Mother Daughter Real Estate Team

EUGENE, OR - January 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) — Geri and Karen Sexton have enabled the premier IDX, Inc. software on their website, giving them an IDX solution that automatically extracts raw California Real Estate Technology Services (CARETS) listings and displays the information directly onto their search page. The innovative IDX Broker software helps to simplify the online real estate market for both home seekers and real estate agents and brokers, like the Sextons. Their website now hosts one of the most dynamic property search features available online, making their website a great place to begin the online property search process.
Beach front homes and properties in the city are all possible to search for on the website the Sextons host. Potential buyers can scan the CARETS listings to find the home best suited to their needs and budgets. Additional tools, supplied by IDX and supported by the Sextons, allow home seekers to connect with sellers and listing agents once they find a property they like to gather more information or schedule showings of a home. The mortgage calculator and virtual tour options also give potential buyers other tools to personalize their search and educate them about the home buying process. Never before have so many tools been available to home seekers throughout the online home search, nor have these tools been so accessible.
The Sextons have their own new level of accessibility, this time to the amazing and thorough online administrative page they receive with their IDX solution. Here, they can create RSS feeds and dynamic XML codes to syndicate their properties around the online real estate market, including social media sites and larger real estate search engines. With the immense tools these Realtors receive as benefits of adopting IDX Broker software, it is no wonder that their online business solution is so helpful and successful for matching buyers with properties.

Voting for Inventor Awards

Autodesk Opens Voting for 2010 “Inventor of the Year”

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, has kicked off the company’s official “Inventor of the Year” voting process. Autodesk is encouraging interested members of the manufacturing community to visit the community website and vote one of the 2010 Autodesk Inventor of the Month recipients as “Inventor of the Year.”

The Inventor of the Month program recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made among the hundreds of thousands of users of Autodesk Inventor software -- technology that takes manufacturers beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping. Simply put, a digital prototype helps users design, visualize and simulate how a product will perform before it is built, which in turn helps to reduce costs, speed time to market and increase competitive advantage.

The Inventor of the Year is chosen from the monthly award winners for 2010. The monthly winner with the highest rating from community members will be named Inventor of the Year. Voting is under way and closes Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. eastern time.

Inventor of the Month Winners for 2010

January 2010: ideas*, an Australian engineering services firm, used Autodesk Inventor to design and develop the world’s most advanced construction recycling facility. The massive facility in Victoria, Australia, is capable of recycling one million tons of demolition materials a year.

February 2010: StructureCraft, a custom design-builder based in British Columbia, Canada, used Autodesk Inventor to design and develop the innovative WoodWave roof for the Richmond Olympic Oval long-track speed-skating venue.

March 2010: RND Automation, a manufacturer of custom factory automation, robotic work cell, packaging and material-handling equipment, uses Autodesk Inventor to effectively design customized automation solutions for a wide range of customers, including manufacturers of hydraulic valves, contact lenses and insulated beverage containers.

April 2010: Vindby, a Danish supplier of renewable energy solutions, used Autodesk Inventor to develop the Vindby 1A, the first wind turbine approved for home use in Denmark.

May 2010: Preciosa, a Czech-based producer of cut crystal chandeliers and lighting fixtures, uses Autodesk Inventor, in conjunction with AutoCAD Mechanical and Autodesk Vault Professional software, to design, visualize and simulate its products in 3D and easily share digital prototypes with customers — helping them design their dazzling wares in half the time and with 70 percent fewer mistakes.

June 2010: West Hills Construction uses Autodesk Inventor to deliver energy efficiency, management, storage and distributed generation solutions. Using a combination of technologies, West Hills Construction helps customers not only reduce their energy use, but also generate energy on-site from renewable resources. The result has both environmental and economic benefits for all involved.

July 2010: Brookhaven National Laboratory, a national research laboratory overseen by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy, relied on Autodesk Inventor to design the innovative, next-generation nanotechnology equipment in National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) II facility, one of the world’s most widely used scientific user research facilities.

August 2010: Mark Richey Woodworking, a high-end architectural woodworking firm, used Autodesk Inventor in developing and installing the precision millwork required for a new performing arts center. Without Inventor software, fabricating and installing the woodwork in Helzberg Hall would have taken two to three times longer — and cost three times as much.

