Foursquare To Start Using Full Names, Sharing More Of Your Data With Venues From January 28, According To New Privacy Policy

Foursquare -- which this year passed its three-billionth check-in, added 15 million more users to its network, and in October kicked off a new chapter as a stronger competitor to Yelp with more local information and reviews -- is now updating its privacy policy to keep up. It has been sending out an email to its users informing them that as of January 28, it will add in two new items that will reveal more user data than before: the use of full names and the ability for businesses to access longer data logs for individuals.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/XvxT7lTZFP4/

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GOP governors walk balance beam on health law

FILE - In this May 16, 2012 file photo, Florida Gov. Rick Scott speaks in Fort Lauderdale. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, long opposed President Barack Obama's remake of the health insurance market. After President Obama won re-election, the Republican governor softened his tone. He said he wanted to "have a conversation" with the administration about implementing the 2010 law. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter, File)

FILE - In this May 16, 2012 file photo, Florida Gov. Rick Scott speaks in Fort Lauderdale. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, long opposed President Barack Obama's remake of the health insurance market. After President Obama won re-election, the Republican governor softened his tone. He said he wanted to "have a conversation" with the administration about implementing the 2010 law. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter, File)

FILE - This Dec. 20, 2012 file photo shows New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie listens to a question in Belmar, N.J. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who made a fortune as a health care executive, long opposed President Barack Obama's remake of the health insurance market. After the Democratic president won re-election, the Republican governor softened his tone. In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie also has walked a careful line. Both Republican governors face re-election in states that Obama won twice, Christie in 2013 and Scott in 2014. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

ATLANTA (AP) ? Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who made a fortune as a health care executive, long opposed President Barack Obama's remake of the health insurance market. After the Democratic president won re-election, the Republican governor softened his tone. He said he wanted to "have a conversation" with the administration about implementing the 2010 law. With a federal deadline approaching, he also said while Florida won't set up the exchange for individuals to buy private insurance policies, the feds can do it.

In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie held his cards before saying he won't set up his own exchange, but he's avoided absolute language and says he could change his mind. He's also leaving his options open to accept federal money to expand Medicaid insurance for people who aren't covered. The caveat, Christie says, is whether Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius can "answer my questions" about its operations and expense.

Both Republican governors face re-election in states that Obama won twice, Christie in 2013 and Scott in 2014. And both will encounter well-financed Democrats.

Their apparent struggles on the issue, along with other postures by their GOP colleagues elsewhere, suggest political uncertainty for Republicans as the Affordable Care Act starts to go into effect two years after clearing Congress without a single Republican vote. The risks also are acute for governors in Democratic-leaning or swing-voting states or who know their records will be parsed should they seek the presidency in 2016 or beyond.

"It's a tough call for many Republican governors who want to do the best thing for their state but don't want to be seen as advancing an overhaul that many Republicans continue to detest," said Whit Ayers, a consultant in Virginia whose clients include Gov. Bill Haslam of Tennessee, a Republican who didn't announce his rejection of a state exchange until days before Sebelius's Dec. 14 deadline.

Indeed, cracks keep growing in the near-unanimous Republican rejection of Obama's health care law that characterized the GOP's political messaging for the last two years. Five GOP-led states ? Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah ? are pressing ahead with state insurance exchanges. Ongoing monitoring by The Associated Press shows that another five Republican-led states are pursuing or seriously a partnership with Washington to help run the new markets.

Democrats, meanwhile, hope to use the law and Republican inflexibility to their advantage, betting that more Americans will embrace the law once it expands coverage. The calculus for voters, Democrats assume, will become more about the policy and less about a polarizing president.

"It shouldn't be complicated at all," said John Anzalone, an Obama pollster who assists Democrats in federal races across the country. Anzalone said Republicans could use their own states-rights argument to justify running exchanges. Instead, he said, "They are blinded by Obama-hatred rather than seeing what's good for their citizens."

Governors can set up their own exchanges, partner with Sebelius' agency or let the federal government do it. The exchanges are set to open Jan. 1, 2014, allowing individuals and businesses to shop online for individual policies from private insurers. Low- and middle-income individuals will get federal premium subsidies calculated on a sliding income scale. Eighteen states plus Washington, DC, most led by Democrats, have committed to opening their own exchanges.

The law also calls for raising the income threshold for Medicaid eligibility to cover people making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty line, or about $15,400 a year for an individual. That could add more than 10 million people, most of them childless adults, to the joint state-federal insurance program for low-income and disabled Americans. Together, the exchanges and the Medicaid expansion are expected to reduce the number of uninsured by about 30 million people within the next decade.

A Supreme Court ruling last summer made the Medicaid expansion voluntary, rather than mandatory for states. At least eight governors, all of them Republicans, have already said they have no plans to expand Medicaid.

The complexity is obvious.

National exit polls from last month's election showed that 49 percent of voters wanted some or all of Obama's signature legislative achievement rolled back. Among self-identified independents, that number was 58 percent. Among Republicans, it spiked to 81 percent. When asked about the role of government, half of respondents said the notion that government is doing too much fits their views more closely than the idea that government should do more.

Before the election, a national AP-GfK poll suggested that 63 percent of respondents preferred their states to run insurance exchanges, almost double the 32 percent who wanted the federal government to take that role. And the same electorate that tilts toward repealing some or all of the new law clearly re-elected its champion.

That's not the most important consideration for governors who face re-election in Republican states. Georgia's Nathan Deal and Alabama's Robert Bentley, who also face 2014 campaigns, initially set up advisory commissions to consider how to carry out the health care law, but they've since jumped ship. But, unlike others, Deal and Bentley aren't eyeing national office.

Three Republicans who are viewed as potential national candidates ? Rick Perry of Texas, Nikki Haley of South Carolina and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana ? were full-throated opponents. Jindal, the only one of the three who is term-limited, is the incoming chairman of the Republican Governors Association. In that role, he has co-signed more conciliatory letters to Sebelius asking questions to flesh out how the designs might work.

Republican governors also are feeling quiet pressure from hospitals and other providers.

Deal, the Georgia governor, offers the typical argument for saying no: "We can't afford it." But the law envisions the new Medicaid coverage more or less as a replacement of an existing financing situation that pays hospitals to treat the uninsured. The law contemplates cuts in that program, which already requires state seed money. The idea was that expanding Medicaid coverage would reduce "uncompensated care" costs.

"Some of those cuts were made with the expectation that Medicaid would be expanded and that hospitals would be paid for portions of business that we are not being paid for now," said Don Dalton of the North Carolina Hospital Association.

Dalton's Governor-elect, Republican Pat McCrory, said as a candidate that he opposed Medicaid expansion. Dalton said his industry is leaning on McCrory and legislative leaders, though he commended "their deliberate approach." Similar efforts are underway in South Carolina, Georgia, Missouri and elsewhere.

