Browns edge Chargers 7-6 in rough weather

By TOM WITHERS

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 3:41 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2012

CLEVELAND (AP) - Trent Richardson's sore ribs didn't slow him down, and neither did the nasty weather.

Cleveland's rookie running back rushed for 122 yards and scored a touchdown, leading the Browns to a soggy, wind-whipped 7-6 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

Richardson, pulled last week at Indianapolis when he was ineffective because of a rib injury, carried 24 times as the Browns (2-6) slopped their way to a second straight home win - and first for new owner Jimmy Haslam. Richardson scored on a 26-yard run in the first quarter and the Browns were able to hang on despite not generating much offense in blustery, wet conditions.

The Chargers (3-4) dropped their third straight. San Diego had a final chance, but quarterback Philip Rivers' pass was batted away by Browns cornerback Buster Skrine with 1:24 left.

Rivers finished 18 of 34 for 154 yards but had a potential touchdown pass dropped by Robert Meachem in the third quarter.

With winds off Lake Erie gusting to more than 40 mph and a steady rain falling from the opening kick to the final whistle, neither offense could get anything going.

So the Browns turned to Richardson, their young star who had been limited in practice all week with a rib injury he sustained two weeks ago in a win over Cincinnati. But unlike last week when he was tentative hitting the hole, Richardson ran with purpose from the outset. He also had an important 12-yard reception in the fourth quarter when the Browns were backed up near their goal line.

Because of the bad weather, the Chargers, too, were forced to go to the ground and Ryan Mathews picked up 95 yards on 24 attempts.

Nick Novak kicked field goals of 43 and 31 yards for San Diego, which blew second-half leads in consecutive losses to New Orleans and Denver before its bye. But the Chargers never got ahead in this one and Meachem's huge drop will be the play that haunts coach Norv Turner this week.

Richardson's TD run gave the Browns a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Two plays after quarterback Brandon Weeden converted on a 4th-and-1 with a sneak to keep the drive alive, Richardson took a handoff up the middle, broke two tackles and was kept upright by right guard Shawn Lauvao, who wrapped his hands around his teammate, before scampering into the end zone for his fifth TD.

The Browns were effective getting Richardson outside with quick pitches, plays that allowed him to minimize smacked in the ribs and forced some of the Chargers defensive backs into situations where they had to try to bring down the bruising back in space - not an easy job.

San Diego's offense sputtered for much of the first half but Rivers moved the Chargers in the final two minutes, setting up Novak's 43-yard field goal as time expired that cut Cleveland's lead to 7-3.

The Chargers missed a chance to take the lead midway through the third when Meachem failed to hang on to what would have been an easy TD pass. Meachem got behind Cleveland's secondary and was wide open at about the 25-yard line when he let Rivers' toss slip through his hands.

Novak's 31-yard field goal brought the Chargers within 7-6 in the third.

Following Richardson's TD, the Browns punted on eight consecutive possessions and were in trouble backed up at their own 7. On second down, Weeden's pass was tipped at the line and nearly picked off by safety Atari Bigby. Given new life, Weeden then hit Richardson on a swing pass for a critical first down and the Browns were able to run off some time before Rivers got the ball back with 2:36 left.

But San Diego only got as far as Cleveland's 44 and Rivers threw four straight incompletions to end a frustrating day.

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Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Tom Cotton of Arkansas (Powerlineblog)

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Major storm threat for East Coast next week

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Much of the U.S. East Coast has a good chance of getting blasted by gale-force winds, flooding, heavy rain and maybe even snow early next week by an unusual hybrid of hurricane and winter storm, federal and private forecasters say.

Though still projecting several days ahead of Halloween week, the computer models are spooking meteorologists. Government scientists said Wednesday the storm has a 70 percent chance of smacking the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

Hurricane Sandy in the Caribbean, an early winter storm in the West, and a blast of arctic air from the North are predicted to collide, sloshing and parking over the country's most populous coastal corridor starting Sunday. The worst of it should peak early Tuesday, but it will stretch into midweek, forecasters say.

"It'll be a rough couple days from Hatteras up to Cape Cod," said forecaster Jim Cisco of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prediction center in College Park, Md. "We don't have many modern precedents for what the models are suggesting."

It is likely to hit during a full moon when tides are near their highest, increasing coastal flooding potential, NOAA forecasts warn. And with some trees still leafy and the potential for snow, power outages could last to Election Day, some meteorologists fear. They say it has all the earmarks of a billion-dollar storm.

Some have compared it to the so-called Perfect Storm that struck off the coast of New England in 1991, but Cisco said that one didn't hit as populated an area and is not comparable to what the East Coast may be facing. Nor is it like last year's Halloween storm, which was merely an early snowstorm in the Northeast.

This has much more mess potential because it is a combination of different storm types that could produce a real whopper of weather problems, meteorologists say.

"The Perfect Storm only did $200 million of damage and I'm thinking a billion," said Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the private service Weather Underground. "Yeah, it will be worse."

But this is several days in advance, when weather forecasts are far less accurate. The National Hurricane Center only predicts five days in advance, and on Wednesday their forecasts had what's left of Sandy off the North Carolina coast on Monday. But the hurricane center's chief hurricane specialist, James Franklin, said the threat keeps increasing for "a major impact in the Northeast, New York area. In fact it would be such a big storm that it would affect all of the Northeast."

The forecasts keep getting gloomier and more convincing with every day, several experts said.

Cisco said the chance of the storm smacking the East jumped from 60 percent to 70 percent on Wednesday. Masters was somewhat skeptical on Tuesday, giving the storm scenario just a 40 percent likelihood, but on Wednesday he also upped that to 70 percent. The remaining computer models that previously hadn't shown the merger and mega-storm formation now predict a similar scenario.

The biggest question mark is snow, and that depends on where the remnants of Sandy turn inland. The computer model that has been leading the pack in predicting the hybrid storm has it hitting around Delaware. But another model has the storm hitting closer to Maine. If it hits Delaware, the chances of snow increase in that region. If it hits farther north, chances for snow in the mid-Atlantic and even up to New York are lessened, Masters said.

