SOURCE: Los Angeles Times

The Better Business Bureau, recnelty under fire for boosting the ratings of businesses that became dues-paying members, is now going to alter its rating process.

“For nearly 100 years, the BBB has stood for public trust, and we are taking these steps to maintain that trust,” said Steve Cox, chief executive of the Council of Better Business Bureaus in Washington.

“Given the feedback, we feel it is our duty to take immediate steps to address the concerns raised and enhance our ability to help consumers easily and quickly find trustworthy businesses,” Cox said.

The nonprofit organization said it would review its accreditation practices and the way it deals with complaints against businesses. It said it would bring in a third party to assist in its review.

Last week ABC News reported that a group of Los Angeles business owners that had been critical of the BBB pulled a sting operation by paying dues for fake companies, including one named after the Palestinian organization Hamas, which the U.S. government considers a terrorist group.

The fake businesses were accepted by the BBB and given ratings, according to the report. Hamas got an A-minus.

It was not the first time the BBB had been under fire for its rating system.

In 2009, The Times’ David Lazarus wrote in a column that non-BBB restaurants owned by famed chef Wolfgang Puck had poor BBB ratings, whereas less-well-known eateries that had paid about $300 in dues were graded A-plus.

The letter-grade ratings, which the organization’s site says reflect whether businesses are “operating in a trustworthy manner,” are based on a variety of factors, including complaints lodged against businesses and how long they have been operating, BBB spokeswoman Alison Southwick said. The fact that a business was willing to become what it termed an “accredited” member of the organization was considered a factor in its favor, she said.

“We’ve never hidden the fact that one of the factors that goes into your rating is whether or not you’re accredited,” Southwick said Wednesday. “The reason we gave points for accreditation is that accredited businesses are vetted and they agree to uphold our standards.”

The organization apologized for accepting the fake businesses.

Joe Ridout, spokesman for the advocacy group Consumer Action, said the BBB would have to change its practices if it wanted to keep the public’s trust.

“Certainly it undermines the BBB’s mission to inform and protect consumers if they allow companies to buy their way into a good reputation,” Ridout said. “The grading system is corrupted by how much money has changed hands.”

Ridout welcomed the BBB’s attention to the problem, but said time would tell how meaningful the changes would be. He urged the organization to make its process for evaluating businesses transparent and to avoid automated systems for providing the grades.

Scott Hauge, head of the trade group Small Business California, said the BBB’s policies had long been unfair to small businesses and misleading to consumers.

“It’s almost like they’re shakedown artists,” Hauge said, that pressured businesses to pay up or risk poor ratings.

He said businesses could still be hurt by unfair grades that would remain on the BBB’s website while the system was being revamped.

“In the interim, they should pull all the ones that they haven’t done any research on,” Hauge said.

This includes every business, from manufacturers of workbenches, software testing products, and colocation services, to software tests packaging, Austin divorce lawyers, suppliers of linen napkins and DVD duplication companies.

In a press release, Cox said the BBB would make changes to the process for accrediting companies as soon as possible. He said it would stop giving higher grades to accredited members within a week.

The BBB also promised to make it easier for businesses to see complaints that had been filed against them, whether or not they are paying members. In the past, business owners had complained that it was difficult, if not impossible, to review and address complaints if they had not paid dues to the organization.

Carmen Tellez, who owns a Whittier company that provides clowns and face-painters for parties, said she was hounded for two years to join the BBB by telemarketers who would not reveal any complaints against her company and implied her business would be graded poorly unless she paid up.

“They should not just focus on how consumers can trust them but also focus on how businesses can trust them,” Tellez said.

Her business, Charmandhappy.com, went from a C-minus to an A-plus within 24 hours after the BBB received her payment of $395.

“I felt I wasn’t going to get a better grade unless I paid,” Tellez said. “To me, it’s like a modern-day business-style gangster.”

Southwick did not comment on Tellez’s complaint, but said in response, “That is absolutely not how we want business owners to feel after coming away from a telephone conversation with the BBB.”

She said the organization would soon establish a site for businesses to report aggressive sales tactics by telemarketers pushing memberships.

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MY TAKE: ‘Bout time. I run a dolly truck service and I know that I can’t afford the membership fees, so I have seen my business become more prone to negative reviews and no way to fight back. I think it’s high time that all those companies out there, from the big colocation firm to the tiniest Los Angeles CD copy company be held accountable.

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Corporate Discounts and Transportation

There are many reasons why a business needs to be responsible as far as corporate spending is concerned and for any regularly scheduled items or procedures utilized by a company, it’s generally best to ask whether a Los Angeles business limousine might offer corporate discounts for a company interested in regular pickups. A company can often save in the long run by having their business participants picked up for their trips instead of paying to store vehicles at an airport parking facility. It can also be a much swifter experience to be picked up for the airport instead of parking close to it.

Activities before Bar Mitzvah

There is usually a great deal of planning that will be required of a family and child before the arrival of a New York City bas mitzvah party and the child in question will have several items to accomplish before the date arrives. Most congregations encourage spiritual preparation for the event which might include the attendance at various prayer services and will usually also include attending Hebrew School. In addition, a child might also be encouraged to work with a local charitable group or perhaps volunteer somewhere at a local event where community service volunteers are needed.

Surprising a Future Husband

Offering a fiancé a nice present or something standard as a gift on the occasion of a marriage or engagement can be fun, but it’s a great idea to consider looking into what a San Francisco boudoir photographer could do to create a great photograph in the modern boudoir style. Offering a number of different levels of posed and candid designs, a boudoir photograph can look like something from a completely different era and evoke old Hollywood from the 1920s and 1930s or it can be something much more modern and edgy in its design and style.

Looking Great on the Dance Floor

Many clubs will have a section devoted to dancing and for anyone who otherwise has zero rhythm it can be difficult to get up the nerve at some New York City parties to go out onto the dance floor and show everyone that there’s a reason a particular person didn’t grow up a dancer. For anyone interested in heading out to the clubs who is worried about what they might look like on the dance floor, the thing to remember is that less is more and that everyone will just be jumping around and making things too flamboyant will make anyone look ridiculous.

