DKK 60 million for research center devoted to well-being among children and young people

Public release date: 30-Nov-2012
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Contact: Merete Konnerup
mek@trygfonden.dk
45-21-68-52-18
Aarhus University

Denmark invests billions in initiatives and schemes for children and young people every year. These efforts are intended to provide children and young people with safe conditions in which to grow, develop and prepare for adulthood. But do they work? And are the resources being used effectively? We do not know enough about these issues, and that is precisely why the TrygFonden foundation has taken the initiative to establish a centre to research the field of well-being among children and young people.

"There are a great many children in Denmark who have a difficult childhood, who learn little at school, who fail to complete an education, and who as adults find it very hard to provide for themselves and/or establish a functional family. We in Denmark invest billions in attempts to prevent and deal with issues in these areas every year heavily outspending other countries with which we normally compare ourselves but we still fail to achieve our goals. To put it mildly, the results are indifferent," says Merete Konnerup, Senior Consultant at TrygFonden.

Plenty of will but knowledge is lacking

Professor Michael Rosholm from Aarhus University is to head up the pioneering research centre. Over the coming six years, he will be joining forces with a range of partners to carry out research targeted at different ages, development phases and skills from children of daycare age to young people in higher secondary education and at the start of their working lives. The first research projects are scheduled for launch in 2013.

"There can be no doubt that we need to take a more systematic approach to the initiatives currently being applied in the area of children and young people. In particular, we need to raise the bar with regard to how we evaluate the input. There is no shortage of will to improve schools and institutions, for example, to ensure that they provide better support for the academic and social skills of children and young people, and great efforts are being made all over the country every single day. The problem is that due to a lack of knowledge about what actually works the resources are often spent on inefficient initiatives, while programmes that have a much greater effect are not being made available to relevant players. In other words, we are not learning from either our failures or our successes," says Michael Rosholm. He continues:

"We will be starting out by thoroughly evaluating a limited number of projects, and will then progressively work our way out to broader areas. In this way, we hope that we can contribute to changing the knowledge culture and to developing the area so that we can base future initiatives on more reliable knowledge."

A great many exciting projects are being launched in the field of children and young people, and Merete Konnerup is convinced that there is much to be gained from applying a more systematic approach.

"If we become better at assessing effect in the field of children and young people in Denmark, we can improve child welfare and boost both skills and happiness among children," she says.

Research attracting international attention

The Danish researchers will be joined by a number of international colleagues, including James J. Heckman, Nobel laureate, Professor at the University of Chicago and one of the world's leading experts in measuring the effect of social initiatives. He sees great potential in the Danish research into effect.

"The research centre is a promising initiative that is sure to contribute knowledge and help the Danes to prioritise their efforts better. The initiative will also benefit the rest of the world. Setting up a centre to work seriously with research-based evaluation of many different initiatives is a really good idea," he says.

The enclosed fact sheet presents an overview of the ten projects that the TrygFonden centre for research into well-being among children and young people will be working on.

###

Read more about the TrygFonden centre for research into well-being among children and young people at trygfonden.dk

The ten research projects at Aarhus University into well-being among children and young people

Economic Evaluations and Cross-Study Comparability
Project Manager: Michael Rosholm, Aarhus University

School Readiness in Young Danish Children: Does an Intervention in Nurseries Improve Short and Long-Term Outcomes?
Project Manager: Dorthe Bleses, University of Southern Denmark

The Incredible Years. Developing socioeconomically disadvantaged children at key developmental stages
Project Manager: Marianne Simonsen, Aarhus University

Follow-Up on Early Childhood Intervention: A Double-Randomized Field

Trial of a Two-Stage Investment in Parental Childcare
Project Manager: Simon Calmar Andersen, Aarhus University

School-Wide Positive Behavior Support
Project Manager: Sarah van Mastrigt, Aarhus University

School Absenteeism. Risk factors and Intervention
Project Manager: Mikael Thastum, Aarhus University

Spare Time Jobs for Socially Disadvantaged Youth
Project Manager: Anna Piil Damm, Aarhus University

Dropout and Self-Control Problems in Youth
Project Manager: Helena Skyt Nielsen, Aarhus University

Improving Outcomes for Children in Disadvantaged Families by More Intensive Counseling
Project Manager: Lars Skipper, Aarhus University

Mentoring Disadvantaged Youth
Project Manager: Michael Svarer, Aarhus University

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 30-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Merete Konnerup
mek@trygfonden.dk
45-21-68-52-18
Aarhus University

Denmark invests billions in initiatives and schemes for children and young people every year. These efforts are intended to provide children and young people with safe conditions in which to grow, develop and prepare for adulthood. But do they work? And are the resources being used effectively? We do not know enough about these issues, and that is precisely why the TrygFonden foundation has taken the initiative to establish a centre to research the field of well-being among children and young people.

"There are a great many children in Denmark who have a difficult childhood, who learn little at school, who fail to complete an education, and who as adults find it very hard to provide for themselves and/or establish a functional family. We in Denmark invest billions in attempts to prevent and deal with issues in these areas every year heavily outspending other countries with which we normally compare ourselves but we still fail to achieve our goals. To put it mildly, the results are indifferent," says Merete Konnerup, Senior Consultant at TrygFonden.

Plenty of will but knowledge is lacking

Professor Michael Rosholm from Aarhus University is to head up the pioneering research centre. Over the coming six years, he will be joining forces with a range of partners to carry out research targeted at different ages, development phases and skills from children of daycare age to young people in higher secondary education and at the start of their working lives. The first research projects are scheduled for launch in 2013.

"There can be no doubt that we need to take a more systematic approach to the initiatives currently being applied in the area of children and young people. In particular, we need to raise the bar with regard to how we evaluate the input. There is no shortage of will to improve schools and institutions, for example, to ensure that they provide better support for the academic and social skills of children and young people, and great efforts are being made all over the country every single day. The problem is that due to a lack of knowledge about what actually works the resources are often spent on inefficient initiatives, while programmes that have a much greater effect are not being made available to relevant players. In other words, we are not learning from either our failures or our successes," says Michael Rosholm. He continues:

"We will be starting out by thoroughly evaluating a limited number of projects, and will then progressively work our way out to broader areas. In this way, we hope that we can contribute to changing the knowledge culture and to developing the area so that we can base future initiatives on more reliable knowledge."

A great many exciting projects are being launched in the field of children and young people, and Merete Konnerup is convinced that there is much to be gained from applying a more systematic approach.

"If we become better at assessing effect in the field of children and young people in Denmark, we can improve child welfare and boost both skills and happiness among children," she says.

