Friday, November 30, 2012

Top Search Engine PPC Platforms - Online Media Magic

The most popular search engine PPC program is Google AdWords which reaches over 10 billion web pages and 100 different language versions. The benefits of using Google are its inexpensive start-up cost ($5 dollars) and the amount of traffic you will get, which is far more than that of any of the other search engines. Google also provides you with its Google Analytics program, which helps you with what keywords you should be targeting in your PPC ads, a website optimizer, which allows you to test different variations of your web pages to see which convert better, and step-by-step tutorials that take you through the whole process of setting up a Google Adwords campaign. Most experts agree that it is a good idea to start out with Google Adwords, because of the low start-up fee and the heavy traffic. Although it is expensive for competitive terms, you can still get away with not bidding too much on the less competitive longer-tailed keywords. According to thesearchguru blog, on the Internet, organic search drives 75%+ of all search traffic and papy per click receives less than 25% of all search traffic; yet pay per click earns 80%+ of search engine marketing campaign budgets.

The Yahoo Search Marketing search engine PPC platform was first named as GoTo, then changed to Overture, and finally ended up as what we know it today: Yahoo Search Marketing. Yahoo charges a $30 start-up fee, but then offers you $25 of free ads. Yahoo focuses on sponsored Search and reaches over 80% of active Internet users. You can also reach your market through online publishers, newsletters and emails. Instead of your ad appearing only in search rankings, it will also show up next to content like articles and product reviews that are related to your business. You can also reach a local audience by targeting ads specifically for your geographical area. Yahoo also offers certain upgrades like the Search Optimizer, which can automatically manage your keyword bids, and the Marketing Console, which tracks how effective your online campaigns are. Each of these are available for a monthly fee. Free tools include: the Keyword Selector Tool and the View Bids Tool, as well as a PPC ROI calculator and CPM ROI Calculator.

Microsoft adCenter (Bing) is relatively new in the big names of search engine PPC. Yet, it is very popular since it offers a large range of features: costs only $5 to sign up,targeted towards a buying market where the competition is not as high as Google and Yahoo, and so the amount you pay per click is lower. You can take advantage of the keyword research tool, which gives you the past month?s searches for your keyword, other relevant keywords, and the present month?s traffic for those keywords. The tool also shows trends for each keyword.

It is generally recommended that, if you are new to PPC, you start with just one search engine (preferably Google Adwords), learn how that works, and then move on to others if you feel that it might be worth a try. In recent studies done by payperclickuniverse, there are over 500 PPC search engines operating at this time, (Google Adwords, Microsoft Adcenter, and Yahoo) are the most popular that produce over 85% of all the Pay Per Click searches.

Search Engine Optimization Services

Source: http://www.onlinemediamagic.com/blog/1976/top-search-engine-ppc-platforms/

kansas vs kentucky joe posnanski michael kidd gilchrist national championship calipari national archives brock lesnar

Libraries Make a Great Addition to any Home - Idaho Real Estate

There are always fresh and interesting ideas when thinking of new homes to build or redecorating a current home. There are decisions to be made about how to use current space, space in a new home, or what rooms to make sure are built into a home. Why not consider adding a library? Libraries can serve a variety of purposes and add a feeling of warmth to a house. Whether you are looking to create a friendlier location to get work done at home, or a space where you can kick back and relax, a library may be the right thing for you.?

Uses For a Home Library

Something to keep in mind is that libraries are not just for reading. When contemplating new homes to build, and wondering if a library should be a part of the project, think of the possibilities for the space. With the addition of a desk and comfortable seating, a library can also serve as a home office. If it can be avoided, a library should not be the room where a television is placed. Televisions can be a distraction from a space that can be used as a place for relaxation and meditation.

Creative Spaces For Books to Live

If you are not looking for new homes to build, something to consider would be using your current space creatively to create a library area. Often, the space under a staircase is completely wasted, however, with some well placed shelving, that area can be used to house an entire collection of books. On a similar note, many rooms have unused nooks and corners that would be a great place to put some bookshelves and maybe a chair or two. For instance, many homes have formal dining areas with long walls where shelving would work well. There is also often space in bedrooms and living rooms for bookshelves, and maybe a small desk. Not only will this create a small library space, but books can be visually interesting as decorations in these rooms.

Creating a High End Home Library

If you are wanting a high end library look in either a situation where you are looking at new homes to build or in an existing space, there are a few things you can do to get that luxurious feel. To start with, use dark, rich wood and stain. Adding a fireplace with cozy seating around it helps warm up the space both visually and physically. Chandeliers hanging from the center of the room create ambiance, as do large, wing back chairs. An oversized desk in the center of the room with high back chairs will make the library seem like a formal meeting space, whereas a smaller writing desk alludes to a more private, quaint work area. Any of these ideas combined together will make a library feel well put together, thought out, and incredibly lush.

Home libraries are an interesting thing to add when thinking about ways to change a current home, how to use the space in a new home, or considering new homes to build. They add character and functionality to any home, and are something to keep in mind. If you are looking for a home with a great space to create a library of your own, give one of our agents a call today!

Source: http://www.buyidahorealestate.com/blog/libraries-make-a-great-addition-to-any-home.html

bloom box fat tuesday obama sweet home chicago accenture match play george washington carver king cake mardi gras

Stocks gain on hopes for a deal to avoid 'cliff'

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2012, file photo, James Dresch of MND Partners Inc. works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York. Stocks declined for a third day on Wall Street Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, as investors waited for signs of progress on the "fiscal cliff." (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2012, file photo, James Dresch of MND Partners Inc. works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York. Stocks declined for a third day on Wall Street Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, as investors waited for signs of progress on the "fiscal cliff." (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams, File)

(AP) ? Stocks gained on signs that lawmakers are edging toward a deal that would help the U.S. avoid the "fiscal cliff."

Indexes shrugged off an early loss and rose in afternoon trading Wednesday. The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 106.98 points at 12,985.11. It had been down as much as 112 points in early trading.

The Standard and Poor's 500 was up 10.99 points at 1,409.93. The Nasdaq composite rose 23.99 points to at 2,991.78.

Huge tax increases and spending cuts will come into effect Jan. 1 if no deal on the U.S. budget is reached. Economists say the measures could push the country back into recession. President Barack Obama said he believed both parties can reach a "framework" on a debt-cutting deal before Christmas, while House Speaker John Boehner told reporters that he was optimistic a deal could be reached, according news outlets including CNBC.

Craig Johnson, a Minneapolis, Minn.-based technical market strategist at Piper Jaffray, said lawmakers realize that there is too much at stake to allow the deadline to pass.

