Lawmakers want probe of Petraeus investigation

Senior lawmakers called for an inquiry into the FBI’s handling of the case of CIA Director David H. Petraeus on Sunday as new details and questions emerged about the investigation that led to his resignation last week.
Law enforcement sources identified Jill Kelley, 37, of Tampa as the woman whose report of harassing e-mails eventually exposed an extramarital affair between Petraeus and Paula Broadwell, a former Army officer who wrote a biography of the retired four-star general The departure in disgrace of one of the administration’s most respected and prominent figures came as President Obama is reorganizing his national security team for a second term. Petraeus was to have been a primary witness this week at a series of closed-door congressional hearings on possible intelligence and security lapses surrounding the September attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, said Sunday that news of Petraeus’s resignation was “like a lightning bolt” and that top lawmakers had not been aware the inquiry was underway.
Her first inkling, Feinstein said on “Fox News Sunday,” came from media inquiries Friday, just hours before Petreaus’s resignation was announced publicly. She called Petraeus, she said, and he told her of his plans.
“This is something that could have had an effect on national security,” Feinstein said. “I think we should have been told.” She said the panel will “absolutely” investigate why the FBI did not notify relevant officials sooner.
Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said: “It just doesn’t add up that you have this type of investigation. The FBI is investigating e-mails, the e-mails leading to the CIA director, taking four months to find out that the CIA director was involved.”
“I have real questions about this. I think a timeline has to be looked at and analyzed to see what happened,” King said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The FBI investigation began after Kelley visited the bureau’s Tampa office in early summer and provided investigators with harshly worded e-mails accusing her of seeking an intimate relationship with Petraeus. Kelley, who is married to a Tampa surgeon, met the general when he was head of the Tampa-based U.S. Central Command, from 2008 to 2010. A military official said she was an unpaid volunteer at MacDill Air Force Base, where the headquarters are located.

Ballmer: Apple has not produced a product that customers use

Someone in Redmond, WA needs to call the folks with the straitjackets, as it appears that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has gone certifiably bonkers. AllThingsD's John Paczkowski notes that in a recent interview with CNBC, Ballmer went on record as saying that "I don't think anybody has done a product that is the product that I see customers wanting. You can go through the products from all those guys ... and none of them has a product that you can really use. Not Apple. Not Google. Not Amazon."
Okaayyyyy, Steve. Just put down the Microsoft Surface and sit down, and let's talk about this. What about the 100 million iPads that Apple has sold in a little over two years? How about the Amazon Kindle Fire, which (despite the company refusing to release actual sales figures) is supposedly the best-selling Amazon product ever?
Ballmer is maintaining that everyone wants the Surface, which he touts as the product that can be both PC and tablet, at play and at work. Perhaps it's the stress of last week's product launch of Windows 8 and Surface, or maybe the fact that the company is spending an estimated $1.5 billion to launch those products that's causing him to lose sight of reality.
Paczkowski ends his post by saying that "Maybe Microsoft will change users' expectations for tablets. But after two and half years and 100 million iPads sold, it's not going to be easy."

Why Lightning is extra awesome

Updated for clarity & to note that 30-pin cable is also universal for iPhone and iPad.
Apple's Lightning cable received a fair amount of criticism when it was introduced along with the iPhone 5. The new port replaces the 30-pin connector found on previous iPhone models and contains proprietary technology that makes it difficult to clone.
As noted by Jason Perlow of ZDnet, customers who use the port may miss their arsenal of 30-pin accessories, but they may come to appreciate the technological advantages this new cable system provides -- especially when compared to the mixed bag of charging standards on the Android side.
The biggest advantage of the Lightning cable's design is that it lets you insert the cable into your iOS device in any orientation. Unlike the standard micro-USB connector and even Apple's 30-pin port, you don't have to eye the port and line up the sides to make the cable fit. Coming from someone who recently replaced the dock connector on an iPad and a Kindle Fire, this is a huge advantage over other port technologies.
Apple's Lightning connector also can carry up to 12W of power, which is plenty to charge either an iPhone or an iPad (when paired with an iPad 2A charger), just as you could do with the 30-pin cable. As Perlow points out, this is quite different from the micro-USB connector world of Android devices; there is no standard for conventional USB that supports more than 9W. This means complications and frustration for tablets that need 10W; either they need proprietary chargers or they charge at the 5W rate.
I don't need to tell you how convenient it is to have one cable and one power adapter to charge an iPhone, iPad, iPod and iPad mini, especially one that's built to last and that you can plug in without looking. This transition period from the 30-pin to the world of Lightning may be frustrating, but it will be brief -- and the next generation is going to be noticeably better.