For Democrats, Anzalone said the framing will be simpler: "You don't want to take a 9-to-1 match? That's a pretty easy investment. These governors who aren't expanding Medicaid, they're basically giving taxpayer money to the states that do."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-12-30-Governors-Health%20Care/id-619c515b94b44696bcafd05d1d81dcbe

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Water ? Conserving Plumbing Fixtures | Useful Home Improvement

Households and businesses use Bellion 4 a gallon of water each day, and predicted states 36 local water shortages, regional or statewide by 2013, according to the ?Environmental Protection Agency in the United States.? There is great potential for consumers to conserve water by changing their behavior. Below is a list of options to consider replacing plumbing fixtures. Many of these items can provide abundant energy efficiency, and then, achieving maximum cost savings.

Toilets: toilets consume about 30 per cent of households of the water used. Since 1992, the use of new latrines maximum of 1.6 gallons each flow, but many of the old toilets are still in the process by using double the amount of water.

Dual-flush toilets, which the user selects a full ? or half ? flush, initially developed in Australia in 1980 and is now available in the United States from many manufacturers.

Composting toilets use little or no water, but instead rely on aerobic decomposition. And plumbing pipes and free from the septic tank. Care and maintenance required for a composting toilet working properly, requires a committed owner. Although it has been installed more than 20,000 composting toilets in the United States, not all regulators are ready to composting toilets ? check with the building and health departments of local environmental laws.

Urinals without water: use standard urinals from 1 to 3 gallons per flush. Urinals without water no water supply, but instead use a chemical trap waste that allow the flow down the drain without allowing sewage escape Jacis.

Shower: shower consumes about 22 per cent of the average Home water use.

Identifying low-flow water conservation shower heads.
Determine the shower with valve closure to allow the user to turn off the water while hurt and restarted without the need to re-adjust the temperature of the water.

Faucets: kitchen and bathroom sink faucets account about 15 percent of indoor water use. Newer faucets may not exceed 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm) at 60 psi or 2.5 gpm at 80 lb / square inch, but the oldest faucets can operate on gpm 3 to 7.

Water Heaters: Consideration of hot water heaters (Tankless) upon request; This can eliminate the need to run the water until it reaches the hot water tap. They may also save energy by heating water only when needed.

Maintenance: when renovation or remodeling, take the opportunity to replace toilets made before 1992, and repair leaks in all the games to stay. Leaks can be added up to tens of thousands of gallons of water wasted each year.

Toilet waste that is running two gallons per minute, while silent leak can waste up to 7,000 gallons each month. Can be found on the silent leaks by adding food coloring to the toilet tank and return in 10 minutes take a look at the toilet. If the food coloring has found its way to the bowl, there is a slow leak requiring new flapper valve or other maintenance. (Clear to clear the food coloring to prevent staining).
Faucet drips every second wastes 2,700 gallons of water annually. Often replace the washer will stop the leak. Add aerator, which mixes air into the water stream, to existing high flow faucets can also reduce the use of water.
To test for leaks other, stop all water taps, and record water meter reading before leaving the house for two or three hours. Upon his return, you should verify that the owner of the house meter reading. If change, there may be a water leak. In addition to plumbing fixtures, sources of leaks might include evaporative cooling system, water heater or irrigation system.

Source: http://www.ecmi2012.org/water-conserving-plumbing-fixtures.html

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DIY Project Parade and DIY Highlights - DIY Show Off

Helloooo friends! It?s nearing the end of 2012. The past week has been filled with Christmas celebrations around here and little DIY. But last week?s DIY party had some great end of year DIY projects shared.

Here are a few DIY highlights?

You?ll want to tuck away a few of these holiday decorating ideas for next year. Lynda at Focal Point Styling shares her designs and inspiration?

Red snowflake boots?{adorable!!!} at Creative Cain Cabin?

If you?re not getting the real thing like we are (a foot of snow and still falling), turn out a few of these beautiful 3D paper snowflakes shared by the Pin Junkie?

Christina shared a simmering potpourri recipe ? such a cute gift idea but I?m wanting to whip up a batch for our home too?

Painting furniture is definitely on my 2013 DIY list of things to do. This beauty by The Velvet Glove is inspiring?

For 2013 gift giving. I?ve googled and attempted (and have been successful too) at some creative money origami ideas for gifts, but loving this creative money gift idea from Linda at Succulent Sisters?and hey, one size fits all!

an amazing kitchen makeover before and after at Running for Lemons?

a sweet gallery wall with hanging tips from Framed Frosting?

and the last project linked up last week, was this awesome mini-mudroom reveal at The Diligent One?wow!

Did you reflect and revisit your 2012 projects? I did?it always feels so good to see what was accomplished.

2012 DIY recap

?

Now, let?s see what you?ve been up to! Feel free to link your best of 2012 posts as well!

{grab the html button code here}

1. Please use the button above or text and link to this post to share the linky love. Here is the link:?http://diyshowoff.com/category/other/diy-project-parade/. I?d love for you to share a link on your FB or by tweeting too if you have the time.?Thanks!

2. This blog linky party is for?DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted. Please share your link one week only.??Please do not link recipes, giveaways, linky parties, promotions or a collection of inspiration.?

3. By joining the party, you give permission for your project to be featured and ?shown off? via blog highlight, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, G+, etc.

DIY Project Parade:

Source: http://diyshowoff.com/2012/12/30/diy-project-parade-and-diy-highlights-4/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=diy-project-parade-and-diy-highlights-4

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Classic Trucks Drawing Attention at Auctions - PickupTrucks.com ...

Posted by Larry Edsall | December 28, 2012

They don't draw the big numbers you hear when a Duesenberg or Ferrari crosses the block, but classic pickup trucks are becoming increasingly popular with bidders at classic car auctions.

Part of the reason is their affordability. Another is that, just like brand new trucks, they can carry a load, perhaps salvaged parts needed for the restoration of another vehicle in a collection. Yet another is that classic pickups are, well, just too cool not to be part of any serious collection.

"It costs a lot less to restore a pickup truck," notes Dave Kinney, a long-time vehicle appraiser and publisher of the Hagerty Price Guide, which tracks classic car (and truck) prices.

"Look at a 1956 Chevy Bel Air and a 1956 Chevy pickup truck," Kinney says. "The truck has a tenth of the chrome, only two doors and one seat, and a rubber mat on the floor."

Kinney also notes "what appraisers call 'value in use' that comes with a classic pickup. "You can take the trash to the dump in a classic pickup and you'd never do that in your '56 Chevy [car]."

Kinney offers yet another reason why pickups have become popular with collectors: Drive your classic Bentley to the hardware store and people will think you're putting on airs. But, Kinney says, "No one hates you when you drive an old pickup truck. You're not showing off, saying 'look at me, I have lots of money.'

"Nobody doesn't like an old pickup truck," he adds. "They make you smile."

