Obama wants gun violence measures passed in 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Recalling the shooting of 20 first graders as the worst day of his presidency, President Barack Obama on Sunday pledged to put his "full weight" behind a legislative package next year aimed at containing gun violence.

In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Obama voiced skepticism about proposals to place armed guards at schools in the aftermath of the Dec. 14 deadly assault at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

In his boldest terms yet, he vowed to rally the American people around an agenda to limit gun violence and said he still supports increased background checks and bans on assault weapons and high capacity bullet magazines.

"It is not enough for us to say, 'This is too hard so we're not going to try,'" Obama said. "So what I intend to do is I will call all the stakeholders together. I will meet with Republicans. I will meet with Democrats. I will talk to anybody.

"I think there are a vast majority of responsible gun owners out there who recognize that we can't have a situation in which somebody with severe psychological problems is able to get the kind of high capacity weapons that this individual in Newtown obtained and gun down our kids. And, yes, it's going to be hard."

Obama's comments come as the schoolroom shooting has elevated the issue of gun violence to the forefront of public attention.

Six adults also died at the school. Authorities say the shooter killed himself and his mother at their home.

The slayings have prompted renewed calls for greater gun controls. The National Rifle Association has resisted those efforts vociferously, arguing instead that schools should have armed guards for protection.

"I am skeptical that the only answer is putting more guns in schools," Obama said. "And I think the vast majority of the American people are skeptical that that somehow is going to solve our problem."

Obama said he intended to press the issue with the public.

"Will there be resistance? Absolutely there will be resistance," he said.

"The question then becomes whether we are actually shook up enough by what happened here that it does not just become another one of these routine episodes where it gets a lot of attention for a couple of weeks and then it drifts away. It certainly won't feel like that to me. This is something that - you know, that was the worst day of my presidency. And it's not something that I want to see repeated."

Besides getting gun violence legislation passed next year, Obama also listed immigration as a top priority for 2013 as well as deficit reduction. A big deficit reduction deal with Republicans proved elusive this month and Obama is now hoping Senate Democratic and Republican leaders salvage a scaled back plan that avoids across the board tax increases for virtually all Americans.

He issued a defense of former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, who has been mentioned as one of the leading candidates for new secretary of defense.

Hagel, who opposed President George W. Bush's decision to go to war with Iraq, has been criticized in conservative circles for not being a strong enough ally of Israel. Many liberals and gay activists also have banded against him for comments he made in 1998 about an openly gay nominee for an ambassadorship

Obama, who briefly served with Hagel in the Senate, stressed that he had yet to make a decision on a secretary of defense but said called Hagel a "patriot."

"He is somebody who has done extraordinary work both in the United States Senate," he said. "Somebody who served this country with valor in Vietnam. And is somebody who's currently serving on my intelligence advisory board and doing an outstanding job."

He noted that Hagel had apologized for his 14-year-old remark. "And I think it's a testimony to what has been a positive change over the last decade in terms of people's attitudes about gays and lesbians serving our country," Obama said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-wants-gun-violence-measures-passed-2013-140306667--finance.html

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Jennifer Lawrence Bikini Photos: THG Hot Bodies Countdown #6!

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robertjump: kudals: jokomsharma: Vocational Education Training by ...

by: Iris0326

Economies all over the world are transforming into knowledge based economies. With the fundamentals of the world changing fast with the modifications in technology, it is important for a person to have specialization in a particular field in order to find a lucrative job.

Such type of specialization is imparted by vocational education training institutes. In the fields of health, technology, art and business administration, vocational education is generally imparted. The classification of these themes is further done into other specific courses.

Vocational educational training has earned increased renaissance of enthusiasm in today?s world of high demand for skilled workers for businesses. Vocational education in details is an exceptionally various and featured topic which involves analysis from a wide range of references and sources to several specified topics on training, occupational programs and career paths. You will find numerous sources online that may help in offering detailed data about such educational training. Due to the desperate need rising on a large scale amongst company houses for skilled workers, nowadays, all over the world people believe that trading schools are rebuilding their stable foundation.

The faculty of these Vocational education training institutes is highly experienced. They impart practical knowledge to their students. As a result the students are able to have a real life and practical industry experience. The students are also provided with internships.

There are various vocational education training located the world over. In fact every state has vocational institutes where the residents of the place can earn the degrees and become part of a specialized workforce. The majority of these training institutes work as per the rules and regulations of state education department. It is the education department of state or the central government that grants recognition to a training institute.

AVLC is a learning centre, which provides different kinds of training courses, such as vocational training, business training, corporate training, English IELTS and so on.
I am a Chinese girl. I like dogs very much.

http://www.avlc.org.au

This entry was posted in Management Training by . Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://www.businessservicessupport.com/blog/2012/12/20/vocational-education-training-by-iris0326/

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Warantless surveillance bill passes Congress, heads to Obama's desk (cbsnews)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273627514?client_source=feed&format=rss

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The hottest real estate market for investors

In true Monday morning quarterback fashion the national media is recognizing what those of us in the real estate trenches have been saying since 2009: Houston is probably the hottest real estate market for real estate investors at the moment. And it is projected to retain that status for the foreseeable future in 2013. If you are skeptical of that strong statement, tell me, where else can you get the following combination of investing conditions: A rock solid local economy 1 percentage point away from full employment (5.8%), high rental demand, minimal vacancy rates and rising rental prices, price to rent ratios on new (or less than 6 yrs old) properties under 8 and a steady and reliable local real estate market in full bloom? Not to mention that Texas is one of the most landlord friendly states with no state income tax that?s responsible for more job creation nationwide than most other states combined. There are other locations that do offer some of the benefits I just mentioned to investors but none that offer them all, like Texas.

Lately, I?m getting calls from investors who seem eager to engage in some ?amnesia investing? ? that?s when an investor forgets what just happened in that market just a few years ago and wants to risk his money in a location where history is sure to repeat itself. Examples? There are the usual suspects: Florida, Vegas, California and the like. Because prices there are off a gazillion percent from the utterly ridiculous highs of 2006. Here?s a piece of advice for you: Don?t fall for it. The price to rent ratios are still out of whack in every single one of those locations. In those markets, the fundamentals haven?t changed one bit and what?s puffing them up now is exactly the same culprit that did it last time. It?s merely the investors? expectation that prices are due to rise without any real economic underpinnings. Before you invest your hard earned capital in one of those markets ask yourself this: If the property you are buying would be worth exactly the same 10 years from now, would you still buy it? The answer is no and the only thing that makes that investment remotely plausible is the speculation of rising property values. Hoping to catch the wave on the way up is not a good investment strategy and there are droves of investors that discovered why just a few short years ago. What is a good strategy? Invest in a market where solid economics drives demand and returns aren?t dependent on price appreciation to get your goals accomplished. Invest in the real estate market that?s one of the hottest in the country for the right reasons.

