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Thursday, May 31, 2012
Home prices climb for second month in row
John Raoux / AP
This file photo shows a new home for sale in Winter Garden, Fla. U.S. home prices edged higher in most major cities for the second straight month.
By msnbc.com staff and news wires
U.S. single-family home prices edged higher in March, the second month of gains in a row, adding?to signs the housing market is stabilizing, a closely watched survey said on Tuesday.
The S&P/Case Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas gained 0.1 percent in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, falling shy of economists' forecasts for a gain of 0.2 percent.
On an unadjusted basis, the index was unchanged. Prices in the 20 cities were down 2.6 percent year over year, improving from the 3.5 percent yearly decline seen last month.
Still, the major indexes ended the first quarter at new post-crisis lows, the report said. For the first quarter, prices were down 2 percent, compared to a 3.9 percent decline in the last three months of 2011.
Tuesday's data was another piece of evidence recently that the housing market is?making a bumpy revival. The median price for a new home rose 4.9 percent in April, year over year, while sales of existing homes rose 10 percent last month versus April 2011.
Dads, are you feeling pressure to do it all?
"In my mind there is no question that housing has bottomed, in terms of home sales, home construction and home prices but the recovery is still going to be very modest or very sluggish," said Mark Vitner, senior economist for Wells Fargo Securities.
Housing has a long way to go, though. Nearly 16 million homeowners owed more on their mortgages than their home was worth in the first quarter, or nearly one-third of U.S. homeowners with mortgages.
"There are still so many unanswered questions in front of us, such as what has happened to attitudes toward home ownership. We know there has been some change to that. Also we don't know what is going to happen with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, what is the government's role in mortgage financing going to be? We are not going to be able to settle that until after the election," Vitner said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Despite downgrade, Beryl still soaks Memorial Day
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) ? Joyce Connolly and her daughters left their home in Hurricane, W.Va., to head south for a Memorial Day beach vacation ? and ended up in the center of Tropical Storm Beryl.
While it left little damage after sweeping ashore with 70 mph winds around midnight Monday at Jacksonville, Fla., the storm still wrecked much of Connolly's trip. She skipped a graduation because powerful winds kept her and her daughters from venturing past the beach boardwalk when the storm approached Sunday. And she postponed their drive home Monday as Beryl, downgraded to a tropical depression, continued to dump rain near the Georgia-Florida state line.
"It definitely changed our vacation to unfortunate circumstances that we're not happy with. But you just have to live with it," said Connolly, who at least found the irony of her hometown's name "pretty funny."
Beach trips, backyard barbecues and graveside Memorial Day observances got a good soaking in southeastern Georgia and northern Florida.
Beach lifeguards turned swimmers away from the ocean because of dangerous rip currents from Jacksonville to Tybee Island, Georgia's largest public beach 140 miles to the north. Skip Sasser, who oversees the island's lifeguards as its fire chief, said beach traffic was unusually thin for a holiday. The ocean was declared off-limits to swimmers for a second day in a row.
"It's been raining intermittently, so it's chased a lot of them off," Sasser said. "There was a lot of traffic this morning heading westbound out of Tybee."
Veterans groups, meanwhile, carried out outdoor Memorial Day ceremonies despite the grim forecast.
At Savannah's historic Bonaventure Cemetery, American Legion members worked through a downpour to make sure its plot for veterans had a small American flag planted by each headstone.
"When we were setting up, I had a different shirt on and I got soaked to the skin. My socks and my underwear probably are, too," said Jim Grismer, commander of American Legion Post 135 in Savannah. "I had so many people trying to talk me into moving it inside. But I said then you can't have the live firing salute and the flag raising."
The rain paused just as a crowd of about 100 people began arriving. Robert Schulz, an 80-year-old who served in the Marines in the Korean War, held a folded umbrella in one hand as he saluted with the other during the service. Schulz said he and his wife briefly considered skipping the ceremony for the first time in 10 years.
"I said it would be terrible if nobody showed up," Barbara Schulz said. "We had to come for our veterans."
Aside from ruining holiday plans, the rain was welcome on the Georgia coast for bringing some relief from persistent drought. According to the state climatologist's office, as of May 1, rainfall in Savannah was 15 inches below normal for the past 12 months.
Emergency officials said minor flooding was reported near the coast, but the ground was quickly soaking up the water. And the winds had died down considerably.
"We've needed it for a long time," said Ray Parker, emergency management director for coastal McIntosh County south of Savannah, who said the worst damage came by trees falling on two homes overnight. "We were lucky that we didn't get 3 to 4 inches in 30 minutes. Most of it soaked right in before it had a chance to run off. It fell on an empty sponge."
The rainfall stopped in Savannah and other northern parts of the Georgia coast Monday afternoon, but more was expected through Tuesday. A frontal system moving south from the Great Lakes is expected to cause the storm do a U-turn and push it back out to sea.
Despite gray skies and puddles among the cobblestones on Savannah's downtown riverfront, Ruth Laino and Pat Walton waited on a park bench to board a ferry boat for an hour-long river cruise. They said only one rain burst interrupted their trip so far but they were on a covered tour trolley.
"We have our rain ponchos in our bags, so we're prepared," said Walton. "It could have been really nice and really hot. The breeze makes it more comfortable."
Georgia Power reported about 2,900 coastal customers without power Monday morning, but that number dropped to 1,300 by afternoon. Jacksonville city officials say 20,000 were without power and bus service was canceled because of so many flooded roads, downed power lines and trees.
Streets in Jacksonville Beach were unusually vacant. Bands of blinding rain alternated with dry conditions.
Taylor Anderson, captain of Jacksonville Beaches' American Red Cross Volunteer Lifesaving Corps, said he was coordinating safety procedures with local government officials. The beach was closed, but before it was on Sunday, lifeguards over and over again had to warn people to get out of the water, he said.
"Now that the storm's finally onshore and people can see that it's so dangerous and the winds and the current are up, people are lot more hesitant to go in, more so than yesterday," Anderson said.
In northeast Florida, several Memorial Day events were canceled, including one honoring veterans at the St. Augustine National Cemetery and a parade in Palatka.
"I don't mean to sound mushy, but today is Memorial Day and I hate that it ruined some plans," said Glynn County, Ga., emergency management director Jay Wiggins. "But that's just the nature of the weather."
