If it wasn’t for this brilliant Calabrian you and I wouldn’t even know what day it was, but unfortunately, his great contribution bears someone’s name. As Michele Connors explains, Luigi Lilio, one of the greatest minds in Calabrian history, changed the way we see the world.

Welcome, Michele.

Back in May I was contacted by a representative from Enjoy Prepaid (dot com), an online phone card / PC-to-phone company that is part of Nobel telecom. They asked if I was interested in trying out their calling card and other website features and since I’m always up for testing new products, especially those that help expats get by a little easier, I agreed.

All-purpose solution: the all-purpose aquatics facility uses the latest technology to create multigenerational appeal and programmability.(All-Purpose Facility)

Aquatics International July 1, 2004 | Quay, Bruce; Dunn, Jim Today’s aquatics facility, is no longer just about a single body of water. It’s about a community–and meeting all the needs of that community, from water aerobics to water slides. Building a facility that meets those needs takes careful planning and an even more careful understanding of what your community wants. But regardless of the budget or the community, every facility must be built with enough flexibility to literally be all things to all people. here planets for kids

The good news is that technology now exists to make this dream facility a reality. The bad news is that many communities still aren’t taking advantage of what’s available. That’s unfortunate because when you build an all-purpose facility, you not only create more public excitement about the project before construction, but you also ensure that it will be sustainable for the long term. It’s all about providing multigenerational activities and generating enough programming revenue to keep the facility sustainable.

By keeping those two goals in mind–multigenerational appeal and programmability–we designed what truly can be called the ultimate facility. From movable floors, to lazy rivers to a warm spa, every aspect of this facility was designed with flexibility and sustainability in mind.

Here’s a look at how all the components knit together to create long-term interest and promote healthy lifestyles.

We start with a roofing system that creates all-season usability through natural lighting. Made of an engineered transparent material, it is light enough for architectural flexibility, but durable enough to handle winter climates while retaining heat. It also has the ability to let in up to 85 percent of the sun’s UV light characteristics. These rays are what allow trees to grow and people to tan. What’s more, the material is acoustically transparent, meaning it will alleviate the echo-chamber effect found in many indoor facilities.

Next we take a fresh approach to the traditional competitive pool. At first glance, this six-lane pool looks like any other. But look closer at the design and you’ll notice three key differences: a movable floor, movable bulkhead and a wave-generation system. These three features transform the simple competition pool into an all-purpose swimming/water aerobics venue.

The movable floor goes from 10 feet deep to zero-depth with infinite positions in between. The bulkhead can move the length of the pool–and the possibilities are endless. For instance, with the movable floor, one hour you can have a competitive swimming event, and the next you can move the floor up and have a water aerobics class for seniors.

The movable bulkhead (with enough room for guards) provides the same flexibility, allowing you to divide the pool up into different sections, including both 25-yard and 25-meter competitive lengths.

This kind of flexibility also allows your facility to change with the times so that when the next water exercise craze hits, you’ll be ready.

Another aspect of this untraditional traditional pool is the wave generator. Again, the idea is the flexibility and programmability that turn flat water into fun water. The wave generator builds in more of that. Rather than just offering lifeguard training, you can now offer rough-water swim training or kayaking lessons, or any other rough-water activity you can think of. And it’s a sure-fire way to amp up your birthday party concessions. one pool that was recently renovated to include a wave system increased its per-child rate by 40 percent.

If a little wave is that popular, imagine what a real surfing/body boarding experience will offer. That’s where the flow boarding system comes in. This feature is key to attracting the biggest demographic challenge: teens. Playing off the popularity of snowboarding and skateboarding–the fastest growing sport on the planet for kids 14 to 18–the surf generator allows body boarding and stand-up riding that’s affordable in the overall context of a facility. It also ties in with the concept of life sports: sports that kids take up as youths and continue throughout their adult lives. go to web site planets for kids

From teens, let’s move on to children and the wet deck area of our dream facility. Again the deck is carefully designed with multigenerational appeal in mind. Divided into zones, the deck features the lighter sprays closer to the zero-depth entry for toddlers, with heavier gushers closer to the multilevel play structure for older kids. With its tree-house appeal, the play structure itself is a great way to build in interest for kids of all ages. And with the nearby lounge area, parents and grandparents can easily keep an eye on the kids while enjoying the sun and fun.

The adjacent lazy river also is designed for multigenerational appeal, with a current you can float along or swim against. We’ve designed this one with some additional fountains and geysers along the way that make it more fun. Those looking for more of a thrill can always zoom down the adjacent body slide–a staple of any aquatics facility these days.

When it’s time for good old-fashioned fun, there’s a nonstructured multipurpose play area. This is a great place for kids to play together or individually, and for activities such as water basketball, underwater hockey and the like. Whatever the open-water activity, it’s an important component of the facility that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Taken together, all these elements create a facility that appeals to the young, old, active and nonactive users.

While budgets must be considered, don’t forget that your customers’ willingness to provide upfront Capital has everything to do with what you design in and sell to them. Imagine trying to raise capital with just a traditional pool. Then imagine going to that same group with this plan.

Providing the right mix of features and activities at the outset is a lot more cost-effective than having to add them three or four years down the road because of customer demand or competitive pressures.

The Dream Works FACILITY (A) Indoor, all-purpose center–30,000 square ft., with engineered transparent roofing system [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (B) Flow boarding system with observation deck [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COMPETITION/PROGRAM POOL [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (D) Movable floor and bulkhead for multiprogrammable pool [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (E) Wave generator [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WET DECK AREA (F) Wet deck–1,750 sq. ft.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (G) Warm spa with hydrotherapy jets–250 sq. ft.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (H) Multilevel play structure with interactive waterplay elements, slide jets and tipping buckets–215 sq. ft. with 1,800 sq. ft. of play pool water [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (I) Lounge area [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS (J) Lazy river with interactive waterfeatures–200 ft. long [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (K) Multipurpose play area–30-by-50 ft.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (L) Body slide with tower–150 ft. long [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ADDITIONAL FEATURES * Water jets * Gurgling springs * Fountains * Floor bubblers * Spray hoops * Dancing waters The Dream Designers BRUCE QUAY Principal Aquatic Development Group, Cohoes, N.Y.