Source: http://signaturehouston.com/investing/the-hottest-real-estate-market-for-investors/

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Nexes finally spoke I attended a gathering of the elder races held by Miathan ! In that meeting we talked and it was decided that Miathan would step back and turn the leading of man over to us the gods while he would keep the old powers from causing to much trouble for us the main representatives of the fey the elves,dwarves and giants said they would support us !The dragons have not yet decided. the Demons were against it from the start but the emperor of their race was distant and he remained silent the ones who spoke were the leaders of the three main factions !

so as it is we will be watched by him and he will only step in as needed!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/4S_oFr07JLY/viewtopic.php

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Satellites check in on the North Pole

NSIDC

This visualization shows Saturday's extent of Arctic sea ice, as charted by the National Snow and Ice Data Center. The readings have been overlaid on NASA imagery of the Northern Hemisphere. The orange line indicates the median extent of sea ice on the same calendar date for the 1979-2000 time period.

By Alan Boyle

If Santa Claus is getting the feeling that someone's looking over his shoulder as he rushes to make his Christmas deadline, he's not wrong: A succession of satellites is monitoring his North Pole workshop and the rest of the Arctic on a daily basis. Based on the satellite readings, the long-term outlook is worrisome, for Santa and the rest of us as well.

---

This image shows the extent of Arctic sea ice, based on the latest microwave data from the Pentagon's DMSP-F17 satellite. Those readings are compared against the average extent for the same date over the 1979-2000 time frame. That average extent is indicated on the photo by the orange lines.

Earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that Arctic glaciers and sea ice retreated at a record rate this year, and that sea level rice has accelerated in the region. What's more, those changes are affecting ecosystems in the far north ? spurring marine phytoplankton growth?while putting extra pressure on land species such as lemmings and the Arctic fox.

There's also a spillover effect on ecosystems farther south.?"What happens in the Arctic doesn't always stay in the Arctic," NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco said. "We're seeing Arctic changes in the ocean and the atmosphere that affect weather patterns elsewhere."

Keep tabs on those changes by checking in with NBC News' environmental coverage.?For more visualizations of Arctic as well as Antarctic ice data, check out this reference page at the "Watts Up With That" blog. You can also scan NASA's report about this summer's retreat?of the Arctic's ice cover. And for something completely different, here are 10 things you may not have known about the North Pole.

Today's visualization of the North Pole's ice is the latest offering from the Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar, which features daily images of Earth from space through Christmas. Try these other visual goodies from the calendar:

---

Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the?Cosmic Log?community by "liking" the log's?Facebook page, following?@b0yle on Twitter?and adding the?Cosmic Log page?to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other science and space news coverage,?sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered via email. You can also check out?"The Case for Pluto,"?my book about dwarf planets and the search for new worlds.

Source: http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/23/16109972-satellites-check-in-on-the-north-pole?lite

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Pope pardons ex-butler who stole, leaked documents

FILE - In this file photo taken Wednesday, May 2, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI arrives in St. Peter's square at the Vatican for a general audience as his then-butler Paolo Gabriele, bottom, and his personal secretary Georg Gaenswein sit in the car with him. The Vatican has summoned journalists for a briefing on what Italian news reports say is an expected pardon for Pope Benedict XVI'S former butler, who stole the pontiff's personal papers and leaked them in a bid to expose the "evil and corruption" in the Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

FILE - In this file photo taken Wednesday, May 2, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI arrives in St. Peter's square at the Vatican for a general audience as his then-butler Paolo Gabriele, bottom, and his personal secretary Georg Gaenswein sit in the car with him. The Vatican has summoned journalists for a briefing on what Italian news reports say is an expected pardon for Pope Benedict XVI'S former butler, who stole the pontiff's personal papers and leaked them in a bid to expose the "evil and corruption" in the Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

In this photo released by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, former pope's butler Paolo Gabriele, right, is received in a private audience by Pope Benedict XVI, at the Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. The Vatican has summoned journalists for a briefing to announce the Pope granted Christmas pardon to his former butler, who stole the pontiff's personal papers and leaked them in a bid to expose the "evil and corruption" in the Catholic Church. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

FILE - This Oct. 6, 2012 file photo released by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano shows the pope's butler Paolo Gabriele, left, looking at his lawyer Cristiana Arru during the reading of the verdict in the Vatican tribunal, at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. The Vatican has summoned journalists for a briefing on what Italian news reports say is an expected pardon for Pope Benedict XVI'S former butler, who stole the pontiff's personal papers and leaked them in a bid to expose the "evil and corruption" in the Catholic Church. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, file)

FILE -- In this file photo taken Wednesday, May, 23, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI butler Paolo Gabiele sits in the car with the pontiff, not seen, as he arrives in St. Peter's square at the Vatican for a general audience. The Vatican has summoned journalists for a briefing on what Italian news reports say is an expected pardon for Pope Benedict XVI'S former butler, who stole the pontiff's personal papers and leaked them in a bid to expose the "evil and corruption" in the Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

FILE- In this Monday, April 21, 2008 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI's butler Paolo Gabriele, right, carries the pontiff's bags as they arrive at Ciampino military airport in Rome from a six-day trip in the U.S. The Vatican has summoned journalists for a briefing on what Italian news reports say is an expected pardon for Pope Benedict XVI'S former butler, who stole the pontiff's personal papers and leaked them in a bid to expose the "evil and corruption" in the Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis, File)

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Benedict XVI granted his former butler a Christmas pardon Saturday, forgiving him in person during a jailhouse meeting for stealing and leaking his private papers in one of the gravest Vatican security breaches in recent times.

After the 15-minute meeting, Paolo Gabriele was freed and returned to his Vatican City apartment where he lives with his wife and three children. The Vatican said he couldn't continue living or working in the Vatican, but said it would find him housing and a job elsewhere soon.

"This is a paternal gesture toward someone with whom the pope for many years shared daily life," according to a statement from the Vatican secretariat of state.

The pardon closes a painful and embarrassing chapter for the Vatican, capping a sensational, Hollywood-like scandal that exposed power struggles, intrigue and allegations of corruption and homosexual liaisons in the highest levels of the Catholic Church.

Gabriele, 46, was arrested May 23 after Vatican police found what they called an "enormous" stash of papal documents in his Vatican City apartment. He was convicted of aggravated theft by a Vatican tribunal on Oct. 6 and has been serving his 18-month sentence in the Vatican police barracks.

He told Vatican investigators he gave the documents to Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi because he thought the 85-year-old pope wasn't being informed of the "evil and corruption" in the Vatican and thought that exposing it publicly would put the church back on the right track.

During the trial, Gabriele testified that he loved the pope "as a son loves his father" and said he never meant to hurt the pontiff or the church. A photograph taken during the meeting Saturday ? the first between Benedict and his once trusted butler since his arrest ? showed Gabriele dressed in his typical dark gray suit, smiling.

The publication of the leaked documents, first on Italian television then in Nuzzi's book "His Holiness: Pope Benedict XVI's Secret Papers" convulsed the Vatican all year, a devastating betrayal of the pope from within his papal family that exposed the unseemly side of the Catholic Church's governance.

The papal pardon had been widely expected before Christmas, and the jailhouse meeting Benedict used to personally deliver it recalled the image of Pope John Paul II visiting Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish gunman who shot him in 1981, while he served his sentence in an Italian prison.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the meeting was "intense" and "personal" and said that during it Benedict "communicated to him in person that he had accepted his request for pardon, commuting his sentence."