Beryl was expected to bring 4 to 8 inches of rain to parts, with some areas getting as much as a foot. Forecasters said the storm surge and high tide could bring 2 to 4 feet of flooding in northeastern Florida and Georgia, and 1 to 2 feet in southern South Carolina.
As they left the Savannah cemetery, 76-year-old Army veteran Byron Stephens and his wife, Marilyn, said they were determined to attend the Memorial Day ceremony regardless of the weather.
"It didn't stop people from fighting in inclement weather," Marilyn Stephens said. "This is what Memorial Day is all about."
___
Associated Press writers Jennifer Kay from Miami and Kate Brumback from Atlanta contributed to this report.
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Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Jenny McCarthy and Brian Urlacher: Dating!
Jenny McCarthy and Brian Urlacher, star of the NFL's Chicago Bears, are totally a couple, according to reports. Reports she confirmed this weekend.
The football great joined McCarthy Thursday night at Rockit Bar & Grill for the “Rescue Our Angels” event, benefiting Jenny’s autism charity.
Asked about Urlacher at The Generation Rescue Foundation event by WMAQ-Channel 5, Jenny McCarthy said, “Yes, it’s true, we are dating.”
Despite attempting to hit out-of-the-way meeting places, the couple hadn’t been able to hide their budding romance, try as they might.
“Let’s face it, it was really already out there, everybody knew it,” she said.
Also, the relationship apparently has reached a point where McCarthy feels it’s “the real deal and will last,” added a source close to her.
McCarthy clearly was not hiding anywhere or anything Friday. She joined about 30 close Urlacher friends to toast his 34th birthday.
Jenny, 39, recently announced that she'll be posing in Playboy again nearly two decades after it put her on the map.
[Photos: WENN.com]
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Monday, May 28, 2012
Castellini on Computers 022 ? Google+ and Final Cut stuff
In episode 22 we discuss?
Google+ vs. Facebook
The Davis Cup
The HP TouchPad
The decrease in porn popularity online
The death of Google Health
ZocDoc is a cool service
Castellini on Computers as featured on?
How to manage your comics online
The John Stewart Sunday morning interview with Chris Wallace
Our iOS update predictions
Much, much more!!
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?
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About The Author
Adam Cochran
Adam Cochran - computer guy, social media enthusiast, college instructor, former radio DJ, radio talkshow host, podcaster, photographer, writer, and capitalist.
Other posts byAdam Cochran
Author his web sitehttp://www.talkingdigital.org
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Sunday, May 27, 2012
Joyce, Rays slam Red Sox
Associated Press Sports
updated 11:18 p.m. ET May 25, 2012
BOSTON (AP) - Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon wasn't hiding his feelings about what happened in the ninth inning. In his eyes, it was as clear as the Rays' power display against Boston starter Jon Lester.
Matt Joyce hit his second grand slam in six games and Elliot Johnson had a two-run shot to lift the Rays to their third straight win, 7-4 over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night in a game that saw the benches empty in the ninth inning.
The Rays pounding of Lester was only the subplot to a feisty ninth.
Boston reliever Franklin Morales threw behind DH Luke Scott with the first pitch of an at-bat and hit him in the hip area on a 3-1 count. Scott was restrained by catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the benches and bullpens emptied. There was a lot of pushing and shoving along the first-base line that carried over behind home plate before order was restored.
"That's truly somebody flexing their muscles on the other side and they need to put them in their back pocket and understand they can hurt their own team for something like that," Maddon said. "To be really carelessly incompetent on their side and truly try to hit someone and throw behind somebody and hitting them in the leg for all the wrong reasons eventually they can get their own guys hurt. That was ridiculous. It was absurd, idiotic. I'll use all those words.
"Our guys got it. We had every reason to be totally into the push-back right there. We didn't start anything. We don't start stuff. We'll finish stuff, but we don't start it."
Maddon was asked if it was possible things would continue in the rest of the series.
"That's not up to us," he said.
Carlos Pena, inserted into the leadoff spot after a miserable slump, added a solo homer for the Rays.
Adrian Gonzalez had an RBI double for Boston, which lost for just the fourth time in 14 games.
But it was that ninth inning scrum that was the topic afterward.
Someone in the Rays' clubhouse turned down the music and a handful of players watched the TV as Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine spoke. Closer Fernando Rodney mockingly booed.
"We thought it was dirty and we did the best we can to protect ourselves," Pena said. "We saw one behind his back and almost hit him, and then the last one hits him. It's crazy when you see things happening and it actually does. Everyone in our dugout knew it was coming and when it did, it was like: `There it is."'
The Red Sox (22-23) failed to move above .500 for the fourth time this season. It's the latest into a season they haven't gone over .500 since 1996 when they didn't do it until late August.
"We were all out there. They were out there," Valentine said of the scrum. "I liked the spirit of the guys going out there. Salty was great. I had a little adrenaline going and the guys had some adrenaline going, so that's good. Nothing wrong with that. ... Maybe it was the ghost of Fenway past remembering that he bad-mouthed all our fans and our stadium or something, just directing the ball at his leg."
Scott called Fenway Park "a dump" during spring training, but later tried to explain that it was a hard place to work.
"I can imagine it's a great place for someone to go watch a baseball game and the nostalgia of it," Scott said. "I made a comment, as a player it's a difficult to place to get your workout. The end, that's it."
Boston pitching coach Bob McClure and Ben Zobrist of the Rays seemed to be the two most heated, but they were separated. When things cooled down, Boston DH David Ortiz patted Scott on the back and walked him partly to first. A few fans and Rays players were yelling at each other near Tampa Bay's dugout when the players left the field after the incident. B.J. Upton seemed to be the one most involved with the fans near the end of the Rays' dugout.
"It crossed the line," he said of a comment, saying he was unsure if it was racial. "I felt like it did. It takes a lot for me."
Alex Cobb (2-0), making his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Durham to take Jeff Niemann's spot in the rotation after the right-hander broke his right fibula, held Boston to two runs and three hits, while walking four and striking out two in five innings.
Rodney got his 15th save in 15 chances.
Lester (3-4) took the loss, giving up a season-high three homers.
Trailing 1-0 in the third, the Rays took the lead on Joyce's slam into the Red Sox bullpen, his second in 13 at-bats. The other came in a 5-2 win over Atlanta on May 19, also Cobb's start. Tampa Bay had loaded the bases on a single by Upton that was sandwiched by walks to Pena and Zobrist.