Amnesty Effort Includes Dylan Music

There has been a significant effort by people involved with an album designed to provide monetary support to various amnesty groups through pop and production music that has been originally sung by folk great Bob Dylan and although he has long attempted to stay out of the shadow of supporting anything in particular as he’s attempted to create a very specific persona for himself, it’s still the case that now people will likely be listening to his music in such a way that it’s a complete tribute while also being a method of support for amnesty groups.

Proper Representation

It is the responsibility of this Chester County PA criminal attorney to provide sound legal advice to you and to communicate all legal options in an unbiased straightforward manner. This Philadelphia divorce lawyer further promises to provide regular updates on your case’s progress and to make you aware of any developments so that you can work together to achieve the best possible result. In fact, proper legal representation is critically important as soon as you become aware of a potential arrest. Many people fail to promptly hire an attorney immediately following an arrest. Often the attorney is hired only a few days before their first court appearance, which causes more problems.

Detail and Craftsmanship

When it comes to custom iron entry doors, wrought iron security doors, cast iron doors or iron front doors, we don’t cut any corners. All of the iron doors, iron glass doors, custom front doors, iron exterior doors and other wrought iron doors are hand crafted. Florida certified doors are made with the highest degree of attention to detail and care in craftsmanship. With this certification our products are proven for quality and ability to meet stringent building code set forth by Florida Building Code Department. It is the sign that you can trust Abby Iron Doors as a company of integrity that is fully committed to your satisfaction.

Remodeling the Garage

If you have started a remodeling job in your garage, why don’t you start with the floors? You can get DIY epoxy kits and redo your garage floor in no time. However, do not try to go the cheap route to save money because you will have to redo the floor sooner than you think. You can get an epoxy flooring kit for the interior of your home. While you are at it, you might even consider getting garage floor mats to hide that lovely grease spot. Of course, the more expensive flooring will require etching of the floor for you apply the epoxy. However, it will last much longer than the cheap versions.

Advertising Can Be Deceiving

Finding the best organic or natural skin care products can be difficult. Dr. Alkaitis will tell you not to be fooled by advertisement and marketing. Look at the list of ingredients on the package Perfect Organics body wash. Usually, you will find that behind the glossy magazine ad with the latest top-model or actress the products contain cheap and ineffective ingredients, which may even be harmful and can contain no organic or natural ingredients to make your skin more healthy and beautiful, but not with this product. Just because the advertising is high profile or it is an expensive product, does not mean it will be the most effective skincare.

SOURCE: MSNBC Money Watch

Plan to treat yourself this holiday season? Fifty-seven percent of shoppers will be making non-gift purchases for themselves this year, up 8 percent from 2009, according to the National Retail Federation. The average personal expenditure: $107.50.

Want my advice? Wait until after the holidays to gift yourself. With so many of us returning gifts after the holidays and retailers looking to unload excess inventory from 2010, the best deals are often found after Christmas and into the New Year. Here are the top 6 items — some to be expected, some not — that you may want to put on your post-holiday shopping list.

1. Baking Ingredients

During the holidays, supermarkets and discount stores load up on baking supplies to meet shoppers’ demands. Afterward - when you just can’t face another gingerbread man - these stores slash their prices out of necessity. “It’s a great time to stock up on chocolates, spices, flour, sugar, the basics,” says Freeman. The chocolate may be colored green and red, but it tastes the same!

2. Electronics

The Annual International Consumer Electronics Show runs the first week of January. That’s when companies roll out all their new models of computers, cameras, cell phones, printers … you name it. While early adapters salivate over the newest and latest tech gadgets, January is a great time for everyone else to buy the most recent models - which will, no doubt, be discounted heavily to make room for the new. ”If you don’t take advantage of the Christmas deals, don’t worry. After Christmas, everything’ll be on sale!” says Freeman. Last year Walmart offered shoppers a $50 gift card when they bought Microsoft Xbox 360 through January 1.

3. Winter Clothes & Accessories

There will be no shortage of discounts at department stores and clothing retailers - especially on hats, scarves, boots, winter coats and wool socks. Invest wisely by opting for non-trendy staples that will last you another winter or three.

4. Refurbished Goods

Expect stores’ “refurbished” bins - where returned appliances and gadgets get a 10 to 20% discount - to be well-stocked after the holidays, as people return unwanted gifts. One note of caution: Only buy refurbished items from reputable dealers that offer a manufacturer’s warranty. Sony, Dell, Amazon, Apple and Kitchen Aid are all in the refurbishing business.

5. Holiday Cards, Wrapping Paper, Ornaments

This one’s obvious. Expect discounts of 50 to 90%. A tip on the wrapping paper - go for a solid color, instead of a sheet with Christmas trees or dreidels. Gold, green, blue or red wrapping paper, while seasonal, can also be used throughout the year.

6. Calendars

Can you wait a few extra days to get organized? It’s almost a given that Borders and Barnes & Noble will have their 12-month calendars on sale the first weeks of January. I’ve spotted their buy-one-get-one-free or “All Calendars $1″ deals throughout the years, appearing right around New Year’s Day.

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MY TAKE: It’s also a good time to buy 2010 school supplies and office gear, such as dry erase boards. You can buy folding chairs cheap, too, as the holiday rush to add more seating is over. It’s not, however, the best time to join a gym: most raise fees to meet the annual rise in demand by all those who overindulged over the holidays and vowed on New Year’s Day to get exercising again. You can buy great Alexander Technique and pregnancy and other workout DVDs online and not pay a fortune for those. If you’re not sure what the Alexander Technique is, click here.

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Learning about the Piano

When learning about the piano it’s usually a good idea to teach students all about the history and basics of the piano while they are learning from Piano Adventures because having a true appreciation for the piano is a good thing when it involves knowledge of how to care for the piano and how it was developed many years ago. One interesting aspect of the name of the piano is that it’s actually short for “pianoforte,” which is the Italian word for the instrument. This word was shortened not too long ago in the nineteenth century.

