Nickelodeon Premieres Dora the Explorer Thanksgiving Special

Courtesy Nickelodeon Bring on the turkey, pumpkin pie and … Dora the Explorer! Just in time for?the holidays,?Dora and her adorable buddies (Boots, Isa, Benny, and yes, even the pesky Swiper) will star in the “Thanksgiving Day Parade,” which premieres on Monday, Nov. 19 on?Nickelodeon.? You and your sweeties can snuggle up and watch as [...]

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/6DqpTaxmw94/

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U.S. leaders "not near finish line" on fiscal cliff talks: White House

MELBOURNE, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Tiger Woods's taxpayer-funded visits Down Under did nothing to help Australia's ailing golf tour, which is stuck in a losing battle for relevance unless it does more to embrace Asia, according to five-times British Open champion Peter Thomson. Woods's tournament appearances in Sydney and Melbourne over the last three years brought crowds and media attention to Australian golf courses not seen since former world number one Greg Norman was in his prime. Any hopes that Woods had put Australia back on the golfing map, however, were specious, Thomson told Reuters. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-leaders-not-near-finish-line-fiscal-cliff-163714186--business.html

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State Roundup: Pensions, Health-care Cloud State's Fiscal Horizon ...

By PA Independent Staff

HARRISBURG ? Pensions, Obamacare and allegations of voter fraud highlight the week that was in the Keystone State.

Forecast shows pensions single-handedly driving budget out of balance

An annual economic and budgetary projection from the state?s Independent Fiscal Office, a state equivalent of the Congressional Budget Office, forecasts 0.8 percent revenue growth this year and 3 percent annual growth for the state?s revenues in the next five years. Pension costs are projected to climb by 46 percent in this year?s budget, and 42 percent in next year?s plan.

?The increase in pension contributions is estimated to be about $500 million per year for the next several years,? said Mark Ryan, deputy director of the IFO.

According to the report, those costs will consume 9.6 percent of the state budget by 2017 ? up from 4.2 percent of the budget this year.

In comparison to the skyrocketing pension costs, non-pension budgetary expenses are anticipated to climb by only 2.5 percent over the next five years ? meaning they would be sustained by the expected 3 percent annual growth in tax revenues if pension costs were not a factor.

Those low growth rates are the ?new normal,? said Ryan, and are due to modest growth of the labor market, declining revenues from sales taxes, demographic trends and the lack of any expected booms in housing or the stock market.

By fiscal year 2017-18, pension costs will drive the state toward spending $753 million more than it takes in, according to the IFO report.

States get more time to implement ACA requirement

The federal government changed the timeline for states to decide how to implement a health insurance exchange, part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The deadline for deciding was Friday, Nov. 16. But Thursday, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced states now have until Dec. 14.

It?s good news for Pennsylvania, where the Insurance Department is still waiting to hear more information from the federal government before deciding.

In Pennsylvania, there?s still no word on if the state will run the exchange by itself or enter a partnership with the federal government. States also have the option of allowing the federal government to run an exchange.

Meanwhile, there?s also no word on if Pennsylvania will expand its Medicaid program to newly eligible residents come 2014.

States do not have a deadline for accepting the expansion. But federal funds will cover the full cost from 2014 through 2016, with support declining to 90 percent for 2019 and beyond.

Pennsylvania?s Independent Fiscal Office cites a study from health policy researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation that says the expansion would cost Pennsylvania anywhere from $1.1 billion to $2 billion from 2014 through 2019, based on how many residents enroll.

Philly Dem calls for voter fraud investigation

Outgoing Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia, wrote a letter to the state Attorney General Linda Kelly and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder this week requesting an investigation into voting irregularities in the past election.

She?s asking the agencies to look into the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Carol Aichele, and each of the state?s 67 counties election boards.

Josephs said the Department of State, and counties, failed to educate voters. On Nov. 6 and since then, reports from across the state surfaced with tales of registered voters not showing up in poll books, malfunctioning machines and the spread of false information in regard to the voter ID and polling place locations.

?Some of these individuals had been voting at that same polling place for years and years,? she wrote. ?Suddenly their names were not in the book. We would like to know whether that circumstance was the fault of the Department of State or of the county board of elections.?

Corbett gets the ?Sandy bump?

A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows Gov. Tom Corbett with a positive approval rating for the first time since March.

Corbett?s approval rating in the poll is 40 percent among registered voters, with 38 percent of those voters disapproving.

The governor has struggled with low approval ratings for most of the year, but pollster Tim Malloy said he won points with both Democrats and Republicans for his handling of Hurricane Sandy, which struck Pennsylvania in late October, causing flooding and widespread power outages?that left 1.3 million Pennsylvania homes without electricity.