Why original iPads still sell well

Back when it first shipped in 2010, the original iPad was considered a miracle of modern technology. As with most consumer electronic devices, though, the minute its successor -- the iPad 2 -- was out the door, the original iPad was shunned for the shinier, faster models. But as Wired Enterprise blogger Robert McMillan reports today, original iPads are not only keeping their value, but they're really quite the bargain for a big screen tablet.
Wired performed a study and found that used first-generation iPads are selling well, often at a price tag about US$100 less than a comparable iPad mini. The study quoted Nicholas Fiorentino of Totem, a used equipment reseller in San Diego, as saying "We are shocked at how well the iPad has held its value thus far. There are a lot of people who don't need all the bells and whistles that the iPad 2 and iPad 3 have."
At this point, a first-generation Wi-Fi iPad with 16 GB of storage sells for an average price of $236. That same device sold for $499 in April of 2010, meaning that it's retained almost half of its value. Wired compares that to a Lenovo T410 ThinkPad, which came out at about the same time at $1,270 -- used ThinkPads are now available on eBay for about $300, having lost about three-quarters of their value.
It's expected that the price of an original iPad will drop to about $50 within four years, making the device an irresistible buy for tech-savvy bargain hunters.

iOS 6.0.1 now available, iPhone 5 users need to download installer

iOS 6.0.1 was just pushed to iPhones and iPads running 6.0. The update is 34.7 MB and contains various improvements and bug fixes, including:

• Fixes a bug that prevents the iPhone 5 from installing software via over-the-air updates.
• Fixes a bug where horizontal lines might be displayed across the keyboard
• Fixes an issue that could cause the camera flash not to fire
• Improves reliability of the iPhone 5 and fifth-generation iPod touch when connected to encrypted WPA2 Wi-Fi networks
• Resolves an issue that prevents the iPhone from using the cellular network in some cases
• Consolidated the Use Cellular Data switch for iTunes Match
• Fixes a Passcode Lock bug which sometimes allowed access to Passbook pass details from the lock screen
• Fixes a bug affecting Exchange meetings
• The update is available via Software Update on your iPhone or iPad or the next time you connect your iOS device with iTunes.
• Note that iPhone 5 users will have to download an updater app first, which will then prompt them to update iOS. The FIRST updater will appear in General > Software Updates as normal updates would appear. It will then prompt you to launch it, send you back to Software Updates and the update to 6.0.1 can continue. There is no need to search the store for this app.

Update: It seems Verizon iPhone 5 users will need to reboot after the iOS Updater app is installed, whereas we can confirm AT&T iPhone 5 users do not.

Update 2: Apparently some AT&T users might have to reboot for phase one (the iOS Updater app). Your mileage may vary, apparently. Further, Sprint customers will also reboot.

Lightning to micro USB adapter now available in the US

Apple is now selling its Lightning to micro USB adapter on the US online Apple Store, and presumably in brick-and-mortar stores as well. The adapter plugs into your Lightning dock-enabled device (iPhone 5, new iPad or iPad mini) and then accepts a micro-USB plug. The unit will run you only US$19, and is currently set to ship out in one to three business days.
I'll tell you what Apple really needs to start selling: Lightning-enabled car adapters. I am still using my old (now offline) iPhone 4 to listen to podcasts in my car, just because my dock adapter isn't compatible with my iPhone 5's dock. Yes, I could go pick up a Lightning to 30-pin adapter (and honestly, that's probably what I'll end up doing). But I was hoping to use the upgrade as an excuse to get a brand new car audio solution, and none of those have yet appeared on Apple's website. There are still options out there, it just seems strange that this long after the iPhone 5's release, we still aren't seeing more Lightning accessories.

Evernote for iOS also getting a redesign soon

Now that the Evernote 5 for Mac beta is in the wild, the note-taking software maker has announced that it is currently in the process of redesigning its iOS app. Evernote 5 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is taking some visual cues from its desktop counterpart, with its designers focusing on improving its overall speed and reducing the number of taps required to perform common tasks.

In the preview video below, you can see the shift to a card-style "views" interface that allows for quick flipping between different elements including notes, tags, locations and notebooks. Single-tap actions are also being introduced, including the ability to add new notes with a tap. On iPad, you'll be able to quickly see a list of recent notes as well.

Evernote is saying to expect the update to hit the App Store "very soon," so keep an eye on that Updates tab.

What Is the Official Unemployment? Are Internet Marketers Skewing the Data?

The US Government released some startling official unemployment numbers for the month of September. Are those a reflection of the real unemployment situation? Or, are those unemployment statistics highly misleading?

Firstly, let's review the actual reported official unemployment data for September, exactly as they were reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):-

Number of people employed - 155.1 million

Number of unemployed - 12.1 million

Unemployment rate - 7.8 %

How did these numbers compare to the official unemployment data for August?

Here is a look at the official unemployment data for August:-

Number of people employed - 154.6 million

Number of unemployed - 12.5 million

Unemployment rate - 8.1 %

If we compare the official unemployment data for September versus August, we see the following delta:-

Number of people employed - 0.5 million more in September than August

Number of unemployed - 0.4 million less in September

Unemployment rate - 0.3 % decrease in September

Compared to recent history, this delta is extraordinary and certainly lends itself to question, or at the very least a raised eyebrow. Some very influential business magnates and thought leaders have publicly questioned the data and are themselves suspicious of the sudden change in the official unemployment data.

