Retail sales point to rebound in consumer spending

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Retail sales rose in July for the first time in four months as demand climbed broadly for everything from cars to electronics, a sign that consumers could drive faster economic growth in the third quarter.

Retail sales rose 0.8 percent last month, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday.

A separate report showed U.S. producer prices climbing in July at the fastest pace in five months, although falling energy prices pointed to muted inflation pressures.

The gain in retail sales was the largest since February and well above analysts' expectations. Economists polled by Reuters had expected retail sales to rise 0.3 percent.

The report bolsters the view that the slowdown in economic growth during the second quarter will prove temporary.

"It's a welcome sign for the economy," said Joe Manimbo, a market analyst at Western Union Business Solutions in Washington.

It also offers some relief for President Barack Obama, whose November re-election bid has been imperiled by a weak jobs market. Republican challenger Mitt Romney is focusing his campaign on the weak economy that has plagued Obama's presidency.

The retail sales and price data could also splash a bit of water on hopes the Federal Reserve could soon launch another bond-buying program to help the economy.

"The reports suggest that the economy continues to grow, although at a slow pace," said Vassili Serebriakov, senior currency strategist at Wells Fargo in New York. "The numbers moreover reduce the possibility of Fed action at the next meeting."

Stock index futures rose on the data along with yields on U.S. government debt. The dollar rose against the yen.

Job creation in the United States slowed dramatically in the second quarter as consumer spending cooled and economic growth slowed. Job creation accelerated last month although the unemployment rate still rose to 8.3 percent.

Pointing to a strong increase in consumer spending during July, the so-called core measure of retail sales - which excludes autos, gasoline and building materials - rose 0.9 percent. That was the biggest gain since January.

Strength in consumer spending could help corporations doing business in the United States. Home Depot Inc raised its fiscal-year earnings outlook on Tuesday as tight cost controls helped the world's largest home improvement chain to offset sales weakness and beat Wall Street's profit estimates in the latest quarter.

In July, sales of motor vehicles and parts rose 0.8 percent. Receipts at electronics and appliance stores increased 0.9 percent. Sales of building materials gained 1.0 percent, while receipts as gasoline stations advanced 0.5 percent.

Excluding autos, sales climbed 0.8 percent.

Still, dark clouds continue to loom over the economic outlook.

The euro zone's debt-ravaged economy shrank in the second quarter after flatlining in the first, a report showed on Tuesday.

Small business sentiment fell for a third straight month in July as owners worried about sales revenue, according to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business. The NFIB index eased to 91.2 last month from 91.4 in June.

Europe's debt crisis appears to be slowing growth around the world, including in China, and has pushed oil prices lower this year.

The producer prices report reflected the drop in oil prices.

While prices rose for light trucks, pharmaceutical drugs and cigarettes, the gain in the overall index was muted by a drop in energy prices.

The Labor Department said its seasonally adjusted Producer Price Index climbed 0.3 percent last month. Analysts polled by Reuters expected the index to increase 0.2 percent.

The increase was driven by gains in consumer goods, with light trucks up 1.6 percent and pharmaceuticals up 0.9 percent.

Higher food costs also fueled the gain in the overall index. U.S. crops have been struck by a drought in parts of the country.

Energy prices, however, fell 0.4 percent last month. They were down for a fifth straight month in a trend that has been cooling inflation pressures. Wholesale gasoline prices fell 3.1 percent in July.

While overall inflation has cooled recently, core inflation has held at higher levels. Some policymakers at the Fed worry that further moves to lower borrowing costs could fuel higher inflation, though the central bank has said it was ready to do more to help the economy if needed.

The fall in energy prices is likely to help the economy as lower costs for fuels and other input prices leave companies more money to spend on other things, such as equipment or even hiring.

(Additional reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Neil Stempleman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/retail-sales-july-point-rebound-consumer-spending-123120363--business.html

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The Frustration Of Hitting A Baseball : Sports and Recreation

You are here: Home / Baseball / The Frustration Of Hitting A Baseball

The art of hitting a baseball can become a life-time love affair. But simultaneously it starts a trip full of disappointment and failure.