Lombardi said the Vatican hoped the Benedict's pardon and Gabriele's freedom would allow the Holy See to return to work "in an atmosphere of serenity."

None of the leaked documents threatened the papacy. Most were of interest only to Italians, as they concerned relations between Italy and the Vatican and a few local scandals and personalities. Their main aim appeared to be to discredit Benedict's trusted No. 2, the secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

Vatican officials have said the theft, though, shattered the confidentiality that typically governs correspondence with the pope. Cardinals, bishops and everyday laymen write to him about spiritual and practical matters assuming that their words will be treated with the discretion for which the Holy See is known.

As a result, the leaks prompted a remarkable reaction, with the pope naming a commission of three cardinals to investigate alongside Vatican prosecutors. Italian news reports have said new security measures and personnel checks have been put in place to prevent a repeat offense.

Gabriele insisted he acted alone, with no accomplices, but it remains an open question whether any other heads will roll. Technically the criminal investigation remains open, and few in the Vatican believe Gabriele could have construed such a plot without at least the endorsement if not the outright help of others. But Lombardi said he had no new information to release about any new investigative leads, saying the pardon "closed a sad and painful chapter" for the Holy See.

Nuzzi, who has supported Gabriele as a hero for having exposed corruption in the Vatican, tweeted Saturday that it appeared the butler was thrilled to speak with the pope and go home. "Unending joy for him, but the problems of the curia and power remain," he wrote, referring to the Vatican bureaucracy.

A Vatican computer expert, Claudio Sciarpelletti, was convicted Nov. 10 of aiding and abetting Gabriele by changing his testimony to Vatican investigators about the origins of an envelope with Gabriele's name on it that was found in his desk. His two-month sentence was suspended. Lombardi said a pardon was expected for him as well. He recently returned to work in the Vatican.

Benedict met this past week with the cardinals who investigated the origins of the leaks, but it wasn't known if they provided him with any further updates or were merely meeting ahead of the expected pardon for Gabriele.

As supreme executive, legislator and judge in Vatican City, the pope had the power to pardon Gabriele at any time. The only question was when.

_____

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-22-EU-Vatican-Scandal/id-4f7667b2cc194e41bfb8614387028b41

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Swedish princess to marry next June

STOCKHOLM (AP) ? Sweden's royal family says Princess Madeleine's wedding will take place on Saturday, June 8, at the Royal Palace chapel in downtown Stockholm.

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia's youngest daughter was engaged to U.S.-British boyfriend Christopher O'Neill, a 38-year-old New York banker, in late October. The 30-year-old Madeleine is fourth in line to the Swedish throne.

The royal family's chief spokesman Bertil Tenert said Sunday that wedding organizers will now start planning details of the nuptials. He added that Madeleine's wedding will be smaller than Crown Princess Victoria's wedding two years ago in Stockholm.

The Swedish royal family has only ceremonial duties, such as supporting charities and promoting Swedish businesses.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-12-23-Sweden-Princess%20Madeleine/id-c089bc619553470097721cf52060e6d3

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Examining mental health policies in the wake of school shooting ...

Health Policy, In the News, Mental Health Lia Steakley on December 18th, 2012

The day following the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School,?Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman called for ?a national commission on violence.? In a segment on KQED?s Forum yesterday, John Greene, MD, an adjunct clinical instructor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford, joined the discussion about mental illness, public policy and the psychology of mass murderers.

During the show, KQED host Michael Krasny asks Greene about what we can learn from the mental health of gunmen involved in previous mass shootings in America. Greene says:

There are so many different flavors of mental illness, so many different diagnoses and so many different severities of any one [specific] diagnosis that any individual can be different ? The bottom line is there are all these different nuances of mental illness. And, globally there is a problem with addressing [these disorders], a problem with resources, and a problem with society in sweeping it under the rug.

Full audio of their conversation is available on KQED?s site.

Previously: Talking to children about school shootings

Source: http://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2012/12/18/examining-mental-health-policies-in-the-wake-of-school-shooting-tragedy/

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Video: Godiva Expects Sweet Sales

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

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/50234615/

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Techno Legal Journalists: Law Firms For Cyber Law In New Delhi ...

Cyber Law of India is incorporated in the information technology act, 2000 (IT Act 2000). Being a new and upcoming field, there are very few cyber law firms In India, cyber law lawyers in India, cyber law advocates in India and cyber law legal firms in India.

Source: http://tljin.blogspot.com/2012/12/law-firms-for-cyber-law-in-new-delhi.html

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Messi extends contract with Barcelona through 2018

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) ? Lionel Messi agreed to a new contract with Barcelona on Tuesday that will keep him with the Spanish powerhouse through 2018.

The 25-year-old Messi, a three-time world player of the year, has 90 goals in 2012, surpassing Gerd Mueller's 40-year-old record of 85 in a calendar year.

Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol also agreed to new deals with the team.

A statement released by the club said Messi extended his commitment to the club to June 30, 2018. His contract was due to expire on June 30, 2016,

Puyol and Xavi extended theirs to June 2016.

"This news means that FC Barcelona has secured its ties with three of its most important players," the statement said, adding that the contracts would be signed "over the course of the next few weeks."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/messi-extends-contract-barcelona-2018-110613689--sow.html

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Private equity's European land grab - Fortune Finance: Hedge ...

By Charles Wallace, contributor

The Carlyle Group bought the property at 88 St. James's St. for $54 million.

FORUNE -- The Blackstone Group has raised a dedicated $4 billion European real estate fund; David Abrams, head of European real estate investment for Apollo Global Management, says his firm has made 30 investments this year in the U.K., Germany, Ireland, and Spain; the Carlyle Group is buying mainly in Northern Europe, which includes Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, and especially the U.K. -- isn't Europe supposed to be shaky ground in which to invest? What gives?

MORE: 20 best places in the world to launch a business

Well, there are deals to be had. European banks, bloated with real estate, have been looking to dump their holdings -- the International Monetary Fund estimates that 58 European banks will sell at least $2 trillion in assets over the next two years. (By contrast, the S&L mess in the U.S. in the 1980s forced the sale of only about $400 billion in assets.) Ken Caplan, head of European real estate for the Blackstone Group (BX), says that this is still the most desirable market for global investors, especially high-profile London office buildings. Spain is creating a "bad bank" to take over about $117 billion in nonperforming real estate loans that have been weighing down balance sheets all over Madrid. Spanish banks have been reluctant to sell the assets at a loss because it would erase their capital, but the bad bank will probably sell them at market clearing prices.

MORE: The Fortune Global 500

Still, even distressed assets ain't cheap. Abrams says that U.S. firms are getting bargains because they have to invest in big infrastructure on the ground, using dedicated teams in each country, including experts on credit and the real estate market, which can be dramatically different from country to country. Traditional investment banks are noticeably absent from this land grab. It seems they have less appetite to invest in distressed debt.

This story is from the December 24, 2012 issue of?Fortune.

Source: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/12/17/europe-real-estate/

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Tips To Help You Buy Real Estate - Maynas Eric

Particularly when dealing with real estate purchases, be sure that you have all the available information. What you learn will empower you, and it will help you make wise choices that will produce good results for you and everyone in your family for the future. Read this article for useful tips about buying a piece of real estate.

