Lindsay Lohan Is 'Elizabeth Taylor Reincarnated'

Actress explains why she relates to Taylor on 'a lot of levels' in a new featurette for her Lifetime flick, 'Liz & Dick'
By Jocelyn Vena


Lindsay Lohan in the "Liz and Dick" teaser
Photo: Lifetime

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1694600/lindsay-lohan-elizabeth-taylor-liz-and-dick.jhtml

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How cultural differences affect mobile use | weareallmukmuks.com

Editor?s note: Mobile phones have become an essential part of our everyday life. Through a special month-long series, ?Our Mobile Society,? we examine how phones and tablets are changing the way we live.

In the UK, it is called a mobile, in the U.S. cell phone, in Latin America celular, in Japan keitai (portable), in China shou-ji (hand machine), in Bangladesh muthophone (phone in the palm of your hand), in Sweden nalle (teddy bear), in Israel Pelephone (wonder phone) and in Germany a handy.

In Japan, train commuters receive a barrage of recorded announcements telling them to switch their mobiles to silent or vibrate, referred to as ?manner mode?. Using a mobile in public is frowned upon in a land where collective needs are put above the individual?s.

?Japanese culture highly values social harmony and social disturbance is heavily sanctioned,? explains Satomi Sugiyama, associate professor at Franklin College Switzerland.

If someone tries to board a bus while taking a call, the driver will not let them on, adds cultural anthropologist Mizuko Ito. ?In Japan your phone shouldn?t be a nuisance to others,? she says. ?This means generally keeping it on manner mode when out of the house, and not taking calls in cafes and restaurants. If somebody?s phone rings, they will be flustered and silence it or take very quick call,? Ito explains.

The density of urban spaces, the high use of public transportation, and the relative lack of privacy in homes contribute to ways of communicating that don?t impose on others, she explains.

Texting, mobile email, games and novels are more popular than voice calls among the Japanese.

In Spain and Italy, in contrast, mobiles are used everywhere and people discuss their personal lives loudly in public. Renfe, the state-owned train operating company in Spain, once promoted its journeys on a poster depicting conversations people can have with their partners on cell phones from the train.

Smartphones are the new wingman

The Spanish, like the Italians, happily answer calls in restaurants, during business meetings, conferences and even sometimes during concerts. Discreetly texting or instant messaging under the table during meetings is also commonplace, Amparo Lasén, professor of sociology at the University Complutense de Madrid, says.

Spanish people have always discussed their private lives in the streets, so doing so on mobile is just an evolution of that. ?Sometimes Spanish people leave movie theaters just to check what is happening on their phone,? Lasén says.

?You have an obligation to be available to close friends, colleagues and customers. There is an obligation of accountability,? she adds.

However, it is not the Spaniards but the Finns who are the chattiest on their mobiles in Europe, clocking up an average of 257 minutes a month, according to GSMA?s European Mobile Observatory 2011.

Then again, it is the homeland of Nokia. Austrians follow closely behind the Finns at 240 minutes of use, while the Maltese spend the least time talking ? an average of 46 minutes per month.

In parts of India and Africa, there is also a culture of split-second calls known as ?flashing? or ?beeping.? Jonathan Donner, a researcher at Microsoft India who published a paper on ?The Rules of Beeping,? said: ?Beeping is simple: A person calls a mobile telephone number and then hangs up before the mobile?s owner can pick up the call.?

The mobile owner can then phone them back, thus picking up the tab for the call.

Donner first came across ?beeping? in Rwanda and tracked it?s use across Africa. He said the practice has many different meanings from ?Come and pick me up?, to ?Hi?, to ?I?m thinking of you? to ?Call me back.?

Read related: Seven ways mobile phones have changed Africa

As blogger Shashank Bengali writes: ?There are unwritten but deeply observed rules for flashing. When your mechanic wants to tell you your car is ready, for example, he can flash you ? it?s your car, after all, and if you want it back, you?d better call him.

