Travel and Leisure calls Yutaka Sushi Bistro one of the best sushi ...

Yutaka's sushi impressed back in 2010 (2010 file)

OK, I was a bit stunned by this one: Travel and Leisure has published a story about the best sushi restaurants in the country, and Yutaka Sushi Bistro is one of 21 included.

I was very impressed with Yutaka when I reviewed it (in tandem with sister restaurant Sharaku Sake Lounge) in 2010; it earned four stars. But my more recent experience, when I dined there in June, was a very different story. I loved some of the appetizers, particularly chef Yutaka Yamoto?s ?antipasto? and a salad starring ?caviar seaweed? ? a salad of seaweed with incredible, odd and wonderful texture. But the sushi was extremely disappointing ? underseasoned rice, good but lackluster fish, no fresh wasabi available. Worse, the service was abominable. Sushi came out at a sea snail?s pace. Later, we struggled to get anyone?s attention, as we watched the chef schmoozing friends (or maybe they were just regulars) at the sushi bar. He seemed to pay absolutely no attention to how other diners were faring in his (by the way, very expensive) restaurant. Meanwhile, I find it odd that while there?s a terrific selection of sakes two doors down at Sharaku, Yutaka?s sake selection is cursory.

I worked for Travel and Leisure as a contributing editor for years, and I know the editors are very serious. But I think these round-ups with national scope are extremely problematic. In the case of Yutaka, at this point in time, I don?t even think it?s the best sushi restaurant in Dallas. For instance, I prefer Masami Japanese Sushi and Cuisine, which I reviewed this week. Tei Tei Robata Bar had some very good sushi when I reviewed it early last year, but I haven?t been back since then. I?m overdue for a return visit to Keiichi in Denton, which I?ve loved in the past. I dearly love Tei-An, but I don?t consider it a sushi restaurant.

I really wish, and I?ve said this a grillion times, that Dallas sushi chefs would remember why sushi is called sushi ? it means ?vinegar,? which is supposed to season the rice. Dallas sushi rice almost always lacks vinegar. At Masami, it?s decently seasoned, though to my taste, still a little light. Fresh wasabi is a given there, which is wonderful.

So. In your book, who does the best sushi in or around Dallas?

Follow Leslie on?Twitter@lesbren?and?join her on Facebook

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Source: http://eatsblog.dallasnews.com/2012/11/travel-and-leisure-calls-yutaka-sushi-bistro-one-of-the-best-sushi-restaurants-in-the-country-is-it-really.html/

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Shut up about Barclay Perkins: Home brewing in WW I

Though I don't mean the type of home brewing in the modern sense. Domestic brewing is probably a better description of it. Where farmers or other large households brewed for their own consumption and those of their workers.

It had been very widespread in the 18th century, but gradually declined in the 19th century, due to a number of factors. The greatest probably that between 1830 and 1880 private brewers had to pay the full tax, as duty was levied on the raw materials. The only real economic advantage the domestic brewer had was being able to use ingredients banned in commercial brewing, such as raw grain.

The increasing gap between the quality of home-brewed and commercial beer was another important factor. There had been little difference in the equipment and techniques employed in a domestic brewery and a commercial one in the early 18th century. Technological advances, which had mostly passed the private brewer by, had given commercial brewers much greater control of the brewing process. Put simply, home-brewed beer could seldom match commercially-brewed beer in quality.

Commercially-brewed beer had also been relatively cheap before the outbreak of war. The increased excise duty changed that.

"HOME BREWED.
The "haapenny the haupint bexter" has filled the Essex and other East Coast peasantry with economic ideas, as how to circumvent such an outlay, to wash the hayseeds and the wheat and barley "hiles" from their throats. And this has taken the form of reverting to the old practice of brewing their ales, an excellent practice that the farmers will not condemn. The average home-brewed is made from malt and hops only, but that malt and hops are not so easily obtainable as they were a few years ago. I wonder how many calls would have to be made to Bristol a sack of malt and seven pounds of hops could be obtained. And then the smell and taste of sweet wort, the aromatic perfume of the hops in the old farmhouse copper, or as the liquor is set out to cool. The nine gallons of "stingo" that would prevent frostbite on a winter's morning, and the big barrel of small ale that got harder and harder as the summer drew on, until it veritably made one's eyes strike fire to drink it. A quart of West Countree "crab vergis" was mild as compared with it. Of late years this home-brewing has been a very declining industry. The popular taste has tended towards the lighter, more palatable non-deposit beers being produced by our modern brewers; but to have to pay eightpence duty on what has hitherto been sixpence per gallon harvest ale will certainly turn many a farmer's thought in the direction of his own mash-tub in non-cider-making counties. Happily, the practice of giving drinks at harvestide to agricultural workers is being replaced by extra money, a gain alike to the farmer and the labourer. And bearing this in mind, we shall not see the Excise increased to deal with the issue of licenses for brewing on the premises for home consumption only."
Western Daily Press - Thursday 31 December 1914, page 3.

The author points out the one big problem of starting to home brew again: getting hold of the materials. Difficult as it might have been in 1914, it would be completely impossible later in the war as brewing materials were rationed and allocated to brewers.

Note that this only applies to "non-cider-making counties". For the obvious reason that there cider still played the same role as beer once had in other parts of the country. And apples, unlike malt and hops, would always be obtainable.

Source: http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2012/11/home-brewing-in-ww-i.html

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10 Surprising Work from Home Jobs |

When people think of work from home jobs, several ?typical? job types come to mind: customer service, information technology, and blogging just to name a few. But over the last decade,?telecommuting jobs?have grown 41%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and the variety of jobs that can be done from home is quite surprising.

Here are ten real work from home jobs that you may not have thought about before. And if you don?t see a job that sparks your interest on this list, keep in mind that if your work is mainly done using computers, phones, or other means of remote communication, it can probably be done from home too.

Registered Nurse Clinical Case Manager?- Nursing jobs are a growing telecommuting option and in this role, the job seeker would be responsible for assessing the health of insurance program members and providing care planning activities and services.

High School Teacher?- Virtual high schools, both public and alternative, have grown leaps and bounds over the last few years. Certified teachers in subjects like English, Spanish, Science, Sociology, Special Education, and even Physical Education are needed to fill a large number of rolls.

Principal Scientist?- No longer are scientists confined to laboratories. With advancements in technology, scientists can now find work from home jobs where they?ll analyze clinical data, design components, train staff, review documentation and attend client meetings.

Independent Filmmaker?- Content websites are increasingly turning to short videos to capture readers? attention. Experienced independent filmmakers can find flexible schedule positions working remotely producing short films on a variety of topics.

