Thursday, January 31, 2013

Video: Silver Lining in GDP Report?

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/50646405/

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Source: http://www.standrewsharbourtrust.org/?p=282163

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French troops deployed in last Mali rebel strongholds

French troops seized the airport in Mali's northern town of Kidal, the last urban stronghold held by Islamist insurgents, as they moved to wrap up the first phase of a military operation to wrest northern Mali from rebel hands.

France has deployed some 4,500 troops in a three-week ground and air offensive to break the Islamist rebels' 10-month grip on major northern towns.

The mission is aimed at heading off the risk of Mali being used as a springboard for jihadist attacks in the wider region or Europe. The French military plans to gradually hand over to a larger African force, tasked with rooting out insurgents in their mountain redoubts near Algeria's border. Defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said French forces using planes and helicopters defied a sandstorm late on Tuesday to capture the airport but had been prevented by the bad weather from entering the town itself. "The terrorist forces are pulling back to the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains which are difficult to access," Le Drian told a news conference.

"There is support from Chadian and Nigerian troops coming from the south." The deployment of French troops to remote Kidal puts them in direct contact with pro-autonomy Tuareg MNLA rebels, whose rebellion last year was hijacked by the Islamist radicals. Le Drian said France had established good relations with local Tuareg chieftains before sending in troops. MNLA leaders say they are ready to fight al Qaeda but many Malians, including the powerful military top brass in the capital Bamako, blame them for the division of the country. They view Paris' liaisons with the Tuaregs with suspicion.

French and Malian troops retook the major Saharan trading towns of Gao and Timbuktu at the weekend. There were fears that many thousands of priceless ancient manuscripts held in Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, might have been lost during the rebel occupation, but experts said the bulk of the texts were safe. The United States and European governments strongly support the Mali intervention and are providing logistical and surveillance backing but do not intend to send combat troops.

The MNLA rebels, who want greater autonomy for the desert north, said they had moved fighters into Kidal after Islamists left the town earlier this week. "For the moment, there is a coordination with the French troops," said Moussa Ag Assarid, the MNLA spokesman in Paris. A spokesman for the Malian army said its soldiers were securing Gao and Timbuktu and were not heading to Kidal.

The MNLA took up arms against the Bamako government a year ago, seeking to carve out a new independent desert state. After initially fighting alongside the Islamists, by June they had been forced out by their better armed and financed former allies, who include al Qaeda North Africa's wing, AQIM, a splinter wing called MUJWA and Ansar Dine, a Malian group.

Risk of attacks, kidnappings
As the French wind up the first phase of their offensive, doubts remain about just how quickly the UN-backed African intervention force can be fully deployed in Mali to hunt down the retreating al Qaeda-allied insurgents.

Known as AFISMA, the force is now expected to exceed 8,000 troops. Foreign minister Laurent Fabius said France's military operation, codenamed Serval (Wildcat), was planned as a lightning mission lasting a few weeks. "Liberating Gao and Timbuktu very quickly was part of the plan. Now it's up to the African countries to take over," he told the Le Parisien daily. "We decided to put in the means and the necessary number of soldiers to strike hard. But the French contingent will not stay like this. We will leave very quickly."

One French soldier has been killed in the mission, and Fabius warned that things could now get more difficult, as the offensive seeks to flush out insurgents with experience of fighting in the desert from their wilderness hideouts. "We have to be careful. We are entering a complicated phase where the risks of attacks or kidnappings are extremely high. French interests are threatened throughout the entire Sahel." An attack on the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria earlier this month by Islamist fighters opposing the French intervention in Mali led to the deaths of dozens of foreign hostages and raised fears of similar reprisal strikes across North and West Africa.

Need for reconciliation
The French operation has destroyed the Islamists' training camps and logistics bases but analysts say a long term solution for Mali hinges on finding a political settlement between the northern communities and the southern capital Bamako. Interim President Dioncounda Traore said on Tuesday his government would aim to hold national elections on July 31.

Paris is pushing strongly for Traore's government to hold talks with the MNLA, which has dropped its claims for independence. "The Malian authorities must begin without delay talks with the legitimate representatives of the northern population and non-terrorist armed groups that recognise Mali's integrity," French Foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said. After months of being kept on the political sidelines, the MNLA said they were in contact with West African mediators who are trying to forge a national settlement to reunite Mali.

"We reiterate that we are ready to talk with Bamako and to find a political solution. We want self-determination, but all that will be up to negotiations which will determine at what level both parties can go," Ag Assarid said.

There have been cases in Gao and Timbuktu and other recaptured towns of reprisal attacks and looting of shops and residences belonging to Malian Tuaregs and Arabs suspected of sympathising with the MNLA and the Islamist rebels.

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_french-troops-deployed-in-last-mali-rebel-strongholds_1794499

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Skulls of the Shogun offers game syncing across Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox (video)

Skulls of the Shogun brings true game sync across Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox video

Cross-platform game compatibility and syncing aren't anything new, but there have been few if any games that truly make us feel at home when we switch devices. Developer 17-Bit's just-launched Skulls of the Shogun bucks that trend in style as the first game with a unified experience across every one of Microsoft's platforms. Start a game on a Windows 8 or RT PC, Windows Phone or Xbox 360, and cloud saves will carry over with nary a hitch in sight. Turn-based multiplayer works the same way: anyone involved in a match can play from whichever device is convenient, rather than give up a big screen or mobility. We just wish the undead strategy game's prices enjoyed the same level of consistency -- Skulls costs $5 on Windows Phone, $10 on Windows PCs and 1,200 points on the Xbox. Still, we'll bite if it means squeezing in one more round on our Surface.

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Via: Windows Phone Blog

Source: Microsoft (1), (2), (3)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/31/skulls-of-the-shogun-offers-true-game-sync-across-windows-platforms/

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Super Bowl Appearances and Real Estate Prices

Do Real Estate Prices Influence Super Bowl Appearances?

The RealEstate.com team recently looked at the number of times NFL teams have appeared in the Super Bowl and the real estate prices of their home cities. We found something interesting.

Of the 10 NFL teams that have appeared in the Super Bowl the most, seven are from cities with high median home prices, when compared to the national median home price. The opposite is also true; the 10 teams that have been to the Super Bowl the least, if they have even gone at all, generally come from cities with low median home prices.

