There are lots of apps out there to help you take control of your financial life and budgeting apps for iPhone are no exception. While expense and bill tracking apps can give you your financial position at a glance, they don't do much to help you save money or deter you from spending money you can't afford to. That's where budgeting apps come in handy.
Mint.com not only shows you brief summaries of all your accounts and cash flows but lets you set up budgets for yourself complete with alerts and custom categories. If you need a little help staying on track, Mint.com can provide it.
Mint.com allows you to add bank accounts and credit card accounts which will begin filtering in transactions related to your balances and transactions. This will filter into the cash flow section and show you how much you've spent compared to what you've earned.
The main feature of Mint.com that really sets is apart from standard expense tracking apps is the ability to budget your money where needed. Under the budgets section you can set a master budget for the month as well as break it down by category. You can set budgets for anything you'd like so if you want a gas and transportation budget that's separate from an eating out budget, you can easily do so. You'll see a nicely laid out menu that shows each budget and a horizontal graph representation of how much you have left. The bar is green as long as you're still within that budget for the month. If you exceed the budget, the bar will turn red, therefore drawing attention to itself easily.
Mint.com will set up some generic budget accounts for you but you can add, edit, or delete them as wanted along with creating your own custom budget categories. You can also add transactions directly from the budget screen, or any screen in the app for that matter. Just tap the create new icon in the lower right hand corner of Mint.com and you can add a transaction manually. This is nice for times when you pay with cash instead of your bank card or credit cards. Since those are automatically pulled in if you have them linked, there's no need to manually add them.
A lot of budget apps that are available in the App Store require you to manually enter information which can be clunky and time consuming. Since Mint.com pulls from all major credit card and bank providers, there's almost nothing left to do except to create budgets and add the occasional cash transaction. You can easily see your budgets at a glance and Mint.com will notify you if you exceed a budget for the month so you can try and stay on track or cut expenses elsewhere. You can also log in to your Mint.com account on the web for even more useful tools and data comparisons.
If saving money and having tighter control of your finances is a goal, Mint.com can definitely help you get there.
Head of Israel's nuclear program has second laptop stolen ...
?28 February, 2013
The head of Israel?s nuclear program, who has top secret information, the highest security clearance and free access to the country?s most guarded sensitive sites, recently had his second laptop stolen, Israeli media reported Thursday.
The laptop was taken from Shaul Horev?s family home, a military censor kept the news of the theft from the Israeli public on Monday.
The gag was partially lifted on Wednesday as Horev?s office released a statement confirming he had been the victim of a robbery. Various documents, his wallet as well as a ?communication device? were said to have been among the stolen items.
Horev is the head of Israel?s Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and answers directly to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
He has the highest level security clearance and has free access to Israel?s guarded secrets, including Mossad intelligence on the Iranian nuclear program.
A statement by the AEC says that there is no sensitive material on the stolen device however.
This marks the second time a laptop has been stolen from Horev since he took up the post at the AEC.
The burglary occurred despite the fact he has bodyguards and his house is monitored by CCTV. Unlike government minsters, however, he does not have additional home security.
Israeli Haaretz newspaper outlined details of the police observations made at the crime scene, ?his home did not appear ransacked as would be expected in a criminal break-in,? it said. ?Also, in the previous break-in a computer was stolen, about which it?s not known whether it was merely for his personal or business or included data he used in his work.?
A Stanton nuclear security fellow, Matthew Fuhrmann, believes Horev may have been the victim of espionage. ?International agencies frequently try to steal information from phones and laptops, particularly from the hotel rooms of officials while they are travelling abroad. Israel in particular is known to have done this,? he said.
?I am skeptical that there will be major state secrets on a laptop that has been allowed to leave the AEC, but in the case of the AEC chairman I?m not sure. Certainly this theft will not be welcome news to Israel,? he added.
Adobe outs Photoshop Touch for phones, ready to outfit pockets for $4.99
Jealous about your mates' ability to edit photos and whatnot via their mid-sized slates? Well, Adobe has just announced a solution that's ready to equip your handset of choice. That's right, the pro design software outfit added Photoshop Touch for phones that wields "core" Photoshop capabilities, Scribble Selection and supports those high-res snapshots. The app also sports Camera Fill and other special effects alongside the option to share creations via Facebook, Twitter, email and other applications. Creative Cloud access is here as well, with auto syncing across a device arsenal and a free 2GB storage account to boot. For iOS, you'll need an iPhone 4S, 5th-gen iPod touch or later to get in on the action while the Android version requires Ice Cream Sandwich. Ready to take the leap? A $5 purchase from iTunes or Google Play stands between you and slice of Adobe on that GS III or iPhone 5.
Contaminated diet contributes to phthalate and bisphenol A exposure
Contaminated diet contributes to phthalate and bisphenol A exposurePublic release date: 27-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Elizabeth Sharpe esharpe@u.washington.edu 206-685-6737 University of Washington
Even organic foods not stored, prepared or cooked in plastic containers can contain these contaminants
While water bottles may tout BPA-free labels and personal care products declare phthalates not among their ingredients, these assurances may not be enough. According to a study published February 27 in the Nature Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, people may be exposed to these chemicals in their diets, even if their meals are organic and foods are prepared, cooked and stored in non-plastic containers. And children may be most vulnerable.
"Current information we give families may not be enough to reduce exposures," said Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, lead author on the study and an environmental health pediatrician in the University of Washington School of Public Health and at Seattle Children's Research Institute. She is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine and an attending physician at Harborview Medical Center's Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit.
Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Previous studies have linked prenatal exposure to phthalates to abnormalities in the male reproductive system. Associations have also been shown between fetal exposure to BPA and hyperactivity, anxiety, and depression in girls.