Johnson and Pena homered three pitches apart in the fourth, increasing the Rays' lead to 7-1. Johnson's went into the Green Monster seats and Pena, hitting leadoff for the third straight game after going 0 for 17, hit his into the first row of seats down the right-field line, just past Marlon Byrd's leap into the stands.
Pena has gone 4 for 12 with two homers and four RBIs since being moved to the top of the order.
Lester, who had allowed just four homers all season before Friday, was tagged for seven runs and six hits, walked three and struck out four in four innings. He had held opponents to three runs or fewer in four of his previous five starts.
Boston cut it to 7-2 on Gonzalez's RBI double off the Monster, but Cobb got Kevin Youkilis to bounce into an inning-ending ground out with runners on second and third. It was the last batter he faced.
Byrd had an RBI single and Mike Aviles a sacrifice fly, narrowing the gap to 7-4 in the sixth.
The Red Sox had taken a 1-0 lead on Youkilis' RBI single.
NOTES: Scott looked like he was endearing himself to the fans a bit before the game near Tampa Bay's dugout during batting practice, tossing at least a half dozen balls to fans, joking with a number and signing autographs for many. During his last trip to Boston, when the Rays were the opponent for the season-opening series of Fenway Park's 100th year, Scott was booed nearly every time he came to bat. ... Boston RHP Josh Beckett (4-4) faces David Price (6-3) on Saturday night.
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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DeMarco: David Wright's hot bat ? he's hitting .405 ? makes him the pick for NL MVP thus far. But that's just for starters in our feature.
Pirates blank Cubs for 10th straight loss
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A.J. Burnett and four relievers worked out of trouble all game and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their 10th straight loss with a 1-0 victory on Friday night.
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Saturday, May 26, 2012
Obama: ?Since I?ve Been President, Federal Spending Has Risen at Lowest Pace in Nearly 60 Years?
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> 2012 Election, Barack Obama, Debt, Mitt Romney, Spending > Obama: ?Since I?ve Been President, Federal Spending Has Risen at Lowest Pace in Nearly 60 Years?
I confess ? I thought this headline was a joke when I first saw it.
Nope ? Obama really made that outlandish claim this week in Denver, Colorado.
Once again ? anyone can fact-check him at www.gao.gov/financial.html?but spending was $3.4 trillion in 2009, $4.3 trillion in 2010, and $3.6 trillion in 2011. That?s an average of $3.7 trillion/year under Obama.
Even the unprecedented spending of George W. Bush (which averaged $2.7 trillion/year) pales in comparison to the Obama administration. This isn?t funny anymore ? it is pathetic. I can?t believe I?ve even dignified such an outrageous Obama lie by responding. Americans should be livid.
I don?t even think someone as capable and qualified as Mitt Romney can fix the problems America will have if an Obama administration gets another four years of outrageous, reckless, and immoral spending.
What is Mitt?s approach? First of all, Mitt doesn?t lie about a dire situation. Here?s Mitt?s approach (straight from the horse?s mouth):
?Getting our fiscal house in order has become more than just an economic issue; it?s a moral imperative. Every dollar of deficit spending must be borrowed, with the bill sent to our children to pay back. As president, Mitt Romney will ask a simple question about every federal program: Is it so important, so critical, that it is worth borrowing money from China to pay for it?? See more here.
This country cannot afford 4 more years with Obama at the helm.
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Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Salesforce Chatter To Add Instant Messaging and Screensharing
The team behind Salesforce.com's enterprise social networking app Chatter is making a big push for real-time communication with two new features ? Chatter Messenger and Chatter Screensharing. Chatter Product Marketing Director Dave King demonstrated Messenger and Screensharing for me earlier today and, well, they look like instant messaging and screensharing, just, y'know, in Chatter. King admits that there are other enterprise IM tools out there (there's part the TechCrunch team uses HipChat, for example), but he says it's the "in Chatter" part that's really important.ufc on fox 2 weigh ins brandi glanville convulsions john tyler chuck elisabeth hasselbeck fran drescher
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Colorectal Cancer | health article
There are several known risk factors for colorectal cancer. Being a male poses higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to being female. Increasing age is associated with an increase in the risk of colorectal cancer. Incidence of colorectal cancer is higher among African Americans compared to Caucasians. Risk of developing colorectal cancer is much higher for people
Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third commonest cancer diagnosed in the United States. Each year over 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer and over 50 percent of these patients will die from colorectal cancer. Colon cancer incidence is not much different between males and females,
Since most colon polyps and early cancers are silent (produce no symptoms), it is important to do screening and surveillance for colon cancer in patients without symptoms or signs of the polyps or cancers. Screening tests are used to look for disease in people who do not have any symptoms. Although there are good colorectal cancer screening tests, not enough people have them done. The majority of colorectal cancers would likely have been avoided if the people had only undergone regular and appropriate screenings.
Colorectal cancer is also known as colon or rectal cancer because it is a cancer that is found in either the colon or the rectum. In most cases colorectal cancer will begin as a polyp that develops on the lining of the colon and in most cases in benign. Even though these polyps may be benign at one point, they can turn cancerous at any time and when they do they will continue to grow and spread until detected.
It is thought that colorectal cancers take many years to develop, usually starting as a pre-cancerous polyp in the color or rectum. Because they tend to take such a long time to develop, there is time to detect the growths and remove them before they become troublesome. This is why colorectal cancer is a very preventable disease.
Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer or large bowel cancer, includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. With 655,000 deaths worldwide per year, it is the fourth most common form of cancer in the United States and the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world.
The disease tends to progress slowly and remains localized for a long time. It develops mainly after the age of fifty and affects men and women equally. The incidence of colorectal cancer is exceeded only by lung cancer in both men and women and by prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women.
Less well understood is the role of Vitamin D as a survival factor in patients who have already been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Now, a newly updated clinical research study from Harvard University, just published in the British Journal of Cancer, suggests that higher Vitamin D levels in colorectal cancer survivors may be associated with a significantly greater likelihood of surviving the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States.
The numbers are sobering? an estimated 102,900 new cases of colon; another 39,670 cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States during 2010. The good news coming out of this work is that even aspirin taken at the lowest dose helps, and the protective effect takes hold after only one year.
The study found that taking low dose aspirin every day was tied to a 22% reduced risk of colorectal cancer. After five years, the risk dropped by 30%. What was truly intriguing about the research was that increasing the aspirin dose might not be helpful.