JIM DUNN Director, Architecture and Engineering Quay has 25 years of manufacturing management experience, with more than 20 years dedicated to various director roles within the aquatics industry. Prior to joining ADG, he was president and CEO of Cookson Plastic Molding, with divisions that included Pacific Industries.

Dunn, with 17 years of waterpark development/construction experience, has helped pioneer some of the most progressive water filtration systems. Blizzard Beach (orlando, Fla.), Wet’n Wild (orlando, Fla., and Brazil) are just a few of the waterparks for which he has managed the design, filtration, and/or construction.

Quay, Bruce; Dunn, Jim

Ahhh, the dog days of summer – hot days, cool beaches and if you are lucky, even cooler summer vacations to southern Italy. If you are planning a trip this summer, you’ve probably done your homework. You’ve narrowed your must-see list, settled on hotels, chosen beaches, mountains and villages you’d like to explore. But are you really ready?

Self-service checkouts fall from favor

Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review November 27, 2011 | Joe Napsha When Tommie Gaver buys groceries at Shop ‘n Save, she invariably heads for the self-service checkout lane, regardless of how many items she is buying. adpselfservice.org adp self service

“It’s fast. I use it on bigger orders. I hate to stand in a long checkout line,” said Gaver, who shops at the store on Route 66 in Greensburg.

Gaver is bucking a trend when it comes to shoppers who select self-service checkout lanes, which often results in bagging their own groceries.

Despite an almost universal dislike for standing in long or slow checkout lines, an overwhelming majority of shoppers opt for cashier-assisted lanes instead of self-service, according to the 2011 “Food Retailing Industry Speaks” report published this autumn by the Food Marketing Institute, an Arlington, Va.-based trade group.

Self-service checkouts — introduced nationwide about a decade ago — have fallen in popularity. About 16 percent of supermarket customers used the self-service lanes in 2010, down from almost 20 percent in 2006, according to the report.

And almost 85 percent of customers choose a cashier to ring up their purchases when at least one self-service lane is available, the survey found. That includes the 20 percent of customers who picked an express lane with a cashier that limits the number of items to be purchased.

Perhaps as a result, some supermarket chains such as Albertsons of Boise and Big Y Foods Inc., with 61 stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut, are removing self-service checkouts.

Big Y said it determined that self-service lanes do not save customers time and usually take them longer to check out than customers in cashier-assisted lanes.

“Self-checkout lines get clogged as the customers needed to wait for store staff to assist with problems with bar codes, coupons, payment problems and other issues that invariably arise with many transactions,” Big Y said in a statement.

Offering customers a self-service option is an example of what supermarkets like to do: “Give their customers a lot of choice,” said John Stanton, a food marketing professor at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Because of that philosophy, few supermarket chains have removed them, Stanton said. “There’s no referendum on whether self-service checkout works or not.” Stores that remove self-service checkouts are creating more opportunities for customers to interact with the staff, thus increasing customer service, he noted.

That’s what Shop ‘n Save owner Jeff Sorbara did when self- service checkouts were not included at the Cranberry supermarket his family opened in April.

“We’ve not had any customer demand it,” Sorbara said, referring to the self-service checkouts.

Even so, his family’s Shop ‘n Save chain has installed self- service checks at their other markets in South Fayette, Wilkins, Bethel Park, Heidelberg and Kennedy.

At Giant Eagle, the region’s largest supermarket chain with 228 stores, “usage of self-service checkouts has remained popular,” spokesman Dan Donovan.

The majority of Giant Eagle’s supermarkets offer the self- service checkouts, which were introduced in February 2001 in 14 stores, he said.

“We continually monitor the preferences of our customers and adjust the number of self-checkout lanes in both existing and new stores based on these customer preferences,” Donovan said. site adp self service

Demographics is a factor in who uses the self-service checkouts. Typically, younger customers are more comfortable with the technology, Stanton said.

That’s the case with Ashley O’Bradovich, 20, of Hempfield, who says she usually heads for the self-service lanes.

“It’s a lot easier that way,” said O’Bradovich, who is unfazed by operating the touch screen at the checkout.

Ray Charley, owner of two Shop ‘n Save supermarkets in Greensburg, agrees with analysts who say customers who use self- service typically have small orders, a half-dozen items or less.

Using self-service for small orders is a lot more convenient than waiting in a long line, said Jay Barber of Bridgeville, at the Shop ‘n Save supermarket in South Fayette.

“Retailers often use self-checkout as a way to adjust to the highs and lows in customer traffic throughout the day,” the Food Marketing Institute’s report found.

The report stated that having one employee monitor four to six self-service checkout lanes can result in a significant savings on labor costs.

Charley said he has not found that to be the case.

Sometimes, two or three cashiers are needed to help with the self-service lanes, Sorbara said.

At the Shop ‘n Save in South Fayette, cashier Kathleen Gasper said she often assists customers who have problems with checking out produce or figuring out the computerized checkout system.

“When you see a customer struggle, it ends up becoming a problem,” Sorbara said.

Joe Napsha

The last couple of months, we’ve traveled through Calabria, Puglia, Molise, Basilicata, Campania, Abruzzo and Sicily. In our final Southern Italy Snapshots installment, we’re traveling off of the mainland to the photo-worthy island of Sardinia.

