Saturday, March 31, 2012

Interesting Home Improvement Statistics | RTA Kitchen Cabinets

? blog home




According to American Express? Spending and Saving Tracker, there are some interesting statistics about home owners and home improvement in general.?? According to their 2012 Home Decision Report, only about 10% of Americans plan on buying a new home or looking for a new home.?? Some of it due to housing market confidence, and others who think they will not get the value out of their home.? This doesn?t seem surprising to me, since most parts of the country had a significant drop in property values which hasn?t recovered yet.

What I do find interesting is the number of people who were planning renovations.?? Almost 70% of homeowners had home improvement plans, and were planning on spending an average of $3,500 which is up $100 from last year.? A low percentage of people buying, an increased number of homeowners remodeling, and an increase in average spending, means that homeowners are trying to add value to their owners because they are planning on staying in them longer (as we all know, the best value is in the kitchen? and $3,500 can you get you a spectacular kitchen if you buy our cabinets!)

The one statistic that I am happy to see is the percentage that are looking to do it themselves.?? 72% of homeowners plan on doing the work, with the primary source for their inspiration being home improvement shows (roughly 42% of people stated tv shows as the primary source).?? Being that we are the largest participant in kitchen renovations on HGTV and DIY Network, this is a stat that I am happy to hear!

So if you were planning a kitchen renovation this year, you are not alone.? The majority of America is planning on doing the same thing, and getting their inspiration from the designs they see on the same shows that are using our cabinets for their designs!

This entry was posted in diy home improvement, diy network, diy remodeling, home improvement, home remodeling and tagged american express, home improvement, home improvement shows, home improvement statistics, home remodeling, kitchen renovation, rta kitchen cabinets, spending trends. Bookmark the permalink.

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Friday, March 30, 2012

Climate change report: time to start preparing for the worst

It's time to start protecting people from the impact of severe-weather events, a panel says. The report offers further evidence of how the climate change conversation is shifting.?

Girding communities now to bounce back from droughts, floods, heat waves, and severe storms they currently experience will go a long way to helping them adapt to long-term global warming.

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That is the broad message contained in a 582-page report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and released Tuesday.

The report surveys the current state of scientific knowledge about the impact global warming could have on nine types of extreme-weather events. The report spends the majority of its nine chapters exploring ways ? from simple networks to spread warnings of a looming tropical cyclone to broader social changes, such as educating women and including them in community planning ? to reduce the risk to people and property from weather extremes.

The volume is the strongest signal yet of a sea change in thinking during the past decade on adaptation to climate change.

Although the IPCC has dealt with the subject all along, adaptation is seen by many activist groups on global warming as a cop-out ? a topic aimed at diverting attention from the need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

But researchers have indicated that even if countries slammed the brakes on emissions today, the climate would continue to warm because carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for centuries. The gradual-but-relentless build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution is an indication that humans are pumping it into the air faster than natural processes can remove the excess.

Increasingly, some degree of adaptation has come to be seen as a necessity, not a diversion.

Teasing out trends in extreme weather and identifying global warming's fingerprint are challenging, acknowledges Thomas Stocker, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Bern in Switzerland and co-chair of the IPCC working group that reviews the state of climate science. By definition, extreme weather events are relatively rare and require observations ? of consistent, high quality ? over long periods of time and with ?extremely good spatial coverage,? he says.

But enough data have been accumulating during the past 60 years at least to begin the process. The report examines observed trends for the nine weather and climate features it considered, the likelihood that global warming is evident in the trends, and projections of how those trends may play out through the end of the century.

Some of the highest confidence levels across these three categories are for trends in extreme temperatures, with somewhat lower confidence levels for extreme precipitation.

While uncertainties remain, many of the approaches communities and countries can take to adapt to weather extremes fall into what Chris Field, co-chair of a second IPCC working group that focuses on impacts of climate change, dubs ?low regrets measures.? These measures will provide significant benefits regardless of the factors underlying extreme-weather events.

Indeed, the cost from extreme-weather events has been rising.

Between 1970 and 1989, losses from disasters of all sorts averaged about $5 billion a year globally, notes Mark Way, who heads sustainable-development efforts in the Americas for the reinsurance firm Swiss Re. Since 1989, losses have averaged some $30 billion a year, driven in large part by weather-related disasters. Last year, losses in the US hit $35 billion, more than half the $61 billion in losses from severe weather globally.

At this point, the increase in losses has more to do with rapid population growth and a build-up of wealth in some of the most vulnerable areas ? along coastlines, for instance ? than with global warming, both?the IPCC report and Mr. Way note.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/y7mag-OxwXY/Climate-change-report-time-to-start-preparing-for-the-worst

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Samsung tweaking Face Unlock to require blinking, smiling still optional

Samsung tweaking Face Unlock to require blinking, smiling still optional
Still paranoid about a friend sneaking past your four-dot-oh facial security and revealing all your little secrets? Worry no more, as Sammy's got a solution for you. The new feature is stuffed inside the tasty ICS being delivered now to global Galaxy S IIs, adding the need to blink in order to bypass the Face Unlock screen. Aside from the eyelash-flashing bit included in the upgrade, Samsung's Product Planning Team says they've also added Photo Editor, Beta Font, Snapshot and a novel S Go Launcher Pro. You can check out the full interview with Samsung's whiz-squad at the source below.

Samsung tweaking Face Unlock to require blinking, smiling still optional originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/samsung-face-unlock-blinking-feature/

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List of top Hermosa Beach Certified Home Inspector in Torrance


by Bhrat Brij
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More Details about http://www.equityinspection.com/ here.

Inspecting the real estate is nearly like having your own health check. Keeping a fanatical eye for real estate features and a diligent book-keeping process is a necessary part of any real estate. It is noteworthy how such records have to be revisited later for review. Throughout of Hermosa Beach property inspection, first go across the general arrangement of the home and make sure if anything is out of order, spoiled, or dirtied with help of Hermosa Beach Home Inspector Service. By underlining tiny upholding matters early, prior to they get grow into major ones, one is capable to handle them at once without wasting much cash.