Atlanta Jewelry Buyers and Gemstone Properties

In the modern gem market, gemologists like Atlanta jewelry buyers will employ very technical terminology to describe different gemstones, usually focusing on the chemical composition of a gem to label it. For example, the first part of a gemstone identification is its chemical composition. Secondly, the crystal system of the gem – whether it’s monoclinic, trigonal, or cubic – will be determined. Finally, a gemstone will be placed into a specific group, species or variety. For example, rubies are of the species corundum. In addition, a gemstone will be analyzed using such terms as hardness, fracture, and luster.

About Jim Shore

After growing up in South Carolina surrounded by the love and attention of an artistic family, Jim Shore began making his own creative designs when he started a small business featuring his art at small craft shows and art fairs. When his popularity began to soar he partnered with the Enesco Company to bring his creations to a wider audience. His storied rise to fame was not a simple and swift occurrence, however, and it took Jim several starts to truly bring his work to a large audience. Amazingly, although Jim pursued engineering in school he was still able to move into creative ventures.

Business Security Solutions

Intrusion detection and theft are one of the biggest issues most small businesses have to contend with today to keep their data save and their losses to a minimum. In addition, so are collocation services. You can find an intrusion detection system anywhere online, but be prepared to ask for their fees on everything from collocation pricing to e-mail management.

Personal Service for All

This firms’ motto is “Big Firm Experience, Small Firm Personal Service”. Lake Worth FL family attorneys will provide the information you need to make informed decisions on your case. In fact, these Lake Worth FL personal injury attorneys have a combined 37 years of legal experience specializing in serious personal injury and wrongful death, divorce and family law and business litigation. The firm represents clients throughout South Florida at the State, Federal and Appellate levels. While you will not see them on television commercials, billboards and bus benches, you will see a Lake Worth FL business lawyer in the courtroom or at mediation, prosecuting for and defending their clients’ legal rights.

Minimize Repetitive Payroll Tasks

Repetitive payroll tasks across multiple departments present a number of issues including high operation costs, increased risk of errors and miscommunication and conflicting data. You have probably experienced one of these issues, if not all of them, at some time or another. Your desire to minimize repetitive tasks indicates a need to improve operation efficiencies and enhance departmental performance. Time and attendance solutions can help reduce repetitive tasks. This payroll services company has worked with many organizations in a similar situation. Implementing an integrated solution will immediately increase efficiencies and performance.

Hate that No Smoking Sign?

The sign “No Smoking Allowed” is hated by most smokers when they go anywhere. However, imagine having a clean and comfortable smoking alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. Something that you could utilize anywhere that smoking is not allowed. The e cigarette is the answer. There is no more stale tobacco smell in your hands, clothes, hair or furnishings with an e cig. That means that everything including your car, home and office are free of ashes, dirty cigarette butts and that lingering smoke smell. You now have the thing to worry about! Secondhand smoke will not be passed on to your friends and family or anything else.

Armed or Unarmed Security Guards

A security guard or security officer is usually a privately employed person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people in can be armed or unarmed. This type of protection service is used to ensure personal safety as well as the safety of assets. Usually, Elk Grove private security officers are uniformed and act to protect property by maintaining a high visibility presence to deter illegal and inappropriate actions, observing either directly, through patrols or by watching alarm systems or video cameras for signs of crime, fire or disorder. Folsom CA armed security patrol would then take appropriate action by reporting any incidents to their client, police and emergency services as appropriate.

SOURCE: Associated Press

Secondhand smoke kills more than 600,000 people worldwide every year, according to a new study.

In the first look at the global impact of secondhand smoking, researchers analyzed data from 2004 for 192 countries. They found 40 percent of children and more than 30 percent of non-smoking men and women regularly breathe in secondhand smoke.

Scientists then estimated that passive smoking causes about 379,000 deaths from heart disease, 165,000 deaths from lower respiratory disease, 36,900 deaths from asthma and 21,400 deaths from lung cancer a year.

Altogether, those account for about 1 percent of the world’s deaths. The study was paid for by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare and Bloomberg Philanthropies. It was published Friday in the British medical journal Lancet.

“This helps us understand the real toll of tobacco,” said Armando Peruga, a program manager at the World Health Organization’s Tobacco-Free Initiative, who led the study. He said the approximately 603,000 deaths from secondhand smoking should be added to the 5.1 million deaths that smoking itself causes every year.

Peruga said WHO was particularly concerned about the 165,000 children who die of smoke-related respiratory infections, mostly in Southeast Asia and Africa.

“The mix of infectious diseases and secondhand smoke is a deadly combination,” Peruga said. Children whose parents smoke have a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome, ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma. Their lungs may also grow more slowly than kids whose parents don’t smoke.

Peruga and colleagues found the highest numbers of people exposed to secondhand smoke are in Europe and Asia. The lowest rates of exposure were in the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean and Africa.

Secondhand smoke had its biggest impact on women, killing about 281,000. In many parts of the world, women are at least 50 percent more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke than men.

While many Western countries have introduced smoking bans in public places, experts said it would be difficult to legislate further. Although that hasn’t stopped Denver CO felony attorney firms from trying to get in on second-hand lawsuits.

“I don’t think it is likely we will see strong regulations reaching into homes,” said Heather Wipfli of the Institute for Global Health at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, who was not connected to the study. She said more public smoking bans and education might persuade people to quit smoking at home.

In the U.K., the British Lung Foundation is petitioning the government to outlaw smoking in cars.

Helena Shovelton, the foundation’s chief executive, said smoking parents frequently underestimate the danger their habit is doing to their children.

“It’s almost as if people are in denial,” she said. “They absolutely would not do something dangerous like leaving their child in the middle of the road but somehow, smoking in front of them is fine.”

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MY TAKE: I personally think every criminal defense lawyer and those across the state should be litigating these cases. Parents who smoke around their kids are, in my book, just as guilty of child neglect if not abuse as the next bad parent. If the social services questionaire software doesn’t already ask, they should find out if parents are smokers before letting people adopt children as one way to keep second-hand-smoke from those poor kids. I love the smoking ban and frankly wish we’d get on texting and talking on cell phones, too.