Since January, we’ve traveled through six of southern Italy’s most beautiful regions, including Puglia, Calabria, Sicily, Molise, Basilicata and Campania, all via some of the most beautiful photos on Flickr. Today the Southern Italy Snapshot series continues with Abruzzo.

iMovie app: creating fade in and fade Out.(CREATE)(Brief article)

Macworld February 1, 2011 | Carlson, Jeff A common video-editing technique is to start or end a movie with a fade, in which a totally black screen fades into the first clip, or the last clip fades into black or white. In the desktop version of iMovie, you do this by adding a Cross Dissolve transition to the start or end of a project, but iMovie’s iPhone 4 app lets you set transitions only between clips. Here’s a workaround. in our site iphone 4 apps

1. Cover the iPhone’s lens with something solid to prevent light from leaking into the sensor, and record a five-second clip of black or white footage. Don’t worry about the audio. this web site iphone 4 apps

2. Import the clip and place it where you want the fade to occur.

3. Trim the clip to a short duration, depending on how much empty screen you want to appear before the transition begins.

4. Double-tap the clip to bring up the Clip Settings dialog box, switch the Audio option to Off, and tap Done.

5. Double-tap the transition that appears next to the clip and, in the Transition Settings dialog box, make sure Cross Dissolve is selected and specify a duration (between 0.5 seconds and 2.0 seconds).

6. Tap the Done button and play the movie to view your fade.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Carlson, Jeff

Over the last three months, we’ve taken a pictorial tour of southern Italy as seen through the lens of some fabulous Flickr photographers. We have stopped in Sicily, Calabria, Puglia, Basilicata and Campania and today, we’re heading to Italy’s second smallest region, Molise, for another glimpse of Southern Italy Snapshots.

Kroger Taps into National Trend of Combining Gasoline Stations, Supermarkets.

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News July 1, 2003 By Geoffrey Rogow, The Roanoke Times, Va. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jul. 1–Besides coupons for groceries, now Kroger shoppers can save on gas. According to a Grocery Head…uarters trade magazine article in September 2002, at least 30 percent of all gasoline sales will occur at supermarket locations by 2006. go to web site free coupons for groceries

Most Kroger locations in the Roanoke Valley are trying to be at the forefront of that trend.

In conjunction with Centego Marketing group, Kroger is offering free-gas coupons at nine of its stores. Some products carry coupons for as much as $3 off gasoline at three Kroger fuel stations in the valley.

The Kash 4 Gas program, which began in Roanoke about a year ago, is subsidized by some manufacturers and allows customers free gasoline for buying certain products, said Archie Fralin, advertising manager for Kroger.

For example, Tyson offers $1 off gas for buying a roasted 23.2-ounce whole chicken. Also, Private Selection offers the same rebate for buying 6-ounce crab cakes. These are just two of the more than 700 items for which gasoline coupons are available.

The coupons can be redeemed at Kroger locations in Vinton, Lakeside Plaza in Salem, and Towne S…uare Mall, which have gasoline pumps on site. Also, the Smith Mountain Lake Kroger, to open in late August, is planned to have a fuel station.

Customers at six other Kroger locations are offered gasoline vouchers to be redeemed at any Kroger-operated pump in the valley.

Three Kroger locations do not participate in the program.

Signs explaining the program are posted at each pump, the front door and throughout the store. Shelf tags underneath the products inform customers about gasoline savings, and wire baskets in the store lobby contain Kash 4 Gas shopping lists. These lists outline each product that is on the program, and what section of the store to find it in. site free coupons for groceries

Tony Caputo, fuel center manager for Kroger, said informing the public about Kash 4 Gas has been one of his most difficult tasks. Caputo has 137 stores in his division, 25 of which have fuel centers. Another 29 participate in the coupon program.

Managing the program for Kroger is Centego Marketing Group, a Dallas-based startup founded by Peter Jacoves. He began the company when a friend, who was building gasoline stations at grocery stores, complained about not making money.

According to Jacoves, neither the gasoline station nor the grocery store were seeing increases in revenue because of proximity to each other. He decided to contact product manufacturers to see if they’d be interested in rewarding customers with free gasoline.

“When I started it five years ago, everyone thought it was ridiculous because it hadn’t been done before,” said Jacoves. “Now, manufacturers are selling 30 percent more product across the board.” Manufacturers like the program because it allows them to sell more products, according to Jacoves.

Also, manufacturers liked the fact that consumers got used to paying full price for products, unlike traditional coupons where the savings take place on the item itself. Several manufacturers refused to comment about the program.

Wayne Purcell, economics professor at Virginia Tech, said manufacturers generally do not want to discuss their strategies with anyone.

Purcell said this program may be one more way Kroger can battle Wal-Mart in the retail food industry. Wal-Mart is forcing new strategies in the industry because it keeps lower prices than everyone else.

Fralin said the program is not targeted at Wal-Mart, but it does help give Kroger a competitive advantage in selling fuel and groceries.

Usually for manufacturers, a major drawback in coupons is slippage, or the percentage of coupons actually redeemed. In a typical Sunday paper, 1.9 percent of the coupons printed are actually redeemed. However, in the fuel rewards program, 20 percent of the people who get the coupons redeem them, according to Renee Rubin, marketing communications manager for Centego.

Expiration for the receipts is typically 30 days, but Jacoves would like to move that down to 48 hours in the coming years.

In other locations around the country, grocers have partnered with major gasoline station chains such as Exxon. Caputo does not foresee needing to do that. He said much of the program’s strength is with customers who can stay within the Kroger family throughout the buying process.

KR, WMT, XOM,

Through the Southern Italy Snapshots series we’ve visited four of Italy’s southern-most regions, including world-famous Sicily, popular Puglia, laid-back Basilicata and my adopted home region and personal favorite, Calabria. Today, we are heading a bit north into another one of my favorite regions, Campania.

