Home Improvement Experts

Are you surrounded by brand-new homes that have your place looking out of date? Now is the time to start thinking about a improving your home. The beauty of improving your home is that you can start just about anywhere. You can choose the project that is the greatest need or what can keep you under budget easily. These projects could include repairing a deck, updating a bathroom or kitchen, or giving the living room new paint or wallpaper. Professional home improvement specialists can guide you to find the right materials and show you the best way to get the job done right. Handyman Chesterfield

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Maze of gun laws in US hurts gun control efforts

WASHINGTON (AP) -- There is a legal avenue to try to get any gun you want somewhere in the U.S., thanks to the maze of gun statutes across the country and the lack of certain federal laws.

That undermines gun-control efforts in communities with tougher gun laws ? and pushes advocates of tighter controls to seek a federal standard. Gun rights proponents say enforcing all existing laws makes more sense than passing new ones.

An Associated Press analysis found that there are thousands of laws, rules and regulations at the local, county, state and federal levels. The laws and rules vary by state, and even within states, according to a 2011 compilation of state gun laws by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

These laws and regulations govern who can carry a firearm, what kind of firearm is legal, the size of ammunition magazines, and more. In some places, a person can buy as many guns as desired.

Not only can people acquire military-style assault weapons, they can also get gangster-style Tommy guns, World War II-era bazookas and even sawed-off shotguns.

"If you regulate something on the local or state level, you are still a victim to guns coming into other localities or states," said Laura Cutilletta, a senior staff attorney at the California-based Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

In California, most guns come from Nevada, where there is almost no regulation of firearms, Cutilletta said, and in Arizona, gun owners don't need a permit.

President Barack Obama earlier this month announced a $500 million plan to tighten federal gun laws. The December shooting massacre in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 children and six adults at an elementary school launched the issue of gun control policy to a national focus not seen in decades.

Obama is urging Congress to pass new laws, some of which would set a minimum standard for the types of firearms and ammunition that are commercially available. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on Thursday said she was introducing a new assault weapons ban.

The powerful gun lobby says the problem lies in enforcement of existing laws.

"Which begs the question: Why are we putting more laws on the books if we're not enforcing the laws we already have on the books?" said Andrew Arulanandam, spokesman for the National Rifle Association.

New gun laws will face tough opposition in Congress, particularly from members who rely on the NRA during election campaigns. The NRA contributed more than $700,000 to members of Congress during the 2012 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Recognizing the opposition in Congress, states already are passing their own new gun laws while officials from some states are promising to ignore any new federal mandates. As the national debate on gun control and Second Amendment rights escalates, the terms being used won't mean the same thing everywhere, due to the thousands of laws, rules and regulations across the country.

"The patchwork of laws in many ways means that the laws are only as effective as the weakest law there is," said Gene Voegtlin of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. "Those that are trying to acquire firearms and may not be able to do that by walking into their local gun shop will try to find a way to do that. This patchwork of laws allows them to seek out the weak links and acquire weapons."

Obama wants to address this, in part, by passing federal gun-trafficking laws that carry heavy penalties. It's difficult to crack down on trafficking because the penalties are too low to serve as a deterrent, and federal prosecutors decline many cases because of a lack of evidence. For instance, in order to charge someone with willfully participating in a business of selling firearms without a license, the ATF needs to prove that the guns were not sold out of the suspect's private collection, the Justice Department inspector general has said.

Obama has also called for a new federal law banning magazines that carry more than 10 rounds of ammunition ? a measure that was in effect during the previous assault weapons ban, between 1994 and 2004. High-capacity magazines have been used in recent deadly mass shootings, including those in Newtown, and in the suburban Denver movie theater attack last summer.

A high-capacity ammunition magazine means different things in different places

In California, considered by many to have some of the strongest gun laws in the country, a large-capacity magazine is one that holds more than 10 rounds. In Illinois there is no state law regarding magazines. Yet, there are laws regarding magazines in Chicago where the threshold is more than 12 rounds. But about 40 miles away in Aurora, Ill., this type of magazine is called a large-capacity ammunition feeding device and means anything more than 15 rounds.

In 44 states, including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Texas and Virginia where these magazines have been used in deadly mass shootings, there are no laws against using them, according to a 2012 analysis by the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. If a federal law banned magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, it would become the minimum standard.

The definition of "assault weapon" also varies. There is no federal definition of an assault weapon, and the meaning of the term is inconsistent even within the gun industry. California defines an assault weapon as a "firearm (that) has such a high rate of fire and capacity for fire-power that its function as a legitimate sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings." The law specifically lists 60 rifles, 14 pistols and five shotguns. Neighboring states Nevada and Arizona have no assault weapon restrictions.

Federal law does not prohibit the ownership of any weapon, said Ginger Colbrun, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokeswoman in Washington. In order to buy or own certain firearms, including automatic weapons, machine guns and bazookas, people do have to apply for permission from the federal government. But as long as the application for a restricted firearm is approved, and there is no state law barring ownership of that type of gun, it's legal.

"There is such a variation in the number of laws that regulate the distribution of guns that there is no adequate minimum standard," said Richard Aborn, president of the New York-based Citizens Crime Commission. "The federal government has an obligation to establish at least minimum standards that have to be complied with before a gun can be sold anywhere in America."

___

Associated Press writers Jack Gillum and Alicia A. Caldwell contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/maze-gun-laws-us-hurts-142647576.html

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Diet, parental behavior and preschool can boost children's IQ

Jan. 25, 2013 ? Supplementing children's diets with fish oil, enrolling them in quality preschool, and engaging them in interactive reading all turn out to be effective ways to raise a young child's intelligence, according to a new report published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Using a technique called meta-analysis, a team led by John Protzko, a doctoral student at the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, combined the findings from existing studies to evaluate the overall effectiveness of each type of intervention. In collaboration with NYU Steinhardt professors Joshua Aronson and Clancy Blair, leaders in the field of intelligence, Protzko analyzed the best available studies involving samples of children from birth and kindergarten from their newlyassembled "Database of Raising Intelligence."

"Our aim in creating this database is to learn what works and what doesn't work to raise people's intelligence," said Protzko. "For too long, findings have been disconnected and scattered throughout a wide variety of journals. The broad consensus about what works is founded on only two or three very high-profile studies."

All of the studies in this database rely on a normal population (participants without clinical diagnoses of intellectual disabilities), focus on interventions that are sustained over time, use widely accepted measures of intelligence, and, most importantly, are randomly controlled trials (participants selected at random to receive one of the interventions).

