Human rights organizations in Israel condemn the Israeli military's ...

The undersigned organizations protest yesterday?s aggressive treatment of three Palestinian civil society organizations by the Israeli military and demand that all property seized be restored and that the work of civil society organizations?and especially those comprised of human rights defenders ? be protected and respected.

Early morning 11 December 2012, just a few hours after the end of International Human Rights Day, the Israeli military entered the offices of three Palestinian organizations in Ramallah: Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights; Union of Palestinian Women?s Committee and the Palestinian NGO Network. The organizations were not provided with any explanation for the search or shown a search warrant and their staff members were not present during the search. The soldiers caused extensive damage to some of the offices and confiscated computers, hard discs, cameras and other essential equipment.

For more on this story, visit: Human rights organizations in Israel condemn the Israeli military?s raid on Palestinian Human Rights & Civil Society Organizations | B?Tselem.

Source: http://peacenews.org/2012/12/human-rights-organizations-in-israel-condemn-the-israeli-militarys-raid-on-palestinian-human-rights-civil-society-organizations-btselem/

texas news kim mulkey sarah palin today show dallas tornado video 1940 census instagram for android dallas news

Florida's weird, and tragic, news of 2012

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office / Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

Ana Gloria Garcia Gutierrez, 53, was arrested for riding a manatee on Sept. 30.

By NBCMiami.com

In 2012, Florida was a state where a lifeguard got fired for saving a life, a woman got arrested for riding a manatee and a man repeatedly used 911 as a phone sex service.

Think that's weird? It gets worse and more tragic.

In one of the state's most horrifying stories of the year, a man in Miami?stripped a homeless man naked, chewing off most of his face before being fatally shot by police. And it wasn't the only story of its kind. In Manatee County, deputies used multiple Tasers to subdue a naked man who bit off part of another man's arm.

Later in the year a man won a roach-eating contest outside a Deerfield Beach pet store and then dropped dead in front of the store when body parts of the dozens of roaches he swallowed blocked his airway.

Read more news on NBCMiami.com

"We tend to be a magnet from every direction for all kinds of sketchery," said Billy Corben, a documentary film director whose works include "Cocaine Cowboys" about Miami's cocaine wars in the 1980s. "It's very late in the game where we go, 'That dude? I guess he seemed kind of weird.'"

Corben, whose "The Billy Pulpit" website compiles weird Florida news, said Floridians tend to show up in high numbers on "The Jerry Springer Show" and "America's Most Wanted." And odd stories elsewhere always seem to have a Florida tie ? like former CIA director David Petraeus's extramarital affair being exposed through a Tampa socialite.

And when anti-virus software founder John McAfee ran from Belizean authorities who wanted to question him about the slaying of a neighbor, he wound up in Miami Beach, where he shopped, ate sushi and posed for photos with tourists.

"The state seems to either passively or directly endorse all of this lunacy in some way or another," Corben said.

Then again, this is the state where Gov. Rick Scott mistakenly gave the media a phone sex number to promote a meningitis hot line. After a broadcaster posted it, at least one caller was greeted with a recording of "Hello boys..." from a lusty sounding lady.

Several gaffes involved hunting Floridians.

There were the two guys in Santa Rosa County who used a bow and arrow to kill a neighbor's pet turkey, which they planned to eat on Thanksgiving. Then there was a Flagler County man who shot his girlfriend in the legs because he thought she was a wild hog.

A mother and daughter were sentenced to two months in jail for using two dogs to kill a farm-raised pig in their backyard. They posted video of the attack on Facebook, which led to their arrest.

Ah, Facebook! It caused trouble for several other Floridians.?A Sarasota County man was kicked off a jury after a judge learned he sent the defendant a Facebook friend request. The juror further infuriated the judge with a Facebook post bragging about getting dismissed from jury duty. He was given three days in jail.

A Manatee County music teacher was issued a verbal warning for a Facebook conversation in which she described an 8-year-old student as the "evolutionary link between orangutans and humans." A high school science teacher also had some explaining to do when she put a cone-shaped dog collar on at least eight students and the "cone of shame" photos appeared on Facebook.

Those weren't the only strange events in Florida schools.?A Plant City teacher was charged with trying to hire a hit man to kill another teacher he suspected was spreading rumors about him.

And a man showed up at his kindergartener's school to retrieve a bag of marijuana and a scale he left in the boy's backpack. More evidence that pot affects short-term memory? An 18-year-old Tampa woman was charged with DUI and marijuana possession three times in less than three weeks, the last two times on back-to-back days.

Bunnell police charged a man with riding a horse while intoxicated after he led officers on a half-hour chase, while a 52-year-old St. Petersburg woman was arrested after police found photos of her riding a manatee.

Floridians also showed that they'll steal just about anything. An Ocala woman told police thieves stole her Thanksgiving turkey from a freezer in her garage; a man was charged in Lakeland after police said he stole two swan eggs from a nest and cooked them; about 150,000 baby clams were reported stolen in Lee County; and a Miami-Dade man had 500 canaries stolen from his home.

Perhaps the oddest was a Reddick woman who drove home to find someone stole her driveway, carting away 300 square feet of brick pavers.

And it's not as if Florida authorities don't take theft seriously. A judge in Ocala sentenced a homeless man to 180 days in jail and fined him $500 for stealing $2 worth of candy.

Then there was the guy accused of selling methamphetamine in Polk County who swiped the recorder with his confession and flushed it down a toilet. The suspect told the detective, "Tighten up on your job, homie."

Even more embarrassing, a Broward County deputy was fired for repeatedly visiting strip clubs while he was on duty and wearing his uniform, sometimes skipping official calls. A West Palm Beach strip-club owner unsuccessfully sued a competing club to block the appearance of Nadya Suleman, claiming the woman best known as "Octomom" agreed to strip at his club first.

Speaking of celebrities and sex, former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan sued a DJ named Bubba the Love Sponge Clem over a secret tape of Hogan having sex with Clem's wife.

While not quite sex on tape, 911 audio recordings were released of a Tampa man who repeatedly called the emergency line and asked the operator to come over for sex.

Florida's unique wildlife always finds a way into the news. An airboat captain near Everglades City was showing an Indiana family how to feed alligators when a 9-footer bit his left hand off. Authorities later charged him with illegally feeding an alligator.

A man strolling along Pompano Beach found a giant blue eyeball and turned it over to authorities. Wildlife officials said it likely came from a swordfish.

On another South Florida beach, a lifeguard was fired for helping save a man from drowning. It turns out the man he saved was just outside the area that Hallandale Beach hired a private company to protect. The company said it was at risk once the lifeguard crossed the boundary.

In miscellaneous Florida weirdness:

? A man who won an auction for the contents of a Pensacola storage unit discovered it contained dozens of preserved human brains, hearts, lungs and other organs that had been collected by a former medical examiner.

? A man looking to repay a $400 debt took a taxi to a Jacksonville bank, robbed it and took the taxi back to his apartment. When police found him, he had changed into women's clothes.

? An 18-month-old girl was pulled off a flight in Miami because the airline thought she was on the U.S. no-fly list of suspected terrorists.

? Police in Holly Hill said a man fatally shot his roommate during an argument over how to prepare pork chops, while St. Petersburg police say a man killed his roommate over a missing corn dog.

??And finally, in what will go down in the first date from hell hall of fame, a Boca Raton police say a 35-year-old woman attacked a man with a knife and smashed his windows after he refused to say they were boyfriend and girlfriend at the end of their first date.