Some deeper investigation into the reported data, shows that there has been a sudden and influential change in the survey. Government researchers have been instructed to change the angle of the research questions so as not to enquire whether interviewees are not working in their chosen career field, but rather, and very simply, are interviewees not doing any work, of any type, whatsoever. This subtle, but yet misleading question, has resulted in many interviewees admitting that they are doing something, at least, in order to bring in some income for their families. The interviewees are not asked whether the activities that they are engaging in are bringing in sufficient revenue to pay the bills. Thus, many respondents are, very honestly, replying that they are not doing nothing about their unemployment, but are trying to start a home based employment opportunity for themselves. And, yes, you guessed it, a number of folks have resorted to exploring the world of internet marketing in order to attempt to generate income to replace the income they were earning before unemployment

Start-Up Loans In Scotland: What The New Entrepreneurs Need To Know

Something had to be done, and at last the UK's coalition government has rolled out a scheme to put some much needed meat on the bare bones of the economy.

The announcement that £82.5 million is going to be made available over the next three years to help fund the creation of 30,000 new companies was welcomed by the business community as a step in the right direction.

The scheme aims to support younger entrepreneurs and will be open to individuals between the ages of 18 - 24 with initial funding of around £2,500 per company. The initiative will also provide support in the form of business mentors to assist first-time business owners.

Inevitably, it is hoped these fledgling businesses will grow and prosper and soon generate significant job creation across Britain, in which case they will need to consider small business payroll services among many other accountancy measures.

Accountancy is a fundamental core factor for any business whether large or small, new or established, but it is best that new entrepreneurs think about it as early as possible, because it saves an awful lot time and trouble to get payroll service providers on board from the start rather than a year's time.

Sorting payroll matters should be thought of as a positive step because any delay can be marred by the amount of paperwork each business requires to be completed throughout the year.

That's why the world needs accountancy firms because they can take care of all small business payroll matters leaving entrepreneurs free to concentrate on making their business a success, which after all is time consuming enough.

And the good news is accountancy can now be handled online, thus saving business owners even more time and energy in providing proficient and efficient online payroll services to meet their employee's needs whilst keeping the HMRC happy at the same time.

The advantage to having small business payroll providers is they have their finger on the pulse at all times, making sure businesses keep up-to-date with the regular changes to national insurance, tax and employment law.

This is important because it helps ensure business owners are never penalized for lack of employee care when it comes to sorting out the weekly pay slips or the contributions deducted from the wage.

There's also PAYE to consider.

Employers are responsible for ensuring their staff pays their national insurance and tax. The stipulations change rapidly, altering the deductions employers should make and the HMRC holds employer's solely responsible if any mistake is made.

Thus the advantage to having payroll service providers ensures employers pay on the dates outlined by the HMRC. Never missing a deadline means the employer doesn't have to worry

4 Facts That Makes Reference Data Special

If you don't have much experience in handling reference data then it is advisable that you do not underestimate the simplicity of its structure. It needs to be handled differently to other data since it has its own management needs. Here are a few details explaining the data's value:

1. It Presents Values With Definitions or Meaning

An essential contribution of reference data is it presents actual values that include definitions or meaning. The complexity of these definitions may be comparable to the complexity of the entities' and attributes' definitions.

There are types of data that may contain different values yet with similar definitions. For example, a bank may possess several thousands of accounts with different account numbers and while every account number is unique, the bank may have provided a single definition or meaning for all of them.

Since this data allows meaning or definitions to go along with its values, these values are then able to control program logic. This is also the reason this data is often linked with a business' guidelines. So in order to have a sturdy business guideline, it is essential to learn how to effectively manage reference data.

2. It Does Not Show The Parties A Certain Establishment Transacts With

Some reference data requires the details of the parties or things that an enterprise transacts with, yet it does not display them. The purpose of asking for the details is that it is needed in the database in order to categorize other data which can best describe the transactions of that enterprise.

3. Its Values Are Prepared Not Within An Enterprise

A unique attribute of this data is its values are usually not created within the enterprise. For example, there are clusters of country codes that are managed by the United Nations. For this reason, an enterprise does not need to develop its own data values for a certain data table.

4. Highly Leveraged Throughout The Databases

A great attribute of this data is the fact that it is commonly used all over the database, throughout an organization's databases as well as across several organizations' databases. A currency table can be associated with other tables which contain the financial amounts inside the database. This association is useful in a way that it determines the currency

Learn The Benefits of Buying First and Second Trust Deeds From Banks

If you're a smart investor and have been around the scene for long enough, there's definitely no possibility that the question whether second trust deed investment is a smart move or the numerous deeds for sale that are afloat in the market would bring better returns for you? Both the options are fast gaining popularity as they not only promise better returns but also outperform the meager interest that most of the banks offer as "interest". The return that you get from second trust deed investments when compounded over the years easily takes shapes of a small fortune.

