Thursday, December 27, 2012

Self Improvement Tips For Improving Your Success - ProjectPB ...

It is always difficult to make any major changes in your life, especially if you are trying to make changes to the person who you are. There are many different things you need to consider. You can improve physically by eating a healthier diet and exercising. Self improvement can be achieved in many different ways. Use the advice in this article to help you make any type of personal change. Not only will this make you feel more positive about yourself, but others in your life will see how you?ve changed as well.

It is a lot easier to plan a personal development program when you are clear about what you want out of life. Choosing long-term goals will help you to gain the right perspective for finding success in life.

The number one rule when you?re trying to make your personal development a high priority is to learn to listen to your body. If your body feels you need to eat or drink, you should do it. By doing that, your body will perform better later on in the future. By shying away from problems, your body will likely do the same in the future.

TIP! Don?t solely focus on your outside looks; have a look at the person you are within. Top of the line clothing or model-looks does not always make you a better person.

Identify the biggest obstacle that is preventing you from succeeding. This is very hard for many people to do. However, identifying what our weaknesses are is one of the first things you have do in order to address and change it. If you get rid of the things that might stand in your way, you can find the way to clear your path.

Look for pieces of writing or prose that were created for motivation. Everyone?s idea of a positive piece of writing is different. It may be a religious bible, or alternatively a book of inspirational quotes. Having something tangible that you can return to when you need encouragement helps you to get in a better state of mind, which means you can handle life better.

Research positive habits that have helped others become successful. Begin with the basics, and practice them over and over until they become ingrained in your daily regimen. It can take up to three weeks to acquire a new habit, so it is important to keep trying.

TIP! You will miss an opportunity if you avoid making the right decision regarding personal development. Don?t fear making decisions even if you?re not that informed about them.

Regardless of what your needs are and how you decide to pursue them, there is one thing that is absolutely crucial. No matter what other steps you take, the one critical decision you must make is to be active in your life, not a bystander. You can always improve yourself as long as you have made the decision to live instead of simply observe.

Becoming healthier will help immensely during self improvement. When you feel good physically, you feel better mentally and emotionally too. When you radiate health you are feeling strong and mentally alert. You will spend less time on health issues and more time enjoying your life. Making healthy choices should be a top priority.

Personal development begins with becoming a leader. The best definition for leadership is ?influence?. Take a look at your leadership journey. What experiences have had the greatest impact on your life? What changes did those events bring forth in you? What attributes make you a good team player? Thinking deeply about these issues can bring awareness of the level of your leadership and team member skills.

TIP! Begin your personal development program by focusing on the things that are most important to you. If you mimic some of the steps these individuals have taken, you just might find that some mistakes are easier to avoid.

Find out more abut sexual capitol and how you can develop it. This doesn?t mean people use sex explicitly to get what they want; it means using personal charm instead. Many people aren?t born with excellent social skills, but developing them can make achieving your other self improvement goals easier.

Stress can greatly interfere with your mood. When our minds are stressed, our mental and physical bodies are harmed. Take care of the stress you have in your mind by thinking clearly. Each day, take time to quiet your mind and relax. This refreshing time can improve your self-image and peace.

Exercise is for everybody. It is not reserved for those who wish to slim down. The physical reasons for exercising are numerous. When you exercise, your body produces a number of chemicals, such as endorphin, which improve your overall mood.

TIP! You can be unnecessarily stressed if you overact to situations. Find ways to deal with distressing situations, and take the time to think things through.

Always be on the look out for a challenge. New opportunities can be gained from trying new things. Additionally, you will understand your limits and improve your abilities. You may even want to achieve something that has never been done before. Don?t just copy what others have done, find something original.

Keep your limitations in mind and do not push too hard to reach your goals, especially when it comes to physical self-improvement. It is just as important to know when to stop as it is to try your hardest. Don?t neglect your body when your are striving to meet your goal. It is simply illogical to expect any real gain in personal development, if you aren?t looking after your body at the same time.

TIP! A positive attitude is key to personal growth. Living your life with a poor attitude will only attract more of the same to your life.

Pick up a book to find out more about personal development. A good personal development book can give you great advice and ideas that can change your life. Books on the topic of personal development can be poorly written. To avoid this, make sure you read books that have been reviewed well.

Our goal in this article was to help you to accomplish a start on your personal development plans. There are various ways you can improve yourself, and there always will be. Regardless of age or circumstance, we can all improve our own lives, and in doing so, impact those around us in a positive way.

Don?t worry so much. If you worry, you will just have a bad idea in your head and create more worries. When you want to worry, just think of the worst thing that can happen, and form a plan of action to counter it. You will then be prepared and able to move forward.

TIP! Do not boast about your accomplishments. Talk to people and find out more about their own achievements.