WUSF-TV’s Power Yoga goes nationwide.(wusf)

Sarasota Magazine March 1, 2006 WUSF Public Broadcasting’s full-service video, audio and multimedia production division, IntellisMedia, has produced a hit show that’s gone nationwide. It’s Power Yoga: Body & Mind, a half-hour show airing Monday through Friday at 5:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on WUSF-TV Channel 16 and other PBS stations nationwide. It is the first major television production for the company. see here prana power yoga

“This accomplishment illustrates the level of talent and expertise we have here at WUSF,” says WUSF General Manager JoAnn Urofsky. “Our team has done a terrific job developing and producing this show.” Power Yoga is hosted by instructor Adrienne Reed, who provides instructions and yoga workouts targeting both the body and the mind. Designed for beginners and advanced students alike, Power Yoga incorporates deep-breathing activities and physical movements. here prana power yoga

Each episode focuses on a particular workout, with topics like balancing poses, stamina, hips, forward folds and more. The programs are designed so that a viewer can either participate in each of the programs in sequence or choose certain areas of interest.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to Reed, yoga works for everyone, from the very young to the very old. “You don’t have to be flexible,” she adds. “It’s meant to increase flexibility and stamina, so it’s a wonderful thing for anyone to try.” Power Yoga: Mind & Body was produced entirely in-house at the WUSF studios through IntellisMedia. Sixty-five episodes have been produced. The company has also produced DVD and VHS versions of Adrienne Reed’s video Power Yoga for Athletes.

The last couple of months, we’ve traveled through Puglia, Calabria and Sicily via some of the most beautiful Flickr photos of southern Italy. Today the Southern Italy Snapshot series is heading slightly north into Basilicata.

Liberty Tax Service Releases Tax Season Numbers

Manufacturing Close-Up February 22, 2011 Liberty Tax Service reports a 14.2 percent increase in the total number of returns filed as of Feb. 15, and a 15.1 percent increase in revenues generated.

Same store sales show a 7.4 percent increase and net fees are up .8 percent. Since it was founded in 1997, the Company reported that it has demonstrated explosive growth in an industry formerly dominated by tax giant H&R Block, and Jackson Hewitt. Liberty Tax now operates 3,800 offices in the U.S. and Canada. web site liberty tax service

“Despite bitter snowstorms, and the fact that some forms, such as the Schedule A to report itemized deductions, were not eligible to be filed prior to Feb. 14, the tax season is progressing at a great pace for Liberty,” said John Hewitt, CEO and founder of Liberty Tax. in our site liberty tax service

“This has been a challenging beginning to the tax season, probably one of the most challenging in the 42 years I’ve been in the tax business. It’s been hard to predict what would happen,” said Hewitt. “We have a much clearer picture now.” Liberty Tax Service is a retail tax preparation company in the.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Our Southern Italy Snapshots series is into full swing and we’ve stopped both in bella Calabria and hopped off of the mainland with a visit to world-famous Sicily. Today we are at the back of the boot in Puglia, a region that is quickly becoming a must-see destination in the bel paese.

A couple of weeks ago we kicked off our Southern Italy Snapshots series with five beautiful Flickr pictures of Calabria. Today, we are heading 10 kilometers off of the mainland to the world-famous island … Sicily.

Recent home and property sales Arlington Heights Buffalo Grove Des Plaines Long Grove Mount Prospect Prospect Heights Rolling Meadows Rosemont Wheeling.(Neighbor)

Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) January 4, 2011 For a full list of property sales, visit www.dailyherald.com.

$450,000; 1304 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights, 60004; Sold on Nov. 26, 2010, by Bradley J. Beitzel to Todd Gabianelli and Elizabeth J. Gabianelli.

$342,500; 315 S. Donald Ave., Arlington Heights, 60004; Sold on Nov. 30, 2010, by Maura E. Kelly to Chunqing Liu and Xiaohai Xu.

$321,500; 1108 W White Oak St, Arlington Heights, 60005; Sold on Nov. 29, 2010, by Josie R. Kotsioris to Michael Q. Murray and Rosann M. Murray.

$285,000; 226 S. Chestnut Ave., Arlington Heights, 60005; Sold on Nov. 26, 2010, by Zabolocky Trust to Kevin B. McCarthy and Caroline J. McCarthy.

$280,000; 206 N. Derbyshire Ave., Arlington Heights, 60004; Sold on Nov. 26, 2010, by Michael Gray to Richard C. Jones.

$265,000; 127 S. Dwyer Ave., Arlington Heights, 60005; Sold on Nov. 23, 2010, by W Anthony Will to Dendorbres LLC.

$245,000; 211 S. Dwyer Ave., Arlington Heights, 60005; Sold on Nov. 29, 2010, by Thomas J Townsend Estate to Lisa M. Palermo and Francesco Rizzo.

$233,000; 2605 E. Bel Aire Drive, Arlington Heights, 60004; Sold on Nov. 26, 2010, by Jenifer Thalin to John Fisher and Jeri Fisher.

$513,000; 351 Raymond Road, Buffalo Grove, 60089; Sold on Nov. 29, 2010, by Fairview Estates Inc. to Prasad Aduri and Satyasri Aduri.

$380,000; 795 Vernon Court S, Buffalo Grove, 60089; Sold on Nov. 26, 2010, by Hannan Trust to Volodymyr Kulytskyy and Nataliya Kulytska.

$295,000; 841 Essington Lane, Buffalo Grove, 60089; Sold on Nov. 29, 2010, by Gerald Singson to Jenette Zisman and Natalie Rozenblit.

$220,000; 1687 Joseph Court, Buffalo Grove, 60089; Sold on Nov. 29, 2010, by Whispering Lake Estates LLC. to Jose S. Yu and Ann X. Shen.

$176,000; 356 Park View Terrace, Buffalo Grove, 60089; Sold on Nov. 30, 2010, by Judicial Sales Corp to Classic Business Group LLC.