Research attracting international attention

The Danish researchers will be joined by a number of international colleagues, including James J. Heckman, Nobel laureate, Professor at the University of Chicago and one of the world's leading experts in measuring the effect of social initiatives. He sees great potential in the Danish research into effect.

"The research centre is a promising initiative that is sure to contribute knowledge and help the Danes to prioritise their efforts better. The initiative will also benefit the rest of the world. Setting up a centre to work seriously with research-based evaluation of many different initiatives is a really good idea," he says.

The enclosed fact sheet presents an overview of the ten projects that the TrygFonden centre for research into well-being among children and young people will be working on.

###

Read more about the TrygFonden centre for research into well-being among children and young people at trygfonden.dk

The ten research projects at Aarhus University into well-being among children and young people

Economic Evaluations and Cross-Study Comparability
Project Manager: Michael Rosholm, Aarhus University

School Readiness in Young Danish Children: Does an Intervention in Nurseries Improve Short and Long-Term Outcomes?
Project Manager: Dorthe Bleses, University of Southern Denmark

The Incredible Years. Developing socioeconomically disadvantaged children at key developmental stages
Project Manager: Marianne Simonsen, Aarhus University

Follow-Up on Early Childhood Intervention: A Double-Randomized Field

Trial of a Two-Stage Investment in Parental Childcare
Project Manager: Simon Calmar Andersen, Aarhus University

School-Wide Positive Behavior Support
Project Manager: Sarah van Mastrigt, Aarhus University

School Absenteeism. Risk factors and Intervention
Project Manager: Mikael Thastum, Aarhus University

Spare Time Jobs for Socially Disadvantaged Youth
Project Manager: Anna Piil Damm, Aarhus University

Dropout and Self-Control Problems in Youth
Project Manager: Helena Skyt Nielsen, Aarhus University

Improving Outcomes for Children in Disadvantaged Families by More Intensive Counseling
Project Manager: Lars Skipper, Aarhus University

Mentoring Disadvantaged Youth
Project Manager: Michael Svarer, Aarhus University

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/au-d6m113012.php

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Findings support safety of whooping cough vaccine for older adults

ScienceDaily (Nov. 29, 2012) ? A new study of the safety of the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine supports the recommendation that those 65 and older get the vaccine to protect themselves and others, particularly young babies, from pertussis. Published online in Clinical Infectious Diseases, the findings come as reported U.S. cases of the bacterial infection, also known as whopping cough, are at the highest level since the 1950s.

An extremely contagious respiratory illness, pertussis puts infants at greatest risk for severe complications, including death. More than half of infants younger than 1 year old who get pertussis are hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 1 or 2 in 100 hospitalized infants die. Immunity is difficult to maintain in the community because infants cannot be vaccinated until they are 2 months old. As a result, they may be at risk, especially from family members and care givers who have the disease.

In their study, Hung Fu Tseng, PhD, MPH, and his team at Kaiser Permanente Southern California found that adverse events following Tdap vaccination in seniors were mostly minor. "Although there is a small increased risk of injection site reaction following Tdap vaccination in the elderly, it is no more common than that following the traditional tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine," Dr. Tseng said.

The researchers' study included 119,573 seniors who received the Tdap vaccine and the same number of people who received the traditional Td vaccine. Safety data were collected from seven health maintenance organizations across the U.S. The risk for adverse events following vaccination was comparable among both groups.

The authors hope the findings will allay any fears among older adults about the safety of the Tdap vaccine and prompt more doctors to urge across-the-board immunization, which is crucial in the wake of recent pertussis outbreaks, such as those in Minnesota, Washington state, Wisconsin, and elsewhere. Current recommendations call for infants older than 2 months, children, teens, adults (including pregnant women, parents, and health care workers), and those over 65 to be vaccinated.

"Pertussis immunization is important, particularly since one of the most common sources of pertussis in infants is their relatives, including their grandparents," Dr. Tseng said. "We suggest that clinicians follow CDC's recommendation and talk to older adult patients about vaccination against pertussis to protect themselves and their family members."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Infectious Diseases Society of America, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Hung Fu Tseng, Lina S. Sy, Lei Qian, S. Michael Marcy, Lisa A. Jackson, Jason Glanz, Jim Nordin, Roger Baxter, Allison Naleway, James Donahue, Eric Weintraub, and Steven J. Jacobsen,; for the Vaccine Safety Datalink Team. Safety of a Tetanus-Diphtheria-Acellular Pertussis Vaccine When Used Off-Label in an Elderly Population. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2012 DOI: 10.1093/cid/cis871

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/PNGUXtnuaJI/121129093705.htm

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US-based anti-Islam filmmaker, 6 others sentenced to death by ...

By NBC News staff and wire reports

CAIRO -- A U.S.-based Egyptian-American said to be behind the anti-Islam film "Innocence of Muslims" and six other Egyptian Christians were sentenced to death in absentia by a court in Cairo Wednesday.

The film, which insulted the prophet Muhammad, sparked violent protests and attacks on U.S. embassies across the Middle East when it was released in September.?Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in what is now accepted as a terrorist attack during a protest at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

"The seven accused persons were convicted of insulting the Islamic religion through participating in producing and offering a movie that insults Islam and its prophet,'' Egyptian Judge Saif al-Nasr Soliman said Wednesday.

Protests ignited by a controversial film that ridicules Islam's Prophet Muhammad spread throughout Muslim world.

Hezbollah chief makes rare appearance, leads calls for protests over video

Those convicted included "Eli Basily," also known as "Nicola Basily," the court said.

A prosecution lawyer told NBC News that this referred to the man said by U.S. federal authorities to have been behind the film. He has been named in a U.S. court as Mark Basseley Youssef, a 55-year-old Coptic Christian.

The charges in Egypt included "intentionally committing acts to harm the unity of the country and peace of its land;" "calling to divide the country into small states on a sectarian basis and harming national unity;" and "using religion to promote extremist ideas resulting in religious division and disrespect [of] heavenly religion."

Any defendants convicted?in absentia?of a capital punishment crime in Egypt are granted an automatic appeal and thus a retrial upon returning to Egypt.

Florida pastor accused
Terry Jones, the controversial Florida pastor, is also facing charges in Egypt over the film.?

The prosecution lawyer told NBC News that the case against Jones -- known for encouraging people to burn the Quran -- would be heard on Dec. 29.

Pastor may not recognize lasting impact of Quran-burning plan

Earlier this month, Youssef was?sentenced to a year in prison?in California for violating the terms of his probation stemming from a 2010 bank fraud conviction.?

However, none of the violations had to do with the content of "Innocence of Muslims."

The crude, low-budget video, produced privately in California, lasted just 13 minutes. It?portrayed the prophet Muhammad?as a religious fraud, pedophile and womanizer.?

