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auto insurance 45640 We see more cars on the road each year. As this number increases, the possibility of accidents also increases. If you get in a car wreck, the auto insurance you own can make a large difference in the experience you have. But why do you need insurance and just how much do you need? Car accidents can result in many different expenses, which your insurance can pay for based on the insurance policy you own. No matter where you are living, you are required to buy some variety of auto insurance. By not purchasing insurance, you risk having to pay the total cost of the harm or injury you cause others or of repairing or replacing your vehicle if it is damaged or stolen. Liability: This kind of insurance coverage will pay for the damage that you are responsible for. These damages might include personal injury, and property damage. It also covers your legal fees if you are sued. State laws typically mandate standard amounts of liability insurance, but larger amounts are available and extremely helpful. Personal Injury Protection: This type of insurance pays for the medical treatment for you and your passengers, regardless of who was responsible for the accident. It is required in some states and optional in others. The minimum amount of personal injury protection is usually set by local government. Medical Payments: This coverage can be purchased in non-no-fault states; it pays regardless of who may be responsible. It pays for an insured person?s reasonable and necessary medical and funeral expenses resulting from a crash. Collision: Pays for damage to your vehicle caused by a collision. Comprehensive: Protect your vehicle from damages from other sources by purchasing this type of insurance. This includes protection from theft, vandalism, and fire or flood damage. Uninsured Motorist: Many drivers are breaking the law by driving a car without having the right amount of auto insurance. This insurance will cover you if you are in an accident with one of these irresponsible drivers. Under-Insured Motorist: Similar to uninsured motorist protection, this kind of insurance covers you from people driving without sufficient insurance coverage. Other kinds of coverage, like car rental, are also available. Your auto insurance payments vary by company and will depend on multiple factors, including: * Which policies you select * The make and model of the vehicle you drive * Whether or not you have been in an accident * Your age, sex and marital status * Where you live Don?t wait around to buy auto insurance; you shouldn?t drive a car without it. Review your needs, do your research , and with the help of your insurance agent, choose the option that fits you best.

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Source: http://ercillesuniverse.com/auto-insurance-45640/

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Sandy Hook Survivor Looking to Sue Connecticut Over Shooting

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/12/sandy-hook-survivor-looking-to-sue-connecticut-over-shooting/

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Indian woman dies in Singapore after gang-rape, beating in India

SINGAPORE (AP) -- A young Indian woman who was gang-raped and severely beaten on a bus died today at a Singapore hospital, after her horrific ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection for women from sexual violence that impacts thousands of them every day.

She "passed away peacefully" with her family and officials of the Indian embassy by her side," said Dr. Kevin Loh, the chief executive of Mount Elizabeth hospital where she had been treated since Thursday. "The Mount Elizabeth Hospital team of doctors, nurses and staff join her family in mourning her loss," he said.

He said the woman had remained in an extremely critical condition since Thursday when she was flown to Singapore from India. "Despite all efforts by a team of eight specialists in Mount Elizabeth Hospital to keep her stable, her condition continued to deteriorate over these two days. She had suffered from severe organ failure following serious injuries to her body and brain. She was courageous in fighting for her life for so long against the odds but the trauma to her body was too severe for her to overcome."

The woman and a male friend, who have not been identified, were traveling in a public bus in the Indian capital, New Delhi, after watching a film on the evening of Dec. 16 when they were attacked by six men who raped her. They also beat the couple and inserted an iron rod into her body resulting in severe organ damage. Both of them were then stripped and thrown off the bus,

according to police.

Indian police have arrested six people in connection with the attack, which left the victim with severe internal injuries, a lung infection and brain damage. She also suffered from a heart attack while in the hospital in India.

Indian High Commissioner, or ambassador, T.C.A. Raghanvan told reporters that the scale of the injuries she suffered was "very grave" and in the end it "proved too much.

He said arrangements are being made to take her body back to India.

The frightening nature of the crime shocked Indians, who have come out in their thousands for almost daily demonstrations, demanding stronger protection for women and death penalty for rape, which is now punishable by a maximum life imprisonment. Women face daily harassment across India, ranging from catcalls on the streets, groping and touching in public transport to rape.

But the tragedy has forced India to confront the reality that sexually assaulted women are often blamed for the crime, which forces them to keep quiet and not report it to authorities for fear of exposing their families to ridicule. Also, police often refuse to accept complaints from those who are courageous enough to report the rapes and the rare prosecutions that reach courts drag on for years.

After 10 days at a New Delhi hospital, the victim was brought to the Mount Elizabeth hospital, which specializes in multi-organ transplant. But by late Friday, the young woman's condition had "taken a turn for the worse" and her vital signs had deteriorated. It was clear then that she would not survive long.

Indian attitudes toward rape are so entrenched that even politicians and opinion makers have often suggested that women should not go out at night or wear clothes that might be seen provocative.

Other politicians have come under fire for comments insulting the protesters and diminishing the crime.

On Friday, Abhijit Mukherjee, a national lawmaker and the son of India's president, apologized for calling the protesters "highly dented and painted" women, who go from discos to demonstrations.

"I tender my unconditional apology to all the people whose sentiments got hurt," he told NDTV news.

Separately, authorities in Punjab took action Thursday when an 18-year-old woman killed herself by drinking poison a month after she told police she was gang-raped.

State authorities suspended one police officer and fired two others on accusations they delayed investigating and taking action in the case. The three accused in the rape were only arrested Thursday night, a month after the crime was reported.

"This is a very sensitive crime, I have taken it very seriously," said Paramjit Singh Gill, a top police officer in the city of Patiala.

The Press Trust of India reported that the woman was raped Nov. 13 and reported the attack to police Nov. 27. But police harassed the girl, asked her embarrassing questions and took no action against the accused, PTI reported, citing police sources.

Authorities in the eastern state of Chhattisgarh also suspended a police officer on accusations he refused to register a rape complaint from a woman who said she had been attacked by a driver.

Source: http://www.thereporter.com/ci_22279514/indian-woman-dies-singapore-after-gang-rape-beating?source=rss_viewed

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Fiscal Cliff Hurts Consumer Confidence, Ford Invests in Factories: Weekly Market Recap

Here?s your Cheat Sheet to the top market moving headlines of the week:

Catalysts are critical to discovering winning stocks.?Check out our newest CHEAT SHEET stock picks now.

Monday

This Monday, the U.S. equity markets continued a Friday slump catalyzed by gridlock and uncertainty surrounding the fiscal cliff debate. The markets are closed tomorrow for the Christmas holiday and will open for trading on Wednesday, ahead of the scheduled return of policymakers to Washington on Thursday.

At the close: DJIA: -0.39%, S&P 500: -0.24%, Nasdaq: -0.28%.

