Stone Canyon offers custom-built homes surrounding golf course ...

New builders and new leadership have brought a new energy to Stone Canyon, a community of custom-built homes surrounding Stone Canyon Golf Course on the border between Blue Springs and Independence.

Stone Canyon, once the victim of an uncertain economy, is now a thriving new-home community.?Fourteen homes have closed since this new team took over last year. We have five custom new construction sales pending and multiple others in the design and negotiation process,? said Sally Moore with Keller Williams Eastland Partners, who exclusively markets the community.Stone Canyon has much to offer new-home buyers, she added. It is built around the Stone Canyon Golf Course, the only Greg Norman Signature Design golf course in Missouri, which is ranked as one of the top three public courses in Missouri. Stone Canyon has a Blue Springs address and children attend Blue Springs schools, including the nearby Sunny Pointe Elementary and Sunny Vale Middle schools. However, since Stone Canyon is officially within the borders of Independence, residents enjoy lower city taxes and lower utility rates.?Stone Canyon is just minutes from the new Centerpoint Medical Center, great shopping and services along with some of the best restaurants in eastern Jackson County,? Moore said. ?Access to Interstate 70 is just down the street. It only takes about 15 minutes to get to downtown Kansas City.?But even with minutes-away access to all the urban conveniences, Stone Canyon is nestled in a quiet area with little traffic or congestion and expansive views of the surrounding area.?We are on a ridge that allows you to see for miles,? Moore said. ?The sunsets are spectacular. At night you can see city lights in all directions.?These factors have contributed to Stone Canyon?s recent success and allowed it to take early advantage of the resurging real estate market.?As others are just now starting to feel the positive effects of our continually improving economy, we here at Stone Canyon have already been experiencing the rebirth of new construction for many months,? Moore said. ?That?s because we understood from the very beginning that the secret to success is delivering a customized home building experience with an unprecedented level of service and quality.?To provide that level of quality, Stone Canyon chose two builders with stellar reputations, Robert Foushee of Foushee Homes Inc. and Kevin Stallings of Dreams & Design Building. Foushee has 17 years of building experience and Stallings has 20.?Building my first spec house to sell in the early years was an eye opener, but I maintained the attitude that if I did it well and offered my customers something better, I would develop a reputation for quality and treating people right,? Foushee said.That attitude has brought Foushee success, rave reviews from his past clients and repeat customers. His promise to his clients is to provide them with quality construction and a friendly experience.The name of Stallings? business, Dreams & Design Building, says it all. ?If a customer dreams it, I can usually design and build it,? he said.Stallings takes pride in listening to customers, then showing them a template design that will meet most of their needs, but taking that template and modifying it so that customers get exactly the home they envisioned.?I never build the same home twice,? Stallings said, adding that he refuses to cut corners to hold down costs. ?I build every home as if it were mine. I won?t accept less than quality construction, I won?t rush the process and I won?t cut corners.?Stallings also knows the importance of building energy-efficient homes and has his homes independently inspected to meet Energy Star standards, providing a finished home that is between 45 and 50 percent more efficient that homes built to current building codes.Foushee and Stallings offer clients a variety of home designs, including ranch, 11/2-story, reverse 11/2-story and two-story plans with prices starting at $275,000. Prospective buyers can see the quality of Stallings? construction by visiting the model home at 4211 S. White Sands Court. They can also visit Foushee?s completed inventory home that is now available. Foushee also has another inventory home under construction that will be move-in ready in about 90 days. Stallings is just starting construction on two inventory homes that should be completed by summer.Prospective buyers also may see a variety of home plans from both builders at the model home that can be used as a basis for a custom designed and built home, Moore said.?It is amazing to see how these builders take a home from concept to design to completion for their clients,? Moore said. ?And they walk their customers through the process every step of the way. Each home is individualized.?One client, whose mother will be living with them, needed a home that was ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) compliant and that home was designed with an elevator,? she continued. ?Another customer wants to live in his home forever, so he is also having an elevator installed.?Stone Canyon is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For information, call Sally Moore at 816-268-3828 or visit stonecanyonkc.com.

Source: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/30/3983296/stone-canyon-offers-custom-built.html

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Iran to move airport after oil found under runway

News.Az Sunday 30th December, 2012

Iran to relocate airport after oil found under runway. Iran plans to relocate an airport in the southwest of the country after discovering oil deposits under its runway, media reported. The National Iranian Oil Company "intends to buy Ahvaz airport due to the existence of oil deposits under the airport's tarmac," the state broadcaster's website quoted Mohammad Rasoulinejad, managing director of the Iranian Airports Company, as sayin...

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Source: http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php/sid/211665734/scat/940f2bfd509e743b

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No. 2 UConn women rout No. 1 Stanford 61-35

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) ? Geno Auriemma insists long winning streaks do little to get him amped up, even after he traveled his Connecticut team across the country to face top-ranked Stanford and its daunting 82-game unbeaten run at Maples Pavilion.

The Huskies sure got a thrill from leaving with an unexpected rout and silencing a typically raucous crowd ? and likely stealing away the No. 1 spot in the polls along with it.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and second-ranked UConn played spoiler and streak-buster this time, snapping Stanford's nation-leading home winning streak with a surprisingly easy 61-35 victory Saturday.

It was the Huskies who saw the end of their NCAA record 90-game winning streak at Maples Pavilion with a 71-59 loss two years ago, almost to the day on Dec. 30.

"The last time we were here it was a big event for them and they treated it like it was a big event, and God bless them," Auriemma said. "But for us to win a game here in late December, it's no more than just a big game against a really good team. The other stuff, I didn't get all that excited about us winning 90, I'm not going to get that excited about us beating somebody who's won 82 in a row at home."

Mosqueda-Lewis scored 19 points as UConn (11-0) thoroughly outplayed Stanford (11-1) on both ends of the floor in this highly touted game featuring the country's top programs and Final Four regulars from opposite coasts.

Stanford got harassed right off the home floor that it ruled with perfection and dominant play for nearly six years ? and the Huskies surely took the Cardinal's No. 1 spot along with it.

The game was the 51st meeting between the top two teams in the poll. The No. 1 seed had won the previous nine matchups and holds a 31-20 lead.

Chiney Ogwumike had 18 points and 13 rebounds but struggled in the post as Stanford lost at home for the first time since March 2007.

"It was a bad day. Whatever we were trying to do, we really struggled with it," Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. "Connecticut came in here on a mission. Mission accomplished."

