Win A Mountain Bike: Children's 'Create A Recipe' Competition ...

With thanks to Jenny Oelman.

Aberdeen Sports Village with the support of Hydrasun have a variety of children?s sports clubs and activities, both recreational and competitive.

These will result in more children being active and help Aberdeen produce some future star athletes.

The Sports Village needs your help to contribute in making a snack or meal recipe that will give our young athletes the food they need to compete and be generally active.

A selection of the recipes will be specially selected to feature in their very own book, which will then be sold to schools and the general public.

The two overall winners in each category of primary and secondary aged children will each win a mountain bike.

The competition is open to schoolchildren from P1 to S6.

The closing date for entries is 20th December 2012.

• Your recipe must have a name or title
• Aberdeen Sports Village reserves the right to modify the recipe.
• Mountain bikes will be awarded to one primary aged winner and one secondary aged winner.
• A number of recipes will be selected to feature in an Aberdeen Sports Village recipe book.
• Recipes do not have to be original.

Contact Aberdeen Sports Village Linksfield Road, Aberdeen AB24 5RU.

Tel: 01224 438900
Email: info@aberdeensportsvillage.com
www.aberdeensportsvillage.com

Related posts:

1. Available Spaces On ASV World Sports Tour
2. Women?s Football: Aberdeen Hosts Scotland V Cameroon
3. Schools Christmas Table Tennis Competition 2012
4. Sports Village Welcomes 1.7million Users In Three Years
5. Outstanding Achievement Award For Sports Village Member

Source: http://aberdeenvoice.com/2012/11/win-a-mountain-bike-competition/

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Gilda's Club name change insult to late comedian?

Paintings imagining comedian Gilda Radner in recognizable locations in Madison hang on the wall inside the cancer support group Gilda's Club Madison on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2012, in Middleton, Wis. The Madison-area chapter of the national group is the latest to change its name to the Cancer Support Community, a move its director said was necessary because young people don't know who Radner was. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)

Paintings imagining comedian Gilda Radner in recognizable locations in Madison hang on the wall inside the cancer support group Gilda's Club Madison on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2012, in Middleton, Wis. The Madison-area chapter of the national group is the latest to change its name to the Cancer Support Community, a move its director said was necessary because young people don't know who Radner was. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)

In a May 4, 2012 photo Bonnie Hanson polishes furniture in the "Baba Wawa" room at Gilda's Club in Middleton, Wis. The Madison-area chapter of the national cancer support group Gilda's Club is the latest affiliate to change its name, saying many no longer know who comedienne Gilda Radner was. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, M.P. King.)

FILE - In this Sept. 27, 1983 file photo, actress and comedienne Gilda Radner holds up copies of her book, "Roseanne Roseannadanna's "Hey, Get Back To Work," at a New York bookstore. The Madison, Wis.-area chapter of Gilda's Club is the latest to change its name to the Cancer Support Community, a move its director said was necessary because young people don't know who Radner was. (AP Photo/Suzanne Vlamis)

A framed image of comedian Gilda Radner hangs on the wall inside the cancer support group Gilda's Club Madison on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2012, in Middleton, Wis. The Madison-area chapter of the national group is the latest to change its name to the Cancer Support Community, a move its director said was necessary because young people don't know who Radner was. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)

A June 8, 2012 photo shows the exterior of Gilda's Club in Middleton, Wis. The Madison-area chapter of the national cancer support group Gilda's Club is the latest affiliate to change its name, saying many no longer know who comedienne Gilda Radner was. (AP Photo/The Capitol Times, Michelle Stocker.)

MIDDLETON, Wis. (AP) ? Remember Roseanne Roseannadana? Or Emily Litella? Or Baba Wawa?

Younger generations might not recognize the characters popularized by comedian Gilda Radner. Nor might they remember Radner herself, an original cast member of "Saturday Night Live" who died 23 years ago and for whom a national cancer support group is named.

That's troubling to the Madison-area chapter of Gilda's Club, which decided to change its name in part because of concern that many don't know who Radner was. But the move prompted outrage from some Radner fans ? who saw it as a slight to a woman who confronted cancer with dignity and humor ? and led other chapters across the nation to hastily reaffirm they have absolutely no intention of changing their names.

Lannia Syren Stenz, the Madison-area club's executive director, said her organization decided to change its name to Cancer Support Community Southwest Wisconsin after it realized that most college students were born after Radner died in 1989.

"We are seeing younger and younger adults who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis," Stenz told the Wisconsin State Journal. "We want to make sure that what we are is clear to them and that there's not a lot of confusion that would cause people not to come in our doors."

Her comments angered some Radner fans, who let loose a storm of criticism on the organization's Facebook page.

"The only educating you're doing is teaching kids that when they die from cancer, their name will be erased from history in 20 years because the next generation doesn't know who they are. Way to give them hope!" wrote Mark Warneke, 44, a full-time college student in Arlington, Texas.

He told The Associated Press that taking Radner's name off the foundation was an insult to her memory.

Stenz referred questions from the AP to Linda House, executive vice president of the national group. House said there was no evidence that young people are unfamiliar with Radner and the name change was motivated by the desire to make the organization's mission clear. She called Stenz's comments "not accurate, period."

"Gilda Radner is very much a part of the fiber of this organization," House said. "There has never been an intent and there is no intent to lose Gilda as part of the organization."

Stenz's club held a ceremony Thursday to mark the name change, which will be phased in over the next month.

Radner, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1986, sought support from The Wellness Community in California and wrote about her experience in her book "It's Always Something," a reference to one of her characters' catch-phrases.

Her friends and family started Gilda's Club in 1991 on the East Coast to honor her legacy. The name was inspired by something Radner said after her diagnosis: "Having cancer gave me membership in an elite club I'd rather not belong to."

Gilda's Club Worldwide merged with The Wellness Community in 2009, and the joint headquarters in Washington changed its name to the Cancer Support Community. Local chapters were given the choice of keeping their names or switching to Cancer Support Community, House said.

The 56 chapters around the world deliver $40 million a year in free care to about 1 million cancer patients and their families, she said. Of those chapters, 20 are known as Gilda's Club, three are Wellness Community and 23 are Cancer Support Community.

Changing the chapters' names made sense to Ron Nief, a professor at Beloit College in southern Wisconsin who has made a career out of studying how different generations view the world differently. He said it could become harder for Gilda's Club to attract donations as fewer people remember seeing Radner on TV.

"I think we all want to keep our traditions alive," he said, "but there comes a reality in this case of what does this group represent and how do we raise money for it."

Radner's husband, actor Gene Wilder, said he didn't like the name change but he understood it. He said if he had to break the news to his late wife she might ask, "Do they have to throw me out?"

"I'd say, 'It's not throwing you out, honey, it's getting more money.' And she'd say, 'OK, I guess if they have to, they have to,'" he said. "It's too bad. I wish it weren't so. But I understand."

The Wellness Center where Radner once sought support in Los Angeles was one of the groups that updated its name. Julia Forth, the marketing director of what's now called the Cancer Support Community Benjamin Center, said people who get sick Google the word cancer, so it helps to have that word in the name.

Other organizations were adamant about keeping the Gilda's Club name. LauraJane Hyde, who runs the Chicago chapter, said her group has spent 15 years teaching people that Radner's name was synonymous with cancer support, in the same way people know what Starbucks sells even though "coffee" isn't in its name.

"A lot of people feel very passionately about the name," she said. "We will lose donations if we change it."

Radner remains a strong presence at the Madison-area club even without her name on the building in the suburb of Middleton. Paintings and drawings of Radner line the walls. One depicts her on top of Madison's state Capitol. Another imagines her sitting along the shores of Lake Mendota on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

The meeting rooms are named after her Saturday Night Live characters, including New York-street smart reporter Roseanne Roseannadana, out-of-sync editorialist Emily Litella and speech-impeded talk show host Baba Wawa, a parody of Barbara Walters.

