Heads Up Investing: Extending Gap Analysis into the Trading Day

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

jeff goldblum annie annie zuccotti park leymah gbowee ows kindle fire review

Police think Canada body parts suspect fled abroad

This undated photo provided by City of Montreal Police Service media relations shows Luka Rocco Magnotta, 29, who is wanted for homicide. Montreal police said on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, they have identified Magnotta as a suspect in the gruesome case of severed body parts discovered in packages mailed to Ottawa, Ontario, and in a garbage heap in Montreal. (AP Photo/City of Montreal Police Service)

This undated photo provided by City of Montreal Police Service media relations shows Luka Rocco Magnotta, 29, who is wanted for homicide. Montreal police said on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, they have identified Magnotta as a suspect in the gruesome case of severed body parts discovered in packages mailed to Ottawa, Ontario, and in a garbage heap in Montreal. (AP Photo/City of Montreal Police Service)

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) ? A Canadian porn actor suspected of mailing body parts to?the headquarters of two major political parties after making a video of the killing might have fled to France, police said Thursday.

A Montreal police official said they have information that Luka Rocco Magnotta might have left Canada for France but said his current whereabouts are not known. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to talk about the case publicly, gave no other details.

Montreal Police Cmdr. Ian Lafreniere earlier said authorities believe Magnotta fled North America based on evidence they found at his apartment, and based on a blog Magnotta once wrote about how to disappear.

Magnotta, 29, has been added to Interpol's "wanted persons" list.

"We believe he may be in a foreign country," Lafreniere told The Associated Press. "He left a letter on a website mentioning how to disappear for good, and secondly, our investigation brought us some details that might let us think that he could be away from the country."

Lafreniere also said police have been trying to take down an online video that they believe shows Magnotta murdering a man he dated.

The video shows a man stabbing another man with an ice pick while the victim lies naked and tied up. The first man later reveals he has slashed the other man's throat. He also dismembers the corpse and performs sexual acts with it.

Lafreniere said they were able to take down the video Wednesday night but that it keeps reappearing online.

"It's horrible. I can't believe people take advantage of watching this," he said.

Lafreniere said police believe the victim is a man reported missing several days ago and that the man's family lives overseas. He said police were having trouble contacting the family.

The case began Tuesday when police found a man's torso in a suitcase behind Magnotta's apartment building and a severed foot was found in a package mailed to the Conservative Party headquarters in Ottawa. A hand was found in a separate package at a postal facility, addressed to the Liberal Party of Canada.

Other body parts remain missing, and Lafreniere said police are investigating the possibility that they also may have been put in the mail.

Criminal profiler Pat Brown said the suspect clearly loves attention.

"He's not political, psychopaths rarely are, so he didn't send those parts for political reasons but to get a splash in the media. He wants to go in history as being the creepiest guy out there," Brown said.

Police said Magnotta is also known by the names Eric Clinton Newman and Vladimir Romanov. They described him as white and 5 feet 8 inches tall (1.78 meters) with blue eyes and black hair. A police official said he was a porn actor.

His internet presence indicates he is a bisexual porn actor and model with a myriad of aliases.

Magnotta changed his name from Eric Clinton Kirkman in 2006, and online posts suggest he had a longtime fascination with identity change and escape.

In a post on the Digital Journal website dated 2009 that police confirmed, a six-step article under Magnotta's name describes how to disappear.

"When making the decision to disappear, it is very important to understand that this is not a process that can be successfully accomplished overnight," it reads. "For best results under normal circumstances, a minimum of four months is really necessary to successfully carry out the heroic actions necessary to leave your old life behind.

"This is certainly not an undertaking to be entered into lightly?? be completely sure of yourself before you commit to this."

A Montana lawyer said he alerted authorities after seeing the video the murder on a gore website days before it became part of the investigation, but he was only taken seriously after the murder was reported. The lawyer, Roger Renville, said he saw the video on Saturday morning and by late Saturday afternoon had called law enforcement, including local law enforcement, FBI, Toronto police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

"The last one was Toronto police department and nobody would take the report seriously," he said. "Late Tuesday I called the Mounties, and given what was in the news that day they took it very seriously and when I told them the name of the suspect they said 'we're looking for this guy' and they took it very seriously and took all my information."

Magnotta, born in the Toronto area, was renting an apartment in a working-class Montreal neighborhood. Police in masks combed through the blood-streaked apartment Wednesday.

Mike Gauthier, who has lived in the building for three years, said Magnotta's apartment was emptied before he apparently vanished in recent days. There were no clothes and no books inside, he said.

Few tenants said they knew Magnotta, who had only lived in the building for around four months. They described him as an effeminate man who was quiet and aloof but pleasant at times.

An online video shows a man who looks like Magnotta committing violent acts against kittens. The video contains at least one photo made available by Montreal police Wednesday that identified the man as Magnotta.

For nearly two years, animal-rights activists have been looking for a man who tortured and killed cats and posted videos of it online.

Police discovered the severed foot Tuesday after Jenni Bryne, a top political adviser to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, opened a bloodstained box at Conservative party headquarters.

When Bryne opened the box, a foul odor overcame the office.

"It was such a horrible odor. I'm sure many of us will not forget it," Conservative Party spokesman Fred DeLorey said.

Police said the package was addressed to the Conservative Party of Canada and not to a specific person.

___

Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press reporter Charmaine Noronha also contributed from Toronto.

Associated Press

law abiding citizen golden globes 2012 miss america lana del rey saturday night live focus on the family packers vs giants giants score

What's the Bargain? (talking-points-memo)

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

nikki minaj grammys album of the year nicki minaj grammy red carpet grammy award winners the band perry

Wanderlei Silva calls Vitor Belfort disrespectful for breaking hand, pulling out of UFC 147 bout

If you have a fight scheduled with Wanderlei Silva, you need to give your bones very stern instructions not to break. If they do go against your wishes and snap in two, that's disrespect.

Vitor Belfort is currently coaching against Silva on the Brazilian version of "The Ultimate Fighter" and was slated to fight him at UFC 147. A broken hand forced Belfort out of their bout. UFC president Dana White said Belfort needs surgery. Though training injuries are part of the game in MMA, Silva called it "amateurism" via his Twitter account.

"(Fighting me) with one hand (laughs)? We are professionals. It's a great irresponsibility not to be careful on training, a great disrespect towards the fans. I'm really sad. I'm ready to knock you out, you have nowhere to run. This fight is happening. I guess you got scared of me. Nobody trains so hard that breaks his hand. We use the best equipments, gloves, bandages.

"If you were scared, you shouldn't have accepted it. If you really got it broken, it's amateurism and if you didn't, you're scared. In both scenarios, it was irresponsible of you towards the fans. Pardon the word, but I'm pissed with your amateurism. A main event on the biggest event of the world and the guy shows up like that".

Strong words from Silva, especially considering that he has pulled out of fights with injuries. In 2010, cracked ribs kept him from the co-main event of UFC 116 against Yoshihiro Akiyama.

Ease up, Wand. As you well know, injuries are part of a sport that asks its competitors to hit each other as hard as possible. Hands and ribs break. Ligaments tear. Life goes on. Belfort has been in 30 professional MMA bouts, so it's hard to believe he's scared, or that he broke his hand on purpose to get out of this fight. And if he could have, wouldn't he have done that to get out of getting kicked in the face by Anderson Silva?