NOAA's Cisco said he could see the equivalent of several inches of snow or rain in the mid-Atlantic, depending on where the storm ends up. In the mountains, snow may be measured in feet instead of inches.

___

Associated Press writer Tony Winton contributed to this report from Miami.

___

Online:

NOAA's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center: http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/index.shtml

National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

___

Seth Borenstein can be followed at http://twitter.com/borenbears

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hybrid-sandy-winter-storm-threatens-east-coast-064040714.html

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The Six Biggest Media Center Annoyances (and How to Fix Them)

The best thing about having an media center is that you're in control and can watch whatever you want. Unfortunately, you also get the pleasure of troubleshooting when plug-ins break, files won't play, and nothing works right. Here's how to take an HTPC that's driving you crazy and whip it back into shape so you can enjoy the show.

I love my home theater PC (HTPC), but it's not exactly perfect. For a long time, XBMC wouldn't download art, plot data, or cast information. The interface is difficult for my friends, who are used to cable TV. Using a keyboard and mouse on the couch sucks sometimes. We're willing to bet you've noticed this with your HTPCs and just deal with it, or you've held off building one because of similar annoyances. You don't have to settle for a second-rate experience. In this post we'll show you how to make your HTPC work the way you want it to.

My HTPC Won't Play Some of My Files

Nothing's worse than sitting down to watch a new episode of your favorite show only to find out that the file is in a format your chosen media center can't play. You have two options on how to fix this:

• Get a media center application that transcodes video on the fly. A few apps, most notably Plex, Subsonic, and PS3 Media Server all do this seamlessly. Transcoding makes sure you can watch any type of media on any device you happen to be using, including smartphones and tablets. You can either transcode on the source machine (if the files are stored on a home server or other computer) or your HTPC itself. Pick whichever computer has a faster processor to do the decoding.
• Convert all of your media to a single file format that's compatible with everything. This method requires a bit more work up front, but has a potential for less problems when you're actually trying to watch your videos. Basically, you just need to go through your entire library and convert all of your media to a common format. You can then set up a system that converts it as soon as you download or rip it, so you don't have to do the extra legwork yourself. If you use uTorrent, we've shown you how to roll video conversion into your download process easily. Alternatively, you can use previously mentioned DropFolders with Handbrake, which will watch a download folder and convert whatever comes through it automatically, without you lifting a finger.

Whichever route you choose, the end result should be the same?all of your media should play seamlessly with whatever tool you prefer to watch it. The transcoding method tends to lock you into a specific app, but if you're okay with that, or you know that app is available for all of your devices and set-top boxes, then it's a bit more futureproof. Converting your music and movies on your own takes a lot more work up front, but leaves one fewer link in the chain that could cause problems when you're trying to watch your movies.

My HTPC Won't Add My Music/Movies/TV Shows To Its Library

This is the issue that actually inspired this post. For months, my movies and TV shows were playable in XBMC, but it wouldn't download posters, DVD cover art, or background information for any of my files. The fix turned out to be somewhat simple: my filenames and directory structure made sense to me, but they made no sense at all to XBMC. We've talked about how to organize your media for XBMC before, and while normally the process is automatic, it didn't work for me. In my case, adding a whole drive with a bunch of unorganized folders and mixed media just caused XBMC to give up. All it required was a bit of organization.

The main change I had to make was to use a supported naming convention for my TV shows and movies so XBMC (or Plex, or anything else) could recognize what they were. Organizing movies and TV shows into separate folders helped a lot too. If you have a lot of files to rename (like I did,) grab an app like The Renamer (Windows) or NameChanger (OS X) to help speed up the process.

Home Theater PCs Are Too Expensive

Building an HTPC doesn't have to be an expensive proposition. We've shown you how to build one for less than $500, and another for around $200, but you can go even lower than that if you wish.

Your cheapest option is probably to grab a $99 Apple TV (less if you get a refurb!). It's a great set-top box to begin with, but you can take it up a notch by jailbreaking it and installing XBMC or Plex (although the current gen isn't jailbreakable, the 1G and 2G models are.) XBMC will let you play any video type, stream from other computers, and more that the Apple TV won't do on its own. Need more choices? Check out our guide to finding the best set-top box for you for even more affordable, feature-packed options.

Where Do I Store My Movies?

You've probably heard us talk about streaming from a home server, from another computer, and even from smartphones, but where should you actually store your media? The best place to store your movies depends on how you plan to watch them. Here are a few scenarios:

• Store and watch movies on your HTPC. This is obviously the easiest method: if you have a big enough hard drive in your HTPC, you can just put the movies there. However, if you need more than one hard drive, need to transcode videos, or want your HTPC to download stuff in the background, you'll need a pretty powerful HTPC, or you'll lose some performance while all that is going on. It's probably cheapest, but it's also a single point of failure, and it too needs to be on all the time. Also, if you have something like a jailbroken Apple TV, this isn't an option because it doesn't have internal storage.
• Store and transcode movies on your main PC, watch them on your HTPC. If you need a place to store, transcode, and download media, you can always do this from your main computer. Your powerful computer can handle things like converting files and automatically downloading movies and TV shows as soon as they air, then you can stream them to your HTPC for watching. It's a power-hungry setup, and your desktop PC will have to be turned on pretty much all the time, but it's an option that doesn't require another computer.
• Store movies on a NAS, watch them on your HTPC. This is our suggestion, mostly because your NAS, whether you buy one or roll your own, is designed for low power consumption. This is good, since you'll need to keep it on all day, which you probably don't want to do with your desktop computer. A NAS gives you multiple hard drives for massive storage, RAID for redundancy, and enough power to do all that renaming, transcoding, and even downloading for you?without such a harsh strain on your energy bill. Photo by Craig Morey.