The following question begs to be asked: Is there a correlation between the real estate prices of the city an NFL team comes from and the number of times that team has been to the Super Bowl?
The teams that have been to the Super Bowl the most tend to come from cities with high real estate prices

NFL teams From Cities with High Real Estate Prices Tend to Succeed

The following facts support the existence of a correlation between Super Bowl appearances and high real estate prices:

  • The 10 teams that have been to the Super Bowl the most come from cities with an average median home price (i.e., the average of the median home prices for all 10 cities) of $339,800.
  • The 10 teams that have been to the Super Bowl the least come from cities with an average median home price of $212,450.
  • The average median home price of the 10 teams that have been to the Super Bowl the most is significantly higher than the national median home price ($216,700) and the average median home price of all the cities that host NFL teams ($243,341).

Consider some examples of teams and cities that adhere to this possible correlation. San Francisco?s median home price, $751,600, is one of the highest in America. The city also hosts a team that has been to five Super Bowls. The median home price in Washington, D.C., $443,700, is twice that of the national median, and the Redskins have made five trips to the big game. One of New York?s two teams, the Giants, has been to the Super Bowl five times as well; the Big Apple has the high median home price of $517,900.

Real Estate Prices Not Always an Indicator

There are significant exceptions to this hypothetical correlation, however. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, and Green Bay Packers, three of the NFL?s most illustrious teams, come from cities with low median home prices. Pittsburgh, for example, has a median home price of $92,500, which is a whopping 57.3 percent lower than the national median.

There are also exceptions at the opposite end of the table. Some teams that have rarely been to the Super Bowl come from cities with very high real estate prices. Two of America?s most expensive housing markets, San Diego and Seattle, have only been to the Super Bowl once. If there really were a correlation, the Chargers and Seahawks would consistently be two of the best teams in the NFL.

Did this Correlation Exist in the 2012-2013 NFL Season?

Partially. San Francisco has high real estate prices, but Baltimore does not; its median home price of $168,400 is 22.3 percent lower than the national median. If real estate prices always determined who made it to the big game, teams like the Giants, Seahawks, or even the Raiders would be playing on Feb. 3.

The teams from the cities with higher real estate prices won exactly half of the playoff games they played in. In the quarterfinals, New England and San Francisco advanced while Denver and Seattle were felled. New England then succumbed to defeat in the semifinals, yet San Francisco was able to produce a last-minute victory and advance to the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl Statistics

Real estate prices aside, impress your friends and family with your knowledge of America?s most popular sporting event by sharing these fun facts with them.

First Super Bowl: 1966, Green Bay Packers 35, Kansas City Chiefs 10.
Most wins: Pittsburgh Steelers, six wins (out of a total of eight appearances).
Most popular Super Bowl venue: Louisiana/Mercedes-Benz Superdome, seven Super Bowls.
Most-viewed Super Bowl: Super Bowl XLVI (2012), 111.3 million viewers.
Cost per second for commercials during upcoming Super Bowl: $133,333.
Most money bet on a Super Bowl with Vegas bookies: $94.5 million, Super Bowl XL (2006).
Average number of calories consumed per person watching the Super Bowl: 1,200.

What team are you going to root for? Do you think there is a correlation between real estate prices and the likelihood an NFL team will go to the Super Bowl? Tell us in the comments!

Source: http://www.realestate.com/advice/super-bowl-appearances-vs-real-estate-prices-59862/

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Bloomberg: Dell Founder Seeks Majority Share Using Personal Funds

Bloomberg is reporting that Michael Dell, founder of the eponymous computer company, is seeking to take majority control of the firm using his own cash. He currently holds a 15.7 per cent stake—and will need to stump up as much as $1 billion of his personal funds to seize 50 per cent. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/FG1IUemiwUM/bloomberg-dell-founder-seeks-majority-share-using-personal-funds

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Nokia begins its Windows Phone 7.8 upgrade rollout (video)

Windows 78 rollout TKTK

Talk of Microsoft finally deploying Windows Phone 7.8 has been building to a crescendo -- and we're glad to confirm it's more than just noise. The more customizable home and lock screens, Marketplace improvements and numerous under-the-hood upgrades are rolling out to all of Nokia's Windows Phone 7.5 devices, starting today and continuing through February. The company hasn't confirmed who goes first, although AT&T's Lumia 900 is believed to be part of the earliest wave. Other upgrades will depend on carrier timing, if you're using a locked phone, but the plan to push 7.8 is still good news for those who've wanted to keep their early Lumias as current as possible.

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Source: Conversations by Nokia

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/z2s8Ol2a9sQ/

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The Ultimate Sports Social Media Job Contest

Take a chance on being the next voice of XFINITY sports -- here's how!

XFINITY is looking for the next voice of Xfinity sports. The Ultimate Sports Social Media Job presented by XFINITY, provides fans the opportunity to become the next sports social media star. The winner will share behind-the-scenes stories and news with more than 15,000 followers, from the biggest sporting events over the next year.

Applicants are asked to create a short video and statement detailing why they should be the next person to take over the @XFINITYSports handle. Eight Semi-finalists will be catapulted to the next round based on their outstanding submissions, but the final two Semi-finalist spots will be awarded to two of ten Wild Card contestants.

Fans will have the opportunity to vote for one of the ten Wild Cards, to send to the next round. Once selected, the skills of the 10 Semi-finalists will be put to the test in a full scale social media evaluation at XFINITY Live! in Philadelphia. The top scoring five contestants will then receive the opportunity to visit an XFINITY partner team to act as a reporter and share their experience with their fans. Ultimately from the five Finalists, the new voice of XFINTIY Sports will be selected.

Check out the Facebook app: Facebook.com/xfinity

Full prizing details:
? Unparalleled access to the country's premier sporting events
? Annual salary
? XSG Home Studio in Philadelphia apartment
? 12 months of free Comcast/XFINITY service (TV with all sports packages, internet and phone)

NO PURCH.NEC. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. THIS IS NOT A GAME OF CHANCE. Open only to legal U.S. residents (incl.DC) who are legal adults 18+. For application details and official rules, click here. Enter 12:01a.m. ET on 1/28/13 to 11:59 p.m. ET on 2/18/13.

This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to Comcast? and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for purposes of administering this Contest.

