New Board Game Items for November & December 2012

In the run up to Christmas there will be several new expansions out for Power Grid, Catan and Ticket to Ride ideal to extend your own games or buy as Christmas presents for friends and family. As well as a new exciting card game for Star Wars, may the force be with you.

First off is the new expansion for Power Grid with new maps and cards of Northern Europe / United Kingdom & Ireland. Note it does require a copy of the original Power Grid game. The rules are the same, where by the objective is to supply the most cities with power when someone?s network gains a predetermined size. However the differences are using different maps and new power plant cards:

?

?

Preorder yours here.

?

One for fans of Catan, Mayfair Games has announced the November release of Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe. This is a twist on the 2010 release Settlers of America: Trails to Rails from designer Klaus Teuber. The game uses the simple and fun Catan hex and resource system to recreate the rise of the merchant class across Europe.?Merchants provided the European population with goods of all kinds, such as fur from the north, cloth from Flanders, wine from the south, and spices from India. The most important commodity of all was salt and was highly prized in the Middle Ages to preserve food.

Recruit new merchants and send them to distant cities to establish trading posts and expand your interests. The more trading posts you have, the more commodities are at your disposal which you can sell profitably in foreign cities. To ensure that your commodities arrive safely at their destination, you must open up trade routes and equip caravans. You win the game if you are the first to deliver all of your commodities to foreign cities.

This classic Euro-style strategy board game can be played with 2-4 players (best with 4), ages 12 and up, and takes about 90 minutes per game. Preorder yours here

?

Due out in December is the Ticket to Ride Vol 3 ? The Heart of Africa, set in the vast wilderness of Africa at the height of its exploration by intrepid explorers, missionaries and adventurers. This is a single-sided expansion map for Ticket to Ride or Ticket to Ride: Europe (it will require a copy of either of these games), focuses on the central and southern ?heart? of the continent displayed in a vertical format.

This expansion includes 48 Destination Tickets, new Terrain Cards and multi-lingual Rules booklet. Designed for 2-5 players, ages 8+, this expansion takes 30-60 minutes and is played using Train cards and Trains from either Ticket to Ride or Ticket to Ride Europe. Preorder yours here

?

Lastly it?s time to relive Star Wars, may the force be with you in this new card game. The characters, starships, and situations of the original Star Wars trilogy come to life in Star Wars: The Card Game?, a head-to-head Living Card Game? of tactical combat and strategic planning that allows two players to wage cinematic combats between the light and dark sides of the Force.

Command such legendary characters as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa, Boba Fett, and Darth Vader. Launch strategic assaults against your opponent?s objectives. Tempt fate in thrilling edge battles. Seek to make an ally of the Force or master its power for your own purposes. Can it get much more fun than this? Preorder yours here.

?

For the latest board game news and releases follow us on Twitter and or Facebook. Plus you can subscribe to receive our latest blogs via RSS feeds.

Like our blogs? Please Retweet, Like or G+

?

Source: http://boardgameextras.info/2012/11/16/new-board-game-items-for-november-december-2012/

brandon carr knicks coach encyclopedia britannica pi white lion mike d antoni resigns holes

Spain agrees on aid for poor homeowners in eviction row

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain passed a decree on Thursday to help the most needy families facing eviction during the nation's economic crisis, responding to an outcry over a homeowner who killed herself when bailiffs arrived to throw her out.

The government said it would suspend evictions for two years for homeowners including those with small children, the disabled and long-term unemployed who can no longer keep up their mortgage repayments.

"This is an emergency response to mitigate the effects of the worst of the economic crisis," Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said.

The government would increase the amount of social housing available at low rents for people who have lost their homes, she told a press conference.

Mortgage relief would be available only to people earning less than 19,200 euros ($24,400) a year.

Banks, many of which are about to receive the first funds from a European bailout of up to 100 billion euros, have repossessed almost 400,000 properties since the real estate market crashed in 2008, including commercial buildings.