?It?s also hierarchical: an employee calling a superior, who makes more money, is justified in flashing ? unless he really needs a favor.?

He sounds a note of warning though: ?If you?re trying to woo a lady, don?t flash her. Ever.?

Read more from Our Mobile Society

In India it is common for people to take calls inside a movie theater. People don?t know if the call is important so they pick up, Umang Shah, of PhiMetrics, a telecom audit and consulting firm in India, says. Like in Spain, few Indians have or use voicemail, he added.

Another quirk about India is that the caller may get to hear a Bollywood song, chosen by the subscriber instead of a ringing tone. Known as caller tunes, the subscriber is charged for this monthly and according to Shah, they are a big money-spinner. This is also common in parts of Africa where a caller might hear a quote from the Bible.

In both continents, it is also common for people to take calls inside a movie theater. ?Even at highly official functions, during speeches and so on people in India take the call,? Kadira Pethiyagoda, visiting doctoral student at St. Anthony?s College, Oxford, says.

?Indian society has a long tradition of tolerance, including in terms of allowing others to infringe on what those in the West would consider one?s personal space,? he says. This is why phone use in cinemas and crowded trains, is tolerated, he adds. ?Indian society is also more communal than the West which, in part, leads to an increased importance of constantly staying in touch,? he adds.

?People pick up their phones everywhere in Africa. The only places they don?t are the mosque or the church,? Abdullahi Arabo, BT research fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, explains.

?Part of it is showing off that they have the device and if the call is from far away they like to show it?s an international call.?

In Japanese movie halls, on the contrary, 45-year-old Tokyo housewife Kanako Shibamoto says ?we are not allowed to even put phones into silent mode because the light of the screen might make other people annoyed.?

Mobile manufacturers have also created double sim card handsets for the emerging markets so they can simultaneously benefit from the best data and voice deals. In general, Indians chat for an average of 346 minutes a month, benefiting from extremely low rates of 0.5 rupee (less than half a cent) a minute. Multiple sim ownership is common across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

In Africa, it is because most of the service providers are unreliable and they can?t get a signal, Arabo says.

In the U.S., a Synovate market research poll found that 72 per cent of Americans considered loud conversations in public places to be the worst habits of cell phone users. Now the new gripe appears to be iPhone 4S users repeating simple questions to Apple?s Siri, a robotic assistant.

?People seem to be accepting of phone calls but not of people talking to a disembodied voice on their phone,? says Jane Vincent, visiting fellow at the Digital World Research Centre, University of Surrey.

Unlike Japan, texting has not taken off massively in America, because ?differing networks did not work well together in the early days of mobile communication causing dysfunctional text messaging across networks,? says Scott Campbell, professor of telecommunications at the University of Michigan.

?In addition, AOL played a role in slowing down adoption and use, especially of text messaging,? he added. Campbell also said mobile internet has been slow on the uptake there as digital media tablets are becoming popular ways of going online.

?They have a larger screen and better interface than mobile.?

Do you agree or disagree with the views in this article? What quirks have you noticed about your country or other places you have visited? Tell us in the comments box below.

CNN?s Stephanie Busari contributed to this article

Source: http://weareallmukmuks.com/how-cultural-differences-affect-mobile-use

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Kathys Cluttered Mind: Music Together Family Favorites CD and ...

This year we have been adding a lot more music into our homeschool days. My children are both very artistic in nature and enjoy music, dancing and drawing.?Unfortunately?because we don't have the available funds we have to do all of this from home...which would be fine except I am not musically inclined. It has been such a blessing to receive several music products this year to review and?

?was one of those.


The first time we listened to the Music Together CD we sang, danced and played instruments. And we had a lot of fun. We didn't follow any of the songbook suggestions and we listened to the entire CD (19 songs). My thought was to expose the children to all the songs so we could begin to learn the words.?I played the CD a couple more times the entire way through in the car?(it's great for car rides)?and at home while the kids were playing.