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/31/16262584-from-manatee-riding-woman-to-911-phone-sex-floridas-weird-news-of-2012?lite

Aly Raisman Marvin Hamlisch Megan Rossee grenada grenada Sikh Sanya Richards Ross

Roast Master Coffee Drink Recipe - RealFoodTraveler.com

Roast Master Coffee Drink Recipe

Here?s a great recipe to ring in the New Year.

Recipe and photo courtesy Krups. www.krupsusa.com

1 ounce Frangelico
1 ounce Kahlua
? ounce Almond Syrup
Espresso or Strongly brewed coffee

Combine Frangelico, Kahlua and almond syrup in glass coffee mug. Fill with hot coffee or espresso. Top with whipped cream.

?

Source: http://www.realfoodtraveler.com/2012/12/roast-master-coffee-drink-recipe/

foster friess new orleans hornets ghost rider spirit of vengeance hornets prince johan friso windows 8 logo anguilla

2 Georgia boys -- missing for 10 days -- found safe in Texas

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: A person alerted police after recognizing the missing boys on CNN, police say
• Daniel Cleary failed to return his sons as planned and hadn't been heard from
• An Amber Alert went out Thursday; the boys' mother pleaded Saturday for their return
• "It is amazing. I had lost hope," their mother says, shortly after talking to her sons

Atlanta (CNN) -- First it was the start of winter vacation. Then Christmas Eve and Christmas passed, as had Henry Cleary's eighth birthday.

But finally -- after 10 days away from home, with his mother and the rest of their family unaware of where they were most of that time -- Henry and his older brother, Ben, should soon be heading back to Georgia.

The two boys were found Saturday evening in Austin, Texas -- about 950 miles west of their hometown of Roswell, an Atlanta suburb -- Austin Police Lt. James Nisula told CNN.

The brothers are safe. And the man who is suspected of taking them, their father Daniel Cleary, is in police custody, according to Nisula.

He will be charged with interstate interference with custody, a felony, and extradited back to Georgia, according to Roswell Police Lt. James H. McGee.

"I'm ecstatic, I'm in shock," Theresa Nash, soon after hearing the news and getting off the phone with her boys.

Her joy was a far cry from what she was feeling a few hours earlier.

Nash said she didn't know why her estranged husband did not bring the boys home as planned Wednesday from a trip to Tennessee that began December 19. She told CNN affiliate WSB-TV that she had not heard from Daniel Cleary since December 22.

In an emotional plea on CNN Saturday, she asked for the boys to be brought home safely.

"He's trying to take care of them," she said of her estranged husband. "But I think it's a scary situation for everybody at this point."

Police first issued an Amber Alert for the suspect and his two sons on Thursday, eight days after they were last seen in Georgia.

"Suspect & children are believed to be traveling in a 2002 silver Jeep Grand Cherokee ... traveling on west side of Nashville, TN, on Interstate 40," the alert stated.

The next day, authorities released pictures of the father and his two boys taken from surveillance cameras December 23 and December 24 at a Walmart in Jackson, Tennessee.

Still, they didn't know exactly where they were.

That changed Saturday, soon after Theresa Nash went on CNN, clutching Ben's beloved teddy bear and Henry's stuffed hippo as she sat beside a picture of the two boys.

"This vacation has been overdue. It's time to come home, and we welcome you home ... safely," she said, addressing Daniel Cleary.

"Your whole family is behind this, as is my whole family. We are working together, and we really want you to come home."

A person at the Crossland Austin West hotel in Texas had been watching CNN, recognized the Cleary brothers and called 911, said Austin police Lt. Wuthipong Tantaksinanukij.

After getting that tip around 5:11 p.m. CT, officers went to the hotel and, as "they started setting up, saw the suspect coming out of one of the rooms with the two children," Tantaksinanukij said.

"He was taken into custody without further incident," said the police spokesman, noting Daniel Cleary is now at the Williamson County Jail.

Authorities looking into the case subsequently found "a handgun -- a pistol -- and a large sum of money."

Tantaksinanukij said he didn't know why the boys and their father ended up in Austin, or how long they'd been there. But he said the case might not have been solved Saturday night without the alert citizen, as well as the Amber Alert system that publicizes news of missing and endangered children on highways, in police stations and around the United States.

"The law enforcement community nationwide, we take these Amber Alerts seriously when it deals with kids," Tantaksinanukij said. "This was one of the cases where it was activated and it worked."

Around the time her estranged husband was being taken into custody, Nash said she got a call from a man who said, "I'm sitting here with your two sons."

He then handed the phone to the boys. Unaware of the commotion, the boys said Daniel Cleary had told them their mother was in the hospital, Nash said. They talked about other things as well -- like the birthday boy Henry bragging about how he'd been kicking Ben's butt on iPad games, and Nash telling them she'd gotten the brothers an Xbox for Christmas.

"They were all joy," she said.

For now, her boys are healthy and with police, "doing what kids should be doing right now -- they're playing," said Tantaksinanukij.

Nash said Saturday night that she was flying first thing to Dallas, then renting a car and driving to Austin. She doesn't know where or when she'll pick her sons up, "but we have plenty of time to figure it out."

She thanked the media for showcasing her family's story, and was taken aback by how much things changed for her and her family in a moment's notice.

"It is amazing," Nash said. "I had lost hope."

CNN's Jason Morrell and Chandler Friedman contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/29/us/georgia-missing-boys/index.html?eref=rss_mostpopular

the shore meryl streep oscar wins sasha baron cohen oscars oscar winners the artist sacha baron cohen oscars the old curiosity shop

Russian FM says Assad won't go

MOSCOW (AP) ? Russia's foreign minister said Saturday that Syrian President Bashar Assad has no intention of stepping down and it would be impossible to try to persuade him otherwise.

After a meeting with Lakhdar Brahimi, the U.N.'s envoy for the Syrian crisis, Sergey Lavrov also said that the Syrian opposition risks sacrificing many more lives if it continues to insist on Assad leaving office as a precondition for holding talks on Syria's future.

Assad "has repeatedly said publicly and privately, including in his meeting with Lakhdar Brahimi in Damascus not long ago, that he does not intend to leave for anywhere, that he will stay to the end in his post, that he will, as he expressed it, defend the Syrian people, Syrian sovereignty and so forth," Lavrov said. "There's no possibility to change this position."

Brahimi warned that the country's civil war could plunge the entire region into chaos by sending hundreds of thousands of refugees into neighboring nations, but his talks in Moscow produced no sign of progress toward settling the crisis.

Brahimi and Lavrov both said after their meeting that the 21-month-old Syrian conflict can only be settled through talks, while admitting that the parties in the conflict have shown no desire for compromise. Neither official hinted at a possible solution that would persuade the Syrian government and the opposition to agree to a ceasefire and sit down for talks about a political transition.

Brahimi, who arrived in Moscow on a one-day trip following his talks in Damascus with Assad this week, voiced concern about the escalation of the conflict, which he said is becoming "more and more sectarian."

The envoy warned that "if you have a panic in Damascus and if you have 1 million people leaving Damascus in a panic, they can go to only two places ? Lebanon and Jordan," and those countries may not be able to endure half a million refugees each.

Brahimi said that "if the only alternative is really hell or a political process, then we have got all of us to work ceaselessly for a political process."

Russia has been the main supporter of Assad's regime since the uprising began in March 2011, using its veto at the U.N. Security Council along with China to shield its last Mideast ally from international sanctions.