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Monday, May 21, 2012
Some HTC phones released from Customs after Apple patent ploy stalls shipments
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Whitney Houston Tribute Had Jordin Sparks Feeling The 'Pressure'
'I just want to be able to speak through the music,' she says of her Billboard Music Awards performance of 'I Will Always Love You.'
By Kara Warner
Jordin Sparks at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday
Photo: Denise Truscello/ WireImage
LAS VEGAS — This year's Billboard Music Awards definitely packed a punch with explosive live performances. From Justin Bieber's swaggie "Boyfriend" to Carly Rae Jepsen's pop confection "Call Me Maybe" and Carrie Underwood's appropriately wind-heavy production of new single "Blown Away," the lucky audience members were treated to an evening of unforgettable showstoppers.
In the midst of the upbeat displays, however, there were also two poignant performances in honor of music legends Whitney Houston and Donna Summer, performed by Jordin Sparks and John Legend and Natasha Bedingfield, respectively.
When MTV News caught up with Sparks on the white carpet ahead of her portion of the tribute, the "American Idol" champ revealed that she had put her heart and soul into preparing her rendition of Houston's iconic version of "I Will Always Love You."
"I put myself completely, 100 percent onstage every time I perform," Sparks said of giving "everything" for her Houston tribute. "It's just very special. I feel very honored to be able to honor Whitney in this way and to sing one of her songs. I've actually never performed this song before ever. It's one of the songs I've always been like, 'Leave that alone,' so it's nerve-racking for me," she admitted. "It's a lot of pressure I'm putting on myself, because I want to do it amazingly, but at the same time, whatever happens, I just want to be able to speak through the music."
Sparks worked with and got to know Houston while filming the movie "Sparkle," which arrives in theaters this fall and is Houston's final appearance onscreen. Sparks was scheduled to attend Clive Davis' Grammy party with Houston on the night she died, and the "Idol" winner was in total "shock" upon hearing the tragic news.
What did you think of Sparks' tribute to Houston? Let us know in the comments.
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Mobile Marketing Advice To Boost Your Business | VideoSwiper Blog
Category: Mobile Marketing | Added on: Sunday, May 20th, 2012 | Total: 85 Views
If you put a hyperlink in your text messages, have a link for older phones that goes to a specific mobile phone website, and a link for newer phones that goes to your standard website. If your site uses Flash, you must only link to the mobile site.
Add a discount offer or promo code in your sent mobile messages. When customers receive something worth some money, they are much more likely to visit your site and redeem the offer.
Promote your mobile campaign wherever possible. Promote on Twitter, Facebook, your own website and in your brick and mortar store (if you have one). This will give your campaign maximum exposure, and allow your fans plenty of opportunities to sign up for your offers.
Location can play a huge role in a great mobile marketing campaign. Unlike other marketing forms, mobile marketing has the unique opportunity to know exactly where you are. You could attract your customers to your stores and encourage them to share their location with their friends. Think about ways you could use the location-aware advantages of mobile marketing to enhance your business.
To make the most of your mobile marketing campaign, focus on sending only the most relevant, useful, and interesting offers to your subscribers. This ensures that your customers look forward to your messages and continue to view them instead of ignoring them due to high volume.
Before you attempt to start up any new type of campaign with mobile marketing, you should ensure that your first one is successful. The longevity of a campaign will be a better indicator of success than sales numbers. To get a successful campaign, you should follow this formula and be able to build new ones.
As you are developing a mobile website, you should also be including search engine optimization techniques. It is essential that you do SEO through Google since the vast majority of mobile search is being conducted through the Google system.
Maximize the effect of your advertisements by trying to go viral. When you have a clever ad, your customers are more likely to forward it to their family and friends.
You can encourage customer participation and enhance your brand recognition with QR codes. QR codes can help you share coupons, discounts, and other promos. It is simple to capture these codes with a cellphone, and they are even easier to use. Incorporating QR codes into your mobile marketing campaign is a great way to get your customers the information they want without pestering them with messages.
Sometimes, changes in the marketplace can affect your customer base. This means you will have to keep track of new releases and remain up to date on technology trends to stay competitive.
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Sunday, May 20, 2012
Best book on anti-aging or age-reversal or ... - Health and Fitness
Question by : Best book on anti-aging or age-reversal or immortality and eternal youth?
Anyone? anyone?
In health and wealth, thank you.
Best answer:
Answer by Doug Currie
I came across an amazing guidebook by Eternal Youth Empire titled
?6 Newly Discovered and Never Before Published Secrets of Eternal Youth and Immortality?
and all I can say is, the title actually lives up to itself.
Best of all, the secrets are easy to apply.
At 60 years old, I have a new lease on life, a new spring in my step, and just last week, got promoted at a new job that I have only had for a few months, in a city I have only lived in for 18 months.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
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Facebook IPO stumbles: Why didn't it wow investors? (+video)
The Facebook IPO underwhelmed Friday, closing up only 23 cents. Investors are still debating Facebook's worth: Is it must-own stock or a company with limited growth potential??
A man stops to photograph Nasdaq in Times Square as Facebook has its IPO on May 18 in New York. The social media company priced its IPO on Thursday at $38 per share, and beginning Friday regular investors had chance to buy shares.
Richard Drew/AP
EnlargeIt's finally official: Facebook is a publicly traded company, and investors in its newly listed stock now own some 421 million shares in the company that has come to define social networking in the online world.
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Or, in Facebook jargon, the company has been "friended" by Wall Street.
Shares in the initial public offering (IPO) had an offering price of $38 per share. After trading at times above $42, the price closed at $38.23 Friday ??a closing level buoyed by purchases coming from the IPO's own Wall Street underwriters, according to news reports.?
So this wasn't the strong showing many analysts had expected, which raises the obvious question for investors: Where is this stock headed?
Skeptics argue the company's staying power and profit potential have been overhyped, while fans see it as the world's must-own social media stock. It may take a while to know which side is right.
On the "buy" side of this debate, Facebook has unrivaled clout in its market, with roughly 1 in 8 people on the planet using the site to swap photos and information. More keep signing up every day. That's a platform of activity that the company can monetize through advertising revenue and add-on services.
The negative view is that all that may be true, but it may not justify the company's current market value on Friday of close to $100 billion. After an extraordinary growth surge since its founding in 2004, Facebook is now gaining customers and revenue at a decelerating pace. If future growth doesn't come in strong, the share price could easily go down rather than up.
The tug-and-pull between those views seemed evident Friday. There was enthusiasm enough to push the stock above its offering price, but skepticism was strong enough to keep it from soaring.