Stefanie Dolson had 10 points and 14 rebounds and flustered Ogwumike all afternoon, and Bria Hartley and Kelly Faris also scored 10 apiece for UConn.

Breanna Stewart scored seven straight points during a decisive 17-2 run in the first half as UConn built a 22-7 lead against the cold-shooting Cardinal and kept the pressure on the rest of the way.

Stanford trailed 31-13 at halftime in one of its worst 20 minutes in recent memory ? though the school had no record of when the Cardinal were last held to that few points in a half.

They had gone five full seasons with an unbeaten record on their home floor.

Mosqueda-Lewis, last season's Big East top freshman averaging 16.4 points and 5.0 rebounds, shot 7 for 13 as Connecticut shot 37.5 percent from the floor ? and that was plenty good enough against a Stanford team that wound up at a dismal 19.3 percent (11 for 57) in its lowest single-game shooting performance and fewest field goals made.

"I love the game, I think it's a great game for both teams, but for our game two years ago it was a national event ? I don't think tonight was a national event," Auriemma said. "We beat a really good Stanford team on their home court and they happened to have won a lot of games at home."

Stanford had four early possessions over the opening 4 1/2 minutes in which it faced a dwindling shot clock.

This wasn't the Cardinal's worst home loss ever ? that was a 96-51 defeat to Long Beach State on March 10, 1983 ? though UConn sure made it feel like it for an afternoon to silence a typically animated crowd.

Auriemma was booed by the crowd during pregame introductions, then again when the coach was whistled for a technical foul with his team ahead 19 points with 13:22 remaining.

UConn, which had trailed for only 48 seconds all season coming into the game and now just 2:21 in all, won for the first time at Stanford in four tries.

Ogwumike, Stanford's leading scorer and rebounder averaging 21.8 points and 12.8 boards, was held to 6-for-22 shooting.

"I don't think I've experienced anything like this," Ogwumike said. "That Connecticut team we played for 40 minutes is the standard. And the great thing is now we've experienced the standard."

UConn's 6-foot-5 Dolson made things tough all day for Ogwumike ? who stands 6-4 ? and gave her problems with a size advantage to deny Stanford's top player and keep her away from the basket. That led to some forced shots in the first half, when Ogwumike missed 8 of her first 9 attempts. She scored at the 7:25 mark of the first half to end a nearly 6-minute scoring drought since her previous basket on a putback at 13:19.

Stanford then went 4:58 without scoring before Ogwumike's three-point play 2:27 before halftime.

"Stefanie was going to guard Chiney until she proved that she couldn't," Auriemma said.

Dolson was whistled for her third foul with 17:42 left in the game, but Mikaela Ruef missed both free throws.

Walking off the court after this one "was complete opposite," Dolson said.

"Two years ago we lost and it ended our streak. It was just a horrible loss," she recalled.

Bonnie Samuelson's back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the second half, the Cardinal's first from behind the arc, gave them some life. But it was short-lived as the Huskies pulled away.

Stanford's 82-game home winning streak dated to a 68-61 loss to Florida State in the second round of the NCAA tournament on March 19, 2007.

This season's Cardinal stunned defending NCAA champion and then-top-ranked Baylor and Brittney Griner on Nov. 16 to become the nation's No. 1 team and avenge a loss in last spring's NCAA semifinals.

The Cardinal hardly looked like the best team Saturday against the dominant Huskies. They were held below 40 points for the first time since a 72-32 loss to Missouri on Jan. 2, 1984.

Stanford missed its initial 10 3-point tries and began the game 3 for 22 to fall behind 22-7, with UConn getting three quick 3s.

Ogwumike's big sister, Nnemkadi ? the 2012 No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick of the Los Angeles Sparks ? attended the game, along with other former Stanford players Rosalyn Gold-Onwude and Lindy La Rocque.

Stanford senior Joslyn Tinkle, the team's second-leading scorer, managed only two points while playing on her 22nd birthday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/no-2-uconn-women-rout-no-1-stanford-230525515--spt.html

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Sports venues popular in Instagram

Updated?Dec 29, 2012 2:29 PM ET

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Love it or hate it, Instagram is wildly popular. Users upload over 1 billion photos per day on the photo editing and sharing application.

In April, Facebook paid $715 million for the app, which has been criticized for its questionable privacy policy ? allowing anyone to use images with no compensation to the photographer. The company backtracked on that policy after user revolt.

But the app is a lens on world culture, so it should be no surprise that sports sites ranked high among 2012's top 10 most Instagrammed locations.

The top spot is Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, where over 100,000 photos were taken last year.

But three West Coast sports venues also made the list: the San Francisco Giants' AT&T Park, and Dodger Stadium and Staples Center, both in Los Angeles.

AT&T Park is a Wi-Fi hotspot that makes it easy for Instagram users to upload photos When it opened in 2004 it became the first professional sports venue to provide wireless access to fans in all concourses and seating areas.

The full list of Instagram's 2012 most popular locations:

1. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Bangkok, Thailand

2. Siam Paragon shopping mall, Bangkok

3. Disneyland Park, Anaheim, Calif.

4. Times Square, New York City

5. AT&T Park, San Francisco

6. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles

7. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

8. Eiffel Tower, Paris

9. Staples Center, Los Angeles

10. Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, Calif.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Foxsports/rss/MLB/~3/aro4y0MQ5LY/sports-venues-among-most-instagrammed-sites-staples-center-att-park-dodger-stadium-122912

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Love Is In the Air Contest Offers Wedding at Empire State Building

You are here: Home / Weddings / Love Is In the Air Contest Offers Wedding at Empire State Building

Every bride and groom feels as though they are in seventh heaven on their wedding day, but on the most romantic day of the year three pairs of lovebirds will have the chance to pledge their devotion at a landmark dubbed ?the nearest thing to heaven? in New York City, thanks to celebrity event designer Preston Bailey.

Through January 11, 2013 committed couples across the country can submit their love story via the Empire State Building?s Facebook page for a chance to win ?Love is in the Air,? the celebrity event designer?s nationwide contest.

On Valentine?s Day the three winning sets of soul mates which have been selected by Preston Bailey Designs and the Empire State Building will celebrate their love with a customized wedding or vow renewal ceremony at the historic skyscraper, with Preston Bailey creating a customized motif for each couple?s nuptials and featuring the winners on his website under ?Bride Ideas.? Premiere industry vendors, including Weddingstar, Sunpride Flora, Levy Lighting, Sylvia Weinstock Cakes, Nuage Designs, and Gio Draping Events will also contribute to the elegant exchange of vows and receptions to follow.