On the commodities front, Oil (NYSE:USO) edged down 0.02 percent to $88.64 per barrel. Precious metals also edged down, with Gold (NYSE:GLD) falling 0.08 percent to $1,658.70 per ounce, and Silver (NYSE:SLV) falling 1 percent to $29.90 per ounce at about 1:15 PM.

Here?s your Cheat Sheet to Monday?s top stock stories:

At $27.66 per share, General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) is bumping along less than a dollar shy of its 52-week high of $27.91. The big news that came in the middle of last week was a $5.5 billion buyback of 200 million shares from the U.S. Department of the Treasury at $27.50 per share, coupled with the government?s announcement to fully exit its entire holding of GM stock within 12 to 15 months. The good news has apparently woken up some bulls at Goldman Sachs? (Read more.)

One of the best battles of 2012 is taking place at the end of the year, which makes it seem like a main event. Herbalife (NYSE:HLF) has had a nice run over the past few years, but those years will likely end up being remembered as glory days. In other words, they won?t happen again. The battle is Bill Ackman of Persuing Capital Management vs. CEO Michael Johnson of Herbalife? (Read more.)

Catalysts are critical to discovering winning stocks. Check out our newest CHEAT SHEET stock picks now.

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) closed up 1.77 percent following news news that an investigation by the Shanghai Food and Drug administration turned up acceptable levels of antibiotics and steroids in KFC chicken, but a suspicious level of an antiviral drug banned for use in food. The investigation was launched after the state-run China Central Television reported that KFC chicken contained high levels of antibiotics. China accounts for nearly half of Yum! Brands? revenue

Shares of Facebook?(NASDAQ:FB) closed up 2.55 percent after receiving a boost from analysts at Needham & Co., who raised their price target on the stock from $25 to $33. Full-year 2013 revenue estimates were increased from $6.27 billion to $6.5 billion, with earnings revised from $0.59 per share to $0.65 per share.

Is an 11th-Hour Solution All That?s Left? Lawmakers left a heavy air of uncertainty behind them in Washington this week. Just a handful of days remain until the new year, when the fiscal cliff triggers and automatic austerity measures and tax increases begin taking affect. The result, as predicted by the Congressional Budget Office, business leaders, and economists could be renewed recession for the first-half of fiscal 2013? (Read more.)

Lenders Voice Concerns About Greek Tax Crisis: Greece?s 240-billion-euro ($317.2 billion) international bailout package came with a number of strings attached. In order to receive the funding necessary to keep its economy afloat, the International Monetary Fund and European Union finance ministers developed a long list of austerity measures and financial reform that the Greek government has been obligated to implement. High on the list is tax reform, and lenders have a reason to believe Greece isn?t cracking down hard enough? (Read more.)

To contact the reporter on this story: staff.writers@wallstcheatsheet.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: editors@wallstcheatsheet.com

Source: http://wallstcheatsheet.com/stocks/fiscal-cliff-hurts-consumer-confidence-ford-invests-in-factories-weekly-market-recap.html/

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?Change should occur gradually but at all levels: teachers, students ...

As I look back on this year, the Partners in Learning Global Forum in Prague continues to be a highlight. I know this is also the case for many educators, including teacher Marilo Martinez from Spain. ?In Prague at the Partners in Learning Global Forum, I was able to work and reflect on different topics of innovation,? says Martinez. ?Those that I found most interesting and applicable to my school were project-based learning and game-based learning. Both attempt to motivate our students to work differently in a challenging way ? these are new models of learning.?

Martinez teaches at Colegio Marti Sorolla, a Microsoft Pathfinder School. The school strives to be continuously innovative in terms of best pedagogical and technological practices. But perhaps most important, they strive to educate students in values that represent the 21st century learner: cooperation, respect, tolerance, positive thinking, responsibility, commitment, honesty, creativity, solidarity and empathy.

Here, Martinez shares what makes Colegio Marti Sorolla unique, and why innovation is so important today.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

One of the best professional achievements for me was when Microsoft selected my school, Colegio Marti Sorolla, as an Innovative Pathfinder School. The recognition from this award was very much appreciated, and very motivational.

Can you describe the teacher who most influenced you?

One teacher who made an impression on me most was one of my elementary school teachers. In addition to teaching me, this teacher was an important counselor in my life.

Also, fortunately, when I started working at Colegio Marti Sorolla????, I had the opportunity to meet professionals who, despite all odds and daily problems, get excited about their work.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to make a difference in education?

To lead a change in education, there must be support from the school management, as well as from most of the teachers. Change should occur gradually but at all levels: teachers, students and administration. To be truly motivational, it must take into account all the players and their new ideas. On the other hand, when performing a new activity, feedback is a critical component that guides the outcome ? it is essential to listen to students.

Obviously, each school has different resources and needs, but the important thing is to use ICT as a tool to support specific methodology.

What is your greatest hope for the future of education?

In my opinion, working with innovation topics like project-based learning, schools and teachers can find a way to encourage our students to work across different curricula and get them involved in their own learning process. Students can then develop lifelong learning skills, supported by the teachers.

?

MARTI SOROLLA School tries to be continuously innovative in terms of best pedagogical and technological practices.?Workspaces are changing from the traditional classroom to different learning areas, like music room, labs, computer labs and virtual spaces.?We have in mind the personnel?s work, innovation based improvement (pedagogical and technological).?We educate our students in values that we think the XXI century learner must represent: cooperation, respect, tolerance, positive thinking, responsibility, commitment, honesty, creativity, solidarity and empathy.
We belong to various school associations and we attend and give training courses.
Apart from teaching academic contents, we also pay attention to a full development of students as human beings in order to face real situations in their lives.?Our school vision is based on three main pillars: Innovation, Languages and Technology, without forgetting Sports and our Social Projects.

Interesting or innovative practices that take place at our school

Pedagogical innovations

• We have an I+D department that uses studies on how the brain works to find the best teaching methods.
• We use the MORE approach (Multiple Options for Results in Education). This method combines different procedures to offer multiple options to achieve success in learning.
• We use Spencer Kagan?s cooperative learning structures because we believe that working together is the best way to improve as a community as well as individually.
• We have a team of people focused on investigating new learning methods called Orion Team.
• In Preschool children are stimulated by means of Early Childhood Intervention using intelligence bits in order to wire their brains.

Technological innovations

Innovation is not based on any software or hardware but in how to use it to its maximum potential. That?s the reason we use technology not as a goal in itself but as part of the learning process (to get and produce information, assessment, communication, virtual workspaces ?).

How we are making an impact

We created a project called ?Pars Pro Toto?, it is part of a bigger one started three years ago. The main goal of this project is to link several subjects focused on the city of Valencia. Every year our students go for a walk to take pictures of the city related with a special theme. This year we connected Literacy with Valencia streets. At the end of it we display the pictures and the three best of them win a prize. Our families and the rest of the school can visit the exhibition. Last year this project won a special mention from de Spanish Culture Ministry as a Creative School.