Cast members have said they were misled into appearing in a film they believed was an adventure drama called "Desert Warrior."?

Actress sues, says she was fooled into acting in anti-Muslim movie

U.S. federal authorities have not said whether Youssef was the person who posted the film online.?Youssef wasn't supposed to use any name other than his true legal name without the prior written approval of his probation officer.

Several names have been associated with Youssef since the film trailer surfaced, including Sam Bacile and Nakoula Basseley Nakoula. Bacile was the name attached to the YouTube account that posted the video.?

Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church did not issue an official comment on the Egyptian court's ruling, Reuters reported.?

"The church denounced the movie, which it has nothing to do with. As for today's case, it is a court ruling and the church does not comment on court decisions," a church source, who asked not to be named, told the wire service.

Christians make up around 10 percent of Egypt's 83 million people and many complain of discrimination in work and treatment.?

NBC's Charlene Gubash and Ayman Mohyeldin, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

More world stories from NBC News:

Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/28/15509101-us-based-anti-islam-filmmaker-6-others-sentenced-to-death-by-egypt-court

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Eve Gets A Ruff Ryders Surprise From Sheek Louch: Watch It Here!

'They were my big brothers and on top of that they made sure I could spit,' Eve tells 'RapFix Live' of relationship with Double R family.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Sheek Louch and Eve on "RapFix Live"
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1698093/eve-sheek-louch-ruff-ryders-surprise-rapfix-live.jhtml

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Cate Blanchett in Talks for Cinderella

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett is in negotiations to play the evil stepmother in Disney's live-action Cinderella remake, The Hollywood Reporter confirms.

Mark Romanek (Never Let Me Go) will direct the reimagining of the classic fairy tale from a screenplay by Chris Weitz (A Better Life, About a Boy). Simon Kinberg (X-Men trilogy, Elysium) is producing.

STORY: Chris Weitz Joins Disney's Live-Action 'Cinderella' Remake

The Cinderella project was first set up at Disney in May 2010 in the wake of the studio?s success with Alice in Wonderland, the live-action adaptation of the Lewis C. Carroll book that starred Johnny Depp.

Devil Wears Prada writer Aline Brosh McKenna wrote the initial draft of the script.

Blanchett was once set to play the evil witch in Disney's Snow White and the Seven but that project fell apart.

The Australian actress next appears in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, in theaters Dec. 14. She also has two Terrence Malick films and a Woody Allen project in the pipeline, and recently joined the star-studded cast of George Clooney's The Monuments Men.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1926342/news/1926342/

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Union Savings Bank welcomes Rhonda M. Leone as vice president ...

Union Savings Bank is pleased to announce the hiring of Rhonda M. Leone of New Canaan, Conn., as vice president, construction lending manager.

In her new position, Leone is responsible for commercial real estate business development lending, construction lending and management and overseeing all commercial construction projects.

?Rhonda brings more than 25 years of comprehensive experience in the real estate market to the bank,? said Union Savings Bank President and CEO Fran Dattalo. ?Her ability to cultivate and expand strong business relationships, as well as her ongoing success in commercial real estate lending, make her a valuable addition to our team.?

Before joining Union Savings Bank, Leone was vice president of commercial lending at Darien Rowayton Bank, where she underwrote commercial and commercial real estate lending requests. Previously, she was vice president, Connecticut market director at Citibank, where she launched and managed Citibank Community Development in Connecticut, focusing on lending to non-profit and for-profit developers for affordable housing and community development projects.

Leone is also an independent fee appraiser and instructor of real estate and appraisal continuing education classes, as well as a former real estate agent.

Leone received her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut and holds two master?s degrees from the University of Bridgeport: one in education and one in business administration with a concentration in finance.

An active member in her community, Leone volunteers regularly at Strays and Others, a local animal welfare rescue agency. She is also a member of the Connecticut Housing Coalition.

?

About Union Savings Bank

Established in 1866 and headquartered in Danbury, Conn., Union Savings Bank is a $2.5 billion mutual bank dedicated to being the bank of choice in western Connecticut. As a full-service financial institution, Union Savings Bank provides banking, mortgage, investment, trust and insurance products throughout western Connecticut with 29 offices in Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Canton, Danbury, Goshen, Kent, Litchfield, Marble Dale, Monroe, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sharon, Southbury, Torrington and Washington Depot. The bank provides financial services to individuals, businesses, not-for-profit organizations and government entities through its commercial, residential and consumer lending, corporate services, retail banking and wealth management divisions.

For more information, please visit unionsavings.com, and connect with the bank on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Source: http://newcanaan.patch.com/announcements/union-savings-bank-welcomes-rhonda-m-leone-as-vice-president-construction-lending-manager

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Realtor Spotlight: T.J. Barnhart - Real Estate News - REALTOR.com

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By City	By Zip Code	By Neighborhood	By MLS ID
Columbus, OH	43224	Wall Street, New York, NY	#999999

Source: http://www.realtor.com/blogs/2012/11/27/realtor-spotlight-t-j-barnhart/

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ConAgra finally wins Ralcorp in $5 billion store-brand food bet

(Reuters) - ConAgra Foods Inc sealed a deal to buy Ralcorp Holdings Inc for $5 billion, more than a year and a half after first bidding on it, turning the maker of Chef Boyardee pasta into the top U.S. producer of store-branded foods.

ConAgra said on Tuesday it will pay $90 per share in cash, a premium of 28 percent to Ralcorp shares' closing price on Monday.

The deal creates a packaged food giant with $18 billion in annual sales -- from branded foods like Slim Jim meat snacks and Hunt's ketchup to foods that stores brand as their own.

It marks a victory for ConAgra Chief Executive Gary Rodkin, who began pursuing Ralcorp in March 2011 with an offer of $82 per share. After raising its bid twice, ConAgra walked away from its then-final offer of $94 per share, which valued Ralcorp at $5.2 billion.

"The circumstances were different than they are today, but the strategy is the same," Rodkin told Reuters. "We have been very, very true to our strategy."

Rodkin said last year ConAgra wanted to acquire more brands and expand its footprint in private label, where sales growth has often outpaced that of branded food, especially as offerings improve and consumer spending remains limited by lingering unemployment. The company has struck deals for several purchases since being spurned by Ralcorp.

The deal is also a win for activist investor Keith Meister, founder of Corvex Management, Ralcorp's largest shareholder. Corvex demanded in August that Ralcorp either sell itself, buy another company or change its strategy, after a disappointing performance following its refusal to talk to ConAgra and the subsequent spin-off of Post Holdings .

Meister, who founded Corvex in 2010 after seven years with Carl Icahn, joined the Ralcorp board in October.