Do not let the price of a house you are interested in be influenced by the fact it has a view. This feature is entirely subjective and perhaps your buyer will not find it interesting. Purchasing a new house for the view is great, but don?t pay too much for it.

If you sell a home to a client, don?t lose touch. Contacting customers on each anniversary of the day they bought the home and during holidays allows you to stay in touch without seeming intrusive. When you keep in touch with them, they will remember their experience with you and how you made their experience an enjoyable one. Conclude your message with a reminder that you are eager to receive referrals.

TIP! Whenever you invest in real estate, always be mindful of your end goals. Some goals are short term, but others are longer term.

Buy the home you really want. The conventional wisdom is that since the housing bubble has popped, selling and buying a bigger home is not economical, but some experts disagree with this thinking. You might want to buy your dream home now, housing prices will probably go up from here.

When you are in negotiations to buy a property, make a list of requirements that are deal breakers, and a list of issues you are willing to continue negotiating with. Look at all of the issues involved, and determine your expectations for every one of them. Let the strength of your greatest expectations help you set your priorities. Keep in mind that you cannot get all that you have asked for in the negotiation; some issues should remain flexible.

Rental Property

TIP! Be flexible in making decisions. You may find that your ideal home isn?t affordable in your ideal neighborhood, but with a small bit of compromise, you might find an acceptable alternative.

Do some research on rental properties. If you?re thinking about buying a rental property, don?t purchase it until you?ve thoroughly looked over the records for the past couple of years at minimum. This is due to the fact that the person selling is giving accurate information and the property?s income potential. Your lender will probably require this verification before even considering giving a loan for the rental property.

Keep an open mind about your options. Perhaps you are not in a position to afford the house you really want. If you cannot afford a home in the neighborhood of your choosing, take time to check if there any homes within your budget available. You may be surprised by what you nearly passed up!

If you are trying to purchase a home but the seller rejected your offer, do not worry, there may be other options or methods you can utilize to make the home more affordable. Perhaps the seller will offer to cover the closing costs or pay for the some of the property?s needed repairs .

TIP! If you are participating in foreclosure purchases, think about hiring a real estate lawyer. You need good legal representation because complications during foreclosure deals often arise.

When you want to add more value to the property you own, do some remodeling and repair work. As you work on the home, the property value will increase and therefore, you will see the benefits of your investment immediately. Sometimes, you will even get more value increase than the amount of money you spent for repairs and renovations.

Asking Price

Before you look at a home, you will know its asking price is but your offer will typically be less than the asking price. Your real estate agent can help you negotiate a good deal that satisfies everyone?s needs.

TIP! You should be very careful about buying a home when things are uncertain about your job. This is because any home purchase comes with a final obligation.

Make sure you pay attention what other kinds of homes are in that neighborhood! When buying a home, you are not really looking for the biggest, or the best. Rather, you are looking for the perfect fit for you. If you decide to sell the house in the future, it will be difficult for you to obtain the value of the house. This is because every other competing house in the neighborhood will cost less.

Real Estate

That fact that you wanted to learn more about real estate is brilliant. A real estate agent?s help is limited, and you will need to make many other decisions independently. These tips have made it easier for you to decide with confidence.

TIP! If you have your eye on expensive piece of commercial property, get a reputable partner in on the investment. That will make it simpler for you to secure the loan you need to make the purchase.

Join me on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/maynaseric

Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/tips-to-help-you-buy-real-estate-3

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Video: How to talk to your kids about school shooting

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Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50208364/

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10 In-Demand Careers Requiring an Undergraduate Degree

Employers in the United States have a difficult time filling a vast number of in-demand jobs.?Why??They simply can?t find enough people with the appropriate qualifications.

The in-demand careers in our list don?t require a graduate degree, although for some of these high-demand careers a master?s degree may be helpful for some of the positions.

We had numerous top careers to choose from. We selected in-demand occupations which don?t inspire people to watch the clock, and which also have excellent employment growth forecasts from 2010 to 2020.

All of our employment projections and income statistics come from the redoubtable Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).?Employment growth forecasts cover the period from 2010?2020, while median salary figures are from 2011.

So, which jobs are in demand?

In alphabetical order, here?s our list of 10 rewarding, in-demand careers:

ACTUARY

What they do: Actuaries gather and evaluate facts to calculate the financial costs of risks. They build mathematical models to put a price tag on future risks.

Since they spend a lot of time working with numbers, they need an understanding of probability, statistics, and risk analysis.

Many actuaries work in the insurance industry. They decide how much to charge for insurance, or decide how much money to set aside to pay outstanding insurance claims.

Education requirements: Many actuaries have an undergraduate degree in mathematics, statistics, actuarial science, or business. Some employers hire people with a liberal arts degree who show a high mathematical aptitude.

Actuaries need to take required courses for professional certification, including applied statistics, economics, and corporate finance. Helpful courses include courses in computer science, particularly programming languages. They also need the skills to develop and use spreadsheets, statistical analysis tools, and databases.

The occupation requires continual education. To achieve professional status, actuaries need to pass a series of examinations provided by the Casualty Actuarial Society or the Society of Actuaries. Both societies offer associate and fellowship certification.

Median salary: $103,000

Employment growth:?27%, faster than the average for all occupations

The BLS expects consulting services to have the largest employment growth for actuaries?58%?due to the demand from insurance companies for contract work, and to companies seeking help with evaluating and managing employee benefit plans.?For the insurance industry itself, 25% employment growth for actuaries is forecast.

More industries are expected to use the services of consulting actuaries to evaluate risks across all business areas, a practice known as ?enterprise risk management.??Those who have passed at least one actuarial exam and completed an internship while attending college should have the best prospects for entry-level jobs.

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER

What they do:?Biomedical engineers are involved with engineering for life. Biomedical engineers improve and save peoples? lives throughout the world via an array of innovations. They work in the worlds of biology, healthcare, and engineering. Some biomedical engineers use their expertise in electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering to solve healthcare and biology problems.

Biomedical engineers help create items such as prosthetic limbs, artificial organs, cardiac devices. and a variety of medical instruments. Some biomedical engineers are involved in areas such as arthroscopic surgery, tissue engineering, stem cell research, surgeries performed by robots, nanotechnology, and synthetic drugs.

Biomedical engineers often work in teams with doctors, nurses, technicians, medical scientists, medical researchers, manufacturing representatives, and others. Many biomedical engineers work for biotech companies, pharmaceutical companies, and research labs.

Education requirements: Some biomedical engineers have a bachelor?s degree in biomedical engineering; however, many have an engineering degree in areas such as chemical and mechanical engineering.

Some biomedical engineers with an engineering degree in a field other than biomedical engineering obtain a graduate degree in biomedical engineering or receive on-the-job training in biomedical engineering.

Many undergraduate biomedical engineering programs require students to choose a track such as bioelectrical, biochemical, biomechanics, or biomaterials.

Median salary: $88,360

Employment growth: 62%, much faster than the average for all occupations

The BLS expects that rapid changes in technology will continue to create new areas for biomedical engineers to work in.

CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNOLOGIST

What they do:?Cardiovascular technologists test and treat patients for heart, lung, and blood problems. Working with sophisticated lab equipment, they have the opportunity to specialize in invasive or noninvasive cardiovascular technology.

Most cardiovascular technologists work in invasive health labs or medical surgical intensive care units. They help other healthcare professionals perform heart surgeries and studies.

Many noninvasive cardiovascular technologists work in cardiologists? offices, in cardiac rehabilitation centers, or for a hospital or health insurance agency.

Education requirements: Most cardiovascular technologists have an associate?s degree. Some schools offer a bachelor?s degree in the subject, while others provide a one-year certificate program.

Some cardiovascular technologists first obtain an associate?s or a bachelor?s degree in radiologic technology or nursing, and then receive on-the-job training. A certificate is not required for the occupation; however, many employers prefer to hire certified technologists.

Median salary: $52,160

Employment growth: 29%, much faster than the average for all occupations

Those with multiple professional credentials, along with the required training to perform a wide array of procedures, have the best job opportunities.

COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYST

What they do:?Computer systems analysts design and develop computer systems; however, they typically wear a lot of hats, from selecting and configuring software and hardware and monitoring and testing the system in operation, to troubleshooting problems and matching technology to the needs of users.

Computer systems analysts provide systems requirements to software developers and network architects. They also consult with managers and users to establish system objectives, and develop cost-benefit analyses to ensure the technology is financially feasible.

Computer systems analysts need to understand how systems interact, but they don?t have to understand the core of all the technologies involved. They need to know how information flows through the system, and they must understand the business field they?re working in.

For example, an employer at a hospital may seek a computer systems analyst who has completed courses in health management, or has a background in health management.

Education requirements: Most computer systems analysts have a bachelor?s degree in computer science or information science. Some companies hire people with a business or liberal arts degree who can write computer programs. To deal with the business aspects of a company, some computer systems analysts major in information systems management.

Some positions require a master?s degree, such as an MBA with a concentration in information systems. Some computer systems analysts only have an associate?s degree, along with experience in a related occupation.

Median salary: $82,320

Employment growth: 22%, faster than the average for all occupations

People with a business background may have better job prospects because the occupation often requires knowledge of a company?s business needs.

COST ESTIMATOR

What they do: Cost estimators decide how much a project will cost, in order to help a company decide if they should manufacture a product or build a structure. They evaluate all the factors which can change the cost of a project, including labor, supplies, special equipment, and location.

Cost estimators decide which jobs are making a profit. They also estimate how long it will take workers to complete tasks. They estimate delays which may occur due to bad weather or late deliveries. Over 60% of cost estimators work in the construction industry; the rest work in a broad range of other industries.

Education requirements: Most cost estimator positions require a bachelor?s degree. They need a strong background in mathematics.

Construction cost estimators generally need a bachelor?s degree in an industry-related field, such as building science or construction management. Some construction workers with a lot of experience and analytical abilities may qualify for a cost estimator job without a bachelor?s degree.

Cost estimators working in manufacturing typically need a bachelor?s degree in engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, statistics, or mathematics. Some employers seek candidates with backgrounds in business-related disciplines such as economics, finance, accounting, or business.

Median salary: $62,670

Employment growth: 36%, much faster than the average for all occupations

The BLS expects the demand for cost estimators to remain strong due to companies seeking more accurate cost projections, as well as more cost-effective products and services.

HEALTHCARE MANAGER

What they do: Healthcare managers plan and oversee medical and health services, as well as the financing and delivery of healthcare. They also evaluate the need for services, personnel, and equipment. In addition, healthcare managers make sure a healthcare facility adheres to government regulations.

Healthcare managers at small facilities typically oversee the entire facility, whereas health care managers at large healthcare institutions usually specialize in managing a particular clinical area or department. Some healthcare managers oversee a medical practice for a group of doctors.

Education requirements: Healthcare managers typically need at least a bachelor?s degree, often in Health Administration. Many healthcare managers have a Master?s degree in Health Services, Public Health, Long-Term Care Administration, Business Administration, or Public Administration.

Median salary: $86,400

Employment growth:?22%, faster than the average for all occupations

The BLS reports that there will likely be an increase in demand for nursing care facility administrators due to the aging baby-boomer population. The demand for medical group practice managers is forecast to increase, as medical group practices become larger and more complex.

NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR

What they do: Network administrators plan, build, upgrade, and maintain computer networks, as well as keeping them secure. They ensure that vital servers and other types of equipment and applications work almost 100% of the time. They also might deal with emergencies on vital projects.

Network administrators install and support computers and their operating systems, and oversee the operation of a company?s computer networks, including local area networks (LANs), network segments, wide area networks (WANs), intranets, and other data communication systems. Network administrators typically do a lot of planning, involving anything from new branches/buildings, to desktop installations, to servers.

Network administrators install and support Web servers and software used for the Internet. They also install and maintain software and hardware.

Network administrators working for a small company may take care of practically everything related to IT, whereas those working for a large company may only manage and administer routers and switches.

Education requirements: A lot of network administrators have a bachelor?s degree in a field related to computers or information science. Some network administrator positions require only an associate?s degree or a post-secondary certificate in a computer field, along with related work experience. Also, certification programs are generally offered by software companies and product vendors.

Median salary: $70,970

Employment growth: 28%, faster than the average for all occupations

The BLS expects demand for network and computer systems administrators to continue to grow, as companies invest in newer, faster technology and mobile networks.

According to the BLS, individuals with a bachelor?s degree in computer science who stay current in the latest technology should have the best job prospects.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

What they do: Physical therapist assistants help patients regain physical function after an injury or illness. They strive to limit or prevent permanent disabilities in patients who have been injured or ill.

Physical therapy assistants provide many types of treatments, after consulting with a physical therapist. Most of the treatments they provide improve the function of joints and muscles and reduce pain. They also perform clerical tasks.

Physical therapy assistants help patients with arthritis, low-back pain, broken bones, heart disease, and other problems. They also help accident victims.

Education requirements: Most states require physical therapist assistants to obtain an associate?s degree from an accredited physical therapist program.

Median salary: $51,110

Employment growth: 46%, much faster than the average for all occupations

The BLS expects the demand for physical therapy services to growth due to the health needs of an aging population, especially the large baby-boom generation.

Physical therapists are expected to increasingly use assistants to lower the cost of physical therapy services. Physical therapists can manage more patients with help from physical therapist assistants.

The BLS expects job opportunities to be best in acute hospital, orthopedic, and skilled nursing settings, where senior citizens are most often treated.

REGISTERED NURSE

What they do: Nursing is a diverse and rewarding occupation, which combines compassion with health technology. Registered nurses evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients, and promote health. They help patients meet their basic health needs, recover from illness, and adapt to physical changes. Public health nurses strive to improve the overall health of communities.

Registered nurses work in hospitals, clinics, corporations, and in private practice. Those working in hospitals are typically assigned to a particular area, such as surgery.

Education requirements: Registered nurses typically follow one of three paths: A bachelor?s degree in nursing, an associate?s degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program.