September 2010: Joy Mining Machinery, a leading global supplier of underground mining systems, used Autodesk Inventor Digital Prototyping software to develop its JOY 14ED25 continuous miner-bolter machine that helps promote zero harm in the underground mining environment.

October 2010: A Stanford University team of graduate students used Autodesk Inventor to develop a prototype of the recyclable Bloom laptop. Creating 3D digital prototypes of the hardware components in the laptop aided in creating a readily accessible laptop design that is also easy to disassemble.

November 2010: Ritter Sport, Germany’s producer of the square chocolate bar of the same name, uses Autodesk Inventor software to more quickly change its candy bar designs. While the company’s famous 100-gram chocolate square remains an unchanging staple of its product lineup, Autodesk Inventor helps the company create new designs 30 percent faster than previously to more quickly respond to market trends.

December 2010: Pi Mobility used Autodesk Inventor to more efficiently design the Pi Cycle, a new generation of sturdy, long-lasting electric bicycles. Producing a 3D digital prototype of the Pi Cycle showed that by increasing the diameter of the bike’s tube by a half an inch, the company could immediately save a significant amount of money.

About the Autodesk Inventor of the Month Program

Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the users of Autodesk Inventor software. Winners are chosen for engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation. For more information about Autodesk Inventor of the Month, contact IOM@autodesk.com.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc., is a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Customers across the manufacturing, architecture, building, construction, and media and entertainment industries – including the last 15 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects – use Autodesk software to design, visualize and simulate their ideas. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art software for global markets. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

Editorial Note:

HVAC in Las Vegas

Very few, if any, of the 2 million people living in Las Vegas could bear one summer without air conditioning. That's what makes Ken Goodrich's business somewhat recession-proof.

Goodrich, a graduate of Clark High School and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, founded Yes Air Conditioning and Plumbing, a company specializing in air conditioner repair and service.

When the weather heats up, so does his business.

"We generate most all of our profit from April 15 to September 15 and the whole goal is to hold on to it for the rest of the year," Goodrich said at his new 20,000-square-foot office and warehouse in the Buffalo-215 Business Park.

Goodrich has built a small empire in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, industry in Las Vegas. He started Racee Air Conditioning in 1986, then purchased Lang Refrigeration and Economy Air Conditioning, turning the faltering businesses around and selling them for $3.5 million to competitor American Residential Services in 1997.

During a noncompete period with ARS, Goodrich developed several commercial projects in Las Vegas, and bought and restored more than 100 foreclosed homes.

He founded Yes Air Conditioning in 2000, acquired two other HVAC businesses in Las Vegas and Phoenix, and again sold them to ARS in 2008 for roughly $35 million. Goodrich was retained as

Eighth Grade Wonder

SPANISH FORK, Utah, Jan 20 (Reuters Life!) - The world' most frequently downloaded free iPhone application, a engrossing mini-video game called "Bubble Ball," is th creation of a 14-year-old boy who spent weeks developing it a a public library in Utah.

Eighth-grader Robert Nay, who also happens to be a youn musical prodigy -- he plays piano, trumpet and mandolin -- sai he was inspired by his enthusiasm for electronic games i general and his interest in tinkering with computers.

"I just wanted to make an iPhone app. I thought it would b cool. And I wanted to see if I could do it," Robert said in recent interview with Reuters. "I played games that wer similar to it. I just took what I liked from different games and, like, add my own stuff."

But Robert's "Bubble Ball," a puzzle and game of strateg that involves the principles of physics in moving a floatin bubble from one point to another, is anything but a knock-of of other apps.

"He spent countless hours working on it, and the fina product includes more than 4,000 lines of code. He sent it t the Apple app store on Dec. 22. It appeared for download at th app store Dec. 29," said his mother, Kari Nay.

Robert first began working on his invention in November.

Ski Resort Sold

Denver-based KSL Capital Partners has acquired almost all the shares of the Squaw Valley Development Company, which includes all aspects of Squaw Valley ski operations, the village at Squaw Valley in California and related real estate holdings.

“Squaw Valley is the birthplace of the modern mountain resort in the United States with a heritage, history, amenities and perhaps most of all, extraordinary terrain that can never be replicated,” said Eric Resnick, KSL’s managing director.

Recently appointed Squaw Valley president and CEO Andy Wirth will continue in his role. Wirth came to Squaw Valley in August 2010 after working for Intrawest, based in Vancouver, and Colorado.

