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[unable to retrieve full-text content]Fast-food chains and restaurants would usually cause you to eat a lot of food. Your digestion is helped by Tea due to the ?Tannin? content it has that is responsible for your digestion. In Asia, individuals who drink tea after large ...

Source: http://www.i-local.org/food-beverage/other/whats-in-tea-that-makes-it-healthier-than-milk-and-better-than-soda

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UPCOMING SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP

How to Start Your Small Business

If you are a new or aspiring business owner this workshop is a must!? Discuss the steps to take towards starting your first business.? The ?How to Start Your Small Business? workshop is presented by an SBDC Business Consultant who will discuss informational topics such as Being an Entrepreneur, Business Planning, Small Business Financing, the Legal Forms of Organization, Licensing and Permits and The Services Provided By The Inland Empire SBDC.

This seminar will be held on Thursday, March 29, 2012 from 6:00 pm ? 8:00 pm at the Riverside County Workforce Investment Board located at 749 North State Street in Hemet.? Hosted by the Riverside County Workforce Investment Board; there will be no charge to attend this event.? Pre-registration prior to the seminar is strongly recommended, as seating is limited.? For reservations or additional information on this seminar, please call us at (951) 781-2345. Online registration is available at www.iesmallbusiness.com.? Business owners and start-up entities alike are welcome to attend this presentation.

The Inland Empire Small Business Development Center is hosted by the California State University, University Enterprises Corporation.? The Center is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the California State University Fullerton Tri-County Lead SBDC.? All of the SBDC programs and services are offered on a non-discriminatory basis.? Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made.?

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Source: http://www.inlandempire.us/business/upcoming-small-business-workshop-how-to-start-your-small-business/

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By admin ?http://www.highdefgeek.com/logitech-gaming-headset-g330-black/

Logitech Gaming Headset G330 (Black)

Rating:?

Price:?$49.99 $42.99. You save:?$7.00 (14%).

With its adjustable, behind-the-head fit, pivoting ear pads, and lightweight headband lined with pressure-relieving silicone, the Logitech Gaming Headset G330 delivers comfort that won't quit. A flexible, noise-canceling microphone reduces annoying background noise and rotates out of the way when not in use. Connect via USB or 3.5 mm jacks.

Technical Details

Adjustable, behind-the-head design provides a lightweight, personalized fit ? the first of its kind in gaming headsets
Silicone-lined headband and pivoting ear pads relieve pressure from extended wear.
Noise-canceling microphone reduces annoying background noise; position the flexible microphone
Connect digitally to any USB port for enhanced audio or directly to your PC sound card via 3.5 mm jacks.
In-line audio controls let you adjust the volume or mute the microphone without pausing the action.

Product Details

Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 9.4 x 10.9 inches ; 9.6 ounces
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
ASIN: B002I3OZB2
Item model number: 981-000176

Source: http://www.highdefgeek.com/logitech-gaming-headset-g330-black/

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In this undated photo made available by the Spain's Culture Ministry, a member of the Ministry technical crew displays two of the 594,000 coins and other artifacts found in the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes, a Spanish galleon sunk by British warships in the Atlantic while sailing back from South America in 1804, in a warehouse in Tampa. (Associated Press)

By WILLIAM R. LEVESQUE
TAMPA BAY TIMES

Published: Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 8:41 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 8:41 a.m.

TAMPA | The treasure arrives at its original destination Saturday, 208 years behind schedule.

Two Spanish cargo planes departed MacDill Air Force Base on Friday bound for Madrid with $500 million in booty once carried by a Spanish galleon that sank off the coast of Portugal in 1804.

The treasure, weighing 17 tons, might be the richest shipwreck prize in history.

Recovered by Tampa-based Odyssey Marine Exploration in 2007, the flight marked the end of a bruising legal battle the company lost to Spain over possession of 594,000 silver coins and other artifacts.

Spain's ambassador to the United States, Jorge Dezcallar, told more than two dozen reporters and camera crews that Spain was finally reclaiming what was rightfully hers.

"We bear witness to that fateful day 200 years ago," he said." This is about our historical heritage. History makes us who we are, and today we are witnessing the end of a journey that started 200 years ago. It is our duty to end that mission successfully."

He said the treasure will eventually be displayed in museums in Spain and elsewhere. "This is not money to be sold," the ambassador said.

Officials at Odyssey Marine, which spent $2.6 million salvaging, transporting and storing the treasure, declined to comment. But in a statement earlier, Greg Stemm, Odyssey's co-founder, said, "People won't stop looking for Spanish shipwrecks. They will just stop reporting their finds. No archaeology will be done."

The company will receive no compensation from Spain for its recovery of the coins.

Spain thinks the coins were recovered from the wreck of the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes. The ship was sunk by British warships as it sailed from South America. More than 200 people went to the bottom with it.

But Odyssey officials say the wreck was never positively identified as the Mercedes, casting doubt on Spain's claim.

A federal judge in Tampa ruled for Spain in 2009.

"The ineffable truth of this case is that the Mercedes is a naval vessel of Spain and that the wreck of this naval vessel, the vessel's cargo, and any human remains are the natural and legal patrimony of Spain despite any man's aspiration to the contrary," the judge's ruling said.

Earlier this month, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas rejected a bid to reverse a lower court ruling that Odyssey give up the treasure.

Odyssey, which uses remote-control vehicles to help recover undersea wrecks, called its Mercedes project "Black Swan."

Spain argued that the recovery of the treasure amounted to a disturbance of a historic site.

Javier Romero, a rear admiral in the Spanish navy, said, "Our sunken ships are sacred places. They are cemeteries. We prefer to leave the ships as they are."

James Goold, a Washington lawyer representing Spain, was asked if Spain should express its "gratitude" to Odyssey for recovering the treasures.

What if Spain, Goold said, took a relic from the sunken battleship Arizona at Pearl Harbor?

"Would the United States have gratitude then?" he said.

Friday's event may have been unprecedented for MacDill, which has hosted presidents, diplomats and its share of odd cargo through the years, but perhaps never before silver bullion.

The treasure, packed in white buckets wrapped in black plastic, arrived from an undisclosed location in Sarasota.

Local television stations used a helicopter to try to capture the transfer from Sarasota to Tampa. As the treasure arrived at MacDill, base officials took it to a hanger.

Air Force guards toting M-4 rifles stood between reporters and the two C-130 aircraft carrying the coins.

After a brief news conference, the media were led to an opening by the back of the aircraft to photograph pallets carrying the treasure. But the coins themselves were not visible.

A reporter asked the ambassador if Spain was trying to quickly spirit the treasure out of the United States to avoid further legal trouble.

With the treasure lost for two centuries, the question seemed to flummox Dezcallar.