Then I went through the songbook and highlighted important details and the various activities I thought the kids would enjoy (just to make it easier to reference each time we had our music fun, see picture below). The songbook contains several sections which will be broken down further below as I go through how we used Music Together.

The first 15 pages of the book include:
-How to use the book
-Introduction to the Music Together philosophy
-Music Together Teaching Principles
-Types of Songs and Activities
-Working with?Instruments?and Props
-Music Together?and?Children with Special Needs

I gathered all the recommended instruments and props. We already had a music bin with various instruments, what we didn't have on hand we either made or improvised.

Instruments and props you can make or purchase to enhance your musical learning:?

-Egg Shakers (put some rice or beans in plastic eggs and wholla...decorate if desired)
-Rhythm Sticks (any type of sticks that you can clack together will work...wooden spoons work well)
-Train Whistle (we got ours at the Target dollar section)
-Harmonica (we picked ours up at Dollar Tree)
-Triangles
-Tambourines (Dollar Tree sells these too)
-Maracas (another Target dollar section find)
-Scarves (dug some out of my closet the kids really loved using these)
-Drums or Bongos (we made drums using oatmeal?containers?and then decorated them with paper, feathers, etc.)

-Bells
-Other shaking instruments (you can make other types of shakers using paper plates and?miscellaneous?containers. For the paper plate shakers fold the paper plate in half and staple it together. Leave a little opening to put rice or beans in to. Then finish?stapling. Decorate as desired. For the other shakers in the photo we used some plastic containers, spice and pill bottle containers work well. Fill with rice, beans or beads. Then decorate as desired we decorated our using tissue paper and glue).
-Zither (we made one of these using a container and large rubber bands, just place the rubberbands around the container over the opening and you have a fun strumming instrument)
-Props such as balls, parachutes, teddy bear, etc

My kids really liked the scarfs which are used for visible rhythm?activities. They thought waving the scarves to the beat of the music was quite fun.


After we got familiar with the CD I began creating mini lessons. I play 7-8 songs including the Hello and Goodbye Song and we do the various recommended activities in the songbook. These mini concentrated lessons take us about 1/2 hr to complete and we do them a couple of times a week on our math days. Music on Math days makes learning Math so much easier.
The next 78 pages are the songs:
There are 19 songs in the?Family Favorites CD?and songbook that's over 40 minutes of fun. In the middle of the CD case is a 32-page mini booklet with fun music-making activity suggestions for every song great for use at home, in the car, or in the preschool classroom. But I highly recommend the?Family Favorites Songbook?which exposes you to even more ways to use the CD.
The songs include:
1) Hello Song
2) Biddy Biddy
3) Splishing and Splashing
4) Ridin' in the Car
5) Stick Tune
6) She Sells Sea Shells
7) Playin' in the Kitchen
8) Palo, Palo
9) John the Rabbit
10) Spin and Stop
11) Mississippi Cats
12) One Little Owl
13) Goin' for Coffee
14) Obwisana
15) I've Been Working on the Railroad
16) Dancing with Teddy
17) Allee Galloo
18) May All Children (there are?2 versions of this special song online which you can listen to and download for FREE)
19) Goodbye, So Long, Farewell

I really enjoyed the diversity of the music there were fast songs, slow songs, oldies but goody songs, songs in different languages,?instrumental?only songs and heartwarming?lullaby?songs.

Here is video of the kids singing, dancing and playing to 3 songs on the CD.


