Evaluating the Business Opportunity - Agriculture and Rural ...

?In today?s ever-changing marketplace, consumers experience the freshness and great taste of local food through a variety of market channels: Farmers? markets, Community Supported Agriculture, roadside stands and on-farm stores, food hubs, pocket markets, home delivery and food box programs. Established farmers, recognizing the business opportunity, are adding local market options to their existing enterprises. Many of those who are just entering the industry are starting with one or more local market options.
.
?Consumers are looking for local food ? there is a growing demand for it,? says Krista Miller, executive director of the Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association (AFFPA). ?Our members are looking for information on expanding their operations and adding new market options.?

If you are new to selling direct to consumers, intrigued about new markets, or excited about expanding, then AFFPA has a workshop that will be of interest to you. The two-day Evaluating the Opportunity workshop is being held in Leduc on December 3 and 4, 2012. This workshop is organized by Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development in partnership with the AFFPA, and sponsored by Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

Evaluating the Opportunity is designed to provide in-depth information and a real life, Alberta example in four topic areas:

• Business arrangements: Joel Bokenfohr, with Alberta Agriculture, will discuss the pros and cons of different business arrangement options and their implications to farm direct marketers. Dan Ohler will share the success story behind Sangudo Meats and its unique local community investment co-op model where local capital is invested in food production, processing and marketing. The model combines local leadership with a community-based financing mechanism to create sustainable business ventures.
• Cost of production and pricing: Bert Dening, with Alberta Agriculture, will reveal how costs of production impact your product price. Nicola Irving with Irving?s Farm Fresh Ltd. will share how they determine their prices for each of the market channels they use to sell their pork.
• Regulations: Representatives from Alberta Health Services, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will talk about the different regulations that will impact your farm direct business.
• Apply the tools: Lance Johnson, with Drive Solutions Corp., will tie it all together. Lance will cover the theory of decision making and then, using some of the information learned during the previous day and a half, give participants the tools to make that all important go/no-go decision and move to action.

?Evaluating the Opportunity is the bridge between the introductory Explore Local Foods Local Markets workshop and the advanced success stories of the Expand workshops,? says Marlene Abrams, business development specialist with Alberta Agriculture. ?This workshop will give participants the tools to evaluate the business opportunity and make informed decisions when putting their local market business ideas into action. It delivers more detailed, technical information than our other programs and provides a networking opportunity for like-minded producers.?

Early bird registration for the workshop is $110 AFFPA members and $130 non-members (early bird deadline is November 9, 2012). After November 9, registration is $150 AFFPA members and $170 non-members. Final registration deadline is November 23, 2012.

Register now by contacting Krista Miller with the AFFPA, toll-free at 1-800-661-2642 or by email. Information is also available on the Explore Local website under Events.

Contact:
Marlene Abrams
780-968-3519

Karen Goad
780-538-5629

?

Source: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/newslett.nsf/all/agnw20119

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Browns edge Chargers 7-6 in rough weather

By TOM WITHERS

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 3:41 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2012

CLEVELAND (AP) - Trent Richardson's sore ribs didn't slow him down, and neither did the nasty weather.

Cleveland's rookie running back rushed for 122 yards and scored a touchdown, leading the Browns to a soggy, wind-whipped 7-6 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

Richardson, pulled last week at Indianapolis when he was ineffective because of a rib injury, carried 24 times as the Browns (2-6) slopped their way to a second straight home win - and first for new owner Jimmy Haslam. Richardson scored on a 26-yard run in the first quarter and the Browns were able to hang on despite not generating much offense in blustery, wet conditions.

The Chargers (3-4) dropped their third straight. San Diego had a final chance, but quarterback Philip Rivers' pass was batted away by Browns cornerback Buster Skrine with 1:24 left.

Rivers finished 18 of 34 for 154 yards but had a potential touchdown pass dropped by Robert Meachem in the third quarter.

With winds off Lake Erie gusting to more than 40 mph and a steady rain falling from the opening kick to the final whistle, neither offense could get anything going.

So the Browns turned to Richardson, their young star who had been limited in practice all week with a rib injury he sustained two weeks ago in a win over Cincinnati. But unlike last week when he was tentative hitting the hole, Richardson ran with purpose from the outset. He also had an important 12-yard reception in the fourth quarter when the Browns were backed up near their goal line.

Because of the bad weather, the Chargers, too, were forced to go to the ground and Ryan Mathews picked up 95 yards on 24 attempts.

Nick Novak kicked field goals of 43 and 31 yards for San Diego, which blew second-half leads in consecutive losses to New Orleans and Denver before its bye. But the Chargers never got ahead in this one and Meachem's huge drop will be the play that haunts coach Norv Turner this week.

Richardson's TD run gave the Browns a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Two plays after quarterback Brandon Weeden converted on a 4th-and-1 with a sneak to keep the drive alive, Richardson took a handoff up the middle, broke two tackles and was kept upright by right guard Shawn Lauvao, who wrapped his hands around his teammate, before scampering into the end zone for his fifth TD.

The Browns were effective getting Richardson outside with quick pitches, plays that allowed him to minimize smacked in the ribs and forced some of the Chargers defensive backs into situations where they had to try to bring down the bruising back in space - not an easy job.

San Diego's offense sputtered for much of the first half but Rivers moved the Chargers in the final two minutes, setting up Novak's 43-yard field goal as time expired that cut Cleveland's lead to 7-3.

The Chargers missed a chance to take the lead midway through the third when Meachem failed to hang on to what would have been an easy TD pass. Meachem got behind Cleveland's secondary and was wide open at about the 25-yard line when he let Rivers' toss slip through his hands.