"I don't think that anybody in Washington is going to do something so draconian, or so negative, that we're going to trigger a recession," Johnson said. "There will be some compromise."

Concern that the U.S. will go over the fiscal "cliff" has weighed on stocks since the Nov. 6 elections returned a divided government to power, with President Barack Obama staying in the White House and Republicans retaining control of the House.

Uncertainty about a possible increase in capital gains taxes has been prompting investors to sell stocks, said Johnson.

As the third-quarter corporate earnings period draws to a close, investors and traders have become increasingly fixated on the negotiations to cut the budget deficit. Before Wednesday's gain, the market slumped Tuesday after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he was frustrated by the lack of progress in talks. The two moves canceled each other out, leaving both the Dow and the S&P 500 little changed for the week.

"We're all on pins and needles waiting for every bit of news, or rumors, coming out of Washington," said Ryan Detrick, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based technical analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research. "That's what Wall Street is focused on. Everybody is watching the fiscal cliff."

Many companies are making special end-of-year dividend payments or moving up their quarterly payouts because investors will have to pay higher taxes on dividend income starting in 2013, unless lawmakers reach a compromise on taxes and government spending.

Costco, the wholesale club operator, surged $6.07 to $102.58 after the company said it would pay a special dividend of $7 a share next month, in addition to its regular quarterly dividend. Las Vegas Sands Corp. rose 5.3 percent Tuesday after the casino operator said it would distribute about $2.26 billion to shareholders before the end of the year. It rose another 1.3 percent Wednesday, gaining 60 cents to $49.96.

With the market's attention focused on the outcome of the "cliff" negotiations, some investors caution that the weakness in third-quarter corporate earnings bode poorly for the stock market.

"Think of corporate earnings as the canary in the coal mine," said Douglas Cote, chief market strategist at ING U.S. Investment Management. "Corporations are the first ones to signal that there is something going on with economic growth around the world."

Company earnings fell 0.9 percent in the third quarter, data provider FactSet said in a report Nov. 23. If they earning finish the period lower, it would mark the first decline in three years.

In economic news, U.S. sales of new homes dipped 0.3 percent in October, though they're up 20.4 percent for the year, according to a government report. Stable home prices suggest the housing market is steadily recovering.

A pickup in consumer spending and steady home sales helped lift economic growth in October and early November in most parts of the United States, the Federal Reserve said in its Beige Book survey released Wednesday. The one exception was the Northeast, which was slowed by Superstorm Sandy.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.63 percent from 1.64 percent.

Among stocks making big moves:

? Green Mountain Coffee Roasters surged $7.91, or 27.3 percent, to $36.86 after the beleaguered coffee company reported strong fourth-quarter results and issued earnings and revenue forecasts that far exceeded the market's expectations.

?Fresh Market Inc. plunged $7.46, or 12 percent, to $52.78, after the company's fiscal third-quarter profit fell short of analysts' expectations.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-11-28-Wall%20Street/id-757c24ede0b0414fa53eb002431b6412

axl rose google earnings pat burrell hilary rosen grilled cheese allen west north korea missile

Washington Post: Obama May Lose 'Good Will' of Republicans if He Nominates Rice (Little green footballs)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/267266222?client_source=feed&format=rss

bent new york jets etch a sketch romney sean payton saints bounty program toulouse france ny jets

Thursday, November 29, 2012

London?s Onefinestay Nabs Plum District VP Jackson Hull: File It Under ?Silicon Valley Comes To London For The Realism?

Screen Shot 2012-11-29 at 16.51.08London-based 'unhotel' startup, onefinestay, has bagged a West Coast exec as its CTO, convincing him and his family to relocate all the way from the Valley to rainy old London. Jackson Hull, the CTO in question, has clocked up 15 years' tech industry experience. Most recently he was leading the engineering and product teams at San Francisco-headquartered Plum District.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/wSFz8eYCG8s/

sound of music mickelson how to tie a tie sweet potato recipes the sound of music celebration church new york auto show 2012

Health Fitness House: Pain Management New Risks in Common ...

People always take pain and pain medication for granted. Usually, they seek pain management treatment only when the pain grows worse or becomes intolerable and only when pain killers cant seem to give them relief anymore. But before that much-avoided visit to the doctor, how do people handle or manage pain on their own?
Most of them take over-the-counter pain medication which is, of course, fine when it comes to treating occasional bouts of pain from ordinary and common known causes. When it comes to chronic pain or pain that keeps on recurring for weeks, months or years, some people attempt to play doctor by giving themselves pain medication in doses according to their own liking. This is extremely dangerous and harmful to the body due to the many side effects that are associated with prolonged use and large doses of over-the-counter pain killers.
http://www.healthfitnesshouse.com/pain-management-new-risks-in-common-pain-killers/

Source: http://healthfitnesshouse.blogspot.com/2012/11/pain-management-new-risks-in-common.html

sweet potato pie sweet potato pie green bean casserole recipe Kmart Black Friday PlanetSide 2 Alexis DeJoria danica patrick

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://lakaketasuge.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/health-fitness-house-pain-management-new-risks-in-common/

camille grammer us supreme court breaking dawn part 2 trailer mississippi state chris carpenter chris carpenter dick cheney

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson Get Wet On 'Catching Fire' Set

The 'Hunger Games' stars were spotted in Hawaii to film scenes for the November 2013 release.
By Jocelyn Vena


Jennifer Lawrence on the set of "Catching Fire" on Monday
Photo: Fame FlyNet

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1697969/jennifer-lawrence-josh-hutcherson-catching-fire-set-photos.jhtml

thursday night football At&t Wireless 9/11 Jerry Lawler andy murray godaddy linkedin

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Woman on trial in killing of Fla. lottery winner

Defendant Dorice "Dee Dee" Moore arrives in court at the Hillsborough County Courthouse for the opening statements in her case Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012 in Tampa, Fla. Moore is charged with the murder of Florida Lottery winner Abraham Shakespeare. (AP Photo/The Tampa Tribune, Jay Conner, Pool)

Defendant Dorice "Dee Dee" Moore arrives in court at the Hillsborough County Courthouse for the opening statements in her case Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012 in Tampa, Fla. Moore is charged with the murder of Florida Lottery winner Abraham Shakespeare. (AP Photo/The Tampa Tribune, Jay Conner, Pool)

(AP) ? Abraham Shakespeare could barely read, wrote his name in block letters and had given away most of his $17 million in lottery winnings when he became friends with Dorice "Dee Dee" Moore, a calculating woman who later became his financial adviser, prosecutors said Wednesday.

