Ranny F 2011

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Sources: Chiefs plan to keep Crennel as coach

The Chiefs plan to retain interim head coach Romeo Crennel, according to league sources.

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Sources: Chiefs plan to keep Crennel as coach

Who shared Anthony’s video diary?

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Who shared Anthony's video diary?

Penn State's O'Brien is new head of 'family'

After a two-month search to replace legendary head football coach Joe Paterno, Bill O’Brien was formally introduced on Saturday.

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Penn State’s O’Brien is new head of ‘family’

First Read: Can anyone stop Romney?

First Read: The remaining GOP presidential candidates hope to use two debates in the next 24 hours to make a dent in the former Massachusetts governor’s substantial lead in the polls in New Hampshire.

Report: Syrian general defects

As Arab League monitors prepared a report on Syria’s compliance with its agreement to halt violence against protesters, a senior general reportedly said on live TV he was defecting from the regime’s army with up to 50 of his soldiers.

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Report: Syrian general defects

Traditional Homebuying Season

If you’re a seller looking to better understand the market, learning about how the traditional homebuying season works is absolutely crucial. Your house may be on the market now and nothing is happening and you’re growing discouraged. Have you considered the fact that it’s winter, the most difficult season to sell a house within the year? Likewise, if you’re looking to buy a house, understanding the homebuying season is also to your advantage. If you dive into the pool just as everyone else is, are you going to get the best price? Buying in the offseason might be advantageous to your bankaccount. Yes, there are ways to avoid the pitfalls of seasonal homebuying trends, but the simple fact remains that most homebuyers are families. And most parents don’t want to upset their children’s school year by uprooting them half way through sixth grade. That’s why, starting in the spring, there is an influx of homebuyers, ready to get their family settled by September. Traditional Homebuying Season The traditional homebuying season really is between May and July. We all know what it’s like to drive around in spring, when more “For Sale” signs pop up than daffodils. As mentioned above, this is the time that families are looking to relocate– between school seasons. The transference of deeds is through the roof throughout the spring and summer months, but how does that help you now? Of course people can still sell their homes in the other 8 months out of the year. It just goes at a slower pace. If you’re looking to sell your home before the spring/summer surge, keep in mind that it’s entirely possible. You just might need more of a strategy or a whole lot of patience. Traditional Homebuying Season If you’re trying to sell your home in wintery months, consider the following tips. Tame the Snow & Ice Make sure your driveway is well-plowed and that your walkway is shoveled and de-iced. The more in control of the winter elements your home seems, the more likely someone is to consider buying it. Make it Cozy The more your home seems like a refuge from intense weather, the better. When you’re showing your house to a potential buyer, a fireplace should be crackling, soft music should be playing, and the air should smell warm and inviting– cookies and cinnamon are often used by realtors. You want your house to feel like a warm, safe place where someone would want to curl up with a book. Make Sure It’s Clean No clutter, no dust, no wet boot prints across the floors. Advertise It’s Winter Appeal Is your house near a ski-slope? A sledding hill? Is there ice skating nearby? Try to find the best parts of your home’s winter life and make sure it’s either clear in the decor or that you articulate how wonderful the home is in winter because of its location. Traditional Homebuying Season Understanding the traditional homebuying season is advantageous to you as both a buyer or a seller. Not only can it can help you define your strategy, but it will help you get the best house and price available. Related: Best Months to Sell Your House Traditional Homebuying Season

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Traditional Homebuying Season

