rostumcupa3: Gift Giving Ideas for Families on a Budget | Directory ...

Often, the gift that we find that initially seems great, tends to lose a bit of its luster once we spy the price tag and determine that it is definitely not within our price range. Isn?t that the most disappointing aspect of gift giving ? knowing the gift you actually give was actually your second or third choice? Yes, but it is not the end of the world. Continue reading for unique gift giving ideas on a budget.Sometimes it is just so hard to find those perfect gifts for the ones that we love. Often, the gift that we find that initially seems great, tends to lose a bit of its luster once we spy the price tag and determine that it is definitely not within our price range. Isn?t that the most disappointing aspect of gift giving ? knowing the gift you actually give was actually your second or third choice? Yes, but it is not the end of the world.

There are many gift giving ideas that can be completed on a dime once you determine that there are items to give a loved one that you can make yourself! The wealth of craft supplies that are available to us now is enormous, and should be utilized to create innovative gifts for our friends and family members that they can appreciate and enjoy for many years to come.

Many discount craft supply stores are a great inspiration for the various gifts that we can create with our own hands and design with love for our closest family and friends. Most of these stores are well-stocked with craft supplies to meet many different demands and budgets. Furthermore, the staff members at these places tend to be very knowledgeable in the craft area and will provide much needed help and ideas when we may get stuck.

Then the problem lies in what kinds of gifts you would like to give. By using your own craft supplies and getting the help of the discount craft supply stores, a gift giving decision will be easy! You can make something unique and original for everyone, depending upon one?s individual likes and dislikes, and you can accomplish all of this without breaking the bank.

Of course there are countless craft ideas and projects that can be completed at home. One of the most popular ones that is the rage all over the country is the craft of making homemade jewelry. Almost every female friend or family member will love a necklace, bracelet, or pair of earrings, jewelry that is designed by you with attention and care. When you are making the jewelry pieces yourself, it is a great idea to use the many discount craft supplies that you will have available. One of the best things about making jewelry yourself is that it can be created to fit within any budget. Also, it is a special touch to receive a gift that really reflects the taste of the individual, and she can wear her piece proudly and brag that it was made especially for her by a local artisan!

Another great gift idea that requires very few craft supplies is to make a basket of goodies for someone. This dynamic at home business has been a proven success for numerous entrepreneurs, and it is sure to please the friend or family member who receives this gift from you. You can make the most of the many discount craft supplies to decorate and design your basket, and then fill it with all sorts of goodies that will treat your recipient and make her feel loved. Fill the one-of-a-kind basket with homemade baked goods such as cookies and breads, even jams and jellies. Some are even getting innovative and making their own soaps and candles for these baskets!? Not only are you creating the basket but you are cooking and creating, giving your very best recipes and finished products to those whom you love the most. Anyone will be pleased to receive a gift such as this!

Other gift ideas which you can make inexpensively and include the use of different craft supplies are original paintings, floral arrangements, and even monogrammed objects such as purses or clothing items. All of these require the use of numerous discount craft supplies but none that will leave you high and dry when it comes to the amount of money that you spend. Everyone loves original artwork from those who are truly gifted in this area, and the monogramming trend is sure to be a hit with your family and friends if you can work your sewing machine and help it create this magic.? No matter which craft area you choose to develop, know that your friends and family will appreciate your work and effort and are sure to display your work deliberately and with pride.

We all love to be the most creative gift giver, so this year, why not take something that you already do well and turn this into an original gift that will make another person happy? Take advantage of the many discount craft supplies that are available to you and make the most of your talents. Take the time to design a gift idea that truly shows a loved one that you care, and she is sure to wear and display it proudly for many years to come!

Gift Basket-World?s Finest Gourmet $79.99 For the gourmet-lover on your list, look no further. This decadent basket is full of the good stuff. Your gift is carefully hand-packed and delivered in an attractive gift basket with your personal message. Your gift includes: -Extra Large Box of Chocolate -Milk Chocolate -Sampler Pack of Premium Dark Chocolate -Large Box of Truffles -Chocolate Biscotti -Premium Wafer Cookies -Extra Large pack of?

Chocolate and Cookie Lover Gift Basket $39.99 This decadent basket is full of fine cookies, chocolate and candies. Your gift is carefully hand-packed and delivered in an attractive gift basket with your personal message. This basket contains 7 items: -Large Pack of Assorted Cookie -Delicious Chocolate Truffle Cookies -Dark Chocolate Squares -Sweet Butter Cookies -Coffee Candy -Chocolate Fudge -Delicious Chocolate Truffles Measures Appr 8?W?

Gourmet Snack Gift Basket $49.99 This premium basket contains the perfect combination of mixed snacks, crackers, chocolates and nuts to give to that special someone. Your gift is carefully hand-packed and delivered in an attractive gift basket with your personal message. This basket contains 9 delicious items: ? Premium Crunchy Candy, ? Sweet Cranberry Snack, ? Imported Butter Cookies, ? Premium Nuts , ? Chocolate & Pecan?