Some Wall Street analysts attributed the relatively tepid trading in "FB" (Facebook's ticker symbol) partly to the sheer size of the offering, with the market absorbing $16 billion worth of the company's equity in just one day. (Much of the equity remains in the hands of founders like CEO Mark Zuckerberg and early investors.)
It didn't help that earlier this week, General Motors announced it would stop advertising on Facebook, drawing attention to debate about how valuable the firm's ad space is.
As a platform where millions of consumers spend time, Facebook still has lots of ad customers. But uncertainty threatens Facebook on two fronts: How well can it execute, and will competitors come along at some point that successfully challenge its dominance?
The IPO puts the pressure on, as public shareholders expect the firm to turn its customer base into a bigger source of profit. That pressure is there even though Mr. Zuckerberg, who will still control the company because of his majority stock voting-rights, has issued a personal statement that the company is "built to accomplish a social mission" more than for profit.
One recent estimate, by Forrester Research, found that Facebook is currently generating about $4 in revenue per active user. A company called Abine has developed a Facebook Val-You Calculator designed to show how much you are worth to Facebook in ad revenue, if you've got a page on the network.
For now, Facebook has the dominant market position. Its vast user base is its strength: If you want to network online, you want to go where your friends already are. That dominance may last a long while, but the history of technology is that monopolies don't last forever.
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Saturday, May 19, 2012
US stocks edge lower on Europe worries
In a May 7,2012 photo trader John Bishop works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Wall Street looks set for a higher opening on Friday May 18, 2012, when shares of social media giant Facebook will start trading. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
In a May 7,2012 photo trader John Bishop works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Wall Street looks set for a higher opening on Friday May 18, 2012, when shares of social media giant Facebook will start trading. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
It looks like it will take more than Facebook's initial public offering to push stocks up.
The Dow Jones industrial average was down 35 points at 12,408 in midday trading Friday. JPMorgan Chase and Coca-Cola were the biggest decliners, down 2 percent each.
The Nasdaq, where Facebook is trading, fell 21 at 2,792. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell four points to 1,301.
Trading in Facebook Inc. shares was delayed by about a half-hour from their planned 11 a.m. Eastern start. Just after noon, they were trading at $39.60, up 4.2 percent from their offering price of $38.
The declines were broad, despite the hoopla over Facebook's IPO. About twice as many stocks fell as rose on the New York Stock Exchange. The Dow has been on a prolonged slump over the past two weeks as traders saw an escalating risk that Greece could leave the euro. It has fallen 11 out of the past 12 days and is down 6 percent in May. The Dow hasn't had a losing month since September.
The news out of Europe did little to encourage investors.
After an election in Greece that brought in political parties opposed to bailouts for the beleaguered country, the Fitch ratings agency dropped the nation to the lowest possible grade for a country not in default Thursday. Fitch said that if elections next month do not reverse the political trends in Greece, that the country's departure from the euro "would be probable."
Also, ratings agency Moody's downgraded 16 Spanish banks late Thursday, three days after downgrading Italy's, noting they are vulnerable to huge losses on government debt.
Representatives of the G-8 are meeting this weekend at Camp David, looking for assurances that leaders in Europe can contain damage if Greece leaves the euro.
European shares edged lower, following several days of big losses. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.1 percent, Germany's DAX lost 0.6 percent and France's CAC-40 fell 0.1 percent.
In the U.S., shares of Salesforce.com jumped 9.5 percent after the maker of web-based business software reported better-than-expected earnings and raised its guidance for the year. Gap fell 3 percent despite higher guidance for the year.
Shares of Yahoo Inc. rose almost 5 percent after Dow Jones' tech website AllThingsD.com reported that the web portal is close to a deal to sell a large part of its stake in China's Alibaba Group. Many investors view the Alibaba stake as Yahoo's most valuable asset.
Foot Locker Inc. rose 10 percent after its quarterly profit jumped 36 percent, sprinting past Wall Street predictions and setting a company record for quarterly earnings.
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Birther Victory? Arizona Threatens to Keep Obama Off Ballot
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Golf Course Review - The Boulders (North and South Courses ...
FACTS & STATS: North Course Architect: Red Lawrence (1969), Jack Snyder (1974), Jay Morrish (1985, with renovation work in 1999). Year Opened: January, 1985. Location: Carefree, Arizona. Slope: 137. Rating: 72.6. Par: 72. Yardage: 6,959.
Hole-by-Hole:1 - Par 5 513 Yds 10 - Par 4 451 Yds
2 - Par 3 195 Yds 11 - Par 4 445 Yds
3 - Par 5 548 Yds 12 - Par 5 525 Yds
4 - Par 4 404 Yds 13 - Par 4 457 Yds
5 - Par 4 425 Yds 14 - Par 3 183 Yds
6 - Par 3 142 Yds 15 - Par 5 483 Yds
7 - Par 4 347 Yds 16 - Par 4 424 Yds
8 - Par 4 356 Yds 17 - Par 3 220 Yds
9 - Par 4 417 Yds 18 - Par 4 424 Yds
Par 36 3,347 Yds Par 36 3,612 Yds
Awards Won: Rated four stars by Golf Digest's "Places to Play" (2000-06), Named by Golf Magazine as a Gold Medal Resort (1998-2004), Named by AAA as a Five Diamond Resort (1990-2004), Named by Golf for Women as 50 Best Courses for Women (2002-03), Ranked 13th by Golf Magazine in best State-by-State Access (2004), Number 2 U.S. Golf Resort by Travel + Leisure Golf (2005). Rated No. 10 by Golfweek - Top-20 courses in Arizona (2011).
South Course Architect: Jay Morrish (1983). Year Opened: January, 1983. Location: Carefree, Arizona. Slope: 140. Rating: 71.9. Par: 71. Yardage: 6,726.