"The larger goal here is to understand the nature of intelligence, and if and how it can be nurtured at every stage of development," said Aronson, Protzko's advisor. "This is just a first step in a long process of understanding. It is by no means the last word. In fact, one of the main conclusions is how little high quality research exists in the field and how much more needs to be done."

Overall, the results of the meta-analyses indicated that certain dietary and environmental interventions can be effective in raising children's IQ.

Supplementing pregnant women and newborns with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, foods rich in Omega-3, were found to boost children's IQ by more than 3.5 points. These essential fatty acids may help raise intelligence by providing the building blocks for nerve cell development that the body cannot produce on its own.

There is insufficient research, however, to determine whether other types of supplements -- including iron, B-complex vitamins, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, and zinc -- have beneficial effects on intelligence.

Enrolling an economically disadvantaged child into an early education intervention was found to raise his or her IQ by more than four points; interventions that specifically included a center-based education component raised a child's IQ by more than seven points.

The researchers hypothesize that early education interventions may help to raise children's IQ by increasing their exposure to complex environments that are cognitively stimulating and demanding. It's not clear, however, whether these results apply more broadly to kids from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Surprisingly, Protzko, Aronson, and Blair found no evidence to support the idea that early education interventions that take place earlier in childhood are more effective than those that begin later.

Interventions focused on interactive reading -- teaching parents how to engage their children while reading with them -- were found to raise children's IQ by over 6 points. These interventions do not seem to have an effect for children over 4 years old, suggesting that the interventions may accelerate language development, which, in turn, boosts IQ.

Sending a child to preschool was found to raise his or her IQ by more than four points, and preschools that include a language development component were found to boost IQ by more than seven points. The link between preschool and intelligence could be a function of increased exposure to language or the result of the overall cognitive complexity of the preschool environment.

"Our current findings strengthen earlier conclusions that complex environments build intelligence, but do cast doubt on others, including evidence that earlier interventions are always most effective," Protzko explained. "Overall, identifying the link between essential fatty acids and intelligence gives rise to tantalizing new questions for future research and we look forward to exploring this finding."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Association for Psychological Science.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. J. Protzko, J. Aronson, C. Blair. How to Make a Young Child Smarter: Evidence From the Database of Raising Intelligence. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2013; 8 (1): 25 DOI: 10.1177/1745691612462585

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/mind_brain/child_development/~3/-ju1a4P4FHc/130125111339.htm

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Are tattoos/body modification becoming more acceptable and - Fluther

I?m studying to be a clinical psychologist, so I have limited my tattoos to areas that are easily hidden. However, I really despise and oppose discrimination against body modification. As long as my tattoos are not obscene, why should it matter if I have them? I would like to get some ink on my ?ditch? a.k.a the inside of my elbow, but am wary because of the profession I?ll be in eventually. I?m not worried about my piercings, I can take them out whenever it is appropriate. Please tell me I won?t actually be turned down for some art on my body? All I can ever find on Google is hearsay from people who seem to be about 13 years old. Does anyone have some concrete advice to ease my conservatism with tattoos?

26 Answers

I reported to a VP, and knew several persons at my level who had tattoos. No big deal to have them, it was always considered good judgment to have them in places that were concealable if a client were to be present. It is not that the firm cares, they just get nervous about putting you in front of a stuffy client if you can?t easily conceal it.

Probably depends on the job setting. Web design firms, internet start-ups, television, the entertainment fields probably more so than banks, law firms or real estate offices. Just as the racial and gender make-up of organizations seems to reflect the period in which the industry started and developed. More modern businesses from television to internet seem to have more diversity and more younger people.

And, @desiree333, just as you can remove piercing jewelery, you can wear long-sleeved clothing if you feel it necessary to conceal them.

On another note about going into a therapy field, ethically, if a practitioner cannot relate to a patient [such as someone who could not deal with aspects of your appearance] it is common that they will recommend them to someone else and choose to work with persons with which they can build a therapeutic rapport.

When I was hospitalized recently for COPD, I did notice several nurses and technicians with tattoos and piercings. I would not have been surprised to see same on a young doctor.

Discrimination of this sort sucks and is pointless, but it?s still a reality we have to deal with. There?s no laws protecting against body art discrimination, so I think you would do best to assume it will be considered unprofessional until you get that job.

I?m on the academic track, and I am already prepared to cover up my tattoos (forearm and bicep) whenever necessary. I have the suspicion that visible tattoos for women are slightly more commonly acceptable than for men, but this might just be from my very strange vantage point within the humanities.

@anartist Yes, long-sleeved clothing is an option. I would actually be surprised if a patient chose to end sessions with me because of tattoos. That would be unfortunate. Either way, I will never be heavily modified on my arms/chest/neck. The majority of my tattoos will be on my legs/feet anyways.

@bookish1 Wow! I did not know that there?s no law protecting people from that? How ridiculous. I would definitely cover-up during an interview and the first few months. I guess if I decided to expose them after awhile my employer wouldn?t really do anything about it?

Yes, up to a point. In a lot of older line businesses, customer-facing positions don?t do well with visible tats or more than a modicum of ear piercings.

It?s your choice to make permanent changes to your body, but expecting everyone else in the world to accept your decision is pretty dogmatic. Brandings okay? extreme body mods? genital bisection? One could argue well that such mods are not healthy and are done by people with way too many self loathing issues. And if I were a business owner, I should be able to not allow such statements be publicly nade by an employee representing my company.

I believe they are much more acceptable today than they were 20 years ago but most people, at least in the professional world, prefer them to be concealable in a business setting.
Chances are that if you have a Maori Facial Tattoo and are not living in New Zealand, you will face some descrimination when you apply for a professional position.

Sorry,

@zenvelo Ouch. Basing your discrimination on other people?s appearance does not sit well with me. What if someone you were interviewing had obvious breast augmentation? Would that be ?healthy? enough to represent your company?

You don?t know a person just by looking at them. Their piercings and tattoos could have religious significance. Unless a body modification is obscene or offensive you shouldn?t be so quick to pass judgement.

People don?t realize how expensive and time-consuming it is to design and get tattoos. The people that you look at and decide are ?self-loathing? or criminals are actually very intelligent human beings with thousands upon thousands of dollars invested on their body in the form of beautiful art.

I think it really depends on the job. I normally don?t have a problem, but when my waitress had an infected tongue piercing and was leaking puss that she wiped with her bare hand, I left the restaurant mid order and never went back.

IMO It is a good idea to get them where they can be covered if necessary.

@desiree333 : I think that instead of attacking you, @zenvelo was just being realistic. We all have to live in this world, which is full of people who are not-us.