Thanks to Tatame for translation help.

new york times square jaws first night ball drop dick clark new years eve brock lesnar vs alistair overeem times square new years eve

S. Africa gallery to remove painting from website

JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? A handwritten sign that said "whites hate blacks" and was carried by one of more than 2,000 protesters in Johannesburg on Tuesday shows that a fierce national debate over a painting depicting the president's genitals is about more than art and the constitution.

Mapule Kgomo, a black woman from the outskirts of Johannesburg who wrote the sign, said she drew her conclusion about fellow South Africans who are white after seeing the painting, titled "The Spear," that a white South African had made of President Jacob Zuma, who is black.

"I hate whites passionately after that painting," she added. "I'm so hurt."

On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Goodman Gallery said it has agreed to remove images of the painting from its website. The painting itself had already been removed from the gallery after it was defaced last week.

But the passionate feelings about the painting don't seem ready to subside. If anything, the protests and comment have been amplified because much of it is taking place on social network sites.

The debate is part of an ongoing discussion in this young democracy about whether white South Africans are insensitive and to what extent black South Africans still feel they are treated as second class citizens, even though the country is governed by Zuma's African National Congress. The ANC led the fight against apartheid before becoming a political party.

Zuma has asked the High Court to rule that his constitutional right to dignity was violated when the gallery put the painting on display earlier this month. The gallery and artist Brett Murray argue they are defending the constitutional right to freedom of expression.

"I am not a racist," Murray said in an affidavit filed in the court case, which is still under way. "I do not produce art with an intention to hurt, humiliate or insult."

Liza Essers, owner of the Goodman Gallery, says she regrets "the divisiveness that the exhibition has caused.

"It was never my intention to cause hurt to any person," Essers said in a statement last week.

The issue is not black and white.

Black artists filed affidavits supporting Murray. And a white man and a black man entered the gallery to deface the painting, saying they were acting independently of each other and wanted to defend Zuma. The two were arrested and face trespassing charges.

Murray said in his court affidavit that the intention of his Zuma painting, part of a show that criticized the ANC, was to express a sense of betrayal that some post-apartheid leaders were greedy or corrupt. He also said that details of Zuma's sex life had become part of the public debate in South Africa.

Zuma, 70, has been married six times ? he currently has four wives, as his Zulu culture allows. He has 21 children, and acknowledged in 2010 that he fathered a child that year with a woman who was not among his wives.

Tuesday's protest wound about a kilometer (half mile) from a usually quiet park in an upscale Johannesburg neighborhood to a corner just south of the gallery. Along the way, black women in maid's aprons and black men in gardener's overalls stood on the balconies of homes in the largely white residential neighborhood to cheer on the marchers.

The gallery had replaced pieces from Murray's show in its windows with signs reading: "The Goodman Gallery respects your right to protest."

ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu addressed the crowd outside the gallery, saying, "We refuse to be painted as inferior citizens of this country."

South African Communist Party leader Blade Nzimande, a Zuma ally, compared the case to a hate speech suit a group that lobbies for white South Africans brought against an ANC leader who had insisted on continuing to sing a song from the apartheid era that calls for killing whites. The judge in that case banned the song.

Nzimande said some have asked why Zuma supporters went to court, as the white group did, instead of trying to speak to the artist and the gallery to find a solution.

"You can't have a dialogue with a person who is actually insulting you," Nzimande said.

Kgomo, the protester, said that despite the division vividly on display Tuesday, a resolution was possible.

"If they apologize to our president, then it will be enough for us," she said.

game change own stacy francis tournament brackets 2012 ncaa basketball tournament walt what time is it

Ultram for the quality of your life | Healthy Education

You should be healthy and active and living life to the fullest, right? But how do you do that with chronic pain from injury or arthritis? The not so easy answer is work through the pain. I?m not talking about being a professional athlete. I?m talking about little things you can do every day to increase your mobility, muscle strength, and decrease your need for medication.

Stretch

Before your feet hit the floor in the morning take the time to do a simple stretch. Pull your arms up over your head, take a deep breath, exhale bringing them wide, and down. Pull you legs up, and stretch those out as far as you can, stretching your feet. Rotate you feet and ankles. When you sleep, the blood pools in the torso, stretching gives a wakeup call to your muscles and helps put some much need blood back into the arms and legs before doing the work for walking and dressing.

If you sit for more than an hour get up and move

Many of us are stuck in jobs that have us sitting most of the day. This is very bad for our hearts, cardiovascular system, and muscles. When you do get up then your chronic pain probably spikes, and you want to take your medicine like Ultram. Go ahead, but also make it a point once an hour to get up and move. If you can do 5 + knee bends (squats). Go as far down as you can, keep your lower leg as perpendicular to the floor as possible, and never go all the way to the floor. The ability to d a squat means you are less likely to need physical assistance as you age. Can?t do squats yet, then rock up onto your toes and back down for a minute. I you need to hold onto your desk to exercise, it is ok. Just moving a little will increase your mobility and decrease your risk heart attack, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis.

Treat the pain

An amazingly active elderly friend of mine always says ?They can?t bury you if your still moving?. For those of us with chronic back pain or arthritic pain, just lying still seems like a good idea. The reality is the less you move the less you will be able to move. Talk to your doctor about pain management and using Ultram to give you back your freedom to move.

odd fellows eli whitney blake griffin dunk on kendrick perkins kendrick perkins steve jones emily maynard kola boof

The Blogging State of Affairs | Zooppa Blog

I?ve followed the fashion blogging world and by the extension of natural curiosity, the blogging world in general, for about 4 years now. I?ve made friends with members of the community, and I?ve seen my friends turn their blogs into personal brands. The idea of personal internet branding began with sites such as livejournal and xanga, was stymied by myspace and facebook, and came to full fruition as blogging and tweeting. The internet as we now conceive of it could not exist without its foundational concept of mass accessible branding and networking therein. In an elementary way, TO facebook is to brand oneself. I tweet therefore I am.

If you want to be a dick about it?ask yourself THIS: Are we avatars for our internet bound beings or are our internet selves,

The Genuine!!!

Creative Blogs as Independent Business Branding Platforms

Wendy Brandes has ?curated? and written her blog WendyBrandesFineJewelry since I?ve been reading blogs. I grew up with her writing and blog brand as, simultaneously, her blog brand grew up. Fascinated by such intelligence and beauty, I paid rapt attention to her business and style advice; took it to heart. This woman segued a highly successful (and yet somewhat unfulfilling) career in journalism in New York City into a couture jewelry design business. Her pieces are inspired by pop culture, royalty and notable women. Her designs are infused with references to Queen Elizabeth, Virginia Woolf, Cleopatra and Lady Gaga. In a a vein similar to her philosophy of jewelry design, Wendy has branded her blog with a sense of humor and a sense of daring. Her catchiest branding phrase is one which is both absurd and brilliant in its simplicity, ?Wear What You Want! ??.

