodnight-mister-tom

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Use These Tips To Learn How To Deal With Commercial Real Estate

There are a number of motivations that can drive you toward commercial real estate investment. You will have your own personal reasons and they should be based on the education you have. As with most things in life, the key to getting the most out of the commercial real estate market is to gather as much information as possible. Hopefully these pointers will help guide you in the right direction to expand your knowledge base of commercial real estate while maximizing your profits.

Those who invest in commercial real estate should be aware that higher-than-usual inflation can wreck and otherwise-good investment. The days when leases used regular adjustments to protect you against inflation are over. With the way things work today, take precaution because this type of contract is extinct, which leaves you a lot more vulnerable when it comes to losses as a result of inflation.

Look at the surrounding neighborhood before you decide on purchasing a specific commercial property. Affluent neighborhoods tend to have residents with larger budgets, making a commercial real estate property in such an area is a great choice. Or, if you are offering a service particularly attractive to the less wealthy, you should purchase in a less well-to-do area.

If you are renting out your property, be sure that they are always occupied. If you?ve got open spaces, then the person will end up paying for maintenance and upkeep. You need to ask yourself why properties are not getting rented and fix any issues you discover.

Learn how to spot a good deal and when to seize it. Experienced real estate professionals can spot a good deal from a mile away. Their secret is their exit strategy, meaning they know when it is time to walk away. This secret helps them recognize damage that needs repair, they understand how risks are calculated and they are able to use a calculator in order to ensure that their needs are financially met with a particular property.

Always ask how a broker negotiates, before hiring him or her. Ask how they were trained and how much experience they have. You want to ensure that the broker has good ethics, and is capable of obtaining the best deals possible. Request evidence of previous negotiations, both successes and failures.

Consider the economy in the area you?d like to buy real estate in before investing there. Homes that are located near schools, hospitals and other major employers are assigned a higher resale value.

Don?t ever underestimate the value of the relation between you and lenders, be them private or investors. For example, commercial real estate commonly sells without being listed. However, the larger your network, the greater your savvy, and the more likely you are to be informed about outstanding opportunities.

A variety of kinds of commercial property real estate brokers exist. Full service brokers work with both landlords and tenants and there are agents representing tenants only. If you hire a broker that only deals with tenants you may be better off, they are more experienced.

Every prospective real estate purchase should include thorough onsite inspections; it is equally important to verify the inspectors? credentials. This guideline is especially important when working with people who deal in pest management; these specific fields are often populated by practitioners who lack proper credentials. This can avoid future problems after the sale.

Keep the smaller issuer for later on in your negotiations and the larger ones first, when you write a letter of intent. This will help to reduce some of the tension in initial negotiations and will also make gaining agreement on some of the smaller issues much easier.

Another factor to be aware of when shopping for property to rent or lease is who pays for pest control. If you are renting a space that has known vermin problems, be sure to find out exactly who is responsible for pest control.

You must absolutely confirm that your real estate?s asking price is realistic. A wide variety of factors exist that influence how valuable your lot actually is.

Check the company?s reputation for customer service before you deal with them. If you work with a company that only cares about its own profits, you might lose money on preventable mistakes.

Line up a number of financial partners, including friends, family and professional lenders, to make sure you have the wherewithal to buy commercial real estate. When you set up contracts with these partners, aim either to have a fixed rate of interest for your repayment or to simply make them co-owners of a certain percentage of the property.

When purchasing commercial real estate, always keep your goals in mind. Will you be utilizing this property for yourself, or do you intend on renting it out? Be sure that you have goals that are specific and clear when you look for commercial property, as this can save you plenty of effort and time.

Advertise your property for sale locally and outside your region. Don?t be mistaken by the thought that locals will be the only people interested in your sale. There are many private investors who buy property outside of their area if the price is affordable.

Regarding commercial loans, it is the borrower?s responsibility to obtain an appraisal. The bank won?t let you use one not ordered by you. Spare yourself further hassle by initiating the request yourself.

