Appiteks to Launch an App Business Academy

The creators of a newly released game app called Boomie vs Pirates say they’re all set to launch a program that shows people step-by-step how to start their own app business.

Edwardsville, IL (PRWEB) December 22, 2012
According to statistics released by Apple’s app store, since 2011, mobile app revenue has amounted to $8.5 billion, and the average IOS developer makes $7,629 per app, and representatives with an Illinois-based app development company say they’re all set to launch a program that shows ordinary people how to start their own app business.
"Appiteks is about to release Appiteks Academy,” said Chris Luck, founder and CEO of Appiteks. “We will be teaching people worldwide, how to build an app business from start to finish.”
Luck added that currently, there isn’t anything on the market that teaches average Joe’s how to build a successful app business from the ground up.
“It’s a 12-week program, which will be video tutorial driven, showing everything to do, step by step,” said Luck.
The chief executive officer stressed that with the success of its debut game, Boomie VS Pirates, he believes Appiteks is the perfect company to help others start their own app business.
“The secret to business success is getting into a business that has a high demand for years to come and is scalable,” Luck pointed out. “When you look at the numbers and trends as it relates to the demand for apps, starting an app business is a good idea, regardless of if the economy is good or bad.”
Luck noted that even if the US goes over the looming fiscal cliff, starting an app business is something that anyone can get into to place themselves in a recession-proof business.
“The one thing we’ve learned about the recession is that people still like to have fun and playing games or using apps definitely makes people’s lives much easier,” Luck said. “Anytime you’re in a business that provides fun, excitement, and also makes people’s daily lives easier, you have a winner on your hands. With an app business, all you really have to do is develop a good reputation for developing solid products and you’ll have a great business model that you can depend upon. Appiteks Academy will show you exactly how to do that and more.”

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New Detailed Review for the Shun DM0705 Classic 9-Inch Bread Knife Available at ConsumerPlanetWatch.org

Consumers who are interested in buying new cutlery should first read the review for the Shun DM0705 Classic 9-Inch Bread Knife. This knife is featured in a new review posted at ConsumerPlanetWatch.org.

(PRWEB) December 22, 2012
A lot of people are wondering whether the Shun DM0705 Classic 9-Inch Bread Knife is any good and they can find all of the juicy details at ConsumerPlanetWatch.org. The written review is comprehensive and offers lots of info about the product, allowing the consumer to make a firm decision on buying before trying. Most consumers blindly purchase products online only to learn that it is unsatisfactory.
The Shun DM0705 Classic 9-Inch Bread Knife is a tool that is used for cutting bread effortlessly. It makes slicing homemade bread and store bought bread a piece of cake. It comes with a special design that allows the user to cut even slices that are perfect to the eye. Shun is known for making high quality cutlery and this too is a must-have product for the kitchen. Professionals and kitchen dwellers can use this cutlery for holiday dinners and everyday cooking.
This knife isn’t only good with cutting bread, it can also be used to cut vegetables, even those as soft as tomatoes. Some even use it to slice pot roast and other tough foods. This handcrafted cutlery utensil was designed with VG-10 stainless steel. The blade has cobalt to make it strong and hard, and vanadium for unmatched edge retention. This is a traditional Japanese blade that comes with a contemporary design, giving the user age-old technology and a modern look. The blade has a nice wavy pattern that is Kasumi-style. It resembles the Damascus pattern commonly used for Shun knives. This design looks good, but is actually there to help the blade slide through food easily.
The Shun DM0705 is made with 32 layers of soft steel (SUS410/SUS431), which was done by grinding, folding, polishing and welding it – all by hand. The softer steel offers protection and stability for the stainless steel core. The handle of the knife is made with PakkaWood and has a D-shape for stability and grip. It also stabilizes the knife’s blade, which has a 16 degree angle for better precision and to prevent bruising or tearing food. This allows the food to remain fresh and flavorful. This knife is NSF-certified, which means that is it quality enough to be in professional kitchens. Although, there are home cooks who put this knife to use.

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Last Minute Holiday Gift-Givers can Benefit from Online Shopping as Late as Christmas Eve by Purchasing Electronic Gift Certificates

If last minute Christmas presents are needed for any men on the shopping list, online retailers such as Canadian Fendrihan.com can provide last minute gift-giving options with instant gift certificates.

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) December 22, 2012
An online gift certificate can be an answer where a gift was not selected in time for holiday shipping. Shopping and shipping deadlines need not apply as the certificate is delivered via email, and when the gift certificate arrives the recipient can make his own gift decision.
Shopping for Christmas gifts for men can be daunting, but when time is short it can be even more stressful. An online gift certificate solves both problems. "With free Christmas shipping extended into 2013 for Canadian purchases over $50 and U.S. purchases over $75, the man who received the last-minute gift certificate from an online store such as ours can browse many men's grooming and lifestyle offerings and receive significant savings on shipping for the new year", adds K. Estredo, Director of Marketing for Fendrihan.com.