Wendy will occasionally write posts chockfull of business advice for aspiring creatives. One piece of advice, in particular, has stuck with me over the years,

?I?ve tried to save money for my very small company by doing things myself, using volunteers, and hiring affordable people instead of great ones. All of the above should be emergency measures, not long-term strategies. I?ve made these mistakes with graphic design, computer programming, photography, public relations, sales, wax-model making, jewelry manufacturing, stone setting ? and those are just the examples that immediately spring to mind. I?ve tried that thing where you hire someone less experienced for less money because that person will be ?hungry? and work harder. Not! The hungriest people will get an internship or an apprenticeship or an entry-level job at a quality organization, even in these hard times. And if they can?t manage that, they?ll be too smart to sell their services for nothing. They?re the ones who know that you don?t move up in the world by selling yourself short. I?ve thrown away years and thousands of dollars on all kinds of bad work that got me nowhere. When I?ve finally dug deeper to hire the best, I?ve realized exactly how much I wasted. Money that paid for a three-year-long effort might have only covered six months with a better vendor, but I would have done better in those six months than I did in those three years.?

While Wendy Brandes originally started her blog to reach out to the online fashion community and to create a community of loyal customers for her jewelry brand, the blogging gig quickly grew an international web of friendships as well. Wendy?s close friend and fellow ?gorgeous blogger?, Jennine Jacobs (of The Coveted), helped pioneer the official Independent Fashion Bloggers community. The community established by Independent Fashion Bloggers provides an easy introductory glimpse, a set of blogging etiquette. It is an organizational fallback for the community.

The group officiates the state of fashion blogging with regards to issues of sponsorship, advertising, media, censorship and what have you. If you are a member, Independent Fashion Bloggers also offers a platform for advertising your blog and has many articles with advice about how to kickstart a vision and a following. Wendy Brandes is an example of a fashion blogger who started her blog solely as a mechanism for branding her business. Her blog then inevitably evolved into an additional social hobby. The lines between business and friendship quickly blurred. Loyalty is necessary in business and friendship and social networking via the internet is convenient glue.

Tavi Gevinson (of TheStyleRookie) is an example of a different type of blogger. Tavi started her blog as a platform for her creative exploration and as a means to network and further explore and discuss the arts with likeminded bloggers. Due to circumstance and key moments of exposure, Tavi?s blog quickly racked up a huge following and, if she so desired, could easily turn profit. In 4 years, Tavi was able to translate the success of her blog into a successful arts and philosophy and entertainment magazine for teenage girls (RookieMag). Now Tavi works as the Editor in Chief for the magazine. The magazine boasts an international staff of writers and editors. Ira Glass? wife works as an editor. Interview subjects include Miranda July, Elle Fanning, and David Sedaris.

A third example (or archetype!) of blogging are bloggers such as Garance Dore (of Garance Dore.FR ) and Danny Roberts (of Igor + Andre). Both bloggers developed their blogs as platforms for their work as illustrators. Garance Dore gained her audience on the back of a blog that featured her charming illustrations and charming, discursive, ?french girl? commentary. Garance Dore developed her blog in a direction inspired by blogging itself and she is now considered one of the most prominent fashion street photographers in the industry. In addition to photography, Garance continues to post her fashion commentary and illustrations. Danny Roberts stayed true to his original vision and continues to use the blog as a platform for his illustration and painting work. In a stroke of business genius, Roberts originally gained fame within the fashion blogging community by doing a series of portraits of relevant fashion bloggers. Roberts utilized his popularity in the fashion blogging community and managed to extrapolate on his somewhat obscure community fame. He seized opportunities for involvment in big name illustration projects with fashion houses. This business acumen enabled the translation of his blog success into ?REAL WORLD? success. He still uses the blog to sell his pieces.

These vignettes provide examples of how creative persons might use blogging and blogging communities to establish social and business platforms to support and perpetuate their art. Since blogging and internet branding is a concept in it?s toddler stage of conceptual development, the creative possibilities of blogging are endless.

school closures being human being human chicago news chicago news golden girls robert e lee

Trade Motor Insurance | Free Press Release

Posted on 28 May 2012. Tags: cheap, insurance, Motor, Trade

Motor traders are those individuals that work with vehicles as part of their career as car salesmen, mechanics and so on or simply everybody who?s trying to find an extra cash by buying and selling vehicles. It is essential for them to have a very good trade motor insurance to be protected by the law if driving on the public roads. It is called road risk cover , and it?s a necessity for each and every motor dealer to have one. Possessing a private car policy just isn?t as beneficial as possessing a motor trade policy. It happens to be taken into consideration that driving a car under a private car policy is against the law. For this reason we strictly recommend each and every of you to switch to the motor trade policy that also just isn?t higher priced than the personal one.
Any information on getting motor trade insurance which is known as trade car insurance you can easily find on the internet. In fact I would like to stop at the part of its relevance in each motor trader?s daily life. As I already have said it handles all the dangers you may face being a car trader. One of the benefits is that it handles not just you, but also your customer?s cars. This means that in the event you, cause of your negligence crash your customer?s car you are covered depending on your financial budget plus some more info that an insurance broker will explain to you. You may purchase low-cost motor trade insurance online. There are Insurance Consultants that will help answer all of your questions and they?ll assist you in finding the best insurance policy for you at an affordable price.
Generally, motor trade insurance covers 3 areas. The first one is road risk cover which also separates into some other 3 levels of covering. The 2nd one is Liability motor trade insurance and it is particularly the most famous auto insurance policy. It costs less than a full coverage policy. The not so good thing is that it handles just the other party?s loss so you get uncovered. Liability insurance has additionally some different kinds of policies. The third one is Combined motor trade insurance. In reality, this kind of policy handles the whole business of the dealer. Every car trader must have a motor trade insurance policy. If you are living in the UK, i suggest you to get yourself an UK trade motor insurance with Nash Warren insurance. They?re going to support you with the insurance policy you want as well as find the right cost for you!
Why don?t use this possibility and apply for Nash Warren affordable trade motor insurance right now!

For more information about motor trade insurance uk visit our website: compare motor trade insurance

the raven zerg rush david wilson playstation all stars battle royale kim zolciak kim zolciak quinton coples

NATO kills senior al-Qaida leader in Afghanistan

An Afghan policeman examines the remains of a damaged vehicle after a suicide attack in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Two would-be suicide bombers riding in a vehicle packed with explosives in eastern Nangarhar province were killed when the vehicle exploded prematurely, said a local government official, Shakrulla. Three others in the vehicle were severely wounded. The explosion occurred on the main highway between Jalalabad city and Torkham, a town on the Pakistani border. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

An Afghan policeman examines the remains of a damaged vehicle after a suicide attack in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Two would-be suicide bombers riding in a vehicle packed with explosives in eastern Nangarhar province were killed when the vehicle exploded prematurely, said a local government official, Shakrulla. Three others in the vehicle were severely wounded. The explosion occurred on the main highway between Jalalabad city and Torkham, a town on the Pakistani border. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

An Afghan policeman examines weapons placed on a damaged vehicle after a suicide attack in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Two would-be suicide bombers riding in a vehicle packed with explosives in eastern Nangarhar province were killed when the vehicle exploded prematurely, said a local government official, Shakrulla. Three others in the vehicle were severely wounded. The explosion occurred on the main highway between Jalalabad city and Torkham, a town on the Pakistani border. (AP Phot/Rahmat Gul)

An Afghan policeman examines the remains of a damaged vehicle after a suicide attack in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Two would-be suicide bombers riding in a vehicle packed with explosives in eastern Nangarhar province were killed when the vehicle exploded prematurely, said a local government official, Shakrulla. Three others in the vehicle were severely wounded. The explosion occurred on the main highway between Jalalabad city and Torkham, a town on the Pakistani border. (AP Phot/Rahmat Gul)

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? The U.S.-led NATO force in Afghanistan killed al-Qaida's second-highest leader in the country in an airstrike in eastern Kunar province, the coalition said Tuesday.