So the next logical question in line should be- what are the good deeds for sale and how to go about it? No matter even if you're an experienced investor- you should do a thorough homework before investing so as not to lose even a single penny. You should be through with the tricks of the trade and here we focus on five broad categories that would come handy to you while buying first and second deeds from banks namely Property (Collateral) or Appraisal, Title Insurance or Condition of Title, Borrower, Transaction and Exit Strategy.

Appraisal

The collateral should be at least twice as valuable as the loan that you would be taking if it's the first deed and most of the experts recommend against going for second or other junior investments if you're new to this game.

Condition of Title

Generally this investment is same as what it is recorded against- the property. Make sure that you go for title investment that is going to safeguard you against all the liens you're unaware of like incorrect ownership. Ask questions that would safeguard you- like would the assignment of the trust deeds that you're buying would be recorded in your name especially in the country where recorder?

Borrower

Always remember that banks don't make a loan just because there's a lot of equity but mortgage bankers, credit unions, Banks and all other "institutional lenders" require verification of assets, income that is documented with a likelihood of continuance, credit and compliance with the banking rules and laws.

Estimating How Long It Will Take To Find And Buy A New Home

Finding a new home in Markham is not always easy. Some people are looking for a very specific set of features in a home combined with a convenient location. It can take years for someone like this to find the right home. Alternately, someone who is lucky or who is not concerned about a rigid checklist of features might find a new home in just a few days or weeks. Consulting with a Markham real estate agent will reduce the amount of time it takes to find a new home significantly. The amount of time it will take to purchase the new home becomes slightly more predictable once the property has been located. Several stages of the home buying process will require time and patience.

Negotiation

The first thing that usually occurs when the right home has been found is a price negotiation. A Markham real estate agent can make this process much easier than dealing directly with the property owner. The negotiation usually involves an offer from the buyer and then a counteroffer from the seller based on other offers that have been received. This process can take anywhere from one day to one month depending on how many potential buyers are involves in the negotiation.

Financing

Locating financing can be one of the most time-consuming parts of the home buying process. It is usually best to hire a Markham real estate agent who will help the buyer become preapproved for financing. If preapproval is not possible, then it can take anywhere from a week to a few months for a lender and broker to approve financing for a house. Fees and deposits normally need to be handled during this time.

Appraisal

The lender or bank will normally want to appraise the home as part of the financing process. Appraisal means that a trained inspector will come out to the home and assess the value of the property. Financial institutions usually want this step done by an independent party. An appraisal does not take a long time to complete although the scheduling of an appraiser and the time it takes to receive the official numbers back can add a few days to the process.

Inspection

An inspection is a step that every buyer should take before finalizing the sale. An inspection involves calling in professionals who will walk through the home and check every area for problems. Most homes have a few minor problems that are not usually an issue. Action will be required if the inspection reveals more serious problems such as water damage or a cracked foundation. The buyer can request that the seller make the necessary repairs before finishing the sale. Alternately, the price of the home can be reduced by the amount that will be needed to complete the repairs. Inspections can add a few days to the process although repairs could add a month or more.

The Surest Ways to Consolidate Credit Cards

There is always going to be different opinions from people regarding how to consolidate credit cards. The process of card consolidation depends on the individual's finances and how deep his financial problems are. It all boils down to numbers. It is only your credit standings that will tell whether you need card consolidation or not. And is you are considering this process, you will want to know the best ways to do it without getting yourself deeper into your financial well.

The most basic thing to note when deciding on card consolidation is to know your budget. In order to take any step towards your financial status, knowing your budget is the key. This is because you are likely going to be paying interest on the card on a monthly basis and determining your budget will help you know what you can afford and what you can't. This is important because knowing what you can afford will help you select the right monthly plan. After your budget is determined, you should look at the different consolidation credit cards rates and find out which one is the best for you. These rates can add up pretty fast and the last thing you would want is to be bordered with the heavy task of paying interest charges. These interest rates can increase your balance considerable and cause you more problems than you actually wanted to solve.

The central idea of consolidation is to transfer all your account balances into a single card and make monthly installments on the card. Though this is a good idea but you have to consider the rate of your interest charges. You have to make sure that the interest rate is low enough. This is when you have to look closely at your options. You can decide to look for a loan if you don't have a poor credit score. Generally, interests on loans are always lower than interest on a card. Therefore you will do well if you source for a loan rather than sticking with interest on the card.

Find an affordable monthly installment and ensure that you go through the terms and conditions before signing anything. This is because you might come across some great offers but later discover that there are some hidden charges. So make sure you read and understand there terms and conditions before putting pen to paper. Taking all the necessary steps and precautions will ensure that you oversee the best consolidated credit card and not get into trouble later.