It Feels Like I'm Using a Computer, Not a Set-Top Box

We've tackled this topic before, so it's not terribly difficult to get your HTPC in order so anyone can flop down on your couch and use it. Your first step is to get and set up a remote for your HTPC to put people at ease?after all, you may be comfortable with just a keyboard and mouse, but many people aren't, so keep it stashed away unless you need it. Even better, grab your tablet or an old smartphone and use these iOS or Android apps to control your HTPC from anywhere in the house.

That takes care of the remote problem, but your HTPC's interface could probably use some work too, right? You can tweak a few settings in XBMC to make it more friendly to non-geeks right out of the box, though a new skin can also be helpful. If XBMC is too much trouble, give the more friendly Plex a shot, or try XBMC plugins like PseudoTV, which aim to make the interface more like a traditional channel guide?full of virtual "channels" loaded with TV shows and movies that you've downloaded.

I Can't Find Anything I Want to Watch

Cutting the cord does mean giving up some programming. Whether you've had that cliffhanger spoiled before you got a chance to watch the episode or you just miss your live sports, there's a tradeoff. That doesn't mean you're out of options. There's always Hulu and Netflix, or you could drop a TV Tuner into your DVR and attach an HD over-the-air antenna to it to watch and record live television. Add the Blucop XBMC repository to unlock the Free Cable plug-in, which offers streaming video from just about any channel that puts its TV shows on the web, including ABC, CBS, Food Network, SyFy, and more. If your favorite network puts an episode on its site the day after it airs, you'll be able to see it right away.

Check out all of the official and unofficial repositories to see what's available, and our picks for the best XBMC add-ons too?you'll be surprised what you can stream directly to your HTPC without limiting yourself to the things you've downloaded or ripped. With all of the streaming options, you'll never run out of new material to watch. Then, once you've identified what you can't stream, you can turn to the internet for everything else.

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Most HTPCs and set-top boxes go out of their way to be easy to use?after all, using them is supposed to be fun and get you right to your music, TV shows, and movies?they're supposed to enhance the experience, not detract from it. That said, if you're running into issues with your home theater setup, hopefully these suggestions will make it a little easier to manage. Once you have your library in good order and a system for where your files land and how they're accessed set up, and once you have the interface tweaked just the way you like, you'll never be comfortable going back to some proprietary cable provider's interface.

Title image by Tina Mailhot-Roberge.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/uAuADeoFwxM/the-six-biggest-media-center-annoyances-and-how-to-fix-them

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NASA sees warming cloud tops indicating Tropical Storm Tony weakening

Public release date: 25-Oct-2012
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Contact: Rob Gutro
robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

In a tropical cyclone, strong uplift of air pushes the tops of thunderstorms high into the troposphere. When that strength wanes, the cloud tops drop and become less cold. That's because the higher you go in the troposphere, the colder it gets. NASA satellite infrared data has revealed that Tropical Storm Tony's cloud top temperatures are warming and the storm is weakening.

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared imagery of Tropical Storm Tony on Oct. 24 at 12:17 p.m. EDT that showed the strongest thunderstorms east of the center of circulation, but cloud top temperatures are warming. Those thunderstorms are reaching high into the troposphere where cloud top temperatures are as cold as -63 Fahrenheit (-52 Celsius). The cloud pattern in Tony is also becoming less organized.

On Oct. 25, 2012 at 5 a.m. EDT Tropical Storm Tony had maximum sustained winds near 45 mph (75 kph). Tony was moving to the east-northeast near 23 mph (37 kph) and this general motion is expected to continue during the next couple of days. Tony's center is far from land, about 835 miles (1,345 km) southwest of the Azores Islands near 30.4 North latitude and 38.4 West longitude. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km) from the center.

According to the National Hurricane Center discussion of Tony, "the southwesterly winds have not substantially separated the surface circulation from the convective canopy, although a combination of the shear and cooler waters has weakened the deep convection."

The National Hurricane Center expects Tony to start losing tropical characteristics today and dissipate over the weekend of Oct. 27 and 28.

###

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?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 25-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rob Gutro
robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

In a tropical cyclone, strong uplift of air pushes the tops of thunderstorms high into the troposphere. When that strength wanes, the cloud tops drop and become less cold. That's because the higher you go in the troposphere, the colder it gets. NASA satellite infrared data has revealed that Tropical Storm Tony's cloud top temperatures are warming and the storm is weakening.

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared imagery of Tropical Storm Tony on Oct. 24 at 12:17 p.m. EDT that showed the strongest thunderstorms east of the center of circulation, but cloud top temperatures are warming. Those thunderstorms are reaching high into the troposphere where cloud top temperatures are as cold as -63 Fahrenheit (-52 Celsius). The cloud pattern in Tony is also becoming less organized.

On Oct. 25, 2012 at 5 a.m. EDT Tropical Storm Tony had maximum sustained winds near 45 mph (75 kph). Tony was moving to the east-northeast near 23 mph (37 kph) and this general motion is expected to continue during the next couple of days. Tony's center is far from land, about 835 miles (1,345 km) southwest of the Azores Islands near 30.4 North latitude and 38.4 West longitude. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km) from the center.

According to the National Hurricane Center discussion of Tony, "the southwesterly winds have not substantially separated the surface circulation from the convective canopy, although a combination of the shear and cooler waters has weakened the deep convection."

The National Hurricane Center expects Tony to start losing tropical characteristics today and dissipate over the weekend of Oct. 27 and 28.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/nsfc-nsw102512.php

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LG Spectrum Ice Cream Sandwich update imminent

One of Verizon's many mid-range LTE phones from early this year, the LG Spectrum (remember that one?), is poised to receive an update to Ice Cream Sandwich soon. The update to software version VS920ZV7 will bring the device up to Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, and include many of the features and design that we've seen on other recent LG devices. The support page notes that a couple Verizon "enhancements" will be coming with the update as well -- Verizon Remote Diagnostics and a Viewdini app.

The Verizon support PDF doesn't indicate a specific date for when the update will be rolling out, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the users in the forums will be talking about it the moment it starts.

