Thursday, December 27, 2012

Former President George H.W. Bush remains in intensive care

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Former President George H.W. Bush remained in the intensive care unit of a Houston hospital on Thursday, but his longtime chief of staff issued a reassuring message, urging the media and the public to "put the harps back in the closet."

Bush, 88, a Republican who during his one term in office led a coalition of nations that ejected Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991, was admitted to Methodist Hospital November 23 for bronchitis.

He was transferred to intensive care on Sunday after setbacks including a persistent fever, family spokesman Jim McGrath has said.

"I don't have any guidance so far today except to say no news is good news," McGrath said on Thursday. Hospital spokesman George Kovacik added that the former president remained in intensive care on Thursday.

But in a statement addressed to the "national media" on Bush's condition on Thursday, chief of staff Jean Becker sought to strike an upbeat tone.

"Yes, President Bush is in ICU where he is getting the best medical care in the world," she wrote. "Is he sick? Yes. Does he plan on going anywhere soon? No. He has every intention of staying put.

"He would ask me to tell you to please 'put the harps back in the closet,'" she said.

On a more serious note, Becker said her boss was expected to remain in the hospital for "a while," adding, "He is 88 years old, he had a terrible case of bronchitis which then triggered a series of complications." She did not elaborate.

McGrath on Wednesday described Bush as alert and talking to medical staff.

On Thursday evening, McGrath released a statement from Bush mourning the death of retired Army General Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of the U.S. and allied forces that routed Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein's military from Kuwait during a six-week war in 1991.

He said the four-star general, who died at age 78, "epitomized the 'duty, service, country' creed that has defended our freedom and seen this great nation through our most trying international crises."

Bush has lower-body parkinsonism, which causes a loss of balance, and has used wheelchairs for more than a year.

The 41st U.S. president and father of former President George W. Bush, he served as a congressman, ambassador to the United Nations, envoy to China, CIA director and vice president for two terms under Ronald Reagan during a political career spanning four decades.

(Reporting by Corrie MacLaggan; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Paul Thomasch, Phil Berlowitz and Paul Simao)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/former-president-george-h-w-bush-remains-intensive-011223514.html

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Monday, December 17, 2012

Sqord Introduces Technology Solution To Fight Child Obesity | Your ...

As mentioned in the past, sometimes I get press releases emailed to me about great things happening in the health and fitness industry, so I wanted to share this with my readers. Please feel free to send any press releases along using the contact form above.

Sqord is addressing the critical problem of child obesity and sedentary lifestyles in youth by making healthy, active play more fun for kids.

The Durham, NC based company wants to help kids lead healthier, more active lives, by tapping into their interests, namely: having fun, playing games, and using social media.

?Our goal is to get kids off the couch,? said Sqord CEO and co-founder Coleman Greene, ?We do that with a proprietary blend of hardware and software that?s one part game platform, one part social media, and one part activity tracker?a wrist-worn device we call the Sqord PowerBand.?

Kids simply put on their Sqord PowerBands (Greene vouches for its kid-proof indestructibility), and go about their daily routines as the PowerBand records duration and intensity of activities via its state-of-the-art 3-axis accelerometer. The system also includes a small SyncStation, where a kid simply taps his PowerBand to send activity data to Sqord Online. It?s there, on Sqord?s engaging and motivating social media website, where activity data translates into points, wins and virtual rewards.

The website allows kids to check out what their friends have been up to, send high fives (the equivalent of a Facebook ?like?), and ?squawks? (similar to posting on someone?s Facebook wall), and to set challenges to compete in with their friends.

?We?re translating physical activity into the kind of online challenges and competitions that kids are very familiar and comfortable with because of social media,? explained Greene. ?Their goals might be to score the most points, win medals and brag to their friends, but ours is to make physical activity more fun for kids so they will want to make it part of their day.?

The company?s concept has generated considerable early interest and attention from several impressive state and national organizations. In June, the company won the $50,000 Active Schools Acceleration Project (ASAP) Technology Innovation Grand Prize. ASAP is an initiative of ChildObesity180, a cross-sector organization committed to reversing the trend of childhood obesity in one generation. The competition launched in February with a video message from First Lady Michelle Obama encouraging participation.

Since then, Sqord has received an additional $20,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina to continue development of its device and web platform, has piloted its system with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA, and has enlisted schools districts in Colorado, Miami-Dade, and Seattle as paying customers.