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Promising drug slows down advance of Parkinson's disease and improves symptoms

ScienceDaily (Nov. 29, 2012) ? Treating Parkinson's disease patients with the experimental drug GM1 ganglioside improved symptoms and slowed their progression during a two and a half-year trial, Thomas Jefferson University researchers report in a new study published online November 28 in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences.

Although the precise mechanisms of action of this drug are still unclear, the drug may protect patients' dopamine-producing neurons from dying and at least partially restore their function, thereby increasing levels of dopamine, the key neurochemical missing in the brain of Parkinson's patients.

The research team, led by senior author Jay S. Schneider, Ph.D., Director of the Parkinson's Disease Research Unit and Professor in the Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology and the Department of Neurology at Jefferson, found that administration of GM1 ganglioside, a substance naturally enriched in the brain that may be diminished in Parkinson's disease brains, acted as a "neuroprotective" and a "neurorestorative" agent to improve symptoms and over an extended period of time slow the progression of symptoms.

What's more, once the study participants went off the drug, their disease worsened. The study enrolled 77 subjects and followed them over a 120-week period and also followed 17 subjects who received current standard of care treatment for comparison.

"The drugs currently available for Parkinson's disease are designed to treat symptoms and to improve function, but at this time there is no drug that has been shown unequivocally to slow disease progression," said Dr. Schneider. "Our data suggest that GM1 ganglioside has the potential to have symptomatic and disease-modifying effects on Parkinson's disease. If this is substantiated in a larger clinical study, GM1 could provide significant benefit for Parkinson's disease patients."

Symptoms of the Parkinson's disease, which affects over 1 million people in the United States today and is diagnosed in 60,000 adults every year, include tremors, slowness in movement, difficulty initiating movements, difficulty walking, balance problems and decrease in speech volume and facial expression. The motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease result from the death of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, the brain region that dies in Parkinson's disease; the cause of this cell death is unknown.

GM1 ganglioside is a chemical that is normally found in the brain and part of the outer covering of nerve cells. It plays important roles in neuron development and survival and modulates a wide variety of cell activities. GM1 has been found to rescue damaged neurons and increase dopamine levels in pre-clinical studies, and has been suggested to have beneficial effects in other neurodegenerative conditions.

Dr. Schneider and his team made a case for the use of GMI for Parkinson's disease beginning in the 1980s. The pathological processes contributing to the development and progression of Parkinson's disease are still unclear, but they appear to be multifactorial. Because GM1 has effects on many different cellular functions, it seemed a logical approach to try using a drug like GM1 ganglioside to modify the pathological processes occurring in Parkinson's disease, rather than focusing on a specific potential disease mechanism, said Dr. Schneider.

"Instead of a magic bullet, we think of it like a magic shotgun," he said. "This study was truly a success of translational research."

The GM1 research started in mice, where Dr. Schneider and his team found that animals with an experimentally induced form of Parkinson's disease and administered GM1 had significantly higher levels of dopamine in their brains and less loss of dopamine neurons than animals that did not receive GM1.

A follow-up study in a non-human primate Parkinson model found similar results: animals that received GM1 had higher levels of dopamine than animals that did not and had a significant improvement in Parkinson symptoms.

In the late 1990s, Dr. Schneider conducted a short-term study (16 weeks) using GM1 in a small number of patients. Improvement in symptoms was observed in patients who received GM1 compared to patients who received a non-active placebo. However, in order to determine if there was potential for GM1 to slow the progression of the disease, they would have to study patients over a longer period of time -- which led them to this current study.

There were three main groups of subjects in this controlled, randomized, delayed start trial funded by the National Institutes of Health. Patients were given a placebo for the first six months and then GM1 for 2 years (known as the delayed start group); patients were given GM1 from the beginning and continued on GM1 for the duration of the study (early-start group); and a comparison group, where patients agreed to be observed over the same time period, but did not take the drug or a placebo -- they only took the drugs prescribed by their doctor.

The delayed start study design has been suggested to be useful for studying a drug that may have effects both on symptoms and disease progression in Parkinson's disease.

The change over time in the Unified Parkinson's Diseasing Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score was the primary measure used to assess symptoms and disease progression in patients.

At the end of the first six months of the study, the early-start group had significant improvement in UPDRS motor scores versus a significant worsening of scores in the delayed-start group. Over the next two years, early start subjects maintained much of the initial benefit of GM1 treatment, showed relatively minor symptom progression compared to patients using standard anti-Parkinson medications, and at the end of the study, their symptoms were still less severe than at the start of the study over two years earlier.

Delayed start subjects also showed improvement of symptoms after switching to GM1 use and also showed less symptom progression over the next two years compared to the standard-of-care patients. Both groups had significant symptom worsening over the next one to two years after stopping use of GM1.