Legal Advocacy Counsel?- Depending on one?s specialized legal area of expertise, lawyers can find telecommuting jobs where they?ll provide legal research, writing, and consultations for organizations and companies, all from the comfort of a home office.

Medical Director?- For those with medical or veterinary doctorate degrees, organizations are hiring telecommuting medical directors. These roles entail managing direct reports in the field, producing reports, and providing training.

Government Manager?- Federal government departments and agencies have been increasing their telecommuting opportunities over the last two years. Professionals interested in working for the U.S. government can find jobs in the Federal Highway Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and others. Job titles include Senior Counsel, Program Manager, Analyst, Transportation Specialist, and Director.

Translation and Subtitler?- If you have the ability to speak and write in multiple languages, plenty of telecommuting jobs exist for you. Film and video companies need people to translate foreign language films into English and to write subtitles, as do publishers and websites. Fluency is required for this work from home job.

Personal Historian?- The popularity of family history research has grown into its own industry. For people who love speaking with people, doing historical research, and recording personal stories, telecommuting personal historian jobs are an excellent choice.

Therapist?- Licensed clinical social workers and psychologists can find work-from-home jobs counseling clients. Rather than a traditional office setting, telecommuting therapists use video chat and phone to communicate with and assist clients.

If you?ve been interested in working from home but aren?t sure if your career field translates into a telecommuting role, you?re in luck. As technology advances and employers continue to discover the perks of hiring telecommuting employees, more and more career fields will become telecommute-eligible.

Brie Weiler Reynolds wrote this guest post. She?s the Content and Social Media Director at?FlexJobs, the award-winning site for telecommuting and flexible job listings, and a former career advisor. At FlexJobs, Brie offers job seekers career and work-life balance advice through the?FlexJobs Blog?and social media.

Source: http://undress4success.com/10-surprising-work-from-home-jobs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=10-surprising-work-from-home-jobs

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Time to Raise the MBL Cap for Credit Unions? - Small Business ...

Fred Becker, President and CEO of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU), is calling upon Senate leaders to pass a bill to raise the credit union member business lending cap (MBL) from 12.25 percent of assets to 27.5 percent. Increasing this cap would allow credit unions to make more capital available for small business loans, which can be a profitable part of a credit union?s portfolio.

The bipartisan Credit Union Small Business Jobs Bill, S. 2231, introduced by Senator Mark Udall (D-CO), and retiring Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), would increase the MBL cap from 12.25 percent of assets to 27.5 percent for eligible credit unions.

When Congress passed the Credit Union Membership Access Act in 1998, it created restrictions on the ability of credit unions to offer member business loans by a credit union?s member business lending to 12.25 percent of total assets. Research has proven that the cap hinders credit union lending to small business and does little, if any, harm to banks and other institutions.

In January 2001, the Treasury Department released a study, ?Credit Union Member Business Lending? which found that ?Business lending is a niche market for credit unions. Overall, credit unions are not a threat to the viability and profitability of other insured depository institutions.?

Last year, the SBA?s Office of Advocacy also found that bank lending was largely unaffected by changes in credit union business lending, and that credit unions have the ability to offset declines in bank business lending during a recession (James A. Wilcox, The Increasing Importance of Credit Unions in Small Business Lending, Small Business Research Summary,?SBA Office of Advocacy, No. 387. Sept. 2011).

Becker suggests raising the MBL ceiling in combination with legislation to extend full coverage of noninterest-bearing transaction accounts. Banking trades are seeking extension of the ?transaction account guarantee? program that was implemented under the Dodd-Frank Act. NAFCU advocated parity for credit unions, which was included in the final Dodd-Frank bill. Currently, $1.4 trillion in noninterest-bearing account balances covered under Dodd-Frank are in line to lose their federal coverage. The 100 percent deposit and share insurance coverage for these accounts is set to expire on Dec. 31 at midnight.

In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Becker wrote:

?This would certainly have unintended consequences on smaller financial institutions and could very well lead to businesses shifting funds away from their community-based financial institutions.?

NAFCU believes that combining the two measures into one:

?. . .would not be a win-win proposition for the American people and our economy.?

I agree. ?Credit unions have the capital to help America?s small businesses thrive. The outdated MBL cap limits their ability to help stimulate the economy by providing credit to startups and expanding small businesses.

Unlock Money Photo via Shutterstock

About Rohit Arora

A frequently quoted expert on small business lending and recently named the ?Top Entrepreneur of 2011? by Crain?s New York Business, Rohit Arora is CEO of Biz2Credit, which connects small business owners with 400 lenders, credit rating agencies and service providers. Since 2007, Biz2Credit has secured $400 million in funding for small businesses across the U.S. via its safe, efficient online platform.

?

Source: http://smallbiztrends.com/2012/11/raise-the-mbl-cap-for-credit-unions.html

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Congo M23 rebels say withdrawing forces

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have started withdrawing from towns captured since last week from government troops, following a deal brokered by Uganda, their military leader said on Wednesday.

Such a pull-out would mean the M23 rebel group was giving up gains from a lightning offensive carried out in the past week, but there was no indication they were ending their eight-month-old insurgency.

The rebellion, which U.N. experts say is backed by neighboring Rwanda, has raised the risk of all-out war in a borderlands region dogged by nearly two decades of conflict that has killed about 5 million people and is fuelled by competition over mineral resources.

"We're leaving Sake, we're leaving Masisi," Sultani Makenga told Reuters in rebel-held Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu. "Goma will be later," he said, adding fighters would eventually pull back 20 km from the city.

"We want peace," Makenga said. "We're prepared for the return of government troops, they're going to come ... But if Kabila's troops harass the people we're prepared to come back in, we're just around the corner," he said.

Ugandan military chief Aronda Nyakayirima said on Tuesday after a meeting with Makenga that M23 had agreed to withdraw from Goma unconditionally. But M23's political leader Jean Marie Runiga initially cast doubt on the deal, saying the pull-out was contingent on a list of demands - including direct talks with President Joseph Kabila.

The mixed messages from Makenga and Runiga could be a sign of divisions within the movement, according to analyst Jason Stearns at independent think-tank the Rift Valley Institute.

"This is a military movement with a political wing created post facto ... it's undermined internal cohesion," he said.

Makenga told Reuters his decision to withdraw forces from Goma was made before the meeting with Uganda's army chief in Kampala, but Stearns believes M23 may be coming under external pressure given the storm of protest from regional powers caused by the rebel capture of Goma.

"The future of M23 depends on the diplomatic dance between donors, countries in the region and Kigali," Stearns said.

The rebels seized Goma on November20 after Congolese soldiers withdrew and U.N. peacekeepers gave up defending the city. U.N. experts say Rwanda, Congo's small but militarily powerful eastern neighbor, is giving orders to the rebels and supplying arms and recruits, a charge denied by Rwanda.

