Cooking up tradition during the holidays

It may seem odd to latch onto a Southern tradition when you’re born and bred in New York City. But once I discovered a few years ago why Southerners eat hopping john on New Year’s Day - a few bites and you’ll have a lucky year - I’ve been hosting a hopping (or hoppin’, as it is often spelled) john party ever since. Who doesn’t want good luck, especially nowadays?Southerners aren’t the only ones who mark New Year’s with food rituals that hope for good things ahead - in Italy, lentils are eaten to bring prosperity; in Spain and Malta, people eat 12 grapes, one for each month; a sour grape means you’ll have a bad month so you can plan - or at least resign yourself.

There isn’t a holiday that doesn’t have some sort of food tradition, and many of us continue the traditions handed down by our family.

A few weeks ago, the IJ asked readers to send in some of their holiday food traditions. Here’s what they shared:

Maya Manny, San Rafael

Growing up in the Netherlands, foods were very seasonal (no strawberries in November!) and at this time of the year we would be focusing on the all-important arrival of Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas. This used to be celebrated with witty clever poems, small, fun gifts and certain traditional foods for St. Nicholas Eve, Dec. 5. and St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6. Even though we still were rationed on sugar in the fall of 1948, three years after the war had ended, somehow the necessary ingredients for some of the traditional food items appeared. This one is named banketletter.This is a quick and easy recipe and can be shaped into two long sticks or into eight letters, so you can give everyone their initial to eat. You also may find a chocolate initial in your shoe if you put it near the chimney and sing an appropriate song.

At Christmas time, I make the dough into circles and tie a red ribbon and green sprig on them.

For outer dough

2 cups flour (I use unbleached, unsifted)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)

Mix quickly in Cuisinart or cut in by hand until crumbly. Add 1/3 cup ice water and spin, then gather it by hand into a sticky ball and chill at least 30 minutes.

For the filling:

7 ounces almond paste

1 egg

3 tablespoon sugar Ê Ê

In Cuisinart (or by hand) mix the filling and chill. Can be done the night before. Ê

Halve the dough, put rest back in fridge. Roll out between wax paper sheets or on silpat liner or on a lightly floured surface until a bit less than 1/4-inch thick.

Cut into 2 strips to make two wreaths or letters.

Layer the filling into a narrow strip, fold, moisten the edge, seal with a fork, turn upside down, connect the ends so the filling will not leak out.

Mix 1 egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water and brush all over the pastries. Bake in 350-degree oven for 30 minutes till golden brown. Slice in 1-inch pieces.

Note: It is a good keeper. Freezes beautifully; reheat for 7 minutes in a hot oven.

Shirley Graves, Novato

My mother was a great cook - every meal was a work of art and nutrition! But the Christmas treat that I remember most was only “arranged” by Mother. We lived in a lovely 54-unit apartment building in Joliet, Ill., until I was 12 years old. A lady from Denmark, Mrs. Farb, lived upstairs. At Christmas she baked traditional Danish cookies for many neighbors. They were small, sweet and either dark red or dark green. I have never seen anything like them.Mrs. Farb did not ask for money from the neighbors she baked for, just that they provide the sugar and butter for their batch of cookies. The problem was, this was the 1940s, our country was at war, and many things were rationed, such as the sugar and butter that made up most of the cookies. Everyone had a government-issued book of ration coupons to use to purchase certain items. Our cookie-eating neighbors and my mother chose to use some of their coupons on a Christmas treat!

Lori Smith, San Rafael

For the past 15 or so years, I have prepared apple baked yams for family and friends on Thanksgiving Day. My two college-aged daughters, Jenn, age 20, and Heather, age 23, absolutely love this Thanksgiving treasure! When serving these yams over the holidays, I hear many comments such as: “This taste just like apple pie,” “These are the best yams I’ve ever tasted,” etc.Jenn, a junior at UC Santa Barbara, is studying abroad in Grenoble, France, this year, and wasn’t home for the Thanksgiving holiday. She recently called me long distance to request that I prepare a Thanksgiving dinner at Christmas time, and include her favorite apple baked yams on the menu. Without hesitation, I let her know that her wish was my command.

I can’t wait to have both daughters home at Christmas break, and to prepare this dish for my wonderful family. With pleasure, I share this recipe that has been enjoyed by family and friends over the years.

Lori’s apple baked yams

This recipe makes 5 to 6 generous servings. I usually double the recipe.

5-6 medium yams (pierce the skin before cooking, peel after cooking and when cool to touch)

1/2 cup low-fat milk

1/3 cup butter

3/4 cup raisins

3 Macintosh or Empire apples, peeled and sliced

1/4 cup granulated sugar

Cinnamon to taste

Cook the yams in preheated 400-degree oven for approximately 40 minutes, or in a microwave oven on high for 15 minutes, or until tender. Mash yams with milk, 2 tablespoons butter and raisins. Place a layer of yams in a greased 3-quart casserole dish. Add a layer of sliced apples, and sprinkle lightly with sugar and cinnamon. Dot with butter. Repeat layering of yams, apples, sugar, cinnamon, dot with butter, and finish with a layer of yams. Dot surface with butter. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for approximately 1 hour.

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Dreamworks 3-D riding out economic crisis

By HIAWATHA BRAY, Boston Globe
First published in print: Thursday, December 18, 2008

One of Hollywood’s top producers said the ongoing financial crisis is hampering his efforts to release digital 3-D movies.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, chairman of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., said all future movies from his studios will be made in digital 3-D. But today only about 1,500 of the 36,000 theater screens in America are capable of showing such films,

“Until the financial markets come unstuck, which is probably late in the first quarter, the next round of the digital rollout is on a very slow pathway,” Katzenberg said during a visit to Boston earlier this week to show off clips from his studio’s upcoming film, “Monsters vs. Aliens.”

It costs about $70,000 to convert a single movie screen to the digital projection system for the 3-D films. But many theater owners can’t afford to make the switch. Theaters are finding it tough to borrow the money, as banks tighten their lending practices after years of ill-advised loans.

Katzenberg said about 2,500 screens should be converted to digital 3-D by March, in time for the release of “Monsters vs. Aliens.” Katzenberg thinks credit markets will have loosened up by May 2010, when DreamWorks Animation releases the fourth in its series of Shrek movies. He expects there will be 7,500 theaters capable of showing the film in digital 3-D.

Katzenberg noted the percentage of Americans going to movies has steadily declined for decades. Last year, the industry sold 1.4 billion movie tickets, 38 million fewer than in 1998, even though the US population grew about 30 million during the period. Katzenberg called digital 3-D cinema “the greatest opportunity of my time to reverse this,” and compared it to the introduction of soundtracks to movies in the 1920s and color films in the 1930s.

Read this full article - Dreamworks 3-D riding out economic crisis

Recipes for Health - Winter Squash Gratin

This gratin is an easy vegetarian main dish to make and resembles a quiche, but without the crust.

This series offers recipes with an eye towards empowering you to cook healthy meals every day. Produce, seasonal and locally grown when possible, and a well-stocked pantry are the linchpins of a good diet, and accordingly, each week’s recipes will revolve around a particular type of produce or a pantry item. This is food that is vibrant and light, full of nutrients but by no means ascetic, fun to cook and a pleasure to eat.
See previous recipes »

1 1/2 pounds winter squash of your choice

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

1 teaspoon minced fresh sage

3 eggs

1/2 cup low-fat milk

2 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated (1/2 cup)

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (1/4 cup)

1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Cover a baking sheet with foil and brush lightly with olive oil. Cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds and stringy membranes, brush the cut sides with olive oil and lay cut side down on the foil-covered baking sheet. Bake 40 minutes, or until soft enough to pierce easily with a knife. Remove from the heat and allow to cool, then peel and either mash with a fork, puree in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, or finely dice. You should have about 2 cups of pureed or finely diced squash.

2. Turn the oven down to 375ºF and oil a 2-quart gratin or baking dish with olive oil. Heat the remaining oil over medium heat in a medium heavy skillet and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in the parsley and sage, and squash, and remove from the heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

4. Beat the eggs in a large bowl and whisk in the milk. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Stir in the squash mixture and the Gruyère. Taste and adjust seasonings. Scrape into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the Parmesan over the top.

5. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned on the top and sizzling. Serve hot, warm, or room temperature.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

Read full recipe - Recipes for Health - Winter Squash Gratin

Ask the Expert: Treat migraines at first warning signs

Q. How is a migraine treated?

A. Migraines can be treated at two different times: once the person develops a migraine or before they develop one. Both treatments are done with medications that relieve the symptoms, though outcomes are usually better when the migraine is treated as early as possible.

Some women can get severe migraines around their time of menstruation. These types of migraines can be helped with the use of hormones or birth control pills.

