What I've Learned So Far, Part 1

In the past few months, what I?ve learned so far about myself through online marketing is the possibilities are endless. The affiliate, article, and internet businesses are all huge potential income avenues that are filled with additional revenue streams that I have yet to uncover.

My learning curve is steep but not impossible to conquer.

This journey is never boring and is always challenging. I think my blood would stop coursing through its veins, if I didn?t challenge myself to seek out new mountains to conquer. It?s been one heck of a roller coaster ride, to say the least!

The Party?s Not Over Yet

I?ve just begun to tap into the never ending potential of these three income streams and I don?t intend on stopping until I?ve mastered them. That?s my tentative plan, anyway.

The internet has leveled the playing field for everyday people like myself to earn a living online.

I don?t want to give the impression that this ride is completely free of cost. If you find ANYONE offering to teach you how to start a business with no money down, run in the opposite direction as fast as you can!

The saying, ?It takes money to make money?, is so true.

I?ve had to make small investments in time and money I hope will reap benefits in the long run. I don't regret it, though. Compared to the cost of attending a college or university for one semester, what I?ve invested so far is miniscule.

Which is a good thing because I?ve learned I?m not cut out to work for someone else year in and year out.

Unlike my Dad, who was employed for almost 30 years for the same company, the thought of doing that breaks me out in hives.

One painful experience I?ve learned is to always backup the content of my site. A week ago, I accidentally deleted it and the few articles and videos I posted are gone (Ay, Chihuahua!). I could just kick myself for not backing up my site.

But lesson learned. As soon as I complete a project I?m working on, I?ll continue rebuilding it better than ever.

On Writing

It's something I?ve always enjoyed. Although, I never thought I could write full time and I never imagined there was any possibility of making money doing something I enjoy.

Many types of genres, topics, and tools to get my writing juices flowing interest me.

But keeping a journal has been one of the primary ways I?ve used to record the events of my life and it really sparked my renewed interest in composition in the past couple of years.

It never felt like a chore because I was pouring my heart onto paper. In good times or in bad, keeping a journal is therapeutic for me and helps me to process my feelings and emotions.

What I?ve learned from expressing myself in a diary is I have a little skill that?s slowly developing in positive ways. This skill has been transferred to other content creation sites that like my body of work enough to publish it. And yes, I?m pleasantly surprised by that discovery!

Don?t misunderstand me.

I?m not trying to pass myself off as the next Maya Angelou or Toni Morrison. Nor do I even consider myself a writer, much less a published author, it?s just what I like to do.

With practice, written communication is something I would love to continue to explore.

I hope you enjoyed reading part 1 of ?What I?ve Learned So Far?. Leave your comments below and tell me what you think about it.

Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/self-improvement/what-ive-learned-so-far-part-1

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Hugo Chavez says he'd vote for Obama

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez embraces a girl during a campaign rally in Guarenas, Venezuela, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. Venezuela's presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez embraces a girl during a campaign rally in Guarenas, Venezuela, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. Venezuela's presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez waves to supporters during a campaign rally in Guarenas, Venezuela, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. Venezuela's presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez waves to supporters during a campaign rally in Guarenas, Venezuela, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. Venezuela's presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez delivers a speech during a campaign rally in Guarenas, Venezuela, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. Venezuela's presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ? Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has weighed in on the U.S. presidential race, saying he prefers President Barack Obama.

"If I were American, I'd vote for Obama," Chavez said in a televised interview that aired Sunday.

The Venezuelan leader called Obama "a good guy" and said if the U.S. president were a Venezuelan, "I think ... he'd vote for Chavez."

Chavez is running for re-election, seeking another six years in office in an Oct. 7 vote. Obama faces Republican Mitt Romney in his November re-election bid.

Venezuela has had tense relations with the U.S. government for years, even though the United States remains the top buyer of oil from the country.

"I wish we could begin a new period of normal relations with the government of the United States," Chavez said in the interview on the Venezuelan television channel Televen.

Chavez and Obama shook hands at a 2009 summit, but relations have since cooled.

The U.S. Embassy in Caracas has been without an ambassador since July 2010, with Chavez rejecting Washington's nominee for ambassador, Larry Palmer, and accusing him of making disrespectful remarks about Venezuela's government. That led Washington to revoke the visa of the Venezuelan ambassador to the U.S.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-09-30-Venezuela-Chavez-Obama/id-221ad04493904248817c149e0233da82

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How We Know That Humans Are Getting Smarter [Excerpt]

In this excerpt from his new book, James R. Flynn explains how he came to understand how our minds have gained in cognitive skills over the 20th century

By James R. Flynn

Are We Getting Smarter? Rising IQ in the Twenty-First Century, by James R. Flynn. Copyright ? 2012 James R. Flynn. Reprinted with the permission of Cambridge University Press. Image: Cambridge University Press

• 

  Showcasing more than fifty of the most provocative, original, and significant online essays from 2011, The Best Science Writing Online 2012 will change the way...

  Read More??

Reprinted from Are We Getting Smarter? Rising IQ in the Twenty-First Century, by James R. Flynn. Copyright ? 2012 James R. Flynn. Reprinted with the permission of Cambridge University Press.

The phenomenon of IQ gains has created unnecessary controversy because of conceptual confusion. Imagine an archaeologist from the distant future who excavates our civilization and finds a record of performances over time on measures of marksmanship. The test is always the same, that is, how many bullets you can put in a target 100 meters away in a minute. Records from 1865 (the U.S. Civil War) show the best score to be five bullets in the target, records from 1898 (Spanish-American War) show 10, and records from 1918 (World War I) show 50.

A group of "marksmanship-metricians" looks at these data. They find it worthless for measuring marksmanship. They make two points. First, they distinguish between the measure and the trait being measured. The mere fact that performance on the test has risen in terms of "items correct" does not mean that marksmanship ability has increased. True, the test is unaltered but all we know is that the test has gotten easier. Many things might account for that. Second, they stress that we have only relative and no absolute scales of measurement. We can rank soldiers against one another at each of the three times. But we have no measure that would bridge the transition from one shooting instrument to another. How could you rank the best shot with a sling against the best shot with a bow and arrow? At this point, the marksmanship-metrician either gives up or looks for something that would allow him to do his job. Perhaps some new data that would afford an absolute measure of marksmanship over time such as eye tests or a measure of steady hands.

However, a group of military historians are also present and it is at this point they get excited. They want to know why the test got easier, irrespective of whether the answer aids or undermines the measurement of marksmanship over time. They ask the archaeologists to look further. Luckily, they discover battlefields specific to each time. The 1865 battlefields disclose the presence of primitive rifles, the 1898 ones repeating rifles, and the 1918 ones machine guns. Now we know why it was easier to get more bullets into the target over time and we can confirm that this was no measure of enhanced marksmanship. But it is of enormous historical and social significance. Battle casualties, the industries needed to arm the troops, and so forth altered dramatically.

Confusion about the two roles has been dispelled. If the battlefields had been the artifacts first discovered, there would have been no confusion because no one uses battlefields as instruments for measuring marksmanship. It was the fact that the first artifacts were also instruments of measurement that put historians and metricians at cross-purposes. Now they see that different concepts dominate their two spheres: social evolution in weaponry?whose significance is that we have become much better at solving the problem of how to kill people quickly; marksmanship?whose significance is which people have the ability to kill more skillfully than other people can.