"This," he said, "is not quickly."

Source: http://www.theledger.com/article/20120225/news/120229542

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Everyday we read about companies who have raised millions of dollars of capital to fund the growth and expansion of their business. The reality of raising these sorts of funds is much more complex than the newspapers make it out.

There are many different sources of capital obtaining it depends on many factors. It also requires careful planning, the right advice and the right pitch. Whether you will get it or not also depends on what kind of business you have, what stage it is at, what industry its in, how profitable it is, how much experience you have and how the overall market is tracking.

What is Venture Capital?

The term Venture Capital means capital provided to fund a venture. Essentially venture capital and private equity mean the same thing. However there is a difference between Venture Capital and Private Equity firms. VC firms typically will look at more emerging business and industries and may get involved at an earlier stage. Private Equity firms typically like more traditional industries, and tend to like mature companies with consistent cashflows.

What is a Business Angel?

'Angel' investors are individuals who like to get involved at the seed or start up stage of a business venture. They look for very high-growth companies that also have synergy with their own business skills or network. Capital invested can be as little as $10,000 and as much as $500,000 initially. Follow on rounds may be an option also. The Angel will typically look to get their hands dirty by taking a small role, going on the board, or acting as a business mentor.
What is a liquidity event?

This is the event that gives the investor their money back. This is most commonly a trade sale or a public float. However, sometimes the investor may get bought out by another investor or by the original owner.

Types of Capital Available...

Below are some terms that are commonly used to describe the various stages of funding:-

Seed - This is at the very beginning of a companys life, often before any profit or sales are achieved. Sometimes its used to fund the formation of the venture and its necessary components in order to get it off the ground.

Start-up - This is when the business has commenced trading but it is still in its infancy. A start up business is typically only six months or a year old.

Expansion - The company has sales plus an established market in a particular segment or location (such as Sydney) and is now requiring funding so they can expand their operations further. Sometimes the company is growing very quickly and needs to scale up in order to meet market demand.

Acquisition - The company is seeking to expand by purchasing other business that are similar or synergistic in nature. The company may not have the necessary funds to do this, which is where acquisition funding comes in.

MBO/MBI - This stands for Management Buy Out or Management Buy In. It means exactly that. These are funds usually provided by a private equity firm or institutional bank which allow the existing management (MBO) or new management (MBI) to buy out the existing owners.

Pre-IPO - The round of funding that precedes an IPO, usually between two months and up to two years. Funds are sought in order to fund an acquisition, expand or pay for listing costs. These deals are only usually available to professional investors, institutional investors or high net worth individuals because the amounts involved tend to be in the millions or tens of millions.

IPO - This means Initial Public Offering and is when a company goes public on an exchange such as the ASX. This is done via a prospectus document and allows mum and dad type investors to invest alongside the founders, major shareholders, professional investors and institutional investors. This is the most common way to raise large sums of money, such as $50m or $100m.

Len McDowall, Integral Capital Group 28th August, 2007
www.integralcapital.com.au

0

Source: http://prizeplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/understanding-venture-capital-by.html

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We were unable to forward you to the advertisement you clicked on.

The likely cause for this is that your browser, feed reader, or email application is configured to not accept cookies, or your reader may launch an external browser to view links without sharing cookies.

If you're using Internet Explorer, make sure your privacy setting is at medium or below.
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If you're using a reader that embeds Internet Explorer (examples: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Feed Demon), you'll also need to select Internet Explorer as your default web browser.
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- You can then click on an ad in your newsletter and visit the site you wish to view

Source: http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=429b809d7a52fbc08ec8c2756376b3dd&p=4

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If you?re still stuck with the old way of advertising, then chances are you?re already behind the times! Traditional methods of advertising like billboards, newspaper advertisements, yellow pages, and so on. are not that bad, but you?ve to become aware that everyone is now slowly moving to a brand new type of advertising: Internet marketing!

Let us initial talk about how older types of advertising came about. They are a result of necessity. Let us take billboards, for instance. Marketers have noticed that people usually invest time in outdoors, whether on the method to work or on the method to taking the kids to school. These people represent the market after all, so there?s a need for an outdoor marketing method that can catch these people?s attention. Enter billboards: these advertisements are so large and imposing that people will usually appear as much as see what they have to say and, voila! Marketers have achieved their job of telling people concerning the goods that they are marketing. Read more about Clearwater seo.

Internet marketing is not an exception either. A decade ago, the web became accessible to the people and it became an instant sensation. Now, we have a means of communicating lengthy distance with out getting to spend for long-distance calls or snail mail. Most importantly, people now have a means to share info to a huge number of people with out getting to leave their homes. This is the exact cause why the web is becoming frequented by people, and it?s this popularity that has made it a brand new means of marketing. Marketers need to get their message to as many people as feasible after all if they wish to create leads for their clients and/or companies. Okay, so how is Internet marketing carried out?

Mastering the Search Engines is Everything in Internet marketing

Talking about online advertising Clearwater, you?d come across a theme that?s central to each online marketer?s efforts. This is Search engine optimization, or what they call search engine optimization. Search engine optimization is really a term that encompasses several disciplines, all of them leading to exactly the same outcome and that?s to rank your web site high within the search engine result pages. These disciplines are:

? PPC Advertising

PPC is more of direct advertising than Search engine optimization, but it is a part of Internet marketing as well. You spend search engines for the right of putting up advertisements next to search engine results which are pertinent for your key phrases or its related key phrases.

? Post advertising

Because the web is useful for searching for info, why not try to capture your audience?s interest inside your goods utilizing general info articles? Just include a link at the last paragraph and an invitation to go to that lilnk for your business web site.

? Link exchanges and link building

Backlinks, based on Search engine optimization theory, represent votes of confidence inside your web site. The more votes you get, the greater your chances are of offering in a favorable place within the SERPs.

? Keyword optimization

This means optimizing a web site around a related keyword within the hopes of it appearing high in related queries in search engines.

While online advertising is extremely easy theoretically, in practice you need someone who is skilled in handling such campaigns for your business, like this great Search engine optimization firm in Clearwater, FL. Do not leave your online advertising to opportunity! Concentrate more on producing income for your business while someone else handles the advertising for you. If you want to start a business and perhaps you want to indulge internet marketing for your business then Clearwater online marketing is your best choice just browse here.

Technorati Tags: Clearwater, Online Marketing, Search Engine Optimization

Source: http://www.how-to-market-your-business.com/how-to-market-your-business/always-keep-up-with-the-changing-times-with-internet-marketing?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=always-keep-up-with-the-changing-times-with-internet-marketing

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INDIANAPOLIS - Brycen Spratling of the University of Pittsburgh has been named USA Track & Field?s Athlete of the Week after setting a collegiate record in the 500-meters Saturday at the Big East Conference Championships.
? Courtesy of Pitt Athletics

Spratling (Webster, N.Y.) entered the weekend having only ever run one 500m race; however, he excelled at the distance and clocked a quick 1:00.63 to set a new collegiate record and claim the top spot on the current world list.