But the suicide last Friday of 53-year-old Amaia Egana, who jumped from her fourth-floor flat in the northern Basque Country as she was about to be evicted, has pushed the issue to the top of the political agenda.

Evictions have become increasingly common in recession-bound Spain, where a 25 percent unemployment rate coupled with drastic government spending cuts has badly hurt the weakest in society.

Many homeowners can no longer keep up payments on their mortgages after losing their jobs or businesses.

($1 = 0.7856 euros) (Additional reporting by Aimee Donnellan in London, Paul Day in Madrid and Padraic Halpin in Dublin; editing by David Stamp and Will Waterman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/spain-agrees-aid-poor-homeowners-eviction-row-134901961--sector.html

blue ivy carter photos purple squirrel blade runner close encounters of the third kind norovirus beyonce and jay z baby droid 4

For Alzheimer?s, Detection Advances Outpace Treatment Options

Joshua Lott for The New York Times

Awilda Jimenez got a scan for Alzheimer?s after she started forgetting things. It was positive.

When Awilda Jimenez started forgetting things last year, her husband, Edwin, felt a shiver of dread. Her mother had developed Alzheimer?s in her 50s. Could his wife, 61, have it, too?

He learned there was a new brain scan to diagnose the disease and nervously agreed to get her one, secretly hoping it would lay his fears to rest. In June, his wife became what her doctor says is the first private patient in Arizona to have the test.

?The scan was floridly positive,? said her doctor, Adam S. Fleisher, director of brain imaging at the Banner Alzheimer?s Institute in Phoenix.

The Jimenezes have struggled ever since to deal with this devastating news. They are confronting a problem of the new era of Alzheimer?s research: The ability to detect the disease has leapt far ahead of treatments. There are none that can stop or even significantly slow the inexorable progression to dementia and death.

Families like the Jimenezes, with no good options, can only ask: Should they live their lives differently, get their affairs in order, join a clinical trial of an experimental drug?

?I was hoping the scan would be negative,? Mr. Jimenez said. ?When I found out it was positive, my heart sank.?

The new brain scan technology, which went on the market in June, is spreading fast. There are already more than 300 hospitals and imaging centers, located in most major metropolitan areas, that are ready to perform the scans, according to Eli Lilly, which sells the tracer used to mark plaque for the scan.

The scans show plaques in the brain ? barnaclelike clumps of protein, beta amyloid ? that, together with dementia, are the defining feature of Alzheimer?s disease. Those who have dementia but do not have excessive plaques do not have Alzheimer?s. It is no longer necessary to wait until the person dies and has an autopsy to learn if the brain was studded with plaques.

Many insurers, including Medicare, will not yet pay for the new scans, which cost several thousand dollars. And getting one comes with serious risks. While federal law prevents insurers and employers from discriminating based on genetic tests, it does not apply to scans. People with brain plaques can be denied long-term care insurance.

The Food and Drug Administration, worried about interpretations of the scans, has required something new: Doctors must take a test showing they can read them accurately before they begin doing them. So far, 700 doctors have qualified, according to Eli Lilly. Other kinds of diagnostic scans have no such requirement.

In another unusual feature, the F.D.A. requires that radiologists not be told anything about the patient. They are generally trained to incorporate clinical information into their interpretation of other types of scans, said Dr. R. Dwaine Rieves, director of the drug agency?s Division of Medical Imaging Products.

But in this case, clinical information may lead radiologists to inadvertently shade their reports to coincide with what doctors suspect is the underlying disease. With Alzheimer?s, Dr. Rieves said, ?clinical impressions have been misleading.?

?This is a big change in the world of image interpretation,? he said.

Like some other Alzheimer?s experts, Dr. Fleisher used the amyloid scan for several years as part of a research study that led to its F.D.A. approval. Subjects were not told what the scans showed. Now, with the scan on the market, the rules have changed.