Source: Android Central Forums; Verizon (PDF)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/9Ry_gs0iXnU/story01.htm

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NM peanut capital at heart of national recall

FILE - An Aug. 10, 2005 file photo shows the peanut butter production line at Sunland Inc's peanut plant in Portales, N.M. (AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Richard Pipes)

FILE - An Aug. 10, 2005 file photo shows the peanut butter production line at Sunland Inc's peanut plant in Portales, N.M. (AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Richard Pipes)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) ? The country's largest organic peanut processing plant is scrubbing its facilities top to bottom and hopes to get back in production soon after massive recall of scores of products linked to a salmonella outbreak.

The recall has affected peanut butter and nut products sold at major retailers around the country, raising concerns about the long-term impact on the industry ? especially in products grown and processed in the flat, dusty eastern New Mexico town of Portales.

The region is home to the prized Valencia peanut, which represents just a small percentage of the nation's massive peanut crop, but is favored for natural and organic peanut butter products because of its sweet flavor.

This year's crop is exceptional, growers say, and the town is set this weekend to celebrate its crop at its 39th annual peanut festival. But the festivities are likely to be overshadowed by anxiety as the crop is piling up in drying trailers while the Sunland Inc. facility linked to the outbreak remains shuttered for a top-to-bottom scrubbing.

"We are very concerned about it," said Wayne Baker, a retired peanut farmer and chair of the New Mexico Peanut Growers Association. "The harvest is going on as normal and Sunland is receiving peanuts, but we have got to get the FDA to approve some changes and get going."

Sunland, which operates the country's largest USDA certified organic peanut processing plant, first closed its peanut butter plant late last month when the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked a salmonella outbreak to peanut butter it produced for Trader Joe's. Its roasting and processing facilities were also closed and the recall expanded this month to include peanuts and other nut butters after the FDA found salmonella at the plant.

Though the illnesses have only been linked to the Trader Joe's product, Sunland Inc., which manufactures products for Target, Costco and other major retailers, has recalled everything made in the plant since March 2010 ? a total of 240 products. The recall affects many peanut butters labeled natural or organic, but does not include major brands like Jif, Skippy or Peter Pan, meaning there are plenty of other brands on the market to fill the void for customers amid the plant's shutdown.

The National Peanut Board says it is too soon to know if publicity about the recall is impacting sales of peanut butter and related products overall. But spokesman Ryan Lepicier said after a 2009 salmonella outbreak in peanut butter that resulted in a national recall of some 4,000 products, "there was a short-term light impact but within a few months peanut butter sales grew month after month" for several years, outpacing sales before the recall.

He noted that Sunland is a smaller producer that makes a lot of private label products that are sold primarily on the West Coast.

Still, Cornell University food science professor Bob Gravani says "consumers are going to be wary." He noted that some companies that sell bagged spinach are still recovering from a national recall several years ago.

"Whenever there is a foodborne outbreak people get a little concerned," he said. "A lot of people eat peanut butter and certainly there is a backlash even for companies producing a clean product."

Indeed, news of the recall gave Albuquerque resident Holly Dockstader pause.

"I haven't even heard about it," she said as she prepared to shop at Trader Joe's with her three young children. "I am out of peanut butter. But I guess I won't be buying it for a while."

The recall has not impacted consumer supplies. Trader Joe's, for instance, still has shelves full of its brand's peanut and other nut butters from lots not associated with the recall. And peanut growers around the country are currently harvesting a bumper crop.

Sunland hopes to reopen its peanut processing and roasting facility within a week to 10 days. But it could be six to eight weeks before peanut butter production resumes, said Sunland spokeswoman Katalin Coburn. And those estimates assume approval from regulatory agencies.

The plant's nearly 150 workers all remain employed, she said, working to scrub and upgrade the facility. And she said the peanut harvest continues, with the crop being stored in drying trailers until the plant gets back up and running. Coburn said peanuts store well, as the once yearly harvest provides peanuts for production throughout the entire year.

"The plant is being torn down as it was, and when it is put back together it will include many new pieces of equipment and improved controls," Coburn said.

Coburn said experts are still trying to pinpoint how the contamination occurred.

"We have had extensive, inclusive processes that are designed to prevent anything getting into commerce that can possibly be harmful," she said. "The entire investigation is centered on exactly where there may have been a mistake, where signs were not properly interpreted. And analyzing that data is what is taking so long."

Peanut butter was identified by the FDA as a high-risk food after a 2007 outbreak that sickened more than 400 people who ate peanut butter processed at a ConAgra facility in Nebraska. ConAgra officials blamed moisture from a leaky roof and a faulty sprinkler system for mixing with dormant salmonella bacteria in the plant.

After that outbreak, the FDA stepped up investigations of peanut facilities.

As part of that process, problems had been found previously at the Sunland plant in Portales. FDA records show two inspections at the plant in 2009 and 2010 found "objectionable conditions," but classified the findings as not meeting the agency's threshold for action. According to the records, any corrective action on the part of the company was voluntary. But details of the objectionable conditions or why the agency visited the plant twice in two years were not released.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2012-10-19-Peanut%20Butter%20Recall/id-f8e0f5040a5042e0a1d7f150ece56c9b

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These Disgustingly Gross Home Offices Will Make You Vomit [Gross]

We've seen some pretty beautiful desktop setups with gorgeous monitors and spotless desks—these desktop setups are not those. In fact, you can think of them as the complete opposite. These home offices are foul, filthy, disgusting, awful and come from the hoarder devil's armpit. You can smell the stench through the pictures. Try not to look or you're going to throw up. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/5DXdFXKQkRo/these-disgustingly-gross-home-offices-will-make-you-vomit

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Bristol Palin Played it Too Safe on Dancing With the Stars, Mark Ballas Says

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Game developer sets Kickstarter record - The Orange County Register

After nine years making computer games for other companies, Obsidian Entertainment will be making a role-playing game the Irvine company owns and sells itself.

The game developer ended its Kickstarter fundraising campaign Tuesday, raising more than $3.9 million from more than 72,000 fans to make "Project Eternity." The project raised the most money to date for a video game on the crowd-sourcing site and became the third-highest earning project in Kickstarter history.