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Source: http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2013/1/30/3932308/xfinity-the-ultimate-sports-social-media-job-contest

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Thursday, January 24, 2013

How Not to Bungle a Trust - CFA Institute Blogs

Earlier this month I attended the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, what Deborah L. Jacobs of Forbes calls ?the annual Super Bowl on the subject sponsored by University of Miami School of Law.? As expected, there was a lot of discussion about the recent passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Tax Act?of 2012, or ATRA, and its implications on financial and?estate planning. But what piqued my interest was a discussion on the prudent investor rule after the financial crisis?? and the perils of concentrated positions. (Trustees, read: litigation risk.)

Trust investments are governed by the Uniform Prudent Investor Act, and trustees?? those?responsible for managing the trust assets for the sole benefit of the beneficiaries?? owe a duty to the beneficiaries to comply with the prudent investor rule.

In many jurisdictions, fiduciary duties can be shared among,?assigned to, or divvied up?between several trustees, including family members, a non-family adviser (such as a trusted financial adviser, accountant,?or lawyer), or an external?trust company (often referred to as?a corporate trustee or institutional?trustee). Either way, selecting the right individual or corporate trustee or group of co-trustees is vital to?maintaining a well-functioning?trust.

While a?trustee may be tempted to sit on a big chunk of a stock that has served the trust well over the years, he or she has a legal duty to thoroughly diversify investments, unless ?the trustee reasonably determines that it is in the interests of the beneficiaries not to diversify, taking into account the purposes and terms and provisions of the governing instrument.?

This fact was brought home by Steven B.?Malech, a litigation partner in the New York City office of Wiggin and Dana LLP.?Malech?represents beneficiaries, fiduciaries, and creditors in a broad range of threatened or actual disputes involving alleged violations of the Prudent Investor Act and its predecessors, alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, disputed accountings, and/or will contests.

Based on this experience, Malech has put together a list of?10 tips?for trustees to?bear in mind to avoid litigation?? or defend against it.?While the themes apply more broadly?to institutional trustees, many are just as relevant for individual trustees. And though they may seem like common sense, they bear repeating. (It will come as no surprise that trust litigation is a thriving area of the law. Back in 2001, the authors of a paper titled ?Suing and Defending Fiduciaries,? noted that there had been ?a dramatic increase in the number of lawsuits involving estates and trusts.?)

If you are an investment?trustee overseeing a trust, you should:

1. Choose the right team.?Ask yourself: What?s the experience of the people on the team? For example, if you have a concentrated position in equities, does the person responsible?? the portfolio manager ? have experience dealing with a concentrated position? Has he ever managed a fiduciary account before? What are the assets? If the position is concentrated in real estate, do you have anyone who knows anything about real estate? Are there?complex or other tax issues? Can the team respond to the issues? Does the team know the law. ?It is amazing how many fiduciaries?don?t know the law for the jurisdiction under which the trust is covered,? Malech said. It?s important to know what is expected of you as the trustee:?What are the standards set out in the Uniform Prudent Investor Act? What are the local laws and procedures? What are the document retention rules?

2. Designate a team leader.?The buck has to stop somewhere. And the leader cannot be a figurehead. Malech said that it?s important for someone to have ultimate responsibility for ensuring the trust is administered properly. (If the trustee is an individual, he/she is the de facto ?team leader,? but will probably need to delegate some responsibilities.)

3. Train the team.?Attending industry conferences can be very beneficial. ?You don?t want to go to a doctor who last went to a?medical training session 15 years ago,? Malech said.

4. Develop a written plan for what that team is going to do with the assets for which it is responsible.?This involves: (a) establishing the investment objectives (needs versus risks); (b) selecting investments to meet the objectives; (c) executing the objectives; and?(d)?remaining flexible so that you can address uncertainties and risks as they arise. ?It follows from this that you have to have?meaningful reviews of the plan,? Malech explained, because you many need to change to the plan.

(Consider drafting an ?investment policy statement?(IPS), which formalizes the investment policy in a written document, summarizes a fund?s key policy decisions, and explains the rationale for those decisions. As explained in A Primer for Investment Trustees, published by the Research Foundation of CFA Institute, the IPS?has three main functions: to facilitate communication of the?investment policy; to ensure continuity of policy during periods of trustee and staff turnover; and to provide a baseline against which to evaluate proposed policy changes.)

5. Stick to the plan. In other words, keep in mind?(d) in step four. It?s important to be flexible as the plan may need to change, but it?s important not to?ignore the process and procedures you have set out.

6. Communicate with the beneficiaries. This doesn?t mean an occasional form letter?? it must be meaningful communication. You should review the timing of key events with beneficiaries and include them when you formulate and review the investment?plan or IPS. This will help identify potential concerns and enable you to?get ?buy-in.? Don?t underestimate the value of in-person meetings and staying in touch.

7. Communicate with the rest of the team. As the saying goes, two heads are better than one.?As such, there are times when it is helpful to?get input or counsel from one?s peers. ?If you are worried about what?s going on in the market and communicate with the team, you can benefit from the internal experience and have a better chance of getting it right,? Malech said.

8. Take the high road. In other words, don?t refuse to communicate, don?t punish ?problem? beneficiaries, and don?t unnecessarily increase expenses.

9. Paper the file. Good records provide a contemporaneous record, a foundation for future decisions, a primer for new team members, a basis for legal/management review, and a good defense.

10. Think long term, but act promptly. Don?t be a tardy trustee,?especially when it comes to communicating with beneficiaries (who can easily end up being plaintiffs if you breach your fiduciary duties).

For more on this topic, see?our previously published blog post ?Advising Trustees: The Five Biggest Pitfalls.? And for a much?more detailed discussion,?take a look at?A Primer for Investment Trustees, published by Research Foundation of CFA Institute. It?s a go-to resource for information on governance structure, investment policy, the fund?s mission, investment objectives, risk tolerance, investment assets, performance evaluation, and ethics in investing. And if you would like to learn more, our e-learning session for investment trustees is a free online resource.


Please note that the content of this site should not be construed as investment advice, nor do the opinions expressed necessarily reflect the views of CFA Institute.

