Are you planning a getaway to the wonderful tourist attraction – the Niagara Falls. This beautiful and wonderful fall forms the border separating the State of Ontario on the Canadian side from New York in the United States. The Canadian part of the falls is referred to as the Horse shoe falls and in the United States side it is known as the American Falls. The Niagara Falls is truly a sight to behold that would leave a lasting impression for life. The Niagara is one of the most romantic locations that offer the perfect setting for a romantic holiday. You can even plan for a truly memorable honeymoon here. Imagine the Niagara right outside your window, oh! What a romantic setting. There are hotels at Niagara that offer suites with a beautiful fall view. With the beautiful falls forming the perfect backdrop for a gourmet meal and also your bedroom view, guess one cannot ask for more.

Over the years, this picturesque destination has witnessed a huge inflow of visitors. The Niagara Falls plays the perfect host to millions of visitors all year round. Summer is the best time to be here. This is when the Niagara resembles a beautiful bride all decked up. During this time the falls are a vibrant and beautiful sight to behold both during the day and at night. With the floodlights from the Canadian part of the falls illuminating the Niagara till midnight, it really is a beauty.

The Maid of the Mist boat cruise in Niagara Falls is one that you must experience while you are here. This is truly an opportunity of a lifetime. There are a number of boats that operate making it a wonderful experience. You can even decide to take the helicopter tour over the Niagara that offers an absolutely breathtaking scene.

A real marvel of nature, the Niagara Falls offers a number of opportunities for the tourist whether on a romantic vacation, a family holiday or an adventurous trip. Hotels here make a real value addition to your holiday with the luxury, comfort and service that is fit for a king. The hotels also offer services of sight seeing and help make your holiday truly memorable. With pre-planned and well-arranged guided tours you do not have to wait in the long queues for seeing the beautiful tourist spots. All arrangements for you to walk in straight are made in advance ensuring your comfort and convenience. The best tourist spots with a number of activities are planned making it totally hassle free for you. You do not have to worry about taking care of the little details that can be rather troublesome on a holiday. Just book your accommodation and specify your requirements and you can be rest assured that your hotel would take care of all your needs.

Make your bookings in advance to avoid disappointments. The bookings can also be made online. Book your accommodation and get ready to have a time of your life at the Niagara Falls. Happy holidays!!!

The US dollar has hit a 14-year low against the Japanese yen with low interest rates in the US making the greenback less attractive to investors.

The dollar slipped to 86.5 yen, its lowest level since July 1995.

The US has indicated it is unconcerned about the dollar’s slide, and will not intervene to strengthen it.

Many traders are swapping dollar holdings for gold as a safer investment in the current uncertain economic climate.

The price of gold is currently at a record high of $1,194.5 an ounce.

Close watch

“This yen strengthening is caused by dollar selling rather than yen buying, so this is not something Japan can handle itself,” said Yutaka Miura at Mizuho Securities.

“This trend will continue unless the Japanese government takes action, in co-operation with the US.”

In the short term at least, analysts said such intervention was unlikely.

Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii said that he was keeping “close tabs” on the yen and would take “appropriate measures” if exchange rates “moved abnormally”.

But his comments did little to ease worries among investors.

“He is finance minister, so of course he should be monitoring foreign exchange closely,” said Tsuyoshi Segawa at Mizuho Securities.

The strengthening yen relative to the dollar caused Japanese shares to fall, with the main Nikkei 225 index dragged lower by major exporters, whose products become more expensive in the US as the yen strengthens.

The dollar has also fallen significantly against the pound and the euro this year.

Today I want to share more ideas on home safety for the older person.  These are some things that I look at when assessing their safety in the bathroom.  (This is not intended as an all-inclusive list, and it may vary depending on client-specific issues).