KSL is a private equity firm based in Denver dedicated to investments in travel and leisure businesses. Its portfolio includes ClubCorp, the world’s largest owner of private golf and business clubs.

Squaw Valley was founded in 1949 and hosted the 1960 Winter Olympic Games, the first televised Olympics. The valley received record snowfalls in November.

San Mateo Plumbing

Although homeowners know that the best way to avoid plumbing problems is through preventative maintenance, many forego annual system checkups due to the expense. That's why Rescue Rooter®, a privately held, nationwide provider of plumbing, drain cleaning, air conditioning and heating, is now offering customers an affordable San Mateo plumbing Home Service Plan.
"All too often, we're called to people's homes only to find mid- to large-sized problems that, if they had been caught through an annual inspection by a plumber in San Mateo, could have been minimized or prevented altogether," says Edwin Crouch, Rescue Rooter General Manager. "So to make those critical home inspections more affordable, we developed the Home Service Plan, which provides clients with professional services at a great rate."
The plumbing Home Service Plan includes:
Annual inspection of your home's plumbing systems
Annual water heater safety inspection
One-year warranty on repair parts and labor
Priority emergency service within two hours of your call
Preferred pricing on services, repairs, installations and more
National flexibility, which allows you to move anywhere within the company's services areas and continue to utilize your plan

The annual fee for the Home Service Plan is $132, which provides clients with substantial savings over standard pricing.
The company's San Mateo, CA, plumbers serve customers throughout the Bay Area, including those in San Francisco County, San Mateo County and Marin County. For additional information about the Home Service plan or to schedule an appointment with a professional plumber in San Mateo, please visit please visit http://www.rescuerooter.com/locations/SanFranciscoBayNor

Mysteries in the Sky

In a study that pushes the limits of observations currently possible from Earth, a team of NASA and European scientists recorded the "fingerprints" of mystery molecules in two distant galaxies, Andromeda and the Triangulum. Astronomers can count on one hand the number of galaxies examined so far for such fingerprints, which are thought to belong to large organic molecules, says the team's leader, Martin Cordiner of the Goddard Center for Astrobiology at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Figuring out exactly which molecules are leaving these clues, known as "diffuse interstellar bands" (DIBs), is a puzzle that initially seemed straightforward but has gone unsolved for nearly a hundred years. The answer is expected to help explain how stars, planets and life form, so settling the matter is as important to astronomers who specialize in chemistry and biology as determining the nature of dark matter is to the specialists in physics.

Cordiner is presenting the team's research at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle, Wash., on Jan. 10, 2011, and the results from Andromeda were published in an Astrophysical Journal paper on Jan. 1. The findings provide some evidence against one of the top candidates on the list of suspects: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of molecules that is widespread in space. The research also reveals that some of the signatures found in Andromeda and the Triangulum are similar to ones seen in our own Milky Way, despite some big differences between those galaxies and ours.

"We have studied DIBs in incredibly diverse environments. Some have low levels of UV radiation. Some have radiation levels thousands of times higher. Some have different amounts of 'ingredients' available for making stars and planets," Cordiner says. "And throughout all of these, we see DIBs."

Missing in action

Until now, only two galaxies beyond our own have been investigated in detail for DIBs. Those are our nearest neighbors, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, which lie 160,000 to 200,000 light years away. (Researchers have conducted selective studies elsewhere, however.)

Andromeda and the Triangulum are located much farther away, at about 2.5 to 3 million light years from Earth. "At those distances, individual stars are so faint that we need to push even the largest telescopes in the world to their limits in order to observe them," Cordiner says.

That statement might seem strange to anyone who has looked into the night sky and seen either of these galaxies with the naked eye. Under favorable conditions, the galaxies appear as smudges in the constellations that bear their respective names.

But to study DIBs, researchers need to do much more than see that the galaxy is there. They have to pick out individual stars within the galaxy, and only a few telescopes worldwide are powerful enough to gather sufficient light for that. (The team used the Gemini Observatory's telescope in Hawaii.) This is why most DIBs found so far have been in the Milky Way.

Whichever galaxy an astronomer chooses, though, it will be made up of tens to hundreds of billions of stars. "The first step is choosing which stars to observe," Cordiner explains.