Blue widgets can be a great thing to learn. Spend some time reading up on the idea and you are more likely to generate successful results. Reading this article is the first step in a journey to master Personal Development that will last a lifetime.

Source: http://www.projectpb.net/blog/index.php/personal_development/self-improvement-tips-for-improving-your-success/

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Monday, December 24, 2012

Viral Video Recap: Funniest Memes of the Week

DEAR ABBY: While searching for two of my husband's childhood friends, with his knowledge, I believe I may have found a child he doesn't know is his. I'm not positive that the child is his, but the time frame and location indicate that he could be, and there's a strong resemblance to my husband's brother. (I have seen photos on the Internet.) I am curious whether my hunch is correct, but I'm afraid of asking the questions, not knowing how they would be received. My husband is a kind and caring person, a great husband and father. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/viral-video-recap-funniest-memes-week-140734406.html

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Monday, December 17, 2012

Monday Brief: A high res look at the BB10 L-Series, Google Maps hits the App Store, and more!


Mobile Nations



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/mQjbfkhuYb8/story01.htm

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Banneker Special Ed School Gets Holiday Visit From LAPD, LA ...

The Beverly Hills Police Department took part Saturday in a special holiday celebration at the Benjamin Banneker School. (credit: BHPD)

The Beverly Hills Police Department took part Saturday in a special holiday celebration at the Benjamin Banneker School. (credit: BHPD)

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) ? If Santa Claus wants to know who has been naughty or nice this year at the Benjamin Banneker Special Education School, he has a bunch of people he can ask.

And they?re all in uniform. The kids at the school were visited Saturday by members of the Beverly Hills Police Department, LA County Fire and the Los Angeles Police Department.

The County Fire Department brought fire trucks, Beverly Hills Police came with police dogs, motorcycles and police cars. Not to be outdone, the LAPD landed a helicopter.

The school serves more than 300 students ? aged 3-22 ? many of whom have physical and mental challenges.

Last month, the school lost one of their own when 18-year-old Miguel Angel Mendez was struck by a hit-and-run driver near his home.

In a written release, the BHPD said they were honored to take part in the holiday event today as they have for ?the past ten years.? The BHPD adopts a classroom and all their students.

The BHPD points out that Banneker services many students from group homes, low-income families or foster kids. For many of them, ?this program will be the only celebration they attend for the entire holiday season. We thank Banneker?s principal, Dr. D. Christopher Eaton, for always thinking of the BHPD and including us in this great event.?

Source: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/12/15/banneker-special-ed-school-gets-holiday-visit-from-lapd-la-county-fire-bhpd/

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Video: What are the chances of new gun control laws? (cbsnews)

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Monday, October 29, 2012

Lebanese PM says resignation 'out of the question'

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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Health News - Protein regulation linked to intellectual disability

Genetics researchers at the University of Adelaide have solved a 40-year mystery for a family beset by a rare intellectual disability - and they've discovered something new about the causes of intellectual disability in the process.

While many intellectual disabilities are caused directly by a genetic mutation in the so-called "protein coding" part of our genes, the researchers found that in their case the answer laid outside the gene and in the regulation of proteins.

Protein regulation involves the switching on or off of a protein by specific genes. As a consequence in this case, either too much or too little of this protein can trigger the disability.

The team has studied a large (anonymous) Australian family of 100 people, who for generations have not known the source of their genetically inherited condition.

The disability - which results in a lower IQ, behavioural problems such as aggression, and memory loss, and is linked with developmental delays, epilepsy, schizophrenia and other problems - affects only the male family members and can be passed on by the female family members to their children.

Genetic samples taken from the family and laboratory testing involving mice have confirmed that the protein produced by the HCFC1 (host cell factor C1) gene is the cause of this disability.

"The causes of intellectual disability generally are highly variable and the genetic causes in particular are numerous. The vast majority of intellectual disabilities are due to genetic mutations in proteins, so it was rather unexpected that we found this particular disability to be due to a regulatory mutation," says the leader of the study, Professor Jozef Gecz from the University of Adelaide's School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health.

"We've been researching this specific disability for 10 years and it's taken us the last three years to convince ourselves that the protein regulation is the key," he says.

"For the family, this means we now have a genetic test that will determine whether or not a female member of the family is a carrier, which brings various benefits for the family.

"From a scientific point of view, this widens our viewpoint on the causes of these disabilities and tells us where we should also look for answers for those families and individuals without answers.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg in understanding the impact of altered gene regulation on intellectual disability - the gene regulatory landscape is much bigger than the protein coding landscape. We have already found, and I would expect to continue finding, a number of other intellectual disabilities linked with protein regulation over the next 20 years or so."

