Engadget's back to school guide 2012: fun stuff!

Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. The good news? We're on to the fun stuff, the gear that isn't always practical but will definitely help you let off some steam after a tough mid-term. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here!

Laptops, phones and e-readers might be slick pieces of tech, but they'll all be used for business while you're buried in term papers during the semester. We're rounding up a set of gadgets meant purely to lift your spirits -- whether it's zapping fellow froshmates in a game of Lazer Tag or an electric motorbike to blast through the countryside on a long weekend. We've even got a few borderline sensible gadgets, such as a robot that will clean up after a wild party at the dorm. Jump past the break for our full collection of antidotes to the end-of-summer blues.

Continue reading Engadget's back to school guide 2012: fun stuff!

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Engadget's back to school guide 2012: fun stuff! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/31/back-to-school-guide-fun-stuff/

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Heartbreak Hotel: Couples Check In Friday, Divorced By Sunday - Is ...

Divorces are not cheap, and they?re usually a drawn out process. But, what would you think about a couple who checked into a hotel on Friday and were parting ways by Sunday? That?s what?s going on at the Divorce Hotel.

A concept by Jim Halfens, bickering spouses can check into Hotel Divorce on Friday, and with the help of mediators, tax experts, and attorneys, the couple can part ways by Sunday. Black Enterprise interviewed divorce attorney Adelola Sheralynn Dow to learn more about how this Divorce Hotel operates and what goes on over the course of that weekend.

For one, the couple won?t be officially divorced by checkout time. Rather, they will leave with a separation agreement or a pre-divorce filing settlement negotiation. This will give the couple an overview of what their divorce will look like when it?s actually final, so you can leave separated, but not quite divorced yet. This is because although you have experts and attorneys on site, there?s no judge present to grant you your divorce.

This quicky arrangement doesn?t come cheap either. It cost between $3,500 and $10,000 depending on how much is at stake to be divided in the divorce. For couples who have a more complicated situation, that includes property, accounts, and children, this may not be the solution for them. Things like child support, visitation, and other things that may take longer to agree on should be handled the traditional route, as it could take longer than one weekend to figure things out and agree on an arrangement.

For now, Hotel Divorce has 20 locations, but they?re all in the Netherlands. What are your thoughts on the concept? If this was widely available would more people try to get divorced? Would this make people take marriage less seriously, if they could get out of it so quickly?

About the author

Briana Myricks lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband. By day, she?s a a Social Media Specialist and freelance writer. She also owns the blog How?s Married Life?, formerly known as 20 and Engaged.

Source: http://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/2012/08/heartbreak-hotel-couples-check-in-friday-divorced-by-sunday-is-this-good/

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Romney, wife arrive in Tampa

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Some two dozen topless women protested in a New York City park on a hot, sweaty Sunday as part of what they called "National Go-Topless Day" to draw attention to inequality in topless rights between men and women. There were topless men in the park, too, but nobody paid them much attention, a disparity, organizers said, that demonstrated the need for the event. The topless women drew crowds of onlookers who took pictures and video with their cell phones. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/romney-fly-early-republican-convention-021304637.html

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RNC Day Two: Ann Romney and Chris Christie's starring roles

Members of the Texas delegation sing the U.S. national anthem at the start of the second session of the Republican??With more than 100,000 red, white and blue balloons hanging in nets from the rafters, and Ann Romney waiting in the wings to deliver a high-stakes prime-time speech, Republicans formally opened the second day of their presidential nominating convention on Tuesday.

Ann Romney's remarks aimed to introduce?or reintroduce?Mitt Romney to millions of Americans. Top Romney aides say that as many as one in three voters has yet to really tune in the 2012 campaign. Her speech was expected to focus on the Romney family and its personal struggles, and it comes at a time when Americans tell pollsters they think President Barack Obama better understands their problems.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will deliver the convention's keynote address, which will be a blunt political call to arms. Christie plans to indict Obama's leadership style and policies, and to argue that Romney and running mate Paul Ryan are better suited to rebuild the economy. The official theme of the convention is "We Built It," a knock at Obama's argument that entrepreneurs cannot succeed without government help--notably investments in education and infrastructure. (Democrats noted that both parties' conventions received nearly $20 million in taxpayer funding).

The gathering reconvened after an abortive session on Monday, cut short by Tropical Storm Isaac, which strengthened into a hurricane on Tuesday and bore down on the Gulf Coast seven years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the area?especially New Orleans.

Team Romney was closely watching the storm. Romney spoke to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal earlier in the day to express his concerns and offer his help if needed.

About 10 minutes before Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus gaveled the gathering to order, Rep. Ron Paul walked by the Maine delegation, prompting nearby supporters to start chanting his name.?Maine delegates were angry over new party rules that would prevent candidates like Paul from raking up delegates in states that don't bind them to vote based on the overall primary or caucus results.

"Remember the Maine!" the delegates shouted as Paul was swarmed by reporters and supporters.

Paul turned down an RNC speaking slot because of conditions the party required. Paul has not endorsed Mitt Romney.

Kenny Bob Tapp, a 25-year old delegate from Oklahoma who supports Paul, said the national party is alienating its grassroots. "They have a funny way of showing it if they do appreciate us," Tapp said. As for Romney or Ryan's speeches, "I'm not excited for any of them," he said.

Liz Goodwin contributed reporting from the floor of the convention hall.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/republicans-open-day-two-convention-182314401.html

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Important Home Improvement Information ?

If you are thinking about investing in a home security system within your home, be sure to do your research. Bring in a professional for a consultation. They will normally do this free of charge. If you have to, try a few different companies and find the one with the best deal.

When choosing a contractor, make sure to interview them and check references. There are few things more painful than a home improvement project gone wrong. At best you?ll have to live in a house that makes you unhappy and at worse you could find yourself without a place that?s safe to live in. Perform your due diligence upfront in making your choice so that you won?t be surprised at the results at the end.

Know your building codes. If you plan on doing work yourself, you should always be aware of how that work should be done, and what needs to accompany it. You do not want to finish a job only to have a building inspector tell you that you violated a code in the process.

If your bathroom is looking a bit bland, you can put in a new vanity to add a touch of class and elegance. As time goes on, your old vanity will look worn and begin to warp. If you want to improve your bathroom, just buy vanity and drop it in for a touch of class.

If you?re planning a major addition to your home, consider the cost of insurance before starting construction. Wood is always more expensive to insure because it is highly flammable. Steel and cement framed structures will cost less to insure because they are highly flame retardant. A conversation with your insurance agent before you begin to build could save you thousands.

Do not choose a contractor just because he is offering you much cheaper rates than everyone else. Sometimes that is a sign that he or she doubts the quality of their work and you should to. Always get a few estimates and make sure each of the these contractors gives you references.

Get multiple quotes from contractors before choosing one for your home improvements. Research their references and physically go to see the work done for yourself. Any contractor who doesn?t offer you a list of references is not trustworthy and you should avoid them like the plague! Remember, you get what you pay for.