Sakhr al-Taifi, also known as Mushtaq and Nasim, was responsible for commanding foreign insurgents in Afghanistan and directing attacks against NATO and Afghan forces, the alliance said. He frequently traveled between Afghanistan and Pakistan, carrying out commands from senior al-Qaida leadership and ferrying in weapons and fighters.

The airstrike that killed al-Taifi and another al-Qaida militant took place Sunday in Kunar's Watahpur district, the coalition said. A follow-on assessment of the area determined that no civilians were harmed, it said.

The coalition declined to reveal the name of al-Qaida's top leader in Afghanistan "due to ongoing operations and security concerns."

The U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan was carried out because al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden used the country as his base to plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington.

Most of al-Qaida's senior leaders are now believed to be based in Pakistan, where they fled following the U.S. invasion. The terrorist organization is believed to have only a nominal presence in Afghanistan.

Many senior al-Qaida commanders have died in U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan's northwest tribal region, and bin Laden was killed by U.S. commandos in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad last May.

Bin Laden advised al-Qaida militants to leave Pakistan's North and South Waziristan tribal areas because of the threat of drone attacks, according to letters seized from the compound where he was killed. The documents were later released by the U.S.

In one of the letters, bin Laden recommended they go to Afghanistan's Kunar province because of "its rougher terrain; too many mountains, rivers, and trees that can accommodate hundreds of brothers without being spotted by the enemy," according to the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, which published the documents.

Elsewhere in Pakistan, two would-be suicide bombers riding in a vehicle packed with explosives in eastern Nangarhar province were killed when the vehicle exploded prematurely, said a local government official, Shakrulla. Three others in the vehicle were severely wounded. The explosion occurred on the main highway between Jalalabad city and Torkham, a town on the Pakistani border.

___

Associated Press writer Rahim Faiez contributed to this report.

Associated Press

lesotho a wrinkle in time benjamin netanyahu storm shelters nick lachey chevy volt christina hendricks

GOP becoming increasingly accepting of gay Republicans

Reader MV passed along a McClatchy article on a ?quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates ? and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn?t always show it.?

The article reports how the party is rallying behind one openly gay candidate,

Richard Tisei, a former Massachusetts state senator, who?s campaigning on what he describes as the number one issue for gay voters and everyone else in the state?s 6th Congressional District, north of Boston.

?In general, the campaign I?m running on is based on the economy,? he said.

Tisei does support same-sex marriage, and he said party leaders knew that from the beginning of his campaign for Congress.

?I don?t agree with the party platform, but that doesn?t mean I?m not a good Republican,? Tisei said.

Hmmm. . . ?where did I hear that recently?

Tisei?s sexuality notwithstanding,

The National Republican Congressional Committee has designated Tisei as a ?Young Gun,? meaning he?s on the national party?s radar and can expect to get more resources for his campaign. Committee Chairman Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas said Tisei ?has met organizational and fundraising benchmarks and has established himself as a strong contender.?

Does seem like some folks might need to change their narratives.

FROM THE COMMENTS: ?Chris H offers:

I?ve been saying this for years.. but once the ?gay? thing goes away, the Democrats are going to have a really hard time maintaining their grasp on to the LGBT alphabet community.

My gay friends sure hate those Republicans ? but when I discuss Liberterian/Republican concepts with out identifying them as ?Republican? I generally get agreement.

Read the whole thing.

shawshank redemption 3 10 to yuma west virginia football west virginia football black friday violence black friday violence il postino

The Wild

This idea is one that came to me recently. The main plot is about a war between 4 groups of people/organizations. The first group is Chaos, their name sums up their goals, they only want to watch the world burn. The second is the Order, they want to save the world and try to make things how they used to be. Third, the gangsters. They are opportunist and after Chaos come into the picture they saw a chance to start robbing and killing without any consequences. Fourth, the Church. They have ideals like the Order however, they don't like the Order because most of them are not considered human anymore.

The setting of this rp is after a war that left 80 percent of the world in ruins. A lot of people who survived the war were mutated, some were mutated so badly that you cant tell they used to be human and others look human but they have been given a 'gift.' Mutated humans are faster, stronger, and most have an ability( shapeshifting, telekinesis, pyrokinesis, etc.) Chaos,Order, and some of the gangsters are mutated which is how Chaos and the Gangsters can wreak havoc and the Order can stand a chance at stopping them. The Church has trained their "soldiers" to fight against mutated humans, their goal is to exterminate all mutants so that the world will be like it used to be. The soldiers of the church are men and women who could be called assassins, they can fight on equal ground with mutated humans because they know how to kill with ease.

please leave a comment if you like this idea. I feel it could be something very fun and has the possibility of having many twists and turns.

i am legend san antonio spurs greta van susteren tony parker the five year engagement chris kreider correspondents dinner 2012

NEOGRASS Atlantis music review by The Mystical

"Atlantis" is a masterpiece.

It would be fair to say that Neograss is one of the most innovative bands around today. It seems that they are often overlooked in the progressive scene due to their bluegrass roots, but to dismiss this record would be a tragedy.

"Atlantis" has a very unique sound. The band is an excellent blend of deep vocals, banjo, drums, and synth (most notably mellotron). The captivating cover art is a good representation of the music; fresh, ambient and beautifully surreal. The symphonic texture of the record is beautiful and somewhat ambient, and it effectively portrays the story (it is a concept album based upon the mythical city of atlantis). The musicianship is brilliant; all the musicians are very talented to say the least.

"Atlantis" is a masterpiece of progressive rock, and can not afford to go unnoticed. Let's hope for a vinyl release some time soon!

?

The Mystical | 5/5 | 2012-5-27

Share this NEOGRASS review

Review related links

big ten championship game ultimate fighter 14 ultimate fighter 14 2011 bowl projections ndamukong suh ndamukong suh aptera

Casio Watches for Teenagers | Product Reviews, Comparison ...

Japan?s Casio Corporation may be producing superior quality electronics together with other goods for just more than 65 ages now. That means if there was a food market for intercontinental companies it might get yourself a senior citizen?s discount.

Inspite of the company?s age, even so, it is nevertheless identified at this time for making incredible items that continue on to rocket this company into your upcoming. Just about every teenager at this time is aware of they constantly need to possess the future latest issue. The designers at Casio know this which is why they make goods which might be often a single stage forward on the competitors.

Inside the beginning Casio was greatest recognized for manufacturing several of the world?s very first calculators. Because the several years glided by Casio began to move to the enterprise of digital instruments. Today they are however distinguished the world over for their outstanding Casio keyboards.

While in the 1980s Casio also moved into making higher top quality wristwatches. Today they nevertheless make trendy and practical wristwatches which can be best for people of all ages.

Casio now has moved even past all these items and would make products and solutions on the future. These include things like substantial superior digital cameras as well as the mobile phones of tomorrow. But with these new improvements Casio nevertheless strives to supply wristwatches that charm to teenagers and older people alike. Here are some examples of Casio watches the young generation will love.