Take for example; a minor ceiling problem may easily become a major one following a storm, causing water leaks into the property that can smash up the flooring, the walls, and even the equipment. Hermosa Beach Certified Home Inspector is required to be with a license, but dissimilar from an apprentice, they are not graded. This often means that a Hermosa Beach Certified Home Inspector is concerned in getting the working quickly - they generally get same money no matter the time spend. To compensate this trend, one need to show his curiosity in the Hermosa Beach real estate inspection many issues can be asked concerning their Hermosa Beach Home Inspector Service upfront. Demonstrate that you are an educated user and that you look ahead to a detailed Hermosa Beach real estate inspection. One must seek to be present during the home inspection. A lot of brilliant Hermosa Beach Certified Home Inspector don't mind if anyone is present during Hermosa Beach real estate inspection. Also, ask over to see the checklists used to inspect a house. Ask to show a trial Hermosa Beach property inspection. After receiving the home inspection, one must call the inspector and ask him to clarify things you don't know.

If there is any area of apprehension, make certain to get not only what is erroneous, but the steps to repair the problem. If there is a special matter area, like electricity matter, ask for an electrician to visit and see through the problem and present expected expenses. This info can be utilized as a negotiating tool for money concessions. Minute repairing concerns with the guttering, wires, piping which are the easiest to get uncared, might change into grave concern and are indeed the most frequently occurring and expensive to cope with. Timely Hermosa Beach property inspection, at standard intervals of about six months, will comfortably stop them. A fantastic home inspection from Hermosa Beach Home Inspector Service can save thousands.

Want to buy a home then first hire qualified Hermosa Beach Certified Home Inspector from http://www.equityinspection.com/ for home inspection.

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More Details about http://www.equityinspection.com/ here.

List of top Hermosa Beach Certified Home Inspector in Torrance

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Homeowners' emphasis on energy efficiency grows | Pro Hands at ...

(ARA) ? Even in a volatile economy, homeowners are making home upkeep a priority. While the number of projects annually had been on the decline in recent years, a study from BuildFax, a resource for building, remodeling and repair information, found remodeling activity was up in 2011 over 2010. Additional data shows homeowners are opting to invest in what matters most with projects that benefit their wallets, personal comfort and the environment.

Know the facts

Before buying anything, shoppers are taking time to learn more about the products they put in their homes. For one in four consumers, knowing and understanding what makes up general household products is important. As options continue to increase, this attention to research is key to finding efficient products that offer maximum value. For instance, homeowners will find that a few newer home insulation products that help provide greater energy efficiency also boast new sustainable formulations. Owens Corning EcoTouch insulation is made from 99 percent natural materials, contains a minimum of 58 percent recycled content and is verified formaldehyde free.

Energy-efficient essentials

According to the 2010 Home Improvement Research Institute Trends Program Report, reducing household energy usage and bills through energy-efficient improvements continues to be the No. 1 reason homeowners make home improvements. That same report also indicated six out of 10 consumers need help identifying what they can do to be more environmentally conscious.

?Now is the right time to make efficiency improvements around the home because homeowners will see an immediate impact on their monthly utility bills, and will reap even greater benefits in the long term,? says Frank O?Brien-Bernini, chief sustainability officer at Owens Corning. ?According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings use more energy in the United States than either transportation or industry, accounting for the consumption of 40 percent of our nation?s energy resources. On a more granular level, the primary use of energy in a home is for heating and cooling. In many homes, excessive energy is wasted through poorly sealed and insulated attics, walls and ductwork ? all problems that can be solved by handy do-it-yourselfers or through experienced contractors.?

The Home Improvement Research Institute reports roughly one in three homeowners plans to purchase more energy-efficient doors, windows or HVAC systems in the coming year. Sealing all openings around doors and windows can help homeowners make the most of their investment. Air ducts should also be inspected to ensure they are clean, are free of leaks and holes and direct air to the right spaces.

Recycling 101

While recycled content is commonly focused on, recyclable materials are also important. Often with home improvement projects, old materials are thrown out and replaced with the new. What many homeowners may not know is that many building materials and appliances are recyclable. Recycling is a better solution for the environment, and may be less costly than taking material to a landfill.

?There are more recyclable materials on and in a home than you might first assume. Millions of tons of shingles torn off from roofs end up in our country?s landfills each year. Fortunately, the technology now exists for all those shingles to be recycled instead,? says O?Brien-Bernini. ?In 2009, Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC formed an alliance with Heritage Environmental Services to create a Shingle Recycling Program with roofing contractors to make recycling convenient, cost-competitive and differentiating and have since recycled more than 90,000 tons of asphalt shingles.?

Homeowners looking for more information about shingle recycling and other types of recycling can turn to Earth911.com, with whom Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC recently also formed an alliance. The site hosts the largest and most accurate recycling directory in North America and provides information about what materials can be recycled as well as lists of recyclers in local markets.

For more tips on efficient home improvements, visit www.OwensCorning.com.

Source: http://prohandsatwork.com/?p=69109

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Thursday, March 29, 2012

BlueStacks Android emulator lets you use apps on your PC

A new Windows PC program has just hit beta testing that allows Android users to fire up apps on their computers, even the ones they?ve already purchased for smartphones or tablets.

The new program comes from software developer BlueStacks, according to a story from PC World, and is actually available (for free) right now. Aptly named Android Player, it works on Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP and can operate using apps downloaded from Google Play, GetJar, 1Mobile Market and the Amazon Appstore. In fact, according to BlueStacks, users should be able to use on their PCs as many as 450,000 different Android apps.

