Well, she has just had a payrise! Modern Family star Sofia Vergara heads to the shops to buy furniture - Daily Mail

Well, she has just had a payrise! Modern Family star Sofia Vergara heads to the shops to buy furniture - Daily Mail

By Emily Sheridan

PUBLISHED: 05:42 EST, 1 August 2012 | UPDATED: 09:19 EST, 1 August 2012

She's just a substantial payrise and is said to be planning her wedding, so there's plenty of reasons for Sofia Vergara to hit the shops.

In between filming the new series of Modern Family, the Colombian actress and a friend headed out to look at furniture in Los Angeles.

Having just had her salary increased from a reported $65,000 to 175,000 an episode, Sofia's already healthy bank balance has been boosted even more.

Plenty to smile about: Modern Family star Sofia Vergara shops in West Hollywood yesterday

So you can't blame the 40-year-old actress for wanting to spend her money.

Her on/off boyfriend Nick Loeb reportedly proposed to her during her 40th birthday celebrations last month.

And although she was wearing a large ring on her left hand yesterday, she is yet to confirm the engagement.

Looking casual in a white T-shirt, jeans and wedges, the brunette looked in good spirits as she chatted to her male friend.

Looking for inspiration: Sofia peruses the store looking for items for her home

Casual: The Colombian actress was accompanied by a male friend as she shopped

Bling: Sofia was wearing a large ring on her engagement finger

She headed into Christopher Guy furniture store in Beverly Hills, as well as other stores.

Her shopping excursion comes after she and some of her Modern Family co-stars dropped a lawsuit against the show's producers over a salary dispute.

Sofia, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell were arguing that their contracts are illegal under California law as they prohibited personal service contracts from extending for more than seven years.

The lawsuit asked a judge to rule the contracts are illegal and should be voided because they prohibit the actors from other work.

Glossy: Sofia's hair was styled in loose curls around her face

It stated the contracts bind the actors to work on the series from February 2009 until June 2016.

However they have since come to an agreement with ABC producers which has reportedly seen them settle for $175,000 per episode, as well as a slice of the profits for the whole organisation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The actors’ salary will reportedly increase to $350,000 per episode by the show’s eighth season.

Back on: Sofia is currently filming the fourth season of Modern Family

Showbiz roundup. Kate best dressed, Candice best undressed & 007 dressed down 

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Finally an Hermes bag that's not a Birkin. She looks great too.

- Am, Michigan, USA, 01/8/2012 17:03

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Love this woman! She deserves all the happiness in the world!

- Naughti 1, Jamdown, 01/8/2012 16:22

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She needs a stylist

- L., London, 01/8/2012 15:28

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Are these pictures even taken on the same day?!? She has a long sleeve white top on with no necklace & stone washed jeans on in one pic & another outfit on in a different snap!

- A Ray of Sunshine, What used to be Great Britain!, 01/8/2012 12:13

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Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

California Free Lunch Program: Schools Offer Meals That Few Kids Eat - Huffington Post

California Free Lunch Program: Schools Offer Meals That Few Kids Eat - Huffington Post

This article comes to us courtesy of California Watch.

By Joanna Lin

At lunchtime at Cambridge Elementary School, you'd never know that the last day of school was more than a month ago. For one month this summer, Monday through Friday, more than 300 kids packed the Concord school's cafeteria for free lunches.

Most of the kids gobbling up cheese pizza, chicken nuggets and carrots are participating in summer learning programs at the campus. But, as indicated by a big red banner hanging on the school's fence, anyone 18 years old and younger was invited to the free meals.

"If I see somebody out there, I'll go drag them in - 'Go eat! Go in!' " said Colleen Ivie, the school's cafeteria manager.

Still, Ivie said, the school would not have fed nearly as many kids without summer school.

Across California, the loss of summer learning opportunities has lowered participation in federally funded summer meal programs, according to a recent report by California Food Policy Advocates. Summer school provides a central location where students congregate; without it, kids are scattered and more difficult to reach.

Participation in July 2011 - an average of nearly 387,000 children per day - was 6 percent lower than it was a year earlier and nearly 30 percent lower than it was in July 2008, the report found. Yet the number of low-income children served by the National School Lunch Program during the academic year has grown in recent years.

"This summer nutrition gap is harming kids," said Tia Shimada, a nutrition policy advocate with California Food Policy Advocates. "Along with that lack of opportunity for learning and enrichment during the summertime, there's also a lack of access to meals."

Last July, summer meals reached just 16 percent of California children who ate free or reduced-price lunches during the school year, which means more than 2 million students missed out on the meals, the report found.

Shimada said schools, which are the most common sponsor of summer meal programs, should promote the opportunity before the academic year ends and make sure families know where to go. The state Department of Education lists summer meal sites in every county that are open to all children.

Focus groups recently convened by Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit working to end child hunger, also said meal locations should be within walking distance of homes or transportation and be safe, supervised environments, like schools.

The Mount Diablo Unified School District hosted 14 summer meal sites at its schools, including Cambridge Elementary. Most ended their programs Friday, but two - Rio Vista Elementary and Shore Acres Elementary, both in Bay Point - will continue through Aug. 10.