Casio Men?s Pathfinder Specific Edition Go-Green Photovoltaic Quartz Electronic Rubber Strap Look at

One of several features Casio is most regarded for is brilliant and enjoyable colour styles on their watches. And what greater way to stylize your appear than which has a colorful look at that also sends an uplifting concept? Exhibit off each your sense of model and also your dedication with the atmosphere together with the Casio Men?s Pathfinder Special Version Go-Green Photo voltaic Quartz Electronic Rubber Strap Check out.

This timepiece is about going eco-friendly, not just in appears to be like but in addition in action. The figurative ?green? component of this enjoy refers back to the photo voltaic operated Pathfinder technologies. This makes use of a solar power mobile that collects both equally immediate and indirect light. Meaning you don?t must be standing appropriate out inside the sunlight to electrical power this timepiece.

The solar cell in this look at powers a chargeable battery, which then operates the reliable quartz movements. If you are away from a light-weight resource for an prolonged period of time of time (like if you have kept the check out in the drawer for a while) it?ll go into electric power conserve mode.

Another inexperienced feature of this observe is definitely the long-lasting battery. Naturally it recharges which means you really don?t have to fear about getting a new a single any time soon, but batteries nonetheless dress in out regardless if they?re rechargeable. The good matter concerning this battery, nonetheless, is the fact that it?ll last for around twenty to 30 decades!

So far as the aesthetic options that come with this view go, it?s most simply acknowledged by its bright green rubber scenario. What?s more, it includes a mixture of eco-friendly and silver-tone purpose pushers to incorporate contrast with the case. The automobile EL backlit dial is secured by a hard mineral crystal, and it contains a wide selection of handy features. These contain issues like a electricity reserve bar, an alarm, a functionality for dual time zones, a countdown timer, a chronograph, and indications with the day, week, and month.

Incredibly, that may not each of the options that come with this incredible minor check out. It even includes a barometer, an altimeter, a digital compass, and in some cases a thermometer! This observe isn?t just green; it can be an extraordinary technological leap in the long run. Strap oneself into a vision of the superior tomorrow when using the Pathfinder Go-Green Edition.

Casio Women?s Runner Collection Electronic Quartz Multifunction Inexperienced Rubber Strap Observe

In modern modern age lots of teens may well consider they don?t require a wristwatch because they can just take a look at their mobile mobile phone. But joggers realize it is way less complicated to possess a enjoy on their wrist to maintain track of not only some time, but all kinds of other measurements whilst out for your jog.

Fossil Men?s BQ9382 White Polyurethane Bracelet Black Analog-Digital Dial Watch
Black / Clear Large Face Crystal Silicone Watch w/ Rhinestones Face Bling Bezel
O Clock ? ClockNS Watch in Black: Size Small
Diesel Analog White Dial Men?s watch #DZ1443
Large Face Ceramic Silicone Watch ? Fuschia
Purple Polka Dot Silicone Ceramic Look Watch
Ceramic Silicone Watch ? Yellow with CZ
Aqua Master Swiss Legend Large Mens Watch
Invicta Men?s 4778 Reserve Collection Sea Vulture Chronograph Watch
Invicta Men?s 4777 Reserve Collection Sea Vulture Chronograph Watch
Kenneth Cole New York Men?s KS3028 Bracelet Watch
Stuhrling Original Women?s 332.122D62 Lady Admiral Swiss Quartz Black Watch
Citizen Men?s BJ2118-09E Eco-Drive Promaster Depth Meter Watch
Stuhrling Original Men?s 270.332T71 Exclusive Trekker Sportsman Swiss Chronograph Black Dial Watch
Oris Style Divers Clasp Watchband ? 24mm
Burberry Men?s BU7724 Sport Diving Black Diving Dial Watch
Women?s TWO Black & White Silicone Watch w/ Crystal Rhinestones Bezel
Flud Unisex THN005 Backlit Analog Movement Watch
Stuhrling Original Men?s 265A.33166 Gen-Y Sport Quartz Chronograph Date Blue Dial Watch
Tissot Men?s T0114141703200 T-Race Chronograph Swiss Automatic Watch
Black w/ Grey Gunmetal Large Face Crystal Silicone Watch w/ Rhinestones Face Bling Bezel
PUMA Men?s PU102721002 G.T Analog Watch
Casio Men?s MW600E-9AV 10-Year Battery Analog Resin Watch
Mulco MW2-6263-025 Stainless Steel Chronograph Mwatch Collection Black Dial Black and Golden Bezel Watch
Breda Women?s 2290-Blue "Peyton" Trendy Tachymeter Silicone Watch
Breda Men?s 8135-Yellow Colton Black Bezel Yellow Accented Silicone Watch
Invicta Women?s 0707 Angel Collection Gold-Plated Pink Polyurethane Watch
Speidel ? Mens Swiss Army Style Watchband ? Color Black Size: 19mm Watch Band ? BONUS ? 2 extra Spring Bars included
New Geneva Pink w/ White Silicone Watch
Breitling Men?s A1736402/BA32RS Superocean Abyss Black and Yellow Dial Watch
Casio Replacement 18mm Black Watch Strap ? P3014
Timex Men?s T5K359 Black Resin Quartz Watch with Digital Dial
Swatch Replacement Plastic Flower Design 12mm Watch Strap
Red Small Face Silicone Jelly Watch w/ Crystal Rhinestones Bezel
Fossil Machine Silicone and Aluminum Watch ? Olive with Orange
Tommy Hilfiger Women?s 1781192 Sport Silicon Reversible Watch
Bubble Pink Small Face Silicone Jelly Watch w/ Crystal Rhinestones Bezel
TechnoMarine S6112 UF6 Black Silicone Long Watch Strap
Victorinox Swiss Army Men?s 241330 Army Base Camp Black Dial Watch
Women?s Lavender Purple Chronograph Silicone with Crystal Rhinestones Bezel
Seiko Men?s SKX007K2 Diver?s Automatic Watch
Women?s New Lime Green Silicone Jelly Watch w/ Crystal Rhinestones Bezel 161
Geneva Platinum 7827 Women?s Silicone Watch-Brown-Gold
Kids Slap On Pink Quartz Mvmt White Dial Watch SWK-010
Men?s Storm Diving Technology
Breda Women?s 2216_pink "Belle" Rhinestone Jelly Sport Watch
Pink Geneva Crystal Rhinestone Large Face Watch with Silicone Jelly Link Band
Tissot T-Sport T-Race Quartz Men?s Watch
Pink and Green Tie Dye Peace Sign Mood Dial Jelly Watch
Victorinox Swiss Army Men?s CONVOY Watch 241164

rick perry ad dragnet dragnet immaculate conception immaculate conception rule 5 draft lindsay lohan playboy cover

Self Improvement Zone: Managers Just As Guilty of Poor Time ...

In ? previous article ab?ut time management, I wrote ?bout h?w m?n? employees fail t? pay attention to the amount of time they waste at work and h?w th?s affects their productivity. Yet not m?ny employees w?uld ??nsider them?elves a time thief. Well, the sam? comment applies t? managers. In fact, many managers ?an make th? lives ?f th?ir employees miserable when ?t ?om?s t? time management.