Novak's 31-yard field goal brought the Chargers within 7-6 in the third.

Following Richardson's TD, the Browns punted on eight consecutive possessions and were in trouble backed up at their own 7. On second down, Weeden's pass was tipped at the line and nearly picked off by safety Atari Bigby. Given new life, Weeden then hit Richardson on a swing pass for a critical first down and the Browns were able to run off some time before Rivers got the ball back with 2:36 left.

But San Diego only got as far as Cleveland's 44 and Rivers threw four straight incompletions to end a frustrating day.

---

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

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

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Bears rally past Cam, Panthers

Robbie Gould hit a 41-yard field goal as time expired to hand the Carolina Panthers a crushing defeat 23-22 in a game the Panthers had dominated.

Falcons crush Eagles in battle of the birds

Matt Ryan threw touchdown passes on Atlanta's first three possessions against Philadelphia and new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, and the Falcons remained the NFL's only unbeaten team with a 30-17 victory over the Eagles on Sunday.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49589570/ns/sports-nfl/

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Chinese Black Fungus: Health Supplement and Diet Aid | Sheffield ...

You are here: Home / China General / Chinese Black Fungus: Health Supplement and Diet Aid

Can fish and meat textures and tastes be found in a vegetable? Chinese Black Fungus is renowned for these qualities, its vital nutrients and its valuable contributions, as a dietary supplement, to overall fitness and health.

Chinese Black Fungus is usually obtained in dried packaged form as it requires prolonged drying and washing processes before becoming ready to use.

Chinese Black Fungus in Dried Form: Extensive Soaking and Washing is Needed Before Use

Eating Black Fungus regularly enriches blood and prevents iron deficiency anemia. Western medical science has found Black Fungus very effective in blood viscosity modulation as it inhibits platelet aggregation thus lowering blood-viscosity levels. In Traditional Chinese Medicine its applications include anemia, haematemesis, uterine bleeding, hemorrhoids, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. It also figures significantly in cancer prevention and relief.

Black fungus is a very common and inexpensive ingredient on Chinese dinner tables. It also has been recognised within TCM as a medicinal food. For thousands of years Black Fungus has been known for its rich nutrients such as iron, protein, fat, vitamins and polysaccharide. It is also a valuable source of vital trace elements like potassium, selenium and manganese essential to the body?s long-term health.

Black Fungus? bittersweet taste is not particularly strong, its texture is decidedly meat-like however. Black Fungus? presence in dishes serves rather to enhance the flavours of the main ingredients

Black Fungus is also a potent ally in the fight against obesity. Whilst very low calorie, its meat-like texture (and taste) when boiled make its consumption particularly appetite satisfying. It is frequently added to other dishes to ?enrich? them, to bulk these up for dieting/ slimming purposes as well as for its valuable contributions to overall nutrition.

Definitely not ?fast-food? Black Fungus needs extensive soaking and cleaning before use. Available from most Chinese supermarkets, Black Fungus is sometimes stocked by inner-city branches of Tesco.

?Fat Busters? to Enjoy Alongside Black Fungus

Keen dieters can wash down their Black Fungus with other
proven Chinese ?Fat-busting? slimming, weight-loss and nutrition aids like Green Tea (Lu Cha) and Bojenmi Tea.

Green tea stimulates the heart, aids digestion and banishes fatigue. Encouraging fat metabolization ad used extensively in dieting and slimming, it also encourages general bodily detoxification.

Anaemia sufferers and women during their menstrual period should avoid Green Tea as iron absorption is inhibited somewhat by regular consumption. Such individuals should switch to Bojenmi Tea (see below) and/ or consume Black Fungus to make up for iron deficiencies.

Baojianmei Janfei Cha (Bojenmi Cha for short) also known as
?good health, nice appearance flesh-reducing tea? is used extensively in slimming and to induce weight loss. A blend of 12 medicinal herbs based upon an ancient Ming Dynasty herbal remedy, this delightful tasting tea also aids digestion and lowers cholesterol levels. It also has a mild laxative effect

The two teas help flush out fatty deposits from internal systems. Inexpensive Green Tea?s fat removal effect?s are such that Chinese restaurants use left-overs to clean grease from surfaces at closing time.

Details of their constituents, operations and effects can be found elsewhere (1). Black Fungus, Green Tea and Bojenmi Tea all have internal cleansing, detoxifying and longevity-inducing effects encouraging their inclusion in anti-aging dietary regimes and all three can be found in most Chinese Supermarkets

Notes

(1) See ?Chinese Herbal Teas for Health & Fitness 5 Elements Style? for details

Peter Allsop

Alongside Chinese metaphysics and Astrology, gem and crystal Feng Shui Peter Allsop M.Ed?s interests also include Longevity Training, 5 Elements Qigong and Daoism.

Feng Shui Consultant Peter also publishes ? Martial Arts Ezine: Red Dragon? free online. Senior Student of GrandmasterYap Leong, Peter teaches Shaolin Kung Fu and Qigong in Yorkshire U.K. as Shaolin Fists International Area Instructor.

Explore the resources at sheffieldkungfu.com or hylenergiser.com

Contact!

Contact Sifu Peter Allsop M.Ed. to book, join classes or for more information via this Website, on 07960531968, email sifupeterallsop@yahoo.co.uk.. Or via Grandmaster Yap Leong: www.shaolinway.comwww.hylenergiser.com has details of the Grandmaster?s remarkable Health, Youth and Longevity Programme.

Interested in Kung Fu, Qigong, Feng Shui, Daoism, Chinese Astrology or Culture etc? Press the button for an up-to-date publication list.