Before the programs began, the district placed advertisements in its local newspaper, the Contra Costa Times; posted flyers at local farmers markets, churches and other community locations; and mailed information to every household in the area, said Tim Watson-Williams, a supervisor in the district's food and nutrition department.

Although daily participation has been strong, ranging from 75 to 325 kids per site, Watson-Williams said he'd like to see more people eating the free meals. The district, which is able to cover the cost of operating the programs with federal reimbursement, could easily serve twice as many people, he said.

"It's a valuable community service," Watson-Williams said. "So many of our kids, lunch and breakfast at school is the core of the meals that they're getting. These are kids that without school may not get a proper meal at all."

Joanna Lin is an investigative reporter for California Watch, a project of the nonprofit Center for Investigative Reporting. Find more California Watch stories here.

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Exhibit your art out in open! - Times of India

Exhibit your art out in open! - Times of India

Your artwork isn't doing you any good stuck in your studio. While you're waiting for the ideal opportunity of getting an exhibiting studio or a gallery, your art is aging. As it ages, so do you and your ideas get stale? So, get your art out there in the open, and display your work.

And when you do so, make sure to follow our tips on how to exhibit your artworks at an outdoor fair. Read on:

-Make your work look as professional as possible. Ensure that your art is nicely framed and wired in the back. For better visibility, you could hang it on a display rack.

-Presentation is everything. Don't just stack up your paintings against a wall or hap hazard. Put them on a stand. Take time to arrange them neatly and in a sequence or according to colour.

-Price cards are just as important, so pay attention to them. Print out cards with the title of the painting, its size and price along with your name and tape them to the display racks just under the paintings.

-You could also set up a small business table alongside the works which can serve as a sales desk. This will show that you mean serious business. Place some business cards, your bio-data and some information of your art on it. An additional tip: make sure you put your bio-data and business card in the bag with the art, the customer might wish to find you again in the future!

-Wear a name tag so people will know who the artist is. Talk to people as they come into your area and without being too pushy, show them your artworks and start talking to them about it. You could start by explaining what they are looking at. For instance, if they are viewing a landscape, then tell them where the scene is from.

-Do a demo. This is a great way to have people stop and stare for a while. You want them to stay in your booth as long as possible and ask questions. If they see you working, they will get attracted to your stall.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Muse unveil artwork for new album 'The 2nd Law' - NME

July 31, 2012 8:27

The trio's sixth album will be accompanied by an image of the human brain

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Photo Gallery: Muse

Muse have unveiled the artwork for their new album 'The 2nd Law', which you can see at the top of the page.

The cover is a photograph of the human brain and is taken from The Human Connectome Project. It is an image which navigates the brain's pathways, tracking the circuits in our heads and shows how we process information with bright, neon colors.

The album itself, which will be released on September 17, contains a total of 13 tracks and includes the band's recent single 'Survival'. 'The 2nd Law' is the follow-up to 2009's 'The Resistance' and has been recorded in London.

Speaking previously about the record, the band have promised that it will be "very diverse", with frontman Matt Bellamy saying: "We've tried a bunch of new things, which the trailer gives a glimpse of. There's only one song that's like that. We've basically tried to do what Rage Against The Machine did with hip-hop in the 1990s and take a bit of the electronic world and dubstep and play it with real instruments. There's only one track like that, the rest of it is very, very diverse."

The Devon trio will tour the UK in October, playing five shows. The gigs begin at Glasgow's SECC on October 24, before the band move onto London's O2 Arena for two shows on October 26 and 27. They then play Birmingham LG Arena on October 30 before finishing up at Manchester Arena on November 1.

The tracklisting for 'The 2nd Law' is as follows:

'Supremacy'
'Madness'
'Panic Station'
'Prelude'
'Survival'
'Follow Me'
'Animals'
'Explorers'
'Big Freeze'
'Save Me'
'Liquid State'
'The 2nd Law: Unsustainable'
'The 2nd Law: Isolated System'

You can read the full four-page interview with Muse in the new issue of NME, which is on UK newsstands now or available digitally.

Video: Muse - Ten Best Moments

• Previous: Mumford & Sons added to London's iTunes festival line-up
• Next: Singer Tony Martin dies aged 98

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Source: www.nme.com

Antiques Road Trip film crew visit Lockwood shop Serendipity - Huddersfield Examiner

Antiques Road Trip film crew visit Lockwood shop Serendipity - Huddersfield Examiner

Source: www.examiner.co.uk

Attendance was up at NY Antique Jewelry & Watch Show - LIVE AUCTIONEERS

NEW YORK (PRNewswire) – U.S. Antique Shows, a major promoter of antique shows in North America, announced today an increase of five percent in attendance at this year's 6th Annual New York Antique Jewelry & Watch Show, which took place on July 20-23, 2012, at The Metropolitan Pavilion. The Show attracted more than 100 of the most prestigious dealers in the industry. who showcased the latest antique and estate jewelry and watch trends to worldwide and local New York antiques enthusiasts.