Hitting is often called the most difficult course of action in all sports.

The challenge of hitting a baseball is what drives so many athletes to spend hours upon hours of practice together with hours of watching games on TV or in real life. This may become an obsessive compulsion or idol if your have played long enough then you know precisely what I mean.

Waking in the middle of the night with thoughts about our swing filling our heads, or hitting until our hands bleed only to do it again the next day are sides of this love affair.

Always looking for that one thing where we are able to say I GOT IT or I Worked It Out. Only to go 0-3 the next day with three punch outs. Why do we do this to ourselves? It?s those good days that keep us wanting more. The feeling when we hit the ball perfect on the sweet spot. Much like golf except in golf you hit the ball pure and you?re on the green, in baseball you can hit the ball perfect only to see the centerfielder make the catch without taking a step.

Even writing this blog stirs feelings of those sleepless nights and frustration over O?fers.

The crazy thing about baseball is that we tend to target the negative, not the hit that you did have but the three you did not get. That explains why we must target the things we will be able to control. Your approach or plan and how you executed those.

Did you stay in the moment?

The practice of one pitch at a time!?

The pitcher wants to execute three pitches to beat us where we as a hitter only really need to execute on one pitch.

How we handle the mental side of the game will make a real difference in the success we have as well as how much we enjoy this fantastic exasperating game.

Enjoy the beginning of your lifetime love affair with hitting.

Thomas Johnson is a baseball coach who teaches catcher instruction and hitting instruction using video tutorials.

Source: http://www.theyellowads.com/recreation_sports/the-frustration-of-hitting-a-baseball/

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Innovation's Important Role in Great Customer Service | Business ...

Friday, 03 August, 2012 13:15 Last Updated on Friday, 03 August, 2012 13:16 Written by Rick Conlow

How does innovation influence the customer experience your company delivers?

Innovation and customer experience don?t always happen to be topics on the same table ? one is associated with ?creativity? and the other with ?service.? So, what do the two have to do with each other?

A lot. Look at Apple. They are one of the most innovative companies in the world (year over year) and ranked one of the highest when it comes to customer service scores (as we?ve all heard many times before). And these two factors go hand in hand when exceeding customers? expectations. Innovative companies are dedicated to a newness that keeps their customers coming back for more. It?s almost as if they put a revolving door on their company ? always giving customers a reason to return for fresh, novel, revolutionary experiences. Not only does this keep customers from becoming bored, but it gives customers ample reason to take out their wallets every time they enter the store, visit the site or call the service center.

So, what are you doing to ensure your company?s culture exudes innovation that exceeds your customers? expectations? Well, first things first, do you know what your customers want? And do you have a good gauge on the industry?s trends? These two ride in tandem because great companies determine what their customers will want before their customers even know what they want. If it didn?t work this way, customers wouldn?t be so impressed when companies deliver unprecedented possibilities. Again, let?s return to our reflection on Apple. Their most radical inventions have gone far beyond the borders of anything customers have had before, needed before or known they wanted before. So, as a leader, how do you get ahead of the game, so much so that you anticipate your customers? needs and wants long before your customers even have an inkling themselves?

Well, there isn?t sufficient time or space right here to answer that question entirely; however, there is one simple suggestion I can give you to get you started: GET UNCOMFORTABLE.

You cannot even begin to break ground if you don?t break personal boundaries. This means you need to let go of what feels like the right way to make way for growth, opportunity and surprise. Comfort is the culprit that keeps results from being revolutionary. When leaders keep operating the same way they?ve always operated, they will keep producing the same outcomes they?ve always received. It?s a no brainer. Be different to give your customers a different experience that sets your business apart.

Source: http://wcwpartners.com/customers/customer-service/innovations-important-role-in-great-customer-service/

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Identifying Run out Area Buyers ? Suggestions And concepts ...