During opening statements in Moore's first-degree murder trial in Tampa, assistant state attorney Jay Pruner said Moore swindled what was left of Shakespeare's winnings from his bank account in 2009, then killed him and buried his body under a concrete slab in her backyard.

Pruner said when Shakespeare won the lottery, his life "drastically and dramatically changed" ? and that the money caused all sorts of problems, eventually leading to his death. One detective testified that Moore told him that Shakespeare was tired of people asking him for money.

Moore, 40, wore a yellow button-down blouse and black pants to court, and her long, curly hair framed her face as she highlighted notes with a yellow marker during Wednesday's trial.

Her attorney, Byron Hileman, said there is no evidence that ties his client to the gun used to shoot Shakespeare.

"There are no eyewitnesses who can testify that Ms. Moore shot and killed Mr. Shakespeare or was present when he was shot and killed or had any part carrying out his murder," Hileman said, adding that the evidence against Moore is mostly circumstantial.

Later in the day, witnesses included two investigators from the county medical examiner's office and a sheriff's detective.

Dr. Dollette White, the assistant medical examiner that worked on Shakespeare's autopsy, said his body was "mummified" and partially skeletonized. She said his body had been underground for a few months, but it was difficult to pinpoint exactly how long based on decomposition.

White also said that two bullets were recovered from Shakespeare's body, both lodged near his spine and heart. X-rays of Shakespeare's chest were shown to the jury.

Both attorneys agreed on one thing: that by the time Shakespeare and Moore met, the man had already spent or given away most of his lottery winnings. Friends and acquaintances owed him millions of dollars, the lawyers said, and Pruner called him a "soft touch."

Moore befriended Shakespeare in late 2008, claiming she was writing a book "about how people were taking advantage of him," said Pruner.

Prosecutors said Moore became his financial adviser, eventually controlling every asset he had left, including an expensive home, the debt owed to him and a $1.5 million annuity. Pruner said that during the trial, he will prove that Moore shifted money from Shakespeare's bank accounts to her own, and that she formed a company in his name ? yet didn't allow him to withdraw money from the bank account attached to that company.

In April 2009, Shakespeare disappeared. Pruner said he was shot, killed and buried under a 30-by-30-foot concrete slab in the back of Moore's home.

Family didn't report him missing for seven months. During that time, Pruner said Moore simultaneously lied to Shakespeare's friends and family about seeing him around town while trying to pay others to say they had spotted him.

Pruner said she enlisted one of Shakespeare's friends, Greg Smith, to deliver a typed letter to Shakespeare's mother, ostensibly from Shakespeare ? even though he was barely literate.

Smith is expected to take the witness stand because he became a confidential informant and recorded numerous conversations and meetings with Moore ? who told police various stories about her relationship with Shakespeare and his disappearance.

In January 2010, investigators searched Moore's property and found Shakespeare's body.

Moore's attorney acknowledged that "we certainly would agree that Ms. Moore had some knowledge that something happened," and told a story about a meeting involving Shakespeare and a couple of guys at Moore's home.

"The fact is that something happened," said Hileman. "Ms. Moore may have suspected something happened but she was not an eyewitness to details."

The trial is expected to last two weeks.

____

Follow Tamara Lush on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tamaralush

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-11-28-Lottery%20Winner%20Death/id-ef11e3d9e1e64380a41ab2fef7574018

Hunter Pence NBCOlympics Danell Leyva Ye Shiwen OJ Murdock Olympics Live Mens Gymnastics

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Taliban attack against Pakistani Shiites kills six, injures 90

The Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack that targeted a procession of Muslim Shiites observing a religious holiday. Since Wednesday, at least 31 Pakistanis have died in attacks claimed by the Taliban.

By Associated Press / November 25, 2012

Shiite Muslim people take part in a religious procession during an Ashura ceremony to mark the death of Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad in Quetta November 25. An attack by the Taliban killed six people in the procession.

Naseer Ahmed/Reuters

Enlarge

Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan

A bombing claimed by the Taliban killed at least six people and wounded some 90 others at a Shiite religious procession in northwestern?Pakistan?on Sunday, police said, as the minority Muslim sect observes the annual Ashoura holiday.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Since Wednesday, at least 31 have been killed in bombings aimed at Pakistani Shiites and claimed by the Taliban, who espouse an extremist interpretation of Sunni Islam. Over 100 were wounded in the attacks during the run-up to the holiday, which commemorates the 7th century death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. The schism between Sunnis and Shiites dates back to that time.

Sunday's explosion went off as hundreds of Shiites were passing through the main intersection of the city of Dera Ismail Khan, police said, where food and water stalls were set up to serve the crowd. An initial investigation suggested a bomb was planted near a shop along the procession route.

"The bomb contained about eight kilograms of explosives and steel balls, and was detonated with a remote control device," city police chief Sohail Khalid said.

Several of injured are in serious condition, said Dr. Faridullah Mahsud, an official at the city's hospital, who added that three members of a paramilitary unit providing security for the procession were among the injured. Dr. Khalid Aziz, the top official at the hospital, put the death toll at six.

The Pakistani Taliban frequently attack Shiites, who they consider heretics. Ashoura ceremonies are a prime targets, since they draw large crowds that march in processions to mourn the martyred Imam Hussein. Early in the day, participants beat their chests in grief over Hussein's killing, while later some cut themselves to express their sorrow in blood.

Qais Abbas, a Shiite survivor, said that one of his relatives was in critical condition, but that he and others were moving the wounded to other hospitals that were better equipped.

"Here we are not getting proper care for them, there are not enough doctors or medicines," he said.

After the blast, thousands of Shiite mourners staged a sit-in at a nearby intersection, refusing to move unless assured quick and stern action against the perpetrators. The procession has now been attacked for a second consecutive day.

A similar bombing killed seven and injured 30 from the group a day earlier, and last week attacks on Ashoura observers took place elsewhere in the country. On Wednesday night, a Taliban suicide bomber struck a Shiite procession in Rawalpindi, a garrison city near the capital, Islamabad, killing 17. Earlier that same day, the Taliban set off two bombs outside a Shiite mosque in the southern city of Karachi, killing one person and wounding 15 others. Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for all the attacks, with spokesman Ehasanullah Ehsan saying by telephone on Sunday that the group will not relent and "looks forward to more ahead."

Authorities have deployed thousands of additional police across the country to beef up security for the holy day. Mobile phone service has been shut down in all the major cities to prevent such bombings, which officials say often use cellular phones as remote detonators.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/EvQQ2I-zFzY/Taliban-attack-against-Pakistani-Shiites-kills-six-injures-90

dionne warwick patricia heaton arsenic and old lace leslie varez ward solar storms uganda

Getting Started in Your Own Home Business | Spot The Fox

Home Business Getting Started in Your Own Home BusinessIt seems just about everyone wants to go on the Internet these days, and make money online for themselves. This is certainly a good time to get into a work at home business, and many are showing a profit for their work. With the ease that one can be started today, is it not about the time you earned a little extra money through Internet marketing. This article will show you a few ways to get started.