"This year's increased attendance marks the sixth consecutive year to see a rise in visitors to the show," said Andrea Canady, fair director. "It's undeniable, based on attendance numbers, that this show remains an important event which brings the New York elite, celebrities and antique trendsetters into one venue for the weekend to experience some of the most impressive antique jewelry and watch collections in the world."

Luxurious items showcased throughout the aisles revealed the latest trends, including bold gold jewelry, large statement pieces and classic watches. Also featured this year were items ranging from all categories of jewelry such as cameos, tennis bracelets, rings, decorative necklaces, brooches, gemstones and pendants from various time periods including the Renaissance to Art Deco eras.

Most sought-after pieces, according to exhibitors, included untreated gems such as emeralds, rubies and sapphires; large elegant signed pieces and classic Victorian pieces, such as Victorian enamel and diamond snake bracelets.

"Our top sellers included signed pieces from notable brands including Tiffany, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Cartier," said charter exhibitor Gus Davis of Camilla Dietz Bergeron Ltd.

Dealers witnessed elevated sales and viewed interest from the public at an all-time high throughout the show. Exhibitors also saw an increase in European and Asian buyers at the show.

"Antique jewelry is back in style, with interest at an all-time high from US, European and Asian buyers," said Ronald Kawitzky of D.K. Bressler & Company Inc. "Antique jewelry is finally being appreciated in the general jewelry market. Buyers are now open to adding these fabulous antique and estate pieces to their jewelry inventory and personal collections."

The next show on the calendar for US Antique Shows is the Miami Beach Antique Jewelry & Watch Show, scheduled for Oct. 5-7, 2012 at The Miami Beach Convention Center. Next year, the New York Antique Jewelry & Watch Show will be held July 26- 29, 2013 at The Metropolitan Pavilion. For more information, visit the promoter’s website at www.NYAntiqueJewelry.com .

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Source: acn.liveauctioneers.com

Store.MapsofWorld.com Enters European Map Market; Launches Antique Maps - YAHOO!

Store.mapsofworld.com offers Antique Maps for sale in Europe.

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) July 31, 2012

Store.mapsofworld.com recently added a new category of maps to their online offerings – Antique Maps. In association with Interkart, Germany, the online mapping store is now offering a number of 16th-18th century maps. These include antique maps of the world, of the US, and of different continents, countries, and cities.

Antique maps are timeless pieces of art and are available as digital downloads and replicas at Store.MapsofWorld.com. To start with the replicas are available for sale within Europe only but the store soon plans to expand to new geographies. With the launch of Antique Maps, Store.MapsofWorld.com has now entered Europe after a long and established presence in the US.

The antique maps on offer at store.mapsofworld.com provide a rich insight into the history and political terrain across the ages. These maps are of immense value to cartographers, researchers, historians, teachers, and students. The antique maps from the online mapping store are available for sale at http://store.mapsofworld.com/antique_maps.

MapsofWorld is one of the world’s leading map and information portals. Store.mapsoforld.com offers a number of digital and flash maps, globes, atlases, and travel guides. The store also offers customized mapping solutions and cartography services. The iPad and Android mapping apps from Mapsofworld.com are very popular with travelers and teachers.

About the company:

MapsofWorld.com is a multilingual portal offering high-quality maps and information across geographies and platforms. With special focus on educational content, the portal has thematic as well as interactive maps on all major platforms: Web, iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Android. World Atlas and World Quiz are two highly successful educational apps. Other services offered are custom mapping, content digitization, and the online map store.

For more information, please contact:

social(at)mapsofworld(dot)com

MapXL Inc.

10 S. Third Street, Suite 310,

San Jose, CA 95113

Ash Chopra
MapXL, Inc
+(408)-326-9371
Email Information

Source: news.yahoo.com

San Francisco Bay Area McDonough Painting Launches New Website to Showcase Their … - YAHOO!

San Francisco Bay Area McDonough Painting Launches New Website to Showcase Their … - YAHOO!

20 years of craftsmanship, attention to detail and color expertise set San Francisco's McDonough Painting apart in creating exquisitely painted interior and exterior living and work spaces

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 31, 2012

Patrick McDonough of San Francisco based McDonough Painting is thrilled to announce the launch of McDonough Paintings’ new website.

With 20 years of experience painting the finest homes and commercial buildings in the San Francisco Bay Area, large and small, the website highlights the breadth of building and architectural painting work they do. Known for their exceptional eye for color and execution of painting on architectural details, McDonough Painting is the artisan firm sought out by respected interior designers, architects and discerning homeowners when the paint job has to be perfect. Whether contemporary or traditional in style, McDonough Painting understands what it takes to get the job done. In fact, they guarantee their work! They pride themselves on clear communication with all parties involved, supply well trained craftsmen on each project, and understand how the paint job integrates with the overall building and garden design integrity.

McDonough Painting offers an extensive selection of services includes painting of new residential and commercial construction, architectural restoration work, color consultations, waterproofing, faux finishes, and repairs of various decorative surfaces including stucco, plaster and wood just to name a few. Patrick says, “Each job, whether large or small, is important to us. From grand mansions and buildings to studio apartments, we treat each job and customer with the utmost respect and care. We are so sure of the caliber of our work that WE GUARANTEE COMPLETE SATISFACTION.”