This isn?t the first app emulator to pop up for PC users, but BlueStacks has a leg up on other similar programs for Android and iOS with its new ?Layercake? technology. The new software allows apps built to use things like the Unity Engine, ARM hardware or hardware accelerators like the Tegra 2 in tablets and smartphones to adapt to the technology of PCs, using things like AMD processors. The result, basically, is that apps work like they should on PC, and aren?t hamstrung by hardware incompatibilities.

Moving Android apps, specifically games, to other platforms hasn?t exactly been a quick and easy process. Mobile apps translate pretty well between mobile platforms. iOS games and Android games frequently cross-pollinate each other?s ecosystems, and many of those same games are jumping the gap over to Windows Phone territory as well. But fewer titles have adapted from mobile to other platforms. Most of the time, it?s PC games that are ported to the mobile space, and those games generally have to be rebuilt from the ground up. The same is true with bringing Angry Birds to PlayStation 3, for example.

That BlueStacks opens up the door for almost half a million apps to be useable on PCs makes it a pretty big deal, and it should even make it possible to send access Android apps on upcoming Windows 8 tablets. Better still, it?s available right now: you can download it from BlueStacks? website right here. You can also pick up the Bluestacks Cloud Connect app, which will allow you to send things like push notifications and text messages from your Android devices to your PC, as well as the apps found on your smartphone or tablet.

Appolicious published an interview with BlueStacks CEO Rosen Sharma last June.

Source: http://www.androidapps.com/tech/articles/11519-bluestacks-android-emulator-lets-you-use-apps-on-your-pc

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Creating A Home-Based Business Online Chance - Home Based ...

There are many various techniques that you can produce a property-based on-line opportunity. Within this article today we are going to look at creating a residence-based on-line company chance.

The 1st one that we will look at is to turn out to be a freelance writer.? This is a quite good way for you to make funds if you will need some component-time income but it is not as something that you can do on a full-time basis.? It is frequently hard simply because there are so a lot of writers out there that the amount of money one can make off of freelancing may well not be sufficient to pay the bills.? This can be a excellent way to commence and get your feet wet working on the internet since you?ll have many different opportunities to find out about various areas of the Web.? Several authors have been given the chance to write and find out about various subjects such as writing for e-zines and other on the internet opportunities. This can make you a lot more savvy about the Web and how you could further produce a home-based on the internet organization opportunity via your talent and insights from your freelancing experience.?? If you are interested in learning much more about freelance writing, you really should look into directfreelance.com or freelanceworkexchange.com.? I would highly recommend looking? at freelanceworkexchange.com simply because if you join for a week, you can see a variety of jobs that they have to give as nicely as be able to download an in-depth ebook on how to make great income freelancing.? This e-book is really useful and gives you some very good suggestions to make extra income freelancing or how to marketplace your self adequately as a freelancer.

Another way you can work in creating a home-based online business chance is to work on creating a internet site built around a particular theme or niche.? This does not take a fantastic deal of income and if you work at this, it can construct up into a extremely nice part-time or full-time income for you.? You may possibly not see instantaneous results but if you take time every single day to work on creating your website you?ll be pleased with the end result.? If you want to discover some underserved niches that are in need of a excellent web site to be built around this, take a look at the following internet site: www.findhotniches.com.? This web site will give you particular info on how to develop a site and a niche as properly as certain niches that want some development.? You are given all the tools and you have to take your time and develop a site.

Hopefully this post nowadays on developing a home-based on the internet company opportunity is giving you some food for thought.? We only looked into a couple of probable suggestions but if you take the lessons learned here and search the World wide web and maintain an open mind, you can locate anything that can possibly interest you.? If you look the site www.clickbank.com and look around at the different items, you may discover an affiliate program that you might want to market as nicely.? What is great about this certain internet site is that every thing is already set up as far as products are related and all you have to do is figure out how to sell the product.? This will go back to you learning a lot more about Web marketing and about the various strategies that you can do for this.

Source: http://www.inaac.org/creating-a-home-based-business-online-chance.html

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Video: Cancer death rate declines

A new government report found the overall cancer death rate is falling, and the incidence of cancer deaths is declining in men and has leveled off in women. NBC?s Robert Bazell reports.

>>> as we mentioned, new numbers on cancer deaths tonight are showing something of a gender gap . the numbers are getting better for men but not as much for women. our chief science correspondent robert bazell has more for us.

>> in its annual report to the nation on cancer, the government finds that the overall death rate is falling, but not as much for women as for men. and the snenls of cancer continues to decline for men, but for women it's leveled off. no one knows all of the reasons for the trends, but in a industry report, the government emphasized that obesity and lack of exercise are increasingly recognized as major risk factors for many kinds of cancer. fully half of all cancer deaths in the u.s. could be prevented. the biggest preventable cause, not surprisingly, remains tobacco, possible for one third of cancer deaths. 189,000 a year. but obesity now accounts for one fifth or 114,000 deaths annually. many experts worry that the obesity epidemic threatens to wipe out many of the gains.

>>> much more on this study on bob's blog tonight on our website, nbcnightynews.com.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46886159/

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Beatrice Mintz, Ph.D., receives ninth annual AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research

Beatrice Mintz, Ph.D., receives ninth annual AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 29-Mar-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Diana Quattrone@fccc.edu
Diana.Quattrone@fccc.edu
215-815-7828
Fox Chase Cancer Center

CHICAGO (March 27, 2012)Beatrice Mintz, Ph.D., professor and Jack Schultz chair in basic science at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, will receive the Ninth Annual AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research during the opening ceremony of the AACR Annual Meeting 2012, held Sunday, April 1, at 8:15 a.m. CT in room W375 of McCormick Place West.

The AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research was established in 2004 to honor an individual who has made significant fundamental contributions to cancer research, either through a single scientific discovery or a body of work. These contributions, whether they have been in research, leadership or mentorship, must have had a lasting impact on the cancer field and must have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to progress against cancer.