?I had no idea coming into this weekend what the record was,? Spratling said. ?I heard the announcer say it was a collegiate and American record over the loudspeaker and I couldn?t believe it. Everyone was congratulating me, and it was an amazing feeling.?

Spratling?s time is the fourth fastest ever run in the world for this odd distance, and it is the fastest time in 20 years.

Spratling was instrumental to his team placing third at the conference meet. Spratling also won the 200m in 21.16, finished sixth in the 60m in 6.89 and ran the first leg of the 4x400m relay that ran 3:23.59. Including the relay, Spratling contributed 29 points of Pittsburgh?s 84.50 points.

Spratling is in his sophomore year at Pitt, and only started running track during the spring of his senior year of high school. He will compete this weekend at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., in the 400m.

Now in its eleventh year, USATF?s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on www.usatf.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2012 Winners: January 5, Landon Peacock; January 11, Kirubel Erassa; January 18, Shalane Flanagan; January 26, John Nunn; February 1, Gunnar Nixon; February 8, Jenn Suhr; February 14, Jillian-Camarena Williams; February 22, Brycen Spratling

WEEK IN REVIEW -- FEBRUARY 13-19
by USATF Statistician Glen McMicken

NOTRE DAME, GEORGETOWN TAKE BIG EAST CROWNS
Pitt's Brycen Spratling, mentioned above, was the individual star, and Notre Dame's men comfortably won the team title at the Big East championships Sunday at New York's Armory.

A fast 500 also highlighted the women's meet, which was won by Georgetown. Cincinnati's Kathy Klump romped to a 1:10.08, moving her into the all-time collegiate top-10.

HURD BACK AS A TRIPLE THREAT
2004 Olympian and American Record holder Tiombe Hurd had her best performance in more than five years Saturday at the Virginia Tech Challenge in Blacksburg, triple jumping 13.61/44-8. Hurd was the bronze medalist at the 2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

WL IN 55 FOR MAHAN
Former South Carolina star Shayla Mahan, a silver medalist in the 4x100 at the 2011 World University Games, dashed to a world-leading
6.73 in the 55 at the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia to clip .1 off her previous PR.

TRAVELLIN' MAN LAGAT GETS 1500 AL IN BRITAIN
Last week he set an American indoor record in the 5000 at the Millrose Games in New York, and Saturday at Birmingham, England, Bernard Lagat raced to a U.S.-leading 3:36.20 in the 1500 to take fourth in a star-studded field.

WILSON HURDLES TO #2 A-T SPOT AT SIMPLOT
Last year's IAAF World Youth 100H gold medalist Trinity Wilson topped the bill at the Simplot Games in Pocatello, as the Californian moved to No. 2 on the all-time high school list in the 60H with an 8.23 clocking.

About USA Track & Field

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track & field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, the World's #1 Track & Field Team, the most-watched events at the Olympics, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport, and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States: www.usatf.org.

Click here to forward this mailing with your personal message.

This email was sent to: keithconning@aol.com

Source: http://theconningtower.blogspot.com/2012/02/spratling-named-usatf-athlete-of-week.html

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New Health And Fitness.Org - Health Information You Can Use

Foot is one of the most important organs in your body as it plays a big part in your everyday life. You may have experienced some pain on your foot and wondered where to seek help.Wonder no more because podiatrist Atlanta has offered to help you. They can liberate you from this problem and all you need to do is visit them.

The doctors are very competent in their work and boast of vast knowledge. Because of their knowledge they offer excellent services to the customers and there also exist a good relationship between them and the clients. Clients can ask the physician any question no matter how private the question is.

When the clients visit he/she is first taken through a series of programs which help them on their way to recovery. Clients are also advised to lose their body masses as this could be one of the reasons why they are having a foot ailment. This is because all the weight of your whole body has to be supported by your foot.

The prices are well taken care of as any patient can afford them. This is done to ensure that everyone has access to these facilities and hence enjoy better health. The patients who have their problems solved have helped in bringing more clients with these problems and hence the number has increased.

The use of posters and photos of foot and ankles is on the increase in these clinics. This is in order to act as a guide to patient on how their foot is supposed to appear. The client tells the specialist how he/she wants his foot or ankle to appear.

You can use a number of guides in locating podiatrist Atlanta. One of the things you can use is a telephone directory as they have their contact there. You can also get information from friends who may have visited them. You can also explore the internet for more information about their services.

Find out more about podiatrist Atlanta at our website

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Source: http://newhealthandfitness.org/2012/02/23/podiatrist-atlanta-and-its-important/

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The Downton Abbey Guide to Irresistible Narrative Marketing

Every content marketer needs to build relationships with readers.

To have a chance at achieving your marketing goals, you need readers who love what you do.

What if there were a blueprint for telling irresistible stories, for making almost everything you write have an impact in the hearts and minds of your readers

Look no further than Downton Abbey for that blueprint.

What can a once-obscure period television drama teach us about effective writing, content marketing, and engagement online

Turns out, just about everything

What is Downton Abbey

The British television mini-series is a true phenomenon, captivating millions of ravenous viewers around the world.

In only its second season, Downton (as its fans call it) has earned 32 award nominations (with 12 wins), including six Emmy Awards most notably for Outstanding Mini-Series or Movie Made for Television and Outstanding Writing for a Mini-Series.

Recently, it was honored with four Golden Globe nominations and won Best Mini-Series or Movie Made for Television.

The USA Today recently published a glowing feature of Downton beneath the headline, Loyal U.S. subjects return to PBS? Downton Abbey, in which they report Season 1 attracted 5 million [US] viewers to each new episode.
Not bad numbers for a show with no car chases, no bathroom humor, and no Kardashians.

The New York Times is hooked too, stating recently The British melodrama Downton Abbey is already the darling of American public television.

What?s happening here How did Downton Abbey a British period drama about the lives of lords, ladies, housemaids, footmen, and valets become the darling of so many hearts and minds so quickly

According to executive producer Rebecca Eaton, It?s just a damn good story.

That?s putting it mildly. The storytelling is obsessively enchanting.

As copywriters, authors, editors, and other writerly kin, we?d be foolish not to pay attention to Downton?s phenomenal success. After all, winning hearts and minds is what we?re all after, and Downton can be our guide.