To view the new McDonough Painting website and their portfolio of painting projects, please visit http://www.mcdonoughpainting.com/portfolio.html.

About McDonough Painting

For nearly 20 years San Francisco’s McDonough Painting has earned a superior reputation for providing high quality residential and commercial interior and exterior painting throughout the greater SF Bay area. McDonough Painting has built a solid reputation providing the type of painting service that is customized to meet the needs of their clients.

They pride themselves on their craftsmanship, attention to detail and color expertise as well as exceptional customer service and in creating beautiful interior and exterior living and work spaces that their clients will enjoy and be proud of.

To learn more about McDonough Painting and view samples of the expert interior and exterior painting, visit http://www.mcdonoughpainting.com/index.html

Krista Coupar
Coupar Consulting
415-260-9215
Email Information

Source: news.yahoo.com

The Painting Center to Feature Exhibition by Donna Festa - YAHOO!

"Thirty Portraits," an exhibition of the recent work of respected artist Donna Lynn Festa, will be taking place at The Painting Center in New York City, September 4 – 29, 2012.

New York, NY (PRWEB) July 31, 2012

The work of respected artist Donna Lynn Festa will be on display at The Painting Center in New York City, September 4 – 29, 2012. The exhibition, entitled “Thirty Portraits,” captures Festa’s unique point of view. According to the artist, “We wear our lives on our faces. These portraits are of people I’ve known or who have caught my eye. Each face tells a story in its own quiet way.”

"More than ever before, painting has grown into a medium that effectively translates the vibrations of the natural and metaphysical realms. While the public perception of painting has waxed and waned over centuries, its reliance on pure skill and visionary dedication has only intensified,” stated Robert Fontaine, Director of the prestigious Robert Fontaine Gallery of Miami, Florida.

“Donna relays her subject matter with remarkable vulnerability and at times, a chilling sense of clairvoyance,” continued Fontaine. “The distant gazes of her characters thinly veil a solid acceptance of their circumstances. Often depicting glimpses of the elderly, Festa creates an uninterrupted conversation between the observer and observed.”

Using oil on wood, Festa makes each painting quickly, in one sitting, in order to keep the loose, fresh quality of a sketch. The size is intentionally small in purposeful contrast with the greedy, loud and overstuffed society reflected directly in much of contemporary art in recent decades. She is attached, in a visceral way, to the fluidity of oil paint and the nuanced textural and lighting effects it facilitates, as well as traditions in portrait painting.

Retired Director of the Maryland Humanities Council, Barbara Wells Sarudy observed, “Donna's perfect, little, intimate works draw visitors in immediately - starting conversations, stirring emotions, and bringing back treasured memories. Her work connects the past to the present and gives us unexpected insights into the often unexplored corners of our souls.”

The exhibition at The Painting Center is part of a month-long celebration of portraiture that also features “Inside Out,” an exhibition of work by local New York painter Robert Bunkin. The schedule of events includes:

•     Opening reception: Saturday, September 8, 2012, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
•     Artists' Dialogue: Festa and Bunkin will talk about their work. Saturday, September 15, 2012, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
•     Solo Recital: Guy Klucevsek, composer and accordion virtuoso extraordinaire: $10. donation, Saturday, September 22, 2012, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
•     Final Day of the Show and Poetry Reading by Joan Larkin: Voluntary donation, Saturday, September 29, 2012, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

The Painting Center is a non-profit exhibition space located at 547 West 27th Street, Suite 500, in Chelsea, a neighborhood considered by many to be “the center of the art world in New York City.” The Painting Center helps to unite working artists and engage them in conversations about art, culture, and the challenges of painting in a rapidly changing world. It recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding painters, including younger and older artists who are under-recognized. For directions and more information about The Painting Center visit http://ThePaintingCenter.org

Festa was born in Vineland, New Jersey in 1960. She received her MFA in painting from the University of Hartford in 1996, her BFA from the University of the Arts, where she graduated summa cum laude in painting in 1989 and earned a certificate in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1987.

Festa’s work can be found in both public and private collections. Her painting, “Conversation” is part of the permanent collection at the State Museum of Pennsylvania. She has also exhibited at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum in Springfield, Massachusetts. In addition, her work has been shown at venues in Philadelphia, New York, Chicago and Miami.

Paintings by Donna Festa can be found at the Sara Nightingale Gallery in Water Mill, New York, in the Hamptons, and at the Robert Fontaine Gallery in Miami, Florida. Person’s interested in learning more about Festa and her work can visit the artist’s website at http://www.DonnaFesta.com

Eric Gordon
Gordon Public Relations
610-202-1375
Email Information

Source: news.yahoo.com

Furniture Fashion Names Top 30 Environmentally Friendly Furnishings - YAHOO!