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Lawyers are Accountable Too

Need a Philadelphia divorce lawyer? Chester County PA family attorneys should be prepared to provide you with nothing short of exceptional and individual attention. If you feel like a number and your attorney won’t return your calls, fire them, file a complaint with the PA Bar Association and hire a new attorney.

Business Short Cuts

One of the best ways to get back more of your time and save money is to outsource your payroll solutions. There are many solid payroll companies out there who can provide your business with fully integrated payroll services, from checks to vacation time and sick days.

Get Rid of that Junky Car

That is right, get rid of that junk heap in your backyard. There are professionals who buy and sell junk or damaged cars. This online removal service believes you should be paid for your junk car. The service strives to keep the whole process of removing that junk car and getting you paid simple. Now you can get your old junk vehicle removed and paid the same day. Professionals, who buy junk cars, will arrive with a tow truck and pay you for that junky car. It is true, by donating it you can get a tax credit but you will not see the benefit until tax time. So why give it away when you can sell your junk car and get paid the money you deserve.

California Lemon Law Information

The California Lemon Law was designed to protect consumers purchase or lease a motor vehicle under warranty. The motor vehicles warrantor must repurchase will replace the vehicle if it is determined that the vehicle is a “lemon”. There is a simple rule to determine if your vehicle falls under the Lemon Law. The vehicle must problems covered by a warranty. No warranty means no Lemon Law case. Warrantor must also be unable to repair vehicles warranty problems after reasonable number or repair attempts. The reasonable number of attempts will depend on the problem. If you think you have a Lemon Law case, contact a qualified California Lemon Law attorney.

The Lock Picking Gun

Lock guns are valuable tools to have as backups in the event manual lock picks fail to open a door lock. As a lock picking tool the manual pick gun is a piece of hardware you can’t afford to be without. In the hands of some proficient operators it is almost like having a working key and some even manage to make it work with car lock picking. They are a viable alternative to manual lock picks, but only if used properly. Like standard lock picking, it takes some practice to truly develop the skill required for repetitive success with a pickgun.

Court Reporting Work

In a courtroom environment, a Los Angeles court reporter may make suggestions regarding proper procedure, do research for items in the official record and assist in other ways. Importantly, realtime reporting has proven beneficial for the judiciary and many judges insist that their reporter be realtime capable to provide Los Angeles court reports. Many court reporters work as freelance reporters or independent contractors outside the courtroom in depositions and other situations that require an official legal transcript, such as arbitration hearings or other formal proceedings. Court reporters also often provide realtime transcription for public events, religious services, webcasts, and educational services.

SOURCE: Associated Press

Seventeen rare sea turtles were rescued off Cape Cod, Mass. this month recovering at the New England Aquarium.

The turtles rescued by volunteers with the Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary at Wellfleet Bay are being cared for at the aquarium’s new animal care center in Quincy. They eventually will be released back to the ocean.

Most of them are Kemp’s ridley turtles and are suffering from hypothermia, dehydration and malnourishment. The turtles usually migrate to warmer waters in the winter, but aquarium officials say strong northwest winds Wednesday drove the turtles to shore.

Many had body temperatures in the 50s, when they should have been in the 70s.

An aquarium spokesman says it’s unusual for the center to care for so many at one time.

Rescuers saved seventeen rare sea turtles from chilly waters off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The sea turtles swim to warmer waters to the south as winter arrives. Wildlife officials say powerful northwest winds blew the turtles off course and drove them to shore. The turtles were brought to the New England Aquarium for treatment. They will be released back to the ocean when they’re strong enough to survive on their own.

Most of the rescued turtles are endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, the world’s smallest marine reptiles. Adult Kemp’s ridley turtles measure only 24 to 28 inches (60 to 70 cm) in length. The turtles’ range includes the Gulf of Mexico and much of the Atlantic Seaboard. They face threats from commercial fishing, habitat destruction on nesting beaches, and pollution.

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MY TAKE: One thing you’d find no shortage of if you were plowing through Los Angeles court reports was a shortage of gang-related shootings and other violent crimes. If you’re a Los Angeles court reporter in fact, these cases take up a lot of your depo time. Reading stories about rescuing turtles may seem boring and rather Polyanish, but it’s got to be a switch from the day-to-day crime-ridden stories they hear otherwise.

I frankly wish we could have a newspaper that was online every day that had nothing but good news stories in it. And articles about informative, useful things, like where to buy Halloween costume accessories or a child care finder service.

Between wars and shootings and bombings and ethnic tension, we need more stories that make us smile and warm our hearts, even if they are about the popularity of Toy Story costumes or what your kids can expect in their first year of day care.

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Staying in Homes

Many people realize that one of the more inexpensive ways to enjoy the local culture while on vacation is through the act of staying with a local family and there are some interesting resources online these days that allow for people to easily obtain an inexpensive booking option by staying with a local family instead of at an expensive hotel. For example, it’s often the case that cheap travel is best obtained through smaller institutions and things like bed and breakfasts or even local families with a room to spare in their home who want to make extra money renting it out.

Handcrafted Amish Furniture

Are you looking for handcrafted wood furniture for your dining or living room? There is online vendor that sells authentic Amish handcrafted furniture. Their primitive pine handcrafted furniture and custom wood furniture is historically inspired and quality crafted using only the finest quality northeastern white pine. Handcrafted hardwood furniture may be available upon request. Whether you are looking to furnish for your home, a rustic log cabin or an elegant lodge, they have the country décor and furnishings you are looking for. Each piece of custom handcrafted furniture is carefully sanded and hand finished producing a finish that cannot be equaled at any price.

Construction Injuries

Hundreds of construction workers are injured each year while working on construction sites. While general contractors and owners of construction sites are responsible for worker safety, this obligation is often neglected and a Bronx construction accident lawyer is needed. For example, if you are working on a ladder, scaffold or other device or your body is elevated from the ground, the construction company and owner of the property must provide safety devices to prevent you from falling. If you are injured, you may have a claim in addition to any rights you have to workers compensation. Even a Bronx car accident lawyer would advise you to get a construction lawyer.

