Hostess liquidation draws more than 100 bidders

13 hrs.

From wire services , NBC News

UPDATED 6:15 PM ET:?Hostess Brands,?the bankrupt maker of Twinkies snack cakes, received court permission to wind down its 82-year-old business on Thursday but revealed "furious" interest in its iconic brands from potential buyers.

New York Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Drain approved the final orders that cleared the way for the company to begin selling its assets, everything from brands such as Ding Dongs and Twinkies to baking equipment and real estate.

"It's undisputed they will be worth more moving down this path," Drain said of the wind-down plan.

Around 110 potential bidders have contacted the company about bidding for at least part of its business, and 70 had enough interest to sign confidentiality agreements, Hostess' banker told the hearing in White Plains, N.Y.

Joshua Scherer of Perella Weinberg, who was hired by Hostess to sell its assets, said that six potential bidders have hired large investment banks to help them.

"It's very significant because it indicates to me that not only are these buyers serious, but they are expecting to spend substantial sums," said Scherer. He said the liquidation could raise $1 billion.

Scherer described the level of incoming calls from potential bidders as "fast and furious." Interested parties include large national retailers and overseas buyers that wanted to bring Hostess brands to India, he said.

By early January, the company expects to have initial bids for its various brands, which will then be put to auction.?

Hostess Brands also?is asking for a judge's approval to give its top executives bonuses totaling up to $1.8 million as part of its wind-down plans.

The company?says the incentive pay is needed to retain the 19 corporate officers and "high-level managers" during the liquidation process, which could take about a year. Two of those executives would be eligible for additional rewards depending on how efficiently they carry out the liquidation. The bonuses would be in addition to their regular pay.

The bonuses do not include pay for CEO Gregory Rayburn, who was brought on as a restructuring expert earlier this year. Rayburn is being paid $125,000 a month.

Hostess is seeking final approval for its wind-down, which was approved on an interim basis last week.

The company's shuttering means loss of about 18,000 jobs.

In court Thursday, an attorney for Hostess noted that the company is no longer able to pay retiree benefits, which come to about $1.1 million a month. Hostess stopped contributing to its union pension plans more than a year ago.

The company's demise came after years of management turmoil, with workers saying the company failed to invest in updating its products. In January, Hostess filed for its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy in less than a decade, citing steep costs associated with its unionized work force.

Although Hostess was able to reach a new contract agreement with its largest union, its second biggest union rejected the terms and went on strike Nov. 9. A week later, Hostess announced its plans to liquidate, saying the strike crippled its ability to maintain normal production.?

Information from the Associated Press and Reuters was included in this report.

Related story: Bankruptcy judge OKs Hostess liquidation

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/hostess-seeks-sweet-bonus-deal-top-executives-1C7325957

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Government supply chain awards to support over 2000 manufacturing jobs

27 November 2012

The government has announced that the successful bids from round one of its ?125 million Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI) are projected to create or safeguard over 2,160 jobs supported by approximately ?80 million of joint public and private sector investment.

A statement from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills said of the ?80 million investment, around ?30 million has been awarded from the initiative subject to due diligence, with a further ?50 million being leveraged from private sector partners.

The investments will finance and strengthen 11 manufacturing supply chain projects across the automotive, aerospace and chemical sectors ? areas the government says are key to its industrial strategy.

Examples of successful round one projects include an advanced manufacturing proving factory to develop the mass production of new low carbon technologies in Yorkshire, an automotive supplier that is enlarging and enhancing its manufacturing facility in the West Midlands and a next generation bio-process manufacturing capability being developed in the Tees Valley.

Business secretary Vince Cable said the round one applications represented a high quality of projects that brought together businesses and forged new partnerships across various supply chains that would strengthen Britain's presence in Europe and the world.

Author
Ken Hurst

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Source: http://www.worksmanagement.co.uk/news/government-supply-chain-awards-to-support-over-2000-manufacturing-jobs/46452/

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Poland says university scientist planned to blow up parliament

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish authorities have arrested a radical nationalist who plotted to blow up parliament and had links to the right-wing extremist who killed 77 people in Norway last year, they said on Tuesday.

The suspected plot - to strike parliament when the president and prime minister were inside - was the first of its kind since Poland threw off Communist rule more than 20 years ago and is likely to put scrutiny on radical right-wing groups that are fiercely opposed to the liberal government.

Prosecutors said the suspect, a scientist who works for a university in the southern city of Krakow, planned to plant four metric tons of explosives in a vehicle outside parliament and detonate it remotely.

The plot had parallels with Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian who planted a bomb in Oslo last year and then went on a shooting rampage on a nearby island.

"The would-be bomber did not hide his fascination with Breivik. This should not be ignored," Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a news conference. "This should be a warning and a good lesson to Poland in the future."

"This is a new and dramatic experience. So far, we have had no experience with these kind of incidents."

Tusk said that investigators had found practical connections to Breivik too: the Norwegian bought bomb components in Poland, he said, and an analysis of his contacts helped lead Polish intelligence to the suspect.

Prosecutors said the 45-year-old suspect had assembled a small arsenal of explosive material, guns and remote-controlled detonators and was trying to recruit others to help him.

A video recording taken from the suspect, who has not been publicly identified, showed what prosecutors said was a test explosion he conducted, sending up a huge cloud of dust and leaving a large crater in the ground.

"He claims that he was acting on nationalistic, anti-Semitic and xenophobic motives," prosecutor Mariusz Krason said.

"He carried out reconnaissance in the neighborhood of the Sejm (parliament). This building was to be the target of the attack. He collected explosives and materials for detonation," Krason said.

SOPHISTICATED PLOT

Polish society is polarized between liberals and those who believe the country is neglecting its Catholic roots and succumbing to foreign influence.

Most right-wing groups renounce violence, but some on the margins are more radical. A rally in the capital, Warsaw, this month by right-wing nationalists turned violent, when youths in the crowd started throwing flares and stones at police.

Prosecutors produced evidence suggesting the suspect was planning a sophisticated attack.

They showed photographs of pistols and bags of ammunition which they said he had bought in Poland and Belgium. They also showed several vehicle license plates, both Polish and German, which they said had been found among his belongings.

They said the suspect had used his scientific background to assemble the explosives himself. "He is a specialist in the field," prosecutor Krason said.

Officials said that they had found explosive substances including hexogen and tetryl, as well as detonators that could be triggered remotely using a mobile telephone.

The dean of the Agricultural University in Krakow, where prosecutors said the suspect worked, said the man had never given any reason for suspicion.

"It never occurred to us that at our school there could be a person involved in such matters. There were no indications from his co-workers that anything unusual was happening," Roman Sady said.

(Additional reporting by Wojciech Zurawski in Krakow; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/poland-says-extremist-planned-blow-parliament-100436666.html

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Five ways to reward consulting referrals | TechRepublic

November 20, 2012, 2:39 AM PST

Takeaway: Independent consultant Chip Camden proposes five possible ways to reward word-of-mouth referrals for consulting work.