Photo credit: ?iStockphoto.com/MHJ

Source: http://blogs.cfainstitute.org/investor/2013/01/23/how-not-to-bungle-a-trust-a-checklist-for-investment-trustees/

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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Is JT Foxx the best Option For wealth coach

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Source: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/141695969/Is-JT-Foxx-the-best-Option-For-wealth-coach

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"Lonely" Obama eyes second term strategy with Congress: the schmooze

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Would more partying and backslapping between Washington's political opponents narrow the bitter partisan divide? President Barack Obama is willing to try, but is not sure it will work.

At a news conference on Monday, Obama grudgingly acknowledged that he could do more to improve personal relationships with Republican members of Congress and vowed more socializing in his second term, which starts in a week.

"I'm a pretty friendly guy, and I like a good party," he said.

Obama has drawn criticism during his first four years in office for taking an above-the-fray approach that has baffled even some members of his own Democratic Party and given him a reputation for aloofness.

If his second term is to be a success, Obama may well need to break down some partisan barriers as he seeks to prevent a fresh debt crisis and gain congressional approval of legislation overhauling gun laws and immigration policies.

But so far he has signaled a more confrontational approach, insisting he has made plenty of concessions toward Republicans already and that since he was re-elected in November, he should get his way.

On Monday, Obama's last news conference of his first term was sober and serious until the issue of his socializing came up.

It can be hard to take, he said, when he has his opponents to the White House for an event and they smile and pose for photos with him and his wife, Michelle, then they return to the Capitol and denounce him as a "big-spending socialist."

"I promise you, we invite folks from Congress over here all the time. And when they choose to come, I enjoy their company. Sometimes they don't choose to come, and that has to do with the fact that I think they don't consider the optics useful for them politically," he said.

A ROUND WITH BOEHNER

During a major budget crisis in 2011, Obama famously invited House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner out for a round of golf. Vice President Joe Biden went too. Things seemed to have gone well, but there was never a second round and the budget talks descended into acrimony.

In December, the Republican leader declined to appear in a receiving line for a photo with Obama at a White House holiday reception, at the height of a showdown over tax cuts and spending.

"I like Speaker Boehner personally. And when we went out and played golf, we had a great time. But that didn't get a deal done in 2011. You know when I'm over here at the congressional picnic, and folks are coming up and taking pictures with their family, I promise you, Michelle and I are very nice to them, and we have a wonderful time.

"But it doesn't prevent them from going onto the floor of the House and, you know, blasting me for being a 'big-spending socialist,'" he said.

The bottom line, he said, is that policy differences will exist whether there is a personal relationship or not.

But there may be more time for socializing, he said, because daughters Malia and Sasha are getting older and "they don't want to spend that much time with me anyway."

"So I'll be probably calling around, looking for somebody to play cards with me or something, because I'm getting kind of lonely in this big house. So maybe -- maybe a whole bunch of members of the House Republican caucus want to come over and socialize more," he said.

(Editing by Alistair Bell and Doina Chiacu)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lonely-obama-eyes-second-term-strategy-congress-schmooze-200406522.html

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After years of discord, California and Nevada agree on Tahoe development

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 14, 2013
LAST UPDATED: 05:16 a.m. HST, Jan 14, 2013

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. ? Deep in the Sierra Nevada, 39 trillion gallons of crystalline water straddles the border between California and Nevada.

That water, Lake Tahoe, can be as smooth as glass, but the politics of land-use planning along the lake's 72-mile shoreline are some of the most contentious and muddled in the country.

Lawmakers from the two states tend to have very different ideas about how to manage development around the lake, to say nothing of the 50-plus federal, state and local agencies with jurisdiction in the basin.

But last month, after nearly a decade of wrangling, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the bistate agency that regulates development, approved a new plan that will guide building there.

"The infrastructure around the lake was built in the 1950s and '60s, and it's failing the communities and it's failing the lake," said Todd Ferrara, deputy secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency. "California and Nevada have this shared treasure, and the stakes are too high not to work together to protect it."

The new regional plan encourages ripping down and rebuilding the area's aging infrastructure, removing buildings from environmentally sensitive areas near marshes, streams and rivers, and constructing denser urban centers. It also streamlines the permit process for construction projects in the basin, which gets 3 million visitors a year.

For many of the basin's 55,000 full-time residents, the fact that the agency's governing board ? made up of seven Nevadans and seven Californians ? reached consensus came as a great relief.

"We're very happy that a plan has finally been passed, because without concrete regulations, nobody wins and the lake suffers," said Darcie Goodman Collins, executive director of the League to Save Lake Tahoe, an environmental advocacy group.

While the plan has broad support on both sides of the state line, some environmental groups say it will result in taller buildings and denser development, which could ultimately harm the ecosystem of the lake.

"This new plan is a plan for improving the tourist economy, not a plan for improving the environment," said Laurel Ames, conservation co-chairwoman for the Tahoe Area Sierra Club, which is considering a lawsuit to halt it before it is implemented on Feb. 11.

But policymakers counter that replacing aging infrastructure would be a major step toward restoring the lake's ecosystem and quintessential clarity.

"The idea is to get rid of this strip development that causes sediment to run off into the lake and rebuild," said Lew Feldman, a lawyer who represents developers in the area.

Beginning in the 1950s, developers hurriedly built in preparation for the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, Calif., and to support the burgeoning gambling industry on the Nevada side.

In just a few decades, whole sections of shoreline were rapidly transformed from stands of Ponderosa pine trees and willow-filled marshes into a kind of continuous strip of low-slung motels, casinos and budget eateries.

By the late 1960s, sewage was leaking into the lake, resulting in the growth of microscopic algae that clouded the lucent waters.

"Every little pebble was distinct, every speckled trout, every hand's-breadth of sand," Mark Twain wrote of his unimpeded glimpse into Lake Tahoe's depths in "Roughing It."

When scientists first began testing the lake's clarity, in 1968, they could see down more than 102 feet into the water. By 2011, the most recent year with complete data, visibility was 69 feet and the summer clarity was the second worst on record.

To control the runaway development in the Lake Tahoe basin, Congress approved a bistate compact between Nevada and California in 1969, creating the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

"The focus is on water quality restoration," said Joanne Marchetta, the planning agency's executive director. "The lake is the canary in the coal mine: If the lake is healthy, the surrounding environment and economies can be healthy."