Here are 5 lessons we can all learn from this show?s amazing storytelling skill

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1. Launch with identifiable characters
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All good stories start with great characters. In Downton Abbey, there are more than 25 of them. The dowager countess, played by a scene-stealing Maggie Smith, even has a Facebook page.

The adoring Downton fan base is in love with these characters for precisely the same reasons why readers come to love literary fiction characters, non-fiction writers, bloggers, and thought leaders.

Downton actress Siobhan Finneran (Ms. O?Brien) reveals the secret: there?s a character for everybody and in those characters you recognize something you know very well.

This is what?s meant by identifying with a character, fictional or not.

These characters face similar surprises as the show?s viewers do in their own lives, and are grieved with the same regrets. They have hopes and dreams that fade to ash, but they continue to fight. Just like us.

Ultimately, the good characters those that are identifiable, memorable and special to us are real to us in powerful ways. They?re strong, either in good ways or bad. And we like or dislike them enough to follow their journeys to the end.

Flaky characters, by contrast, are always forgotten.

The takeaway
When you?re telling the story of your latest product or writing your next post, make sure your characters are vivid, bold and easily identifiable. You are a primary character. Your reader or customer is another.
Tell your audience?s story and people will always want to hear more.

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2. Create incredibly high stakes
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Downton Abbey?s first episode begins with the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

Including the Titanic in the storyline was genius for two reasons:

Modern society remains fascinated with the Titanic story (thank you James Cameron)
It anchors Downton with high stakes drama

Lord Grantham of Downton Abbey has no sons, so the heir to his title and considerable estate is his cousin James. The first episode?s opening scenes reveal that James and his son Patrick (the latter conveniently engaged to Grantham?s eldest daughter, Lady Mary) have both died on the Titanic.

The sudden disappearance of the heir and a spare cuts Mary off from her family?s inheritance, and puts Downton into the hands of a distant third cousin no one has met.

That is how you start off an irresistible story.

It?s crackling with emotion epic in context and acute in feeling. We can?t help but wince when the hopes and plans of an entire family are shattered to pieces.

Naturally, other high stakes drama erupts around them: scandals, deaths. And the outbreak of World World I, a global fight of good versus evil, altering the social fabric and flow of life forever.

Could there be higher stakes than that

As Rebecca Eaton puts it, Downton is an irresistible story because there are good people at the heart of it, evil people at the side of it, and lots to lose for everybody.

The takeaway
High stakes are what make readers pay attention. You might be writing a landing page with vivid benefits and features. You might be writing compelling content that pulls readers closer to you. You might be writing compelling fiction such as Downton.

It doesn?t matter what you?re writing the stakes have to be high enough to keep your reader?s attention. They need to allow themselves to become emotionally involved with the story and characters. (Even if those characters are real people, like you and your customers.)

Give them high stakes always, of course, in honest terms.

This balance between high drama and realism is key, and Downton handles it beautifully. The characters are fictitious, but the high stakes are historically accurate. Writer Julian Fellowes even admitted that the sordid scandal from the first season was borrowed from a true historical coverup from the period.

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3. Ignite automatic drama
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Actor Dan Stevens (Matthew Crawley) offers amazing insight into why Downton works? so well: It?s automatic drama.

Each episode ends on a cliffhanger. Every character?s vulnerabilities are slowly revealed. Social tensions are rife all throughout the British aristocratic way of life and those tensions change and evolve in wake of WWI. And the witty dialogue delivers smart social politicking.

Lead actress Elizabeth McGovern (Cora, Countess of Grantham) explains this automatic drama? nature this way: people are thrown together in a situation and they have to bounce off one another, which [naturally] creates stories.

Smart writers do this in their copy and narratives. They set characters, benefits, events, and arguments into a specific context and allow those elements to drive the storytelling. This makes for genuine tensions and high anticipation, with little effort.

The takeaway

Are you writing an important sales letter What truism can you seat beside one of your benefits to bolster its resonance

Drafting a gripping article headline What opposing elements can you pair to create a compelling contrast

Writing a romantic scene What conflicting social norm can you inject to make the budding romance more tantalizing

Irresistibility lies at the intersections of these elements. Automatic drama is at its finest when the elements are in intimate proximity and of opposing qualities.

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4. Situate everything on the edge of change
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Downton Abbey is rooted in the legendary British aristocracy of the early 20th century.

This remains one of the most drastic periods of social change in history, marked largely by World War I. It was, thanks to WWI, a time of violent conflict, great uncertainty, and everyday anxieties.

The realities of the time led the world to the edge of change from which there was no turning back. This is what we experience with Downton Abbey: lives at the cusp of new beginnings; urges to be more and do more; discoveries of what happens when you must go forward into a different world.

This is the atmosphere that every good drama needs.

The takeaway

Skilled copywriters create similar atmospheres in their own writing. Their product offering describes the shortcomings of traditional tools and why a switch to theirs is in the reader?s best interests. Or, their private newsletter reveals their personal struggles with change and the successful strategies they used to overcome them.

Dan Stevens describes this Downton Effect? as waking up to new possibilities of what life could be but haven?t quite got the equipment to bring it about.

That?s what all good products, services or other solutions in any market do; they present new possibilities in stark contrast to pre-existing options. And while individual results will vary, these new offerings present a strong case for a better future through the embrace of change.

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5. Win hearts and minds with realism
????????????-

With Downton, there is a truth to the way people behave, adds Elizabeth McGovern.
If your copy, narrative or other work honors the above ideas of

Identifiable characters
High stakes
Automatic drama
Edge of change moments

then you?ll likely achieve this effect.

This realism is a powerful force because stories that entertain and convey truth compel readers to take action.

This is Downton Abbey?s ultimate secret to irresistible storytelling. It?s about more than identifiable people. It?s about what happens when identifiable people collide in a believable way. The conflicts and outcomes of those stories are what drive the narrative of Downton. And it?s the very thing that can, if genuine, win the love and loyalty of your readers.

The takeaway

Tell your story or your product?s story, or your customer?s story in a vivid and human way. The closer you write to the tenor of your reader?s feelings and the zeitgeist of the times, the stronger the bond will be.

As Downton?s writer Julian Fellowes says, allowing characters to speak in their own voice is the trick of screenwriting. I dare say it?s the linchpin to irresistible storytelling.

Experience the full Downton Effect

US readers can tune into PBS this Sunday at 9PM EST for the next episode, and get ready to be charmed by one of the best modern examples of storytelling anywhere.

Special thanks to PBS for their treasure-trove of behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast and producers.