Dr. Fleisher?s first patient was Mrs. Jimenez. Her husband, the family breadwinner, had lost his job as a computer consultant when the couple moved from New York to Arizona to take care of Mrs. Jimenez?s mother. Paying several thousand dollars for a scan was out of the question. But Dr. Fleisher found a radiologist, Dr. Mantej Singh Sra of Sun Radiology, who was so eager to get into the business that he agreed to do Mrs. Jimenez?s scan free. His plan was to be the first in Arizona to do a scan, and advertise it.

After Dr. Sra did the scan, the Jimenezes returned to Dr. Fleisher to learn the result.

Dr. Fleisher, sad to see so much plaque in Mrs. Jimenez?s brain, referred her to a psychiatrist to help with anxiety and suggested she enter clinical trials of experimental drugs.

But Mr. Jimenez did not like that idea. He worried about unexpected side effects.

?Tempting as it is, where do you draw the line?? he asks. ?At what point do you take a risk with a loved one??

At Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, Dr. Samuel E. Gandy found that his patients ? mostly affluent ? were unfazed by the medical center?s $3,750 price for the scan. He has been ordering at least one a week for people with symptoms ambiguous enough to suggest the possibility of brain plaques.

Most of his patients want their names kept confidential, fearing an inability to get long-term care insurance, or just wanting privacy.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/health/for-alzheimers-detection-advances-outpace-treatment-options.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

mike d antoni resigns holes ncaa brackets 2012 odd lamar d antoni fashion star

Constituencies bend Okla. Gov's ear on health care

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) ? Looming decisions for Gov. Mary Fallin on how Oklahoma will respond to the sweeping federal health care law are prompting an energetic, behind-the-scenes lobbying effort by hospitals, insurance companies, business and industry groups, and other constituencies that will be affected by provisions of the law.

Fallin is expected to announce within the next week her position on whether the state will move ahead with setting up a state-based online health insurance marketplace, or exchange, required under the law. Oklahoma policymakers also must decide whether the state will expand its Medicaid eligibility to provide coverage to thousands of low-income, uninsured citizens.

Fallin has yet to stake out a position on either proposal and faces a delicate political balancing act in a state where Republicans have bitterly resisted the requirements of the new federal health care law. On the one hand, hospital officials and chamber groups are pushing for both a state-based exchange and an expansion of Medicaid. But both of those ideas are fiercely opposed by tea party and other grass-roots activists who have been fighting implementation of the law since its passage in 2010.

"It's a real challenge for the governor because what it's done is put her right in between two major constituent groups inside the Republican Party," said Keith Gaddie, a professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma.

The Tulsa Metro Chamber, which represents more than 3,000 members, is among those lobbying the governor to support both a state-operated insurance exchange and an expansion of Medicaid.

"Certainly health care is one of the two largest employment sectors in Tulsa, so we're very cognizant of the jobs health care provides in our community," said Susan Harris, a senior vice president at the chamber who works on health policy. "Also, we need a healthy workforce. Healthy workers get better jobs, make more money and take care of themselves. It's better for the whole community if we've got a healthy workforce."

Fallin herself opposed the law when she was a member of Congress and even dangled a "Don't Tread on Me" flag before a tea party rally at the U.S. Capitol during the health care debate in 2010. Fallin and other Republican leaders initially hoped the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn the law, and when that didn't happen, she withheld a decision on whether to proceed until after the election, hoping Mitt Romney would be elected and either help overturn or the slow the implementation.

Oklahoma was among the states that over the law, and even after the Supreme Court's decision, Attorney General Scott Pruitt amended his lawsuit to challenge its implementation of the law.

"There is political risk in quitting resistance, but after you fail three times you really have to reassess whether or not you're going to prevail in this fight," Gaddie said. "At some point you just have to leave the battlefield and go home."

Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz said Friday the governor is still exploring the state's option as they relate to both the creation of a state exchange and the expansion of Medicaid.

"We feel like we have kept, as of right now, the doors open for the state of Oklahoma to pursue whatever we decide is the best option for our citizens," Weintz said. "We don't feel like anything has been ruled out, simply because of time restraints, at this time."

