Small Business: If Not Facebook, Then Who? | Social Media Today

After my article "Is Facebook Losing Small Business?" this question came in via Twitter: "What are your thoughts on alternate?SM Networks? Google+?"

Here's an expanded version of my response:

I don?t think there are any true alternative social media networks to Facebook, at this time, including Google+. This is largely due to the numbers of fans in the Facebook network, how entrenched those fans are, the diversity of the fans in the network (demographics), etc.

That said, the one possible contender for the ?alternative SM networks? role is Pinterest.

Why Pinterest?

Here's a few reasons:

A?June article in Forbes magazine?"Why Pinterest Could Be The Next Social Media Giant"?included this information from "recently released data by Modea" about the demographics of Pinterest users.

68% of Pinterest users are? women, and 28.1% of users have an average household income of over $100,000. Furthermore, about half of the users have children and more than 27% are between the ages of 25 and 34.

According to the CNBC article?mentioned above, Pinterest's "rapid growth has drawn businesses, especially retailers, to expand their presence on the site."

In fact, in mid-November Pinterest announced?Pinterest for business. ?Some small businesses, and many larger ones, had already discovered the benefits of having an active presence on Pinterest. Pinterest has now opened the doors wider by creating a Pinterest for Business option.

Many small business owners wonder how they can make it work on Pinterest, especially when what they are selling doesn't easily translate into a visual.?

First, like most social networks it's not all about me or you. It's about our fans, followers, connections, clients, potential clients. Pinterest, as with other top networks, provides a way for you to build your brand and image as well as sell your products, by sharing content that others will find interesting, helpful, valuable and/or shareable - make that 'likable' or 'Repinnable'.

The best way to see this in action is to check out and get a sense for Pinterest before you get too far down the road. Check out a few of the brand pages already active on Pinterest: Martha Stewart, Starbucks,?Lamborghini,?Walmart,?Amazon - there are many more!

Pinterest URLs are branded so if you have a name you really want, grab it now. Big brands like CocaCola, Pepsi, Mazda and Toyota don't seem to have gotten on the bandwagon soon enough as typing in these URLs bring up individuals not the brands. Ouch!

Pinterest users, according to the Forbes article mentioned above, spend more time on the network than on Facebook and Twitter. This is good news for business because Pinterest (at least right now) let's the user decide what they would like to view.

These are the options:

• Everything being pinned by those you are 'Following'
• Everything being pinned in certain 'Categories' by everyone
• Everything - really, everything!
• Everything that is 'Popular'
• 'Gift' ideas by price groupings - or EVERY 'Gift' idea unsorted

YOU choose - Pinterest doesn't choose for you. (Yes, that was a bit of a dig at Facebook.)

Anything that can be shared using a visually appealing image is ripe for Pinterest. And, you can add text to, up to 500 characters, and a clickable link (URL) back to your website, or your e-commerce site (to make a purchase), etc. You can also pin saleable products from your website to show up on Pinterest.

From a small business point of view, Facebook is losing some of its lustre as a place to invest a lot of time and energy for meager results. Social networks like Pinterest are opening up new opportunities for them.

Pinterest is gaining traction with users and with businesses, assuming they don?t mess too much with the way things are, other than improvements of course.

Google+ is a different animal compared to Facebook and Pinterest. It doesn?t seem to have the huge buy-in, usage and time spend that Facebook does. It does have large fan numbers, considering the relatively short time it's been around, but the amount of time users spend on the network isn?t impressive. An?article in Search Engine Journal earlier this year, reported the average number of minutes users spent on Google+ was 3 minutes. I'm sure it's more now but not enough to make it any kind of a threat to Facebook or Pinterest, at least right now.

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Source: http://socialmediatoday.com/suecockburn/1042666/small-business-if-not-facebook-then-who

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Fox not ordering more "Mob Doctor," gives "Touch" two-hour premiere

Mitt Romney can take some solace in his devastating loss on Nov. 6: at least he won the voters who really count. That's the thesis anyway of top adviser Stuart Stevens, who penned an op-ed in the Washington Post on Wednesday arguing that by winning wealthier and whiter voters, Romney secured the moral victory over Obama. "On Nov. 6, Mitt Romney carried the majority of every economic group except those with less than $50,000 a year in household income," Stevens wrote. "That means he carried the majority of middle-class voters. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fox-not-ordering-more-mob-doctor-gives-touch-234616545.html

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A Few Math Questions That US College Students Can?t Answer

If you can do basic subtraction, you might just be more math-savvy than a lot U.S. college students. A new research paper looks at the mathematical prowess of the roughly 50 percent?of community college students in remedial math and finds our national math IQ lacking [DOC]. Below are a few questions that a disturbing number of students could not answer.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/RBqz3onF-20/

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Drupal! The Rising Star of Open Source CMS Arena

The cyber world is entering in the new era of responsive websites; every business organization is trying to choose the suitable content management system to build its impactful and interactive website. And, Drupal is emerging as one of the most trusted open source web content management systems among all other CMS tools. Some of the main reasons to choose this tool are mentioned below:

Online Marketing Friendly: Drupal is globally known for its search engine and online marketing friendly aspects. There are several features that make it the most useful CMS for gaining high search engine rankings in a short passage of time. You get custom URL construction, easy content optimization, social media integration, and social sharing features. With the help of these features, you can publish and share your website content across leading social media platforms and bring online surfers on your websites in an easy manner. It has been seen that traffic through social media websites lasts longer than search engine ones.

Time Saving Web Management: It is one of the most efficiently manageable web content management systems. You can use this tool to construct highly content rich websites, which can be updated easily. By using this CMS tool, you can run multiple blogs and websites and update all of your online identities frequently. The content type can vary from text to images and video. So, you just install this innovative web application for constructing your simple yet impactful online identity.

Customizable Nature: It is one of the most customizable web content management systems that can be altered as per the specific objectives of a website. Technically, this content management system works on module attachment system. So, you can call it a set of numerous modules, because you can turn the generic Drupal CMS into a specifically designed website just by installing few modules. Moreover, you can take custom Drupal Development Services to create customized functionalities in your website.

Decide Your Web functionalities: You get the freedom of assigning specific functionalities for your website. You can add desirable features in your website and disable the unnecessary functionalities from your website. You can add desirable Plugins in your website just by installing quality modules. And, such high quality modules can be downloaded from the official website of Drupal. As an option, you can also take Drupal module development Service to create the innovative modules for your website. In order to disable unnecessary features, you can navigate to widgets option to disable a particular feature. So, it gives you the freedom of catering your customers in a unique manner.

All of the above discussed aspects speak about the phenomenal role of Drupal to become the most trusted online brand of your business domain. This open source content management system is a reasoned choice for developing highly impactful and content rich websites. It consists of several resourceful features to maintain all kinds of websites right from the social networking website to forum site and personal branding online identities to complex corporate website. So, you can adopt this resourceful tool to build almost all kind of website. Noticeable, it also has specific search engine friendly architecture and needful control over functionalities and design. In short, it is the most competent and needful tool to become an online brand of a business domain.