Though their recent popularity and the degree of some restorations has caused prices to increase, Kinney says very well-restored classic pickups typically are sold for between $25,000 and $45,000, and six-figure bids are extremely rare.

The classic car auction seasons starts each January, primarily in the Phoenix area, but also with some 3,000 vehicles offered at the Mecum Auctions event in Kissimmee, Fla.

We've been scouring the catalogs for the upcoming auctions to come up with some examples of what will be available should you care to place a bid in Arizona at the Barrett-Jackson, Russo and Steele, Bonhams, Gooding, RM or Silver auctions or at Mecum's event in Florida.

1928 Ford Model A "AR" Type 76A (pictured above)
The R stands for Replaced, and means this was an early production truck produced with parts replaced later in the model year. For example, early 1928 Ford cars had red steering wheels and a hand brake lever on the driver's left. But the braking system was redesigned in March 1928 and the hand brake was moved as part of that process.

This particular "AR" is an open-cab pickup from the famed Oldenburg Family Collection and combines the sportiness of a roadster with the utility of a pickup truck. The engine is a 40-horsepower, 200-cubic-inch L-head inline four, linked to a three-speed manual gearbox. The color is Balsam Green over black fenders. Bonhams expects the truck to sell for as much as $30,000.

1931 Ford Model A pickup
Vehicles sold at classic car auctions can be offered with or without reserve. A reserve is a minimum ? and secret ? plateau the bidding must reach before the vehicle's owner agrees to allow its sale. Obviously, if you're the owner of a $100,000 vehicle, you want some assurance it won't be hammered off at, say, $62,500.

Among the vehicles being sold without reserve in Arizona is this 1931 Ford Model A pickup from the J.D. Parker Antique Auto Collection. Parker collected cars for more than 50 years, but he died in 2011 and many of the vehicles he collected are being made available.

Among them is this '31 Model A, which was restored seven years ago but almost immediately parked back in Parker's warehouse; the car has been driven only 64 miles since its restoration, Russo and Steele catalog reports. The restoration included rebuilding of the engine, brakes, tires, fuel system, exhaust, cooling system, wiring, interior, new wood in the bed (and elsewhere), new glass and window regulations, new vinyl top and re-chromed bumpers.

1937 Hudson Terraplane
Another pickup being sold without reserve is this 1937 Hudson Terraplane, which Russo and Steele's catalog reports may be one of fewer than 10 that survive from that model year.

Essex was a division of the Hudson car company. In 1932, Essex launched a new model, the Terraplane, available as a car or a pickup truck. The Terraplane was known for its powerful engine ? it became a favorite with bootleggers. The pickup version featured a car-like interior, very luxurious for the time.

Hudson dropped the Essex name in 1933 but continued to produce Terraplanes through the 1938 model year.

The Terraplane pickup being offered at Russo and Steele underwent a frame-off restoration in 2011 and features two rare factory options ? a rear bumper and bumperettes. It also has a heater, tool boxes and side-mounted spare tire.

1937 Dodge
For the 1937 model year, Dodge updated the design of its half-ton pickup and also upgraded the dashboard with safety in mind: flush-mounted controls and knobs reduced potential injuries in a crash. Also updated was the 218-cubic-inch L-head six-cylinder engine, which now provided 75 horsepower through a "synchro silent" three-speed manual transmission and new four-point suspension.

This example will be offered at the Silver auction, and the auction houses notes its rarity because post-Depression production numbers were low to begin with and so many "were beat up on farms and dirt roads." Pre-auction estimate for this truck is $29,000 to $49,000.

1954 Chevrolet Custom Deluxe 5-window short bed
While it may look stock, this '54 Chevy pickup has been customized with a 350-cubic-inch small block V8 topped by an Edelbrock manifold and 600-cfm carburetor. Designed for daily driving, this truck also has an eight-inch Ford rear end, Mustang II front suspension with rack and pinion power steering, power brakes and other updates, including a stainless steel gas tank. It will cross the block at the Silver Auction in Arizona.

1957 Dodge Sweptline
Sometimes pickups come with a bonus. For example, this 1957 Dodge Sweptline to be sold at Mecum's event in Florida has a 1959 Eagle Cushman motor scooter in its bed. One bid, two vehicles! Why? The owner of the truck's father was a Cushman dealer in the 1950s.

Speaking of the truck, it's a frame-off restoration in Pacific Blue and White with a 314.6-cid V8 with push-button automatic transmission.

Sweptline, of course, was Dodge's answer to the Chevrolet Cameo Carrier and was created by grafting the rear fenders from Dodge's two-door station wagon to the sides of the pickup box.

1959 Chevrolet 3100 Apache Fleetside Deluxe
Crossing the block at Bonhams sale is this 4x4 pickup, which is among those featured on the 2013 Hemmings Vintage Pickups calendar.

This Apache is, indeed, a classic, because it rides on a NAPCO 4x4 system. In 1942, the Northwestern Auto Parts Co. of Minneapolis began offering its "Powr-Pak" 4x4 conversion. The NAPCO system proved its capability on U.S. military trucks in World War II and by 1956 GM offered the NAPCO setup as a regular production option (RPO). But 1959 was the last year for that arrangement; in 1960 GM started engineering its own 4x4 option.

Bonhams reports this '59 Chevy 3100 Fleetside Deluxe NAPCO truck has been restored to a level normally only seen on high-end passenger cars. It features Bombay Ivory and Frontier Beige paint and chromed bumpers, grill and hubcaps. It also has factory-optional two-speed windshield wipers and heavy-duty radiator.

The interior shows the correct woven pattern cloth, AM radio, heater/defroster with all-wheel-drive operating instructions on the dashboard.

The truck won "Best Non-Passenger" vehicle honors at the 2011 Desert Classic Concours and is expected to sell for as much as $85,000 at the auction.

1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS
Not all the auction action is in Arizona. Mecum Auctions will parade some 3,000 classics across the block in Florida, including this 1970 El Camino SS, which is expected to fetch north of 100 grand.

Why? Because since the '70 El Camino was a Chevelle from the bench seat forward, it could be ordered with Chevy's big-block V8. Thus the 454-cubic-inch, 450-horsepower LS6 engine in this pickup, which was restored to factory specification by Jen-Jac Restorations of Savannah, Georgia.

In addition to the big engine, the truck has a close-ratio Muncie M22 "Rock Crusher" four-speed gearbox and 4.10 Positraction rear end. It also has power steering and brakes, a cowl induction hood (with hood pins), five-spoke Super Sport wheels and Firestone Wide Oval tires.

The color is Tuxedo Black with a white SS stripe and black bench-seat interior.

2011 Toyota Tundra Clint Bowyer custom
A pickup doesn't have to be old to be classic and collectible. Consider this 2011 Toyota Tundra customized by NASCAR Spring Cup driver Clint Bowyer, who, according to the Barrett-Jackson auction catalog, was inspired by the weathered trucks he saw as a youngster growing up in Kansas.