Lavrov said Russia would continue to oppose any U.N. resolution that would call for international sanctions against Assad and open the way for a foreign intervention in Syria. And while he again emphasized that Russia "isn't holding onto Bashar Assad," he added that Moscow continues to believe the opposition demand for his resignation as a precondition for peace talks is "counterproductive."

"The price for that precondition will be the loss of more Syrian lives," Lavrov said.

Both Brahimi and Lavrov insisted that efforts to end the civil war must be based on a peace plan that was approved at an international conference in Geneva in June.

The Geneva plan calls for an open-ended cease-fire, a transitional government to run the country until elections, and the drafting of a new constitution. But it was a non-starter with the opposition because of Russia's insistence that the plan leave the door open for Assad being part of the transition process and the fact that it didn't mention possible U.N. sanctions.

Brahimi said that while some "little adjustments" could be made to the original plan, "it's a valued basis for reasonable political process."

With the opposition offensive gaining momentum in Syria, there is little hope that the initiative would have any more chance of success than it had when it was approved.

Lavrov has said that Moscow is ready to talk to the main Syrian opposition group, even though it had earlier criticized the United States and other Western nations for recognizing the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

On Friday, coalition leader Mouaz al-Khatib rejected the Russian invitation for talks and urged Moscow to support the opposition's call for Assad's ouster. Lavrov said Saturday that al-Khatib's statement was surprising after his earlier contacts with Russian diplomats in Egypt during which the opposition tentatively agreed on a meeting in a third country.

Lavrov said the coalition leader should "realize it would be in his own interests to hear our analysis directly from us."

Lavrov rejected the opposition claim that Russia's continuing weapons supplies to Assad's regime make it responsible for mass killings in Syria, saying that Moscow bears no responsibility for the Soviet-era weapons in Syrian arsenals. He said that defensive weapons such as anti-aircraft missiles that Russia has continued to supply to Damascus couldn't be used in the civil war.

"We aren't providing the Syrian regime with any offensive weapons or weapons that could be used in a civil war," Lavrov said. "And we have no leverage over what the regime has got since the Soviet times."

Georgy Mirsky, a leading Mideast expert with the Institute for World Economy and International Relations, a top foreign policy think tank, said President Vladimir Putin's stand on Syria is rooted in fear that joining international calls for Assad's resignation would make him look weak at home.

"It would look like an inadmissible concession to America, a virtual surrender. The Kremlin would lose its face, look like a loser," said Mirsky.

He wrote in his blog that Putin is resigned to Assad's eventual collapse and the loss of any Russian influence in a future Syria, but firmly opposes international sanctions. That stand allows Putin to tell his domestic audience that Russia has defended its ally until the end against overwhelming odds, said Mirsky.

__

Jim Heintz contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russian-fm-says-assad-wont-181145992.html

adrian gonzalez Jerry Nelson Foo Canoodle Isaac path Tropical Storm Isaac path Hurricane Katrina

Food & Drink | Kitchen Disasters: Why you should stay away from ...

We have all been there. After one or two drinks on board, we feel a compulsion to eat. This is why you should never cook in these circumstances.

Again, JOE and Just-Eat.ie are at hand to highlight the pitfalls of being left to cook on your own devices.

This video works on a number of levels. Firstly, there are so many who can relate to the feeling of the late-night munchies. After a few drinks, our hunger seems to rise in conjunction to the in-take of liquid.

This chap arrives home to throw on a few rashers before opening a beer and falling asleep on the couch. This could have had dire consequences for our hungry friend and he was fortunate to have musical fire-fighters on hand.

The other thing we enjoy about this is the musical quality. We?re not sure that Dolly Parton would agree, but for our money it is a quality take off of her hit ?Stand by your man?.

This video should be more than enough confirmation that you should stay well clear of the kitchen in these circumstances. We think it's fairly safe to conclude from this evidence that the kitchen is not a safe place for us or for you to be, so let's just leave the cooking to those who actually know what they're doing, like the guys at?Just-Eat.ie...there's a reason they're the professionals!

Source: http://www.joe.ie/joe-life/food-drink/kitchen-disasters-why-you-should-stay-away-from-the-kitchen-after-a-few-drinks-0032006-1

1930 census nike new nfl uniforms nfl uniforms andrew bailey the village dallas fort worth tornado dallas tornadoes

Netflix CEO gets pay bump after 2012 cut

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Netflix CEO Reed Hastings' pay will double to $4 million next year, after he took a pay cut due to management missteps this year.

Hastings' annual salary will rise to $2 million in 2013 and he will get $2 million in stock options, according to a securities filing Friday.

That's up from a salary of $500,000 and $1.5 million in stock options for 2012.

Hastings' total pay for 2012 was down 43 percent from $3.5 million in 2011, when some controversial decisions, including a steep price hike on subscriptions, sent the stock spiraling. It fell from a high above $300 to a low below $70 per share.

This year, shares are up 29 percent, closing Friday at $89.33. Recovering from the missteps, the company expects to add around 5 million U.S. subscribers, to between 26.4 million and 27.1 million by the end of the year.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2012-12-28-Netflix-Executive%20Compensation/id-c0cc0ff0e9db4cdab2689833c88c8ccf

bald barbie peoples choice awards deplorable mls draft mark davis marine urination video cadillac ats

The Best Personal Finance Tips of 2012 | Great Financial Advice

Dec
28
2012

As we near the end of 2012, we all tend to reflect back on how the past year has treated us, what we learned, and what we can do differently in the next year. ?As the world economy struggles to get going again, we all are thinking more and more about our finances. ?How can we get control of our money? Should I start a budget? ?Where should we store excess cash? ?All questions that you ask yourself are all great because it means that you are taking the steps to talk about money. ?Here at Debt Roundup, I felt it was appropriate to get some of the personal finance blogs that I enjoy to contribute their best piece of advice for anyone looking to learn about money. ?I was more than impressed with the ones willing to provide their money tips. ?We have all been around money problems before, some of us still are, but if you can take one of these tips and apply it in 2013, then I know you will be better off.

My best financial tip?is to get your emotions in check before you make a purchase. ?Emotional spending can cause a lot of buyer?s remorse and that is never good when dealing with money and budgeting. ?If you are an emotional spender,then take a step back before you purchase and weigh the pros and cons. ?Take 24 hours and if you still need to purchase the item, then at least you will have thought about it more. ?Keep your emotions in the parking lot.

Without further ado, here are the best personal finance tips of 2012 from some of the best financial bloggers. ?Enjoy!

P.S. I know this is a long list, but it is well worth it. ?Take your time to read each tip and soak it in. ?If you follow just one, then you will start out 2013 in the right direction!

Jake from iHeart Budgets said:

Before you do ANYTHING, get a month ahead on your finances. Save up enough money so that you have all the money for the upcoming month in your account when the 1st of the month rolls around. This has really shown our family what financial peace can be. We don?t fight about money, we don?t worry if it?s going to be there, and we don?t care when the bills are due, because we?re already ahead of it.

Read more about Jake?s tip

K.K. from Living Debt Free Rocks said:

Set an actual date for your goal. If you want to become debt free calculate your debt freedom day. Same thing goes for savings and retirement; put a fixed date on when you want to achieve it. Even if your retirement day is 30 years from now, break that down into smaller chunks and target to save $50k within the first 7 years, $100K within 10 years and so on. Those with defined goals stand a better chance of success.