The companies expect the deal to close by March 31 and modestly benefit ConAgra's financial results for fiscal 2013.

Separately on Tuesday, Ralcorp reported better-than-expected quarterly results, posting adjusted earnings of 92 cents per share versus analysts' estimates of 87 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Ralcorp's shares rose 26.5 percent to $88.87 on the New York Stock Exchange. ConAgra shares rose as much as 5 percent to$29.68, their highest level in nearly eight years.

NO OVERLAP, MORE DEALS TO COME

Ralcorp is a top maker of private label cereal, pasta, crackers, jams and jellies, syrups and frozen waffles -- categories where ConAgra does not have a large presence.

"For the most part, we do not compete with ourselves," Rodkin said, noting that ConAgra plans to drive the private label business by bringing to it some skills of a branded company, such as product innovation.

The deal also broadens ConAgra's exposure to faster-growing retailers with robust private-label brands, like Whole Foods Market Inc and Costco Wholesale Corp , he said.

Shares of rival private-label food manufacturer TreeHouse Foods Inc also rose on Tuesday, as the offer for Ralcorp ignited speculation about deals involving TreeHouse.

For TreeHouse, the Ralcorp deal is "a positive catalyst" as it "temporarily ties up the two other major private-label buyers in the acquisition landscape," Suntrust Robinson Humphrey analyst Bill Chappell said in a note.

"With other strategic acquirers gone, financial players would surely struggle to bid up deal prices," said Janney Capital Markets analyst Jonathan Feeney.

ConAgra's Ralcorp purchase was valued at $6.8 billion including debt. It will be funded with cash on hand and new borrowings from BofA Merrill Lynch.

ConAgra said it will issue $350 million of equity. It will also maintain its annual dividend of $1.00 per share and significantly reduce share buybacks while it pays down debt from the deal. It hopes to resume merger activity later.

Centerview Partners and BofA Merrill Lynch are financial advisers to ConAgra, while Barclays and Goldman Sachs & Co are advising Ralcorp.

(Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in Bangalore and Dhanya Skariachan and Martinne Geller in New York, writing by Jessica Wohl in Chicago; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Ted Kerr, David Gregorio and Andrew Hay)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/conagra-acquire-ralcorp-5-billion-121828953--finance.html

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Tax credit luring pre-Broadway shows to Chicago

In this Oct. 11, 2012 photo provided by Broadway in Chicago, actors Stark Sands, left, and Billy Porter are seen in a preview performance of "Kinky Boots" at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago. Illinois has a tax credit to attract pre-Broadway and long-run shows to the state. "Kinky Boots" has applied for the tax credit. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Broadway in Chicago, Sean Williams)

In this Oct. 11, 2012 photo provided by Broadway in Chicago, actors Stark Sands, left, and Billy Porter are seen in a preview performance of "Kinky Boots" at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago. Illinois has a tax credit to attract pre-Broadway and long-run shows to the state. "Kinky Boots" has applied for the tax credit. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Broadway in Chicago, Sean Williams)

In this Nov. 19, 2012 photo, the marquee at the Cadillac Palace Theatre promotes the musical "Les Miserables" in the theater district in downtown Chicago. Illinois has been using a recent theater tax credit approved by state lawmakers to attract pre-Broadway and long-run shows to the state. Two musicals recently applied for the tax credit and officials say they're in talks with at least nine other interested productions, and that all together they could bring millions of dollars to the city. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

In this Nov. 19, 2012 photo, traffic passes through the theater district in downtown Chicago. The Windy City is letting its Broadway bling shine with the help of a little-known state tax credit. Two musicals destined for New York have chosen to preview in Chicago's theater district and take advantage of a unique Illinois tax break aimed at luring shows. And city theater officials recently said they're in talks with at least nine other productions interested in coming to the city. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

CHICAGO (AP) ? The New York-bound musical "Kinky Boots" enjoyed a pre-Broadway run at a downtown Chicago theater this fall, but only after the state of Illinois lured producers with something that's scarce these days ? money.

The Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein production that's based on a 2005 movie, along with a second musical, "Big Fish," were the first to apply for a certificate making them eligible for a state theater tax credit. Lawmakers slipped it into a package of tax breaks approved late last year for corporate heavyweights Sears Holding Corp. and the CME Group Inc.

The breaks appear to be doing their job: Producers say the credit ? worth up to $500,000 per production or a cap of $2 million per year ? was instrumental in their decision to bring the shows to Chicago instead of going straight to New York or previewing in Seattle, Toronto or San Francisco.

In the highly competitive business of attracting big-name, revenue-generating productions, Chicago theater officials say they're in talks with at least nine other productions.

The timing and principle of such a state tax credit primarily benefitting Chicago ? given in the midst of Illinois' almost unprecedented financial crisis ? has raised some financial experts' eyebrows. Currently, the state is nearly $8 billion behind in paying bills to social service providers and other state contractors; the state's employee pension program is underfunded by $95 billion; and Illinois residents are being asked to pay higher income taxes.

But proponents, who argued for the tax break for five years, now can point to "Kinky Boots" and "Big Fish" as evidence of success. They say the unique tax break brings Chicago something more than money ? a show-business shine that generates buzz. Only Louisiana and Rhode Island have similar legislation, intended to bring shows to cities like New Orleans and Providence.

"From a bigger picture standpoint, it has huge impact to the city and state and that's the real motivation behind this," said Lou Raizin, president of Broadway in Chicago, which runs five theaters. "We're getting a bite of the Big Apple before they do and I love that."

Producers often like to test shows outside of New York before debuting on Broadway. It lets them gauge audience reactions and make updates, improvements and changes. But producers say an out-of-town preview can be pricey. Besides "Kinky Boots," Chicago has had two pre-Broadway shows since 2006 ? "The Pirate Queen" and "The Addams Family," starring Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth.

"Big Fish" producer Dan Jinks said other cities wanted to host his show, but the tax credit made it easier to choose Chicago.

"It's extremely smart of the legislature to realize if a brand new musical is spending all that money in Seattle, why shouldn't they be spending it in Chicago instead?" Jinks said. "To give Chicago that competitive edge is a really smart thing to do."

Gov. Pat Quinn signed the legislation in December 2011, offering tax breaks to productions headed to Broadway within a year and productions that run longer than eight weeks. It applies to theaters anywhere in Illinois that seat more than 1,200 and offers discounts on taxes related to labor and other production costs.

"Kinky Boots" producer Hal Luftig said his entire show costs about $13 million, including between $2.5 million and $3 million to come to Chicago. For him, the $500,000 was a motivator.

"Chicago is a great theater town and being able to have that help and that aid was a big driving force for us to come here," Luftig said.