Author's Bio:?

Jason Roiz is a renowned technical writer, who interests in giving valuable tips to business organizations for availing Drupal Web Development Services from offshore Custom Drupal Development Company. Additionally, he took active part in development process of customized websites.

Source: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/drupal-the-rising-star-of-open-source-cms-arena

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Join The Memories for their 27th Annual Christmas Concert | G.L. ...

The Memories ?Warren Petryk and Tim Stevens?return to the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts in Menomonie, WI for their 27th Annual Holiday Concert on December 15th and 16th. Their concert features traditional Christmas carols and favorite songs of the season.

2012 is the 40th Anniversary year for The Memories. To help celebrate this milestone, Warren and Tim have invited their good friend and original group member, John Lynch, to join them as a special guest at this year?s concert. John will perform a select number of songs at both the Saturday night and Sunday afternoon events. Tim, Warren and John began performing together in 1972 while they were attending Boyceville High School. John was with the group until 1988 and last performed at the Mabel Tainter with Tim and Warren at their 1987 Christmas Concerts.

Source: http://www.glberg.com/2012/11/join-the-memories-for-their-27th-annual-christmas-concert/

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Photos: Monster storm raging on Saturn

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A young model was either insane, or a calculating, quick-thinking murderer who feigned mental illness when he killed and castrated his lover, a prominent Portuguese journalist, in their New York hotel room last year, a jury heard on Wednesday. No one disputes that Renato Seabra, 22, killed Carlos Castro, 65, in January 2011. Seabra pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to a charge of second degree murder, and his trial reached closing arguments at Manhattan criminal court. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/nasa-s-cassini-slideshow/

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Google launches site to help veterans land jobs

By Bill Briggs, NBC News contributor

Google is aiming its search-engine horsepower at homecoming veterans, launching Thursday what may be the largest online hub to help men and women exiting the military as American armed forces draw down.

Called VetNet,?the site offers veterans three distinct ?tracks? to plot and organize their next life moves ? from ?basic training? which aids job hunters to ?career connections? which links users to corporate mentors and other working veterans to ?entrepreneur? which offers a roadmap to starting a business.

To arm the new site with some heavy-hitting experts, Google partnered with three leading nonprofits in the veteran-employment space: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce?s Hiring Our Heroes program, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, and Hire Heroes USA.

?We asked: What else can we be doing with our technology to help these folks transition home?? said Carrie Laureno, founder of the Google Veterans Network,?the company?s employee-volunteer community which seeks to make Google a military-friendly work environment.

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?We wanted to really move the needle in the right direction. And working with our three partners, we asked: What can we do together to help you reach more people?? Laureno said. ?How do we help these millions of people who are in this situation get the resources they need (to land civilian jobs) in a much easier, more straightforward way that?s ever been possible before??

After clicking a button to connect with VetNet, users gain access to a weekly snapshot of ?what?s happening? in the veteran-employment arena as well as to a ready group of business advisers and to an ongoing array of virtual ?hangouts? that train people on basics from resume writing to making ?elevator pitches? or that allow veterans to hear insights from leaders in retail, transportation, retail and entrepreneurship, Laureno said.

The venture drew a favorable review Thursday from a key congressional member.

?I am especially pleased to see companies like Google and their partners take the initiative to bring together these various resources to help veterans navigate the employment opportunities together,? said Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans? Affairs.

Click here for more military-related coverage from NBC News.

?I am confident their combined efforts will be especially helpful to those who may not know where to start their job search. This is the least we can all do for our veterans who have served our nation so honorably,? Miller said in an email.

Miller?s words hint at the fresh irony of post-war life for thousands of ex-service members: Their initial challenge is not a lack of help; it is the over-abundance of nonprofits seeking to guide veterans from their once-super-structured schedules and tight packs of buddies to the wide-open, ultra-competitive job market.

According to an April 2012 study by the Center for a New American Security, more than 40,000 nonprofit groups now exist in this country with missions focused on filling the various needs of active-duty troops, veterans and their families.

That giant-yet-fragmented bundle of organizations???while striving to do well by veterans???must also battle for the same funding dollars. And that jostling hasn?t fostered a cohesive landscape for veterans to navigate as they begin their new career journeys, Laureno said. Given that mish-mash of helping hands, some veterans simply don?t know where to go first.?

?I?ve heard occasionally people (in the veteran-helping field) use the word ?competitors.? They are competing for funds. They are competing for awareness. They are competing to be in the spotlight,? Laureno said. ?It?s also a well-documented issue in this community that there are some people, just like anything else, who got involved because wanted to help but that emerged as sort of looking for press.

?The founding partners here are not of that ilk. These are partners who have stuck with their original mission, who are focused on getting the help out to the people who need it, and who recognize that technology can help them take that help to a completely different level than ever before possible,? she added.

Google and VetNet are hoping to attract new partners from that sea of 40,000 groups. But they?re still hammering out the best ways to assess prospective collaborators ? and their larger intensions???before they are invited to join, Laureno said.

?That?s one of the biggest challenges all of us are facing in this issue, and that?s why there has been this proliferation of 40,000-plus (veterans organizations),? she said. ?We are going to need to have a some sort of vetting process. That is something the partners are working on right now: What will be the criteria they use to judge who comes on board and who doesn?t?

?Anyone who would like to get involved, who has effective services, and who is willing to make the commitment to providing them on this platform who will be supportive of the community, they?re all welcome,? she added. ?But if somebody wants to advertise on a one-off basis about their particular program, this probably isn?t the right place for them.?

More content from NBCNews.com:

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/29/15545883-google-launches-new-site-to-guide-veterans-into-civilian-work-force?lite

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ABI: Africa?s Mobile Market To Pass 80% Subscriber Penetration In Q1 Next Year; 13.9% Of Global Cellular Market By 2017

Analyst ABI Research expects mobile phone subscriber penetration levels in Africa to pass 80 percent in the first quarter of next year. In Q3 this year, it said the continent's 54 countries and 1.08 billion people had accumulated 821 million mobile subscribers, up 16.9 percent year-on-year -- to 76.4 percent -- and it expects this to grow to 1.12 billion subscribers by 2017.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/MB0SGom80o0/

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Oil & Gas - Argentina - Enarsa, PDVSA studying offshore blocks in Argentina's Austral basin

By Business News Americas staff reporters

A delegation of technicians from Argentina's state energy company Enarsa and Venezuelan state hydrocarbons company PDVSA are studying two blocks in th...

...

This news article is one of hundreds published daily by Business News Americas about the commodities, markets, movements, companies, projects, economics and politics integral to the development of Latin America. Including news and insight from South America, Central America and the Caribbean, BNamericas includes oil & gas insight and forecasts for business opportunities in Argentina. The business development service focuses on major projects, active companies, such as Petr?leos de Venezuela S.A. and Energ?a Argentina S.A.; and business and sales contacts, providing networking opportunities with leading executives throughout Latin America.