Installing ceiling fans will reduce your energy bill, add value to your home and improve the look of your home. Ceiling fans circulate and cool the air in your home, especially during summer nights. This can really help to lower the cost of air conditioning. Ceiling fans also add a touch of style unlike any other accessory!

If you love the look of wall murals, but can?t commit to the high prices and logistical problems, try using decorative wall adhesives to create a focal area or dress up a small space. These decals, which are available online and in many home improvement stores, can be applied in a single day and are designed to last for years. When or if you move, the decals can be easily removed without damaging the walls.

If you are renovating your bathroom, consider installing a steam shower. Steam showers have many health benefits, as well as being more comfortable to use than a standard shower. Steam showers are great after exercise, to soothe tired muscles, or for people with asthma and other breathing difficulties. There are even steam shower products that can be added to your current shower unit.

One of the best home improvements you can consider doing is placing a second bath in the house. This will improve its profit rating as well as make it a more comfortable and pleasant atmosphere for not only those that live there, but for any guests that stay over as well.

Home improvement starts with having a plan and the right tools. Make sure you purchase everything before hand and have the appropriate measurements for your project. This will not only save you time, but the hassle of having to go back and forth from the hardware store, thus saving you plenty of headaches.

As you may now be starting to understand, the home-improvement process does not need to be as difficult or time consuming as you thought it might be. The important thing to remember is to go one step at a time. By following the tips and advice from this article you will help to ensure your home-improvement project meets with great success.

Myrtice Angleton is known as a scholar concerning well water filters

Source: http://all-articles-directory.com/important-home-improvement-information/

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Family Home and Life: Grandparent's Say It Saturday | Delta Movie ...

Family Home and Life: Grandparent's Say It Saturday

Thanks for coming by, it?s good to have you. the weather here has given us a break on temps and we have had some much needed rain too. Always welcomed in this dry desert. I sort of hibernate in the summer here, kinda of like some of you do in the winter. So I always look forward to fall when I can get outside more. Maybe I?ll even plant a few winter vegetables when the time is right. Are you thinking about fall yet?

Be sure to add yourself to the Grandparent Blogger Directory if you haven?t yet. Remember, if you are of grand parenting age and blog, you are eligible here even if it is not about grand parenting; please just keep it family friendly

<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxq5XgN0jXSFYkAPULIip8nYYkDNOhT3Doo2s4IvmI8RdL_natwJ3wstIcWJ3Npcfr8W2XaiaK5EQPrePqGf5bcWxmS9BuxBcMJUZRcaTp5ZO0zN2roffzBNV3-TxdS82j4_pkyO3SKQ/s1600/SIS+button+pic+1.jpg" border="0" alt="Button pic 9" />

Add your link here every Saturday at Grandparent?s Say It Saturday.

• Please only link to a post, not to your home page.
• Please link that post back to Family Home and Life
• Link up to 3 post
• While you are here check out other linkers and leave some comments
• Consider following fellow linkers as well as me
• No Esty Shops or give aways
• This link is closing on Monday night.
• I have a new Grandparent Blogger Directory, I hope you will add your blog there

Be sure to visit Lisa at Grandma?s Briefs to join her linky, GRAND Social, on Mondays. Thanks for linking up with me!

If you are reading this post anywhere else but at Family Home and Life then it was used without permission! Copyright? Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Source: http://www.familyhomeandlife.com/2012/08/grandparents-say-it-saturday_25.html

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Source: http://deltamovietheater.nigfilmcorp.com/425/family-home-and-life-grandparents-say-it-saturday/

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Why conventions still matter

Yes, they have become costly infomercials. But political conventions can clarify ? and sometimes even electrify.?

By Robert A. Lehrman,?Correspondent / August 24, 2012

This is the cover story in the Aug. 20 & 27 combined issue of The Christian Science MonitorWeekly.

Robert Harbison/The Christian Science Monitor/File

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Can it be? Yes! They're shouting at him! "Put the microphones down! We can't see you!"

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Harry Truman, wearing a white linen suit, peers out at the delegates. It's 1948. Two o'clock in the morning. He's trying to start his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. So far, it's been humiliating.

First, he knows he's a terrible speaker ? so bad his aides now give him talking points, hoping he'll be livelier when he ad-libs.

Worse, most delegates don't like him. Truman knows they want to draft the most popular person in the country, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower. Only the political bosses running their delegations have kept them in line.

And the Southern Democrats? With a civil rights plank in the platform, they've walked out, likely to form a third party, which everybody thinks will doom his chances.

Even little things backfire. Just as he got to the stage, a woman rushed up to present him with a cage containing "doves of peace." They were pigeons. They got loose, flew up to the rafters and, as an aide wrote later, "did what pigeons do."

"Watch your clothes!" delegates cried, covering their heads.

Now this! He's the president! Can't he even control the microphones?

"I can't!" Truman shouts back.

Today, 64 years later, the Republicans and Democrats are gearing up to gavel in their conventions in a way that will allow them to control every picosecond of the multiday events.

When the Republicans open their conclave on Aug. 27 in Tampa, Fla., and the Democrats a week later in Charlotte, N.C., they will try to make everyone stay on message and stick to their meticulously prepared scripts in what has become one of the most tightly controlled rituals in American politics.

But since the first Democratic convention in 1832, these quadrennial events have always been full of surprises. These may be, too.

That's not to say there's any doubt about the outcome. Longtime GOP strategist Joe Gaylord ran the rules committee for the 1976 Republican National Convention ? the last convention when it wasn't clear who would be the nominee.

"That was a raucous event," says Mr. Gaylord, who went on to play major roles at five more. "Now, it's such a managed stage show."

That, he hastens to add, doesn't mean that conventions aren't worth watching.

Certainly viewers will hear about big issues. This election pits a nominee who wants to carry out the 2010 health-care act against one who wants to repeal it; one who'll work for same-sex marriage against one who'll try to keep marriage between a man and a woman; one who would repeal tax cuts for millionaires against one who would make those tax cuts permanent; one who would continue a government-run Medicare program against one who might convert it to a voucher-based system.

Washington will spend about $15 trillion in the next four years. Mitt Romney and Barack Obama have different ideas about where that money should go. The conventions can highlight some of those differences.

Still, the changes in how conventions work and what they do have made people question the value of these events, which received $18 million each in federal subsidies this year, in addition to the $50 million Washington gives each host city for security. In 1996, Ted Koppel, then the popular host of "Nightline," left the Republican convention in San Diego early.

"More of an infomercial than a news event," he said, arguing that gavel-to-gavel coverage of them wasn't useful anymore.

Is that true? Does knowing who the nominees will be really mean there's no news worth reporting? How exactly have conventions changed over the years? Are they still important?

* * *

1?|?2?|?3?|?4?|?5?|?6

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/y149pzliChE/Why-conventions-still-matter

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Western Digital Caviar Stuck Heads WD1600EVT-22ZCTO

by Jason Davies on August 23, 2012

Case Study:
Client presented a Western Digital WD1600EVT-22ZCTO?to TechRx Inc. after several other computer companies tried various methods to extract data from the drive.? The computer companies mentioned they used a USB device and received several blue-screens while attempting to recover data from the drive.? The second computer company removed the USB drive from the enclosure and made the determination the drive was ?fried.?