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McClellan Davis, LLC, Sales and Use Tax Consultancy Announces Accreditation by the Sacramento Better Business Bureau

McClellan Davis LLC has announced that it recently became one of the few sales and use tax consulting firms to be accredited by the Sacramento Better Business Bureau (BBB). Headquartered in Sacramento, the firm offers a broad range of sales and use tax services to businesses operating in any state, including audit defense and management, research and compliance studies, refund claims, and reverse audits.

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) December 22, 2012
McClellan Davis LLC has announced that it recently became one of the few sales and use tax consulting firms to be accredited by the Sacramento Better Business Bureau (BBB). As a condition of its Better Business Bureau accreditation, McClellan Davis has agreed to adhere to the agency's 'Standards for Trust,' a comprehensive set of policies, procedures, and practices aimed at establishing trustworthiness in the marketplace. The standards include advertising honestly, maintaining truth and transparency in business relations, honoring promises, responding promptly, safeguarding privacy, and embodying integrity in general.
“Over the years, we’ve worked hard to maintain these standards as a foundation of our company policy,” says Dan Davis, a managing principal at McClellan Davis. “The standards reflect the integrity of all of us working at the firm. We’re proud to be recognized by an agency that shares our business philosophy.”
The two managing principals at McClellan Davis have a unique mix of training, experience, and professional accomplishments:
Dan Davis, MBA (Taxation), CPA, CFE, FCPA, has practiced in the tax field for over 35 years. His career began at the California State Board of Equalization, where he worked as a senior sales tax auditor, branch office supervisor, and district audit reviewer. In addition to many articles, Dan has written two books on multistate sales and use tax issues, which are published by CCH Inc. and updated annually.
Jesse W. McClellan, JD, is one of the few sales and use tax consultants who holds a law degree and also has worked as a state sales and use tax auditor. In addition to his many years of successful sales tax consulting and management experience, Jesse recently became licensed to practice law in the state of California.

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An Austin based Heating Repair Service Company gets a Super Service Award. Call today and schedule a Fall Check-up.

Autumn Heating & Cooling has just received the Angie’s List Super Service Award. This is a national honor recognizing excellence among service providers who maintain a superior service record. Less than 5% of thousands of business earn this prestigious award a year.

Austin,TX (PRWEB) December 22, 2012
One of the premier heating repair service providers based in Austin has created a great reputation among the home owners in the city as being one of the best heating repairs and installation services providers. Autumn Heating & Cooling is a certified heating company and is registered under the Texas Heating Licensing Board.
This heating repair company takes immense pride to be one of the few air conditioning and heating system repairs and installation service providers. The service team is highly educated technicians who are adept in dealing with all kinds of heating and cooling systems irrespective of their make and the model.
One of the main reasons why home owners in the Austin region prefer this company over other competitors in the industry to repair their home heaters is the affordable prices and quality of service provided. The customer’s complete value for their investment is important.
Apart from the affordable prices, there are other benefits that we offer to customers subscribing to our heating services, which are discussed below:

Do not take a single penny from its customers when services are not done. Customers are encouraged to call any time of the day for any queries related to services provided and the team of highly responsive executives will help give with the most satisfying answers.
The team of heating service technicians will attend to customers heating problems within 4 hours and get the heating system running fine. So no need to wait for days bearing the cold.
Unlike other Austin heating services, Autumn Heating & Cooling strives to be different, valuing each customer and ensuring that the customer get complete satisfaction through all heating repair services. Offers free estimates with no obligation for the customer to hire this heating services company.
The team of technicians is not only experts in repairing and installing heating systems but they are equally skilled in repairing air conditioning systems too.
Thus, owing to the customer friendly and comprehensive services offered by Autumn Heating & Cooling it is no wonder it is the most popular heating service provider in Austin.

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Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Announces an Award of $1.8 Million to OCHIN, Inc. to Study Methods for Parents and Clinics to Create Tools for Better Kids' Care