Accused of DUI?

Losing your driver’s license in today’s society can be very devastating because the main mode of transportation is your arm will be. The loss of your license could conceivably have a severe impact on your employment and way of life. If you have had a DUI, do not want Monmouth County NJ fraud attorneys, you need to talk to a DUI attorney to discuss the options are available to you. Today, even a traffic ticket is not a simple matter. The fine is usually large and paying it can cause points to be taken off your license that could result in a suspended license and insurance hikes. If you have gotten a traffic ticket, you should contact a Red Bank NJ traffic ticket lawyer.

Commercial Lighting Fixtures

In 1980, this retailer started making jewelry store lighting fixtures for jewelry stores, perhaps the most challenging of all retail environments. Today, they are the leading supplier of energy-efficient, product-enhancing lighting to the marketplace. From that important base, they have developed the same quality lighting for a wide variety of industries. Their fixtures are manufactured based on their cornerstone lighting principles. The products are the perfect combination of energy efficiency, power, color and longevity. Without sacrificing the quality of light that is a must in the retail world, this retailer provides solutions to business owners who need to meet both existing and future energy challenges and restrictions.

SOURCE: Associated Press

A U.S. Border Patrol spokesman says country singer Willie Nelson was charged with marijuana possession after 6 ounces was found aboard his tour bus in Texas.

Patrol spokesman Bill Brooks says the bus pulled into the Sierra Blanca, Texas, checkpoint about 9 a.m. Friday. Brooks says an officer smelled pot when a door was opened and a search turned up marijuana.

Brooks says the Hudspeth County sheriff was contacted and Nelson was among three people arrested.

Sheriff Arvin West didn’t immediately return a phone message left at his home Friday, but he told the El Paso Times that Nelson claimed the marijuana was his. The singer was held briefly a $2,500 bond before being released.

Nelson spokeswoman Elaine Schock declined to comment when contacted via e-mail by The Associated Press.

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MY TAKE: Come on! Don’t police have something else to do besides go around and arrest people for pot? I would imagine that the 24 hour NYC locksmith or attack dogs could be more effective in fighting crime. Police are focusing on minor infractions while real crimes, like rape, child abductions and other horrible crimes are taking place. We might as well put out law enforcement needs into the hands of a New York City emergency locksmith. The way things are going we might as well not count on police providing any relief from these senseless arrests.

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OTHER RESOURCES

Protect Your Assets

Need a North Highlands private security firm to help protect your company on weekends and during closing hours. You can rely on a Rancho Cordova private security firm for help with onsite security as well as off-site monitoring. Whether you run a divorce litigation attorney firm or a medical transcription company, you need security services to keep an eye on your property. In fact, for many small businesses, if you provide on-site security services you can often ask for and get breaks in your insurance rates.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times

Getting inside the head of the British royals isn’t an easy feat, but there are exceptions.

“The media would say, ‘If you want to find out anything, just ask the hairdresser,’ ” said Richard Dalton, stylist to the late Princess Diana.

But the media would be wrong in Dalton’s case. The Dana Point resident said he never spilled a single royal secret in the 12 years he dressed Di’s famous golden locks.

Today, Dalton works as a consultant and wigmaker at Charles’ Wigs in Laguna Beach. Like much of the world, he was taken with the news that Diana’s son, Prince William, had become engaged to longtime sweetheart Kate Middleton.

After all, it was Dalton who gave William and his brother, Prince Harry, their first haircuts.

Having known William when he was a “kind and wonderful boy,” Dalton said the prince would guide Middleton through the ins and outs of royal living.

“I just hope she doesn’t try to be a Princess Diana,” Dalton said. “She’s cool in her own right, but she’ll never be a Diana.”

Middleton, of course, will be carrying a token of the late princess of Wales with her every day. William gave Middleton his mother’s sapphire-and-diamond ring.

“Every day it was on the dressing table as I was doing her hair,” said Dalton, who declined to give his age. “The ring was a wonderful gesture on William’s part, and Diana would have loved it.”

Dalton, who is Scottish, moved to London from Edinburgh at age 17 after winning a competition for a free apprenticeship with Vidal Sassoon.

In the late 1970s, at an upscale salon on London’s Bond Street, he met then-Diana Spencer and was invited to become one of her personal hairdressers.

Dalton originally worked with a team of assistants, then became Diana’s sole hairdresser after her marriage to Prince Charles in 1981. From then on, he traveled with the British royal family and, at any hour, could find himself perfecting the world’s most closely watched tresses.

“Whatever I did to her hair became front-page news,” Dalton said. “We had to be very careful. When she wanted to cut her hair short before traveling to Africa, we had to do it one-fourth of an inch at a time over several weeks.”

Dalton left Diana’s employ and England in 1991, six years before she died in a high-speed car crash in Paris.

Dalton’s current clients are enthralled with his background.

“He treats his clients like royalty,” said Doreen Quaglietta-Hughes, a customer from Huntington Harbour. “I go into another world with Richard; who else has known duchesses and princesses? Each week the time just goes by too quickly.”

“The guy is so talented,” said owner Marsha Carroll, who turned the wig shop into a full-service salon after buying it from Charles Thompson in 2006. “He’s just magic with the way he works, whether it’s hair on a head or a wig.”

Dalton said he will forever guard Diana’s confidences — at least when it comes to reporters.

“I have my memories of the princess,” he said. “But I would love to meet William again and talk with him. I’m sure he has questions about his mother.”

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MY TAKE: This last line really leaves you guessing. I’m sure Prince William has a lot of questions bout his mother. I would too. I lived in London when the princess was still living in her palace in Kensington’s Hyde Park. Talk about Custom entry doors! This palace had the most beautiful rod iron doors and gating, and I’m sure many of you remember them being shrouded in flowers and cards and signs when she died. You’d have thought people were lined up to buy rock concert tickets the lines were so thick around the palace as fans gathered to pay their respects. I’d have traded theater tickets to see Shakespeare himself play Hamlet for an hour inside Princess Diana’s head. She must have gone to her grave with some fascinating stories.