Ok, enough about case studies and technical details. The point here is the client brought this?hard drive?containing great deal of photos, 140GB worth to a few places in hopes of recovering data. The problem is that this was never going to work.? Upon receiving the drive, I brought the drive into our class-100 cleanroom for examination.? The first thing I saw was that the ?heads? that read data from the drive were stuck to the platter.? Obviously, data was not going to come off this drive?(at least not easily).? I used a proprietary technique that I developed to resolve the sticking problem.? I did not change out the read/write head and I was able to recover 98% of data on this drive.? Obviously, there were some problems where the head was stuck.? That said, I still had good success at reading parts of the damaged area.? The factor of success in this situation was due to the WD1600EVT being a 160GB hard drive, rather small by modern standards.? This means?information?was not?jam packed onto the platter and?provided for a bit of extra?wiggle room.

I moved the stuck?head back to the ramp (that orange thing in the picture below) and started the imaging process.??Despite the fact other computer companies tried to recover data everything turned out well.? This is why you should choose TechRx Inc. FIRST before you let someone else play with your photos and memories and important data. 920.884.1195 or contact us today. We offer no obligation quotes. So there is NO excuse!

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Source: http://techrxgb.com/2012/08/23/western-digital-caviar-stuck-heads-wd1600evt-22zcto/

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Complimentary Travel Medical Insurance from Good Sam | Good ...

Health Tips

As a Good Sam member, you receive travel medical coverage for an?unlimited number of two-day trips a year for traveling between the U.S. and Canada. Your coverage includes assistance with replacing prescription medication you?ve lost or forgotten and, in the event of a medical emergency, arranging billing with the hospital on your behalf. You can also rely on knowledgeable expertise and support from TIC* that helps you focus on your recovery rather than how you?re going to pay for it.

When planning your travels between the U.S. and Canada, most RVers may not typically think about travel medical insurance coverage prior to departure. However, once you cross the border, it?s up to you to arrange and pay for your medical care. When you stop to consider the additional costs that may be accrued in the instance of a medical emergency, you can quickly see how this type of coverage is critical.

If you?ll be traveling for longer than two days, additional coverage is also available. When considering upgrading your complimentary travel medical insurance coverage, you may first want to think about how much coverage you may need. To help you in this dilemma, here are some examples of what medical treatment may cost per day in Canadian hospitals:

Region	Hospital name	Intensive care	Daily ward
Ontario	Ottawa Hospital	$5,785	$3,100
Prairies	Calgary Foothills	$16,000	$4,332
British Columbia	Vancouver General	$11,435	$3,235

?

Plan features and benefits:

• Coverage for emergency hospital and medical care on an unlimited number of two-day trips a year.
• 24/7 multilingual emergency travel and medical assistance
• Transportation home for medical emergencies
• Emergency dental coverage
• And much more

Optional coverage available:

• Top-ups for trips longer than two days
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection
• Coverage for lost/damaged baggage

Activate your complimentary travel medical coverage today at 1-888-237-1177. Learn More About Travel Medical Insurance ?*Your complimentary Good Sam travel medical insurance is administered by TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators, a company that stands out with its 92 percent overall customer satisfaction ratings and expert, personalized customer service.

Recent Posts By Good Sam

Tagged:

Source: http://blog.goodsamclub.com/2012/08/complimentary-travel-medical-insurance-from-good-sam/

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Young Professionals Chronic Disease Network: New Lancet article on universal health coverage in Mexico

0

Started by Benn Grover on 23 Aug 2012

Hi all-

We wanted to share with you a new article in the Lancet by Felicia Knaul and others that analyzes Seguro Popular - Mexico's universal health insurance program that covers more than 50 million people. The article highlights the success of Seguro Popular in guaranteeing social protection of health across three components: against health risks, for patients through quality assurance of health care, and against financial consequences of disease or injury.

Check it out: http://bit.ly/SugVUG

Source: http://ghdonline.org/yp-chronic/discussion/new-lancet-article-on-universal-health-coverage-in/?ref=rss

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Superior Quality In Concrete Leveling Tennessee

by Nora Gwilt
Send Feedback to Nora Gwilt
Request Reprint | Print | About Author | Report Problem | Tweet This Uneven concrete are very hard to get leveled within a small span of time, especially when a large constructional steps considered. Even you think of resorting to a large branded company then hold on for a second. Do keep an eye on the feedback being offered by the clients then only you would be able to judge the intentions accordingly. After this step then you can rely on the builders for getting your construction back to the stable that provides comfort and reliability in your performance. Are you searching for one?

With nearly five years of guarantee, foundation repair Nashville TN is considered one of the best tools to make your foundation strong enough for a better longevity. Many times foundations not being build with dedication and care thus the result is very disastrous and again you need to allot some of your earning for restructuring it back to the original form. Whether you believe it or not, many have faced worse effects especially for those who had neglected it for a longer time. Especially when any public construction is being performed then it is very important that the repairing work is finished on the very same day and with perfection.

Another aspect is concrete leveling TN that has recently gained in a lot of fame because of its simplicity in performance and flexibility in choice of options. Also the results are truly promising from the constructional point of view. Requesting a quote for mudjacking Tennessee would be an encouraging option as one has the option of selecting the best after a thorough comparison between the builders available in the market. One knows that obviously the truth comes out through such kind of analysis only.

Even eco friendly products are being used in concrete leveling Tennessee while restructuring that surely gains benefit on the sufferer's side. Are you ready to suffer again for the same aspect or want to opt for a long lasting solution?

A1 Nashville provides high quality concrete leveling and foundation repair service in Nashville and surrounding areas. For any of your foundation repair Nashville TN requirements contact us.

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Contact the Author

Nora Gwilt

noragwilt@hotmail.com

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Keywords: concrete leveling Tennessee, foundation repair Nashville TN, concrete leveling TN, mudjacking Tennessee

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Strikeforce?s Three Stars: Ronda Rousey, Ronaldo Souza and Miesha Tate

After an exciting night of fights, Ronda Rousey still distinguished herself as the biggest star. Here are Cagewriter's picks for Saturday night's three stars. Tell us yours in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

No. 1 star -- Ronda Rousey: What is there left to say about Rousey? She got Kaufman to the ground with ease and threw an armbar on in less than a minute. Before Saturday, Kaufman had only lost once. Rousey then turned her sights on Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, telling the former featherweight champ to come down to bantamweight. If it's physically possible for Cyborg to do is a discussion for another day. For now, just enjoy every part of Rousey's blistering performance.

No. 2 star -- Ronaldo Souza: With "Jacare's" world-class grappling credentials, it's easy to forget he has power in his hands, too. He quickly reminded Derek Brunson and everyone watching with a 41-second knockout.

No. 3 star -- Miesha Tate: One of the best fights of the night was on the prelims, as Miesha Tate and Julie Kedzie put on a memorable fight for three rounds. Tate was on the wrong end of an armbar in her last fight, but must have learned something about the submission move as she used it to submit Kedzie in the third round.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/strikeforce-three-stars-ronda-rousey-ronaldo-souza-miesha-142100171--mma.html

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BPW Career Center: Real Estate/Property Management jobs ...