The agency's last regional plan, implemented in 1987, capped development and established standards for environmental quality in the basin.

"The bistate compact was created in an effort to strangle the uncontrolled growth that was undeniably polluting the lake, and it succeeded," said Ross Miller, Nevada's secretary of state.

In fact, the compact restricted growth so rapidly it had the effect of freezing the lakeside communities in time. Much of the infrastructure still looks like it did when Elvis Presley spent summers there playing at the Nevada casinos in the early 1970s.

Other economic forces also hampered development. Beginning in the 1990s, the growth of Native American gambling in California sent Nevada's casinos into a tailspin of lost revenue and empty hotel rooms.

By 2011, Nevada lawmakers became so frustrated with the agency's strict development regulations that they passed legislation to withdraw from the compact in 2015 if a new regional plan was not approved.

"It is time for Nevada to stand alone in serving Nevadans and the valuable natural resource Lake Tahoe," state Sen. John Jay Lee, who sponsored the bill, said at the time.

Since the agency approved the new plan on Dec. 12, some Nevada lawmakers, including Miller, say that as long as the plan does not stall in the courts, they will rescind the bill and recommit to bistate management.

"The different states and stakeholders all come with different perspectives," Marchetta said. "But they share a passion for the lake and a desire to preserve it."

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'; } } } if (google_ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { /* insert this snippet for each ad call */ google_adnum = google_adnum + google_ads.length; } document.write(s); return; } google_ad_client = 'pub-9695435974299667'; /* substitute your client_id (pub-#) */ google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '3'; google_ad_channel = '0826849200'; google_ad_type = 'text'; google_image_size = '468x60'; google_feedback = 'on'; google_adtest = 'off'; google_skip = google_adnum; /* to skip for multiple units, insert this snippet for each ad call */ // -->

Source: http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/19040101_After_years_of_discord_California_and_Nevada_agree_on_tahoe_development.html

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Monday, January 14, 2013

Oregon Football: Ducks' 5 Biggest Priorities on National Signing Day

After John Boyett was declared out for the season following the Arkansas State game, the safety position became an immediate area of concern.

That concern was alleviated by the outstanding play of Brian Jackson, Avery Patterson and Erick Dargan. While all three players return next season, both Jackson and Dargan are entering their final year, and depth could become an issue with another serious injury.

Other guys like Isaac Dixon and Troy Hill helped out at the position, and several highly rated recruits, such as Reggie Daniels, will be available next season following a redshirt year.

Nonetheless, Oregon needs to find athletic, physical players to continue the tradition of hard-nosed play created by Patrick Chung, T.J. Ward and John Boyett.

None of the current commits are specified as safeties, but look for the Robinson twins and Chris Seisay to get looks at the position.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1483653-oregon-football-ducks-5-biggest-priorities-on-national-signing-day

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Ohio family?s tap water catches on fire after natural gas drilling (Americablog)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/276785630?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Sunday, January 6, 2013

Depardieu flies to Russia, may receive passport

MOSCOW (AP) ? Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman says French actor Gerard Depardieu has flown to Sochi, where he is likely to meet with Putin and receive a Russian passport.

Putin on Thursday approved the actor's application for Russian citizenship, causing a scandal in France, where Depardieu has been fighting a proposed 75 percent income tax on the superrich.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by the state RIA Novosti news agency as saying Depardieu arrived Saturday in Sochi, the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics, and could meet with Putin on Saturday evening.

Peskov said "it cannot be excluded that during the meeting Depardieu could receive a passport."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-01-05-Russia-Depardieu/id-a45986c608cd49b5ae7649dc21692140

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West Texas group on mission to save smokestacks

This Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012 photo shows ASARCO copper smelter smokestacks near the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. People spent years trying to close the massive copper plant they said spewed fumes that made their eyes teary, their lungs burn. Now, more than a decade after they claimed victory when the copper smelter shut down, some who opposed the plant are banding together in a long-shot effort to prevent the demolition of the plant's smokestacks that have dominated the local skyline for nearly half a century. (AP Photo/Juan Carlos Llorca)

This Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012 photo shows ASARCO copper smelter smokestacks near the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. People spent years trying to close the massive copper plant they said spewed fumes that made their eyes teary, their lungs burn. Now, more than a decade after they claimed victory when the copper smelter shut down, some who opposed the plant are banding together in a long-shot effort to prevent the demolition of the plant's smokestacks that have dominated the local skyline for nearly half a century. (AP Photo/Juan Carlos Llorca)

(AP) ? People in this West Texas city spent decades trying to close a massive copper plant they said spewed fumes that made their eyes teary, their lungs burn. Workers got sick and blamed the company. A hill near a college campus gradually turned black as the towering smokestacks churned out heavy emissions year after year.

The people claimed victory when the ASARCO copper smelter finally shut down in 1999. Now, more than a decade later, some who opposed the plant are banding together in a long-shot effort to prevent the demolition of the plant's iconic smokestacks that have dominated the local skyline for nearly half a century. The chimneys, they say, are a mark of the city's industrial heritage and should be preserved as a monument to workers who fell ill due to toxic materials incinerated at the sprawling site.

"I want them to stay as a reminder that people in a democracy can stand up like David to Goliath and win," said Daniel Arellano, a former acid plant operator who suffers from myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood and bone marrow disease, after working at the plant from 1975-1999.

Arellano is among a group of former workers and residents who are supporting the cause of Save the Stacks, a group dedicated to raising money to purchase the site before the towers are demolished in early 2013. But the trustee in charge of cleaning and selling the 153-acre property said he has given the group enough time to raise the funds and has already made up his mind to tear down the last remaining pieces.

Still, the group believes there is a chance to save the hulking towers and turn them into the nation's tallest monument. Standing at more than 820 feet, the tallest chimney took 29 days of round the clock concrete pouring to build and rises higher than the Washington Monument or the St. Louis Arch.

"They want to wipe away our history," said Robert Ardovino, a member of Save the Stacks. "As a city we deserve something good to come from it and a giant slab of asphalt and a box store is not it."

The towers' red and white stripes and ASARCO sign can be seen from miles away amid the mountains near the Mexican border. They were a significant addition in 1966 to a copper smelter that opened in 1887 at the banks of the Rio Grande.

