Apple Flash Sales.

Apple Flash Sales. According to a new report by Ypartnership, flash selling has turned out to be quite a successful method of selling for suppliers seeking to liquidate unsold capacity.
In fact the 2010 Portrait of American Travelers revealed that one out of seven active travelers purchased a last minute leisure travel service as a result of receiving an unexpected e-mail from supplier that required immediate booking. Of those, 47% booked an air fare and/or lodging and 38% purchased a complete vacation package. One out of five booked either a cruise or a car rental.
According to the Ypartnership report, flash sales are usually sent to consumers with whom the supplier already has an established relationship (i.e. frequent flyer or frequent guest members). But what type of consumer is most likely to respond?
The report reveals that younger clients, specifically Millennials and GenXers, appear to be more responsive to these offers than their older counterparts. Perhaps, more surprisingly, affluent travelers (those with income above $125 thousand) appear to be more responsive than budget-conscious travelers.
When asked if they’d ever purchased a travel service as a result of receiving an unexpected e-mail from a travel supplier that required an immediate response in order to book the featured offer, 18% of 31- to 44-year old (GenX) respondents said yes, as did 17% of 18- to 30-year olds (Millennials). Thirteen percent of 45- to 63-year olds (Baby Boomers) also said yes, while only 7% of those over 64 (Matures) had ever booked such an offer.
Additionally, 21% of affluent travelers indicated they have responded to a flash sale, whereas only 14% of those with household incomes of $50 to $124 thousand have done so.
Across the board airline tickets and hotel/lodging are the most commonly booked travel products purchased as a result of a flash sales offer, though lodging is more likely to be booked by Millennials (57%) and GenXers (57%) than Baby Boomers (38%) or Matures (30%). Airline offers resonated more with Millennials (52%) and Baby Boomers (50%) than with GenXers (42%) or Matures (33%).
Vacation packages are also somewhat popular, particularly with Millennials – 50% of whom said they’d purchased a vacation package as a result of a flash sale offer, versus 39% of GenXers, 34% of Baby Boomers and 16% of Matures.
Though only 21% of those who have ever responded to a flash sale had purchased a cruise, Matures (37%) and Millennials (29%) were more likely to do so than GenXers (17%) or Baby Boomers (21%).
Few of any age group indicated they’d purchased a car rental as a result of a flash offer, ranging from one-quarter of Millennials and GenXers to 16% of Baby Boomers and 0% of Matures.

The List of Contenders Who Will Replace John Paul Stevens.

The List of Contenders Who Will Replace John Paul Stevens.

After a month of announcing that he “might be” retiring, the liberal stalwart Justice John Paul Stevens made it official this morning. Effective at the end of the Supreme Court’s term next month, Stevens told President Obama in a letter this morning that he would be stepping down, keen to the timing requisite for Obama to appoint another, and ideologically similar, jurist.

Even while Stevens’s seat is still warm, the Beltway speculation now quickly turns to who will replace him. According to a White House official who spoke prior to Stevens’s announcement, Obama is likely to use the same shortlist as last year, when he selected Justice Sonia Sotomayor to fill the vacancy left by David Souter. A look at the possible contenders:

Elena Kagan. As solicitor general (and the first female, to boot), Kagan has a sufficient background in the workings of the court and constitutional law. She also has something in common with Obama: both are graduates of Harvard Law, where Kagan even served as dean until 2008. Kagan isn’t an obvious ideologue, but may have several spots on her record. Republicans argued last January, during her confirmation hearings as solicitor general, that she lacked courtroom experience, which is true, and that she showed her ideological colors by opposing on-campus military recruiters at Harvard. If that confirmation vote—61-31—is any indication, this time around would be a squeaker.

Diane Wood. Wood is a seasoned jurist, having sat on the Seventh Circuit since 1995, and has a history of fiery exchanges with conservative jurists. But that’s only because Wood leans fairly hard to the left. Upon hearing that Wood was being considered by Obama for the court last year, pro-life groups circulated memos calling her “strongly pro-abortion”—a stretch of the truth, but still a signal that opponents would turn her nomination into an irreconcilable battle solely about abortion. But one reason Obama may still choose Wood is because he can personally vouch for her record. Like Kagan, Wood has an academic commonality with Obama: both served as lecturers at the University of Chicago in the '80s.

