We're live from CP+ 2013 in Yokohama, Japan!

It feels like just yesterday that we made our way through hall after hall at Photokina. Cologne, Germany's biennial photo extravaganza is absolutely massive in comparison to Japan's up-and-coming CP+, which admittedly promised a bit more excitement in 2012, but local enthusiasts seem to have come out in droves for this week's show here in Yokohama, likely motivated by an opportunity to check out models that first appeared earlier this month at CES. Still, CP+ is the most prominent camera trade show in Asia, and considering Japan's role in the digital imaging space, it's not to be overlooked. While we're here, we'll be checking out a handful of point-and-shoots from Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Olympus, just to name a few, perhaps joined by a surprise gadget or two.

Protip: Use our "cpplus2013" tag to catch our CP+ hands-ons, posted throughout the week.

Filed under: Announcements, Cameras, Nikon, Canon

Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/PSPtphyBpDo/

Emmy nominations 2012 Ramadan 2012 Michelle Jenneke batman Colorado Shooting News joe paterno British Open

Illegal football streaming website inventor avoids jail

A Lower Earley man has avoided jail for running an illegal football streaming website that he set up when he was just 16.

Gary Goodger, 24, from Ratby Close, was given a six-month suspended sentence for copyright offences at Reading Crown Court on Friday.

His website, freelivefooty.com, made unauthorised broadcasts of live Premier League football matches and beamed them to subscribers worldwide.

He took the matches illegally from foreign satellite broadcasts using a 2m-wide satellite dish, seven computers and nine satellite decoder boxes.

The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) launched an investigation on behalf of the Premier League and supplied evidence to the Thames Valley Police Economic Crime Unit (ECU).

Numerous enforcement ?cease and desist? notices were sent to the website on behalf of the Premier League, but Goodger?s activities continued.

Sentencing, Judge John Reddihough said: ?I have no doubt you were soon aware what you were doing was illegal and you ignored correspondence and carried on and undoubtedly you made, not vast profits, but some significant gain from doing what you did.

?The fact there are a number of other websites conducting the same operation does not help you.

?It is for the court to pass deterrent sentences.?

He went on to say if it were not for mitigating factors of young age and previous good character he ?would have had in mind a custodial sentence?.

Goodger was convicted with his accomplice Jack Bannister, 23, from Burnley, Lancashire, in December following a six-day trial at Reading Crown Court.

Goodger was found guilty of one count of communicating a copyrighted work to the public contrary to the Copyright, Design & Patents Act.

He received 200 hours community service and was handed a fine of ?1,750.

Bannister, who was convicted of transferring criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act after he was hired by Goodger to process payments, was given 140 hours community service and ordered to pay ?500 costs.

Source: http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2128031_illegal_football_streaming_website_inventor_avoids_jail

nfl live saints vs 49ers vanessa marcil 49 ers frank gore frank gore nfl games

Cabin Renovation: Simple Green Living | this time - this space

Thirty years ago my husband and I were city dwellers still spending most of our time working? for someone else.? Then we made a life changing decision, a decision to make our simple dream come true.? We moved to where we wanted to live,? purchased a home, committed to voluntary simplicity and built our own business from the bottom up.

A decade later we purchased a larger piece of land and built our own green home and business space on it in the same building.? Throughout two decades we repaired and painted as every home owner does, until last summer when my hubby announced it was painting time. Well, that project morphed into Green Home Renovation Lessons?Learned.

This summer we will be helping another couple with their green home? renovations on their small summer cabin.? They are also into simple green living. And,? I?m using the royal ?we? as my hubby is a qualified carpenter and tradesman, who has building skills that I don?t have. I?m merely a consultant and assistant but we work very well together and we come as a package deal.

Our friends won?t expand the square footage of the cabin beyond adding a covered deck but they will make better use of the space they have.? There are non-bearing walls that will be removed to create an open house plan. There will be major changes when it comes to flooring, solar panels, heating and lighting.

As winter rain drips down my friends are sending us green renovation ideas and concepts from many sources. We are discussing them by email and? telephone and longing to store our umbrellas so we can get to work. This summer is when the project will begin but I?m looking forward to spring. That?s when we will be traveling to view some other green cabin renovations and incorporating what we can into the green cabin reno project.

Graham Hill, Writer, designer is the founder of TreeHugger.com travels the world to tell the story of sustainability. He asks: Can having less stuff, in less room, lead to more happiness? He makes the case for taking up less space, and lays out three rules for editing your life.

Graham Hill: Less stuff, more happiness

We?ve got to cut the extraneous out of our lives, and we?ve got to learn to stem the inflow. We need to think before we buy. Ask ourselves, ?Is that really going to make me happier? Truly?

1.? Edit ruthlessly ? cut the extraneous from your life.

2.? Recognize small is sexy and space efficiency is key.

3.? Multifunctional spaces, furniture and housewares.

Some inspiring articles:

Declutter 101: Where Do I Start?
Declutter 101: Strategies To Cut Clutter
Declutter 101: Staying Clutter-Free
25 ways to make the most of a small space
5 Strategies for Decluttering a Small Space
Ultimate Pallet Furniture Collection: 58 Unique Ideas
Cabin Renovation Ideas

Our green renovation priorities were keeping it simple by improving comfort and flow. Our friends are setting the same priorities for their green cabin renovation. When it comes to renovating your living space what priorities will you set?

Related articles

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

Source: http://thistimethisspace.com/2013/01/29/cabin-renovation-simple-green-living/

bill moyers heidi klum and seal divorce craigslist killer extremely loud and incredibly close south carolina primary squirrel appreciation day billy beane

Alabama school bus shooting suspect holing up in bunker: police

MOBILE, Alabama (Reuters) - A standoff continued on Wednesday with a gunman who boarded an Alabama school bus and fatally shot the driver before fleeing with a young child and holing up in an underground bunker, authorities said.

Bus driver Charles Albert Poland Jr., 66, was killed in the shooting Tuesday afternoon as he ferried children home from school, the Dale County Sheriff's Department said.

The gunman fled to a bunker on his property after the shooting, Alabama media reported.

Dale County Coroner Woodrow Hilboldt said it was his understanding that the child, variously identified by local media as 5 or 6 years old, was barricaded with the gunman in "some kind of a tornado bunker."

Local law enforcement gave scant details about the incident, but confirmed Poland's death and said a child was present at the scene in Midland City.

Hilboldt said the gunman, whom officials have not named, is also in his 60s.