Each song in the songbook includes about 4 pages of "teacher or parent pages," broken down into the following sections:
-Introduction - this includes information about the songs and a ?personal note from?Ken Guilmartin. There is some great information in this section which really helps you understand how the song?originated?and the meaning behind the song. In this?highlighted?introduction there is also a breakdown of activities, music and?recording.
-Song lyrics and sheet music.
-All ages and settings - this includes ideas and suggestions appropriate for all.
-Infants - activities designed to enhance infant's music experiences
-Preschoolers and older children - activities geared towards ages 3 and above - we found this section to be the one we used the most
-Children with special needs - adaptations designed specifically for music therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, special education teachers and speech-language?therapists. I used this section as well even though I do not really have any special needs children. Rowyn does attend speech therapy once a week and is very?stubborn. I decided to try the recommended activities for speech therapists when available. And guess what they worked he didn't even realize I had him practicing his trouble sounds during songs. For instance several of the songs like Biddy Biddy use?vocable sounds, like doo, doot, doo, doot. So we would add a sound Rowyn has trouble with like "sp, "r," or "f".

Types of songs and?activities:
There are 7 different types of songs and activities used throughout the songbook.

-Fingerplay
-Focus activity
-Instruments and props
-Lap song/dyad
-Large movement
-Lullaby
-Ostinati, part singing, and rounds
-Partner song
-Play-song
-Sit 'n' sing
-Small movement
-Songbook play
-Songs without words
-Substitution
-Taps 'n' claps
-Verse variations
-Vocables

Because there are so many activities it was very easy to change things up whenever we listened to a song again. If you happen to run out of activities you can easily adapt the special needs or younger age group activities to fit your childs needs.?There is even a?FUN song game?you can play on their website for FREE.

Example lessons:
Splishing and Splashing?-?For all ages and settings - have children sway to the beat, say the "I like to" ?phrase in an easy conversational manner. Then have them make up appropriate movements for each "splishing and splashing" phrase. Suggestion for dishes phrase - move your hands as if holding a plate with one hand and washing with the other.


Ridin' in the Car - For all ages and settings - songbook illustration - hold up the picture and ask children to tell or sing about what they see. Sing the song lightly tapping the picture to the beat.

The final section of the songbook is the Reference Section:

This section is 11 pages and includes information about Music Together and how to become involved with its licensed applications. There is also a list of the Music Together song collections, glossary and guitar reference chart.

More About Music Together:
Music Together is committed to helping families, caregivers, and early childhood professionals rediscover the pleasure and educational value of informal music experiences. All our teachers have successfully completed Music Together?s training program. Music Together applies the latest research in early childhood music development to the program. A curriculum pioneer since 1987.

Music Together was founded with the goal of providing the highest quality music and movement experiences to as many young children as possible, involving their parents, primary caregivers and early childhood professionals in the educational process. Music Together is therefore dedicated to the thorough and professional support of Music Together licensees and teachers and their work with children and families. This support includes training, business mentoring, networking services, national and regional promotion, customer referrals, business technology, ongoing research and development, the production of audio, video and print materials, and the distribution of musical instruments and related products.

Music Together has won multiple awards and is offered in over 40 countries.



Wrap Up:

At first I was a little?apprehensive?about this program. It looked like a lot of information and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to use it as intended, being musically challenged and all. But after reading through the songbook and highlighting the key components and activities, I survived. We had fun as a family and learned about music. We will continue using the CD and songbook in our music lessons until the kids get bored or too old and then I will?definitely?be blessing another family with it. This is a valuable resource and great for all learning styles, genders and special needs. I think the Family Favorites CD and songbook is a good fit for families and groups with children 9 yrs and under, older children may find the songs a little below their level.

Source: http://www.kathysclutteredmind.com/2012/09/music-together-family-favorites-cd-and.html

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Assessing the Climate and Culture Around Diversity and Inclu ...

Academic Medicine:

October 2012 - Volume 87 - Issue 10 - p 1313

doi: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e318267034b

Letters to the Editor

Castillo-Page, Laura PhD; Schoolcraft, Sarah A. MS; Milem, Jeffrey F. PhD; O?Brien, Celia PhD

Collapse Box

Author Information

Senior director, Diversity Policy and Programs and the Organizational Capacity Building Portfolio, Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, DC; lcastillopage@aamc.org.