?I am honored to be a part of this wonderful tradition and to transform the dreams of these contest winners into reality,? said Preston Bailey. ?The Empire State Building is the perfect place to spend their special day and begin their lives together, and I look forward to designing spectacular ceremonies that reflect both the couple?s unique stories and the building?s iconic stature.?

The winners, which will be chosen based on their distinctive love stories, will be announced on or around January 18, 2013. The couples will be among the privileged few to say ?I do? at the famous structure, which offers pairs the chance to proclaim their devotion only during the Empire State Building Valentine?s Day Wedding Event, which is celebrating its 19th year in 2013.

After the Valentine?s Day festivities, highlights of Preston?s wedding designs, photos of the couples enjoying their customized experience, and their plans for love-filled lives together will be posted on the Contest Facebook Page for all to share in the excitement.

Photo Credit: ClipArt

Don't miss any romantic travel news from Lovetripper! Be sure to subscribe to Lovetripper by Email through our free newsletter, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!?

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Source: http://www.lovetripper.com/weddings/2012/12/love-is-in-the-air-contest-offers-wedding-at-empire-state-building.html

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Wild dolphins in Australia have been seen giving gifts to humans (Americablog)

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How To Properly Use Your Credit Card - Options Finance

People need all the help they can get these days when it comes to managing finances. These cards can be beneficial to consumers, but they sometimes also make a mess of one?s financial situation. Read the following tips to learn how to manage credit responsibly and what to avoid.

Individuals under 18 can rarely obtain a credit card by themselves. You might gain access to a card through an adult?s joint account. Some stores cater to teens but big companies don?t.

Interest Rate

Be careful about selecting a card with a zero percent interest rate. This can sometimes encourage individuals to overspend. Once the zero-interest period runs out, people could wind up having a large balance, with a high interest rate, that they struggle to pay off.

Know whether the payment due date on your credit card is the actual due date or a suggested one. Many times, credit card companies will have suggested due dates that can be a couple weeks before a true due date. If you have a suggested due date, find out what your actual due date is, too. This gives you a better idea of how long you have to make your payment if you are in a pinch.

When you buy with a credit card on the Internet, keep copies of your receipt. Keep this receipt so that when your monthly bill arrives, you can see that you were charged exactly the same amount as on the receipt. If it differs, file a dispute of charges with the company as soon as possible. This smart technique will serve you well and ensure that you never get overcharged for your purchases.

Fully pay off your monthly credit card charges when you receive the bill. Unless you have % interest, you will get a finance charge put on your bill when it is not paid for completely. These finance charges can make it exceptionally difficult to dig yourself out of debt, especially if you are only making the minimum payments required.

The first place you should look to for a credit card is your bank, especially if you have been doing business with them for years. They have your personal information in their files and can approve you more easily. You could also try a credit union in your area.

Credit Card Account

Don?t open a credit card account if you don?t have enough self-discipline to use the card responsibly. Some people just can?t help spending beyond their means. These individuals should not have credit cards. When they open up a credit card account, they are prone to have a terrible financial future.

Negotiate interest rates with your credit card company. A lot of the time these credit card companies will help you to lower your interest rate if you just request it. You can probably get a low APR if you have good credit and have been making all of your payments on a timely manner.

Keep your bank cards to a minimum. Keeping a large number of cards on hand serves to complicate your financial life. Also, you greatly increase the chances of getting yourself into debt.

Consider sticking with a large bank that issues cards, as they sometimes offer the best options. Their cards may come with more perks, and larger, well-established companies may have better business practices. when taking out a credit card that you plan to use a lot, go with one of the major companies. After all you are risking your credit score.

Always adhere to a budget when it comes to using charge cards. You should have a budget for your income, so include your credit in your budget. Try not to think of bank cards as a source of extra money. Set aside a budgeted amount that you are allowed to spend, and never allow yourself to put more than that on your cards. Don?t go over that amount, and pay the balance off every month.

Again, consumers often have no support as they work out how to use their credit cards properly; as a result, they often end up paying unnecessarily high interest on their purchases. Ideally, you have picked up some handy spending advice from this article and have a better idea about how to use your charge cards in a safe and responsible manner.

It?s essential that you comprehend everything you can about financial markets today. Therefore, it makes sense to conduct some research independently and keep this piece on financial markets today. When you get this knowledge, you?ll have no issues in the future.

Source: http://www.optionstradinganalysis.com/2012/12/28/how-to-properly-use-your-credit-card/

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Over the fiscal cliff: Soft or hard landing?

House Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer of Md., pauses during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, where he urged House Republicans to end the pro forma session and call the House back into legislative session to negotiate a solution to the fiscal cliff. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

House Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer of Md., pauses during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, where he urged House Republicans to end the pro forma session and call the House back into legislative session to negotiate a solution to the fiscal cliff. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

President Barack Obama walks past a Marine honor guard as he steps off the Marine One helicopter and walks on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, as he returned early from his Hawaii vacation for meetings on the fiscal cliff. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Efforts to save the nation from going over a year-end "fiscal cliff" were in disarray as lawmakers fled the Capitol for their Christmas break. "God only knows" how a deal can be reached now, House Speaker John Boehner declared.

President Barack Obama, on his way out of town himself, insisted a bargain could still be struck before Dec. 31. "Call me a hopeless optimist," he said. Obama returned from vacation Thursday and called congressional leaders to the White House Friday in hopes of reaching a deal.

A look at why it's so hard for Republicans and Democrats to compromise on urgent matters of taxes and spending, and what happens if they fail to meet their deadline:

___

NEW YEAR'S HEADACHE

Partly by fate, partly by design, some scary fiscal forces come together at the start of 2013 unless Congress and Obama act to stop them. They include:

? Some $536 billion in tax increases, touching nearly all Americans, because various federal tax cuts and breaks expire at year's end.

? About $110 billion in spending cuts divided equally between the military and most other federal departments. That's about 8 percent of their annual budgets, 9 percent for the Pentagon.

Hitting the national economy with that double whammy of tax increases and spending cuts is what's called going over the "fiscal cliff." If allowed to unfold over 2013, it would lead to recession, a big jump in unemployment and financial market turmoil, economists predict.

___

WHAT IF THEY MISS THE DEADLINE?

If New Year's Day arrives without a deal, the nation shouldn't plunge onto the shoals of recession immediately. There still might be time to engineer a soft landing.

So long as lawmakers and the president appear to be working toward agreement, the tax hikes and spending cuts could mostly be held at bay for a few weeks. Then they could be repealed retroactively once a deal was reached.