Cordiner's colleagues at Queen's University in Belfast, U.K., took the lead on finding good targets. They picked blue supergiants—stars that are very large, very hot and very bright. Supergiants also burn very clean: unlike our sun and other cooler stars, they contribute little background clutter to the observations being made.

To look for DIBs, an astronomer points the telescope at a star and scans through a rainbow made up of thousands of wavelengths of light. This rainbow, or spectrum, is extended a bit beyond visible light, into the UV at the blue end and into the infrared at the red end.

DIBs are not defined by what astronomers see while doing this, but by what they don't see. The colors missing from the rainbow, marked by black stripes, are the ones of interest. Each one is a wavelength being absorbed by some kind of atom or molecule.

A DIB is one of these regions where the color is missing. But compared to the nice, neat "absorption lines" that are identified with atoms or simple molecules, a DIB is not well-behaved, which is why it stands out.

"Astronomers were used to seeing quite sharp, narrow bands where typical atoms and molecules absorb," says Cordiner. "But DIBs are broad; that's why they are called 'diffuse.' Some DIBs have simple shapes and are quite smooth, but others have bumps and wiggles and may even be lopsided."

Roman Shades Encino / 424.235.0224

Roman Shades Encino is a Roman Shade mobile business second to none. They will come out to your home and business and provide insight and elegance to make any room special and significant.
Roman shades Encino are multi-purpose window treatments that are very effective in blocking sunlight from entering a room. Roman shades Encino often times have the look and feel of draperies, but can be as practical a window treatment as a cellular blind. Roman shades Encino are designed for their convenient ability to be raised and lowered like a blind. Roman Shades Encino come in a variety of materials, including woven fabrics, faux wood, wood and bamboo to name a few. They are able to create privacy within the room while allowing light to come in from the outside. Roman shades Encino will fit nearly every setting, whether you are looking for the elegant or casual décor.

Purpose and Function

Roman shades Encino are made up of a series of panels of various materials that whenever their pull cord is lifted (pulled), the shades are evenly stacked together. Roman shades Encino are very effective in blocking sunlight, a primary function which proves very useful in rooms where sun glare interferes with the utility of a room, whether it is a television room, dining room or office. The height of Roman shades Encino is easily adjusted with its easy-to-operate pull cord. It is also important to note that as Roman shades Encino are effective in keeping sunlight out of room, they also prevent people from looking into the room from the outside.

Variations

Roman shades Encino come in a variety and assortment of colors and materials, and there are some Roman shades Encino that will feature a picture that is fully revealed whenever the pull cord is lifted. Roman shades Encino are usually made from a multiplicity of fabrics, but Roman shades Encino are also made from wooden variations, particularly bamboo-based Roman shades Encino. Fabric Roman shades Encino will give a home a distinctly cutting-edge feel, wooden bamboo Roman shades Encino will give any area where they are placed a very high end natural vibe.
Roman shades Encino can be a beautiful window treatment for any room. They will add texture, vibrancy, and color to that room. Roman shades Encino are a practical choice to provide insulation, light filtration, and privacy for the users. They will turn a bland room into an exciting, noticeable room and give it a feel that a decorator has been at work.

Teenager Wins School Award for Helping Others

David Hines, a twelfth-grade student at Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad, recently returned from Atlanta, Georgia, after attending People to People International’s (PTPI) ninth annual Global Youth Forum (GYF). Hines was one of more than 200 students worldwide, ages 13-18, who took part in the forum, which was devoted to the theme “Global Health – Can you help PTPI find the solution?” Hines was the only delegate from the U.S. selected to serve on the conference's International Student Panel (ISP) and was honored to receive the coveted PTPI CEO Award.

GYF delegates are committed to PTPI’s mission of promoting international understanding and friendship among the world’s people, and arrived at the forum prepared to learn how they can work together with peers from around the world to create a better, brighter and greener future. During the course of five days, delegates worked through a curriculum that broadened their understanding of various health-related issues and the impact they have on communities around the world. This was Hines’ third year of participation in GYF.

The ISP was comprised of seven students who shared their worldviews with GYF delegates during the ISP session. Hines' fellow ISP panel members hailed from Cambodia, Egypt, Morocco, Poland, and Serbia. Students spoke about their lives and the culture and health-related customs of their countries before participating in a question and answer session with GYF delegates.

