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WASHINGTON, D.C. US home prices rose in most major cities in October compared with a year ago, pushed up by rising sales and a decline in the supply of available homes. Higher prices show the housing market is improving even as it moves into the more dormant fall and winter sales period.
The Standard & Poors/Case-Shiller national home price index released Wednesday increased 4.3 percent in October compared with a year ago. Thats the largest year-over-year increase in two and a half years, when a homebuyer tax credit temporarily boosted sales.
Prices rose in October from a year ago in 18 of 20 cities. Phoenix led all cities with a 21.7 percent gain, followed Detroit, where prices increased 10 percent. Prices declined in Chicago and New York.
Home prices fell in 12 of 20 cities in October compared with September. Monthly prices are not seasonally adjusted, so the decreases reflect the end of the peak buying season.
Still, the broader trend is encouraging. October marked the fifth straight month of year-over-year gains, after nearly two years of declines. Prices rose in mid-2010 in the final months before the tax credit expired. They had fallen sharply in 2008 and 2009.
It is clear that the housing recovery is gaining strength, said David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indexes.
The improvement in housing is adding to economic growth and most analysts expect that to continue in 2013.
But automatic tax increases and spending cuts that are set to take effect next week could drag down growth. The White House and Congress have so far failed to reach agreement on a way to avoid the fiscal cliff. President Barack Obama and congressional lawmakers will return to Washington on today to resume talks.
We expect home price appreciation to continue for the foreseeable future, because inventories are lean amid rising sales, said Joseph LaVorgna, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank. This assumes that a resolution to the `fiscal cliff is found ... otherwise, the recent positive trend in housing would most certainly be in jeopardy along with the rest of the current economic expansion.
Prices nationwide have recovered to about the same level as in the fall of 2003, according to the Case-Shiller index. They remain about 30 percent below the peak reached in the summer of 2006.
The S&P/Case-Shiller index covers roughly half of U.S. homes. It measures prices compared with those in January 2000 and creates a three-month moving average. The October figures are the latest available.
Solid gains in home prices have helped drive a modest recovery in the housing market. Rising prices encourage more potential buyers to come off the sidelines and purchase homes. And more people may put their homes on the market as they gain confidence that they can sell at a good price.
Higher home prices can also make homeowners feel wealthier and more likely to spend more. Consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of the U.S. economy.
Steady job gains and record-low mortgage rates have also helped propel the housing recovery. And the low supply of houses for sale is encouraging builders to start work on more homes. That should lead to more construction jobs.
The pace of home construction slipped in November but was still nearly 22 percent higher than a year earlier. Builders are on track this year to start work on the most homes in four years.
Builder confidence rose in December for a seventh straight month to the highest level in more than 6½ years, according to a survey released last week by the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo.
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You won't be able to dismiss this by usual means (escape or click button), but you can close it programatically based on user choices or actions.
"We are having a luau reception a month after we get married in Hawaii. Together we have 3 boys and wanted to incorporate us as a blended family and our funside for the luau. Perfect!"
"After looking at samples from a number of different companies I decided to order my wedding invitations from Wedding Paper Divas and I'm really glad I did! I submitted my artwork and within 2 days they had a digital proof for me to look at. I even received a phone call to let me know it had been sent. At this time I decided to make a quick change and they had a new proof to me within the hour. I was expecting to wait a couple weeks before receiving them but within 2 days of approving my final artwork they were already at my door! They look great, feel great and I'm so excited to send them out! Thank you for your excellent customer service!! I will highly recommend you to anyone I know that needs invitations and will be sure to come to you again when I need anything else!"
"I fell in love with our invitations once we received them! The quality of the paper and print was excellent. So far, the reactions from our guests upon opening them have basically been: "WOW". If you are looking for something unique, and a good way to show off your engagement photos, this is definitely the invitation to go with! The delivery time was also exceptional, as they arrived a week earlier than expected! Thank you so much Wedding Paper Divas! You've exceeded my expectations, and I would do it all over again! :)"
"I chose this card because I wanted my invite to be folded as well as have photos on it. This fit the bill perfectly. On the cover I had just one large photo of us, while the bottom three were other themes (flowers, heart, and bible verse). The quality was just what I wanted and I was able to fit my wedding invitation wording into it with no problem. I have gotten so many compliments on it! My only small complaint was that there was not an standard option to put text on the back. I would have loved to put my registry, rsvp info, etc. back there. But ended up buying shipping label stickers and sticking on in the back and they turned out just fine! I would definitely buy them again!"
"So much fun to design the cards before making a final decision. We used the photo cards to make it much more personal and give our guests a keepsake. We hope to do the same for the Thank You card where we use a wedding photo. I was very pleased with the quality of the paper although the colour of the groom's shirt was off a bit. It was a royal blue and it came out purple. It looked okay on the computer though. We haven't yet sent out our invitations but I am sure there will be lots of oohs and aahs. Thank you."