Law enforcement officials from multiple agencies were convened near the bunker on Wednesday as the standoff with the shooter continued overnight, said Dothan Police Sergeant Rachel David.

"At this time, law enforcement has extended the evacuation area to ensure the safety of those living in the immediate area," David said in a statement.

The shooting comes as national debate rages over gun violence, especially in schools, after a gunman shot dead 20 students and six staff members at a Connecticut elementary school last month.

Alabama media reported that the incident on Tuesday happened at approximately 4 p.m. local time when the suspect demanded the driver let a student off the bus.

When Poland refused, the man boarded the bus, then shot the driver before taking the child and fleeing the scene. It was unclear whether the gunman had any relationship with the child.

"I spoke to about three or four of the students," Michael Senn, a local minister whose church is near the scene, told Alabama NBC affiliate WSFA.

"One of them was a young lady and she told me that when the man entered the bus ... he told most of them to get off the bus and he grabbed a 5-year-old little boy," Senn said.

"From what I understand, kids were running down the road behind the church trying to get to safety."

One resident of the area who arrived quickly on the scene said he tried to chase the suspect before he realized that the gunman had taken cover in his own private bunker.

The sheriff's department said multiple agencies were assisting with the incident, and local schools would be closed on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Kaija Wilkinson; Additional reporting and writing by Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Nick Zieminski)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/man-shoots-school-bus-driver-alabama-child-seized-015512702.html

spinal stenosis the forgotten man mike jones just friends chronicle george lopez bedtime stories

Canada national report prepared for the IDNDR mid-term review and the 1994 World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction, Yokohama, Japan, 23-27 May 1994

This report presents the institutional and legal framework for disaster risk reduction in Canada, and describes its common disaster risks and natural hazards, such as flood, wild fire, earthquake, land slide and volcano. It outlines the strategies, plans, projects and activities related to disaster prevention and risk management.

The report provides an evaluation of country?s progress, achievements and challenges in disaster risk reduction during the first half of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), and highlights suggested activities and plans for the rest of IDNDR.

Keywords

• Themes:Disaster Risk Management, Governance
• Hazards:Earthquake, Flood, Land Slide, Volcano, Wild Fire
• Countries/Regions:Canada
• 
  Short URL:http://preventionweb.net/go/30886

Source: http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/publications/v.php?id=30886

Jim Lehrer 666 Park Avenue Kara Alongi Sahara Davenport Resident Evil 6 arnold schwarzenegger revenge

Job growth likely modest but steady in January

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hiring by employers likely held steady in January, pointing to modest growth in the economy despite worries that budget battles in Washington could derail the recovery.

Nonfarm payrolls are expected to have risen 160,000, a marginal step up from December's 155,000 job gain, according to a Reuters survey of economists. The unemployment rate is seen holding steady at 7.8 percent.

Many economists think companies would create more jobs if Washington could resolve a seemingly intractable fight over how to tame the federal budget deficit.

Politicians reached a deal this month to soften the blow from a so-called "fiscal cliff" of austerity measures, but the government is still on track to hurt the economy by slashing spending in March.

A deadlock over spending plans that could lead most government operations to shut down in March also looms, as does the possibility the government might default later this later year and trigger another recession.

"The removal of the uncertainty posed by the fiscal cliff is unlikely to prompt a surge in hiring when there remains so much political uncertainty," said Paul Dales, an economist at Capital Economics in London.

The Labor Department will release the January jobs data on Friday at 8:30 a.m. (1330 GMT).

The recent pace of hiring has been too slow to quickly bring down the country's jobless rate or convince the Federal Reserve, which meets on Wednesday, to abandon its easy money policies.

If economists are on the mark, January would mark another month of slow but steady gains in the long recovery from the 2007-09 recession, reinforcing expectations the Fed will continue buying assets into next year in a bid to lower interest rates and boost the economy. A report due on Wednesday is expected to show economic growth slowed in the fourth quarter.

Still, the expected payroll reading would match the average gains posted over the six months through December, suggesting some of the economy's underlying momentum carried over into the New Year.

Indeed, many economic indicators have pointed to growing economic strength. Retail sales were buoyant in December, and the number of new jobless claims has recently fallen to the lowest in five years.

In addition, a mild winter could be helping to boost employment at construction sites.

"Unseasonably mild weather and improving jobless claims point to an above-trend result," economists at Morgan Stanley, who forecast 185,000 new jobs in January, said in a research note.

Manufacturing employment likely grew by 10,000 jobs in January, according to the Reuters poll. Average hourly earnings are seen edging higher and the length of the average workweek is seen steady.

As part of the employment report, the government will release revisions to recent payroll estimates based on analysis of tax receipts from March 2012. This data could help explain why the U.S. jobless rate fell more than many expected in 2012 given lackluster growth in payrolls, said Jim O'Sullivan, an economist at High Frequency Economics in Valhalla, New York.

On average, payrolls added 153,000 jobs a month last year, a level many economists consider just enough to keep up with population growth and not enough to explain the 0.5 percentage point fall in the jobless rate during the year.

In a preliminary estimate given in September, the Labor Department said the economy likely created 386,000 more jobs than initially thought in the 12 months through March last year.

With the data on Friday, the government will provide a firmer reading on the employment level for March 2012 and use its new understanding on the health of the labor market to revise its figures for other months as well.

A big upward revision of payroll gains, especially in the second half of 2012, would point to a stronger trend in job creation, helping to explain why the jobless rate tumbled last year and perhaps making future declines more plausible.

"If the trend in employment is 180,000 or 185,000 a month instead of 160,000 a month, it's certainly easier to get the unemployment rate down," said O'Sullivan.

(Editing by Tim Ahmann and James Dalgleish)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-job-growth-likely-modest-steady-january-210132504--business.html

one life to live jeff fisher van der sloot heather locklear mlk memorial mlk memorial heather locklear hospitalized

Global Business Travel Association moves into Russia | News ...

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) ? the voice of the global business travel industry ? has announced the formation of a GBTA Russia chapter.

The development of GBTA Russia means that the association now has activity and membership in all BRIC regions for the first time.

The launch of GBTA in this region will be supported by an Allied Leadership Advisory Board, which will be comprised of representatives from Star Alliance, Continent Express and Marriott International.

GBTA and the Allied Leadership will announce details of the business travel buyers chosen to lead the GBTA region as its Advisory Board and Regional President at a launch event, planned for 8th April at the Marriott Grand in Moscow.