I show my tattoos when I?m hanging out with friends, or when I?m going to class or teaching my own students, but I?d never go to an interview or important meeting without covering them up. I like to dress pretty fruity when I have a choice in the matter, but I dress more conservatively for initial meetings or interviews, because there?s still a lot of homophobia and femmephobia out there, and I don?t want people judging me before they get to know me. Just because you believe that people shouldn?t make hasty judgments about you does not mean that they will not.

@bookish1 I completely agree with you. Yes, people should be realistic and cover-up during interviews and professional settings. I just get a little riled up when people are discriminatory, especially in such a harsh tone.

I just wanted to comment on the ?genital bisection? thing: That is clearly a personal choice and I see no reason why/how an employer would know about that? Unless some ethical boundaries are being crossed.

@desiree333, @bookish1 Just trying to think of the situation where this question comes up?? ? Reflecting upon your desire to become a teacher, have you, or are you, considering a genital bisection??
I do not believe I have ever been asked that question at a job interview!.

Response moderated (Spam)

As a clinical psychologist, you?ll be working independently, yes? If so, it probably wouldn?t be a huge problem. I work as a bank teller, and visible tattoos are big no-no?s. Why? Doesn?t really matter, it?s just how it is. The real world kind of sucks like that.

Body modification is a choice. If you choose to dye your hair neon pink, you?re going to be judged and probably denied certain jobs because many people would not take you seriously in a professional setting. Sorry, but that?s just how it is. It?s just as easy to choose to not have tattoos (or have them in easily concealable locations) as it is to choose to have them. The repercussions of the latter are something you?ll have to accept.

On a side note, I had no idea what genital bisection was until I saw it here and googled it. I understand most tattoos and piercings, but that?s just?WHY?!

@desiree333 I think @zenvelo is being very realistic and he didn?t make the rules. As @livelaughlove21 says, the real world is what it is. Answers contrary to your opinion are not insults, they are just different views from yours and by asking the question one would think you?d presumably wanted to hear those as well so that you can have a more realistic picture of the whole issue.

@nofurbelowsbatgirl I like KVD better w/o tats. I just like a clean canvas.

@livelaughlove21 I too had to look it up. I still haven?t recovered from what I found.

Oh good God, who dreamed up genital bisection? That?s wrong on so many levels.

No, tattoos, piercings, and other body modifications aren?t accepted in a traditional, conservative professional setting. I?m not arguing whether this is fair or unfair; I?m just stating the reality.

If you can keep your ?body art? hidden, it?s nobody?s business except your own. But, if you go to a job interview with visible tattoos, or if you don?t remove the jewelry from facial piercings, smart money?s betting that you won?t get the job.

I?ve been on the other side of this fence; i.e. with professional firms interviewing job candidates. I once saw a young woman get rejected?mocked, actually, as soon as she?d left the office?for having worn an ankle bracelet. If she weren?t capable of dressing appropriately for her interview, she couldn?t be trusted to wear the right ?uniform? for client meetings and on-site assignments.

Things may be very different in more relaxed fields, such as graphic arts, entertainment, and software design. But, if you hit the pavement with your MBA degree, hoping to land a more conventional business position, your visible body modifications will considerably hinder your efforts.

I once worked in the customer service department of a high-visibility company (you probably saw the ads and infomercials on TV). Although this was about 5 years ago, and the published dress code required that tattoos be covered. I found it interesting, because we had no visual contact with customers or the public in general.

@PaulSadieMartin I?ll have to agree with you on this one, in my area it wouldn?t be acceptable in business settings.

A few thoughts about tattoos (from an old fogey who detests tattoos):

(1) Fads come and go, but a tattoo is permanent. Long after tattoos have ceased being cool and popular, you?ll still have the same designs inked onto your body. If you want to express your independence and rebel against social norms, load your iPod with some loud, obsenity-riddled hip hop music. Someday, you?ll erase the music; the same can?t be said for a tattoo.

(2) You?re a changing, growing, ever-developing person?each of us is?but a tattoo is permanent. What seems clever and attractive today might seem very silly to you in a few years.

(3) Your body is also constantly changing. If you?d like to get a tattoo on your torso, how will that artwork look after several pregnancies and births (ladies) or when your tight abs turn into middle-age spread (gentlemen)?

(4) Tattoos seem to be addictive. After someone get?s his/her first tattoo, that person?s likely to go back for another tattoo. And another. And another. What started off as a small, subtle adornment grows into a mess of ink.

(5) The generations ahead of you (before tattoos were cool) and behind you (when tattoos are passe) will think that you?re trashy. It won?t matter if you?re not the least bit trashy; you?ll look the part. I?m a baby boomer, and I grew up seeing plenty of WWII veterans who?d been tattooed during the war. Almost all of them regretted what they?d done (the deeds of drunken sailors on shore leave); all of them looked low-bred and ignorant.

Yeah, I know that I won?t convince anyone who?s in the market for a tattoo. But, I?ve given it my best effort!

@PaulSadieMartin I have one little dot, I won?t say what it signifies, but some Americans may know, but it?s biker gang related from my angry teen period. What it signifies to me now breaks my heart every time I think about it, I was so misguided and angry. But it is a good reminder of how we?re always evolving for sure.

@KNOWITALL Many Coptic Christians have three tiny dots tattooed on the inner (palm) side of their wrists. The three dots represent a cross. The tattoos are so small and subtle, they?re not really noticeable.

@PaulSadieMartin Not mine, mine is horrible and embarassing and I wish I?d been smarter in my young foolish rebellion. Now I must bear the cross of knowing what it means and that it?s permanent. It?s a great reminder though. sigh

@KNOWITALL You can have it removed if you feel that bad about it.

@Yeahright Nah, I need the reminder that I?m not always right. :) Maybe it will keep me humble?lol

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Source: http://www.fluther.com/155102/are-tattoosbody-modification-becoming-more-acceptable-and-tolerated-in-professional-settings/

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Michael Buble and wife expecting a 'mini Buble'

By Alex Dobuzinskis, Reuters

Canadian jazz singer Michael Bubl? and his Argentinian actress wife, Luisana Lopilato, are expecting their first baby together, Lopilato said in a video posted to YouTube on Thursday.

The video shows what appears to be an ultrasound of a fetus with the words "Mini Buble !!!" attached to the image.

A written statement that also is part of the 21-second video says, "We're having a baby Bubl?!!!"

Bubl?, 37, is a three-time Grammy Award winner known for such songs as "Haven't Met You Yet," "Home" and "Save the Last Dance for Me."

He and Lopilato, 25, were married in 2011. She has starred in such Spanish-language television series as "Chiquititas, la historia" and "Rebelde Way" and has also worked as a model.