$95,000; 200 Lake Blvd. Unit 458, Buffalo Grove, 60089; Sold on Nov. 23, 2010, by Flynn Trust to Irene Peery. web site bac home loans

$291,000; 1738 Birch St, Des Plaines, 60018; Sold on Nov. 26, 2010, by Kopecky Trust to Mark S. Malone and Audrey C. Malone.

$236,500; 654 S. 5th Ave., Des Plaines, 60016; Sold on Nov. 24, 2010, by Young Trust to Sarah A. Kochan.

$211,000; 59 Cranbrook Drive, Des Plaines, 60016; Sold on Nov. 23, 2010, by Federal Home Loan Mtg. Corp to Maria Lorelei Fertig.

$180,000; 9236 Fern Lane, Des Plaines, 60016; Sold on Nov. 23, 2010, by Manhar S. Patel to Jerambhai J. Pansuria and Samjuben J. Pansuria.

$170,500; 1670 Mill St. Unit 401, Des Plaines, 60016; Sold on Nov. 24, 2010, by United World Development LLC. to Alex Hernandez.

$167,000; 1477 E. Thacker St. Unit 405, Des Plaines, 60016; Sold on Nov. 24, 2010, by Edward F. Else to Nancy A. Szymula.

$155,000; 9268 Barberry Lane, Des Plaines, 60016; Sold on Nov. 23, 2010, by Federal Home Loan Mtg. Corp to Aoumik D. Patel and Kartik D. Patel.

$135,000; 1682 Illinois St, Des Plaines, 60018; Sold on Nov. 24, 2010, by Bac Home Loans Servicing LP to Liliana Zepeda and Ramon Chavez.

$115,000; 1600 E. Thacker St. Unit 606, Des Plaines, 60016; Sold on Nov. 26, 2010, by Prueter Trust to Jason Lang.

$655,000; 6344 Gilmer Road, Long Grove, 60047; Sold on Nov. 29, 2010, by Geffert Trust to Eusebio Alfaro and Blanca Alfaro. go to web site bac home loans

$432,500; 301 N. Dale Ave., Mount Prospect, 60056; Sold on Nov. 29, 2010, by Stanley Wilczek to Andrzej Swedura.

$358,500; 1117 E. Greenwood Drive, Mount Prospect, 60056; Sold on Nov. 24, 2010, by Stephen M. McMahon to Kevin Caruso and Kelly Caruso.

$285,000; 1749 E. Wood Lane, Mount Prospect, 60056; Sold on Nov. 30, 2010, by Mary V. Kozil to William Doyle and Melanie Doyle.

$242,000; 1810 E. Euclid Ave., Mount Prospect, 60056; Sold on Nov. 24, 2010, by Eleanor Olszewski to Edward S. Kwan and Pamela Suarez Kwan.

$230,000; 100 N. Eastwood Ave., Mount Prospect, 60056; Sold on Nov. 23, 2010, by Joanne Tholl to Andrew N. Swenton and Antra Swenton.

$195,000; 1410 S. Linneman Road, Mount Prospect, 60056; Sold on Nov. 24, 2010, by Wen Zhang to Bhavesh Patel and Avani Patel.

$154,000; 201 N. William St, Mount Prospect, 60056; Sold on Nov. 24, 2010, by Christine M. Wunar to Carol A. Costello.

$85,000; 1528 N. River West Court Unit 3B, Mount Prospect, 60056; Sold on Nov. 23, 2010, by Federal Home Loan Mtg. Corp to Kuei Hsiang Tsai.

$78,000; 1400 N. Elmhurst Road, Mount Prospect, 60056; Sold on Nov. 24, 2010, by Sherry Clemons to John J. Schwar.

$57,000; 1101 S. Hunt Club Drive Unit 402, Mount Prospect, 60056; Sold on Nov. 23, 2010, by Agnieszka Augustyn to Maria S. Kujawa.

$90,000; 1566 Cove Drive Unit 246 D, Prospect Heights, 60070; Sold on Nov. 23, 2010, by Megan T. Jacobs to Renata Krolik.

$113,000; 5501 Carriageway Drive Unit 301, Rolling Meadows, 60008; Sold on Nov. 30, 2010, by Deutsche Bank Natl. Trt. Co. Ttee to Vladimir Xhoxhi.

$270,000; 6120 Hawthorne St, Rosemont, 60018; Sold on Nov. 30, 2010, by Clot Trust to Aron J. Bresnen and Courtney A. Bresnen.

$240,000; 94 Mayer Ave., Wheeling, 60090; Sold on Nov. 24, 2010, by Willie Carl Harmon to Phat Thuong Sy and Chau Le Khong.

$128,000; 449 Buckeye Drive, Wheeling, 60090; Sold on Nov. 23, 2010, by Fannie Mae to Alexander L. Nikitin.

* Information provided by Record Information Services Inc., (630) 557-1000.

While it is always fun to travel around Italy snapping shots and capturing the bel paese in all of her thousands-year-old glory, sometimes it is fun to take a look at what others are doing. Over the next few months, I’ll be showcasing some of my favorite photos of Italy’s southern regions taken by fellow Italophiles and posted (under creative commons, of course) on Flickr.

Foundation Center Releases Foundation Grants to Individuals on CD-ROM.(Brief Article) in our site foundation grants

Information Today December 1, 2000 The Foundation Center has announced that, for the first time, individuals seeking assistance for a wide variety of purposes can locate important information on funding sources that is unavailable in other print or electronic resources. The newly-released Foundation Grants to Individuals on CD-ROM enables users to quickly search through an authoritative database of over 4,200 foundations and public charities that award funds for educational support (scholarships and student loans); general welfare; arts and cultural support; awards, prizes, and grants by nomination; international applicants; company employees (education and general welfare); students and graduates of specific schools; and research and professional support.