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Top 10 Kickstarter Projects

1. $10.3 million Pebble E-Paper smart watch
2. $8.6 million OUYA Android-based game console
3. $3.9 million Project Eternity computer game (Irvine)
4. $3.4 million Bones miniature gaming models
5. $3.3 million Double Fine Adventure computer game
6. $2.9 million Wasteland 2 computer game (Newport Beach)
7. $2.5 million Homestuck computer game
8. $2.4 million Oculus Rift virtual reality gaming headset (Irvine)
9. $2.2 million Planetary Annihilation computer game
10. $1.8 million Shadowrun Returns computer game

Obsidian, which made games such as "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II" and "Fallout:New Vegas" for other publishers, turned to Kickstarter for its newest venture. The move to online fundraising gives the company the opportunity to pursue a game with a smaller budget but with complete creative freedom and ownership.

"After all these years of making games we're actually going to own something," said Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart. "When we think about a game we think about the world of the game ... there's all this other potential: Novels. Pen-and-paper role playing games. Board games. Card games. We have this world that's ours now and we get to do all these things with it."

Kickstarter.com is a platform for artists and startups to bankroll creative projects by appealing directly to the people who would use the product.

In the case of video games, Obsidian followed a path blazed by Newport Beach-based Inxile Entertainment in April when the company raised $2.9 million using the site. Both companies offered their games for pre-order in downloadable format in exchange for the lowest levels of funding, between $20 and $30. Patrons who paid more would receive collector's editions with limited-edition goodies for support in the hundreds of dollars. At the top end, fans who contributed thousands of dollars have the opportunity to become part of the game, with areas designed or named after supporters.

For the first time since it was founded in 2003, Obsidian has complete control of a project and with that freedom the company is pursuing a video game that pays homage to well-loved, role-playing games from the '90s. Players will be able to make a hero, gather a party of companions and explore intricately designed landscapesand go on quests. With "Project: Eternity," Obsidian doesn't have to answer to publishers demanding the company make development milestones or implement changes, and there's no pressure to depend on retail locations to sell the game.

Instead, the developer forged a direct relationship with more than 72,000 fans who, in many cases, pre-ordered copies of the game by supporting the project on Kickstarter.

"Owning your own intellectual property is every developer's dream, and we have a lot of people at Obsidian who are excited by the prospect of working on something that's theirs as opposed to helping prop up someone else's franchise," said Chris Avellone, the studio creative director on "Project Eternity."

Three of the 10 highest-earning projects on Kickstarter are from Orange County. Obsidian joins Inxile Entertainment, which raised money to create a game called "Wasteland 2," and Oculus, which raised $2.4 million on the site in September to make a virtual reality headset specifically for video games. This week Oculus, founded in Long Beach, confirmed it signed a lease for 5,369 square feet of office space in Irvine and is hiring for 13 positions on its website.

Obsidian had layoffs earlier this year, but Urquhart declined to say how many. Today the company has about 80 staffers and is splitting its resources between two games. Obsidian has about 55 people working on a videogame version of the "South Park" cartoon, while 15 to 20 team members are working on the new "Project Eternity."

Video game industry experts said a major video game title could carry a budget of $20 million to $30 million. A game with a reduced feature set targeted for computers, like "Project Eternity," could cost far less to develop.

"It's going to be a while before you can gather enough people to raise $20 million for a true AAA title ... if ever; $3 million is not a lot of money," said Jesse Divnich, vice president in charge of analysis at the video game research firm EEDAR. "It's not going to change the way video games get funded."

Contact the writer: 949-229-2426 or ihamilton@ocregister.com

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/game-374766-games-obsidian.html

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Gunman opens fire at Florida beauty salon, killing three

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Dance Wars | Fear The Hat

Ok, so Gangnam Style has officially replaced Call Me Maybe as the ?it??song to parody on YouTube. (I would like to point out Ohio?s Marching 110 was on the front edge of this curve?and they did it with tubas.)

Now two of Columbus? sports franchise have joined the craze.

OHIO STATE-

A less literal interpretation of the original PSY video, it features Brutus Buckeye and the OSU Spirit team.

What it?s got going for it: Creative use of a leaf blower, a cheerleading pyramid, Brutus in glorious slow motion

What it lacks: No E. Gordon Gee? Really?

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS-

A fairly spot on recreation, it features Stinger and various other CBJ figures like Dancing Kevin and anthem singer Leo Welsh.

What it?s got going for it: The new Nationwide Arena scoreboard, Dancing Kevin, LEO! and Stinger in a hot tub

What it lacks: Needs. More. Boomer.

Ok, now you?ve seen the contenders!

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Source: http://fearthehat.wordpress.com/2012/10/16/dance-wars/

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Castle Review: ?Murder, He Wrote? ? Relatively Entertaining

C: What an episode this was! Castle and Beckett go off for a getaway weekend to the Hamptons and stumble on a murder (or rather, a murder victim stumbles on them), and the Wonder Twins decide to find out who Beckett?s mystery boyfriend is!

M: I have to say, I think this might have been my favorite episode of the entire run of the show. It had everything we love about Castle, was fun and funny, and the killer wasn?t even obvious! Loved it!

C:?You know, that?s a point in its favor I hadn?t even thought of: I genuinely had no idea who did it.

E: Yep!? The most recognizable guest star rule was definitely not in play, which is a rare and beautiful thing.

C: But that?s for later. First off, I loved Alexis and Martha giving Castle advice as he gets ready to leave for the weekend. They?re appalled that he has absolutely nothing planned. ?When a man says, ?So what are we gonna do for dinner??? chides Martha, ?thbbpt! He?s dead to me.?

E: That seemed very Martha, although I was surprised by Alexis agreeing with that annoyingly shallow assessment.? Beckett doesn?t need to be wined and dined!? There?s no need for razzle dazzle; she?s already impressed by his true self. Of course I don?t suppose he could really say to his mother and precious baby girl that they weren?t planning on leaving the house!

M: Since they were going away, I knew that was going to be the only bit of Castle family that we got, and while I didn?t think it was their best, it was fun.