Business people and also business people consider ended domain names that could become his or her gateways to everything about internet business. Once more, men and women get distinct pursuits, targets, targets, requires and for their run out websites. Of all the 15 run out domains purchased from the market industry, nearly more effective of them belong to this class. The reasons are too clear; most of individuals will buy these phones set up a business online, while some buy them to be able to web host websites which can be non-profit as the name indicated. Various kinds of ended area purchasers help to make expired-domains-for-business sort of people. A few words concerning how to cope with this kind of expired area customers.Purchasers thinking about task or even instructional dependent ended website names: Some individuals who handle academic primarily based research projects along with tasks wish to acquire names connected with the topic. Web sites owed to this particular category tend to be non-business in nature, but deal with a number of aspects of commercialism. Earning money from these expired internet domain names dependent web sites is quite challenging unless someone offers analysis and also white papers.Customers considering ended websites that can cause fiscal benefits: A lot of the consumers are part of this class. People who get yourself a dvd forms of internet domain names think that there is something rewarding over these domains. It could be inbound site visitors as well as Page rank. Smart ended world wide web website buyers usually search for misspelled brands or perhaps those names which come out beyond search term placement method. Each time a man or woman tends to buy misspelled internet run out internet domain names by you, they are wanting to produce a wise website landing page, in which a net user can easily see plenty of ads. Furthermore, individuals could also purchase expired domains in order to direct their own internet users to a different internet site a vast amount of higher industrial significance. You need to entice these kinds of purchasers since the majority of of these are interested to buy internet domain names simply to generate profits. Your RPI is extremely higher because of this Cheap Birkenstock trading category. Birkenstock Sandals Online marketers usually seek out key phrase dependent domains, even though on-line internet marketers are usually keener on purchasing internet domain names for their Search engine optimization allowed websites.Clients who buy a big products regarding website names: Fundamental essentials lotion in the ended site buying and selling industry. They?ve created money out run out domain simply by selling these people at good revenue. You can get these kinds of domains in vast quantities and use for several reasons. Many of these site investors recreation area his or her domains to be able to make significant amount of revenue, while some may possibly lease their particular names away as well as resell in substantial profits. Renting out internet domain names is often a current trend in fact it is rather success, since a lot of people are usually needing to employ keyword-enriched websites that are not within their inventory.Buyers who purchase websites with regard to supposition: Those who obtain run out domain names for speculation uses are often cash-rich. They will Birkenstock Clog think that a minimum of a few of their domain names could have tremendous benefit in the near future. Sensible area vendors can expect to have positive modifications in the particular website market place and they also use this vulnerable details to buy merely the greatest domains labels, purely pertaining to professional uses.Copyright (chemical) 09 John Khu

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Source: http://www.backlinkarticles.com/hobbies/identifying-run-out-area-buyers-suggestions-and-concepts-component-2.html

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Fitness Friday? Tips for High School Athletes ? Elaine Hastings ...

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with Elaine Hastings, RD

Today?s adolescent athletes are stronger, fitter and faster than ever. It doesn?t matter if you?re male or female, if you?re a rugby player or a figure skater ? the energy requirements are significant when intense training and competition are part of your daily routine. And for teens, all this occurs at a time when they are in the midst of the biggest growth spurt since their first year of life. The unique combination of high-energy output, rapid growth and a desire for peak performance means, more than ever, that nutrition is key to achieving your athletic goals.

The most important nutritional requirement for teen athletes is to fuel growth and development first, and to support athletic performance second. Inadequate food intake can translate to sub-par performances, muscle breakdown, injuries and even undesirable weight loss. But beware ? this doesn?t give license to load up on greasy fast food and refined sweets! Empty calories are more likely to leave you feeling sluggish. Fuelling for growth and performance means consuming enough nutrient-dense carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants (ideally four to six times per day) to ensure you have all the energy you need.