The historian has done nothing to undermine what the metrician does. At any given time, measuring marksmanship may be the most important thing you can do to predict the life histories of individuals. Imagine a society dominated by dueling. It may be that the lives of those who are poor shots are likely to be too brief to waste time sending them to university, or hire them, or marry them. If a particular group or nation lacks the skill, it may be at the mercy of the better skilled. Nonetheless, this is no reason to ignore everything else in writing military history.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=cebeded2915b3b6982172248acaa5816

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Malignant tumors of the female reproductive system. | OVARIAN ...

Malignant tumors of the female reproductive system.

Saf Health Work. 2012 Sep;3(3):166-80

Authors: Weiderpass E, Labr?che F

Abstract

This review summarizes the epidemiology of cancer of the female reproductive system and associated lifestyle factors. It also assesses the available evidence for occupational factors associated with these cancers. Cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers are relatively common, and cause significant cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide, whereas vulvar, vaginal, fallopian tube cancers, and choriocarcinomas are very rare. As several lifestyle factors are known to play a major role in the etiology of these cancers, very few published studies have investigated possible relationships with occupational factors. Some occupational exposures have been associated with increased risks of these cancers, but apart from the available evidence on the relationships between asbestos fibers and ovarian cancer, and tetrachloroethylene and cervical cancer, the data is rather scarce. Given the multifactorial nature of cancers of the female reproductive system, it is of the utmost importance to conduct occupational studies that will gather detailed data on potential individual confounding factors, in particular reproductive history and other factors that influence the body's hormonal environment, together with information on socio-economic status and lifestyle factors, including physical activity from multiple sources. Studies on the mechanisms of carcinogenesis in the female reproductive organs are also needed in order to elucidate the possible role of chemical exposures in the development of these cancers.

PMID: 23019529 [PubMed - in process]

Source: http://ovariancancerandus.blogspot.com/2012/09/malignant-tumors-of-female-reproductive.html

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Apple Is Heavily Promoting Alternative Map Apps On The App Store

Now that Apple has told the world that it didn't come with its best offering for Maps, the company is now featuring other Map applications heavily within the App Store.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/YWbrfi0VKsk/

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Daily Kos: ND-Sen: Rep. Rick Berg (R. Goldmark)

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So we've heard a lot about Goldman Sachs and Bain Capital over these past four years. ?But now get ready to hear about another slimy, greedy company that has brought misery to others. ?It's called Goldmark Property Management and it's the top donor to North Dakota GOP Senate candidate, Rick Berg.

First off, for those of you not familiar with Republican Senate candidate, Rick Berg, let me fill you in on some info. ?Berg served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1985-2011. ?Berg was House Majority Leader from 2003-2011. ?Berg then defeated nine term Congressman, Earl Pomeroy (D) during the 2010 mid-term elections. ?During his time in the North Dakota House, Berg voted with a minority of the state house to make terminating a pregnancy illegal, in a bill that only made exception for when the life of the mother is endangered. ?You can read about the legislation here:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/...

So Berg is another anti-choice extremist in the War On Women like Todd Akin in Missouri, Tommy Thompson in Wisconsin and Tom Smith in Pennsylvania. ?He was a big fan of George W. Bush's plan to privative Social Security back in 2005:

Did you also know that he's the 13th wealthiest member of congress who's worth up to $54 million dollars? ?Now you do. ?How do he make that much money? ?From helping find a real estate company known as Goldmark Schlossman Commercial Real Estate Services now known as Goldmark Property Management. ?Salon did a piece on Berg's connections with Goldmark and it's quite an interesting read:

http://www.salon.com/...

Berg's challenger, former Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp (D. ND) has been bitting Berg hard in her campaign ads regarding Berg's connection to Goldmark and it's something that could very well sink Berg's campaign:

The company, Goldmark Property Management, had earned a bad reputation in the state, along with tenant complaints, citations for alleged fire safety violations, and a C - rating from the Better business Bureau. - Salon, 9/25/12

Goldmark has donated at least $17,500 to Berg?s Senate campaign and has donated $20,000 to Senate Republicans. ?Golmark employees also donate $28,000 dollars to Berg's 2010 House campaign and Berg has also emphasized about his business record on his own Senate website:

http://www.bergfornorthdakota.com/...

With nothing more than a loan, a vision, and a lot of hard work, what began as a business idea among friends grew into what is now Goldmark Schlossman Commercial Real Estate Services.

Heitkamp's latest radio ad highlights one case where Goldmark sent a collections agent after a soldier deployed abroad. ?Berg claims the ad is "100 percent false" and that he has had no involvement with with Goldmark and that he only founded the precursor company, Midwest Management Company, but left the company several years before the company changed it's name to Goldmark:

According to Berg, he founded the company that proceeded Goldmark Property Management, but left several years before it changed its name to Goldmark. A few years after that, he helped found Goldmark Schlossman Commercial Real Estate Services. As Politico?s John Bresnahan reported last week, the two companies share a name, address, phone number, office space and many of the same officers and employees. Berg insists the two companies have no ?legal affiliation.? - Salon, 9/25/12

Goldmark Property Management?s website listed Berg as a senior vice president but for some strange reason, Berg's name was taken off the website. ?Here's a screenshot from the Salon article that proves though he was listed as V.P. of Goldmark on their website:

Salon points out this interesting fact from Berg's deleted bio from the Goldmark website and some other interesting facts:

?Rick has been with GOLDMARK since its inception in 1981.? Berg has acted as a public spokesman for the company in the past, and on a 2000 campaign donation, he listed ?Goldmark Property Management? as his employer. The Berg campaign now says this was a clerical error. - Salon, 9/25/12

So Berg, like Mitt Romney, loves to tout his business record to help him get elected. The big difference between Berg and Romney is Romney lied about how long he worked at Bain while Berg brags about his co-finding Goldmark but then tries to distance himself from the controversial company he helped create. ?But don't worry, Berg's time at Goldmark along with their generous donations to Berg's past campaigns have had no influence on how he drafted legislation in the North Dakota House of Representatives... NOT!!!!! ?Read on:

And judging by Berg?s record in the state Legislature, it?s not hard to see why they invested in him. According to legislative records, Berg introduced numerous bills as a member of the state House of Representatives and state Senate to give landlords more rights over their tenants in ways that could possibly benefit both Goldmark companies and thus Berg. In 1985, he sponsored a bill that would raise the amount landlords could charge a for security deposit, from one month?s rent to one and half month?s rent, and made it easier for them to keep security deposits.

In 1989, he introduced a bill that would have made it easier for landlords to evict tenants by allowing the proceedings to go through small claims court. ?That bill failed with zero yea votes, 101 nays and five absentees. That same year, he introduced a separate bill to make it easier for landlords to evict tenants by holding them responsible for ?indirect? actions. ?It was ultimately vetoed by the governor, who said it was too ambiguous and ?could lead to abuse by both landlords and other tenants.? ?Another bill introduced that year raised the amount of property left on the premises by tenants that landlords could keep or dispose of ?without legal process.?

In 1991, Berg introduced a bill that would have made it possible for a landlord to evict a tenant if they or a guest ?act[ed] in a manner that disturbs other tenants? peaceful enjoyment of the premises.? Two years later, he introduced a bill that would have made evicted tenants ?liable for rent during the remainder of the term of the lease.?