C: When they first arrive at Castle?s house in the Hamptons, Kate just gazes around in happiness?

M: Wait, who?s Kate? You mean Beckett, right?

C:?No, somehow I?m thinking of her as Kate, she?s so determinedly off-duty here, with her relaxed body language and her cute sundresses. Adorable.

E: Not to sound shallow (especially after making a big deal about it), but those sundresses were so ridiculously cute.? I enjoyed seeing her in vacation mode, wearing bright colors and short flirty hemlines.

C: But as they go to the house, a look of unease settles on her. Is?it the opulence of the atmosphere? Castle?s ?cottage? certainly does look like it could be a hotel. Is it a doubt as to the wisdom of this risky getaway?

E: I assumed she was finally feeling what a different world he lived in, that he could afford that spectacular house, and it was making her feel odd.

M: That was my exact thought.

E: Oh, I?m glad it wasn?t just me, because I was shocked that wasn?t where they went.

C: That too, I?m sure, but what she vocalizes is the realization that, historically, this has been not just Castle?s writing retreat but also his love nest. She can?t help thinking of all the other women he?s brought here. He won?t deny there have been others, he tells her ? ?But they weren?t you.? Aw.

E: Really excellent line ? mostly because it wasn?t a line.

M: Agreed, that was the perfect reply.

C: But right before that conversation was the shout-out that caused everyone in my living room to squeal. What does Castle love about his back lawn that leads right down to the sea? The breeze, the beauty, and oh yes? ?The serenity!?

E: Bwah!? I didn?t even get that!? Now I love this episode even more.

M: Wow, I missed that, too. There were shout-outs to the fans all over this episode. Love it!

C: Of course we know that Castle and Beckett?s lazy romantic weekend is bound to become a busman?s holiday (or a Busman?s Honeymoon)?

E: Ooooh, excellent classic mystery reference!

M:?Yeah, but no points for guessing that, since they showed it in the previews from last week?

C:?Like we needed that tip-off! The dying man who stumbles in the back gate and plummets into the pool just as Kate has stripped off for a skinny dip is no surprise to the audience.?The funny part is that Castle is the one desperate to investigate the murder; Kate, being a professional (though not the kind of professional the police assume she is!)?can turn off her detective impulses.

E:? Wallander he isn?t!? But her desire to keep things on the down low creates the most excellent misunderstanding. When she wants her name kept out of the paper, the Hamptons police chief assumes she?s a lady of the night!? You?d think he?d assume she was a celebrity or married, but okay.? I loved when he slipped and called her ?Madam? instead of Ma?am.

M: Oh, that was absolutely fantastic. The jokes, the facial expressions, just great. As for Castle not being able to shut off his curiosity, not buying it. Here?s a guy (point one!) who has been pining for Beckett for a while, and finally has a weekend alone with her? I think he?d shut it off with NO problems. Just saying.

C:?Oh, I thought it was perfectly in character. Well? maybe he?d get a night of romance in, and then wake up with investigative fever. But in any case ? it?s when Castle calls the boys back home at the station to tell them about his dead gate-crasher that we get the official episode title shout-out, as well as an acknowledgment of the utter clichedness of the situation our heroes are in: ?Seriously, Castle? Like you?re in an episode of Murder, She Wrote?? ?More like Murder, He Wrote!? says Castle, giddy.

M: Yup, another of the excellent winks to the fans.

E: Well, mystery fans in general, I guess. Someone ought to do a Venn diagram showing the intersection of Castle, Murder She Wrote and Firefly fans?

C: In the meantime, Ryan and Esposito are hot on the trail of all Beckett?s exes.

M: Which, of course, is her own fault for telling them she?s going away for the weekend with her new boyfriend.

E: Rookie mistake.

C: Not that I think a complete lie would have been easier to carry off?

M: Since Castle unwisely decided to show up right at quitting time to see her face when the clock strikes 5:00 (ridiculous!), he wisely jumped in on the Wonder Twins speculation as to who the new man was.

E: So great.? At least he can lie convincingly some of the time.

C:?I love that. The boys start assuming she?s keeping her new man quiet because he is not, in fact, a new man. I was hoping for a Demming cameo.

E: You and me both (although I didn?t agree with their logic).

M:?No such luck, I think he was busy being written out of How I Met Your Mother.

C:?Grrr, don?t remind me of how pathetically they?re handling that. Back to the show that?s in top form: Beckett can?t understand why the guys are so damn interested in her personal life, but Castle assures her that it?s because they both loom so large in the minds of the people around her??We?re like Brangelina.? Then, of course, Castle has to cast around for a couple nickname for them, until he comes up?of course?with Caskett.

E: I squealed the moment he started naming them (Ricketts!) because it was obvious where they were going.? I?m a total sucker for those kind of shout outs.

M: The best of the nods to the fans, in my opinion!

C: ABC has been lobbying hard for ?Caskett? one on their website. I must say, it does have a certain on-the-nose appeal.

M: Hmmm, I didn?t know that, and somehow that cheapens it a little for me. Boo.

E: That?s them?? Funny, I?ve only seen other fans use it; I thought it was organic.? It?s so apt!? Of course, I don?t go looking for much on the official website.

C:?I?m not saying fans didn?t start it, just that ABC pounced on it; their website puts up little ?Caskett? clip shows and stuff. Anyway, as the investigations goes on, Kate finds it harder and harder to keep her presence off the New York precinct?s radar. When the Wonder Twins assert that they?re not afraid of Beckett, she snatches for the phone to given them a piece of her mind; Castle only nabs it back in the nick of time.

M: That whole interchange with her trying to stay quiet while he?s on the phone with them was great.

E: Also excellent?? Castle?s utter inability to question people without tipping his hand.

C: Okay, I know Castle?s investigative style could use?subtlety,?but their asking a few questions down at the local watering hole could not be construed as interfering with the investigation. You cannot arrest people for harmlessly talking! I?m pretty sure there?s a whole amendment about it, even. That was absurd.