Peter

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Tags: Black Fungus, Bleeding Hemorrhoids, Blood Viscosity, Cancer Prevention, Chinese Diet, Chinese Dinner, Chinese Food Recipe, Chinese Health, Chinese Medicine, Chinese Medicine Practitioners, Coronary Heart Disease, Diet Aid, Diet Recipe, Dinner Table, Dinner Tables, Essential Energy, Fitness And Health, Fungus Health, Haematemesis, Health Health, Health Supplement, Hemorrhoids, High Blood Pressure, Intestines, Iron Deficiency, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Long Term Health, Low Calorie, Medicinal Food, Medicinal Values, Rich Nutrients, Tcm, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Viscosity Of Blood, Vital Energy, Vital Nutrients, Vital Trace Elements, Western Medical Science

Source: http://www.sheffieldkungfu.com/9758/chinese-black-fungus-health-supplement-and-diet-aid/

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Fat Reducing Foods | My Journey to 100

There are actually a lot of fat-burning foods and yet quite a few are better than the others. All of them, nevertheless , are good options in the event that you are starting lose weight gain muscle plan. When you want to gain muscle to get stronger or just look a bit more strong, you will have to focus your diet on healthy foods that will work with you, not against you. The following foods will do exactly that.

Fruits To Take Off Fat

Regarding fat burning foods, citrus fruits are on top of the list. They?re vitamin rich and they?re natural. You need not worry about processing simply because , notably in the event that you buy organic fruit, they?re as nature made them. You possess a choice of numerous different fruits for your lose weight gain muscle program. Grapefruit is great for losing fat. Quite a few people don?t care for the bitter taste of quite a few grapefruit. For them, oranges and tangerines could possibly be the fruits more to their taste. You may replace juice for that fruit. For illustration, in the event that you possess a salad, instead the fattening salad dressing, lime juice may be a fantastic choice.

Vegetables Add Fibre And Vitamins As They Remove Fat

With vegetables you have just as much number as you do with fruits. You may consume them cooked or even better, raw. Whenever you do cook them, steam them for one or two minutes to the stage where there is still a little crunch to them. You may also stir fry them in olive or soybean oil. The deeply green vegetables are loaded with iron and nutrients. Peas, green beans, broccoli and spinach are minimal on calories and also carbohydrates. They just add fine nourishment to your lose weight gain muscle plan.

Oats And Beans Are Great Complex Carbs

Grains are necessary in your food pyramid of meals. Fat burning foods will supply you vitamins and minerals and function to supply you with vitality. But , they?re minimal on calories, they have the capability to release energy little by little , rather than in one flash. Oats and whole grains play the role of fat burners beautifully. Beans possess quite a few carbohydrate content and yet their reputation lies in their protein content. Beans will develop muscle when keeping hunger away from you.

Low-fat, Low Calorie Meat Develops Muscle

To conserve calories and keep fat at a minimum, poultry is possibly the perfect meat to consume. It provides all the vitamins and minerals, and all the protein to be superb providers for the developing blocks of muscle fibres. Meat comes with quite a few cholesterol and yet in the event that you do not consume meat too much, it?s excellent nutrition for your work toward a better body.

Popeye gets his strength by eaten green spinach and yes they are quite healthy. Spinach contains lots of iron; it?s a great nutrition food and is a great prevention against cancer.

Make sure you understand that this list isn?t completed. A great strategy to lose weight with eating is food rich in fibres, low calories and food that provides your stomach a sense of getting fulfilled.

Uncover more info on weight reduction at How to Get a Flat Stomach and Foods that Burn Fat.

Source: http://myjourneyto100.com/2012/10/25/fat-reducing-foods/

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AngloGold to fire 12,000 South Africa strikers

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Gorilla Glass Gets Around: Now Featured On 1 Billion Devices Worldwide

Corning's Gorilla Glass got famous for being the scratch-resistant front screen cover material on Apple's iPhone. Then-Apple CEO Steve Jobs talked Corning CEO Wendell Weeks into producing production quantities of the stuff, the legend goes, and now, it's been featured on over 1 billion devices worldwide, the company announced in its quarterly earnings release, but the news wasn't all good.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/LJmXBIAV1mU/

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Jennifer Lopez Flaunts Toned Tummy in London With Casper Smart: See 15 of Her Sexiest Abs Moments (GALLERY)

Jennifer Lopez may be the mother of twins, but she?s still got those rock-hard abs from her ?Jenny From the Block? days.

Donning a midriff-baring black top that gave way to her sculpted physique, the ?On the Floor? singer, 43, strolled side-by-side with her dancer beau Casper Smart?as she prepared for her concert on Monday.

Lopez is known to work hard for her enviable flat belly ? even going to great lengths to train with fitness guru?Tracy Anderson.

?We don?t want her natural beauty to go out of balance,? Anderson told People?of Lopez? workout regime. ?[Overly] ripped abs would ruin her look.?

However, another part of her body may have received even more attention that night during her London town concert.

While performing on stage for her Dance Again world tour, Lopez was accidentally exposed her nipple while rocking out in her plunging, bedazzled bodysuit.

Click through our gallery above to see more skin with J.Lo?s 15 sexiest ab moments.

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Source: http://www.celebuzz.com/2012-10-23/jennifer-lopez-flaunts-toned-tummy-in-london-with-casper-smart-see-15-of-her-sexiest-abs-moments-gallery/

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Conservatives and Liberals Are Equally Generous, Study Finds ...

Political views do not predict how much money a person will donate to charity, according to a new study.?But conservatives and liberals do support different kinds of causes.

Conservatives and people in conservative-leaning states are more likely than others to donate to religious organizations, while people in liberal-leaning states are more likely to donate to secular nonprofits, the study found.