Senior research analyst, Diversity Policy and Programs, Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, DC.

Ernest W. McFarland Distinguished Professor of Leadership for Education Policy and Reform, professor of education, and professor of medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

Postdoctoral fellow, College of Education and College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

To the Editor:

Recent scholarship asserts that diverse, inclusive climates provide medical schools and teaching hospitals with the necessary capacity to excel as organizations and ensure health equity for all.1 Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to assess climate and culture around diversity and inclusion in the nation?s medical schools and teaching hospitals as a means for benchmarking and improving.2

However, such assessments are not an easy task. Although a variety of definitions exist in the literature for culture and climate, it is generally understood that these constructs include the beliefs and values of an institution as well as the perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors of the students, faculty, leaders, and staff that constitute it. Data collection can therefore become an onerous task.

Researchers from the Association of American Medical Colleges and the University of Arizona, Colleges of Medicine and Education, partnered to pilot a study of campus climates at two medical schools and identified key methodological considerations. First, conceptual frameworks are essential for content development, as many climate and culture frameworks are multifaceted, requiring data from various sources. Therefore, a mixed-methods design is necessary, with both qualitative and quantitative data collection protocols. Second, it is important to review preexisting data such as policies, documents, and statistics (e.g., student enrollment data), as these provide valuable insight into how an institution has conceptualized and supported diversity. Last, understanding how different groups experience the environment is key to uncovering areas for improvement; thus, data should be collected from varying groups and levels within the organization as well as from as many diverse groups as possible.

Above all, data regarding diversity and inclusion are sensitive and must remain confidential and anonymous. It is especially important when collecting qualitative data to establish a safe, comfortable environment where everyone feels he or she can share personal experiences and opinions without fear of punishment or judgment. For example, junior faculty might feel more comfortable speaking when they are asked in a forum where senior faculty are not present, and faculty from racial or ethnic minority backgrounds and those of the majority culture might speak more candidly when spoken to separately.

Despite potential methodological challenges, comprehensively assessing culture and climate allows medical schools and teaching hospitals to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Such data can then be used to implement the necessary strategies and changes to create diverse and inclusive environments that support collaboration, innovation, and academic excellence as institutions strive to serve their communities.

Laura Castillo-Page, PhD

Senior director, Diversity Policy and Programs and the Organizational Capacity Building Portfolio, Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, DC; lcastillopage@aamc.org.

Sarah A. Schoolcraft, MS

Senior research analyst, Diversity Policy and Programs, Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, DC.

Jeffrey F. Milem, PhD

Ernest W. McFarland Distinguished Professor of Leadership for Education Policy and Reform, professor of education, and professor of medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

Celia O?Brien, PhD

Postdoctoral fellow, College of Education and College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

References

1. Nivet MA. Commentary: Diversity 3.0: A necessary systems upgrade. Acad Med. 2011;86:1487?1489

2. Milem JF, Dey EL, White CBSmedley BD, Butler AS, Bristow LR. In: Diversity considerations in health professions education. In the Nation?s Compelling Interest: Ensuring Diversity in the Health-Care Workforce. 2004 Washington, DC National Academies Press:345?389


Source: http://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2012/10000/Assessing_the_Climate_and_Culture_Around_Diversity.8.aspx

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Realtor Team Helps International Families Relocate to Houston ...

HOUSTON, TX (September 26, 2012) ?The Webster Group is bringing its expertise in international relocation to the Memorial Office of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene. Instead of just focusing on buying and selling property, the Websters accommodate almost every need associated with relocating people to a new country and city through their unique concierge service.

Lori and John Webster, with a combined 30 plus years of experience, have been acknowledged as top producers in residential real estate in Houston for more than a decade. The Websters have also joined forces with Realtor Vicki Irwin, whose experience in the oil and gas industry rounds out their team.