"Dr. Mintz's scientific insights have led to new directions in developmental cancer biology and genetics," said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the AACR. "Her groundbreaking work has helped shape our understanding of stem cell behavior and the tumor microenvironment in cancer, and has provided scientists with important tools to study the many types of cancer."

Mintz's pioneering research involving chimeric and transgenic mice, stem cells and tumor microenvironments have had a profound effect on cancer research and have greatly advanced the techniques that scientists use today to study the molecular genetic mechanisms that drive cancer progression. Her work has also contributed to a better understanding of the role of epigenetic changes in cancer.

Mintz said she likes to ask big questions, as they hold the most promise of uncovering the underlying order in complex events. Her first big question was: How does a complex organism, such as a mouse, develop from a single-cell fertilized egg? That question, though not in itself new, led her to devise methods enabling a new experimental approach to the problem. By assembling early embryo cells from two genetically different mouse strains, viable "chimeric" mice were obtained, in which the genetic differences served as markers of cell migrations and interactions. Development occurred as an orderly expanding hierarchy of clones from small numbers of increasingly specialized stem cells, with a favorable balance between proliferation and differentiation.

In the mid-1970s, Mintz then proposed that cancer is essentially a genetically caused aberration of development, in which the balance is shifted toward stem cell proliferation. Thus, her research has made it possible to study cancer experimentally in an intact model organism throughout life.

Mintz chose to examine the relation between genetically cancer-prone early stem cells and normal cells, by producing chimeras including stem cells of a mouse teratocarcinoma (a tumor of the earliest-stage stem cells). The results were dramatic. Normal mice were obtained in which tumor-strain cells were found in all tissues examined, along with normal-strain cells. This led to another new and important concept that the microenvironment can have an ameliorating effect on the behavior of cancer cells.

Her laboratory next produced an in vitro stem cell line of the teratocarcinoma genotype, and showed that it could serve as a vehicle to convey a desired genetic change into the embryo, after first testing the cells in culture for that change. Next, the availability of specific DNA independently allowed Mintz's laboratory, and several others, to introduce a gene of interest directly into the fertilized egg. The change is then transmitted to offspring through the germ line. These mice are termed "transgenic."

Mintz has chosen to produce melanoma-prone transgenic mice that are valid models of melanoma in humans. The mice provide a means of improving our understanding of this malignancy, and of exploring treatments.

During her career, Mintz has authored more than 170 scientific publications, advancing our knowledge of developmental biology and genetics in cancer research. A member of the prestigious U.S. National Academy of Sciences since 1973, she has won numerous awards for pioneering research, including the Lewis S. Rosenstiel Award in Basic Medical Research, in 1980, the Genetics Society of America Medal, in 1981, the Ernst Jung Gold Medal for Medicine, in 1990, the American Cancer Society National Medal of Honor for Basic Research, in 1997, and in 2011, the Szent-Gyrgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research from the National Foundation for Cancer Research. She has been a member of numerous editorial boards and has received several honorary degrees.

Mintz earned a bachelor's degree from Hunter College of The City University of New York and a doctorate at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City.

###

About Fox Chase Cancer Center

Fox Chase Cancer Center is one of the leading cancer research and treatment centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation's first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center's nursing program has received the Magnet status for excellence three consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. For more information, visit Fox Chase's Web site at www.foxchase.org or call 1-888-FOX CHASE or (1-888-369-2427).

About the AACR

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR's membership includes 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 18,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes seven peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of individual and team science grants in cancer research that have the potential for patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer.


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Beatrice Mintz, Ph.D., receives ninth annual AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 29-Mar-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Diana Quattrone@fccc.edu
Diana.Quattrone@fccc.edu
215-815-7828
Fox Chase Cancer Center

CHICAGO (March 27, 2012)Beatrice Mintz, Ph.D., professor and Jack Schultz chair in basic science at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, will receive the Ninth Annual AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research during the opening ceremony of the AACR Annual Meeting 2012, held Sunday, April 1, at 8:15 a.m. CT in room W375 of McCormick Place West.

The AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research was established in 2004 to honor an individual who has made significant fundamental contributions to cancer research, either through a single scientific discovery or a body of work. These contributions, whether they have been in research, leadership or mentorship, must have had a lasting impact on the cancer field and must have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to progress against cancer.

"Dr. Mintz's scientific insights have led to new directions in developmental cancer biology and genetics," said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the AACR. "Her groundbreaking work has helped shape our understanding of stem cell behavior and the tumor microenvironment in cancer, and has provided scientists with important tools to study the many types of cancer."

Mintz's pioneering research involving chimeric and transgenic mice, stem cells and tumor microenvironments have had a profound effect on cancer research and have greatly advanced the techniques that scientists use today to study the molecular genetic mechanisms that drive cancer progression. Her work has also contributed to a better understanding of the role of epigenetic changes in cancer.

Mintz said she likes to ask big questions, as they hold the most promise of uncovering the underlying order in complex events. Her first big question was: How does a complex organism, such as a mouse, develop from a single-cell fertilized egg? That question, though not in itself new, led her to devise methods enabling a new experimental approach to the problem. By assembling early embryo cells from two genetically different mouse strains, viable "chimeric" mice were obtained, in which the genetic differences served as markers of cell migrations and interactions. Development occurred as an orderly expanding hierarchy of clones from small numbers of increasingly specialized stem cells, with a favorable balance between proliferation and differentiation.

In the mid-1970s, Mintz then proposed that cancer is essentially a genetically caused aberration of development, in which the balance is shifted toward stem cell proliferation. Thus, her research has made it possible to study cancer experimentally in an intact model organism throughout life.