The researchers compared the chemical exposures of 10 families, half who were given written instructions on how to reduce phthalate and BPA exposures, handouts developed by the national Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units, a network of experts on environmentally related health effects in children. For five days the other families received a local, fresh, organic food catered diet that was not prepared, cooked or stored in plastic containers
When the researchers tested the urinary concentrations of metabolites for phthalates and BPA, they got surprising results. The researchers expected the levels of the metabolities to decrease in those adults and children eating the catered diet.
Instead, the opposite happened. The urinary concentration for pthalates were 100-fold higher than the those levels found in the majority of the general population, The comparison comes from a study conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a program of studies managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The concentrations were also much higher for children as compared to the adults.
Then, the researchers tested the phthalate concentrations in the food ingredients used in the dietary intervention. Dairy productsbutter, cream, milk, and cheesehad concentrations above 440 nanograms/gram. Ground cinnamon and cayenne pepper had concentrations above 700 ng/g, and ground coriander had concentrations of 21,400 ng/g.
"We were extremely surprised to see these results. We expected the concentrations to decrease significantly for the kids and parents in the catered diet group. Chemical contamination of foods can lead to concentrations higher than deemed safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," said Sathyanarayana.
Using the study results, the researchers estimated that the average child aged three to six years old was exposed to 183 milligrams per kilogram of their body weight per day. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended limit is 20 mg/kg/day.
"It's difficult to control your exposure to these chemicals, even when you try," said Sathyanarayana. "We have very little control over what's in our food, including contaminants. Families can focus on buying fresh fruits and vegetables, foods that are not canned and are low in fat, but it may take new federal regulations to reduce exposures to these chemicals."
###
The other researchers in the study included Garry Alcedo (Seattle Children's Research Institute), Brian E. Saelens and Chuan Zhou (UW Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children's Research Institute), Russell L. Dills and Jianbo Yu (UW Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences) and Bruce Lanphear (BC Children's Hospital and Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada).
The study was funded through the Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences in the UW School of Public Health. A grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health provides major support for the center.
The paper is titlted, "Unexpected results in a randomized dietary trial to reduce phthalate and bisphenol A exposures."
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Contaminated diet contributes to phthalate and bisphenol A exposurePublic release date: 27-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Elizabeth Sharpe esharpe@u.washington.edu 206-685-6737 University of Washington
Even organic foods not stored, prepared or cooked in plastic containers can contain these contaminants
While water bottles may tout BPA-free labels and personal care products declare phthalates not among their ingredients, these assurances may not be enough. According to a study published February 27 in the Nature Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, people may be exposed to these chemicals in their diets, even if their meals are organic and foods are prepared, cooked and stored in non-plastic containers. And children may be most vulnerable.
"Current information we give families may not be enough to reduce exposures," said Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, lead author on the study and an environmental health pediatrician in the University of Washington School of Public Health and at Seattle Children's Research Institute. She is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine and an attending physician at Harborview Medical Center's Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit.
Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Previous studies have linked prenatal exposure to phthalates to abnormalities in the male reproductive system. Associations have also been shown between fetal exposure to BPA and hyperactivity, anxiety, and depression in girls.
The researchers compared the chemical exposures of 10 families, half who were given written instructions on how to reduce phthalate and BPA exposures, handouts developed by the national Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units, a network of experts on environmentally related health effects in children. For five days the other families received a local, fresh, organic food catered diet that was not prepared, cooked or stored in plastic containers
When the researchers tested the urinary concentrations of metabolites for phthalates and BPA, they got surprising results. The researchers expected the levels of the metabolities to decrease in those adults and children eating the catered diet.
Instead, the opposite happened. The urinary concentration for pthalates were 100-fold higher than the those levels found in the majority of the general population, The comparison comes from a study conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a program of studies managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The concentrations were also much higher for children as compared to the adults.
Then, the researchers tested the phthalate concentrations in the food ingredients used in the dietary intervention. Dairy productsbutter, cream, milk, and cheesehad concentrations above 440 nanograms/gram. Ground cinnamon and cayenne pepper had concentrations above 700 ng/g, and ground coriander had concentrations of 21,400 ng/g.
"We were extremely surprised to see these results. We expected the concentrations to decrease significantly for the kids and parents in the catered diet group. Chemical contamination of foods can lead to concentrations higher than deemed safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," said Sathyanarayana.
Using the study results, the researchers estimated that the average child aged three to six years old was exposed to 183 milligrams per kilogram of their body weight per day. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended limit is 20 mg/kg/day.
"It's difficult to control your exposure to these chemicals, even when you try," said Sathyanarayana. "We have very little control over what's in our food, including contaminants. Families can focus on buying fresh fruits and vegetables, foods that are not canned and are low in fat, but it may take new federal regulations to reduce exposures to these chemicals."
###
The other researchers in the study included Garry Alcedo (Seattle Children's Research Institute), Brian E. Saelens and Chuan Zhou (UW Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children's Research Institute), Russell L. Dills and Jianbo Yu (UW Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences) and Bruce Lanphear (BC Children's Hospital and Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada).
The study was funded through the Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences in the UW School of Public Health. A grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health provides major support for the center.
The paper is titlted, "Unexpected results in a randomized dietary trial to reduce phthalate and bisphenol A exposures."
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Yoga for Eyes ? Incredible Health Benefits of Yoga - Food Fitness ...
Posted by Jitesh Manaktala on Feb 26, 2013 in Featured, Health & Fitness, YogaGoogle+
The modern age of computers and digital applications is unhealthy for eyes. Since most of us do not maintain a special care routine for eyes and work all the time, the eyes are always under constant strain. The only time we give rest to our eyes is when we are asleep.