Q. When should I get medical help for migraines?

A. You can take over-the-counter, pain-relieving drugs once you experience the first signs or symptoms of a migraine. However, if you are taking over-the-counter medications for them more than eight times a month you should look into seeing your doctor about a prescription treatment. These medications are preventive in nature, sometimes taken daily, and serve to reduce the frequency and severity of the person’s migraines. Your doctor may also discuss medications to take at the first sign of a migraine. These medicines help eliminate the migraine or make the symptoms much more tolerable.

Q. What about alternative medicines or home remedies?

A. Any activity you find relaxing might lessen the effects of a migraine, such as taking a hot bath or sitting quietly in a darkened room. If you are experiencing chronic headache pain, some alternative remedies like massage or even acupuncture might provide relief. Ideally, you should consult a physician before beginning any alternative medicines.

Read full article - Ask the Expert: Treat migraines at first warning signs

Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing with Meyer Lemon

By: Kathy Hester (View Profile)

Earlier this year I got myself a dwarf Meyer lemon tree. I have wanted one for a few years. It was only two feet tall, but already covered in green baby lemons. Now, six months later, I have about eight juicy yellow Meyer lemons to cook with.

It looked beautiful on my deck, and the white flowers were very fragrant. Unfortunately, I had to cut off the branch that was blooming to get rid of an unidentified icky pest that was trying attack it. I’m not sure if I’ll be harvesting much next year, so I want to make the best of what I have now.

In a warm climate, you could plant it outside, but I’m keeping mine in a pot. This way I can enjoy the green foliage inside during the winter and bring it outside for the summer.

If you haven’t used Meyer lemons before, you are in for a treat. They are sweeter, more of a cross between a mandarin orange and a lemon. Also the skin is much thinner. In fact, so thin that when I hit it on the counter to get it ready to juice, it busted open and went all over me and the floor. Let that be a lesson you don’t have to learn first hand!

Read full recipe: Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing with Meyer Lemon

Home & garden news: Halls, houses and trees decked out for holidays, cheap gifts for all

If you need a little Christmas spirit, the Barrett-Paradise Country Inn tour is the place to be. You can eat your way through the afternoon and get a glimpse of elegant areas you don’t see in your everyday drive.

If you have your own spectacular decorations, we want to hear from you.

We have some ideas for around your house with the scents and sounds of Christmas.

Scents are just one way you can decorate for Christmas. Balsam sachets and cinnamon bird ornaments are just some ideas.

Nothing can make children of all ages smile like a train going around the Christmas tree. Electric trains under the Christmas tree date back to at least the early 1900s. Before that, there were wind-up and push trains.

Speaking of trees, we tell you pros and cons of both real and artificial trees. If you plan to get a live tree today, what to do with it.

A tip from the National Gardening Association: If you plan to buy a balled-and-burlapped or containerized holiday evergreen to plant outdoors, dig the hole now before the soil freezes. Keep soil in a wheelbarrow in the garage or shelter where it will be workable to use as backfill.

To increase the odds the tree will survive transition from your living room to the backyard: Buy a short tree, less than 5 feet. Limit your tree’s indoor stay to 3 to 5 days in a cool spot (65 degrees or less). Keep the rootball moist and the tree misted.

Some people need to go artificial. Our Home and Garden editor shares her tree success in her blog.

If you’re feeling particularly crafty, we have some great gift ideas that both children and adults can tackle.

We tell you some more ways to save money this holiday season. Instead of an expensive holiday party, how about inviting your friends over to watch Charlie Brown?

Warning: all that Christmas traffic can make on mess on hardwood floors. Learn how to protect them.

Did you ever buy a gift for a child and find he or she was more interested in the box? Cats are the same way. Here are some recession proof cat toys.

Looking ahead to 2009, yellow will be the color of the year. It reminds people of warmth, sunshine and cheer.

Our focus is green. Fabric softener might make your clothes feel better, but it’s not necessarily healthy for you.

For more environmental ideas this holiday season, check out our Pocono Green section. Let a little knowledge be your gift to yourself this season.
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Read full article: Home & garden news: Halls, houses and trees decked out for holidays, cheap gifts for all

Analyst: Apple could sell a million iPhone gift cards

Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu has been checking with his contacts in Apple’s (AAPL) supply and distribution channels and reports that demand for the iPhone is “fairly healthy” in the U.S., Europe and, with the exception of Japan, most of Asia Pacific. He’s anticipating sales of 6 million units for the December quarter (Apple’s fiscal 2009 Q1), down from 6.9 million in Q4 but in line with the Street’s expectations of between 5 and 7 million.

But that significantly understates actual demand for the iPhone, Wu says, because it doesn’t include the wild card in this holiday season’s iPhone sales: the iPhone gift card.

“We think there is strong reception of AAPL’s new iPhone 3G Gift Card program,” Wu wrote in a report to clients Wednesday, “where the process of giving the iPhone as a gift is greatly simplified without the need for activation and personal information. … We estimate several hundred thousand to one million units could be impacted.”

The good news about these gift cards is that Apple gets to collect the revenue up front, which improves cash flow. The bad news for Apple’s Q1 earnings is that it can’t recognize the sale of an iPhone until the customer activates it. “The risk here is that the customer will likely activate post-Christmas,” writes Wu. “Therefore revenue and units won’t likely be recognized until the March quarter.”

In a separate note issued Tuesday, Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster took a stab at estimating how many iPhones Wal-Mart (WMT) is likely to sell when it, as reported, begins carrying the devices three days after Christmas. Bottom line: Apple could sell as many iPhones through Wal-Mart in 2009 as it sells through its own Apple Stores.

Read more: Analyst: Apple could sell a million iPhone gift cards

Mazda6 is all-new for 2009 and on target for “Car of the Year”

Midsize sedans are no longer blandly styled, boring boxes for driving to work. Today we are seeing emotionally provocative and exciting designs on the common, everyday four-door sedan.

The Chevy Malibu didn’t become the 2008 North American Car of the Year by accident. Interior comfort and fine handling led by a compelling exterior design caught the attention of critics. So who should lead the pack of contenders for the title 2009 Car of the Year? I’d be willing to put money on the 2009 Mazda6.

The emotional design cues that are so essential to attracting buyers to toy cars, such as roadsters and convertibles, are finding their way to the meat-and-potatoes of the car market, the conservative five-passenger everyday driver - the midsize sedan.

With a starting price of $18,550, the glamorous Mazda6 looks like it’s worth twice that amount. There’s a silky sheen that floats over the velvet sheet metal. The Mazda team says the all-new Mazda6 is infused with Japanese values. The exterior glow, as on my dark blue tester, does reflect a harmony with nature, which is so intrinsic to the Japanese culture. The instrumentation gauges were brilliant in reds, purples, blues, whites and blacks without being blinding.

The Mazda6 has a low, flat, planted stance. And if you can imagine delicate ivory inlays in wood and furniture then you will understand the attention to craftsmanship designers say they applied to the details of the new Mazda6.

If you were going to consider the Mazda6, then you would want to test-drive both engine options offered on the 2009 sedan. Available in four trims (SV, Sport, Touring and Grand Touring), the base model is standard with the 2.5-liter, 170-horsepower four-cylinder engine coupled to a six-speed manual transmission.

The top-of-the-line model I drove was equipped with the 3.7-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. This powerful engine developed 272 horsepower at 6250 rpm and 269 pound-feet of torque at 4250 rpm. The EPA figures are estimated at 17 miles per gallon city, 25 mpg highway. The vehicle’s as-tested price was more consistent with its pricey looks at $32,790.

All 2009 Mazda6 sedans come standard with dynamic stability control, side curtain air bags, front seat-mounted side-impact air bags, antilock brakes, air conditioning, plus power windows, mirrors and door locks.

Full story:Mazda6 is all-new for 2009 and on target for “Car of the Year”

Homeowners refinance, put savings in piggy banks

When mortgage rates dropped to the lowest levels in almost a year, Warren Zeger seized the opportunity to slash $720 off his monthly mortgage payment by refinancing his home in Potomac, Md.

Just don’t expect him to spend the savings.

“I’d love to tell you I’m going to spend it to help prop up the economy, but we’ve tightened our belts,” said Zeger, 61, a retired attorney. “I plan on holding on to it.”

Zeger echoed homeowners The Associated Press interviewed nationwide who have taken advantage of lower rates since Nov. 25th. They planned to stuff the money they saved under the mattress or pay off bills. Refiinance activity has surged as interest rates tumbled about 1 percentage point to around 5.5 percent in response to the Federal Reserve’s plan to scoop up $600 billion of mortgage-related securities.

“We’ve had a lot homeowners waiting for some time” for this drop in rates, said Ritch Workman, co-owner of Workman Mortgage in Melbourne, Fla.

The Fed’s move was the latest in an unprecedented series of actions to help stabilize the housing and credit markets as well as the broader economy. However, pushing down mortgage rates may only have a muted effect on the economy. That’s because more than a quarter of homeowners with a mortgage can’t qualify for a new loan, and many who can are so financially stretched that little of the money they save will end up in store cash registers.