Your Options

Probably the easiest way to get started in Internet marketing is to go with some of the affiliate programs. These programs are completely designed to give you just about everything that you need in order to successfully advertise, market and sell the product. All you need to do is scope out the possibilities, choose and sign up with a company, and go to work promoting the webpage.

In some cases, you do not even need to have your own website. Although you may do a little better if you do have one. The products available include everything you could want to sell from vitamins, luggage, travel tickets, books, etc. Anything you could possibly think about is available through affiliate programs.

Another Possibility

Selling information is a very hot item these days. Ebooks are actually about the hottest item on the Internet. You could start by marketing various eBooks through your home business, or try writing your own. Which is probably the best way to go, because all the profit then belongs to you.

Companies such as Clickbank have literally thousands of eBooks, including some of the latest, and it is free to join. This will give you access to the types of eBooks you want to market. Another idea would be to packet out of date books, and put them on the market as repackaged special eBook. Just make sure that they are truly in the public domain, first.

A Note for Your Consideration

While you are looking at the possibilities of a home business, perhaps you need to consider multiple streams of income. This should be your goal, along with residual income. The basic idea here is to find a product or service that brings in a recurring payment, such as an ISP or membership site.

Here is something that everybody needs. It does not take that much work to get going, but lays a foundation for you by potentially running itself after you get it going.

Source: http://www.spotthefox.com/business/started-home-business/111286

stacy keibler stacy keibler all star game oscar red carpet daytona 500 start time ryan zimmerman oscars red carpet

Kaepernick starts, leads 49ers past Saints

2nd-year QB throws for 231 yards and TD, and SF defense scores twice in? New Orleans

Image: Frank Gore, Colin KaepernickGetty Images

Frank Gore (21) celebrates with Colin Kaepernick?after the running back scored a touchdown.

updated 9:27 p.m. ET Nov. 25, 2012

NEW ORLEANS - Ahmad Brooks, Donte Whitner and the rest of the San Francisco defense made enough plays for the 49ers to win no matter who they started at quarterback.

Brooks and Whitner returned interceptions for touchdowns, the 49ers sacked Drew Brees five times, and San Francisco ended the New Orleans Saints' three-game winning streak, 31-21 on Sunday.

Colin Kaepernick was solid in his second career start while Alex Smith, deemed healthy enough to suit up after recovering from a concussion, watched from the sideline. Kaepernick passed for 231 yards, including a short touchdown to Frank Gore. He also ran for a 7-yard score. He threw his first career interception, but it was inconsequential.

Brees finished with 267 yards and three TDs. After rushing for 140 yards or more in each of its previous three games, New Orleans (5-6) managed only 59 yards against San Francisco (8-2-1).

One of Brees' scoring passes went to Marques Colston, who set a Saints record with his 56th career touchdown with the club.

The Niners gained 144 yards on the ground, led by Gore with 83. The Saints shut down tight end Vernon Davis, the player they feared perhaps the most, but the Niners' other tight end, Delanie Walker, had three catches for 81 yards, including one for 45 yards to set up a touchdown.

San Francisco's interceptions turned a 14-7 deficit into a 28-14 lead.

Brooks snagged the first, returning it 50 yards late in the first half. The second came on Brees' first pass of the second half. The ball deflected off Colston's hands as the leaping receiver was upended and briefly shaken up. Whitner snagged the deflected pass and returned it 42 yards to make it 28-14

Since losing to the New York Giants on Oct. 14, the Niners are 5-0-1 and now hold a 2 1/2-game lead in the NFC West with five games to go.

It seems their biggest problem at this point is deciding who should be their No. 1 QB. Smith, who led the Niners to the NFC title game last season, started the first nine games this season before his injury.

The Saints, meanwhile, missed a chance to pull into a tie for the last NFC wild card berth, and remain a game out with another tough game coming up at Atlanta on Thursday night.

Kaepernick used the running ability that served him so well in college at Nevada to give the Niners the early lead, scoring on a read-option run that fooled the Saints defense as well as the Superdome crowd, which erupted, initially believing the play had been snuffed out, while Kaepernick scampered to his left and scored easily.

The drive was highlighted by Mario Manningham's 40-yard gain after Kaepernick found him wide open on a short crossing route.

Then, New Orleans' offense, which could not muster a first down on its first two drives, suddenly ignited, marching 79 yards in 10 plays - highlighted by Joe Morgan's diving 33-yard catch - to tie it on tight end David Thomas' 6-yard catch.

San Francisco entered the game allowing a league-low 13.4 points per game. The Saints surpassed that in the second quarter when Brees hit Colston to make it 14-7 and capitalize on Ted Ginn Jr.'s fumbled punt, which Rafael Bush had recovered on the 49ers 10.

New Orleans looking intent on going up by two scores after Kaepernick's first career interception on an underthrown pass that cornerback Patrick Robinson easily caught. But the crowd has hardly finished celebrating when Brooks stepped in front of Brees' pass for Jimmy Graham and returned it 50 yards to tie it at 14 shortly before halftime.

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


advertisement

More newsGetty Images
Cutler returns with roar for Bears

Jay Cutler threw for 188 yards and a touchdown after missing a game because of a concussion, and the Chicago Bears broke it open early in a 28-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Getty Images
Kaepernick starts, leads 49ers past Saints

Ahmad Brooks and Donte Whitner returned interceptions for touchdowns, the 49ers sacked Drew Brees five times, and San Francisco ended the New Orleans Saints' three-game winning streak, 31-21 on Sunday.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49959233/ns/sports-nfl/

grammy winners obama budget woolly mammoth belize resorts nikki minaj grammy performance shel silverstein niki minaj grammy performance

Monday, November 26, 2012

Study Finds Similar Structures In the Universe, Internet, and Brain

It turns on the definition of complexity itself, which is not so straightforward as one might imagine [wikipedia.org]. One of the keys to many definitions of complexity lies not in the number of different parts, but in the non-trivial and adaptive ways those parts interact. Yes, there may be humans in this galaxy, but the relationships between those humans have no effect on the galaxy, qua galaxy. In other words, the interactions that occur on a galactic level produce no appreciable feedback in the system as a whole from human beings. Yet it is feedback and adaptation that occurs in complex systems that make them complex. As a complex system, therefore, the galaxy is not concerned with the presence of humans.