___

Ramde reported from Milwaukee and can be reached at dramde(at)ap.org. Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner contributed to this report from New York. Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sbauerAP .

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-11-30-Gilda's%20Club-Name%20Change/id-19688b569f0d47f9bd8bfa166bbc7200

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Chinese police plan to board vessels in disputed seas

BEIJING/MANILA (Reuters) - Police in the southern Chinese island province of Hainan will board and search ships which illegally enter what China considers its territory in the disputed South China Sea, state media said on Thursday, a move likely to add to tensions.

The South China Sea is Asia's biggest potential military trouble spot with several Asian countries claiming sovereignty over waters believed to be rich in oil and gas.

The shortest route between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, it has some of the world's busiest shipping lanes. More than half the globe's oil tanker traffic passes through it.

New rules, which come into effect on January 1, will allow Hainan police to board and seize control of foreign ships which "illegally enter" Chinese waters and order them to change course or stop sailing, the official China Daily reported.

"Activities such as entering the island province's waters without permission, damaging coastal defense facilities and engaging in publicity that threatens national security are illegal," the English-language newspaper said.

"If foreign ships or crew members violate regulations, Hainan police have the right to take over the ships or their communication systems, under the revised regulations," it added.

Hainan, which likes to style itself as China's answer to Hawaii or Bali with its resorts and beaches, is the province responsible for administering the country's extensive claims to the myriad islets and atolls in the South China Sea.

The Philippines, which also has claims to parts of the South China Sea, said the move could violate international maritime laws allowing the right of passage and accused Beijing of trying to escalate tension in the area.

"That cannot be. That's a violation of the international passage (rights)," Marine Lieutenant-General Juancho Sabban, commander of military forces in the western Philippines, which covers the contested area.

"That's too much. While we are exerting all peaceful means, that is what they are doing."

Raul Hernandez, a spokesman for the Philippines' Foreign Ministry, was more circumspect, saying the government was still checking the reports.

"If it is true, it will pose a concern to the Philippines and the international community," he added.

In Washington, U.S. military officials said the report mentions only police in Hainan province, not military forces, so the intended scope of the policy is not clear.

Hainan's policy was unlikely to affect the behavior of U.S. vessels operating in international waters, said the officials.

"As a Pacific power, we have a national interest in freedom of navigation, in unimpeded economic development and commerce, and the rule of law," Rear Admiral John Kirby, a Navy spokesman.

"Freedom of navigation is essential for any maritime nation. And it applies to all of them, everywhere," he said.

The United States is a security ally of the Philippines.

Rex Robles, a retired senior Philippine naval officer and security analyst, said China was just testing the reaction.

"Those warnings are not directed at us. They might be trying to find out how far the United States would react because this could affect freedom of navigation in one of the busiest sea lanes in the world. If this is an official policy announced by Beijing, this is very serious and a cause of concern."

U.S. China expert Bonnie Glaser said the Chinese "believe they are using different elements of Chinese power very effectively ... and they feel that anything that is not using force, that is under that bar, is acceptable - including economic coercion against the Philippines."

"They look at the U.S. and say 'the U.S. is not going to risk a confrontation with China over these issues.' In some ways, they are calling the U.S. bluff," said Glaser, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

China has said in the past it will respect freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and that it has no intention of trying to restrict access to the area's vital shipping lanes for legitimate vessels.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said his government, which says it will brook no outside interference in its sovereignty claims, was perfectly within its rights in allowing police to board vessels in the South China Sea.

"Management of the seas according to the law is a sovereign nation's legitimate right," he told a daily news briefing.

China's assertion of sovereignty over the stretch of water off its south coast and to the east of mainland Southeast Asia has set it directly against Vietnam and the Philippines, while Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also lay claim to parts.

China occasionally detains fishermen, mostly from Vietnam, whom it accuses of operating illegally in Chinese waters, though generally frees them quite quickly.

The China Daily said that the government will also send new maritime surveillance ships to join the fleet responsible for patrolling the South China Sea.

The stakes have risen in the area as the U.S. military shifts its attention and resources back to Asia, emboldening its long-time ally the Philippines and former foe Vietnam to take a tougher stance against Beijing.

China has further angered the Philippines and Vietnam by issuing new passports showing a map depicting China's claims to the disputed waters.

(Additional reporting by Michael Martina in BEIJING and David Alexander and Paul Eckert in WASHINGTON, Editing by Jonathan Thatcher and Sandra Maler)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chinese-police-plan-board-vessels-disputed-seas-001626842.html

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Historical Society Expanding

SAVANNAH, Ga.? ? ?

The Georgia Historical Society has received a $500,000 grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation that will go toward plans to renovate and move into a three-story antebellum mansion next to the society's library and archives in downtown Savannah. The renovated space will be used for executive offices and a new education center. (Photo Courtesy of Georgia Historical Society.)

The nonprofit group dedicated to preserving Georgia's history is moving a big step closer to expanding its Savannah headquarters for the first time in 40 years.

The Georgia Historical Society has received a $500,000 grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation that will go toward plans to renovate and move into a three-story antebellum mansion next to the society's library and archives in downtown Savannah.

The renovated space will be used for executive offices and a new education center while retaining the character of the 1856 home.

Historical society officials say more money is needed to fund the project, but the grant brings it significantly closer.

The Georgia Historical Society has been collecting, preserving and sharing documents and records chronicling the state's history for nearly 175 years.

Source: http://www.gpb.org/news/2012/11/29/historical-society-expanding

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4 Simple Ways to Trim Home Heating Bills | Boston Homes Prime ...

(NewsUSA) ? Heating and cooling are the most expensive utility bills, and they consume the most home energy. According to the Department of Energy, heating your home generally makes up over half of a home?s utility cost.
In fact, we spend so much money on staying warm that some homeowners will try uncomfortable tactics to save a few bucks ? like manually turning down a thermostat more than 10 degrees every night so they wake up in an ice box.
But there are legitimate ways to save money and stay comfortable while preparing for the changing weather. Check out four easy ways to trim bills while efficiently heating your home.
* Equip windows with necessary fortifications. Good Housekeeping Magazine estimates drafty windows add anywhere from 10 to 25 percent to your heating bill. So, open blinds during the day to soak up heat from the sun, and close them at dusk to keep the warm air inside. Drapes, weather stripping and caulking all help block drafts.
* Consider installing a vent-free gas heater, log or fireplace. Unlike other heating systems, vent-free gas products waste barely any energy ? they deliver 99 cents worth of heat for each dollar spent on energy bills. Install these attractive appliances in areas where the family spends most of their time while reducing the central heating thermostat, and save substantially on overall home heating costs. These products provide emergency heat during power outages as they require no electricity (www.ventfree.org).
* Install programmable thermostats. There are enough things to remember in a day, and turning the thermostat up or down shouldn?t be one of them. Programmable thermostats can be set to automatically pump less heat during the day when no one is home, or at night when everyone is asleep.
* Close the vents in unused rooms. If entire rooms are going largely unused, close the door and the vents to save energy. This can reduce your heating expenses while redirecting heat to rooms your family uses most often.

Source: http://wickedlocalbostonhomes.com/2012/11/boston-real-estate/4-simple-ways-to-trim-home-heating-bills/

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Now, police detain Palghar boy over Facebook post against Raj Thackeray

They say once bitten twice shy, but this adage clearly does not hold true for the Palghar police.

After facing much flak over the arrests of two girls, they have now detained a 19-year-old boy for posting an "abusive" Facebook status against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, based on a complaint by workers of MNS. Cops said they are questioning the boy to verify if he had indeed posted the status himself or if someone else hacked into his ID.