“If you’re worried about making it month to month and your mortgage is your biggest payment you’re not going out to buy a car and a lot of Christmas gifts,” said Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance, a trade publication in Bethesda, Md.

Stuart Cassell in Sarasota, Fla., is putting his $80 monthly refinanse savings into his nest egg, while product development manager Subash Ramnani in Chicago is using the extra $300 a month from his refinancing to pay for graduate school. Jennifer Burke and her husband in Bel Air, Md., are saving the additional $240 a month as they wait out the recession and raise a one-year-old daughter.

Marcus Leef’s $150 monthly savings is going to daycare costs and personal savings. Leef, a consultant in Hartford County, Conn., has seen his stock portfolio plummet 40 percent, his retirement savings plunge by half and his corporate stock tumble by 60 percent this year. He’s not optimistic.

“My view is the economy is in the toilet. It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” he said. “If rates drop another point tomorrow, I’ll (refinance) again the day after.”

Those are the luckiest homeowners. Les Berman, a mortgage broker in Encino, Calif., said most borrowers contacting him have interest-only mortgages and they want to lock into a fixed-rate loan. They’re not saving any money each month if they do that; instead, they’re taking higher payments to get out of riskier loans.

“They want that security. They want to protect themselves against the future,” he said, even if it means shelling out more each month.

Other borrowers, like Eric Dudek in Grand Rapids, Mich., are waiting to see if rates drop further after hearing reports that the government is considering a proposal to lower the rate on 30-year home loans to 4.5 percent by buying more mortgage-backed securities.

“I’m thinking maybe I should hold off, you know?” said Dudek, who would use the savings from a refinancing to pay off student loans.

Read this full story: Homeowners refinance, put savings in piggy banks

Festive Christmas Flowers From Find A Florist Make the Season Jolly

Find A Florist Helps Send Holiday Floral Arrangements and Christmas Trees With the Widest, Freshest Selections From Local Florists

LOS ANGELES, CA, Dec 03, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) — ‘Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to celebrate the holidays this year than with a flower arrangement from a local florist found through Teleflora’s Find A Florist, the leading online florist locator? With a directory of over 20,000 local florists, Teleflora’s Find A Florist allows consumers to search for florists in specific markets and areas.
“The holiday season is a great time to send centerpieces, wreaths or even table top trees, which consumers will find through their local florists,” said Chris Campbell, Director Online Marketing, Teleflora. “And to beat the holiday rush, we recommend ordering the second week in December as peak flower sales hit the week before Christmas.”
Christmas flowers bought through florists identified on Find A Florist make great decorations for the home or office, and flowers are wonderful gifts for friends, co-workers and loved ones. With same day or next day delivery, customers can be sure that their Christmas gifts will be hand-arranged and hand-delivered by high-quality florists.
“During the holiday season, we find that winter flowers including mini callas, freesia, bouvardia, red and white tulips, star of Bethlehem, nerine lilies, paperwhites, amaryllis and poinsettias are the most popular. However, non-traditional winter flowers are beginning to show up in many arrangements,” said Campbell. “For example, Teleflora’s Festive Fragrance and Christmas Cactus arrangements are quickly becoming new holiday favorites, with their unique spins on classic Christmas decor.”
For additional information on choosing flowers, or to locate a local florist or floral shop anywhere in the country, visit www.FindAFlorist.com.
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Read full article: Festive Christmas Flowers From Find A Florist Make the Season Jolly

Awful’ Month for Carmakers

By Sholnn Freeman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 3, 2008; Page D01

Carmakers continued to load on the discounts in November, but American consumers continued to slam on the brakes.

The industry tried everything. Companies offered zero-percent financing, “red tag” sales, employee-discount pricing and even buy-one-get-one-free pickup truck deals. Still, U.S. auto sales plunged to their lowest pace in 26 years. Overall, automakers sold 746,789 cars, trucks and minivans in the United States, down 37 percent from a year earlier, according to Autodata.

All major carmakers suffered steep declines, but Detroit was particularly hard hit. General Motors’ sales tumbled 41 percent, to 152,552. Ford sold 118,319 vehicles last month, a 30 percent fall. Chrysler sold 85,260, down 47 percent.

Jesse Toprak, a sales analyst at Edmunds.com, said the incentive programs have reached a point of diminishing returns, where virtually no amount of cash on the hood will move sales. He said Americans harbor deep economic fears.

“The majority of the decline is low consumer confidence,” he said. “Consumers are not showing up regardless of what kind of deals, regardless of how low gas prices go.”

Toprak said middle-class and upper-middle-class Americans — who make up the market for new car buyers — are reeling from steep erosions in home values and losses in 401(k) plans.

“They don’t know if they are going to have a job in the next few months,” he said. “It’s a bit depressing when you put it all together. Consumers don’t want to make a big-ticket purchase, and cars are the biggest purchase after homes.” The sales figures were also hurt by would-be buyers’ inability to get financing, Toprak said.

November’s sales, translated into the closely watched seasonally adjusted annualized sales rate, or SAAR, slipped to 10.18 million, the lowest selling pace since October 1982, according to preliminary figures by Autodata. Sales appeared to slow from October, when the seasonally adjusted selling pace was measured at 10.56 million.

Economists and industry analysts yesterday were looking for signs that the market was close to bottoming out. Bob Schnorbus, the chief economist at J.D. Power and Associates, said he expected stronger November results from automakers. He said the industry was struggling to get out of “unprecedented territory” and that fourth-quarter results may represent the low point for the industry, barring other large-scale financial calamities.

“It’s probably getting pretty close,” Schnorbus said. “That’s kind of cold comfort if it turns out that the recovery is very weak and protracted.”

Read full article: ‘Awful’ Month for Carmakers

Major Causes of Frequent Headache

There are various causes of frequent headache. Some of these causes of frequent headache are quite common whereas some are quite rare. Everybody may have had a headache at some point of time in their lives and the severe pain may have forced them into rushing to get speedy medical attention to alleviate the excruciating pain without evaluating the causes of frequent headache. The causes of headaches and dizziness vary. If the headache persists or repeats, it is better to take a close look at what are the underlying causes of the frequent headache.

Some causes of frequent headaches may be linked with
- meningitis,
- blood pressure,
- strokes ,
- brain tumors, though they may yet be only rare causes of frequent headaches.

The more likely causes of frequent headaches are simple ones such as
- viral infection,
- sinusitis,
- fatigue and headache,
- other forms of tension ,
- musculo-skeletal conditions.

Below are some explanations of common causes of frequent headaches.

Meningitis
Meningitis causes an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the brain and is very serious. If not treated immediately, it may even result in death. If the cause of frequent headache is due to meningitis, the sufferer must be transferred to a hospital for treatment. Please be warned that in its early stages, it may only seem to be nothing more than the ‘flu’.

Read full article: Major Causes of Frequent Headache

From: Major Causes of Frequent Headache

Weight-loss surgery bodes well for pregnancy

New York - Researchers have found that weight-loss surgery bodes well for pregnancy. They found that women who had weight loss surgery before becoming pregnant are less likely to have problems in their pregnancy than women who were obese and did not have any type of weight loss surgery. Usually pregnant women who are overweight have gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. The number of bariatric surgeries being done every year from 1998 to 2005 has increased by eight hundred percent. This is a shocking statistic. It shows that many people prefer to have weight loss surgery instead of trying to find a natural way to lose weight. Surgery can be dangerous and life threatening. Doctors always explain that the risks associated with weight loss surgery can be serious because it is an abdominal and stomach surgery. You could have an allergic reaction to the anesthesia that they administer to you and if this happens you will face a life threatening situation. It is important to have healthy eating habits before and during your pregnancy. You want to try and maintain a healthy weight in order to help prevent pregnancy complications. Researchers found that weight loss surgery and tradition weight loss can help to improve a woman’s fertility rate. Doctors always tell you to try and lose weight if you are trying to conceive because it is better for your body and reproductive system. This research shows women that if they are overweight or obese and want to conceive a child then losing weight either through traditional weight loss methods or through weight loss surgery might be very helpful. Women want to be able to conceive a baby and losing weight can boost your chances of being able to become pregnant. You can also reduce your chances of facing health complications due to your weight. It is important that people are healthy during pregnancy. In today’s society many people are overweight or obese. Obesity has become a huge epidemic in the United States of America. It has huge health implications because your body has to work harder to do every day activities. When you are pregnant you gain weight and if you are overweight or obese to start with then gaining weight can become a huge medical problem. Usually pregnant women who are overweight or obese have poor eating habits. These eating habits affect the unborn babies because they rely on their mothers’ placentas for food and nutrients. If those mothers are not eating well and exercising daily then those children could face health complications after birth. Everything that you do while you are pregnant has a huge impact on the overall health of your unborn baby. Most pregnant women just think that taking a prenatal vitamin and not smoking, drinking, or doing drugs will ensure that your baby is born happy and healthy but that is not the case. If you are not healthy then how can you expect your unborn baby to be healthy? Read full article: Weight-loss surgery bodes well for pregnancy