The same cannot be said of the relationship between neurons as a system and the brain as a system. As the article says, each neuron has its own level of complexity and this is in turn connected to the larger system of the brain, itself having billions of adaptive connections. Yet what is missing, but I think implied, is that the complexity within each neuron is non-trivial to the interactions between neurons.

Also, I wouldn't think less of a man who very occasionally indulges in hyperbolic excess. This does not make him stupid, only a lively writer.

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/aP6B_OL4o68/story01.htm

raffi torres michael mcdonald jon jones vs rashad evans earth day 2012 jon jones rashad evans ufc jones vs evans watergate

National Adoption Day | Generation J.D.

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://thedailyrecord.com/generationjd/2012/11/25/national-adoption-day/

ellen degeneres tomb of the unknown soldier tomb of the unknown soldier HMS Bounty dominion power nbc news Heather Clem

UN to launch new round of talks on global warming

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2012 file photo, conference flags are displayed ahead of the Doha Climate Change Conference, in Doha, Qatar. As nearly 200 countries meet in oil-and-gas rich Qatar for annual talks on curbing climate change, one of the main challenges will be raising hundreds of billions of dollars to help poor nations adapt to a warming world that may damage their health, agriculture and economies. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal, File)

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2012 file photo, conference flags are displayed ahead of the Doha Climate Change Conference, in Doha, Qatar. As nearly 200 countries meet in oil-and-gas rich Qatar for annual talks on curbing climate change, one of the main challenges will be raising hundreds of billions of dollars to help poor nations adapt to a warming world that may damage their health, agriculture and economies. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal, File)

In this Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2012 photo, a conference flags is displayed ahead of the Doha Climate Change Conference, in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2012. The eighteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) will take place from Monday, Nov. 26 to Friday, Dec. 6, 2012.(AP Photo/Osama Faisal)

DOHA, Qatar (AP) ? As nearly 200 countries meet in oil-and-gas-rich Qatar for annual talks starting Monday on slowing global warming, one of the main challenges will be raising climate aid for poor countries at a time when budgets are strained by financial turmoil.

Rich countries have delivered nearly $30 billion in grants and loans promised in 2009, but those commitments expire this year. And a Green Climate Fund designed to channel up to $100 billion annually to poor countries has yet to begin operating.

Borrowing a buzzword from the U.S. budget debate, Tim Gore of the British charity Oxfam said developing countries, including island nations for whom rising sea levels pose a threat to their existence, stand before a "climate fiscal cliff."

"So what we need for those countries in the next two weeks are firm commitments from rich countries to keep giving money to help them to adapt to climate change," he told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Creating a structure for climate financing has so far been one of the few tangible outcomes of the two-decade-old U.N. climate talks, which have failed in their main purpose: reducing emissions of heat-trapping gases that scientists say are warming the planet, melting ice caps, glaciers and permafrost, shifting weather patterns and raising sea levels.

The only binding treaty to limit such emissions, the Kyoto Protocol, expires this year, so agreeing on an extension is seen as the most urgent task by environment ministers and climate officials meeting in the Qatari capital.

However, only the European Union and a few other countries are willing to join a second commitment period with new emissions targets. And the EU's chief negotiator, Artur Runge-Metzger, admitted that such a small group is not going to make a big difference in the fight against climate change.

"I think we cover at most 14 percent of global emissions," he said.

The U.S. rejected Kyoto because it didn't cover rapidly growing economies such as China and India. Some hope for stronger commitments from U.S. delegates in Doha as work begins on drafting a new global treaty that would also apply to developing countries including China, the world's top carbon emitter. That treaty is supposed to be adopted in 2015 and take effect five years later.

Climate financing is a side issue but a controversial one that often deepens the rich-poor divide that has hampered the U.N. climate talks since their launch in 1992. Critics of the U.N. process see the climate negotiations as a cover for attempts to redistribute wealth.

Runge-Metzger said the EU is prepared to continue supporting poorer nations in converting to cleaner energy sources and in adapting to a shifting climate, despite the debt crisis roiling Europe. But he couldn't promise that the EU would present any new pledges in Doha and said developing countries must present detailed "bankable programs" before they can expect any money.

Sometimes, developing countries seem to be saying, "OK give us a blank check," he told AP.

Climate aid activists bristled at that statement, saying many developing countries have already indicated what type of programs and projects need funding.

"They need the financial and technical support from the EU and others. Yet they continue to promise 'jam tomorrow' whilst millions suffer today," said Meena Raman of the Third World Network, a nonprofit group.

Countries agreed in Copenhagen in 2009 to set up the Green Climate Fund with the aim of raising $100 billion annually by 2020. They also pledged to raise $30 billion in "fast-start" climate financing by 2012.

While that short-term goal has nearly been met by countries including the EU, Japan, Australia and the U.S., Oxfam estimates that only one-third of it was new money; the rest was previously pledged aid money repackaged as climate financing. Oxfam also found that more than half of the financing was in the form of loans rather than grants, and that financing levels are set to fall in 2013 as rich countries rein in aid budgets amid debt problems and financial instability.

Meanwhile, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere keeps going up. It has jumped 20 percent since 2000, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, according to a U.N. report released last week.

A recent projection by the World Bank showed temperatures are on track to increase by up to 4 degrees C (7.2 F) this century, compared with pre-industrial times, overshooting the 2-degree target on which the U.N. talks are based.

___

Follow Karl Ritter at www.twitter.com/karl_ritter

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-11-25-Climate%20Talks/id-af66118044e845a889c99f7330f76c3a

right to work mike kelley puxatony phil josh harvey clemons college football recruiting rankings ground hog day 2012 aaron carter

The Folly of my Youth and the Mid Life Crisis: Death Sucks

My father in law is dying. ?I know I have mentioned it before but now it is getting serious. ?After a year and a half of threatening to die I think he actually might go and do it in the next few days. ?And I am exhausted.

Why am I exhausted? ?If you are family and reading this you might be really thinking that. ?I mean I haven't been sitting at the house for 8 hours getting up and down with him and mom, I haven't taken any night shifts, I wasn't there last night for all the crying out in pain and emotional turmoil as they waited for someone to deliver the morphine and the wait for it to take affect.