In short, GM1 appeared to improve symptoms and with extended use, slow symptom progression.

"The data from this small proof-of-concept study suggest that GM1 has the potential to have a very positive effect on the lives of Parkinson's disease patients," said Dr. Schneider. "We've been working on this for a long time and have some good ideas on how to move this forward. I think it's important to continue to develop this therapy."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Thomas Jefferson University, via Newswise.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Jay S. Schneider, Stephen M. Gollomp, Stephanie Sendek, Amy Colcher, Franca Cambi, Wei Du. A randomized, controlled, delayed start trial of GM1 ganglioside in treated Parkinson's disease patients. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2012; DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2012.10.024

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/OYYMyQRGMS8/121129173852.htm

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Stories, ukuleles will fill holiday program | Sonora / Tuolumne News ...

Ukuleles and story-tales will usher in the holiday season when Delta Kappa Gamma hosts its fourth annual community holiday show for families from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Stage 3 Theatre in Sonora.?

?Santa?s Gone Hawaiian!? will feature storyteller B.Z. Smith and Peg Reza with her Blue Shoes Auxiliary Ukulele Orchestra of Columbia.?

The wintery family concert is a benefit for ?The Read To Me? program, which provides a gift for family reading to every new baby born at Sonora Regional Medical Center. This year the event will also serve as a food donation drive for the Mother Lode Food Project.?

?We?d like show attendees to bring a non-perishable food item on the day of the show,? said Judy Hodges, a Delta Kappa Gamma member and chairwoman of the holiday show project.

?This is our fourth year for the show,? Reza said. ?We have a lot of fun and so do the families.??

Her band, the popular ukulele orchestra, will lead familiar holiday and winter songs while Smith shares stories and poems of the season. ?

?While we all have a good time, we can also raise funds for one important cause and bring in food donations for another,? said Smith, who also is a Delta Kappa Gamma member. ?And the crowd has grown. I start to get phone calls about the show in mid-November.??

The program offers about 40 minutes of storytelling and singing, followed by a brief intermission when cookies and juice are served. Then the program continues with a few more holiday selections.?

?It helps everyone if the kids get a little stretch in the middle,? Smith said.?

There will also be a family-friendly raffle during intermission.? From a Twain Harte Tree Farm Christmas tree? to rides on ?Santa?s Express Train? at Railtown 1897 Historic Park and a plethora of toys and activities, all of the prizes are planned for families and children.?

?And Peggy has donated a bright green ukulele to the raffle,? said Willow Thorpe, another DKG member and one of the project?s committee members.

?Our hope is to bring everyone into the holiday season with good cheer and a bright memory,? said Smith, Sonora?s longtime storyteller. ?

Both Smith and Reza bring rich experience and lots of performance years to this show.?

Smith is a nationally recognized storyteller, who won the National Storytelling Network?s 2011 Oracle Award for the Pacific Region.?

Reza is one of California?s premiere ukulele performers. She?s been a professional musician since her teens, but picked up the ukulele as her lead instrument about 10 years ago.?

?The uke has a bright, happy sound,? she said. ?It?s not surprising that so many people are ?Ukeing It Up? for a hobby these days.??

Reza has approximately 60 ukulele students of all ages in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties. A popular instructor at Asilomar?s annual West Coast Ukulele Retreat and at Camp Oo-Koo-Lay-Lay, held each year in Pinecrest, this year Reza also joined Central Sierra Arts Council?s roster of Artists-in-the-Schools where she now offers a ?Learn the Ukulele Residency? for grades four and up.

Tickets for ?Santa?s Gone Hawaiian!? are $5 for everyone age 3 and up. Younger children are free, and do not require a ticket, but a canned food donation would be helpful, Smith said.?

Adults are welcome to attend with our without a child.?

?It?s just plain fun, no matter what your age,? Reza said.?

Advance tickets can be purchased at Mountain Bookshop in The Junction shopping center or at the Stage 3 Theatre Box office at 208 S. Green St.?

For the last two years the show has hit its maximum attendance of just under 100.?

Any unsold advance tickets will be available at the door, but advance purchase is highly recommended.?

?We really encourage people to get their tickets early,? Hodges said. ?As our audiences have grown, lots of people are there with their tickets in hand. We?d hate to have to turn anyone away.? ?

?The Read To Me? program of Tuolumne County?s Iota Epsilon Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is a 26-year old family literacy program.?

?The Tuolumne County members of Delta Kappa Gamma provide each new baby born at Sonora Regional Medical Center with a book-bag. They give books to nearly 60 babies and their families each month. The book bags include a children?s book, a book authored by Delta Kappa Gamma members about the importance of family reading, and a bib with the ?Read-To-Me? bear printed on it.?

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International includes many active teachers, retired teachers and professional women whose careers support education.?

For more information on DKG, visit www.dkg.org. ?

