ANDRE BALZER music, discography, MP3, videos and reviews

Andre Balzer biography
Composer and instrumentalist Andre BALZER is probably best known for his tenure as vocalist in French progressive rock band Atoll in the 1970's. Following his departure from that band he reappeared briefly as the vocalist of hard rock band Fisc in the early 80's, but since then he has held a low profile.
2011 saw Balzer reappearing as a solo artist, releasing the ambitious concept album Entre l'alpha & l'om?ga (Opus I) on French label Musea Records. An album whose title suggests that more material may be forthcoming from this now veteran musician.

Andre Balzer official website

Source: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7481

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Adoring The Daylight: How Light Affects Your Life | Indoor Lighting ...

Now the sun?s out, we are all far more aware of how bright everything is. The sunshine bounces off the ultra green leaves on the trees, and the whole world looks like a shinier, happier place!

My front room is dominated by a pair of French doors that let light flood in from ceiling to floor, and it really transforms the feeling of the whole room ? and my mood!

We all take it for granted in a way, but daylight, and light in general, have many, many health benefits for everyone. There are lots of new fangled light therapies out there these days, and we shall take a look at those later, but first of all we will look at the health benefits of daylight.

The days of worshipping artificial light

Between 1950 and 1965, it was a different story. New architectural methods and the boom in artificial lighting techniques meant that a lot of schools, hospitals and other governmental buildings were made with fewer windows, as these new methods were deemed to perform better than daylight itself!

In a 1990 report, though, workers in Berlin believed that work spaces with artificial lighting were a health hazard, and that vision related problems, such as eye fatigue, were far greater in those places with no daylight present. It also had a bearing on temperature and noise levels too, which had a negative effect on the working environment.

With a return of open plan working and large glass frontages, there is a turn back to using natural daylight now, and it is proven to have a positive effect on work performance and of course health benefits, not to mention the green energy efficiency, too!

Well, no-one leaves their lights on all day now, do they?!

Are you feeling SAD?

Of course, there are cases when a lack of sunlight or daylight can cause far more serious health problems. The mood disorder Seasonal Affective Disorder, where people experience depressive symptoms due to lack of light, is a horrible condition.

Thousands of people are affected every year, particularly in the winter months, but it can also affect people in the summer in countries such as the UK who still don?t get enough sunshine even in July and August.

Of course, the answer to this debilitating condition is more light, and so the invention of light box therapy was welcomed with open arms.

The light box emits more lumens that a normal light bulb. It consists of a bright white, full spectrum light at 10,000 lux, a blue light of 2,500 lux, and a green light of 350 lux. Just sitting in front of the box (eyes closed) for 30 to 60 minutes can produce melatonin suppression in sufferers, and can help people beat their depressive symptoms.

Illumatherapy ? Light up my Life!

A few weeks ago I stayed at a boutique hotel, and the bath was rigged up like a disco! Once you had run the bath and closed the doors, brightly coloured lights shone out through LED?s in the side of the bath, illuminating the water into different shades of yellow, blue, green and purple. It was my most memorable bath ever!

Image by Kevin dooley

Checking it out afterwards, seems that I had just experienced illumatherapy, where different coloured lighting is assembled in a bath tub to enhance and alter the mood.

The colour wheel used in this process states that green is the colour for balance and harmony; yellow indicates humour, intellect and creativity; purple supports imagination and meditation; blue aims to promote truth and calmness, and red is for physical energy and vitality.

Apparently, different coloured lights have different wave lengths, so also have an effect on the moods and energy of a person ? and that person can also absorb the coloured light, affecting hormone levels.

Well I never! I?ve got to say, I went to bed early that night in the hotel, so I must have been going through the blue and purple spectrum!

How does light affect your mood? And do you use different coloured bulbs at home to create a different mood?

Gavin Harvey is a fitness fanatic and health enthusiast. He like examples of sustainable and human-oriented architecture, blogging occasionally for Eurocell profiles, windows and doors.

Source: http://www.homelighting.me.uk/adoring-the-daylight-how-light-affects-your-life/

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Source: http://hobbsmichal245.typepad.com/blog/2012/08/adoring-the-daylight-how-light-affects-your-life-indoor-lighting.html

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How Can Christian Marriage Counseling Help Balance Your ...

