Protecting your home's value - Winnipeg Free Press

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

By: Talbot Boggs, The Canadian Press

Posted: 10/30/2012 9:01 AM | Comments:

(Special) - With the average price now hovering around $375,000 and edging higher, buying a home is probably the largest single investment that most Canadians ever make in their lives. Once they have made the investment, protecting it becomes of paramount importance.

Good real estate generally is considered one of the best long-term investments you can make. Figures from the Canadian Real Estate Association show that the average price of a home in Canada has increased by about 460 per cent from $67,024 in 1980.

The home you bought 32 years ago for $67,000 could be worth more than $375,000 today, depending on its location and what improvements have or have not been made to it over the years. That's a pretty good return on investment.

There are a number of relatively easy and inexpensive things that real estate professionals say homeowners can do to protect and even increase the value of their homes and properties.

Cindie Carr Harris, a real estate agent with Royal LePage in Toronto, suggests owners start with the basics.

"Make sure your systems like heating, plumbing and wiring are in good shape, your foundation is solid and you've got a dry basement," she says. "Once your basics are sound, then you can start prettying things up and working on d?cor."

If you're going to spend some money on your home, the biggest return will come from the kitchen, bathroom and landscaping, Carr-Harris says.

The kitchen still is considered the heart of the home where the family congregates to eat, cook and interact. You can spruce up your kitchen without spending a fortune by replacing faucets, resurfacing cabinets, adding new door handles, and updating fixtures with brighter and more energy-efficient ones.

Many homeowners often get fixated with having the best and sexiest appliances, but you can do an appliance-makeover if they don't all match by ordering new doors or face panels for them. A more unified-looking kitchen can be a great attraction and selling feature.

Similarly, you can spruce up your tired dingy bathrooms by replacing old toilet seats, adding pedestal sinks, replacing discoloured flooring with easy to use vinyl tiles or sheeting, replacing chipped tiles, and resurfacing grimy-looking showers and tubs.

Older homes typically have small closets and lack a lot of storage space. Clutter can be a real turn-off, so if you are cramped for storage space why not go through what you've got and get rid of unwanted stuff either by throwing it out or perhaps selling it off.

You also can add do-it-yourself wire and laminate closet systems to bedrooms, pantries and entrance closets.

Flooring and lighting are two other home features that can be upgraded quickly and inexpensively.

A good carpet cleaning is an inexpensive investment. If you've got a lot of wear on your carpet, cover it with area rugs. Many real estate agents do not recommend replacing wall-to-wall carpeting before selling because the new owners may want to choose something else.

You can brighten the appearance of your home with some simple changes to your lighting systems. Adding chandeliers and wall sconces can shed some new light on your home. Most home improvement stores offer a wide range of nice-looking fixtures for good prices.

Landscaping can add greatly to what realtors call shelf or curb appeal and a good new coat of paint can do wonders to improve the overall appearance and appeal of your home.

"Landscaping can really improve the drive-by appeal and make your property one that people admire and would like to see," Carr-Harris says.

She warns, however, against the danger over-improving your property in relation to the area where it's located and trying to guess what the market and potential buyers might want.

"Never over-personalize your property to the point that it limits the potential of what can be done to it in the future," she says. "If you're in an area with mostly three-bedroom homes, don't get rid of one of those bedrooms and turn it into something that a new buyer might not want. Stay within the limits of your area."

In the final analysis, Carr-Harris says, most improvements and renovations should be done for your personal use and enjoyment, not for resale, because it's hard to anticipate what potential buyers will be looking for and want.

Talbot Boggs is a Toronto-based business communications professional who has worked with national news organizations, magazines and corporations in the finance, retail, manufacturing and other industrial sectors.

Copyright 2012 Talbot Boggs

Source: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/finance/protecting-your-homes-value--176414741.html

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Stranded Staten Island residents beg for rescue

The storm caused by Hurricane Sandy has downed trees, flooded homes and damaged streets in the New York City borough of Staten Island. On the island's south shore, trapped residents, some of whom ignored evacuation orders, pleaded with local officials on Facebook to send help to their flooded homes.

Many families were stuck in their attics as they retreated from the rising flood waters, while some even less fortunate were forced to seek help from their rooftops. "Family of 5 trapped on 2nd fl since yesterday included fireman and baby," one Facebook poster wrote on Staten Island City Councilman James Oddo's Facebook page, adding the specific address. "2 adults 2 dogs trapped since yesterday in the attic please help," another person wrote. Oddo wrote that he would pass on the many addresses posted on his page to Council Speaker Christine Quinn and the city's emergency management services. Many people could not get through to 911 last night because the system was so overloaded with calls--about 20,0000 per hour--and were thus trying Facebook and Twitter as a last resort.

Mio Delgado, a former New York City EMT who now lives in North Carolina, tells Yahoo News she has yet to hear if her family members who are trapped in a two-story home on Midland Beach have been rescued. The water had risen to the second floor of the house Monday night, and Delgado's grandmother, father, sister, and the sister's two young children gathered in the attic to escape the flood. Delgado's sister heard her neighbors yelling, "I don't want to die, somebody please help us" as the hours wore on. When Delgado's sister finally got through to 911 on her cell phone, a dispatcher told her first responders were only able to rescue people stuck on their roofs, and would return for them later. As of Tuesday morning, when Delgado lost contact with her sister, the family was still trapped inside their home.

Delgado also posted to Oddo's page, but has not yet received a reply. The councilman helped coordinate a rescue for an 87-year-old woman who was trapped in a flooded home Monday night. "God bless the FDNY who just put her in a car headed toward her daughter's house," the councilman wrote.?Oddo told the Staten Island Advocate that the south shore looked like a "war zone," and that hundreds of people in his region were trapped in their homes as the water rose.

In a dispatch on Tuesday morning, the Staten Island Advance said that streets are "mud-covered, debris strewn and dark, with very few traffic signals working." Nearly half of the island's homes are without power.

The storm even pushed a 168-foot water tanker onto the island, a mile from where it was docked.

The Advance also reported tragic news: A teenage girl was found dead in the rubble of a Staten Island home after the storm early Tuesday morning, one of 10 New York City fatalities from the storm so far. WABC reports the girl was 14 years old, but that no additional details were available.