Hole-by-Hole:
1 - Par 4 421 Yds 10 - Par 3 221 Yds
2 - Par 3 150 Yds 11 - Par 5 601 Yds
3 - Par 4 413 Yds 12 - Par 4 321 Yds
4 - Par 4 409 Yds 13 - Par 4 429 Yds
5 - Par 5 545 Yds 14 - Par 5 532 Yds
6 - Par 4 355 Yds 15 - Par 3 151 Yds
7 - Par 3 187 Yds 16 - Par 3 198 Yds
8 - Par 4 455 Yds 17 - Par 4 420 Yds
9 - Par 4 404 Yds 18 - Par 5 514 Yds
Par 35 3,339 Yds Par 36 3,387 Yds
Awards Won: Rated four stars by Golf Digest's "Places to Play" (2000-06), Top 80 Golf Resorts - Conde Nast Traveler (2010), Rated No. 18 by Golfweek - Top-20 courses in Arizona (2011) Gold Medal Resort - Golf Magazine (2012-13), No. 1 Resort in the United States - Harper's Hideaway Report, No. 6 - Top 10 golf courses in Arizona - Gold Channel (2011) No. 47 - Best Golf Resorts in U.S. - by Golf Digest (2011).
Website: theboulders.com
HISTORY: Designed back in the mid-1980s by Jay Morrish, the golf courses at The Boulders, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, have developed into a world-class experience, for both the serious golfer and for the laid-back social afternoon outing with friends and family.
Morrish crafted the North and South Courses with designs built right into the desert foothills, featuring time worn saguaros that stand guard around each and every hole. The natural beauty of the land is complemented by nothing less than amazing rock formations, which accentuates the difficulty and the spectacular experience of the courses.
For almost 60 years, Morrish has been in the golf design business. First with the legendary Robert Trent Jones and then for 10 years with the Jack Nicklaus design team, before embarking on his own and then with Tom Weiskopf to craft over 20 courses.
Some of his most spectacular work with Weiskopf included Troon Golf & Country Club, Scottsdale TPC and Forest Highlands in Arizona.
It was his work however at The Boulders, Morrish's first solo designs that brought him into the forefront of golf course architecture. "Designing the Boulders really helped launch my career," said Morrish. In fact, The Boulders is one of only two Gold Medal resorts in the Scottsdale region, as rated by Golf Magazine.
Back in the late 1960s, Red Lawrence designed the original nine holes, with an additional nine added a few years later by Jack Snyder, but it was Morrish who put The Boulders on the map.
"The Boulders afforded me a chance to create a sort of desert Pine Valley with a lot of forced carries for the good players," Morrish continued. "This wasn't very common at the time we built the course. Of course, now everyone does it. I had great support from the owners who loved the concept."
Morrish gave the South Course a complete overhaul in 1983 and remodeled and renovated the North just two years later, returning on occasion for a facelift every now and again.
"For the original owners, I returned once or twice a year to tweak things," Morrish added. "Mostly this consisted of lowering vegetation in front of the tees that had grown during my absence and blocked views."
Nowadays, all golf course architects are ecologically conscience, and with good reason, but back then most designers were given carte blanche to mold and shape the landscape.
"The environmentalists had not descended upon the desert as they have of late," said Morrish. "We just used common sense in the design and construction, so that as much of nature was left as possible. I am not exactly a minimalist, but the land really lent itself to using the natural terrain. This also worked well for the housing around the course."
HOLE-BY-HOLE REVIEW (NORTH COURSE): Usually, when a course opens with a par- five the better than average golfer tells himself that this is a great way to start out - with a birdie lurking down the fairway. It's possible, and nice to dream but beware. The first hole on the North Course requires pinpoint accuracy off the tee, not to mention a 200-yard carry over the desert. Thoughts at this point are starting to turn to making par. The first hole is indicative of what's in store as this is target golf at its best. There is no doubt that the green is reachable in two; however, your second shot must carry numerous bunkers en route to the putting surface. If you're going to miss, do so to the left, setting up an easy pitch to the narrow green.
The second is a nice par-three that can stretch from 120 yards to 195 from the tips. A swale in front of the green and a bunker in the back define the precision of this one-shot approach. The putting surface slopes back-to- front but, being a resort course, it's usually not that slick so go with your normal follow- through.
The par-five third is a dogleg left of 548 yards and, realistically, not reachable for mere mortals. A tee shot down the center will set up a simple layup to the 100-yard mark. From there, attack as anyone with a sand wedge in their hands should be able stick this one close.
The fourth is right in front of you, a wide fairway leading straight up into the beautiful foothills that are worthy of a photo opp. Your approach will play slightly uphill to a two- tiered green. With a solid drive, the fourth can be had.
At 425 yards and doglegging to the left, the fifth presents yet another interesting challenge. At the outset, your tee shot must be long and favor the right-center of the fairway. Second, your approach will be uphill to a very difficult green that slopes from back-to- front. Finally, bunkers right and back with a guarding tree left will make this your hardest challenge on the outward nine.
A thing of beauty. That's what the sixth is. Just 142 yards from the back buttons, this par-three features three of the most difficult bunkers on the course...front, back and left. They are deep and menacing. Choose your club wisely or else bogey looms large, maybe even a double.
The seventh and eighth are definite birdie chances at just 347 and 356 yards, respectively, in length. Both holes dogleg to the left and require just a three-metal or long- iron off the tee. Don't make the mistake of hitting driver as that will cost you dearly. After your tee ball on the seventh, just a wedge will remain to a well- guarded green. A back-left pin could cause trouble but go for the gusto while you have the chance. More of the same on the eighth but you must play to the right off the tee to avoid the gully and rock croppings that guard the corner of the dogleg. The putting surface is well flanked by numerous, deep bunkers that mandate some careful reading and navigation, especially if the wind is blowing. The green does slope from back-to-front and left-to-right, so stay below the hole to have a shot at birdie.
The front side closes with a majestic, dogleg left par-four, that takes you downhill to the fairway and uphill to the green. Usually into a breeze, this 417-yarder plays much longer than the yardage indicates. You will love the view of the Sonoran desert and, if you're playing in the late afternoon... well, just use your imagination. However, back to golf. Playing uphill, your second shot club selection will be quite demanding, particularly with a back- left pin placement. This is one of those holes where a par is a great score and something to remember.
The teeth of the course are to be found at the opening holes on the back nine. At 451 yards, the 10th is a brute, playing as a dogleg left and uphill. A huge tee shot is needed to have a prayer at reaching the green in two. Miss left off the tee and you'll have to contend with desert brush and bunkers guarding the corner. A long-iron or fairway-metal will be needed to reach the putting surface. This is where you start thinking bogey and, with it, a sense of accomplishment. Miss right and you'll lose your ball, not to mention your mind . One bright spot - the green is not protected by sand, a small, but welcome, consolation.