But this is not enough. You need to take out time to maintain a special routine for eyes. Focus on strengthening your vision.
Yoga is the best way you can take care of your eyes. There are many Yogic eye exercises that you can practise to maintain good health for your eyes. These exercises are easy to do. Most of these exercises can be easily performed at any time of the day regardless of where you are! Here are some effective Yoga exercises to help you take good care of eyes:
1. Close your eyes as tight as possible. Hold on for around 5 seconds. Open them, and close them again. repeat the exercise about six times.
2. In case, you sit in front of the computer screen for long hours, it is important that you get up every half an hour and move around a bit. Fetch yourself a glass of water. The idea is to give your eyes some break. A 2 minute break is enough to refresh the eyes.
3. Shut your eyes. Now roll your eyeballs around for a minute. Repeat.
4. Rub your palms together. Now gently cup them over your closed eyes for around a minute. This is an effective exercise and often referred to as palming. The exercise is extremely beneficial for the eyes. Understand that eyes need darkness to rejuvenate themselves. Palming is the best way to ensure adequate darkness to eyes.
5. Imagine that there is a huge clock in front of you. Now look at the number 12 for around 10 seconds. Gradually move your gaze down to 6. Repeat the exercise for around 10 times, rapidly. Now move your eyes horizontally, in the 3-9 position. Also the eyes diagonally in 2-7 and 10-4 positions respectively.
6. Sambhavi mudra is known to be the best exercise for eyes. You need to look up to the position in the middle of your eyebrows. Make sure you hold on for a few seconds and then move your gaze downwards, towards your nose.
7. Blink is important to lubricate the eyes. So make a conscious effort to blink more.
You may also interested in:
Tags: eye exercises in yoga, eyes yoga exercises, health benefits of yoga, yoga asanas for eyes, yoga exercise for eyes, yoga eye exercises, yoga for eyes, yoga for good health, yoga for the eyes
U of M researchers identify genetic variation behind acute myeloid leukemia treatment success
U of M researchers identify genetic variation behind acute myeloid leukemia treatment successPublic release date: 26-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Amy Leslie johns423@umn.edu 612-624-7654 University of Minnesota Academic Health Center
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (February 26, 2013) Researchers from the College of Pharmacy and Medical School working within the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, have partnered to identify genetic variations that may help signal which acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients will benefit or not benefit from one of the newest antileukemic agents.
Their study is published today in Clinical Cancer Research.
In the latest study, U of M researchers evaluated how inherited genetic polymorphisms in CD33, a protein that naturally occurs in most leukemia cells, could affect clinical outcomes of patients treated with an existing chemotherapy drug, gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO), an immuno-conjugate between anti-CD33 antibody and a cytotoxin known as calicheamicin, which binds to CD33 on leukemic cells. As GO is internalized by leukemia cells, the cytotoxin is released, causing DNA damage and generating leukemic cell death.
In recent clinical trials GO has been shown to induce remission and improve survival in subset of patients with AML, however there is wide inter-patient variation in response.
Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D., and colleagues identified and evaluated three genetic variations of CD33 in two groups of patients with pediatric AML one group that received the drug GO, and one group that did not. They found that specific genetic variation in CD33 that significantly affected the clinical outcome of AML patients who received GO based chemotherapy.
"Understanding how genetics play a role in how drugs work is extremely useful, particularly for a drug like GO which has shown a very heterogeneous response in AML patients," said Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D., the study's lead author and a researcher who holds appointments in both the College of Pharmacy and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota. "Our latest findings lead us to believe that genetic variation in CD33 influences how AML patients' leukemic cell responds to GO."
AML is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, and is the second most common form of leukemia in children. Though the most common type of treatment for AML is chemotherapy, Lamba says the disease remains hard to treat and newer, more effective therapies are needed.
"The overall goal of our study was to use genetic data to predict beneficial or adverse response to a specific drug, thus opening up opportunities to use this information for drug optimization to achieve maximum therapeutic efficacy and minimum toxicity. Our hope is that our research could serve as a marker of prognostic significance for clinicians to select the therapy that has the greatest odds of being effective for individual patients based on their CD33 genotype."
###
Other University of Minnesota researchers involved in the study include Leslie Mortland, M.D., from the University of Minnesota Medical School and Betsy Hirsch, Ph.D., from the Medical School and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota.
The University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, the only school of pharmacy in Minnesota, offers its program on the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses. Founded in 1892, the College of Pharmacy educates pharmacists and scientists and engages in research and practice to improve the health of the people of Minnesota and society. The college is part of the Academic Health Center, which is home to the University of Minnesota's six health professional schools and colleges as well as several health-related centers and institutes. Learn more at www.pharmacy.umn.edu.
The University of Minnesota Medical School, with its two campuses in the Twin Cities and Duluth, is a leading educator of the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and the school's 3,800 faculty physicians and scientists advance patient care, discover biomedical research breakthroughs with more than $180 million in sponsored research annually, and enhance health through world-class patient care for the state of Minnesota and beyond. Visit www.med.umn.edu to learn more.
Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota is part of the University's Academic Health Center. It is designated by the National Cancer Institute as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information about the Masonic Cancer Center, visit www.cancer.umn.edu or call 612-624-2620.
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?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
U of M researchers identify genetic variation behind acute myeloid leukemia treatment successPublic release date: 26-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Amy Leslie johns423@umn.edu 612-624-7654 University of Minnesota Academic Health Center
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (February 26, 2013) Researchers from the College of Pharmacy and Medical School working within the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, have partnered to identify genetic variations that may help signal which acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients will benefit or not benefit from one of the newest antileukemic agents.
Their study is published today in Clinical Cancer Research.