?We would call this a Sandy bump,? Malloy said. ?People like the way he handled everything recently during the hurricane.?

As his numbers have fluctuated throughout the year, Corbett has been consistent in saying that he will not govern based on poll numbers and approval ratings.

Lottery privatization moving forward with target in 2013

The state Department of Revenue is moving forward with plans to privatize the state lottery.

The department is now accepting applications from private firms to run the lottery, and a contract could be executed during the first few months of 2013, according to state officials. As part of the process, firms must show they will be able to increase the revenue from the state lottery, which funds programs and services for older Pennsylvanians.

The Pennsylvania Lottery recorded record sales of more than $1 billion in fiscal 2011-12.

Opponents of privatization have pointed to as a reason to keep the operations within state government.

?All Pennsylvania Lottery profits go back into programs for older Pennsylvanians, not into the pockets of corporate shareholders,? said House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny. ?Why mess with a proven record of success??

The department believes privatization will increase the lottery?s revenues to keep up with growing demand for services targeted at senior citizens as the state?s population grows. The administration can move forward without legislative approval, so opposition from Democrats in the General Assembly will likely fall on deaf ears.

No changes in House, Senate leadership heading into new session

After a status quo election last week, members of the state General Assembly voted for status quo within their own ranks this week.

Speaker of the House Sam Smith, R-Jefferson, was re-elected to a second term, while Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, and Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny, both won second terms in their respective posts.

Republicans will hold a 111-92 majority in the state House when the new session begins in January after a few final races were settled this week.

In the state Senate, President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, was nominated to another term as the highest ranking member of the chamber.? His nomination will get a January vote. But with a 27-23 Republican majority, he is expected to win.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Chester, and Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, were also re-elected by their respective caucuses.

The new session will be the second consecutive one in which no members from Philadelphia ? the state?s largest city ? will occupy any of the six highest ranking leadership positions in the General Assembly.

Source: http://lowersouthampton.patch.com/articles/state-roundup-pensions-health-care-cloud-state-s-fiscal-horizon

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Israel launches scores of airstrikes into Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) ? Israel bombarded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip with nearly 200 airstrikes early Saturday, the military said, widening a blistering assault on militant rocket operations to include the prime minister's headquarters, a police compound and a vast network of smuggling tunnels.

The new attacks followed an unprecedented rocket strike aimed at the contested holy city of Jerusalem that raised the stakes in Israel's violent confrontation with Palestinian militants and dramatically extended the battlefield.

Israeli aircraft also kept pounding their original targets, the militants' weapons storage facilities and underground rocket launching sites. They also went after rocket squads more aggressively. The military has called up thousands of reservists and massed troops, tanks and other armored vehicles along the border with Gaza, signaling a ground invasion could be imminent.

Militants, undaunted by the heavy damage the Israeli attacks have inflicted, have unleashed some 500 rockets against the Jewish state, including new, longer-range weapons turned for the first time this week against Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv heartland. Following those attacks, the military deployed an Iron Dome rocket defense battery in central Israel on Saturday. The system, devised precisely to deflect the Gaza rocket threat, was deployed two months earlier than planned, the Defense Ministry said.

Nine people, including eight militants, were killed and dozens were wounded in the various attacks early Saturday, Gaza health official Ashraf al-Kidra said. In all, 39 Palestinians including 13 civilians and three Israeli civilians have been killed since the Israeli operation began.

The violence has widened the instability gripping the Mideast. At the same time, revolts against entrenched regional regimes have opened up new possibilities for Hamas. Islamists across the Mideast have been strengthened, bringing newfound recognition to Hamas, shunned by the international community because of its refusal to renounce violence against Israel.

A high-level Tunisian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem, drove that point home when it defied the fighting and arrived in Gaza on Saturday. His first stop was the still-smoldering ruins of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's demolished headquarters.

It was the first official Tunisian visit since Hamas's violent 2007 takeover of the territory. Egypt's prime minister visited Friday and a Moroccan delegation is due on Sunday, following a landmark visit by Qatar's leader last month that implied political recognition.

Israel had been incrementally expanding its operation beyond military targets but before dawn on Saturday it ramped that up dramatically, hitting Hamas symbols of power. Israeli defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential decisions, said military chief Ltd. Gen. Benny Gantz personally ordered the scope of the airstrikes to be increased.

Haniyeh's three-story office building was flattened by an airstrike that blew out windows in neighboring homes. He was not inside the building at the time.

The building's security chief said Hamas scored points despite Israel's military superiority.