GBTA?s senior vice president of global operations, Paul Tilstone, said about the development: ?GBTA is thrilled to be expanding our global footprint to Russia.?

?Russia is becoming an important and exciting travel management arena.?

?Establishing this region will allow us to work closely with Russian travel professionals, adding value through our education and advocacy while connecting them with their peers throughout the world.?

GBTA Russia will announce its schedule of activity at the formal launch event in Moscow on April 8th.

Source: http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/global-business-travel-association-moves-into-russia/

chicago weather star jones wheres my refund photo of whitney houston in casket carrot top george huguely whitney houston casket photo

Red Tape Finds Bipartisan Support in Immigration Reform

A bipartisan group of senators is releasing a new immigration plan whose core selling point is a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants that is a maze of apparently punitive bureaucratic red tape. Most politicians, Democratic and Republican, rail against well-intentioned government regulations that create too much red tape for businesses to thrive and citizens to innovate. But when it comes to people who've come here illegally to work, putting them at the mercy of nameless bureaucratic tyrants isn't a policy's bug, it's a feature.

RELATED: The Daily Show John McCain and Lindsey Graham Don't Want You to See

On Monday, the group of senators -- which includes Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer, Bob Menendez, John McCain, Michael Bennet, Lindsey Graham, and March Rubio -- will give a press conference on their plan, Politico's Manu Raju reports. "We can?t go on forever with 11 million people living in this country in the shadows in an illegal status," McCain said on ABC's This Week Sunday. But those people are going to have to spend quit a bit more time in the shadows if this plan is implemented.?

...[I]llegal immigrants would be forced to register with the government, undergo a background check, and pay a fine and back taxes so they can obtain a legal status on a probationary basis... Those who have obtained probationary legal status would not be allowed to access federal benefits.

...[T]hose who have obtained their probationary legal status would be required to undergo a series of requirements ? including learning English and civics and undergoing further background checks ? before being able to obtain permanent residency.?

Before they get the chance to jump through those bureaucratic hoops, immigrants will have to wait for the U.S. to use more drones to secure the border and create a system to track people entering and exiting the country on temporary visas.

RELATED: Gingrich Was for Libyan Airstrikes Before He Was Against Them

According to?The New York Times's Julia Preston, the senators describe this as a "tough, fair and practical road map." It is difficult to understand what definition of fairness the senators are using. Let's just take the part about paying extra taxes and fines without getting federal benefits. Illegal immigrants often buy a package of fake documentation that includes a fake Social Security card.?In 2005, the Social Security Administration's chief actuary told?The New York Times?that it estimated 75 percent of illegal workers paid Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes.?In 2007, illegal immigrants paid about $11.2 billion into the Social Security Trust Fund and $2.6 billion into Medicare, the?Seattle Times?reported. Those illegal immigrants who paid in are unlikely to ever claim those benefits, meaning they are subsidizing U.S. citizens.

RELATED: Will the GOP Really Change on Guns?

These senators have long prided themselves on being red-tape cutters. The first line in Schumer's official bio says, "Throughout his career, Charles 'Chuck' Schumer has fought to make government work for all Americans by cutting through red tape..." Graham railed that red tape was bad for the economy in a July 2011 press release, saying,?"If government-run health-care, new layers of bureaucratic red tape, and dramatic increases in federal spending were the perfect cocktail for job creation, we would have been flooded with new jobs." In a June 2011 editorial for The Daily Caller, Rubio was upset with the Obama administration for not "reducing the red tape that is strangling our economy." And yet on Monday, they are joining together in rare bipartisan agreement to create miles-long red tape -- including language and history lessons -- to slow enterprising, risk-taking job creators from fully participating in the economy.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/red-tape-finds-bipartisan-support-immigration-reform-151405224.html

quentin tarantino jessica chastain jessica chastain hugh jackman Amy Poehler Australian Open Girls Hbo

Enbridge No More ? Idle No More | Rowan Family Tree

Friends now that we are big supporters of the Idle No More movement. Not because we have friends and?family members who have indigenous and M?tis heritage, but because we think respecting treaty rights is just and the country?s most powerful tool against industrial environmental?destruction.

Still not sure why we are going?

1. Omnibus bills like the one passed late last year include all sorts of legislation with a budget bill. this means the MPs, even those with the best intentions, can?t vote against the legislation since it?s wrapped up with their party?s budget. So last budget bill, we saw massive changes to immigration laws, criminal law, and most importantly, a shredding of our environmental protection laws. The navigable waters legislation, the environmental review process ? all chopped up, slid into a budget bill. It?s just not right.
2. Not only is the Enbridge project an environmental disaster waiting to happen, and it extends the reach and catalyzing more oilsands development, but the project process has also ignored First NAtion treaty rights, and ignored the protests of vast numbers of British Columbians. It has to be stopped.
3. Worse even than Enbridge is the Canada-China trade agreement that ight be ratified any day. If this agreement goes through, for 31 years we won?t be able to increase environmental protection rules or even stop a Chinese project if we want to, because we?ll have to pay massive fines to the People?s Republic of China. This agreement has massive, long-lasting implications for every sector in Canada, from agriculture to high tech (not just oil and gas) and curbs our rights to manage our own natural resources, putting the needs of the People?s Republic first. A 31 year deal to sign our rights away? It?s can?t happen.

I encourage you all to call your MPs, especially your Conservative MPs. We have a very nice man (Conservative MP) who listens to his constituents? and honestly, the Conservative MP base is the only power to stop the Canada China agreement.

As for Enbridge and Idle No More ? show you?opinions publicly!?Let your voices be heard. Support our First Peoples to help the rest of us.

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

Posted in: Green, Social JusticeTagged: enbridge, idle no morePermalink2 Comments

Source: http://rowanfamilytree.com/2013/01/28/enbridge-no-more-idle-no-more/

flying car masters golf tournament the replacements how to hard boil eggs new nfl uniforms easter derbyshire

Learn Some Of The Simple Steps Of Home Improvement

Home improvement projects take a lot of effort to begin, whether you have a lot of knowledge and skill or not. Do not allow the TV home improvement shows fool you. Home improvements consist of more than just big jobs. Keep reading to see all of the potential things you can try out.

Basements generally have little, if any, natural light. To ensure your basement is more livable, plan your artificial lighting layout carefully. If you luck out, you have have high, protruding walls from ground level in your basement. If you do, windows may be installable and they would create natural lighting.