I received an email from a fellow consultant, Jeff Thorn, which read in part:

Do you compensate people who bring you business by way of a referral? I feel like it would be a nice thing to do. But seeing how almost all of my business comes by way of referral, I am not always sure what is appropriate. Sometimes an email introduction turns into a $20,000 project. What is an appropriate way to compensate the person who made the introduction?

Jeff raises an interesting question. One of the best sources of new business is a word-of-mouth referral, so it could make sense to reward those. I can think of at least five approaches you could take:

1. A fixed amount, small enough that you can afford it, but big enough to encourage the referrer. I suppose you could also make it conditional on turning into at least a minimum amount of business. For example, you might give your referrer a $100 finder?s fee once you?re assured of at least $1,000 in revenue.
2. A percentage of the business it leads to for a specific period of time. That would encourage people to find *good* leads. Maybe something like 2% of revenue for the first six months. Of course, you should build that into your fee so you?re not taking a loss, so be sure to balance the size of the reward against not overcharging your client.
3. If the referrer is a client of yours, give them a discount on their future business for a specific period of time. For instance, 5% off their bill for the next six months. That would not only encourage them to provide a referral, it would also make them want to give you more business themselves at the reduced rate.
4. A non-monetary gift or note of appreciation. Money isn?t everything, and sometimes a personalized gift can mean more to someone because they know you took the time to think about how to thank them, rather than following a predetermined compensation policy. In that case you want to make sure that you do give it some thought, rather than dropping a one-size-fits-all gift or a pre-printed card in the mail.
5. If the referrer is a fellow consultant, return the favor. A consultant who gave you a referral understands the value of referrals. Furthermore, they?ve demonstrated that they care more about finding the right solution than they do about snatching up all the available business for themselves ? thus, you can bet they?ll do good by the client you?re sending their way.

I don?t think I?ve ever rewarded a referral with anything more than a ?thank you,? but now that Jeff made me think about it perhaps I should. One of my colleagues, Eric Everson, gave me two referrals years ago that turned into more than half a million dollars of revenue since then. I should really buy that guy a beer. Or at least link to his business.

How do you reward referrals? Do you have a scheme that doesn?t fit into one of the above categories? Let us know by posting your comments in the discussion.

Automatically sign up for TechRepublic's IT Consultant newsletter!

Chip Camden

Chip Camden has been programming since 1978, and he's still not done. An independent consultant since 1991, Chip specializes in software development tools, languages, and migration to new technology. Besides writing for TechRepublic's IT Consultant blog, he also contributes to [Geeks Are Sexy] Technology News and his two personal blogs, Chip's Quips and Chip's Tips for Developers.

Source: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/project-management/five-ways-to-reward-consulting-referrals/5242

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Hurricane Sandy: The Psychological Aftermath | World of Psychology

When a sudden, unanticipated catastrophe lands on your doorstep, there?s before and there?s after.

One day life is going on as it always has. The next day life deals you such a blow that nothing will ever be the same.

?It?s not supposed to be this way,? you wail. ?How could this have happened? Someone, someone, please someone wake me from this horrific nightmare and tell me it?s all a dream.?

But no one does.

As the days pass, you realize that nothing, absolutely nothing, halts the ache in your heart. Nothing soothes the fear in your soul. Nothing drives your sadness away. So much has been lost. Not only material possessions but also irreplaceable memorabilia. Not only stuff but a sense of safety. And for some, the ultimate price, the loss of life.

Shock, bewilderment and confusion take up residence in your brain. You never anticipated anything like this. How can you possibly cope with the loss? All you want to do is crawl into bed and forget about it. But you have no bed. You have no home. You have no place to retreat to.

It?s impossible to imagine that just a short time ago, everything was just fine. But that was before. This is after.

There?s so much to deal with. You are overwhelmed. You are exhausted. You are depressed. No, depression is for people who have a gray cloud over their head. This is beyond depression; this is despair.

Each day is different. One day, emptiness and loneliness reign. Another day, anger and resentment erupt. Then, the following day, a melancholy crushes whatever get-up-and-go-spirit you had. You realize you have no idea how to go on.

Yet, you do go on. Though a part of you wants to give up, a bigger part of you wants to overcome. You may want to connect with compassionate friends or you may want to be alone. You may want to sleep your days away or you may want to keep busy. You may hunger for painkillers to numb you or you may want to suffer the pain. There is no right course; there is no proper path.

You have the right, even the obligation, to feel whatever you are feeling; to think whatever you are thinking; to do whatever you are doing. Though, right now, hope may seem to reside in another galaxy, next week hope will once again be part of your life, teaching you ways to survive this catastrophe.

Many people?s hearts and prayers are with you. Many individuals and organizations are ready to assist you. Let them assist you in whatever ways they can. Let their caring and support be a source of comfort. And give yourself time to heal.

Dr. Sapadin is a psychologist, author and success coach who takes joy in helping people reach their potential, enhance their relationships and overcome self-defeating patterns of behavior. To subscribe to her FREE E-newsletter, go to www.PsychWisdom.com. To learn about her newest publication, How to Beat Procrastination in the Digital Age, go to www.SixStylesofProcrastination.com. Contact her at DrSapadin@aol.com

Like this author?
Catch up on other posts by Linda Sapadin, Ph.D (or subscribe to their feed).

????Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 19 Nov 2012
????Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

APA Reference
Sapadin, L. (2012). Hurricane Sandy: The Psychological Aftermath. Psych Central. Retrieved on November 21, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/11/20/hurricane-sandy-the-psychological-aftermath/

?

Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/11/20/hurricane-sandy-the-psychological-aftermath/

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Meet Line, The Messaging App That Reaches About One-Third of Japan?s Mobile Phone Users

It would be easy to assume that giants like Apple, Facebook and the carriers will control smartphone messaging. But the reality is that the global messaging market remains fragmented with several independent players like Sequoia-backed WhatsApp and Korea's Kakao TALK. Japan, in fact, has a dominant smartphone messaging app of its own -- and one with very enviable usage figures. A free calling and chat app developed by NHN Japan, Line has about 74 million users less than a year and a half after launch.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/tTa0sbNYt2k/

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Hollywood Reporter addresses role in Blacklist era

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? The son of The Hollywood Reporter founder Billy Wilkerson is apologizing for his father's and the trade paper's role in the 1947 Hollywood Blacklist that destroyed the careers of writers, actors and directors accused of having communist ties.

In an article published Monday by The Hollywood Reporter, Willie Wilkerson, 61, calls the Blacklist era "Hollywood's Holocaust" and says, "On the eve of this dark 65th anniversary, I feel an apology is necessary."

He says his father supported the Blacklist to exact revenge against the Hollywood titans he felt denied him entry to their club when he wanted to establish a movie studio in the late 1920s. Billy Wilkerson founded The Hollywood Reporter in 1930, and after World War II, used the paper as a vehicle for a series of editorials attacking communist sympathizers and their influence in Hollywood.