E: Well, police can get a bit persnickety about anything they consider obstruction of justice ? which seems to stretch in surprising ways.? I?m not saying it?s right, but I can see why he?d be extra nervous about pissing off his powerful constituents.

C: And yet, Castle is a very rich member of his neighborhood too!

M: Well, I think we have to give them the artistic license on that one. They needed to create conflict, and make the local cops look like?neophytes, and they succeeded, while also having Castle humorously display his incompetence at interrogation. The casual discussion with the mistress was funny, but the dinner with the mob boss neighbor? That was fantastic! Vinnie the Scar (with appropriate facial scar) hitting on Beckett, Castle getting offended, then botching the ?banter? so badly that he offended The Scar? So bad? so good.

E: I know it?s not a mob movie, but that had a real ?write us out of this one, Joan Wilder? feel to it.

C: We haven?t even talked yet about the fact that the local chief was played by David Burke, one of those actors whose faces I seem to know from several dozen little things and no one thing in particular. Familiar enough, though, that he was my number one suspect until he enlisted their help on the case.

E: Just as I said, he?s the most recognizable guest star/suspect.? Well, him or Lerner, whom I?m sure we?ll get to in a minute.

C: One thing that struck me as odd was how inexperienced the local police were made out to be. I assumed a lot of crime probably went down around there.?Have I been watching too much Revenge?

E: Probably.? It?s a vacation spot.? I doubt a lot of people get killed there.

C: Not murder, fine, but drugs and drunken shenanigans I do imagine are a problem.

M: Well, yeah, but that?s an entirely different level of police work. I mean, cleaning up rich kids who?re sloshed and PDiddy having too many people over for his White Party is different, no?

E:?Agreed, I?d guess their expertise runs more to providing security for the fancy parties than investigating murders.

C: Also: ?It?s the Hamptons. We don?t have a lot of resources.? How does that make sense?

M: I?m sure their equipment and stations would be very nice, but man power is a different story. My guess is those local towns don?t have a lot of deputies.

E:? Oh, I don?t know.? I?m with C on this one.

C:?Well, in spite of their?insufficiencies, they eventually chase down one of the victim?s former co-workers, Lerner, who he ratted out. Obviously the guy has motive, and his boat proves to be the site of the crime. Conveniently, the suspect turns up on the spot, allowing Castle to greet him: ?Hey Lerner. Killer boat.?

E: And that?s after he called his neighbor to say: ?Hey, heard you had a killer party last night.?? This leads the Wonder Twins to? properties the victim bought up, allegedly to renovate as condos.? I loved the X-Files feel of the pair walking through the wet, creepy warehouse with only their flashlights to guide the way.

C: Oh I know! So good! That was genuinely super tense!

E: And, boom!? What do they find?? A meth lab!? Turns out the vic was running drugs out to the Hamptons along with the former coworker.

M: I have to say, gladly, that they threw me with him! He was the prototypical Castle villain. He was the most recognizable guest star (not that I can remember off hand what I know him from, but it?s many things), they lingered on his picture when they announced that the victim had ratted out coworkers, and then they came back to him late in the episode (but not late enough). I loved that it wasn?t him, though!

C:?Totally! And I loved the moment when Ryan?s interrogation of him turned from being about the murder case to being about his and Esposito?s ?case,? with poor Lerner totally confused about what?s going on. So, Castle had a woman with him when he interviewed Lerner in the Hamptons? Ryan?s in top cop form, shouting and pounding on the table: what did she look like? hair color, eye color? Lerner?s starting to freak out. ?Body type?? demands Ryan. ?Awesome!? shouts Lerner. So hysterical.

E: The absolute high point of an excellent episode.? Totally fantastic, particularly seeing mild-mannered Ryan so crazed.??? And the way the scene ends with Ryan gasping ?Son of a ?.??? Loved it!? (You should have seen Mr. E pounding on our coffee table with both fists in imitation. ?I?ll ask the questions!!!!?)

M: I would have loved to see that! And I totally agree, Ryan going into bad cop mode was hilarious, definite highlight of the episode.

C: Even more, though,?I love that Ryan doesn?t tell Castle, but torments him instead. Oh yes, Lerner told him?everything? But he?s not confirming Castle?s fears, just leaving him to squirm.

E: Even more impressive, Ryan doesn?t tell Esposito!? Get out of town!

M: He handled both brilliantly. He left Castle, and an eavesdropping Beckett, cringing and in the lurch with his veiled comments to them, but then turned around and shut things down with his fellow Wonder Twin to keep their secret. So great.

C: Finally, of course, the case is closed, and Beckett and Castle get to have one romantic evening to themselves.

E: Where Beckett writes up the ending to Hampton?s Heat, Castle?s newest book idea.? Nothing will stop Nikki Heat from getting what she wants?

C: And at the very end, we pan up to a night sky and?a shooting star. Really??

E: Isn?t that a Murder, She Wrote thing?

M: Yup, the last wink to the audience.

C: Oh, if that?s the case then I totally change my vote to strong approval. But, while I loved watching that show with our Jessica Fletcher-fangirling grandmother back in its day, I must admit I don?t remember.

M: Remember it or not, this was a Castle episode that we won?t soon forget.

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Source: http://relativelyentertaining.wordpress.com/2012/10/16/castle-review-murder-he-wrote/

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World's most mysterious buildings

10 hrs.

Adam H. Graham , Travel + Leisure

Mysteries come in many forms: ancient, modern, unsolved and unexplained. But the world?s most mysterious buildings are a physical force to be reckoned with. They've become popularized on websites like?abandoned-places.com,?weburbanist.com?and the granddaddy of them all,?atlasobscura.com, an exhaustive user-generated and editor-curated database of the unusual.

Our list of mysteries doesn't trot out clich?d write-ups of the Bermuda Triangle and the Egyptian pyramids,?nor is it promoting the usual suspects of PR-pushed ?haunted hotels.? These peculiar structures are original, lesser-known and often arcane. Mystery after all, must be authentic.