By Benjamin Deu, MA, LMHC, Seattle Christian Counseling

Would friends describe you and your spouse as a couple that are ?joined at the hip? and ?should be happy? but just don?t seem to be? Are you feeling like on paper your marriage should be perfect but in reality, something is off? The fantasy of two people joined at the hip may not be as healthy for relationships as most people think. Partners who depend on the other for security in every storm and validation for every decision probably have a much less healthy grasp of their relationship than couples who aren?t constantly in each other?s back pockets. This article will explain the dichotomy of dependence and self-regulation, which is the focus of Dr. David Schnarch, research-oriented sex therapist at the Marriage and Family Health Center in Colorado.

His work centers around two ways of conducting relationships known as ?emotional fusion? and ?differentiation.? Understanding these terms and how they relate to marriage can be a first step in improving the balance in a relationship. Both terms describe patterns of healthy and unhealthy behavior that people practice in relationships. The better you understand them, the better you?ll be able to use them to analyze your own marriage? its strengths and weaknesses.

?Emotional fusion: When every emotion or reaction you have is based on your partner. It?s a catastrophe if they don?t agree with you, or if your marriage hits a snag. All your validation comes from external sources. (Passionate Marriage 59)

?This may manifest itself in behavior such as:

? You can?t feel pride in an accomplishment unless your partner gives you an ?Atta boy/girl!?

? Putting the other down to feel better about yourself.

? Any criticism/disagreement from your partner enrages/devastates you.

? You rely on what others say about you to establish your identity.

? You feel most secure and fulfilled when you are in a romantic relationship.

Differentiation: When you can have disagreements and not feel like they foretell the end of your relationship. You understand compromise and concessions are part of loving, generous relationships and you are not ?losing? yourself when you make them. (Passionate Marriage 51, 56)

?This looks like:

? You do not base your identity on your marriage or what others say about you.

? Your emotional validation comes from within. While you appreciate your partner?s applause or support, you are capable of supplying yourself with these.

? You understand disagreements are a natural part of relationships, and it?s not the end of the world when you and your partner aren?t ?twins? on everything.

? You don?t feel like you?re betraying yourself or sacrificing your integrity when you make a concession or compromise.

?Note: Differentiation is not ?individualism.? It?s not taking the attitude, ?I?m going to do me, and to heck with anyone else.? Neither is it running from relationships for fear of ?losing? yourself to another person, a lack of feelings and emotions, or selfishness. (Passionate Marriage 67, 68)

Now, if this isn?t clear to you just yet, don?t despair. The following examples will help clarify what these terms look like in relationships.

?An emotionally fused couple:

Dan and Kelly are one of those quiet couples. They seem happy enough. But not that happy. Dan rules the roost, and Kelly defers to him in everything. She has dinner on the table for him when he gets home from work, afterward, they watch whatever he wants to watch on TV until they go to bed. They have sex regularly enough, but Dan is the only one who initiates, and they only do it how he likes it. Kelly was a travel agent before they got married, but they never take trips because Dan doesn?t like to.

Despite how unhappy this marriage seems to an outside, it?s unlikely Dan and Kelly will get divorced. That?s because they?re emotionally fused. Dan bases his identity as an alpha male by dominating his meek wife. He needs Kelly?s submission to reinforce his identity as ?king of the castle.? Kelly understands herself a ?Dan?s wife? and homemaker. She believes she could never make it on her own without him to provide for her. This relationship isn?t necessarily abusive, just unhappy. However, like partners in abusive relationships, Dan and Kelly can?t wrench themselves from their marital drudgery and seek something more fulfilling because they can?t envision a life for themselves separate from their relationship.

?A differentiated couple:

It?s high school class reunion time again for Ian, hooray! When he asks his wife if she?ll go with him, she makes a face, but agrees. Large crowds of strangers are not Kim?s favorite, but she wants to be there for him in case things gets awkward.

Now, what makes this a differentiated couple is that Kim agrees to do something she doesn?t really want to do for her spouse because her desire to support him is greater than her desire to avoid the crowd. Also, she doesn?t use this ?favor? as an opportunity to obligate Ian into doing something for her later. They do not approach self-sacrifice as a barter system where they are perpetually repaying debts; they genuinely want to help each other out.