I ?have done nothing.?Literally. I have done nothing for the past few days. ?I am just standing at the ready. ?Afraid to involve myself in any project, just sitting and waiting. ?A million things on my to do list, my son home from college and yet here I am. ?Waiting. ?My job is support. ?I mainly support my husband but try to have a loving word or scripture for the family as well. ?But mostly I am just waiting for John to come home and talk to me, tell me the latest, and experience the emotions. ?Normally I get to break down but this time it is his turn and I will be the rock. ?And it is exhausting and I don't want to do anything. ?I don't even want to write this but I am trying to force myself to do something this afternoon and I usually find it helpful to write out my feelings. ?So I am sharing with you that I would rather be doing something destructive. ?Eating everything in sight or, better yet, a little retail therapy, buy everything in sight!

So now that you know I am totally not feeling it right now I am none-the-less going to share a few scriptures that I am finding encouraging. ?I ?have brief moments where I decide not to run away from my emotions and here are a few things I have found during those times:

Ps 100:4-5 "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. ?For the Lord is good and is love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

I am calling that one the verse that starts off for Don and ends for the rest of us. ?Don is going to enter the Gates of heaven but his faithfulness, Don's steadfast and unwavering devotion to the Lord, continues through the generations that come behind him. ?The generations that he has influenced. ?And while we are quick to think of his family Don has made a difference in the lives of men and women well beyond his family through his teaching both of the Word at church and through his teaching of Advanced First Aid (now EMT) at Normandale. ?Many a Minneapolis cop got their initial first aid training from John's parents in the last 80's and early 90's. ?How thankful we all are, how blessed and rich our lives have been because of the gift of Don.

I read other things and think of Don:

Is 21:3-4 "At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear and bewildered by what I see. ?My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me."

I know, that isn't encouraging at all. ?But I love how the bible can express pain as well as give hope. ?I don't know why some people have to die so painfully. ?It doesn't seem fair. ?This is not a man who deserves this death. ?Even yesterday when I was over there we were laughing as he started asking John's mom if she knew the Truth. ?As his mind goes what is left is the Truth of God's love and his continued need to share it with others. ?John drove their car home last night as Jake and I both needed cars yesterday. ?On the floor of the passenger side are the scripture memory cards his parents continue to read and memorize. When I mentioned Ps 100:4-5 at the house John went to get the bible to read it. ?John's mom kept saying, "recite it". ?I bet she already knew what he was going to read. ?God doesn't promise us freedom from pain or trials in this life on earth but he does promise us that freedom in heaven and soon Don will follow Jesus through those gates and into that peace.

And finally, and again this isn't really for encouragement here just something I read and thought about,

Proverbs 25:20 "Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart."

When someone is struggling, it isn't helpful to be cheerful. ?This sucks! ?Watching this man die sucks. ?Even if this wasn't a hard and long death, if he has simply died peacefully in his sleep, this would suck. ?I will not be denied the right to grieve nor will I deny my family that right. ?We are not alone, God is with us, and one day we will sing songs again but today we will feel and experience these moments of pain and grief and be stressed and overwhelmed.

Bleh...

Off to switch the laundry. ?I like to be prepared with clean underwear in all situations.

Source: http://follyandcrisis.blogspot.com/2012/11/death-sucks.html

Coptic Christian saturday night live julio cesar chavez jr Topless Kate university of texas UT Austin Lizzie Velasquez

Sunday, November 25, 2012

An Arrow to Shoot.

An Arrow to Shoot.

In the high north of Alaska is a tribe. A tribe of Native Americans who live in harmony. The village is then burned down and all desperate measures are forced to conclude.

Owner:

Game Masters:

This topic is an Out Of Character part of the roleplay, ?An Arrow to Shoot.?. Anything posted here will also show up there.

Topic Tags:

Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.
This is the auto-generated OOC topic for the roleplay "An Arrow to Shoot."

You may edit this first post as you see fit.

Rectangular Rectangles of Abnormal Proportion.

User avatar
Rectangular
Member for 0 years



Christ this is an awful roleplay.

User avatar
Rectangular
Member for 0 years




Post a reply

RolePlayGateway is a site built by a couple roleplayers who wanted to give a little something back to the roleplay community. The site has no intention of earning any profit, and is paid for out of their own pockets.

If you appreciate what they do, feel free to donate your spare change to help feed them on the weekends. After selecting the amount you want to donate from the menu, you can continue by clicking on PayPal logo.

Who is online

Registered users: Abridged*, Adantas, Addrinvan*, Agent*, angel51897, Angel's Whisper*, Animality Opera*, Armageddon, Aufeis*, AzricanRepublic*, Azrieldemourn*, barney_fife*, Binsetsu*, BumbleDrop*, C4L3N, CandyCoatedDoom :D*, CarliaRhian123*, ceh12*, Celedia, Centi85*, ChaosxChild13*, chaoticcarrot, Chocolate~Pyrus, Circ*, CNAGamer, Conquerer_Man, Cowspider, Crooked Thoughts*, Daakukage*, deadlyfairy13*, delfiler, DemonDante, Digital_Muse*, Ditzy, Eisenhorn, Elite*, Embracing_Anime, EmperorCaesar*, eNzeru*, FamishedPants, fauxtruth, Finalhazard3, firebreaker2262*, Firewind, Flexar*, FreeRunner*, Frozen Soul*, Gasmask*, Genesis Rhapsodos, Ginko*, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Google Feedfetcher, GotDraggedIntoThis*, Guardian Angel, Guilty Carrion, Hallowed777*, HAT101*, Hoga, Holy|Orders*, iApple*, jackrules158*, Jakuri-chan*, JEDH3, Kiss My Brass*, Knoxxeh*, Kohananinja*, krumbla, KulasLightShadow*, Lady_Blood92243, Layla, Lenyx*, Lingeringrepose*, Lloyd999*, LRmember, Mac the Impaler*, Macabre Legion, macheteshark, madnesschihuahua, Magic Man*, masato22*, Merchant*, MetalSliver*, Missie*, mjlavalleejr*, mlijn12, Moon/Mihael, Mr. Crow, MSN [Bot], MSNbot Media, Nami L'Chi*, Nekohina*, Oborosen*, Odinson, Ottoman, Outlaw*, Patcharoo*, Porecomesis*, Princess Awinita*, Psyche, PsychoticChrono*, QueenJen*, R.T.M.X.*, R3lly, Raize*, ReaperGirl4*, Robinwing*, Rougeshadow*, Saarai*, Selmaina*, Shaodow*, Shiki29*, Shugo Seikatsu, slcam*, Solo Wing Pixy, Something?*, Sorella*, StitchSaysHi*, SylentStand*, SylphofSpace*, Tainted Twinkee, Terrus*, Tessla*, The Painkiller*, The Ultimate Weapon, The_Fallen_Ones*, Tigeress, tornadofan2*, TornZero*, Tyliana*, Ubui, UltimateGM, Uriel, Vejisama*, Vexilous*, Virtum, Wake*, warthog*, WhatsUpWazza*, WhySoSerious?, Wolfheart*, Wudgeous, X64*, XianEvermor*, xoxMissClairexox*, YokoKitsune*, Zack, zody*