subset: commoncrawl


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Power-Sonic has been a leading force in the global battery business for over 42 years. Our Company has thrived due to our commitment to provide high quality cost effective batteries, backed by a level of service that is second to none.
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PS, PSG and PSH-Series General Purpose used for :
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PG-Series Long Life used for :
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- Motorcycles
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Whitewashing is a painting technique that lends a Swedish country look to wood while letting its rich grain show through. From the likes of this DesignSponge post on DIY whitewash, it seems like it's pretty simple task as well. Just mix up some white and gray paint with water and you're good to go. We think it would make a charming way to add some personality to humdrum furnishings and even unfinished doors. Get the step-by-step instructions.
Published at 1:00 PM PDT on Sep 24, 2010


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Welcome to the British Airways Affiliate Marketing programme; sign up today and start earning commission straight away on flights, hotels and car rental bookings made on ba.com.
This programme is not available for Travel Agents as it is not for sales or distribution. The affiliate scheme is an advertising programme that rewards media or site owners for displaying British Airways affiliate advertisements that link directly to ba.com.
If you join you will earn commission on a qualifying transaction, which is a valid flight, holiday, car rental, or hotel booking made on ba.com. This must be within the cookie period and your link must be the last one used to direct the customer to make their booking on ba.com.
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We are here to help you and you should be able to access all the resources you need including merchandising ideas, graphics, links etc through the affiliate network of your choice. Additionally, you can contact BA for more help by e-mailing firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The Scoopin' Spoon is designed to make learning to self-feed easy and fun every step of the way! An extra deep bowl with rim keeps food on the spoon - all the way from plate to mouth. There's less mess!
- Easy to get and keep food on spoon
- Great for toddler favorites like soup and cereal
- Soft, flexible spoon is easy to eat from
- Includes 2 per package
Ages: 12 months & up