Professor Gecz and his team have published their findings in this month's issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

Professor Jozef Gecz (email) School of Paediatrics & Reproductive Health The University of Adelaide Business: +61 8 8161 6339 Mobile: +61 429 170 699

Source: http://www.healthcanal.com/genetics-birth-defects/33293-Protein-regulation-linked-intellectual-disability.html

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Americans use more efficient and renewable energy technologies

ScienceDaily (Oct. 24, 2012) ? Americans used less energy in 2011 than in the previous year due mainly to a shift to higher-efficiency energy technologies in the transportation and residential sectors. Meanwhile, less coal was used but more natural gas was consumed according to the most recent energy flow charts released by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Wind power saw the biggest jump from .92 quadrillion BTU, or quads, in 2010 up to 1.17 quads in 2011. (BTU or British Thermal Unit is a unit of measurement for energy and is equivalent to about 1.055 kilojoules).

"Wind energy jumped significantly because, as in previous years, many new wind farms came online," said A.J. Simon, an LLNL energy systems analyst who develops the flow charts using data provided by the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration. "This is the result of sustained investment in wind power."

Hydroelectricity also saw an increase going from 2.51 quads in 2010 up to 3.17 quads in 2011.

Hydroelectricity jumped significantly in 2011 because 2011 saw large amounts of precipitation in the Western U.S. Hydroelectric dams were able to produce at their maximum levels while keeping reservoirs full. Similar levels of hydroelectric production were seen in 1997, 1998 and 1999 due to wet years.

Overall, U.S. energy use in 2011 equaled 97.3 quads compared to the 98 quads used in 2010. Most of the energy was tied to coal, natural gas and petroleum.

From 2010 to 2011, use of coal fell dramatically, use of oil (petroleum) fell slightly and use of natural gas increased slightly from 24.65 quads in 2010 to 26.9 quads in 2011.

"Sustained low natural gas prices have prompted a shift from coal to gas in the electricity generating sector," Simon said. "Sustained high oil prices have likely driven the decline in oil use over the past 5 years as people choose to drive less and purchase automobiles that get more miles per gallon."

The majority of energy use in 2011 was used for electricity generation (39.2 quads), followed by transportation, industrial, commercial and residential consumption. However, energy use in the residential, commercial and transportation sectors decreased while industrial energy use increased if only slightly.

"With the advent of shale gas, it appears that natural gas prices in the United States may remain lower than their historical averages for many years into the future," Simon said. "This has prompted many gas users in the industrial and electricity generating sector to switch from coal or oil to natural gas when it is technically possible, but might not have been economical at higher gas prices."

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


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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/dDtPaiV-U94/121024150805.htm

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Stone crusher is more and more important : The Telluride Newb

Posted by nicole009py on Thursday, October 25, 2012 ? Leave a Comment?

Stone production equipment is increasingly important in engineering construction.
In recent years, China?s construction industry keeps rapid development, construction business gross expands ceaselessly. The rapid growth of general contracting business and contract volume put forward higher requirements the construction equipment. Among which, sand and stone dedicated production lines for the production of building, highway, railway and other industries, that is? known as sand production line, is becoming more and more important in the process of engineering construction.
Material for sand making production line are quartz stone and limestone; sand making production line production process is basically the same, mainly composed of impact breaker, belt conveyor, concentration of electronic equipment components, etc. In order to meet customer?s different processing needs, it can be equipped with? dust removal equipment. Finished product granularity can be combined and classified according to user demand; in order to protect environment, it can be equipped with auxiliary dust removing device.
Hongxing industry provided the stone production line a high degree of automation, in addition to starting, stopping and maintenance, the entire production line is simple in process, almost do not need manual operation. It has high production efficiency, low operation cost, high yield, high yield, uniform particle size, the finished stone grain shape, in line with national high speed material requirements. Hongxing heavy industry stone production line equipment configuration is mainly determined based on customer specifications, yield and stone uses; Hongxing heavy industry provides pre-sale, sale, after sale services, according to customer production site to configure the process, strive to do the most reasonable, the most economical production line for customers and bring more economic profit and benefit for customers,.
?

Spiral separator : http://www.hxjq-crushers.com/classifier.html
mobile stone crushing machine : http://www.ore-machine.com/crusher/67.htm
?

Source: http://www.telluridenewb.com/?p=3326

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Dutch court says Samsung does not infringe Apple patent

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch court has ruled Samsung Electronics does not infringe an Apple Inc patent by using certain multi-touch techniques on some of the Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablet computers.

Samsung and Apple, the world's top two smartphone makers, are locked in patent disputes in at least 10 countries as they vie to dominate the lucrative mobile market and win over customers with their latest gadgets.

Apple scored a sweeping legal victory over its South Korean rival in August when a U.S. jury found Samsung had copied critical features of the hugely popular iPhone and iPad and awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages.