Related content:

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Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2013/01/25/16695364-michael-buble-and-wife-expecting-their-first-child-together?lite

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MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice | 7 Signs You are ...

Whether you consider yourself to be financially responsible, or you always seem to come up short on cash, there are a few key indicators that may indicate you are living beyond your means?and being aware of them can save you loads of money woes in times of a cash emergency.

You couldn?t live without your job?s income for at least six months.

Need some motivation to start saving? Sit down and add up how much money you make each month. Then, multiply that amount by six.

Assuming you have a stable job, that?s the minimum balance you should have stashed away in an interest bearing, FDIC insured deposit account that is earmarked solely for emergency needs, according to Henk Peters, Certified Financial Planner and president of Investus Financial Planning.

?Clients frequently underestimate life?s uncertainties and discount the need to have cash available for unexpected events like unemployment, illness, disabilities, and family emergencies,? he says.

If you have a less-than-stable career or you?re self-employed, he recommends saving as much as 12 months worth of income. If you don?t have anything near that amount saved, and worse, you?re in debt, you?re living beyond your means.

You vacation on credit.

You work hard and you?ve earned that vacation, right? Consider this financial rule of thumb when it comes to credit purchases: If it takes you longer to pay for the purchase than the actual ?life span? of the item, you can?t really afford it.

Start a plan to save money for vacations well in advance of the time you?ll need to book tickets or make reservations?even if you intend to charge your trip for purchase protection reasons.

Make sure you pay the balance down before you?re charged a dime of interest and be realistic about all the ?extras? that can add to the cost of a trip, like tips, parking, and baggage fees.

You only consider monthly payments when buying a car.

Aside from a home, a car is one of the most expensive items you?ll purchase in your life. While it?s understandable to focus on monthly payment amounts when determining how much car you can buy, your ability to afford a monthly auto loan payment doesn?t mean you can afford the car.

If you?re in doubt, consider the duration of the loan: If it?s longer than three years, and doesn?t result in owning the vehicle outright at the conclusion of the loan, you?re shopping out of your true budget.

The same premise holds true for auto loan refinancing: If you?re refinancing because interest rates have dropped considerably since you initiated the loan, that may be a money-smart move.

If you are refinancing only to lower your monthly payments, and refinancing means that you are extending the life of the loan, you?re not actually saving money ? you?re just stretching out the payments.

You?ve arrived at the home you can afford based on a 30-year fixed mortgage.

If you?ve calculated the amount of home you can afford based only a 30-year fixed mortgage scenario, you may be taking on more than you can really afford.

Instead of strapping yourself to a 30-year fixed mortgage payment, consider how much more affordable less house with a shorter loan term is?despite the higher monthly payment.

By opting for a four percent, 15-year fixed mortgage on a $250,000 home loan over a comparable 30-year fixed loan, a homeowner could save $97,020 in interest over the life of the loan. Further, he owns the home in less than two decades.

You?ve paid an overdraft fee in the last 12 months.

If money is so tight that you have to rely on overdraft protection in order to float your lifestyle, you?re living beyond what you can afford. Period.

You?ve exceeded your credit limit.

Exceeding your credit limit doesn?t just cost you in over-limit fees.

Because your credit score is based largely on your debt-to-utilization ratio, which is the difference of the amount of available credit you have to what you?ve used, your credit score is lowered when your credit balances are high and it signals to lenders that you?re in over your head.

If you are approved for new lines of credit?including a home mortgage?your future interest rates will be sky high.

You?re in debt but you pay someone to do a job you could do yourself.

Are you too busy to clean your house, walk your dog, mow your lawn, or manicure your nails?

While some expenses, like childcare and vehicle maintenance are unavoidable, a person who is in debt can?t afford frivolous luxuries that (while unpleasant) could technically be handled ?in house.?

Instead of paying someone else for skills you possess, do the task yourself and put the savings toward paying down debt, building your emergency savings accounts and funding your retirement.

Stephanie Taylor Christensen is a former financial services marketer based in Columbus, OH. The founder of?Wellness On Less, she also writes on small business, consumer interest, wellness, career and?personal finance topics.

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Source: http://www.mint.com/blog/planning/7-signs-you-are-living-beyond-your-means-0113/

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National Secular Society - Only 7% think being Christian is important ...

A new report from the think tank British Future looks at what it means to be British. Among a wealth of fascinating data, the poll conducted for the organisation finds that just 7% of Britons agree that being Christian is an important attribute for being British.

This compares with 50% who say that Britishness equates with respect for people's right to free speech ? even if you don't agree with them, 46% with respect for the law, 41% with speaking English, 38% with treating men and women equally, 29% with respect for all ethnic backgrounds, 26% with respect for all faiths, 26% with being born here, and 21% with voting in elections. Only being white (6%) scores lower than being Christian.

Demographically, the number citing being Christian peaks among the over-45s (11%), those with no formal educational qualifications (11%), and readers of right wing newspapers such as the Daily Mail and Daily Express (12%).

In answer to another question, tensions between different religions are (at 26%) the sixth most cited (of ten) causes of division in British society, after tensions between immigrants and people born in Britain (57%), between tax payers and welfare claimants (47%), between rich and poor (35%), between different ethnicities (33%), and between tax payers and tax avoiders (32%). However, tensions between different religions are ranked lower (seventh, at 16%) as a cause of division in the respondent's local area. All percentages are the sums of those ranking each cause in first, second or third position.

Read the report in full

Source: http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2013/01/only-7-percent-think-being-christian-is-important-for-being-british

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HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2013: Group 1 Automotive Enters Agreement ...

By Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2013 ? /PRNewswire/ --?Group 1 Automotive, Inc.?(NYSE: GPI), a Fortune 500 automotive retailer, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase 100 percent of the outstanding shares of UAB Motors Participacoes S.A., one of Brazil's largest automotive retailers, for approximately $47.4 million cash, 1.45 million shares of Group 1 common stock and the assumption of approximately $62 million of net non-floorplan debt. Upon closing, Group 1 will assume ownership of 100 percent interest in 18 dealerships ? two Toyota, four Nissan, two BMW, two BMW/MINI, three Renault, three Peugeot, one Land Rover and one Land Rover/Jaguar. The dealerships, that include 21 franchises representing eight major brands in the Sao Paulo market and key metropolitan markets in the neighboring state of Parana, are expected to generate approximately $650 million in estimated annual revenues.

Group 1 expects the pending transaction to be modestly accretive, approximately $0.03 to $0.05, to earnings per diluted common share in 2013 excluding any associated deal costs. The acquisition is targeted to close on or about Feb. 28, 2013, and is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from various manufacturers.