Slideshow: See the world's most mysterious buildings

?In an age where it sometimes seems like there's nothing left to discover, our site is for people who still believe in exploration,? says Atlas Obscura co-founder Joshua Foer, whose own favorite mysterious buildings include a murder mansion in L.A. and an art house in Centralia, Wash.

?It's easy when traveling to get stuck on very well-worn paths,? reiterates co-founder Dylan Thuras. ?Often the most memorable thing you see on your travels is not the beautiful palace, but the run-down theme park left to rot on the outskirts of town. These places give you more context than the highly-polished tourist routes.?

Our definition of mysterious is broad and varied. Some buildings on our list are being eaten alive by the earth, such as a sand-swallowed lighthouse in Denmark?s Jutland and a lava-buried church in the remote highlands of Mexico. Others have design elements that seem to defy logic or were mysteriously abandoned by their people centuries ago. New York?s shadowy Renwick Smallpox Hospital has more recent traces of human life?and an eerie energy that lingers.

We?ve got the photo proof.

More from Travel + Leisure:

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/itineraries/worlds-most-mysterious-buildings-1C6300514

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District 99 Musical Tackles Bullying, Drug Abuse as Part of 'Red ...

With teenagers across the country facing an ever-growing list of challenges?from drug and alcohol abuse to bullying and self-esteem issues?Downers Grove high school counselors think it's the perfect time to spark a new way of thinking for students and their parents.

On Thursday night,?District 99?will host "Stand Up! Change Teen Statistics," a live musical theater production?that tackles themes related to bullying, mental health, substance abuse and relationship issues that affect high school students.

"Stand Up!" is written by professionals from the R.Ed.I. (Reach, Education and Inspire) Foundation, a music theater organization dedicated to prevention education through the use of performing arts. The show travels to high schools across the state, and has been recognized by the Illinois Arts Council and the Illinois Department of Family Services.

"We've been talking a lot as a district about ways to address some of these topics in a relevant, interesting way, so it will really have an impact on students," said?Kristin Bormann, student assistance coordinator at Downers Grove South. "We came across 'Stand Up!' and kept hearing about all the positive feedback the show gets, so we thought it would be a great fit for our schools, too."

The 45-minute performance features a troupe of young adults ages 18 to 25 acting out real-life scenarios?an idea that appealed to District 99 counselors as they were considering the musical earlier this year.

"I think one of the reasons this show resonates with students is that it's relatable," said Keith Bullock, student assistance coordinator at?North High School. "All the skits are based on things that our kids might actually be going through, and they're performed by students who aren't much older than them."

"Stand Up!" will be performed for all students at North and South high schools during school Thursday. From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., a free performance will be held for parents and community members at South High, 1436 Norfolk St.?

Bormann and Bullock said the show was planned in conjunction with Red Ribbon Week, a national campaign scheduled for Oct. 23-31 that encourages students to make healthy choices and abstain from drug and alcohol use.

Although Bormann and Bullock said Downers Grove has been "fortunate" not to have any major issues with drugs or severe bullying, both schools have been actively discussing ways to revamp prevention education in the community.

"We face the same challenges that most high schools face, but thankfully we don't have one over-arching concern," Bullock said. "I think we're concerned with the trends we're seeing across the nation, and want to find new ways to reach kids and improve the culture of both schools. It's all about teaching them to make positive, healthy choices."

On Oct. 16, teachers will integrate the lessons from "Stand Up!" into their Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports curriculum. Using the acronym "R.Ed.I," students will be tought to focus on four things: Recognize (who or what is pulling you down), Environment (surround yourself with positive people), Discuss (talk to someone you trust) and Involve (get involved in something new).

"Our hope is that the show will get students thinking, and will inspire them to make positive changes in their lives," Bullock said.

Bormann said the show also contains important messages for adults.

"Now more than ever, I think it's important for parents to see what types of issues their kids are facing, and how they might be able to help," she said.

For more on the event, visit www.csd99.org.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -?

There are plenty of ways to keep up on?Downers Grove?news:

From?Darien?or?Woodridge? We've got you covered:

Source: http://darien-il.patch.com/articles/district-99-musical-tackles-bullying-drug-abuse-as-part-of-red-ribbon-week

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How to Pick Penny Stocks that Pay | Penny Stocks

Posted on 08 October 2012. Tags: how to pick penny stocks

Learn How To Pick Penny Stocks

Learning how to pick penny stocks is not as complicated as many investors fear. The difference between a bad pick and a good pick boils down to the amount of research and support than an investor has available. While even a well planned buy can surprise a trader, the right research can greatly reduce the risks of day trading.

Many online brokers offer tips and tools that can make a big difference in your trading success. They can offer charts displaying historical information for different companies. It is also important to take current economic and political factors into account when planning a stock purchase. This kind of knowledge can help when learning how to pick penny stocks. For these reasons, it is useful to choose a reputable brokerage service when learning day trading.

How to Pick Penny Stocks for High Yields

Investors should look at companies that have a predictable history with dependable patterns. Traders should also consider factors, such as social, political, environmental, and economic current events that may have an impact on different industries. For example, it may be unwise to invest in a company that depends upon agricultural products, such as wheat, if there is a drought. Knowing how to pick penny stocks requires an evaluation of all related factors. It pays to think critically about what issues might impact the potential stock buy.

Choosing the right day trading broker will be the best tool for success for investors who are new to the world of day trading. Investors should include stocks from a variety of sources to create a balanced portfolio. Learning how to pick penny stocks can be intimidating, but there are great rewards to be reaped.

Stay up to date on how to pick penny stocks by getting on our FREE eMail list!

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2. Penny Stock Basics: How to Trade Penny Stocks Learn How to Trade Penny Stocks Penny stocks offer a...
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4. Learning Which Penny Stocks to Buy Learning About Which Penny Stocks To Buy If you want...
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8. Penny Stock Rumble can help you pick the right penny stocks. Penny stock rumble can be used to find the best...
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Source: http://www.stockrockandroll.com/hot-penny-stocks/how-to-pick-penny-stocks-that-pay/

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