A raft of other bills would do favorable things for the real estate industry, such as prohibiting rent control, exempting real estate agents from some workers compensation requirements, and exempting new construction from property taxes for two years. - Salon, 9/25/12

So Berg is a fan of allowing landlords be huge assholes to their tenants and evicting hard working people for bull shit reasons. ?It sure would suck to have Rick Berg as a landlord. ?Especially if you're a deployed troop fighting for his country. ?Now to be fair, Salon points out that Berg was not working at either Goldmark Schlossman or Goldmark Property Management while serving in the North Dakota House of Representatives but they bring up a great point:

But considering his past and future involvement in the real estate industry, it seems reasonable to assume that he maintained close ties with executives at Goldmark who would benefit from this legislation, and that he might have indirectly benefited himself once he started Goldmark Schlossman in 1996. - Salon, 9/25/12

? ?
Berg does not represent the people of North Dakota. ?He is the puppet for the real estate business and the representative from Goldmark. ?Imagine the type of legislation he could propose and author if he is in the Senate, especially if the GOP won control of the Senate this year. ?Berg is a self-serving member of the 1%. ?Heidi Heitkamp is a real public servant and truly represents the people of North Dakota. ?There's no way in hell President Obama is going to win North Dakota. ?N.D. is pure red but has elected Democratic Senators like Byron Dorgan who voted against the repeal of Glass-Steagall and warned us of the consequences the repeal would have on the economy. ?Deficit hawk, Kent Conrad, is retiring this year and as pistolSO has pointed out that Heitkamp's win means progress:

http://www.dailykos.com/...

Republicans may outnumber Democrats in registration but we have the better candidate who is well-known and well-liked. ?Before Heitkamp entered the race, it looked like Berg was poised for victory but now this race is a Toss Up and Heitkamp has run an amazing campaign. ?Berg is just another tea party nut job who voted for Vice Presidential nominee, Paul Ryan's (R) budget that ends medicare as we know it. ?This race is so close that the NRSC, Karl Rove and the Koch Brothers have to spend a lot of money on their own turf. ?North Dakota is a split ticket race just Dr. Richard Carmona in Arizona, Joe Donnelly in Indiana, Claire McCaskill's in Missouri, Jon Tester in Montana and Joe Manchin in West Virginia. ?The majority of voters in North Dakota have made up their mind about who they will vote for in the Presidential election but The majority of voters in North Dakota aren't so sure that Rick berg would make a great Senator. ?Lets help the good people of North Dakota make the right decision and vote in Heidi Heitkamp to the U.S. Senate:

https://secure.actblue.com/...

Source: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/27/1136432/-ND-Sen-Rep-Rick-Berg-R-Goldmark

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Democrats defend Susan Rice amid call for her resignation

Top Democrats are defending Ambassador Susan Rice after a top House Republican called for her resignation because of questionable statements she made about the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has been hammered by Republican critics ever since she went on five interview shows on Sunday, Sept. 16 to say the attack on on the U.S. consulate was a "spontaneous" reaction to the outcry in Egypt over an anti-Muslim video posted on YouTube. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, went so far as to say Rice should resign for intentionally misleading the American people about what really happened.

"I believe it was such a failure of foreign policy messaging and leadership, such a misstatement of facts as was known at the time," King said in an interview on CNN. "For her to go on all of those shows and, in effect, be our spokesman for the world and be misinforming the American people and our allies and countries around the world - somebody has to pay a price for this."

That prompted a quick response from Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"I'm deeply disturbed by efforts to find the politics instead of finding the facts in this debate," Kerry said in a written statement. "I'm particularly troubled by calls for Ambassador Rice's resignation. She is a remarkable public servant for whom the liberation of the Libyan people has been a personal issue and a public mission. She's an enormously capable person who has represented us at the United Nations with strength and character."

In the days immediately following the attack in Benghazi, several other U.S. officials, including White House press secretary Jay Carney, also suggested it was spontaneous attack. But more recently, U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, have said the incident was a pre-planned terrorist attack.

In a statement Friday, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper called it a "deliberate and carefully planned terrorist attack" - although Clapper said U.S. intelligence agencies initially believed the attack was spontaneous and shared that information with the White House.

Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the second-highest-ranking Democrat in the House, also rallied to Rice's defense on Friday.

"Susan Rice is an exemplary public servant who has worked effectively on behalf of the U.S. and allies like Israel at the U.N.," Hoyer said in a written statement. "The loss of five Americans in Libya, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, is a horrible tragedy and we should be focused on bringing the perpetrators to justice, not playing politics. My understanding is that the information Ambassador Rice expressed reflected the intelligence community's most current assessment at that time."

In his statement, Kerry also pointed to an investigation ordered by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton into what happened in Benghazi.

"Everyone who cares about the five fallen Americans in Benghazi would do well to take a deep breath about what happened and allow Secretary Clinton's proactive, independent investigation to proceed," Kerry said. "Our committee in the Senate has unanimously asked that some highly detailed, highly specific questions be answered as part of the current investigation. Congress will have plenty of time to examine those answers, and to discern what happened in Benghazi once the investigation is fully underway and the facts become clear."

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/democrats-defend-susan-rice-amid-call-her-resignation-021308132--abc-news-politics.html

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Important Information To Know Before Making A Real Estate ...

Purchasing real estate is extremely frightening for anyone, but it definitely is for those who have never done it. But, it can make a great investment, and when you choose the right property, you can enjoy a better quality of life right away. This article is filled with great real estate buying tips and advice.

When considering a home, do not forget to research the entire neighborhood the home is in. If the neighborhood isn?t any good, then you will be miserable, even if the property itself is fine. You must be aware of your surroundings so that you know what possible issues could arise.

When you are looking into real estate, understand that this could be your home for a long time. If you are planning on having kids, make sure that you purchase a home that has a good school nearby.

TIP! Do not let the price of a house you are interested in be influenced by the fact it has a view. The view might not be something that is worth it for the next buyer.

Try to contact your former clients around the holidays and during anniversaries of their purchases. Additional contact from you will help them remember how valuable your services were during their real estate experience. After you finish speaking with them, let them know that you would appreciate it if they felt comfortable referring you to their family members and friends.

When searching the property market for potential purchases, you need to be both realistic and patient. It can take some time to find the perfect property that will help you meet your goals and work with your business strategy.

Before buying a home, get an inspector to examine it. You don?t want to uncover any major problems after you have signed the purchase contract. Not only will this cost a lot, you might need to change your living situation until it?s fixed.

TIP! A buyer?s checklist will help you understand the real estate buying process, and these forms can be acquired from your Realtor. Many Realtors will have a checklist that will cover every aspect of buying a home; from finding the right house that is in your budget to finalizing the mortgage.

With current markets, now is a great time to purchase real estate. Property values are lower than ever, meaning some great deals can be found. If you are financially secure, seize your chance to get a great piece of property at a low price. Eventually, the market will rise again over time, making your investment profitable.

Before you sign your lease agreement, ask the landlord about who is going to take care of the garden. You should know that in some cases, a renter is expected to take care of a yard or garden or to pay someone to do the job. Many places have this task included into the monthly payments.

Before you put an offer on a home, measure it yourself. You will feel better once you know that the physical square footage is equivalent to what the seller has listed publicly. These numbers should be fairly close to each other, to a tolerance of about 100 sq ft. If they don?t match, find out more about the property and any changes that were made.

TIP! If your employment is unstable, take precautions if you are planning to purchase a home. When you put your John Hancock on the mortgage paperwork, the responsibility of making the monthly payments is on your head, regardless of any changes in circumstances.

Look at properties and do your homework before you buy them. Even for rental property, you should look at some important features before purchasing. One of these is sustainability. Has the property been well-maintained, so that you won?t need to make expensive repairs? The second thing to consider it the location. Where the property is located should be a critical part of your decision, because it will be for your tenants. A good investment should be in a safe neighborhood with access to different stores, schools and job opportunities. You should consider the income in the area in which you are buying. This is different from physical location, because you should keep in mind that a high rent area is definitely a better location than a low rent area. In a place with high rent, location is not always as important as it might be for someone with fewer options in a lower rent area.