• Can they easily and safely access the restroom?  So many of the older homes have very narrow entry ways.  I recently performed an assessment for an elderly man who used a walker.  The entry to his bathroom was 22″ wide!  No way he could get in safely with his walker.
• Is there adequate space to turn in around?  Seems simple, but not really for the person using a walker or other device.
• If the clients bathes rather than showers, are they safe to get into and out of the tub?  Can they clear the step over into the tub (sometimes 14″ high)?  Often times, weakness of the legs and balance deficits will render this simple task impossible.  Sometimes a simple shower chair and a hand held shower hose will meet the need for bathing, without having to sit completely down in the tub.
• If there is a walk in shower, one still needs to assess the client’s ability to step into the shower and clear the threshold into the shower.
• Does the floor have a non-skid surface, or if there is a throw rug, does it have a non-skid back?  (Personal opinion: I recommend removal of throw rugs if there is even a hint of fall risk…)
• Can the person easily access the toilet, and can they easily and safely get up from the toilet?  An inexpensive toilet seat extender with arm rests can make a world of difference.
• Is the light switch easily accessible?  This is especially important for the older person who uses  walker, as they need to be able to turn the light on without removing both hands from the walker.  Also, there needs to be adequate night light in the bathroom.
• As with other areas of the home, the issue of clutter removal must be addressed in the bathroom.

In my opinion, any home safety assessment should include a gait and balance assessment of the client.  Severe balance problems that have not been addressed will probably lead to falls, even if the home is otherwise “safe”.  A word to all life care planners or others who hire a PT to do a home safety evaluation- ask them if they are going to include a balance and gait assessment as well.

Medical News: Three Drug Classes Associated with Falls in the Elderly – in Primary Care, Geriatrics from MedPage Today

More than 30% of people ages 65 years and older experience a fall annually. Falls are associated with more than 40% of nursing home admissions, so research into risk factors “is urgently needed,” according the the researchers.

 

GM’s plan to sell its Saab division appears dead after a Swedish specialty automaker backed out of a deal to buy the unit.

A Swedish group has backed out of buying Saab, putting the Swedish carmaker’s future in doubt.(Hector Mata/Associated Press)

The future of the troubled brand was cast into doubt Tuesday after General Motors Co. said Koenigsegg Group AB had decided to end the deal announced in June because it had trouble arranging financing.

Financial details of the planned Saab acquisition have never been disclosed, but Koenigsegg said in August it lacked about $417 million US to conclude the transaction.

GM tried to unload the Swedish brand as it restructured under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year.

The apparent death of the Saab deal comes on the heels of GM’s shocking decision earlier this month to back out of a proposal to sell its European Opel and Vauxhall operations to a consortium led by Canada’s Magna International Inc.

The Detroit automaker came under fire for backing out of that sale after European governments had arranged millions in bridge financing and concessions.

And in September, a deal that would have seen auto dealer and former racer Roger Penske buy GM’s Saturn brand fell through.

GM chief executive Fritz Henderson said the automaker is disappointed in the Saab decision and will take several days to figure out what to do.

Financing problems

A person briefed on the deal said Tuesday that Koenigsegg informed GM of the decision Monday, and Saab’s future is now unclear. GM’s board will have to decide the company’s next move, said the person, who asked not to be identified.

Koenigsegg Group, a tiny maker of high-priced exotic sports cars, stated Tuesday that it came to the “painful and difficult conclusion” that it couldn’t complete the deal.

“The time factor has always been critical for our strategy to breathe new air into the company,” it said. “Unfortunately delays in the completion of the deal have resulted in risks and uncertainties that stop us from carrying out the business plan.”

Saturn of Clarksville closesGM Europe chief resigns

Ellenborough Falls are located to the west of Taree in New South Wales, Australia. To get there from Taree simply follow Tourist Drive 8.

The falls drop some 200m over the escarpment. There are a number of viewing areas giving good falls of the waterfall.

For more information visit:

http://www.kevinswilderness.com/NSW/ellenborough_falls.html

You would think that she would know that this dance move would be a little dangerous… O well.. It was worth a good laugh..

@ 2:35 mark. Pow!