In the latest study, U of M researchers evaluated how inherited genetic polymorphisms in CD33, a protein that naturally occurs in most leukemia cells, could affect clinical outcomes of patients treated with an existing chemotherapy drug, gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO), an immuno-conjugate between anti-CD33 antibody and a cytotoxin known as calicheamicin, which binds to CD33 on leukemic cells. As GO is internalized by leukemia cells, the cytotoxin is released, causing DNA damage and generating leukemic cell death.
In recent clinical trials GO has been shown to induce remission and improve survival in subset of patients with AML, however there is wide inter-patient variation in response.
Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D., and colleagues identified and evaluated three genetic variations of CD33 in two groups of patients with pediatric AML one group that received the drug GO, and one group that did not. They found that specific genetic variation in CD33 that significantly affected the clinical outcome of AML patients who received GO based chemotherapy.
"Understanding how genetics play a role in how drugs work is extremely useful, particularly for a drug like GO which has shown a very heterogeneous response in AML patients," said Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D., the study's lead author and a researcher who holds appointments in both the College of Pharmacy and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota. "Our latest findings lead us to believe that genetic variation in CD33 influences how AML patients' leukemic cell responds to GO."
AML is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, and is the second most common form of leukemia in children. Though the most common type of treatment for AML is chemotherapy, Lamba says the disease remains hard to treat and newer, more effective therapies are needed.
"The overall goal of our study was to use genetic data to predict beneficial or adverse response to a specific drug, thus opening up opportunities to use this information for drug optimization to achieve maximum therapeutic efficacy and minimum toxicity. Our hope is that our research could serve as a marker of prognostic significance for clinicians to select the therapy that has the greatest odds of being effective for individual patients based on their CD33 genotype."
###
Other University of Minnesota researchers involved in the study include Leslie Mortland, M.D., from the University of Minnesota Medical School and Betsy Hirsch, Ph.D., from the Medical School and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota.
The University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, the only school of pharmacy in Minnesota, offers its program on the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses. Founded in 1892, the College of Pharmacy educates pharmacists and scientists and engages in research and practice to improve the health of the people of Minnesota and society. The college is part of the Academic Health Center, which is home to the University of Minnesota's six health professional schools and colleges as well as several health-related centers and institutes. Learn more at www.pharmacy.umn.edu.
The University of Minnesota Medical School, with its two campuses in the Twin Cities and Duluth, is a leading educator of the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and the school's 3,800 faculty physicians and scientists advance patient care, discover biomedical research breakthroughs with more than $180 million in sponsored research annually, and enhance health through world-class patient care for the state of Minnesota and beyond. Visit www.med.umn.edu to learn more.
Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota is part of the University's Academic Health Center. It is designated by the National Cancer Institute as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information about the Masonic Cancer Center, visit www.cancer.umn.edu or call 612-624-2620.
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?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Martinsburg, WV Plumbing Guide: Finding the Right Plumber | Larry ...
Finding the right plumber your area is an essential task for any homeowner. If you want your plumbing problems to be fixed quickly and properly, then you need to be able to find a reliable plumber who cares about his clients and the comfort and safety of their homes. Larry & Sons is a family-owned business with over fifty years of experience in the plumbing industry. When you need maintenance, repair service, installation or consultation about your home improvement project, call on the right plumber in Martinsburg, WV, call?Larry & Sons!
Here?s a checklist what to look for in a plumbing?company:
Reliability. A plumber should be punctual, should not waste the time of his clients and should show up prepared for the job.
Quality. Relying on the plumber also means relying upon the high quality of his craft. The right plumber should deliver excellent repair solutions to his client, by using the durable parts that are appropriate for the repair.
Fairness. The estimates and costs of a job well done should be fair and accurately reflect the quality and size of the service.
Professionalism. You should look for a plumber with a good local reputation, with solid testimonials and work references. The right plumber should treat the client with courtesy and should treat their living spaces with respect.
Maintenance program. Many repairs can be avoided by signing up for a program of annual or biannual maintenance. The right plumber should offer a program of preventive maintenance to catch large-scale or systemic issues before they begin to damage the heating and cooling systems.
Fortunately for clients in the Martinsburg, WV area, finding the right plumber is as simple as calling Larry & Sons. For quality installation, repair and maintenance plumbing services, call us today!
Tags: Hagerstown, Martinsburg, Mount Airy, Plumber, Plumbing, Plumbing Repair
Monday, February 25th, 2013 at 9:00 am | Categories: Plumbing |
Tips On Just How To Be Efficient When Improving Your House ...
Performing home improvement does not must be a difficult task. Enhancing your home can be enjoyable and simple, and make your home environment a whole lot more enjoyable. Make-over the areas you like and make them into areas you love. Follow the guidelines below and you will be able to turn your home into your dream home.
Set electrical wire connectors on your tubes of caulking! Those little plastic covers that are included with the tubes often get missing! A commonly had alternative that works of the same quality or a lot better than the original top can be an electrical wire connection. Special colors can be even used by you for special forms of tubes.
An low priced method to give your kitchen a new search without spending thousands on new cabinets would be to give them a facelift. Install new hard ware and recondition them with oil to make them seem new. With respect to the substance of the units, you may be able to paint them too.
To save on energy prices, consider putting a number of small fluorescent lighting fixtures under your cabinetry. On the surface that is ideal for preparing food or illuminating a richly colored counter top or ornamental back dash region these lights eat up less power than your overhead light and can cast a great light.
Try changing the house figures outside your house for many easy home improvement. If the house numbers on your house are old, buy some new ones. Try trying to find contemporary house figures made from stainless, aluminum, or brass. Fit them with the final in your exterior light fixtures for greater curb appeal.