First responders are still searching coastal, low-lying areas of Staten Island for people trapped by flood water.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/staten-island-tanker-runs-aground-homes-flooded-143446553.html

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How to Keep Healthy When the FrankenStorm Hits Your Home

As the high winds and pelting rain of Hurricane Sandy bear down on much of the East Coast, people are getting ready for the worst. They?ve packed away things like batteries and matches, and?because they might be greatly limited in how far they can get for a few days?food and water. But even a natural disaster like a hurricane should be no impediment to eating a healthy diet.

It may seem ironic, with tons of water falling from the sky and water levels rising from below, but the most important thing you?ll need is fresh, clean water. The water you?ll find around you from rain and flooding will probably be contaminated and dangerous to be near, let alone drink. Flood water is especially dangerous, as much of it may have come in contact with sewage. Never taste a food to see if it?s ?still good.? If you even suspect food has come into contact with flood water, discard it immediately. The same goes for food-related items, such as cutting boards, plastic cutlery, and baby bottle nipples. It?s best to put away at least one gallon per person per day for drinking, and to fill bathtubs and sinks before the storm to have a supply of water for bathing and other non-drinking uses.

When it comes to stocking food for when you?re waiting out a hurricane, the key is the packaging. This, too, will seem counter-intuitive for people who want to eat a healthy diet, as most of us are strong believers that packaged, prepared foods are nutritional disasters, full of sodium, fats, and synthetic chemicals. While healthy (or at least not harmful) packaged foods may not be common, they do exist. In order to get the healthiest options, consumers should look for foods that are low in calories?120 should be the limit for a snack?sodium, sugar, and fat. Steer clear of any packaged food with trans fats, and look instead for fiber and, if you can get it, essential fatty acids like omega-3.

While there are health-related issues with food that comes in cans lined with coatings containing the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), there are plenty of BPA-free canned goods if you look for them. And canned foods can provide excellent nutrition in times of emergency. At the top of the list are canned beans, which are rich in both fiber and protein. Be sure, however, to drain canned beans completely, and?if you have enough clean water?rinse them thoroughly. Many brands of canned beans are packed in brine that?s full of sodium; washing off as much of it as you can makes the beans themselves all that much healthier for you.

One canned food that may even be better for you than beans is tuna, particularly albacore or ?white? tuna. Though relatively low in calories, albacore tuna is jam-packed with protein, and is an excellent source of omega-3fatty acid. It?s also very rich in vitamin D, an essential building block that helps protect the immune system, and selenium, a mineral that helps prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. As an added bonus, albacore is also an excellent source of vitamin B12 and phosphorus, which, when combined, help synthesize proteins and aid in kidney and liver function. The only catch with tuna is that, as a large predatory fish, it can be exposed to mercury. Because of this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that pregnant women eat no more than six ounces of albacore tuna per week.

Canned soup can also be an excellent option, although canned soup is no match for fresh-made soup when it comes to nutrition, and many popular varieties are loaded with sodium, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and other items you probably don?t want to consume. It always pays to look at any packaged product?s list of ingredients and nutritional data, but that?s especially true of soup, which can be made of nearly any type of food. Look for soups that are made from the same types of food you would eat otherwise, like fish and seafood, green leafy vegetables, and other nutritious items.

If you can keep it cool, yogurt is an excellent food to have on hand when disaster strikes. Besides being low in calories, rich in protein, and an excellent source of calcium and B-vitamins, yogurt can decrease the frequency and severity of yeast and intestinal infections and help stimulate the immune system, and can be easier to digest than milk. Be sure to look for Greek-style yogurt, which is lower in fat and calories than other varieties, and to avoid flavorings, which are often high in sugar and low in any of the nutrition one associates with fruit or chocolate. If you don?t have access to a working refrigeration unit, packaged milk (also known as shelf-stable milk) is a reasonable, if not perfect, alternative for your dairy needs.

For snacks, the best option can be prepackaged granola bars, which can provide solid nutrition and quick energy if you are careful about which ones you choose. But, as with soups, it?s essential to completely read the label. In an effort to lower manufacturing costs and to appeal to a broader audience, many granola bar makers have added massive amounts of sugar and other harmful ingredients to their products. Look for bars that have fewer than 120 calories, no trans fats, less than two grams of saturated fat, and at least six grams of protein and two grams of fiber. To get the best, you may have to shop in a health-food store. Make sure your granola bars are high in oats, one of the best grains for optimal health. If you can, buy granola bars (or other products like bread) that contain flaxseeds, which are rich in omega-3, fiber, and antioxidants. Of course, the basic ingredients of granola bars?whole grains, nuts, and fruit?are all nutritious options by themselves, but beware of sodium, sugar, and other adulterants when buying them prepackaged.

Another source of nutrition and flavor can come from frozen fruits and vegetables. Freezing food makes it lose far less of its nutritional value than with other packaging methods, and can add much-needed taste to the basic foods you may have on hand in an emergency. Be sure to use the entire package, though, as food can?t be safely refrozen.

While the weather may prevent you from getting outside, it should not prevent you from eating right.

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Tags: frankenstorm, Hurricane Sandy, natural disaster

Source: http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/general-health-2/hurricane-sandy-alert-doctors-health-press-shows-you-how-to-keep-healthy-when-the-frankenstorm-hits-your-home

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Scott Forstall Leaving Apple - Business Insider

There has been a massive shake up in the executive ranks at Apple.

Scott Forstall, the brilliant, but polarizing SVP who leads iOS, is out. As is John Browett who took over Apple's retail operations earlier this year.

Forstall's responsibilities are going to be split amongst three long time Apple execs.

• Jony Ive, who leads hardware design, will lead Human Interface across the company.?

• Eddy Cue, who leads Internet services, will take over Siri and Maps.

• Craig Federighi, who runs OSX, will also lead iOS development.

Apple is going to be looking for a new head of retail. Browett's departure is surprising because of how short his tenure is with the company. However, he has been a controversial figure. He was cutting hours, and trying to make Apple stores more profitable, which seemed silly considering Apple makes a lot of money, and its stores are about providing excellent customer service.