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Other Resources

Getting a Colored Ring

Often the most popular colors for weddings is gold when the ring is actually gold colored or perhaps a graphite colored style of titanium wedding rings, but one of the interesting options for people who are looking for a wedding ring that is a unique color is the fact that through a process of oxidation, a titanium wedding ring can be colored absolutely any color possible. The neat thing about titanium jewelry and rings is that the coloring process for such rings actually depends on the oxidation of the rings through a special technique that causes the actual metal to change color.

Legal Support For Wrongful Death Cases

Denver wrongful death lawyers are here to help you if a loved one has been killed in an accident that you believe could have been prevented. This can include Denver CO construction law lawyers who are skilled at handling cases involved deaths in construction and dangerous labor industries. Don’t delay contacting an attorney if you have lost someone and you think their death may have been preventable.

Bad Card Deals

Los Angeles Lemon Law attorneys are available to support the laws that provide consumers protection from unscrupulous used car dealers. Each county has its own interpretations and applications of the law, such as the Riverside County lemon law. If you bought a used car and it has broken down or otherwise malfunctioned within a certain period of time, you may be able to return the care and get all of your money back under the state’s lemon laws.

Cottage Style Furniture

Not only is this online custom furniture store a perfect match for those looking for cottage style furniture, it is also a perfect match for anyone looking to save money on antique dining room furniture. Traditionally, the price associated with antique dining room furniture is two to three times higher than for a comparable item that has been created more recently. On top of that, the age of an antique can oftentimes compromise its quality. Here, they create high-quality custom-finished reproductions to save you from an endless search of over-priced products. The barn wood products carry a rich history and can be expertly matched to your desired style of antique rustic tables and other dining room furniture.

Basement Specialists

If you are considering Littleton CO basement finishing; you should focus on basement remodeling contractors exclusively. Remodeling or finishing a basement is different than a typical home remodeling. It requires knowledge and skills in certain areas which many contractors may lack. By using a contractor who focuses on Centennial basements you can be confident that they will perform the job properly. Take the time to find out about the different contractors you are considering. Ask if they have any prior clients who you could contact and if they do, take the time to call them.

Equal Opportunity and Pay

These Manhattan employment lawyers belong to a law firm specializing in enforcing the rights of employees in an effort to preserve a fair, equal and just employment environment. The firm has significant experience representing plaintiffs in all phases of litigation in all forums including New York State and federal courts, arbitration, and before both state and federal administrative agencies. A Manhattan wage lawyer can handle matters in various areas of employment. Their primary purpose is the protection of worker’s rights in the face of wrongful termination, harassment, unfair treatment, discrimination or other conduct which may lead to an adverse employment action such as being fired, demoted or transferred.

Wedding Plans?

You are going to need San Diego wedding flowers, decorations, linens and much more. Hiring someone to do the gorgeous backdrop decorations for your wedding will make things much easier. In fact, one vendor can design bridal bouquets, brides’ maids’ bouquets, groom’s boutonniere, groomsmen boutonnieres, corsages, pinups, flower girl balls, cake and floral centerpieces basically, all your San Diego CA wedding decorations. The wedding day, it is a day every girl dreams about with her gown, flowers and cake. She is just beginning a new chapter in her life with a picture-perfect wedding. With a wedding planner, you would get that perfect day dreamed about.

SOURCE:

Robots and the elderly make an unlikely pairing, but at the University of Connecticut, a robot named Nao is learning how to take care of elderly patients.

The toddler-sized machine is being programmed to determine how often it should remind its charges to take their medication, when to notify an overseer and when to just let the patients enjoy some autonomy.

The married researchers behind the project –- philosopher Susan Anderson of the University of Connecticut and her husband, computer scientist Michael Anderson of the University of Hartford -– say they’re trying to create an “ethical robot.”

Nao, a sleek creature with glowing eyes, represents a combination of basic ethical principles, machine learning techniques, and artificial intelligence science. It looks partly cute and partly creepy, walking in lolling steps and speaking in its mechanical voice: “It is time to take your medication.”

The Andersons’ work, still in its early stages, was featured in Scientific American in October. Check out Nao in action here:

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My Take: I say so long housecleaning DC guys, hello more time to download for Wii and play online games. If this robot can keep me company and possibly also help me clean my house, I’d be able to get by without my Arlington house keeping services. It would be even better if it could also play Wii sports games with me online.

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Other Resources

Types of Operating Systems

Contrary to popular belief, there are more types of operating systems that are used on remote servers and it’s generally the case that in a dedicated server hosting facility, either Linux or UNIX will be utilized by the company. Each of these operating systems is an open source system and is often something that costs the customer nothing. This can be a great option for small businesses and companies that don’t have a huge budget to put toward various hosting options. A commercial type of program will include things like a Microsoft Windows Server or Red Hat Linux.

Colorado Law

Denver divorce lawyers are available to help you if you’ve been accused of a crime. A Denver personal injury attorney Park Medows CO can help you if you’ve been the victim of a crime or a neglegent act that has involved an injury to yourself or a family member.

Talking with Your Dog

German Shepherd puppies make great protection dogs around your home. But you need to know how to talk with them effectively and reliably. It is critical that you establish a clear line of communication between you and your dog For example; a police officer learns to communicate with police training dogs to protect and serve the public. Once you have learned how to talk or communicate, there are no limits to what you may be able to do together. You can do the same even if you need attack dogs. In fact, communication with attack dogs is even more important for safety purposes.

Decorations for Your Walls

Personalize your space quickly and easily with custom vinyl lettering, quotes and monograms. Home and office decorating has never been so simple! Pre-spaced vinyl words and decals can give you that hand painted look without any mess! In fact, vinyl lettering is faster, easier and better than stenciling. Did you know that wall decals are not just for the walls? They are wonderful on doors, windows, mirrors, furniture, and just about anything else you can think of. And the lettering is made from removable, but not repositionable, vinyl so it will not harm your walls.