Girls who engage in sports that emphasize body weight, such as gymnastics or distance running, may mistakenly believe losing weight will improve their performance. More likely, they will find themselves low in energy and can be at risk of developing an eating disorder or amenorrhea (loss of menstruation), or set themselves up for early osteoporosis.

So how much is enough? Teenage athletes should be consuming significantly more calories than mom or dad. The recommended daily intake for youth 14 to 18 years of age is 2,300 calories for females, and 3,150 calories for males. Those figures will simply maintain growth and body weight. Energy expenditures due to training and activity will boost nutritional requirements an additional 500-1500 calories per day.

Let?s begin by dispelling the protein myth. Yes, an active teenager needs a little more protein than his inactive peers. Protein helps repair muscle damage and, when taken with carbohydrates, speeds up the body?s ability to restore depleted glycogen. An athletic teen?s daily protein intake should be approximately 1.5 gm/kg of body weight (with an upper limit of 2.0 gm/kg) and account for no more than about 15% of calories.

It?s not difficult to reach this level with whole foods rather than through excessive supplementation. A 6 oz. portion of roasted chicken breast alone contains 50 grams of protein. Easy-to-digest protein shakes can also be an ideal way to start your day or replenish after a workout, especially when frozen fruit, almond milk or flaxseeds are included for added?nutrients?and fiber. Ideal post-workout snacks can include handfuls of homemade trail mix, veggies and hummus or even chocolate milk.

Keep up the carbs

Let?s not forget that our bodies? preferred fuel source is carbohydrates. More than half of calories (55-65%) consumed should come from carbs. Not the refined and sugary snacks that give you a boost and then cause a crash an hour later, but complex carbs that provide sustained energy and maintain stable blood glucose levels, especially during long days of training or competition. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains should be the primary source of carbs.

Athletes engaged in ?power sports? such as hockey or rugby may sometimes underestimate their body?s need for carbs and overestimate their need for protein. Chances are that if they?re having trouble gaining weight or muscle mass, it?s likely they?re not eating enough nutrient-dense food. Carbs are essential for muscle recovery and to restore glycogen stores after prolonged or intense exercise.

The evening before a competition or intense training session, include nutrient-dense and carbohydrate-rich foods such as sweet potatoes, brown rice or whole grain pasta as part of your meal. Fuel up before your morning practice with easy-to-digest foods such as oatmeal and berries or whole-grain toast with almond butter; take along some bananas, oranges or whole-grain pretzels for an energy boost between games and enjoy a whole-grain sandwich with lots of veggies and tuna or turkey when the tournament is over. Those fruits and veggies have the added benefit of providing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects after a day of hard training.

Don?t fear fats!

Teen athletes can consume up to 25-30% of their daily calories from fats. These should consist primarily of mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, including essential fatty acids such as omega-3s. Let?s distinguish ?good? fats from ?bad? ones ? which include processed, fried and hydrogenated oils that can harm cell membranes and interfere with digestion and absorption of nutrients. French fries and pastries will only slow you down. ?Good? fats such as cold-water fish, nuts and olive oil are converted to energy more readily and therefore are an excellent source of energy for muscles.

Omega-3s have the added benefits of reducing inflammation, improving recovery from fatigue and promoting the release of growth hormone. Healthy fat intake will keep your energy topped up and help minimize or speed up the healing of injuries. Aim to include at least one serving of salmon or halibut each week; munch on walnuts, cashews or pumpkin seeds; add avocado slices to your salad and add a generous drizzle of flax or olive oil.

Pumping iron (and calcium)

Calcium and iron are two minerals that deserve special mention. A 2006 study of over 4,700 adolescents concluded that female adolescent athletes are at risk of developing deficiencies in both calcium and iron. Inadequate calcium intake can result in reduced bone mineral density, and may increase the risk of stress fractures or osteoporosis in later years. Meet your calcium needs by eating plenty of leafy greens, yogurt, salmon, dried fruit, nuts and seeds.