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Weight-loss surgery bodes well for pregnancy

New York - Researchers have found that weight-loss surgery bodes well for pregnancy. They found that women who had weight loss surgery before becoming pregnant are less likely to have problems in their pregnancy than women who were obese and did not have any type of weight loss surgery. Usually pregnant women who are overweight have gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. The number of bariatric surgeries being done every year from 1998 to 2005 has increased by eight hundred percent. This is a shocking statistic. It shows that many people prefer to have weight loss surgery instead of trying to find a natural way to lose weight. Surgery can be dangerous and life threatening. Doctors always explain that the risks associated with weight loss surgery can be serious because it is an abdominal and stomach surgery. You could have an allergic reaction to the anesthesia that they administer to you and if this happens you will face a life threatening situation. It is important to have healthy eating habits before and during your pregnancy. You want to try and maintain a healthy weight in order to help prevent pregnancy complications. Researchers found that weight loss surgery and tradition weight loss can help to improve a woman’s fertility rate. Doctors always tell you to try and lose weight if you are trying to conceive because it is better for your body and reproductive system. This research shows women that if they are overweight or obese and want to conceive a child then losing weight either through traditional weight loss methods or through weight loss surgery might be very helpful. Women want to be able to conceive a baby and losing weight can boost your chances of being able to become pregnant. You can also reduce your chances of facing health complications due to your weight. It is important that people are healthy during pregnancy. In today’s society many people are overweight or obese. Obesity has become a huge epidemic in the United States of America. It has huge health implications because your body has to work harder to do every day activities.
Read full article

10 tips for holiday travel

By Ed Hewitt
updated 3:11 p.m. ET Nov. 20, 2008

With the global economy in crisis and both travelers and airlines feeling the pinch, it may not seem like 2008 will be the cheeriest of holiday travel seasons. Airlines have cut flights, raised fares and added a surge of surcharges for everything from checked bags to phone bookings. Meanwhile, many travelers are postponing or canceling their holiday plans to save money.

But for travelers still planning to visit Grandma’s for Thanksgiving or spend Christmas weekend in Paris, the news isn’t all bad. There are still deals to be found, provided you shop carefully and plan ahead. Check out our 10 tips for holiday travel and find some joy this holiday season.

Avoid peak travel dates
At Thanksgiving, Wednesday is the critical outbound “avoid” day as a rule. Traveling on Thanksgiving day proper is often a breeze and more affordable; there are often cut-rate airfare deals on Thanksgiving day.

On the return, Friday morning isn’t bad at all, with each successive day getting a little busier, more difficult and more expensive through Sunday evening. The bottom line: If you are looking for a deal, you won’t find one on the peak travel days. Travel off-peak whenever possible.

Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Thursdays this year, which means that the same advice for Thanksgiving will apply to both of these holidays — fly on the holiday itself if possible, and avoid Sunday evening at the end of the long weekend.

Book early
Haven’t booked your holiday travel yet? It’s time to stop waiting and start booking. Fares are only rising as Thanksgiving approaches, so those who hold out in hopes of a late-breaking sale are likely to get left out in the cold or pay a very steep price for their procrastination. The same goes for the Christmas holiday; book sooner rather than later, particularly if you require very specific travel dates or times. With the current state of the airline industry, it is never too early to book your holiday travel flights.

While many of the best deals are probably already gone, keep an eye on our Holiday Deals section for any last-minute bargains. Be prepared to be flexible with dates and flight times.

Read full article: http://blog.summer-winter-air-travel.info/?p=9

Source: 10 tips for holiday travel

The Magnificent Ducati Monster

I don’t know about you but I like them beautiful, naked, noisy and lively; bikes that is!

If you’re the same then you’ll love the Ducati Monster range.

The Ducati Monster was originally designed by Miguel Angel Galluzzi (god bless him!) and was first launched by the Bologna superbike firm in 1993.

It is a testament to Galluzzi’s vision that the Monster now accounts for half of Ducati’s overall sales.

Like all of the best Ducati’s the Monster is an 90 degree v-twin, often called an L-twin. It has the now infamous desmodomic valve engine lovingly cradled within a tubullar steel trellis chassis.

With its initial launch in the early 1990s Ducati introduced three Monster options; M600, M750 and M900.

The M900, was the first model released in in 1993

The M600 followed a year later in 1994 and the M750 finally graced our shores in in 1996.

Later on a smaller displacement model, the M400, was developed for those countries where the tax system punishes the ownersof large capacity, high performance bikes.

The M400 was mainly aimed at the far east and pacific rim,although it was also sold in Ducatis native market;Italy. The M400 had the same engine components as the M600 but had a shorter stroke crankshaft and smaller diameter pistons.

The design of the Monster remained pretty much unchanged until around 2000, when fuel injection was added to the M900. In 2001 Ducati unveiled the S4, adding a liquid-cooled 4-valve Superbike to the range.

2001 also saw the addition of improved braking capacity using semi-floating front disc brakes with Brembo four-piston calipers, weight was further reduced with much lighter Brembo wheels, and suspension was upgraded to 43 mm Showa inverted forks.

In 2002 a special edition, the first of many; the S4 Fogarty was offered. To guarantee exclusivity it was limited to a production run of 300.

Between 2005-7 the Monster freak could choose from six basic models: the 695, 696, S2R 1000, S4R Testastretta, S4R S Testastretta, and S4R S Tricolore.

The Monster 695 replaced the Monster 620 and was the foundation of the range and offered the greatest power per CC of any Ducati air-cooled engine to date.

The new flagship model;the S4RS Testastretta was a beast and employed the engine from the 999 Superbike and was supplied with Öhlins suspension front and rear and radial front brakes.

The Monster 696 was officially launched in early April, 2008 in Barcelona. It soon became the best selling Monster in the history of the range.

Ducati Followed rapidly with the awesome Monster 1100 in September 2008.

Read full article: The Magnificent Ducati Monster

Virginity and Dating

With all the failed relationships and marriages that have happened in the last 40 years we can all start to see a pattern that develops. It seems like sex does not have the precious meaning a relationship that it once had. Men and women both have become so accustomed to having sex within months into their relationships that sex has turned into an act almost entirely of lust. Saving your virginity for men and women has become an almost extinct cause as the dinosaurs. Now teenage men and women both have different reasons for entering into premarital sexual relationships. Men for example have been conditioned to think that being manly or being a stud means how many women you have slept with and how many women can talk into getting into bed with you. Women on the other hand usually think that sex is a gift that they withhold from a man until he has proven that he truly cares for her. Notice how there is a disconnect each week our men have about sex and how women feel about sex. I think that both genders are looking at it in the wrong ways. I think personally that is both men and women decide to save themselves for their wedding night their chances of finding love become greater. Why do you ask? I feel that marriage is not just about love but it’s about the balance of love that both men and women feel for each other. If men for example start dating women with no hidden intentions of having casual sex with them that he can truly get to know her as a person and start to develop deep feelings for her. This way, then we’ll start to look at sex as lovemaking instead of just an act of instinctive pleasure. Women on the other hand, seem to look at sex as a trophy or reward that they decide what man they bestow that reward to. The way that women can start to fix this preconceived notion that they have been conditioned to think is to start looking at sex as a special act that is given freely to the one that you truly love and will be with forever. Whenever I am interested in a woman, I would never ask her out on a date as I feel that dating is only a way that both men and women show themselves off to each other in the most favorable and the most unrealistic light. This then gets both men and women the unrealistic expectation that a relationship and the marriage will be this way every day for the rest of their lives. Sorry to break the news to them harshly but true, loving and caring relationships take hard work and commitment and they are more than just fun and games. Instead of asking her out on a date, I would ask her if she would like to hang out get to know each other as friends. Hanging out as friends takes away all the unrealistic expectations that dating brings with it and allows both men and women to get to know each other deeply and truthfully.
Read full article: Virginity and Dating

How To watch the Olympics on your mobile phone

NBC has such a tight stranglehold on Olympics coverage that if you’re in America, you are pretty much under their mind control. That being said, here is a guide to using the technologies put out by NBC and a couple by other networks so that you can maximize your Olympics watching. Mobile Web: The most obvious way to get your Olympics coverage on your mobile is via your mobile web. If you’re not a smartphone user, this might not be the best option for you as the mobile web on your device will be utter crap. However, if you have a decent browser, consider The NBC Olympics Mobile Web site. The site includes live news, highlights and feature video, Team USA profiles, slideshow galleries, voting polls, alerts sign-up, live medal counts, detailed results & schedules, customizable TV & online listings, and all the top news and video from Beijing. Wow. So pretty much if you dare to visit the site your phone will explode from the information overload. Users can access the NBC Olympics Mobile web site by going to http://mobile.nbcolympics.com on their mobile device’s Internet browser or by texting “OLYMPICS” to 51515. E-mail Alerts: Once again, this tip is probably more handy for a smartphone user but many non-smartphones out there still have decent email support and thus could use text and e-mail alerts to get the news straight to their phone. NBC Olympics offers text and e-mail alerts for breaking news, top headlines for all Olympic sports, medal results, event previews, athlete alerts, and TV/live streaming schedule reminders. NBC Olympics Mobile will also provide free photo & video highlight alerts for top Olympic sports. Mobile Video: NBC Olympics Mobile Video will provide highlights, daily news, and exclusive feature videos on-demand to mobile video users. Mobile video is available on the NBC Olympics Mobile Web site and on-deck with select mobile providers.
Read full article: How To watch the Olympics on your mobile phone