Police officers said that they are being cautious about their approach in the fresh complaint for status messages on a social networking site, as they do not want to go to the same extreme like in the case of Shaheen Dhada, the 21-year-old girl who was arrested along with her friend for questioning the shutdown of the city over the death of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

The 19-year-old was detained after a complaint was filed by Kundan Sankhe, president of Thane rural unit of the MNS, alleging that the boy had made "abusive" comments about Raj Thackeray. The boy was brought to the police station by a mob of MNS supporters.

Meanwhile, Palghar remained on tenterhooks throughout Wednesday over the bandh called by the Shiv Sena in support of the policemen suspended for arresting the two girls last week. People chose to stay indoors and schools and colleges remained closed.

The state had deployed 500 police officers and had the Rapid Action Force on standby to avert any crisis situation.

Source: http://indiatoday.feedsportal.com/c/33614/f/589699/s/260f61fc/l/0Lindiatoday0Bintoday0Bin0Cstory0Cnow0Epolice0Edetain0Eboy0Eover0Eobjectionable0Efacebook0Ecomment0Eagainst0Eraj0Ethackeray0C10C2351210Bhtml/story01.htm

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Sensational Home Staging Blog: No Gimmicks ? Just Staging - We ...

No Gimmicks ? Just Staging - We are not a ME TOO industry

I was watching ?What Women Want? recently - great movie from Mel Gibson?s heyday ? and one of the slogans he and Helen Hunt come up with for Nike was, ?No Games. Just Sports.? It got me thinking. With Staging ? there are so many ?sister? industries sticking a toe into what we do that I am concerned that the public may not be fully aware of what is really needed to sell their house.

Do we really want to be a ?ME TOO? industry where

anyone can claim to be a specialist in Home Staging?

What industries am I talking about?
1. Decorating

2. Interior Design

3. Feng Shui

4. Professional Organizing

I have respect for people that are trained in these areas but they are not professional Home Stagers.

To me someone that is a professional has training and knowledge about the industry they serve ? Real Estate ? and knows where the lines are drawn between these stand-alone industries. This is not to say that someone that has a business in the areas above can?t Stage ? I just believe wholeheartedly that they need to get educated about what Staging principles are so that they are providing true Staging ? not applying the principles of their specialty industry without understanding what the goals are for Staging a house ? because that does not serve the client in the best way and the outcome is not going to be what the client wants or deserves.

And they are NOT the same as Home Staging.

Just because they THINK they know what to do ? does not mean they do ? and I have seen enough ?staged? houses by non-professional "stagers" to know it is becoming a major issue for our industry. If we don?t address it now ? our industry will be watered down, we will lose money to these ?ME TOO? people, and the purity of Staging will be lost.

Let?s take a look at how they differ from pure Home Staging.

Home Staging:

Definition:

a) Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace, regardless of location or condition. It is using the seller?s timeframe and budget to prepare their house for sale so it appeals to the most buyers, sells faster and at the best price.

The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money. Staging techniques focus on improving a property's appeal by transforming it into a welcoming, attractive product that anyone might want. Staging involves depersonalizing a home to make it a house that any buyer can envision themselves living in, and create a broad buyer appeal. It is also a method for protecting the Seller and their family as their house is being marketed to the mass public. The house can still have warmth and pizzazz with things that add color but the goal is to sell the house.

Now, as you read these definitions below ? ask yourself, ?Do any of the definitions (found online) say the words, ?real estate? or ?prepare a house for sale????

1. Decorating:

Definition:

a)Make (something) look more attractive by adding ornament to it.

b).Provide (a room or building) with a color scheme, paint, wallpaper, etc.

Decorating is the service of dressing up a home ? it is all about personalizing the home for the people that live there. When selecting paint colors or decorative treatments there is no thought to a buyer and what they would like to see in the home because these people are not selling. So, when a Decorator sticks a toe into Staging their focus is naturally going to be on the ?stuff? versus the space.

2. Interior Design

Definition:

a)The art or process of designing the interior decoration of a room or building.

interior design - the trade of planning the layout and furnishings of an architectural interior that may include architectural layout, lighting, painting and furnishing a home or commercial building.

b) the branch of architecture dealing with the selection and organization of furnishings for an architectural interior

Interior Design is also about personalizing the interior of a home or building. Interior design is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive.

3. Feng Shui

Definition:

a) (in Chinese thought) A system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi).

b) The Chinese art or practice of positioning objects, especially graves, buildings, and furniture, based on a belief in patterns of yin and yang and the flow of chi that have positive and negative effects.

According to feng shui websites by feng shui practitioners, The aim of feng shui is to create a living and working (and dying ? feng shui is for graveyards, too) environment in harmony with nature and the flow of energy.

4. Professional Organizing

Definition:

a) Professional organizing is an industry that has been developed in order to help individuals and businesses design systems and processes using organizing principles and through transferring skills.

Professional organizers aim to help individuals and businesses take control of their surroundings, their time, their paper, and their systems for life. Professional organizers help redirect paradigms into more useful cross-applications that ensure properly co-sustainable futures for their clients' spaces and processes.

The definitions for ALL the sister industries are found online. Did you read the words, ?REAL ESTATE, SELL A HOUSE, PREPARE HOUSE FOR SALE, OR SELLERS? IN ANY OF THE DEFINITIONS?

NO. Hmmmm.

How did this happen?

Well HGTV is in part to blame for the blurring of the lines between Home Staging and the sister industries. When you have shows called, ?Design to Sell? and have an interior designer floating around the episodes doling out Staging advice ? and in reality is remodeling the house and adding design elements ? not Staging ? it creates confusion within the industry and with the public.

Then I believe Professional Home Stagers that are successful are responsible too. Let me explain. Even though the industry was created in 1972, the late 90?s saw the birth of the launch of professional Stagers setting up businesses to serve Realtors and Sellers for the first time. Back then we were considered ?the ugly stepchild? of the design world.

It has taken 12 years of professional Home Staging business owners educating the public and real estate industry about Home Staging to get where we are today. I believe that when the MONEY and SUCCESS part of Staging became known (because Staging can be lucrative) ? these other industries realized that what WE do is a necessary part of Selling a house ? and it is an industry that does not require a ?mad money? mentality where a homeowner will only pay for it IF they have some extra money laying around, like the sister industries.

And they wanted a piece.

Because Staging increases the sellability of a house ? Sellers realize it is mandatory and more than that, Realtors realize that it is now a mandatory part of Selling any house. Not only that, but Realtors that incorporate Staging as part of their business practices and listing services are more successful, and will be repeat clients for a professional Stager ? versus the other industries that have to constantly be creating new clientele.

How do we ?fix? this?

We all need to be sharing what Staging IS and what it is NOT ? it is NOT decorating, interior design, feng shui or professional organizing. Staging is a service used in the Real Estate Industry ? to prepare a house for sale. Period.

Can someone that is skilled in a sister industry also Stage ? yes ? BUT they need to understand that they are not using the same principles and the goals are not the same as their primary service area. I also believe they NEED TO GET TRAINING OR EDUCATION in Home Staging - whatever form that takes. The reverse is true too ? I know many Home Stagers that are also talented in the sister industries. Usually they market that sister service as an off-shoot of what they do, and they have a background and education in that field.

Now before you get all fired up ? if you are in one of the sister industries ? I acknowledge that there are talented people in those industries that DO a great job with Staging ? BUT those people understand the differences in the industries ? and have been able to apply their talent and creativity to Staging ? not try to make Staging fit design, decorating, feng shui or organizing.

Do you feel the way I do that it is disrespectful to those of us that invested a lot of time, dollars, and passion into our STAGING businesses to be LUMPED together with those that have done NONE of that?