Or, if you?ve already been glued to this amazing show, tell us in the comments how its masterful storytelling has informed your own copywriting, content creation, and online marketing

About the Author: Matt Gartland is the founder of Winning Edits, an editorial agency helping indie authors win reader hearts and minds. For more keen writing insights, join his free DIY Book Development Dispatch, or follow Matt on Twitter

Source: http://gurustory.com/2012/02/the-downton-abbey-guide-to-irresistible-narrative-marketing/

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Living ?n Atlanta, ?t ?? imperative t? know ?nd select th? best auto repair Atlanta workshops ?n order t? save maximum money ?n th? repairs ?n case ???r vehicle ?? d?m?g?d ?n ?n accident ?r ?f ??? ?r? looking f?r routine checkups ?nd servicing.?

?

Hence t? ??k ??m? ?m??rt?nt q???t??n? ?? n?t a b?d ?d?? t? ?n auto body shop Atlanta expert. Th? following q???t??n? w?ll h?l? ??? m?k? th? ??rr??t d??????n:

?

Wh?t types ?f vehicles th?? work ?n.

Ideally, both foreign ?nd domestic vehicles ?h??ld b? th??r forte. And th?? ?h??ld b? ?bl? t? work ?n ?ll types ?f vehicles including cars, vans, SUVs ?nd trucks ?nd ?l?? very importantly, th?? ?h??ld h??? th? tools t? service motor homes ?nd school buses. Another g??d point t? check ?? th?t th? auto repair ?h??ld b? equipped t? service a br?nd n?w car ?n ways th?t d? n?t void th? car?s warranty ?? th?t incase a manufacturer recalls th? vehicle, ?t ??n b? done without hassle.

Although one ?h??ld always ??k f?r auto body repair estimates before th? work b?g?n?, th? above discussed points ?r? a g??d indicator ?f a repair shop?s ability t? provide satisfying services f?r ???r car.

?

Wh?t kinds ?f warrantees th?? offer w?th th??r services.

Always check th?t th? auto body repair Atlanta ??? ?r? selecting ?? equipped w?th th? best quality ??rt? ?nd m??t advanced tools t? backup th? services th?? offer. Th? ??rt? ?nd th??r services ?h??ld always b? accommodated w?th a limited ?r lifetime warranty depending ?n wh??h ??? ?h????. Customer satisfaction m??t b?, ?t ?ll times, th??r priority wh??h ?? done through f??r business practices.

?

Wh?t Kind ?f Repair Services th?? Offer.

Always select th? body shop ?n Atlanta wh??h covers th? complete set ?f ???r car?s servicing needs.

Th?? ?h??ld include beside ?ll others, things l?k? A/C service ?nd repair, Battery servicing, Electrical problems diagnostic ?nd repair etc. Having one ?l??? t? cater f?r ?ll services w?ll save ??? fr?m hassle ?nd ?l?? save fuel ?nd ?th?r traveling costs.

?

Always check f?r th? above mentioned things wh?n selecting ?n auto body shop Atlanta ?nd ?ft?r doing ??, ??? w?ll b? sure t? receive a high quality service ?nd satisfaction overall ?n ?ll ???r car needs. Al??, b? sure th?t th? auto repair Atlanta ?? placed conveniently ?n ???r vicinity ?? saving traveling costs ?n each trip ??n lead t? a large saving ?n th? long r?n. ?

Th? ?l??? t? visit t? ?n??? ?ll types ?f auto repair atlanta services. N?t ?nl? th??, b?t th?? auto body repair atlanta offers a variety ?f ?th?r services including window tinting, alloy wheel repair, auto glass replacement, ?nd much more.

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Li'l Depressed Boy #9, $2.99
Mondo #1 (Of 3), $4.99
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Near Death Volume 1 TP, $9.99
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Prophet #22, $2.99

Full story ?

Source: http://www.savantmag.com/comiclist-image-comics-for-02222012/

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Despite his monotone voice and penchant for drab suits, John Laurinaitis has taken to calling himself ?Mr. Excitement.? Well, the case can be made that he?s earned the moniker. And tonight at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, Mr. Excitement may very well write another chapter in the unlikeliest of thrillers.

WWE?s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and Interim General Manager of Raw hinted yesterday from his Twitter account (@WWERawGM) that he?s about to light off a bombshell:

?FYI: I plan to make a HUGE announcement at Elimination #Chamber tomorrow. It might stop the show, and will certainly be a Game changer.?

What could Laurinaitis possibly have in store? Although there are a few clues in the tweet, whether they can be trusted is anyone?s guess since the wily GM has been known to throw people off the scent. Is he finally prepared to slip on his Technicolor tights and face off against WWE Champion CM Punk? Will he announce that the Board of Directors has named him permanent Raw GM? Will Triple H be there to finish the business of wishing Laurinaitis the best in his future endeavors? Or will The Showstopper, Shawn Michaels, make a surprise appearance at Milwaukee?s Bradley Center?

There?s only one sure way to find out. To end the suspense, order the Elimination Chamber, live on pay-per-view tonight at 8 PM/7 PM CT.

Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/eliminationchamber/laurinaitis-elimination-chamber-announcement

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Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21134540/vp/46435878#46435878

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We love to take pictures of the people we love. It's one of the primary reasons we buy cameras, and it's one of the primary reasons we use our iPhone camera. Our friends, our families, our children, whether it's for something special like a card or graduation, an event like a trip, a party or, or family get-together, or just a chance encounter, we always have our iPhone with us so we can always grab that perfect portrait of that important person.

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

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People use the internet on a daily basis to communicate, and transact businesses. Some people even do all their shopping online because it?s much more convenient than going out to the mall and shop there. Because of online shopping, you can buy anything you want right in the comforts of your own home.However, the fact that the internet is being used by people for financial transactions, there are also people would take advantage of this wonderful technology to steal from other people using the internet. They can do this by simply using a spyware program.What a spyware program does is that it would extract any kind of information in your computer including your personal and financial information. With this information, the spyware program developer will be able to use it to steal from you by committing identity theft.There are also computer viruses circulating the internet and are aimed to destroy or corrupt your computer files and render it useless. With all the dangers in surfing the internet and downloading files from it, you would want some protection to avoid anything bad to happen to you or your computer.By installing the latest Norton Internet Security software,moncler piumino, you would be creating a very good defense against the invaders in the internet. It can protect you from spyware, computer viruses, adware,moncler piumino,moncler piumini,moncler piumino, hackers, and other malicious software circulating the internet in a daily basis.Norton Internet Security software is considered as one of the best internet security software available in the market today. It is integrated with several softwares in one package. Each of the software integrated in the Norton Internet Security have different tasks for different threats. For example,moncler piumino,moncler piumini, Norton Internet Security is integrated with an antivirus program to fight viruses, another program in Norton Internet Security is aimed to fight off spyware and adware.There are more programs integrated in the Norton Internet Security. Each of the programs will surely be very beneficial for you and your computer.However,moncler piumini, as time passes, new computer viruses and new versions of other malicious software will eventually pop out in the internet. Some of these malicious software will be able to bypass your Norton Internet Security. Because of this, you will also need to purchase updated software in order to protect your computer and yourself from newer versions of malicious software.In order to successfully install your new version of Norton Internet Security software, you have to uninstall your old version of the Norton Internet Security software first. To do this, you have to click on start; click on control panel and click on add remove programs. Choose Norton Internet Security and click on uninstall. The computer will automatically remove the software from your computer.Once you finished uninstalling your old version of Norton Internet Security software, your computer will now be ready to be installed with the new version. Installation is easy; all you have to do is follow the step-by-step installation wizard. In a very short time, your computer will be ready again to surf the internet without you worrying about the new threats circulating the internet.So, if your Norton Internet Security software is outdated, all you have to do is purchase the new version of the software,moncler piumini, uninstall the old version and install the new Norton.