Even a small home improvement project can mean a big increase in your home's value. If you are considering the sale of your home, think about making one or two little improvements. For example, you can paint the interior and exterior of your home. Doing this simple job, which only costs a few hundred dollars, can add almost ,000 to the value of your home!

Make sure you have the gear you need before getting started on a new project. You always should procure a harness for your back if you are lifting heavy things, and also a helmet to protect you from falling objects.

You can dress up pillows in any room which can be a simple project. You can use old t-shirts with neat designs, band shirts, or even jeans to cut and sew into pillows. Personalize your teen's room and add some spice without spending a lot of money.

Purchasing brand new furniture is a very costly enterprise. Perhaps you can acquire some quirky pieces from estate sales and thrift shops. You might find real treasures amongst your used items, like furniture for instance. Some may require a bit of work, but with the right time invested, they can be a real asset to your household.

Here is a helpful tip that can help with the problem of water that is too hard. Purchase a water softener and filter your water through it. Through a variety of chemical processes, these appliances reduce water's hardness by extracting the magnesium and calcium that cause hard water. Water softeners that operate on chemical tablets are a popular and cost-effective choice. Choose the one that fits your needs.

When improving the exterior of your home, you can save money and add security by installing motion detecting lights. Motion sensing lights stay off until they detect motion in their path, and then they turn on automatically. This also means intruders will think twice about approaching any home with motion detection lights, in fear that they will be spotted.

When you are going to be doing home improvements that may inconvieience your neighbors, let them know ahead of time. Often, major renovation jobs will require trucks, heavy equipment or a dumpster, so you need to prepare for them. If you let your neighbors know ahead of time, they will most likely be less annoyed and inconvenienced.

As mentioned earlier, home improvement projects can benefit anyone that undertakes them. While it's good to be an expert at home improvements, knowing basic information is helpful. Just remember to use these tips on your next project.

Source: http://alioting.blogspot.com/2013/01/learn-some-of-simple-steps-of-home.html

rosh hashanah rosh hashanah boardwalk empire iOS 6 Release Date Canelo Alvarez Chavez vs Martinez Yunel Escobar

Lenovo debunks RIM deal rumors, says CFO was just chatting

Lenovo turned a few heads last week when its CFO mentioned RIM as a possible acquisition target or partner, and with many eyes peering in its direction, the company's felt the need to clarify its relationship with the BlackBerry maker. An English-language statement -- courtesy of The Next Web -- says Wong Wai Ming was "speaking broadly about M&A strategy," and only included RIM in this comment as the interviewer asked about Lenovo's interest in the company specifically. While it doesn't provide any more fuel for the speculation fire, there's no denial here, and it's worth remembering that Wong mentioned the two have talked about potential arrangements, according to the original Bloomberg report. Damage limitation statement deployed, we doubt Lenovo will be bringing this up again unless anything formal happens. In the meantime, RIM's got slightly more immediate matters to concern itself with.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, RIM, Lenovo

Comments

Source: Sina Tech, The Next Web

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/aVbL5a466v8/

Lone Star College Sloane Stephens Beyonce Lip Sync Star Wars citizens bank Hansel and Gretel LGBT

Unlocking new phones now banned under DMCA, the EFF weighs in

It was great while it lasted, but the days of users legally unlocking their own phones is over. Back in October of last year, the Library of Congress added an exemption to the DMCA to allow folks to free their new phones for 90 days. That three month window has now closed. Of course, carriers are still free to offer unlocked handsets themselves, and some will also unlock them for you as long as certain conditions are met. "Legacy" or used handsets purchased before today can still be unlocked without any finger-wagging from federal courts.

So, what does this mean exactly? Well, Electronic Frontier Foundation attorney Mitch Stoltz told us, "What's happening is not that the Copyright Office is declaring unlocking to be illegal, but rather that they're taking away a shield that unlockers could use in court if they get sued." This does make lawsuits much more likely according to him, but it's still up to the courts to decide the actual legality of phone unlocking. Indeed, it's a grim day for those who want true freedom over their own devices. Stoltz said to us, "This shows just how absurd the Digital Millennium Copyright Act is: a law that was supposed to stop the breaking of digital locks on copyrighted materials has led to the Librarian of Congress trying to regulate the used cellphone market."

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Comments

Via: Tech News Daily

Source: Library of Congress (Amazon)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/26/unlock-phone-exemption-ends/

chick fil a rose parade bowl games rose bowl auld lang syne dick clark Happy new year

What's Next? Better Engagement and a Marketplace Without ...

2012 has seen social media continue to gather pace, with even more social channels hitting the market. Even with all this buzz, there is still a level of scepticism and uncertainty amoung businesses who still fail to understand the power and the enormous opportunities that social media presents. This situation is somewhat similar to the late 1990s when a large number of businesses believed they didn?t need a webpage, which resulted in many missed opportunities.

Within this world of change in how we communicate, connect, and engage what does 2013 have in store for us? There are a number of technology driven shifts underway, and these will continue to have a major impact on how we work and how we engage using social media. Here are some of the trends that will impact us in 2013.

ENGAGE ME

A lot of businesses have a presence on social media, but very few have taken this opportunity seriously. There are even a greater number of businesses that still see Social Media as a fad, or are unable to grasp the opportunity due to either a lack of understanding or fear about someone posting a complaint on their social channel site.

2013 will be a defining year as we see the social channels continue to grow and evolve. For businesses, governments, charities and educators, 2013 is the year of engagement. The consumer is now front and centre and controls what information he/she wants to receive from their brand communities. They are the ones that give you and your brand permission to interact with them. It?s no longer a one way street in terms of communication, where traditional marketing has been used over the years. 2013 is the year of engagement; it?s the time for brands to interact with their community / tribe members, understand more about your brand from them and get them talking about your brand. The organisations that get this will see their brands outpace their competitors, especially the ones that still don?t see social media as a channel to participate in.

A MARKETPLACE WITH NO BOUNDARIES?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

2013 will see companies beginning to realise that they are no longer servicing a local community, or geographic location. With the internet, mobile phones and social media, business is now truly global and can service anyone that they engage with via social media.

Smart Brands will begin to realise that they need to rethink their strategy, realign their marketing mix and product offerings to effectively compete in a global marketplace.

With this shift in thinking comes an understanding that social media is an important part of your marketing mix. If you have a product to sell or a service to market, social media can play a major part in getting your brand global. Today you don?t need to rely on an ?intermediary ?such as distributors, licensors or ?retailers. You can get online set up a presence on social channels and sell your product or service 24/7.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Social media has given every person a voice. For the first time ever the power is now rests in the hands of the individual. ?2013 will see this power shift, continue to grow and influence every aspect of society.