Female athletes often tend to be anemic as iron losses can be accelerated through menstruation and heavy sweating. Low iron can cause undue fatigue and reduced athletic performance, so be sure to include red meat, legumes and leafy greens in your diet to keep your iron stores topped up.

Hydration always helps

Young athletes can be particularly vulnerable to dehydration, especially in the heat. Even mild dehydration can affect both physical and mental performance, so try to drink at least 8-12 cups of water throughout the day. And be sure to take in 8-16 ounces of water an hour before exercise, and have a sip every 15-20 minutes throughout your activity, remembering to replenish lost fluids when you?re done. Sports drinks and electrolyte replacements aren?t necessary unless the activity lasts beyond 60-90 minutes.

Optimal performance goes hand in hand with optimal nutrition. Your unique needs as a teen athlete require conscious effort and attention. If you want that competitive edge to reach your peak performance, don?t underestimate the power of food.

Breakfast Birchermuesli

Here?s a family-favorite recipe for breakfast birchermuesli that?s perfect in the morning or any time of day as a snack. It?s loaded with fiber, potassium, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 cup of rolled oats
• 1 cup of organic plain yogurt
• 1 granny smith apple
• 1/2 banana
• 1/2 cup raspberries
• 5 mejdool dates
• 1/4 cup raw walnuts
• 2 tbsp. ground flaxseed
• 1 tbsp. maple syrup
• juice of 1/2 lemon

Use organic ingredients wherever possible. Add or substitute ingredients according to your preferences. Some suggestions include almonds, dried apricots, raisins, blueberries, honey, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, almond milk, and protein powder? the possibilities are endless!

Directions
Soak oats in 1 cup of room-temperature filtered water; minimum 4 hours, preferably overnight.

In the morning (or once oats have soaked for several hours), combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

Serve immediately or refrigerate and serve later for up to two days. Good for 4 ? 6 servings.

Adapted from the original Bircher-Benner Muesli (circa 1900).

Nutrition Information (per serving):
Calories: 358 / Carbohydrates: 57g (64%) / Protein: 10g (11%) / Fat: 10.5g (9g of which are mono and poly unsaturated) (25%)

Stay in Your Game?

Eat and move for Top Performance in YOUR Life?

? ? ? ? ? ? ?work. fitness. kids. corporate. teams. athletes

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Elaine Hastings, Your Game Changer?

Thanks Fitness Republic ? great post!

http://www.fitnessrepublic.com/fitness/general-fitness/top-tips-teenage-athletes.html

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Source: http://elainehastings.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/fitness-friday-tips-for-high-school-athletes/

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Elefun & Friends Elefun Snackin' Safari Game by Hasbro Review

Since our family hosts many family gatherings, I like to have a variety of activities on hand for the children.? Once we head indoors to chat, watch TV, play a game, watch a movie and eat, the kids get bored listening to our chatter, so having fun games for them to play is crucial.? The Nintendo Wii is played often as well as many board games but a game the younger crowd will really enjoy is the Elefun & Friends Elefun Snackin? Safari game by Hasbro.

Elefun Snackin? Safari game is simple to assemble.? When you take it out of the box there are two different colored handles, two elephant heads, snack cards and 2 home base cards.

Adults will need to assemble the handles to the heads and the trunks (which look like a slinky) need to be snapped into the front of the elephant face.? That?s it, and game play is ready.
The game is suitable for children 3+ and for 1-2 players.? There are three gameplay options; finding the golden tutti frutti cake card, matching snacks and matching colors.? Zoe enjoys this game more than Gavyn because she is younger yet it is still fun to play!? I even got in on the action.? For each game, players will start at their home base, which is the color that matches the Elefun handle.? For golden tutti frutti cake players will position the snack cards face down with Elefun logo facing up.? Someone will yell go and run to the snack cards.? With the handle the Elefun trunk bounces and players will pick up the cards (there are suction cups on the trunk.)? Players will than look at the card they pick up at their home base, if it is the tutti frutti cake player wins.? Continue until it is found.