Members of our staff are invited to share our ICT experience and participate as speakers in schools next to ours, in teacher training courses and CEFIRE;That shows that we are a reference to be taken into account.
http://www.cefe.gva.es/eva/es/c_formacion.htm ( (26/01/2012))

How our school is influencing others

We created a project called ?Pars Pro Toto?, it takes part in a bigger one started three years ago. The main goal of this project is to link several subjects focused on the city of Valencia. Every year our students go for a walk to take pictures of the city related with a special theme. This year we connected Literacy with Valencia streets. At the end of it we display the pictures and the three best of them win a prize. Our families and the rest of the school can visit the exhibition. Last year this project won a special mention from de Spanish Culture Ministry as a Creative School.
Members of our staff are invited to share our ICT experience and participate as speakers in schools next to ours (Soto Mic? Public School), in teacher training courses and CEFIRE.
That shows that we are a reference to be taken into account.
We have teachers specialized and certified in Spencer Kagan?s Cooperative Learning Structures at a national level in charge of training teachers from other schools

Our role as a leader

School cannot exist without innovation because we live in a technological society and school has to prepare for it.?If we want to move forward our students must be ready to face the challenges of a future that is becoming more and more technological.
We have learnt a lot about ourselves and the present and future of our schools.
We learned that innovation in school is a process which needs the implication of all the stakeholders in order to have a real vision where the school is and where it wants to go.
This commitment helps us to plan the actions to make these goals possible, and to assume the innovations necessary to achieve success.

Ways we involve our team

• Two teachers (Philosophy and Music) created Pars pro Toto project; they organizated an exhibition with all the photographs taken by students in a day walk around different neighborhoods in Valencia; every year (we have done three) the pictures are related to an idea: architecture,time and poetry . Last year this project won a special mention from de Spanish Culture Ministry as a Creative School.
• Second example : Arranged by the need of giving suport to the learning process it has been created a repository of materials; this platform was created by several teachers in a spontaneous way.

How we recognize and encourage student leadership

• We want to encourage our students to develop positive leadership skills, having in mind multiple intelligences, giving special importance to emotional intelligence.
• We encourage the active participation of the students in their daily school life (decision making, projects, problem solving ?.). As we said before, we use Spencer Kagan?s Cooperative learning structures so they assume different roles in the learning process and students are also encouraged to participate in external competitions and projects.

What we hope to achieve by being a Pathfinder School

We want to share:
-make worldwide connections with other institutions involved in the use of technology in schools. The next step is sharing our knowledge and best practices with other educational centers worldwide.
We want to improve:
-we are always looking for new ways of improving our teaching skills. We are sure to find many different points of view and solutions to challenge by being part of a wider international network; we believe that the self-assessment is an essential part of the process of being leader.
We want to learn:
-we think that our school can make a difference by taking part in the program with other leader schools.

Source: http://dailyedventures.com/index.php/2012/12/29/marilo/

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For Senate leaders, is a 'cliff' deal a mission impossible?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Following a Friday meeting with congressional leaders, an impatient and annoyed President Barack Obama said it was "mind boggling" that Congress has been unable to fix a "fiscal cliff" mess that everyone has known about for more than a year.

He then dispatched Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, on a mind-boggling mission: coming up with a bipartisan bill to break the "fiscal cliff" stalemate in the most partisan and gridlocked U.S. Congress of modern times - in about 48 hours.

Reid and McConnell, veteran tacticians known for their own long-running feud, have been down this road before.

Their last joint venture didn't turn out so well. It was the deal in August 2011 to avoid a U.S. default that set the stage for the current mess. That effort, like this one, stemmed from a grand deficit-reduction scheme that turned into a bust.

But they have never had the odds so stacked against them as they try to avert the "fiscal cliff" - sweeping tax increases set to begin on Tuesday and deep, automatic government spending cuts set to start on Wednesday, combined worth $600 billion.

The substantive differences are only part of the challenge. Other obstacles include concerns about who gets blamed for what and the legacy of distrust among members of Congress.

Any successful deal will require face-saving measures for Republicans and Democrats alike.

"Ordinary folks, they do their jobs, they meet deadlines, they sit down and they discuss things, and then things happen," Obama told reporters. "If there are disagreements, they sort though the disagreements. The notion that our elected leadership can't do the same thing is mind-boggling to them."

CORE DISAGREEMENT

The core disagreement between Republicans and Democrats is tough enough. It revolves around the low tax rates first put in place under Republican former President George W. Bush that expire at year's end. Republicans would extend them for everyone. Democrats would extend them for everyone except the wealthiest taxpayers.

The first step for Reid and McConnell may be to find a formula acceptable to their own parties in the Senate.

While members of the Senate, more than members of the House of Representatives, have expressed flexibility on taxes, it's far from a sure thing in a body that ordinarily requires not just a majority of the 100-member Senate to pass a bill, but a super-majority of 60 members.

With 51 Democrats, two independents who vote with the Democrats and 47 Republicans, McConnell and Reid may have to agree to suspend the 60-vote rule.

Getting a bill through the Republican-controlled House may be much tougher. The conservative wing of the House, composed of many lawmakers aligned with the Tea Party movement who fear being targeted by anti-tax activists in primary elections in 2014, has shown it will not vote for a bill that raises taxes on anyone, even if it means defying Republican House Speaker John Boehner.

Many Democrats are wedded to the opposite view - and have vowed not to support continuing the Bush-era tax rates for people earning more than $250,000 a year.

Some senators are wary of the procedural conditions House Republicans are demanding. Boehner is insisting the Senate start its work with a bill already passed by the House months ago that would continue all Bush-era tax cuts for another year. The Democratic-controlled Senate may amend the Republican bill, he says, but it must be the House bill.

For Boehner, it's the regular order when considering revenue measures, which the U.S. Constitution says must originate in the House.

SHIFT BLAME

As some Democrats see it, it's a way to shift blame if the enterprise goes down in flames. House Republicans would be able to claim that since they had already done their part by passing a bill, the Senate should take the blame for plunging the nation off the "cliff."

And that could bring public wrath, currently centered mostly on Republicans, onto the heads of Democrats.

Voters may indeed be looking for someone to blame if they see their paychecks shrink as taxes rise or their retirement savings dwindle as a result of a plunge in global markets.

If Reid and McConnell succeed, there could be political ramifications for each side. For example, a deal containing any income tax hikes could complicate McConnell's own 2014 re-election effort in which small-government, anti-tax Tea Party activists are threatening to mount a challenge.

If Obama and his fellow Democrats are perceived as giving in too much, it could embolden Republicans to mount challenge after challenge, possibly handcuffing the president before his second term even gets off the ground.