Financial Goals for 2012

Financial Goals for 2012 The new financial year of 2012 has begun and for many of us, it comes with whole new set of goals. You might be eager to make a difference in your financial standings this year, but unsure of where to start or what kind of goals to set. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to money — there are so many aspects of your financial life to consider. This, however, shouldn’t prevent you from taking the initiative and making 2012 one of the most fruitful years ever. As I’ve mentioned before , there is always some groundwork to do before you can set achievable financial goals. 2012 is no exception– if you want to make this a year that puts you ahead financially, you must take some time to understand your situation. How in debt are you? Are you living paycheck-to-paycheck? What are your monthly expenses and will they change in the near future? The more you understand where you really are financially, the more realistic your goals can be, and the further you can get ahead. Financial Goals for 2012 Let’s take a look at some of the best financial goals you can set for yourself for 2012. Stop Living From Paycheck-to-Paycheck – That is to say, you want to get ahead. Have a financial cushion. This is a reasonable goal to set that is totally achievable within 12 months time. You can either work on increasing your income (which we’ll talk about below) or change your lifestyle to save more money and be ahead in the future. A year of living frugally could help you save thousands of dollars and be better off come 2013. Pay Off Your Debt – Most people have debt, but few make it a goal to pay it off in the short term. It may not be feasible for you to pay off all your debt in one year, but you certainly can make strides. If you’re dealing with credit card debt, it’s often best to consolidate into one source. Many companies are willing to give you 12 months 0% apr, which means 12 months of you NOT having to pay off your debt and some 16% fee. A year to get ahead really. Consider transferring your balance to another company and getting a better rate. Also set a goal as to when you want to be debt free and what kind of payments it will take to get there. Start A Savings Account – You should be eager to start a savings account as it offers endless ways to benefit your future. A vacation. A medical emergency. A house. Retirement. Successfully starting a savings account starts with a few dollars, which is easy enough. Afterwards it takes a bit more effort. You must be willing to put away a certain percentage of your paycheck or get another small source of income that goes exclusively into the account. Set a goal as to how much money you want to save in 2012 and chart it’s progress. Increase Your Income – Set a goal as to how much more money you want to earn this year and make it happen. You can work hard at getting a raise, making your position more valuable , renting out a room, or getting another part time job. It seems difficult, but the truth of the matter is that anyone can increase their income with research and hard work. Financial Goals for 2012 Make your financial goals come true in 2012! It might be a hard, but you’ll be glad you worked at achieving them come 2013. Financial Goals for 2012

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Financial Goals for 2012

Calgary Mayor Ralph Klein “Bums and Creeps

Calgary Mayor Ralph Klein “bums and creeps” – On this day back in 1982 the Calgary Premier got himself into hot water for statements that could, in this day and age, be considered hateful and almost racist. So what exactly …

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Calgary Mayor Ralph Klein "Bums and Creeps

Pats expected to rehire McDaniels, source says

With offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien agreeing to become Penn State’s next head coach, New England now is expected to hire Rams offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as an offensive assistant coach, according to an NFL source.

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Pats expected to rehire McDaniels, source says

Romney focuses on Obama

Mitt Romney chooses once again on Friday night to keep his laser focus on just one man, President Barack Obama, rather than his GOP rivals.

Iran welcomes U.S. rescue of sailors

Iran on Saturday welcomed the rescue of 13 Iranian sailors by a U.S. Navy ship, calling it a “humanitarian act.”

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Iran welcomes U.S. rescue of sailors

Sudan's al-Bashir visits Libya

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, wanted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, arrived in Libya Saturday to visit with the country's post-Gadhafi leaders.

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Sudan’s al-Bashir visits Libya

Syria tense as families mourn suicide bomb deaths

Syria is tense as the families of the victims of yesterday’s suicide bombing in the capital Damascus and lethal clashes elsewhere begin to bury their dead.

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Syria tense as families mourn suicide bomb deaths