The fact is any of us COULD market ourselves as a Feng Shui person, a Professional Organizer, or Decorator ? because NONE of those industries are regulated. Anyone can set up shop in those fields.

I don?t do that ? because I RESPECT those industries and the people serving them ? and I UNDERSTAND that they are different than what I do ? in process and goals. My passion is for Staging ? I love what I do and the process behind it.

On behalf of all the talented Home Stagers serving the real estate industry, I respectfully ask for the SAME CONSIDERATION.

When I do a Staging to Live that is a home makeover I draw the line at where I know I am not qualified to help them ? and bring in a re-designer, decorator, organizer, or design person to take over. I have NEVER been brought in to a project any of these sister industries are working on ? with a homeowner that is selling ? they just take the business. To me, that is wrong and does not show respect for professional Home Stagers everywhere.

My focus though will be on REALTORS and SELLERS ? to make sure they know that those other industries are NOT Staging and should not be confused with what Home Staging is.? Hire the right person - the best person for the project - that knows what to do - and they will get the results they want.

Who?s with me?

Source: http://sensationalstagedhomeblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/no-gimmicks-just-staging-we-are-not-me.html

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Grant To Help Tornado Victims

Grant To Help Tornado Victims

{Frankfort, Kentucky}?Governor Steve Beshear has announced Kentucky has received a $1.6 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide long-term recovery assistance to residents of the Kentucky counties hit hardest by the March tornadoes. The grant will provide long-term recovery disaster case management services to residents of Grant, Johnson, Kenton, Laurel, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Morgan and Wolfe counties. Services will be available for 18 months. The Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living, housed within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, will administer the grant. The department will work with Kentucky Emergency Management and the Big Sandy Area Development District as the grant proceeds. For more information, contact the Department for Aging and Independent Living at 502-564-6930.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EkbNews/~3/ecDnJGayea8/grant-to-help-tornado-victims.html

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Heating and Air Conditioning Maintenance | Bantry Pylon Protest

uv germicidal provo utah If you need to install a new heating or AC system in your house, the most critical things to consider are purchasing high quality products and professional service. There are many types of furnaces that all have distinct parts and functions. Depending on your home and location, your utility bill and home temperature can improve dramatically if you select an appropriate furnace. Cooling systems are also quite different and it is essential to install one that is the most effective. When you meet with a heating and cooling specialist, they will evaluate your situation and help choose the system that best meets your needs. They are also experienced in completing all kinds of repairs on these systems. Experience a large change in your year-round comfort with professional heating and cooling technicians on your side.

This entry was posted in Home and Garden. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://www.bantrypylonprotest.com/heating-and-air-conditioning-maintenance-5/

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How to Manage Being a Work at Home Mom {Motherhood Series ...

This post is part of our?motherhood series. You can see all the posts?here.

Being a work at home mom presents many challenges. It?s a blessing most definitely, being able to care for my toddler while earning a little income on the side from the comforts of my own home, but it takes a lot of intentionality and discipline to make it work.

When people find out that I stay home full time caring for an almost two year old, co-own an online Women?s ministry, run multiple websites, write eBooks, and still manage to have any sort of social life they inevitably ask me, ?How do you do it all??

Well, duh! I don?t, but what I do manage to get done I manage by the grace of God, no doubt! Let me share some nuggets of advice that I think will help you manage being a work at home mom. Read the rest of the post at Christian Mommy Blogger.

Source: http://youngwifesguide.com/how-to-manage-being-a-work-at-home-mom-motherhood-series/

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Don't be fooled! Great camera deals are harder to spot on Black Friday

Featured

4 days

Gary Merson , HD Guru

We?ve scoured the major retailers? Black Friday deals and found the most outstanding values for every member of the family. A 32-inch scree... Read more

17 hrs.

Devin Coldewey , NBC News

While there are plenty of deals and discounts to be had on TVs, phones,?laptops and other tech products, camera-wise, there aren't a lot of reasons to wait in line until midnight?after Thanksgiving dinner. That's because the year's best cameras ? many of which are?rounded up here?? simply?aren't subject to fire-sale pricing. The cameras you'll most likely?find in sales circulars?are cheapies to begin with, or are?nicer but older cameras that have to move because they're just taking up space.

Sure, you can get a Nikon D3200 for $600 at Best Buy on Friday, and that's a good deal on a relatively new camera. But this is the same good deal that's been going at B&H and other retailers for a while now. Same thing?goes for the unremarkable $649.99 Black Friday?price tag on the remarkable Sony NEX-5R with kit lens.?

The camera you'll see everywhere?with the biggest price cut is the?Canon T3.?Though it'll take decent pictures, it's a year old, was downmarket to begin with, and has long since been replaced by shinier hardware.?

What about the dozen or so point-and-shoots that cost less than a steak dinner? Many of them, particularly the?off-brands, will?perform worse than your phone's camera.

Only a few noteworthy point-and-shoots appeared as we combed Black Friday ads from top retailers. Canon's ELPH 110 HS and Samsung's?WB150F are both modest but decent little cameras?that usually go?for around $180, but will be selling for $130 at Best Buy?and Adorama respectively. Neither would be a bad camera to keep as a back-up, or to give to a photo-enthusiastic kid.

Another recommended?Canon, the SX260, lists for $299.99, so the fact that Best Buy and others are selling it for $199 is pretty great. It's definitely a deal ? especially with free case and memory card ??but the camera already sells on Amazon for $229.99, and we spotted one other?retailer selling it for $209.99.

Whether the motivation lies with?the retailers or the suppliers (or both), the price flexibility in the camera world?shows a desire to offload old inventory, not to?shed light on hot new cameras. Perhaps the assumption is that shoppers,?in the heat of the Black Friday or Cyber Monday?moment, won't have time to check the specs. Meanwhile, camera buffs will likely?pay more for hot devices like the Olympus?E-M5 or Sony RX100, so why offer them deep?price cuts?

But if you're a photographer ??or just shopping for one ? don't despair. Prices may not be plummeting on the best stuff, but?accessories are on sale, and camera bundles offer a new kind of value proposition. Who couldn't use an extra 16-gigabyte SD card? At under?$10 each in multiple sales they're a solid deal. And every photographer needs a couple external hard drives ? and you can get multi-terabyte ones for under $100 at Staples, Best Buy or Office Depot.

If you do decide to pick up a camera, even at fairly regular prices, keep an eye out for bundles. Sometimes in order to get around manufacturer ?pricing rules, shops sell a camera for an ordinary price but include a bunch of goodies to make up for the lack of savings.

For instance, here's that D3200 at Adorama for just under $600. But if you scroll a little further, here's the same camera with the same lens for the same price ? except you get a bag, a 16-gigabyte card, and some filters as well. Why is this? It's a mystery, but not the bad kind of mystery. Get the bundle. Even if there are things in there you don't think you'll use, it can't hurt to take it all and sort out what you'll keep once you get home.

And if you do?want to pick up a sweet new DSLR or fancy point-and-shoot, just remember that prices will?never go up, and tend to go down. Generally, the worst time to buy any camera is the month or so after it launches, but soon enough, the pricing does?start to ease downward, even if it doesn't drop like a rock. Just because the camera of your dreams isn't a doorbuster doesn't mean it's not delivering value. And in the Black Friday frenzy, when every slash of a price tag triggers a visceral reaction,?it's worth remembering that you sometimes have to pay more to get more.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC?News Digital. His personal website is?coldewey.cc.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/dont-be-fooled-great-camera-deals-are-harder-spot-black-1C7154889

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Brooklyn mansion on the market for $25 million

12 hrs.

Colleen Kane , CNBC.com

This landmarked, century-old neoclassical mansion in Brooklyn?s Park Slope neighborhood has 23 rooms, 9 bathrooms and approximately 10,000 square feet of space. The home recently listed with Halsted Property for a potentially record-setting $25 million.?