The Congolese army was skeptical about any M23 withdrawal.

"Let's see how things evolve, we'll see whether they're doing this in good faith or not ... Nothing has changed, we're still in our positions," Colonel Olivier Hamuli, spokesman for the FARDC army said.

About 100 people gathered in rain in Goma on Wednesday to protest against the possible return of government troops, marching to the U.N. offices to deliver a memo.

"When the government troops were here before we had no peace, now as we welcomed M23, we think they'll cause even more problems than before," protester Alain Safari said.

Makenga said rebel forces would withdraw to about 20 km of Goma, leaving a company of 100 soldiers at the airport, and allowing government troops to return to the city.

According to the agreement in Uganda, government troops would return to Goma on Thursday, followed by a visit on Friday by regional defense chiefs.

The conflict in eastern Congo - which has big reserves of gold, tin and coltan, an ore of rare metals used in making mobile phones - has displaced 140,000 civilians according to the United Nations.

(Reporting by Jonny Hogg; Writing by Bate Felix; Editing by Pravin Char)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/congo-m23-rebels-withdrawing-forces-quit-goma-later-102409193.html

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HP Passport 1912nm Internet Monitor

For businesses that want to offer their customers a fast, uncomplicated way to access the Internet and cloud services, the HP Passport 1912nm Internet Monitor provides a reasonably priced, albeit limited, solution. This unique 18.5-inch display is equipped with an ARM-based processor and uses a Linux OS to access web apps and play multimedia files. It's not a great performer by any means, and it's short on features, but it's cheap and easy to use.

Design and Features
The 1912nm uses an 18.5-inch TN (Twisted Nematic) panel with CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) backlighting as opposed to LED backlighting. As such, the matte black cabinet is thicker (2.6-inches) than what you'll find on most LED monitors such as the 1.3-inch thick HP 2011x . The 1,366-by-768 panel is framed by glossy black bezels measuring 0.6 inches on the top and sides and 1.2 inches on the bottom. The bottom bezel is slightly curved and holds five buttons (Menu, -, +, Mode, Power).

The 7.5-pound cabinet has four VESA wall mounting holes and comes with an oval stand that allows you to tilt the panel but offers no other adjustments. At the rear of the cabinet are an Ethernet jack, an upstream USB 2.0 port, four downstream USB 2.0 ports, and two audio ports (in, out). There's also a VGA input for connecting the 1912nm to a host PC, but digital inputs such as HDMI and DVI are missing. A fifth USB 2.0 port is conveniently mounted on the left side of the cabinet right above a card reader slot that accepts SD, MS, MMC, and xD media. The 2-watt speakers are loud and don't distort when the volume is maxed out but they are a bit too trebly.

The 1912nm is powered by a Texas Instruments dual core OMAP 4430 processor running at 1.0GHZ and is outfitted with 2GB of flash memory and 1GB of DDR2 RAM. It runs an HP customized version of Linux and uses Mozilla Firefox as its browser. Video, audio, and photo viewing apps are built in, as is an Adobe Flash player. This is a bare bones Internet device; you don't get any internal storage, it lacks Wi-Fi networking capabilities, and there are no touch screen capabilities. To get started all you have to do is plug it in, connect the keyboard, mouse, and LAN cables, turn it on and you're ready to go.

The main desktop screen contains five massive icons for the embedded apps including Music, Video, Photo, Web, and Settings. You can access files stored on media cards and USB storage devices (ie: thumb drives and portable hard drives) as well as files stored in the cloud. The settings menu is where you go to select photos for a slideshow, set the date and time, configure network settings, and enable the password option.

The monitor ships with an HP USB keyboard and an HP USB scroll mouse, but you'll have to supply your own upstream USB cable and Ethernet cable. HP covers the 1921nm with a three year parts and labor warranty that includes on-site service.

Performance
The 1912nm did a fairly good job of displaying individual swatches from the DisplayMate Color Scales test but its grayscale performance was abysmal. The five lightest shades of gray on the 64-Step Grayscale test were washed out, while over on the dark end the three darkest shades appeared black. This doesn't present much of an issue while viewing most web pages or text files,but photographs and video will suffer a loss of highlight and shadow detail. On the plus side, the screen uses a matte coating that is non-reflective and keeps glare to a minimum.

Viewing angle performance was less than optimal; there was a significant loss of luminance and lots of color shifting at around 50-degrees from dead center. However, small text from the DisplayMate Scaled Fonts test appeared well formed and crisp.

The OMAP processor performed as expected although there was an occasional 3-4 second lag between the time I clicked on a file and the time it took to open it. Web pages were a tad slow to load as well, but other than that there were no major issues.

The 1912nm averaged 22 watts of power during my testing, which isn't all that bad for a monitor that uses CCFL backlighting but still more than the Lenovo D186 (16 watts), an 18-inch display that also uses CCFL backlighting. Neither can match the energy efficiency of LED backlit displays such as the Lenovo LS2421P Wide , which has much larger 24-inch panel but averaged only 16 watts of power.

The HP Passport 1912nm is a good fit for libraries, hotel lobbies, hospitality centers, and any other business that needs to supply affordable web access to its customers. It's easy to set up and easy to use, and it performs as advertised. That said, HP should consider replacing the under-achieving TN panel with a low-cost e-IPS panel that would provide much better color, grayscale, and viewing angle performance. A more powerful processor and wireless networking would be welcome too.

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the HP Passport 1912nm Internet Monitor with several other monitors side by side.

More monitors reviews:
??? HP Passport 1912nm Internet Monitor
??? Viewsonic VSD220
??? BenQ GW2450
??? Asus PB278Q
??? Samsung Series 9 S27B970D
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/4XoTozg17b8/0,2817,2412636,00.asp

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Holiday Binge Eating ? Tummy Troubles Solved - Happy Home and ...

You can?t help it.? With all the holiday eating, you just might find yourself with a not-so-pleasant tummy one of these days.? It could be from eating too much or from eating food that did not agree with your stomach.? Whatever it is, there are some natural remedies that you can concoct in your own kitchen to ease a bad tummy.

Among the more popular natural ingredients are chamomile, peppermint, and ginger.? In most cases, these ingredients are infused in teas.? You can drink the tea and have a bland diet for at least a day to settle your stomach.? Make sure that you drink water too especially if you are suffering from diarrhea.

In the days after your recovery, make sure that you stay away from fatty, spicy, and overly salty foods.? These are likely to irritate your tummy again and steal you away from the holiday merry-making.

An ounce of prevention though is better than a pound of cure. ?So do make sure to control your eating and you will have a more enjoyable holiday.

?

