Sandy dampens mood for many Black Friday shoppers

VALLEY STREAM, N.Y./BROOKLYN, New York (Reuters) - Malls across the United States teemed with shoppers looking for Black Friday bargains, but many in the New York area sat out the madness, too busy coping with the lingering effects of Superstorm Sandy.

The Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, New York, just a few miles from New York's JFK airport, is in a part of Long Island that was particularly devastated by the October 29 storm, which destroyed or severely damaged homes in many low-lying areas.

While still busy, shoppers and store workers alike said it was far from being the usual mob of years past.

"All the money people are spending on eating or on gas because they're displaced from their homes is money they won't spend on gifts," said Liliana Bignardelli, a 30 year-old perfume saleswoman working out of the Macy's at the mall.

She herself has been displaced since Sandy flooded the first floor of her home in Freeport, on Long Island, in one of the worst hit areas. She won't be able to go home until sometime in December. A colleague of hers said he had never seen a Black Friday this quiet.

A few doors down, at a Kohl's Corp store, Ed Gunn of West Hempstead, New York, said that last Black Friday, it took him forever to find a parking spot. This year, it was easy.

And he put the blame squarely on Sandy. His sister, who lives in Oceanside, also on Long Island, lost her home.

"They're not worrying about going shopping. They're trying to get their lives back together," he said.

A number of national retailers in recent weeks have said that Sandy has affected business. Expected economic losses from Sandy have been estimated at well north of $50 billion.

"It's clearly had an impact," Macy's Chief Executive Terry Lundgren told Reuters.

Other retailers reporting an impact from Sandy range from jeweler Zale Corp to upscale department store operator Saks Inc .

Despite the circumstances, some shoppers hurt by the storm turned out in search of deals given their stretched finances.

At the Kings Plaza Mall, near the parts of Brooklyn that were flooded the most dramatically, foot traffic was lighter at the mall on Black Friday than last year, although store workers said there had been crowds at Best Buy earlier looking for deals on televisions.

At Macy's, a mall worker named Raffie, was buying shoes for her son to attend a Sweet 16 party before she started her shift at a different store.

"We lost everything at our home in Staten Island," she said.

(Reporting by Phil Wahba in Valley Stream, N.Y., and Beth Pinsker Gladstone in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Editing by Ben Berkowitz and Tim Dobbyn)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sandy-dampens-mood-many-black-friday-shoppers-214706761--sector.html

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Owl feathers inspire quieter change

10 hrs.

An owl glides by on silent wings. Many holiday travelers probably wish airplanes could do the same.?

"On airplanes, the back edge of the wing is where you get most of the noise," Justin Jaworski, a mathematician at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, told TechNewsDaily. "My work is looking at developing theoretical models to explain trailing-edge noise."

Most recently, he and his colleague Nigel Peake showed, mathematically, that the noise from airplane wings could be reduced tenfold if their designers took a few cues from the feathers that fringe the trailing edge of an owl's wings.?

In their latest research, Jaworski and Peake found that owl wings are especially quiet in part because their trailing-edge feathers are flexible and porous, allowing some air through. Plane wings, of course, are hard and solid. But the pair found that if the edge of a plane's wings were perforated in a particular way, "the theory says you should be able to reduce noise as if there were not an edge there at all," Jaworski said.

Makers of real planes might have a difficult time taking that suggestion. Holes in the wings might reduce a plane's aerodynamics too much for the companies' liking, Jaworski said. Also, flexible trailing edges might flap in the wind, which would also reduce aerodynamics. These are issues that other engineers would work out in later stages of research, Jaworski said. He collaborates with experimental researchers to uncover the engineering trade-offs in his ideas.

In any case, the findings are still in their earliest stages, and it might take two or three years before the ideas for a quieter airplane wing are tested with a small model in a wind tunnel, Jaworski said. After? wind tunnel tests, even more research would go into seeing whether the ideas would be cost-effective in real planes.

Meanwhile, the Cambridge researchers continue to refine their model and study owl wings for further secrets into their quiet flight, Jaworski said.?

On the theory side, the next step is to study other features of owl wings that are not common to noisier flapping birds such as pigeons. "We're really excited about looking at this downy material on top," Jaworski said, referring to a unique, soft covering owl wings have. He said the down covering is difficult to model mathematically, no one has studied it before, and it may be especially important to quiet flight.

Jaworski presented his and Peake's research Nov. 18 in San Diego at a conference hosted by the American Physical Society.