But a judge has not yet ruled on Apple's request to permanently ban some of Samsung's products from the U.S. market, and the U.S. company has also faced some setbacks.

Apple argued in September in the Hague court that Samsung infringed its patent on multi-touch function, which lets users use two fingers at one time on a touch screen.

"With these products Samsung does not infringe the claims that Apple has made," the court said in its ruling on Wednesday.

Apple has taken Samsung and others to court over the "pinch to zoom" function popular on smartphones and tablets.

Apple lost a preliminary injunction on this patent in the Dutch courts last year and also lost its battle in the courts in Britain against HTC Corp, and in Germany against Samsung and Motorola Mobility, which is owned by Google.

The Dutch court acknowledged that its multi-touch patent ruling was similar to those in Britain and Germany.

Samsung said it welcomed the Dutch court's decision, while Apple declined to comment on the ruling.

The Hague has become an important court room battle ground between companies making mobile phones and tablet computers, as court actions there are considered to be cheap, speedy and efficient.

The Dutch court's ruling comes ahead of a decision in the United States from the International Trade Commission on Thursday over claims that Samsung infringed on Apple patents.

(Additional reporting by Gilbert Kreijger; Editing by Mark Potter)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dutch-court-says-samsung-does-not-infringe-apple-090401236--finance.html

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Mystical world

Mystical world

For the past 100s of year, people werent aware of youkai, demons and spirits until about 20 years ago. But there are still attacks on humans and it is unknown if coexistence is possible.

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This topic is an Out Of Character part of the roleplay, ?Mystical world?. Anything posted here will also show up there.

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Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.
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Aniihya
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Christian sister trio Barlowgirl calling it quits

This undated photo provided by Warner Music Group/Word Entertainment shows the platinum-selling music trio BarlowGirl, from left, Becca Barlow, Alyssa Barlow and Lauren Barlow. The band is retiring after they release their final single, "Hope Will Lead Us On," on Oct. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Warner Music Group/Word Entertainment, Sarah Barlow)

This undated photo provided by Warner Music Group/Word Entertainment shows the platinum-selling music trio BarlowGirl, from left, Becca Barlow, Alyssa Barlow and Lauren Barlow. The band is retiring after they release their final single, "Hope Will Lead Us On," on Oct. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Warner Music Group/Word Entertainment, Sarah Barlow)

(AP) ? Christian sister trio Barlowgirl is retiring after nearly a decade of chart-topping success.

Alyssa, Lauren and Rebecca Barlow are releasing their final song, "Hope Will Lead Us On," on Oct. 30. They will hold an online chat with fans Oct. 29 on Ustream, where they will take questions and perform acoustically.

No reason was given for the decision to retire. A spokesman says, simply, "They're ready for a new season."

In a statement, the sisters call their music career "one of the most incredible adventures." They thanked fans for sharing their dream.

Barlowgirl has sold over a million copies of their self-titled debut album released in 2004. They earned four No. 1 hits, including 2005's "I Need You to Love Me," which spent a record 13 weeks at the top.

___

Online: www.barlowgirl.com

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-10-24-Music-Barlowgirl/id-a08d88a1352447bcb2da0488dee0d5f4

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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Camping at Fort Wilderness Resort and ... - Tropic Home and Family

Camping at Fort Wilderness Resort and CampgroundFort Wilderness Resort and Campground at Walt Disney World

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground at Walt Disney World

Twice recently, my family got a chance to camp at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground at Walt Disney World. One time, we tent camped, and another time we stayed in our trailer. Both times were really fun, and we can?t wait to go back!

Pioneer Hall in Fort Wilderness

Pioneer Hall

Campsites

The great thing about Fort Wilderness is that all the campers here ? from Scouts in group campsites to retirees in luxury motorcoaches ? have a little spot of Disney to call their own. Even people who stay in the cabins seem to enjoy the rustic, laid-back atmosphere of Fort Wilderness. The cabins look nice and have everything you need including an outfitted kitchen ? but I won?t be talking about the cabins in this post.

Campsites are grouped in loops across the mile-long resort. Tent and pop-up campers have their own areas, which are less expensive than the rest of the sites ? Full Hook-Up, Premium (which includes a cable TV hookup) and Preferred (which gives you a cable hookup, the option of high-speed Internet access, and I suspect convenient locations in the resort). I?ve seen tent campers in the Premium sites, though, so tent campers aren?t limited to just tent sites. If you have a trailer or coach, its size may determine which type of site can accommodate you. Each type of site has a different price range, with Preferred being the most expensive.

As you look around Fort Wilderness, you?ll see all kinds of tents, trailers and coaches. You?ll even see some campsites tricked out with decorations.