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/MLGD_MwFPnk/viewtopic.php

michael bush the host trailer whitney houston cause of death marquette university marquette hilary duff michigan state

5 things to know about 'Dallas' star Larry Hagman

FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2008 file photo, actor Larry Hagman poses in front of the Southfork Ranch mansion in Parker, Texas made famous in the television show "Dallas." Actor Larry Hagman, who for more than a decade played villainous patriarch JR Ewing in the TV soap Dallas, has died at the age of 81, his family said Saturday Nov. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2008 file photo, actor Larry Hagman poses in front of the Southfork Ranch mansion in Parker, Texas made famous in the television show "Dallas." Actor Larry Hagman, who for more than a decade played villainous patriarch JR Ewing in the TV soap Dallas, has died at the age of 81, his family said Saturday Nov. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

Five things to know about "Dallas" star Larry Hagman:

1. HIS FAMOUS MOM

Hagman was the son of singer-actress Mary Martin, who starred in such classics as "South Pacific" and "Peter Pan." Martin was still in her teens when he was born in 1931 during her marriage to attorney Ben Hagman.

2. HOW HE FIRST GAINED FAME

Years before "Dallas," Hagman was on "I Dream of Jeannie," in which he played an astronaut whose life is disrupted when he finds a comely genie, portrayed by Barbara Eden, and takes her home to live with him.

3. HIS REAL LIFE ADVOCACY

Hagman was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and acknowledged that he drank heavily for years. He had a transplant after a malignant tumor was discovered in 1995, and it turned him into an advocate for organ donation and a hospital volunteer. He was also an anti-smoking activist who took part in "Great American Smoke-Out" campaigns.

4. WHAT HE WANTED ON J.R.'s TOMBSTONE

"It should say: 'Here lies upright citizen J.R. Ewing. This is the only deal he ever lost,'" Hagman said in 1988.

5. WHO SHOT J.R.?

The answer to that cliffhanger was one of the most-watched television events in history. It was J.R.'s sister-in-law, Kristin (Mary Crosby) ? he had made her pregnant, then threatened to frame her as a prostitute unless she left town.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-11-24-Hagman-5%20Things/id-66aef346f7444dabaca39f03f51ab979

cold mountain valentines day ideas the villages florida egoraptor gisele bundchen turbotax the bourne legacy

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Make Your Michigan Home More Energy Efficient in 4 Easy Steps

Picture of an Energy Efficient HomeMost Michigan homeowners know the big issues that cause their homes to be less energy efficient than they should be ? too little insulation, for example. However, you may be losing conditioned air in ways you aren?t aware of. Perhaps one room feels colder than the rest of your home, or you?ve noticed that your energy bill is higher than usual.

At Haley Mechanical, we want to educate homeowners on what to look for and what can be done to make your home more energy efficient before the extreme cold temperatures arrive.

Whatever your situation, you can perform your own ?energy efficiency survey.? Here?s how:

1. Perform an energy audit before winter strikes. You may logically think it?s easier to determine where those drafts are coming from when winter or summer is in full blast; however, energy costs will soar if you wait until the season is upon you before checking for problems. Check the ductwork or other issues now and take the steps necessary to improve energy efficiency.

2. Perform the window test. How much heat really is ?flying? right out of your windows? Take a close look at your windows, checking the condition of panes and window frames. If your home is older, thin windows may be to blame. Consider replacing them with EnergyStar rated windows, and be sure to caulk or use weather stripping in gaps or cracks.

3. Update your heating/cooling equipment. Sure, it?s costly to replace your HVAC system or heater/air conditioner ? but how much is it costing you to continue using outdated or worn out equipment? According to the Department of Energy, homes waste about 25% to 40% of their energy due to the fact that homeowners fail to have routine maintenance performed, or to replace an underperforming heating/cooling system.

4. Calculate your energy usage online. Taking your previous energy bills, you can calculate your potential energy savings using an online calculator like the one at AC Doctor. If you don?t have past energy bills, consider having a professional energy consultant provide you with data such as SEER ratings and electricity rates to perform the calculation on how much you could save by having high-efficiency equipment installed

At Haley Mechanical, we want to help you save on energy costs this winter. Call us for more ideas on how you can save on your energy bills this season, or for expert HVAC maintenance and installation. We?ve been proudly serving customers in Ann Arbor, Dexter, Canton, Plymouth and other areas in SE Michigan since 1998!

Source: http://comfortnews.haleymechanical.com/2012/11/make-your-michigan-home-more-energy-efficient-in-4-easy-steps/

London 2012 Javelin roger federer Olga Korbut Usain Bolt 2012 Olympics Katie Ledecky Aaron Ross Sikh temple

Brash boxer 'Macho' Camacho dies in Puerto Rico

FILE - In this July 7, 2001 file photo, boxing champ Hector "Macho" Camacho acknowledges fans at KeySpan Park in New York's Coney Island. Camacho, a boxer known for skill and flamboyance in the ring, as well as for a messy personal life and run-ins with the police, has died, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, after being taken off life support. He was 50. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin, File)

FILE - In this July 7, 2001 file photo, boxing champ Hector "Macho" Camacho acknowledges fans at KeySpan Park in New York's Coney Island. Camacho, a boxer known for skill and flamboyance in the ring, as well as for a messy personal life and run-ins with the police, has died, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, after being taken off life support. He was 50. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 1986 file photo, Hector "Macho" Camacho WBC lightweight boxing champion, is escorted by Marty Cohen, left, and boxing promoter Don King, right, during a news conference in New York. Famed Puerto Rican boxer Camacho is clinically brain dead, doctors said Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, though they said family members were disagreeing on whether to take him off life support. Dr. Ernesto Torres said doctors have finished performing all medical tests on Camacho, who was shot in the face Tuesday night. (AP Photo/David Bookstaver, File)

FILE - In this July 11, 1982 file photo, Luis Loy Jr., left, ducks under a blow by Hector Camacho early in a scheduled 10-round junior lightweight boxing bout at Felt Forum in New York. Hector "Macho" Camacho, a boxer known for skill and flamboyance in the ring, as well as for a messy personal life and run-ins with the police, has died, after being taken off life support. He was 50. (AP Photo/Elias, File)

FILE - In this July 14, 2001 file photo, boxing champ Hector "Macho" Camacho celebrates after defeating Roberto Duran in their super middleweight National Boxing Association championship fight in Denver. Camacho, a boxer known for skill and flamboyance in the ring, as well as for a messy personal life and run-ins with the police, has died, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, after being taken off life support. He was 50. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File)

FILE - In this March 7, 1989 file photo, Hector "Macho" Camacho jumps out of the way of a punch thrown by Ray Mancini during the third round of their WBO Junior Welterweight Championship boxing match in Reno, Nev. Camacho, a boxer known for skill and flamboyance in the ring, as well as for a messy personal life and run-ins with the police, has died, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, after being taken off life support. He was 50. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

(AP) ? Hector "Macho" Camacho was a brash fighter with a mean jab and an aggressive style, launching himself furiously against some of the biggest names in boxing. And his bad-boy persona was not entirely an act, with a history of legal scrapes that began in his teens and continued throughout his life.