Nobody doubts the productions will bring the city valuable revenue, not only from the shows' own spending, but also theatergoers shelling out for hotels, restaurants and shopping sprees. But exactly how much is hard to ascertain. Broadway in Chicago officials did not respond to requests for the per-show information, though they said their productions bring a total of $750 million to the city annually.

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity spokeswoman Sandra Jones said the agency did not have such figures.

Legislative supporters of the measure assured that the bottom line would not be a loss to the state.

"Taxpayers will get their money back," said Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, who said he would support expanding the tax credit if it is successful. "We're getting money that we otherwise wouldn't get at all. It's outside money. It's why you should do it, because we get more back than we put in."

Some critics, though, find it unwise for Illinois to be giving away any type of tax break while in a financial mess. Ralph Martire, executive director of the Chicago-based Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, said Illinois shouldn't be contemplating tax credits when it has billions of dollars in debt.

"Every penny you use for poor theater decisions is a penny you can't use to educate an inner-city child," he said. "I know it's a relatively small amount of money, but it's absolutely unjust for state government to be kicking that money in that industry this year."

Raizin, with Broadway in Chicago, said the tax credit's impact goes beyond a monetary figure.

"When word starts to really spread nationally and internationally about the great city we have, that's where the huge value is," he said.

Luftig said he's already told his fellow Broadway producers about his "positive experience" in Chicago.

"New York is looking," he said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-11-26-Chicago%20Theater-Tax%20Breaks/id-dae32d0ab1334f7c9b495ff6840c360a

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Most Popular Deal Site: Slickdeals

If you're looking to save some money on your holiday shopping purchases?or any online shopping for that matter?you should check out some of the web's best deal sites before you pull out the plastic and add that item to your cart. They can save you a ton of money at checkout, and many can even help you research the best buys before you even decide what you really want. We asked you last week which sites you thought were the best, and then took at look at the five best deal sites and put them to an all out vote. Now we're back to feature the winner.

With close to 50% of the overall vote, Slickdeals took the top spot by a wide margin. It's community powered deal listings, rapidly rotating and exclusive discounts, and wide popularity brought it to the top early in the voting and carried it through to the end.

In second place with over 16% of the overall vote was FatWallet, another largely community powered deal site that doesn't just cover online purchases and electronics, but also coupon codes and brick-and-mortar retailers. In third with close to 15% of the vote was Woot!, which many of you praised for its wide variety of daily deals on various items, but most importantly its community powered Deals.Woot! site, where bargains abound. In fourth with over 10% of the votes cast was Dealnews and its network of deal sites, regularly updating every hour of every day with fresh discounts, coupon codes, and bargains worth checking out. Finally, bringing up the rear with 9% of the vote was BradsDeals, a deal site that eschews the technology focus that the others have and offers up discounts, coupons, and bargains on apparel, jewelry, household items, and other goods both online and from name-brand retailers.

The Hive Five is based on reader nominations. As with most Hive Five posts, if your favorite was left out, it's not because we hate it?it's because it didn't get the nominations required in the call for contenders post to make the top five. We understand it's a bit of a popularity contest, but if you have a favorite, we want to hear about it. Have a suggestion for the Hive Five? Send us an email at tips+hivefive@lifehacker.com!

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/5YPM-jUM2UM/most-popular-deal-site-slickdeals

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Take a Look Inside the Nokia Lumia 920 Camera

PureView

The 8.7-megapixel camera in the Lumia 920 carries Nokia?s PureView label, a name the company first introduced in the 41-megapixel Nokia 808 PureView handset earlier this year.

Click here to view this gallery.

[More from Mashable: Living With Lumia: The Problem With Windows Phone Apps]

There?s no denying that the Nokia Lumia 920 has one of the best smartphone cameras out there. Along with our Lumia 920 review unit, Nokia sent us the phone's camera sensor so we could see exactly what?s going on inside the phone.

The 8.7-megapixel camera carries Nokia?s PureView label, a name the company first introduced in the 41-megapixel Nokia 808 PureView handset earlier this year.

[More from Mashable: Nokia Here for iOS Has Excellent Transit Maps, Needs Polish [HANDS ON]]

PureView cameras use BSI (backside illuminated) sensors rather than the FSI (front-side illumiated) sensors that are used in older smartphones. The difference between the two lies primarily in the path that light takes to reach the photosensitive area of the sensor. With BSI, light isn?t restricted in the same way as an FSI sensor, allowing more light to get through and photos to look noticeably better in low-light situations.

While most smartphones today use a BSI sensor for improved low-light performance, the Lumia 920 also has a fixed f/2.0 camera aperture in its PureView cameras. The unusually large aperture lets in more light than camparable cameras -- very useful when such light is scarce.

SEE ALSO: Nokia Lumia 920: A Big Phone With a Killer Camera

The camera also includes optical image stabilization, which compensates for unintended movement and eliminates camera shake in videos and photos. Rather than shift a single lens to compensate for movement, Nokia?s PureView cameras shift the entire optical assembly in the camera to help eliminate shake, giving it an advantage over other smartphone cameras out there -- even ones with "normal" image stabilization.

Optical Image Stabilization helps improve pictures in low-light situations, as well as times when you?re trying to shoot photos one-handed and need a little help to keep the shot steady.

With Windows Phone 8 Nokia is taking its PureView technology a step further. Working along with Microsoft, Windows Phone 8 introduces a new algorithm for reducing visual noise and improving the camera?s low-light performance while maintaining a natural look in photos, theoretically further improving pictures taken in challenging situations.

Take a look at some low-light pictures we took with the Lumia 920 below, and let us know what you think of the smartphone?s camera in the comments.

Great in Low Light

All of the photos in this gallery were taken using the automatic settings in the Lumia 920 at night.

Click here to view this gallery.

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/look-inside-nokia-lumia-920-camera-185537943.html

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Transformation at SWD Cricket : The Gremlin ? Daily online ...

This day marked the official handover of new Office Complex and dressing room facilities at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn, the home of the South Western Districts Cricket Board. The event was attended by Mr Alderman Jurie Harmse, Chairperson of the Strategic Services Portfolio Committee, who officially opened the complex together with Mr Rudy Claassen, President of the SWD Cricket Board, and Mr Maxwell Jordaan, Projects Chairman of The Sports Trust and Manager of Transformation of Cricket,South Africa.

At the Opening function were: Albertus Kennedy (CEO SWD Cricket), Ms Anita Matthews (Executive Director of the Sports Trust), Rudi Claassen (President SWD Cricket Board), Leigh Ann Paulick (the MC from Supersport), Carol Crawford (Marketing and Communication Manager Sports Trust), Maxwell Jordaan (Manager Amateur Cricket, Cricket South Africa and Projects Chairman of the Sports Trust) and Obakeng Oganne (Project Co-ordinator, Sports Trust).