?Secular Psychology and the Bible

I cannot say whether Schnarch intended for his work on differentiation to mirror Scripture, but it does. Differentiation and Biblical Christianity both:

1. Cultivate people who do right because they want to, not out of some obligation to a belief system or relationship contract. It?s not about accruing good deeds you intend to trade in for something later. It?s about a change of heart. Go back to the example of Kim and Ian?s relationship; consider how much happier and more generous they are when they serve one another because they want to, not because they need this favor to hold over their partner?s head later.

? ?One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.? (Proverbs 11:24 ESV)

2. Drive people to finding security in something more stable than other people?s opinions and preferences. However, while differentiation encourages people to cultivate their sense of identity within themselves, Christianity points people toward Christ as their source of true identity.

? ?But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God?s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.? (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV)

Believers may have titles such as wife, parent, or veterinarian, but their ultimate badge is ?Christian.? They do the things they do because they want to be like Christ. And while Schnarch?s principle counsels looking inward to develop integrity, it ignores the reality that there is no integrity to be found inside the human heart.

? ?For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.? Romans 3:23

Happily, believers can look toward Christ for the model of unchanging integrity they cannot find within.

? ?Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.? (James 1:17 ESV)

? ?Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?? (Exodus 15:11 ESV)

3. Recognize disappointments and trials are temporary, and you shouldn?t allow them to crush you. And because you don?t funnel all your hope and perspective about the future into present circumstances, it?s not as devastating when things don?t seem to be lining up the way you think they should.

? ?The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you?? (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

? ?Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.? (Psalm 20:7 ESV)

? ?Differentiation is the key to not holding grudges and recovering quickly from arguments, to tolerating intense intimacy and maintaining your priorities in the midst of daily life.? (Passionate Marriage 51)

Self-improve through differentiation

?Differentiation is the most loving thing you can do for others and yourself.? (Passionate Marriage 73) Becoming differentiated is the best thing you can do for your relationship because it makes you a better member of that relationship. Rather than simply being reactive and dependent, you proactively participate in and grow your marriage. ?Differentiation allows each person to function more independently and interdependently.? (Passionate Marriage 63)

Heightening differentiation comes by developing what Schnarch terms the Four Point of Balance (Intimacy and Desire 72):

1. Solid Flexible Self? the ability to be clear about who you are and what you?re about, especially when your partner pressures you to adapt and conform.

2. Quiet Mind?Calm Heart? being able to calm yourself down, soothe your own hurts, and regulate your own anxieties.

3. Grounded Responding? the ability to stay calm and not overreact, rather than creating distance or running away when your partner gets anxious and upset.

4. Meaningful Endurance? being able to step up and face the issues that bedevil you and your relationship, and the ability to tolerate discomfort for the sake of growth.

Finding Balance with a Christian Counseling Professional

If you are married and feeling that the balance is just ?off,? how do you start to incorporate these four points into your life to improve your marriage? When developing a new skill and applying it to an existing relationship, it can be very challenging ? even overwhelming. A Christian marriage counselor can be a tremendous help to a couple by giving them the tools and Biblically based guidance to try to improve the dynamics of their relationship by becoming differentiated. Contact Seattle Christian Counseling to find out more about personal growth in this area and how a counselor can help your marriage.

?

Contact Me?on our connect form

Source: http://seattlechristiancounseling.com/blog/2012/08/02/how-can-christian-marriage-counseling-help-balance-your-marriage-problems/

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St. Kitts sprinter sent home from London Olympics

LONDON (AP) ? St. Kitts & Nevis sprinter Tameka Williams has been sent home from the London Olympics by her team for a potential drug violation.

Williams had been using a substance which was "clearly outside the medical code," St. Kitts Olympic committee vice president Dennis Knight told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Knight said Williams had not tested positive, but the team acted after consulting with the World Anti-Doping Agency "to find out about the product."

"In discussions with our team management, she volunteered to them that she had been using a particular substance which, when we did our own investigations, we considered to be outside the accepted medical code," Knight said.

Williams told team officials about using the substance ? which the team has not disclosed ? in a pre-Olympics training camp.

"It was a matter of the management of the team doing their due diligence," Knight said.

The 22-year-old Williams had qualified for the 100 and 200 meters, and gave samples for anti-doping tests at national Olympic trials last month.

"It was not based on any positive drug test. She turned up a clean test," Knight said.

Williams marched at the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday as the only woman in a seven-member team from the Caribbean islands, who are all track sprinters. The best known is five-time Olympian Kim Collins.