The study was conducted by MIT?researchers Michele Margolis and Michael Sances and was based on data from the National Opinion Research Center. It follows a study by three scholars released in May that suggested fundraisers should phrase pitches differently when appealing to Republicans versus Democrats.

Still, the findings about overall giving rates run counter to previous studies by scholars that have shown that religious conservatives give more than secular liberals.

Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute and formerly professor of public administration at Syracuse University, used public giving data to make that conclusion in the 2006 book Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism.

More recently, a Chronicle analysis of 2008 IRS tax data?found states that had voted for the Republican candidate John McCain in the most recent presidential election had given more of their discretionary income to charity than states that had supported the Democratic President Barack Obama.

Let us know what you see among your donors. Do you find differences by political affiliation?

Send an e-mail to Maria Di Mento.

Source: http://philanthropy.com/blogs/prospecting/conservatives-and-liberals-are-equally-generous-study-finds/35812

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NFL week 7 rock stars

Written by Daniel Eliesen on Tuesday, 23 October 2012 17:41.

After a busy week of football we are now basically at the midpoint of the season. Some teams have disappointed and some teams have impressed. Players have broken out and got off to quick starts while others have slightly regressed and perhaps aren?t the players who we thought they were. Looking back at Week 7 here are your NFL Rock Stars.

RG3 vs. Eli Manning - Hit Me with Your Best Shot

Both QB?s were balling most of the game with RG3 rising to the occasion to his first big stage game against the super bowl champs. RG3 didn?t disappoint leading his team down the field to take the lead and go home with a major road upset but there was only one problem, he left time on the clock for Eli Manning.?

Manning continued his success as probably the best 4th?quarter QB in the NFL hitting Victor Cruz on a deep bomb to give the Giants the big win. Both QB?s gave their best shot but in the end like we?ve seen the past few years its Eli who came out victorious.

Chris Johnson ? 18 carries for 195 yards and 2 TD?s ? Running down a Dream by Tom Petty

Chris Johnson, CJ2K or more recently known as CJ0k might finally be back. A player who busted on the scene as debatably the best running back in the NFL seemed to have disappeared struggling to put 50 yards together might finally back to his old form. A couple of 100 yards game in the past few weeks and a breakthrough performance this week which had many thinking of the breakaway speed they have grown accustomed to seeing from CJ.

Randall Cobb ? 8 rec - 89 yards 2 TD?s - The Kids Aren't Alright by Offspring

It took a couple of games for Rodgers to get his swag on with Greg Jennings sidelined but Randall Cobb has been there every step of the way having a breakout game in what?s been a breakout season. Used in a similar fashion to Percey Harvin and Darren Sproles, Cobb is a very effective new sprinkle in the GB offense. Rodgers has had very high praise for Cobb in recent weeks.

The Whole Houston Texans - Burning Down the House?by the Talking Heads

Whether it?s Foster who runs for 98 yards and 2 TD?s or it?s Schaub who has 2 TD?s and a 100 passer rating with no interceptions or it?s JJ Watt continuing to be JJ Swat or it?s Jonathan Joseph who had a pick 6 the whole Houston Texans team absolutely blasted Baltimore. What was thought to be the best teams in the AFC competing for the prize of top spot at the AFC didn?t seem like much of a competition. This Texans team is for real.

Honorable mention: Bears D, Josh Freeman, Drew Brees, Vincent Jackson, Aaron Rodgers

Source: http://www.bloguin.com/thisgivensunday/2012-articles/october/nfl-week-7-rock-stars.html

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PNY ThinkSafe Portable Laptop Locking System

• Pros

  Easy set-up. Useful as a deterrent.

• Cons Can be broken with standard tools. Kensington Slot Lock didn't fit into test system.
• Bottom Line

  The PNY ThinkSafe Portable Locking System provides laptop owners with a straightforward and, for the most part, effective protection mechanism that, at about $40, is a small price to pay for something that can make the difference between a secure laptop and a crime statistic.

By Ahmer Kazi

A little over a year ago, the New York Times reported that most of the 300-plus Starbucks scattered throughout New York City had unwittingly become hotspots for thieves, who'd pilfer laptops and handbags whenever patrons waited on line or went to the bathroom. Of course, laptop theft didn't magically appear with the advent of Starbucks, as demonstrated by the growing number of alarming posters warning of laptop theft in most libraries. The PNY ThinkSafe Portable Laptop Locking System ($39.99 direct) isn't the most potent solution to this problem, but it does succeed in providing laptop owners with a straightforward and, for the most part, effective protection mechanism. At $40, it's a small price to pay for something that has the potential to save your laptop from theft. As is the case with all locks, you'd be better off with it than without it. And, regardless of effectiveness, the ThinkSafe also serves as a deterrent, as any thief would probably think twice before pulling out tools to break it apart in public.

Design
Naturally, the main component of the ThinkSafe kit is the combination lock. Its steel body has a cylindrical shape that measures 2.75 by 1.5 inches (HW), and the lock is released by pushing down on a button with your thumb in a manner reminiscent of a syringe. A six-foot carbon steel cable with protective rubber coating is attached to the combination lock, and its other end has a loop that can be hooked around a fixed object to anchor your system. In order to unlock the unit, one needs to scroll through the four rotating dials on the face of the combination lock to enter a factory-supplied four-digit code.

Once unlocked, the syringe-like button can be pushed to reveal a retractable hook, which in turn connects to one of the included stainless steel hinge-link. The ThinkSafe kit comes with three different hinge-links that vary in size, so they can fit into thick laptops as well as skinner ultrabooks. Alternatively, you can ditch the hinges altogether, as the ThinkSafe also comes with a cast-steel slot lock that can be inserted directly into a Kensington Security Slot. Whichever method you opt for to secure your system, an included mesh pouch can be used to take it on the go.