The Sports Trust together with their Trustee, Cricket South Africa (CSA), have funded an amount of R 300,000 towards the completion of the 2nd phase (dressing room facilities) of the overall complex, and implemented this project on their behalf.

This project was started in April 2011 and the initial phase was funded by the NLDTF (National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund) to the amount of R 2.7 million. Phase 1 ? the construction of a Club house, President Suite and Offices was completed in October 2012. Phase 2, the construction of dressing rooms ? adjacent to the existing structure ? started in May 2012 and was completed in October 2012.

Alderman Jurie Harmse, Chairperson of the Strategic Services Portfolio Committee of the Oudtshoorn Municipality officially opens the complex. With him are Albertus Kennedy (CEO SWD Cricket), Maxwell Jordaan (Manager Amateur Cricket, Cricket South Africa and Projects Chairman of the Sports Trust) and Rudi Claassen (President SWD Cricket Board)

?The construction of the new facilities is a symbol of growth in an exciting period in the history of SWD Cricket and contributes towards the objective of SWD Cricket to become a full affiliate of Cricket SouthAfrica. The new facility will allow SWD Cricket to host high profile cricket matches and enhance the total image of cricket in the region?, says Mr Rudy Claassen, President of SWD Cricket Board.

The South Western Districts Cricket Board actively strives towards a situation where resources for cricket are accessible to all persons, and playing the game is encouraged in all communities, in order to fulfill the CSA Transformation policy, and uplift the image of cricket in the province.

?The Sports Trust?s role is to bring about equitable change in the sphere of sports and recreation. The assistance to South Western Districts Cricket bears testimony to that focus. The modern cricket facility in a rural area levels the playing fields with all of the SWD cricket rivals. This facility is a symbol of quality, pride and dignity ? reflective of the manner in which this cricket Board does its business. We wish them well in their on-field endeavours?, says Maxwell Jordaan, Projects Chairman for the Sports Trust and Transformation Manager at Cricket SA.

The SWD Cricket Facility is symbolically opened by cutting the ribbon by Alderman Jurie Harmse, Chairperson of the Strategic Services Portfolio Committee of the Oudtshoorn Municipality and Mr Maxwell Jordaan (Manager Amateur Cricket, Cricket South Africa and Projects Chairman of the Sports Trust). Also present were Albertus Kennedy (CEO SWD Cricket), John Komanisi (Vice-President), Simon Swigelaar (Honorary Life-President) and Rudi Claassen (President SWD Cricket)

Popularity: 1% [?]

Source: http://www.thegremlin.co.za/2012/11/22/transformation-at-swd-cricket/

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Source: http://fugidamypito.posterous.com/transformation-at-swd-cricket-the-gremlin-dai

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Video: NBA cheerleader on nasty fall: ?Day by day it gets better?

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

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/49954930/

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ohinalbertxy: Daily Tips for Business: Workplace Communication ...

Well, as an entrepreneur I used to laugh at people who wanted to come to work for my company and on their resume they put that they had a Business Communications Degree. I used to think that they studied business communications because it was an easy subject in school, one that you could learn without having to deal with too much math, perhaps even taking the easy way out. Nevertheless workplace communication is an essential tool, and without it your business will not operate efficiently, and you are bound to get your wires crossed more often than not.

Source: http://dailytipsforbusiness.blogspot.com/2012/11/workplace-communication_19.html

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Source: http://pkydrucs.posterous.com/daily-tips-for-business-workplace-communicati

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Source: http://morphemic-thule.blogspot.com/2012/11/daily-tips-for-business-workplace.html

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Source: http://avilazachery.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/daily-tips-for-business-workplace-communication-pkydrucss.html

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Source: http://seventieth-responsibility.blogspot.com/2012/11/daily-tips-for-business-workplace.html

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Source: http://ohinalbertxy.blogspot.com/2012/11/daily-tips-for-business-workplace.html

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The Weekly Winston: ?The Happy Warrior of Squandermania? (Powerlineblog)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/266048296?client_source=feed&format=rss

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At renovated Iraq shrine, Shiites mark a holy day

KARBALA, Iraq (AP) ? It is the most impassioned day of the year for Shiite Muslims ? Ashoura, when one of the faith's most revered figures, Imam Hussein, was martyred in battle. Hundreds of thousands of Shiites who flocked to his resplendent, gold-domed shrine to commemorate him Saturday found the site has radically changed.

The shrine of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is seeing its most extensive renovation since the 17th century. The construction is part of a push by Iraq's Shiite rulers to reinvigorate sacred shrines long neglected under former dictator Saddam Hussein, reflecting the community's steadily growing pride and power since the fall of their nemesis.

Now worshippers find the shrines' minarets coated in gold and ? in the most dramatic change ? the sweeping plaza surrounding the mosque has been covered over with a series of domes to provide shade from the hot sun in the desert city of Karbala.

Not everyone is happy with the changes. Five experts on the shrine, including three who advised on individual parts of the renovation, say the drama of the shrine has been lost.

The covering of the once-open plaza, they argue, ruined the visual experience. Pilgrims no longer can see the awe-striking view of the mosque as they pass through the sprawling, light-filled plaza, then into the dazzlingly colorful mosque, finally reaching their ultimate destination: Hussein's richly ornate tomb, they said.

"They sacrificed considerations of Islamic architecture to do it," said Haider Naji, one of the experts.

On Saturday, throngs of Shiites who came from across the country ? some marching for miles on foot in processions ? converged on the shrine, one of the holiest sites of the faith. Men cloaked in black beat giant drums, youths blew military-style bugles, and others carried platters of sweets to sustain energy, decorated with dyed pink and blue feathers.

Outside the shrine, the crowds held Ashoura's blood-soaked, emotional pageantry of grief. Men and boys dressed in white burial shrouds ? to show their willingness to die for Hussein ? whipped their backs with chains and cut their heads with knives, drenching themselves in blood to mourn his loss. Men and women wailed in mourning, breaking down into tears.

Others dressed as the historic figures from the 7th century battle ? Hussein, in green, and his enemies, in red, with turbans decked with feather plumes, leather battle vests and swords. A fountain of fake red blood bubbled before the shrine. A horse covered with a sheet stained red was led through the crowds, representing Hussein's white steed Zuljanah, which is said to have been riddled by arrows as it tried to shield its wounded master.

Ashoura marks the martyrdom of Hussein in a battle at Karbala in the deserts south of present-day Baghdad. The event is one of the defining moments in the split between the Sunni and Shiite sects of Islam.