BLOG The Shad Plank Hampton Roads Daily Press

The state budget shortfall is growing ominously larger. Estimates now put it as high as . billion and some agencies could get whacked by percent Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said today. Attorney General Bob McDonnell isn t waiting for the suspense to build. He s cutting the general fund budget at his office by . percent. That includes docking his own annual salary by percent and returning his official state vehicle a Ford Explorer. Returning the vehicle will save more than over the course of McDonnell s term according to a statement from the AG s office. Also of his executive attorneys have volunteered to take a percent pay cut for the next six months. A hiring freeze is in effect. Current. Nye camp releases internal polling data. September PM EDT Democratic challenger Glenn Nye has released campaign polling datat that suggests that his race against U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake is tightening up. Drake has beaten back close races before but then number seem to suggest that undecided voter! s are breaking toward Nye a political neophyte with a track record working for the government in combat zones. According to Nye s campaign in May Drake had a to lead. As of last week the margin is to . The poll has a . margin of error so that means the race is somewhere in the neighborhood of a tie. Now it s important to look at every poll with a skeptical eye especially one that come from a campaign and not from. Obama and Biden hit Fredericksburg Saturday. September PM EDT Democrat Barack Obama and his running mate Joe Biden continue to put time into Virginia and on Saturday they re in Fredricksoburg for a free and open speech. Obama s campaign has been focusing on Virginia for months making visits staffing offices buying commercials and even briefly courting Gov. Timothy M. Kaine for the vice presidential slot. Once again Obama is coming back to go after young voters this time at the University of Mary Washington. Republican John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin h! ave pressed pause on their campaign so they don t have any events planned. The pair hit Northern Virginia as a team but there s no telling if they re going to visit Hampton Roads before the election. Doors open for Obama s Fredericksburg event at. Gilmore campaign Don t believe the Post poll September PM EDT Republican Senate candidate Jim Gilmore s campaign manager Dick Leggitt sent a note to Gilmore supporters today trying to take the sting out of a Washington Post poll that shows Democratic candidate Mark Warner with a point lead. Here s the note You may have seen or heard of the new Washington Post poll which shows Mark Warner with a point lead very similar to the Washington Post poll taken almost a year ago. Do not be discouraged or disheartened by the Post s attempt to influence the U.S. Senate election. It is after all the Washington Post. Their coverage is pro Democrat pro Obama and pro Mark Warner and voters who have watched the Post s unfair coverage of Republicans including John McCain Sarah Palin and Jim Gilmore know this. Classifi! eds Place an ad Jobs Cars Real Estate Apartments Houses for Rent Foreclosure Sale Pets Grocery coupons Media Services Online Advertising Special Occasions Autos A Z Weather Back to School Hurricane Guide News Local News Sports Business Entertainment Opinion Life Traffic Travel Military news Urban affairs Community news Special reports Hot Topics Virginia Nation World Reader feedback Submit feedback Odd news Corrections Search databases Photos Obituaries Blogs and forums Video Metromix Resources Hurricane Guide RSS feeds White Yellow pages Living Here Paid archives Site Map Newspaper services Site Services HRMilitary.com HRTownSquare.com HRVarsity.com HRHealthyLiving.com HRGardening.com The Day in Photos Poquoson s Louie Shearer left tackles Bruton s Jeremy Moore in the back field for a loss. More Upload Your Photos Buy Photos Popular stories Teen dies after mph chase through tunnel Man shot during filming of local CIvil War film Heather Locklear arrested Citigroup to become! region s biggest bank Suspect arrested in robberies taxi abduction More most viewed Man shot during filming of local CIvil War film Citigroup to buy Wachovia banking operations Stately face lift for old Chamberlin Hotel What about our banks After morning brew woman finds grounds for a gross out in her coffee filter a dead bat More most e mailed Police Virginia Newport News Newport News Virginia Crimes Lindsay Lohan More topics Most viewed Most e mailed Hot topics The Redskins The Redskins beat the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Will the Skins have a winning season this year Absolutely Probably I m hopeful It s doubtful Not a chance I can t tell View current results BACK TO SCHOOL Resources for a successful school year PROPERTY TRANSFERS Explore the Daily Press property transfers database NEWPORT NEWS CRIME Explore our interactive Newport News crime database VA BEACH CRIME Explore our interactive database of Virginia Beach crime amNY Baltimore Sun Chicago Tribune Hartford Courant LA Times Newsday Orlando Sentinel Sun Sentinel The Morning Call The V! irginia Gazette Copyright Daily Press Terms of Service Newsroom Advertise Daily Press Jobs Customer Service Subscribe Privacy Policy headlineVA.com CareerBuilder.com for Jobs Cars.com for Cars Apartments

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Diwali gives insight into Indian culture University Daily Kansan

Sudarshan Loya remembers the last time he celebrated Diwali in central India with his family. His house was filled with vibrant shades of orange and magenta dyed silk as of his relatives and closest friends gathered for Diwali the festival of lights. Loya s mother lit oil burning lamps which cast a soft glow on the faces of those in the room. The rich smell of spices and sugary sweets filled the home as his friends knelt to pray together and share what had happened in their lives since their last meeting. Diwali is a celebration of lights that is celebrated during the time of Diya which is a widely celebrated East Indian festival. This year Diwali fell on Oct. . But on Sunday the KU Cultural India Club a group for international Indian students at the University will hold its sixth annual celebration of Diya. The event features native dances music and fashions from various Indian states. After the dancing and singing Korma Sutra an Indian restaurant in Kansas City Mo. will pr! ovide dinner. Loya Maharashtra India senior and cultural chair of the KU Cultural India Club or KUCIC said Diwali was the most important festival of the year. Diwali is like Christmas he said. It s a fun thing for a family to get together. Families and friends gather for fellowship and to share their lives with one another during Diwali which lasts one week. Loya said because India was such a large country families prepared to travel and meet together for the holiday. We are waiting for this time to happen he said. We look ahead to Diwali so we can all meet together and have fun enjoy sweets and Indian food. The festival of lights earned the name Diya for the rows of small earthen lamps or diyas families light every day for the six days of Diwali. The lights symbolize the victory of good over evil. Amruta Bhadkamkar Mumbai India junior and president of KUCIC said other KU students would benefit from attending the event because it displayed Indian culture. India is not Europ! e or Germany or Spain which are pretty well known but India has started coming up recently and becoming economically strong Bhadkamkar said. She said Indian culture in Lawrence was visible and that most Indian students had a strong network of support from other Indian students which helped many students with the transition to U.S. culture. She said the biggest challenges Indian students had to overcome included the language barrier the difference in cuisine and the unpredictable Midwestern weather. I don t think it s very difficult for Indians to adjust she said. If we do find it difficult there are people who have been here for years and they know what to do and what not to do. Santosh Thakkar Maharash India graduate student said the KUCIC festival of Diwali was open to people of all religions and cultures. He said the event would accommodate all nationalities and beliefs and celebrate commonalities between individuals. Loya said he enjoyed bringing his vibrant native culture to the U.S. while learning about American culture. He said he loved! celebrating Halloween and other American traditions but learning about new culture gave him a greater appreciation of his own. America gives us the freedom that we can celebrate our own culture and have other festivals he said. We get to see more areas and ideologies in a different part of the world. We are not giving up our culture but are also celebrating yours. The Diya festival begins at p.m. on Nov. in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Edited by Arthur Hur Discussion All comments are moderated by Kansan.com staff. For our full user policy click here . Share your Requires free registration . Username Password Forgotten your password Comment More news stories See all Students with food allergies exercise caution on campus Green Jayhawks receive accolades Diwali gives insight into Indian culture Former NFL commissioner speaks at KU Kansan hiring for spring semester Most recent stories See all Jayhawks excited for postseason Native Kansans Reed and Morningstar will! start for KU basketball Diwali gives insight into Indian culture Gameday Nov. Morning Brew ESPN s Chad Ford is a die hard Jayhawks fan Stauffer Flint Hall Jayhawk Blvd

Source: http://www.kansan.com/stories/2008/nov/14/diwali/?news


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Advantages Of Fleet GPS Tracking Systems

Most companies with large numbers of vehicles that travel the roadways daily are familiar with the large number of fleet tracking systems that can be bought today. If you are a fleet manager for one of these companies and you have never considered one of these systems, then you need to take a good look at the advantages that they can offer your company. Companies who use fleet tracking systems can locate a driver at any time of any day. They can monitor the speeds that their drivers travel. They can regulate the number of stops they make and where they stop. They can optimize their customer service reputation by tracking their driver’s response times and taking steps to improve their system. The success of any company that utilizes any time of vehicle fleet may depend largely on their effective use of a fleet tracking systems.
The other name for fleet tracking systems is GPS (Global Positioning Systems). Fleet GPS tracking units have seen many changes since they were introduced and are now being used by the general public, as well as the military, public service officials and large delivery companies, such as UPS. When you have a fleet of vehicles, efficiency is very important. Whenever a vehicle goes out on the road, it is very expensive. You can see a lot of waste that comes in the form of fuel, mileage and time. To eliminate this waste can cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars every year. Fleet tracking systems are one way of effectively eliminating wasted expenses and providing a way to manage the fleet with more efficiency.
Read full article: Advantages Of Fleet GPS Tracking Systems

Is Phentermine Safe?