The big wild card is the stock market and the nation's financial confidence: Would traders start to panic if Washington appeared unable to reach accord? Would worried consumers and businesses sharply reduce their spending? In what could be a preview, stock prices around the world dropped Friday after House Republican leaders' plan for addressing the fiscal cliff collapsed.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has warned lawmakers that the economy is already suffering from the uncertainty and they shouldn't risk making it worse by blowing past their deadline.

___

WHAT IF THEY NEVER AGREE?

If negotiations between Obama and Congress collapse completely, 2013 looks like a rocky year.

Taxes would jump $2,400 on average for families with incomes of $50,000 to $75,000, according to a study by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center. Because consumers would get less of their paychecks to spend, businesses and jobs would suffer.

At the same time, Americans would feel cuts in government services; some federal workers would be furloughed or laid off, and companies would lose government business. The nation would lose up to 3.4 million jobs, the Congressional Budget Office predicts.

"The consequences of that would be felt by everybody," Bernanke says.

___

THE TAXES

Much of the disagreement surrounds the George W. Bush-era income tax cuts, and whether those rates should be allowed to rise for the nation's wealthiest taxpayers. Both political parties say they want to protect the middle class from tax increases.

Several tax breaks begun in 2009 to stimulate the economy by aiding low- and middle-income families are also set to expire Jan. 1. The alternative minimum tax would expand to catch 28 million more taxpayers, with an average increase of $3,700 a year. Taxes on investments would rise, too. More deaths would be covered by the federal estate tax, and the rate climbs from 35 percent to 55 percent. Some corporate tax breaks would end.

The temporary Social Security payroll tax cut also is due to expire. That tax break for most Americans seems likely to end even if a fiscal cliff deal is reached, now that Obama has backed down from his call to prolong it as an economic stimulus.

___

THE SPENDING

If the nation goes over the fiscal cliff, budget cuts of 8 percent or 9 percent would hit most of the federal government, touching all sorts of things from agriculture to law enforcement and the military to weather forecasting. A few areas, such as Social Security benefits, Veterans Affairs and some programs for the poor, are exempt.

___

THERE'S MORE AT STAKE

All sorts of stuff could get wrapped up in the fiscal cliff deal-making. A sampling:

? Some 2 million jobless Americans may lose their federal unemployment aid. Obama wants to continue the benefits extension as part of the deal; Republicans say it's too costly.

? Social Security recipients might see their checks grow more slowly. As part of a possible deal, Obama and Republican leaders want to change the way cost-of-living adjustments are calculated, which would mean smaller checks over the years for retirees who get Social Security, veterans' benefits or government pensions.

? The price of milk could double. If Congress doesn't provide a fix for expiring dairy price supports before Jan. 1, milk-drinking families could feel the pinch. One scenario is to attach a farm bill extension to the fiscal cliff legislation ? if a compromise is reached in time.

? Millions of taxpayers who want to file their 2012 returns before mid-March will be held up while they wait to see if Congress comes through with a deal to stop the alternative minimum tax from hitting more people.

___

CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF?

In theory, Congress and Obama could just say no to the fiscal cliff, by extending all the tax cuts and overturning the automatic spending reductions in current law. But both Republicans and Democrats agree it's time to take steps to put the nation on a path away from a future of crippling debt.

Indeed, the automatic spending cuts set for January were created as a last-ditch effort to force Congress to deal with the debt problem.

If Washington bypassed the fiscal cliff, the next crisis would be just around the corner, in late February or early March, when the government reaches a $16.4 trillion ceiling on the amount of money it can borrow.

Boehner says Republicans won't go along with raising the limit on government borrowing unless the increase is matched by spending cuts to help attack the long-term debt problem. Failing to raise the debt ceiling could lead to a first-ever U.S. default that would roil the financial markets and shake worldwide confidence in the United States.

To avoid that scenario, Obama and Boehner are trying to wrap a debt limit agreement into the fiscal cliff negotiations.

___

SO WHAT'S THE HOLDUP?

They're at loggerheads over some big questions.

Obama says any deal must include higher taxes for the wealthiest Americans. Many House Republicans oppose raising anyone's tax rates. Boehner tried to get the House to vote for higher taxes only on incomes above $1 million but dropped the effort when it became clear he didn't have the votes.

Republicans also insist on deeper spending cuts than Democrats want to make. And they want to bring the nation's long-term debt under control by significantly curtailing the growth of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security ? changes that many Democrats oppose.

Obama, meanwhile, wants more temporary economic "stimulus" spending to help speed up a sluggish recovery. Republicans say the nation can't afford it.

___

IT'S NOT JUST WASHINGTON

Seems like they could just make nice, shake hands and split their differences, right?

But there's a reason neither side wants to give ground. The two parties represent a divided and inconsistent America. True, Obama just won re-election. But voters also chose a Republican majority in the House.

Republican and Democrats alike say they are doing what the voters back home want.

Neither side has a clear advantage in public opinion. In an Associated Press-GfK poll, 43 percent said they trust the Democrats more to manage the federal budget deficit and 40 percent preferred the Republicans. There's a similar split on who's more trusted with taxes.

About half of Americans support higher taxes for the wealthy, the poll says, and about 10 percent want tax increases all around. Still, almost half say cutting government services, not raising taxes, should be the main focus of lawmakers as they try to balance the budget.

When asked about specific budget cuts being discussed in Washington, few Americans express support for them.

___

THE COUNTDOWN

Time for deal-making is short, thanks to the holiday and congressional calendars. Some key dates for averting the fiscal cliff:

? Lawmakers didn't begin returning to the Capitol until Thursday, leaving less than a week to vote on a compromise before year's end.

? Obama returned Thursday from his Christmas vacation in Hawaii. The president asked congressional leaders to the White House Friday to try to resolve the fiscal cliff.

? If lawmakers reach Dec. 31 without a deal, some economists worry that the financial markets might swoon.

? The current Congress is in session only through noon Eastern time on Jan. 3. After that, a newly elected Congress with 13 new senators and 82 new House members would inherit the problem.

___

Associated Press writers Jim Kuhnhenn, Alan Fram and Andrew Taylor and Director of Polling Jennifer Agiesta contributed to this report.

___

Follow Connie Cass on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ConnieCass

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-12-28-Fiscal%20Cliff-News%20Guide/id-bf8be6199c33491abe8d367756665e20

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Investing With Almost No Money - Business Insider

Not too long ago, if you approached many large mutual fund companies with a modest sum to invest, they would fling you out of their offices and into the snow, sneering, "Begone, you groveling workshy! Your money is too small for us!"