Source: http://member.bnamericas.com/news/oilandgas/enarsa-pdvsa-studying-offshore-blocks-in-austral-basin

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You Can Actually Find Out About Home Businesses Online ... - Jon ...

Even though not everyone is capable of running a successful home-based business, you should not let that deter you from giving it a try. Right now you just need a computer to create, for a very low cost, a business that you can operate from home. It won?t take much at all. You need a tiny dose of resolution to do the research, and a high-speed, low-cost internet access. A computer-based business has a global reach with unlimited customers, whereas a traditional business is restricted to local custom and has expensive set-up expenses. All that?s necessary for a person to be a potential consumer is for them to be able to connect to the Internet.

Visit this link to learn more about this topic.

There are a myriad of ways to get your toes wet if you?re really considering a business online. To make a start you most certainly do not have to be an IT nerd, but being familiar with using a personal computer would be very helpful. Instead of technical skills, what is more important for success on the web is your level of knowledge concerning something that you enjoy doing. As one example of this, individuals who are great at creative writing could look at a web-based copywriting business. Writing could also be done freelance, doing jobs for people who either dislike writing or are not any good at it. What it comes down to is determining a group of folks who have a need for something, like say, articles, and providing them with it. Create some samples of your work and then do some promoting, and you are going to be in business.

Online auction web sites are another avenue from which a large number of people are making good money. You may have many products already that can be sold online, or you can buy products at wholesale and sell at retail. Online auction web sites, such as eBay, do the hard work of bringing the consumers to your offers. All you need to do, is decide a price for your item, list it on the market, and then wait until a buyer chooses your product. You are going to get payment if somebody makes a purchase, and then you fulfill your side of the deal by sending the shopper their purchase.

Lots of erstwhile challenges and obstructions have been eliminated by the advance of technology. Given a pc anybody can now start up a business. Not only does the internet have a lot of products to sell, but there is more than enough information on the web to show you how to sell them. The very best way to build a business on the web, is to find somebody who has a business model you prefer, and pattern yours after theirs.

If you are just interested in making a little extra cash in your free time, you should be able to do that very easily on the Internet. Spend some time on your computer seeking information on starting an online business, and you will find plenty of it. You can only begin making money once you get your business launched, so don?t delay in doing your research.

Source: http://joaquinparker.asingletime.com/2012/11/21/you-can-actually-find-out-about-home-businesses-online/

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Source: http://tinajhonson.blogspot.com/2012/11/you-can-actually-find-out-about-home.html

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Source: http://williamchloee.posterous.com/you-can-actually-find-out-about-home-business

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Source: http://arthurturner.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/you-can-actually-find-out-about-home-businesses-online.html

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Source: http://lavernefrank41.posterous.com/you-can-actually-find-out-about-home-business

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Source: http://owens82.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/you-can-actually-find-out-about-home-businesses-online.html

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Rolling Stones to Be Joined by Eric Clapton, Florence Welch at Thursday?s Concert in London

The Rolling Stones have announced that two new special guests will be joining them at their second ?50 & Counting? anniversary concert at London?s O2 Arena, which takes place on Thursday.? Eric Clapton and Florence Welch, frontwoman for Grammy-nominated British alt-rockers Florence and the Machine, will hit the stage with the rock legends.

As previously reported, two former Stones members ? bassist Bill Wyman and guitarist Mick Taylor ? also are expected to play with the band on Thursday.? Wyman and Taylor performed with the group at the O2 Arena on Sunday, when The Stones launched their 50 & Counting Tour.? In addition, that concert featured guest appearances by Jeff Beck and R&B diva Mary J. Blige.

Following Thursday?s show, The Rolling Stones will head to the U.S. for a December 8 performance in Brooklyn, New York, and a pair of concerts in Newark, New Jersey on December 13 and 15.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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Source: http://www.classichitsandoldies.com/v2/2012/11/28/rolling-stones-to-be-joined-by-eric-clapton-florence-welch-at-thursdays-concert-in-london/

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Family: NFL great Jack Pardee ill with cancer

HOUSTON (AP) ? Jack Pardee, one of Bear Bryant's "Junction Boys" who went on to become a five-time All-Pro linebacker and an NFL coach, has been diagnosed with gall bladder cancer and has six to nine months to live, his family said Tuesday.

The cancer has spread to other organs and that her 77-year-old father plans to move to a Denver hospice where the College Football Hall of Fame inductee's wife, Phyllis, has been receiving care since having a stroke, daughter Anne Pardee confirmed to The Associated Press.

Anne Pardee said her father was in good spirits despite the diagnosis.

Jack Pardee survived a bout with melanoma when he was 28 and in the middle of his 15-year NFL playing career.

He played only six-man football at Christoval High School in west-central Texas, near San Angelo, before moving on to Texas A&M. Bryant became the Aggies' coach in 1954 and moved their preseason camp to desolate Junction, about 100 miles northwest of San Antonio.

The state endured a severe drought and historic heat wave that year, but Bryant worked his team through the brutal conditions and refused to allow water breaks in an effort to toughest players. Pardee was one of 35 players who made it through to the end of the 10-day camp without quitting.

Pardee played three seasons at Texas A&M and was drafted by Los Angeles in 1957. He played for the Rams from 1957-64, sat out a year to cope with his melanoma, then played seven more seasons. He finished his playing career with the Washington Redskins in 1973.

Pardee stuck with the NFL and was the Chicago Bears' head coach from 1975-77. He coached the Redskins from 1978-80 and was fired after Washington went 6-10. He served as San Diego's defensive coordinator for one season, then returned to Texas to coach the USFL's Houston Gamblers.

Pardee was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986. When the USFL disbanded in 1987, Pardee became the coach at the University of Houston and brought along the fast-paced "Run-and-Shoot" offense that worked well with the Gamblers.

The NCAA levied severe sanctions on the program in 1988, the result of violations committed under previous coach Bill Yeoman. Houston was banned from playing in a bowl game for two years and banned from playing on television in the 1989 season.

But the Cougars led the nation in total offense (624.9 yards per game) and passing offense (511 yards per game) in 1989, and quarterback Andre Ware won the Heisman Trophy. Houston finished 9-2 and ranked No. 14 in the nation.

Pardee became the coach of the NFL's Houston Oilers in 1990, and led the team to the playoffs in each of his first four seasons. Oilers owner Bud Adams traded star quarterback Warren Moon to Minnesota before the 1994 season, and Pardee resigned after a 1-9 start that year.

His name emerged 13 years later for the Houston job, but the school hired Kevin Sumlin instead. Pardee's son, Ted, is currently the color analyst for Houston football radio broadcasts.