Campers love to decorate their campsites at Fort Wilderness

Some campers at Fort Wilderness really love to decorate their campsites!

I?d heard that around holidays, some campers do up their campsites in style with lots of seasonal decorations. Boy, it?s the truth!

Some campers at Fort Wilderness really love to decorate their campsites!

Halloween decorations at the campsite of one Fort Wilderness camper

No matter which kind of campsite, campers enjoy the rustic, laid-back atmosphere.

The Fort Wilderness grounds are true to its pioneer style

The Fort Wilderness grounds are true to its pioneer style

Things to Do

Fort Wilderness is a place that?s a destination itself. On one of our recent trips, our family didn?t even go into a park because we wanted to spend all our time in Fort Wilderness.

We checked out the Meadow Swimmin? Pool.

The Meadow Pool features a down-home waterslide

The Meadow Pool features a down-home waterslide

The Meadow Pool has a fun water playground for little kids

The Meadow Pool has a fun water playground for little kids

There?s another, smaller pool area between Loops 2500 and 2700.

Kids love the Chip ?n? Dale Campfire Sing-a-long, followed by an outdoor movie on a large screen (ask about the schedule at check-in), that takes place every night.

Chip and Dale Campfire Singalong at Fort Wilderness

Chip and Dale Campfire Sing-a-Long at Fort Wilderness

Chip and Dale make their way through the audience afterward, and if you want a quick picture with them, be sure to sit on the wooden benches and not the bleachers in the back, where the chipmunks might not have time to visit.

Bring your own marshmallows to roast like we do (to avoid artificial food dyes and corn), or buy a marshmallow-roasting kit and other snacks at the chuck wagon concession at the event.

Kids also like the pony rides!

Kids can have fun during a pony ride at Tri-Circle-D Ranch and Farm

Kids can have fun during a pony ride at Tri-Circle-D Ranch and Farm

There are height and weight limits, but older children and adults can saddle up horses for a guided trail ride through Fort Wilderness. There are also two hayrides and private carriage rides every night. (There?s a Segway tour too, if you?re not a horsey type.)

You can rent a canoe or kayak at the Bike Barn (which also rents out bicycles), near Meadow Swimmin? Pool, and explore Fort Wilderness by water.

Rent a canoe at Fort Wilderness

Paddle a canoe at Fort Wilderness

The marina is where you rent power boats and explore Bay Lake. At night, campers line up here on the beach and docks for the Electric Water Pageant. It?s a light-animation boat parade set to music and can be seen at all resorts around Bay Lake. It reaches Fort Wilderness around 9:45 pm. The marina is also the place to catch a ferry to the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary Resort or Wilderness Lodge (where there are even more fun things to do).

Food

When it comes to eating, Fort Wilderness does have options. If you don?t want to prepare your own meals, you can eat at Trail?s End Restaurant or Crockett?s Tavern. The Meadow Swimmin? Pool has a snack bar. There?s also the special Mickey?s Backyard BBQ, an outdoor picnic, for character dining. Hope we can go to that someday!

Trail's End Restaurant has a walk-up area where you can get items to go

Trail's End Restaurant has a walk-up area where you can get items to go

Shopping

If you run out of something, need a snack or want to shop for souvenirs, Fort Wilderness has two stores: Settlement Trading Post (near the marina) and Meadow Outpost (near the pool).

Fort Wilderness Meadow Outpost

The Meadow Trading Post near the pool sells camping necessities, toiletries, snacks and Disney souvenirs

The Atmosphere

I?ve stayed at several Disney World resorts. They all have nice features. Fort Wilderness is a place where it almost seems like a party, though. Maybe people are friendlier when they?re camping, or maybe it?s just the fact you tend to see people more (and more often) at the resort. And I kind of get the impression that some campers come back again and again ? almost like they live there! When you?re going in and out of a tent or trailer, too, you start to recognize the faces of your neighbors. You don?t usually get that at the hotels.

Fort Wilderness is really spread out, but there?s no driving your vehicle from one place to the next. Buses run regular routes through the campground, but a lot of people get around the resort on bike or by golf cart. You can rent both bikes and carts at the resort. Or if your campsite is in a good location, you can walk to the pool, marina or bus transportation to the parks.

Another perk: wildlife! My family is always happy to spot wildlife at Disney World ? from the ducks in the Magic Kingdom to the rabbits at Epcot to the deer at the Wilderness Lodge Resort ? and Fort Wilderness has its share of all these creatures and more.

You might see wildlife at Fort Wilderness

We spotted three black racer snakes before noon. Just saying.

Now that we have a trailer, our family will probably be going to Fort Wilderness more often. And I think it will add to the Disney memories our kids will make.