"In his maniacal quest to annihilate the studio owners, he realized that the most effective retaliation was to destroy their talent," Willie Wilkerson writes. "In the wake of this emerging hysteria surrounding communism, the easiest way to crush the studio owners was to simply call their actors, writers and directors communists. Unfortunately, they would become the collateral damage of history. Apart from being charged with contempt, for refusing to name names, none of these individuals committed any crimes."

Studios dominated the industry and denied work to those named on the Blacklist. Some writers worked under pseudonyms. Many actors and their families moved overseas to look for work. The Hollywood Reporter named names and ceaselessly covered the issue. The publication also details its role in the Blacklist era for the first time in a lengthy article published Monday.

"Any man or woman who, under the guise of freedom of speech, or the cloak of the Bill of Rights, or under the pseudo protection of being a liberal, says things, causes things to be said, or who actually is involved with many of the conspiracies that have now infested this great land of ours, has no place among us, be he commie or what," Billy Wilkerson wrote on Nov. 5, 1947. "He or she should be rushed out of our business."

The first Hollywood Blacklist was published Nov. 25, 1947.

Willie Wilkerson says it's possible that his father would have apologized for "creating something that devastated so many careers" had he lived long enough. He died in 1962, two years after the Blacklist was broken.

His son writes: "On behalf of my family, and particularly my late father, I wish to convey my sincerest apologies and deepest regrets to those who were victimized by this unfortunate incident."

___

AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen is on Twitter: www.twitter.com/APSandy .

___

Online:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/blacklist-thr-addresses-role-65-391931

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sean-penn-his-blacklisted-dad-391957

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hollywood-reporter-addresses-role-blacklist-era-221351978.html

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Chats on the Farmhouse Porch ? Grown in Southern Ground

Nov20

1. What?s the last thing you baked?
Brownies for a family dinner a few weeks ago.

2. What?s your favorite condiment?
Ranch dressing? Healthy, I know.

3. Do you have a smart phone, dumb phone, or no phone (we?re talking about cell phones)?
Dumb phone? I feel like I?m the last person on the planet without a smart phone.

4. Do you have a favorite card game?
Shithead? Great name, I know.

5. Tell me ten things you?re thankful for.
My family, friends, cats, home, the travel opportunities I?ve had, being home in America, books, TV, student loans, and Indian food.

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

Source: http://growninsouthernground.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/chats-on-the-farmhouse-porch-20/

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This Insulated Smuggler's Jacket Keeps You Warm and Your Booze Cold

The next time you're trying to sneak a drink into a venue that wants to charge you an arm and a leg for a beer, leave your giant bladder-filled sombrero at home. Skateboarding brand Enjoi's Beer Hunter Jacket provides a better solution: a couple of insulated cooler pockets for keeping bottles and cans chilled. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/QWNQDRr-Ut4/this-insulated-smugglers-jacket-keeps-you-warm-and-your-booze-cold

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Happy 29th Birthday, Miranda Lambert!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/11/happy-29th-birthday-miranda-lambert/

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juhanbotha: Mobile Car Rent ? Phuket Car Rental | Travel & Leisure ...

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Source: http://lawrence53.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/juhanbotha-mobile-car-rent-phuket-car-rental-travel-leisure.html

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MTV Europe Music Awards 2012: Taylor Swift & Justin Bieber Win ...

Theatricality was the word at last night?s MTV Europe Music Awards in Frankfurt, Germany, with over-the-top performances and fashions from an elite crowd of the music industry?s biggest global superstars, and also Kim Kardashian, who wore a dress with a big long train on the red carpet because it?s Kim Kardashian and that?s just what she does.

With host?Heidi Klum?wearing no less than six outfits over the course of the evening, and the usually demure?Taylor Swift?closing the show with a circus-themed performance of ?We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,? the show was high-octane, and high-drama. (And by ?high-drama,? we mean that Swift was spotted talking to?Lana Del Rey?on the red carpet, which is pretty much the most exciting thing we can imagine. Swift: ?Your what?tastes like Pepsi-Cola??)?Read the full winners? list and watch all the performances from Carly Rae Jepsen, PSY,?Rita Ora,?Alicia Keys,?Pitbull,?The Killers,?No Doubt,?fun.?and?Muse?after the jump.

The big winners of the night were Swift and?Justin Bieber, who each took home three awards ? Swift for Best Female, Best Live and Best Look, and Bieber (who was not in attendance) for Best Male, Best Pop and Best World Stage. Jepsen?was also honored, winning Best Song for ?Call Me Maybe,? and PSY?took home an award for ?Gangnam Style,? nabbing Best Video. And Directioners don?t have to feel too blue:?One Direction?was honored as Best New Act and Biggest Fans. (Who saw that coming?)?See the full winners? list below:

2012 MTV EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS: The Winners

Best Female:?Taylor Swift

Best Male:?Justin Bieber

Best New Act:?One Direction

Best Song:??Call Me Maybe,? Carly Rae Jepsen

Best World Stage:?Justin Bieber

Best Video:??Gangnam Style,? PSY

Best Rock:?Linkin Park

Best Pop:?Justin Bieber

Best Look:?Taylor Swift

Best Alternative:?Lana Del Rey

Best Hip Hop:?Nicki Minaj

Best Live:?Taylor Swift

Biggest Fans:?One Direction

Best PUSH:?Carly Rae Jepsen

Global Icon:?Whitney Houston

Watch all the performances here:

Carly Rae Jepsen ? ?Call Me Maybe?

Rita Ora ? ?R.I.P.?

Alicia Keys ? ?New Day? / ?Girl On Fire?

Pitbull ? ?Don?t Stop the Party?

The Killers ? ?Runaways?

PSY ? ?Gangnam Style?

No Doubt ? ?Looking Hot?

fun. ? ?We Are Young?

Muse ? ?Madness?

Did you watch the MTV Europe Music Awards? Tell us what you thought in the comments, or?on?Facebook?and?Twitter.

Source: http://idolator.com/7266232/mtv-europe-music-awards-2012-taylor-swift-justin-bieber-win-big-rita-ora-psy-perform

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Loony Pamela Geller: Petraeus Resignation Is an Obama Plot to Put a Muslim in Charge of the CIA (Little green footballs)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/262017492?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Help for blighted suburbs meets French hostility

In this Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012 photo, Leila Leghmara answers reporter at her apartment, in Paris. Qatar, with the world's third-largest gas reserves, has been on a spending spree in France and elsewhere in the West in recent years. The oil-rich state less than the size of Connecticut has exerted an outsized influence as a global bankroller, putting it at the cutting edge of an accelerating power shift between traditional Western powers and emerging economies. As Europe is engulfed in crisis, Qatar has been on a global spending spree, buying stakes in luxury brands, acquiring soccer club Paris St. Germain and financing London's "Shard" , the EU's tallest building. Now, to the consternation of the French, the emirate wants to make a major humanitarian investment in the West. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