After a taste of success in fundraising, Greene, Sqord co-founder Vish Avasarala, and Jeff Wright, Vice President of User Experience and Design, opted for another funding strategy using the new social media-friendly phenomena called crowdfunding. Crowdfunding, websites such as Indiegogo and Kickstarter enable companies, causes, projects or individuals to make direct funding pitches to the public. With a simple mouse click, ordinary people can contribute a few dollars to a crowdfunding campaign. The process allows entrepreneurs to offer perks like discounted or limited edition product to early supporters.
Sqord launched its crowdfunding campaign on Dec. 1, and Greene hopes to raise as much as $85,000 by the time it wraps up on Jan. 5. The company will use the revenue to bring the Sqord system to seven new sites and 15,000 new users.

?We want to keep our momentum going, reach a larger audience and scale up our pilot programs,? said Greene. ?Whether crowdfunding will be a successful method of bringing in additional revenue remains to be seen, but we figured we had nothing to lose by giving it a try and seeing how many people we could reach with the platform.?

?We hope to reach out to families, organizations that serve youth, and anyone with kids in their lives, and bring them on the bandwagon,? Greene continued, ?With just a little support, we have a huge opportunity to make a positive change in kids? lives, and let them have a lot of fun in the process.?

Source ? PR Web

Source: http://www.lensaunders.com/wp/?p=10686

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jogojitsurma: Free Magazines | Choosing Home Exterior | Ma.gazin.es

Have you stayed in your house for quite a long time now? Are you tired of looking at the same old exterior every time you enter your driveway? If you are then now is the time to think of improving the exterior of your home. This article gives you a brief discussion of five exteriors?exterior paint, vinyl siding, brick covering, stone covering, and stucco finish. Consider one of these coverings for a home improvement project that will surely boost the curb appeal of your home.

Vinyl Siding

Many homeowners prefer an exterior wall covering composed of the same plastic used in water piping (polyvinyl chloride or PVC). Vinyl siding is eye-catching and admired in many new homes and refurbished homes due to the fact that vinyl does not have to be repainted or treated for resistance against weather elements. Although it is thin, vinyl siding provides good insulation in colder climates. You can select numerous finishes and colors for a vinyl siding project and possibly decide to improve the entire home.

Exterior Paint

If the home?s exterior is bare except for concrete, stucco, and paint, or wood or wood-style paneling, it is simple to apply a new layer of paint. If a home has a special effect such as a custom stone, brick, or wood finish or vinyl siding, it would be better to check with a professional before deciding to paint. Some homeowners are willing to pay the extra cost of priming the exterior of the home before applying a new paint color. After a primer is applied, the new color will look more lively and there will be no traces of the previous color of the house. At the local home improvement store, choose from hundreds of colors that a paint professional can custom mix right in the store.

Stone Exterior

Stone contrasts well with other features of the home?s exterior. One option is to put in stone coverings to a few portions of the home while leaving the rest of the exterior intact. For example, some homes include stone cladding along the bottom three feet of the home?s front exterior or ornate stonework around the perimeter of the garage door. Talk with a local masonry company to decide the types of covering that will fit your home improvement budget. Pricing and availability will tell your choices of material. You can be more flexible in the pattern of the stones as long as you don?t have to match an existing stone pattern.

Brick Exterior

While brick is a costly wall covering, its lasts a long time and entails very little maintenance. Occasionally the homeowner will have to to match new brickwork to old brickwork on the property, including the exterior, the driveway, the sidewalks, and the columns supporting the house. Pick a brick finish that complements with other noticeable features of the home?s exterior. If your home has no bricks, you can choose any type of brick pattern.

Stucco

This style of finish is specifically popular in nineteenth century Tudor-style homes in the U.S. and twentieth century homes in Florida. This inexpensive material is made of cement, lime, and sand. You can slap it onto the concrete block exterior or to wallboard covering a wood frame. Stucco is also comparatively simple to apply to the exterior and can be painted easily. An alternative to stucco because of its tendency to crack and shrink in cold climates is the synthetic stucco, made feasible by the development of durable commercial plastics.

The exterior covering of a home is a significant aspect in its curb appeal. When you think of renovating your home, consider the long-term cost of every type of exterior and what will make you happy. Also consider how the exterior will draw potential buyers in case you want to sell your house in the future. Remember, the right home exterior can transform your plain home into a beautiful one !

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Related posts:

  1. Home Repair Products: To Beautify Your Home
  2. Selling Your Home At The Right Time
  3. Effective Ways To Conserve Energy At Home
  4. Choosing Garden Decor ? 5 Principles From a Designer
  5. Electric Radiator Heaters ? The Perfect Way To Heat Your Home
  6. Simple, Yet Professional Decorating Tips For Your Home
  7. Approaches to Home furnishings
  8. Considerations BEFORE You Buy A Home Theatre or Home Entertainment Center
  9. Getting Started On Your Home Plumbing Projects
  10. Home Decorating Magazines!