Bowyer even had the Red House Custom Paints in Kansas create the truck's special weathered look by countless sessions of applying Sherwin-Williams Planet Color paint and then sanding for the right visual effect. Even the door jams and truck bed get the same attention to visual detail.

Period-correct body modifications and accessories include a custom vertical-bar grille atop white bumpers, wooden bed stakes, a wood bed floor and a decorative gas tank, Barrett-Jackson notes. There's also a custom louvered tailgate.

The truck rides on 20-inch Smoothies wheels with custom chrome center caps. The seats have Mexican blanket-style inserts.

1925 White Model 15-45 Yellowstone Park touring bus
O.K., technically it's not a pickup truck, but Gooding & Company's docket includes a 1925 White Model 15-45 Yellowstone Park Touring Bus that's just too cool not to include in this roundup.

The vehicle is an icon of a bygone era when the national park offered tours in a fleet of 90-such open-air buses with four rows of seats. This example, which spent 14 years shuttling visitors to Yellowstone, has been owned by the same owner since 1965 and was restored by the same people who had maintained it when it was in the Yellowstone fleet.

Expect to spend between $110,000 and $130,000, Gooding says, adding that since its restoration the bus has made several trips to national parks and to elevations to 11,500 feet.

Source: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2012/12/classic-trucks-drawing-attention-at-auctions.html

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A Jesuit's Jottings: Maureen Dowd and Fr. Kevin O'Neil: Christmas ...

WASHINGTON

When my friend Robin was dying, she asked me if I knew a priest she could talk to who would not be, as she put it, ?too judgmental.? I knew the perfect man, a friend of our family, a priest conjured up out of an old black-and-white movie, the type who seemed not to exist anymore in a Catholic Church roiled by scandal. Like Father Chuck O?Malley, the New York inner-city priest played by Bing Crosby, Father Kevin O?Neil sings like an angel and plays the piano; he?s handsome, kind and funny. Most important, he has a gift. He can lighten the darkness around the dying and those close to them. When he held my unconscious brother?s hand in the hospital, the doctors were amazed that Michael?s blood pressure would noticeably drop. The only problem was Father Kevin?s reluctance to minister to the dying. It tears at him too much. He did it, though, and he and Robin became quite close. Years later, he still keeps a picture of her in his office. As we?ve seen during this tear-soaked Christmas, death takes no holiday. I asked Father Kevin, who feels the subject so deeply, if he could offer a meditation. This is what he wrote:

How does one celebrate Christmas with the fresh memory of 20 children and 7 adults ruthlessly murdered in Newtown; with the searing image from Webster of firemen rushing to save lives ensnared in a burning house by a maniac who wrote that his favorite activity was ?killing people?? How can we celebrate the love of a God become flesh when God doesn?t seem to do the loving thing? If we believe, as we do, that God is all-powerful and all-knowing, why doesn?t He use this knowledge and power for good in the face of the evils that touch our lives?

The killings on the cusp of Christmas in quiet, little East Coast towns stirred a 30-year-old memory from my first months as a priest in parish ministry in Boston. I was awakened during the night and called to Brigham and Women?s Hospital because a girl of 3 had died. The family was from Peru. My Spanish was passable at best. When I arrived, the little girl?s mother was holding her lifeless body and family members encircled her.

They looked to me as I entered. Truth be told, it was the last place I wanted to be. To parents who had just lost their child, I didn?t have any words, in English or Spanish, that wouldn?t seem cheap, empty. But I stayed. I prayed. I sat with them until after sunrise, sometimes in silence, sometimes speaking, to let them know that they were not alone in their suffering and grief. The question in their hearts then, as it is in so many hearts these days, is ?Why??

The truest answer is: I don?t know. I have theological training to help me to offer some way to account for the unexplainable. But the questions linger. I remember visiting a dear friend hours before her death and reminding her that death is not the end, that we believe in the Resurrection. I asked her, ?Are you there yet?? She replied, ?I go back and forth.? There was nothing I wanted more than to bring out a bag of proof and say, ?See? You can be absolutely confident now.? But there is no absolute bag of proof. I just stayed with her. A life of faith is often lived ?back and forth? by believers and those who minister to them.

Implicit here is the question of how we look to God to act and to enter our lives. For whatever reason, certainly foreign to most of us, God has chosen to enter the world today through others, through us. We have stories of miraculous interventions, lightning-bolt moments, but far more often the God of unconditional love comes to us in human form, just as God did over 2,000 years ago.

I believe differently now than 30 years ago. First, I do not expect to have all the answers, nor do I believe that people are really looking for them. Second, I don?t look for the hand of God to stop evil. I don?t expect comfort to come from afar. I really do believe that God enters the world through us. And even though I still have the ?Why?? questions, they are not so much ?Why, God?? questions. We are human and mortal. We will suffer and die. But how we are with one another in that suffering and dying makes all the difference as to whether God?s presence is felt or not and whether we are comforted or not.

One true thing is this: Faith is lived in family and community, and God is experienced in family and community. We need one another to be God?s presence. When my younger brother, Brian, died suddenly at 44 years old, I was asking ?Why?? and I experienced family and friends as unconditional love in the flesh. They couldn?t explain why he died. Even if they could, it wouldn?t have brought him back. Yet the many ways that people reached out to me let me know that I was not alone. They really were the presence of God to me. They held me up to preach at Brian?s funeral. They consoled me as I tried to comfort others. Suffering isolates us. Loving presence brings us back, makes us belong.

A contemporary theologian has described mercy as ?entering into the chaos of another.? Christmas is really a celebration of the mercy of God who entered the chaos of our world in the person of Jesus, mercy incarnate. I have never found it easy to be with people who suffer, to enter into the chaos of others. Yet, every time I have done so, it has been a gift to me, better than the wrapped and ribboned packages. I am pulled out of myself to be love?s presence to someone else, even as they are love?s presence to me.

I will never satisfactorily answer the question ?Why?? because no matter what response I give, it will always fall short. What I do know is that an unconditionally loving presence soothes broken hearts, binds up wounds, and renews us in life. This is a gift that we can all give, particularly to the suffering. When this gift is given, God?s love is present and Christmas happens daily.

Source: http://jesuitjottings.blogspot.com/2012/12/maureen-dowd-and-fr-kevin-oneil.html

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chill rhizome: Shopping And Product Reviews: Toys Article Category

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'Lil Bama' Celebrates 8th Birthday Despite Brain Cancer | WHNT ...

Posted on: 1:14 pm, December 28, 2012, by Beth Jett, updated on: 05:48pm, December 28, 2012

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) -? This is a very special week for a boy in Athens who WHNT NEWS 19 has been following for months.

Today, Friday, December 28th is Ryan Kitchens? eighth birthday.

What makes this birthday so special is that Ryan wasn?t expected to live to see it.

Instead, Ryan has been extra busy over the last few weeks, buying and delivering toys for less fortunate children, making new friends, goofing off and just being a typical kid.