In this Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012 photo, Leila Leghmara answers reporter at her apartment, in Paris. Qatar, with the world's third-largest gas reserves, has been on a spending spree in France and elsewhere in the West in recent years. The oil-rich state less than the size of Connecticut has exerted an outsized influence as a global bankroller, putting it at the cutting edge of an accelerating power shift between traditional Western powers and emerging economies. As Europe is engulfed in crisis, Qatar has been on a global spending spree, buying stakes in luxury brands, acquiring soccer club Paris St. Germain and financing London's "Shard" , the EU's tallest building. Now, to the consternation of the French, the emirate wants to make a major humanitarian investment in the West. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

FILE - In this Jan. 2 2012 file photo, Paris Saint Germain's new coach Carlo Ancelotti of Italy, left, and president of PSG and head of the Qatar Tennis Federation, Nasser al-Khelaifi right, attend an ATP Qatar Open tennis match with the team, at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha. Qatar, with the world's third-largest gas reserves, has been on a spending spree in France and elsewhere in the West in recent years. The oil-rich state less than the size of Connecticut has exerted an outsized influence as a global bankroller, putting it at the cutting edge of an accelerating power shift between traditional Western powers and emerging economies. As Europe is engulfed in crisis, Qatar has been on a global spending spree, buying stakes in luxury brands, acquiring soccer club Paris St. Germain and financing London's "Shard" , the EU's tallest building. Now, to the consternation of the French, the emirate wants to make a major humanitarian investment in the West. (AP Photo, File)

In this Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012 photo, Leila Leghmara answers reporter at her apartment, in Paris. Qatar, with the world's third-largest gas reserves, has been on a spending spree in France and elsewhere in the West in recent years. The oil-rich state less than the size of Connecticut has exerted an outsized influence as a global bankroller, putting it at the cutting edge of an accelerating power shift between traditional Western powers and emerging economies. As Europe is engulfed in crisis, Qatar has been on a global spending spree, buying stakes in luxury brands, acquiring soccer club Paris St. Germain and financing London's "Shard" , the EU's tallest building. Now, to the consternation of the French, the emirate wants to make a major humanitarian investment in the West. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

PARIS (AP) ? When the blighted housing projects ringing major French cities exploded in nationwide riots, France pledged quick action to fix them. Seven years on, the suburban projects remain islands of despair, lofty promises of rebirth largely forgotten. So a new plan to spend millions to help residents turn their neighborhoods around seemed cause for celebration.

Instead, it met a wall of resistance and outright hostility. The reason: the benefactor was the wealthy Arab emirate of Qatar.

The oil-rich state less than the size of Connecticut has exerted an outsized influence as a global bankroller, putting it at the cutting edge of an accelerating power shift between traditional Western powers and emerging economies. As Europe is engulfed in crisis, Qatar has been on a global spending spree, buying stakes in luxury brands, acquiring soccer club Paris St. Germain and financing London's "Shard" ? the EU's tallest building. Now, to the consternation of the French, the emirate wants to make a major humanitarian investment in the West.

It all started a year ago when 10 enterprising local officials from the heavily immigrant suburbs bypassed France's sleek diplomatic machine and knocked on the door of Qatar's emir with a request for help to fund the dreams of budding entrepreneurs without means.

In fairytale fashion, their wish was fulfilled beyond their expectations: The emir pledged a euro 50 million ($65 million) investment fund.

But the offer met a storm of protests by politicians back home, horrified that an outsider would leave its footprint in France's restive neighborhoods. Wounded pride may have played a role. Many found it hard to accept that a small Arab country might succeed where France itself had fallen short.

"France failed in its mission," said Leila Leghmara, one of the officials who made the trip to Qatar. "And now Qatar looks like the savior ... We touched where it hurt."

Permeating the hostile response was suspicion that the tiny Muslim state may have a special agenda at a time when fears of terrorism by Islamist extremists and a perceived infiltration of Muslim culture in French life have been on the rise. Was Qatar using its deep pockets to buy the sympathies of the many Muslims in the housing projects ? and ultimately become a power broker within France itself?

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen called the Qatari investment an "Islamist Trojan horse" while independent politician Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, who champions national sovereignty, said France would be "prostituting itself" by accepting the money. Even some members of mainstream parties balked at the Arab largesse.

The saga came to a head last month when the French government effectively hijacked the initiative, pledging matching funds but spreading the butter over all of France's disadvantaged regions ? and eliminating the focus on the disadvantaged suburbs. Far worse for the project's originators, the government put the funds under the control of a state bank, kicking the founders out of the driver's seat.

Now, a year after their visit to the palaces of Doha, the 10 who bucked a system that has failed the suburbs worry the money may never reach those they hope to help ? ordinary people from their neighborhoods with big ideas bereft of any hope of backing. The rioting that raged for weeks in 2005 was fueled by pent-up frustration about the dead-end futures of immigrants and their descendants in the forgotten suburbs.

The project's original champions dismiss fears of sinister forces at play in Qatar's offer.

"Qatar isn't going to buy France," said Leghmara. "This delirious thinking has to stop." Defenders of the plan note that nobody saw anything pernicious when Qatar raised its stake last year in France's media and defense group Lagardere to 10 percent, making it the largest single shareholder ? even though that investment goes to the heart of France's security apparatus.

Investing in the poor neighborhoods that ring French cities does represent a rare example of Qatar using its soft power to directly influence lives, as it is doing elsewhere. Last month, Qatar's emir, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, visited the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian territory controlled by the Islamist militant Hamas ? branded as terrorists by the West. He launched $400 million worth of projects, including housing, a hospital and roads.

The no-strings-attached humanitarian investment in the West by an emerging economy is rare, perhaps unique.

However, Qatar insists that its fund for France is not charity.

"Qatar does business, not philanthropy," Ambassador Mohamed Al-Kuwari told Metro, the free daily, in his country's only reaction to the noisy controversy. "We have no political mission."

Whatever Qatar's motives, experts say the emirate's helping hand for the suburbs simply touches on France's sensitivities about its place in the world as it struggles with its economic downturn and strives to remain a diplomatic power.

"The symbol is very powerful," said Karim Bitar, senior fellow at the Paris-based Institute for International and Strategic Relations. "Qatar has become the conjunction of all French fears."

Two French presidents tried to figure out how to deal with the Qatari offer, first conservative Nicolas Sarkozy and now socialist Francois Hollande ? who last month confirmed the compromise of spreading the funds across all neglected regions.

"Each time a nation wants to invest, we say very good, we'll do it together because we can tell you what is strategic, and what is not," Hollande said in explaining his decision on France 24 TV.

The 10 officials looked to Qatar because of the glass ceiling that keeps most residents of the suburbs ? stigmatized by their often Arabic names or even their addresses ? from getting decent jobs let alone the financial backing for business ventures. French benefactors in the private sector simply aren't there.

"There are lots of people who want to succeed," said Leghmara. "But they find themselves standing in front of closed doors."

Aneld has received pitches for hundreds of projects in need of funding, from high-tech enterprises to a literary cafe. Salim Benradhia's plan for an affordable gourmet restaurant on a barge on the Seine is among them.