Daily design blog Furniture Fashion today released its list of the top 30 eco-friendly pieces of furniture in the modern marketplace. Taking into account its readers' feedback on its more than 5,000 interior design posts over the past five years, the editorial team rounded up what it feels are the most impressive green designs for the home, from tables and chairs to cabinets and decorative accents.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) July 31, 2012

Analyzing feedback from its 20,000 readers and reviewing all its furniture finds gathered over the past five years, Furniture Fashion today released a list of the 30 most essential pieces of eco-friendly furniture its curators have run across in the team's daily search for objects and ideas worth sharing. The interior design blog hosts an archive of more than 5,000 furniture-related posts; it publishes original content 365 days a year.

Ranging from rustic, reclaimed wood pieces to sleek, ultra-modern objects, the list spans a wide range of furniture styles, materials and manufacturing processes. Each piece is considered environmentally friendly because it was either made of sustainable, consciously-sourced materials or upcycled from pre-existing objects that would have otherwise been discarded.

The http://www.furniturefashion.com co-founders advise that "sustainable design doesn't mean sacrificing style; on the contrary, some of the brightest minds in the design industry today are not only inventive and creative from both a visual and functional standpoint; they also bear in mind the impact their pieces will leave on the world behind them. The terms 'green,' 'eco-friendly' and 'stylish' will likely someday be synonymous."

The list -- the first of its kind for the site, which normally publishes daily roundups of ten variations on the day's theme -- is divided into six categories: tables, chairs, lights, accents, bedroom and kitchen. According to the Furniture Fashion team, each object featured is one of both style and substance that, whether classic or contemporary, was thoughtfully crafted with the environment's well being in mind.

Furniture Fashion's Top 30 Eco-Friendly Home Furnishings

The Tables:

Bamboo Coffee Table by Ken Tomita

Darjeeling Dining Table from CB2

Dovetail Bowling Lane Table from CounterEvolution

Coffee Table by Golden Gate Bridge Furniture Company

Solid Wood Dining Table from Hudson Furniture Company

Spool Top Coffee Table from MFEO

The Chairs:

Bourbon Barrel Stave Chairs by Uhuru Design

Mirra Chair from Herman Miller

Seatbelt Chair by Adam Barron

Wood Chair by Gursan Ergil

Lounge Chairs by Piet Hein Eek

Wood Rocker by Carlos Motta Asturias

Sleek Chair by Inoda Sveje Design Studio

The Lights:

Pull Tab Pendant from Mauricio Affonso

Wine Bottle Lights from Jerry Kott

Glowing Nourishment Lamp by Carolyn Joan Lau

Tucker Soda Bottle Pendant from Inhabit

The Accents:

Bio-ethanol Indoor Fireplace by Brasa

Interchangeable Carpet Tiles from FLOR

Ortensia Bench by 13Ricrea

Milk Carton Porch Swing by Loll Furniture

Elevated Dog Bowl Stand by Muir

Repurposed Door Desk by Manoteca

Writing Desk by Knu

Fair Trade Coffee Bag Ottoman by GUS

The Bedroom:

Eco-friendly Dresser from Iannone

The Edge Bed from Environment

Turquoise Nightstand by Vincent Lehman

The Kitchen:

Kitchen Cabinets by GreenTech Cabinetry

Recycled Non-toxic Cabinets by Alno

This list was compiled by the http://www.furniturefashion.com editorial team.

John Kyle
Ideate Media LLC
281-610-7348
Email Information

Source: news.yahoo.com

Rare coins stolen in Caversham burglary - Reading Evening Post

Rare coins stolen in Caversham burglary - Reading Evening Post

Rare coins stolen in Caversham burglary

July 30, 2012

Antique coins including one from Yugoslavia made from 24-carat gold were stolen in a burglary in Caversham last week.

Thieves forced open the front door of a house in Upper Woodcote Road and carried out a thorough search between 1pm and 5pm on Monday, July 23.

A large amount of jewellery was taken along with a large rectangular silver jewellery box.

Among the items stolen are gold coins and watches. The coins are between 18 and 24-carat and one is a special edition 24-carat Yugoslavian coin with the former president Tito on it.

There are also coins engraved with the letters A and V which are of great sentimental value.

Police would like to speak to anyone who saw anything suspect in the area at the time.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Related Content

• Latest Caversham news

Source: www.getreading.co.uk

Travelers to the Annual Adirondack Museum Antiques Show and Sale August 11-12 … - YAHOO!

Professional and casual antique collectors are heading to Blue Mountain Lake August 11 and 12 for the annual Adirondack Museum Antiques Show, featuring a litany of vintage and antique Americana, Native American art and artifacts and more. The two-day antiques show is expected to attract thousands of antiques lovers to the Adirondacks, many booking vacation accommodations through NYVacationRentals.com.

BLUE MOUNTAIN LAKE, New York, (PRWEB) July 30, 2012

Dealers in high quality antiques and art from across the U.S. will be offering a wide range of antique Americana and Native American art and artifacts at the Annual Adirondack Museum Antiques Show in Blue Mountain Lake August 11 and 12. Travelers heading to the Adirondacks for the antiques show are booking vacation rentals in the Lake George area through NYVacationRentals.com.