It operated for more than a century until it was shut down amid complaints of polluting the area while incinerating materials from a military facility that produced chemical weapons from World War II. ASARCO filed for bankruptcy in 2005 and four years later placed $52 million in a trust to clean up the area.

The towers were to be demolished last spring but the trustee granted a one-year moratorium so Save the Stacks could have time to raise money and show the structures were stable. They still have a long way to go to raise enough funds. They have collected less than $40,000 and estimate it would cost about $3.9 million to keep the smokestacks standing. The group also failed to get any financial backing from the city, which instead passed a resolution supporting the group's mission as long as it does not mean spending public money.

The trustee, Roberto Puga, said he now has no choice but to tear down the towers because potential buyers don't want them there. He said it would cost about $14 million to insure, update and maintain the stacks over 50 years and doubts the group will ever find the money.

"If there was a guardian angel that said, 'I'll write you a big check,' he would have done it by now," Puga said.

Still, Save the Stacks isn't ready to give up. The group has recruited public officials to help convince Puga to save the smokestacks.

"We will talk with him and continue to talk with him until he pushes the button," Ardovino said.

The towers are surrounded by the University of Texas at El Paso and an empty stretch of desert being developed with upscale apartments. The plant's construction more than a century ago ushered in an era of industry in El Paso that eventually expanded into businesses such as apparel factories and other types of assembly plants. The plant also helped grow many other businesses such as utility companies and railroads and brought good-paying jobs to the area.

"People came for a better way of life," said local historian Jackson Polk. "There was a good middle class, now kids from a smelter town could go to college. But it also brought dangers."

The memory of those dangers has some in this community divided on whether the towers should stay or go.

Alice Delgadillo, who works at a supermarket, wants Puga to push ahead with the demolition.

"If they don't serve a purpose, why have them?" she said.

Others, such as Juan Cameros, are more sentimental.

"It will be very sad for the people of El Paso if they bring them down. For the families of the men that worked there," he said while at a local Laundromat. "I had a teacher, her father worked for many years to provide for his family. It would be sad for everyone."

Mariana Chew, an activist working with the former ASARCO workers, wants the site turned into a museum and a center for environmental studies. She also wants to create a fund to address the health issues and medical expenses of the former workers.

But for most workers, pursuing more money in the courts is not worth their while since the company has filed for bankruptcy and is likely to offer a minimal payout.

They say that's why preserving the towers is so vital for them.

"That's the gun right there," Arellano said, looking up at the towers. "They want to throw away the smoking gun."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-01-05-US-Saving-Smokestacks-Texas/id-57a8821df72148b88b0a0b29b51e3edd

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Saturday, January 5, 2013

Dragon's Blade (for Windows Phone)


The best old-school RPG for Windows Phone 8, Dragon's Blade could be an even better game if it worked out some frustrating game-balance issues. As is, though, it's a pretty diverting pastime on a platform that doesn't have many alternatives.

Available in an ad-supported free version and a "clean" 99-cent version, Dragon's Blade has a pretty typical old-school console RPG setup. You get four characters who can choose between seven classes; three fighting types, three magic-users and a hybrid. They're represented by little sprites who wander along the screen in a dutiful line, through a two-scale world with an overworld map, towns and dungeons. You move around with a virtual D-pad and action button, and as this is a turn-based game, quick reflexes aren't needed.

The map is generally segmented into difficulty-level areas, with each difficulty level including a town that provides some quests, and the dungeons to do the quests in. While the game is technically nonlinear, the huge jumps between difficulty levels in the different areas make it basically linear. There's currently enough content to take you well past level 100, which I'd call dozens of hours in, and creator Nate Monster is constantly writing more.

Random monster encounters abound. Combat is turn-based, with shortcuts that let you tap on a creature to attack it or hit "auto" to repeat the last turn's attacks and spells. Spellcasting strategies rely heavily on time-limited buffing spells that you have to renew every ten turns or so.

Like my Editor's Choice iPad game Silversword, Dragon's Blade gets big points for going beyond the app. It has a cooperative online play mode with a built-in chat room and bonuses for working together. There's an active Web forum where the creator often weighs in, a blog about his further game development, and a player-created Wiki with maps and hints. That all compares very well with games like KEMCO's Android-based JRPGs, which have little or no out-of-game content to help you along.

A World Out of Balance
Where Dragon's Blade doesn't compare well is in plot and game balance.

Most great single-player RPGs have a plot, characters, and an overarching quest. There are variants on this theme. In JRPGs like the KEMCO games and later Final Fantasies, you tend to play a defined character; in old-school western RPGs your character is often more of a blank slate, but there's usually a big mystery to solve.

Dragon's Blade has neither plot nor characters, really.?There are a lot of little things to do, but it doesn't seem to build to anything, and your characters are ciphers. I got to level 23 and the third stage of the game, and I still haven't found an overarching quest.

The game also has a serious balance problem. A well-programmed RPG slopes gently along the length of its quest: as you get more powerful, your challenges get harder. Dragon's Blade moves in dramatic jumps. You'll complete one area and be nowhere near powerful enough to confront the next one, leaving you grinding out levels in a dull, repetitive, dynamically-generated proving ground called the Larkwood Mines. At 20 to 30 minutes per level, with a 5-10 level gap between completing one area and starting the next, it's a lot of unnecessary hacking and slashing.

Dragon's Blade wins back points for being one of very few similar games on the Windows Phone platform. The only decent alternative I've been able to find is the original Final Fantasy, for $6.99, and it's the original Final Fantasy. I'll be reviewing that one soon.

Old-school RPG lovers could do a lot worse than Dragon's Blade, especially if you're the patient type who likes to watch your levels rise as you slaughter monster after monster. I prefer a little more plot and character, but beggars can't be choosers. I'll keep playing Dragon's Blade until something better comes along.

For more Windows Phone App Reviews, see:
??? Dragon's Blade (for Windows Phone)
??? Microsoft Windows Phone 8
??? Skype 1.0 (for Windows Phone)
??? Facebook (for Windows Phone)
??? Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango'
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/1aiQ1UyI3Jc/0,2817,2413613,00.asp

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Wounded former congresswoman Giffords meets with Newtown victims

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) ? Just days before the second anniversary of a mass shooting that critically injured Gabrielle Giffords, the former congresswoman was in Newtown meeting privately with families of those killed during last month's massacre at an elementary school.