"In the suburbs, we don't always have access to Paris restaurants," said Benradhia, a father of two in Clichy-Sous-Bois, where the 2005 riots ignited. "This would make a beautiful night out."

But the banks refused him a loan. Now Benradhia, like others, fears that if the state bank in charge of the project makes all the calls on funding, "we will once again be left on the sidelines."

Now, the local officials who traveled to Qatar fear they will be erased from the picture ? along with their plan.

"After all the work we did, we can talk about a hijacking" if the money doesn't help the projects, said Aneld president Kamel Hamza. "It should (help) those who don't necessarily come from the right families or don't have anyone to guarantee a bank loan."

Figures representing France's minorities say accepting Qatar's generosity is just common sense.

"Better money from Qatar than no money at all," said Patrick Lozes, who helped found the Representative Council of Black Associations.

___

Brian Murphy in Dubai contributed to this report.

Follow Ganley on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/Elaine_Ganley

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-11-11-France-Qatar-Gift%20Disdained/id-87607f2e0f2c4387b84467eeb6d6135f

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Top 10 DIY Repairs and Upgrades to Make Your Smartphone Last Forever

You can never save your phone from every drop, spill, scratch, and crash you encounter during its life. Heck, even a year of wear and tear can take its toll on any phone. Instead of paying hundreds of dollars for a new device every time yours breaks, here are 10 repairs and upgrades you can perform yourself at home.

10. Fix a Loose Charging Port with a Toothpick

Over time, the micro-USB port that charges your phone can come loose, to the point where your charger might not even fit anymore. Luckily, the fix is a lot simpler than it seems: all you really need is a thin, sharpened toothpick to get some of the lint and dirt out. After you clean it out, the plug should stick in the socket much more firmly, and stay in place like it used to.

9. Get Buggy Speakers Working Again

Similar to the charging port, your headphone jack can also get gunked up with lint and other debris from your pockets. When that happens, your phone can have problems switching from headphones to speaker when you don't have your headphones plugged in. There's no need to open up your phone or take it in to get fixed. Just stick a cotton swab down the headphone jack to clear it out and it should be good as new.

8. Turn a DVD Lens into a Cameraphone Lens

Maybe your cellphone's camera lens is broken or scratched, or maybe you just want to take higher quality closeup photos. If you have an old or broken DVD player lying around, you can actually salvage the small lens it uses and use it as a camera lens on your phone. If you're replacing your current lens, you'll have to open your phone up and do some surgery, but if all you want is a few macro pictures, you can set it on top of your current lens to get the same effect.

7. Cool Down an Overheating Phone

This can be both a software and a hardware problem, but we've all been there: your cellphone is burning a hole in your pocket it's so hot. Well, often this is because of the battery?so turning off battery- and CPU-draining apps can help a lot. However, you should also try and let it breathe a little bit. If possible, don't stifle it in your pocket, and take off that non-breathable case and see if that helps. The cooler you can keep your phone, the longer it will last?and the better battery life you'll get throughout the day.

6. Repair Stuck and Unresponsive Buttons

Got a button that only works half the time, or a button that won't seem to press all the way down? Sometimes, you can fix it just by giving it a small dose of rubbing alcohol with a cotton swap?wipe it on, press the button a few times, and hope for the best. If not, it's more likely you need to replace the button entirely. You can often find them as spare parts online for cheap, then use your tool kit to open up your phone and replace the button. If that sounds a little scary, you can always make up for the broken button with software solutions, too.

5. Replace a Dying or Dead Battery

Batteries don't last forever. After a few years, it's likely your battery won't hold the same charge it used to, so it's time to get a replacement. That's easy for Android users, but iPhone users have to do a bit more work. You can usually buy replacement batteries online and replace them yourself without too much hassle. We've shown you how to do it on an iPod, and it isn't that much different on an iPhone?grab your toolkit, open up your phone, and carefully replace the battery with the one you bought online. You'll be surprised how much longer your new battery will last.

4. Revive a Seemingly Bricked Phone

If you like to jailbreak or root your phone, you're probably well aware with the possibility of bricking your phone?that is, breaking your phone so horribly that it no longer turns on and has become, for all intents and purposes, as useful as a brick. Luckily, it's very hard to brick a phone, and what may seem like a brick could be a perfectly fixable issue. Check out our guides to fixing stubborn iPhones and Android phones for more, and if that doesn't work, you may be able to jump start it with some paper clips and pencil graphite.

3. Smooth Out Stubborn Scratches

It's unavoidable: phones get scratched up. It isn't your keys or the coins in your pocket, either?it's the sand and dirt. If you want to keep your phone scratch-free, you can brush the bezel or sandpaper the back to get it shiny and smooth again. Your screen is another matter?screen protectors will keep it from getting scratched (and you can make your own for about a nickel), but if your phone's already scratched up, refer to #1 before to see how to replace the screen.

2. Ressurect a Soaked Phone with Rice

Many of you have probably heard of this trick before, and it really does work. If your phone takes an unexpected swim, you can save it by removing the battery (if possible), getting it to a bag of rice as quickly as you can, and leaving it there for a day or two (the longer, the better). If your screen's having problems due to moisture, you can often massage stuck pixels away with your fingers, too.

1. Replace a Scratched or Shattered Screen

All it takes is one fateful drop to render your phone's screen useless, and it may seem like the only course of action is to upgrade. However, replacing your phone's screen is actually pretty easy, not to mention cheap. Don't believe us? Check out this gallery of a 10-year-old fixing his iPhone for $22. All you need are some tools and a little bravery, and you'll have your phone looking good as new in no time. Photo by Lars Loughmann.

Title image remixed from EverythingInStock and winstonlink.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/OAHPQlakzws/top-10-diy-repairs-and-upgrades-to-make-your-smartphone-last-forever

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brain, exercise, memory, health | Leisure Fitness Equipment

Article by nytimes.com, Recommended by Megan Mitchell

Remaining physically active as you age, a new study shows, may help protect parts of your brain from shrinking, a process that has been linked to declines in thinking and memory skills. Physical exercise not only protected against such age-related brain changes, but also had more of an effect than mentally and socially stimulating activities.

In the new report, published in the journal Neurology,?a team at the University of Edinburgh followed more than 600 people, starting at age 70. The subjects provided details on their daily physical, mental and social activities.

Three years later, using imaging scans, the scientists found that the subjects who engaged in the most physical exercise, including walking several times a week, had less shrinkage and damage in the brain?s white matter, which is considered the ?wiring? of the brain?s communication system. The relationship remained even after the researchers controlled for things like age, health status, social class and I.Q.

As far as mental exercise, ?we can only say we found no benefit in our sample,? said Dr. Alan J. Gow, an author of the study and a senior research fellow at Edinburgh. He added: ?There might be associations earlier in the life course. Such activities also have important associations with well-being and quality of life, so we would certainly agree it is important for older adults to continue to pursue them.?