A Fort Wilderness pioneer might say the resort is downright purdy as a picture

A Fort Wilderness pioneer might say the resort is downright purdy as a picture

Source: http://tropichomeandfamily.com/2012/10/camping-at-fort-wilderness-resort-and-campground.html

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Monday, October 22, 2012

As Iraq, Afghan wars end, private security firms adapt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - On a rooftop terrace blocks from the White House, a collection of former soldiers and intelligence officers, executives and contractors drink to the international private security industry.

The past decade - particularly the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - provided rich pickings for firms providing private armed guards, drivers and other services that would once have been performed by uniformed soldiers.

But as the conflicts that helped create the modern industry wind down, firms are having to adapt to survive. They must also, industry insiders say, work to banish the controversial image of mercenary "dogs of war" that bedevil many firms, particularly in Iraq.

"This industry has always gone up and down," Doug Brooks, president of the International Stability Operations Association (ISOA), told Reuters on the sidelines of its annual conference in Washington. "What we're seeing now is that it is becoming much more mature - and much more responsible."

The free-for-all atmosphere that pervaded the industry, particularly in the early years of the war in Iraq, insiders say, appears gone for good. A string of high profile incidents - often involving armed private guards firing on sometimes unarmed Iraqis - trashed the reputation of firms such as Blackwater, a Virginia-based firm since renamed several times, as well as the wider industry.

Members of the ISOA - which include some but not all of the major contracting firms as well as smaller players - subscribe to a code of conduct that they say helps identify responsible firms.

Despite these efforts, industry insiders and other observers say quality remains mixed. Some firms providing armed guards for merchant ships passing through the Somali pirate-infested Indian Ocean, for example, only hire elite personnel who have served in the Marines or special forces. Others, however, have a reputation for being less discriminating and for unreliable staff and weapons.

In the aftermath of last month's attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, which killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans, critics have seized on the hiring of a little-known British private security firm now accused of providing inadequate protection at the mission.

The clear industry aim is to distance itself from groups such as that led by former British soldier Simon Mann, who was captured in 2004 by authorities in Zimbabwe as they apparently headed to Equatorial Guinea to mount a coup.

The word "mercenary," Brooks makes clear, is simply taboo.

"Calling private security contractors mercenaries is clearly derogatory and serious journalists and academics don't use the term," he says.

The most vulnerable firms, many in industry say, may be those who have relied on ongoing U.S. military work that is now drying up as the Pentagon "Operational Contingency Allowance" - the additional funding earmarked for the wars - tapers off.

At its peak, the U.S. Commission on Wartime Contracting, a bipartisan legislative commission established to study wartime contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, estimated there might have been as many as 260,000 contractors in the two countries.

TIDE GOING OUT?

"At the moment, everyone is looking for work that is not OCA-funded," one industry executive told Reuters on condition of anonymity, saying he expected an era of mergers and even bankruptcies. "It's going to be like when the tide goes out at the beach and you suddenly find out who has been naked."

New Pentagon priorities, many believe, will provide fewer openings for traditional private military contractors. Washington's strategic "pivot" to the Asia-Pacific region will involve mainly warships or uniformed Marines, with little need for extra hired muscle.

Companies that take a broader approach and also provide logistic, intelligence and other functions, however, could have a much better decade.

"If your definition of a private security contractor is only someone with a gun at a checkpoint in Afghanistan, then yes, you may be seeing a decline," says David Isenberg, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute in Washington.

"But if your definition is of private contractors performing tasks that would once have been done almost exclusively by government and military, it's a very different picture."

When it comes to conventional security, many in the industry believe the real growth will come from serving the private sector - particularly the oil, gas and mining industries.

Even with U.S. troops gone from Iraq and the number of government contractors down, some companies say they are finding strong demand from energy firms for protection, particularly around Basra in southern Iraq.

"We are as busy as ever and the need has never been greater," said Pete Dordal, senior vice president at GardaWorld, a global risk management and security services firm. "I don't want to say it's a gold rush, but business is very good."

Private security firms, insiders say, evacuated the vast majority of the thousands of foreign nationals plucked from Libya as its civil war erupted early last year. Most were contracted by other private firms, although governments also used them heavily. London-based Control Risks told Reuters last year that China hired it directly to fly hundreds of its nationals out by airliner.

STILL CONTROVERSIAL

Some in the industry believe the number of contractors in Afghanistan could even rise with the planned departure of all U.S. combat troops in 2014, as mining companies exploit largely untapped mineral resources.

It's a similar picture in Africa, where even in war-torn Somalia, a handful of companies are setting up shop. They often work with local tribes and other groups to safeguard visiting journalists, business representatives and prospectors.

Focusing on finding reliable local staff, some say, may ultimately prove both cheaper and more reliable than foreign hired guns. In Libya, some energy firms long turned to local desert tribes to protect their facilities - a tactic that proved remarkably effective during last year's civil war after foreign security staff were swiftly withdrawn.