Pardee's illness was first reported Tuesday by KTRK-TV of Houston.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-11-27-Jack%20Pardee-Cancer/id-95bdf7906882436ba6b411b1e6696263

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Rice concession on Libya fails to mollify 3 in GOP

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, center, flanked by fellow committee members, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., left, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., right, speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, following a meeting with UN Ambassador Susan Rice. Rice met with lawmakers to discuss statements she made about the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya that left the ambassador and three other Americans dead. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, center, flanked by fellow committee members, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., left, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., right, speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, following a meeting with UN Ambassador Susan Rice. Rice met with lawmakers to discuss statements she made about the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya that left the ambassador and three other Americans dead. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

FILE - This April 14, 2012 file photo shows U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice speaking at U.N. headquarters. With congressional opposition softening, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice could find her name in contention as early as this week to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state. Her nomination to the top Cabinet job could signal the potential for a more robust intervention in world crises in President Barack Obama?s second term. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, File)

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Homeland Security Committee, center, accompanied by fellow Senate Armed Services Committee member, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.,, right, gestures while speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, after a closed-door meeting with UN Ambassador Susan Rice. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Senate Armed Services Committee member, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.,, center, accompanied by fellow Senate Armed Services Committee member, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., right, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, following a closed-door meeting with UN Ambassador Susan Rice. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice told lawmakers Tuesday that her initial explanation of the deadly Sept. 11 raid in Libya was wrong, but her concession failed to mollify three Republican senators who signaled they would try to block her possible nomination to be secretary of state.

In a closed-door meeting that Rice requested, the ambassador answered questions from Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte about her much-maligned explanations about the cause of the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. She was joined by acting CIA Director Michael Morell.

"The talking points provided by the intelligence community, and the initial assessment upon which they were based, were incorrect in a key respect: There was no protest or demonstration in Benghazi," Rice said in a statement after the meeting. "While we certainly wish that we had had perfect information just days after the terrorist attack, as is often the case the intelligence assessment has evolved."

Rice's unusual visit to Capitol Hill ? typically only nominees meet privately with lawmakers ? reflects the Obama administration's campaign for the current front-runner to replace Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton against some strenuous GOP opposition.

"We are significantly troubled by many of the answers that we got and some that we didn't get concerning evidence that was leading up to the attack on the consulate," McCain told reporters after emerging from the hour-plus session that he described as candid.

Said Graham: "Bottom line I'm more disturbed now than I was before that 16 September explanation." He said in a later interview that Rice went "far beyond the flawed talking points" and should be held accountable.

"I'm more troubled today," said Ayotte, who argued that it was clear in the days after the attack that it was terrorism and not a spontaneous demonstration prompted by an anti-Muslim video.

The White House remained defiant in its support for Rice, arguing that she was relying on an assessment from the intelligence community and had no responsibility in compiling the information on the cause of the attack. It dismissed what it characterized as a fixation on her national television appearances five days after the raid.

"The focus on, some might say, obsession on comments made on Sunday shows seems to me and to many, to be misplaced," spokesman Jay Carney told reporters at a White House briefing.

House Democrats, including female members of the Congressional Black Caucus, have suggested that the GOP opposition to Rice is sexist and racist. Senate Democrats, who will increase their advantage to 55-45 in the next Congress, said Rice could win confirmation if Republicans recognize the unfairness of penalizing her for the intelligence community's talking points.

"The personal attacks against Ambassador Rice by certain Republican senators have been outrageous and utterly unmoored from facts and reality," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a statement. "I am shocked that senators would continue these attacks even when the evidence ? including disclosures from the intelligence community about the information she presented ? have made it clear that the allegations against Ambassador Rice are baseless, and that she has done absolutely nothing wrong."

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., told reporters that "it is so unfair to hold her responsible for something that she didn't produce and which the intelligence community has specifically stood by."

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., who met separately with Rice and Morell, said the ambassador told him that she based her Sunday show appearance on material from the intelligence community and the White House neither provided briefings nor additional talking points.

Lieberman said she made clear she was following the talking points, and her account on Sept. 16 should not disqualify her from any appointment.

A recurring issue is whether changes were made to the intelligence material at the request of the White House or for political reasons. Lieberman said Morell told him that was not the case.

"The acting director of the CIA said whatever changes were made in the original talking points before they were given in unclassified form to the House Intelligence Committee and to Ambassador Rice were made within the intelligence community," Lieberman said.

In a statement late Tuesday, McCain, Graham and Ayotte said Morell told them the FBI had removed references to al-Qaida in the talking points to prevent compromising ongoing investigations. Hours later, the CIA contacted the three senators to say Morell had misspoken and that the CIA had deleted the references.

Despite lingering questions over her public comments after the Benghazi attack, Rice has emerged as the top candidate on a short list of possible successors to Clinton, with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., seen as her closest alternative.

The strong statements from the three senators clouded Rice's prospects only two days after Republican opposition seem to be softening. Rice planned meetings on Wednesday with Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, who is in line to become the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Corker said Tuesday that he had concerns with a possible nomination.

"When I hear Susan talk she seems to me like she'd be a great chairman of the Democratic National Committee," Corker said. "There is nobody who is more staff supportive of what the administration does. That concerns me in a secretary of state."

Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., who had indicated late Monday that Rice perhaps had been unwittingly used by the administration, said in a statement Tuesday that Rice is unfit for the top diplomatic post.

"It is now clear that she willingly misled the American public five different times in the days after the attack," Inhofe said. "And for months after the attack she failed to acknowledge, until today, that her account of what happened was deeply and fundamentally flawed."

A senior Senate aide said the administration was sounding out moderate members of the Foreign Relations Committee, such as Corker and Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. Assessing the prospects for Rice before Obama makes any announcement would avoid the embarrassment of a protracted fight with the Senate early in the president's second term and the possible failure of the nominee.

On talk shows the weekend following the attack, which took place on the 11th anniversary of 9/11, Rice was given talking points that described the attack as a spontaneous protest of the film, even though the Obama administration had known for days that it was a militant assault.

Republicans called her nomination doomed, leading to a vigorous defense of her by Obama in his first postelection news conference. Since then, GOP lawmakers have appeared to soften their views. McCain, who said earlier this month that would he do everything in his power to scuttle a Rice nomination, had said Sunday that he was willing to hear Rice out before making a decision.

Rice, who at 48 is relatively young, has been known to covet the job for years, but was passed over for Clinton in 2009.

___

Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington and Edith M. Lederer in New York contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-11-27-Cabinet-Rice/id-6d330bed01d34eed8b6755841ac7cf7c

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Apple Macbook Air 13.3? (june, 2009) Crack Screen But Works Great

selling this macbook air. the laptop runs well. it's fast and it comes with a charger. The only thing wrong is that it has a crack in the screen. its really not in the way. its on the side on the screen. check out the pictures. NO BOX Posted with eBay Mobile

Recommended Reading

Tags: 11, 13, apple, charger, laptop, Mac, MacBook, MacBook air 13, screen

Source: http://macbookfreak.com/apple-macbook-air-13-3-june-2009-crack-screen-but-works-great/

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Holiday Jewelry Shopping Tips | 25karats.com Articles

The most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner ? and that means you need to get your holiday jewelry shopping on!