The high-speed search capabilities available in the CD-ROM format allow users to select multiple criteria and generate lists of potential funders within seconds, choosing from up to nine different search fields, which include grantmaker name, grantmaker state, grantmaker city, geographic focus, types of support, fields of interest, school name, company name, and text search.

The Foundation Grants to Individuals on CD-ROM database features accurate, in-depth information in each grantmaker record, including current data on such crucial facts as contact names and addresses, financial data, application information and deadlines, types of support offered, program descriptions, and more. In addition, over 150 grantmaker records include Web site addresses. Users with Internet access and Netscape’s Navigator or Communicator browser, or Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser, can link from the grantmaker’s record directly to its Web site for even more information on its funding program. web site foundation grants

There are a number of customization tools in Foundation Grants to Individuals on CD-ROM that help users to organize and record the information obtained during their searches. Users have a range of flexible printing and saving options and the ability to mark records and save their search strategies for future access. There is also a searchable notepad feature that can be used to create personalized notes appended to foundation records.

As I’ve mentioned over the last few weeks, I’m missing my traditional Texas-style Christmas this year and will be celebrating a Calabrian Christmas for the first time since moving to the bel paese. A few years ago I wrote a four-part series on Calabrian Christmas traditions and since I’m most looking forward to Il Cenone … the traditional Christmas Eve Dinner … , I’m pulling that post from the archives.

This website is filled with tips directed at people traveling to Italy. However, most of them are from my perspective … it is my blog, after all, and I realize that after living here four years you can forget some of those early Italy-travel experiences. I think it is a good idea to step back every now and then and get the perspective of someone who just started traveling to the bel paese.

Franklin Covey Co. and Vook Release ‘Habit 2′ for iPad

Wireless News September 27, 2010

Wireless News 09-27-2010 Franklin Covey Co. and Vook Release ‘Habit 2′ for iPad Type: News

Franklin Covey Co., a global consulting and training company, and Vook, a company that provides the integration of words, videos, pictures and interactivity into a new media experience, has released a new Vook for the iPad, Habit 2: Discovering Your Life Mission from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

This new Vook for the iPad features Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind from Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, according to Franklin Covey. The international bestseller was written by Stephen Covey in 1989 and has sold more than 20 million copies in 38 languages worldwide. It presents a holistic and principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With insights and pointed anecdotes, Stephen Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for integrating such principles as fairness, integrity, service and human dignity into one’s personal and professional life. see here 7 habits of highly effective people

Habit 2: Discovering Your Life Mission is available now for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

The newly released Vook for the iPad focuses on helping users to discover and create their own personal mission statement and includes provocative images and inspiring quotes as well as 10 video interviews with Stephen Covey produced by Franklin Covey in the company’s new consumer training product category. Franklin Covey also offers live workshops and online learning based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, as well. here 7 habits of highly effective people

Habit 2: Discovering Your Life Mission also features the new Vook user interface design and functionality with a larger video player for improved viewing experience and ‘pinch and zoom’ that allows readers to focus in on charts and information on how to successfully build one’s mission statement.

“Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind has been distilled down into its own bite-sized piece to encourage readers to focus specifically on that individual habit,” said Stephen Covey, best-selling author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. “This Vook will create a rich, mixed-media digital experience for users. Vook’s blend of words and video provides an affordable interactive learning experience and enables me to share the content from The 7 Habits book with audiences in a new and exciting way.”

“When developing production plans for each Vook, we actively consider what the ideal format is to share the subject in the most intimate, engaging way possible,” said Brad Inman, CEO and founder of Vook. “Each narrative is very unique. By ‘Vookifying’ The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, we hope to compel readers to take action and work on their personal and professional issues one at time, to become more effective in the way they live their lives.”

A Vook is a digital mixed-media form that unites words, video, pictures and interactivity into a single, integrated experience. Vooks are available as a mobile application for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch through the Apple iTunes App Store, as well as in the iBookstore.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

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It is hard to believe three years have passed-to the day … Happy Anniversary, Sweetie!-since my husband and I tied the proverbial knot in southeast Texas. In that time we’ve taken more than a few international trips together and picked up some tips for traveling as a couple.

KASE – KASE HOLDS DEMO TEST GAME ON FUTURES CONTRACTS TRADING FOR EXCHANGE MEMBERS SEP 8 – 22.

Kazakhstan Stock Exchange News August 26, 2010 /KASE, August 26, 10/ – Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) informs that on September 8 – 22, 2010 in the KASE trading system shall be held the demo test game for the exchange members to trade futures contracts (hereinafter – the demo game). go to web site driving test game

The demo game shall be held to show the KASE members a possibility of operating with derivative financial instruments in the exchange trading system, and to test newly developed trading mechanisms, positions and risk management on the KASE futures market.

The demo game participants shall have a possibility to execute transactions in non-deliverable futures contract on US dollar to tenge and KASE Index.

The demo trades shall be executed on September 8 – 21, 2010, inclusive on working days from 12:00 to 13:00 Almaty time. On September 22 the training contracts shall be closed and the demo game results summarized.

The demo game winner shall be recognized that participants whose margin account balance shall have the largest value among other game participants. By the demo game results KASE shall publish the news with the list of three participants that achieved the best results.

***** The information contained herein is provided on an aAS ISa basis and to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. AII Data Processing does not endorse in any way, the views, opinions or recommendations expressed above. The use of the information is subject to the terms and conditions as published by the original source, which you have to read and accept in full prior to the execution of any actions taken in reliance on information contained herein. in our site driving test game

One of the best things about traveling in southern Italy is the lack of English you’ll hear on the streets, in restaurants, even at main attractions. But this can also be intimidating-especially for kids. Unless you already speak Italian, you’ll probably want to pick up a few basic phrases yourself, so get your kids involved and use this vacation as an excuse to encourage an interest in foreign languages.

A unique appreciation for women serving a dual role; Happy Fathers’ Day, Mom!