Cassie from Digging Out and Up / Tales and Trenches said:

My tip is for people who have a tendancy to spend money just because it?s in their account, not because they actually need something, and at the end of the pay period say they have nothing left over to save or put towards debt. Every few days log into your bank account. Take the balance and round it down to the nearest $5, $10, $20, or whatever interval you choose. Take the difference and transfer it to your savings account or whatever debt you?re trying to pay off. It?s such a small amount of money that you won?t really notice it affecting your spending ability, but it will surprise you how quickly it adds up. You might also find that it hurts less than trying to put a hard cap on your spending, because the size of the transfer is no bigger than a cup of coffee or lunch out with friends. I did this while I was paying off my debt, and trust me it made a huge difference. Better to start small than not at all.

Jim (A Debt Roundup Reader) said:

Best financial tip I can give to parents ? teach your kids to work for the things they want. ?Once they?ve got some skin in the game it makes it really clear to them what things costs ? and may make them rethink whether they really want that ?thing?. ?That alone will fund your retirement.

Jennifer Lynn from Broke-Ass Mommy said:

?Seriously, if you don?t have the money saved up and set aside, don?t buy it! It really is that simple.

?

Harry from Your Personal Finance Pro said:

I am still amazed by the power of compounding interest. ?This is the first thing that I teach to newbie investors. ?Saving a little now is better than saving nothing for retirement, always! ?You can use simple calculators online to see just how much of a difference early savings can make. ?I?m all about making small sacrifices now so that I may live comfortably later on in life.

Chris from Stumble Forward said:

Focus on doing the right things long enough. ?Once you know what the right things are simply stick to the plan. ?I?ve found that the hardest thing to do is stick to a plan, but when you focus on the right things and do them long enough you will eventually see success sooner or later.

The Investing Monk said:

Credit card debt can spiral out of hand given the exorbitant interest rates the companies charge on the outstanding balances. It is advisable that you make every effort to reduce the interest rates on the debt and it can drastically reduce your debt repayment timeframe.

Read more about cutting interest

Ray from Squirrelers said:

Don?t take frugality too far. ?Frugality has its merits, and I?m a proponent! ?However, we need to know when to draw the line. ?Don?t spend excess time on pinching pennies, to the point where the return on your time invested is at minimum wage! Also, avoid the impulse to sacrifice healthy food for inexpensive unhealthy choices.

Kyle from Rather Be Shopping said:

Make Saving Automatic. By making your savings automatic you don?t miss the money, which in my opinion is the KEY reason why this works. If you have to spend time and energy transferring money every month there is a excellent chance you?re going to find an excuse not to do it.

Read more of Kyle?s best financial tip of 2012

Jefferson from See Debt Run said:

Anyone who is looking to get control of their finances needs to spend at least one month budgeting down in the weeds, tracking every single cent that they spend and every single cent that they make.

Derek from Free at 33 said:

It takes a fair amount of work to make a buck. ?So when you have earned some dough, you better be sure you are spending it wisely. ?After you have covered your essentials and saved a little too, ?the money left over is to be used for fun. ?Your goal should be to stretch this money as far as you can without decreasing your level of enjoyment. ?To make this choice clearer, try to measure purchases against each other as if they are competing for the right to be bought. ?It can also be useful to calculate how long it took to earn the money you are about to spend. ?That is why my best tip from 2012 is to value your spending.

Read more of Derek?s best financial tip

Mandy from Money Master Mom said:

Be bad for the Economy. ?We drive old but reliable cars, we shop at thrift stores, and are careful that our spending matches our values. ?These savings let us splurge on things that are important to us, like Travel. ?I spend less then I ever have, but I?m happier then I?ve ever been.

Read more about being bad for the economy

Christopher from This That and the MBA said:

Set a budget and stick with it. ?Probably the easiest thing is setting the budget but where many fall short is sticking with the budget?oh we will spend a little here and get back on next month. ?Then that just spirals out of control and before you know it the year is gone and you are not much further ahead than you were the year before. ?So lately my motto has been manage your money before it manages you!

Bryan from Gajizmo said:

Read, research, and analyze! Saving, making, and investing money does not require a PhD. Some of the most successful individuals are everyday Americans who did not finish college, and simply worked hard and learned how to manage their money along the way. The key is to absorb as much information as you can about a topic, empower yourself and make informed decisions. The personal finance community can give you an adequate understanding of every financial problem you may be facing today, but it is up to you to ask the right questions, seek the best answers, and solve your money issues. Take initiative in your career and grow your income, maintain discipline in your saving and don?t overspend, and let 2013 be the year you become debt-free or start growing your wealth.

Mr. CBB from Canadian Budget Binder said:

My best financial tip is always to know your financial health and that starts with a budget. When you know your numbers it helps you to understand where you need to improve and why you are saving or going into debt the way you are. Budgets are what will help people stay on track and take the stress of not knowing where you stand and put you in the drivers seat. ?It?s not about how much money you make it?s how you save it.

Jeremy from Modest Money said:

In this age we are more vulnerable than ever to being pressured by the Joneses. ?To make real financial progress you need to learn to overcome that kind of jealousy. ?Live your life the way you want to and don?t worry about other people?s perceived success. ?It?s not worth sacrificing your future to indulge in luxuries today.

Read more about keeping up with the Joneses

Veronica from Blue Pelican Loans said:

The best personal finance tip I could give you is to live within your means. But because this is a very obvious tip, I?d like to give you another: take care of your health. It may not seem like a personal finance tip, but your health has so much to do with your financial well being. If your body doesn?t feel great, your thoughts and actions will reflect that. Not to mention the money wasted on medical care, health products, unnecessary doctor visits and possible hospital stay. Health problems ensue lack of confidence and motivation that can keep us from getting a job, advance at our current careers or pursue a lifestyle that doesn?t end up in thousands of dollars in medical bills. A healthy mind needs a healthy body.

Eddie from Finance Fox said:

Without a budget, is like trying to walk in the dark, but with money.

?

David from Young Adult Money said:

Live below your means: spend less than you make. ?It?s the only sustainable lifestyle long-term. ?If there are more things you would like to do or have (a bigger house, a nicer car, a vacation to Europe), make sure your income can justify the purchase! ?If your income can?t justify the purchase, focus on increasing your income.

Kathleen from Frugal Portland said:

Try to save half of your after-tax income, and debt repayment counts as savings.

?

Michelle from Making Sense of Cents said:

Always make more money than you spend and always strive for the next raise as long as there is some sort of increase in happiness that is possible.

?

Greg and Holly from Club Thrifty said:

Everything begins with tracking your spending. Write it down. You can?t begin to control your finances until you know exactly where your money is going.

?

Catherine from Plunged In Debt said:

Remain completely honest with yourself about how your money will be spent when working out a budget. When we did our first budget we were strapping ourselves way too thin basically cutting out every ounce of fun from our lives. This didn?t work for long, yes we?re in debt and that is our primary financial focus, but the fact remains that we?re human and crave entertainment and fun. It doesn?t have to be much but if you don?t allocate any money to be spent on fun (occasional dinner out, movie, whatever) you?ll quickly start resenting your budget and debt repayment strategies. We don?t have much, maybe like 20 bucks a week but it?s enough for us!

Kim from Eyes on the Dollar said:

Stop Being Afraid. Fear can keep you in debt, make you stay in a job you hate, or keep you in a cycle of poor behavior. Facing that fear and making a plan will change your life.