Whether you?re planning on proposing to the love of your life or you just want to get that special someone a gift they won?t forget, holiday jewelry is a surefire way to add a little (or a lot!) of sparkle this holiday season. Additionally, there are always great deals to be found during the holiday season. This is because jewelers are determined to make themselves look more attractive to prevent customers from going to their competitors.

Despite the many advantages to holiday jewelry shopping, there?s no denying that this can be a stressful and confusing experience. If that?s the case for you, here are some holiday jewelry shopping tips that will keep you sane this season:

Don?t want to deal with the stress of holiday shopping? Then you should take your holiday jewelry shopping online. There are plenty of jewelry vendors who will offer you a great deal on diamond jewelry. Additionally, many of these vendors will offer free shipping, free returns, and even give you discounted prices that you just won?t find in traditional jewelry stores. Be sure to check out customer reviews to ensure that an online jewelry store is worth your time and money.

Be sure to check out your ring size before you start shopping online. Remember, resizing may be an issue with buying holiday jewelry. Have your ring size professionally sized (do it at the end of the day, when your fingers have slightly swelled) or measure it yourself with a cloth tape measurer. If you?re buying jewelry on the sly, enlist the aid of the recipient?s best friend or family member to get an accurate ring size.

By taking your jewelry shopping online, you can take advantage of some fantastic deals. Many online retailers offer extended returns, especially during the holiday season. If you?re worried that your holiday jewelry won?t fit the lucky recipient, then you don?t have to worry that you?ll have to pay extra to return or resize the jewelry. Be sure to double-check the retailer?s return policy just to ensure that you have this option available to you. Also be sure to check on the shipping rates, as you want to ensure you get your jewelry in time for the holidays.

Don?t want to get a ring for the holidays, but still want to bring the bling? Consider buying diamond stud earrings for that special someone in your life. Diamond stud earrings can bring the bling, and are also a more affordable jewelry option. They also make excellent gifts for mothers, sisters, grandmothers, and any other special ladies in your life!

Use these holiday jewelry shopping tips to score the deal of the year!

Source: http://www.25karats.com/articles/diamond-jewelry/holiday-jewelry-shopping-tips/

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Huskers Open NCAA Tournament with University of Maryland Eastern Shore

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Source: http://www.huskers.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=205792660

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49ers use Kaepernick, defense to top Saints 31-21

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Dashon Goldson turned Marques Colston upside down just as the receiver leaped for a pass over the middle.

As Colston landed on his head and lay motionless for several seconds, safety Donte Whitner snagged the deflected pass on New Orleans 42 and weaved his way past Drew Brees and Co., all the way to the end zone.

That was but one of the big plays turned in by a San Francisco defense that was as brutal as it was spectacular in a 31-21 victory Sunday that snapped New Orleans' three-game winning streak and put a dent in the Saints' playoff hopes.

"We know how good our defense is, especially coming off of last week's (32-7) win against Chicago," 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said. "When it counted, our defense held together and won the game for us."

Colin Kaepernick was the winning quarterback for the second time in as many starts, which will only prolong the debate in San Francisco over whether Kaepernick deserves to retain the starting job that he inherited when Alex Smith went out with a concussion.

"That would be coach's decision," Kaepernick said. "I'm just trying to take a similar approach that I've been taking, just keep my head down, keep working and see where it takes me."

It may not have mattered who played quarterback for the 49ers in New Orleans.

The Niners' defense had two interceptions for touchdowns, one each by Whitner and linebacker Ahmad Brooks, and a pass rush led by Aldon Smith sacked Brees five times.

"That was a real rough, tough, physical football game," San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh said. "Big plays by the defense really swung the game for us."

Kaepernick was solid in his second career start, while Alex Smith, deemed healthy enough to suit up after recovering from a concussion, watched from the sideline. Kaepernick passed for 231 yards, including a short touchdown to Frank Gore. He also ran for a 7-yard score on a read-option run that fooled the Saints' defense. He threw his first career interception, but it was inconsequential.

Kapernick committed two false-start penalties, was saved by receiver Randy Moss from throwing a second interception, and the Niners' offense became the first this season to gain fewer than 400 yards against a Saints defense that came in ranked last in the league.

"We got a win," Kaepernick said, "so that's all that really matters."

Harbaugh implied the decision to start Kaepernick had more to do with Smith's health than performance, but he was noncommittal about who might start next weekend at St. Louis.

Smith did not seem to think he required more time to heal.

"Obviously I want to play. I want to start. I think I should, but it's not my decision," Smith said. "I'm part of this team and it's great to go out and get a win."

Brees finished with 267 yards and three TDs. One of Brees' scoring passes went to Marques Colston, who set a Saints record with his 56th career touchdown for the club, surpassing Deuce McAllister.

New Orleans (5-6) managed only 59 yards rushing against San Francisco (8-2-1).

The Niners gained 144 yards rushing, led by Gore's 83. San Francisco tight end Delanie Walker had three catches for 81 yards, including one for 45 yards to set up Gore's touchdown.

The Saints inserted recently acquired reserve William Robinson at right tackle after rookie Bryce Harris, making his first start because of injuries to Zach Strief and Charles Brown, was carted off in the first quarter with an apparent right leg injury. But just about every Saints lineman was beaten on a Niners sack. Brooks, Aldon Smith and Justin Smith each had 1? sacks.

"When you lose your right tackle and you've got to play with a young man who's been here four days, that's a tough challenge," Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt said.

San Francisco's interceptions came during a 21-0 spurt that turned a 14-7 deficit into a 28-14 lead.

"You give them two free ones and that's what they thrive on," Brees said. "All of a sudden they rattle off 21 points in a short amount of time and we really felt like we had the game under control."

Brooks snagged the first, returning it 50 yards late in the first half to tie the game at 14.

Whitner's came on Brees' first pass of the second half, making it 28-14.

The Saints, meanwhile, missed a chance to pull into a tie for the last NFC wild card berth, and remain a game out with another tough game coming up at Atlanta on Thursday night.

NOTES: Saints DT Brodrick Bunkley was thrown out for unsportsmanlike conduct with 1:05 left for kicking lineman Alex Boone in the back of the helmet right after the Saints had blocked a field goal ... Niners WR Kyle Williams and RB Kendall Hunter both were shaken up on the same play in the second half with apparent leg injuries. ... Saints S Isa Abdul-Quddus left the game after a hard collision with Walker in the fourth quarter.

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/49ers-kaepernick-defense-top-saints-31-21-030546639--spt.html

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Preventing Childhood Obesity with Natasha Brown and Chi Chi ...

Nov 26th 2012 at 11:50AM

Did you know that in 2008, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese? According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of children in the United States between the ages of 6?11 years old who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 20% in 2008.

Some long term effects of childhood obesity include heart disease, kidney failure, cancers etc. Although the facts are astonishing, childhood obesity can be prevented. PR and Media mogul Natasha Brown of Think Brown Ink. hopes to prevent childhood obesity with her event MOVIN!