In regards to do-it-yourself, make sure to get prices from at minimum three different contractors. This is crucial as may the grade of work, because prices may differ considerably. Get yourself a good experience for the specialist by sitting yourself down with her or him and discussing your whole approach.
After some initial use, your kitchen cabinets can start to get rid of their appeal. You can shine up kitchen cabinetry by using car wax. Use some car feel liberally to a towel and wash your units down in a circular motion. This will make your units resemble they are new and shiny.
When it?s time for you to make improvements to your residence, engage the services of a reliable general contractor. Look around and make careful comparisons. A competent and sincere, general contractor, can complete home developments professionally. A contractor can also perform do-it-yourself work cheaper than you can control, by carrying it out yourself.
When signing a contract with a contractor doing home improvements, search for a place of business for that contractor. A clear sign that something is not around level with your builder is once they just give you a phone number for a contact and not a stone and mortar building address. It?s super easy for them to just change figures and start shop elsewhere If a problem occurs.
In regards to home improvement, consider putting solar power panels to your house. You may think it is to become a wise investment in comparison to the increasing costs of energy, while the upfront cost may be big. This will save on your monthly electric bills, because the most of your energy will come from the energy you?re saving. This is a great, natural treatment for running your house.
When cracks come in your interior walls or your ceilings, keep these things examined with a building professional as soon as possible. They can reveal greater, far more serious causes, while the most likely cause of such breaks is just a simple failure in the finished floor. You do not want to blithely paint over a break and just forget about it when it is actually showing base negotiation!
Raise the security of your home by adding motion detecting floodlights on the exterior of your house. These lights are ideal for domiciles with large front yards or those situated on dark streets. Mount these lights near your garage or shed. These lights will illuminate the area and decrease the threat of break-ins.
Take the time to look for inspiration in magazines, color swatches and whatever else that you can find, before you begin your next do it yourself project. It is important to plan ahead so that you don?t get stuck trying to do a lot of when it?s time for you to begin your project. This may make the entire process a whole lot more comforting for you personally.
Several things jazz up a residence such as for instance a well-maintained flower bed. Before you undertake a significant remodel, nevertheless, research your options. Find out which flowers are best suited to your home?s climate, soil type, and shaded places. This may ensure that you don?t spend your time or money by planting roses that aren?t appropriate.
Fit your fire extinguisher to the space where it?s being used. Along with could be the same old red but fire extinguishers are considered based on function. School B?s are best suited for the home but Class A?s would probably work well in the remaining portion of the house.
You don?t already have one and if you have a sizable backyard, it could be good for develop a deck before putting your property on the market. potential house buyers look at as an important entertaining space for family and friends a deck to hang out in in is because.
Do not place a television in your kitchen, If you should be creating the building of your dwelling. More time will be then spent by you in the kitchen, if you love television. This can put you in a position where you are convinced more, with the plethora of food around you.
As you can see, do-it-yourself can be quite simple. With the recommendations above, you can accomplish the task of turning your home into your private sanctuary, a place you are proud to call home. What?re you looking forward to? Go ahead and start that home improvement project you?ve been considering. cheap nautical cabinet hardware
In: Aparitii editoriale | | Link ????? 25 vizualizari
It?s Official: Federal Employees Do $155 Million in Union Work
How does that Dire Straits song go? "That ain't working. That's the way you do it. Get your money for nothing and your chicks for free."
But when it comes to getting union work out of federal employees, it ain't free for the U.S. taxpayer.?
Federal employees performing union work while on the clock at their government jobs cost the U.S. taxpayer more than $155 million in 2011, according to the newest report from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This is a 12% increase from 2010 and the highest in any year since the OPM started to collect the data voluntarily in 2002.
All told, it adds up to a staggering 3.4 million total hours spent on so-called ?official time,? a practice which lets government officials do work for unions while being paid by the taxpayer.
Sean Higgins at The Washington Examiner?notes?that although these numbers are higher than recent years, it is still less than the peak of 4.7 million hours in 2002.
Official time isn?t just a problem at the federal level, but also at the municipal or state government level. In Arizona, lawmakers have introduced several bills to restrict public-employee unions, including Senate Bill 1348, which would prohibit a public employee from doing union activities during paid work time.
Sen. Kelli Ward, R-Lake Havasu City, defended the bills. ?I don?t think there is an attack on public-sector unions,? she said. ?When dealing with our money and taxpayer money, that?s when we need to put some brakes on.?
Video: Kansas City could be bull?s-eye for incoming storm
>>>we do begin with the wintry weather which is hitting from
coast to coast
. dylan is tracking the storm, keeping very busy on a saturday morning. good morning.
>>good morning for sure. we have a lot of wet weather to talk about. right now it's mostly across the southeast. moisture streaming in from the
gulf of mexico
. so that's part one to the storm with
heavy rain
coming down across alabama and down into georgia. moving into the carolinas. but we are focusing on the northeast. especially new england which has been getting hit by storm after storm. we do is
winter weather
advisories in effect across especially interior new england, back into central pennsylvania, and also into portions of
western virginia
, as well. we could even see a little bit of
freezing rain
in northwestern new jersey. but it looks like we'll end up with about three to six inches. again, we have to overcome some of the rain that's out there right now. at least on the leading edge of the storm. that's going to eat away at some of the snowfall totals. highe efest elevations, sikd to
12 inches
. boston, over a few inches. then we're focusing on the northwest through idaho, nevada now. we do have snow coming down. and this is going to
turn into
another big storm for the
midwest
as we go into early next week. here you see the
time frame
on this particular
computer model
. notably the european model which has been very good at forecasting these snowstorms well in advance. so far this season. saturday to tuesday, in that
time frame
, you could see snow is going to overspread the
midwest
once again.
kansas city
could be the bull's eye just like it was last week, and the
midwest
could end up with 6 to
12 inches of snow
. that's something we'll watch heading into early next week. erica?