Miami Times May 24, 2005

Miami Times 05-24-2005 TGD Inspirations is steering new appreciation towards women on Fathers Day, with a unique Happy Fathers Day, Mom! card that honors women for their role in rearing children.

The Ohio-based company is run by Tonja Delaine, a savvy Black-American single mom who is turning heads and the traditional Father’s Day into an opportunity to honor and recognize the growing number of women nationwide who are serving dual parenting roles. As more women than ever are adopting, rearing and single-handedly handling the parental responsibilities for rearing children Delaine, an entrepreneur and author, hopes to capitalize on this lifestyle while spreading an inspirational message with her creative card line. go to website fathers day crafts

Delaine is a divorcee and has raised three children in a single-parent household. The “Happy Fathers Day, Mom!” card line was developed through her real-life experiences of annually greeting her girl friends (also single parents) with the saying, each year.

According to Delaine, “The inspirational card line is extremely relevant to today’s ever-changing household, as the nuclear family of today may be made up of parents of the same gender, divorcees, extended family members and those who are involved in rearing children for themselves, or others.”

The card line consists of 10 designs and is available in an assortment of colors with matching envelopes. They are receiving tremendous public response from all that have seen and read them. Many people after reading a card get teary-eyed and tell me that this is a much-needed specialty item,” Delaine says. go to site fathers day crafts

One card, for example, reads:

When things went wrong you were always there. You showed your children that you care. You gave us hope when we had none, you made our childhood loads of fun. For this and more, you are loved. Happy Fathers Day, Mom!

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I’ve said before one of my favorite things about blogging from the boot is getting the chance to meet and interact with other non-Italian, Italy-based business owners. While I know Italy “is a big place,” I thought I’d virtually met, either via our blogs, Facebook or Twitter, many of my English-speaking counterparts. However, last week I was proven wrong.

New physical therapy data have been reported by researchers at Vanderbilt University.(Survey)

Health & Medicine Week November 9, 2009 According to a study from the United States, “Variation in referral rates for physical therapy exists at both the individual physician and practice levels. The purpose of this stud), was to explore the influence of physician and practice characteristics on referral for physical therapy in patients with traumatic lower-extremity injury.” “A cross-sectional survey was conducted. In 2007, a Web-based survey questionnaire was distributed to 474 surgeon members of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. The questionnaire measured physician and practice characteristics, outcome expectations, and attitude toward physical therapy. Referral for physical therapy was based on case vignettes. The response rate was 58%. Surgeons reported that 57.6% of their patients would have a positive outcome from physical therapy and 24.2% would have a negative outcome. The highest physical therapy expectations were for the appropriate use of assistive devices (80.7%) and improved strength (force-generating capacity) (76.4%). The lowest outcome expectations were for improvements in pain (35.9%), coping with the emotional aspects of disability (44.1%), and improvements in work-place limitations (51.4%). Physicians reported that 32.6% of their patients referred for physical therapy would have no improvement beyond what would occur with a surgeon-directed home exercise program. Multivariate analyses showed positive physician outcome expectations to have the largest effect on referral for physical therapy (odds ratio=2.7, P< .001). The results suggest that orthopedic trauma surgeons refer patients for physical therapy based mostly on expectations for physical and motor outcomes, but may not be considering pain relief, return to work, and psychosocial aspects of recovery. Furthermore, low referral rates may be attributed to a preference for surgeon-directed home-based rehabilitation," wrote K.R. Archer and colleagues, Vanderbilt University (see also Physical Therapy). go to web site physical therapy salary go to web site physical therapy salary

The researchers concluded: “Future research should consider the efficacy of physical therapy for pain, psychosocial and Occupational outcomes, and exploring the differences between supervised physical therapy and physician-directed home exercise programs.” Archer and colleagues published the results of their research in Physical Therapy (Factors Associated With Surgeon Referral for Physical Therapy in Patients With Traumatic Lower-Extremity Injury: Results of a National Survey of Orthopedic Trauma Surgeons. Physical Therapy, 2009;89(9):893-905).

For additional information, contact K.R. Archer, Vanderbilt University, Medical Center, Dept. of Orthopedic & Rehabilitation, Medical Center ES Tower, Ste. 4200, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.

The publisher of the journal Physical Therapy can be contacted at: American Physical Therapy Association, 1111 N Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314, USA.

Over the years I’ve written about how to dress when you are visiting southern Italy and I’ve shared-many times over-some of my favorite Italian words. Today’s post combines those topics and fellow expat in southern Italy blogger, Laura of Ciao Amalfi! offers Italy-bound travelers the 411 on staying warm in winter.

Denver Nuggets v San Antonio Spurs, Game 1

Getty Images April 22, 2007 | Ronald Martinez website denver nuggets schedule

Getty Images 04-22-2007 Denver Nuggets v San Antonio Spurs, Game 1

Full Size JPG (853 KB) SAN ANTONIO – APRIL 22: Guard Allen Iverson #3 of the Denver Nuggets during Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on April 22, 2007 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Allen Iverson in our site denver nuggets schedule

Ronald Martinez

Last month, my globe-trotting friend Andi from My Beautiful Adventures wrote a guest post for our bed and breakfast website that featured five tips for packing for an international trip. If you’ve been around My Bella Vita, you know I thrive on finding great packing techniques, so today, Andi is back to share four more tips for packing for an international vacation.

Purr-fection – but at a price

Bath Chronicle, The August 27, 2009 | Steve Walker THURSDAY AUGUST 27 2009 Sometimes you need to suspend rational argument and go with your gut instincts. The 5.0-litre V8 version of Jaguar’s XF executive saloon is a car that you really shouldn’t buy if you live in the UK.

It will be very expensive to run and it’s hardly what you could call cheap in the first place at Pounds 49,900.

No, you definitely shouldn’t buy this car but, the more you look at it, the more you sit in it and the more you drive it, the more you’ll want to.