Prom Night in England

The British call their prom night the Leavers’ Ball, Leavers’ Dinner, Formal or, informally, Leavers’ Do. This is closer to the Australian description, although in the UK, some schools have called the above events proms. Just like in America, girls can also choose from formal or special occasion dresses to wear to these events. In Canada, Ireland, and Australia the terms Grad or Formal are most commonly used and the event is usually held for those graduating high school or middle school. In Ireland, the event is also known as the Debs, which is derived from Debutante. No matter what you call prom night, girls still need prom dresses.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times

Libraries go digital. And it’s no easy task

Recalling a medieval scribe laboring to preserve humankind’s rarest writings, Edith Young gently places each fraying page of a 400-year-old Chinese manuscript on a special cradle before she lowers a glass plate to flatten it for a digital snapshot.

Young, a technician in Harvard University’s digital imaging laboratory, will repeat the step close to 100 times to create a digital record of “Story of Red Plum Blossom,” a Chinese drama written in the early 1600s that for the most part had been rarely seen except by a handful of museum curators and researchers.

Equipped with imaging equipment far more powerful — and often less expensive — than a decade ago, libraries of all sizes are transforming their physical collections into virtual ones. The ultimate goal is to digitize troves of books and documents long hidden in basements and to share them with the world in electronic form.

“Name an institution, and if they have books they’re looking to digitize them,” said Nick Warnock, president of Los Angeles-based Atiz Innovation Inc., which sells a variety of scanning rigs that allow library technicians to scan as many as 800 pages a minute. The final result is a digitally bound book made from images of the original.

Warnock said his business has doubled this year as more libraries and other organizations become aware of the value of scanning older documents.

The company says it has sold more than 2,000 of its scanning stations to libraries and government agencies around the world, including Stanford, UCLA and the Getty Center. The lowest-cost Atiz rig, called the BookDrive Mini, sells for around $6,000 without the pair of cameras. Canon models that go with it range from $500 to $7,000 each for high-end models

Hugh Bivens, a 79-year-old volunteer who worked for 40 years in a nuclear weapons lab, spends two days every week at the small Special Collections branch of Albuquerque’s public library system, scanning genealogy records on his Atiz scanner.

Last year, Bivens and his small team managed to scan in more than 350 volumes of birth, death and marriage records from New Mexico.

“We don’t have a lot of money to invest in this, so we do the best we can,” he said.

Libraries that can afford it are also springing for so-called robotic scanners — those that can automatically turn pages of bound books and scan them at high speeds. At the New York Public Library, technicians use a machine from Kirtas Technologies Inc. that keeps pages turning with small puffs of air, making it possible to record close to 40 pages a minute.

Kirtas sells its devices mostly to large research libraries and government agencies looking to digitize mountains of paper records — birth and death certificates, wills, deeds and other legal documents. Kirtas machines cost between $70,000 and $130,000.

Though it’s getting easier, digitization is still a time-consuming process, especially for manuscripts that must be scanned by hand. And because there is so much material — and so few scanners — it could take decades before a significant fraction of the world’s printed works are moved online.

Paul LeClerc, the New York Public Library’s chief executive, estimated that digitizing the library’s entire collection would cost “hundreds of millions of dollars,” while available funding is still a sliver of that.

Harvard has one of the largest digital scanning programs in the world and has undertaken a number of ambitious digitization projects. Over the next four years, the lab and its dozens of technicians, photographers and catalogers will digitize all 51,500 rare Chinese books housed in the Harvard-Yenching Library, likely the largest such collection outside of China.

In addition to its Chinese collection, Harvard’s digital laboratory is digitizing many of its medieval manuscripts and original musical scores and is adding images from its Virginia Woolf and Theodore Roosevelt collections.

“These folks have some of the most interesting jobs in the library world, because they touch the past, and they open it up to the future,” said Nancy Cline, the Roy E. Larsen Librarian of Harvard College.

With increasingly large tranches of once-restricted material available online, Cline said, the library is attracting interest from scholars far and wide.

“It’s brought a new democratization to research,” she said. “You don’t have to have thousands of dollars to travel here. You can start a lot of your discovery from wherever you are.”

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MY TAKE: New Jersey IT consultants have come into the library where I work and are assisting our staff with making the transition from hard copy to digital. Not all of the books in our library are being digitized, but most of them are, and the New Jersey IT consulting is helping us do this with efficiency, and through the generosity of corporate gifts and donations from our patrons, we are able to do it relatively inexpensively. Imprinted school T shirts with “Help our Library go online” were sold and the word-of-mouth has been generating a lot of offers to help.

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Other Resources

Americans Going to Rome

Some families are hesitant to book a trip to Europe if they are American because they fear they will be unable to communicate with the locals while visiting various areas but for the most part, the largest European cities always have many people within them who speak English and in Italy, when visiting Rome, the majority of Vatican tours are not only available in most European languages, but there is a significant contingent of tour operators who offer tours in English due to how many Americans and Canadians come to the Vatican to tour it on a yearly basis.

Choosing a Guitar for Lessons

Although a student doesn’t always have the chance to choose a particular guitar on which to begin lessons or start using guitar learning software, there are some nice choices that a new student can make if he or she has decided to purchase a new instrument for lessons. One thing to consider is how dedicated a student might be to his lessons. For people who simply want a new hobby and may not be that dedicated to learning a new instrument, buying an acoustic guitar might be the best thing to do. For anyone who will play for years, an electric guitar can be a great choice, too.

Décor Country Style

There are simple things you can do to change the look and feel of your home. You can add simple country lighting and round wood coffee tables. Don’t worry if your home has chandelier lighting in the dining room. You can mix fancy lighting with rustic tables and still pull off a great look. 

Problems with your Construction?

There is a group of Denver construction attorneys that are highly regarded for their expertise in construction law and the litigation of construction defect claims. They are also well versed and experienced in tort, contract and general casualty litigation ranging from products liability to ski and recreation claims to motor vehicle accidents and premises liability. That means if you need a Denver auto accident attorney, one is available to you as well. In fact, their experience and talents have led to excellent results in the trial and appellate courts of Colorado. They provide clients with advice and counseling regarding the best methods to avoid litigation in the first place.