Group 1 anticipates that it will report pretax deal costs associated with this acquisition of approximately $1.5 million in its fourth-quarter 2012 results.

Based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, UAB's operations include 18 dealerships with 21 franchises, as well as five collision centers, located in the Sao Paulo metro market and the adjacent state of Parana. The franchises include current Group 1 brands Toyota, Nissan, BMW and MINI, and will add four new brands ? Renault, Peugeot, Land Rover and Jaguar ? to Group 1's portfolio. In Brazil, UAB is one of the largest sellers of Nissan and Peugeot vehicles and is a top five retailer of BMW, MINI and Land Rover vehicles. The business will continue to be operated by the current management team, with UAB's chairman, Lincoln da Cunha Pereira Filho, reporting directly to Earl J. Hesterberg, Group 1's president and chief executive officer. As part of the transaction, Group 1 will appoint Pereira to its board of directors, expanding its membership to eight.

Brazil is the fourth largest new vehicle market in the world, with annual sales of 3.8 million units in 2012. Brazil also has one of the lowest vehicle-to-population ratios among the developing markets, providing a strong foundation for future growth in the market.

"Group 1 is delighted by the opportunity of expanding into Brazil, a fast-growing automotive market, by adding these great brands and the successful UAB operating team to our company," said Earl J. Hesterberg, Group 1's president and chief executive officer. "To enter one of the largest auto markets in the world with a well-established retail infrastructure and management team provides Group 1 and our shareholders with an incredible growth opportunity. We are also excited to further expand our relationships with some of our key manufacturer partners to the Brazilian market. As this market continues to evolve, we are confident that we can add value in the area of used vehicles, parts, service and the overall application of technology and processes."

Barclays acted as the exclusive advisor to Group 1 on this transaction. Jones Day and Mattos Filho acted as legal counsel to Group 1 on this transaction.

Conference Call Group 1's senior management will host a conference call?on?Friday, Jan. 25,?at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss the pending acquisition transaction.

The conference call will be simulcast live on the Internet at www.group1auto.com, then click on 'Investor Relations' and then 'Events' or through this link: http://www.group1corp.com/news/events.aspx. A replay will be available for seven days. A slide presentation will also be posted to the Events page prior to the call.

The conference call will also be available live by dialing in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call at:

Domestic: 1.877.317.6789 International: 1.412.317.6789 Conference ID: 10023894

A telephonic replay will be available following the call through Feb. 4 at 9 a.m. ET by dialing:

Domestic: 1.877.344.7529 International: 1.412.317.0088 Conference ID: 10023894

About Group 1 Automotive, Inc. Group 1 owns and operates 121 automotive dealerships, 157 franchises, and 31 collision centers in the United States and the United Kingdom that offer 31 brands of automobiles. Through its dealerships, the company sells new and used cars and light trucks; arranges related vehicle financing, service and insurance contracts; provides automotive maintenance and repair services; and sells vehicle parts.

Group 1 Automotive can be reached on the Internet at www.group1auto.com.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are statements related to future, not past, events and are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. In this context, the forward-looking statements often include statements regarding our goals, plans, projections and guidance regarding our financial position, results of operations, market position, pending and potential future acquisitions and business strategy, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "should," "foresee," "may" or "will" and similar expressions. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. Any such forward-looking statements are not assurances of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, (a) general economic and business conditions, (b) the level of manufacturer incentives, (c) the future regulatory environment, (d) our ability to obtain an inventory of desirable new and used vehicles, (e) our relationship with our automobile manufacturers and the willingness of manufacturers to approve future acquisitions, (f) our cost of financing and the availability of credit for consumers, (g) our ability to complete acquisitions and dispositions and the risks associated therewith, (h) foreign exchange controls and currency fluctuations, and (i) our ability to retain key personnel. For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contacts: Kim Paper Canning Manager, Investor Relations Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 713-647-5741 | kpaper@group1auto.com

Media Contacts: Pete DeLongchamps V.P. Financial Services and Manufacturer Relations Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 713-647-5770 | pdelongchamps@group1auto.com or Clint Woods Pierpont Communications, Inc. 713-627-2223 | cwoods@piercom.com

SOURCE Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

Source: http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/01/24/4568403/group-1-automotive-enters-agreement.html

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Lil Wayne Didn't Trip On Fabolous' 'So NY' Lyrics

'I took what he was saying and tried to put some pride back into New York,' Fab says of recording 'So NY.'
By Nadeska Alexis

Fabolous
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1700734/fabolous-lil-wayne-so-ny-track.jhtml

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EaseUS Software's Data Recovery Wizard 5.8 for Windows OS now ...

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. /CitizenWire/ ? EaseUS Software, a leading provider of data backup & disaster recovery and storage management solutions for Windows environment, keeps to provide Windows PC and Server users the most complete and reliable products since its inception. Its newly updated data recovery software EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard 5.8 has been improved to support lost data recovery from 8TB hard disks.

With the information era's coming, more and more data has been created every minute. That's why now so many people choose hard disks with large capacity to store their crucial data. This update will benefit those who suffer from data loss and want to recover lost data from large hard drive.

Having been the most reliable and complete software for this task, EaseUS Data Recovery is a computer user's best choice to get lost data back due to accidental deletion, formatting, virus infection, unexpected shutdown or any other unknown reasons; especially when you want to recover data from a formatted drive. It is read-only, risk-free and cost-effective Windows data recovery software and won't cause any harm to your lost data.

Pricing and Availability:

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Edition especially free for individuals is available at: http://www.easeus.com/datarecoverywizard/free-data-recovery-software.htm .

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for $69.95 is available at: http://www.easeus.com/datarecoverywizard/ .

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Professional Edition for $89.95 is available at: http://www.easeus.com/datarecoverywizardpro/ .

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard WinPE Edition for $59.95 is available at: http://www.easeus.com/data-recovery-wizard-winpe/ .

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Professional Unlimited Edition for $499 is available at: http://www.easeus.com/datarecoverywizardpro/drwpro-unlimited.htm .

About CHENGDU Yiwo Tech Development Co., Ltd.:

The company provides professional IT solutions for home, education and SMB users, service providers as well as international corporations in data recovery, backup software, system optimization and partition manager on both Windows and Mac platforms. For Windows OS, its major products are Data Recovery Wizard, EaseUS Todo Backup, EaseUS Partition Master and EaseUS CleanGenius. For Mac OS, it has EaseUS Mac Data Recovery Wizard and CleanGenius. For more information, please visit http://www.easeus.com .

"EaseUS" is registered trademark of CHENGDU Yiwo Tech Development Co., Ltd. All other trademarks acknowledged.