As a point of reference, the priciest home to ever sell in Brooklyn?sold?earlier this year for less than half that amount, $12 million. That was the Brooklyn Heights townhouse once belonging to Truman Capote, which went through numerous?price cuts?over nearly two years from the original $18 million asking price.

?The price is based on offers received by unsolicited offers in the past,? said the property?s broker, Marc Wisotsky. ?We?ve listed at the price [the owner] asked and the market will speak."

The property?s other broker, Jackie Lew, added, ?That is just the asking price. There is negotiability.?

In terms of impressive factors that might contribute to that value, consider this: in 100 years, the house has had just three owners, beginning as the residence of the Tracy family, who made their fortune in stevedoring. Ownership then transferred to the Knights of Columbus. Current owner Anil Kumar Sinha bought it in 1969 and converted it to a private Montessori school, which closed earlier this year amid?scandal.?

Another rare attribute: it?s never been subdivided into apartments. Other than the addition of an enclosed fire escape, the layout is still the same as when the Tracys dwelled there in the twentieth century.?

Other unusual factors for a Brooklyn residence are both the building?s 50-foot width and the 112-foot depth of the property it sits on, both which exceed typical proportions of the area, according to the brokers. The mansion also comes with air rights, for a total (pending approval of any new additions) potential square footage of 16,800.?

The Tracy mansion was built in 1912 by Frank J. Helmle (an alumnus of the iconic New York architecture firm McKim, Mead and White), who also?designed?the Boathouse and other structures in nearby Prospect Park.???

Behind the fa?ade?s four fluted, modified Corinthian columns is this grand entryway. The dramatic marble entrance to the home has a curved bay shape, bronze doors, a golden-hued stained glass transom window, and a vaulted ceiling.

The home has three full floors and a basement (or garden level, as they?re called in Brooklyn). On the parlor level (first floor) are mahogany-paneled walls and this eight-foot tall Italian marble fireplace, and a sweeping staircase with tall stained glass windows.

The mansion?s dining room has coffered ceilings, more dark wood paneling, inlaid floors, and built-in mirrored china cabinets. The brokers note that the Tracy mansion can be a single-family home or can be adapted again to use as a school, or a museum or offices, possibly as a rental property.

The listing is held with?Halstead, an affiliate of?Luxury Portfolio International.

Related content:?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/brooklyn-mansion-market-25-million-1C7201219

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The Artist's Guide to Choosing and Forming a ... - Nouveau Law

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

Source: http://alieahmed392.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-artist-guide-to-choosing-and.html

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Beware Of Finance Companies Demanding Up-front Fees ? Cyprus ...

Assuming you have been recently researching for a bank loan just recently, you are definite to already have seen online pages promising to find you funding once you have given them a flat fee. It could be specially the case if you have got an inadequate credit rating and thus simply can't obtain funding through regular financiers. Whenever you really require finance, you're going to be tempted to ante up this fee, yet the vast majority of money advisors and even recognized institutions tend to suggest that you simply do not do it. Why will this be?

In the first place, it needs to be said that not each and every business that will require a service charge is going to be in any respect disreputable or deceitful. Selected bona fide services now have started off charging an advance fee and perhaps do nothing illicit. The problem is the fact that there have been plenty of agents who commanded a payment after which didn't offer the stated funding, and thus refused to return the charge. You'll need to be certainly distrustful of issuers that require that the charge be paid to an overseas account, through pretty much any website funding exchange system, or by transfer to an overseas corporation. Every one of them certainly signify that a sting is being operated.

In additional scenarios which may well be equally as depressing, a few organizations pledge a loan, get a charge, and after which will offer you an utterly useless solution for instance a payday advance loan or maybe a credit line at a shop. That is most probably not really the thing that you had in your head when applying, and as a result the upfront payment will be squandered. A few recognized loan providers have actually been shut down for this particular sort of procedure, and in addition the personal finance authorities have most certainly been having a careful look at the whole market sector.

Everything stated, there's nothing at all improper with credit companies getting a charge with regards to their assistance. The fundamental aspect is that any service fees or costs ought to be bundled onto the amount financed to make sure that you never have to commit anything at all up front, and no money changes hands until such time as after a genuine personal loan is set in place and given out.

The author writes for ADM Loans where you can read more about no fee loans at http://www.admloans.co.uk/no-fee-loans.html

Source: http://www.zaffronweddings.co.uk/forums/topic.php?id=23241&page

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Portfolio Mobile Updates it's iPad, iPhone and ... - Forex Trading Info

(PRWEB) September 25, 2012

Bare Reef has updated Portfolio mobile for iPhone, iPad and Mac. The updates include major enhancements to performance calculations, broker support and device syncing, as well as a significant number of fixes for existing issues.

New in this release is a revamp of background performance calculations. While earlier versions left some confusion related to background calculations, which ran with no notification of progress, current versions now report detailed status descriptions to keep the user informed.

Broker support received a major ease-of-use improvement with Open Financial eXchange (OFX) searching. Users connecting to their online broker accounts can now automatically setup portfolios in the app without searching for the proper settings online. Additional error reporting and guidance has been added to improve usability. Mac 10.8 users will also notice notification of broker import results in the new Mac Notification Center.

Device syncing has been updated to support Categories, manually added price history and more. The synchronization process has received a speedup as well. Other additions include support for quotes from Boerse Frankfurt, Retina graphics for the Mac, iOS 6 fixes, and more.

Portfolio mobile is the only cross-platform stock tracking application, supporting Android, iPad, iPhone, Mac. The software suite provides the more comprehensive set of tools found in any application including:

Support for multiple portfolios
Support for trading in multiple currencies
Portfolio performance comparison and charting
Technical charting
Reporting (Mac / iPad versions)
PUSH-based price alerts (iPad / iPhone versions) (Subscription)
Market scanning (Subscription)
Broker integration using Open Financial Exchange (OFX)
Web-based management and backup

Minimum Device Requirements:

Android 2.1
iOS 4.0
Mac OS X 10.6

Pricing and Availability:

Portfolio mobile for Android is free and available exclusively on Google Play. Portfolio mobile for iPhone is $ 0.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies). Portfolio mobile for iPhone Pro is $ 9.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies). Portfolio mobile for iPad is $ 4.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies). Portfolio mobile for Mac is $ 24.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies). The Android version is available worldwide exclusively on Google Play. iPad and iPhone versions are available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Finance Category. The Mac version is available worldwide in the App Store and at portfoliomobile.com.

Bare Reef LCC was founded in 2006 by Greg Hoover to provide customer-driven applications for investors of all backgrounds. Bare Reef develops desktop applications, web-based services and mobile apps for a variety of platforms. Its flagship product, Portfolio mobile (previously StockTrac), comprises a line of mobile and desktop apps that boast an unparalleled feature set and the most responsive support. For further information, review licenses, or to schedule interviews, please contact Bare Reef President Greg Hoover. Copyright (C) 2012 Bare Reef LLC. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and /or other countries.

Greg Hoover

President

ghoover(at)barereef(dot)com

More Currency Trading Press Releases

Source: http://www.forextradinginfo.org/portfolio-mobile-updates-its-ipad-iphone-and-mac-stock-portfolio-management-apps/

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The App Innovation Challenge

Today?s post is sponsored by the Tango Relationship Initiative

Did you know that over 50% of cell phone users have a smart phone? As a business owner, smart phones offer inspiring and fun interactive elements and a way to always have a message or information available to your customers and consumers. They give your customers and potential customers?quick access to data and powerful displays of information.