Purported iPad 5 case again points to iPad mini-like design
A photograph of a purported iPad 5 case has appeared, and it again points to a redesigned in the form of the iPad mini. The case was obtained by 9to5Mac, apparently from it's manufacturer, Minisuit. Back in January, iMore created a rendering based on what we'd learned about the iPad 5 and its iPad mini-like design, and shortly thereafter some unverified pictures emerged of a supposed iPad 5 back plate bearing a very similar design. Just over a week ago, iMore created another rendering based on more information about the iPad 5.
If the case above is based on rumors and the previous backplates, then it ads little new to the discussion. If, however, it's based on additional information leaked from manufacturing sources in China, then it could prove interesting.
The case, as previously rumored, hints at an iPad 5 that's narrower in comparison to the current version. This would presumably be down to the narrower bezel design just like the iPad mini. The edges of the case are much squarer than the other case again this would line up with the design of the iPad mini. Looking at the bottom edge of the case, you can see a long cut out which would be for the speakers and Lightning connector. We would assume that the iPad 5 would finally have stereo speakers again like the iPad mini.
Leaks like these are nothing new and a lot of case manufacturers look to steal a march on their competition by obtaining information on next generation devices from supply chain sources. This is always going to be a gamble as Apple is notorious for keeping its devices under wraps until the last minute; or could change its mind on a design too.
Having said that, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the next-generation iPad 5 may be adopting the design cues of the iPad mini.
Dalai Lama scheduled to speak at University of Maryland in College Park
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Jamie Dupree's Washington Insider: White House push back continues on sequester
Stung by criticism in an op-ed piece in today's New York Times, the White House continued its aggressive campaign to push back on issues related to automatic budget cuts set to hit on March 1, rejecting talk that the President has not been specific on what he wants to do on the budget.
"For anyone reading David Brooks' column, here is the President's detailed sequester plan that he (Brooks) doesn't think exists," said White House Senior Adviser Dan Pfeiffer.?
Pfeiffer has been out front on social media in exchanging shots with Republicans on Capitol Hill about the sequester; earlier this week he used a blog post on the White House web site to slam Republicans for trying to pin the blame on the White House for the idea of the across the board cuts.
As for what aggravated Pfeiffer before the sun was up on Friday - the David Brooks column in the New York Times skewered the White House for using "vague-but-politically-convenient" political arguments in the fight over automatic budget cuts.
"The President hasn't actually come up with a proposal to avert sequestration, let alone one that is politically plausible," Brooks wrote.
Pfeiffer though said there was a detailed plan, and he directed people to a White House document that works in past deficit reduction, and bullet points of what the President would like to achieve. ?Here is what the White House produced:
THE PRESIDENT?S LAST OFFER TO SPEAKER BOEHNER IS STILL ON TABLE: MORE THAN $1.5 TRILLION IN ADDITIONAL DEFICIT REDUCTION
Spending Reductions - Even split between defense and nondefense discretionary savings $200 billion
? Non-defense discretionary spending $100 billion
? Defense discretionary spending $100 billion
Health savings - $400 billion ? could be achieved by:
? Reduce payments to drug companies $140 billion
? Reduce hospital payments such as reimbursement for patients who don?t pay $30 billion
? Encourage efficient care after a hospital stay $50 billion
? Encourage beneficiaries to seek high value health care and ask the most fortunate to pay more $35 billion
? Medicaid, Pay-for-Delay, IPAB, program integrity $25 billion
? Other health savings $120 billion
Non-health Mandatory Savings - $200 billion ? could be achieved by:
? Eliminate certain subsidies for agriculture $30 billion
? Reform Federal retirement programs $35 billion
? Reform postal service and TSA passenger security fees $40 billion
? Strengthen solvency of UI trust fund $50 billion
? Other savings including Spectrum Fees, Sales of Excess Property, & Program Integrity $45 billion
Spending Savings from Superlative CPI with protections for vulnerable $130 billion
Subtotal, Total New Spending Reductions $930 billion + $200 billion interest savings
Revenue
Limit tax deductions to 28% for the wealthiest and close other loopholes $580 billion (+$100 billion from CPI change)
Temporary Growth Measures
Immediate investments in infrastructure -$50
TOTAL DEFICIT REDUCTION
Deficit Reduction to Date More than $2,500
New Deficit Reduction $1,800
Total Deficit Reduction More than $4,300
?
It should be noted that the White House document does not specifically mention a tax break that has been routinely ridiculed in recent days by the White House spokesman, as Jay Carney has repeatedly called for Republicans to abandon favorable tax treatment for corporate jets.
In fact, the tax portion of this document only mentions limiting tax deductions for "the wealthiest" and closing "other loopholes."
America's Moscow ambassador embroiled in Texas adoption row
Alexei Pushkov, the head of the State Duma's committee on international affairs, admonished US envoy Michael McFaul for refusing to attend parliament to discuss "the death of our children in the United States".
Mr Pushkov said on Twitter that the refusal showed the US was "not ready for serious dialogue on this question".
Mr McFaul, an active user of social media, shot back: "As a norm, US ambassadors to [sic] not participate in hearings of foreign parliaments. Do Russian ambassadors?" He then added: "Always happy to meet you and your colleagues to discuss all issues in US-Russian relations, including adoptions." The controversy is likely to be high on the agenda when Sergei Lavrov, Russia's veteran foreign minister, meets John Kerry, the new US secretary of state, in Germany next week.
Russia's children's rights ombudsman, Pavel Astakhov, announced on Monday that a three-year-old Russian boy, Maxim Kuzmin, had been murdered by his adoptive American mother in Gardendale, Texas.
