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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Fifty shades of girly wines | 12 x 75.com | Wine Prices, Quantity ...

As I was looking for some wine-related inspiration on the internet earlier today, I became distracted by the rather incredulous story of the women?s refuge boss who is urging women to burn their copies of ?Fifty Shades of Grey? on a giant bonfire on November 5^th.? Comparing Mr Grey?s unusual sexual preferences to the heinous crimes of Fred West seemed a little extreme to me ? I bought the book at the airport recently but I didn?t get very far with it because it is a really terrible book.? Anyway, I continued on the tangent I had gone off on, and learned that the ?Fifty shades of? has become a very popular headline? ?Fifty shades of gay?, ?Fifty shades of green? (in which there is some good advice on how to keep your golf course green ? phew!) and yes ? you?ve guessed it ? ?Fifty shades of Chardonnay? already exists.

I found it on a site called ?The Island News?, the only place to go for all the news from Beaufort, South Carolina (again ? phew!).? And it turned out to be a rather nice piece about females loving Chardonnay and men being a bit scared of it on account of its girliness.? There are some really grim sentences like ?It?s spanking new and hey, try it with a few ice cubes and even your husband might be seduced into taking a manly sip.?? Even though this was only marginally better than 50 shades itself, it did raise an interesting point that I wanted to examine further.?? Is there such a thing as a ladies? wine?? Do some wines inherently appeal more to men or women, or is it just clever marketing?

I decided to focus on Chardonnay.? Ice cubes and manly sips aside, was there something fundamentally girly about it?? I examined the contents of my wine rack.? There is one Chardonnay in there, called ?The Googly? by One Chain Vineyards. ?My husband would never buy this.? It must have been me.? ?And while I will probably quaff this one while working on my laptop some evening now that I?ve remembered it is there, it could just as easily stand up to a hearty meal.? A good Chardonnay has a rich texture that works brilliantly with pasta dishes containing creamy sauces, and with a backbone of oak there are not many foods that would swamp its flavour.? Far from making it girly, Chardonnay?s versatility and food-pairing scope and the fact that the most expensive white wines on earth are made from it surely ought to make Chardonnay the modern man?s first choice.? And according to The Island News, ordering Chardonnay will impress your date as well.? Forget Fifty Shades, Chardonnay is the Mr Grey of wine grapes!? Strong, brooding, decadent, rich?. (Okay so maybe I read a little more of the book than I let on?. but it was only in the interest of journalistic research).

Just to make sure I wasn?t being biased, I went and asked my husband to rate the other wines in our wine rack according to their manliness/girliness.? ?Tiddy Widdy Well?, an Australian blend, he rated as ?definitely not very manly? but when I told him it was a Shiraz/Cabernet/Merlot blend, he felt confused, as he would have thought that Shiraz would be more masculine than that.? ?Fleurie? he dismissed as ?one of yours? (thank God I didn?t have any Saint-Amour), and we agreed that ?Sannio Falanghina? sounded like one of Mr Grey?s special boudoir skills and decided to just give up on the debate at that point.

So actually I?ve learned nothing, and as a reader, let?s face it, neither have you.? Just think, in the time it?s taken you to read this, you could have read a couple of pages of ?Fifty Shades? or taken it into the back garden and set it alight.? At the end of the day, it doesn?t really matter.? You should read whatever you want, just as you should drink whatever you want, and whether that is Fifty Shades with Saint-Amour or a Tom Clancy Novel with a manly glass of Shiraz, it?s entirely up to you.? As for me, my work is done for the day, and I have some reading and drinking to do!

Arrogance and Cockiness in Wines
Should we take celebrity wines seriously?
CLOSED by ASC Fine Wines
How the wine industry is getting closer to consumers, and how consumers can get closer to their wines

Source: http://12x75.com/fifty-shades-girly-wines/

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Massachusetts Elder Law Attorney | The Future of Elder Care?

?Robot and Frank? stars Frank Langella as an aging former thief.? He is cranky and not exactly loveable but his kids do their best to keep an eye on him as he is beginning to slow down in his 70?s.? His son brings him a talking robot, a VGC-60L model healthcare aide, that is designed to cook, clean and monitor his medications.? As many children have experienced with their parents when trying to bring aides into Mom or Dad?s home, Frank is no different when it comes to ?robotic? help.? He resists it.

elder care, elder law attorney, Boston I haven?t seen the movie yet but with a cast including Susan Sarandon, Liv Tyler and Peter Sarsgaard as the voice of the robot, the movie has gotten some pretty good reviews.? It also does raise the issue of whether technology can help solve the problem of including the increasing long term care costs.? Additonally, many family members who have taken on the role of caregiver, experiencing the resulting emotional, mental and physical drain, sometimes feel like robots.