The consumer now holds the power, they now decide which brands they want to interact with and receive information from.

This shift will continue to reverberate across society as brands, companies, associations, and governments come to terms with this shift in power.

As we have seen recently, social media controls the noise, spreads the word, allows individuals to gather together and become one voice. People now congregate both on and offline to support a cause or injustice.

In 2013 social media will continue to drive the news, views and opinions of the individual which in turn aggregates to the masses.? ?Power to the people? can now bring down Governments. It can now impact elections, damage or destroy brands, change legislation, and create change itself; it provides the silent majority with a voice. ?

Governments, Businesses and Brands as well as social media providers now have to come to terms with how they operate, ?market, communicate and engage in this new economy. As we have recently seen with Instagram (who wanted to change their terms of operation to give them the right to use other peoples images for advertising purposes) people will spread the message and people will disengage in protest.

BATTLE OF THE NET TITANS

In 2013 we will see the battle of the ?net titans?. These are the major players on the internet, once dominated by computer hardware companies, the new age titans are the likes of Google, Amazon, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Apple.

These companies dominate a marketplace like no other before them, and they hold the biggest asset of all, information; on what we like dislike, think and do.

We will see these big companies butting heads with each other as they try to grab an advantage and more power.? Some may decide to stop allowing their information being shared via search engines, others may stop third party providers of services, (such as the plethora of? twitter third party services providers from being able to access the twitter streams) in an attempt to control the information and data they are gathering.

Will this battle create separate webs with their own search engines where you never need to leave the social channels you engage in?? This will certainly start to play out over the coming years and dramatically change the nature of? the internet and destroy the original philosophy of the internet, which was open shared content.

COMPANY SOCIAL MEDIA

2013 will be defined as the year that social media started to be? ?integrated? into business. This trend will be all about businesses using social media channels as a vehicle to communicate and collaborate and engage with other employees online through social media channels.

We have seen education facilities start to integrate social media into their operations, and we will start to see savvy smart businesses and governments do the same. Using social media as vehicles to communicate internal announcements, to create collaborative cross functional working groups, to seek out new employees or internal job opportunities.... social media for business will provide endless opportunities and will hopefully put an end to those dreaded emails that have become the biggest time consuming and some may say most unproductive activity in business today.

Source: http://socialmediatoday.com/social-tonic/1188846/2013-social-media-trends-where-next

Iron Man 3 marco scutaro Russell Means Taylor Swift Red Walking Dead Season 3 Episode 2 celiac disease san francisco giants

Tiger: Creative Writing Worksheet

	108 1 2 3 4 5 rated by 3 teachers by simranraj Other Adjectives, Animals | Views: 538 | Level: Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate | 4 out of 5, rated by 3 teachers Tweet
	It's a creative free writing worksheet which you can use for your elementary students, words are given - let your students use all the words and describe a tiger in their own words. You can use this worksheet also for pre intermediate and intermediate students. Similar Worksheets Tiger Woods Free As A Bird [CREATIVE W ... The Egg: Creative Writing ... Register & Download only registered users can download

Source: http://busyteacher.org/14492-tiger-creative-writing-worksheet.html

Eddie Murphy Dead Democratic National Convention 2012 robin roberts myocardial infarction What Is Labor Day jersey shore Pasquale Rotella

How Much Effort does Web Content Management ... - CMS Crunch

There was once a time when a ?web presence? may have meant a static HTML site with a few dozen links, a few banner ads, and a guest book. Now with the rich capabilities of modern devices, high speed internet and wireless networks, and a web economy that is based on traffic as much as it is based on direct sales, a website must be as dynamic as the modern online world. The number of technologies for building web technology (Javascript, Flash, MySQL, CGI,? PHP, Perl,? XHML, Python, JSP, JSF, Ajax, the list goes on and on) ?is quite staggering, but the commonly occurring needs of an organization or a web business are usually centered on serving up pages or descriptions of items complete with imagery to the visitor. Furthermore, the explosion in social media has led to a need for greater networking and plug-in capability with the large well known sites. Let us break down what it would take to achieve a developer from scratch what is achieved by a?web Content Management?System (CMS).

A static website, one that simply displays text or images, is very easy to build with just knowledge of HTML or CSS, and more advanced websites can be created with Dreamweaver and other software suites. Updating these pages can be done manually, but doing so gets extremely time-consuming as a web page grows. A combination of PHP, JavaScript, and other technologies can make the user experience more interesting and cut out the ease of updating, and plugging into a backend database system such as MySQL can give the site much more value and cut down the cost to maintain given some initial development time. This is essentially the work that a ready-made CMS provides, and most can be installed with a single click and can take an experienced designer around $300 and a week of work to into professional shape.

However, there are circumstances in which a site developed from scratch may b e preferable, such as when the site provides an interesting and unique service that can?t be built easily with the templates offered by a CMS. In this case it could take months to develop a system similar in complexity to what a CMS provides. However, the issues that really make a CMS system shine through are maintenance and search engine optimization (SEO). Security, updates for the latest operating systems and mobile devices, and plug-ins for improved features and social network support are all developed by third parties, allowing the web developer and content manager to focus simply solely on maintaining the content. The cost and time savings during the operation of the site could be enormous and there should be as little down time as possible. As far as SEO is concerned, the techniques are numerous and a designer who chooses to work from scratch must be aware and able to implement all of them, but web CMS platforms are all pretty much optimized for SEO as far as th e design and framework portion of it is concerned.

Is a CMS the right web solution for you?

Source: http://cmscrunch.org/how-much-effort-does-web-content-management-save/

manning peyton florida state meghan mccain wilson chandler bristol motor speedway prometheus

National Planning Committee for International Women's Day 2013 ...

25 January 2013 Tonga's International Women's Day National Planning Committee (IWDNPC) met for the first time today, to discuss preparations and proposals for marking this year's International Women's Day.

International Women's Day (IWD) is held on 8 March each year to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of women, and to bring attention to the issues that still face women today.

The Women's Affairs Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs hosts an event annually to mark IWD. For the past two years, the International Women's Day National Planning Committee (IWDNPC) has facilitated events funded through the AusAID program, and had the support from various centers against Domestic Violence (DV).