In addition, Ellen Beck and Susan Mundy, founders of the Mother Lode Food Project, will be on hand to fill their bright green donation bags and to answer questions about how the group is serving needy families in our community.?

For more information on ?Santa?s Gone Hawaiian,? call Smith at 532-7697 or visit www.stage3.org.?

Source: http://www.uniondemocrat.com/News/Entertainment/Stories-ukuleles-will-fill-holiday-progra

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kuttarpora: Heavy Equipment & Tools, Home Improvement: Skid

Skid & the Too Tiny Tunnel (Hardcover)
By Jeffery Stoddard

Review & Description

Skid, the littlest yellow tractor in the equipment yard, wants to be mighty like the giant bulldozers, tall cranes, and massive diggers who tower over him. But all the big machines tell him he is just a dinky tractor with a putt-putt engine. While they are busy building a new road through the mountain, Skid is left behind to take out the garbage.

When disaster strikes and a tunnel the machines are digging collapses, Pillar, the biggest bulldozer, is left trapped in the rubble. Only a small opening is left at the tunnel entrance and the only one who can fit through the opening is Skid who is afraid of the dark.

Now it's up to the tiniest tractor to save the day. Can Skid find the courage to do what he was made to do and prove that he doesn't have to be big to be mighty? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

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Source: http://heavy-equipment-tools-home.blogspot.com/2012/11/skid-too-tiny-tunnel-hardcover.html

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Fla. man sues ex-Elmo puppeteer, claims NY abuse

FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2011 file photo, Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash poses with the "Sesame Street" muppet in the Fender Music Lodge during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Sesame Workshop says Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash has resigned from "Sesame Street" in the wake of allegations that he had sex with an under-aged youth. Last week a man accused Clash of having sex with him when he was a teenage boy, a charge Clash denied. A day later, the man recanted his charge. A lawsuit by a second accuser was filed Tuesday, Nov. 20, according to attorney Cecil Singleton. (AP Photo/Victoria Will, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2011 file photo, Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash poses with the "Sesame Street" muppet in the Fender Music Lodge during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Sesame Workshop says Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash has resigned from "Sesame Street" in the wake of allegations that he had sex with an under-aged youth. Last week a man accused Clash of having sex with him when he was a teenage boy, a charge Clash denied. A day later, the man recanted his charge. A lawsuit by a second accuser was filed Tuesday, Nov. 20, according to attorney Cecil Singleton. (AP Photo/Victoria Will, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? A Florida man on Tuesday sued a former Elmo puppeteer who resigned amid sex abuse allegations, saying the voice actor met him in New York a dozen years ago after trolling gay telephone chat lines seeking underage boys for sex.

The lawsuit, seeking unspecified damages, was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by a man who remains anonymous, making him the third person to make claims against Kevin Clash, who resigned from "Sesame Street" last week after 28 years.

Clash had quickly denied the first claim, which was recanted the next day. But Clash then resigned after a 24-year-old college student, Cecil Singleton, sued him for $5 million, saying the actor engaged in sexual behavior with him when he was 15.

According to the latest lawsuit, a 29-year-old man said he met Clash on a chat line when he was 16 and was exploring modeling opportunities in New York. It said the youth, then in high school, specifically stated on the chat line that his intentions were non-sexual. Still, the lawsuit said, Clash pursued, posing as a 30-year-old man whose name was Craig even though he was a decade older.

After speaking by phone for several days, Clash invited the youth to visit his Manhattan apartment, the lawsuit said.

At the apartment, Clash gave the teenager alcohol, and they engaged in sexual contact, including oral sex, the lawsuit said. While in the apartment, the youth spotted numerous Elmo dolls and photographs of Elmo with famous people such as Beyonce and Tyra Banks but didn't learn Clash's history until he moved to New York after high school at age 18 and engaged in a sexual relationship with him, the lawsuit said.

The youth was a compliant victim and did not become aware he had suffered adverse psychological and emotional effects from the sexual acts until this year, the lawsuit said.

Clash's lawyer, Michael Berger, said in a statement that the federal cases filed against Clash are without merit.

"The cases and Mr. Clash's reputation will be defended vigorously," he said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-11-28-US-TV-Elmo-Actor-Accused/id-fd4e081325604a5a8c24f189ba293bd9

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Samsung Galaxy products infringe Apple patent: Dutch court

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch court ruled on Wednesday that some of Samsung Electronics' Galaxy smartphones and tablets infringe an Apple patent in the latest round of the two firms' worldwide battle.

The court ordered Samsung Electronics to pay Apple damages, determined by how much profit it has made from the sales.

The patent dispute concerns the Android operating system versions 2.2.1 to 3.0 used on Samsung's Galaxy tablets and smartphones, the court said.

Samsung and Apple, the world's top two smartphone makers, are locked in patent disputes in at least ten countries as they vie to dominate the lucrative mobile market and win over customers with their latest gadgets.