The Japanese have already been using robots to assist the elderly who are suffering from dementia and Alzheimer?s disease.? These ?nursebots? can lift patients and deliver breakfast in bed.? They are not yet ready, however, to assist with other activities of daily living such as feeding or dressing, but I am sure that technology will attempt to tackle that as well.

The biggest challenge, however, may well be seniors? reactions to robotic aides.? If Mom doesn?t adjust to a human coming into her home, how will she feel about a robot?? It doesn?t exactly evoke nostalgic memories from her childhood.? So, I don?t think home healthcare companies, assisted living facilities and nursing homes need to be concerned that they will be obsolete anytime soon and families will still need to look to traditional ?human care? solutions for the foreseeable future.

I haven?t seen the movie yet but with a cast including Susan Sarandon, Liv Tyler and Peter Sarsgaard as the voice of the robot, the movie has gotten some pretty good reviews.? And it does raise the issue of whether technology can help solve the problem of long term care.? I am sure many family members who have taken on the role of caregiver, experiencing the resulting emotional, mental and physical drain, sometimes feel like robots.

At the Estate Planning & Asset Protection Law Center, we help people and their families learn how to protect their home, spouse, life-savings, and legacy for their loved ones.? We provide clients with a unique educational and counseling approach so they understand where opportunities exist to eliminate problems now as they implement plans for a protected future.

To gain free online access to the Complete Alzheimer's Resource Kit, which contains care tips as well as other useful information on Alzheimer?s disease, please visit www.BostonMemoryLawyer.com.? We also invite you to visit (insert domain name from list below) for more information on (pick one of three topics).

We encourage you to attend one of our?free educational workshops, call 800-964-4295 and register to learn more about what you can do to enhance the security of your spouse, home, life savings and legacy.

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Nursing home care is more than $140,000 per year! Attend this FREE educational seminar to learn:

How to protect your home and assets from the costs of long-term care
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?????? To register or call (800) 964-4295 (24/7 or online at www.SeniorWorkshop.com

Source: http://www.estateplanandassetprotection.com/blog/bid/78171/Massachusetts-Elder-Law-Attorney-The-Future-of-Elder-Care

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GOP OKs platform barring abortions, gay marriage

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) ? Republicans emphatically approved a toughly worded party platform at their national convention Tuesday that would ban all abortions and gay marriages, reshape Medicare into a voucher-like program and cut taxes to energize the economy and create jobs.

The document opens by warning that while the American Dream has long been of equal opportunity for everyone, "Today that American Dream is at risk." It pledges that the GOP will "begin anew, with profound changes in the way government operates; the way it budgets, taxes and regulates."

Both parties routinely approve platforms at their conventions every four years, meant to encapsulate their principles and goals. Much of their details are customarily ignored when it comes to actually governing.

Even so, a poll by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found more people interested in the GOP platform than in the upcoming acceptance speeches by presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan. The survey found that 52 percent said they were interested in learning about the Republican platform, compared to 44 percent interested in Romney's speech and 46 percent interested in Ryan's.

"This ambitious blueprint projects a sea change in the way that government works," said Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who led the party's platform committee. "It offers a solution for workers without jobs, families without savings and neighborhoods without hope."

Democrats lambasted the platform and immediately sought to tie it to Romney, who has differed from some of its details. For instance, he has said he would allow abortions in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life is threatened.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is among several Democrats in Tampa trying to get their party's views heard, called the platform's stances on abortion and immigration "draconian" and "extreme" and blamed Romney. "What you have seen from him is that he does one thing, he says another," Villaraigosa said. "He has taken one position after another, time and again you know, and you can't have it both ways."

Here are key elements of the Republican platform:

JOB CREATION:

It states that the best jobs program is economic growth. "We do not offer yet another made-in-Washington package of subsidies and spending to create temporary or artificial jobs."

___

SMALL BUSINESS:

The GOP pledges to reform the tax code to make it easier for businesses to generate more capital and create more jobs.