OCHIN's Project is Part of PCORI's Effort to Help Patients Make Better-Informed Health Decisions
PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- OCHIN Inc., a national non-profit health center controlled network (HCCN) in collaboration with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), has been approved for a research award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to study "Innovative Methods for Parents and Clinics to Create Tools (IMPACCT) for Kids' Care. The project is part of a portfolio of patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research that addresses PCORI's National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda.
Jenifer Devoe, M.D., DPhil, is a physician at OHSU's Gabriel Park Clinic, an associate professor in OHSU's Family Medicine Research Section and OCHIN's research director. Dr. Devoe is the principal investigator for OCHIN's research project that will focus on the creation of a partnership with community stakeholders to develop and assess computer/online tools designed to impact how clinics and families engage to improve children's health insurance coverage and receipt of recommended care. OCHIN's Practice Based Research Network (PBRN) includes 70 community based clinic networks and a subset of parents and providers from these clinics are anxious to get started with the study.
"Today marks a major milestone in our work as we build a portfolio of comparative clinical effectiveness research that will provide patients and those who care for them better information about the health care decisions they face," said PCORI Executive Director Joe Selby, M.D., M.P.H.  "These research projects reflect PCORI's patient-centered research agenda, emphasizing the inclusion of patients and caregivers at all stages of the research."
PCORI is committing $40.7 million in funding for a slate of 25 projects, which were approved by PCORI's Board of Governors following a competitive, multi-stage review process involving scientists, patients, caregivers and other stakeholders. Proposals were evaluated on the basis of scientific merit, engagement of patients and stakeholders, methodological rigor and fit within PCORI's National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda.
The awards were part of PCORI's first cycle of primary research funding and selected from among nearly 500 completed applications submitted earlier this year. All proposals were approved pending a business and programmatic review by PCORI staff and completion of a formal award contract.
"If computer tools built in this study are proven to work well, they will help clinics and families improve health insurance coverage and health care for children," DeVoe said. "This study will take place in a large network of community health centers, so we will be able to quickly spread the tools to more than 500,000 families in our network. We will build the tools in a way that they can be used by many other clinics with computer capabilities."
For more information about PCORI's Funding Announcements, visit www.pcori.org/funding-opportunities. For more information about OCHIN Research and OHSU visit www.ochin.org and www.ohsu.edu.
About PCORI
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent, non-profit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed health care decisions. PCORI is committed to continuously seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work. More information is available at www.pcori.org.
About OCHIN
OCHIN is a non-profit national leader in quality health information technology software and services focused on community health centers serving low-income individuals.  Its 70 member collaborative has over 400 individual clinics spanning 14 states. OCHIN is also, Oregon's Health Information Technology Extension Center (O-HITEC) designed to support providers as they transition into the world of Health IT. Currently, OCHIN supports over 4,500 individual medical providers. With a staff of predominately systems software and health care professionals, OCHIN provides high-quality software products and supportive services to health centers, critical access hospitals, and small private practices serving some of the most medically complex patients in their communities. For more information please see www.ochin.org.
About OHSU
Oregon Health & Science University is the state's only academic health and research university. As Portland's largest employer with approximately 14,000 employees, OHSU's size contributes to its ability to provide many services and community support not found anywhere else in the state. OHSU serves patients from every corner of Oregon and is a conduit for learning for more than 4,300 students and trainees. OHSU is the source of more than 200 community outreach programs that bring health and education services to each county in the state. www.ohsu.edu

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Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to Keynote High-speed Rail Workshop, Sunday, January 13, TRB Conference, Washington DC

FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo, other transportation leaders also will present.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will keynote "Economic and Social Impacts of High-Speed Rail Systems," a day-long workshop on the future of high-speed and intercity passenger rail. The event is Sunday, January 13, at the Transportation Research Board's (TRB) annual meeting in Washington, DC. The session opens at 9:00 a.m. with a presentation by Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. He will introduce Secretary LaHood for the keynote address.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100318/MTILOGO)
TRB's Intercity Passenger Rail Committee and the Mineta National Transit Research Consortium (MNTRC) are sponsoring the workshop, which will include six panel sessions featuring the world's top experts on high-speed and intercity passenger rail (HSIPR) systems.
The program will cover the current status of high-speed and intercity rail nationally and internationally; the variety of possible public and private funding sources; unique challenges and opportunities; design and operational integration; a discussion of the benefits; and the status of international programs. The goal is to focus attention on the evolving national network of HSIPR corridors, which include a variety of performance objectives, such as passenger trains traveling more than 200 miles per hour.
Speakers and moderators include Federal Railroad Administration Deputy Administrator Karen Hedlund; former Deputy Secretary of Transportation Mort Downey; TRB Intercity Passenger Rail Committee Chair David Simpson; APTA CEO Michael Melaniphy; MTI Executive Director Rod Diridon, Sr.; California High-Speed Rail Authority Board Chair Dan Richard and its CEO Jeff Morales; Capitol Corridor JPA Managing Director David Kutrosky; UIC Director General Jean-Pierre Loubinoux; Midwest HSR Association Chair Rick Harnish; Secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation Paula Hammond; Brazilian Enterprise for Planning and Logistics Director Hélio Mauro França; Simon Fraser University's Urban Studies Program Director Anthony Perl; and Spain's Fundación Caminos de Hierro Board Chair Eduardo Romo.
Also speaking will be former Council of Minority Transportation Officials Chair Paul Toliver; Mineta National Transportation Security Center Director Brian Michael Jenkins; Texas Central Railway Company President Robert Eckels; Infrastructure Management Group President Sasha Page; MTI Education Director Peter Haas, PhD; APTA High-Speed and Inter-City Rail Committee Secretary Peter Gertler; AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Ed Wytkind; Amtrak's Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Investment Development VP Stephen Gardner; the Skancke Company's President and CEO Tom Skancke; SNCF International Projects Transportation Planning Director Olivier Picq; Siemens High-Speed Rail Development Director Armin Kick; RATP America Senior Business Development Advisor Stan Feinsod; Amtrak NEC Infrastructure and Investment Development Vice-President Drew Galloway; Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority Executive Director Patricia Quinn; and Charles Quandel Associates President Charlie Quandel.
Of note is that three of the speakers were recently honored by the US High Speed Rail Association. Rod Diridon, recently elected chair of the Association, was given its Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to bringing high-speed rail to the US. CHSRA Board Chair Dan Richard was presented the Heroes of High Speed Rail Award for his major contributions bringing high-speed rail to America. Anthony Perl was presented the Transport Revolution Award as an advocate for sweeping change in American transportation.
Those wishing to attend the high-speed rail workshop who are not otherwise registered for the TRB Annual Meeting may do so upon payment of the "one day" TRB meeting registration fee. Registration details are available at www.trb.org/AnnualMeeting2013/AM2013Registration.aspx
ABOUT THE MINETA NATIONAL TRANSIT RESEARCH CONSORTIUM
The Mineta National Transit Research Consortium (MNTRC) conducts research, education, and information and technology transfer, focusing on transportation policy, technology, and management issues, especially as they relate to transit. MNTRC was established in 2011 as part of SAFETEA-LU legislation authorized by Congress. Six of the Consortium's nine university transportation centers were originally authorized under ISTEA in 1991, TEA-21 in 1998, and/or SAFETEA-LU in 2006. The MNTRC has been funded by Congress through the US Department of Transportation's (DOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), by individual state departments of transportation, and by other public and private grants and donations. The nine Consortium universities include Bowling Green, Detroit Mercy, Grand
Valley, Howard University, Penn State, Rutgers, San Jose State, University of Nevada Las Vegas, and University of Toledo. For information, go to transweb.sjsu.edu/mntrc.
ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD
The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and multimodal. TRB is one of six major divisions of the National Research Council, a private, nonprofit institution that is the principal operating agency of the National Academies in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The National Research Council is jointly administered by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. TRB's varied activities annually engage more than 7,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest by participating on TRB committees, panels, and task forces. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation. TRB is headquartered in Washington, DC. Visit trb.org.