MOVIN!

(r) Reesa Renee

Last week, Think Brown Ink teamed up with Sports Zone in Forestville Maryland to present a family fashion and music event called MOVIN! Co-hosted by Soul Singer Reesa Renee, MOVIN! provided the community with a discussion on childhood obesity and preventative exercises.

Fashion Show Pics:

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?We got to move everyday?, were the words sang by the nine year old rising star Chi Chi Monet. Chi Chi performed her newest single Move, a song inspiring children to get up, exercise and eat right.

Check out a clip of Chi Chi Monet?s performance below:

MOVIN! was an awesome event. Encouraging children and parents to take better care of themselves and their health.

(l-r) Natasha Brown and Kia Renee

For more information on MOVIN! check out Think Brown Ink on?Facebook and Twitter. ?

Also Check Out

Source: http://www.glamourina.com/feature/2012/11/preventing-childhood-obesity-with-natasha-brown-and-chi-chi-monet

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Sassy Molassy: Mental Health Monday

Oh hello, Monday... The long weekend was glorious, but it put me in serious "this is Christmas vacation" mode. Jonah Bell (our dog) was even groaning this morning as I got ready for work because she knew it meant she'd be alone all day. The rough life of a dog...?

Thanksgiving morning I headed out in all black for a peaceful run along the river with myself and a little NPR.

On my way to the river is this adorable little farmers market that I have yet to be able to visit. It's only open 10am to 6pm, summer through fall. Someday, I'll make it happen. I just love the look of the building.?

?The river and a little sun has a way of making everything right in the world.

There were several groups of people walking and running early that morning. I have opted not to race the past few years to save a little $$, but I do miss the festivity of a Thanksgiving morning turkey trot.?

I got home with 7 miles under my belt and ready for a Thanksgiving feast!

After I stretched and showered, we headed off to the Oregon coast to see my family. My cousin Brendel's boys are adorable and so well behaved at ages 2 and 3.
National Health Blog Post Month ?

I'm participating in WEGO Health's National Health Blog Post Month this November. To read more of my posts, click here.

Mental Health

This was a topic from last week that I didn't get a chance to touch on. Overall, I'm always amazed how much our mental health impacts our physical health. It's so easy in our society to deny that we're over stressed or that said stress could have other effects on our lives.

Often times, if I'm overly stressed, I'll feel a cold coming on within a few days. In addition to maintaining healthy habits (pumping Vitamin C, drinking water, sleeping well), I also try to find ways to naturally destress by way of yoga or walks.

Ideally, I'd never get to this place where I'm sick because of stress, but only because I happen to catch a cold from someone else. As I see stress increasing, I have to be proactive in finding ways to chill out mentally and physically.

And what if you're dealing with something that you alone can't solve??

In college, I went to a therapist at the University's counseling center for a year or so and it was extremely helpful. From day one, she was my ally and didn't judge me for my thoughts or feelings. She was simply there to listen and provide suggestions as to how to deal with/overcome things.

From that experience, I walked away thinking that everyone should see a therapist, no matter how small or large the things they're dealing with are. My counselor allowed me to feel more confident about myself and my beliefs and fully explore thoughts and issues I was dealing with. Who couldn't benefit from that kind of support?

The manfriend and I are also going to a little pre-marital counseling (which I'll talk about a bit more soon) so that we're best prepared for our journey together. While it's not typical "therapy," it has been a great way to discuss topics or feelings we might not normally dive into.?


What are your thoughts on mental health, staying mentally healthy, etc?

Source: http://justcallmesassy.blogspot.com/2012/11/mental-health-monday.html

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Overcoming 7 Obstacles to Cat Ownership | PolyMVA for Pets

You?d like to have a cat or you wouldn?t be reading this. But something?s holding you back from making the commitment. Maybe you?re afraid that cat allergies will have you wheezing and sneezing. Maybe you?re worried that cat scratching will ruin your furniture. Maybe your spouse or roommate refuses to let a feline join your happy home.

Whatever the reason, there are solutions. We?ve gathered some of the most common obstacles to cat ownership, along with suggestions on how to tackle each.

Cat Allergies

While the ideal solution for allergies is to avoid what you?re allergic to, you can minimize symptoms with a little work. But the first step is to visit an allergist to make sure you really do have cat allergies. Once you?re certain that cats trigger your symptoms, get the facts.

For example, it helps to know that people with cat allergies aren?t actually allergic to hair or dander, but to a protein found in cat saliva. Stepping up kitty baths is not necessarily the solution, however. While bathing a cat can reduce your exposure to this protein, the effect is short lived, and bathing kitties too often can irritate their sensitive skin.

It will be easier on both of you if you make these adaptations:

- Make your bedroom a cat-free zone. It?s the place where you spend the most time, so keep this spot a cat-free sanctuary to help reduce allergy symptoms. If you also switch to special bedding designed to be less permeable to allergens, you may start the day significantly less wheezy.
- Demolish dander. Vacuuming, dusting, and sweeping more often can reduce the buildup of pet dander (where much of that allergy-inducing protein attaches). And make the job easier on yourself by minimizing carpets, heavy drapes, and upholstery in your house.
- Wash up. Washing your hands and face frequently can help significantly reduce your exposure to dander.
- Filter the air. Change house air filters regularly and look into installing an air purifier with a HEPA filter.
- Try medication. Both over-the-counter allergy medications and allergy shots can help relieve allergy symptoms. Over time, allergy shots can also help reduce cat allergy symptoms.

Cat Shedding

Just as shedding hair is normal for people, so is it for cats. Felines usually lose more hair in spring, as the weather warms. But cats also shed because of medical issues such as stress, poor diet, allergies, medication, infection, and sunburn. To help minimize normal kitty hair loss, the ASPCA suggests:

- Feed your cat a healthy, balanced diet.
- Brush and groom your cat regularly.

While grooming your cat, check for suspicious hair loss, redness, bumps, cuts, fleas, ticks, or other parasites. If you see signs of any of these problems or just aren?t sure why kitty is shedding so much, visit a? veterinarian.

Cat Litter Box Issues

If the thought of litter box smells is keeping you from getting a cat, you?re not alone. With daily care, however, litter box odor is easy to control. And keeping a clean litter box will also help ensure that your cat will use it. To help minimize odors and maximize the chance of your cat using a litter box consistently, try these strategies:

- Buy scoopable (clumping) litter, or small-grained clay litter, as research shows that cats seem to prefer fine-grained litter. As with any litter, you?ll need to clean the litter box daily, and dump the entire box and start fresh about once a month.
- If bringing home a new kitty means you?ll have more than one cat in the house, be sure you?ve got enough litter boxes ? ideally, one for each. If a cat can?t use the litter box due to cat traffic jams, or if the box is consistently dirty, he may begin to go outside the box.
- Don?t overfill a litter box to avoid cleaning it as often. Clean litter up to twice a day if there are multiple cats using a box. Aim for about an inch or two of litter per box.
- Some cats prefer a cover on the litter box, and some don?t. Covered boxes tend to trap and magnify odors, so they need cleaning more often. Large cats may also have trouble maneuvering in them. The answer? Try both kinds of boxes, covered and uncovered, before settling on one.
- A cat that consistently eliminates outside a litter box may have a medical problem. Always talk to your veterinarian before presuming the issue is unsolvable. It could be something that?s easy and inexpensive to address.