Mintz chose to examine the relation between genetically cancer-prone early stem cells and normal cells, by producing chimeras including stem cells of a mouse teratocarcinoma (a tumor of the earliest-stage stem cells). The results were dramatic. Normal mice were obtained in which tumor-strain cells were found in all tissues examined, along with normal-strain cells. This led to another new and important concept that the microenvironment can have an ameliorating effect on the behavior of cancer cells.

Her laboratory next produced an in vitro stem cell line of the teratocarcinoma genotype, and showed that it could serve as a vehicle to convey a desired genetic change into the embryo, after first testing the cells in culture for that change. Next, the availability of specific DNA independently allowed Mintz's laboratory, and several others, to introduce a gene of interest directly into the fertilized egg. The change is then transmitted to offspring through the germ line. These mice are termed "transgenic."

Mintz has chosen to produce melanoma-prone transgenic mice that are valid models of melanoma in humans. The mice provide a means of improving our understanding of this malignancy, and of exploring treatments.

During her career, Mintz has authored more than 170 scientific publications, advancing our knowledge of developmental biology and genetics in cancer research. A member of the prestigious U.S. National Academy of Sciences since 1973, she has won numerous awards for pioneering research, including the Lewis S. Rosenstiel Award in Basic Medical Research, in 1980, the Genetics Society of America Medal, in 1981, the Ernst Jung Gold Medal for Medicine, in 1990, the American Cancer Society National Medal of Honor for Basic Research, in 1997, and in 2011, the Szent-Gyrgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research from the National Foundation for Cancer Research. She has been a member of numerous editorial boards and has received several honorary degrees.

Mintz earned a bachelor's degree from Hunter College of The City University of New York and a doctorate at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City.

###

About Fox Chase Cancer Center

Fox Chase Cancer Center is one of the leading cancer research and treatment centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation's first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center's nursing program has received the Magnet status for excellence three consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. For more information, visit Fox Chase's Web site at www.foxchase.org or call 1-888-FOX CHASE or (1-888-369-2427).

About the AACR

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR's membership includes 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 18,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes seven peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of individual and team science grants in cancer research that have the potential for patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer.


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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.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-03/fccc-bmp032912.php

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Career Opportunities With a Computer Science Degree

A career in computers is still a popular choice even in the current recessive economic times we are experiencing. With advances in computer technology and network communications leading to continuous developments, the requirement for trained professionals and skilled graduates is always in high demand. A computer science major is popular choice for students today as this field remains at the forefront of expanding technology. Students with a computer science degree will always be a hot
candidate in the job market.

Computer science involves the host of sub-divisions ranging from theory to development, programming to computing solutions. A computer science degree provides a foundation that prepares students to constantly adapt to new ideas and technologies. Computer scientists are required to design and create software, problem shoot as and when needs arise, process and store data, devise new and effective security methods and most exciting of all ? develop new and innovative ways of using computers. Professionals in computer science have pushed the boundaries of science and technology to enter the fray of robotics and digital forensics ? fields that had not even existed a few decades ago.

A computer science degree demands an aptitude for math and analytical thought. Students interested in a career in computer science should consider going for a BCS degree to qualify for jobs in this field. A good Bachelors degree in computer sciences will prepare students in implementing and designing software. Software development now entails new areas such as interface design, web development, and mobile computing. Once entrenched in the work force with enough practical work experience, a Masters degree in computer science can help improve job prospects and further your specialization in a particular field.

If your Bachelor of Computer Science degree pushes you towards a career in computer solutions, you would be applying all your theoretical knowledge towards solving computing issues and problems. This field would require a higher degree; even a Ph.D. and a research position in a developmental laboratory. If you choose to get into computer development, you have the option of getting into an entrepreneurial position and maybe even starting your own company that specializes in the same.

There are also a number of new careers that demand a CS degree such as web development, information technology, computing management, information security and database administration. Web development is the latest trend and almost every company today has a website. Web developers in turn create and maintain these sites using the latest technological know-how and marketing strategies. The communications industry has pushed the boundaries of information technology. Computer science graduates are now employed with mobile companies to develop faster and better ways of communicating. Many MBA graduates now also specialize in computers and programming. Employers are always on the lookout for those with multiple skills and training and career success is a given for these students. Database administrators are also in demand, as more and more companies require their services to effectively collect and interpret information that will help the company to strategize efforts and move forward. Another fast-growing prospect in this field is the subject of online security-predicted to play a strategic role in the future of computer technology. Information security comes into play with regard to online shopping, Internet banking and privacy management.

A computer science degree will therefore prepare you for a challenging career in a variety of jobs. Armed with a solid educational background, the choices are then up to you to make depending on your aptitude and interests.

California College San Diego (CCSD) has trained graduates for new careers in high demand jobs since 1978. This California College, located in San Diego, offers Associate, Bachelor and Graduate degrees in healthcare, business, computer and graphic arts. CCSD also provides accelerated degrees with its FastFlex option. In-demand college degree programs offered by CCSD are strictly accredited to meet the accreditation standards set by U.S. Dept. of Ed.

Author: Michael M B
:

Source: http://e07.net/career-opportunities-with-a-computer-science-degree/

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Does BMI affect post-surgical complications, survival in esophageal adenocarcinoma?

Does BMI affect post-surgical complications, survival in esophageal adenocarcinoma? [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 28-Mar-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Patty Kim
Patty.Kim@moffitt.org
813-745-7322
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Moffitt Cancer Center researchers find it does not play a role in surgical complications or in survival

TAMPA, Fla. -- Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., have found contrary to previous studies linking inferior outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies to higher body mass index (BMI) that in their study of BMI and negative outcomes, there was no such link. They concluded that BMI was not associated with either surgical complications or esophageal cancer patient survival.

Their study was published in the current online issue of the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, published by the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.

"The incidence of esophageal cancer in North America is rising," said study co-author Kenneth L. Meredith, M.D., assistant member at Moffitt and chief of the Esophagogastric Oncology Section. "Corresponding to that rise, there has been a dramatic rise in overweight and obese people as defined by the World Health Organization's guidelines indicating those having a BMI of 25 to 29.9 as being overweight and those who are obese as having a BMI of over 30."