Performance
Testing the ThinkSafe with a Toshiba Satellite laptop first required selecting the Hinge Link that most closely matched my system's thickness, which turned out to be the medium-sized link. The link is then inserted into the gap in the system's hinge, where it slides beneath the underside and protrudes out of the rear; a tiny perforation at the tip of the link accordingly matches to where the combination lock goes. Meanwhile, I used the looped end of the cable to secure my Satellite to a stationary point, a table in this case. Overall, setting up the ThinkSafe took very little time and wasn't cumbersome in the least bit. The same cannot be said of the included Slot-Link lock, though, as it didn't fit into my Satellite's Kensington lock slot.

I set a baseline of ten minutes to determine whether the ThinkSafe lock proved effective, as I'd imagine that's a reasonable amount of time that one can leave a laptop unattended before it becomes fair game for thieves. Having secured my Satellite in the manner outlined above, I turned to our very own Will Greenwald to play the role of laptop thief. Armed with needle-nose pliers, wire strippers, a utility knife, and a monkey wrench, Will started on the hinge link, which he repeatedly bent back and forth with his pliers. The stainless steel link proved impervious to his bending technique, so he moved on to the cable. Stripping the rubber coating revealed a tightly braided steel cable, which Will attempted to fray apart before cutting through individual strands with his pliers. This also proved difficult. All in all, it took Will 8 minutes 58 seconds of strenuous effort to breach the ThinkSafe lock, which, despite falling a minute shy of my ten-minute baseline, was still impressive since it occurred in the relative calm of the Labs; in a more public setting, like a library, the necessary furtiveness of a thief's actions would almost certainly result in a longer amount of time to break through the lock. On the other hand, though, Will was able to break through the cable despite his complete lack of experience in laptop thievery; one can easily imagine a seasoned thief doing it in half the time, especially with the right tools on hand. That said, though, a lock's deterrent effect is arguably just as important as its effectiveness as a lock, and in that regard, the ThinkSafe is useful simply for being what it is.

The PNY ThinkSafe Portable Laptop Locking System isn't a sure-fire way to protect your laptop, but it most succeeds as a straightforward and effective method of protection, as well as a useful deterrent against any potential thieves. As we saw, it's not completely impervious to being dismantled, but it holds its own under quite a bit of duress. For $40, it's a small price to pay for a device that protects something as important as your laptop. In the end, you'd be better off with it than without it, and that's perhaps the most one can hope for in a lock.

By Ahmer Kazi

Ahmer Kazi is a junior analyst for the PCMag Hardware team. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Television and Film from St. John's University, where he also minored in English. He additionally holds a Juris...

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Beyond Structured Settlements: NASP 2012 Annual Conference - 3

The National Association of Settlement Purchasers (NASP) hosted its 8th annual educational conference October 16-19, 2012 in New Orleans with a record number of attendees consisting of transfer company executives and staff, in-house and outside legal counsel, investors, service providers and, for the first time, primary market participants.

NASP President Matthew Bracy set the conference theme by challenging speakers and attendees to continue to improve the structured settlement secondary market: "We have some of the brightest minds in the country assembled here to discuss the status of this industry and how to improve what we do. And, as is our habit, we have invited people who might have critical things to say about how we are doing and what we can do better. Improvement can only come from the honest and sometimes harsh assessment of outside critics."

One of those critics was keynote speaker Jan Schlictmann who called out "cash now" advertizing as a "primitive denomination". Schlichtmann's broader message echoed Bracy's theme of bettering oneself through self-criticism and the need for higher industry goals. "It is not just who we serve that matters, but how we serve", Schlictmann stated. Schlictmann reviewed his client experience with structured settlements and acknowledged a personal paradigm shift resulting from recent industry developments including low interest rates and the ELNY liquidation.

The Judges Panel has become a regular and popular feature of NASP educational conferences. Moderator Earl Nesbitt encouraged this year's panel members, Judge Patricia Wise, Chancery Court Judge, Hinds County, Mississippi and Judge Dean Lum, Superior Court for King County, Washington, to share their concerns about structured settlement transfers and their advice for transfer company representatives and attorneys. Selected highlights:

• Judge Wise: "We (Mississippi judges) have a good relationship with transfer attorneys. I don't look at transfers as inherently good or bad. I don't have any preconceived notion whether to approve or disapprove."
• Judge Lum: "It is not my job to talk someone into or out of a transfer. Judges, however, think about the worst case scenario - a recipient who has just turned 18. The closer to this worst case scenario, the more scrutiny a person receives."
• Judge Wise: "What judges are looking for is credibility and what structured settlement payees say they will do with the funds. We do focus on whether prior transfers have occurred. Also, the older the payee, the more likely they have the ability to make a good decision."
• Judge Lum: "Attorneys should prepare the structured settlement payee for his or her court appearance - how to dress and behave; how the best interest test applies; what the impact will be on dependents."
• Judge Lum: "We have a saying in King County: 'there is no party like ex parte'. In unopposed cases, people try to run things by you. Its kind of like the wild west. In unopposed cases, it is important for attorneys to go the extra mile. Your reputation matters. There are two degrees of separation in the legal profession."

Another regular and popular feature of NASP educational conferences are the small group break out sessions. The individual breakout sessions S2KM attended addressed participants' state-specific experience with:

• Court Approval Issues - judicial negotiation of discount rates; the meaning of full disclosure; statutory history of the "best interest" test; independent professional advisor qualifications and fees; transfer application exhibits; and the importance of judicial education.
• Underwriting Issues - annuity provider transfer requirements; "applicable state laws" requirements; judgment creditor issues including bankruptcy and child support; annuity provider administrative fees; and problems related to incompetent payees, identity theft and relatives or friends coercing payees.

