Monday, March 30, 2009

Winchester Coldwell real estate educator earns national ‘Green Designation’



Fitzgerald completed extensive training to meet NAR’s qualification to train REALTORS better understand what makes property green, to help their clients evaluate the cost/benefit of green building features and practices, to distinguish between industry rating and classification systems, to better list and market green homes, to discuss financial grants and incentives available to homeowners, and to help homeowners see a property’s green potential.

“As energy costs rise along with concern for the environment, homeowners are looking for innovative ways to save money and live responsibly,’” said Fitzgerald. “It is my goal to assist Realtors to become more familiar with green real estate concepts so that they can better serve their clients.”

NAR’s Green Designation was developed in response to growing consumer awareness of the benefits for resource-efficient homes and buildings. The designation helps consumers who care about energy efficiency and sustainable building practices identify REALTORS who can help them realize their green real estate and lifestyle goals.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is the largest residential real estate brokerage company in New England. With more than 4,000 sales associates and staff in more than 90 office locations, the organization serves consumers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices.



Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Cruise Into Recycling



Folks who enjoy vacations at sea should be pleased to note that some luxury liners are stepping up efforts to protect the planet. Though a cruise is by no means the most eco-friendly vacation type, if you are going to go on one, taking the time to look at the line’s environmental policies is a must. Many are choosing to not just pamper their passengers, but also sort their recyclables, lower energy use, reduce waste and boost water efficiency. “Ship to Shelter” Program Ever taken home those tiny bottles of lotion or shampoo from your state room? Holland America Line is putting leftover toiletries and other excess shipboard items to good use in various parts of the world. Along with mini-packets of bath gel and shampoo, the donations from Holland America’s Ship to Shelter program include such items as towels, bed sheets and kitchen utensils. Among the recipients is a social-service organization in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that provides hot showers and food to financially strapped families. Marti Forman, who runs the Cooperative Feeding Program, is delighted to distribute the much-appreciated bounty. Even simple items like disposable packets of soap are a luxury, Forman said, for some of the people served by the programs. Sometimes, the ships’ loot includes offbeat items like exercise weights and silver-plated ice buckets. Those, she said, are great for fundraisers. Taking Advantage of Sunshine Celebrity Cruise’s ship, the Solstice, is equipped to create its own energy from the sun’s rays. Its 216 solar panels produce enough power to handle 7,000 LED lights, or to run the cruise ship’s passenger elevators throughout the trip. Other ships with the Celebrity Cruises fleet are also enjoying some green modifications. They include: * Replacing halogen and incandescent light bulbs with more efficient sources of light, like light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and fluorescent bulbs. * Adding higher-efficiency appliances. The ice makers, for example, use 65 percent less water and about half the energy of previous equipment. * Conserving water in various areas, from efficient shower heads to the use of river rocks, rather than ice, in buffet displays. * Painting hulls (the body of the ship, part of which is underwater) with an environmentally safe product that creates a smoother surface, aimed at improving fuel efficiency. * Teaching crew members to work toward reducing air-conditioning waste in areas that are not in use. Zero Waste Overboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises are two lines that are going above and beyond: They exceed environmental regulations and do not permit any type of disposal at sea, according to Tim Rubacky, director of corporate communications for Prestige Cruise Holdings, which owns both the lines. Some of the wastewater that’s treated on-board is reused for such things as washing the decks or cooling the engines, Rubacky said.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Dental practice caused patient an uneven bite, suit claims



By Kelly Holleran

A Madison County man has filed suit against an Alton dental practice, alleging the dentists did not properly diagnose him with TMJ and performed a procedure that made his bite worse.

Gene Silveus claims he visited Humbert Road Dentistry on March 16, 2007, where dentists grinded down the teeth and crowns of the left side of his jaw, causing him to have an uneven and unbalanced bite.

In the suit filed March 6 in Madison County Circuit Court, Silveus claims Dr. Terry Ortman and Dr. Timothy Pranger improperly worked on his mouth, causing him to suffer acute and prolonged physical and mental pain and suffering.

They also failed to initially diagnose Silveus’ TMJ and bi-lateral click before they grinded on his teeth, the complaint says.

The two dentists failed to render dental services consistent with Silveus’ needs, failed to adequately evaluate his condition, failed to diagnose and treat him, failed to take a proper history before grinding on his teeth and failed to fully explain the procedure to him, the suit states.

“After assuming the care and treatment of plaintff, Gene Silveus, the defendant, Dr. Timothey Pranger, D.M.D., through his authorized agent, employee or partner, co-defendant Terry Ortman, D.D.S., committed battery against the plaintiff by intentionally grinding down his teeth and crowns on the left side of his jaw without plaintiff’s consent,” the suit states.

Silveus claims they also failed to properly equilibrate the left and right side of his teeth on the same day.