Image courtesy of -Marcus- / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Source: http://happyhomeandfamily.com/holiday-binge-eating-tummy-troubles-solved/

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US softens China currency criticism

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) ?

The Treasury Department said Tuesday that China's currency remains undervalued, but stopped short of branding the country a currency manipulator.

In its semi-annual report on international exchange rates, the Treasury Department said Chinese authorities "have substantially reduced the level of official intervention in exchange markets" since last year, and have "taken a series of steps to liberalize controls on capital movements."

Critics blame Beijing for holding down the value of its currency, the renminbi, in order to boost China's competitiveness in international trade at the expense of other countries.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney vowed during the campaign to brand China a currency manipulator, a potential step towards trade sanctions. The Obama administration, however, has avoided this designation.

The Treasury Department said in its report Tuesday that the renminbi has appreciated by 12.6% against the dollar when adjusted for inflation since June 2010. Nevertheless, it added that the renminbi "remains significantly undervalued, and further appreciation... against the dollar and other major currencies is warranted."

Treasury said that for China to secure sustainable growth going forward, it needs to increase domestic consumption. Additional renminbi appreciation is a "critical part of this process," the report said, as a stronger currency increases the purchasing power of Chinese households.

The oft-delayed report was originally scheduled to be published last month.

Source: http://www.wisn.com/news/money/US-softens-China-currency-criticism/-/9373130/17568924/-/rci7ogz/-/index.html?absolute=true

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Charlie Sheen Blames Chuck Lorre for Angus T. Jones Breakdown

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/11/charlie-sheen-blames-chuck-lorre-for-angus-t-jones-breakdown/

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Federico Fellini on the Set of Satyricon, Rome, Italy, 1969

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Real Estate and Branding?What is in the name? | Richard Silver's ...

In late July or early August I migrate to Northern California for a few days of Inman Connect in San Francisco. It is a great conference that is an opportunity for REALTORS, Brokers, Franchisors and Franchisees to come and hear from the latest ?mouse trap? movers and shakers about what the next five years may bring to the world of Real Estate.

One of the best sessions led by Kelly Mitchell of Hawaii fame turned into an open and honest discussion about branding?for some attendees the first question was whether the topic of branding was and should be agent driven, broker driven or franchise driven.

Years ago, when I began my career?a REALTOR chose a brand that fit their vision and worked within the brand?.and if things did not work out or their marketplace changed, they moved to another brand that was more suited to the what they wanted for their future.

Now, as I look around in our large market that not only has competing franchises, but competing brokers within the franchises, competing agents within the competing brokers, within the competing franchises, I am really becoming confused?.and if I am confused, what is the consumer feeling?

What I don?t get is why would I choose to move to a ?brand? and then spend time, money and energy re-designing the brand? Is it because the brands are not moving fast enough to accommodate their agents? Is it because as independent contractors we all feel that we are the brand first and foremost and we are looking for that competitive edge?

BUT?here is the biggest question: Is branding just the logo design and colours or is it the quality and professionalism of the agents within the Company? ?Does everyone reflect the vision of the owners? ?Are owners aware of how they are being represented in the marketplace by their salespeople? If the salesperson?s income level is high, does the owner care they are not, or is profit the primary motivator?

I have?watched talented agents over the years leave their Brands to establish new companies that expressed their vision of the Real Estate profession. In a lot of these cases the new Boutiques brands are diluted by mini offices that take new directions? Will the everyday race to pay the bills mean the erosion of the Boutique visionaries as reality sinks in?.

So what does the future hold for the existing, the new and the Brands to come? Will they evolve quickly enough for the consumer and the REALTORS? Will they learn to be ahead of the curve and can they be profitable in the long term if they are enticing agents with high splits and the latest in technological mouse traps. Will Brands truly reflect the owner?s vision or are we, as REALTORS, our own worst enemies?

This entry was posted on Monday, November 26th, 2012 at 10:05 am and is filed under Around TORONTO, Business, Real Estate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Source: http://torontoism.com/2012/11/26/real-estate-and-branding-what-is-in-the-name/

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women's self defense frontal choke against a wall ... - jackie's bazaar

Related eBooks

Brutal street technique. This could save your life.

Related Reading:

Common-Sense & Self-DefenceCommon-Sense & Self-Defence?Strategies & Techniques that Work!

Common-Sense and Self-Defence is an e-book designed to help women avoid the trauma of a sexual assault or rape. Simple, Powerful & Effective!

It is a handbook of Common-Sense and Self-Defence techniques that can be used effectively by females of all ages.

We do not propose to have an answer for every conceivable situation that may occur.

Every would-be assailant, every potential victim, and every environment where an attack takes place contains its own set of unique situational advantages and disadvantages.

However, we suggest that by adapting some Common-Sense Techniques into her life, and by becoming aware of her mental and physical potential, a women can, in many cases, protect herself from sexual assault and rape.

In this book, we have set forth some easy to follow guidelines that when adapted into her individual lifestyle, will help a woman completely avoid the possibility of an assault.

We realize though, that women are assaulted even under the most cautious of conditions, and it is for these situations that we offer Self-Defence alternatives.

Source: http://www.jackiesbazaar.com/womensinterests/self-defense/womens-self-defense-frontal-choke-against-a-wall

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Watch The Top 9 YouTube Videos Of The Week

If you're looking to see the most popular YouTube videos of the week, look no further.

Once again, we're bringing you the week's most-watched videos, hot off the charts via YouTube Trends, a feature launched by YouTube that aggregates the site's video stats and draws upon "the wisdom of top curators across the web" to offer visitors a look at real-time trends among the YouTube community.

So what did the Web go wild over this week? PSY performs his monster hit "Gangnam Style" with a little help from a very special guest, a pair of news anchors resign live on air, an ear-shattering bomb explodes during an Anderson Cooper live report in Gaza -- and much, much more.

Watch the nine most popular YouTube videos of the week and vote for your favorites. Then, check out last week's picks here. For more top videos, browse our gallery of the most-watched YouTube videos from October.

• #9 - 'More Twilight' - A Bad Lip Reading of The Twilight Saga

• #8 - Caught On Camera: Racist Australians Abuse Girl & Smash Bus Window

• #7 - PSY (With Special Guest MC Hammer) - Gangnam Style (Live 2012 American Music Awards)

• #6 - BIG: Color

• #5 - Will We Ever Run Out Of New Music?

• #4 - Maine News Anchors Cindy Michaels And Tony Consiglio Resign Live On Air

• #3 - Psy - Gangnam Style / 2 Legit 2 Quit Mashup Feat. MC Hammer

• #2 - Bomb Explodes Right Near Anderson Cooper During Live Report From Gaza

• #1 - Killer Karaoke - Head Case

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/25/watch-top-youtube-videos-of-the-week_n_2188165.html

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Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards - Escarpment Views

Here is some news sent to us about awards for home energy efficiency.