While waiting to get coffee, walking the dog, or getting gas; our phones are constantly with us. As a professional wedding and event planner, how powerful would it be to take advantage of these moments when you are helping clients plan their events? What would it be like to give each client one simple task a day instead of an overwhelming list? Or maybe you would like to ask clients one question a day to get to know the clients better throughout the planning process? Or perhaps you would love an app that offers healthy relationship advice and planning tips throughout the planning process?

Leverage the power of mobile technology to take the stress out of event planning, get to know your clients, and be the event expert in their pocket. You can be their hero and give them a stress-free event planning experience so they can continue to invest in the rest of their lives.

Tango Relationship Initiative is hosting the App Innovation Challenge with $100k worth of prizes including the top prize of $25k! They want to hear your best ideas for a mobile app you would LOVE to create for the events industry. It can be focused on weddings, relationships, brides, grooms, other event businesses and more! It?s only limited by your imagination. The Challenge is open to everyone.

The Challenge?submission deadline is at the end of this month. For more information and to enter your app idea in the contest, click over to the website. Don?t miss this incredible opportunity to see your app come to life AND the chance win fabulous prizes!

Source: http://www.plannerslounge.com/the-app-innovation-challenge/

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Sex-change surgery for inmate put on hold

By NBC News staff and news services

Lisa Bul / AP

In this Jan. 15, 1993, file photo, Robert Kosilek, aka Michelle Kosilek, sits in Bristol County Superior Court, in New Bedford, Mass. The convicted killer is suing the state of Massachusetts for the right to have a sex-change operation.

A federal judge on Tuesday put on hold his order calling for Massachusetts to pay for a convicted murderer's sex-change operation, allowing time for the state to appeal.?

The case involves a convicted wife-killer serving a life term who has legally changed his name to Michelle Kosilek. He sued the state Department of Corrections 12 years ago to force it to provide gender reassignment surgery.?

U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf in Boston ruled in September that Kosilek must be allowed the surgery at state taxpayers? expense, although that order did not set a deadline and left it to the state to determine who would perform the operation and where it would be performed.

---

On Tuesday, Wolf agreed to stay his order, which he has called ?unpopular and misunderstood,? until the state?s appeal of the operation is decided. Wolf also rejected a request for electrolysis treatment for Kosilek, saying that would have to come as part of a new case, the Boston Globe reported.?

The plaintiff, born Robert Kosilek, has suffered from gender identity disorder since childhood, according to court papers. He married Cheryl, a counselor he met while in drug rehabilitation, but strangled her in 1990 when she caught him wearing her clothes. He dumped her body in a car at a mall in North Attleborough, Mass., and fled to New York state before being arrested, according to court records.

Kosilek was convicted of murder in 1992 and sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. He has received hormone treatments and lives as a woman in an all-male prison.

Watch the most-viewed videos on NBCNews.com

Wolf has used male pronouns to refer to Kosilek throughout the court proceedings.

The judge ruled in September that the state had violated Kosilek's Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment by denying him the sex-change surgery. Corrections Department medical personnel had recommended the surgery, saying it was medically necessary to treat his gender identity disorder.

Wolf remarked in his September decision that Kosilek is ?a man who truly believes that he is a female cruelly trapped in a male body.?

The state has appealed the September ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

More content from NBCNews.com:

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/20/15311478-taxpayer-funded-sex-change-surgery-for-transgender-inmate-put-on-hold?lite

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Neurons made from stem cells drive brain activity after transplantation in laboratory model

Neurons made from stem cells drive brain activity after transplantation in laboratory model

Monday, November 19, 2012

Researchers and patients look forward to the day when stem cells might be used to replace dying brain cells in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Scientists are currently able to make neurons and other brain cells from stem cells, but getting these neurons to properly function when transplanted to the host has proven to be more difficult. Now, researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) have found a way to stimulate stem cell-derived neurons to direct cognitive function after transplantation to an existing neural network. The study was published November 7 in the Journal of Neuroscience.

"We showed for the first time that embryonic stem cells that we've programmed to become neurons can integrate into existing brain circuits and fire patterns of electrical activity that are critical for consciousness and neural network activity," said Stuart A. Lipton, M.D., Ph.D., senior author of the study. Lipton is director of Sanford-Burnham's Del E. Webb Neuroscience, Aging, and Stem Cell Research Center and a clinical neurologist.

The trick turned out to be light. Lipton and his team?including Juan Pi?a-Crespo, Ph.D., Maria Talantova, Ph.D., and other colleagues at Sanford-Burnham and Stanford University?transplanted human stem cell-derived neurons into a rodent hippocampus, the brain's information-processing center. Then they specifically activated the transplanted neurons with optogenetic stimulation, a relatively new technique that combines light and genetics to precisely control cellular behavior in living tissues or animals.

To determine if the newly transplanted, light-stimulated human neurons were actually working, Lipton and his team measured high-frequency oscillations in existing neurons at a distance from the transplanted ones. They found that the transplanted neurons triggered the existing neurons to fire high-frequency oscillations. Faster neuronal oscillations are usually better?they're associated with enhanced performance in sensory-motor and cognitive tasks.

To sum it up, the transplanted human neurons not only conducted electrical impulses, they also roused neighboring neuronal networks into firing?at roughly the same rate they would in a normal, functioning hippocampus.

The therapeutic outlook for this technology looks promising. "Based on these results, we might be able to restore brain activity?and thus restore motor and cognitive function?by transplanting easily manipulated neuronal cells derived from embryonic stem cells," Lipton said.

###

Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute: http://www.burnham-inst.org

Thanks to Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 45 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/125317/Neurons_made_from_stem_cells_drive_brain_activity_after_transplantation_in_laboratory_model

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Probe into US dolphin mutilations

20 November 2012 Last updated at 12:21 ET

US wildlife officials are investigating a spate of killings and mutilations of dolphins along the Gulf Coast over the past year.

A number of the mammals have washed ashore with bullet wounds, hacked-off fins and in one case a missing jaw.

One dolphin was found off Alabama with a screwdriver in its head over the summer, while another had its tail cut off, but survived.

Dolphins are protected by the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Under the law, harming a dolphin can lead to fines of up to $10,000 and a prison term of one year.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) has appealed for people along the US Gulf Coast to watch out for dead or injured dolphins.

Continue reading the main story

?Start Quote

Their curiosity and friendship brings them so close that they become targets?

End Quote Moby Solangi Institute for Marine Mammal Studies

"There have been some obviously intentional cases," said Erin Fougeres, of Noaa.

She said some mutilations might have happened after the animals died, but that scientists would need to perform necropsies to learn more.

The Associated Press reports that three dolphins have been shot in Louisiana since 2011, and that three others have been found with fatal bullet wounds this year in Mississippi, the most recent one last week.

Moby Solangi, executive director of the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Mississippi, said: "They [dolphins] come close to the boats, so if you're out there, you'll see them riding the bows.

"And their curiosity and friendship brings them so close that they become targets and that's the unfortunate thing."

The attacks follow two bad years for the Gulf dolphin population: in 2010, a number of the mammals stranded themselves along the coast, possibly due to a cold winter.

The Deepwater Horizon fire and oil spill later that year contributed further to dolphin deaths. Scientists have recorded more than 700 such fatalities since February 2010.

Some have suggested a few angry fisherman might be responsible for the mutilations, given dolphins sometimes steal bait used by the boats.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20414973#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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Solar eclipse delights Queensland (+video)

Thousands flocked to Australian beaches to watch a solar eclipse as darkness descended for a couple of minutes early Wednesday morning. The solar eclipse was predicted to bring millions to the area's tourism industry. ??

By Staff,?Reuters / November 13, 2012

A rare full solar eclipse?plunged?north Queensland?into darkness for two minutes early on Wednesday, delighting the thousands of people who had gathered on the Australian state's beaches.