Dealers in quality antiques and art from will offer camp, cottage, and Mission furniture, historical fine art, militaria, folk art, vintage boats, taxidermy, quilts, oriental rugs, and Native American jewelry and artifacts. First buy opportunities will be available on Saturday from 8-10 a.m. for $30. Forty antique dealers and galleries will be represented at the Adirondack Museum’s Blue Mountain Lake venue, 50 miles west of Lake George.

Adirondacks visitors prefer staying in a private vacation rental near the antiques show venue, bypassing overpriced hotels and enjoying added amenities that Blue Mountain Lake area accommodations offer.

Liz Ernst of NYVacationRentals.com, says that more vacation rental properties are being listed in the scenic Adirondacks this summer, a favorite destination for summer vacations.

“An event like the Adirondack Museum Antiques Show will get people to come and spend a long weekend or a week in the Adirondacks, where the outdoor recreation opportunities are family friendly and abundant, and the scenery is always beautiful,” Ernst says.

By logging on to NYVacationRentals.com, travelers can search for a cabin, cottage or house in the Adirondacks that suits their needs. Whether visitors are staying for a night or two, or booking lodgings in the Adirondacks for the week, they’re discovering a growing number of area vacation home owners are making their private properties available to families and groups of friends to rent close to the antiques show venue.

Private vacation rentals in the Blue Mountain Lake area sleep up to 18 people or more, making it perfect for accommodating families and groups of friends. Travelers can stay together under one roof and enjoy the privacy and other benefits of a vacation rental, like a full kitchen and laundry.

Ernst says that more travelers are looking for lower-cost options to hotel rooms when they visit the Adirondacks or any of New York State’s popular vacation areas. NYVacationRentals.com properties are gaining momentum as travelers try to economize without sacrificing comfort.

“People love coming to the Adirondacks for summer weekend getaways, week-long family vacations, or for an extended vacation because of the region’s scenic beauty and local charm,” Ernst says. “Now that so many people have been renting private vacation properties for short visits in places all across New York State and other areas for years, it’s a trend that keeps gaining in appeal.

“Travelers opt for the convenience and value they find in a privately owned vacation rental condo or house, and they’re not going back to booking hotel rooms.”

For more information on vacation lodgings in the Adirondacks or anywhere in New York State, visit NYVacationRentals.com.

###

Liz Ernst
Vacation Rental Organization
954-990-5539 1004
Email Information

Source: news.yahoo.com

Crucial California trial begins in Apple vs Samsung case - ZDNet

The trial kicking off today in federal court in San Jose, Calif., is a patent battle between Apple and Samsung Electronics -- and the stakes are high.

As two of the largest consumer electronics corporations, the high-profile court case will have the eyes of media, rival firms and customers upon them today -- as over a year of legal clashes comes to a head.

Jury selection is due to begin today, as the two technology giants butt heads over apparent patent violations and a struggle for supremacy in the rapidly-expanding mobile device market.

The fight began in 2011, when Apple took Samsung to a San Jose, California-based federal court, accusing it of copying the designs of the iPhone and iPad.

Samsung counter-sued.

While Apple will use Samsung documentation to try and prove that the rival firm knowingly impeded on Apple's intellectual property rights, Samsung argues that Apple is simply using the proceedings to impede competition and maintain "exorbitant" profit margins -- according to court filings.

Since this pivotal moment, the patent war has spread across courtrooms in nearly a dozen countries.

In a statement Friday, Samsung said Apple has been "free-riding" on its technology "while using excessive legal claims against our products in their attempt to limit consumer choice and discourage innovation."

Apple says Samsung violated four of its design patents, and in addition, the company also has infringed on three technology-based patents, including how a phone recognizes different scroll and touch gestures. In contrast, Samsung says that Apple has violated mobile communication system patents -- including how a phone takes a photo and emails it, and how a device copes with music.

Samsung is facing potential bans of its Galaxy smartphone and tablet devices in the United States, following a temporary sales ban on the products set in motion by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh. Sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was first to be placed on hold, and a pretrial ban on the Galaxy Nexus phone soon followed. Samsung appealed both rulings, and the ban on the Galaxy Nexus was stayed.

Both technology giants are seeking financial restitution from the other. Apple is seeking over $2.5 billion in damages.

The stakes for both companies are high; not only is an eye-watering amount of money at stake, but the definitions of patent-ownership across the globe may be re-drawn pending the outcome. Together, the companies account for over half of smartphone sales across the globe.

A jury of 10, coming from Silicon Valley, will hear evidence submitted by the rival firms over the course of a minimum of four weeks, and it must reach a unanimous decision if either company is to benefit by claims that have been made.

Reuters reports that in a last-moment scrabble to avoid a trial, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook and Samsung Vice Chairman Choi Gee-sung participated in a mediation on July 16 -- but settlement was unlikely.

Kevin G. Rivette, a Silicon Valley patent consultant and former vice president for intellectual property strategy for IBM told the New York Times:

"Once you determine who is the genuine innovator, and in what technologies on the product, you reset the playing field, [but one side] must have strong patents, not incremental ones."  

This is the much-debated issue in the smartphone industry, and one that this case -- as well as many others -- relies upon.