It could be a sprint to the finish. One Democratic aide expected "negotiation for a day." If the aide is correct, the world would know by late on Saturday or early on Sunday if Washington's political dysfunction is about to reach a new, possibly devastating, low.

If Reid and McConnell reach a deal, it would then be up to the full Senate and House to vote, possibly as early as Sunday.

Reid and McConnell have been through bitter fights before. The deficit reduction and debt limit deal that finally was secured last year was a brawl that ended only when the two leaders agreed to a complicated plan that secured about $1 trillion in savings, but really postponed until later a more meaningful plan to restore the country's fiscal health.

That effort led to the automatic spending cuts that form part of the "fiscal cliff."

Just months later, in December 2011, Reid and McConnell were going through a tough fight over extending a payroll tax cut.

In both instances, it was resistance from conservative House Republicans that complicated efforts, just as is the case now with the "fiscal cliff."

(Editing by Fred Barbash and Will Dunham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-senate-leaders-mission-impossible-obama-060209382--business.html

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Va. Tech edges Rutgers in OT in Russell Bowl

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) ? After one of its most unfulfilling seasons in recent memory, Virginia Tech desperately wanted to avoid its first losing season since 1992.

Mission accomplished.

Cody Journell kicked a 22-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime to help the Hokies beat Rutgers 13-10 in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Friday night.

Virginia Tech won its final three games to finish 7-6.

"Not everything in life is real smooth," Hokies coach Frank Beamer said. "These players worked hard and how they reacted to adversity and to disappointment and when all of them wanted to do better ? they kept together."

Rutgers (9-4) had a chance to tie it in overtime, but Nick Borgese missed a 42-yard field-goal attempt to the right.

The loss ended a run of five straight bowl victories for the Scarlet Knights and kept them from recording their first double-digit win season since 2006.

The win also was the Hokies' 12th straight victory over their former Big East Conference rival.

Virginia Tech trailed 10-0 at the half, then rallied in the final 30 minutes thanks to some timely turnovers and offense. Quarterback Logan Thomas struggled in the first half and finished with a pair of interceptions, but also had 192 yards passing and the game's only passing touchdown.

"I can't commend the defense more," Thomas said. "The entire season that's kind of how it's been. I have to give a shout out to (linebacker) Bruce Taylor because he played his tail off the entire game. It felt like he was in the backfield making a tackle on every play."

Taylor finished the night with a team-high 11 tackles to lead a defense that held Rutgers to 67 yards in the second half.

Virginia Tech cornerback Antone Exum, selected the most valuable player of the game, picked off Gary Nova's pass early in the fourth quarter to set up the tying score.

He said though the offense took its lumps early, he was never down on their effort.

"That's just the way the game panned out," Exum said. "We never lose hope with the guys on the other side of the ball. Our job, honestly, is just to go out there and get as many three-and-outs as possible and give the most opportunities as we can to put points on the board.

"We did a good job of that tonight."

Rutgers seemed to be in command until the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, when turnovers and a sudden surge from the Hokies' offense quickly turned the momentum.

Down 10-0, Virginia Tech took over after Rutgers missed field goal and moved into Scarlet Knights' territory for the first time in the game on a 32-yard pass from Thomas to Dyrell Roberts.

Thomas then found Corey Fuller for a 25-yard strike on the next play, before the drive stalled on the 8. It forced the Hokies to settle for Journell's 25-yard field goal.

Exum intercepted Nova's pass on the ensuing drive, giving the Hokies a first down on the Rutgers 21.

The Hokies found the end zone three plays later on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Thomas to Fuller with 10:56 left as steady rain began to fall.

"We finally caught them off balance," Thomas said. "We finally got them uncomfortable. ... I just had to put the ball out there for him."

Virginia Tech defensive end Tyrel Wilson then came up with the defense's second turnover of the night, recovering a fumble inside the Scarlet Knights 40 after Nova dropped a snap while lined up in the shotgun.

An intentional grounding penalty on Thomas forced a punt, though, with less than 7 minutes to play.

They got another chance a few series later, only to see Journell's 51-yard field goal come up short with 2:20 showing on the clock.

Rutgers punted, but got it back just a play later when Thomas' pass was intercepted by Brandon Jones.

"Two tremendous defensive performances, and one of the better defensive performances I've seen from Rutgers players this season," Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said. "It's unfortunate that we came out on the wrong side of the game, and squander that kind of performance as a result."

It was defense on both sides that controlled the action in the first half as Rutgers took a 10-0 halftime lead.

The Scarlet Knights were the most effective offensively, managing a modest seven first downs and a field goal. But the Scarlet Knights came up empty on their best drive of the half, failing to convert on a fourth down pass play inside the Hokies 35.

Virginia Tech struggled throughout, though, tallying only 73 yards total in the first two quarters. Thomas was also sacked twice and intercepted late in the half, which severely hampered an offense that never made it into Rutgers' territory.

Penalties also bent in Rutgers' favor. Virginia Tech was penalized eight times for 60 yards. The Scarlet Knights weren't whistled for any penalties in the half.

A miscue by Virginia Tech on the opening drive of the game produced the game's first score.

Hokies center Caleb Farris sent his second snap of the night sailing past Thomas and into the end zone.

Thomas scrambled back to pick it up, and tried to run it out, but he was instantly swarmed and lost the ball as he was tackled. It was eventually recovered by Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene for the touchdown.

Beamer said the challenge to not any shortcomings from this season cloud the offseason.

"I couldn't be more proud of this team," he said. "We've won some more games in other years, but I think this group is special."

Notes: The game was the lowest scoring the bowl's history. It surpassed Stanford's 24-3 win over Penn State in 1993. ...The game also set a bowl record with 20 punts, passing the previous record of 19 in the 1991 matchup between Alabama and Colorado.

___

Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower .

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/va-tech-edges-rutgers-ot-russell-bowl-024958063--spt.html

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Health Insurance Exchanges 101 | Shirazi Benefits

(Photo by Robin Kanouse via Flickr)

Everyone is talking about the health insurance exchanges and what they will mean to you.? Starting January 1^st, 2014, the Affordable Care Act requires every state to create health insurance exchanges for businesses, employees, and individuals. ?If states do not establish an exchange in time, the Federal government will step in and create one.

So, what exactly is a health insurance exchange?

A health insurance exchange is an organized marketplace for individual, families, and small business to shop for and purchase health insurance based on quality and price. ??Basically, they are a store specializing in health insurance merchandise.

How is this all going to work?

In Colorado, the Health Benefit Exchange will be an online marketplace; a website where Coloradans can shop for and purchase health plans. Two will be set up: one for individuals, and one for small groups. This website will interface with various government databases to determine a consumer?s eligibility for tax credits and public insurance.