In the past there has been much controversy about the safety of the stimulant known as Phentermine which acts as an amphetamine. Phentermine has been used as an appetite suppressant which does affect the central nervous system. Together with exercise, Phentermine has been successful for weight loss. In the late 1990’s, the issue of Phentarmine safety arose because of the Phen-fen scare where it was determined that the combination of Phentermine and Fenfluramine which made up Phen-fen was pulled from the market due to serious health conditions involving the heart and lungs. It was the combination of the two drugs that were the problem, primarily the Fenfluramine. There has been no evidence that Phentermine is ineffective or unsafe on its own.

Phentirmine is also sold under the brand name Adipex and is available for anyone to order via online pharmacies. Under these conditions, Phenturmine would not be considered safe unless it was prescribed by and monitored by a physician. There are certain side effects when using Phentarmine and there are also certain people who should not use this drug because they would be considered high risk. Phentermine can be safe for some people and not for others especially those who might suffer from conditions such as anxiety, high blood pressure, any type of heart disease, an overactive thyroid, glaucoma, or if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse.

Specific side effects can be associated with the use of Phentermin and while some are minor such as dizziness, nervousness or anxiousness, headaches, insomnia, itching, diarrhea, or constipation sometimes a simple dosage adjustment will alleviate these side effects. However, there can be major side effects that might need more attention than just a dosage adjustment and can indicate a serious problem. These could include chest pain, swelling in the feet or ankles, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, a feeling of restlessness or confusion, increased blood pressure, or seizures.

Read full article: Is Phentermine Safe?

Source: Is Phentermine Safe?

ArcelorMittal, AngloGold, Sasol: South Africa Equity Preview

By Janice Kew

Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) — The following is a list of companies whose shares may have unusual price changes in South Africa. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names and prices are from the last close.

South Africa’s FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index fell for a fourth day, losing 95.43, or 0.5 percent, to 18,363.70. The measure has dropped 23 percent in October, the worst monthly performance since August 1998.

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (ANG SJ): Gold fell for the fifth time in six days in Asia as the U.S. dollar’s strength kept a lid on investor demand for the precious metal as an alternative asset. AngloGold, Africa’s largest mining company, climbed 4 rand, or 2.5 percent, to 164.

Ansys Ltd. (ANS SJ): The designer of transport and defense monitoring and control systems said it will post a loss per share of between 4.5 cents and 5.5 cents in the six months through August after delays in the start up of a “significant” number of their projects. Ansys slumped 17 cents, or 14 percent, to 1.08 rand.

ArcelorMittal South Africa Ltd. (ACL SJ): Africa’s biggest steelmaker said it will leave December prices unchanged after cutting them for two consecutive months. ArcelorMittal South Africa fell 7 rand, or 8.1 percent, to 79 rand.

Barloworld Ltd. (BAW SJ): Morgan Stanley rated the world’s largest forklift dealer as “equal-weight” in new coverage of the stock. Barloworld lost 1.90 rand, or 4 percent, to 46.

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BIL SJ): Copper fell below $4,000 a metric ton as the ongoing slump in stock markets increased concern a glob recession will sap demand. The metal used in wires and pipes plunged by the daily limit for a fifth day in Shanghai. BHP, the world’s largest mining company, rose 2.07 rand, or 1.4 percent, to 145.90.

Infrasors Ltd. (IRA SJ): The brick and sand producer said first-half earnings per share fell as much as 40 percent. Infrasors was unchanged at 1.90 rand.

Murray & Roberts Holdings Ltd. (MUR SJ): South Africa’s largest construction company by market value holds its annual general meeting in Johannesburg. Murray & Roberts was unchanged at 60 rand.

Read full article: ArcelorMittal, AngloGold, Sasol: South Africa Equity Preview

Is Phentermine Safe?

In the past there has been much controversy about the safety of the stimulant known as Phentermine which acts as an amphetamine. Phentermine has been used as an appetite suppressant which does affect the central nervous system. Together with exercise, Phentermine has been successful for weight loss. In the late 1990’s, the issue of Phentarmine safety arose because of the Phen-fen scare where it was determined that the combination of Phentermine and Fenfluramine which made up Phen-fen was pulled from the market due to serious health conditions involving the heart and lungs. It was the combination of the two drugs that were the problem, primarily the Fenfluramine. There has been no evidence that Phentermine is ineffective or unsafe on its own.

Phentermine is also sold under the brand name Adipex and is available for anyone to order via online pharmacies. Under these conditions, Phenturmine would not be considered safe unless it was prescribed by and monitored by a physician. There are certain side effects when using Phentermine and there are also certain people who should not use this drug because they would be considered high risk. Phentermine can be safe for some people and not for others especially those who might suffer from conditions such as anxiety, high blood pressure, any type of heart disease, an overactive thyroid, glaucoma, or if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse.

Specific side effects can be associated with the use of Phentermin and while some are minor such as dizziness, nervousness or anxiousness, headaches, insomnia, itching, diarrhea, or constipation sometimes a simple dosage adjustment will alleviate these side effects. However, there can be major side effects that might need more attention than just a dosage adjustment and can indicate a serious problem. These could include chest pain, swelling in the feet or ankles, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, a feeling of restlessness or confusion, increased blood pressure, or seizures.

Read full article: Is Phentermine Safe?

Source: Is Phentermine Safe?

http://phentarmin.info/2008/10/25/best-weight-loss-programs-for-men-lose-those-love-handles-and-get-a-six-pack/

The best weight loss programs for men have become more varied in the past few years. Before, weight loss plans are mostly aimed at women since men are not ones to complain out loud about their bodies. However, the increased attention given by the 21st century population to health and to a great figure has resulted in men being more open to weight loss help.

How men deal with weight problems

Men are more likely to exercise on their own. Unlike women, they don’t ask for help when it comes to losing weight. They also prefer shortcuts that promise rapid results. A huge number of the male population who are overweight tend to keep their worries to themselves, even asking about solutions is a no-no to them. This results in lack of knowledge with regards to weight loss.

Steps that can help men lose weight

1) Exercise - The best option for the male population since most of them enjoy physical activities and they would feel no embarrassment if they were seen by their buddies jogging in the park or working out on a gym. Most men do not like asking for advice regarding their weight, but a few questions to a gym instructor on what program would be best are just fine with them.

2) Proper diet - Men eat more than women, so it is more difficult to tell them to cut down. However, they don’t need to sacrifice their consumption; they just need to be wiser when it comes to selecting what they eat. Lean meat, fish and fruits are not bad for someone trying to lose weight. And for men, these options would be enough to fill them up so that they won’t feel that they are being deprived of their meals.

3) Search the Internet for diet programs - Because of increasing concerns over obesity, a lot of diet programs targeting male consumers have been made available. If a man does not want it to be known that he is looking for a solution to his weight problem, all he has to do is search the Web for anonymous weight loss programs.

4) Avoid alcohol. For men who like a regular trip to the pub, it is time to consider alternative Friday night activities. Alcoholic beverages are full of calories and are heavy on the gut. If you’re wondering where the term “beer belly” comes from, look around at your regular pub buddies and chances are most of them have their guts sticking out of their belts.

Read full article: Best Weight Loss Programs for Men - Lose Those Love Handles and Get A Six Pack

What US Expats Need to Know About Paying Taxes

The main opinion considering taxes and American expatriates is that there is no need to worry about paying any more dues to the government. However, the meaningfulness is not that simple, and it is vital that you understand exactly the facts concerning the matter to keep yourself from getting into any legal complications.

The following are the facts involving the Internal Gross income Service and the tax liabilities of an American expat:

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

This of obviously, refers to any amount that you may have, or have earned from working in another country besides the US. It includes not just your salary but also any allowance that you may receive as compensation.

To avail of the revenues exclusion, you must meet the following requirements: the first is that you must have lived in that foreign country for at least full year, or have spent at least 330 days from a 12 month epoch. The amount that you can take advantage of can reach up to $80,000. You must, however, file all the necessary papers to the IRS to be a part of this program.