OK, they didn't really do that. But many fund companies, particularly no-load fund companies, did have minimums that were above the average person's reach.

Fortunately, you can often start an investment program for relatively little money using an automatic investment program, or AIP.

Broker-sold funds have long been friendly to the small investor. The American Funds' Growth Fund of America A shares, the largest domestic stock fund, will let you start an account for $250. MFS Massachusetts Investors Trust A, the oldest stock fund, will let you start an individual retirement account for $250.

While those are admirable, you'll have to peel off a 5.75% sales charge, or load, to invest the minimum in either fund. (You can pay lower commissions by investing more money, but that's not an option if your main problem is not having a lot of scratch.)

But funds that sell directly to the investor and bypass brokers ? and their sales charges, or loads ? often had relatively high minimum investments.

The Vanguard Total Stock Market Index fund, the largest no-load fund around, requires a $3,000 minimum investment for a taxable account or a retirement account. Most Fidelity taxable accounts require $2,500 to invest.

For most people, that's a pretty high bar. The median U.S. household income ? half higher, half lower ? is $52,762, according to the Census Bureau, and that's before taxes. If you earn the median or below, you may not have $3,000 for an initial investment sitting in your bank account.

Vanguard, to its credit, will let you open an individual retirement account for $1,000 in one of its 12 target retirement funds.

Vanguard isn't alone in offering lower minimum initial investments for retirement investors. T. Rowe Price, for example, drops the minimum on many of its funds to $1,000 from $2,500 for IRAs. Fidelity will let you start an IRA with any amount, but your money will cool its heels in cash until you reach $2,500.

Discount brokerages, however, will let you in on the cheap.

Discount brokerage TDAmeritrade, for example, has no minimum for IRAs, and neither does E-Trade. Scottrade will let you open an IRA for $500.

In many cases, you can start an account for less by using a fund's automatic investment program, or AIP. With an AIP, you promise to let the fund tap your account every month until you reach its normal minimum investment requirement.

T. Rowe Price used to allow you to start an AIP for $50. Sadly, the company has ceased that program.

But other companies do have AIPs for $100 or so. For example, discount brokerage Charles Schwab, will let you start an AIP for $100 a month. Consider their excellent Schwab 1000 Index fund (ticker: SNXFX) if you're comfortable with being 100(PERCENT) in stocks.

Other good AIP choices for stock investors:

- The Ariel Funds will let you start an AIP with $50 a month. Try the Ariel Appreciation fund (CAAPX), which looks for beaten-up stocks with the potential to rebound.

- The Buffalo funds offer a $100 minimum AIP. Buffalo Growth (BUFGX) is a darn good large-company growth fund. Buffalo Discovery (BUFTX) is an excellent technology fund.

- The Artisan funds will also let you start an AIP for $50. Consider Artisan International (ARTIX) or Artisan Value (ARTLX).

Here's a word of warning: You're not going to get rich investing $100 a month, even if your manager sneezes silver. Invest $100 a month for 30 years and earn 10(PERCENT) a year, and you'll have $226,000.

But you have to start somewhere, particularly if you don't have a 401(k) retirement plan at your disposal. And if you increase your investments regularly, you will, indeed, become a millionaire. You could even start your own fund company.

Just don't forget that you, too, were once just a little guy.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/investing-with-almost-no-money-2012-12

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Verizon Galaxy Note II Developer Edition pops up on Samsung's website

Samsung introduced a "Developer Edition" of Verizon's Galaxy S III earlier this year that included an easily unlockable bootloader to allow owners to tinker with their device. Now it looks like a similar version of the Galaxy Note II is on the way, as a product page for a Developer Edition of the Verizon Note II has appeared on Samsung's website. This Titanium Gray unit appears to be the same as the consumer version of the Note II, complete with a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 5.5-inch 1280x720 display, 16GB storage and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. And yes, there's still Verizon logo on its home button.

We've yet to hear any official announcements about a Galaxy Note II Developer Edition from Samsung or Verizon, so it's not yet clear when this unit might become available for purchase or how much it'll cost once it does. However, the 16GB and 32GB Galaxy S III Developer Editions feature the same prices as Verizon is asking for its regular models sans commitment ($599.99 and $649.99, respectively), so don't be surprised if this Note II Developer Edition touts a price tag similar to the regular Note II's $699.99 off-contract cost. We'll be sure to update you folks once we hear get more official information on this new Note II flavor. Would any of you be interested in a Developer Edition of Samsung's new phone/tablet hybrid?

Via Phandroid, Samsung

Source: http://feeds.phonedog.com/~r/phonedog_cellphoneblog/~3/1iuo2UJFGVM/

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Re: Thieves Steal Two Semi-Truck Trailers Worth of Wii Consoles

Seen anyone wandering around with 7,000 Wii consoles?

If you have, pick up the phone and give the SeaTac, Washington police a call because those units are probably stolen.

Sgt. Cindy West told ABC News that thieves pulled up two 53-foot semi-truck trailers and a large box-truck van to a Nintendo distribution warehouse in Seattle Air Cargo?last Saturday evening?and, using forklifts on site, loaded up the vehicles with approximately $2 million worth of Wii consoles.

Then they left.

The following afternoon, warehouse employees noticed the empty pallets where thousands of Wii consoles were supposed to be.

Police don't know how many people were involved with the heist.

"If we don't get any tips ahead of time, it will be the selling of these consoles that will lead to their capture," said West. "It's gonna be pretty hard to hide 7,000 Wii game consoles."

AE: Wii consoles average about $150 right now so 7,000 of 'em would be a little over $1 million.? Methinks 'twas actually Wii U consoles 'twere stolen.

UPDATE: I was right!? A spokesman for the King County Sheriff's Office told Kotaku that the stolen consoles were indeed Wii Us.

Source: ABC News

-Reporting from San Diego, GamePolitics Contributing Editor Andrew Eisen

Source: http://www.gamepolitics.com/2012/12/18/thieves-steal-two-semi-truck-trailers-worth-wii-consoles

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Facebook CEO Zuckerberg donating $500M in stock

SAN FRANCISCO?Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he is donating nearly $500 million in stock to a Silicon Valley charity with the aim of funding health and education issues.

Zuckerberg donated 18 million Facebook shares, valued at $498.8 million based on their Tuesday closing price. The beneficiary is the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, a nonprofit that works with donors to allocate their gifts.