On on? hand, managers with poor time management may talk ?bout th? need f?r higher productivity, ??t their own work style prevents ?r blocks th?ir employees fr?m be?ng productive. In some cases, th?s? managers confuse activity for productivity ?nd accomplishment. In reality, they ?r? simply engaged in pointless busyness. If y?u asked ?n? ?f the?e managers ?b?ut th?ir productivity, th?? w?uld quickly provide excuses b? ?a??ng that they have multiple demands, t?? m?ny ?r not enough staff for delegation, ?r n?t enough money.

The disturbing, ludicrous legislation which would give unknown amount of military aid to Israel

Madison Ruppert
?End the Lie

I never cease to be amazed by the fact that our so-called representatives so blatantly work against the American people while actively working for foreign nations that not only support and train terrorists but are also egregious violators of human rights and flouters of international law.

Of course, I am referring to none other than the state of Israel, which has become what some call the 51^st state. I would disagree with this characterization, as it would imply that Israel is viewed as equal to any of the other 50 states, which is clearly not the case.

Israel is placed on a special level far above all of America, evidenced by the fact that ?our? government continues to pour funds into Israel while countless people in the United States are homeless, hungry, jobless and completely ignored by the suits in Washington D.C.

Even more ludicrous is the fact that we do not even have the money that they continue to give and guarantee to Israel. Our nation is wracked by more debt and a larger deficit than any time before and yet our government believes a foreign state should be given higher priority than our own country.

The latest incarnation of the completely nonsensical American support of Israel is the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012, which has already passed Congress.

H.R. 4133, or the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012, sponsored by Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA) along with 304 others, passed the house on May 9, 2012 with a disturbingly large margin.

Indeed, only two of our so-called representatives actually voted against the legislation, further proving that the vast majority of politicians couldn?t care less about America or the people of the United States.

Having passed through Congress, Senate is next in line to pass the legislation, which is designated as S. 2165.

Personally, I think it is highly probable that it will pass the Senate, if not in this specific incarnation, then a nearly identical one. After all, a whopping 50 Senators co-sponsored the bill, representing 50% of the entire Senate.

As of March 6, 2012, S. 2165 was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, where it remains to this day, although on May 10 H.R. 4133 was referred to the Senate.

While our so-called representatives squabble over anything and everything based on petty partisan politics and pandering, they never fail to agree on one thing: blind, unwavering support of the terrorist state of Israel.

The legislation is much more than a ceremonial reaffirmation of American support for Israel and their war on Palestinian civilians and anyone who disagrees with their apartheid policies.

If you can believe it, the bill is actually going to expand the military ties between the United States and Israel beyond the $3+ billion already given to what is often pointedly referred to as ?the Jewish state of Israel,? in order to the majority of the native population from the farcical ?democracy.?

In fact, under Section 3, Statement of United States Policy, the legislation specifically states that it is the policy of the United States, ?To reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the security of the State of Israel as a Jewish state.?

This is no minor issue, as it is specifically included in order to show America?s support for the racist, backwards Israeli policies such as segregated roads and theft of Palestinian land.

The legislation also extends the ?War Reserves and Stockpile Authority? in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 ? Section 12001(d) (Public Law 108-287; 118 Stat. 1011) and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ? Section 514(b)(2)(A) (22 U.S.C. 2321h(b)(2)(A)).

Furthermore, it extends loan guarantees to Israel under Chapter 5 of title I of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 108-11; 117 Stat. 576), which is especially troublesome given that the United States has absolutely no money to loan. Every cent we?re spending is borrowed, so lending borrowed money we can?t afford to pay back makes no sense whatsoever.

This legislation is not only aimed at funneling more money into Israel?s coffers. When one reads the legislation, which is far from lengthy, it becomes abundantly clear that this bill is squarely aimed at Iran and Syria.

It doesn?t take a genius to see this, as we plainly see in the following sub-sections from Section 2, Findings:

(4) The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is continuing its decades-long pattern of seeking to foment instability in the Middle East, particularly in this time of dramatic political transition.

(5) At the same time, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to enrich uranium in defiance of international law.

(6) A nuclear-weapons capable Iran would fundamentally threaten vital United States interests, encourage regional nuclear proliferation, further empower Iran, the world?s leading state sponsor of terror, and pose a serious and destabilizing threat to Israel and the region.

(7) Over the past several years, with the assistance of the Governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas have increased their stockpile of rockets, with more than 60,000 now ready to be fired at Israel. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to develop its missile technology as well, including cruise missiles.

However, the most problematic aspect of this legislation is that it is wildly open-ended and vague as evidenced by the following sub-sections of Section 3, statement of United States Policy which states that it is the policy of the United States:

(2) To provide the Government of Israel the military capabilities necessary to deter and defend itself against any threat or possible combination of threats.

(3) To assist the Government of Israel with its ongoing efforts to forge a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that results in two states living side-by-side in peace and security, and to encourage Israel?s neighbors to recognize Israel?s right to exist as a Jewish state.

(4) To veto any one-sided anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations Security Council.

(5) To support Israel?s inherent right to self-defense.

(6) To pursue every opportunity to expand cooperation with the Government of Israel on defense and national security matters and across the spectrum of civilian sectors, including advanced technology, agriculture, medicine, health, pharmaceuticals, and energy.

Obviously this is left wide open for a reason: to be able to provide Israel with as much funding and military hardware as possible.

Some of the most interesting aspects of this legislation appear in Section 4, Sense of Congress, which states that it is the sense of Congress that the United States Government should take the following actions to assist in the defense of Israel:

(1) Seek to enhance the capabilities of the Governments of the United States and Israel to address emerging common threats, increase security cooperation, and expand joint military exercises.

(2) Work to encourage an expanded role for Israel within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including an enhanced presence at NATO headquarters and exercises.

(3) Expand already-close intelligence cooperation, including satellite intelligence, with the Government of Israel.

(4) Examine ways to strengthen existing and ongoing efforts, including the Gaza Counter Arms Smuggling Initiative, aimed at preventing weapons smuggling into Gaza pursuant to the 2009 agreement following the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as well as measures to protect against weapons smuggling and terrorist threats from the Sinai Peninsula.

(5) Provide the Government of Israel with necessary support to increase development and production of joint missile defense systems, particularly such systems that defend the urgent threat posed to Israel and United States forces in the region.

(6) Make every effort to assure the provision to the Government of Israel of defensive equipment through such mechanisms as lend-lease, to include air refueling tankers, missile defense capabilities, and specialized munitions.

(7) Undertake efforts to make available for purchase by the Government of Israel surplus defense items, particularly those resulting from the end of United States combat operations in Iraq.

(8) Offer the Air Force of Israel additional training and exercise opportunities in the United States to compensate for Israel?s limited air space.

Here we see that the U.S. seeks to further integrate Israel into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which is a hot button issue for Turkey, to put it lightly.

Also quite interesting is the expansion of intelligence sharing, especially the sharing of satellite intelligence.

Thoroughly unsurprising, however, is the pledge to provide Israel with support for increased development and production of their missile defense systems, which the U.S. has been pouring massive sums into despite the fact that we do not have the money to do so.

The mention of ?air refueling tankers? is also not too surprising, as Israel lacks sufficient numbers of these aircraft to enable long range assaults on nations like Iran.

There is also mention of improving ?the acquisition process for the purchase of F-35 aircraft by Israel, particularly with respect to cost efficiency and on-time delivery, taking into account the urgent need of the Government of Israel for such aircraft,? under Section 6, Reports Required.