Submissions for 2013 Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards in business leadership, innovation and student leadership are now open. With rewards totalling $75,000, Scotiabank today announced the opening of submissions for the Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards, a unique Canada-wide awards program that recognizes businesses, innovators and students for excellence in the development of home energy efficiency products, services and solutions. Submissions can be made through Scotiabank?s EcoLiving website until February 15, 2013.
?The EcoLiving Awards showcase outstanding Canadian home energy efficiency solutions at all levels ? from students to business leaders ? and we?re looking forward to another year of high-calibre submissions,? said Kaz Flinn, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for Scotiabank. ?It?s the only awards program in Canada that recognizes home efficiency excellence. We?re thrilled to reward innovators and share their energy-saving ideas with all Canadians.?
The Scotiabank EcoLiving awards are:
.?????? The Scotiabank EcoLiving Business Leadership Award ($50,000) -? to be awarded to a business or individual who is leading the way in home energy efficiency products, services or solutions.
.?????? The EcoLiving Innovators Award ($15,000) ? will go to a business or individual who is demonstrating innovation in home energy efficient products, services and solutions. Where the Business Leadership Award will focus primarily on the execution of a proven idea or program, the Innovator?s Award will focus on the introduction of exciting new ideas for products or programs.
.?????? The Scotiabank EcoLiving Student Leadership Award ($10,000) ? will be awarded to a full-time college or university student who demonstrates promise for the future of home energy conservation.
Full information on the awards, including submission forms, key dates, eligibility and judging criterion are now available exclusively on Scotiabank?s EcoLiving website, http://ecoliving.scotiabank.com/awards.
The largest green awards program in Canada, the Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards were introduced in 2011 and are a cornerstone of the Bank?s broader EcoLiving Program aimed at enabling and encouraging Canadians to save money and energy at home.
Winners of the first EcoLiving Awards came from across Canada. BUILD of Winnipeg, Manitoba won the Scotiabank EcoLiving Business Leadership Award for its pioneering not-for-profit program of retrofitting low-income Winnipeg homes with energy saving materials. EcoPlusHome of Bathurst, New Brunswick, a company that designs and builds prefabricated homes that put zero demand on the power grid won the Scotiabank EcoLiving Innovators Award. Eden Full, of Calgary, Alberta, received the Scotiabank EcoLiving Student Leadership Award for her invention of the SunSaluter, an affordable tracking rotation system that maximizes the output of solar panels requiring 40 per cent fewer panels. Learn more about their solutions and progress at http://ecoliving.scotiabank.com/articles/where-are-they-now .

About the Scotiabank EcoLiving Program
The Scotiabank EcoLiving Program launched in June, 2010. The website, www.scotiabank.com/ecoliving, is a unique online consumer resource that provides home greening options together with government rebate and financial savings information all in one place ? providing an easy-to-use resource for Canadians to learn about, plan and compare green home improvement options. The website includes project planning tools and a
financial calculator to allow visitors to compare products and rebates, plan and finance their projects and see the savings that can result from each energy efficient renovation. The EcoLiving Magazine is available twice yearly in Scotiabank branches and the Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards recognize innovation in residential energy efficiency.

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Source: http://www.escarpmentviews.ca/index.php/2012/11/26/scotiabank-ecoliving-awards/

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Clinton, Egypt's foreign minister discuss political crisis, Gaza

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr on Monday to underscore U.S. hopes that Egypt's political crisis can be resolved in a democratic manner, the State Department said.

Clinton reiterated U.S. concerns about Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi's decision to assume sweeping powers and checked in on the progress of discussions between Mursi and senior judges on the way forward, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told a news briefing.

"The secretary underscored the importance of settling these disputes in a democratic manner, so we look forward to seeing the outcome of that (discussion)," Nuland said.

"We want to see the constitutional process move forward in a way that does not overly concentrate power in one set of hands," Nuland said.

She said Clinton also used the phone call to follow up on Gaza, where Egypt brokered a truce after a week of fighting between Israel and the Palestinians.

(Reporting By Andrew Quinn; Editing by Bill Trott)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-egypts-foreign-minister-discuss-political-crisis-gaza-182916305.html

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Bangladesh's worst-ever factory blaze kills over 100

DHAKA (Reuters) - Fire swept through a garment factory on the outskirts of Bangladesh's capital killing more than 100 people, the fire brigade said on Sunday, in the country's worst-ever factory blaze.

Working conditions at Bangladeshi factories are notoriously poor, with little enforcement of safety laws, and overcrowding and locked fire doors are common. The cause of this fire was not immediately known.

The blaze at the nine-storey Tazreen Fashion factory in the Ashulia industrial belt of Dhaka started on the ground floor late on Saturday and spread, trapping hundreds of workers.

"So far, the confirmed death toll is 109, including nine who died by jumping from the building," Mizanur Rahman, deputy director of the fire brigade, told Reuters.

Witnesses said the workers, mostly women, ran for safety as the fire engulfed the plant but were unable to get through narrow exits.

"Many jumped out from the windows and were injured, or died on the spot," Milon, a resident, said.

Most of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition and authorities had started burials while mourning relatives scrambled to find their loved ones, officials and witnesses said.

Unofficial sources put the number of dead at more than 120. Most of the bodies were found on the second floor, Rahman said.

Bangladesh has around 4,500 garment factories and is the world's biggest exporter of clothing after China, with garments making up 80 percent of its $24 billion annual exports.

This was the highest ever death toll in a Bangladeshi factory fire. In 2006, 84 people were killed in a blaze in the southern port of Chittagong where fire exits had been blocked.

More than 300 factories near the capital shut for almost a week earlier this year as workers demanded higher wages and better working conditions.

(Editing by Nick Macfie)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bangladesh-garment-factory-fire-kills-120-042747909.html

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Family Reunion Scrapbooks Make Heirlooms - Home - Home ...

The friends and family reunion is on! It's the most perfect opportunity to invest in scrapbooking design products throughout Millersville, MD and also preserve remembrances from a resourceful scrapbook. Dedicating the actual scrapbooking to the particular household creates an heirloom that is inherited from iteration to generation.Family not even created yet will enjoy the actual pictures and also mementos anyone include in scrapbooking design for the reason that a lot of would have been shed and also demolished gradually in any other case preserved.

The scrapbook you decide on in making may be significant as well as compact plus a lot will depend on with what number of people might be studying and what amount time you want to place into this project.The design and style can be for one event and also made to possibly be extended since upcoming family reunions are held. You can consist of photographs, signatures of family by using start dates, memory statements, souvenir waste as well as anything with which has meaning for a family.