Because the findings showed only an association, not a causal relationship, the authors could not rule out the possibility that people with less deterioration in their brains were simply more likely to be physically active. But they said that based on their findings, they would advise that people take up physical exercise ?whatever their age.?

Source: http://blog.leisurefitness.com/2012/11/exercise-may-protect-against-brain-shrinkage/

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Republicans Need to Accept Scientific Teachings on Evolution and Global Warming

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The West Ranch Beacon ? News & Commentary for the Santa ...

Officers from the Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) will be in the unincorporated areas in the vicinity of Lancaster beginning November 19, 2012, checking for current rabies vaccinations, ensuring residents are in compliance with licensing requirements as well as the mandatory spay/neuter and microchip ordinance. California State law requires that all dogs and cats over the age of four months be vaccinated against rabies and be licensed. Securing a dog or cat license is an important part of identification and can assist animal control agencies if your pet becomes lost.

Pet owners are advised to be in compliance with licensing and the mandatory spay/neuter and microchip ordinance if they reside in any unincorporated area of Los Angeles County (or contract city that has adopted the County?s ordinance). Residents not in compliance will be subject to license fees and delinquency charges, including a $40 field enforcement fee, to offset the cost of the Department?s field services. In order to avoid penalties, be sure to license your pet. You can secure a new animal license by printing the application online at http://animalcare.lacounty.gov, or visiting your local County animal care center. If your license is not delinquent, you can also renew it through the Internet.

DACC offers low cost vaccination clinics and low cost assistance (for individuals who qualify) for spay and neuter surgeries. Please visit our website http://animalcare.lacounty.gov or stop by your local County animal care center for more information about these services.

For more information about DACC, find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/CountyofLosAngelesAnimalCare, or follow us on Twitter @LACoAnimalCare.

Source: http://westranchbeacon.com/2012/11/animal-license-canvassing-efforts-in-unincorp-area-of-lancaster/

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It's True.. I'M PREGNANT!!!! - Jennifer Stano's Blog

After trying for quite some time, Alki and I are happy to say we are PREGNANT!!

This Is Our Journey.

When Alki and I got engaged in 2009 we didn't use anything to protect against getting pregnant. We were both in love and happy and knew that if it happened it was meant to be, basically leaving it in ?God and a higher powers hands. Really, Alki wanted to have a baby since the day we first met, but I am more traditional in that sense and like the stages in life. I wanted to be engaged and then get married and then look forward to starting a family, I've always been that way, so after our wedding in May 2011 we have been trying to conceive. No, I wasn't watching my watch and running to the bedroom to bang like a crazy woman, but I did download an app on my iPhone that helped me keep track of when my menstrual cycle would begin and end and about when I would start to ovulate. We tried that for over ?a year and then when nothing happened, not even a close call in our 3.5 years together, we started to wonder if something was wrong. I told myself I would wait till I was 28 years old ( which will be Feb 2013 ) to go to a Dr and start the process of finding out what the "problem" was, but when I found out my close friend and co-worker Jill, (some of you may know her from Have Faith Swimgerie) was pregnant it really put some fire under my ass to see "why not me". I always left me getting pregnant to God and a higher power, believing it would happen when it was meant to happen, but if there is a problem, no matter how long you wait, you'll ?never conceive...

Alki and I were out to dinner ?that week discussing how exciting it was for Jill and Chris to be expecting a baby and out of nowhere Alki asked me ?"so when are you going to go to the Dr ?" Just him asking me that made me really excited and nervous all at the same time knowing he was anxious to start a family. ?The next day I called up Southern California Reproductive Center which is a fertility center down the street from our house and made an appointment with Dr. Mark Surrey. A few of my friends have gone to this center and were super happy, and now I was ready to see what was going on with me.

Alki and I went in and met with Dr. Surrey. He was super nice and explained everything to us. They immediately started to do blood tests on both Alki and I, an internal ultrasound and took measurements of god knows what inside...I think my Follicles.?I happened to go in at the perfect time- Day 2 of my cycle, and they were able to monitor my cycle, my hormones and my levels and see how I "developed". ?For those of you who don't know- day 1 in your cycle is the day you get your period, so I went to the Dr the day after and it was perfect timing because I didn't have to wait and entire month to get tests done.

After days and days in and out of the Dr's and being poked and pinched, they decided they wanted to book me in for a procedure called ?Hysterosalpingogram aka HSG. HSG is an X-ray procedure performed to determine whether the fallopian tubes are open and to see if the shape of the uterine cavity is normal. HSG is an outpatient procedure done when your period has ended but before you start to ovulate. Doesn't sound so bad right ? Well, during this procedure the Dr has to put a cannula or catheter ?into your cervix and then through that they push a liquid into your uterus and watch live on the X-ray machine to see if the "dye" gets stuck or flows freely through your fallopian tubes.

?My HSG Procedure Day-?I was laying down in the room by myself as you would for a regular pap, the Dr came in, got me ready and then started to push the catheter into my cervix when all I hear him say is "it won't go in, its getting stuck". Now, the feeling is like a severe cramp in your uterus and hearing him say "it won't go in" freaked me out so much that the room began to get dark, I started to get hot, and all I remember saying to him and the nurse was " IM GOING TO PASS OUT"!
BOOM! Out for the count, butt ass naked, spread eagle , laying down with a catheter stuck in my cervix. Done!
I wake up to the nurse holding smelling salts in my face and an open door or nurses peeking in to see if everything was ok and the Dr holding my legs straight up in the air to force blood to my head.
Who passes out laying down anyway LOL.
I was sweating my ass off and completely forgot where I was. When I came to my senses I apologized and asked if the catheter was still in my cervix, the Dr said "yes", so I told him to proceed and that I was fine.
LOL I swear this happened, you can't make this shit up.
So finally I feel the dye going in, it gave me a slight cramp but at this point nothing I couldn't handle, and I watched the monitor along with my Dr and nurse. As the dye traveled through ?he explained what was going on. I saw the dye go through one side, then the other but then on one side it began to gather once it left my fallopian tube. ?Then he explains how my uterus looked a bit "abnormal" by the looks of this test and explained how I will have to get an MRI at a different facility to get a clear view of my uterus and its shape.
Mine looked more like a heart when it should look like a triangle to give you a visual.


So that Saturday Alki took me to a place near the house where they performed my MRI. This is a 30 minute procedure where an IV was put in my arm and in the last portion of the MRI contrast dye was pushed into my body so they can get a clear view of my uterus and its shape to see if there are any problems. The MRI didn't bother me even though it was SO loud. Alki was in the room and actually fell asleep lol. Having the IV in my arm for 30 minutes and having to hold it?straight?above my head ?the entire time was horrible however. Not to mention when they started to push the dye through the IV into my arm, OMG, it felt like a stream of water down my arm like a running faucet. It was the grossest feeling ever BUT, ?the results came back just fine and we were onto the next stage of our journey.