This is Zuckerberg's largest donation to date. He pledged $100 million in Facebook stock to Newark, N.J., public schools in 2010, before his company went public earlier this year. Later in 2010, he joined Giving Pledge, an effort led by Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. CEO Warren Buffett to get the country's richest people to donate most of their wealth. His wife, Priscilla Chan, joined with him.

In a Facebook post Tuesday, Zuckerberg, 28, said he's "proud of the work" done by the foundation that his Newark donation launched, called Startup: Education, which has helped open charter schools, high schools and others.

With the latest contribution, he added, "we will look for areas in education and health to focus on next." He did not give further details on what plans there may be for funds.

"Mark's generous gift will change lives and inspire others in Silicon Valley and around the globe to give back and make the world a better place," said Emmett D. Carson, CEO of the foundation.

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/technology/ci_22222449/facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-donating-500m-stock?source=rss

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Court ruling will clarify end-of-life decisions

When Hassan Rasouli, a patient at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, Canada, raised a finger in response to a question, his family was thrilled. Since 2011, they had been fighting a court battle in Ontario against doctors who wanted to let him die because he had previously remained unresponsive for a year after contracting an infection in hospital.

Rasouli's finger movement convinced physicians to upgrade his status from "persistent vegetative state" (PVS), in which a person has signs of partial arousal ? such as involuntary movement ? but no conscious awareness, to "minimally conscious" (MCS), defined by partial conscious awareness ? the ability to respond to instructions, for example. However, his doctors still believe that treatment is futile and that he should be allowed to die.

In Ontario, when someone is incapable of agreeing to a treatment and that person's surrogates cannot agree with doctors, they can go to the Consent and Capacity Board as an arbitrator. In this case, however, the doctors argue that withdrawing a futile treatment is not a treatment in itself, and thus does not require anyone's consent.

The decision is now in the hands of the supreme court of Canada. Its ruling could set a precedent for similar cases in the future.

At the heart of the battle is the legal and ethical question of whether doctors can overrule a family's wishes in determining when to end treatment. As devout Muslims, Rasouli's family opposes treatment that would hasten death. Rasouli left no living will, and that complicates matters, says Mark Handelman, a lawyer in Toronto: "The first law is the previously expressed wish of the patient."

Consciousness test

What role can science play in determining whether Rasouli is in fact aware of his surroundings? The problem is that telling the difference between MCS and PVS is "an enormously difficult thing", says Adrian Owen of the University of Western Ontario in London.

Behavioural tests used by hospitals can be unreliable because someone who appears vegetative most of the time may in fact be minimally conscious, albeit showing signs of awareness only intermittently. A study in 2009 using a revised version of standard behavioural tests found that 40 per cent of patients diagnosed as in a vegetative state were actually minimally conscious.

A study by Owen's group in 2006 also highlighted the issue. The team developed a test in which apparently unconscious patients were told to imagine themselves either playing tennis or navigating their house, while doctors scanned their brain using fMRI. About 20 per cent of the supposedly vegetative cases that the group scanned were able to answer questions by imagining moving either their fingers or their toes for "yes" or "no". That does not mean the other 80 per cent are unconscious, he says: it is possible that the scans were just not refined enough to detect consciousness in some cases.

The problem goes the other way as well, he says. Some people who show signs of behavioural consciousness ? such as responding in some way to their family ? show no conscious brain activity in the scanner.

Costly scans

Since these studies, the use of fMRI to determine consciousness has started to take off, Owen says, with increasing numbers of doctors and families requesting him to test patients. The goal now is to bring down the cost so that the test can become routine. "We're giving these patients a voice, but it's a six-million-dollar voice," Owen says. In November, his group successfully detected consciousness using an EEG cap with only four electrodes; this equipment is closer to what most hospitals could afford, he says.

After Rasouli raised his finger, Owen was brought in to run the fMRI test on him. The results suggested a very low level of conscious brain activity, but were ultimately inconclusive.

As for whether consciousness improves the likelihood of recovery, that is still unclear, Owen says. One study has found a correlation between the ability to perform complex mental tasks and the chances of improvement (Brain, doi.org/cfch2d). However, the researchers could have just been detecting the early signs of recovery, he says.

Having a better way to detect consciousness would probably affect medical decisions "at the gut level", says Jennifer Chandler, a bioethicist at the University of Ottawa in Canada. But the basic problem ultimately remains: if a person has some awareness of their surroundings but little chance of improving, is it better to keep them alive, or kinder to let them die?

If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.

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Classes resuming in Newtown, minus Sandy Hook

A young girl waves as her school bus pulls into Hawley School, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, in Newtown, Conn. Classes resume Tuesday for Newtown schools except those at Sandy Hook. Buses ferrying students to schools were festooned with large green and white ribbons on the front grills, the colors of Sandy Hook. At Newtown High School, students in sweatshirts and jackets, many wearing headphones, betrayed mixed emotions. Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Friday and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children, before killing himself.(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

A young girl waves as her school bus pulls into Hawley School, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, in Newtown, Conn. Classes resume Tuesday for Newtown schools except those at Sandy Hook. Buses ferrying students to schools were festooned with large green and white ribbons on the front grills, the colors of Sandy Hook. At Newtown High School, students in sweatshirts and jackets, many wearing headphones, betrayed mixed emotions. Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Friday and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children, before killing himself.(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Easton police officer J. Sollazzo clasps hands with a young student returning to Hawley School, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, in Newtown, Conn. Classes resume Tuesday for Newtown schools except those at Sandy Hook. Buses ferrying students to schools were festooned with large green and white ribbons on the front grills, the colors of Sandy Hook. At Newtown High School, students in sweatshirts and jackets, many wearing headphones, betrayed mixed emotions. Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Friday and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children, before killing himself.(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Pallbearers carry the casket containing the body of James Mattioli into St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church for funeral services, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, in Newtown, Conn. Mattioli, 6, was killed when Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Dec. 14, and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children, before killing himself.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Easton police officer J. Sollazzo waves to returning children as their bus pulls into Hawley School, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, in Newtown, Conn. Classes resume Tuesday for Newtown schools except those at Sandy Hook. Buses ferrying students to schools were festooned with large green and white ribbons on the front grills, the colors of Sandy Hook. At Newtown High School, students in sweatshirts and jackets, many wearing headphones, betrayed mixed emotions. Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Friday and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children, before killing himself.(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Mourners embrace outside of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church during funeral services for James Mattioli, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, in Newtown, Conn. Mattioli, 6, was killed when Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Dec. 14, and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children, before killing himself. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) ? With security stepped up and families still on edge in Newtown, students began returning to school Tuesday for the first time since last week's massacre, bringing a return of familiar routines ? at least, for some ? to a grief-stricken town as it buries 20 of its children.