The NASP conference doubled down on underwriting issues with an informative presentation about "Life Contingent Transactions" by NASP President-elect Patricia LaBorde. LaBorde, who also served as Chairperson for the 2012 NASP conference and was credited with upgrading the NASP website, discussed the two paths for funding life contingent transactions:

• Purchasing a life insurance policy to hedge against the risk of an early annuitant death; or
• Evaluating the risk and pricing the risk into the transaction.

Jack Kelly, a federal lobbyist who assisted NASP in securing enactment of IRC 5891 in 2002, provided a Legislative Update. Kelly summarized NASP's 2012 involvement with legislative proposals in Vermont, Minnesota and New Hampshire. Vermont, in 2012, became the 48th state to enact a structured settlement protection statute. The new Vermont statute is generally based upon the NCOIL Model Act with some variations related to independent professional advisors, notice requirements for certain state agencies and the required court appearance by the structured settlement payee.

Earl Nesbitt, NASP's Executive Director and General Counsel, presented the 2012 Litigation Update. Among several important court decisions, Nesbitt highlighted the Stone Street v. McClendon case which he characterized as an "important victory" for NASP and the structured settlement industry in general. In McClendon, a Louisiana state court found that Travelers Insurance and MetLife had no grounds for withholding payments following a valid transfer of payment rights pursuant to the Louisiana structured settlement protection statute. The court ordered MetLife to pay interest from the date the payments were originally due. Note: S2KM will publish a more detailed review of the McClendon case in a subsequent blog post.

Attorney Joseph Feltes' 2012 NASP presentation titled "Privacy Issues in Structured Settlement Transactions (Part 2)" supplemented his 2011 NASP presentation on the use and disclosure of confidential information by transfer companies. This year, Feltes discussed privacy issues related to electronic and digital communications, especially Internet-based communications. Among other issues, Feltes highlighted: cyber-bullying; the increase in defamation cases; the blurred boundaries between public and private communications; FTC blog rules requiring disclosures of paid endorsements; social media policy and practices; limits on constitutional rights; cloud technology issues; and the importance of company Internet policies.

In his "Primary Market Update", Mark Wahlstrom emphasized why the primary and secondary structured settlement markets are part of the same business. He called the primary market "the secondary market's best friend" despite the primary market's criticism of, and "needless obstacles" for, the secondary market. As one example of "needless obstacles", Wahlstrom mentioned Chartis for aggressively promoting an anti-factoring pledge among its structured settlement brokers.

Wahlstrom described 2012 as "another bad year for the primary market". He characterized declines in primary market annuity premium as a "negative trend that will eventually impact the secondary market" and identified the following causes:

• The structured settlement is an insular, closed community with aging leadership and a shrinking sales force.
• Structured settlement annuity providers, and most brokers, lack marketing and innovation skills.
• Primary market participants are intimidated by the Internet.
• Instead of offering customer solutions, the primary market continues to sell a single product.
• With historically low interest rates, that product produces a zero return when you consider inflation.
• The primary market has not responded strategically to tort reform and increasing competition from other professionals.
• By continuing their "factoring wars", the primary market has missed opportunities to cooperate with the secondary market.
• The ELNY liquidation means the primary market can no longer claim all structured settlement recipients have received 100% of their payments.

Kira Brereton, an attorney who specializes in asset-backed securitizations, provided a comprehensive introduction to "Financing Structured Settlements". Her presentation: reviewed a typical transaction structure; provided a market overview including legal and regulatory developments; summarized rating agency considerations; discussed split payment issues; addressed the creditworthiness of insurers backing the collateral pools; considered bankruptcy and receivership issues; and highlighted relevant securities laws and regulations including the Investment Company Act of 1940, private placements, Dodd-Frank and Regulation AB 2.0.

Elizabeth Yingling, a securities law expert, discussed "Implications of Federal and States Securities Laws on Structured Settlements". She addressed fundamental issues such as: What statutes govern securities? What is a "security"? What is an "investment contract"? and How do promotional materials impact the analysis? In addition, Yingling offered a detailed analysis of the "Howey test" and provided practical tips.

Alexander Hamilton Award

NASP also named S2KM blog author, Patrick Hindert, as the 2012 recipient of its Alexander Hamilton Award. NASP has bestowed this award five times "to distinguished individuals who have supported and defended the right to free alienability of property rights. This right is the corner stone of NASP and the foundation of the structured settlement factoring business." Previous Alexander Hamilton Award recipients:

• State Senator Alan Sanborn of Michigan.
• U.S. Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia.
• State Representative Van Tran of California.
• Earl S. Nesbitt, Esq., of Texas.

In announcing the 2012 award, NASP President Matt Bracy stated: "Hindert was chosen to receive this award based upon his longstanding support of the factoring business and option. In particular, his position as a founder and leader in the primary structured settlement business, who early on recognized the legitimacy and value of the secondary market, led to this honor."

For complete S2KM reporting on NASP conferences plus other structured settlement and settlement planning conferences, see the structured settlement wiki.

Source: http://s2kmblog.typepad.com/rethinking_structured_set/2012/10/nasp-2012-annual-conference-3.html

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The final presidential debate in 100 seconds

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/romneys-final-debate-message-ill-better-obama-164010328--politics.html

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George McGovern, an unabashed liberal voice, dies at 90 (CNN)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/257147470?client_source=feed&format=rss

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How Do Close Family Members Handle Disagreements About Politics

Advice

Parental Quandary

Every Friday, we pose a question to the Motherlode community. The next week, we pull together the best responses. Got a quandary? E-mail KJ ?.