Copyright ? 2013 CitizenWire?; and Neotrope?. CitizenWire is a publication of the Neotrope News Network.

This version of story is Copr. ? 2013 CitizenWire? and Topher J. Zane.
Related Topics: All Stories Index, Business, National News, Technology.
Tags: EASEUS Software, New York, New York City

Source: http://citizenwire.com/easeus-softwares-data-recovery-wizard-5-8-for-windows-os-now-supports-8tb-hard-disk-drives_ctw201301235305.php

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SAP FICO Certification - Shinelogics Info Tech Training Center ...

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The Game of Fate and Destiny

Fate and Destiny have been fighting for one couple for years...who will win this final battle? [[[NEED ONE MALE ROLE]]]

Owner:

Game Masters:

Topic Tags:

Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.
This is the auto-generated OOC topic for the roleplay "The Game of Fate and Destiny"

You may edit this first post as you see fit.

"True courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one."
-Gandalf, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

kissmekillme

Member for 0 years

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I'll be submitting a sheet for Destiny :3

"She offered herself to the big, bad wolf and didn't scream when he took the first bite."

bandgeek

Member for 1 years

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Hey kissmekillme!! Fancy seeing you here! :3
Would it be possible if I can possibly steal the spot of Fate? Oh I just love playing cold-hearted bastards! :D

?Whenever you take on playing a villain, he has to cease to be a villain to you. If you judge this man by his time, he's doing very little wrong.?

? Colin Firth

MusaMe

Member for 0 years

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@Bandgeek sure thing can't wait to see your character!
@MusaMe Yes Sir! You know I love RP with you! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

kissmekillme

Member for 0 years

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I sent in a Work In Progress becauseee, I have to sleep. XD I understand if a better app is sent in while I'm asleep <3

bandgeek

Member for 1 years

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Post a reply

RolePlayGateway is a site built by a couple roleplayers who wanted to give a little something back to the roleplay community. The site has no intention of earning any profit, and is paid for out of their own pockets.

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Firefox Mobile OS Developer Phone - Business Insider

Geeksphone

This is the developer phone for Firefox OS.

Mozilla, the company that makes the popular Firefox Web browser, is also working on a mobile operating system to rival Android and iOS on the iPhone.?

Before the final version of Firefox OS hits, Mozilla wants developers to start making apps, so it's selling smartphones running the new OS. (You can also install Firefox OS on your Android phone using these instructions.)

A company called Geeksphone makes the device. There's no price listed yet.

Like Android, Firefox OS is open sourced, meaning developers can download it for free and customize it.?

Ubuntu, another open mobile OS, will launch later this year.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/firefox-mobile-os-developer-phone-2013-1

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Security Guard Shoots Own Penis Off in Trinidad and Tobago

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/security-guard-shoots-own-penis-off-in-trinidad-and-tobago/

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StarStruck: Celebrities Join Wine and Spirits Brands In Growing ...

Celebrity endorsement of wine and spirits is not exactly new. Orson Welles famously assured TV viewers back in 1980 that Paul Masson would ?sell no wine before its time.? But the past decade has seen significant shifts both in the frequency of celebrities aligning with wine and spirits brands and in the nature of the endorsement. Some are spokespersons, some are brand owners, some have licensed their names and images. Some appear in ads or at promotional events, radiated online.

In general, celebrity-brand relationships have become more of a two-way street?not to mention one with more lanes. As more celebrities want in to this relatively glamorous world, more wine and spirits marketers appear eager happy to bring them along for the ride.

The Power of Personality (& Credibility)

Few celeb-brand connections have proven as effective as P. Diddy (Sean Combs) and C?roc. Annual sales of the vodka hovered around 120,000 cases when Combs came on board in 2007; now it?s a million-case brand, with much of the success is attributed to the artist himself appearing in TV ads and the well-known entertainer promoting the brand actively via appearances, both formal and informal.

P. Diddy?s success came with a young brand. Stars can bring juice to established ones as well. Tanqueray Gin partnered with actor and DJ Idris Elba in 2011 for ?Tonight We Tanqueray,? a platform that included events, videos, a downloadable song and even new drink recipes. ?We were looking for partners who could bring to life the style and sophistication of Tanqueray,? says Brand Director Matt Pechman for Tanqueray. ?Idris was a perfect match.?

Before launching a celebrity brand or partnering with a celebrity there are a few considerations, says Dave Karraker, director of public relations for Campari America. ?First we look at the celebrities themselves?who is their demographic and does that demographic match a hole in our portfolio that we have to fill?? he says. Just as important: ?The person has to have credibility to be associated with that spirit.?

Campari recently showcased Oscar-winning actress Penelope Cruz in an evocative 2013 calendar. Entitled ?Kiss Superstition Goodbye,? the calendar shows Cruz indulging in superstitious acts?breaking mirrors, walking under ladders, opening umbrellas indoors, etc.?all while looking fabulous in Campari-red outfits and holding Campari-based cocktails. The calendar project, shot in Milan this year by fashion photographer Kristian Schuller, has been done annually by Campari for more than a decade.

And, naturally, celebrity power is increasingly being tapped for new product launches. One recent example is LeSutra. Grammy-winning producer Timbaland is an owner of the line of sparkling liqueurs, and his high-profile support is intended to draw some of the attention going to rival brand Nuvo, whose rapper-backers include T-Pain, Jeremih, Wale, Pusha T and Lloyd Banks.

In a blend of established brand and new product, Usher was a partner for the launch of Belvedere RED in 2011. Similarly, R&B crooner Ne-Yo helped launch Malibu Red?a fusion of rum and tequila; the collaboration included a custom song and video, supported by social media.

Tapping the Fan Base

Celebrity endorsements can be as much about targeting a specific fan base as they are about publicizing the liquid in the bottle. Star power may be just the right thing to draw attention to both a category and a brand. For instance, when Bacardi launched the Bacardi Light ready-to-serve cocktails, they collaborated with actress Busy Philipps, aiming to attract her vibrant and loyal female following. And Jim Beam Bourbon tapped into the passionate fan base of live music by sponsoring a series of six concerts in 2012 (Kid Rock, Daughtry, David Gray, Darius Rucker, Bush and Train). In addition, Beam collaborated with Kid Rock on several projects, raising funds for Operation Homefront, which provides support for families of American troops.

TY KU Sak? has taken aim at multiple audiences, enlisting diverse support from Bravo?s ?Millioinaire Matchmaker,? Patti Stanger; Intenet gossipmonger Perez Hilton; and well-known singer and The Voice judge CeeLo Green. ?The perception of sak? is that you can only drink it in certain locations or specific ways,? says brand co-owner CeeLo. ?It?s my mission to show how sak? is a progressive cocktail for the modern trendsetter. It?s versatile, low calorie, all natural, accessible and will make you stand out at a party.?