Down Memory Lane

In preparation to generate scrapbooks, Millersville, MD scrappers will require that will acquire earlier shots ingested connected with household members.The elderly images will become supplemented along with innovative photographs taken at existing event.This not simply presents a period of time aspect to help that design and style due to penetration from the decades but in addition lets you contain relations who've handed away. In fact, an individual could bind a section for you to the family who will be not anymore along with you.

Calling close family and asking for a few pictures will internet everyone many fantastic photos for your family reunion design and style too.The design and style will be this type of beautiful location for featuring family photos, and for that reason additional interesting as opposed to standard photo album. First select a theme as well as carry that will topic during from beginning for you to end.In the design and style it is possible to add decorative variations surrounding the photographs along with use your shaded pens along with scrapbooking design products Millersville, MD shops advertise to help scrappers to be able to make fascinating remarks in addition to photograph identifications.

Use the actual Right Supplies

There certainly are a few guidelines to be able to ensure mafia reunion scrapbook was made to endure.Choose some sort of tough recording of good quality so it are going to be checked by simply numerous people. Other items have to be high quality also just like adhesives and also pens.

To insure you no longer wreck your photographs,check that all peel offs and also other items attached to the pics will not likely damages a person's pictures.The past matter you want to carry out will be place a new sticker on a well used spouse and children photograph and amounts adhesive simply leaves a indicate that will can not be removed. Old photos of beloved can't be replaced, and also it's tragic to see anyone accidently damaged an irreplaceable photo.

Great Gifts or Great Treasures

Scrapbooks is often fantastic presents for you to prize in the years.Each loved ones reunion may be a one of a kind occasion within this some individuals are generally blessed and some pass away involving events.The number of which records is a one-time assemblage.

If there is a family reunion approaching up, you should definitely take a look at the actual scrapbook keep associated with Millersville, MD on-line or maybe in person.You could get quite a few great thoughts from various other scrappers.Take those concepts and move all of them into first versions pertaining to your family.After all, your family can be one-of-a-kind plus original too!

Source: http://scrapbook-storage.blogspot.com/2012/11/family-reunion-scrapbooks-make.html

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5 Great Benefits Of Education Trips For Children - nouss-nouss

Many parents take their children for education trips but there are still some parents that can't come up with a trip plan for their kids. Unfortunately, these parents fail to recognize the importance of educational trips for children and how it can mould a child into a responsible, intelligent adult.

1: Children Get To Know Their Family Better

Educational trips with family give children an opportunity to interact better in a social setup, especially if the trip has other family members and friends. It is a great way to nurture communication and socializing skills in your child. Social gatherings and educational trip will make children feel more secure about relationships and it will also plant socializing skills in them.

2: A Better, Relaxed Mindset

Children, like adults need a break from the monotonous lifestyle of going to school from Monday to Friday and playing video games on weekends. Although, their life may not look like a stressed out one that most parents lead, they also get frustrated in challenging academic life, and this will affect their ability to learn new things. An education trip is the best way to enhance their learning skills and divert their mind from school in a positive way. Children that travel frequently with their parents and visit educational sites are usually well behaved and intelligent.

3: Knowledge

One indisputable benefit of an educational trip is the opportunity to learn new things. Educational trips give children an opportunity to learn things through visuals and the feeling of learning is not there. They are observing things at an educational trip and this will deeply feed information into their heart. For the knowledge hungry child, each educational trip will be an excellent opportunity to learn and be active. Children that do not go out regularly with their parents tend to develop lazy habits and have issues in communicating with others. Children need exposure to public places with their parents so that they can observe and learn from their parents.

4: Respect To Nature

We all know about global warming and how natural resources are running short. This is a big issue and if our future generations are not concerned about the Mother Nature, the existence of our planet is questionable. However, awareness about nature can't be built without giving your children opportunities to learn and explore it. Many children have limited knowledge about marine life and how vivid it is, but if you take them to a marine aquarium like the Visit Sea Life, your child will quickly realize how wonderful marine life is, and they will not feel like spoiling it.

5: Cultural Learning

When you take your child to a public place, he gets an opportunity to see and explore people from different walks of life and this definitely gives them an advantage in understanding different cultures.

These are the 5 great benefits of taking your child to an educational trip. There are many stunning places inside the UK where you can take your child so that he can explore and learn while enjoying the scenic beauty. Birmingham's Visit Sea Life is an absolutely stunning place to explore and learn more about the wonderful marine sea life and it won't be a miracle if your child shows further interest in learning more about ocean life.

Source: http://nouss-nouss.blogspot.com/2012/11/5-great-benefits-of-education-trips-for.html

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Portland political consulting firm draws national attention in recent ...

PORTLAND, Maine ? It?s not only the recently elected politicians and successful advocacy groups who are celebrating big wins in the wake of election season.

A small political consulting firm in Portland has emerged with a winning record and a national reputation for producing compelling, authentic political advertisements for television and Web.

The company, CD2 Consulting, produced some of the most memorable ads from Maine?s recent election cycle. Remember Harlan Gardner, the 90-year-old WWII veteran and Machias resident who, while sitting at the dinner table with four generations of his family, including his gay granddaughter, said ?marriage is too precious not to share?? That ad was one of CD2?s creations. Remember the York firefighters who appeared in an ad with their gay colleague? That was a CD2 ad. There were several others produced throughout the campaign, which was successful and made Maine the first state to legalize same sex marriage by popular vote.

David Farmer, communications director for Mainers United for Marriage, gives CD2 a big share of the credit for the power and recognition their ads brought to the campaign.

?They were able to turn real Maine people into household names,? said Farmer, who also served as deputy chief of staff and communications director for former Gov. John Baldacci, and writes a political blog and a weekly column for the Bangor Daily News. ?They are storytellers and were able to tell stories in 30 seconds in a way that made a real difference.?

The ads CD2 produced for Mainers United for Marriage were so effective, in fact, they were picked up around the country and used as templates for ads in other states such as Minnesota and Washington state, according to Farmer.

?They (CD2 owners) are on the verge of big, big things,? he said.

Maine?s Yes on 1 campaign had a high profile, and several ?top-notch? political consulting firms wanted to produce those television ads, Farmer said. Yet CD2 got the job. ?They won on the merits of their work, and they delivered,? he said.

Besides the Yes on 1 campaign, CD2 also produced web advertisements for Elizabeth Warren?s successful Senate campaign in Massachusetts, unseating incumbent Scott Brown; online content for Maggie Hassan?s successful gubernatorial campaign in New Hampshire; and a TV ad in support of Rep. Carol Shea-Porter?s successful Congressional race in New Hampshire.