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USO Wishbook Adds New Wounded Warrior Gifts Just In Time for Last Minute Holiday Giving

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This holiday season, "Sons of Anarchy" star Kim Coates is teaming up with the USO to tell Americans how they can give a gift that gives twice through the USO Wishbook, the alternative giving catalog designed to support our deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors and their families and families of the fallen.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59381-uso-wishbook-adds-new-wounded-warrior-gifts
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121220/MM29179 )
A USO tour veteran, Coates learned first-hand on his 2010 USO tour, with fellow cast members Theo Rossi, Mark Boone Junior and Dayton Callie, how tough deployments can be for our troops and their families.  His experience is one of the reasons he's once again decided to partner with the USO and help spread the word about USO Wishbook.
"On our USO tour, troops were always thanking us for visiting and telling us how much it meant to them to know that America hadn't forgotten about them and appreciated all of their hard work," said Coates.  "And when I heard about USO Wishbook and all the good it does for our men and women in uniform and their families, I knew I wanted to get involved. It's a great way for Americans to give our troops what they need most: support, comfort and appreciation. "
This year the USO Wishbook offers the opportunity to provide a wounded warrior with blankets and pillows to make his flight home from battle more comfortable or support a camp getaway for a military child with a fallen or wounded loved one. The "Flight Home Comfort Kit" and "Send a Military Child to Camp" are just two of new gifts the USO has added to its catalog at the request of U.S. troops.
"We often ask troops and families if the USO is doing a good job serving them and what programs and services we offer matter most," said USO SVP and Chief Development Officer Kelli Seely. "This year, for the first time, troops told us that taking care of their friends who are returning home with visible and invisible wounds of war and their families is most important. Just like we've increased our programs and services to address these special needs, we felt it was important to also increase the amount of USO Wishbook gifts that support our wounded, ill and injured troops."
The USO Wishbook is the most comprehensive alternative giving website that solely supports U.S. troops and their families. The site features dozens of virtual gift items that give twice. Consumers can purchase a tax deductible gift for a loved one and the money goes to support our brave men and women in the military.
With gifts to suit every budget, the USO Wishbook offers items priced from $15 up to $6,000 for extraordinary gifts, such as "Build a Bike for a Wounded Warrior."  For $25 or less, you can purchase a "Comfort Food Package" full of troops' favorite salty snacks and other comforts of home, a "Growing Up Kit for Kids" to help a military child cope with the stresses of military life, or "Phone Calls Home" to provide a service man or woman with an opportunity to stay connected to loved ones during deployment.
Visitors to usowishbook.org can easily browse gifts in three ways: by interest (deployed troops, military families or wounded warriors), by recipient (for him, for her, for kids, and for colleagues) and by price ranges.  USO Wishbook provides an affordable and easy way to give unique gifts and say thank you to the troops this holiday season.
How it works:
Log on to: usowishbook.org
Browse the catalog
Select and purchase a gift
Choose to send gift recipient an e-card informing them they have been honored with a USO gift
Receive your receipt for tax-deductible donation to the USO
About the USO
The USO (United Service Organization s ) lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors and their families and the families of the fallen.
The USO is a private, nonprofit organization, not a government agency. All of our programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.  In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President's Circle Partners: American Airlines, AT&T, Clear Channel, The Coca-Cola Company, jcpenney, Kangaroo Express, Kroger, Lowe's, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Procter & Gamble, and TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Worldwide Strategic Partners: BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation and TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG . We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381).  To join us in this patriotic mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org .