Small employers will also be able to purchase plans for their employees, using tax credits.

Insurance brokers will need to be certified to sell plans through the exchanges; they will be able to help individuals and small groups navigate the exchanges.

Who is eligible to participate? ?

An exchange would be available to be used by individual consumers who do not have access to a group plan and small businesses with up to 50 employees when it opens for enrollment beginning October 2013. Large employers may be allowed to participate in 2017.

Will the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange offer every health plan that is currently offered on the market?

No. The exchange will offer health plans that have been determined to offer adequate levels of coverage and comply with new regulations to protect consumers. These plans will have ratings and will fall into four tiers: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. The bronze plans will offer the basic coverage required by law and will be the most affordable. The platinum plans will offer the highest level of coverage and will be the most costly. Silver and gold plans will offer coverage with monthly premiums in the middle of that spectrum.

Are there any tax credits for going through the exchange?

For small group employers, the tax credit that you receive now will only be available if you purchase your plan through the exchange. An enhanced version of the credit will be effective beginning January 1, 2014. In general, on January 1, 2014, the rate will increase to 50 percent and 35 percent, respectively.

Advance tax credits are available to individuals and families with incomes between the federal poverty level and up to 4 times that amount to help reduce the cost of purchasing health insurance. That means an individual making up to $43,320 a year and a family of four making up to $88,200 a year will be eligible for this financial assistance. The amount of assistance will be determined on a sliding scale, which means the higher your income, the lower the amount of aid.

Can you provide an example of how the tax credit will work?

Here are three examples provided by the Internal Revenue Service in August 2011 to explain how the tax credits will work:

1. Family of Four with Income of $50,000, Purchases Benchmark Plan

• Premium Cost for Plan Family Chooses: $9,000
• Tax Credit: $5,430
• What Family Pays: $3,570

2. Family of Four with Income of $50,000, Purchases Less Expensive Plan

• Premium Cost for Plan Family Chooses: $7,500
• Tax Credit: $5,430
• What Family Pays: $2,070

3. Family of Four with Income of $50,000, Parents are between ages 55 and 64,
Purchases Benchmark Plan

• Premium Cost for Plan Family Chooses: $14,000
• Tax Credit: $10,430
• What Family Pays: $3,570

I have a pre-existing condition. Am I eligible to buy insurance in the exchange?

Yes. Beginning in 2014, pre-existing conditions will be a thing of the past. No insurer can deny anyone health insurance based on health status, inside or outside the exchange.

Shirazi Benefits can help you navigate through all of this.?

?

Resource: Colorado Health Benefit Exchange.

Post image by:

Source: http://shirazibenefits.com/health-care-reform/health-insurance-exchanges-101/

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Ask Professor Pedagogy - Center for Teaching - Vanderbilt University

Ask Professor Pedagogy is a twice monthly advice column written by Center for Teaching staff. One aspect of our mission is to cultivate dialogue about teaching and learning, so we welcome questions and concerns that arise in the classroom; particularly those from Vanderbilt faculty, students, and staff. If you have a question that you?d like Professor P to address, please send it to us.

Dear Professor Pedagogy,

I am looking for new, innovative ways of engaging my students with the local history and culture of the city.? As an instructor, I believe that using local, relevant resources for teaching makes the learning for my students more authentic and effective.? However, getting outside the classroom in a structured way seems so daunting and difficult to manage.? Do you have any ideas on how I might get my students engaged in learning about the local history of the community in which our university is located?? Are there ways of leveraging technology, too?? How can I assess that they have learned something if I have them moving around outside the classroom, and can?t be with them at all times?

Thank you for your response,
Learning on the Move

?

Dear Learning on the Move,

I applaud your efforts in thinking how learning could occur outside the four walls of the classroom, and wanting your students to engage with the local context in which they are both living and learning.? Moving outside the ?classroom as container? paradigm (Leander, et al., 2010) can be scary; there seem to be so many unknowns and variables to control.? However, other models of learning (e.g., apprenticeship models) show us that teaching and learning can happen in a variety of different ways that don?t resemble the traditional classroom model (e.g., Lave & Wenger, 1991).? Here, learning occurs within authentic activity, at the elbow of a more knowledge other (Hall & Greeno, 2008), and in spaces that necessitate moving and coordinating bodies (e.g., Hutchins, 1995).? This description is a stark contrast to our traditional image of a student sitting in a chair, legs under a desk, looking at a screen.? All this to say, move forward with your ideas of re-imagining university teaching and learning!? Feel good about yourself for problematizing the lecture-style model and engaging minds within bodies in places bustling with activity and history!

So here?s my idea:? Starting with your objectives of getting your students out of the classroom, learning about the history and culture of the community, providing some structure, and perhaps introducing them to new technologies, you could do a geocache!? Yes, you heard me, a geocache.? If you don?t know what a geocache is, you might want to first visit this website for some very basic information.? Now, I don?t know the exact content area or discipline from which you teach, but connecting your big, disciplinary ideas to the resources of the community through a geocache could be an effective structured way of teaching som ?e material ?on the move.?

First, think carefully about the learning objectives you have in mind.? Then, do you want your students moving around an area of the community that is walkable?? Do you want them navigating the transit system?? What specific locations will afford your students with new information, and why is it important to actually be in that place?? Will they be in groups?? Will each group member have a particular task?? Do you want to use GPS (global positioning system) technology on smart phones or on devices?? Would you prefer them to use paper maps?? What do you want your students to produce, or bring back with them from this activity?

Once you have answered these questions for yourself, you might:

• Place some ?tasks? around the area in which you want your students to engage.? Tasks could be typed-out on slips of paper, rolled-up in tubes and located in hard-to-see spots.? The tasks could ask your students to do a variety of things, but make sure that the task is location-specific or relevant to actually being in that spot.? Otherwise, the effort of getting to that particular location will seem for naught.
• Ask students take a picture of the location, do a rubbing of an engraving with trace paper and charcoals, and/or do some written reflection in that place.

Let?s say you have five tasks to which you want groups of students to navigate and complete ? one could be a kind of written assignment, two could be more problem-solving tasks, one could be a group interpretation of the meaning of a place, and one could be a simple photo proving that they had arrived and noticed something noteworthy about the location.? You might find that the variety of ?task types? will differently engage your students and provide new ways of learning the material.? For some of your students, it will be the navigation and finding the cache that gets them most excited (especially if you have introduced this activity as a race or competition).

In response to your question regarding assessment, you should think carefully about how you debrief this activity in conversation with your students.? Maybe you want each group to share particular artifacts that they have either created or found at locations.? Perhaps you want students to discuss how each location and task relates to bigger disciplinary ideas that are important for the course.? Maybe you want students to do an individual, follow-up assignment at home that synthesize some of the major points you were hoping to get across via a geocache.? Regardless, make sure you do some kind of debrief or wrap-up so you can assess both what your students learned, and how well this activity went for your own pedagogical objectives and toolkit.