A Housemate Doesn?t Want Cats

This is too big an issue to boil down to a quick solution. But here are two strategies to try when you want a cat but the person you share your home with doesn?t:

- Talk it out.? Learn why your spouse or roommate doesn?t want a cat. Maybe she prefers dogs. Or maybe she would like a pet one day, but now isn?t the right time. Talk about the pluses of cat ownership: love, purpose, fulfillment ? and even better, health. Studies show that having a pet can lower a person?s blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and even diminish depression.
- Offer solutions. If your roommate or spouse is resisting cat ownership for issues you can tackle, such as shedding or odor, talk about how they can be addressed. Or the problem could be numbers: You?d like a cozy cat house, but she can only cope with one cat. See if you can compromise. Perhaps she?s just not sure whether she wants a pet. In that case, fostering a cat could be a way to test the waters.

The key is to begin the conversation. In the end, if your spouse or roommate is still against getting a cat, you can soothe some of your cat craving by volunteering at a shelter or humane society.

Cat Aggression

Cats fight one another and us for many reasons, emotional and physical. Territorial, inter-male, and maternal aggression are a few of the most common. And, of course, sometimes it?s just overly rambunctious play. While solutions depend on the cause, here are some to consider:

- Talk with your vet. Cats can become aggressive due to serious illness, so it?s vital to rule out a physical cause for a cat?s aggression.
- Encourage appropriate play. When cats are aggressive toward a person, it?s usually because they?re frightened or they?re playing. To prevent a cat from playing rough, never use your hands or feet as playthings. Offer many toys and spend time playing with them with your cat. You might also consider adopting another cat as a playmate or providing a more stimulating environment, such as an outdoor enclosure.
- Consider spaying and neutering. Intact males are more prone to aggressive behavior, and one intact cat can affect the behavior of others. So be sure all felines in a household are spayed or neutered.
- Ease competition among cats. If you have more than one cat, you can prevent competition by providing multiple food and water bowls, and at least two litter boxes in different parts of the house.
- Provide pheromones and perches. Encourage the cats in a multi-cat household to spread out by providing hiding spots and perches throughout the house. You can also buy artificial pheromones that mimic a natural cat odor (undetectable by humans); these can help cats stay calm.
- Use short-term medication. Prescribed by your vet, these can help while you?re dealing with cat aggression. Never use over-the-counter medications ? especially those meant for humans ? unless recommended by your vet. Some drugs that are safe for humans can be fatal to cats.
- Restrain, but don?t punish. Don?t hit your cat for being aggressive, as it will only spur more aggression, as well as fear. But don?t let cat aggression go unchecked, either. To stop a cat fight in progress, make a loud noise, squirt the cats with water, or throw something soft at them. Don?t try to pull apart two fighting cats.

Solving aggression problems between cats takes time. Enlisting the help of a family vet, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (ACVB), or a certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB) can make it easier.

Cat Health Care Costs

If you?re concerned that cat health care is too expensive, it?s good to know that cats tend to be healthy and usually don?t require a lot of pricey care. That said, they still need regular exams and vaccinations. And like human medical care, veterinary care can be costly. Fortunately, there are options to help manage the cost:

- Pet insurance. It costs money, but it can potentially save you money too. There are many options available. Some pet insurance is affiliated with national pet store chains and others can be purchased through a local veterinarian. Talk with your vet, as well as friends and family, to get an idea of the available options and what they cover.
- Subsidies through a local shelter or chapter of the Humane Society (HSUS). If you have trouble affording care for your cat, they may offer subsidized health care or know of local groups that do.
- Veterinary school discounts. Vet schools sometimes offer discount services to the public. You can locate a veterinary school near you through your vet or the American Veterinary Medical Association web site.
- Payment plans. Many veterinarians are quite happy to work out weekly or monthly payment plans so you don?t need to pay for the entire cost of each visit up front.

Cat Scratching and Other Behavior Issues

It?s in a cat?s nature to scratch. They scratch to remove frayed bits of claw, to mark territory, to work off energy, and to play. Yet you can have both a cat and nice furniture by giving kitty some other outlets. Try these solutions:

- Scratching posts. Provide several scratching posts made of sisal, cardboard, or wood. Scent the posts with catnip to get your feline friend interested.
- Claw caps. Also called ?nail caps,? these tiny vinyl sleeves slip over a cat?s claws, painlessly preventing him from doing damage when he tries to scratch. They are available online and at pet stores and many veterinarians.
- Nail trimming. Trimming a cat?s claws isn?t difficult, especially if you start while your furry friend is young. You can get tips on claw trimming on the web sites of the ASPCA or HSUS.
- Declawing. This is a controversial practice, so you should consider the pros and cons carefully. A cat?s claws? grow from the bones of their digits, so permanently removing a claw means amputating the last joint of each digit. If you?re thinking of adopting a kitten, the Humane Society suggests a more sympathetic solution: Immediately introduce your kitten to scratching posts and other acceptable objects to satisfy his itch to scratch.
- Talk to a vet, veterinary behavior specialist, or CAAB. If you bring a cat into your life and find you can?t get a handle on one of her behavior issues, always talk to a veterinarian to rule out health problems. Simple issues like a urinary tract infection can cause a cat to vocalize, stop using the litter box, or even become aggressive. Rule out problems such as these before assuming your cat is incorrigible and beyond redemption. If the cause is behavioral, a CAAB or veterinary behavior specialist can help. Many offer remote consultations and can work closely with your own veterinarian.

Cats can fill a home with purring warmth, silly play, and lots of affection. Yet before adopting a cat, be sure you?re ready for the commitment of a lifetime ? the cat?s lifetime.

Still not certain? Talk to your local veterinarian about briefly fostering a cat or kitten, or offer to ?cat-sit? for a friend. Either way, you?ll get a taste of the bliss ? and a few of the burdens ? of living with a cat.

Original URL: http://pets.webmd.com/cats/solving-cat-problems-9/cat-ownership-tips?ecd=wnl_cat_111412&ctr=wnl-cat-111412_promo_2&mb=

Source: http://www.polymvaforpets.com/health-tips/overcoming-7-obstacles-to-cat-ownership

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Auto-Return Indoor Basketball Hoop Apparently Doubles as a Civil War Cannon

Nerf's miniature basketball hoop changed indoor sports forever when it was introduced in the 1970s. But Franklin is revolutionizing lazy athletics once again with the Shoot Again Hoop that automatically returns a shot, apparently at cannonball speeds, so you never even have to get out of bed. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/-ua2ouNXq4I/auto+return-indoor-basketball-hoop-apparently-doubles-as-a-civil-war-cannon

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$600 car issued more than $100,000 in parking tickets

A Chevy Monte Carlo similar to the one abandoned at O'Hare Airport (WikiCommons)An abandoned car in Chicago worth an estimated $600 has been issued more than $100,000 in parking tickets over the past three years.