Read more to learn how to stop being afraid

Sicorra from Tackling Our Debt said:

?Definewrite down your priorities and organize your financial life based on your priorities. For example your priorities may be your spouse and your children. And that you want to make sure that they are always safe, happy, well educated and healthy. Then find ways and figure out how to organize your finances so that you have enough money to look after your priorities now and well into the future. This includes more than ensuring your current income is covering your current needs. It includes things such as proper health insurance, a good life insurance package, money saved for education, money saved for retirement, money saved for a rainy day, and so on.

Jason from Work Save Live said:

?Be Willing to be Different! In our ?look at me? world, it?s never been more important to be different. Succeeding with finances takes discipline and sacrifice and that?s impossible if you?re consistently trying to fit in and worrying about the Joneses.

John from Frugal Rules said:

?Don?t let your finances control you, you should be controlling your finances. Sit down and determine where your money is going and be able to justify why it?s going to the places it is. Look beyond tomorrow and think about where you want to be in 10 years or more. Make your money work for you and maximize it?s potential. That, along with willful discipline, will allow you to achieve success in your financial matters.

Justin from The Frugal Path said:

?Have a stockpile for when there are really good deals on non-perishable items. Personal hygiene items, canned foods and cleaning products can last for months or years on a shelf. However, don?t mistake a stockpile for hoarding. Only buy what you need in amounts that make sense for you.

Goldeneer said:

?Actions Today To Make Money Tomorrow. ?What are you doing today to make money tomorrow? You can bin your time that you spend today into 3 horizons: today?s horizon, tomorrow?s horizon, and the far future?s horizon. Most people only make money for today by going to work and bringing home a paycheck. Tomorrow?s returns might mean getting an education to increase tomorrow?s paycheck or buying an income property. Finally it is important to plan for the far future?s return which usually means retirement or financial independence.

Learn more about what you are doing to make money

Glen from Monster Piggy Bank said:

Set goals for yourself when you are trying to save money. Often things like repaying debt or saving for retirement can be daunting, that?s why I like to break up the big end goal into smaller more manageable pieces ?I personally set myself SMART goals and I would recommend to others that they do the same thing. Setting, documenting and sticking to goals is a great way to keep yourself on target when trying to save money. ?Be sure to review completed goals and create new goals to keep yourself motivated. It is amazing how motivated you can feel by seeing how far you have come and how many goals you have completed. ?Finally, if you can find a friend who is also interested in sharing your money saving goals with you, then you will be far more likely to stick with it than if you go it alone.

Learn more about SMART goals

Jon from Pay My Student Loans said:

?Live ?Poorer? Than You Are. ?When students graduate from college, or someone gets a raise they quickly begin ?lifestyle inflation? where although they are making more money it is all going to pay their more expensive lifestyle. The Solution ? Live ?poorer? than you are by not allowing your lifestyle inflation to outpace your earnings increases. The easiest way to do this is when you graduate college live like a student for a year and then slowly let lifestyle inflation creep in.

Jana from Daily Money Shot said:

?Make finances a family affair. Be open with your significant other about your budget and expenses and yes, debts. When creating a budget or paying bills, don?t hide it from your kids if you have them; include them in an age appropriate manner. When families work together, managing money is significantly easier.

Pauline from Reach Financial Independence said:

?Be content. Be happy with what you have, realize that you don?t need much to live a rich life, and you will easily find yourself living below your means. Do you need a 3000 square foot house? Designer clothes, tech gadgets, a new car every couple of years? ?Realize how lucky you are to have a roof over your head and three meals a day, then define what else is essential to you and skip the rest. I have always lived below my means because having to pay for months to acquire a new shiny object was not important to me. I upgraded my lifestyle slowly from my student life, adding more comfort to my home and a lot more travel to my routine, but never felt the need to possess more and buy on credit. My only debt was taken for purchasing real estate and other investments. Now I have paid cash for a simple house that is just big enough for two, and that I am fixing myself. I am happy that it is mine, but could live with something smaller and cheaper if I couldn?t afford it. By being grateful for what you have, you should realize that your level of happiness will not grow the more you buy, on the contrary.

Brian from The Outlier Model said:

?It can be very tempting to buy nicer, newer things when you get a raise, a promotion or new job. By focusing on avoiding lifestyle inflation and putting the extra money toward debts and savings goals, you can put yourself in a much better financial position.

Read more about dealing with lifestyle inflation

?

I want to thank everyone that participated in this personal finance tip roundup. ?I could not have done it without you. ?You provided great tips that will be of service to anyone looking to clean up their finances and take control of their financial future. ?I hope everyone has a great start to 2013!

Main Photo via Vectorportal

Source: http://www.debtroundup.com/the-best-personal-finance-tips-of-2012/

george h w bush Belk Ned Rocknroll Norman Schwarzkopf Avery Johnson case mccoy case mccoy

Costs For Marketing Mobile Apps Spiked Last Month Even As Downloads Temporarily Dropped

As app developers geared up for the super-competitive Christmas season, marketing costs rose by 30 percent in November from the month before, according to Fiksu, a Boston-based company that helps publishers find the most efficient marketing channels. The company said that the cost of getting a “loyal” user, or one that opens an app more than three times, rose to $1.38 from $1.06 in October. That reversed a four-month trend that saw marketing costs decline going into October’s launch of the iPhone 5. Fiksu said the average number of downloads for the top 200 free iPhone apps in the U.S. declined to 4.57 million per day in November, down from 5.4 million in October. This is a temporary decline following the annual bump that comes with the launch of a new Iphone. When consumers get new phones around the annual iPhone launch or Christmas, downloads spike temporarily as people try out new apps or download old favorites. ?We can expect costs and download volumes to climb through December, much like last year, as marketers spend heavily in preparation for the flood of new devices and rush of user activity and app discovery around Christmas,” said Fiksu’s CEO Micah Adler in a statement. Indeed, mobile analytics startup Flurry reported yesterday that app downloads spiked at 328 million on Christmas Day, a record high for a single day since Flurry started measuring app downloads. Downloads per hour peaked early at around 11 a.m. on the 25th, and remained high throughout the day until around 8:30 or 9 p.m. While Christmas represents a single-day peak, Flurry is projecting that app downloads will remain high throughout the next week and into New Year?s Day, ending the holiday period with over 1.5 billion downloads, and possibly reaching as high as 2 billion total. Meanwhile, Fiksu is backed by Charles River Ventures. They’ve accumulated more than 63 billion app actions including launches, registrations and in-app purchases, as well as real-time bidding requests in helping developers find the most optimized ways of getting new users.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/8RpJvTXj2jY/

sag aftra merger dj am bully bohemian rhapsody bohemian rhapsody spike lee carson daly

How to find places on the map and get turn-by-turn directions using Siri

Complete guide to Siri commands for maps and turn-by-turn navigation

Siri isn't only your digital assistant, it can be your digital co-pilot as well, helping you find where to go, how to get there, and what you can do along the way. That includes local businesses, points of interest, and complete voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation. And when you're done, if you ask nicely, Siri will even show you the way home.

• How to find places with Siri
• How to find local restaurants and businesses with Siri
• How to get turn-by-turn navigation with Siri
• How to find your way home with Siri
• How to use Flyover and view 3D maps with Siri

How to find places with Siri

If you're looking for a local business or point of interest, just ask Siri.

1. Hold down the Home button to activate Siri.

2. Ask Siri to find the location you'd like to go to. For example: "Where is Starbucks?"
3. If there are multiple matches, Siri will show you a list and ask you to pick one. Tap on the location you want.

How to find local businesses with Siri

You don't have to know the exact name of ar business to find it with Siri. You can also search based on category.