If it is decided that the Android-powered Samsung phones do infringe on Apple's patents, then not only could it affect other trials across the globe, but Google could face further repercussions and cases due to Android; something former co-founder of Apple Steve Jobs once branded a "stolen product."

In comparison, if the case swings in Samsung's favor, Apple may have to consider a future teeming with increased competition from rival firms.

Apple is represented by law firm Morrison & Foerster, which was involved in Oracle's patent battle against Google concerning its Android OS. Samsung is being represented by lawyers from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, who stand for Google and led Yahoo's lawsuit against Facebook earlier in the year.

 

Source: www.zdnet.com

California's Prop 32 on political funding is a bill of rights for billionaires - The Guardian

Californians are used to ballot initiatives that claim to do one thing, but in reality do exactly the opposite. However, even by the standards of misinformation now commonplace in our elections, November's most controversial ballot measure, Proposition 32 – which its supporters call "Stop Special Interest Money Now" – really "takes the giddy biscuit", as Bertie Wooster (or, for that matter, Mitt Romney) might say.

So what does Prop 32 say it would do, and what would it really do?

Its supporters claim that Prop 32 is a balanced measure that limits corporate and union influence on state elections, to the extent allowed by federal election law. Indeed, pro-Prop 32 ads focus on spending in Sacramento by AT&T and PG&E, rather than on spending by labour unions.

In reality, "Stop Special Interest Money Now" would do nothing of the sort. Though AT&T and PG&E (both unionised firms) are undoubtedly peeved at being singled out, Prop 32 would have almost no impact on the ability of corporate executives to contribute unlimited money to candidates or campaigns, but would have a devastating impact on the ability of unions to participate in state politics. Its restrictions on unions are so sweeping that it would prevent them from communicating with their own members on political issues. Worse still, Prop 32 would enhance the ability of super political action committees (PACs), and other wealthy groups that are exempt from the measure, to dominate elections.

This is not genuine campaign finance reform but a bill of rights for billionaires, which would be a game-changer in California politics. California voters have twice before rejected rightwing initiatives to destroy labour's political voice, in 1998 and 2005. Unable to win by honest means, conservative groups decided to come up with something more deceptive this time round.

To appreciate just how misleading this measure is, one has to understand who supports and opposes it, and why. Prop 32's principal backer, the Lincoln Club of Orange County, co-produced Hillary: The Movie, which was at the heart of the 2012 landmark supreme court decision Citizens United and which led to a flood of special interest spending. The Lincoln Club boasted it was "instrumental" in pushing Citizens United, and celebrated the decision as a victory for political free speech. Since its founding in 1962, the Lincoln Club has consistently sought to weaken rules that stop big money from dominating elections, and Prop 32 would go a long way to achieving that goal.

Other backers of Prop 32 include Orange County anti-union activists and rightwing billionaires (often one and the same), and the usual suspects among Republican activists. And if the polls are tight come November, we will likely see an influx of pro-Prop 32 money from the same 0.1% currently funding conservative super PACs at the federal level. Opposed to Prop 32 are the nation's leading good-government groups – Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and others. Common Cause California has accused the measure's conservative backers of "trying to use our anger and mistrust to change the rules for their own benefit" and of "laughable" deception, while the League of Women Voters says that Prop 32 is "not what it seems, and it will hurt everyday Californians". Sacramento Bee senior editor Dan Morain, meanwhile, says the initiative "wears a soiled white hat" and is "dripping with cynicism".

If Prop 32 passes in November, rightwing activists will promote a tsunami of ballot initiatives designed to drive down working conditions in both the public and private sectors. California's workers could soon face the weakest labour standards in the country.

So what is the likelihood of Prop 32 winning? If the election were held next month, Prop 32 would almost certainly pass, largely because of its disingenuous framing and advertising. But come November, California voters should see through the deception behind the initiative –the labour movement and its progressive allies are much better at defeating measures they oppose than winning measures they support.

Let's be perfectly clear: Prop 32 is not a good starting point or an imperfect but well-meaning effort to limit the influence of special interests in Sacramento. It is a highly deceptive measure that would greatly enhance the political influence of billionaires, super PACs and conservative business interests, and undermine the ability of working Californians to have a voice in state elections. Given the misinformation being put out by the Yes campaign, however, it will take a huge effort to defeat it – the election may turn out to be a squeaker.

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

California roller coaster strands 12 riders for 2 hours - USA Today

The Superman Ultimate Flight roller coaster stopped at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the top of the ride, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom spokeswoman Nancy Chan told the Vallejo Times-Herald.

Vallejo firefighters arrived at about 3 p.m. A theme park crane equipped with a large personnel bucket was prepared to reach the riders.

Two firefighters and a park mechanic were lifted up in the bucket and gave water bottles to the riders.

A park mechanic eventually restarted the ride, which then went backward and lowered the riders safely to the ground.

Fire Battalion Chief Ray Jackson said firefighters were prepared to take riders down in the bucket if the coaster couldn't be restarted.

None of the stranded riders were injured, Jackson said.