Vodka as a category needs no introduction to Americans, but in aiming to increase their share of the low-calorie segment of the the vodka pie, marketers of Voli brought both Fergie and Pitbull on board. Erin Harris, EVP of marketing and public relations for Voli Spirits, notes that Fergie and Pitbull each bring something different to the table: ?Fergie?who stays fit and owns the social scene?knows how to balance all aspects of life and represents the Voli brand perfectly,? says Harris. ?Pitbull, with his charisma and musical sense, is a force within the Latin market and has a large female demographic.?

Perhaps a taste of more to come, ad campaigns featuring multiple celebs have picked up just within the past year. Hennessy?s ?Wild Rabbit? campaign features Martin Scorsese, Erykah Badu and Manny Pacquiao. Each person?s ?wild rabbit? is what inspires them, keeps them motivated and drives them. The campaign consists of print ads, billboards, installations, QR codes and Web marketing. Johnnie Walker?s ?My Label is Black? is both an ad campaign and outreach program designed to celebrate the Hispanic community and inspire men to achieve their true potential. The ads feature Don Omar, Jorge Posada and Alex Sensation; events and charitable partnerships are set in key markets such as New York, Miami and Los Angeles.

No Cookie-Cutter Molds

To put the recent explosion of celebrity wine/spirits endorsement in perspective, it is important to realize that there are no standard formulas for how the star-brand relationship will be defined or promoted. The degree of involvement can range from select promotional appearances?such as Kim Kardashian hosting a Halloween party for Midori?to full-blown ownership. Some bottles are designed by the stars themselves; others don?t even mention them. But if there is one commonality, it?s that marketers are taking cues from what made the stars stars when considering how best generate publicity.

Musician Dave Matthews has (quite quietly) owned Blenheim Vineyards in Virginia since 2000 and recently worked with Constellation Brands to create The Dreaming Tree wines with winemaker Steve Reeder. ?As part of our 2011 launch strategy, we targeted loyal fans of Dave Matthews, who include consumers ranging from 30-50 years old,? says Sarah Pearson, marketing manager for the brand. ?We felt this grassroots approach was in line with how Dave Matthews rose to popularity and was a great way to honor the fans. After serving his fans first, the wines were made available everywhere.?

One recent collaboration to watch is Enrique Iglesias with Atlantico Rum. Aleco Azqueta, who launched the line in 2008 with partner Brandon Lieb, explains that the new business relationship was entirely organic: Enrique loved the rum before he even met the founders. Azqueta notes, ?A lot of brands developed for a celebrity are gimmicky. This one started with a product that had already won awards and gained respect.? The partnership works, he says, because of its authenticity: ?Atlantico is a lifestyle brand that celebrates Carribean sophistication?and that?s his brand, too.? The Spanish singer-songwriter has given the brand mass exposure through placement in his videos and live concerts.

Passion Plays

The example of Enrique Iglesias and Atlantico highlights the reality that the more hands-on a star is, the more leverage a brand gains in the market. Actor Dan Aykroyd has teamed up with winegrowers in his native Canada to create a line of varietal Niagara wines, but here in the U.S. he invests time and sweat into Crystal Head Vodka, a brand he launched in 2008. ?He is involved in every major decision and also a number of smaller decisions, whether it is production, sales or marketing,? says Kristina Arnold, marketing manager for Crystal Head.

Hands-on tequila-making success stories include rocker Sammy Hagar (Cabo Wabo) and singer-actor Justin Timberlake (901); and country music?s Toby Keith, who created Wild Shot Mezcal. To create 901 (the brand name is based on the Memphis telephone area code), Timberlake and co-owner Kevin Ruder scouted distilleries in Mexico and helped develop the flavor profile. Carlos Santana is now a brand owner of Casa Noble Tequila, and his album covers are featured in packaging. Tequila has also served as insipiration for some high-profile advertising, notably Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell for Dobel and The Sopranos? Michael Imperioli for 1800. The newest Hollywood kid on the agave block is actor George Clooney, who developed Casamigos Tequila with nightclub maven Rande Gerber (husband of Cindy Crawford).

Hollywood & Vine

On the wine side, Francis Ford Coppola set the gold standard of passion-turned-product. Some might even argue that his wine renown rivals his film legacy. Coppola has plenty of star-powered company when it comes to the fruit of the vine. Down in Santa Barbara, Fess Parker in 1987 established a successful family-run winery more than a decade after starring on TV as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone. The Smothers Brothers make serious reds at Remick Ridge in Sonoma Valley. Actor Danny Glover is also a grower in Sonoma. TV star Adrian Grenier and film producer Peter Glatzer help blend their Paso Robles red, SHFT, marketed by Domaine Select.

Actor Sam Neill owns Two Paddocks estate winery in Central Otago, New Zealand. Italy?s Bocelli family, known worldwide for the opera success of tenor Andrea, has actually been making wine in Tuscany for more than a century; their wines just recently debuted in the U.S. Italy was also the origin for an eponymous line of wines by Oscar-nominated actress Lorraine Bracco. And Ben Flajnik, perhaps better known as The Bachelor, turned the celebrity-wine formula inside-out?he and two partners created Envolve in Sonoma before he became a reality TV heart-throb.

So many celebrities have gotten into the wine/spirits act that it has become hard to? keep track. M?tley Cr?e frontman Vince Neil has produced wine (Vince Vineyards) as well as Tatuado Tequila and Vodka. Other bands/musicians going the wine route include Mick Fleetwood, Kiss, Bob Dylan (Planet Waves), Simply Red?s Mick Hucknall (Il Cantante), Lil Jon (Little Jonathan), Tool?s Maynard James Keenan (Caduceus), Train (Save Me, San Francisco), even Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia.

Celebrity fashion icons are tossing their hats into the wine or spirits ring, too. And why not? Great-looking bottles will never go out of style. Jean-Paul Gaultier designed a ?corset? bottle for Piper-Heidsieck. Gianfranco Ferr? dressed up Frescobaldi Brunello for the Millennium. Christian Audigier licensed his tattoo-esque Ed Hardy brand for a line of wine. Roberto Cavalli now has his own vodka. And John Varvatos designed a special bottle stopper for Patr?n Tequila.

Of course, no roundup of celebrity wine would be complete without mention of Marilyn Monroe, whose iconic beauty and fortuitous adopted surname posthumouosly made Marilyn Merlot a fan-driven collectible. Will there ever be another? Probably not. But Hollywood stars now seem more inclined than ever to test their wine chops. Witness Drew Barrymore and Fergie. Both are acutely cognizant that their names needed to be part of the package, literally. The red blend from Ferguson Crest is called ?Fergalicious.? And Drew?s first wine, a Pinot Grigio from northern Italy, features the Barrymore family crest on the label.