Merrick Garland. On a list dominated by women, Garland—a justice on the D.C. Circuit Court—was considered the nominee least likely to face significant Republican opposition last year. This was underscored, perhaps, by Garland's collegial relationship with Chief Justice (and right-leaner) John Roberts, with whom he served for two years on the federal bench before Roberts was elevated to the high court in 2005. There’s a good reason the White House would go with Garland. A centrist with already some GOP support, Merrick would prevent Obama from having to spend additional capital on a fierce nomination fight, especially as contentious debates on energy and financial regulation lay ahead. But on the downside, Garland is white, male, and, at 57, not in the game for too long. Seeking a legacy pick and more gender diversity on the bench, the White House might rather select a female, and someone younger.

Janet Napolitano. Napolitano made waves after last December’s Christmas Day bombing attempt when, in her role as secretary of Homeland Security, she said on TV that “the system worked.” But if that’s the only smudge on her record, she’d be a strong candidate. (A White House source said the president thinks “very highly of her.") Napolitano’s broad experience—she was a federal judge, then a U.S. attorney, before becoming attorney general and then governor of Arizona—offers a padded résumé for Obama to tout in announcing her qualifications for the court. But the downside is that, having held so many political positions, Napolitano has undoubtedly amassed a list of foes who would funnel significant money and rhetoric to derail her.

As with any decision in Washington, the politics may be more important than the people. As opposed to Sotomayor’s nomination last year, this time around the White House deliberations are more likely to be about who can get through than who would be best for the court. Trying to identically replace Stevens, the court’s longtime liberal lion, will set up a partisan battle bitter enough to end in certain defeat. But nominating someone too centrist could shift the balance of the court and enrage Obama’s liberal supporters who fear an overturning of Roe.

Still, despite the gravity of the decision, none of the shortlisters would bring a terribly heated confirmation hearing. That's too bad for the cable channels that feed on tension. But for Obama, nothing would be better.

Toyota Center said Lady Gaga's July 25 Show in Houston is Officially "Sold Out."

Toyota Center said Lady Gaga's July 25 Show in Houston is Officially "Sold Out."

Toyota Center said Lady Gaga's July 25 show in Houston is officially "sold out."
But don't worry, little monsters -- a second show has been added.
Gaga has added July 26 at Toyota Center to her Monster Ball Tour, which features opener Semi Precious Weapons.
Tickets for that show go on sale at 10 a.m. April 16 at livenation.com, at most Randall's or by calling 866-446-8849.
Expect full on Gaga madness as the show dates approach. "Gaga tickets" is trending locally on Twitter today, too.
I'm sewing my lace face mask right now.

Survivor Producer Bruce Beresford Redmond was Arrested.

Survivor Producer Bruce Beresford Redmond was Arrested.

Survivor producer Bruce Beresford Redmond was arrested in Cancun, Mexico after his wife Monica was found dead. The producer told police that his wife had vanished on Monday night during their vacation. On Wednesday he told the media that he was helping police in the search for his missing wife. Monica's family believed that there was a "foul play" on her death and later her husband Bruce Beresford Redmond was taken into custody.

Justice John Paul Stevens.

Justice John Paul Stevens.

Justice John Paul Stevens’s retirement is a big loss for the country, and particularly for progressives who have valued his bold and straightforward defense of civil liberties, equal rights and equal justice over many years.
But his decampment should not lead to a bloody battle over his successor. Whomever President Obama names to the court will be no more liberal than Stevens -- and might possibly be slightly less so.
Unfortunately, I fear that this won’t stop conservatives from trying to paint any Obama nominee as extreme and dangerous. Struggles over Supreme Court nominations are a great way to mobilize one’s political base, and they help a lot of organizations to raise money. Confirmation battles help, too.
There are really two issues here. The first involves progressives, who very much want Obama to name someone who will be as aggressive as Stevens has been in standing up for their values. Obama’s political interests on this are mixed: On the one hand, Democrats seem less excited about this fall’s elections than Republicans, and a liberal pick would be a great pick-me-up for party loyalists. But with so much else that Obama is trying to get through Congress, he doesn’t want a Court fight to suck up all of Washington’s political energy.