Expats and Self Occupation Tax / the US Social security and Medicare

If you are an expatriate who is employed by a company in the United Sates, it is almost always the case that your proprietor will hold back any Meficare or Social Security.

For those that are their own employers (self employed in other words), you will need to pay up to whatever amount you owe the gate service. Moreover, there is a self employment tax that you will have to pay so that you will be entitled to both Social Security and Medicare.

American Expats Employed by ForeignersIn the mainIf you are working for a corporation in another country, you will not, except in special cases, pay anything to the Internal Revenue Service with respect to your Social Safe keeping, and instead will be covered by that country’s own laws concerning taxation.

Facts about Tax Treaties

Read full article: What US Expats Need to Know About Paying Taxes

What is Tax Deductible?

Nobody likes to pay taxes, but we all have to. One of the maximum effort ways to lower the amount we shell out to the government is to maximize your tax deductions. Sometimes this takes some financial planning. Of course, you will fundamental a list of tax deductibles, too. If you know what is deductible, and keep good records, you will find yourself paying less money to Uncle Sam every year.

First of all, keep up with all receipts you get for medical costs. Any instruction drugs, doctor or hospital co-pays, and many other medical costs, can be deducted. However, if your medical bills do not equal a unerring percentage of your adjusted gross income, or AGI, then you cannot deduct them at all. Still, it is wise to keep track of these expenses, just in case you do reach that amount. You could mayhap incur a large expense at the end of the year that will make all your expenses deductible.

Some interest expenses should be on the list of tax deductibles. Most interest you pay for your old folks’ mortgage is deductible. If you have a home equity line of credit, this interest is typically deducted as well. There are certain limitations, and if you own more than one living quarters, you must pick one or two to count as deductible (depending on certain circumstances.) Unfortunately for some, personal loans like confidence in cards and auto loans do not count as deductible interest expense. However, student loan debt will typically quantify toward your deductions. If you pay anything towards education, you should hold on to the receipts, and ask your tax professional whether or not it goes on the list of tax deductibles.

Read full article: List of Tax Deductibles - What is Tax Deductible?

S.Africa rand recovers vs dollar

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa’s rand recovered some ground against the dollar on Thursday after a battering overnight that took it to new 6-1/2 year lows, but generally remains on the backfoot as global economic worries hit markets.

At 0637 GMT the rand traded 2.08 percent firmer at 11.32 against the greenback, compared with Wednesday’s close at 11.56 in New York. The local currency went as low as 11.88 against the dollar overnight, its weakest level since March 2002, Reuters data shows.

The rand’s latest gains were due to some profit taking after its heavy losses overnight and in Asian trade earlier on Thursday, a Johannesburg trader said.

“But it still looks quite horrible. There’s lack of liquidity, especially during New York trade, although it seems as though during local (Johannesburg) time we have two-way flows,” the trader said.

“All emerging market currencies are under immense pressure. To be honest it can go any way, but we’re still of the view that there could be some more rand weakening.”

Government bonds were also firmer, and yields fell in turn. The benchmark 2015 bond yield dropped 6.5 basis points to 9.89 percent, while that for the 2036 note was down 7 basis points at 9.215 percent.

Read full article: S.Africa rand recovers vs dollar

Article source: S.Africa rand recovers vs dollar but remains vulnerable

Zimbabwe’s currency reforms a ploy to benefit political elites

October 20, 2008: The effects of escalating political and economic instability in Zimbabwe are rippling through all parts of society. Coverage of these effects is plentiful, as is criticism. In all this, there is a familiar theme at play. The idea of cashing-in during times of political and economic crisis is a well-rehearsed practise of shady but astute big business and property agents. The food industry in Southern Africa has no qualms in this game. Recent changes in the Zimbabwean economy, amongst other things, have seen the sanctioning of certain retailers to trade in foreign currency. Electronic payment mechanisms have been suspended and there are limits on the amount of hard currency an ordinary citizen can access. In certain supermarkets, only particular goods are available to buy in forex, and others are to be sold in local currency. Needless to say, these remain on the shelves.
Food imports Some people prefer to buy this way than to travel to South Africa to buy food. But others say that the imported food that can be sold in forex are only really supporting the South African export economy. South African supermarkets find it easier to stock shelves under these new forex allowance because they have access to protected financial stores and thus have less risk. Their apolitical position makes them the perfect vessel for economic transactions that take advantage of crisis.
Read full article: http://blog.theblogs.co.za/2008/10/zimbabwe%e2%80%99s-currency-reforms-a-ploy-to-benefit-political-elites/

Do The World's Best Escort Girls Speak Ukrainian?

Some men think that relationships are very like commodities. Regarded in such terms, it does not really matter in what way you pay for somebody's company or body: with the effort of courting or with your credit card. Conluding the thought it should be mentioned that escort agencies will continue to thrive while there exist girls willing to offer sexual services and gentlemen ready to pay for them. With the progress of globalization, situation has become even simpler: if you can't buy yourself a pleasure or afford a vip escort girl in your native country, you can always travel abroad for a erotic massage. One of the most lucrative pastures for sex in Europe is Ukraine. The financial situation of Ukraine is seeing some up-trend and development. In the meantime, not everyone has managed to find happiness in the conditions of capitalism. They work hard to earn a better life. Escort agencies give young girls a chance to earn good money to live and maintain a high level of life. As everywhere in the world, escort services in Ukraine are grouped into certain classical segments. On the bottom level you will see several types of independent escort girls from Kiev also known as a bar girl. On the contrary, the upper level is occupied by the escort in Ukraine working for elite escort agencies. The selection of ladies offered by agencies is unlimited. However, escort agency girls differ from ordinary prostitutes. Firstly, there exists kiev escort agency that make their money just by providing their customers with an escort service girl for social occasions such as dinners, conferences or corporate events. However, in such cases it is not openly advertised that these ladies provide sexual services for money. You may find an agency offering professional erotic massage service in the web. One of the serious advantages of escort services is that you can "book a date" in advance before you even travel from home. Came to Kiev? Your escort girl may even meet you at the airport. You must remember, though, that such agencies require pre-payment in full amount. You won't have a chance to get your money back in case you don't get to like the girl you chose. If you don't have that much money you can take a chance with street girls, besides no payment in advance is required in this case. If you choose to do so, you'll have to investigate tourist areas of Kiev before venturing into something like that. One more negative point is that a street girl is not likely to speak a foreign language. Nevertheless, this drawback may seem quite appealing to some. Would you like to give it a try? Kiev as much as other cities of Ukraine is a wonderful place for exploring. Being in a company of a sexy woman might be fun. True affection, however, can't be bought for money, even in Ukraine.

Basters and their "Starter Packs"

Namibia is a multihued nation with different cultures and believes. Every culture has certain character traits that group them together. Most people believe that Ovambo people mostly drive Toyota Hilux Bakkies. The Herero people drive Isuzu Bakkies. Today we're talking about Basters and their starter packs. I think the next thing that going to pop in your mind is '' what is a starter pack?'' Most of us define the starter pack and the Volkswagen Golf which can branch from the Citi Golf to the Velocity Golf, and or the Toyota Conquest or Tazz. What I have just mentioned is a very controversial topic and everyone will have his or her own point of view. Let's take one example Alan Bock was born and raised in Rehoboth. As he grew up his first aim was to have his own car. He wanted a silver Toyota conquest. Interior will be leather seats. Maple color with darker sued. 18'' inch rims, spinners to be exact. Black tinted windows and a massive sound system. This is a Baster's dream car for his partying days. Most youngsters buy it, as it's the most reasonably priced. Everyone that buys the famous 'starter pack' say it's fairly easy to maintain, as the spare parts are cheap to replace; yet most of these cars are second hand models. You'll hear people say that they bought from Jacky who bought it from Alan who bought it from Jason who bought if from Babsie who bought it from Nam Cars over the internet. As the young Basters grow older and become more mature, they realize it's better to have a secondhand model Ford bakkie. This can be a Bantam or the Ranger 1800 and the most famous is the Nissan Champ 1400 Bakkie.

Samsung U100 review

In a nutshell: Wow! The U100 is the slimmest and lightest phone ever. It’s half the weight of a typical phone and a quarter of the thickness. Put this phone in your bag or pocket and watch it disappear! Yet it still has a 3 megapixel camera, a video camera and a music player.
Best buy: Available any moment now (July 2007)

The U100 is the second of Samsung’s second-generation Ultra phones to arrive in the UK and is the replacement for the Samsung X820. The U100 replaces the X820 as the thinnest phone in the world! The Samsung U100 shaves 1mm off the already skinny X820, measuring an astonishing 5.9mm thin. At the same time, the U100 is a narrower phone, and this is a welcome improvement, as it makes the keypad easier to use, especially for people with smaller hands. But Samsung weren’t content just to make this the world’s slimmest phone - it’s also the lightest. At just 57g it weighs about half as much as a typical mobile. Really, when you put this phone in your jeans or shirt pocket, you’re going to forget that it’s there! The U100 is the ultimate for anyone who prefers their gadgets miniaturised!
The X820 was a popular phone, but never as popular as the slide-design D900, and we expect that the U100 won’t match the huge popularity of the U600 slide phone either. That’s partly because slide phones are the “in” look of the moment, but also because the U100 misses out on several of the features of the U600. We’ll compare the U100 with the U600 in a minute, but first let’s take a look at what the U100 has to offer.