?How are you feeling?? WHNT NEWS 19?s Beth Jett asked Ryan when he visited the station.? ?Good,? he answered.

It?s remarkable, since his doctors didn?t think he?d live to see Christmas.

Ryan is in a fierce battle with two tumors on his brain.

He beat them months ago, but they came back and have grown in size, causing him excrutiating headaches.

?Oh, it?s been a hard hard year,? said Jasmine Davis, Ryan?s mother.? ?After thinking your child?s been cured and less than 10 to 12 weeks later, to have your child again have it worse than they had it the first time and then he?s on Hospice.? That was a huge wake-up call because that only means one thing.?

But Ryan fought back with faith, fun, and determination to live, supported by the power of prayer from thousands of people following his story.

?There?s gotta be a reason why he?s still here,? said Jasmine.

Ryan?s doctors warned her that her youngest child and only son would only grow weaker quickly and likely wouldn?t be around for his next birthday.

They were wrong.

December 28th brings another milestone: he?s now eight years old.

?He?s just.. feeling amazing and acting like his old self again,? said Jasmine.? ?Running, I can barely keep up with him.?

Ryan is better known as ?Lil Bama,? around Alabama and beyond.? He stays energized by his love for University of Alabama Crimson Tide football.

Earlier this year, expecting he didn?t have much time left, Ryan insisted on making his final arrangements, picking out a crimson casket.

But the casket will have to wait, because he?s having too much fun living.

Ryan?s next medical appointment is at the end of January.

You may have noticed his crimson shirt with white letters on it, spelling out ?RYAN?.

His mother teamed up with a company to sell them, putting the proceeds towards a foundation that will help other families deal with cancer.

If you?d like to purchase one, you can order one by calling Suzette Michelle Boutique in Moulton.? Their number is 256.445.2035.

The foundation will be Ryan?s legacy to help others long after he?s gone.

Source: http://whnt.com/2012/12/28/lil-bama-celebrates-8th-birthday-despite-brain-cancer/

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Look Up! 13 Must-See Stargazing Events in 2013

As 2012 comes to a close, some might wonder what is looming sky-wise for 2013.What celestial events might we look forward to seeing??

I?ve selected what I consider the top 13"skylights" (get it?) for the coming year, and have listed them in chronological order. Not all these night sky events will be visible from any one locality (you may have to travel to catch all the eclipses), but you can observe many of them from the comfort of your backyard, weather permitting.

The next year also promises two potentially bright comets: PANSTARRS and ISON. As any astronomer can tell you, comets are notoriously capricious; we can only guess at how bright they will get and how long their respective tails will be. We?ll just have to wait and see.

In general, 2013 promises an action-packed 12 months for stargazers. Hopefully, your local weather will cooperate on most, if not all of these dates. The following list below includes some of the most promising night sky events of the upcoming year!?[100 Best Space Photos of 2012]

Jan. 21: Very Close Moon/Jupiter Conjunction

For North Americans, this is a real head-turner, one easily visible even from brightly lit cities. A waxing gibbous moon, 78-percent illuminated, will pass within less than a degree to the south of Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. (For reference, your closed fist held out at arm's length covers 10 degrees of the sky.)

These two bright luminaries will make their closest approach high in the evening sky for all to see. What?s even more interesting is that this will be the closest moon-Jupiter conjunction until the year 2026! [Amazing Photos: Jupiter and the Moon]

Feb. 2 to 23: Best Evening View of Mercury

Mercury, the "elusive" innermost planet, will travel far enough from the glare of the sun to be readily visible in the western sky, soon after sunset. On the evening of Feb. 8, Mercury will skim within less than 0.4 degrees of the much-fainter planet, Mars.?

Mercury will arrive at its greatest elongation from the sun on Feb.16. It will be quite bright (-1.2 to -0.6 magnitude) before this date and will fade rapidly to +1.2 magnitude thereafter.(Astronomers measure the brightness of sky objects using magnitude, a reverse scale in which lower numbers correspond to brighter objects. Negative magnitudes denote exceptional brightness.)

March 10 to 24: Comet PANSTARRS at Its Best!?

Comet PANSTARRS, discovered in June 2011 using the Pan-STARRS 1 Telescope at Haleakala, Hawaii, is expected to put on its best show during this two-week period. During this time, the comet will also be near its closest approaches to the sun (28 million miles, or 45 million kilometers) and Earth (102 million miles, or 164 million km).

While Comet PANSTARRS was a very dim and distant object at the time of its discovery, it has brightened steadily since then. It still appears on target to reach at least first magnitude and should be visible low in the west-northwest sky shortly after sunset. On the evening of March 12, the comet will be situated 4 degrees to the right of an exceedingly thin crescent moon.

April 25: Partial Lunar Eclipse

This will be a very minor partial lunar eclipse, with the moon's uppermost limb merely grazing the Earth's dark, umbral shadow. At mid-eclipse, less than 2 percent of the moon's diameter will be inside the dark shadow. The Eastern Hemisphere (Europe, Africa, Australia and most of Asia) will have the best view.

This lunar eclipse will not be visible from North America.

May 9: Annular Eclipse of the Sun

During annular solar eclipse?(also known as a "Ring of Fire" eclipse), the long, umbral shadow cone of the moon is too short to reach the Earth. In angular size, the moon's disk appears about 4.5 percent smaller than the disk of the sun. So, the effect is like placing a penny atop a nickel: a ring of sunlight remains visible surrounding the moon.?

The shadow path from where the ring can be seen runs for thousands of miles, but will get no wider than 107 miles (172 km) at the point of greatest eclipse. Much of the path falls over the Pacific Ocean, but at or soon after local sunrise, it will slice across a part of northern Australia (where it will be the morning of May 10) and the extreme eastern tip of Papua New Guinea, along with some of the nearby Solomon Islands.?

At the point of greatest eclipse, the ring phase will last 6 minutes, 4 seconds. Hawaiians will see a partial eclipse when, at 3:48 p.m. Hawaii time, the moon will obscure about 32 percent of the sun's disk.

May 24 to 30: Dance of the Planets

Mercury, Venus and Jupiter will provide a fascinating show low in the west-northwest twilight sky soon after sunset. They will seemingly shuffle around each other, changing their positions noticeably from one evening to the next. The two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter,will be separated by just over 1 degree on May 28, with Venus passing to the northwest (upper right) of Jupiter and shining more than six times brighter than Jupiter.

June 23: Biggest Full Moon of 2013

On June 23, the moon turns full at 7:32 a.m. EDT(1132 GMT),and just 32 minutes earlier it will arrive at its closest point to the Earth in 2013 at a distance of 221,824 miles (356,991 km), making it a so-called supermoon.Expect a large range in ocean tides (exceptionally low to exceptionally high) for?the next few days.?