Knight said St. Kitts team officials sought expert advice in London before acting.

"We wanted to consult with the anti-doping fraternity," he said. "We are a very tiny country with limited knowledge of these things."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/st-kitts-sprinter-sent-home-london-olympics-164643108--oly.html

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US women overcome sloppy play, beat Croatia 81-56

FILE - In this photo May 12, 2012 file photo, United States' Diana Taurasi competes against China in an exhibition women's basketball game in Seattle. The U.S. begins its quest for a fifth straight Olympic gold medal against Croatia on Saturday, July 28, 2012, a team the Americans beat 109-55 a week ago in Istanbul.(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

FILE - In this photo May 12, 2012 file photo, United States' Diana Taurasi competes against China in an exhibition women's basketball game in Seattle. The U.S. begins its quest for a fifth straight Olympic gold medal against Croatia on Saturday, July 28, 2012, a team the Americans beat 109-55 a week ago in Istanbul.(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Croatia's Iva Ciglar (10) is fouled by USA's Tina Charles (14) during the second half of a preliminary women's basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London. USA's Seimone Augustus (5) is at left. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

USA's Candace Parker, right, is grabed from behind by Croatia's Jelena Ivezic, left, during the second half of a preliminary women's basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

(AP) ? The U.S. women's team threw the ball away and struggled from the field. This was one sloppy performance for an Olympic opener.

It also was another victory.

Maybe it was first-game nerves or a hangover from the opening ceremony, but the U.S. didn't look like the powerhouse expected to dominate the London Games until the fourth quarter ? when it pulled away for an 81-56 victory over Croatia.

"It's just one game, one day," U.S. guard Sue Bird said. "You have to come to play that day, if you don't anything can happen."

The Americans just beat Croatia by 54 on July 21. Easy victories are expected from this team, which has won 34 straight Olympic contests and four consecutive gold medals.

That didn't happen Saturday.

"There was a little jitters, probably a little sluggishness," Bird said. "For the most part we didn't finish off plays we normally finish off. We allowed a team that when they get going are known to spread out the floor and try to hit as many 3s as they can, stay with us."

Coming into the Olympics, coach Geno Auriemma said he was hoping the Americans could play a style of basketball that would be entertaining and help grow the women's game internationally.

That was certainly not the case at the start of this one.

Despite missing its first 14 shots, Croatia hung tough for the first 30 minutes before the Americans finally pulled away.

"We have five players who have never been in the Olympics before so they are going to be nervous. Everybody was a little nervous," Auriemma said. "We're better than we showed, but I don't know that we're going to be great right off the bat."

The U.S., which has dominated its opponents en route to the last four gold medals, led 53-49 early in the fourth quarter before a 16-0 run put the game out of reach.

Angel McCoughtry started the burst with consecutive layups and Tamika Catchings capped it with a three-point play that made it 69-49. Swin Cash also had a three-point play in the spurt.

McCoughtry finished with 13 points for the U.S., which got back to its hotel at 3 a.m. after Friday's opening ceremony. Tina Charles had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Candace Parker finished with 11 points and 13 boards.

"We know we can play better and will," Parker said.

Jelena Ivezic scored 22 points and Marija Vrsaljko added 19 for Croatia, which was making its Olympic debut. Vrsaljko missed the previous matchup last Saturday as she was getting married.

While the Americans imposed their will on offense in that contest, they struggled Saturday.

The U.S. built a 9-0 lead as Croatia missed its first 14 shots. The Americans could have been up a lot more, but missed a lot of easy shots and turned the ball over. They finished with 21 turnovers.

"Defensively we were great in the first quarter, we were running, blocking shots just couldn't score and that hurts," Parker said. "When you look up at the scoreboard at end of first and it's 9-4, it's deflating. We just have to do better than that."

Actually it was 11-4, but Parker is correct ? they will have to play better.

Vrsaljko finally got the Croatians on the board with a lay-in with 2 minutes left in the first quarter. The U.S. built its lead to 21-9 and looked poised to take command before going cold from the floor.

Croatia scored the next 14 points, capped by Luca Ivankovic's lay-in that gave the team its first lead of the game. Ivezic's 3 minutes later made it 26-23.

Diana Taurasi had seen enough, hitting consecutive 3s to restore the Americans' advantage. The U.S. led 31-28 at the half.