Now it was Alki's turn to get looked at. The first day we went to the Dr's Alki gave blood to check his levels which all came back fine, but now it was time to test the baby makers!!! So , off Alki went all on his own to the Dr's to give a semen sample for a semen analysis. I totally thought he was the one that was going to be ?"the problem" because he is a vegetarian and I have read that soy can decrease your sperm count by millions (which is not proven btw), BUT funny enough, all of his tests came back perfect :( which meant the "problem" was me.

Somewhere along the way the Dr prescribed me a pill called Clomid ?which I took for 5 days. "Clomiphene aka Clomid ?is used to induce ovulation (egg production) in women who do not produce ova (eggs) but wish to become pregnant (infertility). Clomiphene is in a class of medications called ovulatory stimulants. It works similarly to estrogen, a female hormone that causes eggs to develop in the ovaries and be released."?Later on in my cycle for 3 days I had a shot injected into my stomach called Bravelle. "Bravelle is used to stimulate egg maturation, and for multiple follicular development in women who are able to produce and release eggs (ovulate)." ?They couldn't diagnose me with anything as this was my first month and cycle going to them, however, every time I went in to the Dr's and they did an internal ultrasound they would measure my follicles which once mature would release an egg... and apparently I was slow at maturing. Maybe it's because I workout so much and produce more testosterone than estrogen .. Who knows. All I do know is my menstrual cycle was every 35-40 days instead of the normal 28 days which can come from being underweight or exercising a lot. This may or may not have played a part in me having trouble conceiving.

Now since Alki's results came back good, and I was responding great to the medicine they gave me to help me mature and develop normally, they gave us a task- we had to " have relations" as they said and then within an hr I had to make my way to the Dr's where they would swab the inside of my "area" and see under a microscope if the sperm can swim freely through me. Basically making sure we can conceive naturally without having to do artificial insemination. We found out ?we could conceive naturally so now it was all game.
Dr. Surrey suggested doing artificial insemination to ensure a better result but Alki and I talked it over and felt that it seemed a little "desperate" for us. This was our first month going to the Fertility Center and we really just wanted to diagnose the problem, not actually force a pregnancy. So we chose to give it a try the old natural way and see how it goes.

They gave me one last shot in the stomach called HCG. "HCG helps in the follicle maturation process and triggers the release of mature eggs from the follicles. Generally you will be given a medication to induce ovulation prior to taking the trigger shot. Medications like Clomid or HMG will help your ovaries to develop follicles for ovulation. The HCG trigger shot will then assist in the final maturation process and ensure that the mature eggs are released from your follicles." ?I know this sounds like so much but really they just helped me with what would naturally happen in a normal ovulating ?and developing woman.
I think the is the first stage for most woman experiencing problems conceiving. You start here and the last stage if no success I believe would be IVF-?In Vitro Fertilization.

Alki and I then "practiced" naturally for the next few days as we normally would since I was for sure ovulating. Sperm can live in your body for approximately 4 to 5 days, and the egg can live for 24 to 48 hours after being released. You are most fertile on the day before and the day of ovulation and so far we had a good chance of conceiving!!?It was an exciting and nervous feeling thinking that "this could be it". The Dr's told us to test in 2 weeks from the day I got the HCG shot and then if I did not conceive they would start the process over and be able to monitor to see whats not happening properly. ?Its really crazy how many things need to go just right for you to conceive. It makes you think about all those 16 and pregnant girls getting preggers left and right and then the tons of grown and married woman having trouble trying to start a family. Go figure.
So the Sunday before I was suppose to take a home pregnancy test I woke up with a full bladder and said, "let me just take a test and see." I got out of bed, made my way to the bathroom, grabbed a First Response test and did my thing. I placed it down on the counter kinda thinking it would be like every other time I thought I was pregnant and saw the negative line- but NO, this time there were 2 lines. One of them was SUPER light but ?definitely there!!! I ran out of the bathroom sliding across the floor and slamming into the wall and yelled to alki who was still in bed " OMG I THINK IM PREGNANT" !!!! Alki jumped out of bed, grabbed his glasses and took the test out of my hand. At this point I was shaking with excitement. He held it up to the light and hearing him confirm there was 2 lines was the best thing I ever heard. Some of you may understand what that feels like. Not being able to start a family and just wishing, and fantasizing of the day you get a positive sign on a test. Well, my moment came and it was one I'll never forget. I immediately called my mom who was on vacation in Italy and told her very calmly that " I took a test and there was 2 lines and I think I may be pregnant". I know she wanted to scream with excitement but she stayed calm, having gone through trouble getting pregnant with me, she knew how sometimes these tests could be wrong and how devastated I would be if I really wasn't pregnant. She told me to get a blood test at the Doctors to confirm . ?So I called up Dr. Surrey's office which is open 7 days a week, yes even on Sundays and they told me to come right in. Alki and I were so excited we "had relations" to celebrate LOL, got dressed and headed to the Dr's. They again did an internal ultrasound, said everything looked good so far and then took my blood and told me I would get the results the next day, I was so so excited. The Dr told me he though this process would be easy for me because I was young, in shape, healthy, I don't drink, I don't smoke...
I kept my fingers crossed it was true.
After we finished at The Reproductive Center (SCRC) Alki and I went to the Beverly Hills hotel for our regular Sunday Morning breakfast. I downed so many glasses of water so I could take more tests later on when I got home. I had previously purchased 6 different tests just waiting for this moment. As soon as we got home I ran to the bathroom- peed into a disposable coffee cup and stuck 4 tests into it all at once. I wanted to make SURE this was for real.. Ive heard of false negatives, but false positives??? I don't think thats even possible. ?Sure enough every single test came up POSITIVE!!!!

The next day I anxiously awaited the phone call from Dr. Surrey to confirm I was pregnant. I was in the car taking my girl friend Katherine to a Dr check up for her fresh boob job when my phone went off.
" Hi Jennifer, this is so and so at SCRC and we just wanted to let you know we got a strong positive on your pregnancy test so you are indeed pregnant, and we want to start you on prenatal vitamins right away ".... The best news of my life.

I always told myself I was going to wait to buy the ?'What to Expect When Expecting' book for when I found out I was pregnant, and the day Dr. Surrey confirmed I was, Alki took me to the book shop in Beverly Hills and bought me my first pregnancy book. ?Ive been reading it everyday and it has really taught me so much.

My First Signs

The first signs of pregnancy for me was extreme tiredness, all I wanted to do was sleep. My nipples were super sensitive, and my skin started to break out like never before. ?I also started to feel a difference in my lower abdomen while doing regular ab exercises I would normally do. I remember working out my with trainer Lauren Kern and telling her " something just doesn't feel right, can we do a different exercise". I didn't think I would feel or see changes as fast as I did- but I am VERY in tune with my body. I also noticed I was sweating at the gym a lot more and getting really hot at night while I was sleeping.

So, now I am 2 months pregnant. I know I know, your " not suppose" to tell people you're preggers till the 2nd trimester (12 weeks) because its still high risk that something could go wrong, but the truth is- you can go full term and deliver a still born baby. Alki and I are so excited and I really wanted to share the experience with you. Far more pregnancies go through than miscarry and if it happened, something was not right and it was meant to happen. ?I go weekly for blood work and ultrasounds and everything is "excellent" according to my Dr. Im young, Im healthy and I know I'll be just fine.