Fostall is a much bigger surprise than Browett. Forstall has been at Apple basically his entire career. He was seen as the CEO-in-waiting, a Steve Jobs-like perfectionist who could one day lead Apple.

He led iOS after winning a brutal internal competition to design the iPhone's software. On the way to winning he made many enemies. Reportedly, Tony Fadell, who is considered the godfather of the iPod left Apple after losing out on designing iPhone software to Forstall.

Forstall also reportedly couldn't be in the same room as Ive or Bob Mansfield. Incidentally, Mansfield got a new job today, too. Mansfield will be in charge of a new group called, "Technologies," which will work on wireless technology and semiconductors.

After scoring a big early victory with iOS, Forstall oversaw two of Apple's biggest let downs in recent years: Maps and Siri. Siri, which is supposed to be voice-based personal assistance software has been a big flop. And Maps was so bad, CEO Tim Cook apologized to customers over it.

Forstall was also said to be leading the charge for Apple's design to be skeuomorphic, which is a fancy way of saying making digital things look like their analog counterparts. For instance, in the new Apple Podcasts app, there are tape decks playing. There is no reason to make a digital version of tape decks. This design language was said to be controversial inside Apple, and it could have contributed to his departure.

We expect to learn more details about what happened with Forstall and Apple in the days to come. Until then, here is Apple's press release on the changes:

Jony Ive, Bob Mansfield, Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi Add Responsibilities to Their Roles

CUPERTINO, California?October 29, 2012?Apple? today announced executive management changes that will encourage even more collaboration between the Company?s world-class hardware, software and services teams. As part of these changes, Jony Ive, Bob Mansfield, Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi will add more responsibilities to their roles. Apple also announced that Scott Forstall will be leaving Apple next year and will serve as an advisor to CEO Tim Cook in the interim.

?We are in one of the most prolific periods of innovation and new products in Apple?s history,? said Tim Cook, Apple?s CEO. ?The amazing products that we?ve introduced in September and October, iPhone 5, iOS 6, iPad mini, iPad, iMac, MacBook Pro, iPod touch, iPod nano and many of our applications, could only have been created at Apple and are the direct result of our relentless focus on tightly integrating world-class hardware, software and services.?

Jony Ive will provide leadership and direction for Human Interface (HI) across the company in addition to his role as the leader of Industrial Design. His incredible design aesthetic has been the driving force behind the look and feel of Apple?s products for more than a decade.

Eddy Cue will take on the additional responsibility of Siri? and Maps, placing all of our online services in one group. This organization has overseen major successes such as the iTunes Store?, the App Store?, the iBookstore? and iCloud?. This group has an excellent track record of building and strengthening Apple?s online services to meet and exceed the high expectations of our customers.

Craig Federighi will lead both iOS and OS X?. Apple has the most advanced mobile and desktop operating systems, and this move brings together the OS teams to make it even easier to deliver the best technology and user experience innovations to both platforms.

Bob Mansfield will lead a new group, Technologies, which combines all of Apple?s wireless teams across the company in one organization, fostering innovation in this area at an even higher level. This organization will also include the semiconductor teams, who have ambitious plans for the future.

Additionally, John Browett is leaving Apple. A search for a new head of Retail is underway and in the interim, the Retail team will report directly to Tim Cook. Apple?s Retail organization has an incredibly strong network of leaders at the store and regional level who will continue the excellent work that has been done over the past decade to revolutionize retailing with unique, innovative services for customers.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/scott-forstall-leaving-apple-2012-10

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Volunteers in Medicine Turns 5 Thanks to a 'Kind' Community

(l-r) Shelley Sallee, volunteer coordinator; Dr. Rajih Haddawi, board member; and Nancy Richman, executive director of Volunteers in Medicine of Monroe County. Photo by Lynae Sowinski

BY JANET MANDELSTAM

They walk into the clinic on West 2nd Street?113 of them on an average day?to see a doctor or dentist, stop at the pharmacy, or receive mental health services. Monday is women?s health night; the Friday focus is on spines. And if they meet the eligibility requirements, the care is delivered at no cost.

Since 2007, Volunteers in Medicine of Monroe County (VIM) has been providing health care at the clinic to low-income, uninsured residents of Monroe and Owen counties.

VIM is a national program with clinics in some 90 locations. But a few years ago Dr. Rajih Haddawi noticed that ?we didn?t have anything in our county to serve these people.? Haddawi, now a retired orthopedic hand surgeon, visited other sites and held more than 50 meetings with ?people who all supported the idea? of establishing a clinic in Bloomington.

?Dr. Haddawi?s passion brought people to the table,? says VIM Executive Director Nancy Richman. ?He said the community has to provide services to those who cannot access care.? With strong support from The Cook Group, Bloomington Hospital (now IU Health), and hundreds of medical and lay volunteers, VIM opened as a family-practice clinic.

Today more than 450 volunteers and a paid staff of 9 offer primary and preventive care, health education, medications (with only a low-cost handling fee), psychological counseling, diagnostic laboratory and radiology tests (at the hospital), and dental care. Any uninsured resident of Monroe or Owen county whose income does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level is eligible to be treated at the clinic. For an individual, 200 percent of the poverty level is $22,340; for a family of four, it is $46,100.

Richman says the clinic has seen ?a steady increase? in the number of clients it serves. ?And there have been demographic changes, too,? she says. ?It?s not just the homeless. Many of the clients are employed or under-employed but have no health insurance.? It would not be possible to serve them, she says, ?without the phenomenal support of the community.?

Volunteer coordinator Shelley Sallee says the volunteers ?are a reflection of Bloomington, of how kind and compassionate this community is. They want to help people who need medical care in any way they can.? Many of the medical volunteers are retired doctors and dentists. The duties of the lay volunteers, who range from college students to an 87-year-old receptionist, include greeting clients, working the phones, scheduling appointments, and updating medical records.

The relationship between the clinic and IU Health Bloomington Hospital benefits both. The hospital provides three full-time staffers for the clinic?a registered nurse, a nurse practitioner, and a pharmacist?and performs laboratory and radiology tests for clinic clients. ?The hospital is very proud to support the Volunteers in Medicine clinic,? says Ruth Ann Morris, vice president of patient-care services at IU Health and a member of the clinic board. Because the clinic has become a source of primary care, preventive services, and continuity for its clients, ?there are fewer emergency room visits? at the hospital, Morris says. ?It?s quality care at less cost.?