When I posted, around the time of the first presidential debate, that ?our debate-watching household will include reasonable adults who disagree (as reasonable adults truly can) on the desired outcome of the 2012 presidential election,? an astute reader wrote, asking if that meant that my husband and I ?disagreed about politics? and how, if that was true, we handle our disagreements (Watching the Presidential Debates ? With Children). For her, it?s a quandary ? she and her serious boyfriend have found themselves in political ?discussions? that veer off into arguments all too often in the past few months.

The answer is that my husband and I, both independent voters who have cast ballots on both sides of the aisle, do disagree this time around. But I was really referring to my father, who was visiting me during the debate, and who votes strictly down a party line. When we do disagree (and in the past four years that?s been nearly all the time), ?heated? truly is an understatement. We have shouted, we have hung up on one another, and we have, ultimately, agreed simply to not talk about politics, ever (except when we do). My dad is an avid follower not just of the policy side of the election (my primary interest) but of the ?horse race,? and I knew he wouldn?t agree to turn the television off for the sake of harmony.

Dad chose to watch the debate on a smaller television in my office, but when I unexpectedly found my 11-year-old snuggled in with him and watching avidly, I sat down too. We managed to maintain a truce that lasted not just for the debate, but for the visit, and it was a huge relief not to avoid the subject, but not to be stuck in conversations that ended in tears, either.

I?ll write more about how we handle the political reality of a house divided in an election season next week, but for now, I?d like to hear from you. Do you disagree with close family members on the desired outcome for Election 2012? If so, do you avoid political discussion, or welcome dynamic debate? Are your children aware of your differences, and do you find that, in order not to cast a family member in a bad light, you have to moderate how you talk to them about the issues ? for better, or for worse?

---

Source: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/elections-politics-and-a-house-divided/

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The Editor Speaks: Conservation crimes and punishment | ieyenews

We commit the crimes and the generations that follow us pay for them. A history lesson no one learns from. What one man fights for and preserves another two or three will destroy.

Such are two of our stories today.

The good story concerns the great work Fred Burton has been doing with the Cayman National Trust?s Blue Iguana Recovery Programme.

For many years the indigenous iguana was ?critically endangered? and is now ?endangered?.

Sadly, although the Cayman Blue Iguana (?blues?) is protected by law and reserves have been set aside for them to live and breed in the wild, there is no National Conservation Law (NCL) on Cayman?s statute books.

Neither will there be soon if the Minister for the Environment, Hon. Mark Scotland, keeps his job. In a recent press statement he announced that he would try and get the NCL debated when the Legislative Assembly next meets but it will be watered down.

The habitat that the blues need to survive outside of the reserves is therefore not going to be protected.? As a result blues are unlikely to ever going beyond ?endangered.?

It was strange, therefore, to hear Mr. Scotland?s answers regarding the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) petition to ?Stop Sea Turtle Farming? as ?turtles for us is an iconic creature something the generations the industry was built on many, many years ago.? He said the WSPA doesn?t understand that.

What that had to do with the WSPA?s claims of sea turtles at the Cayman Islands Turtle Farm being crushed, stressed, diseased and living with open wounds in waste-filled waters, is totally beyond me. I was hoping he was going to announce the date of the Independent Audit of the Turtle Farm that is the only hope the Farm has of putting a stop to the growing world wide support to the WSPA?s petition.

Of course, that is only if the Independent Audit comes out on the side of the Turtle Farm.? If it doesn?t we probably won?t hear about it and that might be the reason the date of the Audit has not been announced.? Or worse, the Government actually accepts the damning accusations and don?t dare to have it executed, anyway.

It is a pity Scotland didn?t argue the generations of wild life that has lived in the Cayman Islands and being destroyed but that might be why he used his terminology of ?built on?. Certainly the Cayman?s wild life is being destroyed by being ?built on.?

And being ?built on? is certainly happening to our mangroves. Our protection against hurricanes that are increasing with frequency and strength.

Fill and build on the mangroves and if they are protected our Planning Authority will say ?yes? because they know the developer is a ?good guy? and a legal but dubious argument against the scientific evidence and common sense will take precedence. If they are wrong it will be appealed and everyone will be happy.

The problem is that the wheels of justice can walk very slowly instead of moving round and round at speed and this is the case in our second story.

The Cayman Islands Attorney General has taken his time, and is still taking his time in the dispute between the Protect South Sound Committee who is supported by the Department of Environment and RC Estates.

Whilst he continues to do nothing the mangroves are being destroyed and if and when he makes a decision, it will not make one iota of difference? the mangroves, that we the people of the Cayman Islands paid for together with outside donations to be preserved and protected, will be no more. Disappeared under piles of fill.

The problem I have with this is that our natural protections that God made for us and are beautiful to behold are replaced by commercial interests. The greed verses sense and greed wins.

Of course the developer promises concrete walls that will protect us from storms but have proved don?t. They also are ugly and the tourists that come here to enjoy our scenic beauty can?t because there is a wall in the way. So they don?t come.

But it doesn?t matter. The developer has made his money and moved on. The people he has left behind pay for his crime.

And pay they will.

Source: http://www.ieyenews.com/2012/10/the-editor-speaks-conservation-crimes-and-punishment/

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An alternate sport for Midtown kids | Daytona Times

Tony Cowell ready to make difference as karate teacher

BY JAMES HARPER
DAYTONA TIMES

When Tony Cowell isn?t driving trucks for a living, the Daytona Beach resident is teaching karate.