When deciding on an agent, it is important to have a list of questions already planned out. Ask them not only the number of homes they have sold in the past year, but also, how many were the type of home you are looking to buy. The agent?s responses to these questions will provide you with the information you need to reach a decision.

Just like any other product, your home should have a warranty. When you are buying a new home from the person who built it, or from an owner, get a warranty. The person who built the home should give you a warranty if he or she is confident in their work. The last owner should be prepared to obtain a home warranty that is valid for a minimum period of 12 months in case of any necessary repairs.

TIP! Before you sign a lease agreement for a rental in the future, you should ensure you talk to the future landlord you will have about whether you will have a garden, and if so, who will do the gardening. Some rentals will make you take care of this chore, while others will include a gardener as part of the rent.

You need to hire good representation in the form of a real estate agent after deciding to purchase a property. Someone who is trustworthy is most preferable. For an area you?re unfamiliar with, check with the Better Business Bureau for any complaints against agents and how they were resolved. Although real estate agents are doing their job, it?s important to find one that is looking out for your best interests.

Look for homes that carry pre-foreclosure notices. Pre-foreclosure properties are definitely a real estate option to be considered, especially if you have the time to search for the right investment property. When a homeowner is unable to meet payment obligations and is in imminent danger of losing the house, the home is called a pre-foreclosure. You can advertise your own willingness to purchases houses with cash, or consult lenders to get lists of properties approaching pre-foreclosure. No matter how you find the property, speak with the owners to understand the amount they owe, and be prepared to pay them at least a few thousand over that amount. You can sometimes benefit greatly by this method, particularly if the payoff is much lower than market value.

TIP! It is essential to hire a trustworthy real estate agent. It is possible to find information from both the Internet and the Better Business Bureau.

Buying a property is likely to be the largest purchase you make as far as value is concerned, so the decision needs to be weighed appropriately. The advice in this piece can help you steer clear of common real estate traps, and make the best decision

Join me on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/maynaseric

Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/important-information-to-know-before-making-a-real-estate-investment-3

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Cheers as NFL refs return: 'It's good to be back'

Referee Gene Steratore, left, talks with Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh before an NFL football game between the Ravens and the Cleveland Browns in Baltimore, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Referee Gene Steratore, left, talks with Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh before an NFL football game between the Ravens and the Cleveland Browns in Baltimore, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Referee Gene Steratore, right, and back judge Bob Waggoner, left, look around the field before an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns in Baltimore, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2012, file photo, Commissioner Roger Goodell gestures to fans before an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys in East Rutherford, N.J. The NFL and referees' union reached a tentative agreement on Wednesday, Sept. 26, to end a three-month lockout that triggered a wave of frustration and anger over replacement officials and threatened to disrupt the rest of the season. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)

FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, file photo, an official, rear center, signals for a touchdown by Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate, obscured, as another official, at right, signals a touchback, on the controversial last play of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Seattle. The Seahawks won 14-12. The NFL referee strike puts the spotlight on a nebulous notion that is often overlooked when it works as it's supposed to: the question of expertise. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear, File)

Referee Gene Steratore looks over the instant replay monitor before an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns in Baltimore, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

BALTIMORE (AP) ? The final pass of the game sailed out of the end zone, saving the regular refs from the same type of call that brought the replacements to the height of unpopularity just three days earlier.

Referee Gene Steratore and his crew didn't have to decide which player came down with the ball, and fans and players aren't going to spend Friday going ballistic that their team was robbed. From the pregame cheers to the final whistle, it was overall a good return for the NFL's veteran men in stripes, who ran a mostly smooth and efficient game Thursday night as the Baltimore Ravens beat the Cleveland Browns 23-16.

"It was great to have those guys back," Ravens running back Ray Rice said. "It looked like they knew what they were doing."

Yes, the real refs are back. Official harmony is restored to the NFL.

The league's experiment with replacement officials ended on "Monday Night Football" when a 24-yard desperation pass on the last play was ruled a touchdown ? even though replays appeared to show it should been an interception ? giving the Seattle Seahawks a disputed 14-12 win over the Green Bay Packers.

The stage was set for something similar Thursday. An fourth-down unnecessary roughness penalty on Baltimore's Paul Kruger ? a good call, given the way he shoved Cleveland's Joe Thomas after the whistle ? gave the Browns one final chance from the 18-yard line.

But Brandon Weeden's 18-yard pass sailed high as time expired. "Too much juice," he said. No controversial ending this time.

"I thought they handled (the game) great," Cleveland coach Pat Shurmur said. "I had all the confidence in the world that this was going to officiated in the right way."

The love for the officials was evident all evening. About an hour before kickoff, they walked on the field and heard cheers from the early arrivals. A few minutes later, Steratore was shaking hands with Shurmur near midfield and getting a hug from Ravens face-of-the-franchise Ray Lewis at the 30-yard line.

Later, when the crew returned, they received a standing ovation and doffed their caps to the crowd. One fan held up a sign that read: "Finally! We get to yell at real refs! Welcome back!"

"The other refs just made dumb calls," said Jessie Riley, a 15-year-old fan wearing an Ed Reed jersey. "I couldn't stand them. Now we won't get robbed; everything will be fair ? hopefully."

When Steratore then turned on his microphone to greet the captains for the pre-game coin toss, the crowd heard him say: "Good evening, men. It's good to be back."

The stadium erupted in a roar.

Steratore and his seven-man crew donned their familiar stripes for the first game of Week 4 after three weeks of replacement officials created moments of chaos throughout the league. They were inevitably serenaded with a hearty round of boos for one call that went against the home team, but there were no headline-making gaffes.

"You know we always pride ourselves in being a face without a name," Steratore, a 10-year league veteran, told The Associated Press about an hour before kickoff. "This will be a little different, but I don't expect it to last too long. And that's the goal ? is that we can let them get through that portion of this. It's happy to be back, it's happy to be appreciated. But then as soon as the game starts, it's happy to disappear again and let the entertainers entertain."

A lockout of the league's regular officials ended when an agreement was reached late Wednesday, two days after the Monday night finish brought debate over the use of the replacements to a fevered pitch nationwide. Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged the Seahawks-Packers game "may have pushed the parties further along" in the talks.

"Obviously when you go through something like this it is painful for everybody," Goodell said. "Most importantly, it is painful for our fans. We are sorry to have to put our fans through that, but it is something that in the short term you sometimes have to do to make sure you get the right kind of deal for the long term and make sure you continue to grow the game."

The deal is only tentative ? it must be ratified by 51 percent of the union's 121 members in a vote scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Dallas ? but both sides nevertheless went forward with the plan to have the regulars back for Thursday's game.

So Steratore hustled to Baltimore, making the 3?-hour drive Thursday morning from his home in the Pittsburgh area. He's usually in place the day before a game, but none of his regular pregame meetings had to be changed because the Browns-Ravens game was at night.

"Very elated to be back," he said. "It feels like being back home."

Steratore, who is a basketball official in the Big East Conference among others, also was fully aware he would be jeered the first time he makes a questionable call ? just like always.

"Without a question," he said. "I've been yelled at by my own children many times, so this won't be any different."

Sure enough, the same fans that cheered the coin toss let out a full chorus of boos when line judge Jeff Seeman toss his yellow flag some 20 yards to whistle Baltimore safety Bernard Pollard for a personal foul in the third quarter. Replays showed it was a good call: Pollard led with his helmet to make contact with a defenseless receiver, costing the Ravens 15 yards in a drive that led to a field goal for the Browns.