?That?s a winning record right there,? Farmer said. ?The results speak for themselves.?

There was a time when all the big political consulting firms were in Washington, D.C., and New York City, but technology has made that model obsolete, and today consultants can work anywhere. CD2 owners Jim Cole, Aaron Duffey and David Loughran choose to work in Maine, where the three grew up in the Greater Portland area.

?It?s great to be doing what I want to be doing in the place where I want to live,? Duffey said on a recent morning in CD2?s office in Portland?s Old Port.

The company doesn?t have to be in D.C., Loughran said. ?There are probably opportunities we miss by not being there,? he said, ?but there are other opportunities we?ll gain from being here.?

CD2 is actually a conglomeration of smaller, specialty operations that each of the men ran before joining forces to offer a wider range of political consulting services.

Cole and Duffey formed Gum Spirits Productions, a film production company, in Portland in 2008. They produced independent films (Sundowning and Three Priests are two of the more well-known flicks) and TV advertisements for political campaigns, including for VoteVets.org. In 2009, they joined forces with a pair of Bowdoin College alums, Frank Chi and William Donahoe, who live in Washington, D.C., and produce websites for political campaigns. Cole and Duffey joined Chi and Donahoe ? notice the initials? ? to form CD2 in 2009.

Loughran had worked on political campaigns all over the country before returning to Maine in 2008 to form his own political communications consultancy called Mach3Media. Loughran reconnected with Duffey, who he grew up with in Gorham, upon his return to the Portland area. In 2010, he officially joined CD2.

The crew first gained national attention in February 2011 for an ad it produced about the battle in Wisconsin over Gov. Scott Walker?s attack on the collective bargaining rights of unions.

Instead of writing a 30-second script, the CD2 crew spent the entire day in snowy, 16-degree weather interviewing protesters in Madison, Wisc., as snow piled on their shoulders. ?That?s why we?re able to capture authentic moments and are able to turn what would be a good ad into a great ad,? Loughran said.

Cole, who Duffey called the ?creative genius? behind CD2, then spent the evening cutting more than three hours of raw interview footage into a 30-second ad spot, which was extremely successful and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in small donations in the following weeks.

The ad, which was produced for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, got national attention. Rachel Maddow called it ?the most pointed, stand-with-the-people-who-work-for-a-living ad that we have seen for a very long time.? Lawrence O?Donnell called the ad ?beautiful film making,? and said ?I?m really quite struck by it.?

?You don?t usually get people on D.C. television talking in such effusive ways about a TV ad, but that speaks to the power of this particular one,? said Adam Green, the D.C.-based co-founder of Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

Duffey said the ad opened doors. Loughran and Duffey expect they?ll be able to leverage the success of its ads during the recent election season to grab more work on other high-profile campaigns.

Judging by the ads it?s produced, CD2?s future looks bright, Green said.

Progressive Change worked with 40 campaigns this past election season, and Green said he?d be looking for CD2 to contribute to more campaigns in the future. ?We definitely hold [CD2] out as a model for the future of ad making as we try to wean candidates off the past ? overly priced D.C. consultants doing lesser quality work,? he said.

Green said the fact CD2 is based outside D.C. is a benefit as they?re not captive to the standard talking points. ?Instead, they?re thinking outside the box,? Green said. ?They?re thinking about persuading the people on Main Street back home.?

Loughran declined to discuss CD2?s revenue except to say it has grown ?tenfold? since 2010. But Loughran and Duffey (Cole was out of the state on a shoot) don?t want CD2 to grow too big too fast.

?We don?t want to take every possible project that comes through the door,? Duffey said, because doing so would force them to not be so hands-on with the various campaigns.

?Our business will grow, and Jim, Aaron and I will continue to be principals in every campaign,? Loughran said. ?That?s how we want it to be.?

Source: http://bangordailynews.com/2012/11/23/business/portland-political-consulting-firm-draws-national-attention-in-recent-campaigns/

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Why is Texas always a mere Fort Sumter away from seceding?

Secession talk has always been Texas-sized in Texas. But if nothing else, the latest online request to the White House for independence really means: Get ready for four more years of acrimony between Austin and Washington.

By Patrik Jonsson,?Staff Writer / November 24, 2012

The Obama administration introduced 'We the People,' at petitions.whitehouse.gov, in September 2011 in a bid to create 'an unprecedented level of openness in government,' according to the website.

screen capture of petitions.whitehouse.gov

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Did you know Texas is actually not a US state, but an occupied land, bear-hugged, and bamboozled into the Union not by will but by force?

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It?s true! Well, kind of.

If there?s one thing that?s not news in Texas, it?s secession talk, which has been going on ever since the United States, with the OK from the then-nine-year-old independent republic?s president, annexed the Lone Star state and extended the federal umbrella over the Palo Pinto Mountains and beyond. That annexation and the legal details of the return of Texas into the Union after the South lost the Civil War have been contested over the years in court by various ?Republic of Texas? splinter groups.

RECOMMENDED: Election 2012: 12 reasons why Obama won and Romney lost

Now, here we go again: After a contested election that for some confirmed the depth of the political and philosophical distance between Washington and Austin, over 112,000 Texans are ready to take their ball (and all that oil) and go home by petitioning the White House?s ?We the People? website for independence. (The ?Obama administration now owes Texans an official response by mid-December, as it does dozens of other similar state secession requests. The White House website promises a response to petitions with over 25,000 names.)?

But if the secessionist numbers are on the whole paltry, the emotions are real and widespread. Indeed, if national Republicans were chastened by the national election, conservatives in Texas seemed to double down on rebelliousness. If the tea party flagged nationally, not so in Texas, where tea party Republicans gained ground in the Senate, the legislature turned even more Republican, and GOP Gov. Rick Perry (who once suggested secession might not be the worst idea) dug in his heels for more battles with Washington, against which the state has already filed 24 lawsuits on issues ranging from environmental laws to voting rights.

Moreover, Texas is leading the online secession movement on the White House website ? and not just because there are lots of Texans. Perhaps the greatest reason is that the fundamentals of nationhood ? materially, legally and philosophically ? are more evident in Texas, at least arguably, than any other state. Add to that its political counterweight status to Washington, it is, always has been, and likely always will be, the one state to most likely sign divorce papers.

Having once been a nation, Texas could conceivably go at it again. Successful secession would mean Texas would instantly become the 40th largest country on the globe, with a wealth of oil and other natural resources. No longer would Austin have to bow by executive orders and bureaucratic fiats from Washington. According to this vision, lovers of individual freedom and enterprise would flock to Texas, bolstering a wave of migration and investment that has allowed the state to weather the nation?s economic storm better than most.