WINNERS LIST at the AMAs 2009

ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Taylor Swift

POP/ROCK

Favorite Male Artist: Michael Jackson
Favorite Female Artist: Taylor Swift
Favorite Band, Duo, or Group: The Blackeyed Peas
Favorite Album: Number Ones, Michael Jackson

COUNTRY

Favorite Male Artist: Keith Urban
Favorite Female Artist: Taylor Swift
Favorite Band, Duo, or Group: Rascal Flatts
Favorite Album: Fearless, Taylor Swift

SOUL/R&B

Favorite Male Artist: Michael Jackson
Favorite Female Artist: Beyonce
Favorite Band, Duo, or Group: The Black Eyed Peas
Favorite Album: Number Ones, Michael Jackson

RAP/HIP-HOP

Favorite Male Artist: Jay-Z
Favorite Album: Blueprint 3, Jay-Z

ADULT CONTEMPORARY

Favorite Artist: Taylor Swift
LATIN MUSIC

Favorite Artist: Aventura

ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC

Favorite Artist: Green Day

CONTEMPORARY/ INSPIRATIONAL

Favorite Artist: Mary Mary

————————————————————-

PERFORMANCES

Adam Lambert’s Provacative Performance

click to enlarge

Jennifer Lopez Falls during Performance (VIDEO)



Great AMA News Online Links:

This is just another shot taken from the Gloucester River Falls area on the Gloucester River in the Gloucester Tops section of Barrington Tops National park.

This photo shows just one of the many numerous smaller falls along this section of the river.

J-Lo just busted her ass on the AMA’s.

Only some natural wonders stir the passion as does the famous Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls – one of the must see tourist attractions in the globe presents an awesome & breathtaking views to every visitor. There is no single falls called ‘Niagara Falls’. It’s actually the name of the collection of falls – these being Horseshoe Falls & America Falls. The Niagara falls, which include the boundary of Canada & the USA, include three separate sections: The American Falls between Prospects Point & Luna Islands; the Bridal Veil Waterfalls between Luna Islands & Goat Islands & the Canadian Horse shoe Falls between Goat Islands & Table Rocks.

The greatness of the falls, second in volume only to Victoria Falls in South Africa, has long been a motivation to world artists, writers, travelers, entrepreneurs, film producers, & conservationists as well as a broad range of daredevils, acrobats, & assorted advertising seekers. Carved more than 11,000 years ago by the Wisconsin Glaciers, Niagara Falls has roared through the ages power-driven by waters from the Huge Lakes channeled through the powerful Niagara River to a stunning destination. Niagara is one of the mainly commercially utilized falls in the globe. The facilities offered to the travelers make this place a heaven of enjoyment seekers. Fireworks scheduled all through the summer season add to the stunning effect. It’s no wonder that this waterfall remains as one of the most excellent money spinners to the tourism branches of both US & Canada. Niagara Falls is a bit of a tourist Mecca. On your travels you will shortly realize – you are in the pits of the tourism whirlpool.

The Niagara Waterfalls on the River Niagara is in reality a cluster of four falls coming between two nations, Canada & the US. It is just 18 miles southeast from Buffalo New York & 80 miles from Toronto Canada. The waterfalls in the Canadian section -known as the Horseshoe Falls; is the largest of the four. The United States side has two falls The American falls & the Bridal Weil Falls. Niagara Waterfalls that discharges three million cubic liters of water every sixty seconds is the largest in the Northern American continent. In winter, water flows constantly, though mist & water creates ice structures along the banks of the falls. This ice bridge sometimes extends for several miles.

Niagara Waterfalls has something for everyone to see & enjoy. Niagara Waterfalls holds mystery & intrigue for people around the globe. For travelers Niagara sites have got an atmosphere of saga; wind that Cave of the Wind, the thundering waters, & its high speed breeze, invigorating the sagging soul & spirit! , the neighboring are is too much entertaining with lots of activities to do. Historic combat zone dating back to the War of 1813 offer an afternoon of exploration & education. Museums, forts, & taverns provide a glance into a life that was completely different from what we know & expect.

A Reality Check on Wilderness Dangers                                 

Drowning: Major danger

Sliding & Falls: Biggest danger in the wilderness!