?Vicki is new to real estate but has an extremely valuable background in international petrochemical human resources,? Lori said. ?She gets what we do, and that?s something you can?t easily teach.?

The Websters also bring their own unique skills to the business. Lori previously owned an advertising agency. For her, the switch to real estate made sense.

?My work in advertising was people-oriented and task-driven,? she explained. ?The segue to real estate was surprisingly smooth. I?m doing basically the same thing ? helping people achieve their goals, but just in a different way.?

John?s background in banking, financial services, and international telecommunications with the United Nations also plays into the equation, as does his previous travel to many parts of the world. A native of England, John has an edge when it comes to understanding the needs of those moving to the U.S. from a different country. ?Coming to a new city, you have to land on your feet again. Our objective is to make that as stress-free as possible,? he said.

This is why the Websters have created a concierge experience in the real estate market. After the real estate transaction is complete, they take extra steps to welcome their clients to town, such as taking them to grocery shops and restaurants specific to their cultures. They often help their clients find schools, arrange for utilities, find medical care, join ex-pat groups and obtain driver?s licenses.

??You can?t tackle this town without some help,? said Lori. ?Our typical client is completely unfamiliar with Houston, and the process can be overwhelming, particularly when entire families are involved.?

The Websters believe that Gary Greene is the best company to accommodate their niche clientele.? ?One of our main goals is to build upon our portfolio of business. We?re expanding exponentially, and we feel like we are getting the support we need to do that from Gary Greene,? Lori said.

Andrew Boyd, manager of the Memorial office of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene , said the company could not be happier with the addition of this team. ?Their experience, knowledge, niche and success rate all make them unique,? he said. ?The service they provide is from A to Z. They have redefined the word ?service.??

Lori can be reached at 832-434-7839 or Lori.Webster@GaryGreene.com; and John is at 832-434-7851 or John.Webster@GaryGreene.com.

For more information about Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene, visit www.GaryGreene.com.

Source: http://fatcatwebproductions.com/the_paper/content/realtor-team-helps-international-families-relocate-houston

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Exagon Motors Furtive-eGT electric supercar eyes-on

There are few things we love more than custom-crafted carbon fiber cars with meaty all-electric powertrains and torque for miles and miles and miles. So, when we wandered by the display for the Furtive-eGT from Exagon Motors and, we couldn't help but stop and throw together a gallery -- despite that company trotting out mildly modified versions of this concept for a few years now. The all-electric supercar weighs just over 3,600 pounds and has dual electric motors, one for each rear wheel, pumping out a combined 402 horsepower. That's good for a 0 - 60 dash in 3.5 seconds and, with its carbon ceramic brakes, it can pull 1.2G while doing a hard stop. Exagon says it could manage up to 225 miles on a charge. When will it ever go into production, and how much will it cost if it does? The company still isn't saying, but if you have to ask...

Steve Dent contributed to this report.

Filed under:

Exagon Motors Furtive-eGT electric supercar eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 20:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/27/exagon-motors-furtive-egt-electric-supercar-eyes-on/

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Are You Safer Investing in Gold vs Stocks? | epica Personal Finance ...

For those seeking to invest money, several common strategies seem to always be at the top of the list: investing in real estate, business opportunities or the stock market.

More recently, investing in gold has also become a much more discussed investment play.

Gold prices have more than doubled since the Federal Reserve launched its first bond buying programs in Nov. 2008, while silver prices have nearly tripled, according to CNN Money. Meanwhile, stocks remain a popular option because of investors? prior experience in buying and selling stocks. Investors see the long-term value in stocks if held over the long run. For that reason, stocks are usually the first option that come to mind for investors.

However, when the value of the dollar drops, stock markets look less attractive, as has happened over the past few years. With a U.S. Presidential election looming, however, some investors are standing on the stock market sidelines waiting to see the decision of the electorate. That?s when attention turns to precious metals, like gold and silver.