States initially had until Nov. 16 to provide federal officials with a blueprint for how the state-based exchange would work, but Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a letter to governors Friday that they have another month, until mid-December, to submit detailed plans. Sebelius noted that she still wants to hear by the end of next week if states plan to set up a state exchange. States that don't will have a federal exchange operated for them.

Nearly 20 percent of Oklahoma citizens currently are uninsured, and an expansion of Medicaid to 133 percent of the federal poverty level would make an additional 180,000 adults eligible for Medicaid, according to the Oklahoma Hospital Association, one of the groups pushing Fallin to support the Medicaid expansion.

State health officials estimate such an expansion would result in more than $1.5 billion in federal funding to the state during the first three years when the federal government picks up the full cost of the expansion. The state's share would grow to 10 percent of the cost by 2020, which would amount to about $56 million, according to estimates from the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

But those federal and state costs are why the Medicaid expansion is being opposed by conservative activists and Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma's junior senator who has railed against increased federal spending.

"I do believe our state Medicaid's program can help Oklahomans who qualify for the program," Coburn wrote in a letter to Fallin last month urging her to reject the Medicaid expansion. "But at a time when our national debt is $16 trillion and Congress is running trillion-dollar annual deficits, it is unlikely that federal promises of stable Medicaid funding are anything more than a mirage."

___

Sean Murphy can be reached at www.twitter.com/apseanmurphy

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/constituencies-bend-okla-govs-ear-health-care-154940575--finance.html

hanley ramirez Christian Bale visits victims Perez Hilton national weather service kristen stewart Christian Bale Sherman Hemsley

Vatican digs in after gay-marriage advances in Washington ...

By NICOLE WINFIELD | The Associated Press ? Published November 10, 2012 Modified November 10, 2012

VATICAN CITY ? The Vatican is digging in after gay marriage initiatives scored big wins this week in the U.S. and Europe, vowing to never stop insisting that marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

In a front-page article in Saturday's Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, the Holy See sought to frame itself as the lone voice of courage in opposing initiatives to give same-sex couples legal recognition. In a separate Vatican Radio editorial, the pope's spokesman asked sarcastically why gay marriage proponents don't now push for legal recognition for polygamous couples as well.

Catholic teaching holds that homosexuals should be respected and treated with dignity but that homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered." The Vatican also opposes same-sex marriage, insisting on the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman as the foundation for society.

The Vatican's anti-gay marriage media blitz came after three U.S. states approved same-sex marriage by popular vote in the election that returned Barack Obama to the U.S. presidency, Spain upheld its gay marriage law, and France pushed ahead with legislation that could see gay marriage legalized early next year.

"One might say the church, at least on this front, has been defeated," L'Osservatore Romano wrote. "But that's not the case."

The article insisted that Catholics were putting up a valiant fight to uphold church teaching in the face of "politically correct ideologies invading every culture of the world" that are backed by institutions like the United Nations, which last year passed a non-binding resolution condemning anti-gay discrimination.

"The church is called to present itself as the lone critic of modernity, the only check ... to the breakup of the anthropological structures on which human society was founded," it said.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi, for his part, said gays can have their rights protected by means other than through legal marital recognition. He stressed that children should have a right to say they have a father and a mother.

"If not, then why not contemplate freely chosen polygamy, and naturally so as to not discriminate, polyandry?" he asked sarcastically. Polyandry is when a woman has two or more husbands.

"As a result, don't expect the church to stop insisting that society recognizes a specific place for marriage between a man and woman," he said.

The U.S. election had been closely watched at the Vatican because of the strong divisions that erupted during the campaign between the Obama administration and U.S. bishops over gay marriage, which Obama endorsed in May. The administration and bishops clashed more vehemently over Obama's health care mandate requiring nearly all U.S. health insurance plans to cover contraception, which the church opposes.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said the contraception mandate - which exempts houses of worship but applies to faith-affiliated employers - is a violation of religious freedom.