Rockfalls, Avalanches, Landslides: Rare danger

Lightening Strikes: Rare danger

Freezing, Cold Winds: Major cause of problems

Sun & Heat: Major cause of problems and distress

Wildfire: Extremely rare

Wildlife: Very rare

~~~

With all we hear about the dangers of wild animals, it is hard to imagine that interactions are rare.  What if you meet a (card-carrying) member of the wildlife community?

Tips for Staying Alive

Deer

You might be amused to see ‘deer’ included in dangerous wildlife.  However, they can be extremely dangerous.

See my previous story: “Amazing Info of 2008: Published by (Gasp) Others!”  Read about Randy Goodman (bottom half of the article), who learned  about “UN-dead” deer the hard way!

You Should…

Be cautious around a deer that is down.  Make sure he is really dead.  After making various other tests … the gold standard is:  If you can touch a deer’s eye, he’s dead.

Things That May Cause Deer to Attack

• Being startled
• Rutting

How You Can Stay Safe

• If you’re not hunting, make noise while moving
• During rutting,  stay out-of-the-way and near cover

If a Deer is Coming AT You

• Stop because he will run away if he can
• If you’re attacked, run and find some cover
• Hitting, kicking and yelling is a  (poor 3rd) and least-helpful choice

~~

Mountain Lion

You Should…

• Avoid areas where mountain lions are known to live
• Be careful around areas with steep, wooded land
• Watch yourself in bushy, rocky land

Things That May Cause Mountain Lion to Attack

• If their young are nearby
• If the cat is wounded
• If the cat is hungry
• If you are running away like his usual prey would

How You Can Stay Safe

• Don’t approach a lion kill (unless you want to be dessert)
• Don’t approach ANY mountain lion
• Don’t decide to break in your new jogging shoes in lion country!

If a Mountain Lion is Coming AT You

• Stop
• Do NOT make eye contact with lion
• Make yourself look “big” and yell loudly (Your TARZAN yell might work). Be sure to beat your chest!
• If attacked, this is no time to fight back …
• Instead, curl up to protect your vital organs
• Yell, hit and kick … only as (a poor and) a last choice!