The first thing that you notice once you’ve got over just how thin and lightweight it is, is the neatness of the design. The keypad is small, but easy to use and the phone is very ergonomic. However, if you’ve got large hands you might find it just a bit too small for comfort. The LCD display is a bright TFT display, the same as used on the X820. It isn’t the biggest screen around, for obvious reasons in a phone this compact, but it’s perfect for the size of the phone. Samsung’s new black & white user interface is easy to use and very smart in appearance. If you’re just using the phone for talking and texting, you’ll find it very easy to use.

Read full article: Samsung U100 review

Source: Samsung U100 review

The Best Satisfaction You Had In Your Life

We can name free time a period of time when different people have nothing to do i.e. they don't have to do any job or other type of activity, so they have their own free time. It also does not include the mandatory deeds such as having dinner or sleeping. "To be permitted" and "to be independent" are the meanings of the word "licere" that signifies from Latin and has become the word "leisure". This word appeared in Victorian Britain when workers have got their 8-hour working day and had two days off per week. Avocations and vacations were the part of workers' privileges so they also appeared that days. People separate free time into 2 types: active and passive. During the active leisure people expend much energy having kick-boxing or football for example. Also it can be not a body activity but still it can wear out a person: playing draughts or writing poems. Going to cinema, watching TV etc. are the passive free time when you just doing nothing, when your mind and body are relaxed from any efforts. Many people say that passive free time is unreasonable and it crosses out all the pleasures of free time. A great amount of people prefer to have passive leisure time than active leisure. Sex escort service suggest you to have your leisure time in the company of amazing ladies. You would get physical and mental activity and in the same time recreation during your sexual meetings with our ladies. It is definitely healthful time spending because after such an activity you would be ready for your everyday business. The other service that one may find on this internet source is an erotic massage. Our massage escort kiev will be pleased to give you such an opportunity. It is a great physical impact on your body that will present you a health and satisfaction. One of our proposals is an erotic massage. It is not a average massage but a proposal that gives you enjoy and prolonged pleasure. You need the kiev escort girls who can make you a competent erotic massage. Such a massage is a wonderful process that is done with the assistance of a woman's body but not only with the fingers. You will sense each part of her wonderful body. For persons who didn't feel this kind of massage earlier it will be a great opportunity to feel some new pleasure. For many people who can't live without varieties in sex and pleasure thismassage is the thing that they want. A lot of people attitude to the word "prostitute" with heed. Today this tendency is lesser that several years ago, but still too many persons don't respect prostitutes. Different societies interpret prostitution the same as they see sexual relations for the definite period of time. From the one hand sex gives a satisfaction. As a conclusion we may consider sex a usual service that one can get anywhere. And the other point is that prostitution is not related to sex relations that are directed to making children. Different sexual activities were blamed at all ages and people who did it were always censured. In the nineteenth century sex and prostitution were censored in many countries. But in the first half of the XX century the situation absolutely changed, especially on the West. Terrible attitude that the term "prostitution" has is reflected on the other fields of human life. For example venal politicians are called "political prostitutes". But we are the people of the twenty first century and our attitude should be lenient to every manifestation of human activity. If you are a person of today and want to relax with a wonderful elite prostitute call to our service and we will help you to have pleasure.

Mobile phone the new stockman

New software is enabling graziers to track their animals with their mobile phone.

Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin says “quick-thumbed livestock owners” can now exchange National Livestock Identification Scheme information with the NLIS database, following the launch of the new mobile phone application software.

“This new software, ‘NLIS Express’, can be easily loaded onto compatible mobile phones - providing a new way to quickly capture and transfer NLIS data,” Mr Mulherin said.

“It is going to be very useful to a lot of sectors within the livestock industry.”

Biosecurity Queensland Principal Project Officer Michael Lancaster said training would be provided to graziers in coming months.

“The training will be available to anyone who uses the NLIS database, but we also see it being of particular interest to agents,” he said.

Agent Dan Sullivan, from Sullivan Livestock in Gympie, is one of the first people in Queensland to use the new software.

Mr Sullivan said he uses NLIS Express to transfer data directly to the database on behalf of clients.

“With NLIS Express I can provide a transfer service to our clients - often while I’m still at their property,” he said.

“Often, I’ll know if the transfer has been completed before I leave the property and this has removed the need to come back to the office, freeing up my time to continue on with other business,” Mr Sullivan said.

The application was developed by MLA and is made available at no cost.

About the Author

Original article: http://blog.mobik.co.za/2008/10/mobile-phone-the-new-stockman/. Read more mobile phone news at the SA mobile blog.

This article is free for republishing. Source: Article directory

Country lottery details - Canada

n Canada prior to 1967 buying a ticket on the Irish Sweepstakes was illegal. In that year the federal Liberal government introduced a special law (an Omnibus Bill) intended to bring up-to-date a number of obsolete laws. The Minister of Justice at that time, Pierre-Elliot Trudeau, sponsored the bill. On September 12, 1967, Mr. Trudeau announced that his government would insert an amendment concerning lotteries.

Even while the Omnibus Bill was still being written, Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau, trying to recover some of the money spent on the World’s Fair and the new subway system, announced a “voluntary tax”. For a $2.00 donation you would be eligible to participate in a draw with a grand prize of $100 000. According to Drapeau, this “tax” was not a lottery for two reasons. The prizes were given out in the form of silver bars, not money, and the “competitors” chosen in a drawing would have to reply correctly to four questions about Montreal during a second draw. That competition would determine the value of the prize that the winner would win. The replies to the questions were printed on the back of the ticket and therefore the questions would not cause any undue problems. The inaugural draw was held on May 27, 1968.

There were debates in Ottawa and Quebec City about the legality of this ‘voluntary tax’. The Minister of Justice alleged it was a lottery. Montreal’s mayor replied that it did not contravene the federal law. While everyone awaited the verdict, the monthly draws went off without a hitch. Players from all over Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia participated.

On September 14, 1968 the Quebec Appeal Court declared Mayor Drapeau’s “voluntary tax” illegal. However, the municipal authorities did not give up the struggle; the Council announced in November that the City would appeal this decision to the Supreme Court.

As the debate over legalities continued, sales dropped significantly, because many people did not want to participate in anything illegal. Despite offers of new prizes the revenue continued to drop monthly, and by the nineteenth and final draw, was only a little over $800 000.

Read full article: http://casinosreview.net/2008/10/lottery-country-lottery-details-canada/ 

Source: Country lottery details - Canada

Casey Rivers of Nashville Star fame headlines Honeybee Festival Entertainment Paris Beacon

Free live musical entertainment will be one of the great parts of the th annual Honeybee Festival September through with one performer country music artist Casey Rivers headlining the entertainment. Rivers will perform from to p.m. Saturday on the stage on the north side of the square. He gained fame as the first runner up on the USA television show Nashville Star in and has become popular with listeners of all ages across the country. Rivers began singing at the age of three made his public debut when he was eight and decided to pursue his musical dream by the age of . He has opened shows for Willie Nelson Kris Kristofferson the Gatlin Brothers and Kenny Rogers among others and he was an invited guest and duet partner on a Loretta Lynn concert. Rivers has won numerous awards while following the Opry lines. He is currently working with Nashville producer Marty Williams. The Honeybee Festival performance of Rivers is sponsored by the Edgar County Bank. County clerk announces ! important voting deadlines Honeybee Festival fun for all ages Article Rating Current Rating of votes Rate File Select Rating Reader Comments simpleblog count checksum asc comments to this story. The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of parisbeacon.com. Submit a Comment We encourage your feedback and dialog all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site. Name Email optional Comments Image Verification nbsp Return to News Home Top of Page Paris IL Sponsored by Advertisement Sections Homepage News Obituaries Sports Opinion Entertainment Classifieds Online Features Calendar e Edition Guestbook Health Online Photo Gallery Online Photo Store Special Sections Syndicated Features Services About Us Advertise on Our Site Contact Us Make us your Home Page Online Forms E mail Updates Subscriber Services RSS Feeds RSS is a format set up for sharing content on the Web. The following sections are available as RSS! feeds Opinion Sports News Obituaries Copyright Paris Beacon News Send feedback to circulationparisbeacon.com . All rights reserved. View the Paris Beacon News s Privacy Policy Online Refund Credit Policy . This material may not be broadcast published rewritten or redistributed without written permission. Powered by TownNews

Source: http://www.parisbeacon.com/articles/2008/09/21/news/doc48d50463e935e920643100.txt


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