Many registered nurses (RNs) with an associate?s degree in nursing or a diploma first obtain an entry-level job and then receive tuition reimbursement to obtain a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) by completing an RN-to-BSN program.

Some schools offer a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree program, a combined bachelor?s/master?s degree program, and/or a program for people who seek to enter the nursing profession who have a bachelor?s degree in another field.

Nurses must be licensed. They are required by law to pass the national Certification Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX), after graduating from an accredited nursing program, in order to be officially registered.

Median salary: $69,110

Employment growth: 26%, faster than the average for all occupations

The BLS expects a much faster-than-average employment growth rate for registered nurses in outpatient care centers. Registered nurses with a bachelor?s degree in nursing (BSN) will have better job prospects than nurses without one.

The BLS expects a high demand for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), including clinical nurse specialists, nurse-midwives, nurse anesthetists, and nurse practitioners.

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

What they do:?Software developers are the creative people who design, develop, test, and maintain software. Software developers evaluate the needs of a company, create a solution, and then design or customize software. They also write software code.

Some software developers create the systems which control networks and run devices and others create applications that let users perform specific tasks on a computer or other devices.

Some software developers work on their own; however, they often coordinate the work of a team, including the production of software products, and the selection of content providers and graphic creators. They also collaborate with computer programmers to coordinate the assembly, production, and distribution of the final product.

Education requirements: Software developers typically have a bachelor?s degree, usually in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. People interested in becoming a software developer should focus on classes related to building software.

Software developers should have a strong background in computer programming, as well as knowledge and skills related to the industry they?re working in.

Median salary: $100,420

Employment growth: 30%, much faster than the average for all occupations

There is an especially big demand for software developers who specialize in applications.

Source: http://www.thebestschools.org/blog/2012/12/14/10-in-demand-careers/

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Israeli foreign minister resists calls to resign

JERUSALEM (AP) ? Israel's foreign minister says he is resisting calls to resign following his indictment on a breach of trust charge.

Avigdor Lieberman told a news conference Thursday night that under the law, he does not have to resign. He says he will confer with his lawyers before making any decision.

He gave no timeframe for his decision and hinted it could come after parliamentary elections on Jan. 22.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-foreign-minister-resists-calls-resign-184148268.html

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EPA to tighten standards for soot pollution

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In its first major regulation since the election, the Obama administration on Friday imposed a new air quality standard that reduces by 20 percent the maximum amount of soot released into the air from smokestacks, diesel trucks and other sources of pollution.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said the new standard will save thousands of lives each year and reduce the burden of illness in communities across the country, as people "benefit from the simple fact of being able to breathe cleaner air."

As a mother of two sons who have battled asthma, Jackson said she was pleased that "more mothers like me will be able to rest a little easier knowing their children, and their children's children, will have cleaner air to breathe for decades to come."

Announcement of the new standard met a court deadline in a lawsuit by 11 states and public health groups. The new annual standard is 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down from the current 15 micrograms per cubic meter.

The new soot standard has been highly anticipated by environmental and business groups, who have battled over whether it will protect public health or cause job losses.

Soot, or fine particulate matter, is made up of microscopic particles released from smokestacks, diesel trucks, wood-burning stoves and other sources and contributes to haze. Breathing in soot can cause lung and heart problems, contributing to heart attacks, strokes and asthma attacks.

Environmental groups and public health advocates welcomed the new standard, saying it will protect millions of Americans at risk for soot-related asthma attacks, lung cancer, heart disease and premature death.

Dr. Norman H. Edelman, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association, said a new standard will force the industry to clean up what he called a "lethal pollutant."

Reducing soot pollution "will prevent heart attacks and asthma attacks and will keep children out of the emergency room and hospitals," Edelman said in a statement. "It will save lives."

But congressional Republicans and industry officials called the new standard overly strict and said it could hurt economic growth and cause job losses in areas where pollution levels are determined to be too high.

Ross Eisenberg, vice president of the National Association of Manufacturers, said the new rule is "yet another costly, overly burdensome" regulation that is "out of sync" with President Barack Obama's executive order last year to streamline federal regulations.

The new rule will "place many promising new projects ?and the jobs they create ? into permit limbo," Eisenberg said.

Jackson and other administration officials said the new rule was based on a rigorous scientific review. Only 66 of more than 3,000 U.S. counties would fail to meet the proposed standard, which takes effect in 2014. All but seven counties should meet the proposed standard by 2020 with no additional actions needed beyond compliance with existing and pending rules set by the EPA, the official said.

The administration has said it will work with states and counties to ensure they can meet the new soot standards by 2020, when stronger enforcement of the rule is expected.

The Obama administration had sought to delay the new soot standards until after the November election, but a federal judge ordered officials to act sooner, and the administration released a draft proposed rule in June.

___

Reach Matthew Daly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewDalyWDC

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/epa-tighten-standards-soot-pollution-155910484.html

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Top Franchise Trends for 2013 - Small Business Trends

2013 could turn out to be a terrific year to enter the world of franchise business ownership. ?If you?re thinking about exploring the idea of being your own boss, three things are in your favor if you decide to move forward.

1: Commercial Space Availability

A lot of businesses have had to close their doors during the last couple of years, so there?s an abundance of decent space available in most areas of the country. With a franchisors help, you should be able to find a great location to set up shop.

2: They?re Dealing

Franchise company executives have had to get rather creative to entice would-be franchise owners to sign on as franchisees. Most of the time, this ?creativity? comes in the form of a franchise fee discount.

But, here?s the thing: a discounted franchisee fee should by no means be the reason for buying a particular franchise. But, if you?re seriously interested in a particular franchise and it just so happens to be one that?s offering a ?deal,? you could come out a winner. Just make sure that you?ve done great research.

3: Interest Rates

Small business loan rates (as of this writing) are generally in the 3-5% range. The caveat: with approved credit. That means that you have to qualify, which may not be so easy. (See below) But, if you do qualify, that?s really cheap money for a franchise business startup, and interest rates will eventually go back up. ?Check out SBA.gov for up to date small business loan information.

With those three things in mind, let?s take a look at the top franchise trends for 2013:

Financing

I was really hoping that things would be better by now for would-be franchise business owners. And, as much as I hate repeating the same things over and over again, when it comes to the state of small business start-up lending, this is one drum that I must continue beating. ?Now, one would think that with small business loans backed by the Small Business Administration reaching record levels ($30.5 billion ? 61,689) it would be easier for potential franchise owners to borrow money.

But, it?s not.

To combat the continued lack of significant lending to franchises, a few franchisors have decided to take matters in their own hands. It sure beats waiting for the major banks to loosen their underwriting requirements up. Forbes.com offers some great examples of franchisors getting into the finance game.

For 2013, look for more franchisors to start aggressively looking outside of the more traditional lending sources for small business loan capital.

Frozen Treats

We love our ice cream. And unless you?ve been avoiding retail plazas for the past couple of years, we obviously like our frozen yogurt, too. But why?

For one, yogurt is considered to be a healthy dessert. Well, kind of. Read what The Food Network thinks. ?Secondly, there are around 25 different franchisors currently offering frozen yogurt franchises. That fact alone has made some of us in the franchise industry wonder how long the frozen yogurt craze is going to last. ?Restaurant industry analysts are wondering the same thing.