Three Reasons To Consider Florida Real Estate Properties: Location, Tourism, and Housing Market

Florida real estate properties are known to present people with excellent opportunities regardless of whether these options involve residential or commercial properties. With such an outstanding selection of real estate properties to choose from on the property market, people who remain unsure about whether or not making a purchase would be a good idea only really needs to consider these three reasons.

Great Location

First of all, property buyers will always want to consider the location of their options. Florida real estate properties are found within one of the most preferred states within the United States today which offers warm weather and a myriad of attractions since the state is located right along the Atlantic Ocean where beautiful beaches are found.

If you have always wanted to live close to the beach, Florida properties are definitely your best bet, especially when it comes to those located within prime cities such as Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Boynton Beach, and West Palm Beach.

Strong Tourism

As previously mentioned, the fact that the state in which Florida real estate properties are located is one of the most preferred locations within the country today, it is easily one of the most visited places within the United States, especially among people who are looking to spend their vacations within the best beach resorts possible. Even areas such as Fort Lauderdale where annual events take place have become such a prime choice for investors who want to make sure that they generate sizable profit within short periods of time.

However, even people who are not looking for a dose of summer fun tend to flock to the region due to the abundance of opportunities that are available within the region in terms of its major business district which thrives on its financial institutions and other large-scale companies which thrive within the Downtown Miami area.

Housing Market

Many will recall the devastating effects of the market crash in 2008 that left scars on the economy of Florida. But things are very different now as proven by the fact that the region's housing market is, in fact, doing significantly better than all of the other areas within the United States with its increased pending sales and exceptionally high demand coming in from international property buyers and investors who continue to seek opportunities despite the

Look At The New Homes In Your Area So You Can Find Your New Place

If you are ready to start house shopping and want to find a place that is not only attractive, but also different from what is already out there, then you should start looking at the new homes that are on the market in your desired area. Even though you may have heard about how much money you can save when you purchase places that have been foreclosed on or abandoned, you also need to be aware of how much money you stand to lose on those types of houses. If you are not an expert or don't have much experience when it comes to buying property, you would be better off going with properties that have just been constructed. That way you don't have to worry about whether or not something is not up to code or if there are any delinquent fees still owed on the property.

When you shop for new homes, you get to pick from the cream of the crop. These places are being built in the best communities so that if you have a family and children, you can make sure that they get to live in a good area. Your neighbors all take pride in their property, so yours and the other houses in your neighborhood will have some of the best appraisal values in the area. Your new place will be conveniently located near some of your most frequented amenities such as shopping centers, grocery stores and even fitness centers. You won't have trouble getting to and from work, because your will have easier access to the freeways as well.

Many new homes are much more affordable than previously owned or built ones. This is because when you take into consideration all that needs to be done to ensure that a previously owned property is safe and up to code, before you even start adding in the purchase costs, you will have already come out of a substantial amount of money having the place inspected and remodeled to make sure that it is in great condition. You need to also think about any inherited repair work that you may end up responsible for if the previous owners neglected to do those repairs. Save yourself the trouble, frustration and keep some money in your pocket.

Shopping for a new place can be done much faster if you look at new homes. The chances of you finding a great place to live at a very reasonable price increases significantly. Take a look around and imagine yourself and your family living and creating brand new memories in one of these places. See what it is like to live in a prime real estate area. Your new house will have more value, and you don't have to worry about needing to do any major repairs for a while. This is because most new homes are freshly constructed to meet and exceed the building codes in your area, so there is nothing wrong with them.

For the new homes new orleans residents dream about, there is one clear choice in area providers.

How Much Should Your Loft Conversion Cost?

In the current climate of financial uncertainty, millions of families up and down the country are fretting about property. You might ask whether that's much of a change from the norm, and perhaps you'd have a point, but the bullishness that surrounded the UK property market in previous years has been replaced by more bearish sentiment. Although property prices in some parts of Britain - specifically London and the South East - have held up remarkably well through all the upheaval, they've fallen sharply in other areas. It can be particularly difficult in the current environment for homeowners to take that next step up on the property ladder, whatever their reasons for wanting to do so.

Many householders find that they simply don't have as much space as they feel they need - this can be particularly problematic for those who have children, for example. One option many homeowners have chosen is to simply have a loft conversion carried out, thereby providing them with more room. However, as with any other home improvement job, it's important to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages first so that you know whether the investment will be worthwhile. The popularity of loft conversions certainly shows no sign of slowing down, but there are a few aspects you ought to consider before you go ahead with the work.

An article from property website Primelocation.com observes that the loft conversion trend really took hold in London around a decade ago, but has started to expand across the country in more recent years. The piece cites a survey from Lloyds TSB suggesting that more vendors had opted to take their homes off the market in order to carry out improvements, and suggests that a loft conversion could add up to 10 per cent to the value of a home - even at a time when prices are stagnant or even falling. A regulatory change last October gave the majority of homeowners the option to press ahead with a loft conversion without the need to apply for planning permission from their local authority, so that's one less thing to worry about. Government estimates suggest that those affected could save up to £1,000 each in costs as a result.