___

TAXES:

"We reject the use of taxation to redistribute income, fund unnecessary or ineffective programs or foster the crony capitalism that corrupts both politicians and corporations."

It says a Republican administration would extend the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, pending reform of the tax code. It says the party would strive to eliminate taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains altogether for lower- and middle-income taxpayers. It also would work to repeal the estate tax and the alternative minimum tax.

The party backs constitutional amendments to balance the federal budget and require a super majority for any tax increases.

___

MARRIAGE:

The platform affirms the rights of states and the federal government not to recognize same-sex marriage. It backs a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

___

VOTER INTEGRITY:

"Voter fraud is a political poison," the platform says. It praises legislation to require photo identification for voting and to prevent election fraud.

___

GUN CONTROL:

The party says it opposes legislation intended to restrict Second Amendment rights by limiting the capacity of clips or magazines or otherwise restoring the assault weapons ban passed during the Clinton presidency.

___

ABORTION:

The party states that "the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed." It opposes using public revenues to promote or perform abortion or to fund organizations that perform or advocate abortions. It says the party will not fund or subsidize health care that includes abortion coverage.

___

ENERGY:

The party is committed to domestic energy independence and an "all-of-the-above" energy policy, backing the exploration and development of the Outer Continental Shelf and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. It criticizes the Obama administration for picking winners and losers in the energy sector and expresses support for new coal-fired plants that will be low-cost, environmentally responsible and efficient.

It adds: "We will end the EPA's war on coal and encourage the increased safe development in all regions of the nation's coal resources." It calls on Congress to prohibit the EPA from moving forward with new greenhouse gas regulations "that will harm the nation's economy and threaten millions of jobs over the next quarter century."

____

MEDICARE and MEDICAID:

The platform pledges to move both Medicare and Medicaid away from "the current unsustainable defined-benefit entitlement model to a fiscally sound defined-contribution model." It supports a Medicare transition to a premium-support model with an income-adjusted contribution toward a health plan of the enrollee's choice. Age eligibility in Medicare must be made more realistic in light of longer life spans.

Medicaid services for low income people would be transformed into a block grant program in which the states would be given the flexibility to determine the best programs for their residents.

____

IMMIGRATION:

The platform makes clear that "we oppose any form of amnesty for those who, by intentionally violating the law, disadvantage those who have obeyed it." It demands that the Justice Department halt lawsuits against Arizona, Alabama and other states that have enacted tough measures against illegal immigrants. It says federal funding should be denied to universities that provide in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants. It advocates making English the official national language.

____

HEALTH CARE:

It states that a Republican president on his first day in office would use his waiver authority to halt progress in carrying out the health care act pushed through by President Barack Obama and that Republican victories in November would guarantee that the act is never implemented. It proposes a Republican plan based on improving health care quality and lowering costs and a system that promotes the free market and gives consumers more choice.

____

EDUCATION:

Republicans support consumer choice, including home schooling, local innovations such as single-sex classes, full-day school hours and year-round schools. It says Republicans renew their call for replacing family planning programs for teens "with abstinence education which teaches abstinence until marriage as the responsible and respected standard of behavior."

____

DEFENSE:

The platform says Republicans are "the party of peace through strength" and support the concept of American exceptionalism ? "the conviction that our country holds a unique place and role in human history." It criticizes the current administration for its weak positions toward such countries as North Korea, China and Iran and its reductions in military spending. The Republican national military strategy "restores as a principal objective the deterrence using the full spectrum of our military capabilities."

___

Alan Fram reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Peter Prengaman contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-08-28-GOP%20Platform/id-3256bbafd5f2453ba706564ba03eb68b

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BII REPORT: Which Companies Will Win As ... - Business Insider

ts smartphones The move to mobile computing and the rise of social networking are the two defining trends in consumer computing over the last five years.?

The current thinking around mobile commerce posits that users will be willing to share their location in exchange for discounts at local businesses.

But check-ins have proven to be a niche activity, and local coupon experiments aren't working out so well. Moreover, this just isn't the way most people shop: discounts and proximity are not enough.

In a research report?from BI Intelligence, we analyze usage habits, explain new business models that will arise, and look at which companies are best situated to profit from the intersection of social and mobile.

Access The Full Report By Signing Up For A Free Trial Today >>

So, whose product and business is best positioned as social networking goes mobile??