Source: http://www.magbloom.com/2012/10/volunteers-in-medicine-turns-5-thanks-to-a-kind-community/

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Rolling Stones guitarist auctions off belongings

courtesy Julien's Auctions

Ronnie Wood's Fender guitar, recently auctioned off.

By Miriam Coleman, Rolling Stone

A selection of memorabilia and artwork owned by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and his ex-wife, Jo Wood, went up for auction at a two-day sale over the weekend, Reuters reports.

The Art of Ronnie Wood: Highlights from the "Spend or Expend" exhibition at the Butler Institute of American Art

The collection, presided over by Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, featured items spanning four decades of Wood's career in music, including clothing, instruments, and tour ephemera. Among the prizes were a 1955 Fender Stratocaster guitar that Wood played onstage, which sold for $60,800. A cardboard cutout of a guitar that Keith Richards had given to Wood sold for $6,875.

Watch footage from the Rolling Stones' Paris rehearsal show

The auction also included a lithograph that Wood drew of Eric Clapton, signed by both Wood and Clapton, which sold for $5,120.

Ronnie and Jo Wood separated in 2008 after 23 years of marriage; Julien's said that the items were being sold as part of the divorce settlement, which was finalized in 2011. A portion of the auction's proceeds will go to the musicians' charity MusiCares.

Related content:

Source: http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/29/14779110-rolling-stones-guitarist-ronnie-wood-auctions-off-memorabilia-artwork?lite

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Microsoft announces Skype app for Windows Phone 8 with new UI, deep People Hub integration (video)

Last week, if you recall, Microsoft announced Skype for Windows 8, a touch-friendly app that appeared in the Windows Store the same day Win 8 went on sale. Now, with Windows Phone 8 getting its big reveal, the company is following up with a WP8 version, which Microsoft says is coming soon. Like the new Windows 8 app, it runs in the background, delivering push notifications even when you're looking at something else. In particular, now that Windows Phone allows for three different tile sizes, you can view the Skype tile in small, medium or large formats, with the largest displaying your latest message. (All tile sizes show an unread message count.)

There are other similarities to the Win 8 app, too, despite the fact that these phones have smaller screens. There's a favorites list, for one, along with a shortcut that makes it easy to toggle between open IM conversations. As on Windows 8, the app is deeply integrated with the People Hub, so that Skype handles appear on contact cards and incoming Skype calls look the same as any other. On the messaging side, there's an impressively large collection of emoticons (TMI-face, anybody?). It's also possible to start group chats, as well as change the conversation topic. So far, it's unclear when, exactly, the app will be available for download, but in the meantime we've got a short video demo waiting for you after the break.

Gallery: Skype for Windows Phone 8 screenshots

Continue reading Microsoft announces Skype app for Windows Phone 8 with new UI, deep People Hub integration (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft

Microsoft announces Skype app for Windows Phone 8 with new UI, deep People Hub integration (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/29/skype-for-windows-phone-8/

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Wildlife biologist Jeff Sikich knows how to get his mountain lion

Jeff Sikich shinnied up a charred oak in the Allegheny Mountains of western Virginia, shined his flashlight down into the hollowed-out trunk and gazed into the wary eyes of a mother bear 10 feet below.

As he fired a sedative dart into the black bear's shoulder, another biologist on the ground hollered for Sikich to block the opening to keep the bear from climbing up and out. Sikich leaned his long torso into the trunk's interior as the bear raced up, stopping about a foot from his nose.

"She stayed there looking at me, huffing and puffing her jaws and slapping the tree with her massive paws," he recalled.

PHOTOS: Tracking mountain lions

The drug soon took effect and the bear retreated into her arboreal den, Sikich said, "but the guys on the ground had a good laugh when they saw my legs shaking while the rest of my body was stuffed in the hole."

For a wildlife biologist who relishes close encounters with feral meat eaters, such adrenaline-pumping moments are all in a day's ? or night's ? work. In pursuit of lions (mountain), tigers (Sumatran) and bears (black), Sikich has hacked his way through jungle and snowshoed over forested backcountry.

He has concocted lures from beaver parts, skunk essence and catnip oil. He has used blowpipes to dart furry limbs and lowered drowsing animals from trees.

Sikich's instincts in the wild and his humane captures have earned him a place among a cadre of go-to carnivore trackers.

Agencies and nonprofit groups across the nation and around the world have enlisted him to capture and collar animals, many of them threatened, so that their eating and mating habits, movements and life spans could be studied.

Sikich has safely caught hundreds of carnivores large and small, most recently leopards in South Africa for the Cape Leopard Trust and mountain lions and jaguars in Peru for the World Wildlife Fund. He has weighed them, measured their teeth, taken blood samples and attached radio tracking collars.

But his main work for the last decade has been somewhere less exotic: right here in Southern California, where as a wildlife biologist for the National Park Service he has trailed cougars in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

The study looks at the effects on these predators of dense population and habitat-splintering freeways, residential areas and commercial centers. The researchers' findings have bolstered arguments for a wildlife corridor across the 101 Freeway to afford cougars safe passage between the Santa Monicas and ranges to the north, with the aim of expanding territories and mating options.

As part of the study, Sikich has twice captured and collared P-22, the male puma that in February became the first mountain lion to be photographed in Griffith Park.

The recapture ? to replace a nonfunctioning GPS device ? followed months during which Sikich drove his government pickup in and around the park, using an antenna to pick up very high frequency signals still beaming from the cougar's collar. Just after sunrise one August morning, Sikich and a colleague hiked in and spotted the cat, relaxing in a boulder-strewn ravine.

Sikich, 6 feet 2 and 180 pounds, clambered onto an overhanging limb to survey his quarry, about 10 feet away. The cat didn't move. "He knew I was there," Sikich said.

Last May in the Santa Monicas, Quinton Martins, chief executive of the Cape Leopard Trust in Cape Town, South Africa, shadowed Sikich and admired his technique with foot-hold snares. Martins thought the devices would be less harmful to leopards, which injure themselves trying to bite or scratch their way out of box or cage traps. He invited Sikich to the Boland Mountains to teach the method.