Less clear was Seeman's fourth-quarter holding call on Ravens left tackle Michael Oher, who was restrained by a teammate while vociferously protesting his innocence. Replays appeared to show Oher had a valid case for himself.

Steratore's crew nearly made a misstep in the first quarter, incorrectly spotting the ball by 2 yards after a misapplication of the rules following a holding call on the Browns. But two members of the crew caught the mistake and notified the referee before the next snap. A brief huddle ensued, and the ball was moved to its correct spot.

The crew made it clear it wouldn't tolerate the extra shoving and yelling after the whistle that had been frequently permitted by the replacements. Offsetting personal fouls were called on Cleveland's Johnson Bademosi and Baltimore's James Ihedigbo for extracurricular roughness on a punt return in the first quarter, and Shurmur was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after an intentional grounding call against Weeden in the fourth quarter.

Again, replays appeared to validate the grounding call, and Shurmur took responsibility for his loss of temper.

"I can't do that," the coach said. "It's an emotional game, and I got to make sure I keep my emotions in check."

Steratore had to make a trip to the replay monitor for the same play to review a turnover in the first half. The replays clearly showed that Cleveland's Joshua Cribbs had fumbled, so Steratore confirmed the ruling on the field. Cribbs had his helmet knocked off and was injured on the play, creating the game's only lengthy delay.

There were 18 penalties called in the game, mostly the familiar calls for holding and false start. There were two rare ? and indisputable ? whistles for fair catch interference on punt returns, and a hands-to-the-face call on Baltimore's Kelechi Osemele was so obvious that it drew three flags.

Steratore and his crew set up shop in the designated "Officials Locker Room" in the bowels of the stadium. He emerged about 2? hours before kickoff to talk briefly to a stadium official about the wireless on-field microphone the referee wears. He later held a regular pregame meeting with stadium crew, telling them to "make sure we run this thing as smoothly" as they had in his previous visits to Baltimore.

The lockout ended after marathon negotiations produced an eight-year agreement to end the lockout that began in June. However, for the Packers, Redskins, Lions and other teams who voiced their displeasure with calls that might have swayed games, the agreement doesn't change their records.

The commissioner said he watched Monday night's frenetic Packers-Seahawks finish at home.

"You never want to see a game end like that," he said.

The new agreement will improve officiating in the future, Goodell asserted, reducing mistakes like those made Monday and making the strains of the last three weeks worthwhile.

Goodell acknowledged "you're always worried" about the perception of the league.

"Obviously, this has gotten a lot of attention," he said. "It hasn't been positive, and it's something that you have to fight through and get to the long term. ... We always are going to have to work harder to make sure we get people's trust and confidence in us."

The dispute even made its way to the campaign trail, with President Barack Obama's spokesman, Jay Carney, calling Thursday "a great day for America."

"The president's very pleased that the two sides have come together," Carney said.

___

AP Sports Writer Rachel Cohen and AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner in New York, AP Pro Football Writer Howard Fendrich in Washington, and AP Sports Writers David Ginsburg in Baltimore, Larry Lage in Allen Park, Mich., Joe Kay in Cincinnati and Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.

___

Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-09-28-Refs%20Return/id-c9efed9e2e1a4314999740ebe7c233d0

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Oak Bedroom Furniture ? Great Home Improvement Ideas | Bohol ...

Oak bedroom furniture is some of the most popular on the globe because of the wood?s innate durability and color adaptability. Oak furniture for virtually any room will last a long time, and it can come in virtually any range of colors with respect to the finish that is used. Of those two factors, properties worldwide have at least one piece of furniture made of pine somewhere in their home, whether they know it or otherwise not.

While oak furniture is able to withstand the test of time and it is the most common and popular, it is not the most expensive. The most expensive wood sorts that is often reconstructed as furniture is cherry, which is also stronger than maple. Cherry is naturally deep colored, and is the hardest solid wood available for home furnishings. Though it is stronger and considered to be more ?luxurious? compared to oak, oak remains to be the preferred choice for numerous households because it is a great deal more affordable and will very last around the same amount of time.

Dressers and boxes of drawers are routine bedroom furnishings, basically they can be commonly present in oak. There is no limit about how many styles you can find, because different suppliers make them in different ways. Regardless of who makes them one thing remains the same: the standard of the furniture itself. The caliber of the furniture is almost often directly related to the expertise of the wood, though a professional craftsman will make a big effect on the design along with the style of the end product.

Not everyone needs a bureau or a chest of drawers within their bedroom, but fortunately there are other types of oak bedroom furniture out there to think about for your Bedroom Design Ideas. End furniture or nightstands are both widespread furnishings for the master bedroom, as are foot along with headboards for the bed. All three of these are easy to uncover, though headboards and so on can be difficult to choose as the styles can vary greatly. Finding the perfect one may get several visits to different furniture retailers as well as woodworking specialty merchants.

Anyone intending to acquire several oak pieces for their bedroom ought to be careful to match them up color-wise. Because oak is a very light solid wood by nature, it can be bought in a whole array of colors of finish or laquer. Matching up bits from separate sets is no easy job, as different suppliers often use totally different colorings. It may be much easier to purchase a set as compared to separate pieces of pine bedroom furniture. Whichever option is chosen to get, the end result will be a radiant and attractive master bedroom with furniture that will last for decades, maybe even generations, to come.

More information with regards to Home Improvement Ideas can be found at the website! Visit us today!

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Source: http://www.boholchamber.org/2012-oak-bedroom-furniture-great-home-improvement-ideas.html

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Gas prices unlikely to fall as fast as oil

Not so fast. That's the message for drivers hoping a recent drop in oil prices will soon show up at the gas station.

Oil has dropped $9 per barrel, or 9.1 percent, in less than two weeks. Gas prices tend to lag changes in oil, but experts don't expect a significant move lower until the middle of October.

Oil ended at $89.98 on Wednesday, down $1.39, or 1.5 percent. The national average price for gas was $3.805 per gallon, a record high for this time of year, and up 31 cents from the same date last year.

Gas prices should be at a record for early October when President Barack Obama debates Republican challenger Mitt Romney next week in Denver. The focus of the debate will be on the economy and domestic policy. High gas prices usually cut into consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of economic activity.

Gas has remained stubbornly high although economic growth is tepid and demand for gasoline is lower than a year ago. Oil rose about 25 percent from late June through late August. More recently, refinery issues have tightened the supply of gas on both coasts. And there are lingering effects from Hurricane Isaac, which disrupted refineries and imported oil deliveries along the Gulf Coast.

Prices are at or above $4 per gallon in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, New York and Washington, according to AAA, Wright Express and the Oil Price Information Service. The lowest prices, which range from $3.546 per gallon to $3.656 per gallon, are in Texas, the lower Midwest and the South.

It probably will be a few more weeks before supplies build back up in certain markets and lead to a noticeable decline in pump prices, said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service.

He predicted that gas would drop into a range between $3.25 per gallon to $3.50 per gallon by Thanksgiving. The highest price voters ever paid while heading to the polls falls in that range: $3.41 on Nov. 8, 2011. In 2008, when Obama defeated John McCain, gas had dropped to $2.41 by Election Day as the economy slid deeper into recession.

Oil last closed below $90 per barrel on Aug. 2. Wednesday's drop came as protests in Greece and Spain offered visible reminders that Europe still is struggling to resolve its debt crisis. The protests are occurring ahead of spending cuts and tax hikes designed to help those countries control debt. Such austerity measures crimp the need for oil and oil byproducts like gasoline and diesel.

Brent crude, which is used to price international varieties of oil, fell 41 cents to $110.04 per barrel in London.