As a result, Silveus has incurred dental expenses, according to the complaint.

In the 13-count suit, Silveus is seeking a judgment in excess of $650,000, plus costs.

He is represented by Jeffrey A. Kopis of the Kopis Law Office in Belleville.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-0220.



Saturday, March 14, 2009

Google’s Behavioral Ads Are Just The Start



Google’s latest privacy flap emerged this week when it announced its “interest-based” ads, which are behaviorally targeted banner ads based on a user’s web-browsing activity. It’s nothing particularly new or ground-breaking, and the company was kind enough to give people a way to opt out, but the way the company presented the new system to users was a little odd. It titled its blog post announcing the new system “Making ads more interesting,” and it later said, “We believe there is real value to seeing ads about the things that interest you.” But are better-targeted ads really something that delivers any benefit to users? The benefit to advertisers and marketers is obvious, but it’s hard to see users really caring enough to forfeit some privacy just so they can help out advertisers.

But web browsing is just the tip of the iceberg: lots of marketers are looking at how to take information generated by mobile phones to hit users with targeted ads. They’re not talking about the worn-out Starbucks example of hitting people’s phones with a coupon when they walk past a store, but building profiles of people based on their travel patterns, favorite applications and web sites, and even gender, age and income information. Again, all of this info given up for the sake of seeing “better” or “more interesting” advertising. That really doesn’t benefit the user, so why should they give up — or be forced to give up — all of this information?
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A reality’s blogging



The South Beach nourishment is a wildly popular diet, that’s why South Beach diet recipes are so in demand. There are many delicious low-carb foods that fit on the fare. Almost everything you can think of is included in some south beach diet recipes. Read on to discover a few.

One of the terrific South Shore diet recipes is for chicken Marcela. Add chicken broth, minced parsley, half cup of Marcela wine, olive oil, mushroom slices to boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Brown the chicken in the olive oil. Cook onions and mushrooms until they’re furry, then add the wine and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add some broth as liquid is needed. Cover the chicken with the sauce. The calories and carbs will bowl over you 336 calories, and 3 g of carbohydrates

Another of the terrific South Beach diet recipes takes us to the east, in Thailand. It’s be that as it may for some chicken salad from Thailand. It’s a combination of chicken with various vegetables and spicy Thailand sauce. It’s very Spartan to make mix together the salad ingredients, mix together dressing ingredients, then toss them together. It makes four servings and has 8 g of carbohydrates in 297 unconditional calories. It really looks delicious.

How about south of the border with South Beach at recipes? This way for fajitas includes a soy sauce, a recommendation from a cook in a Mexican restaurant. ? to 2 pounds of skirt steak or chicken is cut into strips, combined with a normal onion, two bell peppers, quarter cup of soy sauce, ? cup of wine juice, 1 teaspoon of chili granulate, and 2 tablespoons of oil. Let the meat marinate in the liquid ingredients for at least an hour. Brown the meat then cook the vegetables for a terse time. This serves five, has 4.5 g of carbohydrates in a total of 307 calories per serving.

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Student Travel Insurance UK: Buy For Risk Free Traveling



Generally parents in UK buy travel insurance for the safety of the students when they travel abroad for completing the semester of education. But the cover of travel insurance may not provide the required safety for students. Hence for complete safety it is better to take student travel insurance in UK.

Student travel insurance in UK provides extended cover for all types of possibilities which might create problems for you and can even sometimes endanger your whole journey. So with student travel insurance in UK you can keep yourself not only safe but also can carry on your journey well. Apart from study students also usually like to go on traveling for fun and adventure. Student’s life is considered as the most creative and adventurous but as traveling is not the safest when you travel abroad. So with student travel insurance in UK you can plan for the journey which will not only let you roam the whole world but also cover you if there will arise any difficult situation like medical emergency or your baggage is stolen in foreign country.

Student travel insurance provides coverage for medical treatments, accidental coverage, cancellation of flight, trip cancellation, loss of baggage and papers etc. Along with it all student travel insurance in UK will also give 24 hours consultation over phone so that in case of any emergency you can call very easily to the agency and ask for the help you needed. When you go to buy any policy of student travel insurance then there are some factors which you should always keep in mind like:
• Before you plan for journey make sure that your travel insurance is valid for your all journey before buying insurance
• For getting coverage for sports like scuba diving, bungee jumping, you should mention it to the insurance company before buying the policy of student travel insurance in UK
• Before making commitment to buy the policy student travel insurance in UK you should research well about the various special offers given by different insurance companies

Online search is the most preferred mode of getting student travel insurance in UK because online you have wide options to research about the best policy. When you find after doing in depth research on the internet that the policy of student travel insurance selected by you can offer all the cover against any ill happening which you can suffer then you can decide to take it.for more information visit http://www.holidaytravelinsuranceuk.co.uk
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 Posted Under: Travel Insurance - UK