For his first capture in South Africa, Sikich buried a spring-loaded snare made of cables on a rocky ridge where remote cameras had captured images of leopards. He camouflaged the trap with sticks and stones. A leopard (BM4), about 8 years old, soon walked by, causing the spring to throw the loop around a front paw.

Within two weeks, "we had captured and collared three male leopards," Martins said. "Awesome!"

Sikich, 37, grew up in the southern suburbs of Chicago and northwest Indiana. He is the eldest of three children from a thoroughly citified family. His mother worked as a home interior decorator for a furniture manufacturer. His father was a manager at a vending company.

Sikich found his way into the woods when a grandfather, Gene Dickson, took him fishing.

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/gdOU6io_vUg/la-me-mountain-lions-20121029,0,5052113.story

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French police arrest suspected head of ETA

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Support Your Home Based Business Flourish By Using These ...

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Legal Theory Blog: Legal Theory Bookworm

The Legal Theory Bookworm?recommends?Why Tolerate Religion? by Brian Leiter. Here is a description:

This provocative book addresses one of the most enduring puzzles in political philosophy and constitutional theory--why is religion singled out for preferential treatment in both law and public discourse? Why, for example, can a religious soup kitchen get an exemption from zoning laws in order to expand its facilities to better serve the needy, while a secular soup kitchen with the same goal cannot? Why is a Sikh boy permitted to wear his ceremonial dagger to school while any other boy could be expelled for packing a knife? Why are religious obligations that conflict with the law accorded special toleration while other obligations of conscience are not?

In Why Tolerate Religion?, Brian Leiter argues that the reasons have nothing to do with religion, and that Western democracies are wrong to single out religious liberty for special legal protections. He offers new insights into what makes a claim of conscience distinctively "religious," and draws on a wealth of examples from America, Europe, and elsewhere to highlight the important issues at stake. With philosophical acuity, legal insight, and wry humor, Leiter shows why our reasons for tolerating religion are not specific to religion but apply to all claims of conscience, and why a government committed to liberty of conscience is not required by the principle of toleration to grant exemptions to laws that promote the general welfare.

And from the blurbs:

"Think you understand religious toleration? Think again. Brian Leiter's bracing argument moves deftly from the classics of political philosophy to the riddles of modern case law, demolishing old nostrums and sowing fresh insights with each step. Every reader will learn something from this remarkable book, and, beginning now, every serious scholar of religious toleration will have to contend with Leiter's bold claims."--Christopher L. Eisgruber, Princeton University

"This is a provocative and bracing essay, one that is bound to stimulate much discussion."--Richard Kraut, Northwestern University

"The place of religion in the public arena, and the kind of protection and even respect it should be entitled to from the state, is a topic of significant contemporary interest. Leiter writes about it with wit and good humor. He is even bruising on occasion. But there can be no doubting his capacity as a scholar, his intellectual energy, or his ability to persuade."--Timothy Macklem, King's College London

"Leiter argues that there are no principled, moral reasons for singling out religion as the subject of toleration. He has cut through a dense philosophical and legal literature, focused on a question of great importance, and developed a provocative, sharp, and yet nuanced case. Anyone concerned with this topic will have to read and take seriously the arguments presented in this very well-written and accessible book."--Micah J. Schwartzman, University of Virginia

Source: http://lsolum.typepad.com/legaltheory/2012/10/legal-theory-bookworm-1.html

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The Powers That Beat: Ryan's Story || AutismAid

nichcy.org | May 1st 2013

Fact Sheet 1 (FS1)
June 2010
Aprox. 6 pages when printed.

Ryan?s Story

Ryan is a healthy, active two-year-old, but his parents are concerned because he doesn?t seem to be doing the same things that his older sister did at this age. He?s not really talking, yet; although sometimes, he repeats, over and over, words that he hears others say. He doesn?t use words to communicate, though. It seems he just enjoys the sounds of them. Ryan spends a lot of time playing by himself. He has a few favorite toys, mostly cars, or anything with wheels on it! And sometimes, he spins himself around as fast as he does the wheels on his cars. Ryan?s parents are really concerned, as he?s started throwing a tantrum whenever his routine has the smallest change. More and more, his parents feel stressed, not knowing what might trigger Ryan?s next upset.

Often, it seems Ryan doesn?t notice or care if his family or anyone else is around. His parents just don?t know how to reach their little boy, who seems so rigid and far too set in his ways for his tender young age. After talking with their family doctor, Ryan?s parents call the Early Intervention office in their community and make an appointment to have Ryan evaluated.

When the time comes, Ryan is seen by several professionals who play with him, watch him, and ask his parents a lot of questions. When they?re all done, Ryan is diagnosed with autism, one of the five disorders listed under an umbrella category of ?Pervasive Developmental Disorders??a category that?s often referred to as simply the ?autism spectrum.?

As painful as this is for his parents to learn, the early intervention staff encourage them to learn more about the autism spectrum. By getting an early diagnosis and beginning treatment, Ryan has the best chance to grow and develop. Of course, there?s a long road ahead, but his parents take comfort in knowing that they aren?t alone and they?re getting Ryan the help he needs.

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What are the Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorders?

Each of the disorders on the autism spectrum is a neurological disorder that affects a child?s ability to communicate, understand language, play, and relate to others. They share some or all of the following characteristics, which can vary from mild to severe:

• Communication problems (for example, with the use or comprehension of language);
• Difficulty relating to people, things, and events;
• Playing with toys and objects in unusual ways;
• Difficulty adjusting to changes in routine or to familiar surroundings; and
• Repetititive body movements or behaviors. (1)

These characteristics are typically evident before the age of three.

Children with autism or one of the other disorders on the autism spectrum can differ considerably with respect to their abilities, intelligence, and behavior. Some children don?t talk at all. Others use language where phrases or conversations are repeated. Children with the most advanced language skills tend to talk about a limited range of topics and to have a hard time understanding abstract concepts. Repetitive play and limited social skills are also evident. Other common symptoms? of a disorder on the autism spectrum can include unusual and sometimes uncontrolled reactions to sensory information?for instance, to loud noises, bright lights, and certain textures of food or fabrics.