You can follow TechNewsDaily staff writer Francie Diep on Twitter @franciediep. Follow TechNewsDaily on Twitter @TechNewsDaily, or on Facebook.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/owl-feathers-inspire-quieter-change-1C7226147

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Small Business Saturday Shopping!

?

Here At the Picket Fence, we have the privilege of working with some pretty amazing Sponsors! And, on this Small Business Saturday, we want to show them our support by sharing with you some of the amazing items you can find in their incredible shops. ?So, get out there and do some shopping from the comfort of your home and help us support these Small Businesses!

Flower Copper Textured Cuff Bracelet from Tahra at Designs by Tahra

?*10% Off during Thanksgiving Holiday when you use the code tahra10*

Pouring Teacup Ornament?from Roses and Teacups

Victorian Loop Style Light bulb from Nostalgic Bulbs

Sleigh Bells Ring Decorative Pillow from Ann at Sutton Place Designs

Baby It?s Cold Outside Wall Decal from Leen the Graphics Queen

Inspired By You book by Marian Parsons Miss Mustard Seed from Petticoat Junction

Vintage Cluster Style Bracelet with Pale Greens from Bel Monili

Burlap/Scrim Tree Skirt from The Shop Beyond the Screen Door

Vintage Silverware Jewelry?from Junxtaposition

Christmas and Winter Collections from M.A. Hadley American Pottery

?Let it Snow Burlap Pillow Cover from LaRae Boutique

Canvas Photo Print from Canvas Photo Company

Free Shipping on Metal Pictures

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Galvanized Watering Can with Vintage Ornaments from rosekraft

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Winter Birds Pennant Banner Printable from Curly Willow Collections

Cyber Monday Sale 10% off on all products when you use coupon code CYBER10

Personalized Vinyl Wall Decal from the Old Barn Rescue Company

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Antique Maps from Knick of Time Interiors

Right now buy 3 maps get one free!

Earth Friendly Winter Botanical Branches Cards from Redbird Cottage Art

Check out the Black Friday/Cyber Monday Specials here

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French Toweling Table Runner from The Charm of Home

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Thank you so much to our Sponsors for their partnership with us and for proving that you can turn your dreams into a reality!

Happy Shopping!

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Source: http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2012/11/small-business-saturday-shopping-2.html

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Sports Camp

Sports are liked by everyone. Everyone loves some kind of sport and also plays it. It gets more interesting when you play better after working on your skills. The best way to improve skills is to get trained by any experienced coach. Through proper training, exercising and enhancing skills in sports camp helps a lot to improve skills.

For those who want to improve their skills, joining a sports camp is a good way to spend holidays instead of going for camping, rock climbing or any other kind of activities. Sports camp provides good training, better techniques and set of exercises to help you improve your skills.

Sports camp provides training to boys and girls both, for different sports. The goal of these sports camp is to train new young players so that they can be motivated and can enhance their skills in order to perform better in their respective sports. These camp focuses on giving better environment and techniques for players to learn and perform better on the field. The whole training programs is usually run by instructors and experienced coaches, who make sure that every player learns some new techniques, and can use it to improve their skills.

Many sports camp focuses only on one sport, exclusively. These camps provide players better chance to enhance their skills and learn new improved techniques, to get better in that particular sport. These camps provide good opportunities for players to get extensive training and learn from experienced coaches. Some camps also provide few training sessions with professional trainers and coaches.


Every year, many sports camp are organized across the country, in which thousands of young players participate to improve their skills and perform better in their respective sports. Every sport camp provides training to players differently, in their own way. The workout and training sessions are organized according to a preplanned schedule. This schedule is prepared by their trainers, trying to provide the better training.

Some sport camps also give training according to the different level of players and their age groups so that they every player can get the needed training. Giving same training to different level of players is not much beneficial. In such cases, either those who are advanced at advanced level learn nothing new or those who are at beginner's level can't keep themselves up to speed. It is better to create separate groups according to the level and age group of the players.

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/1439064/sports-camp.htm

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Science fund cuts could hurt EU recovery, scientists warn

LONDON (Reuters) - Cutting science funding in the European Union would threaten economic recovery in the bloc, the heads of scientific organisations said on Friday after such cuts were proposed.

"We believe it would be deeply damaging to future economic growth if we were to cut funding now," Andrew Harrison, director general of Grenoble-based neutron research centre the Institut Laue-Langevin, told Reuters.