This section mandates reports no later than 180 days after the enactment of the Act dealing with Israel?s Qualitative Military Edge (QME) as defined in section 36(h)(2) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(h)(2)) as well as a report on F-35 acquisition and ?Efforts to expand cooperation between the United States Government and the Government of Israel in homeland security, counter-terrorism, maritime security, energy, cyber-security, and other related areas.?

Also mandated is a report on ?Actions to integrate Israel into the defense of the Eastern Mediterranean,? likely meaning closer integration in NATO activities in the region.

According to one anonymous source cited by Globes Online, an Israeli business news site, in an article entitled ?US seen awarding Israel largest ever aid package,? the Obama administration has already expressed support for the legislation.

?This bill has received the blessing of the Obama administration, which sees it as a conciliatory gesture towards Israel in advance of the agreement with Iran, about which Israel has already begun to express reservations,? the unnamed source said.

Indeed, Israeli officials have been quite unhappy about these talks with Iran, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling the talks a ?trap? and others fearing that it could prevent the unilateral military strike on Iran so many have been talking about.

Yet this goes far beyond a conciliatory gesture and should not be treated as such.

Representative Ron Paul, one of only two people to vote against H.R. 4133, called it ?another piece of one-sided and counter-productive foreign policy legislation.?

?This bill will not help the United States, it will not help Israel, and it will not help the Middle East,? Paul said. ?It will implicitly authorize much more US interventionism in the region at a time when we cannot afford the foreign commitments we already have. It more likely will lead to war against Syria, Iran, or both.?

Meanwhile, House Minority representative Steny Hoyer nonsensically claimed it will increase cooperation between the U.S. and Israel so that Israel ?can further deter Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability and work together to combat terrorism that threatens both of our countries.?

This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever given that it is Israel and the United States who are creating and openly advocating terrorism and destabilizing the Middle East, but of course these facts are just glossed over or ignored entirely.

Furthermore, both nations have shared interests with terrorist organizations which many prominent Americans openly support with no repercussions.

All in all, this legislation should be nothing short of infuriating for any American who believes that this nation should have a future without a mountain of debt which can never be paid off. It should also be deeply upsetting to anyone who thinks that the people of the United States should have homes, food, healthcare and other necessities.

Legislation like this actively works against us and as some have argued, it actually works against Israel as well, not to mention failing to bring peace to the Middle East.

the band colton dixon jenny mccarthy houston weather dwyane wade magic mike trailer the night they drove old dixie down

MCX Gold Silver Crude Copper Tips: How to Use Text Message ...

Text message marketing has become a popular trend in the field of marketing business. Text messages, or usually referred to as SMS messages, are regarded as versatile marketing media because almost all people living on this earth, if not all, are using mobile cell phones to communicate with one another. Textual communication using text messages is the second most popular communication method after oral communication, either indirect or direct. Marketers regard the popularity of text messages as something indicating that they can expedite the success of their marketing endeavor if they use text messages as their marketing media. This is the reason why SMS marketing is a marketing strategy that is quite popular nowadays.

If you want to make use of Text Marketing strategy to expedite the success of your marketing endeavor, there are several factors that you have to keep in your mind. Firstly, make sure that you send your text messages to people who are aware that you will text them regularly. Remember that SMS marketing is a permission-based marketing strategy. If you send your messages recklessly to people who don?t permit you to send your messages to them, you will be regarded as a spammer and instead of gaining success, your business will get bad names. For this reason, subscription is considered necessary. In fact, the core feature of SMS marketing strategy is that you send your SMS messages only to people who have subscribed to receive text messages containing relevant advertisements from you and from other advertisers.

Secondly, in order to use this strategy, you have to register with a marketing service that offers you a shared short code and supports multiple mobile carriers. By registering with such service, you will be provided with reliable infrastructure that you can use to carry out your SMS marketing cost-effectively and productively.

bill cosby divine mercy cabin in the woods the legend of korra three stooges the three stooges the bee gees

Inside Kristin Cavallari?s Baby Shower Gift Bags

While the 25-year-old mama-to-be received plenty of adorable essentials for her little one, guests left with some special presents of their own.

ira glass march madness swain match day nene dark shadows trailer

RE/MAX Survey Finds Homes Become More Modest As Builders Keep

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) January 23, 2009

Not long ago, every American family seemed to be seeking a trophy house ? and new homes rapidly became bigger and grander as builders responded to those demands in the Illinois real estate and Chicago real estate markets. Today, the situation has changed markedly, especially for Chicago homes priced at $ 400,000 or less, but even homes in higher price brackets are making a nod toward modesty.

?We?re seeing a definite trend toward affordability and value in new moderately priced homes in the Chicago real estate and Illinois real estate markets,? reports Debbie Maxvold, broker/owner of RE/MAX Accord which has offices in Bloomingdale, IL and Rockford, IL. Her organization is heavily involved in marketing new homes in the Rockford area.

Larger home builders are shifting away from offering homes of 2,500 to 3,500 square feet and instead are emphasizing designs in the 1,600 to 2,500-square-foot range, according to Maxvold. To make the more limited amount of space as functional as possible, many new homes now utilize a great room concept, with one large living area that is open to the kitchen replacing the separate living and family rooms of more traditional floor plans.

Kathy Dames of RE/MAX Realty of Joliet in Joliet, Illinois, is seeing similar shifts in the new homes being offered in the Chicago real estate market of Will County.

?Builders are looking at the future and scaling back. They are building simpler designs that deliver the most house for the money. Instead of building homes of 2,800 to 3,000 square feet, they are building more homes of 1,800 to 2,300 square feet. And rather than offering an oversized kitchen and family room and separate living room, the homes being built now provide a somewhat smaller kitchen and a large great room but eliminate the traditional living room. They also have 9-foot ceilings throughout rather than the volume ceilings common a few years ago,? said Dames.

Other techniques builders are using to keep Illinois real estate home prices as low as possible while still delivering the primary features consumers desire include less expensive trim and fixtures, smaller lot sizes and less extensive standard landscaping. Some designs make greater use of shared baths, rather than giving each bedroom a private bath, according to Dames.

Among somewhat more upscale Chicago real estate homes that typically sell for $ 400,000 to $ 600,000, the size and features haven?t been changing as quickly, according to Tom Oliva of RE/MAX Central in Roselle, Illinois.

Lots are getting smaller because of the high cost of farm land, he reported. For instance, in Hampshire, IL, at the northwestern edge of the Chicago real estate market, the typical new suburban lot has shrunk by about a third. Standard lots ranged from one-half to a full acre seven or eight years ago, but current dimensions are typically around one-third acre, according to Oliva.

The builders of these homes are putting more emphasis on using long-lasting materials and minimizing maintenance costs so that owning the home is less burdensome to the family budget.

To do that, said Oliva, builders are installing more energy efficient appliances and furnaces, moving from wood shake roofing to architectural shingles and replacing cedar siding with a fibrous concrete siding that is essentially maintenance free for 50 years.

At the upper end of the Illinois real estate market, keeping costs down isn?t as much of a concern, but homes are still becoming less grand in terms of design and square footage, according to Marsha Ulbrich of RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest in Lake Zurich, IL.