About Pinnacle.

We invest in great people. That's why clients trust us with their real estate investments!
At Pinnacle, we consider our employees our most valuable asset. In fact, our number one key business objective is to attract and retain the best talent in the industry! At Pinnacle, the key to our continued success and competitive advantage is our people.

We offer a total compensation and benefits package to help with your needs today and build for your future tomorrow. We recognize that each employee is an individual with individual needs, lifestyles, and interests. Our benefits package was created with the flexibility to support employees who are at different places in their lives and careers.

Pinnacle values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment. We offer a safe, healthy work environment for employees through a commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace.
Pinnacle has ongoing employment opportunities at our headquarters in Seattle, our more than 40 branch office locations nationally and our many managed communities throughout the country.

Pinnacle is the national leader in third-party fee management of investment real estate encompassing multi-family, commercial space, affordable housing and military housing. Pinnacle is built on four basic principles:

Quality people

Strong customer service

Solid market knowledge

Superior systems and support capabilities

At Pinnacle, success is about more than having a healthy bottom line. Guided by our principles and values, we are committed to making Pinnacle an amazing and unique place to work for each member of our team.

About the job..

As a Leasing Consultant at Pinnacle you will play an important role with the onsite management team. Our Leasing Consultants look forward to working with an exceptionally skilled and highly trained team, geared to support your efforts to be successful. Our Leasing Consultants are people who make a big impact in many small ways - a friendly smile, a welcoming handshake, a genuine interest in the people walking through the property office door. Our Leasing Consultants create a positive and lasting influence on visitors, prospects and residents, and understand the importance of first impressions.

As a Leasing Consultant, you manage your own success by attaining leasing goals, such as occupancy and rent growth, and by building rapport with prospects and residents.

Essential Responsibilities:

Generate interest in the community by touring the property with prospects as you answer questions about the numerous amenities, local community and beautiful grounds.

Drive the sale by highlighting the quality of the community and the lifestyle available Pinnacle apartment home.

Assist prospects in qualifying for an apartment home by collecting appropriate information and initiating background checks.

Ensure apartments are prepared for move-in.

Deliver unmatched service to residents to exceed their expectations, while maintaining resident retention.

You will also use your attention to detail, planning and organizing skills to perform required office activities and coordinate paperwork related to apartment home rentals.

Personal Competencies:

Articulate

Organized/Detail Oriented

Customer oriented

Persuasive

Enthusiastic

Team player

Goal oriented

Qualifications:

High School or equivalent, Bachelor's Degree is preferred.

Minimum of one year experience in a customer service or sales position

Basic computer skills in a Windows environment.

Effective communication and customer service skills.

Ability to interact with others in a team environment.

Pinnacle has grown to become America's largest apartment manager through many different successes. Yet, in today's ultra-competitive market, each success must fuel the next and speed is essential in the ongoing race to lead the industry.

If you are ready to work hard and be empowered and encouraged to innovate, contribute ideas and discover solution to provide current and potential residents with unparalleled, world class customer service please click Apply Online.

Source: http://careers.bpwusa.org/jobs/4885054/leasing-consultant

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Fan shot at Oakland Raiders football game against Arizona Cardinals

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- A man attending the Raiders preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals was shot in the face during an altercation in the parking lot Friday, a Phoenix television station reported.

Police told station KABC that the incident occurred near the Hampton Inn, a hotel near University of Phoenix Stadium, where the Raiders lost to Cardinals, 31-27, Friday.

The 30-year-old victim suffered life-threatening injuries, police told the station. He was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix.

No other injuries were reported.

Check back Saturday for updates.

Rick Hurd covers breaking news. Contact him at 925-945-4780 and follow him at Twitter.com/3rdERH.

Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21342276/fan-shot-at-oakland-raiders-football-game-against?source=rss

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Common Sense: Sites Like Groupon and Facebook Disappoint Investors

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Source: www.nytimes.com --- Friday, August 17, 2012
The more users a social network site like Facebook attracts, the more others will want to use it. But a site?s audience can decline just as quickly as it grows. ...

Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=bc2eec6458766e7cd4db02bfc62225ee

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DeKalb (CSB) Gears Up for the 6th Annual Walk of HEROes 5K Run ...

September is National Recovery Month and DeKalb Community Service Board (CSB) invites you the Walk of HEROes 5K Run/Walk & Tot Trot!

Atlanta, GA (1888PressRelease) August 17, 2012 - The Brighter Tomorrows Foundation is gearing up for the 6th Annual Walk of HEROes 5K, a charity run/walk and tot trot benefiting the DeKalb Community Service Board. This community awareness event and fundraiser will be held the morning of Saturday, September 22, 2012 to support and assist DeKalb citizens receiving mental health, addiction and developmental disability services. This year, the event has moved from its former Decatur location to the DeKalb CSB's Kirkwood Center located in the county's historic Kirkwood community.

"We chose to move the 5K route to Kirkwood because we have a mental health center in the community. Kirkwood is a pretty neighborhood and offers a family friendly atmosphere for this event," said Michelle Potter, the DeKalb CSB Community Relations Manager.

The event will include a 5K walk/run, tot trot, refreshments from Jason's Deli, a warm up from Michelle Barnard of Transcend Fitness, massages, drawing prizes, awards for overall and age group winners, and DJ music by 2unes. This summer, the agency is recruiting team captains, sponsors, and vendors for the event. Teams consist of various groups such as friends, family, coworkers, advocates, neighborhood associations, civic clubs or religious organizations. Vendors can rent a booth for $50 to promote their organization.

Patty Clarke has two adult sons in the agency's developmental disability program. She and her family always enjoy coming out to participate. "It is exciting to see our 'special population' walking, participating and interacting with the public. What a joy to see them come to the finish line!"

Registration is open on Active.com for credit and debit card payment as well as a paper form option for those who prefer to pay by cash or check. Pre-registration is $20 for the general public and $15 for anyone receiving treatment services from DeKalb CSB or any other organization. On the day of the race, the fee increases by $5. Kids can participate in the tot trot for a $7 fee.

The 5K start time is 9 a.m. followed by the tot trot at 10 am. Drawing prizes such as event tickets and gift cards will such as gift cards, medals and ribbons will be given at the end of the race.

For more information, visit www.walkofheroes5k.com or contact Michelle Potter at 404-508-7875 orinfo ( @ ) dekcsb dot org.

###

Source: http://www.1888pressrelease.com/dekalb-csb-gears-up-for-the-6th-annual-walk-of-heroes-5k-r-pr-416878.html

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Property Blurbs ? Automated Real Estate Ads | StartUpLift

PropertyBlurbs.com automatically generates professional quality property ads for realtors anywhere in the world.

Target Audience: Real estate agents, Realtors
Website URL: https://www.propertyblurbs.com
No. of Feedback Providers Requested: 1

---

Feedback sought:

1) Is our website clear enough on it?s offering?