1. Hold down the Home button to activate Siri.

2. Tell Siri what type of business or restaurant you want to find or the specific name. For example, "Find the Pod Drop in Rochester, MI."

3. Siri will now show you a list of places that match the type of business you're asking about. Tap on the one you want directions to.

4. You'll be taken to the Maps app. Tap on the green car to the left of the business name.

5. Choose the route you'd like to take and then tap Start in the upper right hand corner.

6. Voice navigation will begin so you can start your trip to the destination.

How to get turn-by-turn navigation with Siri

1. Hold down the Home button to activate Siri.

2. Ask Siri to find the location you'd like to go to. For example: "Where is Starbucks?"
3. If there are multiple matches, Siri will show you a list and ask you to pick one. Tap on the location you want.

4. Tap on the green car icon to the left of the location name.

5. If there are multiple routes, tap on the one you want.
6. Tap on the blue Start button in the upper right hand corner to begin.

7. Follow the voice directions and map prompts to your location.

How to find your way home with Siri

Siri also makes it easy to return home from any unfamiliar place you might have visited (or in the event you get lost).

Before Siri can do this, you'll need to make sure that you have your home address programmed into your contact card and that you've got it linked up with Siri.

• How to set up, configure, secure, and start using Siri

1. Press and hold down the Home button to activate Siri.

2. Tell Siri to take you home. For example, "Take me home" or "How do I get home?"

3. If there are multiple routes, tap on the one you want.
4. Tap on the blue Start button in the upper right hand corner to begin.

5. Follow the voice directions and map prompts to get home.

How to view famous landmarks with Siri

1. Press and hold down the Home button to activate Siri.

2. Ask Siri about the place you'd like to see. For example: "Show me a map of the Sears Tower."
3. Tap on the map widget Siri brings up to launch the Maps app.

4. Tap on 3D in the bottom left hand corner of the Maps app.

5. Tap on the page curl in the bottom right to bring up the options screen.
6. Tap on Satellite. Close the page curl again to return to the regular map.

7. Pan and zoom around the map and enjoy.

How to get more help with Siri

If you still need help with setting up or using Siri with your iPhone Contacts, or any other Siri feature, head on over to our Siri Forum and ask away!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/gszAzazuuW8/story01.htm

doomsday clock nate robinson sharia law sharia law new hampshire primary results molly sims hostess brands

Minn. soda shop rebuked for stocking candy smokes

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) ? Owners of an old-school soda shop in St. Paul, Minn., are being warned to kick the habit and stop stocking novelty candy cigarettes.

City inspectors threatened a misdemeanor citation and $500 fine if Lynden's soda fountain is caught selling the fake smokes again. The Star Tribune reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/RiCHiP ) that the offering violated an ordinance barring the sale of candy smokes and cartoon character lighters.

A city spokesman says the warning came after inspectors received and looked into a complaint about the presence of the tobacco-themed products. The ordinance was enacted to discourage youngsters from picking up a real smoking habit.

Shop owner Tobi Lynden says the white candy sticks with the red tips were her best-selling candy item but she pulled them to avoid running afoul of the ordinance.

___

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/minn-soda-shop-rebuked-stocking-candy-smokes-190536683.html

demi moore 911 call ipo jim rome ufc on fox 2 weigh ins convulsions john tyler chuck

What Women Should Know About Estate Planning

Caring for yourself is a top priority. ?A durable power of attorney allows you to appoint someone you trust to make legal and financial decisions for you when you cannot.

Everyone has an estate and needs a plan.? An estate is simply what you own when you die ? a home, bank accounts, investments, personal property.? A will or living trust enables you to determine who will receive those assets.

There?s a different between a will and a living trust.? A will does not take effect until you die; a living trust can hold assets for your benefit while you are alive.

Trusts are not just for the wealthy.? A trust can be a good way to achieve your goals, even if you?re not rich ? including protecting assets from creditors and ex-spouses.

Spouses get additional tax breaks. ?Assets that are received as gifts or inherited are not taxed, and a surviving spouse can add a deceased spouse?s unused estate tax exclusion to her own.

Once widowed, tax planning is more important.? When one spouse dies, the unlimited marital deduction no longer applies, but there are still a number of tax-saving strategies surviving spouses can use to preserve assets.

You shouldn?t own your own life insurance policy.? To avoid taxes, your life insurance policy should be owned by the beneficiary or by a trust.

Fill out beneficiary forms and keep them updated.? Retirement accounts are distributed to whomever is listed on a beneficiary form, and that form trumps a will bequest.

Keep cash on hand.? Cash is crucial to cover expenses should a spouse suddenly die; keep a joint account for this purpose.

An experienced Annapolis estate planning attorney can help you understand all your options for estate planning.? Experienced Estate Planning Attorney Seth B. Zirkle can discuss all your options and create a plan with you.? Call Mr. Zirkle at Hyatt & Weber, P.A. today at 410-505-4553.

Source: http://hyattweberestateplanning.com/estate-planning/what-women-should-know-about-estate-planning/

meniscus the colony kids choice awards ncaa final four 2012 texas chainsaw massacre uk vs louisville university of kansas

Communication Having Wireless Adapters will be Strengthening ...

Many of us stay in each day as well as get older where by technologies are much more offered to you than ever before prior to, and also the technique of communicating to anyone at any time plus in which is usually added likely pc possibly has been. As we speak, all of our cell phone process features become astonishingly back logged because of substantial range of cell phone consumers in these modern times. It is assumed that will extra folks individual their own phone now in comparison with employ a traditional phone at your house. The cellular cellular phone offers become this sort of mandatory portion of our everyday life these days that most will likely not disappear property without one. One of the many advantages of your cellphone, is usually to make use of it if you are out and about in addition to even so have to connect.

The particular unlucky element of the following on the go communication is answer working with mobile phones whilst generating. Evaluation possesses instructed this cell phone make use of whilst driving a car, regardless of whether that is by way of txt messaging, sending a great Instant messaging, and also communicating for the phone, will certainly foriegn the motorist?s potential to look closely at higher depths compared to driving under the influence. As a result of most of these investigation, claims throughout the country are generally using mobile phone guidelines which in turn exclude the utilization of mobile phones whilst managing a motor vehicle. Which means individuals of your states this bring these kinds of cellular phone guidelines need to use a hands free of charge method of utilizing their mobile phone even though generating, in any other case not really employ a mobile phone in the least. Quote, should your condition possesses these kinds of laws and regulations they may not be comfortable about fines, and you will and will also be stopped plus charged for anyone who is caught driving a car while by using a cellular telephone.

Even so, do not allow this particular detour you in your favourite technological know-how if you find yourself on the road. Lots of companies right now are offering to you possibilities which could will let you takes place mobile phone or maybe portable fretting hand set palm trees no cost. The most frequent method immediately with possession free number dialing along with chatting on the phone is definitely the Wireless bluetooth card placed. When Wireless started, fractional laser treatments only agreed to be obtainable on more sophisticated and additional elite cellular phone models, nonetheless as a result of urgent characteristics involving mobile phone guidelines in addition to forbids, almost each individual phone that you can purchase is actually enabled by using Wireless know-how that could allow you to work with a Bluetooth adaptor along with even so chat on the telephone.