Source: http://ma.gazin.es/choosing-home-exterior/

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Source: http://jogojitsurma.blogspot.com/2012/12/free-magazines-choosing-home-exterior.html

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Saturday, December 1, 2012

Try Home Improvement And Discover New Possibilities. - Sub-add.eu

Consider installing eavestrough covers to keep leaves and other guck out of your water drainage system, preventing damage and flooding. A great product approved by Mike Holmes is Smart Screen Gutter Protection, which fits over existing eavestroughs so you don?t have to pay to have your entire drainage system replaced.

Many home improvement stores offer classes and training sessions on different areas of home remodeling. You can sign up for these classes, often for free, and get great advice and tips on things like painting, simple plumbing, changing light fixtures, gardening and home decorating. It can give you not only the skills to do the job, but also ideas for your next project.

Make sure you understand every single step of a project before you decide to start working on it. Sometimes something that seems very simple may actually be quite difficult. The opposite is also true at times, so be sure to make a detailed, step by step, blueprint before you start really working.

A great home improvement project that will save you a bundle is to install a programmable thermostat. These thermostats can allow you to program in a variety of different settings so that you are using your heating and cooling system only when you need it and without having to monitor it constantly.

When you are planning a roof replacement, make sure to consider using white tiles. Not only does this give your home an unique look, it also translates into keeping your home cooler. Roof tiles that are a lighter color attract less heat, which reduces the heat that builds up in your attic or upstairs floor. With white tiles, your house is sure to stay cooler during the hotter months of the year.

When you are replacing your siding with veneer some positive things to keep in mind about that material are the functional advantages to other sidings. The veneers can protect your home quite well from damages, they are very easy to install, and require little to almost no maintenance which is very important.

If you have a wooden deck that is 15 years old or older, it is time to start rebuilding. An old deck is going to be subject to more advanced wear and tear and is going to diminish the overall look of your home?s exterior. When it reaches 15 years old, it just isn?t as sturdy as it used to be and should be redone.

Consider more durable and fire-resistant materials when adding an addition or structure to your home to enjoy lower home insurance premiums. Wood, as a building material, is more flammable and vulnerable to weather damage than stronger materials, such as cement or metal. These construction materials may require a larger outlay of cash, but in the long run, the money you save on yearly premiums for these structures will far outweigh the initial higher costs.

Rather than replacing the tile in your home?s bathroom or kitchen, consider re-grouting. In many cases, it is the build-up of dirt, grime and even oil, that is making your tile look old and dated. Scrub it clean, then scrape out the old grout for a quick way to refresh the room.

Make sure that your contractor checks on the building code, whenever you make a major change to your house! Often, people will make sweeping changes to their house just because they feel like it or because they feel it will make their home more grand. If you make a change that causes a safety issue, you could end up in major trouble down the line.

When wanting to make a living out of home improvement, it is important that you have great people skills. If you do not have great people skills, when dealing with your clients it is very likely that you would lose quite a few jobs. It is better to be a people person, and make the money you want!

If one does not have any trees on their property they should strongly consider planting one for home improvement. Not only will it have many different uses for the house and it?s members but it will also look attractive for ones landscape. A tree can grow and outlast the house making it a worthy home improvement job.

Adding window blinds to your windows is a great way to accomplish a sense of privacy. Many people don?t use curtains or blinds because they want to let in natural lighting. However, don?t forget that you can see outside, but whoever is outside, can also see inside. Window blinds can add to your privacy and come in different styles to choose from. You don?t have to go with the cheap plastic factory blinds. You can find some really nice wooden or bamboo shades, that do the job, just as well.

Make your real estate remodeling activities more green to save money. You can have substantial long term savings within your investment when you choose environmentally safe materials and appliances. There are many items, from paint to building materials, that will have a much better, and longer-lasting, impact on everyone?s future.

Prep before you paint. Painting the rooms in your home can provide a new face lift for a little bit of nothing if you are prepared. Don?t try to do it all in one day or weekend. Be prepared before you start. Have all of the necessary tools on hand.

Maintaining a level head and a drive for perfection during home remodeling can be a bit hard. There is a lot going on, and you have to be able to ?roll with the punches? so to speak. The ideas in this article have shown you how you can have a beautiful home without breaking the banks and showcase your own personal style while not killing your resale value.

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Source: http://www.sub-add.eu/try-home-improvement-and-discover-new-possibilities/

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