Why gold?

Gold and other precious metal investments are quickly gaining in popularity. According to MSN Money, some investors have experienced up to 45% gains since late July, while others see ?a surge in investment? in gold.

There are many different options when looking to invest. According to Equities.com, investors can currently seek out 20 various gold investments which have over $85 billion dollars of investor assets. These gains have been found in silver, but even gold and platinum are boasting gains. With the current momentum in precious metal investing, many experts are predicting that the best time to invest in gold has yet to be seen.

Do some work yourself. Research online for investment opportunities in gold, or rely on companies like US Money Reserve, seen by some as the nation?s largest distributor of U.S. gov?t- issued gold, silver and platinum coins. Strategic analysts at the firm can help individuals with understanding their best investment options for precious metals.

Is gold really the best investment?

Is gold really the best investment for individuals? According to a recent Gallup poll, 28% of Americans believe that gold is the best long-term investment. Investing in real estate (20%), stocks/mutual funds (19%) and savings accounts/CDs (19%) were almost tied in terms of investment preference.

However, others still point to stocks as being the better investment strategy. How is this possible? It is all about timing. If you invest at the right time, whether in gold or in stocks, you can make money. However, if your timing is off, you can lose money in either investment as well.

What are your next steps?

The best advice for young investors is to keep a diversified portfolio, and consider the risk and the length of an investment. Conduct research on the current trends. What is your experience investing in gold or stocks? What tips do you have for others looking to choose a new way to diversify? If you put a little bit of your money behind each investment you will ensure that you will have a solid chance at making impressive gains.

Source: http://epicafinance.com/are-you-safer-investing-in-gold-vs-stocks/

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Considering Bamboo Flooring for Creating Amazing House ...

Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring ProblemsBamboo flooring is one of amazing flooring options that you can consider for refreshing your house performance. It is the best choice if you are the big fans of ?back to nature? or eco-friendly products. Do you know that this plant is a type of grass? Even though bamboo has strong durability just like maple, it is not a solid hardwood material. Just like other grass plants, bamboo can grow fast after the harvesting. No wonder if many people claim bamboo as great renewable source for flooring.

Using bamboo will create natural nuance inside your house. Just like other flooring material you can also find various type of bamboo for your flooring project. You can consider vertical or horizontal style, natural or carbonized type or strand woven bamboo flooring. In order to get maximum benefit you should avoid installing this material in the bathroom, enclosed veranda, or sauna. Make sure you know the right method for maintaining this floor so you can enjoy the beauty of bamboo inside your house for a long time.

1) Great Durability

You may be surprised while reading the fact about bamboo material for flooring. This material is harder than most of hardwood material. The strength rating of bamboo is higher than maple and almost double than red oak rating. You want to get strong and long lasting floor, please think about bamboo.

2) Great Aesthetic Value

Natural appearance of bamboo has attracted many people to use this material while doing home remodeling project. Tight grain and uniform natural light color of bamboo can be matched easily with other equipments. If you want darker color on the floor you can choose carbonized bamboo. While reading strand woven bamboo flooring review you will find that this type has very unique appearance. Other advantages, you won?t get strand woven bamboo flooring problems on durability because the compression process.

3) Great Environmental Value

Bamboo is a grass type plant. Commonly it needs 5 years for achieving maturity level of 50 feet high. In other side hardwoods need at least 30 years for achieving maturity level, even some types of tree need over 200 years. Bamboo is renewable resource so it will grow again after harvesting.

Important Points on Bamboo Flooring

Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring ReviewBefore using this material for your flooring project, you should understand some important aspects like mentioned below:

1) Decide the place where you will install this material. You should avoid excessive moisture condition. Even bamboo has good moisture resistance the extreme condition will cause damage on it.

2) Consult with the expert about the best product for your house. While purchasing it, please make sure you are well informed about the term and conditions, warranty aspect, and proper installation instructions.