"Hamas responded to the Zionist aggression and hit them in the depth of their land," he said, referring to rockets aimed Friday at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Another airstrike brought down the three-story home of a Hamas commander in the Jebaliya refugee camp near Gaza City, critically wounding him and injuring other residents of the building, medics said.

Missiles smashed into two small security facilities and the massive Hamas police headquarters in Gaza City, setting off a huge blaze that engulfed nearby houses and civilian cars parked outside, the Interior Ministry reported. No one was inside the buildings.

The Interior Ministry said a government compound was also hit while devout Muslims streamed to the area for early morning prayers, although it did not report any casualties from that attack.

Air attacks knocked out five electricity transformers, cutting off power to more than 400,000 people in southern Gaza, according to the Gaza electricity distribution company. People switched on backup generators for limited electrical supplies.

In southern Gaza, aircraft went after underground tunnels militants use to smuggle in weapons and other contraband from Egypt, residents reported. A huge explosion in the area sent buildings shuddering in the Egyptian city of El-Arish, 45 kilometers (30 miles) away, an Associated Press correspondent there reported.

The Israeli military said more than 800 targets have been struck since the operation began.

The widened scope of targets brings the scale of fighting closer to that of the war the two groups waged four years ago. Hamas was badly bruised during that conflict, but has since restocked its arsenal with more and better weapons, and has been under pressure from smaller, more militant groups to prove its commitment to fighting Israel.

The attack aimed at Jerusalem on Friday and two strikes on metropolitan Tel Aviv showcased the militants' new capabilities, including a locally made rocket that appears to have taken Israeli defense officials by surprise. Both areas had remained outside the gunmen's reach before.

Just a few years ago, Palestinian rockets were limited to crude devices manufactured in Gaza. But in recent years, Israeli officials say, Hamas and other armed groups have smuggled in sophisticated, longer-range rockets from Iran and Libya.

Israeli leaders have threatened to widen the operation even further if the rocket fire doesn't halt. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said options included the possible assassination of Haniyeh, the prime minister.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in emergency session with Cabinet ministers Friday and they approved mobilizing up to 75,000 reservists, more than doubling the number authorized earlier this week. That would be the largest call-up in a decade.

Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich, a military spokeswoman, said 16,000 reservists were called to duty on Friday and others could soon follow.

She said no decision had been made on a ground offensive but all options are on the table.

President Barack Obama spoke separately to Israeli and Egyptian leaders Friday as the violence in Gaza intensified. In a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he reiterated U.S. support for Israel's right to self-defense. To Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, he praised Egypt's efforts to ease regional tensions.

___

Associated Press writer Matthew Daly reported from Washington. Teibel reported from Jerusalem.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israel-launches-scores-airstrikes-gaza-092137360.html

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Guide To Personal Development | Voooz.com

TIP! The ability to empathize represents an important step in personal development. Knowing how to care for others, and make sacrifices inside yourself, can boost your inner character.

The key to self improvement is growth as a person that increases your awareness and outreach. It helps you become a more grounded, educated person who fulfills any goal you puts your mind to. You?ll find tips and techniques within this article which will help you to find success in your journey. Remember, begin you self improvement journey slowly, and, before long, you will begin to understand more about yourself.

TIP! When you start missing your self-made goals and guidelines, that?s a sign that you need to take a moment to figure out what the problem is. Take a little time to research what others have done when their goals were similar.

It is possible to learn how to cope in a crisis without letting your emotions take full control. If you can remain calm during stressful situations, you will feel confident enough to face anything. Breathing deeply can be a powerful way to reduce stress and stay in the moment.

TIP! Think about yourself, and a particular part of you that requires improvement, and put your focus squarely on that one thing. There may be multiple things that you would like to improve about yourself, but by limiting your focus to one item at a time, you improve your chances for success.

Avoid going shopping as a form of entertainment or comfort. Replace shopping with a hobby or a sport. Shopping for comfort can quickly become very expensive, and the bills will add to your stress.

TIP! Always aim to keep self-discipline a priority as you work on bettering yourself. Learn not to give in every time your body craves something that may not be good for it.

Use order and organization to effectively check your progress. You may find it easier to achieve your goals if you break them down into smaller components. You can use off-the-shelf tools like day planners or diaries to monitor your self improvement progress.

TIP! Personal development comes from the decisions that you make when you choose not to miss an opportunity. You shouldn?t fear making a decision, even if you don?t have all the facts ahead of time.

Still looking for a life mate? Try using Internet dating sites to meet people. Forty percent of couples nowadays meet online. It could be your significant other is out there waiting for you to give the Internet a shot. There are pluses and minuses to both.

TIP! You really have to put yourself first in order to be of any help to anyone else, and accept that you will never be able to please everyone. This does not mean privileging your happiness to a fault, but it does mean that you must take responsibility for your own happiness.