Luxury Perks of the Rich

I’m not a rich man and I never have been. I have earned well but I have and likely never will be the 1%. Much of this is just attitude, pride in living simple and not focusing completely on how much money I can drag in. That doesn’t mean that I don’t sometimes think about what it would be like to be rich and enjoy of the luxury perks of buying into that lifestyle. Luxury Perks of the Rich I thought it would be a little fun to look into various areas in which paying top dollar or just the merit of being rich gives you access to luxuries and perks that only the rich can get. Travel Luxury Perks of the Rich I have never travelled first class. On all modes of transport you get a bigger seat and often it comes with a full entertainment suite. Wine, beer, tea, coffee and gourmet meals and snacks are brought to you and the experience is just comfortable. Of course going further some people travel private in jets or very fancy vehicles making travel just like being at home! Of course when flying even the rich can’t avoid the TSA security lines or passport control. Luxury hotel services Hotels is one area where perks really come into their own. I only really stayed in an upper level hotel once or twice and immediately the quality of the bed was one thing I noticed. The fully stocked (but not free) mini bar with snacks and 50″ LCD TV are nice additions too. Here are some crazy luxury perks offered by specific hotels: The Ritz Carlton South Beach offers a tanning butler – $449 USD per night The Hard Rock Hotel San Diego supplies a free Fender guitar for guests – $249 per night A white-glove elevator operator can be found at the Carlyle Hotel NY – $450 per night for standard room The Taj Hotel Boston has a fireplace butler. They also have a firewood menu of birch, cherry, maple, oak. Other menus on offer include a bath menu and pillow menu – $249 per night The Rancho Valencia resort San Diego gives a free Mercedes Benz test drive – $500 per night The Parrot Cay and Como Shambhala retreat offers, Turks and Caicos offers a personal butler service – $605 per night The One Only Palmilla hotel in Los Sabos San Lucas has a yacht for guests - The yacht is available exclusive to guests – $520 per night Food Some foods really are just too expensive for the average Joe. There is no chance of the majority of us trying genuine top grade caviar or being able to dine at the Ivy. The rich can get these kinds of restaurant bookings and afford to do them on a regular basis. Even in the supermarket there are many top-shelf items that are out of my reach! The rich can also source and import, a coffee bean from a monkey’s bum, no problem! Education All the hotel and flight perks in the world don’t bother me but education and what the rich get kind of irks me a little. Education tends to be something that is better amongst the rich because, obviously, from a young age rich people can afford to send their children into the best education. It is completely possible to get through State school though and still be a high-flyer. The real kicker can be college. The rich can often more-or-less buy themselves into Ivy League colleges and are immediately involved in circles that will favor them for the rest of their lives. You often hear about the incompetent rich kid who always seems to hold a high position in various companies. Sadly connections, often a perk of the rich, still have a huge role in modern society. Most presidents of the USA have come from a particular circle! I guess there is no easy way to get rid of the “old-boys-club” mentality so it is something we have to live with! What other perks can you think of that come only to the rich? Luxury Perks of the Rich, So Is It Worth It? If I were to work my ass off I am sure I could clamber my way into the realms of the rich. Certain things I would never get such as the rich circles you get if you grew up rich but I could certainly get the perks that come when you spend your dollars with certain places. For me I don’t think it will be worthwhile. I think I would find just as much pleasure sipping beer from a can on a beach watching the sunset as I would doing the same thing on the balcony of a luxury hotel. I like staying in more local places and generally just need a reasonably comfortable place to lay my head. In general life I think I would live simple if I were very rich or very poor, or somewhere in the middle as I am now. I must admit though, it would be nice to fly business class! Related: Set 2012 Personal Finance and Money Goals Would it be worthwhile and is it a dream of yours?

Siena will simulcast Giants game via scoreboard

Siena is making an interesting offer to its college basketball fans: Come see the Saints play on Sunday — and watch the New York Giants, too.

The Best Month For Selling a Home

Best Month Selling Home – I am sure you have heard it a gazillion times “the best time to sell your home is in the spring”. Now , this is standard real estate talk now and although it isn’t a phrase without merit, it isn’t exactly looking at all the factors involved and doesn’t localise itself to everyone’s situation. Lets take a look at what does make the spring months good for selling but how you may benefit from selling, or at least listing your home for sale at other times too. The Best Month For Selling a Home The Best Month For Selling a Home Home sales tend to peak between April – July with sales falling in August and into the Autumn. The general belief is that the school holidays provide the perfect time for families to move and the warmer weather makes a general better environment for such activities. However this doesn’t necessarily tell the whole picture. Sure, there are a lot more buyers and your home probably looks spiffing in the wam and fuzzy spring light but everyone and their dog fights to get their home on the market at this time of year so you have to be ready for the fact that competition is very high. That doesn’t mean you can just buck the trend and throw your home up in the Winter either, expecting to have no competition and catch desperate buyers. It may happen but again it depends on many factors. I have read some theories that your home will generally sell quicker in the Spring months but that a September through til November period could yield a slower sale but more serious and higher bidding buyers. Other people are saying February is the time to get the home on the market so that you catch those very first Spring buyers before the market has become saturated. Related article: What Home Buyers Want All very valid thoughts. You also have to factor in a lot of local factors into your thoughts. If you live in an all year warm climate the seasonal weather is more or less a no worry. If you live in a terrible climate then obviously the winter is pretty much off limits for selling. You can’t expect much of people in freezing conditions in general! In Hurricane areas it may be worth waiting until the season is done and dusted, people may be weary knowing a new home could just get damaged as soon as they purchase it! Job patterns and expansion of local industry could tie in well with migration patterns. If you hear a new business is coming to town and bringing xx new jobs it could be worth holding off until that point, if you live in a seasonal area then you may have better luck selling at peak. A ski area may have far more residents in the winter months and a beach area in the summer. Anyway these are just some factors to consider. The right month to sell your home may not always be the most obvious one, sorry we couldn’t give you an exact month, day, time of day and time to the minute! I suggest you check out these articles for further reading: Lending Tree ; Yahoo ; Forbes .

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The Best Month For Selling a Home