Currently
2 months preggers and I'm?already feeling and seeing the changes in my body for weeks now.?I'm feeling extremely tired. My boobs have been swollen for weeks already and have gotten bigger which scares me because I've ?had so many complications with my implants and the center of my cleavage lifting away from my breastbone, aka Symmastia. But , I'm staying positive and wearing wireless bras which are way more comfortable yet supportive. I also bought a medical bra called The Thong Bra which help hold down the center of your cleavage and also supports your breast. I also have had cold like symptoms and have been sneezing for the past 3 weeks. I have read this is also a symptom of pregnancy. I get Hot and Cold flashes all throughout the day. I have what they call "pregnancy brain" , like Bridal Brain, where you're forgetful. I'm sure there is more lol.

I know it doesn't look like much, But there is a clear difference from my mid-section before being pregnant and now.

Sure I'm bloated but my Uterus is also the size of my fist at this point. My jeans are all tight around my ass and stomach and I have been living in leggings. These are all common feelings and symptoms during your first trimester...So much is changing so fast.

How Has Being Pregnant Changed My Life So Far.

Being pregnant has changed a lot in my life so far. I can't eat sushi which I LOVE, and I already don't eat meat- so I find myself struggling to find yummy protein foods. I also mentally am not used to eating as much as I should. My BMI is already underweight , and Im used to eating clean and working out 5 days a week. Just weeks ago I was down to 111 lbs and at 5'6 size 00 in jeans, thats pretty tiny. So getting myself to eat pasta, pizza, rice, cheese, bread- everything Im not use to eating has been a challenge but Im doing it all in moderation and know its for the good of my baby.

A Whole New World

I was told by a lady in Wholefoods that your body absorbs 65% of what you put in it... That made me really think about everything I was using, my shampoo, my condition, my lotion, nose spray, eye drops, tooth paste, lotion, perfume.... I went completely natural.?I've taken all of the products I used on my face, hair and body, put it in a box and put it under my sink. I went to whole foods and bought all new organic and clean products. My motto is- if you're not sure, don't use it. Even my morning teas that I used to drink say "consult a Dr before drinking", or not to drink at all. So when in doubt, Im avoiding it. ?I have even taken time off from the gym. Even though my trainer Lauren Kern is certified to train pregnant woman, I just feel better waiting till I'm a little further along. I know this may be extreme but I have waited so long to start a family with Alki and this makes me feel good and at peace.

I keep Saltine crackers next to my bed because I have been suffering with insomnia for some reason. I read that its a symptom of pregnancy and some people suffer from it while others don't, but like clockwork every night 3am I am wide awake and starving. So I grab a few crackers, down some water and try to go back to sleep. I have also been drink warm/hot Milk right before I go to bed. Its helps me relax and sort of helps me sleep better. I also wake up every few hours to pee which is something every pregnant woman will complain about lol.?

I went to the store, A Pea in a Pod, ?and bought these lotions and oils for my boobs and belly so I don't get stretch marks. Everyone on instagram and all of my friends who have had babies told me to start right away so your body absorbs the lotions and oils and will help it stretch and prevent stretch marks. So I have my morning and nightly regimen and I love that. I also bought a body pillow because I normally sleep with pillows in-between in legs anyway because my knees are bony and this one was 30% off at Pea in a Pod ! Alki tried it one night and loved it so I went out and bought him one as well and now we both sleep with pregnancy body pillows LOL.

I haven't done my nails since I found out I was pregnant either. I had to peel off my gel manicure because I didn't want to sit with acid tone to take them off and I haven't applied any tanning lotions to my skin. I may start to do regular manicures once I'm in my second trimester, but I am going to look for nail polish with less harsh chemicals.

Natural Products I'm Using Now

This coming Wednesday I go back to SCRC to see Dr. Surrey for my 9 week Ultrasound and I cannot wait to see and hear the baby's heart beat. Dr. Surrey told me "next week is a big week" and Im super excited to see how the baby is doing and how much it has grown from 2 weeks ago.

It makes me really excited and happy on a different level seeing how excited Alki is about being pregnant. He gets into bed and rubs my belly and tells me how its a miracle and how this is "our baby". He's so gentle, emotional and excited, its a side of him that reminds me why we fell in love and being able to share this gift with the man that I love, and having it be 50 me 50 him is one of the most amazing feelings in the world. I am truly so grateful for this blessing.

What Baby Names Do We Have Picked Out.
I'm looking forward to finding out what the baby is and we already have the names all picked out. I think the Doctors can tell as early as 13 weeks but can't confirm till 15 or 16 weeks I believe. I will definitely be finding out and it will be right around Christmas time :) What a great present!

I have always LOVED names that end is vowels, especially A's.
If the baby is a girl- which I hope it is because my husband already has 2 boys and I think it would be so special for him to have a little girl- her name will be Gianna and we will call her Gia for short, very Italian I know ;)

If the baby is a boy it will be named- Nikolas after my father and his middle name will be Alkiviades after Alki, and we will call him Niko for short. Greek :)

Of course we just want a happy and healthy baby at the end of the day but its still fun to think and dream about your baby :)

Alki and I have decided to have the baby in London so it will have dual citizenship. We have decided to move to London for the year starting December of this year for multiple reasons, so being pregnant now actually worked out perfect! We already have a house there and will split out time between London, Switzerland and Greece after the baby is born. Im looking forward to having a break from LA and being able to bond better with Alki's side of the family, including his boys who live in London with their mother. They are so excited to have another sibling on the way and it's important to me for them to be and feel involved. We are keeping our house and cars and everything here in California and will be back next year.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Its very personal but we are very excited and I will try to do weekly updates with pictures and news. Any advice Moms or Mommies to be can share with me is greatly appreciated.

Next week Ill do an update with a new Ultrasound pic and compare the past few weeks :)
xoxo
Jennifer

PS- someone made a comment about my quote where I say "Future Milf" and criticizing me for calling myself that. To me, its not a bad thing. Just because I will be a mom does not mean I will not be sexy, desirable, or let myself go. If you don't consider yourself a Milf, thats fine. But I am a future Milf and look forward to the day where I can officially say I AM A MILF!!!!!!!!!!! Ill even sport the T-shirt. Stop taking yourself and life so seriously,Smile and have a little fun!

Having A Little Fun

Like I said above, My good friend and employee at Have Faith Swimgerie , Jill, is also pregnant. She is 2 months ahead of me and we are so excited to be pregnant together. She has had a rough 4 months with morning sickness so I went to visit her a few times in Orange County. We decided to try this old wives method of predicting the gender of your baby, the " Ring Test " pictured above. Its just fun trying all these different things and having fun with it. We will see in a few more weeks what Im having. ?Link to the ring test - Ring Test Forum?, How To?!

Source: http://jenniferstano.blogspot.com/2012/11/its-true-im-pregnant.html

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