Real House-Wines?

real Housewives of New Yorkstar Bethenny Frankel struck gold with her Skinnygirl ready-to-serve cocktails. She sold to Beam Global in 2010 and the brand has since expanded way beyond the original low-cal margarita. Now, branded wines/spirits seem practically contagious among the TV housewives.

In the case of Frankel?s RHONY costar Ramona Singer, her relationship with a type of wine preceded her connection to a brand. The transition was quite natural, explains Claudia Cogan, brand manager at Opici Wine Company. ?Ramona Singer became synonymous with Pinot Grigio, regularly seen sipping it on the show,? says Cogan. ?Fans would approach her asking if she preferred a specific one, but she never really had an answer. She saw this opportunity and seized it, coming to Opici with a proposal.?

Over in New Jersey, Teresa Guidice launched Fabellini, a pre-mixed Bellini in two flavors; and Kathy Wakile launched Red Velvet Cosmo, a pre-mixed cosmopolitan based on the flavors in red velvet cake. Down in Atlanta, three Real Housewives have gone mad for Moscato: NeNe Leakes (Miss Moscato), Cynthia Bailey (P.T. Ros? Moscato) and Kim Zolciak (Viva Diva Moscato). In LA, Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Barney went a different route, starting a wine club, ?Wines by Wives.?

Will these housewives put up numbers approaching Skinnygirl? Maybe not, but they can be solid sellers. With a Pinot Grigio released in 2011 and red blend in 2012, Ramona has become a 15,000- case brand, distributed nationally.

Selling Star Power

So, now that the wine and spirits industry is getting accustomed to the idea of celebrity endorsement in multiple categories, the question becomes how best to translate star power into sales. Here are some points to keep in mind:

Know what?s what even if you don?t know who?s who. Celebrity culture is powerful but not universal. Different generations, different ethnicities and different interests determine which ?stars? sparkle for different individuals. While it makes little sense to stock every available celebri-brand, it is imperative that when you do, the whole staff should be aware of the relevant connection (because it?s not always on the bottle).

Signage can help move product. Some marketers are ready and able to support celebrity-linked brands with POS material (ask your distributor). If not, especially in cases where the star behind the liquid is not apparent, you can and should create your own signage. It may help spur impulse sales among shoppers who are fans of certain stars/genres but were unaware of the links.

Eye candy is still important. Some bottles act like stars in their own right. For example, bottles of Patr?n Tequila featuring the guitar head bottle stopper designed by menswear mogul John Varvatos are just screaming to be displayed. Catchy bottles in a front window can grab the eye of folks who may not necessarily want that wine or spirit, but will be enticed inside by the display.

Source: http://www.beveragemedia.com/index.php/2013/01/starstruck-celebrities-join-wine-and-spirits-brands-in-growing-numbers-and-unusual-ways/

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Report: NM teen had homicidal, suicidal thoughts

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) ? The New Mexico teenager accused of fatally shooting his parents and three younger siblings told authorities he was annoyed with his mother and had been having homicidal and suicidal thoughts, according to a probable cause statement.

Nehemiah Griego, 15, remained in custody Monday on charges of murder and child abuse resulting in death. He was arrested following the shootings Saturday at a home in a rural area southwest of Albuquerque where he lived with his family.

A Bernalillo County sheriff's detective questioned the teen Saturday night and the details of their conversation were spelled out in the statement.

The teen allegedly told the detective that he took a .22 caliber rifle from his parents' closet around midnight Saturday and shot his mother in the head while his younger brother slept next to her.

Griego told the detective that his brother did not believe him that their mother was dead so he showed his mother's bloody face to his brother and then shot him, according to the statement.

He's accused of then shooting his two young sisters in their room. He retrieved an AR-15 rifle from his parents' closet and waited in a downstairs bathroom for his father to come home. The statement said he shot his father multiple times after he passed the bathroom doorway.

The teen said he reloaded the guns so "he could drive to a populated area to murder more people," according to the statement.

His plan, the statement said, was to "shoot people at random and eventually be killed while exchanging gunfire with law enforcement."

Sheriff's spokesman Deputy Aaron Williamson said Monday he couldn't immediately comment on the document.

Detectives have spent two days collecting evidence and trying to piece together what led to the violence.

"There's no other way to say it, except that we have a horrific crime scene down there that we are working on," Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston said Sunday.

The detectives had finished their work at the home by Monday afternoon. The metal gate at the home's entrance was shut, a small bouquet of purple flowers was on the top of the gate and at each side there were religious signs, including one that read "Jesus is the reason for the season."

The sheriff's office identified the victims as Greg Griego, 51, his wife Sarah Griego, 40, and three of their children: a 9-year-old boy, Zephania Griego, and daughters Jael Griego, 5, and Angelina Griego, 2. All appeared to have gunshot wounds to the head.

Greg Griego was a pastor who had once served at Calvary, one of Albuquerque's largest Christian churches. He was also well-known throughout the law enforcement community for his work as a voluntary chaplain.

Neighbor Terry Wootan described Griego as a man with a big heart. The two sometimes chatted at the mailbox and would wave to each other when passing by. Wootan said Griego told him about his time in California when he was involved in gangs and how he turned his life around and found God.

"What he wanted to do was help people, and he would never quit," Wootan said.

The pastor's death has shocked the community, including the Albuquerque Fire Department and the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he volunteered his spiritual guidance.

A records check by the Children, Youth and Families Department indicated no trouble with the Griego family and that Nehemiah Griego had never been in trouble with the law.

"This youth had no history with the juvenile justice system," agency spokesman Bob Tafoya said Monday.

Williamson confirmed there was no history of any emergency calls to the home in the recent past.

Neighbors said they saw the first police cars and ambulances arrive at the home Saturday night. The road was blocked and word of the shootings began to make its way through the neighborhood.

According to the probable cause statement, Nehemiah Griego first told a staff member at Calvary that his family was dead and that he placed the two rifles in the family van as protection before driving to the church. He later changed his story, according to the detective's statement.

Asked if he had told anyone else about murdering his family, Griego allegedly told the detective that he had taken a picture of his dead mother and sent it to his girlfriend.

Sheriff Dan Houston plans to hold a news conference Tuesday morning, and the teen could make his first court appearance in the next day or two.

___

Associated Press writer Paul Davenport in Phoenix contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/report-nm-teen-had-homicidal-suicidal-thoughts-215526765.html

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