In?view of?the upcoming submission to Parliament of the Family Protection Bill and associated community consultations,?the Secretariat is considering collecting?real life stories of domestic violence victims. ?Based on the UN theme, The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum", the Secretariat of the IWDNPC has adopted the 2013 theme, Real Stories, Real Women: Stories of Victims of domestic Violence to guide the work of the Committee this year.

Ms Polotu Fakafanua-Paunga, Deputy Director and Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Women Affairs Division said the, "For the planning this year, the Secretariat is looking for?assistance from the Media, Judiciary, Police and the Canters."

"This event is an opportunity to show our respect, appreciation and pride in all women in Tonga."

Various women, including political, community, and business leaders, leading educators, entrepreneurs, and television personalities, are usually invited to speak at various events on the day.

This year, the Secretariat is also planning to include a Workshop for Journalists on specialized domestic violence reporting. This would be an added value to journalists' skills which will include, greater public awareness of DV, changed attitudes towards abusive behavior, and more so of recommendations for the new Tonga Family Protection Bill.

Members of the IWDNPC include representatives from:

1. Secretariat & Chairperson: Ministry of Internal Affairs,

2. Development Partners/Missions: Australian High Commission; New Zealand High Commission; United National Development Programme, AusAID

3. Media: Matangi Tonga, Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TV/Radio Tonga),

4. Government Ministries: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Police, Ministry of Information and Communications, Crown Law Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs (Women's Affairs); Ministry of Justice

5. Women Groups: Langafonua ?a Fafnie Tonga, Ma'a Fafine mo e Famili;(MFF); Tonga National Centre for Women and Children (TNCWC), Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC)

6. Community Representatives

The IWDNPC will meet weekly to plan and coordinate the implementation of the national marking of international women's day.

For further enquiries, please contact Luisa Toetu'u, Tel No: (676) 27 099 Mob No: (676) 77 49211 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ENDS

Issued by the: Ministry of Information and Communications, Nuku'alofa, 2013. Tel: +676 28170 | Fax: +676 24861 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Source: http://www.mic.gov.to/news-today/press-releases/4220-national-planning-committee-for-international-womens-day-2013-meets

nazi ss naomi watts andrej pejic steve jobs fbi safehouse brown recluse brown recluse

New Construction In One of South Tampa's Most Desirable ...

South Tampa Realtor, Rae Catanese, and luxury new?home builder?Bayfair Homes, jointly come together to present: A gorgeous, elegant, corner lot situated in Beach Park, one of South Tampa's most desirable neighborhoods!

When a family friend of 30 years decided she wanted to sell her South Tampa Beach Park 1950's home, we came to the conclusion that marketing the property as a new construction home would draw the largest audience for this location where million dollar homes surround the property. But, there was one catch. The owner has a magnificent Grand Live Oak tree in the front yard which could be a challenge when designing a large luxury home.

At first, Rae began contacting her list of South Tampa custom home builders to see if they were interested in looking at the site. Many wanted to know about the tree and if it could be taken down, but when she spoke with David Seidenberg of Bayfair Properties LLC, a South Tampa custom home builder since 1989, he wanted to explore the options of what this magnificent tree could offer a homeowner. David's first words were, "What a spectacular tree! This could be the largest tree in all of Beach Park!"? He saw the opportunity to save this historical tree, and we all agreed it would provide an added benefit to a new homeowner. The tree provides an umbrella shade where a family can gather to enjoy sipping ice tea on a hot summer's day, host elegant parties under the moonlight or build a play area for kids in pure nature. To top it off, the landscaping opportunities are infinite!

Not knowing what could be done with the tree, Seidenberg suggested they meet with the City of Tampa Arborist, David Reilly. Reilly determined the oak was a protected tree and that even if the seller received authorization from the City of Tampa to take down the tree, there would be a two-year moratorium put on the construction of a new house. The solution was to trim several of the limbs to preserve the integrity of the tree, while still making it possible to build a large home.

For any property to be considered truly luxurious, man-made architecture and Mother Nature created elements must come together in unison and harmony to create a perfect balance. Well, this one has both. This exceptional residence is surrounded by a protected, magnificent Grand Live Oak Tree creating an outstanding setting from every angle, while providing the ultimate in privacy and luxury.

From the moment you enter the residence through the impressive front door, you are surrounded by the highest quality craftsmanship, materials and amenities, all working together to create an atmosphere of pure elegance and balance.

Downstairs will feature a great open room floor plan; 10' ceilings with 5 ?" crown molding; formal foyer and dining area, study, and a 23?12 paved outdoor entertaining space with gas piping for your outdoor grill. The sunroom takes advantage of the property's majestic oak tree, creating the perfect environment for a yoga lounge, or a personal peaceful retreat. You'll be able to choose everything from hardwood flooring, to granite counters in all rooms. ?

The kitchen features all Stainless Steel GE Profile^TM ENERGY STAR? appliance package, including an 18,000 BTU dual-flame stacked burner gas stove with convection oven, a GE Profile Advantium? Convection Microwave, and a GE Profile^TM ENERGY STAR? 23.2 Cu. Ft. Side-by-Side refrigerator with Integrated Dispenser. There is a choice of stained maple 42" cabinets from several designs which feature soft close drawers and a light valence.

Upstairs?you'll?find 4 generous sized bedrooms, a loft, and 3 full baths. Master bath has dual vanity sinks, garden tub and separate shower with Listello tile accents, and his and hers walk-in closets. There is also a large bonus room located above the 2 car garage, perfect for a children's playroom, craft room, sports room or even a spacious office.

Three 14 Seer AC units, tankless water heater, Low E Impact windows, and R30 insulation will save on all your electric and insurance costs. This large corner lot allows for a side entry garage with paver driveway, and leaves plenty of room for an optional pool for those hot summery days.

For more information on purchasing the lot, or building a new home, contact Rae Catanese

About The Listing Agent

Tampa Bay's own, Rae Catanese regularly gives expert advice and insider tips about the Tampa Bay real estate market. Since 2006, the Tampa Real Estate Insider blog has offered home buyers, sellers and those relocating to Tampa Bay with in-depth analysis of hot topics and latest real estate trends. She specializes in Listing Short Sales, Foreclosures and Bank Owned Homes for sale. Buyer and Listing Agent in St. Pete, Tampa and Clearwater. Contact Rae Today:

Rae Catanese
Prudential Tropical Realty
Phone: 813.784.7744
Email: info@thetamparealestateinsider.com
Website: http://thetamparealestateinsider.com

Published: January 25, 2013

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Source: http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20130125_wspanishmainst.htm

alcatraz cruise ship martin luther king jr. zappos john elway john elway i have a dream speech

Jindal raps fellow Republicans for narrow focus

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters) - Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal sharply criticized his own party on Thursday for its narrow focus on Washington-based budget battles and said Republicans need to revamp their message if they hope to recover from November's painful election losses.