Put your energy toward one investment at a time. You should focus on a certain investment type, such as office buildings, apartment complexes, buildable land or retail properties. Each type deserves and requires undivided attention. You will see larger profits when you master one form of investment rather then spread yourself too thin across many others.

It is important to know how to deal with emergency maintenance. One way to develop such a list is to ask current commercial investors who they use in the event of an emergency repair. Always keep this important contact information at hand, including average turnaround times. Use the information from your landlord to prepare an emergency plan to protect your reputation and customer service for the times when your normal business flow is disrupted.

If commercial property is something you?re thinking about investing your time and money in, take the tax advantages under consideration. As an investor, you might receive interest deductions as well as depreciation benefits. Phantom income also exists: this type of income does not cover cash benefits but is taxed. Prior to investing in commercial real estate, you should familiarize yourself with this form of income.

As previously mentioned, you may want to invest in the commercial real estate market for a variety of reasons. However, no matter what your reason may be, you need to be knowledgeable about the subject. Just put the strategies you just learned into practice, and your yearly returns will climb into the double digits surprisingly quickly.

One thing that can throw commercial investors for a loop are dramatic changes in interest rates over time. The economy makes it likely that a good loan today could be gone tomorrow, so it?s likely that an investor who waits too long to close a loan could end up having to pay much higher rates. Keep this in mind when looking for property, and consider the long term options that you have.

Doing your best with More Information all begins with the basics. If you were looking for information about More Information , you found just what you needed. If you take the time to really understand the information in this article, you will experience the success to prove it.

Source: http://www.davidstanleyredfern.com/general-news/use-these-tips-to-learn-how-to-deal-with-commercial-real-estate

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Find your dream DIY wedding hair with How-to Hair Girl

For those of you that have been paying attention, How-to Hair Girl, has regularly been giving us amazing DIY hair-style videos and inspiration. She's even got hair love for our grooms! For those that are all, "Wuh? DIY wedding hair? That's a THING!?," we're here to officially introduce you to our lovely sponsor, Roxie from How-to Hair Girl.

Roxie is about to revolutionize your wedding hair?

Roxie Hunt is a hair stylist, business owner, and full-time mom who got her start doing hair in Seattle. Her How-to Hair Girl site caters to DIY brides who want style, empowerment, and budget-friendly options.

People need to know that they don't need a lot of money, skill, products, or people telling them how to be, to have good hair. There are other options. This is where I come in. My plan is to provide a comprehensive educational blog dedicated to teaching and empowering people to do their own hair themselves, do their friends and loved ones hair, and make their own educated decisions regarding their hair. I want to create a resource and outlet for people to ask questions, watch videos, share ideas, and gain the confidence to experiment.

How-to Hair Girl is full of easy-to-follow, step-by-step tutorials on haircuts, colors and styles for men, women, and children. This means TONS of hair tips, tricks, and inspiration for the DIY bride! Y'all should definitely click over and check out these sections first:

Those categories include super-helpful posts like "Make a statement with floral hairstyles fit for a DIY bride." My two favorite styles being the ones pictured above.

You know what's also cool about How-to Hair Girl? It's not just for wedding hair. You can get inspiration and tutorials for how to make your every-day-hair awesome. Like how to master braided hair. There's also a category for vintage styles, tutorials for curly hair, and the ever-elusive styles for short hair brides.

You can do this hairstyle YOURSELF!? My mind is blown in the most perfectly coiffed way. If you'd like to keep up to date on all the news that Hair-to Hair Girl has to offer, including new DIY hair tutorial releases, you can like 'em on Facebook, or head over to the website and get your perfectly-coiffed wedding hair on.

About Megan Finley

Megan Finley is the Associate Publisher for the Offbeat Empire. When she's not slaving away for the Empire, she's sharing her dork side on her own blog and on Twitter @meganfinley.

Source: http://offbeatbride.com/2012/11/diy-wedding-hair

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