It appears that Jaguar has a malevolent streak tucked beneath all that chrome and wood veneer. It knows that this 5.0-litre V8 XF will only sell in very small numbers in the UK market but it offers the car here anyway, knowing full well that its blend of flowing lines and effortless V8 performance will be too much for some to resist. see here bowers and wilkins

The vast majority of buyers will choose the 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine and a few more will go all out for the sharper set-up of the high performance XFR.

The 5.0 V8 uses the same engine as the XFR but without the supercharger and in a more relaxed state of tune. It’s really designed more for the American market, where a thunderous petrol V8 is still an essential component in any executive car. Over here, it’s expensive but it comes closer to recreating the old-school Jag feel than any other XF.

The 3.0-litre twin turbo diesel offered in the XF is an outstanding piece of work on Jaguar’s part which only makes the 5.0- litre V8 petrol engine’s job tougher. In its most powerful form, the diesel has more torque with a gargantuan 600Nm compared to ‘only’ 514Nm from the V8 and is only 0.4s behind the V8′s 5.5s time for the sprint to 60mph.

A key benefit of the petrol car comes in its superior refinement. It’s beautifully composed at cruising speeds and only responds with a seductive V8 burble when coaxed into life. The magic happens far higher in the rev range than with the diesel. Peak power of 385bhp arrives at 6,500rpm, by which point the engine’s deep baritone is in full swing. In the diesel there’s 275bhp at 4,000rpm and the next gear beckons shortly after that.

Compared to the hooligan tendencies of the XFR, the standard 5.0- litre V8 goes for pace of the effortless variety.

This doesn’t appear to be the most spacious model in its sector but the coupe-like lines of the XF do belie the amount of space inside. There’s room for five adults in comfort, generous interior stowage and a boot capacity of up to 540 litres (plus the opportunity to fold the rear seats and add a further 420 litres).

On entry to the XF, the start button pulses red in case you were in any doubt as to what to do next. Start the engine and the JaguarDrive Selector gearchange dial rises from the centre console, while rotating air conditioning vents turn from their flush, ‘parked’ position ready to function. Jaguar set out to make the XF an experience in itself and the car manages to feel more special than any other executive saloon.

The Portfolio trim level accompanies the 5.0-litre V8 engine and includes a vast array of equipment. There’s full double stitched leather trim, suede headlining, deep pile carpets, heated and ventilated front seats, a 440w Bowers and Wilkins stereo system, satellite navigation and 20ins alloy wheels. Compared to the most powerful diesel engine with the same specification, the V8 comes at a premium of nearly Pounds 6,000 but it’s a full Pounds 10,000 below the mighty XFR.

Like all the XF models, the 5.0 V8 uses Jaguar’s Sequential Shift six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted ‘paddles’ for manual gear selection. Key driving aids on the XF include Electronic Brake Assist, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, the usual Anti-lock Braking System, Dynamic Stability Control, Cornering Brake Control, and Engine Drag Torque Control. There’s also Understeer Control Logic which decelerates the car and helps to restore grip to the front wheels when required. here bowers and wilkins

The upfront price differential between the top diesel and this 5.0-litre V8 might look tempting but it’s less so when you consider the ongoing costs. The combined cycle economy for the V8 is 25mpg, which is good for a 5.0-litre petrol engine in a 1,800kg saloon but the diesel manages 42mpg. Company car users will also look with concern at the 264g/km CO2 emissions which spell a king-sized tax bill compared to the 179g/km of the oil-burner.

There’s no doubt that the Jaguar XF 5.0 V8 is a more desirable prospect than the 3.0-litre diesel alternative if you ignore the costs attached to it.

The fact is that very few buyers are in a position to do that and they’ll end up driving the diesel models. The V8′s high revving performance, effortless pace and refinement are outstanding and together, produce an experience that’s in tune with what we all assume a Jaguar should be.

Times have moved on and UK buyers who can afford the XF 5.0 V8′s brand of luxury are in the minority but those that can won’t find many better ways of spending their money than this. The XF’s secret is in the way it feels special and charismatic in comparison to its German rivals and that charisma is only magnified by the presence of a V8 of this calibre.

Steve Walker

This past summer I had my first of many flights to Italy with kids. No, no, I’ve been on flights before where other people had to worry about getting their kids to sit still, buckle up and eat their cardboard chicken, but this summer, I was there.

For many of us a girlfriend getaway to Italy, complete with Italian wine, local food, bright beaches and a few of our closest female friends is the perfect excuse to head to overseas. When I moved to southern Italy a few years ago, two of my closest gal pals came along and we turned my big move into a once-in-a-lifetime chick trip.

Tech know.

The Evening Standard (London, England) July 20, 2006 Byline: MARK PRIGG DEAL OF THE WEEK KEF CRESTA 10 SPEAKERS Price: [pounds sterling]49 (RRP [pounds sterling]199) From: richersounds.com Great-sounding bookshelf speakers, perfect for the living room.

BUYERS’ GUIDE NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES Commuting can be incredibly irritating – block it all out by plugging these noise-cancelling headphones into your iPod. go to site best noise cancelling headphones

Panasonic RP-HC300, right: Comfortable design, excellent sound quality and decent noise isolation. 254g. in our site best noise cancelling headphones

[pounds sterling]80, panasonic.co.uk Sony MDR-NC11: Small inear headphones. The audio quality is dubious, but they’re great at blocking out ambient noise. 48g [pounds sterling]70, sony.co.uk Bose Quietcomfort 2: The daddy of noise-cancelling headphones, with brilliant performance and comfort. 207g.

[pounds sterling]275, bose.co.uk VERDICT: Bose’s headphones are the best if money is no object. But Panasonic’s [pounds sterling]80 wonders aren’t far behind and way cheaper.

Source: T3 Magazine