Other futures prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange:

? Heating oil was flat at $3.1068 per gallon.

? Wholesale gasoline rose 11.4 cents to end at $3.08 per gallon.

? Natural gas gained 9.9 cents to $3.023 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gas-prices-unlikely-fall-fast-oil-195730695--finance.html

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Foodie Things To Do This Weekend & Beyond | Jersey Bites

Bergenfest 2012 Party & Expo, Thursday, September 27th from 5pm-9pm. Held at the Sheraton in Mahwah. Over 30 Bergen restaurants will be providing samples of signature dishes. There will also be live music, belly dancers and giveaways. Click herefor more information and tickets.

Kathleen King Book Signing & Demonstration, Thursday, September 27th at 6:30pm. In celebration of Kathleen King?s new cookbook,?BAKING FOR FRIENDS: Over 120 scrumptious recipes from Southampton?s favorite baker, Chef Centralwill host a demo, book signing and Q&A with Kathleen at their Paramus, New Jersey location. Guests attending will have the opportunity to meet the author, enjoy a free baking demonstration and taste some of Tate?s delicious sweets.

Roseland Greek Fest, Friday- Sunday, September 28th-30th. Enjoy Live Greek music, cooking demonstrations, fresh authentic Greek food, dancing, private wine tasting and much more.

Sea Isle City Harborfest, Saturday, September 29th from 11am-4pm. Harborfest will feature delicious seafood, live music by the Daisy Jug Band, a clam-eating contest, nautical displays, a blessing of the fleet by local religious leaders, and a vendors market featuring crafts, fashion apparel and collectibles. Click for more info.

The Chester Lions Oktoberfest Fundraiser, Saturday, September 29th from 12pm-8pm. Keeping with tradition, the Oktoberfest will focus on celebrating traditional music, native dress and a special Oktoberfest beer only available for a short time. There will be a nice selection of German food as well. Click here for more details.

Italian Festival, Saturday, September 29th. Enjoy the many great shops at Smithville while experiencing everything Italian.

Golden Nugget Beer Festival:

Craft Beer Festival ? Saturday, September 29th from 7pm-10pm. Sample over 200 varieties of craft beers paired with chef-inspired cuisine and live entertainment. Tickets are $49, buy online.

Oktoberfest on the Deck ? Sunday, September 30th from 12pm-6pm. Join the Beer Maidens on The Deck for traditional Oktoberfest fare and craft beer while overlooking the Marina. Tickets available to purchase food, retail, etc. on day of event.

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Apple Festival at Dearborn Market, Saturday & Sunday, September 29th & 30th from 11am-4pm. Kick off fall with Dearborn Market with lots of fresh apples and the kick off of their pumpkin picking and hay rides. There will also be plenty of kids activities. Click for more info.

Bloomfield HarvestFest, Saturday & Sunday, September 29th & 30th 11am-6pm. Bloomfield?s biggest celebration featuring vendors, live entertainment, two food courts of festival and ethnic foods, children?s activities and amusements and more. Click for more info.

Grand Harvest Festival, Saturday & Sunday, September 29th & 30th from 12pm-5pm. Held at Alba Vineyard & Winery in Milford, NJ. Six of New Jersey?s finest wineries will provide samples. There will also be great food, vendors, crafters, children?s activities, and live entertainment. Click for more information.

Le Taste of France Show + La Soiree, Saturday & Sunday, September 29th & 30th at Pier 54, New York. The most renowned French food personalities and skilled chefs from New York?s top restaurants?will join forces and prepare a comprehensive guide to the diverse offerings. Besides French food & drink the show will have a French flea market, live music by popular French?musicians, wine tastings, the classic French game of p?tanque, artwork by modern French artists, and even a French bulldog show and contest to choose the cutest French bulldog!?Le Soir? will be the best chance for attendees to meet and interact with the participating chefs and personalities. A portion of the proceeds from?Le Taste of France will go to benefit Action Against Hunger. Click for more details.

Jersey Fresh Wine Festival, Saturday & Sunday, September 29th & 30th from 12pm-5pm at the Burlington County Fairgrounds. Enjoy live music and wine tasting from over 15 of New Jersey?s finest wineries. Click for more info.

Chowderfest, Sunday, September 30th from 11am-4pm in Beach Haven, LBI. This family fun festival features live music, activities and unlimited Chowder tasting with the opportunity for each ticket holder to vote for their favorite red and white chowder. The event is nestled in Beach Haven surrounded by beautiful views of the bay and plenty of year end discounted shopping. It has become a tradition for family and friends to gather together to say good bye to summer and welcome in the fall.

The Epicurean Palette, Sunday, October 30th from 1pm-4pm. Fundraiser held at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton. Deliciously woven throughout the beautifully landscaped sculpture park, this crowd pleasing event is renowned for featuring more than 20 of the finest area chefs and the extraordinary culinary offerings they prepare as well as a robust selection of great wines, craft beers, and exclusive spirits from regional purveyors. New this year is a decadent twist as GFS introduces artisan chocolate by our region?s finest chocolatiers. Click for more details.

Clean Water Action?s 40th Birthday | Wine & Chocolate Tasting, Sunday, September 30th from 1pm-4pm. Held at the Pine Barrens Golf Club in Jackson. There will be wine tasting, chocolate tasting, hors d?oeuvres, charity auction and more.

A Taste of Bergen | The (201) Restaurant Week Party, Monday, October 1st from 7pm-10pm. Sample dishes from Bergen County?s top restaurants. Enjoy beer, wine and cocktails. Tickets must be purchased online in advance.

Westwood Restaurant Week, Thursday, October 4th ? Sunday, October 14th. Lunch and dinner prix fixe menus available at many Westwood restaurants. Click for a list of participating restaurants.

Lunch Break?s Fall Gala, Friday, October 5th from 6pm-10pm at Two River Theater in Red Bank. Enjoy wine and beer tastings, food by Red Bank Flavour, a special guest entertainer, live and silent auctions, raffles, and a presentation. Click for more info and tickets.

Robert Irvine Live, Friday, October 5th at 8pm. Red Bank, NJ. This show, with Chef Robert Irvine (Food Network?s Restaurant Impossible) is a high-energy, multimedia and multi-sensory theatrical experience. More than just a cooking demo, ?Robert Irvine Live? is an interactive culinary show that provides multiple opportunities for audience participation while witnessing the challenging nature of the TV show come to life right before your eyes. Click for more details and tickets.

Italian Street Festival, Friday ? Sunday, October 5th ? 7th in Seaside Heights. The Italian festival features performers straight from Italy. Savor a weekend of delectable Italian specialties, arts and crafts, entertainment, and a parade that is bound to delight young and old alike. The festival begins Friday at 4:00 p.m. and continues through Sunday. The Columbus Day Parade starts at 1:00 pm Sunday on the Boulevard.

RHO Oktoberfest, Saturday, October 6th at 3pm. This is a cultural event that will be held at Rho Waterfront in Trenton celebrating the German culture with authentic German food, German beers, live entertainment, and more! Click here for more info and tickets.

Medford Oktoberfest, Saturday, October 6th from 3pm-7pm. Held at Ironstone Village. Enjoy a beer garden, food, live music, entertainment, local vendors and more.

Howell PBA Oktoberfest, Saturday, October 6th from 1pm-6pm. Support the Howell PBA with this fun event for the whole family. There will be unlimited beer and wine, all you can eat food and drink, authentic German cuisine and brews, family fun, music, raffles, prizes, kids entertainment and more.