The case is highly charged because President Vladimir Putin approved a ban on US parents adopting Russian children in December, citing cases of abuse and the death of 19 adoptees in America in the past decade.
The ban was also a response to US legislation introduced earlier the same month preventing alleged Russian human rights abusers from entering the country.
Pro-Kremlin politicians and officials have rushed to condemn the alleged murder of the boy in Texas, whom the Russian foreign ministry said had been beaten and given powerful drugs for adult schizophrenics by his adoptive mother, Laura Shatto.
Police in Texas have expressed surprise at Moscow jumping to conclusions, saying that an autopsy on the toddler ? known to his US family as Max Alan Shatto ? is not complete and no cause of death has been established.
The local sheriff said on Wednesday that the toddler had been playing outside with his brother before he was found unresponsive by his mother.
Mr Astakhov has called for the dead boy's two-year-old brother, who was also adopted by the Shattos, to be returned to Russia.
Cornell scientists 3D print ears with help from rat tails and cow ears
Science! A team of bioengineers and physicians over at Cornell University recently detailed their work to 3D print lifelike ears that may be used to treat birth defects like microtia and assist those who have lost or damaged an ear due to an accident or cancer. The product, which is, "practically identical to the human ear," according to the school, was created using 3D printing and gels made from living cells -- collagen was gathered from rat tails and cartilage cells were taken from cow's ears. The whole process is quite quick, according to associate professor Lawrence Bonassar, who co-authored the report on the matter,
"It takes half a day to design the mold, a day or so to print it, 30 minutes to inject the gel, and we can remove the ear 15 minutes later. We trim the ear and then let it culture for several days in nourishing cell culture media before it is implanted."
The team is looking to implant the first ear in around three years, if all goes well.
Molecular system that could help develop potential treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease identified
Feb. 21, 2013 ? Scientists from the University of Southampton have identified the molecular system that contributes to the harmful inflammatory reaction in the brain during neurodegenerative diseases.
An important aspect of chronic neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's or prion disease, is the generation of an innate inflammatory reaction within the brain.
Results from the study open new avenues for the regulation of the inflammatory reaction and provide new insights into the understanding of the biology of microglial cells, which play a leading role in the development and maintenance of this reaction.
Dr Diego Gomez-Nicola, from the CNS Inflammation group at the University of Southampton and lead author of the paper, says: "The understanding of microglial biology during neurodegenerative diseases is crucial for the development of potential therapeutic approaches to control the harmful inflammatory reaction. These potential interventions could modify or arrest neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer disease.
"The future potential outcomes of this line of research would be rapidly translated into the clinics of neuropathology, and would improve the quality of life of patients with these diseases."
Microglial cells multiply during different neurodegenerative conditions, although little is known about to what extent this accounts for the expansion of the microglial population during the development of the disease or how it is regulated.
Writing in The Journal of Neuroscience, scientists from the University of Southampton describe how they used a laboratory model of neurodegeneration (murine prion disease), to understand the brain's response to microglial proliferation and dissected the molecules regulating this process. They found that signalling through a receptor called CSF1R is a key for the expansion of the microglial population and therefore drugs could target this.
Dr Diego Gomez-Nicola adds: "We have been able to identify that this molecular system is active in human Alzheimer's disease and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, pointing to this mechanism being universal for controlling microglial proliferation during neurodegeneration. By means of targeting CSF1R with selective inhibitors we have been able to delay the clinical symptoms of experimental prion disease, also preventing the loss of neurons."
The research has been funded by a Marie Curie fellowship from the European Union and a pilot research grant from Alzheimer's Research UK.
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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Mosquitoes exposed to DEET once are less repelled by it a few hours later
Feb. 20, 2013 ? Mosquitoes are able to ignore the smell of the insect repellent DEET within a few hours of being exposed to it, according to research published February 20 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by James Logan, Nina Stanczyk and colleagues from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK.
Though most insects are strongly repelled by the smell of DEET, previous studies by Logan's research group have shown that some flies and mosquitoes carry a genetic change in their odor receptors that makes them insensitive to this smell. The new results reported in the PLOS ONE study uncover a response in mosquitoes based on short-term changes, not genetic ones.
"Our study shows that the effects of this exposure last up to three hours. We will be doing further research to determine how long the effect lasts," says Logan.
In this study, the authors tested changes in responses to DEET in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are notorious for biting during the day and are capable of transmitting dengue fever. They found that a brief exposure to DEET was sufficient to make some mosquitoes less sensitive to the repellent. Three hours after the exposure, these mosquitoes were not deterred from seeking attractants like heat and human skin despite the presence of DEET. The researchers found that this insensitivity to the smell could be correlated to a decrease in the sensitivity of odor receptors on the mosquito's antennae following a previous exposure. "We think that the mosquitoes are habituating to the repellent, similar to a phenomenon seen with the human sense of smell also. However, the human olfactory system is very different from a mosquito's, so the mechanism involved in this case is likely to be very different," explains Logan.
He adds, "This doesn't mean that we should stop using repellents -- on the contrary, DEET is a very good repellent, and is still recommended for use in high risk areas. However, we are keeping a close eye on how mosquitoes can overcome the repellent and ways in which we can combat this."
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Journal Reference:
Nina M. Stanczyk, John F. Y. Brookfield, Linda M. Field, James G. Logan. Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Exhibit Decreased Repellency by DEET following Previous Exposure. PLoS ONE, 2013; 8 (2): e54438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054438
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Bennigan's Kicks Off 2013 In Legendary Style ... - Franchising.com
Iconic Brand Soars to 25% Growth with Multi-Unit Deals, Domestic and International Expansion?