According to the researchers, the increase in obesity and the increase in esophageal cancer has been linked, as has obesity been similarly linked with other kinds of cancers. Obesity is recognized as a risk factor for esophageal cancer. What remains in question, however, is whether a high BMI affects post-surgical complications and overall survival among esophageal cancer patients who have been treated with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

"The correlation of obesity with surgical risks and postoperative survival is more important given the rise in obesity rates, yet more clarity on potential correlation is needed," said Meredith. "The literature shows mixed study results."

In their paper, the authors cited a number of studies that correlated lower BMI with better outcomes for a variety of cancers as well as studies that found no prognostic significance correlating higher BMI with poorer outcomes.

Because of the prevailing belief that patients with a high BMI tend to have more surgical complications as compared to normal weight patients, the Moffitt researchers examined esophageal cancer patient data on BMI for links to surgical risk and postoperative survival, especially for those patients with high BMI.

Their study included 303 esophageal cancer patients treated with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery who were stratified by their BMI to include those with BMIs less than 25 to greater than 35. The only demographic differences were in gender, with a higher proportion of males in the BMI 25 to 30 group.

"Our study demonstrated no significant differences in overall survival or disease-free survival in relation to BMI for patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery after prior treatment with chemotherapy and radiation," said Meredith. "Additionally, there were no differences in perioperative complications or mortality associated with BMI. In short, our data failed to demonstrate a link between BMI and surgical outcome."

###

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Follow Moffitt on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MoffittCancerCenter

Follow Moffitt on Twitter: @MoffittNews

Follow Moffitt on YouTube: MoffittNews

Located in Tampa, Moffitt Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, which recognizes Moffitt's excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country's leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Hospitals" for cancer.

Media release by Florida Science Communications



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


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.


Does BMI affect post-surgical complications, survival in esophageal adenocarcinoma? [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 28-Mar-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Patty Kim
Patty.Kim@moffitt.org
813-745-7322
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Moffitt Cancer Center researchers find it does not play a role in surgical complications or in survival

TAMPA, Fla. -- Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., have found contrary to previous studies linking inferior outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies to higher body mass index (BMI) that in their study of BMI and negative outcomes, there was no such link. They concluded that BMI was not associated with either surgical complications or esophageal cancer patient survival.

Their study was published in the current online issue of the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, published by the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.

"The incidence of esophageal cancer in North America is rising," said study co-author Kenneth L. Meredith, M.D., assistant member at Moffitt and chief of the Esophagogastric Oncology Section. "Corresponding to that rise, there has been a dramatic rise in overweight and obese people as defined by the World Health Organization's guidelines indicating those having a BMI of 25 to 29.9 as being overweight and those who are obese as having a BMI of over 30."

According to the researchers, the increase in obesity and the increase in esophageal cancer has been linked, as has obesity been similarly linked with other kinds of cancers. Obesity is recognized as a risk factor for esophageal cancer. What remains in question, however, is whether a high BMI affects post-surgical complications and overall survival among esophageal cancer patients who have been treated with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

"The correlation of obesity with surgical risks and postoperative survival is more important given the rise in obesity rates, yet more clarity on potential correlation is needed," said Meredith. "The literature shows mixed study results."

In their paper, the authors cited a number of studies that correlated lower BMI with better outcomes for a variety of cancers as well as studies that found no prognostic significance correlating higher BMI with poorer outcomes.

Because of the prevailing belief that patients with a high BMI tend to have more surgical complications as compared to normal weight patients, the Moffitt researchers examined esophageal cancer patient data on BMI for links to surgical risk and postoperative survival, especially for those patients with high BMI.

Their study included 303 esophageal cancer patients treated with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery who were stratified by their BMI to include those with BMIs less than 25 to greater than 35. The only demographic differences were in gender, with a higher proportion of males in the BMI 25 to 30 group.

"Our study demonstrated no significant differences in overall survival or disease-free survival in relation to BMI for patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery after prior treatment with chemotherapy and radiation," said Meredith. "Additionally, there were no differences in perioperative complications or mortality associated with BMI. In short, our data failed to demonstrate a link between BMI and surgical outcome."

###

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Follow Moffitt on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MoffittCancerCenter

Follow Moffitt on Twitter: @MoffittNews

Follow Moffitt on YouTube: MoffittNews

Located in Tampa, Moffitt Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, which recognizes Moffitt's excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country's leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Hospitals" for cancer.

Media release by Florida Science Communications



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


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.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-03/hlmc-dba032812.php

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

When History Joins The Future

In the 1920s, Telfair Stockton developed the Jacksonville neighborhood of Avondale. The area was designed by an architect from Ohio named William Pitkin. Along with its sixteen urban parks, its commercial district still exists today. This array of specialty shops, boutiques and restaurants along St. Johns Avenue is still going strong.

Because of a Florida internet marketing company named BreezeGo, people all over the world can benefit from businesses like these in Jacksonville. The employees at BreezeGo make it their mission to develop high quality products and services for companies that want to advertise their own products and services in a fresh and interesting way. BreezeGo is the internet marketing company Florida residents trust above many online marketing websites.

BreezeGo offers many different services to their customers. This Florida internet marketing company has been in business since 2006. In 2009, it merged with another reputable company in order to expand its possibilities for design. Here are just a few of the reasons it stands out as one of the top online marketing websites:

Professional website designers are waiting to help businesses give the best impression possible to potential customers. BreezeGo is the internet marketing company Florida businesses use for their web design needs. Their creativity will boost sales by keeping customers on the client?s site.