The most common form of Wireless bluetooth card is actually a stopper and also engage in variety in which will likely be ideal as well as your Bluetooth headset. This might allow it to be super easy to have both arriving and outward bound calling not having when needing to take your palms over rim, and in some cases take your eyes off of the path. This kind of adapter will grant ones cellphone to be able to broadcast in excess of just about any computer programming that may be in your radio station therefore, you?ll not have to be anxious about any kind of missing cell phone calls.

Measuring only one of many many different types of Wireless plugs available on the market nowadays. Depending upon your cellphone, there are many kinds offered to match your desires. A high level serious driver and employ your cell phone as opposed to operating, some sort of Wireless adapter can be a certain should to shield on your own along with people on your way plus in some declares, may be mandatory.

Publisher is definitely Director involving Mobile phone Business enterprise Progression in BeoMob.rs . Beomob is usually an mobile phones components look where you can find adapter, and also other adapteri za Samsung mobilni.

Source: http://ezinepr.com/technology/communication-having-wireless-adapters-will-be-strengthening-online-connectivity/

tamera mowry slow jam the news madden cover obama slow jams the news metta world peace ron artest gladys knight

Creative Writing Prompts to Alleviate Writer's Block | ArticleTree.info

by RonWilson

Writing creatively is an ideal way to express yourself and get in touch with fictional characters and events. Many individuals have the wish to write creatively for either enjoyment or profit, but how can we get better at being creative? Sometimes we open up to the blank page and automatically suffer writer's block.

The next time this happens to you, think about how much easier things would be if you had an inventory of creative writing prompts to get you through-- an effective list of things that can trigger your imagination, and generate ideas when you most need them.

Creative writing prompts could be used anywhere and anytime. They could be used repeatedly, or they may be adapted and modified to prompt new ideas. The best aspect of creative writing prompts is that they might be as crazy or as practical as you like, they are just a way of introducing your creative mind to more choices.

Take the sentence and complete it, then go on with writing for 200 words without putting thought into it. Just write the very first things that enter your mind and see where it takes you. So, save these creative writing exercises to your desktop, or print them out and put them up at your writing table, so you have no more excuses not to write! These are prompts which function as story starters.

1. I bent down to pick up my purse when I heard the ripping sound ...

2. I looked in my rear vision mirror and saw where the sound of the siren was coming from...

3. The traffic reached a standstill, I turned to the car beside me and giggled when I saw ...

4. Three or four children ran towards the water without looking, so I yelled...

5. It was rare that the weather forecast would be correct, but that day I never expected...

6. The 5 inch scar on my arm was a result of a childhood injury, sustained when...

7. I turned the water off in the shower just to discover the towels were hanging on the clothes line ...

8. The darkness engulfed me, so I grabbed for my flashlight and flicked it on. right in front of me stood...

9. When I entered the service station that morning, still wearing the tracksuit I 'd slept in, I didn't realize I wouldn't emerge for another 2 hours ...

10. I looked up after hearing a sound above me, just to realise that was a bad idea...

11. The breeze blew the cap off my head, and into the hand of a strange looking gentleman...

12. When I'd requested to have the piano removalists come, I assumed they would deliver my piano to my new house. I never thought that...

13. I thought the smell was arising from his feet. Well, that was what I thought, until I noticed ...

14. When I arrived home, I was horrified to see the police had blocked the entrance to my house...

15. Driving at night a dog jumped out in front of my car, so I swerved ...

Source: http://writing.articletree.info/writing-a-speaking/2376-creative-writing-prompts-to-alleviate-writers-block

Geno Smith ny giants brandon marshall ryder cup Kate Middleton Bottomless the Pirate Bay Hotel Transylvania

Stunning Tabby Male Cat - Orlando Classifieds - Kijiji

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

Source: http://orlando.ebayclassifieds.com/cats-kittens/kissimmee/stunning-tabby-male-cat/?ad=25270064

ups Ebates lotto Illinois Lottery texas lottery Dell Levis

Christmas storms all over US blamed for 2 deaths

A house in Tioga, La., is severely damaged after an apparent tornado tore through the area Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/The Daily Town Talk, Melinda Martinez) NO SALES

A house in Tioga, La., is severely damaged after an apparent tornado tore through the area Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/The Daily Town Talk, Melinda Martinez) NO SALES

Members of the Alpine Volunteer Fire Department and the VA Fire Department clear debris from U.S. 71 in the Tioga, La. area, after an apparent tornado tore through the area Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/The Daily Town Talk, Melinda Martinez) NO SALES

Storm clouds roll past Barksdale Pavilion at Jones Park in Gulfport, Miss., Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. After most of spending Christmas Day with a blustery day and occasional blue skies, storm clouds arrived on the Coast at 4 p. m. The strong south breeze blew most of the bad weather north of the immediate coast line. (AP Photo/The Sun Herald, Tim Isbell)

Debris sits on the frontage road near I-49 in downtown Alexandria, La., after an apparent tornado tore through the area Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/The Daily Town Talk, Melinda Martinez) NO SALES

A Lawton, Okla., police cruiser tries to navigate the snow as blizzard conditions hit southwest Oklahoma at midday Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/The Lawton Constitution, Brandon Neris)

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) ? A Christmas Day twister outbreak left damage across the Deep South while holiday travelers in the nation's much colder midsection battled sometimes treacherous driving conditions from freezing rain and blizzard conditions.

Conditions were volatile throughout the afternoon and into the night with tornado warnings in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. The storms were blamed for two deaths, several injuries, and left homes from Louisiana to Alabama damaged.

In Mobile, Ala., a tornado or high winds damaged homes and knocked down power lines and large tree limbs in an area just west of downtown around nightfall, said Nancy Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Mobile County Commission. WALA-TV's tower camera captured a large funnel cloud headed toward downtown.

"We haven't verified what it was, but we have an area that we heard has damage to homes," she said.

Meanwhile, blizzard conditions were hitting the nation's midsection.

Earlier in the day, winds toppled a tree onto a pickup truck in the Houston area, killing the driver. Icy roads already were blamed for a 21-vehicle pileup in Oklahoma, and the Highway Patrol says a 28-year-old woman was killed in a crash on a snowy U.S. Highway near Fairview.

The snowstorm that caused numerous accidents pushed out of Oklahoma late Tuesday, carrying with it blizzard warnings for parts of northeast Arkansas, where 10 inches of snow was forecast. Freezing rain clung to trees and utility lines in Arkansas and winds gusts up to 30 mph whipped them around, causing about 71,000 customers to lose electricity.

Blizzard conditions were possible for parts of Illinois, Indiana and western Kentucky with predictions of 4 to 7 inches of snow.

No injuries were confirmed immediately, but fire crews were still making door-to-door checks in the hardest hit areas of Mobile. The Mobile Fire-Rescue Department, which was providing storm updates through Twitter, said Murphy High School was damaged and that there was a gas leak at a nearby apartment building.

An apparent tornado caused damage in the west Alabama town of Grove Hill, located about 80 miles north of Mobile.

Mary Cartright said she was working at the Fast Track convenience store in the town on Christmas evening when the wind started howling and the lights flickered, knocking out the store's computerized cash registers.

"We've had some pretty heavy weather," said Cartright in a phone interview. "Our cash registers are down so our doors are closed."

Trees fell on a few houses in central Louisiana's Rapides Parish but there were no injuries reported and crews were cutting trees out of roadways to get to people in their homes, said sheriff's Lt. Tommy Carnline. Near McNeill, Miss., a likely tornado damaged a dozen homes and sent eight people to the hospital, none with life-threatening injuries, said Pearl River County emergency management agency director Danny Manley.