Smaller players?like Foursquare, daily deals companies, or the startup you've never heard of could come up with a winning formula, while?other tech giants like Apple and Microsoft?could quickly build or buy a new social-mobile business if they decide to compete.

In full, our report:

To access BI Intelligence's full report on Social and Mobile, sign up for a free trial subscription today.?

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/bii-report-which-companies-will-win-when-as-social-networking-goes-mobile-2012-8

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Today in History

Please check the URL for proper spelling and capitalization. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Yahoo!, try visiting the Yahoo! homepage or look through a list of Yahoo!'s online services.

Please try Yahoo Help Central if you need more assistance.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/today-history-050206767.html

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Board Games Will Play Again | DuAll Services, Inc.

If board games go a long time without being played, do they become bored games?

I like finding games like these in a closet. Oftentimes, the items we encounter are dirty, broken, or too far deteriorated to be of use to anyone else. But these games seemed to have all of their pieces, and the home was in good shape. I guess the previous occupants outgrew Hannah Montana Girl Talk and Operation, although I don?t understand how anyone could be too old for the tycoon-building magic of Monopoly.

These games didn?t go into the cube truck with the rest of the rubbish. Instead, we pulled them aside and donated them so that they might find themselves on a new dining room table, surrounded by a group of family and friends, each person vying for the high score.

Source: http://www.duallservices.com/toys/board-games-will-play-again

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How to Choose a Floor Plan that Suits Your Family | Sunset Homes

Today?s custom home builders are faced with a multitude of choices ?ranging from the ideal layout, upgrades or elevation. The most critical decision that affects your everyday enjoyment of the home is often the layout itself.

It?s always important to recognize which floor plan suits your family needs ? both now and in the long-term. Below are a few criteria to consider when selecting your ideal layout for your Calgary infill home:

Open Concept or Not? Open concept floor plans are a great choice if you tend to host large get-togethers and enjoy entertaining guests. ?This layout helps make even modest homes appear larger. It also allows for more family bonding opportunities- with shared spaces for all.

For parents with young children- a kitchen open to living areas can be quite handy for keeping an eye on the kids while preparing meals. It also provides some flexibility in choosing how to utilize areas for family, dining or living.

On the other hand, if your living arrangement consists of multiple families (i.e. in-laws, etc.) or if you value a quiet environment, an open concept floor plan may not be suitable for your needs.

More privacy and less noise is a benefit of a more compartmentalized floor plan. To offer further privacy,choosing a formal living room adjacent to the front door might be preferable over a wide foyer with an open living/dining arrangement. It offers you the ability to immediately seat and welcome your guests without having to lead them through your entire home. Another honest question to ask yourself is how neat and tidy can my family keep the home? If it?s a constant struggle to keep it up, an open concept layout may not be ideal.

Bedroom Layout: The size of your family and the age of its members will largely dictate your bedroom layout needs. If your children are young then you would benefit from having your bedroom close to the for peace of mind, security and easy access for the kids during the inevitable ?bad dreams?. However, if your children are teenagers or young adults then having the bedrooms separated from each other offers more privacy for everyone involved. If there is a family member in the home who requires more accessible features, then it?s convenient to have a bedroom with a full ensuite bathroom on the main floor ? enabling their mobility and removing stairs from their daily routine.

Single Story vs Multistory: This preference largely depends on the view and privacy you seek. A single story custom infill home provides convenience and easy mobility for those concerned. It also allows for a quiet environment with no overhead noise. A multistory plan however provides nicer views of the outdoors and offers more privacy and individual space for family members.

Outdoor vs Indoor Living Space: The breakdown of a lot can largely be thought of as indoor vs. outdoor space. A family should take into account how much community green space is already within walking distance. With Canada?s varying climates you want to make sure you strike the right balance between indoor and outdoor to avoid unnecessary maintenance. If your family prefers indoor entertainment then you may be surprised as to how much outdoor space your family actually requires- so choose accordingly!

Carefully consider your family?s preferences and lifestyle prior to selecting a floorplan. Luckily Sunset Homes takes pride in offering its customers a variety of floorplans in order to meet their individual needs. If you have further input on what you?d like to see in our floorplans we?d be happy to hear from you!

Source: http://www.sunsethomes.ca/how-to-choose-a-floor-plan-that-suits-your-family/

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