Shiites believe Hussain's father Imam Ali was Muhammad's rightful successor and that was he unfairly passed over by the caliphs considered by Sunnis as the rightful line. Hussein led a revolt against the Damascus-based Sunni caliph, who sent an army that crushed Hussein's small band of fighters at Karbala.

In commemorations for Ashoura held by Shiites around the world Saturday, details of the battle are retold or recreated in passion plays that bring wails of sorrow and pity from the crowds.

The stories are deeply engrained in Shiites' consciousness. The agonizing thirst of Hussein's wife and children in the desert after the besieging enemy stopped their water supply. The heroic, doomed attempt to bring them water by Hussein's half-brother al-Abbas, who ? even after the enemy cut off his arms ? rode gripping the water-skin in his teeth until he died in a hail of arrows. The killing of Hussein's loyalists one by one until Hussein was alone, wounded and finally beheaded.

So strong are the passions that onlookers sometimes stone the actor playing Hussein's killer, Shimr. At a Baghdad shrine on Saturday, the play's "Shimr" broke character to weepingly ask the audience's forgiveness, pleading that someone had to take the role.

The day has often been a chance for Sunni militants to attack Shiites, whom they see as heretics. Iraq has seen repeated deadly bombings against Ashoura ceremonies in past years, though there were no immediate reports of violence this year. In Pakistan's tribal region on Saturday, a bomb blast struck an Ashoura procession, killing seven people, including three children.

The renovations at the shrine in Karbala are the latest evolution in what was once the austere, tree-marked grave of Hussein. Over the centuries, it became more ostentatious, culminating in the shrine built in the 17th century by artisans from the nearby Persian Safavid empire, according to Ghada Razouki, an expert in medieval Islamic architecture.

Under the shrine's gold-plated dome, Hussein's sarcophagus is drenched five tons of silver and 120 kilograms (260 pounds) of engraved gold. The mosque is etched inside and out with geometrical designs, verses from the Quran and the names of Muhammad's family in green, blue and yellow. Tiny mirrors reflecting light line the arched ceiling above the sarcophagus.

The current renovations, launched in 2005, aim to provide more room to crowds reaching some two million pilgrims, said Sheik Salah al-Haydari, head of the Shiite Muslim endowment, which has overall control of Iraq's Shiite shrines.

The plaza that surrounds the shrine has been covered over with the domed roof and will be expanded four-fold to 24,000 square meters (260,000 square feet) by 2013, said Mohammed Kadhem, who is leading the $50 million project. One extension of 6,000 square meters (65,000 square feet) has been completed.

The ancient wall surrounding the shrine has been replaced with multi-level buildings with extra prayer spaces, offices and a museum. The shrine's minarets were coated in gold.

Al-Haydari countered the criticisms, saying, "We are continuing the architectural style that is there, like a river continuing its path."

To recreate the dramatic open space around the shrine, urban planners reviving Karbala's old city will increase plaza space outside the site's gates, said Mohammed al-Assam of Dewan Architects.

Shiite officials are also renovating the shrine of al-Abbas next to Hussein's, that of Imam Ali in neighboring Najaf, and the shrine of his descendants in Baghdad.

The rush to improve the shrines became more determined after al-Qaeda militants in 2006 blew up the golden dome of a shrine in Samarra, north of Baghdad. The destruction of the al-Askari shrine ? now rebuilt ? underscored to Shiite officials the need to rebuild and glorify their shrines to demonstrate their growing power.

"Shiite areas are now in the hands of Shiites. What is happening is natural and it shows their control," said analyst Hadi Jalo.

In contrast to the architects, worshippers aid the changes to the once-neglected shrine should have been even grander.

"All these changes are but a little for the Imam Hussein," said Ahmad Ali, who just arrived in Karbala from Baghdad. "But thank God it's better than before: there's air conditioning, protection from the sun and rain," he said.

Speaking before walking from Baghdad to Karbala, Abdullah Ashraf, 25, said worrying about changes to the shrine misses the point.

"What makes the Hussein shrine alive is the memory of his story."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/renovated-iraq-shrine-shiites-mark-holy-day-174546037.html

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Scratch-Off Games

Scratch-off games are very popular in the United States. One such state in which a lot of people enjoy these types of games is New Jersey. New Jersey lottery scratch off tickets are the kind of games that have fueled the state's increasing revenue over the past decade. Some people might have thought that the multi-state Mega Millions (which began in 1999) could have fueled the growing revenue of lottery sales.

The draw and the temptation of instant gratification have almost tripled New Jersey lottery scratch off tickets sales since fiscal year 1997. In 2005, scratch card sales reached over $1 billion for the first time and accounted for almost half of New Jersey's lottery sales. Don Catlin, who is a retired University of Massachusetts mathematics professor, said that one reason for brisk sales has to do with instant gratification. A player can find out immediately of he or she has won or lost. Catlin is also the author of "The Lottery Book: The Truth Behind the Numbers."

Instant lottery scratch-off games are more popular and offer a prettier gift package than a pink sheet of Pick-6 numbers. Catlin added that scratch-off games give players a better shot of winning. Percentage-wise and not jackpot-size, scratch-off card games tend to give more back to players. Number games pay out around 50%, while the state's instant games give players a 65 percent return on investment, a basis sometimes belied by experience.

A regular player of drawings-games, however, says that he does not like scratch offs and people never win anything. Another player says she sticks with scratches when she plays by herself, citing that she's not good with numbers. Another drawings-game player says he does not win from scratch-off games; yet he still plays New Jersey lottery scratch off tickets because he knows somebody who won $25,000 and $60,000 that way.

Thus, he buys regularly for drawings-games and occasionally plays an instant scratch off game. He claims he played for around $100 a week, but fatherhood has reduced that to about $20. Yet, scratch off games is not a sucker's bet for state lotteries like New Jersey. Lottery Director Michellene Davis had said that instant ticket sales are unique as they can be partnered with popular themes.

New Jersey, in fiscal 1997, sold nearly $1.2 billion in tickets for evening draws. Over the years, the state joined a multi-state game and began drawing Pick 3 and Pick 4 two times a day. The state sold over $1.2 billion in 2005 - essentially a surge of $35 million in a period when instant game lottery sales are up by $683 million.

Recently, under a new program, any person who joins the state's Lottery VIP Club and buys at least $10 in non-winning instant tickets are able to hand in losing stubs into a yearly $1 million draw. Moreover, in the yearly draw, there still will be quarterly draws to choose 100 winners to receive $250 each. In essence, drawings-type games are good but most prefer scratch-off games because of immediate gratification.

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/1441428/scratch-off-games.htm

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A New Real Estate Company, with a Twist, Opens its Doors ...