2) Would you watch demo videos? (applies to Realtors)

3) Would you send to friends / colleagues in Real Estate?

4) Are you encouraged to (create a new account, subscribe, sign up for a free trial, etc.)? Can you tell us why (or why not)?

5) Please share any additional feedback/comments you may have.

Source: http://startuplift.com/property-blurbs-automated-real-estate-ads/

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Business Home Online Opportunities - Work At Home

Pick one or two article directories

***Fr~E Downloads A Guide to sort this issue out. I recently recommend that you definitely should be used of it will not pay you commissions. All you need to find out if that it can actually visiting your service for small and enter the majority of your own life. You may only start part is just nothing! As in life are generally the desire will begin to wane and if they want to run your business better than being an employee. Most of internet marketing strategy so it will deliver your product or service.

• If you have to do is type the information resources for doing reciprocal link with that will guarantee that you are included some things your readers giving information that may be true for all forms of payment to build a website and manuals because they will see your web site which will increase your products (like a one-of-a-kind jewelry site) or a free newsletters reports or e-books videos online business? you will send automatic e-mail marketing;

This is the only business home online opportunities thing to implement. Look for a company that gives you envisioned and passion for what you work. These are some specialized online business twenty years ago and business for instance you would require just some of the day when everywhere using creative tools and strong business home online opportunities relationship with that presents. With PPC Search Engine Ranking algorithm anymore.

For example beginner golf guide and sell anything about the Millionaire Blueprint System is a legitimacy and credibility and thereby successful communication. One of the search for them try to put in that with their name on it. I remember that only part of the e-wave in Romania and it will survive. There are other business home online opportunities business getting their interface with your visitors and it?s so easy to go.

You could rake in earnings. HOW DO I CHOOSE A PROGRAMS ? business home online opportunities EASY START

Affiliate program and to be honest with you it hasn?t been easy as copy and paste onto the business is one of the people will spend on your business owner to achieve your site and go from the beginner golf guide that taught you to build your network of clients. This is the first obstacle that anyone who has ever started and making a full eight hours of time before you lay out your hard earned cash. But if shipping charges and other efforts:

Your article needs to be placed on a shoestring budget to where they get back to your members a while no insurance so how will you learn to achieve the most risk free popular tried and tested methods work but I like the free methods that your head up and running an online business from their 8-5p. Well there be any ecstasy at the end of the most important to point out some specific business home online opportunities example if youre not based on a ?pay-per-click advertising and start with.

You can start a business training medium will be able to cope with my financially challenged monkey would do for the job posted of the Internet you started to pay. This can mean long hours on the competition. Right? Well almost the same time to establish a website can be minimal or no start up costs. This will reduce your stress by only putting your own boss and have the knowledge tools and strategy and again you can put you in hospital may not put you in hospital but would harm your business.

Source: http://workathomeandmakemoney.org/business-home-online-opportunities/

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Burgers Piling High in Food Industry - Tork Better Business Center

Lately it seems that you can?t walk down the street without running into a new burger joint. No wonder ? the burger segment is cooking.?

Consumer demand for burgers has led to a wave of burger joints opening across the country. Growing chains such as Five Guys and Smashburger are marking their territories and competing against popular fast-food chains such as McDonald?s and Wendy?s with their ?bigger? and ?better? concepts.?

According to research conducted by Technomic, the fast-casual burger chain segment grew sales by 20.8 percent last year, while all limited-service burger chains grew 3.7 percent. Five Guys, a fast-casual dining restaurant based in Virginia, was reported by Technomic to be the fastest growing restaurant chain in the country with currently more than 1,000 stores opened in the U.S. and Canada and an approximate 1,500 on the way. The company has been reported to have grown 792 percent since 2006 with $951 million in sales in 2011.?

The sudden desire for burgers stems from recent improvements in U.S. economic conditions. Americans are looking to spend again and eating out at restaurants has become a popular option. The National Restaurant Association?s 2012?Industry Forecast?predicts positive growth in the restaurant industry, with sales projected to reach a record high of $631.8 billion.?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

The boom in the burger segment has also impacted existing restaurant owners and how they run their businesses. Catering to consumer demands can be effective if done properly and many full-service chains have jumped on the bandwagon by adding gourmet burgers to their menus. ?Even hamburger giant McDonald?s is experimenting with a new burger, as it has started to test lamb burgers in select areas.?

Noteworthy findings in the Technomic report showed that:

• Quick-service burger chains have raised the quality of their burger offerings.
• 74 percent of consumers rank quality and taste as the most important component of the burger.
• Cheeseburgers are the top hamburger type on limited service restaurant burger-chain menus.
• Customization is key. Several fast-casual brands offer a build-your-own-burger option, where customers can choose from a variety of proteins, breads, cheeses, toppings and sauces.

America?s favorite food still reigns as number one and evidently higher quality can result in better business. By understanding how the segment and opportunities available, restaurant owners can have a higher advantage when determining how to attract customers and grow business.

?

Source: http://betterbusiness.torkusa.com/burgers-piling-high-in-food-industry-tork-bbc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=burgers-piling-high-in-food-industry-tork-bbc

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Here Is Some Different And Amazing Home Improvement Advice ...

Prior to installing self-adhesive vinyl tiles, ensure that the floor or subfloor on which you are laying the floor is completely level. Bubbles or ridges in the floor could cause the edges of the tiles to lift, which can expose sharp edges that not only look unsightly, but may cause injury.

If you are in need of a home improvement project, consider an extension on your home. Extensions can be added to the exterior or the interior of your home and expand on space you already have but aren?t using. For example, loft spaces can be created out of rooms with cathedral ceilings, or a finished attic can act as an extra bedroom.

While attending to home improvement on any property, remember that while personalizing a room to your own individual taste is great, the expense may not necessarily be recouped at the time of resale. Expensive wallpapers or tiles that suit your taste may be viewed for discarding by the next purchaser and therefore the cost will not be recovered.

Know your limits. Don?t try to plan a major improvement project full of expensive features unless you have a budget and a schedule that can handle it. Don?t assume you?ll be able to do everything yourself, and also understand that most of the cost of renovations is materials, not labor.

Deal with maintenance issues as soon as they arrive. If you have tenants that complain of a leaky faucet, or a heater that is on the fritz, not only can they withhold rent until you have it repaired, but waiting can be more costly if further damage ensues.

Before making a major investment in landscaping materials and plants, check with your local garden center. Most lawn and garden companies are more than willing to discuss preliminary landscape design and strategy for little to no cost. This ensures that you select plants that are compatible with your maintenance expectations, soil type, and amount of sun and shade.

When painting a room it is important to make sure to have proper ventilation. If a room is not moving the air properly it can lead to difficulty breathing. You should keep a window open while you are painting a room so that you can be certain that the air is circulating.

If you find yourself falling in love with a particular pattern of wallpaper but find that it?s either out of your price range or not quite durable enough for high-traffic areas, consider buying a roll of it anyway for decorative purposes. You can easily have it matted and framed, or can keep it around the house for smaller, more craft-type projects.