Source: http://www.carmaice.com/elgg/pg/blog/read/69947/moncler-piumino

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AP - Congress on Friday approved legislation renewing a payroll tax cut for 160 million workers and jobless benefits for millions more, backing the main items on President Barack Obama's jobs agenda in a rare burst of Washington bipartisanship.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120217/ap_on_go_co/us_payroll_tax

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The U.S. Capitol is seen, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, in Washington. Calling quits to a bruising election-year fight, negotiators on Capitol Hill worked into Wednesday night, ironing out final details of an agreement to extend a cut in the payroll taxes paid by most Americans. The legislation also would renew jobless benefits for millions more. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio talks about an accord on the payroll tax cut negotiations, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va., accompanied by fellow GOP leaders, gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012 to discuss the payroll tax cut negotiations. From left are, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., Cantor, and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Relieved congressional bargainers say they've reached agreement on compromise legislation extending payroll tax cuts and benefits for the long-term unemployed through 2012, edging a white-hot political battle a major step closer to finally being resolved.

Rep. David Camp, R-Mich., and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the two top negotiators, strode from a conference room minutes after midnight Thursday to say that only technical issues and the drafting of legislative language remained. The bill would assure a continued tax cut for 160 million workers and jobless benefits for several million others, delivering top election-year priorities for President Barack Obama.

"It's a very good deal for the country," said Baucus, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

There were disconcerting hints that last-minute problems might still crop up. Neither Baucus nor Camp would predict whether Congress would approve the legislation by Friday, the original goal. And aides did not distribute summaries of the bill to reporters, which is usually routine when major accords are reached.

Even so, Baucus and Camp ? and a handful of other lawmakers who helped craft the package ? expressed confidence that their work on the roughly $150 billion measure was virtually complete.

"We're moving forward," said Camp, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee.

The temporary payroll tax cut and extra unemployment coverage initially ran into GOP resistance, some of which lingers.

But Republicans have largely concluded that it would be politically damaging to oppose the package, particularly in this presidential and congressional election year. That contrasted with December, when House Republicans refused to back a bipartisan Senate bill providing a two-month extension of the tax cuts and jobless benefits while bargainers completed a yearlong deal ? only to retreat under barrages of criticism from Republicans and conservatives around the country.

Underscoring that they had learned the consequences of seeming to block a middle-class tax cut, House Republicans removed the major hurdle to the legislation earlier this week when they agreed that the payroll tax cut ? comprising about two-thirds of the measure's cost ? would not have to be paid for with spending cuts.

The bargainers spent Wednesday trying to extinguish last-minute brushfires as some members of Congress sought changes in a tentative agreement that aides had described Tuesday.

Chief among the late disputes was a proposal to save around $15 billion ? about half the $30 billion cost of the bill's extended jobless benefits ? by requiring federal workers to contribute an additional 1.5 percent of their pay to their pensions.

Democrats, including Sen. Ben Cardin and others from Maryland, home to many government employees, resisted that plan, holding up a final handshake among congressional bargainers. The provision was ultimately changed to target the boost only at newly hired federal workers, requiring them to contribute 2.3 percent of their salaries toward defined benefit pensions.

There was little controversy over the main thrust of the bill.

A 2-percentage-point cut in the 6.2 percent Social Security payroll tax, which is deducted from workers' paychecks, would run through 2012. For a family earning $50,000 a year, the cut saves them $1,000 annually.

Extra unemployment benefits for people out of work the longest would be extended for the same period, and a 27 percent slash in federal reimbursements for physicians who treat Medicare patients would be averted.

Unless Congress acts, the tax cut and added jobless benefits would expire and doctors' Medicare payments would be reduced ? all on March 1.

In a GOP win, the bill would phase down the current maximum 99 weeks of jobless coverage to 73 weeks in the hardest-hit states by autumn, though most states would get no more than 63 weeks.

Besides increasing new federal workers' pension contributions, more savings were supposed to come from government sales of parts of the broadcast spectrum to wireless companies. The spectrum auction was supposed to raise about $15 billion ? even after $7 billion would be spent for a new communications network for emergency workers.

The government's main welfare program would be continued through this year. Republicans won a provision barring welfare recipients from using their electronic cards to withdraw cash from teller machines in liquor stores, strip clubs and casinos.

The $20 billion price tag for preventing the cut in doctors' Medicare reimbursements would be covered partly by trimming a fund Obama's health care overhaul created to help prevent obesity and smoking. There would also be reductions in Medicaid payments to hospitals that treat high numbers of uninsured patients.

Dropped from the final compromise were proposals to renew expiring business tax cuts; a GOP plan to require unemployment recipients to work toward high school equivalency diplomas; and another Republican provision, aimed at illegal immigrants, requiring low-income people to have Social Security numbers before they can get checks from the Internal Revenue Service for the children's tax credit.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-02-16-Payroll%20Tax/id-1f08ceb85cd44c159a9c63c23b584d67

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) ? I?m 38 and just rolled $120,000 into an IRA. I?m trying to decide whether I should invest it on my own or pay an investment firm a fee to do it for me. I?m inexperienced, so I really don?t even know what information I should factor into this decision. Any suggestions? ? Trevor S.

You?ve already demonstrated good financial sense by rolling your retirement savings into an IRA.

Many people give in to the temptation to tap into their stash during a job switch rather than roll it over, and this can prove costly. A 2009 Government Accountability Office study showed that a typical 40-year-old who cashes out his 401(k) would end up with 45% less in savings at retirement even if he continued to contribute to a new 401(k) over the next 25 years.

Now, will that good financial sense you displayed in rolling over your IRA carry over to investing it?

Ask the Help Desk your questions about investing

I think the answer is yes. After all, investing on your own doesn?t mean you have to pick individual stocks and bonds. There are plenty of mutual funds and ETFs that can help even the greenest of green investors grow their nest egg like a pro.