"We played very well for 30, 32 minutes," Croatia coach Stipe Bralic. "We played smart and we played good defense. But we played against maybe the best women's team ever. They got 27 second-chance points and that shows you how strong they are."

It was the second straight Olympics that the Americans struggled in their opener. They trailed the Czech Republic 13-2 before winning by 40 at the Beijing Games.

The U.S. men's basketball team, who is also a heavy favorite to win the gold, didn't make the women's opener. It had practice at the same time. The two teams marched together in the opening ceremonies and are staying in the same hotel.

Next up for the U.S. is Angola, which lost to Turkey 72-50 in its Olympic debut. The Americans also will face China, Turkey and the Czech Republic in pool play. The U.S. beat the Czechs in the finals of the 2010 world championship to qualify for the London Games.

The Czech Republic lost its pool opener, falling to China 66-57. Also Saturday, Russia rallied past Canada 58-53, France beat Brazil 73-58, and Australia routed host Britain 74-58.

___

Follow Doug Feinberg on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Dougfeinberg

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-07-29-OLY-BKW-Croatia-US/id-27e9410510be473ab76eb1ec2c715c40

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Orion space capsule: NASA gets ready for 2014 test launch

NASA has unveied the brand new Orion space capsule, which is expected to have its first test launch in spring 2014?.

By Robert Z. Pearlman,?Space.com / July 19, 2012

NASA's first space-bound Orion crew capsule on display in Kennedy Space Center's Operations and Checkout (O&C) Building in Florida earlier this month. The spacecraft is set to launch on an unmanned test flight in 2014.

Robert Z. Pearlman/collectSPACE.com

Enlarge

Without a heat shield or wiring, and with only welded metal panels to see, NASA's new spacecraft designed to take astronauts out beyond Earth and into the solar system doesn't look like much yet.

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But to NASA, congressional and space industry leaders, the capsule's olive-green pressure shell is an exciting sight to behold. The capsule, NASA's first space-bound Orion crew module, was unveiled today (July 2) to mark its arrival at NASA's Kennedy Space Center here, the site of the spacecraft's planned 2014 launch on an unmanned test flight.

"Isn't this beautiful," Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) told an audience of more than 450 Orion team members looking at the spacecraft behind him. "I know there is a lot of people here who can't wait to get their hands and fingers on this hardware.?

"We are really proud of it," NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver told SPACE.com. "It is going to start looking more like the shape of capsule soon. But to me, it looks like the future."

The Orion capsule, which arrived in Florida from the Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana last week, now sits inside Kennedy's Operations and Checkout (O&C) building. It is in here, the same high bay where more than 40 years ago NASA readied similarly-shaped capsules for launches to the moon, that Lockheed Martin engineers and technicians will conduct the final preparations to launch this Orion higher and faster than any capsule since the Apollo moon missions.

"The future is here, now," Kennedy Space Center's director Robert Cabana said. "The vehicle we see here today is not a Powerpoint chart. It is a real spacecraft moving toward a test flight in 2014." [Gallery: Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 Capsule]

Cabana said the Orion's unveiling was aptly timed since it came one day after the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy Space Center, which has been NASA's home port for manned space launches for decades.

"This is a milestone moment for the Space Coast, NASA and America's space program," Garver said. "It is a new and exciting chapter in America's great space exploration story, one that will see more discoveries, more scientific return and more people and Americans going into space and going places that have never before been visited."

The first manned launch of an Orion space capsule atop its main rocket, the Space Launch System, is targeted for 2021. NASA retired its storied space shuttle fleet last year after 30 years of service.

To space and back

The uncrewed Orion test flight, which NASA calls the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), is slated to launch in spring 2014 atop a United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. After reaching orbit, the capsule will circle Earth twice, rising to more than 3,600 miles (5,800 kilometers) from the planet ? 15 times higher than the International Space Station.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/mmaiolHFsM8/Orion-space-capsule-NASA-gets-ready-for-2014-test-launch

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Jennifer Rizzo: A Creatively Made Home....

I am so excited to announce a new home decor/ lifestyle e-course I am a part of hosted by Jeanne Oliver!

Join me and some of the most creative women I know for Creatively Made Home.

I chose each of these women not only because of the beautiful homes they create but how they have incorporated their truest joys in everyday life.

Each woman has a style and story all her own.