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What are the Specific Disorders on the Autism Spectrum?

There are five disorders classified under the umbrella category officially known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders, or PDD. As shown below, these are:

• autism;
• Asperger syndrome;
• Rett syndrome;
• childhood disintegrative disorder; and
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (often referred to as PDDNOS). (2)

Although there are subtle differences and degrees of severity between these five conditions, the treatment and educational needs of a child with any of these disorders will be very similar. For that reason, the term ?autism spectrum disorders??or ASDs, as they are sometimes called? is used quite often now and is actually expected to become the official term to be used in the future (see the section below called ?A Look at ASD Diagnoses in the Future?). (3)

The five conditions are defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR)? of the American Psychiatric Society (2000). This is also the manual used to diagnose autism and its associated disorders, as well as a wide variety of other disabilities.

At the moment, according to the 2000 edition of the DSM-IV, a diagnosis of autistic disorder (or ?classic? autism) is made when a child displays 6 or more of 12 symptoms across three major areas:

• social interaction (such as the inability to establish or maintain relationships with peers appropriate to the level of the child?s development,
• communication (such as the absence of language or delays in its development), and
• behavior (such as repetitive preoccupation with one or more areas of interest in a way that is abnormal in its intensity or focus).

When children display similar behaviors but do not meet the specific criteria for autistic disorder, they may be diagnosed as having one of the other disorders on the spectrum?Aspergers, Rett?s, childhood disintegrative disorder, or PDDNOS. PDDNOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) is the least specific diagnosis and typically means that a child has displayed the least specific of autistic-like symptoms or behaviors and has not met the criteria for any of the other disorders.

Terminology used with autism spectrum disorders can be a bit confusing, especially the use of PDD and PDDNOS to refer to two different things that are similar and intertwined. Still, it?s important to remember that, regardless of the specific diagnosis, treatments will be similar.

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How Common are ASDs?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some form of autism affects 2 ? 6 of every 1,000 children, with the most recent statistic being 1 in 110. (4) ASDs are four times more common in boys than in girls, although Rett Syndrome has only been diagnosed in girls. (5)

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What Causes an ASD?

The causes of autism and the other disorders on the spectrum are not known. Researchers are currently studying such areas as neurological damage and chemical imbalances within the brain. These disorders are not due, however, to psychological factors or, as has been widely reported in the press, to childhood vaccines. (6)

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A Look at ASD Diagnoses in the Future

In early 2010, the American Psychiatric Association released draft revisions to its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and invited comments from both professionals and the general public. The final and official fifth revision of the DSM is expected to be published in May 2013. (7)

When published, the DSM-5 is expected to affect how autism and associated disorders are diagnosed. Among the proposed revisions are:

All this is to say?stay tuned. The criteria for diagnoses of ASDs are in the process of changing.

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Is There Help Available?

Yes, there?s a lot of help available, beginning with the free evaluation of the child. The nation?s special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), requires that all children suspected of having a disability be evaluated without cost to their parents to determine if they do have a disability and, because of the disability, need special services under IDEA. Those special services are:

Under IDEA, children with a disorder on the autism spectrum are usually found eligible for services under the category of ?autism.? In the fall of 2005, more than 160,000 school-aged children (3-21) received special education and related services in the public schools under the ?autism? category. (9)

IDEA specifically defines ?autism? as follows:

?..a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three, that adversely affects a child?s educational performance.

A child who shows the characteristics of autism after age 3 could be diagnosed as having autism if the criteria above are satisfied.???? [34 CFR ?300.8(c)(1)]

Other characteristics often associated with autism are engaging in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences. The term autism does not apply if the child?s educational performance is adversely affected primarily because the child has an emotional disturbance, as defined in IDEA.

To have a child evaluated to see if he or she has a disability, including one on the autism spectrum, or to access early intervention services for a child up to his or her 3rd birthday, we recommend consulting NICHCY?s State Resource Sheet for your state. You?ll find a listing for early intervention under the first section, State Agencies. The agency listed there will be able to put you in contact with the early intervention program in your community.

To have a school-aged child evaluated for an ASD or to access special education services for a school-aged child, we recommend getting in touch with your local public school system. Calling the elementary school in your neighborhood is an excellent place to start.

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What about School?

Early diagnosis and intervention are very important for children with an ASD. As we?ve mentioned, under IDEA children with an ASD may be eligible for early intervention services (birth to 3) and an educational program appropriate to their individual needs.

In addition to academic instruction, special education programs for students with ASDs? focus on improving communication, social, academic, behavioral, and daily living skills. Behavior and communication problems that interfere with learning often require the assistance of a professional who is particularly knowledgeable in the autism field to develop and help implement a plan which can be carried out at home and school.

The classroom environment should be structured so that the program is consistent and predictable. Students with an ASD learn better and are less confused when information is presented visually as well as verbally. Interaction with nondisabled peers is also important, for these students provide models of appropriate language, social, and behavioral skills. Consistency and continuity are? very important for children with an ASD, and parents should always be involved in the development of their child?s program, so that learning activities, experiences, and approaches will be most effective and can be carried over into the home and community.

With educational programs designed to meet a student?s individual needs and specialized adult support services in employment and living arrangements, many children and adults with a disability on the autism spectrum grow to live, work, and participate fully in their communities.

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Tips for Parents

• Learn about autism spectrum disorders?especially the specific disorder of your child. The more you know, the more you can help yourself and your child. Your state?s Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) can be very helpful. You?ll find your PTI listed on NICHCY?s State Resource Sheet (under ?Organizations Especially for Parents?). We?ve also listed? organizations at the end of this fact sheet that can help you become knowledgeable about your child?s disorder.
• Be mindful to interact with and teach your child in ways that are most likely to get a positive response. Learn what is likely to trigger a melt-down for your child, so you can try to minimize them. Remember, the earliest years are the toughest, but it does get better!
• Learn from professionals and other parents how to meet your child?s special needs, but remember your son or daughter is first and foremost a child; life does not need to become a neverending round of therapies.
• If you weren?t born loving highly structured, consistent schedules and routines, ask for help from other parents and professionals on how to make it second nature for you. Behavior, communication, and social skills can all be areas of concern for a child with autism and experience tells us that maintaining a solid, loving, and structured approach in caring for your child, can help greatly.
• Learn about assistive technology (AT) that can help your child. This may include a simple picture communication board to help your child express needs and desires, or may be as sophisticated as an augmentative? communication device.
• Work with professionals in early intervention or in your child?s school to develop an IFSP or an IEP that reflects your child?s needs and abilities. Be sure to include related services, supplementary aids and services, AT, and a positive behavioral support? plan, if needed.
• Be patient and stay optimistic. Your child, like every child, has a whole lifetime to learn and grow.