Then will come the fight over the nominee he does pick. As it happens, Obama has some excellent options who might help him balance his political interests. I know three of the people whose names are said to be on the short list: Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow, Judge Merrick Garland of the D.C. Circuit Court and Solicitor General Elena Kagan. All three are exceptionally bright, balanced in their approach, and warm personalities who would give excellent accounts of themselves at hearings. All are on the progressive side, yet it would be absurd to paint any of them as extreme. (Also being widely mentioned is Judge Diana Wood, who appears to meet all these criteria, as well.)
My hunch is that if there is any discernible philosophical difference among these potential nominees, Obama may pick the one who appears most liberal for this spot. He will save the apparently more moderate pick for later, when he might get a chance to replace a conservative justice. But all this will require some pretty fine parsing, since it is hard to discern clear differences in viewpoint among the members of his short list.
Let there be no mistake: The court has become increasingly conservative under Chief Justice John Roberts, and we could use a vigorous public debate over the growing dangers of conservative judicial activism. This poses another challenge, both to Obama and to whomever he picks. I would like to see these issues discussed fearlessly and openly. But having a genuine philosophical debate may not be in the interest of either the administration or the potential justice. I hope both can find a way to square prudence and principle. The conservatives have largely controlled the national dialogue on legal issues. It’s time for progressives to grab it back.

500 Internal Server Error

500 Internal Server Error. You Tube experienced "500 Internal Server Error" or "Http/1.1 Service Unavailable” last Monday. This message was showed 6 hours ago, pleasant thing the videos were not afflicted only the front page of the site. Google's response to this error was that their engineers were already fixing the error to restore the site.

Donovan McNabb traded to Washington Redskins

Donovan McNabb traded to Washington Redskins. Donovan McNabb has been recently traded to Washington Redskins.

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to trade Donovan McNabb to Washington Redskins.

Soap Nuts - The Benefits Of Washing With 100% Natural Detergent

Soap Nuts - The Benefits Of Washing With 100% Natural Detergent. Soap nuts are actually not a nut; they are in fact a berry from trees that grow in particularly in India and Nepal. A very ecological and economical way to do your laundry, they have been used for centuries thanks to their degreasing qualities.

Once ripe, soap nuts become sticky due to the high content saponin contained in their shells that, when added to water, act as a natural detergent. The detergent properties of the saponin in the soap nuts is due to a combination of lipophilic components (soluble in oily organic compounds) and hydrophilic compounds (soluble in water), which, when agitated, remove grease from clothes, skin or soiled surfaces.

Soap nuts used as shells or in liquid form, do not need any processing or industrial production. Neither do they require any added pollutants (phosphates, solvents, whitening agents) before use. Also when using soap nuts, the water released from your washing machine contains nothing harmful to the environment. In fact, the saponin from the nuts acts as a very good solution to combat the propagation of parasites and the aphids in the garden. Soap nuts are, therefore, considered as non-toxic and non-polluting.

Other Advantages of Ecological Laundry
Soap nuts are not aggressive towards clothing and linen
Soap nuts are very effective for washing delicates, wool and silk without pilling or spoiling the shape
Soap nuts are great for making colours vibrant again
Soap nuts are hypoallergenic and excellent for anyone who suffers from skin complaints
Soap nuts are more economical than traditional washing detergents
Soap nuts can be used for multiple purposes: laundry, jewellery, pets, household, etc.

What Results Can I Expect For My Laundry?

Due to the natural characteristics of saponin, soap nuts are considered to be less effective than chemical detergents but, they are sufficient for most washes. They are great for colours and delicates and can be used for hand or machine wash in temperatures of 30° to 90°. They are also suitable for dish-washing. The people who use soap nuts are generally of the opinion that this green, ecological manner of washing is as good as washing with chemical detergents, although for heavily soiled laundry, the use of a stain remover or bicarbonate of soda is recommended.

Instructions For Use in The Washing Machine
Put 6 half nuts into the cotton bag (normally provided) and add to the laundry in the drum
Add a couple of drops of your favourite smelling essential oil to the wash; because the soap nuts offer no scent.
Re-use the same nuts 3 to 4 times more for low/medium temperature, and less for hotter washes
When the soap nuts become soft, throw them on your garden compost heap and use new ones for your next wash

Soap Nuts Liquid Soap

If you decide to use soap nuts in a liquid form, the same rules apply in terms of using in the washing machine; temperatures ranging 30° to 90°. Just add about 40ml of liquid direct into the drum or the drawer of the machine and wash as normal; not forgetting the essential oil for scent.

A Few Tips & Tricks
If your laundry is very dirty, pre soak it with bicarbonate of soda as well as the wash nuts.
If there are stains, rub with Savon de Marseille then soak as above
If the water is very hard, soap nuts can be less effective so add a little baking soda or white vinegar to the washing machine