As one of the best online marketing websites, BreezeGo can also help drive traffic to the sites it designs. Its strategy includes the best techniques in the online marketplace. Search engine optimization is huge in the success of a business, and BreezeGo makes sure that its clients? sites will consistently rank high in search engines. Through Paid Search and Link Building, potential customers can easily find these sites as well. E-mail and social media marketing play a big part in BreezeGo?s strategy. The company even offers businesses a good showing on local maps.

While building a unique website and driving traffic to it are essential for good business, many companies new to internet marketing find it difficult to see exactly how they are doing with their online presence. BreezeGo helps pinpoint success with its website analytics tools. This tool not only analyzes who is actually viewing a site, but it also analyzes potential customers through activity off the site.

Those new to conducting business online can benefit from the web hosting offered by this Florida internet marketing company. Customers can register their domains through BreezeGo and enjoy the privileges of the Basic or Premium Hosting services. Multiple domains can be hosted under even the Basic Package along with unlimited storage and transfer. The Premium plan delivers even more service for the serious business owner.

For companies that already own a website, BreezeGo offers a complimentary website analysis. This includes information about where a site ranks, how well the site performs with major search engines and whether other sites are linking to it.

When Mr. Stockton brainstormed about an urban area of commerce for Jacksonville in the 1920?s, he probably never dreamed of the far-reaching effects of the internet. Thanks to companies like BreezeGo, his innovation can be multiplied to create future business growth for Jacksonville. As the internet marketing company Florida companies trust, BreezeGo can go beyond developing a neighborhood to making Jacksonville business available to internet users around the globe.

Source: http://www.breezego.com/when-history-joins-the-future/

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Today on New Scientist: 26 March 2012

Disputed painting revealed as a Van Gogh

High-energy radiation reveals that a painting of a bouquet considered too flowery to be done by Van Gogh was actually his

Man with no pulse: How turbines can replace a heart

Watch a short film that follows a groundbreaking surgery to replace a dying man's heart with a beatless device

'Lab rat' of botany gets technicolour makeover

Arabidopsis thaliana, the first plant to have its genome fully sequenced, reveals its natural yellow dreadlocks and ethereal glow

Make PhDs employees not students

Giving PhD candidates professional status should banish feelings of "belonging to a pariah class" says representative body

Why a soundscape is worth a thousand pictures

Bernie Krause, author of The Great Animal Orchestra, explains how audio recordings of the natural world offer an insight into intricate habitats

A question of intelligence

Why are humans the smartest animals on Earth?

10 biggest puzzles of human evolution

We are the ape that stood on two feet, lost its fur and crossed the globe - but why? New Scientist explores these and other enduring riddles of our past

Mutant protein may allow flu to kill

Why is flu a mild infection in certain people but deadly in others? A single protein could explain the mystery in some cases

Metal detector knows how much cash is in your wallet

Detecting the magnetic ink on banknotes means the number of notes can be instantly counted

Green tea could mask testosterone doping

Cheating athletes could defy drug tests by drinking green or white tea, which blocks the release of testosterone into urine

Seeing through the fog of war

The technologies that fuelled the Arab spring are also laying bare its grim toll on human life

Subscribe to New Scientist Magazine

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/492992/s/1dcdce12/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cshortsharpscience0C20A120C0A30Ctoday0Eon0Enew0Escientist0E260Emarc0E10Bhtml/story01.htm

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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

FHA Loans for First of all Time Residence Customers | Tips and Tricks

When selecting a dwelling for the very first time, new dwelling owners have a way to finance this significant and lifetime-adjusting pay for. For the reason that this might be the to start with time they are getting a residential home, first of all time family home owners can not have good enough personal savings in the bank and might possibly be going through money hardships for this sort of a pay for. FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans enable initially time your home customers a will mean to finance payment for their new household. FHA loans are open up to anyone who might possibly desire an individual, but generally are directed at many very first time your home purchasers in purchase to help them in paying for a dwelling even while they may possibly have restricted cost savings.

FHA loans are inclined to be extra well-liked in excess of regular loans for two principal explanations. Initially, an FHA mortgage entails the least amount for down payment, at 3.5%, when when compared to other financial loan variations. Due to the fact an FHA financial loan by now targets those who are short on savings for their first of all household, using a financial loan which needs the the very least amount to start off is a second benefit for 1st time household clients. Second, the property finance loan insurance policies is typically reduce than that of a traditional loan. The fascination rate of FHA loans often is a quarter-p.c significantly less than that of regular loans. Lower interest charges advantage the family home buyer in that it lets them to preserve far more of their revenue for other preferences.

Folks who are intrigued in FHA loans also ought to qualify dependent on certain standards. In buy to qualify, FHA loans have to have a credit rating of at the very least 640. This differs from regular loans in that typical loans demand a credit score score of only 620. Also, intrigued events needs to have four to six months reserved in the lender in the amount of four to six months of the mortgage loan. This assures the loan company that the fascinated party is able of building the 1st handful of months? home finance loan payments. Ultimately, men and women intrigued in FHA loans have to have a ratio of debt to cash flow a smaller amount than forty five%. This assures that the social gathering has a move of cash flow larger than the financial debt payments they might possibly have to make, permitting the money to be put in the direction of month to month home finance loan payments.

Immediately after you have experienced a mortgage loan somewhere between a bare minimum of 6 months to a particular yr and you have demonstrated to make reliable payments, you could possibly be equipped to participate in an FHA streamline. An FHA streamline is when the organization is equipped to refinance your property finance loan fee at no excess fee. For these who make their payments appropriately and well timed and who qualify for an FHA streamline, an FHA streamline will make it much easier on home owners and support them by reducing their month-to-month mortgage loan payments and curiosity costs.

For individuals very first time dwelling customers, obtaining a new property can appear to be like a challenging and irritating celebration. Having said that, with an FHA mortgage, choosing that to begin with property is constructed a minimal little bit much easier not only on your self but on your financials as properly.