Aug. 12: The Perseid Meteor Shower

The annual Perseid meteor shower?is considered among the best of the annual displays thanks to its high rates of up to 90-meteors-per-hour for a single observer, as well as its reliability. The shower is beloved by summer campers and often discovered by city dwellers who might be spending time in the country under dark, starry skies.?

This past summer, the moon was a fat waning crescent and presented a minor nuisance during the meteor shower. But in 2013, the moon will be a couple of days before first quarter and will set during the evening hours, leaving the rest of the night dark for prospective observers.

Oct. 18: Penumbral Eclipse of the Moon

The moon?slides through the northern part of the Earth's penumbral shadow during this lunar eclipse event.

At mid-eclipse, 76 percent of the moon's diameter will be immersed in the penumbra, probably deep enough to cause a faint, yet discernible darkening of the moon's lower limb. The region of visibility includes much of Asia, Europe and Africa. The central and eastern portion of North America will get a view of the slightly darkened Hunters' Moon during the early evening hours.

Nov. 3: Hybrid Eclipse of the Sun

This is a rather unusual solar eclipse in that, along its track, which runs for 8,450 miles (13,600 km) across the Earth's surface, the eclipse quickly morphs from annular to total; it is therefore known to astronomers as a "hybrid eclipse."

Truth be told, along most of the track, the eclipse appears as a total, with a very thin annulus (or ring) of sunlight visible near the very beginning of the track. The track of the central line of this eclipse begins in the Atlantic about 545 miles (875 km)southwest of Bermuda. So, along North America's Atlantic Coast, interested viewers (using proper viewing devices, such as pinhole projection or #14 welders glass) will only see the dark disk of the moon exiting the sun's face at sunrise.

The eclipse track will pass south of the Cape Verde Islands, then curve southeastward parallel to the African coastline. The greatest eclipse, with 100 seconds of totality and the path width reaching a maximum of just 36 miles (58 km), occurs approximately 250 miles (402 km) off the coast of Liberia. The shadow track will then sweep across central Africa, passing over sections of Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Kenya, before ending at sunset at the Ethiopia-Somalia border.??

Mid-November Through December: Comet ISON

On Sep. 21, 2012, two amateur astronomers (Vitali Nevski of Belarus and Artyom Novichonok of Russia)used a telescope owned by the International Scientific Optical Network to discover a new comet that was christened using the acronym of the instrument used to find it: Comet ISON.

Orbital calculations indicate that comet ISON will travel closest to the sun, less than 750,000 miles (1.2 million km) above the sun's surface, making it a true "sungrazer," on Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day in the United States).

The comet could eventually be bright enough to be visible in broad daylight around the time of its nearest approach to the sun. It will then travel toward Earth, passing within 40 million miles (64 million km) of our planet a month later.

Since comet ISON will become very well placed for viewing in the morning and evening sky from the Northern Hemisphere during the following weeks, it could become one of the most watched comets of all time.?

December (all month): Dazzling Venus

Venus, the brightest of all the planets, puts on a holiday show all month long, and what a spectacular one it is! Venus is the showiest it will be for all of 2013 and 2014 either in the evening or morning sky. It adorns the southwestern evening sky as much as three hours after sundown at the beginning of the month, and 1.5 hours after sundown by New Year's Eve. A lovely, crescent moon passes well above and to the right of the planeton Dec. 5, and the next night Venus will reach the pinnacle of its brilliance; Venus won?t be as bright an "evening star" again until 2021.?

Dec. 13 to 14: Geminid Meteor Shower

If there is one meteor display guaranteed to put on a very entertaining show, it is the Geminid meteor shower. Most meteor experts now place it at the top of the list, as it surpasses in brilliance and reliability even August's Perseids.?

Unfortunately, in 2013, the moon will be several days before full phase and will light up the sky for much of the night, hiding many of the fainter meteors. But around 4:30 a.m. (your local time), the moon will have finally set, leaving the sky completely dark for about an hour. That will be your chance to make as many as two meteor sightings per minute, or 120 per hour!

So stargazers mark your calendars: 2013 promises to be a great year for skywatching, and if you take an impressive photo of the night sky, let us know!

Editor's Note: If you snap an amazing night-sky photo and would like to share it with SPACE.com for a possible story or gallery, please send images and comments (including your name and the photo's location) to managing editor Tariq Malik at:?spacephotos@space.com.

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for The?New York Times and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, New York.?Follow SPACE.com on Twitter?@Spacedotcom. We're also on?Facebook?&?Google+.?

Copyright 2012 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/look-13-must-see-stargazing-events-2013-171856367.html

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And the Mobile Nations 2013 CES Experience in Las Vegas winners are...!

Alright folks, it's time to announce the 6 lucky people that will be joining NVIDIA and Mobile Nations at CES 2013!

We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all of the members that submitted an entry. We really appreciate all of the time and effort everyone put in, and the response was quite overwhelming.

So, getting down to business... after much debate and discussion, we have selected 6 stand out entries. These folks will join the Mobile Nations and NVIDIA crews in Las Vegas for CES 2013!

Congratulations to... *drum roll*

?

Robert Brown

Marques Brownlee

Rich Cermele

Michael Colvill

TJ Hardin

Martin Reisch

?

Congrats to Robert Brown, one of the 6 stand out entries we received!
(You've got to see it. Hit play.)

We're ALL looking forward to meeting you, hanging out with you, and doing all sorts of other fun stuff at CES. We will be in touch with our 6 lucky picks shortly to arrange all of the travel, hotel and CES pass details!

Congratulations again to our selections! We will see you in Las Vegas!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/8OYGzok_wMo/story01.htm

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The Top Search Terms of 2012: Hemorrhoids, Herpes ... - Health.com

December 27, 2012 | By Robert A. Barnett

Getty

What ails you? If the 2012 Google Zeitgeist trending health issues is any indication, it?s your bum.

Yes, ?hemorrhoids? tops the list this year. Why? ?I don?t know, but hemorrhoids are definitely a pain in the butt,? says Satish Rattan, DVM, a professor of medicine in the department of gastroenterology at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He?s doing pioneering research on molecular causes of hemorrhoids. ?It?s a matter of dignity,? he explains.

Moving up the GI track, the second biggest trending term is gastroesophageal reflux, a.k.a., GERD. Other trending GI issues include heartburn (#8) and celiac disease (#9).

The third biggest trending term, though, is ?sexually transmitted diseases.? (Also, herpes is #5 among most searched terms.) Here it gets interesting: How often you search for STDs depends on what device you?re using ? a phone or a computer.

?STDs are much higher on the list of searches for mobile devices,? says Susannah Fox, associate director at the Pew Internet Project, who runs the health research. One possible reason: ?Mobile users are more likely to be younger.? Internet, versus mobile, health searchers are most likely to be in the 30-to-54 age range, she says?perhaps past the peak ages for STD worry.