The Vatican's reaction to Obama's re-election was tinged with such lingering criticism, with Pope Benedict XVI congratulating Obama and praying that the ideals of freedom and justice continue to be upheld.

Lombardi went further urging the administration to respect essential values in "promoting a culture of life and religious freedom" - Vatican buzzwords referring to abortion, contraception and the insurance mandate.

It was a far cry from the Vatican's enthusiastic response to Obama's election in 2008. Then, the pope termed Obama's election an "historic occasion" in a personal note of congratulations sent right after he won, a break with traditional Vatican protocol that usually sees official telegrams of congratulations sent on inauguration day.

Source: http://www.theolympian.com/2012/11/10/2314696/vatican-digs-in-after-gay-marriage.html

alshon jeffery miami heat bulls red dawn california earthquake california earthquake tyson chandler

In presidential debate, President Obama is no dove, and Mitt Romney is no hawk (+video)

President Obama told Mitt Romney in last night's presidential debate: 'You say you would do the same things we did, but you would just say them louder.' Commentators draw sharp distinctions between the two men, but?their foreign policy similarities are more striking than the differences.

By Michael Fullilove / October 23, 2012

Mitt Romney and President Obama shake hands after the third presidential debate at Lynn University, Oct. 22, in Boca Raton, Fla. Op-ed contributor Michael Fullilove writes: 'Obama is not as left-wing and dovish as many believe, and Romney is not as right-wing and hawkish as he would have us believe....Americans have a foreign policy choice to make in November. But the world is not at a crossroads because of it.'

Win McNamee/AP

Enlarge

President Obama landed a lot of punches in the presidential debate on foreign policy with Mitt Romney in Boca Raton, Fla. He was sharp, aggressive, and generally presidential, attacking Mr. Romney in almost every answer. His boast about his ?strong and steady leadership? as opposed to Romney?s ?wrong and reckless leadership? was telling. The president mocked his Republican opponent?s understanding of defense policy, explaining that the Pentagon?s horses-and-bayonets budget has fallen over time.

Skip to next paragraph

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

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

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of
The Christian Science Monitor
Weekly Digital Edition

COMMENTARY: Harvard Kennedy School professor and former diplomat Nicholas Burns discusses US foreign policy in the Middle East as part of the American Conversation Essentials series.

Mr. Obama?s truest line of the night, however, was when he said to Romney: ?You say you would do the same things we did, but you would just say them louder...??Many media commentators have drawn sharp distinctions between the two candidates on international issues. Global perceptions of the two men are also noticeably different: Most of the Western world wants Obama to win.

In truth, however, the foreign-policy similarities between the two men are more striking than the differences. Obama is not as left-wing and dovish as many believe, and Romney is not as right-wing and hawkish as he would have us believe.

Obama has governed as a cautious realist, focused principally on America?s national interests. Obama?s speeches are about hope and change, but his foreign policy is about reasonableness and balance. He has also demonstrated a clear willingness to use force, sometimes unilaterally, to protect US security and interests.

It is harder to make judgments about Romney?s foreign policies. His few interventions on the topic have not been impressive. If we believe his rhetoric, then should he be elected, the foreign policy right-wing is back in business. Romney has criticized Obama for being a serial apologizer, promised a more muscular approach toward America?s adversaries, and vowed to usher in a new American Century.

But Romney?s heart doesn?t seem to be in it. His character and experiences indicate that he would more likely be a careful, analytical foreign policy-maker, who bases his decisions on expert advice and facts rather than intuition.

Like Obama, Romney is a cautious, data-driven figure. He thinks with his head, not his gut. His proclivity for PowerPoint, like Obama?s penchant for the TelePrompter, speaks to a desire for order and control.