Trying to get more data how much down for an fha loan?Go to our web-site for additional details.

Source: http://tipsatricks.com/fha-loans-for-first-of-all-time-residence-customers

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Gold Coin Investments Can Help Diversify IRA Transfer or 401k ...

All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Silver-Gold.net makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis

Source: http://silver-gold.net/?p=1153

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Sunday, March 25, 2012

FRANK ALVARO - Alvaro Edwards Solicitors: Business franchising ...

As a method of getting a foothold into starting, owning and running a business, business format franchising is a well regarded and popular method.? Indeed, on a per capita basis, Australia is said to be the ?franchise capital of the world?, even more so than the USA.There are plenty of good-news stories and guides about the advantages of business format franchising.? A timely article in today?s Sydney Morning Herald, however, highlights what many consider an often neglected downside, for franchisees, in many franchising systems.? Even after allowing for any rights to renew for additional terms, most franchise agreements have a final end date, be it 5, 10 years or even 20 years from the start date, for example.

?

Once the franchise term is at an end, typically there is no right for the franchisee to obtain a new agreement from the franchisor.? Or as the article puts it, if you?re at the end of your franchising contract, the franchisor can do whatever it wants.

Unlike typical non-franchise businesses, towards the end of the franchise contract, the franchisee can find themselves with no rights, no asset... you have nothing at all; there?s no goodwill, there?s nothing.? You pick up your kit bag and go home.?

Metaphorically, and possibly quite literally, once you lock the doors for the last time, the keys are just simply handed back to the franchisor.? No reward, no payment and no return for the goodwill that was probably built up over years of hard work.

On the other hand, if one has an independant,?non-connected and successful small business enterprise, the owner usually has a valuable asset to sell; the years? worth of built up goodwill adding value and hopefully providing a decent return when the business is sold.

It?s not all bad.? If you?re thinking about starting or buying a franchise business, it's vitally important you just need to be aware of these sort of issues.? As always, make an informed decision after obtaining professional advice, particularly from your accountant and your solicitor.

Source: http://alvaroedwards.blogspot.com/2012/03/business-franchising-can-be-good-but-is.html

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Mike Tyson set to tell his story in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has, in his own words, behaved like a "Neanderthal" for much of his life.

But next month, he hopes to become a "controlled artist, a disciplined artist" when he takes to a Las Vegas stage to talk about his checkered life as a childhood thief, an ear-biting fighter, an addict and a father of eight.

Tyson, who in 1986 became the youngest world heavyweight champion at age 20, is set to perform an autobiographical monologue called "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth - Live on Stage."

"I hope people are entertained, and happy. I hope they get to know certain things. My story's not pretty. There's lots of ugly stuff - not knowing if my mother ever loved me, or who my father was," Tyson, now 45, told Reuters in an interview.

In a hint at what may be in store for listeners, Tyson recalled growing up in a household with an absent father and an overburdened mother, and talked about how his older brother, Rodney, became a doctor, while he was a thief as a child.

"My brother's not as ignorant as I am, or was back then," he says, adding: "He's the first black person I saw play hockey."

That's Tyson's way of illustrating how different their lives have been, though both came from the tough Brooklyn neighborhood of Brownsville.

"He was always at the top of his class," Tyson said of his brother. "I was a different kid."

Tyson was undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion in the 1980s but in 1992 he was convicted of raping teenage beauty queen Desiree Washington in Indiana and served three years in prison.

He added to his notoriety later in the decade when he bit rival Evander Holyfield on both ears in a 1997 bout, for which he was disqualified and temporarily suspended from boxing. Tyson declared bankruptcy in 2003 and retired from professional boxing in 2006.

'RECKLESS AND DESTRUCTIVE'

Since his retirement from boxing, Tyson has appeared in the TV shows "Entourage" and "Brothers" and had a cameo role in the 2009 hit comedy movie "The Hangover."

Tyson credits his former trainer and mentor Cus D'Amato for his successes. Before D'Amato took him in, Tyson said, "I never met a white guy that knew how to talk to me. Before that, it was always submissive, ?Yes sir, no sir.'"

"He always told me, be careful how you fight, because the way you fight your fights is the way you live your life. And the way I fought was reckless and destructive and that that's how I lived my life for a while.

"I wish I was then the way I am now," Tyson said.

Adam Steck, the show's producer, said audiences will be surprised by the performances, which are scheduled for April 13-18 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip.

"People think they know Mike Tyson but this is a totally different angle," Steck said. "The way he approaches life, he's a very spiritual guy and has learned so many lessons from life."

The former champion said he has learned to control his once-feared anger, a calm his wife, Kiki Tyson, attributes to a vegan diet. But signs of his rage arose when he talked about the February killing of black 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida.

"I wanna be angry, but what good would that do?" Tyson said.

Martin's shooting by a neighborhood watch volunteer who has not been charged in the case, has sparked protests in several U.S. cities.

Tyson called the incident tragic and said it "shut black America down. It shut all decent humanity down."

"I think about the kid they shot in Florida and I think about, it could be my son," he said.

As for today's fighters, Tyson demurs when asked if he thinks he could go toe-to-toe in the ring with heavyweights like the Klitschko brothers, who have been champions for much of the last decade.

"My ego tells me I could've beaten God ... but everyone has his day," Tyson said.

Turning his thoughts back to Mike Tyson the man, he said "You can only be an athlete for a certain part of your life. But you're gonna be a human for the rest of your life. So you work hard to become a better human."

(Editing by Cynthia Johnston, David Bailey and Eric Beech)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mike-tyson-set-tell-story-las-vegas-012338178--boxing.html

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Newt Gingrich: Obama's Trayvon Martin Statement 'Disgraceful'

Gingrich Trayvon Martin

Republican presidential candidate, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich speaks during the Gulf Coast Energy Summit at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on March 12, 2012 in Biloxi, Mississippi. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)