Why do we love these lists? ?The web is so big, and overwhelming, there?s always a wonder if you?re really connected to what?s really going on,? says Amy Tenderich, who runs the popular Diabetes Mine blog (about Type 1 diabetes), and works for the company that runs Diabetic Connect, a community and ask-the-expert site. ?You want to know what?s hot, what everyone is talking about, so you don?t miss anything.?

Diabetes, it turns out, is hot. It shows up as number two on two other lists: most searched terms, and most searched symptoms. However, once people find out the basics through search, they may dive deeper through social networking sites.

?People are asking if social networks are replacing search as a source of information,? says Pew?s Susannah Fox. ?We looked at that in our 2012 survey, which will be released in a couple of weeks. We found that, in general, search is still king. When looking for health information in 2012, 77% still started with a search engine like Google, Bing or Yahoo, 13% started with a special site like WebMD, and 2% started at a site like Wikipedia. Only 1% started with a social site like Facebook or Twitter.?

But that changes for people who have chronic conditions. ?We?re finding that social networking sites and blogs are common sources for people who are living with chronic conditions. They?re looking for practical tips.?

What?s next? How will we be getting our digital health information in the future? While Google search terms aren?t likely to change?cancer, diabetes, and depression have been top search terms for years ? some trends are emerging:

Peer-to-peer crowdsourcing
On blogs like Diabetes Mine or sites like Diabetes Connect, people can ask questions and get answers from others living with exactly those conditions. (One post about a new drug now has 2,000 comments.) ?About 1 in 5 Internet users have gone online to find others who have similar health concerns,? says Susannah Fox.

Mobile, slowly
Of course it?s growing, but when it comes to health, perhaps slower than the hype. ?In 2012, 85% of U.S. adults owned a cell phone, but only 31% used it to search for health info online.? Mobile apps for exercise and dieting are popular, but we?re not yet using our phones as a primary source of health info?or to get text health alerts. By contrast, while the same percentage of Americans have access to the Internet, 84% have used it to search health information.

Participatory medicine
Once, perhaps, your doctor was the main source of health info. Now many people go online before they see their docs. Some physicians welcome that, a movement call Participatory Medicine. Some even ?prescribe? websites for certain patients.

?The mindset is changing,? says Daniel Sands, MD, MPH, assistant clinical professor at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of the Society for Participatory Medicine. ?Doctors may direct patients to health care websites, rather than just prescribing drugs.? At the same time, doctors who subscribe to participatory medicine?they can actually get a seal from the website?welcome patients who learn about health online.

?We should ask every single patient, ?Do you go online? What sites do you find useful?,? says Dr. Sands. ?We need to let them know that they can share information with us. It?s a very important part of our relationship with our patients.? Over the next few years, more and more patients will be able to view their health records online, download and transmit it to someone else, and communicate with their doctors, he says. ?The era of medicine as a spectator sport ? ?I?m sick, doctor, fix me? ? is over. The new model is participatory medicine.?

Here are the 2012 Google Zeitgeist lists. Let the 2013 searching begin!

United States Trending Health Issues 2012
1. Hemorrhoid
2. Gastroesophageal reflux disease
3. Sexually Transmitted Disease
4. Diaper Rash
5. Diarrhea
6. Urinary tract infection
7. Miscarriage
8. Heartburn
9. Celiac disease
10. PTSD

United States Most-Searched Health Issues 2012
1. Cancer
2. Diabetes
3. Depression
4. Acne
5. Herpes
6. Back pain
7. Burns
8. Breast cancer
9. Autism
10. Diarrhea

United States Most-Searched Symptoms 2012
1. Pregnancy symptoms
2. Diabetes symptoms
3. Flu symptoms
4. UTI symptoms
5. Mono symptoms
6. Strep Throat symptoms
7. HIV symptoms
8. Lupus symptoms
9. Heart Attack symptoms
10. Lyme Disease symptoms

Source: http://news.health.com/2012/12/27/the-top-search-terms-of-2012-hemorrhoids-herpes-and-heartburn/

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Science Critique Paper

Whenever a research is conducted and documented, it is a very technical process. It involves a lot of hard work and struggle. You have to keep in mind all facts and figures related to the research. You've to maintain about how the flow goes and what outcomes were generated. It is a proper procedure based activity. The documentation for this research is called a critique paper.

Often it is mandatory for science students to write critique paper. When you go through the process in your educational career, it will help you much in your professional life. There are many research papers available in digital libraries and on the internet from where you can have an idea that how it looks like. Here we will discuss some procedures that need to be observed while writing the conclusion of a critique paper.

When you write a critique paper, it is more like a case. You have to state its pro and cons in front of the audience and give a fair writing for ease of analysis. Focus on important points but don't ignore the facts and hide the negative points. The paper will mainly represent some statement that will be based on someone's previously done work or a relatively new idea. The whole paper will be revolving around that objective and your writing would be supporting the objective. Do highlight the point of analysis.

It should truly be based on some facts and figures. Be realistic and rational. Don't talk about imaginary stuff. Although, when we talk scientifically, we often assume stuff. But keep in mind the assumptions should be realistic, not like unicorns. The most important point, your conclusion should be connecting to the theory stated in the whole paper. It is not accepted nor appreciated that your paper and conclusion of that paper don't match. The idea discussed, facts stated and details given should be reflected in the conclusion.

One bonus point, if you support your case with evidence. By this I mean that the discussed facts can be complimented by the supportive material. The supportive material can be data quoted, like if you say from research ABC. Be specific and don't take anything and everything as supportive material and later attach that with your work. It will give a desperate impression. It will decrease the credibility of your work and also its reliability will be at stake.

Once you are done with your critique paper, now it is up to your audience how they assess it. You can give a formal supportive presentation to elaborate your work. A research paper should be written well, presented well and defended well. If you are weak in any of these three mentioned, it can be critical for you educational journey. Many scientists and students have shared their work online. You can get an idea by observing them as well.

For more useful tips on how to write a conclusion for a critique paper, click here.

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/science-critique-paper-309507

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25 YEARS OF CHANGES IN THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS | Notes ...

I along with my sister inherited our Aunts estate 25 years ago. The estate was chocked full of antiques and collectibles. As novices in the antiques business we started having yard sales on a weekly basis. During the week Jim my husband was fully employed and on occasion traveled for his business. On one such trip he purchased an Schroeder?s Antique Book. Thumbing through the book he spied a picture of a glass Christmas bird, that same bird we had sold at our yard sale for .25 was listed for $18.00. No wonder the woman had asked, ?Do you have anymore? I?ll take them all?. That did it we packed up the rest of the estate and brought it back to our hometown in New Jersey 150 miles away. We decided to educate ourselves before we sold another thing.