The trick may be to avoid having grandiose ambitions.

A handful of British firms in particular have made millions from providing on-board protection teams for Indian Ocean shipping. But those who have tried to go a step further and start their own private navies - hoping to escort merchant ships for cash - have struggled to find sufficient funding.

Within Somalia some credit the hiring of private contractors with Gulf state money to bolster the Coast Guard of the independent enclave of Puntland as being behind recent drops in pirate attacks. But it proved so controversial that funding was eventually pulled, leaving behind half-trained local fighters that some worry could prove a regional security threat in their own right.

Private contractors are increasingly central to operations such as the African Union's AMISOM peacekeeping mission in Somalia, performing roles such as bomb disposal, logistics and technical support. ISOA and some experts argued they could do much, much more.

The few dozen foreign contractors from the now-defunct British firm "Executive Outcomes," together with the hundreds of local fighters they trained, are often credited with turning the tide in Sierra Leone's 2001 civil war.

But after years of discussions at the United Nations, few of the world's governments appear enthusiastic about the idea of private security firms becoming the norm.

"In some places, contractors might be more effective than some of the troops from contributing nations," said Edmond Mulet, U.N. Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations.

"But the U.N. is simply the sum of its member states and some of them are opposed to the use of contractors in some roles," he told the conference.

(Reporting By Peter Apps; Editing by Paul Simao)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iraq-afghan-wars-end-private-security-firms-adapt-052453304--business.html

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Building Brand Ambassadors Within Your Company | Business 2 ...

As a business owner, you?re dedicated to your company. After all, it?s your baby and your sweat and tears built it. While you started the brand, you probably rely on a public relations manager and a variety of advertising mediums to share it with a wide audience. You may even rely on your customers to promote your business through word of mouth advertising. These techniques are effective, but you might be overlooking a few important brand ambassadors: your employees.

Think about it. Your employees? success is tied to that of your company. They have a lot to gain from ensuring your company grows and maintains a positive reputation on the Web and in the community. Meanwhile, customers can be fickle. Their brand loyalty can disappear after a bad customer service experience or a single price increase. Cultivate your army of free advertising agents and equip your employees to be brand ambassadors.

Encourage social networking

Some companies forbid their employees from sharing social networking posts about their jobs. With the prevalence of social networking, this policy can backfire as it leads to employee frustration and mistrust. Instead, be wise and take advantage of this important resource.?Give your workforce permission to post on their favorite social networking sites. In addition to?promoting employee goodwill, these posts increase your company?s brand recognition with a host of potential customers. From Twitter to Facebook to LinkedIn, allow your employees to share what they love about your company while expanding your business?s brand recognition. Encourage them to post all kinds of relevant content, from status updates about a fun activity at the office to tweets that end with a hashtag whose social shares you can track.

Provide training

It?s not enough for your employees to share what they love about your business. They also need to know how to answer customer questions, recruit new team members and respond to bad publicity.?With your public relations ?coordinator, make sure your employees have the resources they need to share your company?s brand accurately.?Provide training?during monthly lunch meetings, at afternoon retreats or through company newsletters. Use tools like T-shirts, magnets or other trinkets to remind employees about your company?s core brand message. Armed with the right materials, each employee receives the opportunity to be part of your brand ambassador team.

Provide a positive work environment

Your new brand ambassadors will be more enthusiastic about sharing positive reviews when they feel positive about their work environment. To create a company your employees want to brag about, promote and defend, develop a personal interest in your employees. Make every effort to value each team member and be approachable. Treat everyone with respect and promote workplace honesty and trust. Few employees can complain when they respect company leadership and know they are valued.?In addition to the value you place in each employee, have fun together. Incorporate contests and team-building events that build social connections and unity.

Consider cutting down on paperwork. Employees often complain about the frustrations of filling out forms for every little request. Instead,?sign up for an electronic service?that allows employees to schedule days off, track payroll deductions and receive electronic copies of their paystubs. Without visits to human resources, your team members can even access the information they need directly on their PC or mobile device.?Less paperwork combined with a fun and unified work environment contributes to a?positive employee experience. When employees are satisfied and valued at work, they?re more inclined to share positive posts about your company?s brand.

Are you ready to build your brand? Start with your employees. When you equip your workforce to be brand ambassadors, your business grows, your employees feel valued and your business vision becomes reality.

Source: http://www.business2community.com/branding/building-brand-ambassadors-within-your-company-0312320

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Billy Graham takes full-page ad in Ohio newspaper to back Romney (Los Angeles Times)

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Sunday, October 21, 2012

Cardinals forced to make another trip out West

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? The Giants sure are tough to eliminate this postseason.