Samsung, the world's top maker of smartphones, infringed Apple patents to make its smartphones and tablets, a U.S. trade panel judge said in a preliminary decision issued last month.

Samsung won a court case last month in the Netherlands, when a Dutch court ruled the company did not infringe an Apple patent by using certain multi-touch techniques on some of the Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablet computers.

(Reporting by Gilbert Kreijger and Sara Webb; Editing by Mike Nesbit)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/samsung-galaxy-products-infringe-apple-patent-dutch-court-154944035--finance.html

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?Robots? iPad App: A Delightful Reference for Everything Robot

Robots is a simple, interactive iPad app for absolutely everything about robots. And we mean everything.

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Obama and Romney to meet Thursday (Washington Bureau)

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

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Does human transformation of land threaten future sustainability?

ScienceDaily (Nov. 27, 2012) ? Social and physical scientists have long been concerned about the effects of humans on Earth's surface -- in part through deforestation, encroachment of urban areas onto traditionally agricultural lands, and erosion of soils -- and the implications these changes have on Earth's ability to provide for an ever-growing population. The December 2012 GSA Today science article presents examples of land transformation by humans and documents some of the effects of these changes.

Researchers Roger Hooke of the University of Maine, USA, and Jos? F. Mart?n-Duque and Javier Pedraza of Complutense University, Spain, examine factors such as available agricultural land area and discuss some of the implications of their findings in light of human population growth and its relationship to planetary resources.

Overall, they find that just over 50% of Earth's total land surface has been modified by human activity. Because many of these modifications also result in reduction of land available for agriculture -- either by degradation of land quality by processes such as soil erosion, or by transforming agriculture lands to urban uses -- Hooke and colleagues argue that these changes to our planet's land surface also influence the ability of these same lands to sustain local, regional, and, ultimately, global population.

Comparing projections of future changes in land-use with projections of population growth leads them to also suggest that human population may be entering, or already in, a state of "overshoot" -- where the needs of the present population exceed the long-term carrying capacity of a region. Solutions may not be easy to arrive at, but would need to involve a combination of efforts aimed to reduce demand for resources, develop new technical solutions to resource limitations, and to reduce the rate of growth of population.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Geological Society of America.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Roger LeB et al. Land transformation by humans: A review. GSA Today, 2012 DOI: 10.1130/GSATG151A.1

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/LQkCUiVLfRw/121127154209.htm

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Gold and Silver Ease Slightly Ahead of Greece Talks, Indians ...

Prices to Buy Gold dipped back below $1750 per ounce, a few Dollars below where they closed last week following Friday's rally, while stocks and commodities ticked lower and US Treasuries gained ahead of further discussion on Greece at today's meeting of Euro finance ministers.

Silver meantime dipped briefly below $34 an ounce this morning, though it remained within 1% of Friday's one-month high.

On Friday, spot gold rallied in US trading to close above $1750 an ounce for the first time in over a month. One analyst this morning called Friday's move a "technical breakout" enabled by "illiquid trading conditions" a day after Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday in the US.

"We'd like to see prices above $1760 to confirm the movem," adds a note from ANZ.

That would pave the way for a test of $1790-$1800...[but] We think $1800 will prove to be a step too far in the current market, and remain confident in year-end forecast of $1780."

Over in India, where a central bank official talked today of the benefits of investing in "dematerialized gold", bullion importers today opted not to buy new stock for the wedding season, with the Rupee weakening against the Dollar.

Eurozone finance ministers meet today to discuss Greece, following last Tuesday's meeting that ended without agreement to pay Athens its latest tranche of bailout funding.

Policymakers are yet to agree on how Greece should reduce its debt-to-GDP ratio, with the aim of bringing it down to 120% over the next decade. Some Euro members have suggested reducing the interest rates Greece pays on its loans, while Germany is reported to favor allowing Greece to buy back some of its debt at below face value.

In a closed-door meeting last week German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble reportedly told his counterparts from France, Italy and Spain, as well as International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, that Germany might eventually write off some of its loans to Greece. At the Eurozone finance ministers meeting the next day however Schaeuble ruled this out.

"It turns out that Schaeuble may have exceeded his mandate from the Chancellery, if he had one," one EU official told Reuters.

Elsewhere in Europe, two thirds of the vote went to pro-independence parties in yesterday's regional elections in Catalonia, with the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) party, one of several parties that have called for a referendum on Catalonia's independence from Spain, more than doubling its number of seats in the regional assembly in elections held Sunday.

The Convergencia i Unio party of Catalan president Artur Mas won 50 of the 135 seats, down from 62, Bloomberg reports, meaning Mas does not have a majority in the assembly.

"With a majority, Mas could have negotiated [with the national government in Madrid] for all kinds of goodies to postpone the referendum but clearly that's not an option anymore," says Ken Dubin, political scientist at Carlos III University in Madrid.