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Famous Cross-Country Ski Resort In Sierra Nevada Protected

TRUCKEE, Calif., Dec. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Conservation groups today announced the purchase and protection from development of the nation's largest cross-country ski area, the 3,000-acre Royal Gorge property on Donner Summit in the Sierra Nevada.
The Trust for Public Land and the Truckee Donner Land Trust, working as part of the Northern Sierra Partnership, raised $11.25 million, meeting a Dec. 20 deadline.  The total includes private donations along with public money.
The groups bought the property from Court-appointed Receiver Douglas P. Wilson, who took over the land after a failed development plan that would have built a 950-unit resort on the property.  More than 1,000 people donated to the five-month-long campaign.
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation will provide bridge funding through a program related investment to cover for the expected public funds until those funds are available over the next two years.  Overall, the three groups are trying to raise $15.5 million, which will include future improvements on the property.
"Saving Royal Gorge is a great example of our goal of protecting land for people," said Will Rogers, President of The Trust for Public Land.  "Families have been coming to Royal Gorge for many years and now those families can be assured that this wonderful place will still be there for future generations to enjoy."
Local residents at Serene Lakes and Sugar Bowl, both near Royal Gorge, provided most of the private money.  The Nature Conservancy, as well as Sierra Watch, also helped raise funds for the campaign.
"We couldn't have succeeded today without the astounding generosity of hundreds of people who dug deep into their pockets to make this conservation victory possible," said Lucy Blake, President of the Northern Sierra Partnership.
The Truckee Donner Land Trust will own the land and lease it during the winter to the nearby alpine Sugar Bowl resort to manage.
"It is not exaggerating to say this might be one of the most important conservation victories for the Sierra in a generation," said Perry Norris, Executive Director of the Truckee Donner Land Trust.  "This is a project that eliminates an enormous development threat, provides world-class recreation, and has fantastic and truly unique natural resources."
Royal Gorge is at Donner Pass, one of the West's best-known historic sites, chiefly because of the tragic story of the ill-fated Donner Party.  In 1869, the nation's first transcontinental railroad crossed the Sierra at Donner Summit, opening the region to travelers.  The Royal Gorge resort was opened in the 1960s by alpine skier John Slouber.  A number of famous winter athletes have trained there, including Glenn Jobe, Keterina Nash, and Marcus Nash.
"Our shared success on Donner Summit will go down as one of the great chapters in the proud history of conservation in California," said Tom Mooers, Executive Director of Sierra Watch, which organized opposition to the proposed subdivision and development of the property.  "Future generations will forever appreciate what we've done to prove, once again, that we can work together to protect the places we love."
The Palisades, Mountain Area Preservation, Sierra Business Council, North Fork American River Alliance, and Sierra Club also joined Sierra Watch in advocating for the conservation of Royal Gorge.
The Truckee Donner Land Trust preserves and protects scenic, historic and recreational lands with high natural resource values in the greater Truckee Donner region.  Visit www.tdlandtrust.org.
Founded in 1972, The Trust for Public Land is the leading nonprofit working to conserve land for people. Operating from more than 40 offices nationwide, The Trust for Public Land has protected more than three million acres from the inner city to the wilderness and helped generate more than $34 billion in public funds for conservation. Nearly ten million people live within a ten-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. Visit http://www.tpl.org.
The Northern Sierra Partnership is a collaborative initiative to conserve, restore, and enhance the magnificent natural landscape of the northern Sierra Nevada, and build the foundation for sustainable rural prosperity.  Visit www.northernsierrapartnership.org.
SOURCE The Trust For Public Land

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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for December 21

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110428/DC91889LOGO)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21: WINTER ARRIVES
Profile America — Friday, December 21st.  Winter arrived this morning at 6:12 a.m., Eastern Standard Time.  While some parts of the country already have a blanket of snow, others anxiously hope for a white Christmas.  Still others have unhappy memories of recent winters and hope this one turns out to be milder.  In the continental U.S., Rogers Pass, Montana holds the record low winter temperature at 70 below zero, followed by Peter's Sink, Utah, just one degree warmer.  The absolute lowest temperature ever recorded in the U.S. was at Prospect Creek, Alaska, an unbelievable 80 degrees below.  Making residential snow blowers is part of a home and garden equipment manufacturing business worth $8.2 billion a year.  Profile America is in its 16th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 597
               Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 391
               2007 Economic Census, NAICS 333112

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World Chefs: Keller shares memories, spotlight in latest book

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Thomas Keller, one of America's most respected chefs, shares the food memories of his childhood and his time in France in his new book "Bouchon Bakery," which is also the name of his chain of pastry shops in the United States.