Lima Bean Festival, Saturday, October 6th in West Cape May. Get your bean on with lima bean t-shirts from Flying Fish, lima bean chili, lima bean taco soup, lima bean jewelry, lima bean stained glass, lima bean birdhouses, lima bean pottery and this year a special treat- lima bean ice cream from Bliss of Cape May. Almost 100 vendors will also sell barbeque, turkey legs, crab cakes, smoothies, flowers, produce, collectibles, antiques and art? and of course fresh lima beans! Click for more info.

Historic Smithville Oktoberfest, Saturday & Sunday, October 6th & 7th. There will be over 100 Juried Crafters, an International Food Court, Music, Kids Activities, non- Profit organizations and more? All of this is on top of the over 60 shops, Carousel ride, Train ride, Paddleboats, 7 eateries, and antique arcades that are already located at the Village year round.

Cape May Wine Festival, Saturday & Sunday, October 6th & 7th from 12pm-5pm. Enjoy live music and sampling of some of the best local wines. Click for more information.

Harvest Fest, Saturday & Sunday, October 6th & 7th from 10am-5pm. New Jersey Botanical Gardens, Ringwood State Park. A fun-filled family weekend! Hayrides, pumpkin painting, face painting, storytellers, tasty food, music and dancing, fun photo ops, Garden tours and lots more! Plus an Autumn plant sale and an Artisan craft fair with many hand-made items. Click for more info.

Oktoberfest at Jersey Boys Grill, Sunday, October 7th from 12pm-8pm. New Milford, NJ. This year?s event will be the biggest Oktoberfest in Bergen County. Enjoy all you can eat and drink. Beer, wine, sangria and authentic German food, as well as live music. Click for tickets and more info.

Grape Stomping Wurst Festival, Sunday, October 7th from 12pm-5pm. Renault Winery, Egg Harbor City. This is the last chance to stomp grapes for the season. Renault chefs will also prepare German food. Fun for the whole family. Click for more info.

Food Network NYC Wine & Food Festival, Thursday ? Sunday, October 11th ? 14th. The sister festival to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE. The festival will bring together the world?s greatest chefs, winemakers, spirits producers and personalities to educate palates and entertain patrons in high style?all while helping to fight hunger. For event information, click here.

Farm to Table Oktoberfest, Friday, October 12th at 5:30pm. The Promise Culinary School , Suydam Farms, The Pale Ales and other local friends are pairing local brews with seasonal food to benefit Elijah?s Promise. $50.00 donation for ticket is required for event. Join us in the greenhouse on Suydam Farms in Somerset. For more info. and tickets, click here.

Jersey Shore Wine Weekend, Friday ? Sunday, October 12th ? 14th. Asbury Park, NJ. From the creators of Jersey Shore Restaurant Week comes four great events to enjoy wine and food. Learn more about the event details here.

9th Annual SJ Pumpkin Show, Friday ? Sunday, October 12th-14th. Salem County Fairgrounds, Woodstown. The South Jersey Pumpkin Show and Festival is one of the largest and best in New Jersey. Come out and enjoy live bands, great food, contests, Fall Home Show, over 150 craftsmen, NJ Largest Baked Pumpkin Pie, Amusement Rides and Pumpkin Baking Contest and more.

Our Lady of the Lake Oktoberfest, Saturday, October 13th from 6pm-11pm. Verona, NJ. The Oktoberfest festivities begin with a ceremonial beer tapping, followed by German music, great food and other live entertainment. There are also raffle baskets, 50/50 tickets and the Kinderfest. For tickets and more info, click here.

Porktoberfest, Saturday & Sunday, October 13th & 14th. Philadelphia, PA. Pig out on a plethora of porcine pleasures?and toss back some tasty German beer while you?re at it?with this seasonal Adventure: entry to Porktoberfest: an Oktoberfest-themed afternoon filled with all-you-can-eat pork barbecue, live music courtesy of CTO Entertainment, games, and more.

Brielle Oktoberfest, Wednesday, October 17th from 6pm-9pm. Held at the Brielle Fire House, there will be samplings from local restaurants, seasonal beer, door prizes, music, oh and BYOB too! Click for more info.

Amanti Vino?s Oktoberfest, Friday, October 19th from 7:30pm-11pm. Held at the Wellmont Theatre, Montclair. All you can eat food, wine and beer plus live entertainment. Click for more information.

HarvestFest, Saturday, October 20th from 11:30am-5pm. Downtown Toms River. There will be lots of kids activities, live entertainment, pumpkin decorating, fall dessert contest, a beer garden, football games on large screen TVs, food and merchandise vendors and more.

Cranberry Festival, Saturday & Sunday, October 20th & 21st from 9am-4pm. Chatsworth. Paying tribute to the 3rd largest cranberry harvest in the United States, this annual festival is filled with lots of great food, baked goods, crafts, vendors, and more.

3nd Annual Wine & Food Classic, Friday, November 2nd from 5pm-9:30pm. Join the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties for the 3rd Annual event. This year?s event benefits the Y?s Community Support Campaign that provides services to children and families in Burlington and Camden counties regardless of their ability to pay. Guests will enjoy more than 700 of South Jersey?s finest selection of wines and dishes prepared by premium chefs. A limited number of tickets will be sold for a V.I.P. reception, featuring premium wine and menu selections. For tickets, click here.

Coffee & Tea Festival Atlantic City, Saturday & Sunday, November 3rd and 4th. The event will offer two days of programming including tastings, classes, lectures and demonstrations from well-known industry professionals and pioneers. Chocolates and other sweet treats will offer a wonderful compliment to the spectacular collection of coffees and teas. Click for more info.

Queen of Hops Awards Ceremony, Thursday, November 15th at 6pm at The Copper Mine Pub in North Arlington. Taste the homebrews, meet other women home brewers and celebrate women in craft beer. You?ll also have the chance to get free swag and meet the judges. For more information about the Queen of Hops contest, click here.

Source: http://www.jerseybites.com/2012/09/foodie-things-to-do-this-weekend-beyond-15/

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Challenge: Why Are the Coasts So Different? [Search Research]

Daniel Russell knows how to find the answers to questions you can't get to with a simple Google query. In his weekly Search Research column, Russell issues a search challenge, then follows up later in the week with his solution?using whatever search technology and methodology fits the bill. This week's challenge: why are the East Coast and West Coast so different?

The other day I was standing in a friend's office at the Googleplex. On his wall he had a large, very high-res map of North America. Interestingly, it was black and white, which makes your eye see the landforms in a very different way.

As I stood there looking at it, I noticed something I'd never seen before: the East Coast and the West Coast of the US are very different... Yes, I know they're very different culturally (LA vs. NY; TMZ vs. NPR; etc.). But what I saw for the first time was how topographically different the coasts are from each other. That surprised me.

Here are a few side-by-side images from Google Earth to give you a sense of what I mean. I've taken 3 overview shots at different resolutions so you can see what I mean. (Remember that you can click on the images to see them at full size.)

Here's an overview of both coasts. What I saw was that the East Coast has LOTS more islands and barrier reefs than the West Coast. That struck me as being really, really different.

Here's a closer in view:

Do you see what I see? There are lots and lots of very low-lying islands in the east than in the west. (Note that I didn't try to cherrypick really good locations?these samples are from the same latitude on the West Coast and the East Coast and are pretty representative of the topography.

Finally, here's a real closeup of two locations West vs. East. Now the difference is really clear.

And now for the challenge: Why? <b?

Or, to be more precise: Why is the East Coast topography dominated by low-lying fringe islands, while the West Coast of the US is mostly without islands? (To be sure, there are a few, but they're pretty jaggy and stoney, while the East Coast islands are mostly sandy and flat.)