The easiest way to go ? and the most effective for a newbie ? is to simply invest your $120,000 in a target-date retirement fund. Pick a fund with a date that roughly matches the year you?ll retire ? say, a 2040 fund in your case ? and you?ll get a ready-made mix of stocks and bonds that?s not only right for your age but becomes more conservative as you approach retirement.

Another way to go is to invest in a balanced fund. Much like some pension funds, these funds usually invest 60% of assets in stocks and 40% in bonds, and adheres closely to this mix regardless of what?s going on in the financial markets. The idea is that you get long-term growth from stocks and a bit of ballast during periods of market upheaval from the bonds.

Or you could create your own portfolio of stock and bond funds. If you choose this option, I?d recommend using low-cost index mutual funds or ETFs (exchange-traded funds) that track broad market indexes and thus effectively represent the entire stock or bond market with a single fund.

You can find all these options ? target funds, balanced funds, index funds and ETFs ? on our MONEY 70 list of recommended funds.

Of course, if you decide to fly solo, you will have to exercise some judgment. In the case of target-date funds, you?ll want to be sure you understand how the fund works, especially how it shifts from stocks to bonds over time.

Best New Money Moves

With a balanced fund, you?ll have to decide whether the usual 60-40 stocks-bonds mix is aggressive enough to get the growth you need when you?re young, and conservative enough to protect your nest egg as you near and enter retirement.

And to put together a portfolio of stock and bond funds on your own ? even with index funds or ETFs ? requires that you decide on an asset mix, or blend of stocks and bonds, that makes sense for you (although you could use a target-date fund as a guide for that).

But if you find the prospect of going it alone too daunting ? or you prefer some initial guidance ? there are a variety of ways to get professional help.

Many mutual fund families and investment firms, including well-known companies like Fidelity, Schwab, T. Rowe Price and Vanguardoffer advisory services that will put together and manage a portfolio of funds or ETFs, usually for an annual fee (plus the expenses of the funds or ETFs themselves).

Another possibility is a managed account, essentially a portfolio of stocks, bonds, funds or ETFs that?s assembled and overseen by a money manager or investment adviser. In the past, managed accounts often required minimum initial investments well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, these days some firms offer them to investors with $50,000 or less to invest.

Usually, managed-account advisers charge a percentage of assets under management ? say, 1% to 2% ? plus the expenses of the underlying funds, although some charge a fixed flat fee for their services.

And there?s the option of hiring a financial planner who will assess your needs and help you invest your IRA and other assets either for an ongoing annual fee or, in some cases, even on a hourly or project basis.

If you decide to get help, you?ll certainly want to see in writing how much you?ll owe in fees, by which I mean all fees ? advisory, fund and ETF charges and sales commissions, if any.

Beyond that, you also want to ask what else you?re getting aside from a portfolio of investments. At the very least, you want an initial evaluation to settle on an appropriate portfolio and periodic updates on performance. (Check out what to ask an investment firm or adviser, from the Securities and Exchange Commission.)

A pro can also assure you end up with a portfolio of investments that makes sense given your goals and risk tolerance ? and boost the odds that you?ll stick with that portfolio when the financial markets (and other investors) are going crazy.

Beyond that though, it?s important to be realistic. The reason to go to a pro isn?t for knock-your-socks-off market-beating returns. Over the long run, most investment managers don?t outperform the market averages, and it?s nearly impossible to predict in advance those that will.

Bottom line: With a little bit of thought and common sense, most people should be able to invest their retirement savings just as well on their own.

Do you know a Money Hero? MONEY magazine is celebrating people, both famous and unsung, who have done extraordinary work to improve others? financial well-being. Send an email to nominate your Money Hero.?

Article source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/money_pf/~3/rcfstqpZ_dk/index.htm

Tags: Market

Source: http://www.infotumbler.com/?p=9791

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New York ? A group of conservative lawmakers say their bill will protect kids from profanity in the classroom. But critics say they're going way too farPublic school teachers might soon have to be extra careful about what they say both in and out of class. A group of Republican state lawmakers is trying to pass a bill requiring teachers to avoid using offensive language in front of their students. Free speech advocates, predictably, aren't crazy about the idea and point out that the bill is so poorly written that it inadvertently puts limits on what teachers could say in their own homes. Here, a brief guide:

What words do the lawmakers want to ban?
The bill would bar teachers from using any words that the Federal Communications Commission regulations bar from TV and radio, which generally include both the F-word and milder terms like "shit." The standards, however, are a bit vague, as the FCC says words that might be OK in some contexts aren't in others. The agency defines profanity as "language so grossly offensive to members of the public who actually hear it as to amount to a nuisance."

SEE MORE: 'If Fred got two beatings per day...': The 'outrageous' slavery-themed math quiz

?

How would teachers who break the rule be punished?
As the bill is currently written, a first offense would trigger a one-week suspension (although the penalty might be reduced to a simple warning). A second offense would result in a two-week suspension. Any teacher busted for a third offense would be fired.

Is profanity a big problem in the classroom?
One of the bill's sponsors, state Rep. Lori Klein, says constituents have been complaining about high school teachers using inappropriate language in front of students. "Students are young and impressionable and teachers should not be using four-letter words in the classroom," she says. But a veteran high-school French teacher, Chris Maza, says teachers already know to keep classrooms G-rated. "I don't find this to be such a significant issue that we would have to have a law," Maza tells The Arizona Republic.

SEE MORE: Should there be national standards for sex ed?

?

But, wait, what about free speech?
That's the biggest problem critics have with this proposal. It's bad enough that this "absurd" law would prohibit high school teachers from exposing students to great works of literature that happen to include "salty language," says Erin Gloria Ryan at Jezebel, but the proposed ban extends even to college professors. And that's not the worst of it, says Angus Johnston at Student Activism. The bill is so badly worded that, in its current form, it would ban swearing in scholarly articles, private emails, and even, technically, make it a no-no for teachers to swear ? or take off his or her clothes ? anywhere, even at home. "Just when you thought the Arizona legislature was out of bad ideas."

Sources: Addicting Info,? Arizona Republic,?Jezebel, Student Activism

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It's Eric Anderson's job to know how much it costs you to own a car. And number-crunchers like Anderson, a senior analyst at IntelliChoice, know more than they ever have before?thanks partly to the proliferation of certified preowned (CPO) programs that nearly every carmaker in America now offers. These programs offer extended service contracts as part of the package when you buy a used car, which means, among other things, that all the repairs are tracked?and tracked in the same way that repairs done under new-car warranties are.