?This ?nation,? as some would call it, is not only a highly functional, world-class economy, engaging in robust commerce with other nations and neighboring states, it actually has a budget, a balanced one at that,? writes Chuck Poole, a columnist with the Arlington, Tex., Voice. ?? [B]ut why should the Great Republic of Texas continue to be at the losing end of the welfare worm-hole that wends its way to New York and other so-called blue states by way of the Washington vortex??

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/OfRgRdHOyC0/Why-is-Texas-always-a-mere-Fort-Sumter-away-from-seceding

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Column: OK, SEC haters, time to resume griping

Georgia wide receiver Rhett McGowan (27) celebrates his touchdown reception with wide receiver Tavarres King (12) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Georgia wide receiver Rhett McGowan (27) celebrates his touchdown reception with wide receiver Tavarres King (12) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Alabama fans scream for their team prior to a NCAA college football game against Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Georgia running back Todd Gurley (3), fullback Alexander Ogletree (46), and guard Mark Beard (79) celebrate their 42-10 win over Georgia Tech after an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Alabama coach Nick Saban leads his team onto the field prior to their NCAA college football game against Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) ? OK, all you SEC haters.

Time to get revved up again.

The league that everyone outside the South loves to despise has staked out its usual place in the championship hierarchy after Super Saturday, a coast-to-coast buffet of college football's greatest rivalries.

Either Alabama or Georgia is assured of playing for the national title.

And the Southeastern Conference even had a backup plan, the Florida Gators, ready to step in if top-ranked Notre Dame faltered in the last big game of the day against Southern Cal.

Sound familiar?

Just last year, Alabama defeated LSU in an All-SEC matchup for the BCS championship.

No matter what, the conference will have at least one representative in the final game of the year, and rest assured that either No. 2 Alabama or No. 3 Georgia would be a solid favorite to beat the Fighting Irish and give the SEC its seventh straight national title.

The Crimson Tide cruised into the SEC championship game on a high after thumping Auburn 49-0 in the Mismatch Bowl (sorry, the Iron Bowl moniker just doesn't fit at the moment), surely bringing the Gene Chizik era to an inglorious end just two years after he guided the Tigers to a national championships.

Georgia will be waiting in Atlanta as the East Division winner for the second year in a row, finishing off its regular season with a 42-10 blowout of Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs are our Comeback Team of the Year, somehow finding a way to get back in the mix after taking a four-touchdown whipping at South Carolina.

"The chance to win our league at the end of the year is huge. That means a lot to us," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "What happens beyond that, of course, will be decided by the voters and all those kind of things. But it does look like the winner of that (SEC title) game ... more than likely will end up playing for the national championship. So that's exciting to think about."

Before the rest of the nation could blurt out, "not again," Florida positioned itself in the scavenger position with a 37-26 triumph over Florida State. The Seminoles were hoping to follow the Alabama Plan, Version 2.011, by earning a shot in the Jan. 7 title game in Miami even though it lost out to Georgia in its own division.

The Gators were fourth in the BCS standings a week ago and did nothing to hurt their position, stunning the Seminoles and the crowd in Tallahassee with a 24-point outburst in the fourth quarter. As soon as that one ended, coach Will Muschamp and his players headed off to root for the Trojans, hoping they could take down Notre Dame.

Oregon was the only other team with a shot, but the Ducks are likely to remain stuck behind the three SEC teams, even after an impressive 48-24 win over Oregon State in that state's version of the Civil War.

Hard to believe, but the SEC seemed down and out just a couple of weeks ago. Alabama was knocked off by conference newcomer Texas A&M in Tuscaloosa, leaving three non-SEC teams ? Oregon, Kansas State and Notre Dame ? in the lead positions.

Three-fourths of the nation rejoiced.

Its long, Dixie-induced nightmare seemed over.

Of course, everything flipped again seven days later.

Oregon lost. Kansas State lost. Just like that, Alabama and Georgia were right back in the prime positions.

The Tide and the Bulldogs closed the deal Saturday against overmatched opponents, proving once again the SEC has, if nothing else, an impeccable sense of timing. Outside of Notre Dame, every team in the mix had one loss. But Oregon and Kansas State lost last, so they get shortchanged.

Ohio State might have messed things up, finishing off a 12-0 debut season for coach Urban Meyer with a victory over Michigan. But the Buckeyes are on NCAA probation because of Tattoo-gate, the championship dreams pushed off into the future by some shady ink. They look like the sort of program that can challenge the SEC's dominance, but not this year.

Maybe the new four-team playoff will even things up a bit. Surely, it can't hurt, because the SEC clearly has this system all figured out.

"I knew the way the SEC works," Georgia defensive back Sanders Commings said, savoring the big win over the Yellow Jackets in the locker room beneath Sanford Stadium. "I knew we could beat everybody else on our schedule. I was like, 'Man, we've just got to win out.'"

There will be those who say the SEC is living on its reputation, that the league isn't nearly as strong from top-to-bottom this season as it's been in other years. That's a pretty compelling argument, too. Neither Auburn nor Kentucky won an SEC game. Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas are looking for new coaches, and Auburn will surely be joining the list of schools with a vacancy.

But, for those at the top, there's another chance to play for a national title.

For the rest of the nation, that playoff system can't get here fast enough.

___

Paul Newberry is a national writer for The Associated Press. Write to him at pnewberry(at)ap.org and www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-11-24-T25-Paul%20Newberry-112412/id-872ecd24dce942019a3527fe3a609b4c

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R2 Live Stream: NetHui South 2012 ? Video Stream 2 ? Business ...

Written by Selwyn Manning on Friday, November 23rd, 2012

Tags: Digital Strategy, Featured, Live webcast, Nethui 2012, NetHui South 2012, news, Otago Museum, Otago University, R2.co.nz, Science, Tech
Posted in Breaking News, Featured, Live Now!, Video | No Comments ?

R2 Live Stream: Video Stream 2 ? Business and Innovation

Welcome to the live webcast from NetHui South 2012, held at Otago University and Otago Museum. 23-24 November 2012.

Stream 2 ? Business and Innovation. Cloud Computing, Big Data and always connected devices. Otago Museum ? Kakapo Room.

Courtesy of R2.co.nz and InternetNZ ? NetHui South has two simultaneus stream sessions during the break-out sessions. Stream 1 ? Dunedin Digital Strategy ? Opportunities and Challenges. Otago Museum ? Hutton Theatre.

Click here for live stream 1 on LiveNews.

InternetNZ states: NetHui South is a unique two-day conference focussing on the economic, social and cultural opportunities the Internet provides New Zealand. for more and the programme, click here.

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://livenews.co.nz/2012/11/live-stream-video-stream-2-business-and-innovation/

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