EU leaders on Friday abandoned talks to find a deal on the bloc's budget for 2014-2020 but European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, who chaired the summit, proposed cuts in a number of areas, including research and innovation, in an effort to reach a deal.

According to a document seen by Reuters, Van Rompuy's proposal penciled in a 139.5 billion euro ($180.8 billion) budget under the competitiveness-for-growth heading, which includes the EU's flagship Horizon 2020 research funding program.

This is a further cut from a Van Rompuy proposal earlier this week of 152 billion euros and down sharply from an original Commission proposal of 164 billion euros.

Although it is unclear if there would be any knock-on effect from the proposed cuts on Horizon 2020 when talks resume early next year, the original budget for the research program was 80 billion euros, roughly half the original pot.

European scientists, whose funding is already under pressure from the economic downturn, will be alarmed at the prospect of cuts to one of the biggest science budgets in the world.

Harrison, of the Grenoble-based research centre, joined in a lobbying effort with seven other world-leading research organisations calling on the Commission to defend science funding ahead of the budget summit.

In a letter to Commission President Jose-Manuel Barroso that was also signed by Rolf Heuer, director general of the CERN research centre near Geneva, the organisations warned that science should be central to Europe's long-term prosperity.

"At a time when a return to growth is the most pressing policy priority across Europe, it is absolutely vital that investment in our scientific resources (both human and technical) is sustained," they said.

The signatories also included Iain Mattaj, head of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory; Alvaro Gimenez Canete, director of science and robotic exploration at the European Space Agency and Tim de Zeeuw, head of the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

"We are all world leading in our fields," said Harrison. "We are cautioning very strongly against cuts now."

LONG-TERM BENEFITS

Harrison said that although researchers needed to do a better job in demonstrating the economic value of research, there was no doubt about the long-term benefits of investment in science.

"Europe is not going to compete in the mass labour market or in natural resources, we are only going to compete because we are smarter," he said. "Right now I'm not fantastically confident."

Van Rompuy's proposal earmarked nearly 13 billion euros for specific projects, including Galileo, the European replacement for the Global Positioning System satellite network, and the ITER nuclear fusion research project.

But Horizon 2020 will be the mainstay of EU research grants and the implications for the funding program remain unclear.

"Science isn't going to die if they don't implement Horizon 2020 fully," said Bruno Leibundgut, director for science at ESO. "But these countries are going to suffer from this five or 10 years down the line."

($1 = 0.7717 euros)

(Additional reporting by Paul Taylor and Charlie Dunmore in Brussels; Editing by Michael Roddy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/science-fund-cuts-could-hurt-eu-recovery-scientists-170544597--business.html

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Djimon Hounsou & Kimora Lee Simmons Dunzo!

Djimon Hounsou & Kimora Lee Simmons Dunzo!

Actor Djimon Hounsou and fashion designer and reality star Kimora Lee Simmons have called it quits. The couple have been together for over 5 years and have one child together. The actor’s rep confirmed their split, stating, “Djimon Hounsou and Kimora Lee Simmons have officially separated after 5? years. Though never married, they have one ...

Djimon Hounsou & Kimora Lee Simmons Dunzo! Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2012/11/djimon-hounsou-kimora-lee-simmons-dunzo/

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Kurdish fighters gather in disputed area in Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP) ? The commander of Kurdish forces dispatched fighters to a disputed northern area of Iraq Wednesday, as tensions mounted between Iraq's central government and the Kurdish-ruled autonomous region.

Neighboring Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that the Iraqi government was steering the country to civil war. Such a conflict could spill across the border.

Peshmerga commander Mahmoud Sankawi said forces were shifted to the Khanaqin area overnight from the nearby town of Kifri. He did not specify how many men or armored vehicles were involved. Sankawi said he did not coordinate with Iraqi forces, nor inform them of the troop movements.

"It is well known to them," Sankawi said.

The Kurdish Peshmerga forces control security in the Kurdish autonomous region, but are also present in disputed areas.

The movement of Kurdish forces came a day after the government sent tanks and armored personnel carriers to the Kirkuk area, some 60 miles away. That area is claimed by both sides.

Tensions have been sharply increasing since Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki formed a new military command last month to oversee Baghdad-run security forces bordering the Kurdish region, including disputed areas claimed by Iraqi Arabs, Turkomen and Kurds ? especially the areas surrounding Mosul and Kirkuk.