On the other hand, I?d be willing to wager that the franchise development teams at Menchie?s, Red Mango, Yogurtini, and Yogen Fruz aren?t thinking about a slowdown in frozen yogurt franchising at all. As a matter of fact, they?re probably working extra hours just to keep up with all the inquiries they?ve been getting from prospective franchise owners.

I expect interest in becoming the owner of a frozen yogurt franchise to remain strong. At the same time, there won?t be too many new frozen yogurt franchise concepts entering this increasingly crowded market.

Disaster Cleanup

One of the biggest news events in 2012 was Superstorm Sandy, and the historic impact it had on cities and towns in the Northeast. ?Cleanup efforts will go on for months in areas hit hardest by this huge storm. ?And, some scientists are predicting that powerful storms like Sandy will become more commonplace in the months and years to come.

This could be a great time to get into the disaster cleanup and restoration business.

And, please don?t suggest that I?m encouraging you to go into business to take advantage of the pain and misery that?s experienced by others when large-scale disasters happen. ?Here?s an old sales axiom that may help you understand where I?m coming from:

?Fish where the fish are.?

In other words, if you?re going to invest your hard-earned money in a franchise business, any type of business for that matter, look to the ones that provide products and services that are actually needed. ?Here?s a partial list of franchises that focus on cleanup and restoration:

Franchises in this segment are starting to get noticed more, and if we continue to get episodes of extreme weather in the next year, they?ll really be on the radar screens of franchise buyers.

Education

When the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act was signed into law in 2001, tutoring franchise operators quickly filled out the necessary state paperwork required to be approved as vendors. ?That?s because part of the NCLB act included government funds for after school tutoring from approved vendors. ?And having money coming in from the government was a pretty nice alternative to the original tutoring model which required, (and still does) payment from parents for the services.

Currently, though, there?s an ongoing debate about NCLB, and the funding that it receives. It could end up that funding for after-school tutoring programs will decrease. If that happens, the tutoring industry could take a pretty big hit.

Except that I actually don?t think that the tutoring industry, especially the franchise segment of tutoring, will be impacted all that much if a lot of the government funding disappears.

Here?s why: ?A lot of kids struggle with the science and math of today. Whether or not government funding is available doesn?t change the absolute need for tutoring services to exist. One has nothing to do with the other. That?s why tutoring franchises like Tutor Doctor continue to grow rapidly. ?Some of the other tutoring franchises include:

For 2013, more tutoring franchises will start taking advantage of readily available online learning technology. Franchisees will start offering their customers online tutoring as an option, and at a lower price point than traditional face-to-face tutoring.

Technology Services

Today?s small business owners are embracing technology-and its power, like never before. They know that it?s almost impossible to remain competitive these days without it. ?But, busy business owners don?t always know what the best tools are for their individual needs. And, they can?t keep up with every new and improved technology that comes down the pike.

That?s where franchise businesses like Teamlogic IT and CMIT Solutions come into play. Franchisees have the opportunity to offer some of the latest products and services that are designed to help businesses run more efficiently-and safely. ?But, businesses can?t run at capacity unless their technology is working. Sometimes, things break.

Computer Troubleshooters is just one of several franchises that provides repair services for computers and other types of technology located at work-or at home. Others include:

Franchises in this sector will add numerous mobile technology products and services for their franchisees to offer their customers in 2013. That?s because today?s small business owners need to reach and sell to their clients and customers where they are these days ? on their smartphones and tablets.

Thousands of different franchise opportunities are available today, with new concepts rolling out all the time. The trick is to choose one that makes sense for you?which allows you to utilize your best skills.

Once you?ve done that, make sure that you have several conversations with current and former franchisees of the concept you?re looking into as part of your due diligence. Then, run the numbers, but don?t forget to include what I call, ?set aside money.? You?ll need to have enough money set aside to take care of your living expenses for several months, while your new business gets up and running.

Finally, continue to do what you?re doing right now ? getting educated about franchise industry trends and learning how to go about purchasing a franchise.

Who knows? Maybe 2013 will be the year that you take control of your career, and become an owner.

Source: http://smallbiztrends.com/2012/12/top-franchise-trends-2013.html

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5 Reasons to Add Real Estate to Your Investment Portfolio ...

The world of real estate investment has developed something of a bad reputation over the past few years, particularly in the United States. Problems with American real estate investing have even been said to be catalysts to the global recession. However, real estate is in fact on of the best places for investors to put their money for a number of reasons. Consider these 5 arguments for adding real estate investments to your portfolio, and reap the benefits yourself.

1. Diversify Your Portfolio
   Every investor should be concerned with diversification. Putting too many eggs in one basket is risky business, and you don?t want to have your entire investment portfolio built around one or two markets or sectors. Markets rise and fall independent of one another, so by diversifying you can make sure that your portfolio never takes a sudden plunge. Consider it a kind of insurance policy against the market?s unpredictable nature.
2. Hedge Inflation
   You?ll always hear older generations talking about how things were less expensive in the old days, and they?re right?inflation slowly but steadily decreases the value of your dollar. Investing in real estate can help you offset the effects of inflation on your portfolio. When economies grow, the demand for real estate rises. This, in turn, drives up rent costs. So at the same time that inflation is devaluing your dollar, real estate investments give balance by coming into higher demand.
3. Tangible Assets
   Many investments are highly nebulous, meaning that you sign away your money, but you don?t have any real-world asset to show for it. Investing in stocks, for example, can often seem like a complicated game of trading play money. Real estate investments give you something tangible for your money, which is an attractive aspect of this sector for many investors. Your brick-and-mortar property gives you something to show, and it won?t be as affected by the principal agent conflict.
4. Reliable Returns
   Real estate investments are among the most reliable investments in the world, in terms of generating income. Populations are increasing all over the world, and more people leads to higher demand for real estate. Furthermore, any property can be rented, a dynamic which gives the investor a stable income with minimal work. The stock market is highly volatile?in the ?Flash Crash? 2010, a trillion dollars in market value vanished in 15 minutes. Real estate investments give you stability and reliable returns in the unpredictable world of investment.
5. Simple Investing
   Finally, real estate investing is much simpler than many other markets. Sure there are things to learn and plenty of trade secrets, but Greenwood homes for sale is much easier for the average person to understand than 15 points on the NASDAQ. Real estate investment is backed by a tradition as old as history, a simple principle that anyone can understand. Property owners have the good fortune of trading in a concrete market, where a house is a house and investments generate income.

Source: http://www.mmhabits.com/5-reasons-to-add-real-estate-to-your-investment-portfolio/

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Jacob Roberts' Friend: Break-Up May Have Sparked Mall Shooting (EXCLUSIVE)

Jacob Tyler Roberts

Jacob Tyler Roberts, 22, was identified by the Clackamas County Sheriff as the mall shooter who killed 2, and wounded 1 other, before turning the gun on himself.

Cindy Ann Yuille

Cindy Ann Yuille, age 54, a resident of northeast Portland was one of the two victims killed in the Clackamas Town Center shooting. A statement made by her family following the shooting: "Cindy was everybody?s friend. She was a wonderful person who was very caring and put others first."