~~~

Next week: We will take on bears, snakes and other wildlife!

~~~

This blog is a companion to my website: EasyOnlineOrdering.com

This picture is of the Gloucester River above the falls pictured in the last two posts.

There are a series of falls along this stretch of the river, including a section I have been unable to reach because of the drop. One day I hope to trace the river upstream and locate the last section of the falls and get some photos.

The area photographed includes some great little spots for a dip on a hot day.

Falls are always an issue when you’re working with seniors, but the recent string of articles in the Star Tribune about falls in nursing homes should serve as a reminder to all of us that we have to be diligent about preventing falls. I have some materials here that you can download:

In terms of preventing falls, you’ll want to look over the Falls Risk Assessment.

After a fall, you’ll need the Post Fall Evaluation Form.

And for the seniors in your family, you’ll want to print out the Checklist for Seniors that will tell seniors what they can do to prevent falls in their own homes. Remember, preventing falls saves a lot of money. One fall can incur the costs of one ambulance ride, one hospitalization, and about thirty days in a TCU.

Eu me pergunto: para quê?

Há algumas semanas fui até Niagara Falls conhecer a rota das vinícolas, famosa na região. Uma hora de carro de Toronto, a viagem é bastante aprazível e o trajeto igualmente. É possível apreciar a mudança de estação marcante na folhagem das árvores, o volume de carros seguindo para o freeshop na fronteira dos EUA, a fábrica de chocolates Hershey e os castores descuidados que morrem atropelados pelos motoristas mais descuidados ainda.

No meio do caminho, eis que cruzo com a dita “menor igreja do mundo”. Com a decadência da igreja católica no mundo, o tamanho em questão vem a calhar. Quanto menor, mais cheia.

Do tamanho da porta

Vasculhei a web e encontrei um vídeo que mostra o interior da “capela”. O vídeo é em chinês (eu acho), e sem legenda. Agora eu quero saber, caro leitor, por que uma igreja desse tamanho??

Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index, which now tracks 186 companies and four mutual funds on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, lost 0.75 percent or 4.21 points Friday induced by a bearish global market.

The index finished at 555.84 as trade volume dropped by 20 percent over Thursday. More than 53.2 million shares worth nearly VND2.67 trillion (US$149.4 million) changed hands.

Shares zigzagged several times during the session and most performed well until the first half before investors rushed to dump stocks. Among the index members, declines outnumbered gains by 127 to 38 and 21 shares were unchanged. Most blue-chips closed down.

Minh Phu Seafood Joint Stock Co. in the Mekong Delta Ca Mau Province was the biggest loser November 20, followed by Taya (Vietnam) Electric Wire and Cable Joint Stock Co. (TYA) in Dong Nai Province neighboring the city and the city-based Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading Joint Stock Co. (TCM).

The top three active stocks in volume saw Saigon Securities Inc. (SSI) top the list with more than 2.73 million shares traded on the city bourse. The country’s largest brokerage based in HCM City slid 1.12 percent to VND88,500.

Petrovietnam Transportation Corp. (PVT) in HCM City, which gained 4.89 percent to VND19,300, was next having more than 2.42 million shares traded, followed by Saigon Commercial Bank or Sacombank (STB) which saw 1.94 million shares change hands at VND27,200, down 0.73 percent over Thursday.

After the bell, petrol stocks saw robust growth as An Pha SG Petrol Joint Stock Co. (ASP), the bourse’s biggest listed liquefied petroleum gas importer and trader, rose 4.65 percent to VND17,200. The company has raised VND100 billion ($5.6 million) by selling 1 million five-year convertible bonds through private placement, it said in a statement filed on the exchange website Thursday.

Dong Phu Rubber Joint Stock Co. (DPR), Vietnam’s third-largest listed producer, dropped 0.83 percent to VND60,500 after reaching the highest since October 29 the day earlier. Rubber on Thursday climbed to the highest level in almost 14 months after shippers in Thailand, the world’s largest producer, raised prices to foreign buyers as heavy rain curbed output.

Tan Tao Investment Industry Corp. (ITA) lost 2.56 percent to VND42,900. The city-based company is going to list an extra 2.1 million shares on the exchange, according to a statement filed on the exchange website Friday.

Hanoi’s HNX-Index also stayed in the red, falling to 184.79, down 0.89 points or 0.48 percent. Around 24.4 million shares worth VND 986 billion changed hands.

UP-CoM index didn’t perform any better tumbling 1.56 percent or 1.02 points to 64.44. A total of 62,230 shares were traded at VND809.5 million.

In the US, signs of a subdued economic recovery sent investors out of stocks Thursday and in search of safer assets like the dollar. Major indexes including the Dow Jones industrial average tumbled about 1 percent. Energy and material stocks logged the biggest losses as a jump in the dollar sent commodity prices tumbling. Meanwhile, an analyst’s downgrade of the chip industry pulled technology shares sharply lower.

As stocks fell, investors flocked to the dollar and Treasurys.

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In sports, testosterone shots or creams are supposed to be magic bullets that spur athletes to train harder, run or bicycle more quickly, jump higher, swim faster, hit a baseball farther, recover sooner, and, let’s not forget, increased sex drive and combativeness.

Testosterone injections can make male rats more aggressive in marking their territories, cause castrated red deer to grow antlers, and induce female rhesus monkeys to screech like males. In studies on humans, testosterone injections have increased and strengthened muscles.