Barry Zito and the Giants gave themself at least one more game in the NL championship series with a 5-0 victory Friday in St. Louis that forced Sunday's Game 6 back at AT&T Park.

Just where the NL West winners want to be with their season on the line ? in front of the raucous, orange towel-waving sellout crowd.

"It's great to be back in San Francisco. There is no tomorrow," Giants right fielder Hunter Pence said. "It's a unique feeling. It has brought the best out of us."

The wild-card Cardinals traveled out West again for a trip they certainly hoped they wouldn't have to make. Defending champion St. Louis leads the best-of-seven series 3-2, needing one more win for a World Series return.

St. Louis knows how hard winning the last one can be considering what this Giants team already did during these playoffs: winning three straight on the road at Cincinnati in the division series after falling behind 2-0.

"They've been doing this all year. Obviously, the Cincinnati series, here come the Giants," Cardinals third baseman David Freese said. "It's good for TV but it's disappointing in (our) sense."

Game 2 winner Ryan Vogelsong starts for the Giants for the second time this series against Chris Carpenter, who lost that matchup at San Francisco on Monday.

"No question, we want to win it as soon as we can. We wanted to do it last night," Carpenter said Saturday. "But, again, we have to get one win before they get two. We'll do whatever we can. If it's not tomorrow night we'll come in and do it again."

While the Cardinals took a day to rest ? Carpenter and a couple of pitchers did play some catch ? Pence and most of his team showed up at the ballpark in late afternoon to hit and work out even though manager Bruce Bochy gave his players the day off.

With Vogelsong on the mound, the Giants have to like their chances to push the series to a Game 7.

Vogelsong became the first Giants starter to make it through six innings this postseason when he went seven strong innings in a 7-1 Game 2 victory. He allowed four hits and one run for his first career postseason win.

"We all kind of feel like we've been in this situation before with Cincinnati," Vogelsong said. "And it's not over until the last out. I think both teams that are playing right now have proved that in the first round."

Giants general manager Brian Sabean wasn't surprised to see his team on the field Saturday for an optional practice ? realizing full well players didn't want to risk losing any momentum from the night before.

"Sometimes you wonder how much at this stage that there is a home-field advantage," Sabean said. "In some cases, because of the bullpens, it's probably as much as whoever gets the lead and can hold off the other ballclub from scoring will win the ballgame. We know what's at stake. We know that they're going to put a game against us. I'm sure Vogey will be ready."

St. Louis postseason ace Carpenter was looking forward to another chance, too.

He has been plenty reliable this time of year for the Cardinals, with his 10 postseason victories the most in franchise history. His stuff never felt right the last time out against the Giants, when he allowed two earned runs, five in all, and six hits in four innings.

"It doesn't matter if you're on the road, what game it is, it's the first one to win four games, and hopefully we can do that tomorrow," Carpenter said.

The 37-year-old Carpenter pitched two clinchers last October and went 4-0. He won the division series clincher and did it again in Game 7 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers.

So, why not add that NLCS distinction to his impressive October resume?

It's already been a memorable month for Carpenter, who came back to make three starts ? throwing just 17 innings ? late in the regular season after a complicated operation that removed a rib and two neck muscles to relieve numbness on his right side.

He is counting on commanding his fastball better this time out. His postseason ERA in two outings this year is 1.86.

"The last time out my stuff went backwards a little bit," Carpenter said. "I was trying everything I could to get outs but unfortunately it didn't work. I had some nice work in between that start and this start, I feel good and I'm looking forward to getting back out there."

The Giants returned to the Bay Area as soon as they could to get ready for Game 6, flying home overnight and landing at 2:30 a.m. But the Cardinals still had to go home after Friday night's game and pack their bags. They slept in their own beds and took off from St. Louis at midday Central time.

San Francisco, which made an improbable run to the 2010 World Series title, hopes to send St. Louis out of town empty-handed. The Giants won the NLCS in five games at their waterfront ballpark against the Cardinals in 2002 before falling short in a seven-game Series to the wild-card Angels.

The Detroit Tigers are waiting on their opponent after a four-game ALCS sweep of the New York Yankees.

Not that Bochy or Cardinals manager Mike Matheny can even think that far in advance, just yet.

"I don't necessarily see them as pesky as much as just talented," Matheny said of the Giants. "And the same kind of makeup that we have, they aren't going to go away and neither are we. And we knew that going into this thing. As soon as we won a couple of games at home there was nobody in there for a second under the belief that this was going to be a team that was going to just roll over. So we know that this team has the ability to do what they did, once again, in Cincinnati, running in there and doing something that hasn't been done all season. ... It's just a matter of execution, and they executed better than us yesterday."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cardinals-forced-another-trip-west-215245460--mlb.html

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