Good luck and have fun!

Professor Pedagogy

References:

Hall, R. & Greeno, J. G. (2008). Conceptual learning. T. Good (Ed.),?21st?Century Education: A Reference Handbook, (pp. 212-221). Sage.

Hutchins, E. (1995). Cognition in the wild . Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Lave, J. & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning. Le-gitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Leander, K.M., Phillips, N.C. & Taylor, K.H. (2010). The changing social spaces of learning: Mapping new mobilities. Review of Research in Education 34, 329-394.

Tags: Ask Professor Pedagogy, Geocaching, Teaching Outside

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Source: http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/2012/12/ask-professor-pedagogy-geocaching-in-the-community/

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Simple Abundance Exercises Can Change Your Mindset

Article title: Simple Abundance Exercises Can Change Your Mindset
Article Category: Self-Improvement

When you feel more prosperous, you will lead life of improved health, happiness and prosperity. However, when most of us think about our finances, most of the time we don?t have thoughts of prosperity.
Continue reading this article?

Source: http://www.medicalguide.pro/3210/simple-abundance-exercises-can-change-your-mindset-4.html

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An Introduction To The Environmental Pest Control - News and Society

Every year millions of homes and businesses are exposed to toxic chemicals in an effort to fight insect and rodent infestations. More than a billion pounds of chemicals are used every year in the United States to fight vermin. Before heading to the store to pick up some insect spray or before picking up the phone to call the exterminator, it is important to know the facts about pest control. One can visit mrcarpetcleaner.co.nz/MPC.html for more details.

The first thing to know about pest control is the kinds of chemicals used. The three most commonly used chemicals in pest control were created to attack the nervous systems of vermin. These chemicals were synthesized from the template of nerve agents that were designed during the fighting in World War II. Therefore, they are highly toxic and should be handled with extreme care. These chemicals do not just attack the nervous systems of pests. They will also attack the nervous systems of human beings and pets as well. They will not likely have a lethal effect, because they are designed to attack much smaller animals. However, the smaller the child or pet is, the greater the danger to them when they are exposed to these poisons.

With that in mind, it is important to be very cautious when the exterminator comes to visit. If you have pets or children, you should send them to another place for the duration of the exterminator?s visit. It is also highly advisable to keep them away from the house for at least 48 hours after the chemicals have been sprayed. Some experts will even recommend keeping them away as long as a week after the pest control spray has been applied. This advice is especially important to heed in regards to children. One can also check www.flybusters.co.nz/antcontrol.html out for the details.

Children?s nervous systems are still developing, so they are highly sensitive to any amount of toxin in the environment. Minute amounts of toxins that would have little to no effect on adults, can have devastating results in the nervous systems of children. These results can range from the mild, such as dizziness or nausea, to the severe, such as long-term developmental disorders. For that reason, it is extremely important to use every precaution when using these kinds of poisonous substances in the home.

The same kinds of precautions should be applied. Never use the pest control or fly control chemicals in areas frequented by pets and children. Because children and pets spend much of their time on the floor, they are more apt to come in contact with these toxins than adults. This applies to pieces of pest control equipment like roach traps as well. Make sure never to use them in areas that pets or children inhabit.

Source: http://www.gongyifair.org/an-introduction-to-the-environmental-pest-control.html

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Best iPhone food apps of 2012 - iPhone app recommendations ...

Whether you were looking for better restaurants, wine, coffee or recipes, the iPhone came through with plenty of apps to suit your needs in 2012. Long gone are the days of relying on friendly word of mouth and large cookbooks for any of the above, now we have apps to tell us what to like. I kid, but really, if you weren?t happy with your?food?situation this year, you have only yourself to blame. Below are some of our favorite?food?& dining apps of 2012.

Sara?s Kitchen has the honor of winning ?Best Overall? in Toque Magazine?s 2nd annual?Food?App Awards.?The app, created by chef Sara Moulton, features 60 health-conscious recipes that promise to be as tasty as they are simple to make. Sara?s Kitchen also has video demonstrations and photographs for her recipes. Users can even e-mail Sara herself to ask questions about the recipes.

If you like wine even a bit, Wine Spectactor WineRatings+ should be on your must-have app list. The vintage vino app packs tons of information, both free and premium, into its package. For free, users can learn all about different types of wine by viewing the information provided about 55 of the world?s wine regions and grape varieties. WineRatings+ also has a news feed to give you the latest industry news. For an additional $2.99, users get access to wine ratings for over 270,000 bottles. The ratings include tasting notes, prices and recommended drinking windows. Premium users also get access to expert picks and saving and sharing features so you never forget the wine you want to remember.

It?s entirely possible this app could have been an iPhone wallpaper of The?Food?Network?s Giada De Laurentiis posing next to a dinner plate and it would have made the list, but thankfully for everyone reading, it is more than that. Giada is a collection of the titular chef?s favorite dinner recipes, complete with video tips on simplifying your cooking techniques. As an added bonus, there?s a section called ?Sound Bites? (get it?) that aims to help you pronounce?food-words just like Giada, presumably so you can impress your dinner guests the next time you throw a social event.

If you like the idea of travelling the United States to check out unique eateries but don?t want to involve Guy Fieri,?Food?Network On The Road is the app for you. On The Road features restaurants from?Food?Network shows like "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"; "Best Thing I Ever Ate, $24 in 24"; "Cupcake Wars"; and "Giada?s Weekend Getaways"; and helpfully maps them out so you can drive and then eat to your heart?s content. The app even lets you search by city, chef, show, cuisine and more.

Stop drinking mediocre coffee! The Great Coffee App features 16 of the most popular espresso-based drinks, from regular Espresso to Late, Americano, Cappuccino, and even Irish coffee. The app comes filled with facts on each drink featured, and also includes demonstrations on how to make the drinks yourself. While that might not seem interesting to the layperson, to a coffee fanatic, it helps it stand out as one of the year?s best apps.

Download the Appolicious Android app

Source: http://www.appolicious.com/shine/articles/13076-best-iphone-food-apps-of-2012

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Scientists unravel secret of Rudolph's red nose

Dreaming of a white Christmas such as the one in this image? You may have to keep on dreaming. Statistics on snow cover from 14 major U.S. cities between 1960 and 2000 show the overall trend on the decline.

In the 1990s, these cities saw 47 white Christmases ? which translates to an inch or more of snow on the ground. During the 1960s, by comparison, the 14 major cities saw 72 snowy Christmases, according to Dale Kaiser, a meteorologist at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory who compiled the data. And between 2000 and 2008, only three of the cities on the list ? Detroit, Chicago and Boston ? showed an uptick in their downward trends.