Fog blanketed highways, including arteries in the Atlanta area, which was expected to be dealing with the same storm system on Wednesday. In New Mexico, drivers across the eastern plains had to fight through snow, ice and low visibility.

At least three tornadoes were reported in Texas, though only one building was damaged, according to the National Weather Service. Tornado watches were in effect across southern Louisiana and Mississippi.

More than 400 flights nationwide were canceled by the evening, according to the flight tracker FlightAware.com. More than half were canceled into and out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport that got a few inches of snow.

Christmas lights also were knocked out with more than 100,000 customers without power in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.

In Louisiana, quarter-sized hail was reported early Tuesday in the western part of the state and a WDSU viewer sent a photo to the TV station of what appeared to be a waterspout around the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in New Orleans. There were no reports of crashes or damage.

Some mountainous areas of Arkansas' Ozark Mountains could get up to 10 inches of snow, which would make travel "very hazardous or impossible" in the northern tier of the state from near whiteout conditions, the National Weather Service said.

The holiday may conjure visions of snow and ice, but twisters this time of year are not unheard of. Ten storm systems in the last 50 years have spawned at least one Christmastime tornado with winds of 113 mph or more in the South, said Chris Vaccaro, a National Weather Service spokesman in Washington, via email.

The most lethal were the storms of Dec. 24-26, 1982, when 29 tornadoes in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi killed three people and injured 32.

In Mobile, a large section of the roof on the Trinity Episcopal Church is missing and the front wall of the parish wall is gone, said Scott Rye, a senior warden at the church in the Midtown section of the city.

On Christmas Eve, the church with about 500 members, was crowded for services.

"Thank God this didn't happen last night," Rye said.

The church finished a $1 million-plus renovation campaign in June 2011, which required the closure of the historic sanctuary for more than a year.

___

Associated Press writers Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Ala., Ramit Plushnick-Masti in Houston, Chuck Bartels in Little Rock, Ark., and AP Business Writer Daniel Wagner in Washington, contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-25-Christmas%20Weather/id-30cd4cdb3132424eb261011a53570cfd

fun. hepatitis c symptoms david bradley david foster wallace pinterest attwireless taylor swift zac efron

The Tech Writing Prof: Things that Technical Writers Need to Provide ...

A recent discussion on the Technical Writer group at LinkedIn asked how to explain to a client that a technical writer need not be an expert in the subject matter of the manuals. As technical writers, we have to be learners, but we usually do not begin as experts in the scientific topics we cover. However, we must be:

• Experts in Document Design
Although technical writers do not need to be experts in semiology, psychoanalysis, or content analysis, we need to know enough about document design to create manuals, web sites, brochures, and other communication packages that speak to the audience. We need to know enough about the audience's eye movement across the page to make a page that flows. That is, for English speaking audiences, we need to know that the audience's eye will track from the upper left to the lower right of the page. For audiences who primarily read Chinese, Hebrew, or Arabic, those eyes will track in different directions.

Additionally, we need to be aware of the limitations of the fonts we incorporate (Are the lines so thick that they are hard to read from a distance?), the mix of colors we use (Can the elements of our pictures be distinguished as separate elements?), and the amount of white space incorporated in our illustrations and text. Although Jan White claims that serifs have a functional value in that they direct the eye and san serif fonts anchor the eye (Kostelnick and Roberts, 1998, p142), there have not been corroborating studies confirming these findings. Therefore, other than my own anecdotal evidence in support of White's study, I really cannot recommend this limitation on use of fonts. However, I can point to more than a few sources that would confirm that using more than two or three fonts on a page will reduce the readability of the page (Becker, 2009)(Krug, 2006, p36).

As mentioned previously, we also need to consider the cultural side of our pages and illustrations. Do procedural photos that are directed at Americans include someone pointing to the audience with the middle finger? Does a photo for an Arabian audience show the sole of a model's foot?

Becker, E. (2009). AMWA Presentation to UHD.
Kostelnick, C., & Roberts, D. D. (1998). Designing Visual Language: Strategies for Professional Communicators. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Krug, S. (2006). Don't make me think: A common sense approach to web usability. Berkeley, Calif: New Riders.

Source: http://techwritingprof.blogspot.com/2012/12/things-that-technical-writers-need-to.html

us news law school rankings gael glen rice jr bars lindzi cox bachelor finale courtney robertson

Source: http://harrison9.posterous.com/the-tech-writing-prof-things-that-technical-w

conocophillips octomom dan savage new world trade center kellen moore ryan braun bryce harper

Source: http://mcepuk.posterous.com/the-tech-writing-prof-things-that-technical-w

shabazz muhammad angela corey zimmerman charged bonobos charles manson al sharpton actuary

He's not running, but Italy's Monti has a plan

ROME (AP) ? For someone not running for political office, Premier Mario Monti has an awfully detailed plan for how to fix Italy's financial woes and bring the country and the rest of Europe back to economic health. And by Monday, not only had centrist leaders who want him as premier endorsed it, but so did the head of the Catholic Church in Italy.

Monti issued a 25-page agenda to "Change Italy, Reform Europe" late Sunday after announcing he had ruled out campaigning for February elections but would consider leading the next government if politicians who share his focus on reform request it.

Monti outlined the steps Italy must take to finish the reforms launched by his 13-month-long technical government to reign in Italy's public debt, spur economic growth and bring Europe's No. 3 economy out of recession.

"In a word, he will be the non-candidate candidate," commentator Massimo Franco wrote in leading daily Corriere della Sera on Monday.

Some of Monti's priorities include attracting greater foreign investment, investing in research, capitalizing on Italy's cultural treasures and fighting tax evasion and corruption. He called for incentives to hire women and young workers to help reduce the 36.5 percent youth unemployment rate. He said Italy's public administration ? tarnished by recent embezzlement scandals ? needed to be more efficient and transparent.

In an open-letter to Italians introducing the agenda, Monti said he wanted to contribute some ideas for Italy's future to help orient Italy's political leaders as they embark in what is expected to be a bitter two-month campaign before Feb. 24-25 elections.

"To those forces who show a convinced and credible adhesion, I would give my appreciation, encouragement, and if asked, my guidance," Monti wrote.

Italy's centrist leaders, who had sought Monti as their candidate for premier, discussed the document Monday morning and enthusiastically endorsed it, according to the ANSA news agency, citing sources within the movement.

And Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the head of the Italian bishops' conference, also gave it a thumbs-up, praising Monti's "innovative" proposals. Support from the church is considered vitally important for a government in largely Roman Catholic Italy, and the Vatican has made clear its admiration for Monti, a practicing Catholic.

"Mario Monti has presented a path, a way forward that is being offered to the serious and honest reflection of all," Bagnasco told state-run RAI radio.

Monti, a respected economist, was tapped last year to head a technical government after Silvio Berlusconi was forced to resign as premier amid market turmoil over his inability to pass necessary reforms to save Italy from Europe's debt crisis.

Berlusconi's People of Freedom party, Parliament's largest, had supported Monti's reforms, which included painful tax hikes and an increase in the retirement age. But Berlusconi yanked his support earlier this month, prompting Monti to resign and force elections about two months early.

Monti remains premier of a caretaker government. In an end-of-the-year press conference Sunday, he made clear his distaste for Berlusconi's antics, refusing the scandal-tainted ex-premier's offer to run on a center-right ticket.

___

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hes-not-running-italys-monti-plan-150847111--finance.html

Samsung Galaxy S3 linkedin linkedin usps bachelor pad bachelor pad Green Coffee Bean Extract