Weekends were spent devouring antique shops, flea markets, yard sales and auctions. Pretty soon we were not only learning all about antiques but also falling in love with them. We began buying much more than we had sold. We soon realized we needed an outlet for our new hobby. In 1989 we discovered co op Antique Shops were quite popular. You rented space and only had to work a few days a month. We found one located in Mullica Hill New, Jersey an Antique Village with approximately 28 other Antique Shops and rented space. We still had much to learn and as we were setting up shop a fellow dealer purchased a blue and white pitcher from us for $20.00. When asked she responded correctly that it was a sponge ware pitcher. Again Schroeder?s came to the rescue showing us the pitcher was listed for $250.00. Oh well another learning experience. On the other hand a more ethical dealer scouring our booth spied a pair of sulfide marbles for $6.00 each. She knew they were worth much more but instead of purchasing them she educated us by saying, ?Are you going to mark them up or should I buy them?. Another learning experience but the one that was beneficial to us was when we started realizing we could sell a hundred items at a few dollars making a small profit or sell one quality item and double our money. That?s when we decided to concentrate on quality rather than quantity and started purchasing Colonial Revival Furniture and Accessories dating from late 19th century to the early 20th century.

The year was 1990 and it seemed everyone was in the antiques business. You just had to rent an area and they would come. We now had a full library of antique books and still loved scouring Museums, Historic Houses, Antique Markets, Yard Sale, and Antique Shops etc. It was now time to move on and find our own Antique Shop. We purchased a seven-room farmhouse staying in the same Antique Village location. At first we rented space to other dealers and set it up as an upscale co-op antique shop. Our inventory grew and as dealers left instead of renting the space we coveted it with our own merchandise. For the next several years we could hardly keep up with it. We purchased wonderful antiques, priced them fairly and had a steady steam of customers. Many who felt more like friends than customers.

In 1994 Jim retired from his engineering position and we became a full time Antiques Dealer Shoppe. We purchased many fine pieces but sometimes to get really good buys we would have to find something that needed restoration. Although I?m of the belief if it?s a really old piece and you would devalue it by thousands of dollars then leave it with the original finish and patina. However if it doesn?t date to the 18th century and has a terrible finish you would only enhance the piece by restoring it. With this in mind Jim took a class on refinishing and learned many different techniques for restoring.

Furniture. It?s amazing how quickly his duties included purchasing, research, hauling, restoring, electrical work, making keys, fixing locks and selling.

At first the computer age didn?t have much of an impact on us. It was great for research and it was easy to sell mediocre merchandise at a good price. Then it became obvious that many items previously considered rare were in abumdance on Ebay. Our specialty being furniture, which didn?t sell that well on the Internet with the cost of shipping, was still going strong for us. In fact 2001 was one of our best years and sales remained brisk until 2005. After that there seemed to be a slow decline in sales and then in 2008 the recession struck. Several shops in our Antique Village closed their doors as the owners decided to retire. In fact all over the country many of our interesting haunts were no longer in business. In some ways it was a cleansing of dealers who felt they could make an easy dollar but didn?t have the knowledge or know how to become successful.

With the computer age upon us we decided to build our own web site and joined Ruby Lane an online selling web site. One of our first sales went to Beijing China. This person would have never come into our shop and the sales have continued to come from areas outside of New Jersey and the Country. We?re reaching a customer base that would never have had the opportunity to visit our shoppe. At first we dealt mostly with accessories rather than furniture but we found a reasonable shipper that specializes in shipping antique furniture. So now we feel comfortable selling the product we specialize in. Ruby Lane has also brought customers to our shop after having visited our items on line. Selling on the Internet has become lucrative but it?s brought new challenges. One was to learn how to take excellent and interesting photos. It?s best to take several photos showing every angle. If the piece is signed make sure that?s visible. Descriptions of your item are extremely important, as a person isn?t able to feel and touch so you almost have to write a visual story. Add to my job description photographer, shipper and storywriter.

Last year we were asked by a lawyer to help her client determine the value of her antiques. Her client was going through a divorce and wanted to be aware of what she had in the way of antiques. We explained that we were not certified to be appraisers but the lawyer said that didn?t matter she just wanted a ballpark figures. There was a little trepidation on our part but my confidence grew as I felt we could identify almost everything she had and what we didn?t know could be researched in our books or on the Internet. Needless to say we were smitten and Jim decided he?d like to become certified as an appraiser. After a little research he found a correspondence school where he applied, completed the course and received his certification.

Although our sales are becoming more brisk on Ruby Lane than in the shop my first love is the shop and we still have a steady flow of customers. More browsers than buyers but some customers enjoy handling and seeing their antiques in person. I have a special flair for decorating and setting up attractive vignettes, which the customers appreciate, and are quite complimentary. We love to travel and purchase antiques so this is the perfect business for us. Once the economy turns around and it?s already started we?ll be ready with selling on Ruby Lane and in the Antique Shop.

Written by Judith Salvino

The Front Porch Antiques on Ruby Lane

Source: http://blog.rubylane.com/25-YEARS-OF-CHANGES-IN-THE-ANTIQUE-BUSINESS

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Learn About Internet Marketing Today

Sometimes, you have a light-bulb moment and get hit with a great new business idea. When the time is right and you have that great idea, you need to be prepared to get started with your business as quickly as possible. Read the Internet marketing tips contained in this article to ensure success.

The internet has made doing business an anonymous affair. This is a good idea for small and independent businesses especially. Smaller companies rely on repeat business and a personalized touch with their customers to be successful.

Make sure to have detailed records and statistics. It could be traffic, refunds, sales, referrals, or anything else that can be measured on your website. Watching your stats helps you to make Internet marketing choices, as you will have a good idea of what is working and what is not.

Blogging will increase the traffic to your website. It?s crucial to provide great, relevant content that stays fresh by regularly posting. Visitors who want and expect to follow frequent updates will stop by your site over and over again.

Submit the freebies on your website to free directories to get the word out. Several directories, for example, have free e-zines. There are many resources to get free e-zines, e-books and other free infomation.

Your website can be marketed as a club or other social gathering instead of a business website. Your site will get a lot of traffic when people come back to talk to other people. By using this technique visitor will want to visit often. Provide your site?s visitors with graphics that they can post up on their own personal websites. This is great, free advertising for you.

Test the effectiveness of your emails to learn what works with your customer base. The simplest kind of test to run is the A/B test. You create an email campaign and change only a single thing in the message. You can change up things like subject lines, calls to action, or even the introduction paragraphs. Send out the different versions to groups of your customers and see which version is more successful. Choose the most successful option for future emails sent as part of your campaign.

Hold a one dollar sale for your new clients. This builds a buzz for your promotion and encourages traffic, but it also builds exposure to your product. It is very likely people will also add more products to their website cart. Be confident with your product!

Give your customers a reason to visit your website. Having a website that?s only one page or barely has information on it won?t really attract people. Websites that bring in repeated business are engaging. Interesting websites include photos, updated information about products or services, answers to common questions and more.

Making profits is what it is all about. We hope this article has been helpful to you and provides information that will position you for much success. When used properly and thoughtfully, internet marketing can have big financial payoffs!

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