Next up is the dogleg right 11th. This 445-yarder puts a premium on driving accuracy and length. The fairway is quite ample but try to cut off to much on the right and you'll make double-bogey. After a successful tee shot, a medium- to long-iron will be left to a putting surface guarded, both left and right, by sand. If someone told me that I could have par and move on before I played the hole, that certainly would have been my choice.
Although the 12th is a definite birdie chance, it is not without its difficulties. A big tee shot down the left side of another dogleg left will put you in the "go-zone" for the green. What makes this par-five arduous is the green. Sloping severely from back-to-front, the two-tiered surface is protected by deep sand and right by a large mound, obstructing your view. You only live once so go for it.
Hard to believe that any hole could play harder than 13. When played from the tips, this hole is a challenge you will love and hate at one and the same time. Ample fairway will be your only saving grace. That leaves you with a difficult approach over a desert canal to a wide, but narrow, green. Be short and your ball will land in a collection area; long and a deep menacing bunker awaits. Making par is certainly one's goal here followed by moving on rapidly but the fact of the matter is that bogey is not so bad.
Looking directly into the Sonoran sky, the 14th is quite picturesque. Entirely over water, this par-three is all carry to the green. Bunkers protect the backside of this diabolical green that slopes towards the water. A front pin will be nothing less than formidable but use the incline to get it close with a very delicate touch.
The 15th should be played as a par-four, since it's just 483 yards, but the scorecard says par-five so play it as a three-shotter since you will need every advantage you can muster. Bending slightly to the right, your tee shot should favor the right side leaving you with a reasonable chance to get home. The green is fairly open but sand does await the errant shot to the right. If all else fails, play to the left, chip close and make a four. Then get out of there.
The 16th is a solid par-four, straightaway and stretching 424 yards. A good tee shot will leave a medium- to short-iron to a difficult green. What makes this hole tough is the desert gulch that must be cleared in order to reach the uphill green. The putting surface is very undulating and guarded left and long by sand. This is not the time to fool around with shots you thought you could make. Go for the ones you know you can since there are still two difficult holes left.
The longest par-three on the course, the 17th can stretch to 220 yards from the tips. Although it's long, the hole plays downhill to a fairly large green with a huge bunker, featuring a boulder in the center, guarding the right entrance to the surface. If the hole doesn't inspire you, then the sunset will.
It's time to head home and the 18th is the sharpest dogleg on the course, snapping 90-degrees to the right. Cut the corner and you're left with a short- to medium-iron to a fairly small green. A perfect finish to a wonderful layout.
HOLE-BY-HOLE REVIEW (SOUTH COURSE): The South opens up with a wonderful, but tough par four that doglegs to the right. From the tips, you'll run out of fairway at the 310 yard mark, so you should be able to blast away. Avoid the trio of traps down the right side of the landing area and you're home free. Well, sort of. A medium iron remains to a slightly elevated green with bunkers left and rocks right. Be wary of a back-right pin, as this will bring plenty of trouble into play.
The par three second is the shortest hole on the South at just 150 yards in length. Distance control certainly is critical, as the putting surface is just 26 paces in depth and fronted by a trio of deep bunkers. Just a word of caution, missing long is no bargain either.
Another sharp dogleg right, the third is one of seven par fours on the South over 400 yards in length. The fairway is generous, but very undulating. Aim for the 20 yard bunker at the end of the landing area, as this will set up a medium to short-iron approach. You might need an extra stick, as the green sits above the fairway. The putting surface is small with plenty of movement, so try to stay below the hole for your best result. Miss long and you might end up in a nasty pot bunker.
Next up is the 409 yard, par four fourth. The landing area off the tee is generous and you'll need a 300-yard plus drive to reach the pond at the end of the fairway. With a successful tee ball, just a short iron should remain to an uphill putting surface that is the longest on the course at 46 paces. Although it's long, the green is quite narrow, so pinpoint control with your approach will be needed.
The first par five on the course is the fifth, which reaches 545 yards from the back markers. There is no doubt that this is the signature hole at The Boulders. This beauty features a split fairway for the tee shot. Playing down the right will give you a better angle, but little in the way of an advantage. The best play is towards the left landing area, thus leaving a medium to long iron for a layup. The key is by-passing the traps down the right side. Your approach to the minuscule green will be a short one, but again, you'll have several bunkers to contend with. The putting surface is split into three segments, but it's the beauty of the landscape that will keep you occupied.
Number six is another course favorite. Just 355 yards long, this gem bends to the right with water guarding the fairway on the same side. The more you decide to cut off, the more the lake will come into play. Since it's such a short hole, play down the left and you'll be left with a 120-yard play to a long and narrow putting surface. This is where accuracy will pay off, as the back of the green is pinched tight between sand.
A medium lengthened par three awaits at the seventh. Most players will stop and pull out the camera on this beaute, thanks mainly to the enormous balancing boulder to the left of the blue tees. The backdrop of the green is not too shabby either. A medium iron should suffice, unless the pin is on the back tier of the putting surface. If that's the case, add another club or two to reach the flag. Right or left and you'll be swallowed up by sand, which will make for a difficult up and down.
From an elevated tee, the eighth can be stretched to 455 yards. The longest par four on the course, features the widest fairway, so lock and load and bomb one out there. Even with a big tee shot, you'll have a long iron or fairway metal approach to another small green. In addition, your approach must clear a wash 40 yards from the putting surface. How tough is the eighth, it plays as a par five for the women...and me too.
If you want to take it on, then 255 is your number on the ninth. That's right, a tee shot of 255 or more in the air is required to clear the bunker on this slight, dogleg right. The more conservative route will be to aim towards the left-center of the fairway, with the saguaro in the distance standing tall in a fairway bunker. From here, it's a medium iron to a two-tiered green that slopes from back to front. A back flag brings extra trouble in play, so play to the center of the green if the pin is up top.
Number ten is the longest par three at The Boulders, stretching 221 yards from the tips. Although it plays from an elevated tee box, this lengthy hole is all you can handle. Bunkers guard three sides of the putting surface, which reaches 35 paces and split from left to right by a ridge. Bail out left if you must for your best shot at par. Better yet, choose the right set of tees for a real chance at three.
From the longest par three to the longest par five, as you stroll up to the 11th tee box. From the back markers, you'll need a 200-plus carry just to reach the fairway on this 601-yard monster. Avoiding the traps off the tee and then again with your layup will be key. Favor the right side of the fairway for the best angle to the pin and beware of the bunker laying in the center of the landing area, just 60 yards away. The green is large with a steep ridge in the middle and sand all around. There's good reason why it's rated as the second most difficult hole on the course.