Despite being Spain's richest region, Catalonia requested a ?5 billion bailout from the national government back in August. Mas has called for independent tax collection and has said net transfers from Catalonia to other regions are to blame for its financial difficulties.

Over in India meantime, rules restricting banks from Buying Gold back from customers are "a work in progress", the Reserve Bank of India's deputy governor Subir Gokarn told a conference Monday.

Gokarn also elaborated on last week's announcement that the authorities are looking at creating investment products linked to gold to satisfy demand in a country that is traditionally the world's biggest god buying nation, and which imports the vast majority of its bullion.

"Since current account deficit is large and capital flows are becoming more uncertain," Gokarn said, "the role of innovation is to find ways to not deny the ability or choice of investing in gold... can we find ways to give [people] gold like products, what one may call dematerialized gold, with gold like qualities but are not entirely dependent on physical possession."

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Gaming's most forgettable sequels | GamesRadar

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Gunmen free inmates at Nigeria police station

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) ? Police in Nigeria say gunmen attacked a major police station near the country's capital that is holding members of a radical Islamist sect, freeing some prisoners.

A statement confirmed an attack happened early Monday morning at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad station near Abuja. Federal police spokesman Frank Mba said the gunmen's assault allowed some 30 prisoners to escape. Mba said 25 had already been recaptured.

That station is holding suspected members of the radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram. Mba denied any Boko Haram members escaped in the attack, though security officials routinely downplay such attacks.

Boko Haram is blamed for killing more than 760 people this year alone. The attack Monday comes after suicide bombings at a church at a military base Sunday killed at least 11.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gunmen-free-inmates-nigeria-police-station-134923533.html

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Travel and leisure: Car Rental For Budget Travellers | elarazaman1 ...

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Roma wins 1-0 at Pescara on coach Zeman's return

By DANIELLA MATAR

Associated Press

Associated Press Sports

updated 2:39 p.m. ET Nov. 25, 2012

MILAN (AP) -Roma won 1-0 at struggling Pescara in the Italian league on Sunday to mark a happy return for coach Zdenek Zeman to the club he steered to promotion as Serie B winners last season.

Mattia Destro gave Roma the lead in the fifth minute and could have added to his tally but missed several clear chances.

Pescara went close to the equalizer in the closing stages but remains mired in the relegation zone after winning only one of its past eight games.

It was the 100th official game in charge of Roma for Zeman, who is in his second spell at the club.

Elsewhere, Fiorentina's run of five successive victories ended after twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 at Torino.

Roma had lost three of its past four away games but got off to the perfect start when Pescara goalkeeper Mattia Perin could only parry Francesco Totti's fierce 35-meter free kick into the path of Destro for a simple tap-in.

Destro could have doubled his tally on the half hour, but Perin did well to palm away his header from the center of the area following Totti's cross.

Destro had another two great chances in the second half, skying his first effort over the bar before firing straight at Perin from close range with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Elvis Abbruscato could have leveled at the end, but his effort was deflected out by Roma defender Ivan Piris.

In Turin, Fiorentina fought back for a point thanks to a late equalizer from substitute Mounir El Hamdaoui but lost Alberto Aquilani and Luca Toni to injury in the first half.

Toni went off after feeling the after-effects of a nasty clash of heads with Kamil Glik, which resulted in the Torino defender being carried off after appearing to briefly lose consciousness.

Alessio Cerci, who is on loan from Fiorentina, gave Torino the lead in the 40th minute as Danilo D'Ambrosio's cross was allowed to go all the way across the area before being fired in.

Haris Seferovic almost equalized shortly after the hour mark but his effort from a tight angled crashed off the post.

It was back on level terms when Juan Cuadrado was brought down in the area by D'Ambrosio and Gonzalo Rodriguez stepped up to fire home the resulting spot kick.

Torino restored its lead moments later in somewhat comical circumstance as Valter Birsa's cross evaded everyone and ended up in the back of the net.

Fiorentina snatched a point six minutes from time when El Hamdaoui, who had only been on the pitch for less than two minutes, smashed home the equalizer.

Genoa is out of the relegation zone after ending a run of six successive defeats with a 1-0 win at Atalanta.

Andrea Bertolacci scored the only goal of the game in the 39th minute to hand Genoa its first win in 10 matches.

Genoa's Emiliano Moretti was sent off for a second yellow card four minutes from time.

Bologna has slipped into the relegation zone after losing 1-0 at Sampdoria.

It played almost the entire match in 10 men after Archimede Morleo was sent off in the fifth minute for bringing down Mauro Icardi as the Sampdoria striker was about to run clear through on goal.

Andrea Poli, who scored his first Serie A goal last weekend, grabbed the only goal of the game in the 61st, playing a one-two with Eder before firing past Bologna goalkeeper Federico Agliardi.

Elsewhere, Siena drew 0-0 at Chievo Verona.

Substitute Chievo striker Mamadou Samassa was sent off five minutes from time after picking up a second yellow card for a dive in the area.