Anderson's math helps guide IntelliChoice's Best Overall Value of the Year Awards. But the real reason data like his matter to you is that it shows the differences in warranties that various automakers offer on preowned cars?both CPO vehicles and other used autos.

Figuring out whether to buy a warranty on a used car, or how to do it, can be a tangled mess. But we're here to help. For some advice on buying used, what warranties are best on the CPO front, and what to watch out for in extended warranties if you don't buy a CPO vehicle, read on. As you might imagine, it all starts with "read the fine print."

Go CPO

Certified preowned-car warranties provide peace of mind because factory warranties are backing the product, but Anderson says there's another crucial factor: manufacturer vetting. CPO cars have to be in good to great shape to be insurable. "The only way [car companies] can offer CPO is because they're making money on the aggregate of the warranties. If they weren't, the business model wouldn't make any sense."

Like any insurer, carmakers want to insure mostly healthy patients. But unlike health insurance providers, car companies can inspect every patient top to bottom to make sure it's healthy. They'll do small repairs to prep a CPO for sale, but any vehicle that needs major work, such as a new transmission, will never make it into the certified preowned pool.

The upshot: A CPO car is already a good machine or the carmaker would never sell it as such. That puts the dealer in a position where he doesn't feel like he has to hide anything from you.

Shopping for CPOs

But just as new-car warranties differ, not all CPO warranties are created equal. When you're shopping for one, Anderson says, look first at the deductibles. Audi charges $85, BMW $50, and Land Rover $100, none of which may surprise you (though neither Mercedes or Lexus charges a deductible). But it is a shocker that Chrysler charges $150 and Ford $100.

Also, check whether the CPO warranty is transferable if the car is sold prior to its expiration, which could apply to you if you're the buyer or the seller. Audi, Infiniti/Nissan, and Lexus all say no, but Kia will let you transfer a warranty, though it charges $40.

There's a ton of fine print that comes with CPO warranties. Read it?the details should be on the manufacturers' websites. The information within covers a lot of ground. Can you finance a CPO car? Can you lease a CPO car? Is roadside assistance included? Look for deal-breakers. There's no such thing as perfection; it just depends on where you're willing to bend and where you're not.

The biggest question, however, is the obvious one: how much coverage you're going to get and for how long. Lexus offers three-years/100,000 miles, which is one of the best CPO warranties around. It compares favorably witih other programs that offer anywhere from three months comprehensive/12 months powertrain to 24 months comprehensive coverage.

To Extend the CPO Warranty or Not?

Before you buy a certified preowned car, you should investigate not only the warranty details, but also whether you can buy an extended warranty.

This is especially true for a luxury car, and even more so if the CPO contract covers only a year or two. Luxury cars are typically expensive to maintain and the extra warranty protection is nearly always a wise play. However, Anderson says, extended warranties are becoming an increasingly smart move even for other vehicles. "Think of Ford's Sync or any other sophisticated electronic system," he says. When it goes south, it requires a great deal of troubleshooting. "Often the parts are cheap, but it takes them a long time to figure out why something isn't working, and at $85 or $120 an hour, that labor adds up quickly."

But (you knew there was a but, right?), not all extended warranties are necessarily worth it. Audi doesn't even offer one, nor does Porsche or Mini, and even if you can get one you still need to look at the limitations. For instance, you might find an extended warranty that covers up to five years, but ends at 74,000 miles. If you're buying a car with 60,000 miles on it already, that extended warranty isn't much good.

Finally, a little secret of the extended warranty game is that they cost the dealer a set amount. How much isn't public knowledge and carmakers won't share that information, but dealers are free to use it as a bargaining chip. They can throw it in with the purchase price of a CPO car or non-CPO car; they can charge more than it costs them. The point is that it's negotiable, so you should feel free to ask for the time to study what the warranty covers and what it doesn't, and haggle over the price.

Don't Fear if You Don't Buy CPO

Sometimes a certified preowned car isn't an option. What if you inherit a car, buy one from a neighbor or a friend, or buy an ordinary, non-CPO used car? You can still get coverage by purchasing a factory extended warranty from a dealer, or an aftermarket warranty. While the latter idea scares many customers, probably because of a belief that the factory warranty is "better," the truth is that most factory warranties are serviced by the same companies that sell aftermarket warranties. Remember: It's all insurance. Carmakers don't really want to be in the insurance business, they want to be in the car business. So they negotiate contracts with giant companies that provide insurance in the form of warranties.

Both JM&A and EasyCare provide both aftermarket insurance to dealers and new/used-car insurance to dealers and manufacturers. EasyCare lets you buy insurance directly from them, while JM&A processes most of its sales directly through dealers.

Do your homework when scouting an aftermarket warranty?and be cautious. Anderson says he's rated the warranties from companies like JM&A and EasyCare because they're safe for consumers and have a long legacy in business. But IntelliChoice actually stopped even bothering to rate the products from a slew of other firms that seemed to come and go every year.

He suggests asking for a referral to a BBB rating and even finding out what dealers or car manufacturers the insurance companies work with. If you're on the phone shopping for a quote, the salesperson ought to be able to steer you to that information easily?it's a red flag if she or he can't. The same goes for the shopping experience at the dealer. They may not know off hand about every company, but they should certainly be able to provide you with paperwork so you can do this legwork yourself.

Pimp Your Ride, Void Your Warranty

It's fine to be a tinkerer, and if you're changing your own tires, air filter, or oil, that's usually fine. But if you're doing performance modifications on your used car, then be warned: You're almost surely voiding your base, CPO, or extended coverage. That should be a no-brainer, but it's yet another reason to ask lots of questions before you buy any coverage?you should be able to find out what basic service you can do on your own car without endangering the warranty. "Dealers aren't looking for reasons to deny you coverage," Anderson says, since they're going to get reimbursed for whatever work they do on your car. But they have to protect their own liability. If you put a turbo on your Civic, then you can bet any drivetrain coverage you had went up in smoke.

The Bottom Line

Messy, right? There are some simple rules to follow. Namely: The best plan B for those of us who can't afford driving new is to drive CPO. It's a safer bet at least than driving a car with no warranty of any kind. And don't be afraid of an aftermarket warranty?it you buy it from a legit company with a long record.

But there's no default answer to cover every possible car and situation, so do your homework?and know yourself. Weigh what you owe on the car and its potential resale value; then consider whether you can afford to drop multiple thousands of dollars on a new engine or a replacement transmission, or whether the hedge of an extended warranty (which could cost you somewhere between $600 and $2000) is a smarter gamble.

Plus, doing all this math will give you a much better idea of the value of your car and how much you value peace of mind. This is why the risk averse lease, or at least sell once the manufacturer's warranty has expired.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair/how-to-get-a-used-car-warranty-and-not-get-screwed-6654348?src=rss

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