Now research has shown men 65 years and older with low testosterone have more falls than men of similar age with higher levels of the sex hormone.

Researchers think this might be because low testosterone levels also lead to impaired vision, muddled thinking and poor coordination, according to a study by the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. The research found men with the lowest testosterone levels had a 40 per cent higher risk of falling.

Die Sooner Too

The study involved 2,587 men aged 65 to 99 starting in 2000 and continuing to March of 2005. Their testosterone levels were checked through a blood test, their grip strength, leg power and balance ability were recorded and every four months they reported whether they had fallen.

Testosterone decline is a normal part of aging in men. The doctors noted that previous studies have shown that older men with reduced testosterone who got shots of testosterone experienced an increase in muscle mass and strength.

Older men with low levels of the hormone testosterone may die sooner than other men their age with normal testosterone levels, another study suggests. But no “cause-and-effect” link has been established to justify testosterone supplementation, the professionals say.

Regain Youth with Testosterone

Researchers found that among 794 generally healthy older men, those with the lowest testosterone levels were 40 percent more likely to die within the 1985-2004 study period.

“Like women on hormone replacement therapy, many older men are turning to testosterone therapy to regain some of what has been lost physically and mentally in the aging process,” said Dr. Eric Orwoll, a professor of medicine at the Oregon school.

“These results validate the need for more research on this trend in treatment for men in the advanced years of life.”

Testosterone in Herbal Products

The herb tribulus terrestris has been shown in clinical trials in Europe to naturally build testosterone levels in men when taken as a dietary supplement. If you want to give testosterone levels a boost but don’t want to resort to injections, this in one option to consider.  Herbal Products like Herbal Ignite have been used with success by thousands of men to  increase testosterone levels and with them, enjoy the benefits including better sexual performance and higher energy levels. For more information see www.herbalignite.com.usa.

Photo: Mel Rodriguez Texas Film Maker

By Clara Cobb Friday, 23 October 2009

AUSTIN — Northwest Austin resident Patrick Sullivan will be one of about 3,000 attending the 16th annual Austin Film Festival and Conference.

The festival, Oct. 22-29, is one of the top film festivals in the country, with Austin being ranked among the best places to make films. In 2008, MovieMaker magazine named Austin the No. 1 city to live, work and make movies.

Sullivan, a film fan and software engineer, entered his first screenplay into one of the AFF competitions and was chosen as one of the top 10 finalists from the 4,000 screenplays entered.

“I was pretty speechless when Alex [McPhail, AFF screenplay and teleplay competition director] called to tell me I made the semi-finals,” he said.

Austin Film Festival

Barbara Morgan, co-founder of the festival, takes pride in stories like Sullivan’s.

When Morgan started the festival with Marsha Milam in 1994, Austin had two small film festivals, but neither fully included the community nor focused on writing, she said. Since receiving its first entries 16 years ago, the festival has grown to be a premier event for screenwriters in the filmmaking industry.

“It ended up being wonderful,” Morgan said. “Every year we have phenomenal people that come, and that’s because of the writing focus. We’ve really stuck to our focus, and it has served us well.”

Incentives

In a press release, Gov. Rick Perry said the moving image industry has brought more than $1.2 billion to Texas in the past 10 years.

During the spring 2009 Texas legislative session, lawmakers invested in Texas creativity, passing a Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program led by Rep. Dawnna Dukes to make Texas more competitive with other popular filming destinations.

“It is very Texas-centric. It’s all about hiring Texans to do [film] work,” said Bob Hudgins, director of the Texas Film Commission. “Other states allow you to bring in nonresidents of the state. Our program makes sure that money for production is what they’ve actually spent here.”

The incentive is unique from similar initiatives in other states because it applies to a broad spectrum of filming including movies, television shows, commercials and video games. Under the new law, filmmakers are eligible to receive between 5 and 15 percent of their budget in cash from the state to go toward things such as hiring Texas residents as crew members. Various tax exemptions also apply under the new incentive.

“Texas did not need an incentive to have a film industry,” Hudgins said, adding now that it does, it is even more competitive. “Our phone has been ringing and there is a lot of interest in Texas. But there is great potential for more production.”

While AFF brings commerce and a boost to the Austin economy, it also stimulates dialogue among Austin filmmakers and filmgoers.

AFF is nationally recognized for being one of the things that has made Austin a film town because of its focus on developing creative talent.

“Austin is really special and is a great creative community. There isn’t a better creative city in the country,” Hudgins said.

Chale Nafus, program director at Austin Film Society, was a radio-television-film professor for more than 25 years at ACC.