There are many examples of foreign-policy convergence between the candidates. For example, Obama seems to no longer believe that coalition forces should (or even can) bring stability to Afghanistan. And he plans to withdraw nearly all troops by the end of 2014. Romney is more hawkish in tone, but the substance of his policy on Afghanistan is hardly different, and he has had his own timetable for withdrawal (though he now stands behind 2014), even if it contains more caveats.

In Asia, Obama seeks to cooperate with Beijing, but he also intends to renew America?s presence in the region and maintain a balance of forces at a time when there is significant uncertainty about China?s future behavior.

Romney?s rhetoric on China has been several notches tougher, but he has focused largely on economic matters. It is hard to imagine him buying into a "clash of civilizations" with China, or muscling up to Beijing in a provocative manner. A continuation of the Obama approach seems more likely. Indeed, in Boca Raton it was Romney who was the panda-hugger, rejecting Obama?s characterization of China as an ?adversary.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/commentary/~3/4X3aQfRPRNs/In-presidential-debate-President-Obama-is-no-dove-and-Mitt-Romney-is-no-hawk-video

azerbaijan ryan howard ps i love you ray charles cheney heart transplant weather san diego unitarian

Protecting Your Teeth in Mt Pleasant: Services for Your Teeth and ...

Finding a reputable dental clinic might be an intimidating task, specifically if you are conscious of your financial needs. There might be a number of factors why lots of people consult a dentist. Whether it is about cosmetic dentistry, pediatric dentistry, and even general dentistry, achieving good results is the primary reason you?re going to a dentist. Find a trustworthy dental clinic in Mount Pleasant, SC offering effective dental services at affordable prices. This article features some of the tips on finding a reliable dental clinic for you and your loved ones.

Choose a Dental Clinic with Good Reputation

You might find a dependable dental clinic that fits your needs through recommendations or word of mouth. A dental care clinic with positive feedback could turn into a well-known oral care provider for many people. With this, it might be easier for you to locate a clinic which is recommended by many people. Asking your relatives or your buddies on finding a dental clinic or going to a nearby dental clinic individually will let you make your choice.

Find a Dental Clinic with Friendly Staff

You have to know what a dental clinic?s staff is like from the first telephone call or visit. The staff members? behavior is significant when selecting a trustworthy dental clinic, specially when the individual has to stay for very long hours in the clinic. There are no general guidelines for examining the staff?s behavior, but you will feel it if they interact with you. Ask how many years the staff members have been working at the office. Some reputable Mt Pleasant dental centers have efficient staff members who have been with the dental office for several years.

Look for a Dental Clinic with Highly-Experienced Doctors

When looking for a quality reliable Mount Pleasant dental clinic, you need to check if the doctors are skilled enough to give a good oral service. You can find dentists who concentrate on specific areas of dentistry. You should always determine whether the dentists are accredited. Make sure the dentists have completed the arranged course of study from recognized dental colleges. A trusted dental professional may help you feel comfortable even when you are undergoing an operation. They may have ways to make you feel safe and communicate with you effectively, so they fully understand your concerns.

Look for a Dental Clinic with Complete Set of Facilities and Amenities

You need to determine whether the clinic has the complete set of facilities and amenities. The usage of modern day apparatus and tools can assure quality dental service. The clinic also needs to be neat and free from dirt to ensure every client?s safety.

Choose a Dental Clinic with an Array of Services

When searching for a quality Mt Pleasant dental service, ensure that the dental clinic provides a selection of services. Some dentists specialize in cosmetic dental work, while some focus on dental implants. Regardless of what kind of service you need, it will always be best to choose a clinic that will offer many services, like teeth whitening to dental implants.

Knowing how to find the right dental clinics will benefit you. A reputable dental clinic doesn?t only consist of a highly-skilled dentist. The staff, amenities and facilities, and even the reputation of the clinic are also important factors to take into account when choosing the right dental clinic for you and your loved ones.

Source: http://articlepdq.com/health-fitness/protecting-your-teeth-in-mt-pleasant-services-for-your-teeth-and-how-to-find-them-2/

yvette prieto