Giffords, a Democrat from Arizona, was accompanied Friday by her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

"As always, I was deeply impressed by the strength and courage and resolve of the families and the extraordinary caring and generosity of Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly in visiting with them," Blumenthal said.

A gunman fatally shot 26 people ? most of them children ? inside Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14. He also killed his mother and himself.

Giffords was left partially blind, with a paralyzed right arm and brain injury, when a gunman opened fire at a constituent meet-and-greet outside a Tucson grocery store on Jan. 8, 2011. Arizona's chief federal judge and five others were killed and 13 people, including Giffords, were injured.

She met earlier in the day Friday with officials including Connecticut Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman and Newtown's First Selectwoman Patricia Llodra. They talked about the need for changes in gun control laws and greater awareness of mental health issues, including identifying and treating people who have mental health problems, Llodra told USA Today.

They also discussed "concerns that our society has become desensitized to acts of violence, conflict and aggression," and the need for adults to examine their role in allowing societal values to become eroded," the newspaper reported.

Kelly has become a vocal advocate for gun control. He lashed out at politicians for avoiding a "meaningful debate" about gun laws and called out Arizona Republicans, including the governor, for taking a pro-gun stance in the months after the Arizona shooting.

"As a nation we have repeatedly passed up the opportunity to address the issue. After Columbine, after Virginia Tech, after Tucson and after Aurora, we have done nothing," he said in November when the Arizona gunman was sentenced.

He has issued strongly worded statements many times since the massacre in Connecticut, including a harsh response to the National Rifle Association's reaction to the shooting. He often begins statements with "Gabby and I" as he makes pointed comments about the direction of the gun debate in America.

Kelly said on the day of the Newtown shooting that it should lead to better gun control.

"This time our response must consist of more than regret, sorrow, and condolence," Kelly said on his Facebook page, calling for "a meaningful discussion about our gun laws and how they can be reformed and better enforced to prevent gun violence and death in America."

Blumenthal said he is eager to find allies as he pursues tougher gun control laws.

"I'm hopeful that everyone who cares about this issue or has a stake in it will be active in supporting our effort in gun violence prevention legislatively," he said.

Giffords' visit came one day after Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced the creation of an advisory commission that will review and recommend changes to state laws and policies on issues including gun control in the wake of the rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary.

Giffords has appeared in public a few times since the shooting. She came face-to-face with Loughner when he was sentenced and attended ceremonies for the anniversary of the shooting.

She received tributes and ovations when she returned to the House in January 2012 to say goodbye as she resigned her seat and she delivered the Pledge of Allegiance at the Democratic National Convention in September.

On Wednesday, two days before Giffords visited the Newtown families, she and Kelly met for an hour with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a longtime and vociferous gun control advocate. Bloomberg's office tweeted a photo of the meeting but wouldn't elaborate Friday on the discussion.

President Barack Obama invoked the Tucson and Newtown elementary school shootings when he spoke at Newtown shortly after the attack. He said four shootings, including those two plus the attacks at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin and at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., marked his first term in office.

A recent Pew Research Center report says gun policy accounted for almost 30 percent of discussions examined on blogs and Twitter in the three days after the school massacre. It compares the response to the Newtown rampage with the Arizona shooting, saying that in the three days after that, just 3 percent of social media conversation was about gun laws.

___

Associated Press writer Susan Haigh contributed to this report from Hartford, Conn.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wounded-ex-rep-giffords-meets-conn-families-231306569.html

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Iran building software to control networking sites

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran's police chief says the Islamic Republic is developing new software to control social networking sites.

Gen. Esmail Ahmadi Moghadam was quoted in Iranian newspapers Saturday as saying the new software will prevent Iranians from being exposed to malicious content online while allowing users to enjoy the benefits of the Internet. He did not say when the software would be introduced.

Moghadam also did not specify which social networking sites would be affected, but both Facebook and Twitter are popular in Iran.

Iranians currently have access to most of the Internet, although authorities block some sites affiliated with the opposition, as well as those that are seen as promoting dissent or considered morally corrupt.

Iran created a government agency last year to oversee Internet usage in the country.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iran-building-software-control-networking-sites-140939631.html

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Samsung pushing update to fix Exynos security exploit

Exynos security fail

Samsung has started pushing out an update for the Exynos security issue for users in the UK. You might remember, there is a critical "bug" in the Exynos 4210 and 4412 powered Samsung phones including the world versions of the Galaxy S3 and other models. This bug allows any application to read the devices RAM, leading to all sorts of potential mischief. 

A third party patch was quickly made available by Supercurio that fixed the issues, and Samsung told us they would be addressing the situation as quickly as possible. For folks in the UK using a Galaxy S3, it appears that means right now. 

The update is 4.1.2 (build JZO54K) and was signed off on December 22. It's available as an over the air update, and is currently rolling out. Remember, you need to be running all stock software to accept and install any OTA updates, this one included.

There's also some speculation that this update will fix the seemingly random issue of hardware failure in the Galaxy S3 main boards, but I think it's a bit too early to suggest this. The fix to the Exynos exploit, however, is included in this update. No word on when to expect updates for other areas where folks are still in need of this critical patch, or other phones that need this update. 

Via: SamMobile



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/68OUTu1J8PE/story01.htm

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Domestic abuse support group resumes meetings Wed. | Health and ...

safe allianceSafe Alliance, formerly United Family Services, says its domestic violence support group in the Lake Norman region will resume every-other-week meetings on Wednesday, Jan. 9. The meetings let women discuss common issues and concerns and build support networks as they cope with an abusive relationship.

Support group meetings are led by Amy Putnam, Safe Alliance Victim Advocate, and Heather Chavis, Client Care Specialist. For time and place or other information,? call 704-808 4743. Please know that your inquiries will be handled as private and confidential.

The support group?s goals include:

  • Providing a safe place for women to express feelings openly in a non-judgmental environment.
  • Learning from other group members while sharing success stories and challenges in transitioning from violent situations to safety.
  • Supporting individuals in varied stages of trauma related specifically to domestic violence.

?All women deserve to be in an emotionally stable and physically safe relationship,? Ms. Putnam said in an announcement. ?If you have ever felt that you have been in an emotional or physically harming relationship, you are not alone. We believe that through our group women can experience empowerment through the support of others who have gone through similar experiences.?