From left to right are Malcolm Crafton (black belt), sensei Tony Cowell (third-degree black belt) and DeVine Lents (brown belt), Schetonia Cowell (brown belt) is in front. (PHOTO COURTESY OF TONY COWELL)

Cowell says he teaches karate to bring awareness about the sport and to get more of the community and inner-city children involved in something that?s productive and worthwhile and keeps them off the streets.

?I consider all the students as my kids whenever they are in my presence. They are my kids. I protect them. I look out for them and I teach them,? Cowell said, noting that he has been practicing karate for 40 years and teaching it for 15 years.

Cowell also teaches a self-defense/exercise class for women.

Builds confidence
He says karate is an individual sport that builds confidence and self-esteem in all areas of life ? whether it is for other sports or for a physically demanding job.

His classes are taught on the third floor of Master?s Domain Church of God in Christ on Bay Street. The pastor of the church, located in downtown Daytona Beach, is Superintendent Derrick Harris. Cowell says he is looking for a new location that is more visible to the public.

Cowell was born in Brooklyn, New York, and came to Florida in 1989.

He started out in Miami than eventually made his way to Daytona Beach.

He had been a single parent for almost 20 years until he met Sharonda Irvin, whom he calls his best friend. She works as a recreational leader at the John H. Dickerson Center. They were married a year ago.

Upon arriving in Daytona Beach, Cowell met Larry Jones and Kareem Brown and begin working out with them. He became a member of karate teams.

?Karate teaches me to be more self-aware about my surroundings and the people that I come in contact with,? he explained.

Good workout
Cowell says karate works on the physical and mental aspects of the body asa whole.

?It teaches you respect, confidence and is a builder of self-esteem as well,? he continued.

Cowell said those who participate in his class will get a good workout and knowledge of the sport. There also are competitions across the state such as the Gator Nationals held in Daytona Beach.

?We also compete in tournaments outside of the state,? he added.

The cost of his classes ranges from $65 dollars per month for one child to $165 for five ore more children. Classes take place Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for younger kids.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Cowell teaches the women?s self-defense/exercise classes.

For more information, 386-236-9263 or send an email to? CowellS@CODB.US.

Source: http://daytonatimes.com/2012/10/18/an-alternate-sport-for-midtown-kids/

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Stewart: Romney binder a 'Notebook of Nipples'

By Craig Berman, NBC News contributor

Jon Stewart wasted no time leaping on Tuesday night's Presidential Debates on "Daily Show" Wednesday -- and he picked two of the most obvious soundbites from the debates to skewer: First, Mitt Romney's?infamous comment about getting ?binders full of women? qualified for jobs when he was governor of Massachusetts.?Stewart played the clip, arranged the papers on his desk, paused, and smiled.

?Couple of things: One the women?s group was called MassGAP and they approached Governor Romney, not the other way around. And two, my guess is they did not refer to what they presented as a binder full of women, but perhaps as an organized collection of qualified resumes,? Stewart said. ?But hey, Binder of Women, Book of Broads, Notebook of Nipples, whatever.?

He had more fun with the Libya discussion, which centered on determining the exact day President Obama first referred to it as an act of terror. Watching Romney walk into a trap of his own devising was almost too good for Stewart to talk about, particularly given that Obama urged him to "please, proceed."

?There?s your first clue -- when you feel you?re about you?re about to spring what you think is the checkmate moment of the debate and your debate opponent says to you, ?Please proceed. Hold on, are you trying to open that door? Allow me to open it wider,?? Stewart said. ?When your opponent does that, you may want to wonder a la Wile E Coyote and Road Runner, (whether) that door your opponent is pointing to is merely paint on a rock.?

From Stewart?s perspective, that?s exactly what it was. It should make Thursday?s interview with President Obama less awkward than it would have been a week ago, when Stewart was still focused on his less-robust performance in the first debate. Odds are good, however, that this will still come up in that conversation.

Stephen Colbert also had some thoughts, although he first told his viewers: ?If you?re an undecided voter who did not watch, just trust me, it?s 2-0.?

Like Stewart, he considered the Libya comment a turning point -- but wasn?t as happy with the outcome. ?No, no ... it?s supposed to change everything the other way!? he said.? ?That should have been Mitt?s moment of chest-thumping dominance over the carcass of his opponent, and it would have been too had it not been for that meddling moderator.?

In that latter comment, he echoed the Fox News spin, which also decried Candy Crowley?s purported fact-checking, which they argued should have taken place only after the event.

?Yes, the time for fact-checking is after the event, when voters have stopped watching,? Colbert said.

He was also sympathetic towards the Fox criticism of the ?random? questions. ?Why are we talking about Lady Issues in the Town Hall? Save it for the Sadie Hawkins debate when the girls are supposed to do the asking.?

And don?t get him started on assault weapons, or Romney?s spin that two-parent households could help solve the problem.

?The answer to gun violence isn?t getting rid of assault weapon, its two-parent households,? Colbert said. ?Because when a psychopath marches into the mall in Kevlar body armor, slowly lifting the laser site of his Ak-47 towards the Sunglass Hut, the only thing that will stop him from carnage is when he asks himself what would mom and dad think??

And having learned that people on the street will opine on anything if a microphone is in front of them, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" again sent roving reporters out to talk to people not just about a debate that hadn't happened yet (as they did last night, before the second presidential debates even started) -- but on one that would never exist: A First Ladies debate between Ann Romney and Michelle Obama. Naturally, everyone they spoke to was well-informed and happy to talk about who did the best in that particular debate.?

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Source: http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/18/14532899-jon-stewart-dubs-romneys-binder-a-notebook-of-nipples?lite

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