Keller is the only American chef who owns two three-Michelin-star restaurants - Per Se in New York City and The French Laundry in the Napa Valley wine region in California.

Earlier this year, Britain's Restaurant Magazine named Per Se, which opened in 2004, the world's sixth best restaurant. Keller also earned the magazine's lifetime achievement award.

Like his four other books, his latest effort is a collaboration. He co-wrote it with his top pastry chefs Sebastien Rouxel and Matthew McDonald along with food writers Susie Heller, Michael Ruhlman and Amy Vogler.

The 57-year-old spoke to Reuters about the book, his pastry chefs and his place in the culinary world.

Q: Why did you collaborate with the leaders of your pastry team with this book?

A: "If you look at my other cookbooks, it's always been a point with me to share these opportunities with those who share their skills and expertise with the general public. That was the reason why I did the book. Sebastien is one of the best pastry chefs in America. His techniques are unparalleled. I'm not trying to pretend that I'm a pastry chef by writing a book about baking and pastries. Nor am I trying to be a bread baker. I have Matthew McDonald, who is one of the best bakers in America. To be able to highlight his skills in the bread section was very important as well."

Q: How did your time in France change your view about pastry and bread-making?

A: "When you are in France, especially in Paris, there were three or four boulangeries of different significance just on the block where I lived because they had pastry chefs with different levels of skills. You went to different ones for different things. To have a fresh baked baguette everyday was extraordinary. Anyone who lived in Paris for any length of time would say eating a fresh baguette is pretty special. Bread plays a real important part in the experience of the diners. To make sure we have the opportunity to significantly impact the experience by controlling the production and style of the bread was very important to me."

Q: Do you have a favorite dessert?

A: "It depends on the day ... There are so many things I love. I think anything that's done really, really well. For me, that's really something I really appreciate. I think one of the things that really resonate with the individual is that idea that eating, and eating through that experience, they have a memory. We are always trying to do something that's good. Why put something on the menu that's not very good?"

Q: The book emphasizes weighing ingredients over measuring with cups and spoons. Could that be difficult for home cooks?

A: "One of the things about pastry ... it's such an exact process. The most exact thing you practice is with weighing. There is an exactness to the execution, which gives you every opportunity to be successful."

Q: French Laundry and Per Se are among two of the best restaurants in the country. Bouchon Bakery is a success. What more would you like to accomplish in the culinary world?

A: "I have accomplished today everything I wanted to accomplish, more than I ever dreamed was possible. Right now, I'm just focused on the restaurants we have and the book I just wrote. Let me enjoy this moment before you ask me what I'll be doing tomorrow."

Pecan Sandies for my mom (Makes 1-1/2 dozen cookies)

1 ¾ cups + 1 ½ teaspoons all-purpose flour (250 grams)

¾ cup coarsely chopped pecans (80 grams)

4 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature (170 grams)

¾ cup + 1 ¾ teaspoons powdered sugar (90 grams)

Additional powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

1. Position the racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F (convection) or 350°F (standard). Line two sheet pans with Silpats or parchment paper.

2. Toss the flour and pecans together in a medium bowl.

3. Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on medium-low speed until smooth. Add the 90 grams/¾ cup plus 1¾ teaspoons powdered sugar and mix for about 2 minutes, until fluffy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed for about 30 seconds, until just combined. Scrape the bottom of the bowl to incorporate any dry ingredients that have settled there.

4. Divide the dough into 30-gram/1½-tablespoon portions, roll into balls, and arrange on the sheet pans, leaving about 1½ inches between them. Press the cookies into 2-inch disks.

5. Bake until pale golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes if using a convection oven, 22 to 25 minutes if using a standard oven, reversing the positions of the pans halfway through. (Sandies baked in a convection oven will not spread as much as those baked in a standard oven and will have a more even color.)

6. Set the pans on a cooling rack and cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer the cookies to the rack to cool completely. If desired, dust with powdered sugar.

Note: The cookies can be stored in a covered container for up to 3 days.

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Legendary Indian sitarist, composer Ravi Shankar dead at 92

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sitarist and composer Ravi Shankar, who helped introduce the sitar to the Western world through his collaborations with The Beatles, died in Southern California on Tuesday, his family said. He was 92.

Shankar, a three-time Grammy winner with legendary appearances at the 1967 Monterey Festival and at Woodstock, had been in fragile health for several years and last Thursday underwent surgery, his family said in a statement.