The second game; matching game, ?is played the same however players will bring the card they grab back to home base and leave it there without looking.? Players will continue to grab the snack cards until they have all been picked up.? Players return back to their home base, flip their cards and count their matches.? Whoever has the most wins the game.

The last game is matching colors.? This time the snacks cards will be placed snack side up.? Players will than grab snack cards that match the color of their Elefun.? Be the first player to collect all their matching colors to win the game.

I appreciate how easy the games are to play and for younger children to comprehend which is why I believe the younger crowd will enjoy this more.? I wouldn?t think many over 5 will enjoy it much but as a parent I?ve been having a blast playing with Zoe.? The game is great for hand/eye coordination and listening to basic instructions.? Since there are only two colors; green and orange children must know those colors to at least play.? The games are easy to understand with the color coded cards.? To make the games more challenging spread the cards out further away in a large area.? Cards stick to the suction really well so be sure to advise children to slide the snack cards sideways so the trunk doesn?t get stretched.? The trunk locks into place for easy storage in the box as well.

The only con I can see is the trunk getting tangled; remember your slinky getting all kinked?? This trunk is the same just plastic.? I have already untangled this once so if younger children play around with it or pull to remove the cards it is a possibility it will get kinked, however I was able to get ours out fairly easily.

The Elefun Snackin? Safari game is available at Hasbro.com for $14.99 and ideal for Family Game Night for the little ones!

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Disclosure:Product received from Hasbro for review purposes, however all opinions 100% my own

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Source: http://kiddiescornerdeals.com/2012/08/elefun-snackin-safari-game-hasbro/

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Clinton arrives in Ebola-stricken Uganda

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived Thursday in the Ugandan capital Kampala, which has been hit by an Ebola outbreak and where she will spend one night before heading to South Sudan.

Clinton will hold security talks with the leaders of both nations, the second and third stops on her 11-day tour of seven African nations.

South Sudan, the world's newest nation, celebrated its first anniversary on July 9, and the United States played a major part in its birth.

Clinton will meet with President Salva Kiir, whose government has yet to agree on its border with the rump state of Sudan and settle a crippling dispute on oil revenues.

The UN Security Council has given the two countries, which this year came close to all-out war, until Thursday to reach a peace deal or face sanctions.

"We are encouraging both sides, South Sudan and Sudan, to effectively negotiate the differences between them," said a high-ranking official from the State Department.

"Both countries are in a non-work spiral as a result of their political differences and as the result of the cut-off in oil... Our desire is to see all of these issues negotiated out."

"In addition to showing our continued support, the Secretary will express our continue concern about the lack of movement in the resolution of the key issues that divide the two countries," the official said.

"These issues are oil and revenue sharing, citizenship, a disputed border," the official said. "Both countries are experiencing economic dislocation."

On her return from South Sudan, Clinton will pass back through Uganda, where topics on the agenda will likely include the bloody rebellion by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and its chief Joseph Kony, wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

She will visit a military base in Uganda where she will be briefed about the hunt for Kony and efforts to fight the Shebab Islamist militants in Somalia.

Kampala is also in the midst of dealing with an outbreak of Ebola -- one of the world's most virulent diseases -- that has already killed 15 people nationwide.

Clinton's tour is focused on President Barack Obama's new Africa strategy of promoting development by stimulating economic growth, advancing peace and security and strengthening democracy.

On the first stop of her tour, in Senegal, Clinton -- who has now visited 104 countries as secretary of state, more than any predecessor -- hailed the west African nation as an example that "democracy can prosper on the continent".

She said she had a "productive, comprehensive" discussion with President Macky Sall.

"I want to thank him for taking time to discuss a number of issues -- economic issues, regional, security issues, issues that the United States is very committed to assisting Senegal on addressing."

Clinton will also visit Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and finish her trip by attending the state funeral of Ghana's late president John Atta Mills on August 10.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-heads-ebola-stricken-uganda-south-sudan-094352932.html

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