SOURCE: Associated Press

Rachelle Friedman knows a lot about forgiveness.

A few weeks before her wedding day, Rachelle Friedman went out for her bachelorette party with some close friends last May. After a night out on the town, the group went to the home of Rachelle’s best friend.

The friend playfully pushed Rachelle into the swimming pool — something they’d done to each other many times before — but this time the bride-to-be landed on her head, paralyzing her from her chest down.

In the ensuing six months, Rachelle has worked to adjust to her new reality. Despite the odds and the tragic turn her life has taken, she is “doing awesome,” Friedman says in a Monday interview with the “Today” show. She credits her family and her fiancé, Chris Chapman — who says in the segment that the wedding is still on: “I never once thought about leaving her or this situation.” As for the friend, whose name Rachelle wants to keep from the press, Rachelle says, “I’m absolutely best friends with the girl…. Blaming her would be ridiculous.”

Watch the “Today” show interview with Rachelle Friedman and Chris Chapman:

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MY TAKE: I’m sure this story had every attorney form the Texas personal injury lawyer to the Miami personal injury attorney salivating for a law suit. But if the girl forgave the friend, there is nothing here to fight over. It’s amazing how resilient and forgiving she is, considering her entire life has been altered. I’m not sure what the pool looks like, but maybe some vinyl wall lettering indicating the danger of pushing might have helped. Not that they would have paid attention to vinyl lettering warnings. They were just having fun.

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Other Resources

Online Medical Transcription

This Chicago transcription company has developed a medical transcription service which services clients in the medical field whose content requires specialized understanding and knowledge of the field of medicine. They offer Chicago medical transcription for leading pharmaceutical companies, medical meeting planners, and continuing medical education organizations to produce accurate and timely medical transcripts. Audio recordings and video recordings are derived from various medical discussions including medical roundtables. There experience is vast covering an entire array of medical specialties. All their medical transcriptionist have specialized and are native US speakers, all of which are US based.

The Importance of Child Care

Childcare is an increasingly important part of young children’s lives as more parents go to work. Most people think of childcare as a learning center for their children, but it is a good place for parents to learn as well. Give yourself some extra time when you bring or pick up your child from your care program. When you choose a childcare center that you think would be appropriate you should check out the childcare center in person. Parents visiting a daycare center that they are considering for their child should look for an environment to nurture growth and build upon what they are doing at home.

Medical Front Office Services

This medical answering service is staffed by fully HIPAA compliant, professionally trained receptionists. They understand how busy medical professionals can be. They are available to take your calls at anytime not just after hours. Whether you are going to lunch, closing the office or an unforeseen event causes your phones to be unmanned. The live call answering service is available 24/7 to assist you. In the nearly 50 years of servicing the medical field, this telephone answering service has developed a strong relationship with the health care providers they represent. Health care business services are the most important may deal with.

Looking for IPod Repair Service?

If you are not aware, this iPod repair company has been around since the start of the iPod revolution. They were the first company to offer replacement ipod batteries in the the 1st Gen iPod. Since then, the ipod has changed in so many ways. With all of the upgrades and different features of each model, these technicians have learned the right way to fix your iPod. They offer many iPod repair kits for the “Do-it-Yourself” people and take pride in the mail-in repair service. As you are picking them for your repair choices, they want you to know that your iPod is in the best hands possible. So if you need an iPod fix, you now know who to talk to!

Cleaning Services for All

If you live in Arlington or Alexandria you can get a Arlington cleaning service that is like no other. A service backed by a high quality cleaning team that will bring you top-tier domestic cleaning services that you can rely on. In fact, you do not have to own a house to receive house cleaning Alexandria. More than a decade of maid service experience is available for residential, apartment, move in/move out services and businesses across the state. The most reliable and highest quality housecleaning services is available at the desk competitive rates.

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SOURCE: Associated Press

Can a glass of water before meals during the holiday season help offset weight gain?

Dieters have been encouraged to employ this trick for ages, with the reasoning quite simple: the water fills the stomach, thus reducing hunger. But only in recent years have studies borne this out.

In the most recent, a randomized trial published in the journal Obesity in February, scientists at Virginia Tech followed a group of overweight subjects age 55 and up on low-calorie diets for about three months. Half the people were told to drink two cups of water before every meal. At the end of the study, the water group had lost an average of 15.5 pounds, compared with 11 pounds in the other group.

A 2008 study showed a similar effect, finding a 13 percent reduction in calorie intake in overweight subjects who consumed water before breakfast. But a third study, this one in 2007, had a peculiar finding: drinking water 30 minutes before a meal reduced calorie intake and feelings of hunger in older adults, but had little effect on subjects under 35. It’s not clear why, but the researchers pointed out that because older adults are at increased risk of being overweight and obese, further studies should determine whether this is effective for the aging population.

Studies show the average person gains about a pound between Thanksgiving and January. Most adults gain one to two pounds a year over a lifetime, so staving off the holiday pound can go a long way.

THE BOTTOM LINE Drinking water before a meal can reduce calorie intake, though the effect seems most prominent in older people.

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MY TAKE: I’m not convinced drinking water is going to help keep us from gaining wait. The best way to avoid piling on the pounds is to move. Try a Pilates workout for the first time after Thanksgiving is over instead of rushing out to shop. Even pilates for beginners classes can be very beneficial and results-oriented. But like Sigvaris support hose, you have to do it several times to really start seeing results. You can’t expect support stockings to get rid of varicose veins over night, so you can’t expect one or two workouts to turn you into a hard body over night either.

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Other Resources

Dental Visits Made Simple

The best Virginia dental services listings are online. You can try 1800 Dentist, as it is one of the better known, but there are other options when choosing a Virginia dentist. Click here to link to an online directory.

Fraud Protection

A Monmouth County NJ fraud attorney can help you out if you’ve been victimized by fraud. You can also hire a Monmouth County traffic tickets lawyer to assist you with your efforts to beat a traffic ticket or get your fine reduced. For a list of qualified Monmouth County NJ attorneys, click here.