Jennifer Fitzgerald, 31, is currently stuck with the bill but says the 1999 Chevy Monte Carlo actually belongs to an ex-boyfriend who registered the car in her name without her knowledge or consent.

The Expired Meter reports that from May 23, 2009, through April 30, 2012, the Chicago Department of Finance (DOF) issued 678 tickets against the car, totaling $105,761.80 and setting a Chicago record both for the total number and amount of parking fines issued.

In fact, it blew past the previous record holder, which was $65,000 from approximately 400 violations.

But Fitzgerald says she doesn't owe the city a dime and has filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against the city of Chicago, United Airlines and the ex-boyfriend.

Fitzgerald has two main arguments in her case. First, she says her ex-boyfriend, Brandon Preveau, is the actual owner of the car, having purchased it from her uncle for $600 in 2008, according to Courthouse News. In fact, Preveau paid for the car's title, registration and insurance, but it was nonetheless registered in Fitzgerald's name.

"Brandon used his 2007 income tax refund to pay Patrick $600 for the automobile," reads Fitzgerald's complaint. "For reasons not recalled by Patrick, however, Patrick signed the title to the automobile over to Jennifer."

Second, Fitzgerald's attorney is arguing that the city should have simply towed the vehicle after 30 days from O'Hare Airport, where it was parked and where Preveau worked at the time.

According to Fitzgerald's complaint, "On or before November 17, 2009, Brandon drove the automobile into the parking lot and never drove it out again."

And as the Expired Meter reports, Chicago law does specify that an abandoned vehicle is to be towed 30 days after being illegally parked: "Any vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be subjected to an immediate tow and removal to city vehicle pound or authorized garage," the law reads.

So far, Fitzgerald; Preveau; Fitzgerald's pro bono attorney, Robin Omahana; and the DOF have all declined to officially comment on the case.

In the meantime, Fitzgerald, who is unemployed and a single mother, has also had to deal with her driver's license being suspended while she pursues her case.

"If a vehicle is in a lot for more than 30 days and Standard Parking was not notified, then the company will try to contact the owner to find out his plans to get the vehicle," Department of Aviation spokesman Karen Pride told the Meter. "If Standard cannot contact the owner, then the vehicle is towed to Lot F, where it might remain for 30 to 90 days, in case the owner comes back for it. After that period, the vehicle is towed to the city impound lot as abandoned."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/600-car-issued-more-100-000-parking-tickets-234529296.html

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Halle Berry's ex claims he was victim in Thanksgiving brawl

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Halle Berry's ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry on Monday won a restraining order against the actress's current lover, as the two men fought in the Los Angeles courts over who started their Thanksgiving Day brawl.

Releasing photos of himself with a black eye and cuts to his face, Aubry claimed that he was the victim in the November 22 punch-up with Berry's fianc?, French actor Olivier Martinez, in the driveway of her Los Angeles house.

"I suffered numerous injuries as a result of the attack, including a fractured rib, multiple bruises on my face and a number of cuts which required stitches," Aubry said in court papers, alleging that Martinez had threatened the day before to kill him.

"It all happened so fast and so suddenly; I did not see Mr Martinez's actions coming and thus I was not ready for it and was not able to defend myself," Aubry wrote.

Aubry, Martinez, and the Oscar-winning "Monster's Ball" actress have been embroiled for months in a custody fight over Berry's 4-year-old daughter, Nahla. Berry wants to take the daughter she had with Aubry to live with her and Martinez in France, but a Los Angeles judge denied that request earlier in November.

Aubry claimed in his request for a restraining order on Monday that Martinez told him, "You cost us $3 million," while the French actor punched and kicked him on November 22.

Aubry, a Canadian model, was arrested last week for battery after the fist fight, and ordered to stay away from Berry, the child, and Martinez.

Neither man has been yet been formally charged in the case.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Jackie Frank)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/halle-berrys-ex-claims-victim-thanksgiving-brawl-024154851.html

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PFT: Packers quiet after 38-10 beatdown by Giants

Reuters

The last time the Giants manhandled the Packers, outside linebacker Clay Matthews made it worse by saying the Packers beat themselves in the playoff meeting.

After last night?s demolition, there was no doubt about who did what to whom.

But the Packers took their 38-10 beating and chose to file it away as one of 16, not attaching any global significance to it.

?It?s one game,? Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. ?Had a good opportunity to put ourselves in a better position than we?re in right now and didn?t do that. We?re going to be disappointed watching this film. [But] we have to move on. We?ve got to get a couple things shored up. When you win five in a row, everybody?s happy but, like I said last year during the [undefeated] run, there?s things that kind of go under the radar that need to be handled. Sometimes it takes a loss to handle those things.

?Now, that being said, I?ve never been on the side of this kind of loss before. But I know if you play long enough that at a certain point you will. Hopefully, we?ll remember this feeling and not let this kind of embarrassment to happen again. We?re better than this. We?re going to regroup.?

The Packers have shown at different points that they can be better than this, but until they show it against the Giants, the questions with linger.

New York?s strength is its pass-rush, and as presently constructed, the Packers can?t slow that down. And if Rodgers is on his back, he can?t pass.

Rodgers threw for 219 yards, with 61 of them coming on a first-quarter touchdown to Jordy Nelson. After that, Rodgers absorbed five sacks, and was seemingly chased out of the pocket on half his snaps.

?We were thoroughly beaten this evening. Congratulations to the New York Giants,? coach Mike McCarthy said. ?We were beaten in every facet, really starting with myself. I feel when your team performs that way, it starts with the head coach. . . .

?I think this is a game that really makes everybody look inside and find out what you?re about. I believe in what we?re about as a football team. I haven?t felt like this probably since the first game I coached as a Green Bay Packer head coach. We were beaten very thoroughly tonight. It doesn?t taste good. It doesn?t feel good.?

It was the biggest margin of defeat since a 35-7 loss to the Bears on Dec. 23, 2007, and the worst loss during the Rodgers era, surpassing a 51-29 loss to the Saints on Nov. 24, 2008.

So no amount of defecting was going to change that stark reality.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/26/no-false-bravado-for-packers-after-this-beating/related/

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Rihanna Shares Photo of Chris Brown in Bed on Twitter

It was a Twitter-heavy weekend for are they or aren't they a couple Rihanna and Chris Brown. First Rihanna shared a photo of a shirtless Brown on his bed and then a day later, Brown got into a public Twitter feud that led to him deleting his entire Team Breezy account!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/rihanna-shares-photo-chris-brown-bed-hours-he-leaves-twitter/1-a-504237?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Arihanna-shares-photo-chris-brown-bed-hours-he-leaves-twitter-504237

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