Safe Alliance domestic violence support groups are held every other Wednesday, beginning January 9, 2013 in a confidential location.

Safe Alliance supports victims of domestic and sexual violence, and child abuse and helps people build safe, healthy relationships. We do this through a continuum of shelter, counseling, legal and advocacy services serving over 20,000 people a year in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union and south Iredell counties while reaching 20,000 more through advocacy and education.

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Source: http://davidsonnews.net/healthandfitness/2013/01/04/domestic-abuse-support-group-resumes-meetings-wed/

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West Des Moines and Metro Weekend Events, Wedding Forum ...


Planning a wedding? West Des Moines is the place to be Sunday when the Bridal Forum is presented at the Sheraton West Des Moines. Billed as the premier bridal forum in central Iowa, it offers all the resources brides-to-be need to plan their dream weddings with more than 90 exhibitors.

Also in the offing: $6,000 in prizes and gift certificates.
West Des Moines Sheraton, 1800 50th St.
Jan. 5, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tickets.

If you miss it, The Everything Bridal Show will be presented from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at the Hy-Vee Conference Center in West Des Moines.

Elsewhere in the metro, Weddings DSM is a fun fun, chic way, to help you plan the wedding of your dreams. Vendors are Iowa's premier photographers, caterers, bakers, florists, bridal and tuxedo shops and more! Presenting a designer fashion show featuring models from RUNWAY model and talent, seminars from wedding experts and the Soon to be Newly Wed Game.
Jan. 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, Des Moines, 233 Center Street
Cost: Free

Also Around the Metro

Monster Jam 2013: The 2013 touring season brings more Monster Jam excitement with the celebration of Maximum Destruction?s 10th Anniversary providing entertainment tailored perfectly for your family's budget, and these colorful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old.

Jan. 4, 7:30 p.m ?Jan. 5, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Wells Fargo Arena, 233 Center St., Des Moines,
Cost: $20-$45, Child $5

?Triple Espresso - A Highly Caffeinated Comedy?: Tells the rags-to-rags story of Hugh Butternut, Buzz Maxwell and Bobby Bean, an aspiring comedy trio whose bid for showbiz fame and fortune ended in four minutes of magnificent failure on national television.
Temple Theater, Des Moines
7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 5 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 6 ?
Tickets

World's Toughest Rodeo: Cowboys, cowgirls and, of course, the animal athletes are all ready to roll into Des Moines. The free pre show, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, and of course the women's barrel racing mixed in with a little comedy, stunts, and rock and roll equals 2 1/2 hours of thrilling excitement.
Jan. 11-12, 7:30 p.m.
Wells Fargo Arena, 233 Center St. Des Moines, ?
Cost: $20-$57 Kids tickets are half price.
Tickets

Iowa Energy Basketball: The Iowa Energy play the Canton Charge. Family Day with Iowa Energy Hat Giveaway to the first 1000 fans presented by MidAmerican Energy.
Wells Fargo Arena, 233 Center Street, Des Moines
Jan. 13, 4 p.m.
Cost: $8-$20
Tickets

"The Monster Under the Bed": Monsters under the bed are supposed to be scary, right? But as Ben's mom gets grumpy, his dad is far away, and his best friend isn't being very nice, Ben turns to his Underbed Monster for friendship. One day, the monster goes to school for Ben, causing a huge ruckus.
Des Moines Playhouse, 831 42nd St., Des Moines,
Jan 11-27, 7 p.m. Fridays, 1 p.m. Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays (1 p.m. only, Sunday, Jan. 27)
Cost: $15/adults, $12/students

ISAA Pro Am Archery Tournament and Trade Show: Third-largest indoor archery tournament in the United States with a $20,000 purse. Free and open to the public.
Registration is on web site at www.isaaproam.com
Hy-Vee Hall, 233 Center St., Des Moines,
Jan. 11, 2 p.m.-10 p.m., Jan. 12, 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Jan. 13, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
Cost: Free

Smart Talk Connected Conversations Series: Doris Roberts: Nine years as Marie Barone on "Everybody Loves Raymond" brought Doris Roberts international accolades as the most popular comedic actress in television.

The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines

Jan. 17, 7:30 p.m.

Cost: $112-$312 for five-show Talk Series

Carnival of the Animals: Des Moines Symphony with l?Arsenal a Musique of Montreal, Canada. Discover this fantastical work by composer Camille Saint-Sa?ns, and enter into the marvelous universe of the Carnival of the Animals. Inspired by this piece, which still sounds fresh, we will take you on a fabulous musical journey.
The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines
Jan. 19, 1 p.m.
Cost: $10
Tickets.

Live At The Temple Concert Series: Susan Werner: Iowa-born Susan Werner is a genre-busting singer/songwriter traversing pop, folk, blues, country, roots, jazz and gospel with grace and wit.
The Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St., Des Moines
Jan. 19, 7:30
Cost: $162.50 for the Five-Concert Series Season

Upcoming Ames/Metro Events

Miranda Lambert: Locked and Re-Loaded tour stops in Ames with Dierks Bentley and Lee Brice.? Hilton Coliseum in Ames? 7:30 p.m. ?Feb. 21?. Tickets on sale

Jon Bon Jovi: The New Jersey rocker and his band will return to Des Moines on April 14 with the "Because We Can" Tour at the Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. Ticket prices start at $19.50; tickets for the Iowa show went on sale Dec. 3 through dahlstickets.com.

Taylor Swift: Country star Taylor Swift returns to Wells Fargo Arena on Aug. 1. No word yet on ticket prices or an on-sale date. The event is listed on Swift's website but is not listed on Ticketmaster or its partner website. In nearby Kansas City, MO tickets range from $30 to $85.

Justin Bieber: Pop star Justin Bieber will also make an appearance at the Wells Fargo Arena on July 7. Tickets are on sale now. Tickets range from $40 to $95.

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Source: http://westdesmoines.patch.com/articles/west-des-moines-and-metro-weekend-events-wedding-forum-triple-espresso-rodeo-cowboys-smart-talk-plus-justin-bieber-bon-jovi-carrie-underwood-and-taylor-swift

Johnny Pesky spice girls justin theroux Bumbo recall USA Basketball taio cruz taio cruz