Can you figure out why?

As usual, please let us know what path you followed to find an answer, and about how long it took you to do so!

Search on!

Wednesday search challenge (9/26/12): Why are the coasts SO different? | SearchReSearch

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Daniel M. Russell studies the way people search and research?an anthropologist of search, if you will. You can read more from Russell on his SearchReSearch blog, and stay tuned for his weekly challenges (and answers) here on Lifehacker.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/TiIz0WUchCg/challenge-why-are-the-coasts-so-different

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KeyPoint Partners Retail RoundUp: Home improvement sales going ...

?

Online purchases of home-related goods took priority over back-to-school-spending for families this summer, according to a study released Tuesday from IBM Smarter Commerce.

It's a trend that's also driving sales in brick-and-mortar home improvement stores from mom-and-pop hardware shops to Home Depot, which hammered out its highest quarterly earnings report last month in five years at $1.5 billion.. . . more

Source: http://blog.keypointpartners.com/2012/09/home-improvement-sales-going-through.html

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APNewsBreak: Ex-Dodger owners back in family court

By ANDREW DALTON

Associated Press

Associated Press Sports

updated 10:44 p.m. ET Sept. 25, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The ex-wife of former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has filed a motion to set aside the couple's divorce settlement, claiming he committed fraud by vastly understating the team's value.

Jamie McCourt's attorney, Bertram Fields, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she "thought very long and very hard about whether to file this motion" but after other means failed she was forced to return to court over the value of the team that sold for $2 billion in May.

"Mr. McCourt got about 93 percent of the family assets, and Mrs. McCourt got about 7 percent," Fields said in a phone interview. "We would've much preferred to have this massive imbalance resolved with some modification, but we got no response to that approach. We didn't want to have more family litigation, but now it's up to the court."

The motion filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court claims Frank McCourt misrepresented the couple's Dodgers assets as worth less than $300 million during their protracted divorce.

The pair's marriage was dissolved in October 2010, and Jamie McCourt received $131 million. The new court papers claim that after the sale and subtraction of relevant debts, Frank McCourt's assets turned out to be worth $1.7 billion, well over 10 times the amount Jamie McCourt received.

The motion says that even if Frank McCourt's figures were the result of mistakes rather than fraud, the settlement should be tossed out on the basis of the errors.

An email message seeking comment was sent to Ryan Kirkpatrick, an attorney for Frank McCourt, late Tuesday.

The Dodgers went into bankruptcy protection in June 2011, but Frank McCourt eventually sold the team in May of this year to a group that includes former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson for $2 billion, the highest figure ever paid for a pro sports franchise.

The group has vowed to restore dignity to the storied franchise after the era of McCourt, who is widely reviled by Dodgers fans for his seemingly profligate lifestyle at the club's expense after he bought the team from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. for $430 million in 2004.

In bankruptcy filings, attorneys for Major League Baseball said Frank McCourt looted more than $180 million in revenue from the club for personal use and other business unrelated to the team.

Divorce documents laid out the couple's expensive tastes, including the purchase of several homes, trips on chartered jets, country club memberships and even a six-figure, on-call hair stylist.

A hearing on the motion to set aside the divorce settlement has been scheduled for Nov. 16.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Bill Nye warns: Creation views threaten US science

FILE - In this Feb. 7, 2012, file photo, President Barack Obama shakes hands with Bill Nye during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Nye, a mechanical engineer and star of the popular 1990s Television show ?Bill Nye The Science Guy,? recently waded into the evolution debate with an online video urging parents not to pass their religious-based doubts about evolution on to their children. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 7, 2012, file photo, President Barack Obama shakes hands with Bill Nye during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Nye, a mechanical engineer and star of the popular 1990s Television show ?Bill Nye The Science Guy,? recently waded into the evolution debate with an online video urging parents not to pass their religious-based doubts about evolution on to their children. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

FILE - In an Oct. 18, 2010, file photo, Bill Nye, host of television's "Bill Nye the Science Guy," arrives as President Barack Obama hosts a White House science fair in Washington. Nye recently waded into the evolution debate with an online video urging parents not to pass their religious-based doubts about evolution on to their children. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) ? The man known to a generation of Americans as "The Science Guy" is condemning efforts by some Christian groups to cast doubts on evolution and lawmakers who want to bring the Bible into science classrooms.

Bill Nye, a mechanical engineer and star of the popular 1990s TV show "Bill Nye The Science Guy," has waded into the evolution debate with an online video that urges parents not to pass their religious-based doubts about evolution on to their children.

Nye has spent a career teaching science to children and teens with good-natured and sometimes silly humor, but has not been known to delve into topics as divisive as evolution.

Christians who view the stories of the Old Testament as historical fact have come to be known as creationists, and many argue that the world was created by God just a few thousand years ago.

"The Earth is not 6,000 or 10,000 years old," Nye said in an interview with The Associated Press, citing scientists' estimates that it is about 4.5 billion years old. "It's not. And if that conflicts with your beliefs, I strongly feel you should question your beliefs."

Millions of Americans do hold those beliefs, according to a June Gallup poll that found 46 percent of Americans believe God created humans in their present form about 10,000 years ago.

Nye, 56, also decried efforts in recent years by lawmakers and school boards in some states to present Bible stories as an alternative to evolution in public schools. Tennessee passed a law earlier this year that protects teachers who let students criticize evolution and other scientific theories. That echoes a Louisiana law passed in 2008 that allows teachers to introduce supplemental teaching materials in science classes.

"If we raise a generation of students who don't believe in the process of science, who think everything that we've come to know about nature and the universe can be dismissed by a few sentences translated into English from some ancient text, you're not going to continue to innovate," Nye said in a wide-ranging telephone interview.

The brief online video was not Nye's first foray into the combustible debate, but "it's the first time it's gotten to be such a big deal."

"I can see where one gets so caught up in this (debate) that you say something that will galvanize people in a bad way, that will make them hate you forever," he said. "But I emphasize that I'm not questioning someone's religion ? much of that is how you were brought up."

In the video he tells adults they can dismiss evolution, "but don't make your kids do it. Because we need them." Posted by Big Think, an online knowledge forum, the clip went viral and has 4.6 million views on YouTube. It has garnered 182,000 comments from critics and supporters.

It drew the ire of the creationism group Answers in Genesis, which built a biblically based Creation Museum in Kentucky that teaches the stories of the Old Testament and has attracted headlines for its assertion that dinosaurs roamed alongside Adam and Eve.

The group produced a response video featuring two scientists who say the Bible has the true account of Earth's origins, and that "children should be exposed to both ideas concerning our past."

Nye, who is prone to inject dry humor into scientific discussions, said Earth is about 4.5 billion years old.

"What I find troubling, when you listen to these people ... once in a while I get the impression that they're not kidding," Nye said.

Ken Ham, a co-founder of Answers in Genesis, said dating methods used by scientists to measure the age of the earth are contradictory and many don't point to millions or billions of years of time.

"We say the only dating method that is absolute is the Word of God," Ham said. "Time is the crucial factor for Bill Nye. Without the time of millions of years, you can't postulate evolution change."

America is home to the world's biggest creationist following, Ham said, and the $27 million Creation Museum has averaged about 330,000 visitors a year since it opened just south of Cincinnati in 2007.

___

Online:

Big Think video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHbYJfwFgOU

Creation Museum response: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-AyDtD6sPA

The Planetary Society: http://www.planetary.org/

___

Follow Dylan Lovan on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dylanlovan

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2012-09-24-Bill%20Nye-Evolution/id-fa1f5f65e9524e83836926ea33eefe02

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