Write a personalized affirmation. Take a postcard and write down all the things that you like about yourself. Carry it around, and read it when you need to. You can also try videotaping yourself reading your positive self-affirmations. Replay the video on a daily basis, as well as when you need to hear some positive news about yourself. Is there a benefit?

TIP! Look to your internal beauty, rather than your external appearance. It is meaningless to fill your closet with designer clothes; take pride in your sculpted physique, or strive to attain the face of a supermodel.

A useful self improvement tip is that you always cherish the things you believe are most valuable. Setting high standards for yourself can help you achieve personal development you desire.

TIP! Your unique and individual values can help to mold a productive personal development plan. If you go against your values, you are shooting yourself in the foot.

There are plenty of great books on personal development available. Take the time to read a few books to find new ideas and tips you had not thought of. Be sure that you pick out a book that has been favorably reviewed because a lot of the times, these type of books can be poorly written.

TIP! Be prepared to list your ideas wherever you are. Make sure you have a notepad on you at all times.

To change and grow, you must make the choice to change your ways. The only way to grow and change is to embrace the idea, and work hard at implementing those changes.

TIP! Read a passage that inspires you. Whether it is a religious book or a favorite novel, find a book that inspires you.

Unless you take care of yourself, you won?t be able to care for anyone else. No matter your path, or whether you?re failing or thriving, take time out to restore and rest yourself.

TIP! When you overreact to certain situations, you raise your stress level. Analyze your situation with care and manage stress.

As you work to develop yourself as an individual, continue to remind yourself that you are well worth the effort. Know that you owe it to yourself to do your best. When all is said and done, you will realize that you have done everything that you can possibly do, and that you will not regret the decisions that you have made.

TIP! Everyone screws up sometime and does something they should not. Stress hurts your body as much as a large slice of high calorie pie, so take it all in stride.

You should monitor your progress whenever you engage in any kind of personal development plan. Apply the insights from this article to determine just what specific steps you need to consider and take. Record in a journal or diary what actions you are taking and when, and this way you can have some awareness of the new changes that are resulting

Source: http://voooz.com/2012/11/16/guide-to-personal-development/

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Gotham Gal: Delaneys BBQ

This past summer we had a party through Kitchensurfing at our house and the chef was Dan Delaney.

The brisket was amazing and so was everything else.? Fast forward Dan opens a restaurant, Delaney BBQ, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.? He is such a great loveable entrepreneur and we invested in his vision.? This past week we tried out the wares.? I can honestly say that his brisket is the best brisket I have ever had, hands down.? That says a lot coming from a jewish girl.? The pork ribs were also killer.? He has mastered the Texas style BBQ in NY.

The place is set up just like a Texas BBQ.? Cafeteria style for drinks and food.? Take your seat and enjoy the evening.? He opened to the public this past Friday night.? Get there early.? He has not exactly figured out the demand yet as he sold out in three hours the first night.? Crazy.? There is also catering available.?

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Source: http://www.gothamgal.com/gotham_gal/2012/11/delaneys-bbq.html

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Pinterest Just Got A Lot More Business-Friendly | SEO Champion ...

Pinterest has launched new tools (as well as some new terms of service) for businesses.

?Organizations can now sign up on the Pinterest for Business site to specify their business name (instead of first and last name) and to secure access to new and upcoming business-specific features,? a spokesperson for Pinterest tells WebProNews. ?Brands with an existing account on Pinterest can easily convert their account.?

?The site will also host case studies, best practices and guides to help provide businesses with inspiration,? she adds. ?Thousands of businesses are already part of the Pinterest community, and we?re excited to take this step towards working closer with the great organizations that leverage Pinterest every day.?

There are two sets of terms ? one for people and one for businesses. ?The business terms help guide businesses on how to use Pinterest,? says product manager Cat Lee in?a blog post. ?They also enable us to separate the provisions meant for businesses from those meant for regular people. As a result, we updated our user terms to be half as long. We also took the opportunity to simplify the language as much as possible. Unfortunately, terms of use are one of those documents that requires a certain amount of legalese, so we?ve offered ?translations? of these sections, too.?

Businesses who are already on Pinterest can convert their accounts to business accounts?here. You can specify your business name instead of a first and last name, verify your site (with a verification badge), add Pin It and/or Follow buttons, and Profile and/or Board widgets.

In addition to all of that, the new?Pinterest business site?has some case studies, best practices, guides and documentation to check out.

Cited from?http://www.webpronews.com/

Source: http://www.seochampion.com/seoblog/pinterest-just-got-a-lot-more-business-friendly.php

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