The new ride opened June 30 at the Vallejo theme park, holds two cars with six riders each and can travel at up to 62 mph. It ride will be closed for a "thorough safety inspection," Chan said.

It was unclear what caused the two-car train to stop.

"If (a ride) stops, it usually detects something and it stops for safety reasons," Chan said.

Source: www.usatoday.com

California's newest city withering on fiscal vine - Los Angeles Times

The jagged foothills, withered pastures and a web of horse trails along the Santa Ana River give the state's newest city a hint of the Wild West. Jurupa Valley's money troubles, though, are pure modern-day California.

Jurupa Valley may be broke in a year, even though the city is so new that it has no permanent employees, no generous employee pension plan and runs City Hall out of a leased strip-mall storefront next to the Lucky Wok Chinese restaurant.

Without a financial rescue, the city will have to shut its doors, sending the mishmash of Jurupa Valley communities back into the ether of unincorporated Riverside County.

Unlike San Bernardino, Stockton and Mammoth Lakes, California cities that have all reached the brink of insolvency in recent weeks, Jurupa Valley's money troubles are not of its own making. They are Sacramento's fault.

PHOTOS: California cities in bankruptcy

With California teetering on financial ruination, the state Legislature in 2011 raided the pot of money collected from statewide vehicle license fees, the so-called car tax, which for years provided California's newly incorporated cities an extra dose of cash they needed until they were able to toddle along on their own.

The loss of funding has devastated California's four newest municipalities, which all happen to be in fast-growing Riverside County: Jurupa Valley, Eastvale, Menifee and Wildomar. The money grab also squeezed existing cities that recently annexed large swaths of territory, including Santa Clarita, San Jose and Temecula, since they also counted on additional car-tax money.

Jurupa Valley has been hit the hardest. The city lost $6.8 million. That's a pittance in Sacramento. For Jurupa Valley, it amounted to 47% of its yearly $14.6-million budget.

"Our survival is at stake," said Mayor Laura Roughton. "We have to get the money restored."

It would be hard to a find a city that's more tight-fisted. Every employee is a hired contractor, from the city manager to the clerks at the front desk. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department was hired to police the city, and the state fire agency, the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection, runs the fire stations.

Instead of building a new city hall complex from scratch, the city may move into the shuttered Sam's Western Wear store in Pedley, whose facade was built to resemble buildings in an Old West frontier town. But even those plans are on hold.

"You hear about San Bernardino going bankrupt, Stockton going bankrupt. They've been around for a long time," said Don Davies, who helped lead the Jurupa Valley cityhood effort. "Shoot, we haven't even had a chance to get started."

Jurupa Valley is an amalgam of suburban neighborhoods, warehouses and small weathered towns just north of Riverside, stretching from Interstate 15 east to Colton.

The city is home to nearly 100,000 residents and includes a slice of the Jurupa Mountains, where the 340-ton boulder that became the "Levitated Mass" exhibit at the L.A. County Museum of Art was found. One of Jurupa Valley's few landmarks is a giant iron mammoth peering down from a hillside on commuters along the Pomona Freeway and marking the gateway to the Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center.

"There aren't too many attractions around here so, to me, it's one of the main symbols of the city. Like the Hollywood sign," said Mark Yeager, director of a museum that more than 10,000 schoolchildren and Boy Scouts visit each year.

A cityhood movement was in the works for years, fueled in part by residents who grew wary of the county turning the area into a prime locale for affordable housing and welfare offices.

"Some people felt they were treating us like the armpit of Riverside County," Davies said. "We thought it's time we have control over what comes into our community."

Davies said organizers delayed the Jurupa Valley incorporation effort until they were sure that the state vehicle license fee money would be available and the city was financially viable. Then, two days before Jurupa Valley became California's newest city, officials received some troubling news.

Desperate for cash, state lawmakers had slipped in a last-minute bill to divert funds raised by the vehicle license fees, $153 million at the time. The money was funneled into a grant program for local law enforcement, which previously had been supported by state general funds. Not a single hearing was held on the legislation.

Source: www.latimes.com

California roller coaster strands 12 riders for 2 hours - USA Today

California roller coaster strands 12 riders for 2 hours - USA Today

The Superman Ultimate Flight roller coaster stopped at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the top of the ride, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom spokeswoman Nancy Chan told the Vallejo Times-Herald.

Vallejo firefighters arrived at about 3 p.m. A theme park crane equipped with a large personnel bucket was prepared to reach the riders.

Two firefighters and a park mechanic were lifted up in the bucket and gave water bottles to the riders.

A park mechanic eventually restarted the ride, which then went backward and lowered the riders safely to the ground.

Fire Battalion Chief Ray Jackson said firefighters were prepared to take riders down in the bucket if the coaster couldn't be restarted.

None of the stranded riders were injured, Jackson said.

The new ride opened June 30 at the Vallejo theme park, holds two cars with six riders each and can travel at up to 62 mph. It ride will be closed for a "thorough safety inspection," Chan said.

It was unclear what caused the two-car train to stop.

"If (a ride) stops, it usually detects something and it stops for safety reasons," Chan said.

Source: www.usatoday.com