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

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Chelsea is held 0-0 by Man City

??Rafa Benitez endured a hostile reception and gave the restless Chelsea fans nothing to cheer about as his first match in charge ended in a drab 0-0 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/44461168/ns/sports-soccer/

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Macau police arrest five, gangster "Broken Tooth" release due

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Police in the world gambling capital Macau arrested five people on Saturday on suspicion of planning to commit murder as the territory off the coast of China braces for the imminent release from jail of a notorious gang leader.

One of those arrested, local media said, was former police officer Artur Chiang Calderon, who was believed to be a key player in the infamous 14K triad society.

Calderon was first arrested in 1998 along with Wan Kuok-koi, commonly known as ?Broken Tooth', the leader of the 14k. Both men were involved in a string of bomb attacks and bloody gang wars that rocked Macau in the 1990s.

Calderon was released after 10-and-a-half years in jail, while Wan is due to be freed on December 1.

Macau, a territory on China's southern coast famous for its lavish casinos, has been changed dramatically in the past 15 years into a magnet for high rollers and global investors.

Gaming revenue was $33.5 billion in Macau in 2011, more than five times more than that of Las Vegas.

From its roots as a seedy, crime ridden enclave where shoot-outs broke out in broad daylight, the former Portuguese colony, has been transformed by gleaming casino towers and luxury residential complexes. One in four Macau locals work in the gaming industry and the reliance on Chinese gamblers who flock across the border is growing ever more acute.

Police have been ramping up security ahead of Wan's release, asking casinos and hotels to remain vigilant.

"We are well equipped to handle all situations," a spokeswoman for Macau's judiciary police said, declining to mention any specific case.

The murder and mayhem seen in Macau in the late 1990s was sparked by the triads who attempted to capture the lucrative VIP gambling market.

(Reporting by Farah Master; Editing by Jon Hemming)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/macau-police-arrest-five-gangster-broken-tooth-release-174309620.html

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Ask Engadget: best new smartphone that isn't massive?

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Diamar, who is eyeing up a new smartphone, but doesn't want one the size of a table tennis bat. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I read your site and I figured I'd give this a shot. I'll be in the market to upgrade my iPhone 4S, but all of the best smartphones now have huge screens. I've wanted a Galaxy SIII, but its 4.8-inch screen is pushing it. Can you recommend any current or future smartphones that don't have massive screens? Thanks!"

Were we in the construction trade, we'd be sucking the air over our teeth in a disapproving manner. If you're looking for a flagship model, then it's probably going to be on the sizable side:

• Sony Xperia T - 4.6-inch
• Nokia Lumia 920 - 4.5-inch
• HTC 8X - 4.3-inch
• HTC One S - 4.3-inch
• Motorola RAZR i (or M) 4.3-inch
• Apple iPhone 5 - 4-inch

Of course, if size is your only concern, then you could drop down a few levels (and price points) and snag a Galaxy S III Mini, which has a 4-inch display, but far more modest specs. That's our take on the situation, anyway, but what about the community? Share your thoughts, folks.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Game of Thrones - Race for Glory

In the game of thrones you either live or you die

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#3: Brand New 2 AMP ORIGINAL AT&T iPhone Car Charger with ...

• Written by admin
• Posted November 23, 2012 at 2:10 pm

Brand New 2 AMP ORIGINAL AT&T iPhone Car Charger with Extra USB Port for Apple iPhone 3G 3GS 4 4S 4G iPad 1 2 New iPad iPod All Versions of Nano, Touch, Mini by AT&T Buy new: $30.00 $3.89 2 used & new from $3.89 (Visit the Hot New Releases in Car Audio list for authoritative information on this product?s current rank.)

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Kipling Seoul Laptop Large Backpack True Blue ? Travel & Leisure ...

The Seoul Large Backpack from Kipling has laptop protection and padded shoulder straps making it great for travel or school. Main zipped compartment contains laptop pocket with Velcro closure, and a padded back and bottom panel. Zip-front pocket contains 2 pen sleeves, cell phone pocket, iPod/PDA pocket and large internal zippered pocket. Additional large zippered front pocket for more storage. Padded straps that are adjustable to a maximum length of 32 inches and top grip handle. Zippered pockets at the top and left hand side of bag are perfect for quick access to small items.

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Burn victim from Gulf oil platform blast dies

Gerald Herbert / AP

An aerial photograph shows a supply vessel near an oil rig damaged by an explosion and fire on Nov. 16 in the Gulf of Mexico about 25 miles southeast of Grand Isle, La.

By NBC News staff and wire services

NEW ORLEANS -- One of the men burned when an offshore oil platform exploded in flames in Louisiana died Friday, the Philippines ambassador said.

The ambassador, Jose L. Cuisia Jr., said in a news release that 49-year-old Avelino Tajonera died shortly after his wife and three children arrived from Manila.