This is a five week online course that will be hosted by

I wanted to create a course that celebrated what really matters in your home.....you and your family.

I also wanted to celebrate making life beautiful in the everyday.

I know that so many want to make their homes beautiful but feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start....so they do nothing.

I believe that everyone should be surrounded by beauty in their homes and that shouldn't have to do with how much you spend.

I think sometimes we can get lost and distracted with everything that comes at us each day.

Sometimes things can look so perfect and we as women may feel inadequate.

It is time to exhale and delight in your home.

It is time to open your doors because of what is inside of you...not what is inside your home.

Our desire is that this five week online course will change how you see yourself, your home and your family.

* Each week you will have amazing truthful videos from not only the five teachers but other creative women.

* Each week we will take a room from one of YOU and all five women will give their suggestions telling you how they would transform the room with their style.

* There will be 50+ project videos.

These will be incredible videos that include everything from gardening, cooking, gift giving and decorating.

* There will be written tips from each woman telling you how she starts a room, picks paint, fabrics, etc.? You will learn where to start when putting your own home together.

* Tons of beautiful house photos from each of the five women.

* Videos that truly reflect what life is like in each of their homes.? The stuff that life is really about.? Believe me it has nothing to do with the perfect table setting.

* Each woman will share their own truthful journey about how they started making their home a reflection of their hearts.

* Each person registered will get an easy entertaining e-book to download.

It will contain go to recipes for beautiful and easy entertaining (they do go together), photos of table settings that take the stress out of having people over, favorite drinks and so much more (and their funniest entertaining story).

* There will be a private Facebook group to connect with other class members.

* There will be a once a week live discussion with one of the teachers!

* You will get printables and pdfs to keep and use again and again.

This course is about loving your home, loving your family and blessing those around you....and having fun doing it.

If you have taken my other courses you know how much I put into them.

This course will lavish you with ideas, beauty, inspiration, joy and encouragement!

Come and play house with us.

Class begins October 22.

Registration is now open!

Early registration price is $48 for the next two weeks.

After August 6 the price will go to $58.

*******************
I hope you'll join us! I am super excited to be among such wonderful and talented ladies;and I can't wait to share my projects with you and see the beautiful things they do!
The best thing is,
You can get your spot right here! :)

Source: http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/2012/07/a-creatively-made-home.html

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Estate Planning ?Window of Opportunity? ? Martindale.com

July 21, 2012

Previously published on July 17, 2012

Will the Estate Planning ?Window of Opportunity? Close After 2012?
With current, favorable federal estate and gift tax rules slated to expire at the end of 2012; the potential sunset of Bush era tax cuts and imposition of a new Medicare surtax on investment income in 2013; and current interest rates at historically low levels - the remainder of 2012 provides an opportunity to achieve significant estate objectives that may not be attainable after the year ends.

In addition, of import to our Ohio resident clients is the fact that state law regarding Financial Powers of Attorney was recently changed substantially.

We think that it is important for many of our clients to review their existing estate plans in light of these developments. The purpose of this Client Alert is to briefly summarize the planning considerations in each of these areas.

Scheduled Estate and Gift Tax Changes

The 2010 tax act set the lifetime exemption amount for the estate, gift and generation-skipping (GST) taxes at $5 million per person (indexed for inflation) for 2011 and 2012.? (The indexed exemption amount is $5,120,000 for 2012).? This is the amount that an individual can transfer via lifetime gifts, or at death, without incurring a federal ?transfer tax? (that is, an estate, gift or GST tax).? The 2010 tax act also set the maximum federal transfer tax rate at 35%.? Effectively, this lifetime exemption amount allows a married couple to gift $10 million in 2012 (assuming no prior taxable gifts) without incurring any gift tax, thereby potentially reducing their eventual exposure to the federal estate tax by this amount (plus any subsequent appreciation on the gifts).

Unfortunately, under the 2010 tax act, these relatively favorable transfer tax provisions are scheduled to ?sunset? at the end of 2012.? Thus, under current law, in 2013 the lifetime estate, gift, and GST exemption amounts will drop to $1 million; and the estate, gift, and GST maximum tax rate will increase to 55%.