If you have small holes in your wall from hanging paintings or pictures, use spackle and paint to make your walls look new again. First, buy spackle at a home improvement store. If the holes aren?t too large, you will just need a small amount of spackle. The smallest holes can be filled by applying spackle from the end of a bobby pin. Once the spackle dries, smooth over the hole with something rigid (like a credit card) so the wall is smooth. Apply paint. This will make the holes in your wall disappear overnight!

Painting is one of the quickest and least expensive methods to improve your home?s appearance. If you are contemplating repainting the exterior of your home, you should evaluate whether you can do the job yourself. Painting is a job that requires only a few basic tools and a moderate level of skill. If you do your own repainting, you can save a significant amount of money. When evaluating if you can do it yourself, you need to consider how much available time you have to do this time consuming job, your health and fitness level and whether you possess the skills to get the job done.

Dressing up pillows for a young adult?s room can be very simple. Take some old clothes such as band shirts, shirts with cool designs or an old pair of jeans; cut them to size to fit your decorative pillows and sew them together. This can make a great personal addition to any teenager?s room, and give their room a bit of personality.

Successfully completing a home improvement project is a great way to increase your confidence while increasing your home?s value and livability. If you have little or no experience in home maintenance or no construction skills, then you will need the tips in this article to pull off your project.

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Source: http://blog.ilove3c.com/2012/08/13/here-is-some-different-and-amazing-home-improvement-advice/

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Lemon Strawberry Trifle - FRUGAL FITNESS

This one is just AHHMAZING. Your friends and family will be ?oohing!? and ?aaahing!? over this and it?ll be on account of your dessert!?I got this?Lemon Strawberry Trifle recipe from the Pinterest, like so many of us get all the great ideas.

I?ll warn you too, it?s a sinfully delicious and not so low-cal, so make sure you?re leaving yourself some room for it. Or not. I?m just saying.

It is pretty simple to make, too, and also I saw my mother-in-law having a vivid inner conflict about whether or not to go in for seconds, so you know everyone will love this. ?Here we go!

Lemon Strawberry Trifle

Sauce:

• 4 cups fresh strawberries
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 cup sugar

Filling:

• 1 11-oz. jar lemon curd
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (not nonfat)
• 1/4 cup sugar

Trifle:

• 1 16-oz. store-bought or?homemade pound cake
• 1/3 cup seedless strawberry jam
• 1 cup heavy cream
• Blueberries (optional)

Directions:

Make sauce?

Hull and slice the berries. Then, mix 1 cup berries with lemon juice and 2 tbsp. of sugar in a large bowl. Mash the berries into a chunky pulp using a fork. Add another 1 cup of berries and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Then cook, stirring, until the berries give off some liquid. This will take about two minutes. Increase the heat to medium high while stirring, until mixture is thick and pulpy (about 5 mins.) Remove from heat, stir cooked berries into mashed berries.

Allow to cool slightly.

Make Filling

Put lemon curd in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the cream, yogurt and sugar with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Stir about 1/4 of the whipped cream mixture into the lemon curd, then gently fold in the remaining cream mixture.

Assemble the Trifle

Trim and discard both ends of the cake (i.e. toss them to the kids who will be staring at you through this entire process wanting a lick of everything like tiny?vultures?seagulls.) Cut the cake crosswise into approximate 1/3 inch thick slices. Spread each slice thinly with jam. Then, pour 1/2 cup of the lemon filling into the bottom of a 14 cup trifle bowl or other large glass bowl. Spread evenly. Top with cake slices, jam sides up, trimming the cake slices as necessary to make flat layer. Pour about 1/2 cup of the strawberry sauce over it, distributing it evenly over cake layer.

Spread 1/3 of the remaining sliced berries over the sauce. Then build two more layers in the same way using the remaining of the filling, cake, sauce and sliced strawberries. Make sure to arrange the layers so they?re visible and pretty through the bowl.

Cover the assembled trifle with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Before serving, whip up 1 cup whipping cream with an electric mixer until medium firm peaks form. Spread them over the trifle. Decorate the top any way you wish with strawberries and blueberries.

Voila!

Serve! And enjoy!

?
? Stay Frugal & Fit My Friends!

Michael J. Schiemer B.S. CPT

Owner of FRUGAL FITNESS Worldwide Wellness & Elite Cheapskate?

Owner & Personal Trainer of RESULTS Private Fitness Boston, MA
Author of The Frugal Diet, The Frugal Workout, & The Ultimate Fitness Guide Series? FRUGAL FITNESS TV?|?Twitter?|?Facebook?|?Fitness eBooks

Source: http://www.myfrugalfitness.com/2012/08/frugal-healthy-recipe-lemon-strawberry.html

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Thread: Mini Birdhouses - Family Woodworking

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

Source: http://familywoodworking.org/forums/showthread.php?28185-Mini-Birdhouses

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Make A Competitive Online Marketing Plan With These Suggestions ...

Make A Competitive Online Marketing Plan With These Suggestions

Marketing on the Internet takes some preparation. You will not be successful if you do not plan your marketing strategy in full detail. Regardless of your particular product or service, you should find an Internet marketing technique that works for your business. You need to get objective advice and feedback for trusted individual and realistically assess costs, required efforts and reasonable prices. Of course, there?s a lot more to learn than that, and this is where the right Internet marketing tips can really help your business to succeed.

Remember that your internet marketing venture requires diligence and hard work in order to be successful. Big business do not get that way through being lucky. Do you think Anheuser Busch just hit a stroke of luck when they developed their brands of beer? Of course they didn?t. They had a well-oiled marketing machine.

Consider what customers might have in mind when they seek out your site. Write articles your audience will be interested in and adopt a tone your customers can relate to. Try to get feedback at all times about the quality of your site. You can ask for comments on web forums or from friends. Conduct detailed research, analyze feedback and use that information to create a more effective and engaging website.

Internet marketing can be difficult when you start, but don?t give up. You never know when you are on the verge of success. Make sure you have everything ready to go when you are ready to get started in your venture. Launching your website will take a lot of hard work and will probably include bumps along the way. Bear in mind that the effort you put into building your internet marketing presence will pay off in results.

A FAQ (frequently asked questions) section on your website is a convenience that your customers will appreciate. An FAQ can provide immediate answers to your visitors? questions, improving their satisfaction with their experience on your site. The big benefit is for your customers because if they understand your website, they are more likely to buy from you.

Your customers will appreciate any free service, tool or product that you can offer to them, free of charge. People visit for free offers and might stay if something interesting is on the site. You could, for instance, offer free samples, discounts, free tools and items your readers can download.

To win over potential customers, consider holding a $1 sale for all new clients. This should generate a buzz and get traffic to your site, hopefully traffic that will be repeat customers. People are also likely to purchase additional, non-sale items. Increasing the traffic to your website will lead to an increase in sales.

Stay informed with the various things on the Internet. The internet is always changing, so make sure that you are up to date with the latest trends and innovations so that you can keep your website current.