Three other men remain hospitalized. The ambassador said their families are in Baton Rouge.

---

The explosion and fire on Nov. 16 also killed 42-year-old Ellroy Corporal, whose body was found in the waters nearby. The search for another man, 28-year-old Jerome Malagapo, was called off.

The explosion and fire occurred on a platform run by Black Elk Energy in the Gulf of Mexico about 25 miles southeast of Grand Isle, La.

A federal agency told Black Elk on Wednesday that it needs to improve safety at its offshore operations.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said Black Elk has been cited numerous times for incidents in which it failed to comply with regulations.

The bureau noted the fire and an October 2011 incident where use of an acid-based chemical resulted in the hospitalization of six workers. Another 2010 violation resulted in a $307,000 fine.

"Black Elk has repeatedly failed to operate in a manner that is consistent with federal regulations," BSEE Director James A. Watson said in a news release. "BSEE has taken a number of enforcement actions, including issuing numerous Incidents of Non Compliance (INC's), levying civil penalties and calling in the company's senior leadership to review their performance and the ramifications of failing to improve."

The bureau's letter to Black Elk CEO John Hoffman said failure to improve overall performance could lead to steps including revocation of the company's authorization to operate its offshore facilities. Black Elk's website says it has an interest in 155 offshore platforms.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

"We appreciate the perspective of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement," Black Elk spokeswoman Leslie Hoffman said in an emailed response to a request for comment. "Safety is a high priority for Black Elk Energy and we will continue to work cooperatively with local and national federal agencies to understand exactly what happened with the incident at our platform in the Gulf of Mexico."

BSEE said it ordered Black Elk to submit a performance improvement plan by Dec. 15. And the bureau outlined several steps that must be taken to improve safety. Those include an end to "hot work" on facilities until the company can demonstrate "that steps have been taken, and a safety manager is in place whose responsibility it will be to improve hazard identification, training, and oversight for such operations."

Hot work is work that can produce flames, sparks or a source of ignition ? such as welding or grinding. The Coast Guard said Friday that a torch was in use at the time of the accident. Grand Isle Shipyard Inc., a subcontractor that was doing maintenance on the platform, has said a welding torch was not in use at the time of the accident.

Other steps outlined by BSEE include keeping the site of Friday's fire shut down, along with other Black Elk facilities where operations have been stopped, or "shut in." BSEE estimated that 41 Black Elk sites are shut in for various reasons.

Friday's accident was on a production platform in shallow water off Louisiana's coast, but it was not producing oil at the time and did not result in a continuous leak of oil, unlike the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.?

NBC News staff contributed to this report from The Associated Press.

Eleven people were injured in the production platform blast and oil spillage was minimal, according to the Coast Guard. NBC's Brian Williams reports.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/23/15391256-burn-victim-from-gulf-of-mexico-oil-platform-blast-dies?lite

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Black Friday starts on Thursday right after Thanksgiving dinner

Black Friday is the Super Bowl of retail, but some of the nation's largest big-box stores can't wait until the day after Thanksgiving to open their doors to shoppers eager to grab great deals the same day as their turkey dinners.

Traditional Black Friday door-busting deals now start tonight, on what's been dubbed Gray Thursday. Major retail stores such as Kmart, Toys R Us, Walmart and Sears will open their doors beginning at 8 p.m. Target will join the party an hour later.

"It's traditionally been the day after Thanksgiving when the stores go into the black, where they make all their money. But that's not true anymore," retail expert Michelle Madhock said.

With Black Friday sales starting Thursday, that means lines started forming Wednesday, or in some extreme cases a week before as bargain hunters tried to get a turkey leg up on their competition.

READ: The Best Black Friday Freebies 2012

Luciana Pendleton pitched a tent outside a Deptford Township, N.J., Best Buy Monday fully equipped with all she needed to spend the next few days away from home so she could be first in line when the doors open.

"I am just happy I beat my competition. They pulled up here around 3 p.m., and we were already here so I was happy," she said Monday.

READ: How to Beat Black Friday Stress

Last year, some sale seekers became a little too excited and turned holiday shopping into a contact sport. In one ugly incident, a woman was accused of unleashing pepper spray on other shoppers in a dash for electronics at Walmart in Los Angeles.

This year, stores are beefing up security, and Best Buy even participated in training drills to handle the large crowds. More than 147 million people plan to shop this weekend, according to the National Retail Federation.

The hottest deals that are up for grabs this year include a 46-inch Samsung LED flat screen TV at Walmart with $200 off the original price. If that's not good enough, Sears has knocked $500 off the price of a 50-inch Toshiba flat screen. Target is offering the Nook Simple Touch at half price.

Black Friday officially kicks off at midnight for Best Buy, Sports Authority and Macy's.

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Source: http://gma.yahoo.com/black-friday-shopping-kicks-off-thanksgiving-dinner-073816599--abc-news-topstories.html

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