A 6-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl were laid to rest Tuesday, the latest in a long, almost unbearable procession of funerals. A total of 26 people were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S history.

Buses ferrying students to schools were festooned with large green-and-white ribbons on the front grills, the colors of Sandy Hook, as classes resumed for all Newtown schools except the stricken elementary school.

At Newtown High School, students in sweat shirts and jackets, many wearing headphones, betrayed mixed emotions. Some waved at or snapped photos of the assembled media horde, and others appeared visibly shaken.

"There's going to be no joy in school," said 17-year-old senior P.J. Hickey. "It really doesn't feel like Christmas anymore."

At St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Newtown, back-to-back funerals were held for first-graders James Mattioli and Jessica Rekos, the first of eight to be held in the coming days at the church.

As mourners gathered outside, a motorcade led by police motorcycles arrived for the funeral of little James, who especially loved recess and math, and whose family described as a "numbers guy" who couldn't wait until he was old enough to order a foot-long Subway sandwich.

The service had not yet concluded when mourners began arriving for the funeral of Jessica, who loved horses and was counting the years until she turned 10, when her family had promised her a horse of her own. For Christmas, she had asked Santa for new cowgirl boots and hat.

"We are devastated, and our hearts are with the other families who are grieving as we are," her parents, Rich and Krista Rekos, said in a statement.

Traffic in front of the church slowed to a crawl as police directed vehicles into the church parking lot. At one point a school bus carrying elementary students became stuck in traffic. The children pressed their faces into the windows, sadly watching as mourners assembled at the church

At the high school, students didn't expect to get much work done Tuesday and spent much of the day talking about the terrible events of last week carried out by 20-year-old Adam Lanza.

"We're going to be able to comfort each other and try and help each other get through this because that's the only way we're going to do it. Nobody can do this alone," Hickey said.

Sophomore Tate Schwab agreed. "It's definitely better than just sitting at home watching the news," he said. "It really hasn't sunk in yet. It feels to me like it hasn't happened. It's really weird."

As for concerns about safety, the students were defiant.

"This is where I feel the most at home," Hickey said. "I feel safer here than anywhere else in the world."

Some parents kept their children at home anyway Tuesday, as local police and school officials planned how and where to increase security. State police said they were on alert for threats and hoaxes.

One Newtown school, Head O'Meadow Elementary, was reportedly locked down Tuesday due to an unspecified threat. The principal told parents to keep their children home, according to a letter from the principal published by WFSB-TV.

Authorities say the horrible events of Friday began when Lanza shot his mother, Nancy, at their home, then took her car and some of her guns to nearby Sandy Hook Elementary, where he broke in and opened fire, killing 20 children and six adults before turning the gun on himself.

A Connecticut official said the mother, a gun enthusiast who practiced at shooting ranges, was found dead in her pajamas in bed, shot four times in the head with a .22-caliber rifle.

Lanza was wearing all black, with an olive-drab utility vest with lots of pockets, during the attack.

As investigators worked to figure out what drove him to lash out with such fury ? and why he singled out the school ? federal agents said that he had fired guns at shooting ranges over the past several years, though there was no evidence he had done so recently.

Debora Seifert, a spokeswoman for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said both Lanza and his mother fired at shooting ranges, sometimes visiting them together.

"We do not have any indication at this time that the shooter engaged in shooting activities in the past six months," Seifert said.

Investigators have found no letters or diaries that could explain the attack.

Whatever his motives, normalcy will be slow in returning to Newtown. Classes were canceled districtwide Monday.

Dan Capodicci, whose 10-year-old daughter attends the school at St. Rose of Lima church, said it was time for her to get back to classes.

"It's the right thing to do. You have to send your kids back. But at the same time I'm worried," he said. "We need to get back to normal."

The district has made plans to send surviving Sandy Hook students to Chalk Hill, a former middle school in the neighboring town of Monroe. Sandy Hook desks that will fit the small students were being taken there, and tradesmen were donating their services to get the school ready within a matter of days.

With Sandy Hook Elementary still designated a crime scene, state police Lt. Paul Vance said it could be months before police turn the school back over to the district.

Lanza is believed to have used a Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle, a civilian version of the military's M-16. It is similar to the weapon used in a recent shopping mall shooting in Oregon and other deadly attacks around the U.S. Versions of the AR-15 were outlawed in this country under the 1994 assault weapons ban, but the law expired in 2004.

Private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management announced Tuesday it plans to sell its stake in Freedom Group, maker of the Bushmaster rifle, following the school shootings.

Cerberus said in a statement that it was deeply saddened by Friday's events, and that it will hire a financial adviser to help with the process of selling its Freedom Group interests.

The outlines of a national debate on gun control have begun to take shape. At the White House, spokesman Jay Carney said curbing gun violence is a complex problem that will require a "comprehensive solution."

Carney did not offer specific proposals or a timeline. He said President Barack Obama will meet with law enforcement officials and mental health professionals in coming weeks.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, flanked by shooting survivors and relatives of victims of gunfire around the country, pressed Obama and Congress to toughen gun laws and tighten enforcement after the Newtown massacre.

"If this doesn't do it," he asked, "what is going to?"

At least one senator, Virginia Democrat Mark Warner, said Monday that the attack in Newtown has led him to rethink his opposition to the ban on assault weapons.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat who is an avid hunter and lifelong member of the National Rifle Association, said it's time to move beyond the political rhetoric and begin an honest discussion about reasonable restrictions on guns.

"This is bigger than just about guns," he added. "It's about how we treat people with mental illness, how we intervene, how we get them the care they need, how we protect our schools. It's just so sad."

___

Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Allen G. Breed, Helen O'Neill, John Christoffersen, Pat Eaton-Robb and Katie Zezima in Newtown; and Christine Armario in Miami.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-12-18-Connecticut-School-Shooting/id-0647a18cbc9246a8b938ecf004fe9239

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Churchfield Popo to show rivals the way home in Sunderland's ...

Churchfield Popo to show rivals the way home in Sunderland?s Williamhill.com Stakes

Churchfield Popo, who has recently secured a couple of fine wins, is out to strike hat-trick at Sunderland, where he will face five giants in Williamhill.com Stakes, a 450 metres A4 event, to be held on Tuesday, December 18^th.

The dashing hound is showing some real good fire these days. Winning three of the previous four races shows how good rhythm he is in. After showing a few very good efforts at the A6 level, the black dog moved one step up on the grading ladder, and continued his superb work.