While AFF historically has focused on screenwriting and business networking, the Austin Film Society focuses on sharing and appreciating filmmaking. While the two are separate organizations, they both share a common mission in helping people create and appreciate the cinema arts in Austin.

Nafus said he believes Austin became an A-list film town as homegrown talent reached the national spotlight—and brought their Hollywood friends back to the Lone Star State.

He said Austin’s universities, cost of living, youth culture and media arts nonprofits, like the Austin Film Society and Austin Film Festival, help make Austin a creative, sustainable and vital film city.

“[Austin’s film culture] always has come from a more grassroots approach, and that’s the key, really. Economically, the industry has a huge impact for Austin.” Nafus said. “Sometimes business people believe ‘if we build it, they will come.’ Certainly that is sometimes true. But this is more organic.”

Morgan agreed: Hollywood loves Austin. One of the reasons, she said, is the location. Within 30 miles of Austin filmmakers can find diversity with mountains, mesas, desert, piney woods and a big city.

“The other thing here is the creative culture. People fall in love with Austin, and the lifestyle and the culture,” Morgan said. “There is a lot of creativity that spurs the industry.”

Morgan said she also hopes the festival serves as a bridge for connecting talented, creative people and industry professionals, whether it is to create screenplays, films or just appreciate the art.

“Some say [the festival is] a door opener, but I think it’s more,” she said. “A lot of people have achieved a piece of their dream out of the festival.”

AFS Executive Director Rebecca Campbell said watching talent develop is one of the great things about being part of a film town. She encourages residents to experience Austin’s film culture at the festival or at any of the area’s many film events.

“I don’t want people to think, ‘Austin’s got this great film culture, but that’s really not me,’” Campbell said. “Whether it’s Austin Film Society or Austin Film Festival or any one of the other organizations, film is something worth checking out. From learners to aficionados, there is something for everyone here, and it’s worth supporting.

Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program

The Texas Moving Image Industry awarded $9,783,384 in grants in 2009 and created 2,082 jobs.

What to expect at the film festival

Film • Last year’s festival featured some of the biggest films of the year including “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Juno.” A variety of passes are available. Some will get film fans into one movie, while others offer a range of films throughout the festival’s eight-day run. Screenings take place in theaters and bars throughout downtown Austin.

Conference • Panels of writers, producers and film industry experts discuss the creative process of screenwriting and filmmaking. The conference includes four days of panels, Oct. 22-25, and takes place in the Driskill Hotel and Stephen F. Austin Hotel in downtown Austin. Speakers at this year’s conference include Ron Howard, Steven Zaillian and Mitchell Hurwitz.

Parties • Mingle with legendary screenwriters, filmmakers and other industry insiders during one of many parties presented by the Austin Film Festival and grab the opportunity to engage in conversations with peers and filmmakers about the art and craft of screenwriting and film.

For schedules and passes, visit www.austinfilmfestival.com.

Incentives

In a press release, Gov. Rick Perry said the moving image industry has brought more than $1.2 billion to Texas in the past 10 years.

However, Texas lost approximately 7,000 crew positions and $500 million in production spending to states with more competitive film incentives, such as New Mexico, whose feature film and television productions contributed $242 million to its state economy in 2008, and Louisiana, which earned $350 million in production in 2007. Currently, about 25 percent of Texas-based film professionals are working in these states, with some starting to relocate permanently.

Film incentive laws timeline:

2005 — Senate Bill 1142 required the Music, Film, Television, and Multimedia Office, located within the Office of the Governor, to establish a film industry incentive program for film production companies in Texas. A 5 percent rebate program is created, but the program is not fully funded until 2007.

2007 — House Bill 1634, led by Rep. Dawnna Dukes, provided $22 million to help Texas attract jobs in television and film production. The bill awarded 5 percent rebates in the form of grants. Grants could not exceed $2 million for a film, $2.5 million for a television program or $200,000 for a commercial.

Minimum qualification requirements included:

• $1 million in Texas spending
• 80 percent filmed in Texas
• At least 70 percent of the cast and crew be Texas residents

2009 — HB 873, also led by Dukes, created the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program. The program offers qualifying feature films, television programs, commercials, video games and stand-alone post-production/finishing projects the opportunity to receive a payment of 5 to 15 percent of eligible Texas spending upon completion of a review of their Texas expenditures. Both live-action and animated projects are eligible. This incentive program is in addition to Texas’ Sales Tax Exemptions. More than $8 million of the $22 million approved in HB 1634 is still available.

Minimum qualifications for film and television projects:

• $250,000 in Texas spending
• 60 percent of project filmed in Texas
• 70 percent of paid cast and crew must be Texas residents, except reality television and talk shows

By Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, November 19, 2009