The article also notes that some householders had used their property equity to finance loft conversion work, although it points out that some lenders may be less willing to finance such improvements given the current financial outlook. It also strongly advises those considering loft conversions to familiarise themselves with the relevant regulations beforehand, so that they don't end up simply wasting money on inappropriate work. Weather resistance, structural stability, ventilation, fire resistance and access are singled out as areas worthy of particularly close consideration.

Last May, a Halifax survey also suggested that loft conversions could have a significant impact on boosting property prices. According to the study, loft conversions add more value to a property - an average of £20,876 at a cost of loft conversion of around £10,000 - than any other home improvement job, followed by room extensions. A separate report from the National Association of Estate Agents also found that 40 per cent of the industry group's members considered adding extra living space as being the best way to increase the value of a home to would-be buyers.

Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is a fervent and active theme in today's society. It's important to be aware of Breast Cancer and to remind others to take precautionary measures against it by learning about risk factors and persistently getting yearly exams, It is important to realize that there are millions of women in US and many more in rest of the world that are not fully informed and may not have access to early detection and preventive care. Pink ribbons, buttons, apparel and other small and large items, have been used for getting people involved and educated. Such items are extremely important, as they keep Breast Cancer in the front of everyone's minds. There are many such items available for purchase, but with autumn here and winter coming up, it might be beneficial - both for awareness and for the inclement weather - to consider Breast Cancer Awareness umbrellas for the upcoming rainy season.

There are plenty of these items available in stores or online on stores. These include umbrellas of varying sizes and even ponchos. The umbrellas feature a simple, cute, and stylish pink-and-white striped pattern with a modest "Pink Ribbon" imprinted on one of the white stripes.

Umbrellas are very effective in promoting your cause because they can be imprinted with your name, logos or any message you want to communicate, breast cancer awareness in this case. They are sturdy and of latest wind resistant, rain repellant and sun protective materials. Most importantly, in rain or shine these umbrellas are visible and spread the message to remind and make people aware of the issues regarding breast cancer.

Instead of buying a bleak, boring black umbrella like everyone else; you could consider purchasing a cute pink and white striped umbrella. The pink umbrellas can be found on the internet along with other pink promotional items. But you need to do your home work to buy from a reputed store. Also you should get those that will last a long time and preferably windproof. You will find many competitively priced, yet durable and stylish. They are folding and easy to carry along. But umbrellas aren't the only items. If umbrellas aren't for you, there is also can be a poncho-durable, comfortable, and made of quality material, the poncho will keep your hair and clothes from getting wet and frizzy on drizzly days.

The best part? Some of the suppliers of these umbrellas, will support breast cancer awareness programs. Your purchase will not only be chic, beneficial, and stylish... it will also help the cause! Portions of all proceeds from Breast Cancer Awareness items go to benefit the fight against Breast Cancer. To help the cause you can find other stores who will donate proceeds of sale of other related items.

While looking for Breast Cancer Awareness umbrellas look for ones that are specially designed to be windproof, wind resistant or wind vented. These umbrellas are able to withstand moderate to gusty winds of up to fifty miles per hour or more! If you've ever had the frustrating experience of having your umbrella blow inside out during a powerful storm, you know exactly how nice a wind resistant umbrella would be.

These umbrellas are unique and durable against strong winds up to sixty miles per hour. The umbrellas come between average 42-inch sizes up to extra-large 62-inch sizes. Differing

Nokia says shipping new Lumia smartphones this week

Finnish phone maker Nokia said its new Lumia smartphones, key to the company's hopes for recovery, will begin to appear in some European markets this week.
Nokia late on Monday said its high-end Lumia 820 and 920 phones, which will run on Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 software, will this week reach first operators and retail outlets in France and Britain and later in Russia and Germany as well as other select markets.
In the United States, AT&T will start selling the devices in early November. Verizon Wireless will begin selling Lumia 822 and T-Mobile will offer Lumia 810, Nokia said.

New York City floods as Sandy slams into eastern U.S.

Millions of people in the eastern United States awoke on Tuesday to flooded homes, fallen trees and widespread power outages caused by the giant storm Sandy, which swamped New York City's subway system and submerged streets in Manhattan's financial district.
At least 15 people were reported killed in the United States by Sandy, one of the biggest storms to ever hit the country, which dropped just below hurricane status before making landfall on Monday night in New Jersey.
More than 1 million people in a dozen states were under orders to evacuate as the massive system plowed westward. One disaster forecasting company predicted economic losses could ultimately reach $20 billion, only half insured. The storm interrupted the presidential campaign a week before Election Day and closed U.S. financial markets for two days.
Sandy, which was especially imposing because of its wide-ranging winds, brought a record storm surge of almost 14 feet to downtown Manhattan, well above the previous record of 10 feet during Hurricane Donna in 1960, the National Weather Service said.
Water poured into the subway system and tunnels that course under the city, raising concerns that the world's financial capital could be hobbled for days.
"Hitting at high tide, the strongest surge and the strongest winds all hit at the worst possible time," said Jeffrey Tongue, a meteorologist for the weather service in Brookhaven, New York.
Hurricane-force winds as high as 90 miles per hour were recorded, he said.
"Hopefully it's a once-in-a-lifetime storm," Tongue said.
Large sections of New York City were without power, and transportation in the metropolitan area was at a standstill.