The man who once starred at the pinnacle of boxing, winning several world titles, died Saturday after being ambushed in a parking lot back in the Puerto Rican town of Bayamon where he was born. Packets of cocaine were found were found in the car in which he was shot.

Camacho, 50, left behind a reputation for flamboyance ? leading fans in cheers of "It's Macho time!" before fights ? and for fearsome skills as one of the top fighters of his generation.

"He excited boxing fans around the world with his inimitable style," promoter Don King told The Associated Press.

Camacho fought professionally for three decades, from his humble debut against David Brown at New York's Felt Forum in 1980 to an equally forgettable swansong against Saul Duran in Kissimmee, Florida, in 2010.

In between, he fought some of the biggest stars spanning two eras, including Sugar Ray Leonard, Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya and Roberto Duran.

"Hector was a fighter who brought a lot of excitement to boxing," said Ed Brophy, executive director of International the Boxing Hall of Fame. "He was a good champion. Roberto Duran is kind of in a class of his own, but Hector surely was an exciting fighter that gave his all to the sport."

Camacho's family moved to New York when he was young and he grew up in Spanish Harlem, which at the time was rife with crime. Camacho landed in jail as a teenager before turning to boxing, which for many kids in his neighborhood provided an outlet for their aggression.

"This is something I've done all my life, you know?" Camacho told The Associated Press after a workout in 2010. "A couple years back, when I was doing it, I was still enjoying it. The competition, to see myself perform. I know I'm at the age that some people can't do this no more."

Former featherweight champion Juan Laporte, a friend since childhood, described Camacho as "like a little brother who was always getting into trouble," but otherwise combined a friendly nature with a powerful jab.

"He's a good human being, a good hearted person," Laporte said as he waited with other friends and members of the boxer's family outside the hospital in San Juan after the shooting. "A lot of people think of him as a cocky person but that was his motto ... Inside he was just a kid looking for something."

Laporte lamented that Camacho never found a mentor to guide him outside the boxing ring.

"The people around him didn't have the guts or strength to lead him in the right direction," Laporte said. "There was no one strong enough to put a hand on his shoulder and tell him how to do it."

George Lozada, a longtime friend from New York who flew to Puerto Rico on Saturday, recalled that just hours after he was released from prison after serving a murder sentence, he received a call from Camacho, who was waiting outside his apartment in a black Porsche.

"He said, 'Come down, I'm taking you shopping,'" Lozada said, wiping away tears.

"Because of him, man, I got what I got today," he said, pointing to pictures on his smartphone of his 6-year-old daughter. "Because of Hector, I stopped the drug scene ... He's helped so many people."

Drug, alcohol and other problems trailed Camacho himself after the prime of his boxing career. He was sentenced in 2007 to seven years in prison for the burglary of a computer store in Mississippi. While arresting him on the burglary charge in January 2005, police also found the drug ecstasy.

A judge eventually suspended all but one year of the sentence and gave Camacho probation. He wound up serving two weeks in jail, though, after violating that probation.

Camacho's former wife, Amy, obtained a restraining order against him in 1998, alleging he threatened her and one of their children. The couple, who had two children at the time, later divorced.

He divided his time between Puerto Rico and Florida in recent years, appearing on Spanish-language television as well as on a reality show called "Es Macho Time!" on YouTube.

Inside the boxing ring, Camacho flourished. He won three Golden Gloves titles as an amateur, and after turning pro, he quickly became a contender with an all-action style reminiscent of other Puerto Rican fighters.

Long promoted by Don King, Camacho won his first world title by beating Rafael Limon in a super-featherweight bout in Puerto Rico on Aug. 7, 1983. He moved up in weight two years later to capture a lightweight title by defeating Jose Luis Ramirez, and successfully defended the belt against fellow countryman Edwin Rosario.

The Rosario fight, in which the victorious Camacho still took a savage beating, persuaded him to scale back his ultra-aggressive style in favor of a more cerebral, defensive approach.

The change in style was a big reason that Camacho, at the time 38-0, lost a close split decision to Greg Haugen at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in 1991.

Camacho won the rematch to set up his signature fight against Mexico's Julio Cesar Chavez, this time at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Camacho was roundly criticized for his lack of action, and the Mexican champion won a lopsided unanimous decision to retain the lightweight title.

"Even though people say I beat him easily, it wasn't that way," Chavez told Mexico's ESPN-Radio Formula this week. "He was a very fast fighter, he faced everything and it was very hard for me."

"He revolutionized boxing, Chavez said. "It's a shame he got mixed up in so many problems."

After that loss, Camacho became the name opponent for other rising contenders, rather than the headliner fighting for his own glory.

He lost a unanimous decision to another young Puerto Rican fighter, Trinidad, and was soundly defeated by De La Hoya. In 1997, Camacho ended Leonard's final comeback with a fifth-round knockout. It was Camacho's last big victory even though he boxed for another decade.

The fighter's last title bout came in 1997 against welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya, who won by unanimous decision. Camacho's last fight was his defeat by Saul Duran in May 2010. He had a career record of 79-6-3.

Doctors pronounced Camacho dead on Saturday after he was removed from life support at his family's direction. He never regained consciousness after at least one gunman crept up to the car in a darkened parking lot and opened fire.

No arrests and have been made, and authorities have not revealed many details beyond the facts that police found cocaine in the car and that the boxer and his friend, who was killed at the scene, had no idea the attack was coming. "Apparently, this was a surprise," said Alex Diaz, a police spokesman.

Survivors include his mother; three sisters, Raquel, Estrella and Ester; a brother, Felix; and four sons, Hector Jr., Taylor, Christian and Justin.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-11-24-CB-Puerto-Rico-Obit-Camacho/id-1a458f565f184f2ba6da68a158cc0778

nba playoffs rosario dawson young jeezy world wildlife fund gsa keith olbermann andrew bynum