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Tips for Teachers

• Learn more about the autism spectrum. Check out the research on effective instructional interventions and behavior on NICHCY?s website. The organizations listed in this publication can also help.
• Make sure directions are given step-by- step, verbally, visually, and by providing physical supports or prompts, as needed by the student. Students with autism spectrum disorders often have trouble interpreting facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. Be as concrete and explicit as possible in your instructions and feedback to the student.
• Find out what the student?s strengths and interests are and emphasize them. Tap into those avenues and create opportunities for success. Give positive feedback and lots of opportunities for practice.
• Build opportunities for the student to have social and collaborative interactions throughout the regular school day. Provide? support, structure, and lots of feedback.
• If behavior is a significant issue for the student, seek help from expert professionals (including parents) to understand the meanings of the behaviors and to develop a unified, positive approach to resolving them.
• Have consistent routines and schedules. When you know a change in routine will occur (e.g., a field trip or assembly) prepare the student by telling him or her what is going to be different and what to expect or do.
• Work together with the student?s parents and other school personnel to create and implement an educational plan tailored to meet the student?s needs. Regularly share information about how the student is doing at school and at home.

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Organizations: Your Gateway to Information, Connection, and Research

For incredible amounts of information on ASDs, visit the organizations listed below.

Autism Society of America
1.800.3AUTISM (1.800.328.8476)
http://www.autism-society.org/

Autism Speaks
888-AUTISM2 (288-4762)
http://www.autismspeaks.org/

OASIS @ MAPP
Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support (OASIS) and MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome.
http://www.aspergersyndrome.org

Exploring Autism
Information in English and Spanish.
http://www.exploringautism.org/

Autism Collaboration
http://www.autism.org/

National Autism Center
1.877.313.3833
http://www.nationalautismcenter.org/index.php

Interactive Autism Network
http://www.ianproject.org/

OAR | Organization for Autism Research
http://www.researchautism.org/

CDC | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Information in English and Spanish.
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html

First Signs
http://www.firstsigns.org

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References

1 | Autism Society of America. (2008). About autism. Available online at: www.autism-society.org

2 |? American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders? fourth edition, text revision (DSM-IV-TR). Arlington, VA: Author.

3 | American Psychiatric Association. (2010). DSM-5 proposed revisions include new category of autism spectrum disorders (press release). Available online at:? www.dsm5.org/Newsroom/Documents/Autism%20Release%20FINAL%202.05.pdf

4 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2009). Autism spectrum disorders: Data and statistics. Available online at:? www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

5 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2009). Autism spectrum disorders: Research. Available online at:? www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/research.html

6 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2009). Concerns about autism: CDC statement on autism and thimerosal. Available online at:? www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Concerns/Autism/Index.html

7 | American Psychiatric Association. (2009). (press release). Available at: www.dsm5.org/Newsroom/Documents/09-65%20DSM%20Timeline.pdf

8 |? American Psychiatric Association. (2010). Proposed revision: Autistic disorder. Available online at: www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=94#

9 |? U.S. Department of Education. (2007). 27th annual report to Congress on the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2005 (Vol. 2). Washington, DC: Author.

Original Page: http://nichcy.org/disability/specific/autism/

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Source: http://thepowersthatbeat.blogspot.com/2012/10/ryan-story-autismaid.html

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Home Building Project: Well Thought Out Planning And ...

By Administrator on Oct 26, 2012 in Home and Family

The time has eventually come when you are prepared to build up your dream home. And it?s quite a challenge when it comes down to preparation. You need to sit down and put your plans on paper. When you already have the building lot and have made out the budget that you can afford as well as the initial concept of the type of house you want, it's time to talk to a pro who can finalize everything and make sure you are informed of all of the details like the price guess of the materials and everything concerned in the construction. Having a clear sense of the rough cost of your house building project is crucial. This is going to help you make some changes on the way to meet your financial position.

Home building corporations have a bunch of house plans you can look into that would suit your wants and needs. You can just easily have it customised to fit your private preference. You can make a request for the home designer to change some details like the sizes of the rooms, the design of the windows and doors, and so on. This is much simpler than getting a place design done from nothing. Consulting with different builders will let you know who can both carry out your required project and work within your budget.

Debate with the home builder about the likely expenses involved in the construction before you choose your final plan. Know that each detail in the planning of your home can affect the cost. Expect that building the loo and kitchen will be costly. You need to consider the quality of fixtures you choose since these are the rooms that are frequently used. It is often good to invest on quality materials so it'll be unnecessary to spend more on repairs in the future if things break. Your dedicated planning of these hardworking rooms actually matters and will definitely be worthwhile in the end.

Remember that building a tall house is better value than building a single level with a larger roof and foundation. This is another big thing to think about particularly when you are in a humble budget. You will be saving more space with a two or three level house.

Always expect cost overruns as they appear to be standard in any home building project. It is advised that you put aside some extra fund that'll be used on things that you don't have control of.

A reliable home builder can offer you the guarantee that the money you invest in your house building project is wisely spent. Take it slow in choosing which home building expert you think is good for you. Selecting Byron Bay Builder in New South Wales is the smartest choice you'll ever make.

Brady Clark writes for Builder Byron Bay, a company of the best home builders. When selecting the best home builders seek help from them.