Yankees exercise options for Cano, Granderson

The New York Yankees have exercised their $15 million contract options for second baseman Robinson Cano and outfielder Curtis Granderson for next season. Cano hit .313 with 33 home runs and 94 RBIs this season and Granderson hit 43 homers and drove in 106 runs, but with a .232 average. The Yankees were swept in the ALCS by the Detroit Tigers, who went on to lose the World Series to San Francisco.
Both players had dreadful postseasons. In the playoffs, Cano hit .075 (3 for 40) with no home runs, including a 29 at-bat hitless streak. Granderson was 3 for 30 with 16 strikeouts.
The Yankees also exercised their $500,000 option for reliever David Aardsma, who came back from elbow ligament-replacement surgery to pitch one inning at the end of the season.

Smith almost perfect, 49ers flatten Arizona 24-3

Three touchdown passes, one incomplete pass. Not a bad night for Alex Smith, and it could have been better, considering that the one incomplete pass was dropped by a wide-open receiver.
The San Francisco quarterback completed 18 of 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns - two to Michael Crabtree and one to Randy Moss - to help San Francisco flatten the Arizona Cardinals 24-3 on Monday night.
''Eighteen of 19, I have never seen that,'' 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. ''How important for your quarterback to play very well? It is very important and I don't know how you play much better. It was a fantastic game by him.''
Arizona defensive tackle Darnell Dockett could hardly believe what Smith had done.
''Everyone's surprised. My 5-year-old son's surprised,'' Dockett said, ''but at the end of the day it wasn't like he had to make the long perfect throws. He had some guys open and we missed some tackles and they made plays.''
Smith said he had no idea his stats were that good.
''Which is a good thing,'' he said. ''I don't want to think about my stats or incompletions or anything like that. I was kind of in a good rhythm, the whole offense was. ''
Smith has withstood more than his share of criticism he was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft in 2005. He was not interested in calling this a statement performance.
''At this point I don't care,'' he said. ''if you ask me a few years ago, yeah maybe, but at this point I don't really care. I am concerned about winning. The guys in the locker room know what I am about and that is what really matters.''
As for reports he had lost his confidence, Smith said, ''It was in my closet. I found it.''
Smith was 14 of 15 for 146 yards and two touchdowns, both to Crabtree, as the 49ers built a 17-0 halftime lead.
Moss caught a 47-yard TD pass, dodging tacklers down the sideline on a play that seemed to turn back the clock to the receiver's prime. With the catch, he tied Terrell Owens for fourth on the NFL career touchdown list with 156. Smith, who tied a career high with the three touchdown passes, spread out his completions to 10 receivers. Crabtree led the way with five catches for 72 yards.
Arizona's defense, supposed to be the team's strength, missed tackle after tackle in an embarrassing nationally televised performance at home. The 24 points were the most allowed by the Cardinals this season.
''This was a big test for us, and everyone saw how it went,'' Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. ''It was disappointing to say the least.''
Quarterback John Skelton called the loss ''embarrassing'' and ''humiliating.''
Led by Smith's near-perfect precision passing, the 49ers methodically dominated from the start. He had the best completion percentage of his career, and he would have been perfect had Delanie Walker not dropped the ball when he was wide open on a crossing route in the first half. A 10-play, 77-yard drive that consumed just over 6 minutes of the first quarter put San Francisco up 7-0. On third-and-goal from the 3, Smith threw a sidelines pass to Crabtree, who outfought Patrick Peterson for the ball and the touchdown.
A flurry missed tackles, most notably an open-field whiff by Sam Acho, helped Ted Ginn Jr. return a punt 35 yards to the Arizona 45 in the second quarter. Daryl Washington sacked Smith to help set up a third-and-23 from the Arizona 46. But Smith found Crabtree over the middle for 22 yards, just a yard shy of the first down. David Akers' 43 yard field goal made it 10-0 with 5:58 left in the half.
Crabtree beat Peterson again for San Francisco's second touchdown. Smith threw over the middle to the receiver, who caught the ball, then fooled Peterson with an inside move into the end zone to make it 17-0 with 1:41 left in the half. The 49ers drove 68 yards in eight plays, again overcoming a sack, this one by Calais Campbell, that made it second-and-goal from the 16. Smith threw 7 yards to Mario Manningham to set up the TD toss to Crabtree. The Cardinals were booed off the field by the home crowd at the half.