In a blunt speech certain to bolster speculation about his 2016 presidential ambitions, Jindal told Republican leaders they must "stop being the stupid party" and broaden their effort to appeal to every American voter.

"The Republican Party does not need to change our principles - but we might need to change just about everything else we do," Jindal told the winter meeting of the Republican National Committee.

Jindal said Republicans have become obsessed with the details of the political budget wars in Washington and have failed to spell out for voters across the country the party's core economic principles of growth.

"A debate about which party can better manage the federal government is a very small and shortsighted debate," Jindal said. "If our vision is not bigger than that, we do not deserve to win."

With his message to party leaders, who are in Charlotte to discuss ways to recover from November's election loss to President Barack Obama, Jindal clearly offered himself as someone who could help lead Republicans back to victory in 2016.

The party is looking for ways to appeal to growing minority voting blocs like Hispanics and Asians and to bolster their support among women, all of whom helped push Obama to victory over Republican nominee Mitt Romney in November.

Jindal, the son of Indian immigrants, called for Republicans to reject identity politics and appeal to every American. He also took a clear swipe at Romney and his secretly recorded comment that 47 percent of Americans were government dependent and would not vote for him.

"We must compete for every single vote ? the 47 percent and the 53 percent, and any other combination that adds up to 100 percent," Jindal said.

Jindal told party leaders it was time to "recalibrate the compass of conservatism" and focus on ideas to grow the economy in places beyond the Washington area.

He suggested re-thinking every social program operated by the federal government and dramatically reducing its size.

Conservative Republicans have fallen into a "sideshow trap" by focusing on budget battles with Obama over raising the debt limit and "fiscal cliff" spending cuts and tax increases, he said.

"Today's conservatism is completely wrapped up in solving the hideous mess that is the federal budget," Jindal said. "We seem to have an obsession with government bookkeeping. This is a rigged game, and it is the wrong game for us to play."

Jindal's attack on congressional Republicans comes at a time when polls show their approval ratings have dropped into the low and mid-teens, making it relatively risk-free.

"We as Republicans have to accept that government number crunching - even conservative number crunching - is not the answer to our nation's problems," Jindal said.

"If you take nothing else away from what I say today, please understand this - we must not become the party of austerity. We must become the party of growth."

(Editing by Will Dunham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/jindal-raps-fellow-republicans-narrow-focus-021025766--business.html

what will my baby look like gary carter died cmas cmas tcu dr. oz heart attack grill las vegas

If You Think You're Good At Multitasking, You Probably Aren't

iStockphoto.com

Take it easy, fella.

iStockphoto.com

Everybody complains that people shouldn't talk on cellphones while driving. And yet it seems pretty much everybody does it.

That may be because so many of us think we're multitasking ninjas, while the rest of the people nattering away while driving are idiots.

But scientists say that the better people think they are at multitasking, the worse they really are at juggling.

Researchers at the University of Utah wanted to find out which personalities were more likely to try to do two tasks at once. They're keenly interested in people who talk on the phone or text while driving, since there's plenty of data that even using a hands-free phone boosts the risks of accidents.

That bit isn't exactly breaking news.

For quite a few years, researchers have been making the case that people who drive while using phones drive as badly as people who are legally drunk. But we persist in thinking we can handle it.

? People don't multitask because they're good at it. They do it because they are more distracted.

- David Sanbonmatsu

How come? The Utah folks speculated that multitaskers would be more apt to test high for traits like risk-taking, sensation-seeking and impulsivity. Turns out the researchers were right.

They asked student volunteers whether they used cellphones while driving, and whether they were good at multitasking. Then they tested the students' multitasking ability by asking them to solve math problems while remembering random strings of letters.

They found that the people who multitasked the most in real life ? the impulsive risk-takers ? were actually much worse at juggling tasks than people who rarely drove while phoning.

Even worse, these demon multitaskers thought they were terrific at it, though the cold, hard data proved they weren't.

"People don't multitask because they're good at it," says David Sanbonmatsu, a professor of psychology at the University of Utah and lead author of the study, which was published online in the journal PLOS One. "They do it because they are more distracted. They have trouble inhibiting the impulse to do another activity."

Seventy percent of the study participants, all college undergraduates, said they thought they were better than average at multitasking. Of course, that's statistically impossible ? a drivers' ed version of Lake Wobegon, with all multitasking drivers above average.

Texting drivers aren't the only ones who think they're aces at jobs they're actually flubbing. There's plenty of other research showing that people tend to overestimate personal attributes like attractiveness and talent. That proved true in this study, too. It was the non-risk-taking non-texters who actually turned out to be better at multitasking. They could maintain focus and get the job done.

"People sometimes think multitasking means greater productivity," Sanbonmatsu told Shots. "That's not what the findings in the literature say at all. A lot of times people multitask because they can't focus on the task that's most important to them."

Sanbonmatsu and his colleagues are now going to look into why we keep driving while texting, even though we know it's dangerous. Maybe it's because we think that, unlike the other mopes on the highway, we're just darned good at it.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/01/24/170160105/if-you-think-youre-good-at-multitasking-you-probably-arent?ft=1&f=1007

earthquake california roy orbison the third man 2012 nfl draft order mohamed sanu chris polk chicago bulls

Senate Committee Unanimously Approves New Gaming Bill | News ...

Photo: Lori SR (Flickr)

Casinos in Indiana like the Casino Aztar Gambling Riverboat, Evansville, have lost some of their revenue from competing casinos in adjacent states.

Legislation aimed at helping Indiana gaming facilities compete with other states and bolster struggling attendance cleared its first legislative hurdle Wednesday.

Legislation unanimously approved by the Senate Public Policy committee adds mobile gaming devices to off-track betting sites and eliminates taxes on free-play coupons.

It also allows live-dealer games in racetrack casinos, something the bill?s author, Crawfordsville Republican Senator Phil Boots, says will boost job creation.

?Contrary to popular policy today is we try to replace everything with a robot,? Boots says.? ?We?re actually taking a robot and replacing it with a live person which should increase our employment at the racinos somewhere around 650 people is what I?ve been told.?

Indianapolis Republican Senator Jim Merritt says he?s wary of the mobile gaming devices, iPad-like tablets that can run anything from slots to table games.