Steven Matthew Forsyth

Steven Matthew Forsyth, age 45, of West Linn, was the second of the two victims killed in the Clackamas Town Center shooting. A statement made by her family following the shooting: "Steven Mathew Forsyth was a loving husband, father of two children, son, brother, uncle, youth sports coach and friend to the many people who had the privilege to meet him."

Jacob Tyler Roberts

Jacob Tyler Roberts, 22, was identified by the Clackamas County Sheriff as the mall shooter who killed 2, and wounded 1 other, before turning the gun on himself.

Jacob Tyler Roberts

Jacob Tyler Roberts, 22, was identified by the Clackamas County Sheriff as the mall shooter who killed 2, and wounded 1 other, before turning the gun on himself.

Jacob Tyler Roberts

Jacob Tyler Roberts, 22, was identified by the Clackamas County Sheriff as the mall shooter who killed 2, and wounded 1 other, before turning the gun on himself.

Jacob Tyler Roberts

Jacob Tyler Roberts, 22, was identified by the Clackamas County Sheriff as the mall shooter who killed 2, and wounded 1 other, before turning the gun on himself.

Jacob Tyler Roberts

Jacob Tyler Roberts, 22, was identified by the Clackamas County Sheriff as the mall shooter who killed 2, and wounded 1 other, before turning the gun on himself.

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: Emergency vehicles gather outside the Clackamas Town Center mall after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

A couple removes police tape from their car after they were cleared to leave Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Witnesses say the scene went from cheery to chaotic in seconds when a gunman opened fire in the suburban Portland shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

First responders stand outside where a gunman opened fire at the Clackamas Town Center shopping mall earlier in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Police say three people are dead, including the gunman. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

Media gather around Clackamas County sheriff's Lt. James Rhodes during a news conference at the scene of a multiple shooting at Clackamas Town Center Mall in Clackamas, Ore., Tuesday Dec. 11, 2012. A gunman is dead after opening fire in the Portland, Ore., area shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another, sheriff's deputies said. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens)

Shoppers wait to be evacuated outside the scene of a multiple shooting at Clackamas Town Center Mall in Clackamas, Ore., Tuesday Dec. 11, 2012. A gunman is dead after opening fire in the Portland, Ore., area shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another, sheriff's deputies said. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens)

James Rhodes

Clackamas County sheriff's Lt. James Rhodes speaks to the media outside the scene of a multiple shooting at Clackamas Town Center Mall in Clackamas, Ore., Tuesday Dec. 11, 2012. A gunman is dead after opening fire in the Portland, Ore., area shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another, sheriff's deputies said. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens)

An Oregon State police car leaves the parking lot where a gunman opened fire at the Clackamas Town Center shopping mall earlier in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Police say three people are dead, including the gunman. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

A tactical team moves through the mall parking lot at Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Witnesses say the scene went from cheery to chaotic in seconds when a gunman opened fire in the suburban Portland shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

A couple with a child embrace after they were released from the mall at Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Witnesses say the scene went from cheery to chaotic in seconds when a gunman opened fire in the suburban Portland shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

In this image taken from video provided by KPTV in Portland, emergency vehicles are parked outside Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore., after a shooting Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. A gunman is dead after opening fire in the shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another, sheriff's deputies said. (AP Photo/KPTV) MANDATORY CREDIT, PORTLAND OUT

Clackamas Mall Shooting

A tactical team moves through the mall parking lot at Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Witnesses say the scene went from cheery to chaotic in seconds when a gunman opened fire in the suburban Portland shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

Witnesses are interviewed by a Clackamas County deputy outside Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore., where a shooting occurred, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. A gunman opened fire at the suburban Portland shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another as people were doing their Christmas shopping, authorities said. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

Mall workers and shoppers wait to be cleared to leave REI at Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore., where a shooting occurred Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. A gunman opened fire at the suburban Portland shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another as people were doing their Christmas shopping, authorities said. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

Clackamas Mall Shooting

Medical personnel are staged just outside Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore., after a shooting Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. A gunman is dead after opening fire in the shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another, sheriff's deputies said. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

First responders stand outside where a gunman opened fire at the Clackamas Town Center shopping mall earlier in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Police say three people are dead, including the gunman.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: Emergency vehicles gather outside the Clackamas Town Center mall after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: Emergency responders gather outside the Clackamas Town Center mall after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: Memebers of a SWAT team wait outside the Clackamas Town Center after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: A police officer talks to people outside the Clackamas Town Center after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: Emergency vehicles gather outside the Clackamas Town Center mall after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: Law enforcement work outside the Clackamas Town Center mall after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: Emergency vehicles gather outside the Clackamas Town Center mall after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: A police officer and firefighter speak to a woman outside the Clackamas Town Center after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: People stand in front of Clackamas Town Center mall after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: Law enforcement work outside the Clackamas Town Center mall after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

Police and medics work the scene of a multiple shooting at Clackamas Town Center Mall in Clackamas, Ore., Tuesday Dec. 11, 2012. A gunman is dead after opening fire in the Portland, Ore., area shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another, sheriff's deputies said. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: Memebers of a SWAT team wait outside the Clackamas Town Center after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: People evacuate the Clackamas Town Center mall after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: People stand outside the Clackamas Town Center after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

At Least Two Dead, One Injured In Oregon Mall Shooting

CLACKAMAS, OR - DECEMBER 11: Law enforcement work outside the Clackamas Town Center mall after a shooting on December 11, 2012 in Clackamas, Oregon. According to reports, two victims and the gunman are dead after emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting had occurred and a man was seen with an assault rifle near the mall's food court around 3:29 p.m. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)

Clackamas Mall Shooting

A law enforcement official secures the scene after a shooting at Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. A gunman is dead after opening fire at the shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another, sheriff's deputies said. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

Clackamas Mall Shooting

Law enforcement personnel work the scene of a shooting at the Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore. Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. A gunman is dead after opening fire in the shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another, sheriff's deputies said. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd) MAGS OUT; TV OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT; THE MERCURY OUT; WILLAMETTE WEEK OUT; PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP OUT

Clackamas Mall Shooting

Macy's employees are staged across the street from the Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Witnesses say the scene went from cheery to chaotic in seconds when a gunman opened fire in the suburban Portland shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

A police officer conducts interviews with mall patrons outside the Clackamas Town Center in Clackamas, Ore. Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. A gunman is dead after opening fire in the Portland, Ore., area shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another, sheriff's deputies said. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Bruce Ely) MAGS OUT; TV OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT; THE MERCURY OUT; WILLAMETTE WEEK OUT; PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP OUT

Clackamas Mall Shooting

Emergency personnel stage an area outside the Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore., where a shooting occurred, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Witnesses say the scene went from cheery to chaotic in seconds when a gunman opened fire in the suburban Portland shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

Clackamas Mall Shooting

Workers and shoppers wait to be cleared after a shooting occurred at Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. A gunman is dead after opening fire at the shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another, sheriff's deputies said. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

Police Audio

Clackamas Oregon Town Center mall shooting police scanner audio.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/12/jacob-roberts-oregon-mall-shooting_n_2287745.html

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