Sandy leaves death, damp and darkness in wake

As superstorm Sandy marched slowly inland, millions along the East Coast awoke Tuesday without power or mass transit, with huge swaths of the nation's largest city unusually vacant and dark.
New York was among the hardest hit, with its financial heart in Lower Manhattan shuttered for a second day and seawater cascading into the still-gaping construction pit at the World Trade Center. President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in the city and Long Island.
The storm that made landfall in New Jersey on Monday evening with 80 mph sustained winds killed at least 17 people in seven states, cut power to more than 7.4 million homes and businesses from the Carolinas to Ohio, caused scares at two nuclear power plants and stopped the presidential campaign cold.
Authorities launched an effort to evacuate about 800 people in the town of Moonachie in northern New Jersey early Tuesday after a berm overflowed, authorities said.
The massive storm reached well into the Midwest: Chicago officials warned residents to stay away from the Lake Michigan shore as the city prepares for winds of up to 60 mph and waves exceeding 24 feet well into Wednesday.
"This will be one for the record books," said John Miksad, senior vice president for electric operations at Consolidated Edison, which had more than 670,000 customers without power in and around New York City.
An unprecedented 13-foot surge of seawater — 3 feet above the previous record — gushed into Gotham, inundating tunnels, subway stations and the electrical system that powers Wall Street, and sent hospital patients and tourists scrambling for safety. Skyscrapers swayed and creaked in winds that partially toppled a crane 74 stories above Midtown.
The massive storm caused the worst damage in the 108-year history of New York's extensive subway system, according to Joseph Lhota, the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Right before dawn Tuesday, a handful of taxis were out on the streets, though there was an abundance of emergency and police vehicles.
Remnants of the former Category 1 hurricane were forecast to head across Pennsylvania before taking another sharp turn into western New York by Wednesday morning. Although weakening as it goes, the massive storm — which caused wind warnings from Florida to Canada — will continue to bring heavy rain and local flooding, said Daniel Brown, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Giants show no weakness on pitching mound, put Tigers in World of hurt

SAN FRANCISCO (AtEight!) - The Eli Whiteside are now heads down at AT&T Park. Whiteside has played various roles beyond target for 30 to 40 pitches for Baseball. He had played many seasons for National Baseball challenges for over many years and plays a vital role to win for his team.

Jessica Biel’s sentimental wedding day accessories

Its time for Jessica Biel (The Total Recall Star) wedding party who is going to marry with Justin Timberlake in southern Italy. The date set for Jessica Biel is October 19, 2012. The bride has selected the Pink styled dress for her marriage party look with the pink pearl bracelet loaned to her by Timberlake's mother Lynn Harless. The marriage party will be held in Italy and the all famous stars including the Total Recall cast will be participated in this eye catching and glamorous party which will be fully entertainment.

Apple disappointment weighs on markets

LONDON (AtEight!) - At the current week ending, the Apple has really disappoints about their stock shares and earning even launching of its latest product mini iPad which they called "every inches is iPad". This situation is also with Amazon who has already unveiled its Kindle Fire HD. This outcome is very low for Apple and Amazon besides the new technological products from both the companies.

Presidential election hits $2B fundraising mark

WASHINGTON (AtEight!) The upcoming US Presidential Elections 2012's campaign is at its full heights and the current position of fund raising for that elections has reached at $2 billion for both the candidates from the donors for presidential elections. The main candidates for these elections are current US President Barack Obama from the Democratic Party and from Republican Mitt Romney. The previous elections for president which were in 2008, this fund reached at $1.8 billion. The candidates were Barack Obama and Arizona Senator John McCain.

Mysterious Multi Colored Honey in Ribeauville, Colmar Eastern France

Pregnancy from rape 'something God intended' says Mourdock US Senate's candidate

US Senate's candidate Richard Mourdock has given controversial remarks about rape and pregnancy during the election campaign by saying that something God intend. Although, Mitt Romney spokeswoman said that such remarks will not affect on the current US Presidential Election Campaign. These remarks by Richard Mourdock are given in a debate Tuesday in Indiana by saying when a woman becomes pregnant during a rape, "that's something God intended."

Microsoft Corporation launching Xbox SmartGlass

Microsoft who has just launched his Tablet Computer namely Surface is now launching Xbox SmartGlass which can be capable to connect Microsoft Windows Phone, Tablet (Surface) and PCs for content relating to entertainment which are offered for Xbox console and Xbox Live Service.

Samsung Galaxy Note II at AT&T on November 9, 2012

Samsung Galaxy Note II at AT&T on November 9, 2012. The main features of Samsung Galaxy Note II are 5.5 Inches HD Super AMOLED Touch Screen, Pre-loaded Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, 1.6 GHz Quad Core Samsung Exynos Processor for LTE Networks, 2GB RAM, 16GB Internal Storage and microSD Card Slot.
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AtEight! is the new addition for latest breaking world news publishing about world politics including upcoming US Presidential Elections and position of both the canidate's debates about their election strategy. AtEight! readers can read news of their interest Sports events like Baseball, Soccer and other International Sports Events. AtEight! you will see the live coverage of Apple's mini iPad releasing today with best available features.