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Oct. 4, 2012 -- Injections of Botox may be as good as pills for putting the brakes on an overactive bladder.
Overactive bladder is marked by a sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate, which can lead to the involuntary loss of urine, called urge incontinence. Botox works by relaxing the bladder muscle. It is already FDA-approved to treat urinary incontinence due to overactive bladder related to nerve damage from conditions such as multiple sclerosis and spine injury.
But doctors are allowed to use their own judgment to prescribe Botox "off-label" to treat overactive bladder from other causes.
Medications called anticholinergics are also used for overactive bladder. They work to relieve symptoms by relaxing the muscles of the bladder.
In a new study of nearly 250 women who had urge incontinence, a one-time Botox injection in the bladder worked as well as daily pills at reducing episodes of urinary incontinence at six months. Fully 70% of women in both groups reported an average of three leaks a day at the six-month mark compared to an average of five a day at the start of the study.
What's more, twice as many women who received the Botox reported that their incontinence went away.
Still, much like with wrinkles, the effects of Botox on the bladder don't last forever. Women will likely need another injection within nine months to a year to keep their bladder symptoms under control.
The findings are published in the Oct. 4, 2012, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine and being presented at the annual meeting of the American Urogynecologic Society in Chicago.
Botox, Medication Reduce Daily Leaks
"Both Botox and medicine reduced daily bladder leakage," says researcher Anthony G. Visco, MD. He is the chief of the urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery division at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. "Botox as another option and if it is FDA-approved for this, it will expand the choices that women have."
If Botox gets broader FDA approval for overactive bladder, insurance will likely begin to cover the cost, which can be up to $1,000 per treatment.
Both the oral medications and the injections can have side effects. In the study, some women complained that the pills caused dry mouth, while the shot led to urine retention, and increased the chance of needing a catheter to drain the bladder. Twice the number of women in the Botox group got urinary tract infections compared to the pill group.
Botox injections to the bladder are performed in a doctor's office and are not as painful as they sound, Visco says. Doctors often use a numbing agent as well. "Most women tolerate it very well and some don't feel it at all."
Overactive Bladder Robs Quality of Life
Overactive bladder is more than just a nuisance. "People minimize it and think it just means that you have to constantly run to the bathroom," he says.
It can be much worse.
"Our bladders are lined by muscle and when we void, the muscle contracts and empties out our bladder and this is good when it works properly," Visco says. With overactive bladder, the contractions occur randomly and leakage can be drips or the full contents of bladder.
"It is unpredictable, and can occur at work, in a store, or on an airplane," he says.
"Overactive bladder is a very humbling and embarrassing condition that can affect a woman's professional, personal, and intimate life," says Linda Brubaker, MD. She is a co-author on the study and the dean of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. "They have to wear bulky pads and undergarments and carry or keep spare clothing in their bags, car, or place of work."
Botox injections can be tried before medications, she says. "This study shows us that we could try Botox first. It is an appropriate first-line treatment that has pros and cons just like all other treatments."
More Options for Women With Overactive Bladder
This option may be especially important for women who don't like to take pills, Brubaker says.
Robert Moldwin, MD, says the new study does mean that Botox may be another option for women with overactive bladder. He is a urologist at the Arthur Smith Institute for Urology, part of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in New Hyde Park, N.Y.
But, as with oral medications, Botox does have side effects. "Another downside to Botox is that it is a done deal and you have to live with the results," he says. This is great if you like the effects, and not so great if you don't or develop side effects like recurring infections.


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Partly Cloudy
Wind: 10 mph
As I read in The Valley Reporter a couple weeks ago about constables in Warren, it seems the Warren Select Board wants control of the constable position and is looking to make it a possibly paid position. I, for one, do not want the constable position to be any more than a ceremonial position. In a meeting with state police and the sheriff's department several months ago, it was made pretty clear that in the reality of things there has been no great increase in crime.
I felt or interpreted they felt there was no need for more law enforcement while not saying a little extra help would not hurt. They said it was a decision for the town, which is, I guess, why the vote for select board control over the position of constable is happening. At present, they control the cash for the position and that includes roughly $5,000 to insure the constable position for wrongful death if they were to accidentally shoot someone. I, for one, want to see no funding for the constable positions! The position of constable should stay as it was, a basic ceremonial position with no guns and no authority! We do not need another expense. This is going to be voted on at Town Meeting not by Australian ballot – the select few will decide again when the issue is voted from the floor.
I think the select board should worry about the $4.2 million-plus/minus in paving expenses that I believe we have no money in the budget for; correct me if I am wrong. There was roughly $286,000-plus/minus in the budget when the Sugarbush Access Road was paved. I believe Sugarbush was responsible for making that project happen with both money and time; again, correct me if I am wrong. But I think some select board members are more worried about sidewalks in the village than real issues such as the paving of the roads, and where is the money going to come from?
Last but not least, $127,000-plus/minus is proposed for a new classroom for Warren School which will also be voted from the floor of Town Meeting at the school board meeting. This is again an important issue being decided by a select few.
So these are a few things that face the citizens of Warren, but don't trust me; look into it for yourselves. I know I sound terrible, but I do thank the select board and the school board for their time and hard work they put in. But just because I tend to disagree does not mean I am not grateful, but your work is for the town as a whole and not the selected few. Also I thank the constables for their hard work on the constable project. But it is a service I do not think we need or can afford.
So, do you care enough one way or another to show up at your local Town Meeting if you can?
Tim Seniff lives in Warren.