?I don?t want to get to a point where we just have casinos everywhere in the state of Indiana and I see us creeping toward that.?

Merritt says he?s hopeful the devices will be taken out of the bill, which now heads to the Senate Appropriations committee.

Source: http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/senate-committee-unanimously-approves-gaming-bill-43537/

convulsions john tyler chuck elisabeth hasselbeck fran drescher scarlett o hara pat sajak

Research Program for Relationships - Get Paid to Participate

The OurRelationship.com program was developed by Drs. Andrew Christensen and Brian Doss, faculty members at UCLA and the University of Miami. They are leading relationship experts and developed a cutting-edge, research-based approach called Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT). IBCT was studied in the largest and longest randomized study of couple therapy ever conducted. This study showed that IBCT can help most moderately- and severely-distressed couples improve their marriage and avoid divorce ? for five years or longer. No other approach out there can say that. Period.

Now, Drs. Doss and Christensen have translated IBCT into www.OurRelationship.com ? a confidential program that you can do free of charge in your own home, on your own time, without needing to meet with a marriage counselor. You can complete the program by yourself or with your partner. As part of the online program, you?ll first get objective and tailored feedback on the state of your relationship. After selecting a problem to focus on, you?ll complete a number of engaging activities which include animations as well as videos of couples and Drs. Doss and Christensen. Additionally, you?ll have an opportunity to work with an online ?coach?, a staff member who can help you apply the activities to your own relationship and help in the event of problems.

Additionally, for a limited time, by participating in the ongoing research study, you can earn $180-$250 per couple (or $65-$100) for the individual program) by completing all of the research surveys during and following the program! For more information, visit them at www.OurRelationship.com or call at (305) 284-5613.

Source: http://talkaboutmarriage.com/general-relationship-discussion/66075-research-program-relationships-get-paid-participate.html

Kerri Strug Ledecky Nadia Comaneci Rebecca Soni Snoop Lion London 2012 Table Tennis badminton

Upcoming iPhone email app ?Mailbox? now taking reservations for staggered roll out

A new email app will soon be available for the iPhone that wants to change the way we deal with email on our iPhone for the better. The new app created by Orchestra is said to be inspired by the simplicity of the ?Clear? to do app and the beautiful interface of the Sparrow email app. The developers are so confident of its success that they have decided to stagger its availability by creating a reservation system where the app will be rolled out to avoid any server meltdowns.

Mailbox is the inbox reinvented for a world on the go. It?s how email on the phone should work: Mailbox checks your email from the cloud and delivers it to your phone with lightning-fast speed. A colorful swipe-based UI makes processing a delight. And unique ?snooze buttons? let you put off messages until later. Mailbox makes getting to zero?and staying there?a breeze. After you experience a clean inbox, you?ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

The Mailbox app looks like a beautiful way to access and handle your day to day email. It has a very slick user interface and looks like it will be a very popular app. Having said that, in order for any third party email app to be really useful, it would have to become the default email app on the iPhone. There is nothing more frustrating than clicking a link in Safari and the stock app opening when you are using Mailbox or any other third party app. Currently Apple does not allows you to change default email apps but hopefully that may change in the future.

If that doesn't put you off and you want to get access to the staggered roll out of Mailbox as early as possible, you will have to register your iPhone number with the Mailbox team. You will then receive a reservation place and a private code that you will need to access the app when it is available. You shouldn't have to wait too long for that, it should be out in the coming weeks. Mailbox will be a free app but may offer paid premium features in the future.

Source: Mailbox

Meet Mailbox from Mailbox on Vimeo.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/OoNPgAcjP-8/story01.htm

news channel 5 nashville weather jason varitek andrew breitbart dead sheriff joe arpaio limbaugh aaron smith

DIY Entryway and Mudroom Storage Furniture - Articles :: Networx

In the house of my dreams, I have a mudroom. What I mean is, in the house of my dreams, I would have an actual room in which one can make the transition from indoors to outdoors. There would be coat racks; there would be shoe racks; there would be storage benches and cubbies; there would be a potting bench. However, I live in the financial real world, a world in which I am not willing to pay more than I can afford in a mortgage. For now, it's making do with a decent rental apartment that doesn't have much in the way of entryway storage. Do you identify with my situation?

If your entryway leaves a bit to be desired, like mine does, there is hope. The hope comes in the form of rudimentary carpentry skills and some ideas posted by DIY bloggers. A DIY storage bench, carefully arranged prefabricated storage furniture, and a brilliant IKEA hack are the three options that I am discussing in this article. They address a few common scenarios: The DIY storage bench addresses the situation when you have a coat closet, but no mudroom; the arrangement of prefabricated storage furniture addresses the situation when you have a garage available, but no mudroom; and the IKEA hack is a way to inexpensively build a custom cubby space and storage bench.

DIY storage bench in a closet: In this project, a wide but shallow coat closet became a full-service mudroom. Megan V. from Our Pinteresting Family, a DIY carpenter in Westminster, Maryland, removed the doors from her coat closet, built a comfortable bench, and mounted coat hooks and a shelf on the wall above the bench. The bench is a simple bench, built out of easy-to-come-by lumber, and finished the bench with a cute DIY cushion. Megan's closet mudroom is a concept that could be applied to houses with underutilized closets adjacent to the front door.

Creating a mudroom in the garage: Say you have a garage that you enter and exit through, but only a narrow foyer once you've entered the house. A practical solution is to use a portion of your garage as a mudroom, as blogger Lori S. of Thrifty Decor Mom did. She cleared the corner of her garage that is adjacent to the door to her house, and showed her skills as a painter by painting the walls a light, fresh color. She installed simple, inexpensive, prefabricated storage items, including a shoe rack and a coat rack. Now she and her children can leave their dirty shoes and wet coats by the door before entering the house.

IKEA hack mudroom cubby unit: This project was created by blogger Kim from The Money Pit (not to be confused with the syndicated radio show). It is one of the most clever IKEA hacks that I have seen. Kim attached "2 Billy Bookcases, 1 Billy Wall Shelf, 1 Smadal TV Console from IKEA and attached them to the wall up against a section of beadboard". The result looks like a very expensive and fancy mudroom storage unit, but it cost her a mere $300.

Chaya Kurtz writes for Networx.com.

Source: http://www.networx.com/article/diy-entryway-and-mudroom-storage-furnitu

detroit tigers Tsunami Lil Reese Hurricane Sandy Nyc Saanvi Venna vikings Colin Powell