Depending upon which tee box you're playing from, the 12th is a reachable par four off the tee. There is plenty of risk if that's your play, as the fairway tightens considerably as you near the green. The heart-shaped putting surface boasts three distinct sections and is quite small at just 26 paces. The best play is a fairway metal off the tee and a wedge to the green. Making birdie the old fashioned way is quite acceptable.
You'll need to crack a tee shot on the 13th just to reach the fairway of this 429 yard par four. Playing straightaway, you must avoid the 40-yard trap down the left side, otherwise, you'll have little chance of clearing the wash that fronts the green, not to mention the large mound. The green is long and undulating, making this one of the most difficult holes on The South.
Birdies might be hard to come by on the closing holes, so you'll need to play 14 and 15 in an aggressive fashion. The 14th is a medium-lengthed par five, reachable in two, especially after a successful tee shot. Playing from an elevated tee, everything is right in front of you, just a wide open fairway. It's the second shot that will have you guessing. The landing area near the green is guarded by several crossing bunkers to keep you honest. If you're able to reach the two-tiered putting surface, hope for a front flag, as the long and narrow green runs from back to front. Miss long with your approach and you'll have the saguaro's to contend with.
Although the 15th plays uphill, this little par three can yield a birdie or two. Just 151 yards in length, the key here is pin position. The two-tiered, 31 paced green boasts two distinct pin positions. A front pin has attack all over it, unless it's tugged close to the left pot bunker. A back-left flag brings additional sand into play, so pick your stick and go for it.
It's not often you have back-to-back par three's, but that's what's in store at the 16th. This time around, it's a robust 227 from the back markers, not to mention a forced carry from tee to green. A draw from the tee is the play, unless you overcook your approach and end up in the left, greenside bunker. The putting surface is long with several undulating features, so stay right and who knows, maybe you'll sink a long bomb for birdie.
Club selection off the tee is crucial to conquering the 17th hole, as the fairway runs out at the 270-yard mark. Although this hole is over 400 yards in length, a three-metal might be the play. It will leave a slightly longer second, but, better safe than sorry. Your approach must clear another wash that's 80 yards from the green. The putting surface is long and narrow, reaching 38 paces, with three distinct tiers. Just getting on this green does not guarantee par.
Water certainly does not come into play much at The Boulders, but it most definitely stands out on the closing hole of The South. A wonderful par five that reaches 583 yards in length, the 18th is a true three-shot hole. Avoid the bunkers down the left off the tee, not to mention to trap on the right with the tall saguaro stationed in the center. Your layup must negotiate the 100-yard bunker and the water on the right. Play out to the left and leave yourself a wedge to this diabolical green. Fronted by water, reminiscent of Bay Hill's 18th, the putting surface is 39 paces wide and very shallow, so you better be precise. A back-right pin looks great, but can be costly if you push the envelope.
FINAL WORD: It comes as no surprise that The Boulders has been rated a Gold Medal resort by Golf Magazine and a five diamond facility by AAA for years.
And with good reason.
Let's start with beauty. If the millions of year old boulder formations that mark the landscape don't do it for you, then how about the spectacular sunsets, maybe the amazing vegetation or how about the stunning saguaros?
There's also tennis, hiking, horseback riding and, of course, the piece de resistance, the world renowned Golden Door Spa, complete with massages, facials and mud body wraps.
The amenities alone should keep you coming back for more, but if that doesn't do it, then golf certainly will.
First of all, you know you're in for an interesting round of golf when the scorecard reads; "Coyote Rule - If there is reasonable evidence that your ball was taken by a coyote and isn't found, place a ball on the spot from which the ball was moved, no penalty." YIKES!
Back to the matter at hand. Thirty-six holes of golf, set up for all levels of play, featuring five sets of tees ranging from 4,900 to just under 7,000 yards. In addition, The Boulders has just launched two short courses on both 18s, ideal for the golfer on the go with limited time or the young and inexperienced player, who's not ready for a full 18. Called the "Pebble Tees," the courses feature holes ranging from 60 to 200 yards.
"There's an assumption that you must play 18 holes of golf, and new golfers sometimes are discouraged that the game is difficult and they have to make this big commitment to braving it out for hours on the course," said The Boulders' Director of Golf Operations Tom McCahan. "The short courses make it less stressful, more fun and easier to get into the game."
Yes, this is a resort layout, so it comes complete with beautiful villas and recently renovated casitas dotted throughout the property, but not infringing upon the golf courses.
Not to be overlooked is the Golf Academy and practice facility. Recently expanded and renovated, the driving range is complete with all the latest technology, while the instructors at the academy are some of the best in the country. In fact, Director of Instruction Donald Crawley, a Class A PGA and British PGA member, has been rated as a Top 100 Teacher in America by Golf Magazine for years. In addition, Crawley, a two-time PGA Teacher of the Year, is recognized by Golf Digest as one of the top-10 teachers in the state of Arizona and has been voted the best instructor in the valley three years running. "We teach GolfSimplified, keeping instruction simple, practical and personalized," said Crawley.
Year after year The Boulders continues to be rated as one of the top destinations in the country, but that certainly does not deter them of resting on their laurels.
Whether its refurbishing every bunker on the courses, or re-seeding each fairway or as simple as replacing every golf cart on the property, the powers that be will continue to refresh this wonderful retreat to maintain its top status. "There is constant year-round maintenance to keep the bent grass smooth and the 419 bermuda base fairways plush," added Crawley.
There are differences in both courses.
"The North course is longer and features several subtle dog leg holes," continued Crawley. "A more traditional layout with generous fairways, but the back nine is the most challenging. The more advanced players and I prefer the North: score on the front, hang on to finish strong on the back."
If it's the pretty look you want, well maybe the South is for you.
"The South course is most scenic, no forced carries (over desert) from the forward tees, but narrower fairways," added Crawley. A true 'target golf'. The visiting guests prefer the South because of it's beauty."
What makes this place so special is the coupling of the courses with amenities that are second to none. When it comes to hospitality, you'll be hard pressed to find a more courteous and helpful staff.
The Boulders will ease your mind and senses and will stimulate your heart, regardless of your passion. Your time here will make you realize that you don't have a care in the world. What a perfect place to visit, Carefree, AZ and The Boulders.
Aces, pars or bogeys, send your thoughts to psokol@sportsnetwork.com.
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