Source: http://www.mylife-coach.net/6035/home-building-project-well-thought-out-planning-and-consideration/

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Father of shot Pakistani girl arrives in Britain

In this undated handout photo issued by Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, England, on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, Malala Yousufzai in her hospital bed, poses for a photograph, with her father Ziauddin, second right accompanied by her two younger brothers Atal, right and Khushal, centre. The father of a 15-year-old Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban described his daughter?s survival and recovery as miraculous Friday, calling her shooting a turning point for Pakistan. Malala Yousufzai is recovering at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she was flown for treatment and protection from Taliban threats after she was shot on Oct. 9 in northwestern Pakistan. Her father, Ziauddin, flew to the U.K. to be by her side. (AP Photo/ Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham)

In this undated handout photo issued by Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, England, on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, Malala Yousufzai in her hospital bed, poses for a photograph, with her father Ziauddin, second right accompanied by her two younger brothers Atal, right and Khushal, centre. The father of a 15-year-old Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban described his daughter?s survival and recovery as miraculous Friday, calling her shooting a turning point for Pakistan. Malala Yousufzai is recovering at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she was flown for treatment and protection from Taliban threats after she was shot on Oct. 9 in northwestern Pakistan. Her father, Ziauddin, flew to the U.K. to be by her side. (AP Photo/ Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham)

LONDON (AP) ? The father of a 15-year-old Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban described his daughter's survival and recovery as miraculous Friday, and said her shooting was a turning point for Pakistan.

Malala Yousufzai is recovering at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she was flown for treatment and protection from Taliban threats after she was shot on Oct. 9 in northwestern Pakistan. Her father, Ziauddin, flew to the U.K. to be by her side.

"When she fell, the world stood," he said of Malala, respected internationally as an activist for girls' education. "She will rise again, she will stand again. She can stand now."

He said he initially feared he would need to prepare for his daughter's funeral and that her recovery was "a miracle for us."

"She is recovering at an encouraging speed and we are very happy," he told a news conference in Birmingham.

He expressed gratitude for prayers and well-wishes from all over the world, saying the outpouring united Pakistan in condemnation.

A Taliban gunman shot Malala as she was in a school bus on her way home from school in the Swat Valley city of Mingora. Two other girls were injured in the attack.

She was airlifted to a hospital in Britain on Oct. 15. The Taliban have vowed to kill her, raising questions about whether it would be safe for her to return but her father rejected reports the family might seek asylum abroad.

Since she was shot, Malala has become a hero both at home and internationally, although her work in speaking out against Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls' education has long been respected and known beyond her native Swat Valley.

The family were reunited Thursday night.

"I love her and last night when we met her there were tears in our eyes out of happiness," Ziauddin Yousufzai said Friday. "We all cried a little bit."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-10-26-EU-Britain-Pakistani-Girl/id-16623f1fb2ed477b99fcc0fdd50deb1a

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Workers face tough choice as joblessness drags on

Mike Segar / Reuters

Job seekers wait to meet with employers at a career fair Wednesday in New York City.

By Dana Macario, TODAY contributor

One of the defining features of the current economic downturn is that when people lose their job, they tend to remain unemployed for a loooong time. Of the nation's 12 million unemployed workers, 40 percent have been unemployed more than six months, and the average duration of unemployment is nine months.

Many workers inevitably struggle with the question of whether to?strategically pursue jobs within their chosen field or just grab any job they can get.

Obviously, if bills are piling up and you need to get food on the table, you happily take any available job. But what if you have some savings set aside and can afford to ride out your job search for a while?

There aren?t any hard-and-fast rules in that case, experts said.

?There is no one right answer. You need to do what?s best for you,? said David Palileo, a recruiter for Synapse Product Development.

Cathi Hight, president of the Boulder Area Human Resource Association in Colorado, echoed Palileo?s comments, noting that both long employment gaps and unusual, interim jobs are increasingly common these days. ?HR people are a little less judgmental, because a lot of people are out of work ? a lot of HR people are out of work. They get it.?

Whether you take any job you can find or hold out for something in line with your long-term career goals may depend on what industry you?re in. ?Think about what industry you?re in ? what?s the future for that industry? If you?re in a declining industry, you?re going to need to find some resources to switch industries, switch careers,? said Josh Warborg, district president at Robert Half International, a?staffing firm. ?However, if you?re in an industry like IT or health care, you may be better off staying in your field and hunting down an opportunity there.?

However, Joe Bonura, author of the e-book ?Throw the Rabbit and Get That Job In 30 Days or Less!,? advises job seekers to take any job they can get. He says it?s important to do something productive, even if it wasn?t what you were trained to do. ?I would clean toilets in between [jobs] so I could keep my pride and keep earning money,? Bonura said. ?While I?m cleaning toilets, I?d be thinking, ?What am I going to do this afternoon so I can get the job I really want to do?? And there?s no shame in that. There?s no shame in any labor. The big thing to do is maintain your self-esteem.?

Whether you hold out for the job you really want or take any job you can get, experts recommend addressing that choice in your resume and cover letter.

For those who take any job they can find, Hight recommends noting it as an ?interim? position. Tell prospective employers that you had to make careful decisions during this difficult economic time. She notes that it?s important to mention something positive about that interim job in your cover letter. ?Don?t make it sound like complete drudgery. Tell them you learned something new on the job. Then, potential employers can say, ?Wow, this person made a hard decision, but they?re making the most of it and learning something.??

While Hight advises applicants to address their interim position in the cover letter, she says it?s important to talk about the job they are applying for as well. Many cover letters and resumes are scanned and filtered by computers before a human ever sees them, so it?s important to include the right keywords for a particular job in those documents; otherwise, Hight cautions, computer filters may dismiss a resume before a real person ever has the chance to lay eyes on it.

Palileo agrees that it?s important to address both gaps in employment and those interim jobs on your resume. If you took a job just to get through a tough spot, Palileo says, it?s important to put the right spin on it, both on your resume and in an interview. ?How do you encapsulate that [job] into your story? Rather than say ?barista,? say that you?re a java addict who dove into the subculture of coffee houses.?

Dana Macario is a Seattle-area writer.

While the rest of the nation suffers with a jobless rate of around 8 percent, South Dakota's is about half that. And there's a range of jobs, from IT to banking to engineering.

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Source: http://lifeinc.today.com/_news/2012/10/26/14699000-workers-face-tough-choice-as-unemployment-drags-on?lite

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