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In Cairns, the main city in?north Queensland?and a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, cloudy skies and occasional rain partly obscured the view, but elsewhere viewing conditions were more favourable.

North Queensland's tourism body and NASA provided a live stream of the eclipse, which was expected to give a A$75 million ($78 million) boost to the region's tourism industry with many people travelling from around the country and overseas to catch the best view of the celestial show.

Authorities warned spectators to wear safety goggles, noting the sun remains incredibly powerful even when hidden behind the moon.

While?north Queensland?was treated to a full eclipse?at around 6.39 am local time (2039 GMT Tuesday), a partial eclipse?was visible in other parts of?Australia,?New Zealand,?Chile?and?Antarctica.

The last full solar eclipse?visible from?Australia?was in 2002, an event that was only visible in the nation's south. The next one, to be visible from?Sydney, is not due until 2028.

($1=0.9584 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Tim Wimbourne in Cairns and Jane Wardell in?Sydney; Editing by John Mair)

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/rw5R86jLmm4/Solar-eclipse-delights-Queensland-video

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Taylor Swift Goes Punk Rock For 'I Knew You Were Trouble' Video

Singer kicks country to the curb during video shoot in Los Angeles.
By Jocelyn Vena

Taylor Swift on the set of her "I Knew You Were Trouble"
Photo: Bruja/Juan Sharma/PacificCoastNews.com

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1697641/taylor-swift-knew-you-were-trouble-video-shoot.jhtml

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Marine Life Park: Adventure Cove Waterpark ? review | dejiki.com

Step into a tropical paradise at Adventure Cove Waterpark, a part of Resorts World Sentosa?s Marine Life Park. Filled with mysteries of the ocean and splashing fun in the sun, this Waterpark also offers its guests opportunities to immerse in marine habitats. In the near future, interaction programmes with Indo-?Pacific bottlenose dolphins will be made available.

Update 20/11/2012: Marine Life Park will soft open on 22/11/2012. Both S.E.A. Aquarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark will be open to the public.

Here is my review and photo tour of Adventure Cove Waterpark, the ?wet? and outdoors aspect of Marine Life Park. You can also view my aerial photography series covering the construction of Adventure Cove Waterpark here.

I visited the Adventure Cove Waterpark during a preview session on 18th November 2012. Most of the park and attractions were open throughout the day (except for Dolphin Island and the Grotto). Just like my S.E.A. Aquarium trip report, treat this as a ?first impressions? review. I will visit the park again someday for a second look and add on to this review, if necessary.

Map of Adventure Cove Waterpark

Previously known as ?Equarius Water Park? or ?Equarius at Sentosa?, Adventure Cove Waterpark is built at the west zone of Resorts World Sentosa (RWS). It is placed above S.E.A. Aquarium, its sister attraction in the Marine Life Park umbrella of attractions. This is the second water theme park at Sentosa Island (the first being Fantasy Island, which closed in 2001. The other water theme park in Singapore is Wild Wild Wet at Downtown East.

It is a great venue for thrill seekers and families. There are a variety of slides, lazy river, wave pool, reef snorkeling, ray feeding and more, in a compact waterpark. I can?t compare with similar waterparks as some areas, such as the Grotto building, were closed during the preview. I also can?t seem to remember the last time I went to a similar waterpark anyway. However, there are enough waterslides and things to do there, and the park tickets are reasonably priced.

There is an exceptional focus on safety at Adventure Cove Waterpark. Lifeguards can be found EVERYWHERE (every few metres at Adventure River, and at the end of EVERY slide attraction). Slides have low ride capacity due to safety measures (the float will only be released from the loading area when guests from the preceding float has stepped out of the unloading area). Aquatic Safety crew and Lifeguards work together, using two-way radio to signal if the ride is ready for the next guest.

Food and beverages can be bought at several food and drink carts around the park. It?s standard theme park fare, with a lot of similarities with Universal Studios Singapore. Even the famous Turkey leg is available here.

There are also two restaurants, one of them is The Bay Restaurant:

Meal prices are similar to Universal Studios Singapore (around S$10~13 for a main course with dessert), with the exception of drinks. Only bottle drinks are available (from S$2.50 per bottle) here. Family combo sets are also available.

Souvenir bottles and soda fountain drinks can also be bought around the park. The souvenir bottle at Adventure Cove Waterpark (S$8.80~14.80) comes with unlimited refills, valid only on the day of purchase, of course.

I particularly enjoyed the strange (yes, I would use that term) architecture around Adventure Cove Waterpark, which evokes some sense of adventure and I would say? some mysteries of ancient sea life. The carvings and statues are intricately formed and very imaginative. There are three-headed creatures and dolphins with wings. There is just so much detail and incredible theming at some areas that when there is a more ?clean? or modern structure next to it, it is jarring. I wished the park focused solely on this ancient look, but that might?ve been very challenging and costly to do.

This Waterpark is also filled with some very aggressive park photographers. They are at the Adventure River, Bluwater Bay and roam around dry areas of the park. The photographers at the Adventure River are the most eager to score a sale ? guiding guests? floats around to scenic areas for a few snaps. While they are friendly, they just could not take no for an answer! I?ve encountered this a few times at the Grotto, which sorts of ruined the experience of floating through the impressive theming and mysterious ambiance in this cavern section of the Adventure River. Photographers will ?tag? guests with additional wristbands (simple and good idea, they?re almost impossible to lose), so it?s not surprising to end up with several white wristbands at the end of the day.

The other park staff are extremely courteous ? they are very eager to greet guests and assist them with a smile. It reminds me of the good old days at Universal Studios Singapore (Early 2010).

In terms of merchandise, the park?s retail store, Reef n Wave wear sells all the necessities for a day at Adventure Cove Waterpark. There are also many cute plush toys.. but that particular dolphin plush toy is nowhere to be seen.

Marine Life Park ? Adventure Cove Waterpark is expected to soft open soon with S.E.A. Aquarium.

Marine Life Park will soft open on 22/11/2012. Both S.E.A. Aquarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark will be open to the public.

---

Ticketing Information

Here are the Marine Life Park: Adventure Cove Waterpark (RWS) ticket prices:

One-Day passes

$29 Adult (Ages 13-59)
$20 Child (Ages 4-12)
$20 Senior (Ages 59 and above)

Annual passes

$88 Adult (Ages 13-59)
$58 Child (Ages 4-12)
$58 Senior (Ages 59 and above)

These annual passes entitle its holder to unlimited admissions to Adventure Cove Waterpark for a year, and includes passholder benefits which will be revealed at a later time.

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List of Attractions and Minimum Height Requirements

Adventure Cover Waterpark attractions (Click to expand)

Rainbow Reef
Minimum Height Requirement: 107cm
Children under 122cm must be accompanied with a supervising adult.
Guests must be competent swimmers to participate.

Ray Bay
Minimum Height Requirement: 122cm
Children under 122cm must be accompanied with a supervising adult.
Children must be at least 5 years old to participate.
Children aged 5 to 11 years old must be accompanied with a supervising adult who is at least 21 years of age.

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Splashworks
Minimum Height Requirement: 140cm
Guests must be competent swimmers to participate.

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Bluwater Bay
Children under 122cm must be accompanied with a supervising adult.

Adventure River
Children under 122cm must be accompanied with a supervising adult.

Big Bucket Treehouse
Children under 122cm must be accompanied with a supervising adult.

Seahorse Hideaway
Children under 122cm must be accompanied with a supervising adult.

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Riptide Rocket
Minimum Height Requirement: 107cm
Children under 122cm must be accompanied with a supervising adult.

Dueling Racer
Minimum Height Requirement: 107cm
Children under 122cm must be accompanied with a supervising adult.