While there has been some speculation that Congress might move before year end to restore the more favorable (or similar) transfer tax rules for 2013 (or even repeal the transfer taxes) - that is only speculation at this time.? While Mr. Romney has come out in favor of estate tax repeal, President Obama does not appear to favor restoring the current favorable rules - let alone considering repeal of the transfer taxes.? So, the future of the transfer tax rules will very much depend on the outcome of this fall?s election, among other factors.

In this setting, individuals facing the potential for significant future federal estate taxes should give serious consideration as to whether it is feasible and desirable to embark on a gifting program this year that takes advantage of some or all of the $5 million per individual exemption ($10 million for married couples), and potentially reduces future estate taxes commensurately.

Of course, we recognize that for even our most financially secure clients, it may not appear feasible to make such significant outright gifts without jeopardizing their own lifestyles; and such significant gifts may not be consistent with their current philosophy and objectives for benefitting subsequent generations.? In that regard, our estate planning group can suggest a number of alternative techniques that will assure our client an income stream from the gifted assets, and/or assure that subsequent generations actually benefit from the gifts only in accordance with the objectives specified by our client.

Bush Era Tax Cuts and the Medicare Surtax

Favorable income tax rates included in legislation passed in 2001 and 2003 (the so-called Bush era tax cuts) are also scheduled to expire at the end of 2012.? As with the estate tax, the fate of those tax cuts is expected to depend on the outcome of the presidential election. Mr. Romney favors wholesale extension of the cuts, while President Obama favors increasing the rates for those with incomes over $250,000.

In addition, the 2010 health care legislation (often referred to as ?Obamacare?) included a provision that will levy an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on investment income beginning in 2013.? The tax will be imposed on married couples (filing joint tax returns) with modified adjusted gross income of $250,000 or more; and on single individuals with modified AGI of $200,000 or more.? This tax will be levied on net investment income, including interest, dividends, and capital gains.? For such higher income individuals, the tax will also be imposed on the taxable portion of any sale of a residence.? (On the sale of a residence, only the amount of the gain that exceeds 250,000 for single individuals, or $500,000 for married couples, is taxed).

With the additional taxes looming for 2013, clients should consider the benefits of accelerating income into 2012 (for example, by closing a sale on a residence before year end) to avoid the potentially higher taxes next year.

Market influences

Today?s historically low interest rates and depressed asset values make this an excellent time to engage in various estate planning techniques. These market conditions present several planning opportunities for transferring wealth at little or no gift tax cost.

Some of the strategies that are particularly effective in this type of market include:

  • Loans to family members

  • Sales to ?defective? grantor trusts - these trusts provide the grantor with the opportunity to remove future appreciation on selected assets from the grantor?s taxable estate while retaining control and an income stream from the assets.

  • Grantor retained annuity trusts (?GRATs?) - GRATs are irrevocable trusts to which a grantor transfers property while retaining the right to receive annual annuity payments for a specified term of years (i.e., another estate planning tool that can transfer future asset appreciation to beneficiaries at a relatively minimal gift tax cost).

  • Charitable lead annuity trusts (?CLATs?) - these are irrevocable trust to which a grantor contributes assets that are used to pay a fixed dollar amount to a charity for a period of time; with the remaining assets returned to the grantor, or distributed to his or her spouse, heirs or others at the end of the charitable term.? This vehicle can provide both a charitable deduction for the grantor, and an effective transfer tax planning strategy.

Ohio Financial Powers of Attorney

A financial power of attorney (POA) is a legal document an individual (the ?principal?) can use to appoint someone (the ?agent?) to act on his or her behalf regarding personal, financial and business matters.? Ohio revised its statute governing financial POAs effective March 12, 2012.? A key focus of the new law is preventing financial elder abuse; and, when it does occur, uncovering it and providing a remedy. The new law includes a statutory form with language designed to help prevent agents from abusing their power. The form lists actions that an agent may not take and includes a section called ?Important Information for Agent,? describing in plain English the agent?s duties and responsibilities.? While POAs created before March 22, 2012 will still be valid, clients may want to revise existing POAs to incorporate the new law?s provisions in order to minimize the risk of abuse by an agent, and to increase the likelihood that a financial institution will accept the POA.

Source: http://www.martindale.com/trusts-estates-law/article_Frantz-Ward-LLP_1555802.htm

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Childhood Abuse Linked to Diabetes, Heart Disease in Middle-Aged Women

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/childhood-abuse-linked-diabetes-heart-disease-middle-aged-160407622.html

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