While statistics from one day of the year are an imperfect gauge of a seasonal climate, Kaiser notes the decline in white Christmases hints at a trend of less snowy winters seen in many parts of the country. Click the "Next" button for nine more gifts of science for Christmas.

? By John Roach, msnbc.com contributor

Virgin birth not unique to Mary

Christmas, traditionally, is a giant birthday bash for Jesus Christ, who was said to be born to the Virgin Mary. The event is considered miraculous: Human biology requires sex for reproduction. But via a process known as parthenogenesis, eggs become embryos without male fertilization. It has been found to occur in about 70 species. Recent additions to the list include komodo dragons, the world's largest lizard; and an Atlantic blacktip shark, shown here.

The science behind the 'Star of Bethlehem'

Some biblical wise men figured that a rare celestial spectacle a little more than 2,000 years ago heralded the arrival of a king, and followed it to where he and his mother lay. But what was this "Star of Bethlehem"?

Astronomers have puzzled over the mystery for years. One idea holds the "star" was actually a rare alignment of planets, several of which occurred between 3 B.C. and 2 B.C. ? dates that some scholars think could correspond with the historical birth of Jesus. One such sequence involves the planet Jupiter, seen here, flitting back and forth across the star Regulus in Leo and then approaching Venus so that the two appeared as one.

Frankincense, tapped out

Balthasar, the wise man on the right in this nativity scene, brought the baby Jesus a gift of frankincense, according to the New Testament.

While the fragrant resin may have been abundant in biblical times, today the trees that produce it on the Arabian Peninsula and in the Horn of Africa are about tapped out, according to scientists. Tapped trees, the researchers found, produce fewer and less productive seeds than those left alone for at least four years. And since standing trees are also being cleared for farmland and munched by goats, those that remain standing are under duress. The researchers call for less intensive tapping to keep production sustainable.

Mistletoe: A kiss of death?

Suspended sprigs of mistletoe have kindled and rekindled many a holiday romance over the years, but the parasitic plant can be the kiss of death for trees.

Most mistletoe species make their own nutrients via photosynthesis, but grow on trees where they suck out water and minerals essential to their hosts' long-term survival. And once infected, a tree is stuck with mistletoe until death. The plant itself is spread by birds, which eat the seeds and poop them out on other tree limbs.

A shot of holiday brandy is healthy?

Add a shot of holiday brandy to the list of supposedly sinful consumables that give a healthy kick ? in moderation, of course. As studies on red wine, dark chocolate and coffee have previously shown, recent research on brandy found that a shot glass full of the distilled fermented fruit juice contains as much antioxidant potential as the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. The antioxidants, which are chemical compounds that help protect body cells form free radicals, come mainly from copper during the distilling process, according to researchers at Monash University in Australia. Team leader Gordon Troup, a physicist, is shown here holding a glass of the amber liquid.

How science built a 'better' Christmas tree

While Charlie Brown's scraggly Christmas tree had an undeniable charm, most shoppers in the spirit for a natural tree want something that sheds few needles, requires little trimming and is full of hardy branches on which to hang ornaments. Scientists have spent decades doing their best to appease the market. They've selectively bred trees with all the traits desired by those gathered around the hearth as well as things such as disease resistance and fast growth that cheer up accountants focused on the bottom line. The man in this photo is walking among scientifically improved trees on his farm in Maine.

How to track Santa

Around this time of year, millions of children around the world giddily anticipate the arrival of a jolly red-suited man, his reindeer and a sleigh spilling over with gifts. As they wait, they can track Santa's progress as he and his merry crew race around the globe on NORADSanta.org, a Web site maintained by the North American Aerospace Defense Command. While there, visitors can also watch preview videos, play games and listen to holiday music. One page even explains that Santa must function within his own "time-space continuum" in order to complete his deliveries, which could open the door to parent-child conversations about science. This image shows volunteers at Santa tracking HQ answering e-mails and phone calls from interested kids on Christmas Eve.

Falling apart over jigsaw puzzles?

A popular post-presents pastime is the jigsaw puzzle, but what seems like a nice way to keep the holiday spirit together often fragments the peace. Why? Because, according to researchers at the University of Bath, different people approach the puzzle with conflicting strategies. For example, some puzzlers are border-obsessive while others scour the table for matches to a component of the picture on the lid. And those with different strategies tend to compete with each other: hiding sections, hoarding piles of pieces and even pocketing jigsaw pieces all in bid to "win" by placing the final puzzle piece.

The findings are part of a larger program to understand successful collaboration and develop software that will help people collaborate more effectively.

Christmas is for the birds

Every year around the holidays, thousands of people across the Americas step outside armed with binoculars and checklists. The volunteers in this army dutifully count the number and types of birds they see. The results of the annual Christmas Bird Count contribute to what scientists consider one of the best databases available on the distribution and population of many species of birds. It has helped scientists show, for example, that the population of the northern pintail duck, shown here, has dropped 77 percent since 1967.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50290451/ns/technology_and_science-science/

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The Best "White Christmas": Otis vs. Elvis

Let's get one thing straight right away: "White Christmas" is the best Christmas song. It has tradition, nostalgia, and romance. No church. There are more versions of it that you could ever care to hear—Bing Crosby's original 1941 performance is a classic, Frank Sinatra's 1944 version is good enough, and the Drifters' 1954 recording is doo-woppy and fun. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/uazwCHfRllg/the-best-white-christmas-otis-vs-elvis

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Commercial Real Estate: Tips You Need To Know - Maynas Eric

As a matter of fact, commercial real estate offers more profit potential than even residential properties represent. Finding the right opportunity is not easy. The tips presented below will help you understand the different uncertainties in commercial real estate, so you can make smarter purchasing decisions.

Always remain calm and patient when dealing with the commercial real estate market. Do not go into an investment out of haste. The property you buy in a hurry might not deliver what you need to reach your goals, leaving you to regret the purchase afterward. It could be a year-long process before you begin to see investments in your market pay off.

Make sure you have enough cash flow available for you from family, friends and any professional lenders accessible to you. Make contracts so you can pay the loans with a fixed rate, or hand them a portion of your property income.

TIP! Always include emergency maintenance on your list of need to know things. The landlord in the building where you have your office will be able to provide emergency repair contact information for you.

When you decide to invest in commercial property, set your sights a little higher than before. If you were thinking of buying a building with five units, realize that it is no harder managing 50 units than five. Commercial real estate is more economical when purchasing a building that has more units, but you must then maintain a much larger property.

Be on the lookout for sellers who are motivated. You have to look for them, particularly the sellers who are willing to sell for less than the market price. Nothing can happen in real estate until you find the deal, which is usually followed by a motivated seller.