DALLAS - Feb. 20, 2013 // PRNewswire // - On the heels of another phenomenal year of growth in 2012, Bennigan's Franchising Company is continuing to reinvent itself in the U.S. and on a global scale. Today, the iconic brand announced the signing of five new franchise agreements and plans to develop 20 new restaurants. These newest franchise partners will bring the chain's Legendary Irish hospitality to cities throughout Texas, Tennessee and Florida, joining a franchise team that is also currently expanding the brand internationally in the United Arab Emirates, Cyprus and Mexico. This explosive growth, along with three domestic openings at the end of 2012 and a recent debut in Dubai, is another example of how Bennigan's has rekindled a 'bleeding green' passion in loyal guests and partners around the world.
"We are honored to team up with so many committed franchisees who believe in our mission and want to grow with us as we continue to revolutionize casual dining," said Paul Mangiamele , Bennigan's President & CEO. "This intense passion and nostalgia for our brand is what has fueled our return to relevance and shown our guests and franchise partners that the beloved Irish brand they remember is back and better than ever."
New Bennigan's Area Developer Aslam Khan, CEO of Falcon Holdings, is a well-respected businessman in the QSR space with over 200 Church's Fried Chicken locations. The Bennigan's corporate team is looking forward to partnering with such a talented and experienced restaurateur to develop five restaurants and expand the brand into Florida and Texas markets. Khan's first restaurant is expected to open in late 2013 on the site of a former high-volume Bennigan's location in Orlando, Fla.
"Having been a franchisee for several decades, I seek franchisors with a razor-like focus on providing the resources and infrastructure that not only supports their franchisees but also provides a business model capable of producing compelling returns on capital," said Aslam Khan , CEO of Falcon Holdings. "For me, it's about finding true restaurant operators servicing operators. Falcon Holdings has found this unique formula with the Bennigan's Franchise model."
David and Melissa Hunt are also new multi-unit franchise partners joining the Green Dream Team, signing an agreement to develop five Bennigan's restaurants in Tennessee. The first location is expected to open in Fayetteville this summer. The Hunts are long-time residents of Jackson, Tenn., and have owned Hunt Services since 1999. Through that company, they own and operate several foodservice and hotel businesses.
David Hollinger of Hollinger Restaurant Group has signed an agreement to develop three Bennigan's restaurants in the Florida Panhandle. Hollinger has also enjoyed business success in the automotive industry and real estate development, but he started in the restaurant industry and has always had a passion for the service sector.
Mesa Restaurant Holdings, LLC, led by Marisol Gonzales and her husband Dr. Allamm Morales, has signed on to bring Bennigan's to Melbourne, Fla. Finally, Paradigm Restaurant Hospitality, LLC, led by Nimit Patel , will open Bennigan's in the Pampa, Texas, area in late 2013.
"Our newest franchise partners are joining the Bennigan's renaissance at a very exciting time, and we are thrilled to grow our presence in these three states in the years to come," said Mangiamele. "Over the past few months, we have launched new prototype and design options, new menus, a new bar experience and new marketing initiatives that have set our restaurant teams on a path for success and customer loyalty in their communities. Our food, our Irish hospitality and our passion for what we do is delivering results and fueling our continued growth."
Internationally, the brand recently celebrated a grand opening in the United Arab Emirates. Franchise partners Dynamic Hospitality opened their first Dubai location in January and plan to open two more Bennigan's in the United Arab Emirates this year. One will be in the Dubai Mall, the world's largest shopping mall, and is expected to open in the first quarter of 2013. The second will be in the Sahara Centre in Sharjah. In Mexico, Bennigan's will be opening two new restaurants in Veracruz with the Consorcio Restaurantero Group. Finally, the AXM Overseas Holdings Group will be adding their fifth Bennigan's in Cyprus later this year.
Now approaching 100 units, Bennigan's experienced extensive domestic and international expansion in 2012, ending the year with three openings in December alone. These included Clarksburg, Md., where the opening of Bennigan's brought the first official casual dining restaurant to that town. Bennigan's restaurants also opened in Jonesboro, Ark., and Fort Worth, Texas.
These new and existing franchisees are benefitting from the chain's Legendary comeback, which began in May 2011 and has separated Bennigan's from a sea of sameness. Through careful attention to menu optimization and a streamlined new prototype, the brand has honored its heritage while launching new initiatives that both rekindle emotional connections and affect a dramatic impact on restaurant sales and profits.
Bennigan's Franchising Company plans to continue its growth momentum and has agreements to develop over 30 new restaurants in the next few years in New Jersey, Virginia, Texas, Arkansas, Minnesota, Florida, Tennessee and Michigan. International openings are slated for Dubai, Mexico, Panama, El Salvador, Cyprus and U.S. Army Base Camp Humphreys in the Republic of Korea.
About Bennigan's
Bennigan's is a high-energy neighborhood restaurant and tavern that is redefining casual dining. With chef-driven food, innovative drinks and warm, friendly Irish Hospitality, this Legendary brand delivers memorable dining experiences to every guest, every meal, every day. Every member of the team "bleeds green" and demonstrates a 25/8 focus to support its franchise community. The company's revolutionary comeback has introduced a new generation of Bennigan's that reflects the brand's history and pays respect to its rich heritage. A focus on reinvention, flexible prototypes, innovative food, Legendary service and other sales-generating initiatives has resulted in explosive growth both domestically and internationally. For more information, visit www.bennigans.com.
Media Contact:
Amanda DelPrete Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 adelprete@fish-consulting.com
Amazon Web Services has once again dropped its pricing. This time the decrease is for two of its services:??Simple Queue Service?(SQS) and the Amazon?Simple Notification Service?(SNS).
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Public release date: 27-Feb-2013
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