?We are building somewhat smaller homes in the $ 1 million-plus segment of the market, but what we are seeing more of are high-tech amenities, such as centrally controlled light, sound and security systems,? said Ulbrich. ?There are still homes of 10,000 square feet or more being built, but most are two-story homes totaling 5,000 square feet, with perhaps another 3,000 square feet in a walkout basement level.?

Ulbrich also sees a new emphasis on coziness, with fewer grand spaces and volume ceilings.

?Not long ago it was difficult to sell a luxury home without volume ceilings, but now families want more of a sense of intimacy along with entertainment capabilities,? she said. ?These buyers are doing more of their entertaining at home, rather than taking guests out.?

One trend Ulbrich isn?t seeing in most luxury homes is the first-floor master suite. ?The families building these homes tend to be young enough so that they still have children in the house, and the parents want their bedroom on the same level as the children?s bedrooms. The exceptions are in homes built specifically for empty nesters, where a first-floor master is becoming quite common.?

According to Susan Rhoades of RE/MAX Suburban in Wheaton, IL, most new upper bracket houses being built these days are custom projects.

?The major changes we?re seeing are in the kitchen/family room area,? she said. ?Kitchens have become very elaborate and are open to large family rooms, while the more formal rooms in the house, the living room and dining room, have become smaller.?

Baths, like kitchens, are getting additional upgrades, such as multi-head shower units and full-body sprays, as well as saunas or steam showers. Energy saving features, including tankless water heaters and floors with radiant heat, also are being included.

Another shift that Rhoades has noticed is the growing importance of basement areas, which have, she said, ?become a continuation of the upstairs living areas.? These contemporary basements, typically accessed via a wide and open staircase, include such features as a home theater area, wine cellar and recessed lighting, allowing the builder to deliver more finished high-value space at less cost.

?Patio areas are becoming more sophisticated and have replaced decks as the preferred setting,? contends Rhoades, and they often include such features as an outdoor kitchen, fireplace and seating walls.

Two features that seem to be showing up with increasing frequency in new single-family homes across the pricing spectrum are the home office and the three-car garage.

?People want a home office because so many folks now work from home much of the time,? said Debbie Maxvold. ?We even see families that would like two home offices because both spouses work at home, but in those instances, they usually convert a bedroom into the second office.?

As for garages, ?the three-car garage is here to stay, but to save money when necessary, you will see more tandem designs where the third parking space is behind the other two, rather than garages with three separate doors,? reports Kathy Dames.

In the luxury home market, noted Ulbrich, four-car garages have become the standard, and most homes in that category provide even more parking because it isn?t unusual for a family to have five or six cars if there are teenagers in the house.

While new home construction nationally is at its slowest pace in many years right now, Dames believes that when the housing market does turn around, new home developments will be the first to come back, in part because many of the homes being offered will be more affordable than in the recent past.

?The homes we?ll be seeing at that point will be closer in size to those built in the mid-1980s than to the homes built between 1995 and 2005,? she said.

RE/MAX is the leader in northern Illinois real estate sales and has been number one in residential sales in the Chicago real estate market since 1989. In 2008, the RE/MAX network in northern Illinois closed apprxoimately $ 8 billion in sales.

The RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network consists of 3,000 associates and 145 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide residential, relocation and commercial real estate services throughout the northern one-third of Illinois. The network?s Web site system, http://www.illinoisproperty.com, is an outstanding resource for buyers and sellers. RE/MAX Northern Illinois is part of RE/MAX International, a global real estate organization with 7,000 independently owned offices and 100,000 member sales associates in 73 countries.

###

Find More Water Furnace Press Releases

ncaa bowl schedule farrah abraham whats going on venus williams bowl projections bedlam bedlam

Beltran hits 14th HR as Cardinals win

By R.B. FALLSTROM

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 10:29 p.m. ET May 23, 2012

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Carlos Beltran hit his NL-leading 14th home run and the Cardinals beat up on former St. Louis postseason star Jeff Suppan for a 6-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night and a three-game sweep.

Rookie Lance Lynn (7-1) tied the Phillies' Cole Hamels for the major league victory lead.

David Freese snapped a 3-for-34 slump with a homer and RBI single as the Cardinals had more than enough offense minus injured starters Lance Berkman, Jon Jay and Allen Craig.

Will Venable hit his sixth career leadoff home run and also doubled and singled for the Padres.

San Diego was held to three or fewer runs for the seventh straight game and fell to a major league-worst 4-13 on the road.

Suppan (2-3) labored for 97 pitches in 4 2-3 innings, giving up five runs in his fifth start for San Diego.

The 37-year-old right-hander was the 2006 NL championship series MVP for the Cardinals and was the lone pitcher on that World Series title team to win a game in each round. The St. Louis fans hadn't forgotten, giving him a warm ovation with some standing as he left the mound.

Suppan, who spent all last year in the minors, entered 2-0 with a 2.42 ERA in four career starts in St. Louis as a member of the visiting team.

Matt Holliday singled to start the fifth ahead of Beltran's first homer in 10 days. Freese's ninth of the year made it 6-3 in the seventh.

Lynn, in the rotation for injured Chris Carpenter, recovered from a three-run first. The 25-year-old righty went six innings and worked out of frequent trouble with the Padres stranding nine runners while he was on the mound.

Victor Marte and Marc Rzepczynski worked a scoreless inning apiece and Jason Motte finished for his eighth save in 11 chances.

Venable hit his third homer of the season on Lynn's second pitch. The first five Padres reached safely with Chase Headley's RBI single making it 2-0. Cameron Maybin was caught stealing for just the second time in 15 chances on a pitchout to hurt San Diego's shot at a bigger inning.

Jesus Guzman, San Diego's cleanup man with no homers, was hit by a pitch his first two times of the season in his first two at-bats.

Skip Schumaker had an RBI double and the Cardinals added RBI singles from Freese and Matt Adams to tie it in the bottom of the first. Suppan needed 54 pitches to get through two innings, escaping damage in the second after walking Schumaker and Holliday with two outs.

NOTES: Venable is a career .413 hitter (26 for 63) against the Cardinals with four RBIs. ... In 30 career starts in St. Louis, all but five for the Cardinals, Suppan is 11-5 with a 3.06 ERA. ... Headley returned after missing one game with a lower back injury. ... Eric Stults makes his second start for the Padres Thursday at New York against the Mets. The lefty allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings against the Angels with no decision in his first start. ... Jake Westbrook was 1-1 with a 1.74 ERA in two starts last year against the Phillies, the team he faces on Thursday in St. Louis. ... Holliday is 9 for 16 against Suppan with three homers and six RBIs, although he was held to a single and walk in three trips.

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

advertisement

More news

Hamels all business vs. Nats

Cole Hamels pitched eight scoreless innings, finishing up by retiring Bryce Harper on a grounder as the Philadelphia Phillies snapped a season-long four-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals.

A-Rod powers Yankees with pair of homers

NEW YORK (AP) - Alex Rodriguez gave Will Smith a rude welcome to the major leagues Wednesday night, hitting two homers off the rookie to back another strong start for Andy Pettitte and lead the New York Yankees over the Kansas City Royals 8-3.

terrell owens mitt romney tax return flip saunders academy award nominations cynthia nixon joe biden cspan

10 highest-paid US CEOs in AP survey

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

blake shelton academy of country music awards brad paisley zac brown band aubrey born to run pranks