Tidal Twister
Minimum Height Requirement: 122cm

Pipeline Plunge
Minimum Height Requirement: 122cm

Spiral Washout
Minimum Height Requirement: 122cm

Whirlpool Washout
Minimum Height Requirement: 122cm

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Other Important Information

Appropriate Attractions Dress Code

I would suggest that you keep your light footwear (slippers, sandals, swim shoes) on at all times and take them off only when required at the rides. Store them temporarily at the storage racks (see below)

Life Jackets

Available free of charge at the park for weak/non-swimmers. Various sizes are available.

Lockers

Lockers are available at the Waterpark at $2 (small lockers) and $5 (large lockers). The lockers are the same size as the ones in Universal Studios Singapore and around Resorts World Sentosa. These lockers can be rented for an entire day. The lockers can be reopened and locked again without extra fee.

Storage Racks

Storage Racks are provided at some attractions for convenience. Guests should only place inexpensive items here (glasses, slippers, etc). Keep your valuables at the Lockers. Please do not leave jewelry, wallets, cameras and other valuables here.

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Entering the Adventure Cove Waterpark

The Entrance to Adventure Cove Waterpark is located behind Maritime Experiential Museum. It?s a long (but rewarding) walk!

How about photos of general areas and theming around the park before we talk about the waterslides and attractions?

It might seem small, but most areas are nicely themed and absolutely clean.

Adventure River

The 620-metre long Adventure River takes guests through a journey around most areas of Adventure Cove. It has a very gentle current, so it could take about 20+ minutes to complete a loop. The scenes are nicely themed at most areas and it is a relaxing ride.

The water depth of the river is 0.9 metres. Guests can ?walk? along the river if they wish. Weak/non-swimmers and children should wear life jackets here.

From here on, the ride goes into the Grotto.

At this point, the Adventure River goes through an Aquarium Tunnel. I think it?s a freshwater aquarium, with some Arowanas and Turtles swimming around. It also goes around the Ray Bay after the Tunnel.

The river goes over the Dolphin Island waterway at two sections.

Not exactly sure what happened here, but it?s an opportunity for an interesting photo.

Ray Bay

Ray Bay is one of Adventure Cove Waterpark?s immersive programmes. Ray feeding is one of possible activities here. Guests will need to wear gloves and boots provided by the park.

Nice design touches to go along with the area.

Dolphin Island

This won?t be ready for a while, but Dolphin Island is beside the Ray Bay. Now that the exportation of Dolphins from Philippines is finally approved, Dolphin Island should be on track for opening in the first half of 2013. This is where Dolphin Interaction Programmes will take place (with the controversial Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins). It is not included in normal admission, so there will be an extra fee.

Edit 19/11/2012: Some dolphins have arrived at Marine Life Park and are undergoing quarantine.

Rainbow Reef

Reef snorkeling at Rainbow Reef is included in park admission, and not an up-charge as previously thought. There is no limit to how many times you can snorkel here too ? you just to join the queue.

You must be a competent swimmer to experience this attraction. Water goes to 2.9m deep here, so life jackets must be worn at all times. Participants will also be briefed with safety guidelines (and have to respond to lifeguards? signals). There are several lifeguards here keeping watch on guests, and they are ready to jump into the waters to assist if necessary.

If you choose not to take part, there are several viewing panels along Rainbow Reef.

Rainbow Reef bragging rights: 20,000 fishes, 60 species.

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Let?s see some of the waterslides and playzones!

Big Bucket Treehouse is an water play area for young and old. The shorter slides here are good starters for the bigger ones around the area.

Water depth is 0.3 metres here.

Whirlpool Washout and Spiral Washout

These are two shorter ?big? waterslides. Two-rider floats are used here (even if you ride alone, carry that large yellow float up!)

Whirlpool Washout is the slide with the ?whirlpool bowl? and it?s pretty fun ? you might even get flushed down the whirlpool backwards! This slide had a much longer queue most of the time.

Spiral Washout (the cone) isn?t as exciting as it looks, though. Floats rock gently at the lower section of the cone and goes down a dark helix section.

This pair of slides share the same entrance, storage racks and float pick-up point. The queue splits when it reaches the stairs, so be sure to queue at the right lane.

Tidal Twister and Pipeline Plunge

These are the big waterslides. There is a choice of single or two-rider floats here.

Just like the Washout waterslides, these two slides share the same entrance, storage racks and float pick-up point. The queue is a long walk and goes deep into the back of Adventure Cove Waterpark, but also splits into two lanes when it reaches the stairs. Remember to queue at the right lane.

Tidal Twister has a mix of cone elements (where floats can spin and end up going into the slide backwards!) while Pipeline Plunge focuses on speed and enclosed (dark!) elements. Tidal Twister had a longer queue most of the time.

Here is an old aerial photo taken many months ago, showing the cone element of Tidal Twister. There is a second cone somewhere down the line.

Riptide Rocket

This is a HydroMAGNETIC HORNET by ProSlide, and the first in Asia apparently. The ride starts off with a deceptively slow conveyor-belt lift hill, and drops into enclosed slide sections, before bursting out into a sharp drop, and a dramatic launch (powered by magnets!) into darkness again! There are also some surprising water sprays and splashes in the enclosed sections.

Aerial view of some parts of the track, taken a few months ago. There are three ?drops and launch hill? sections.

This is of course, something all guests should try. The waiting time for this can get very long due to its low capacity. I?ve only seen three floats being used. Only one float can be released into the ride at any time, and that is only when guests from the preceding float have left the unloading area.

The finale of Riptide Rocket has a sharp helix turn that causes some floats to capsize (or at least tilt to some degree that riders slide off) at the splashdown. Extra thrills, I guess. The splashdown pool has a depth of 1.1 metres, which should be alright for most adults. Parents should take extra care here and be ready to help their children, should the float overturn.

Dueling Racer

This is (surprisingly) one of the most exciting and fun slides, in my opinion. The first parts of slides are fast and thrilling, and the end could either be a surprising splash or something else (my foam mat sort of flipped over once when I slowed down).

For your own safety, read and follow the safety instructions provided at the loading area!

Blue foam mats with handles are used here. Very comfortable and easy to use.

Splashworks

Located next to Rainbow Reef, Splashworks is an activity area for adept swimmers. There are three types of ?walking? activities (a balance beam, tight rope and rope net), two platforms to jump into the water and a burma bridge. The last activity here is a rope climb (with a bell to ring at the top!)

The water depth is 4.0 metres deep here. You MUST be a competent swimmer to take part in any of the activities here.

Bluwater Bay

Adventure Cove Waterpark?s wave pool might seem small, but it is sufficient to function as a ?float around and relax? pool.

The deepest section of this wave pool is 1.6 metres deep. Wave height varies, and can go up to 2.0 metres. Weak/non-swimmers and children should wear life jackets while in the wave pool.

The transparent floats from Adventure River can be used here. Sometimes you don?t even need to walk to the float pick-up area, there?s so many left around the area.

Whether you are floating in the pool or sitting at the deck chairs, this is a nice place to chill out. While I thought that the wave pool was small, it was quite fun to float around with its gentle waves. Here?s a tip: Get onto a float and paddle into inner section of Bluwater Bay before the waves start. Be aware that there is a safety line at the deep end (1.6m) and for your own safety, you should not go close to that line. Try to stay around the 1.4m point.

The waves start every 15 minutes. I?m not sure how long they last, though.

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That?s all from me for now. I hope you enjoyed this long photo tour of Adventure Cove Waterpark. Feel free to leave your thoughts about the park!

Why not view the aerial photography series tracking the construction of Adventure Cove Waterpark?

And just like S.E.A. Aquarium, I will visit Adventure Cove Waterpark again for a second look.

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Source: http://dejiki.com/2012/11/marine-life-park-adventure-cove-waterpark-review/

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