"Although it is a time for sorrow and sadness, it is also a time for all of us to give thanks and to be grateful that we were able to have him as a part of our lives," the family said. "He will live forever in our hearts and in his music."

In India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's office posted a Twitter message calling Shankar a "national treasure and global ambassador of India's cultural heritage."

"An era has passed away with ... Ravi Shankar. The nation joins me to pay tributes to his unsurpassable genius, his art and his humility," the Indian premier added.

Shankar had suffered from upper respiratory and heart issues over the past year and underwent heart-valve replacement surgery last week at a hospital in San Diego, south of Los Angeles.

The surgery was successful but he was unable to recover.

"Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the surgeons and doctors taking care of him, his body was not able to withstand the strain of the surgery. We were at his side when he passed away," his wife Sukanya and daughter Anoushka said.

Shankar lived in both India and the United States. He is also survived by his daughter, Grammy-winning singer Norah Jones, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Shankar performed his last concert with his daughter Anoushka on November 4 in Long Beach, California, the statement said. The night before he underwent surgery, he was nominated for a Grammy for his latest album "The Living Room Sessions, Part 1."

'NORWEGIAN WOOD' TO 'WEST MEETS EAST'

His family said that memorial plans will be announced at a later date and requested that donations be made to the Ravi Shankar Foundation.

Shankar is credited with popularizing Indian music through his work with violinist Yehudi Menuhin and The Beatles in the late 1960s, inspiring George Harrison to learn the sitar and the British band to record songs like "Norwegian Wood" (1965) and "Within You, Without You" (1967).

His friendship with Harrison led him to appearances at the Monterey and Woodstock pop festivals in the late 1960s, and the 1972 Concert for Bangladesh, becoming one of the first Indian musicians to become a household name in the West.

His influence in classical music, including on composer Philip Glass, was just as large. His work with Menuhin on their "West Meets East" albums in the 1960s and 1970s earned them a Grammy, and he wrote concertos for sitar and orchestra for both the London Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.

Shankar served as a member of the upper chamber of the Parliament of India, from 1986 to 1992, after being nominated by then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

A man of many talents, he also wrote the Oscar-nominated score for 1982 film "Gandhi," several books, and mounted theatrical productions.

He also built an ashram-style home and music center in India where students could live and learn, and later the Ravi Shankar Center in Delhi in 2001, which hosts an annual music festival.

Yet his first brush with the arts was through dance.

Born Robindra Shankar in 1920 in India's holiest city, Varanasi, he spent his first few years in relative poverty before his eldest brother took the family to Paris.

For about eight years, Shankar danced in his brother's Indian classical and folk dance troupe, which toured the world. But by the late 1930s he had turned his back on show business to learn the sitar and other classical Indian instruments.

Shankar earned multiple honors in his long career, including an Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Britain's Queen Elizabeth for services to music, the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, and the French Legion d'Honneur.

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Actor Depardieu's Belgium move "pathetic": French PM

PARIS (Reuters) - Actor Gerard Depardieu's decision to establish residency in Belgium, which does not have a wealth tax, by buying a house just over the border with France, is "pathetic" and unpatriotic, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Wednesday.

Depardieu has become the latest wealthy Frenchman after luxury magnate Bernard Arnault to look for shelter outside his native country following tax hikes by Socialist President Francois Hollande.

"Going just over the border, I find that fairly pathetic," Ayrault said on France 2 television. "Being a Frenchman means loving your country and helping it to get back on its feet."

The "Cyrano de Bergerac" star bought a house in the Belgian village of Nechin near the border with France, where 27 percent of the population is composed of French nationals, local mayor Daniel Senesael told French media on Sunday.

Depardieu also enquired about procedures for acquiring Belgian residency, he said.

Yann Galut, a Socialist member of parliament, condemned the actor and proposed that France copy U.S. practice by adopting a law that would force exiles to pay full tax dues or risk being stripped of their nationality.

"It is scandalous and shameful," Galut told Reuters in an interview.

"The country's in dire straits. This man owes everything he has to France - the accolades, the subsidies that helped produce his films, the schools where he was educated. At the end of a career that made him extremely rich he wants nothing to do with national solidarity."

Belgian residents do not pay wealth tax, which in France is now slapped on individuals with assets over 1.3 million euros ($1.70 million), nor do they pay capital gains tax on share sales. France has also imposed a 75-percent tax on incomes exceeding 1 million euros.

The tax hikes have been welcomed by left-wingers who say the rich must do more to help redress public finances but attacked by some wealthy personalities and foreign critics, who say it will increase tax flight and dampen investment.

Depardieu's move comes three months after Arnault, chief executive of luxury giant LVMH, caused an uproar by seeking to establish residency in Belgium - a move he said was not motivated by tax reasons.

The left-leaning Liberation daily reacted with a front-page headline next a photograph of Arnault telling him to "Get lost, you rich jerk", prompting luxury advertisers including LVMH to withdraw their advertisements.