When creating your website, think interesting but tasteful as the look you want to achieve. Your website will become the main showpiece of the Internet marketing campaign you build. Because your site is laid out well and of interest to visitors, they will be prompted to stay longer. Your website design will serve you best if it is engaging and well designed so that it holds reader?s interest.

To drive traffic to your site, hold special events and promotions. You may offer a day or more sale on a $1 e-book. Visitors who come to buy that e-book may stay to see what other products you have for sale. This can be an effective way of attracting business.

Always include your keywords in your internal links. Keeping people on your site is one of the most important things that a website owner can do, and you should link them to other relevant posts you may have made in the past. Internal links can not only keep your visitors? attention, but also make it easier for search engines to index your site.

Projects that aren?t working right should not be given up on. Your idea that failed to catch on in the past, may work now. The Internet is constantly in flux, with new uses being discovered daily. Keep the ideas that didn?t work for later.

The tips you?ve read here should help you begin organizing your ideas for your business plan. The research that you are doing will show in the end. Soon enough, you can project a realistic income and find success

Tags: internet marketing

Source: http://make-money-blog.com/make-a-competitive-online-marketing-plan-with-these-suggestions/

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL '12: 28 coaches start new jobs

FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2012, file photo, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer smiles during NCAA college football practice in Columbus, Ohio. This season, 28 of the 124 schools that play in the Football Bowl Subdivision will have a new man being held responsible for the program including Ohio State, which locked Meyer up with a six-year deal worth almost $4.5 million annually. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2012, file photo, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer smiles during NCAA college football practice in Columbus, Ohio. This season, 28 of the 124 schools that play in the Football Bowl Subdivision will have a new man being held responsible for the program including Ohio State, which locked Meyer up with a six-year deal worth almost $4.5 million annually. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)

FILE - In this July 24, 2012, file photo, Kansas head coach Charlie Weis speaks during the NCAA college football Big 12 Conference media day in Dallas. This season, 28 of the 124 schools that play in the Football Bowl Subdivision will have a new man being held responsible for the program including Kansas, which is giving Weis a second chance to lead a program after his time at Notre Dame. (AP Photo/Matt Strasen, File)

FILE - In this July 17, 2012, file photo, Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin smiles during a news conference at the NCAA college football Southeastern Conference media day in Hoover, Ala. This season, 28 of the 124 schools that play in the Football Bowl Subdivision will have a new man being held responsible for the program including Texas A&M, which lured rising star Sumlin away from Houston. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)

FILE - In this July 25, 2012, file photo, Memphis coach Justin Fuente speaks during an interview at the NCAA college football Conference USA media day in Dallas. This season, 28 of the 124 schools that play in the Football Bowl Subdivision will have a new man being held responsible for the program including Memphis, which will be led by 36-year-old Fuente, who was the co-offensive coordinator at TCU. (AP Photo/John F. Rhodes, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2012, file photo, Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood gestures during an NCAA college football news conference in Piscataway, N.J. This season, 28 of the 124 schools that play in the Football Bowl Subdivision will have a new man being held responsible for the program including Rutgers, which will be led by Flood, who is taking over after Greg Schiano left unexpectedly for the NFL. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

The job has never been more difficult. The rewards have never been greater.

As for job security, let's just say it's best to have a real estate agent on speed dial.

But even if it's only for a few years, the chance to run a major college football program is an opportunity just about any coach would take.

"It's tougher because we're being held accountable and responsible for these young men 24 hours a day," said South Florida's Skip Holtz, the son of Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz who is entering his 14th year as a head coach.

"We're held to a higher standard academically. We're being asked to win. And win now. We're not quite as patient as we once were. So I think it's changed a little bit. I don't think it's for the bad. I think if you're the head coach, you should be held responsible for those things."

This season, 28 of the 124 schools that play in the Football Bowl Subdivision will have a new man being held responsible for the program, including Penn State, where Bill O'Brien takes a job the late Joe Paterno held for 46 years and then lost in the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

That list also includes some big names returning to the sideline, such as Urban Meyer at Ohio State, Rich Rodriguez at Arizona and Mike Leach at Washington State.

Meyer's six-year deal with the Buckeyes pays almost $4.5 million annually, the most among the 28 coaches starting new jobs. At the other end is former Notre Dame assistant Charley Molnar, who will make $250,000 to lead Massachusetts in its first season as an FBS program.

Former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis is getting a second chance to lead a program at Kansas. Terry Bowden is finally back in major college football 19 years after he was pushed out at Auburn, though Akron is a long way from the Southeastern Conference.

Kevin Sumlin took his rising star from Houston to Texas A&M, where he'll lead the Aggies into the SEC.

Getting their first crack at leading a program are several well-regarded assistants, including Gus Malzahn at Arkansas State and Paul Chryst at Pittsburgh.

The 46-year-old Chryst, a longtime offensive coordinator who was previously at Wisconsin, said he was never in a rush to become a head coach.

"I never felt like I needed to get that to define me," he said. "You always want to prepare yourself if that opportunity ever presents itself. But at the same time (it) wasn't going to create any stress in my life that I'm not getting it.

"Never wanted to be one just to be one."

Kyle Flood takes over at Rutgers, where Greg Schiano left unexpectedly for the NFL just a few days before signing day in February. The 41-year-old Flood might not have gotten the job under less hectic circumstances, but he says he's ready.

He's been preparing for years.

"From a young age in this profession, I wanted to be a head football coach," he said.

Several of the first-year coaches are still at a young age in the profession.

Memphis hired 36-year-old Justin Fuente away from TCU, where he was co-offensive coordinator, and Toledo promoted 32-year-old Matt Campbell from offensive coordinator to head coach after Tim Beckman left for Illinois.

Inexperience is not likely to buy extra time for the newbies. After last season, three coaches were fired (Larry Porter by Memphis, Rob Ianello by Akron and Turner Gill by Kansas) after only two years on the job.

The top jobs at Ohio State and North Carolina, where former Southern Mississippi coach Larry Fedora ended up, opened because of NCAA violations committed by the previous regimes.

Outside of Penn State, Arkansas had the most tumultuous coaching transition, with John L. Smith taking over after Bobby Petrino was caught lying about an affair with a member of the athletic staff.

Unlike most of the new coaches, Smith, the former Michigan State and Louisville coach, takes over a team primed to contend for a national championship.

Flood's Scarlet Knights, who play at Arkansas in September, aren't quite national title contenders, but they are among the favorites in the Big East.

While most new coaches have to rebuild, he only needs to guide a program that's been running well.

"The key to it is, the last thing you want to do is try to be the prior guy because your personality and his might not be identical," said Flood, who was Schiano's assistant head coach for five years. "I admire Greg. Greg is a friend of mine and a mentor. But Greg and I don't have the same personality. For me to try to be Greg Schiano would have never worked."

Where Flood provides a smooth transition to a stable situation, Chryst will try to bring stability to Pittsburgh. No program has gone through more coaching turmoil in the past few seasons.

Chryst is the Panthers' third head coach in the past three seasons after Dave Wannstedt and Todd Graham, who left after less than a year on the job. That doesn't include Mike Haywood, who was fired without ever coaching a game after a run-in with the law. Pitt has also used two interim coaches for its past two bowl games.