Central Texas existing-home sales jumped nearly 38 percent in October as buyers took advantage of a federal tax credit for first-time homeowners and favorable mortgage interest rates.

It was the biggest year-over-year percentage gain in more than four years and encouraging news for a housing market that struggled for much of 2009.

But one housing expert cautioned that the market will remain challenging until the region starts growing jobs again.

“We’re still in an environment where the Austin region is losing more jobs than are being created,” said Eldon Rude, local director for Metrostudy, which conducts housing research in Austin and 32 other markets nationwide. “There remains a lot of uncertainty out there.”

The Austin Board of Realtors reported Wednesday that 1,823 single-family homes were sold last month, compared with 1,322 in October 2008.

Pending sales — transactions expected to close in November — were up 47 percent, an indicator of another strong month.

D’Ann Petersen, an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said the $8,000 tax credit “likely has a lot to do with the large increase, and we may be accelerating sales that would have occurred in the spring” into this year.

“Still, it is a positive sign and confirms some bottoming out that we’ve seen in housing statistics and have been hearing from in our anecdotal surveys,” she said.

Much like the Cash for Clunkers rebate program spurred car sales earlier this year, the tax credit has drawn hundreds of thousands of first-time buyers nationwide into the market.

The credit was set to expire Nov. 30 but recently was extended through April 30, with a new provision that allows a smaller credit for some move-up buyers.

Last month, 64 percent of sales were for homes priced between $100,000 and $249,999 — a typical range for first-time buyers.

The median price was $182,000, down 5 percent from a year earlier.

Experts say the tax credit, along with low mortgage rates, will continue to feed sales in the coming months.

“Home prices have softened a tad, but I think people are also looking at current interest rates,” said David Reed, senior loan officer with Integrity Home Mortgage. “In October 2008, buyers were seeing mortgage rates of nearly 7 percent. October 2009 buyers could find 4.875 percent at most any lender. That’s a huge difference.”

And Reed said that Austin continues to do better than many other cities.

Dallas-area home sales were up only 11 percent last month, for example, the first gain since September 2008. After being down sharply in the first half of the year, Austin-area home sales have been improving since July.

But some experts are cautious about the Austin economy.

Major high-tech employers have cut manufacturing jobs. And construction jobs have disappeared with the slowdown in commercial development.

Rude noted that traffic from relocation buyers — people moving to Austin for new jobs — is down significantly.

While the expanded tax credit widens the pool of potential buyers, Rude said, “until we see a resumption of positive job growth, we don’t expect the (housing) market to show real signs of strengthening.”

I thought that I might post some photos from my archives over the next week or so – specifically of a place I really love. The Gloucester River Falls on the Gloucester River of course, are located within the Gloucester Tops section of the Barrington Tops National Park in New South Wales, Australia. This area is my favourite spot in New South Wales.

Over the next week I hope to post photos of this area – not just the falls, but the surrounding area as well. I hope you enjoy them.

This particular view is a spot I would have to say is my favourite spot of the Gloucester Falls area. I have been trying to get the ‘just right’ shot for years.

I made this video, everyone!

Coincidentally, I sprained my ankle this weekend.

(breakingviews.com) — Gold is different from other commodities in many ways. Still, the price of the yellow metal depends on the same three factors as oil or wheat: supply, demand, and financial conditions. Put them together, and the 20% increase since August might only be the beginning.

Start with supply. Production from mines totaled 2,414 tons in 2008, worth $88 billion at the November 16 price. There will be more this year, but less from 2010 onwards. It will take years for new mines to come on stream. Recycling from scrap jewelry and official gold sales were worth $40 billion in 2008, but those sources aren’t likely to cough up much more.

One central bank has even become a buyer. India recently purchased 200 tons of gold from the International Monetary Fund. If China decided to put 10% of its $2.3 trillion of official reserves into gold, it would need to buy up almost three years’ worth of production, at the current price.

Such a big move isn’t likely, but smaller shifts from central banks — selling less — could be enough to move the price, as long as other demand keeps up. That’s likely. The long period of ultra-easy money may not be undermining the monetary system, but many people fear it might. Some of them will buy some more gold, just in case. With yields on government bonds so low, gold looks like cheap insurance.

Indeed, financial conditions favor all commodities, gold included. Interest rates are low and banks are more willing to support investors and speculators than to lend to businesses and consumers. Besides, commodities look like a good store of value in the midst of unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus in a world of still significant imbalances.

When money is easy and demand moves much faster than supply, prices can explode. In 18 months from July 1978, gold went from $185 per ounce to $850. That’s $2,400 in today’s dollars. And interest rates then were much higher than now. A similar price rise from here would bring gold to more than $5,000 per ounce.