If you?re a buyer or if you?re a seller, it?s important that you negotiate. Make certain that your voice is heard, and do what it takes to find a fair property price.

TIP! Keep in mind how important size is when you are looking for a spot for an up-and-coming business. Unless you plan to move your business in several years, you should purchase a piece of commercial property that will allow your business enough space to grow.

Interest Rates

Fluctuating interest rates are responsible for the greatest threat to investors in commercial real estate. In the current volatile economy the interest rates are rising and falling without warning, which can also dramatically affect the cost of financing an investment. Keep this in mind during your comparison shopping, and look to the long-term for cost analysis.

The location of your commercial property is key to its value and its potential suitability for what you have in mind. Neighborhood is important, even when you are looking at commercial property. Look at the growth in similar areas. You want to know that the community will still be decent and growing a decade from now.

TIP! When financing for commercial real estate investments, you need to make sure that you have your financial statements on hand. The bank won?t be able to help you at all if you can?t prove to them that you have the means to cover any loans you get to buy commercial real estate.

Use a digital camera to take pictures. Include all the defects in the photo, such as carpet stains, or holes in the walls.

If you have two commercial properties on your short list, you should buy the larger one, if at all possible. Obtaining adequate financing is a major undertaking, whether you opt for a ten-unit apartment complex or a twenty-unit apartment complex. This just reflects the general advantage of buying anything in bulk; when you buy a property with more units, you get a lower average price for each one.

Be sure to have your property inspected by a licensed inspector prior to placing it up for sale. Listen carefully to the inspector?s report so that you can immediately repair any problems.

TIP! Make certain that you know how to both recognize and benefit from good deals that present themselves. Those who are pros at real estate can quickly tell a great deal from a bad one.

When you are contemplating investing in commercial real estate, be mindful of the relationship between yourself, investors, and private lending institutions. Some commercial property is never listed, but can still be sold. A tight relationship will give you inside information and knowledge about how to access more property.

Real Estate

If you are under a lease for commercial real estate, be wary of standard lease forms. Sometimes, a long lease contains not only standard lease clauses, but extra agreements that the real estate company sneaked into the lease without discussing with you. Always read any commercial lease before you sign it. Be aware of what you?re agreeing to and don?t sign the lease if anything makes you uncomfortable. Taking the extra time to read through your lease now helps you avoid problems later.

TIP! A variety of kinds of commercial property real estate brokers exist. Agents that work with tenants and landlords both are called full service brokers.

There are some ways you can save money on repair costs for property cleanup. Cleanup costs can be your responsibility if you have a controlling interest in a real estate property. The environmental cleanup, plus the waste disposal, can bring on some costly fees. Get a report of the environment from a company that specializes in it. The expense may be offset by what is discovered.

Search for buildings that are simply designed and constructed if you?re planning on renting out commercial property. Tenants will be more likely to rent space in this type of building, as it looks taken care of. Not are the buildings more sturdy, there will be less maintenance issues for the owner and the tenant.

Be extra careful when inquiring about a commercial property?s square footage. There are two different ways to measure square footage for commercial properties. The first is usable square feet, while the second measurement is total square feet, which often includes unusable areas and walls. Make sure you know both totals so you can have a smoother process.

TIP! Keep the smaller issuer for later on in your negotiations and the larger ones first, when you write a letter of intent. Doing it this way will allow the negotiations to be less intense and get them to agree faster.

Commercial loans differ from the residential loans. For instance, they have a higher percentage down payment. The most commonsense way to obtain commercial financing is by checking out different lending agencies and by asking around regarding the best types of investments.

Commercial Real Estate

Now you should be aware of all the fundamentals involved with investing in commercial real estate. Stay flexible and be ready to think on your feet as you navigate the ever-changing commercial real estate market. You will find yourself in a perfect spot, and have access to the best deals on the market.

TIP! Read the fine print about your real estate agent. Dual agency is a possibility that you need to be aware of.

Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/commercial-real-estate-tips-you-need-to-know-2

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'Hobbit' holds on at $36.9M, 'Reacher' does $15.6M

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" easily defended its box-office title, remaining the No. 1 film for a second weekend with $36.9 million.

A rush of newcomers mostly had modest openings, led by Tom Cruise's action tale "Jack Reacher" at No. 2 with $15.6 million.

The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Hollywood.com are:

1. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," Warner Bros., $36,940,000, 4,100 locations, $9,010 average, $150,093,000, two weeks.

2. "Jack Reacher," Paramount, $15,600,000, 3,352 locations, $4,654 average, $15,600,000, one week.

3. "This Is 40," Universal, $12,030,690, 2,913 locations, $4,130 average, $12,030,690, one week.

4. "Rise of the Guardians," Paramount, $5,900,000, 3,031 locations, $1,947 average, $79,694,000, five weeks.

5. "Lincoln," Disney, $5,525,774, 2,293 locations, $2,410 average, $116,673,598, seven weeks.

6. "The Guilt Trip," Paramount, $5,390,000, 2,431 locations, $2,217 average, $7,421,000, one week.

7. "Monsters, Inc." in 3-D, Disney, $4,774,686, 2,618 locations, $1,824 average, $6,259,667, one week.

8. "Skyfall," Sony, $4,700,000, 2,365 locations, $1,987 average, $279,972,000, seven weeks.

9. "Life of Pi," Fox, $4,017,237, 1,750 locations, $2,296 average, $76,373,481, five weeks.

10. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," Summit, $2,626,955, 2,000 locations, $1,313 average, $281,632,689, six weeks.

11. "Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away," Paramount, $2,135,000, 840 locations, $2,542 average, $2,254,000, one week.

12. "Wreck-It Ralph," Disney, $1,819,036, 1,444 locations, $1,260 average, $171,741,561, eight weeks.

13. "Silver Linings Playbook," Weinstein Co., $1,781,196, 371 locations, $4,801 average, $19,861,238, six weeks.

14. "Dabangg 2," Eros International, $1,019,213, 166 locations, $6,140 average, $1,019,213, one week.

15. "Argo," Warner Bros., $903,000, 450 locations, $2,007 average, $106,439,000, 11 weeks.

16. "Red Dawn," Film District, $794,880, 1,011 locations, $786 average, $42,626,783, five weeks.

17. "Flight," Paramount, $709,000, 742 locations, $956 average, $90,989,000, eight weeks.

18. "Anna Karenina," Focus, $667,669, 331 locations, $2,017 average, $9,645,583, six weeks.

19. "Hitchcock," Fox Searchlight, $579,676, 535 locations, $1,084 average, $4,194,968, five weeks.

20. "Playing for Keeps," Film District, $424,105, 851 locations, $498 average, $12,410,463, three weeks.

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

___

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hobbit-holds-36-9m-reacher-does-15-6m-223353934--finance.html

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