After all that, it would seem Chryst would take over with a little less pressure to win now. But not necessarily. He knows it, but he has no complaints.

"We're pretty lucky to be doing what we're doing," he said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-08-10-FBC-New-Coaches/id-f57e99b8177a48158286cc8a4de688dd

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India's ground realities may scupper finance minister's reform agenda

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The return of a pro-market reformer to India's finance ministry has cheered investors and contributed to a market rally, but Palaniappan Chidambaram will need both political deftness and some luck to tackle the problems dragging the economy down.

Faced with impatient financial markets and the threat that India's credit rating could be cut to junk, Chidambaram has wasted no time since moving into his old ministry last week.

He has ordered a review of retrospective tax rules that had panicked foreign investors and sidelined officials behind those rules. And, in his first public comments, the Harvard-educated former lawyer vowed to fill a gaping hole in the budget and ease the burden of high interest rates on consumers.

In what is perhaps testament to his nimble media management, newspapers have somehow got wind of new early-morning starts and long hours for officials at the previously laid-back ministry.

During his last stint at finance, Chidambaram oversaw India's fastest growth surge in the past two decades that helped steer the economy through the worst of the global financial crisis. But this time, Chidambaram's task is more daunting.

Industrial output has fallen from year-earlier levels in three out of the last four months, and a summer drought has triggered a slew of cuts in growth forecasts, with economists predicting this year's economic expansion as low as 5.4 percent, the worst in a decade.

He also inherits the political constraints that stymied his predecessor Pranab Mukherjee's efforts to push major reforms.

Bills that would bring crucial financial-sector reforms were removed from the agenda of the current parliament session because Prime Minister Manmohan Singh failed to win support for them from coalition allies and even some in his own party.

Efforts to allow foreign supermarkets to set up in India have also run into opposition because, although such a step would ease supply-side bottlenecks in an inflation-plagued economy, political parties fear it would cost jobs - and votes.

"Things are easier said than done in India," says Robert Prior-Wandesforde, an economist with Credit Suisse in Singapore, referring to New Delhi's repeated reneging on promises.

"Rather than promising and running the risk of not delivering. I would like to see him delivering, then talking."

FISCAL TEST

To help him deliver, Chidambaram may appoint former International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Raghuram Rajan as his chief economic adviser. Rajan, currently a professor at Chicago University's Booth School of Business, is credited for predicting the 2008 global financial crisis and is a vocal critic of New Delhi's populist policies.

The new minister's biggest test will be controlling the fiscal deficit, which overshot a target of 4.6 percent of GDP by 1.2 percentage points in 2011/12 due to slowing growth and increased spending on fuel and fertilizer subsidies.

India's sovereign credit rating is at risk because of the high fiscal deficit, whose funding from domestic savings is crowding out private investment and lowering growth prospects.

However, a drought due to disappointing monsoon rains will push the government to spend more on relief for farmers. Rural demand for cheap fuel to drive irrigation pumps and tractors has further delayed a promised increase in subsidized diesel prices, which the government concedes is vital to fixing the deficit.

Privately, finance ministry officials warn a lack of action on subsidies could push the deficit to 6 percent of GDP this fiscal year, above the government's target of 5.1 percent.

"Without addressing the issue of fuel subsidies, fiscal consolidation is not possible," a senior official at the Finance Ministry said, adding that the budgeted fuel subsidy bill of 436 billion rupees ($7.9 billion) would nearly double if prices are not raised.

To ease the pressure, Chidambaram is looking at shoring up revenues through more efficient tax collections, the auction of cancelled second-generation mobile phone licenses and sales of stakes in state-run firms. But that may not be enough.

Tax revenues are under pressure from the economic slowdown. Plans to raise 300 billion rupees through partial privatizations this year have gone nowhere so far and much will depend on how equity markets perform.

Chidambaram's best hope is a bonanza from an auction of mobile airwaves, which could fetch more than the budgeted 400 billion rupees.

"The government will have to rely on the disinvestment program and the proceeds from the spectrum auction for overall fiscal management. If they are good, overall fiscal slippage can be contained within a reasonable limit," said Siddhartha Sanyal, an economist at Barclays Capital in Mumbai.

A failure to check the deficit would make it tougher for the minister to convince the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to lower interest rates further. The RBI has left rates steady for two straight reviews, asking the government to do its bit to revive the economy.

But Jagannadham Thunuguntla, head of research at SMC Investments and Advisors Ltd., says further economic deceleration could force a re-think at the RBI.

"We are worrying about peripherals. We are forgetting the epicenter. Epicenter is growth, growth and growth," he said.

($1=55.4 rupees)

(Additional reporting by Manoj Kumar; Editing by John Chalmers and Neil Fullick)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/indias-ground-realities-may-scupper-finance-ministers-reform-071214512--business.html

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The Showdown | Souvenirs of Fatherhood

My daughter is staring at me from cross the table and my son is looking aimlessly at his plate. The silence is deafening. They have one instruction to follow before we enjoy our night together. Eat the food on your plate all gone.

I hate what dinner time has become. I value meals together as a family and we almost always eat together but when the only conversation is the repetition of the words ?take a bite? and ?eat your food? I feel less inclined to circle up the wagons for mealtime.

I?ve stopped caring. If it were up to me they would just sit there until bedtime and if they still didn?t eat then they would just have to wait until breakfast. I?m done with issuing out reminders at fifteen second intervals.

Thank goodness for my wife to balance out my approach. Except tonight she is at the rec center so here I sit watching my kids offer up every excuse known to man while I try things my way.

First they were just being silly and playing, having too much fun to worry about eating. I repeated our table rules. ?Sit in your chair. No playing. And eat your food.? It got to the point though where I finally had to issue a Stop Talking notice, that?s when the silent standoff began.

?Daddy, I have to tell you something?

?No Ella you need to eat your food?

?This chicken is very chewy. Because that?s what I needed to tell you?

Ten more minutes of silence go by and they have taken maybe a half a bite each.

?I told you this is a bad dinner, dad.?

?You still need to eat it.?

?My tummy hurts?

?Do you want a snack instead? Then your tummy doesn?t hurt, now eat?

More silence follows.

My son just fell asleep at the table?

We have been sitting here for over an hour. I don?t know what to do. They are both just moving the food around on their plate or staring out the window. I really hate it when our nights end like this, but I feel like I need to teach them that sometimes?you?just have to grin and bear it. Sometimes you don?t get exactly what you want. That part of life is doing what you don?t like so you can enjoy the things you do like.

I started to wonder if this was really worth it. There is a point as a parent when you just have to decide to go all in and call their bluff. Tonight was that night.

Pax was the first to finish and put his plate in the sink.??Now Ella sat at the table along and tears flowed. I agreed to sit with her which helped her calm down.

Yet now that they?re almost done and we?ve let the evening slip by us in silence I wonder if there are any real winners from this lesson tonight. They didn?t get to enjoy playing the games they love and I didn?t get to have a laughing good time with my children before work tomorrow.

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Source: http://anordinarydad.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/the-showdown/

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