Ayrault said he did not support the idea floated by Galut, and the call was also partially disowned by the leader of the Socialist group in the lower house of parliament.

"I'd rather appeal to people's intelligence, to their hearts," Ayrault said.

Undeterred, Galut said tax dodging may be costing the state as much as 6 to 8 billion euros ($7.8 to 10.4 billion) a year in lost income and that such amounts were "far from negligible" at a time when France is at pains to reduce a bloated debt.

"Everyone is being asked to chip in, private individuals and companies alike. It's inadmissible that people who made fortunes in France refuse to share their part of the burden," he said.

Galut said he was asked on Wednesday to set up a parliamentary panel that would look into the question of tax exiles, saying he would like to see action taken when parliament broaches a budget bill for 2014.

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Mick Jagger love letters fetch $300,000 at auction

LONDON (Reuters) - A collection of love letters written by Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger to American singer Marsha Hunt, believed to be the inspiration for the band's hit single "Brown Sugar", sold at Sotheby's on Wednesday for 187,250 pounds ($301,000).

The 10 letters, dating from the summer of 1969, had been expected to fetch 70-100,000 pounds, according to the auctioneer.

"The passage of time has given these letters a place in our cultural history," Hunt said after the London sale.

"1969 saw the ebbing of a crucial, revolutionary era, highly influenced by such artists as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Brown and Bob Dylan.

"Their inner thoughts should not be the property of only their families, but the public at large, to reveal who these influential artists were - not as commercial images, but their private selves."

Hunt, with whom Jagger had his first child, Karis, told Britain's Guardian newspaper last month that she was selling the letters, written in July and August 1969, because she had been unable to pay her bills.

"I'm broke," Hunt, who lives in France, told the newspaper.

Jagger wrote them to Hunt while filming the Tony Richardson movie "Ned Kelly" in Australia.

They showed a sensitive side of the then-young singer, who wrote about the poetry of Emily Dickinson, meeting author Christopher Isherwood and an unrealized multimedia project.

Jagger's relationship with Hunt, who is African-American, was kept under wraps until 1972.

Hunt has said she was the inspiration for Brown Sugar, which Jagger wrote while in Australia.

The rock star also cites in the letters the disintegration of his relationship with singer Marianne Faithfull, whom he was also dating at the time, and the death of Rolling Stones' guitarist Brian Jones.

There has been a surge in interest in the rock band this year, as Jagger and his three surviving bandmates celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stones with a series of concerts, a photo book and a greatest hits album.

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Actor Depardieu hits back at French PM over tax exile

PARIS (Reuters) - Actor Gerard Depardieu, accused by French government leaders of trying to dodge taxes by buying a house over the border in Belgium, retorted that he was leaving because "success" was now being punished in his homeland.

A popular and colourful figure in France, the 63-year-old Depardieu is the latest wealthy Frenchman to seek shelter outside his native country after tax increases by Socialist President Francois Hollande.

Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault described Depardieu's behavior as "pathetic" and unpatriotic at a time when the French are being asked to pay higher taxes to reduce a bloated national debt.

"Pathetic, you said pathetic? How pathetic is that?" Depardieu said in a letter distributed to the media.

"I am leaving because you believe that success, creation, talent, anything different must be sanctioned," he said.

An angry member of parliament has proposed that France adopt a U.S.-inspired law that would force Depardieu or anyone trying to escape full tax dues to forego their nationality.

The "Cyrano de Bergerac" star recently bought a house in Nechin, a Belgian village a short walk from the border with France, where 27 percent of residents are French nationals, and put up his sumptuous Parisian home up for sale.

Depardieu, who has also inquired about procedures for acquiring Belgian residency, said he was handing in his passport and social security card.

Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti said she was outraged by Depardieu's letter, adding that he had for years been supported financially by public money for the film industry.

"When we abandon the ship and desert in the middle of an economic war, you don't then come back and give morality lessons," she told BFM-TV. "One can only regret that Gerard Depardieu doesn't make a comeback in silent movies."

He said he had paid 145 million euros ($190.08 million) in taxes since beginning work as a printer at the age of 14.

"People more illustrious than me have gone into (tax) exile. Of all those that have left none have been insulted as I have."

The actor's move comes three months after Bernard Arnault, chief executive of luxury giant LVMH and France's richest man, caused an uproar by seeking to establish residency in Belgium - a move he said was not for tax reasons.

Belgian residents do not pay wealth tax, which in France is now levied on those with assets over 1.3 million euros ($1.7 million). Nor do they pay capital gains tax on share sales.

"We no longer have the same homeland," Depardieu said. "I sadly no longer have a reason to stay here. I'll continue to love the French and this public that I have shared so much emotion with."

Hollande is pressing ahead too with plans to impose a 75-percent supertax on income over 1 million euros.

"Who are you to judge me, I ask you Mr. Ayrault, prime minister of Mr. Hollande? Despite my excesses, my appetite and my love of life, I remain a free man."

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