A New Real Estate Company, with a Twist, Opens its Doors

BY Baristanet Staff ?|? Friday, Nov 23, 2012 11:00am ?|? COMMENTS (5)

Do you know someone who?s looking to buy a home in Essex County? A new non-traditional real estate company has opened its doors in Montclair to interested buyers.

Habitat is different from traditional real estate agencies in that it only represents home buyers?never sellers?eliminating the conflict of interest that can occur when buying a home.

?Most buyers don?t realize how important it is to have proper representation in a real estate transation.? said Clayton Borchard, Broker of Record at Habitat. ?Unless the buyer signs a buyer?s agreement with an agency, the fiduciary responsibility of those showing available home will always be to the seller. Their main objective is to get the house sold. At Habitat, our main objective is to get the buyer into the house that is right for them.?

In most cases, Habitat also rebates their commission directly to clients at closing. In turn, the company charges its clients a flat fee to handle the transaction. For more on how it works, click here. You can estimate your own potential rebate with their cash back calculator on their home page.

?Habitat?s cash rebates can be significant,? said Gerald DeNicola, a Habitat agent, Montclair resident, and one of the company?s founding partners. ?On a $500,000 sales price, Habitat clients could receive up to $8,000 back at closing. What could be better than getting some cash in your pocket after making such a significant purchase??

Habitat represents buyers looking for homes in Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Clifton, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Nutley and Verona. The agency?s offices are located at Academy Square, 33 Plymouth Street, Suite 206. For more on the company, log on to their website or their Facebook page.

Related Posts:

Source: http://www.baristanet.com/2012/11/a-new-real-estate-company-with-a-twist-opens-its-doors/

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Play the Slate News Quiz

The Slate News Quiz always requires razor-sharp reflexes, but if you're still in a post-Thanksgiving food coma, fear not: This week's food news was a real pick-me-up. First, Hostess announced it was filing for bankruptcy, so reflex-dulling Twinkies and Ho Hos will soon be harder to find. And then Frito-Lay announced that caffeinated Cracker Jacks, of all things, will be hitting supermarket shelves soon. Snack food: The cause of, and solution to, all life's problems!

Question 1 of 12

What is the "Iron Dome," the subject of many headlines this week following a March 2011 debut?

The rocket defense system is said to have intercepted almost one thousand Gaza-launched rockets.

Question 2 of 12

An unemployed Scottish man named Armstrong Baillie made headlines worldwide this week for his practice of performing random good deeds whilst doing what?

Mr. Baillie, who calls himself "the Good Giraffe," travels the highways and byways of Scotland twice a week wearing a furry suit his mother made him.

Question 3 of 12

In a historic first this week, a Facebook poll was used to determine what outcome?

Despite the results of the poll, both "Cobbler" and his alternate "Gobbler" were spared and will live out their lives at Mount Vernon.

Question 4 of 12

President Obama's trip to Asia this week included the first ever visit to what nation by a sitting president?

Question 5 of 12

The largest criminal fine in United States history?$4.5 billion?was assessed last week against what company?

BP's fine was a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Question 6 of 12

George Sabra told reporters this week that a $60 billion "Marshall plan" of foreign aid will be needed to rebuild after what?

Sabra heads the Syrian National Council, a new coalition opposing the rule of Bashar al-Assad.

Question 7 of 12

A new analysis of the body of 16th-century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe disproved what historical theory about him?

Despite all the conspiracy theories surrounding Brahe's 1601 death, mercury levels in his bones were normal. His death was probably due to a boring old burst bladder.

Question 8 of 12

Whose resignation was prompted by accusations from a 24-year-old model and criminal psychology student named Cecil Singleton?

Clash was the voice and puppeteer of Sesame Street's Elmo for more than two decades.

Question 9 of 12

Of the 169 million smartphones sold last quarter worldwide, what was true of 72.4 percent of them, up from 52.5 percent last year?

Google Android is the operating system of choice for low-end smartphones, which top sales figures in many markets.

Question 10 of 12

Negotiations began this week to end a 50-year war between government troops and FARC guerrillas. FARC is an acronym for the "revolutionary armed forces" of where?

Question 11 of 12

Antivirus software pioneer John McAfee, now a fugitive wanted for murder in Belize, made the unusual decision this week to begin doing what?

For reasons known only to him, McAfee's new blog even includes descriptions of the disguises he's using to duck authorities.

Question 12 of 12

A Chinese construction company is planning a record-breaking 220-story building in Changsha, China next year. What will be most unusual about the building's construction?

Broad Sustainable Building announced last week that it will begin the Sky City skyscraper in January and finish it in March, by stacking prefabricated units.

You got 8 out of 12 answers correct in 20 minutes 30 seconds.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=dc18614d62074b5a20764609e2ddfc3d

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Internet Hosting Classes | My Six Strings Blog

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Internet hosting companies deliver webspace for the internet site. This is accomplished considering the enable of hosting servers. This world wide web area facilitates an internet site to become seen over the internet. There was an incredible growth from the hosting field for your previous couple several years. This can be the center reason for the development of differing types of web hosting. But, probably the most normally utilized sort of internet hosting currently is shared internet hosting. A webmaster can setup his websites in the cost-effective way using the guide of shared webhosting. This has made shared website hosting to possess pseudonyms like affordable web hosting, budget website hosting and so forth. Shared hosting often is the form of internet hosting wherein a number of internet internet websites are build by means of only one world-wide-web server for lessening preservation charges while not interfering within the working of any with the world-wide-web online sites. Aside using this you?ll also have the opportunity to acquire plenty valuable attributes like speedily connectivity, customer-friendliness, simple preservation and many others.

Even if shared web hosting can provide a broad selection of positive aspects with the user, further treatment must be taken even when deciding on its host. By now, you?ll have encountered many shared website hosts just about every delivering similar established of internet hosting schemes. But not all of them are trustworthy. So as to help you to being conscious about the genuine world-wide-web hosts, our panel of pros has reviewed lots of hosting suppliers. The testimonials depict the advantages and downsides on the online business host thus making it possible for you to have an apparent resolution. While you endure these look at reports, you will definitely to acknowledge the apt internet hosting small business in your net information site. These feedback also carry details about the world wide web hosting strategies proposed from the webhosting organizations. This tends to be an additional advantage to suit your needs.

We plan to facilitate you to tackle your web hosting challenges with no need of any problem. We also update our online business often while using opinions about the highest quality web hosting suppliers of your recent period of time so as to setup your website that has a website host that has a keep for the current technologies. We would be delighted to supply aid available for you whenever you wish to launch a web web site. So, do actually feel free to stay in contact with us to find the leading website hosting organizations.

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