In his last A5 appearance, P. Miller?s charge displayed a wonderful act. He always led the affair, and eventually claimed the victory by three quarters of a length. The son of Crash, out of Drive On Tine, has shown some very good efforts lately, and looks good to perpetuate the good work.

All he needs to complete the hat-trick is to deliver his one hundred percent. Among his rivals are: Iguazu, Milestone Katie, Bulletproof Monk, Macys Mojo, and Nearly Certain. Those who are interested in betting are left with hardly any time, as the action is about to begin.

The officials at Sunderland will start the proceedings at 18:18 GMT. The successful hound will be given a prize of 146 pounds. Six fast and furious hounds are all set to provide the spectators mega entertainment.

Macys Mojo has a very moderate strike rate from the first trap ? the one he is currently standing in. Therefore, the punters should overlook the black dog. Bulletproof Monk lacks early pace. The black dog usually wakes up after half-time, but the race may be lost today.

Iguazu ticks plenty of boxes. The black bitch is returning to this class after facing a couple of unfortunate losses at the higher level. Stepping down to this grade would help her regain momentum.

There are medal possibilities for Milestone Katie, if things go to the plan. Nearly Certain knows these conditions very well, but his current form is a huge concern. Therefore, the punters should look elsewhere for the victor. We wish the best of luck to all the contestants.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and do not reflect Bettor.com?s editorial policy.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Churchfield-Popo-to-show-rivals-the-way-home-in-Sunderlands-Williamhill-com-Stakes-a209512

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Who should win the NFL MVP?

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

Source: http://www.facebook.com/cbssportsnetwork/posts/263335277125411

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GRAND Business Networking Affair - New Media, Digital Media ...

Make major connections, build business relationships, and grow your network of potential clientele at the Queens, NY-GRAND Business Networking Affair.

Next month guest speakers Derrick M. Guest, CEO of Griot's Roll Film Production & Services Inc. powerful message will enable you to walk away with valuable tools that can be applied to your business right away. Tools that will add value, and perhaps double your sales. Great for you, your sales team, and associates.

The STEP Network is a warm, inviting, and professional atmosphere offering. GRAND monthly affairs that bring like-minded people together.

Source: http://www.newmediasocial.com/xn/detail/2049056%3AEvent%3A67711

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Radnor Real Estate Closings December 1-15th - Radnor, PA Patch

http://radnor.patch.com/articles/sold-real-estate-closings-december-1-15th-a1d3ec73/media_attachments/edit?upload_started=1355740452

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Source: http://radnor.patch.com/articles/sold-real-estate-closings-december-1-15th-a1d3ec73

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Picture emerging of Adam Lanza, who shot dead 27 people in ...

DISTURBED Adam Lanza has been described as a loner who played computer games.

Adam Lanza killed his mother at their home in a well-off part of Connecticut before driving her car to Sandy Hook Elementary School armed with three weapons and gunning down 27 people including 20 children.

Lanza has been described as a "goth" a "loner" and a "genius" as cops try to work out a motive for the bloodbath.

Officials have also said the 20-year-old may have suffered from a personality disorder.

Lanza, who had had no criminal history, lived with his mother Nancy, who he gunned down at their home.

His aunt said her nephew was raised by kind, nurturing parents who would not have hesitated to seek mental help for him if he needed it.

Marsha Lanza said she was close with Adam Lanza?s mother and sent her a Facebook message on Friday morning asking how she was doing. Nancy Lanza never responded.

Marsha Lanza described Nancy as a good mother and kind-hearted.

Grief ... flags at half mast at the White House in Washington

Rex

If her son had needed counselling, ?Nancy wasn?t one to deny reality,? she said.

Marsha Lanza said her husband saw Adam as recently as June and recalled nothing out of the ordinary about him.

Catherine Urso, who was attending a vigil Friday evening in Newtown, Connecticut, said her college-age son knew the killer and remembered him for his alternative style.

?He just said he was very thin, very remote and was one of the goths,? she said.

Adam Lanza belonged to a technology club at Newtown High School that held computer gaming parties.

Gloria Milas, whose son Joshua was in the club with Lanza, hosted one of the parties once.

She rembembered Adam's elder brother Ryan saying at one meeting: "?My brother has always been a nerd,? and added ?he still wears a pocket protector?.

Joshua Milas, who graduated from Newtown High School in 2009, said Lanza was generally a happy person but that he hadn?t seen him in a few years.

?We would hang out, and he was a good kid. He was smart,? Joshua Milas said. ?He was probably one of the smartest kids I know. He was probably a genius.?

Prayers ... service in local church last night

Lanza and his mother, Nancy, lived in a well-to-do part of Newtown, a prosperous community of 27,000 people about 60 miles northeast of New York City.

A grandmother of the suspect - who is also the mother of Nancy Lanza - was too distraught to speak when reached by phone at her home in Brooksville, Florida.

?I just don?t know, and I can?t make a comment right now,? tearful Dorothy Hanson, 78, said before hanging up.

Adam's brother, Ryan, 24 and living in Hoboken, New Jersey, was being questioned last night.

It's understood Ryan told police Adam suffered from a personality disorder but officials did not elaborate, and it was unclear exactly what type of disorder he might have had.

Ryan Lanza had been extremely cooperative and was not under arrest or in custody, but investigators were still searching his computers and phone records.

Ryan Lanza told law enforcement he had not been in touch with his brother since about 2010.

United ... mourners gather to say prayers

Brett Wilshe, a friend of Ryan Lanza?s, said he sent him a Facebook message on Friday asking what was going on and if he was OK. According to Wilshe, Lanza?s reply was something along the lines of: ?It was my brother. I think my mother is dead. Oh my God.?

Adam Lanza attended Newtown High School and several local news clippings from recent years mention his name among the school?s roll of honour for students.

Lanza?s parents filed for divorce in 2008, according to court records. His father, Peter Lanza, lives in Stamford, Connecticut, according to public records, and he reportedly works as a tax director for General Electric.

An official who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was not clear that Adam Lanza had a job, and there was no indication he had ever had any dealings with police.
A neighbour in Newtown, Rhonda Cullens, said she knew Nancy Lanza from monthly get-togethers the neighbourhood women had a few years back for dice games of bunco.

?She was a very nice lady,? Cullens said. ?She was just like all the rest of us in the neighbourhood, just a regular person.?

Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4699332/newtown-school-gunman-adam-lanza-a-loner.html

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Character Reservations

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