3) Check the condition of all bamboo planks inside the boxes and then let them ?acclimate? at your house area by opening all boxes.

4) Before installing this floor, please make sure the subfloor is dry and clean.

5) Make sure you have good knowledge about how to maintain the bamboo flooring.

Source: http://cambridgemomsblog.com/home-flooring/considering-bamboo-flooring-for-creating-amazing-house-performance.html

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AngloGold says illegal strike spreads in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - An illegal strike spread through AngloGold Ashanti's South African operations on Wednesday, while Anglo American Platinum said it could start firing unlawful strikers on Thursday, as the country's miners grapple to rein in weeks of labor unrest.

A wave of wildcat action is roiling South Africa's mines despite the end of an illegal six-week stoppage at platinum producer Lonmin in which 46 people were killed and the price of the white metal was pushed higher.

Mining shares tanked in Johannesburg on Wednesday, with Amplats losing almost 4.5 percent after it said it has lost 20,000 ounces to the strike action since Sept 12, while AngloGold shares shed over 3 percent.

Most of AngloGold's 35,000 workers have joined the wildcat action that began last week at its Kopanang mine, spokesman Alan Fine said. The company is the world's No.3 bullion producer and South Africa accounted for about 32 percent of its global output of close to 2 million ounces of gold in the first half of 2012.

Illegal strike action has also gripped Gold Fields and the world's top platinum producer Amplats, a unit of global mining group Anglo American.

Amplats said in a statement that attendance at its four Rustenburg mines remained below 20 percent. It said it would take action against those who remained on strike on Thursday, including dismissals.

It has made such threats before but then extended the deadlines, perhaps mindful of the violence unleashed when rival Impala Platinum fired strikers in January.

Much of the platinum sector in South Africa has been battling with soaring costs and weak demand and Anglo American launched a review of its Amplats' operations months ago.

"Our Rustenburg mining operations are under considerable economic pressure and their future is already under review," Amplats' chief executive Chris Griffith said.

RED RAG

The steep 11 to 22 percent pay hikes extracted in the bloody standoff at Lonmin have been a red rag for others in an industry marked by glaring income and wage disparities.

ANC renegade Julius Malema, a populist who has backed the wildcat strikes and called for the nationalization of the country's mines, said he planned to address Implats' workers on Thursday to encourage them to press for higher wages.

"Tomorrow I'm going to a mine, Impala mine in Rustenburg. I'm going to encourage the workers to demand 12,500 (rand a month)," Malema said outside a court in the northern city of Polokwane where he was charged with money laundering.

Malema, the former head of the ruling ANC's Youth League who was ousted from the party for ill-discipline in April, is tapping into a swelling vein of anger among miners to revive his political career and campaign to unseat President Jacob Zuma.

Lesiba Seshoka, spokesman for the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), said the AngloGold strikers wanted a minimum of 16,000 rand ($2,000) a month but the company said it had not received a formal wage demand yet.

If the demand is 16,000 rand it would represent a rise of as much as 400 percent on the basic wages of the lowest-paid workers in the sector. AngloGold and some of its rivals have two-year wage deals that are in place until the middle of 2013.

The NUM does not support the strikes but elsewhere demands have included the resignation of its leaders, a reflection of discontent among miners who regard the union as out of touch and too close to mine managers and the ANC government.

Gold Fields, the world's fourth largest producer, said on Tuesday workers had reneged on a deal NUM claimed to have sealed to end a two-week strike at its KDC West operation in South Africa and miners at its Beatrix mine had also downed tools.

?Illegal strikes erupted in the platinum sector in the form of a bloody turf war between the NUM and the more militant Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).

The strikes have now spread elsewhere but there is no evidence yet of AMCU involvement in the unrest.

(Additional reporting by Ed Cropley; Editing by Pravin Char)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/anglogold-says-illegal-strike-spreads-south-africa-111417041--finance.html

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