U.S. forces once supervised the area, helping Kurdish and Arab security forces form joint patrols.

Any deterioration into actual fighting in the broad swath of northern Iraq could spread into Turkey, which has a large Kurdish minority. On Wednesday, the Turkish prime minister said his government feared the Iraqi central government was dragging the country toward internal conflict.

"Now, our fears are slowly coming true," Erdogan said. "The regime is trying to take things toward a civil war."

The Iraqi commander of the newly formed Dijla Joint Military Command, now overseeing government forces in disputed areas, said they would not back down from a confrontation.

"We are closely watching them. We are not afraid of them," said Lt. Gen. Abdul-Amir al-Zaidi. "The Iraqi army must be responsible for Iraqi security and its sovereignty."

Iraqi government officials were unavailable for comment.

On Friday, a shootout between Iraqi police and Kurdish guards in a disputed northern city left a civilian dead and four policemen wounded.

It was the first clash with casualties between the two sides for years, despite disputes over land, natural resources and power sharing since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled longtime dictator Saddam Hussein.

___

Additional reporting by Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kurdish-fighters-gather-disputed-area-iraq-112925604.html

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The Caveman Doctor and John Spencer Ellis Offer New Health ...

?The Caveman Doctor? Colin Champ and fitness guru John Spencer Ellis discuss the latest health, wellness and fitness strategies in a new video interview. The free training is available at http://johnspencerellis.com/new-health-wellness-and-fitness-strategies-with-t...

?The Caveman Doctor? Colin Champ comes to the modern age with a brand-new interview with fitness professional John Spencer Ellis on the latest tips for living healthy, eating well and adopting the best fitness strategies. With cutting-edge information and discussion, the duo discuss health, wellness, nutrition, diet and more in this new interview now available at http://johnspencerellis.com/new-health-wellness-and-fitness-strategies-with-t...

In the interview, Champ and Ellis discuss:

Finding the best strategies for overall health and wellness, which will vary from person to person;

New versus old philosophies on optimal health and wellness;

Baseline exams that both men and women should have throughout their lives;

The latest in sleep science;

Organic versus non-organic foods;

The benefits and limitations of Western, integrative and holistic medicine;

The range of diets that can help with detox, cancer prevention and living a long life;

Smoking and drinking;

And more

?More and more people, whether they are serious athletes, personal trainers or people who follow my blog hoping to improve their health, are focused on living better and eating better, so I wanted to offer the perspective from a medical doctor who also specializes in health, nutrition and wellness,? said Ellis, founder of John Spencer Ellis Enterprises, a fitness and personal development solutions company.

?Reducing stress levels and getting adequate sleep is one of the best things people can do. Obviously, diet and exercise are important, but if you?re not getting enough sleep and you?re stressed out, then your diet and exercise will get thrown off,? Champ added.

Dr. Champ developed his passion for exercise, nutrition and health thanks to his passion for sports. He also studied chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he focused further on health and wellness. After medical school, Dr. Champ felt like there was a lack of good information available from the medical field on constructing a healthy lifestyle and diet backed by real research. Through his own research, he came to adopt the caveman lifestyle and diet, which focuses on high-fat, low-grain foods.

The free video discussion is available online at http://johnspencerellis.com/new-health-wellness-and-fitness-strategies-with-the-caveman-doctor-john-spencer-ellis/

About John Spencer Ellis Enterprises

John Spencer Ellis Enterprises is a solutions provider for fitness and coaching professionals around the world, providing education, turn-key business programs, coaching and resources for new and advanced fitness and coaching professionals. For more information about John Spencer Ellis Enterprises or to watch the video with tips on new health, wellness and fitness strategies, please visit http://johnspencerellis.com/new-health-wellness-and-fitness-strategies-with-the-caveman-doctor-john-spencer-ellis/

Dr. John Spencer Ellis

30245 Tomas

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 USA

949-589-9166

cs@nestacertified.com

Source: http://www.briefingwire.com/pr/the-caveman-doctor-and-john-spencer-ellis-offer-new-health-wellness-fitness-strategies-video

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Post-Pregnancy Hair Loss | Care2 Healthy Living

  • Health Guru
  • November 21, 2012
  • 5:32 am
  • 2 comments
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During pregnancy, your hormones gave your hair a wonderful, thick, lustrous quality. But what happens to your hair after you give birth? Watch this quick tip to find out!

Read more: Pregnancy, Videos

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Source: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/post-pregnancy-hair-loss.html

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