A variety of speakers joined the delegates to share their expertise. Conference attendees also spent a day volunteering at MedShare, where they helped prepare huge amounts of medical supplies for shipment to people in need all over the world.

Following PTPI, Hines was awarded a scholarship to participate in the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) Citizen Diplomacy Program for Emerging Leaders. As a participant, Hines will attend the NCIV 50th Anniversary Gala, as well as the National Meeting in Washington, DC, at the JW Marriott Hotel. In addition, Hines will assist in hosting a foreign Washington, DC-based diplomat at the annual NCIV Luncheon. The students will be asked to create a short film defining citizen diplomacy to be used to attract the next generation of citizen diplomats.

Hines is the sole recipient of the 2010 CEO Award, an award given by the PTPI CEO to an individual or group within or outside the organization. There is no nomination process and the selection of recipients of this award lies entirely in the hands of the CEO, Mary Eisenhower. Previous recipients include Ambassador & Mrs. Charles Hostler (2008) and the Central and Eastern European Law Institute (1996).

“I’m truly honored to have had the opportunity to participate in the Global Youth Forum, ISP, NCIV Citizen Diplomacy Program for Emerging Leaders, and to be recognized with the CEO Award,” said Hines. “We think we have to go to formal conferences to debate and discuss diplomacy, when in reality, we can get involved right in our very own communities. During my time at Pacific Ridge School, I’ve learned that you can go out into the world and experience global issues first-hand. I have ambitions to be a diplomat or an ambassador. My time at the NCIV Citizen Diplomacy Program for Emerging Leaders will be an incredible opportunity to learn about the many careers available in Washington, DC, where I would someday like to call home. I feel passionately about leadership and about putting a face to diplomacy.”

Hines has applied for both a scholarship through PTPI and a trip to South Africa in summer 2011. For more information about People to People International, visit www.ptpi.org. For more information about Pacific Ridge School, visit www.pacificridge.org.

About People to People International:
People to People International, with World Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on September 11, 1956 to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures. Today, as a [501 (c)(3)], PTPI has a presence in 135 countries with more than 80,000 families and individuals actively participating in People to People International programs. Visit www.ptpi.org for more information.

About Pacific Ridge School:
Opened in the fall of 2007, Pacific Ridge School is a non‐profit, independent middle and high school located in the North County, San Diego. With the distinctive mission of building a community that fosters academic excellence, ethical responsibility and global engagement, Pacific Ridge offers a first-rate educational experience to prepare students for college and a purposeful life. For more information, visit www.pacificridge.org. Pacific Ridge School does not discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, creed, or national origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and other administered programs.

Air Conditioning & Furnace Cleaning in Texas

Richardson, TX, Jan 03, 2011 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) --
Service Experts begins a 2nd annual furnace and air conditioning clearance sale today on HVACClearance.com. Consumers can save thousands of dollars on new residential heating and cooling systems through instant savings and rebates, and learn 'how hot they are' via a new social HotnessQuiz.com web site.

During "Sam's Great Winter Sales Event," consumers may save thousands of dollars in discounts and rebates on the purchase of brand new heating and cooling systems for their home, and may also significantly reduce their home's energy consumption at the same time. A web site, HVACClearance.com, explains how consumers can save more money and home energy during the three-month event.

During the winter sale, Service Experts is also providing heating and A/C tune-up services valued at over $99 for free. A tune-up may help a home's furnace operate as much as 30% more efficiently, and can also help discover Carbon Monoxide leaks in the heating system. Homeowners within the service area of any Service Experts location may receive their furnace or A/C tune-up on their existing system simply by mentioning the Promo Code SAM when setting their free appointment. The free HVAC system estimate can be scheduled by calling 1-888-HEATCOOL (888-432-8266). Internet users will get an extra free item: a $5 gourmet coffee card they'll receive by mail after scheduling their free systemestimate on the company's web site and receiving their quote.

In addition to Sam's Great Winter Sales Event, the company has launched a unique social web site. Through the site, anyone can discover how "hot" they are via a simple quiz. The humorous "Hotness Quiz" divulges the web user's level of "Hotness," and can be shared with the user's friends on Facebook, Twitter, or via email. The HotnessQuiz.com web site also displays local coupons which can be shared with friends, printed or saved for future use.

For more information about Sam's Great Winter Sales Event, heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality, or to locate a Service Experts center, consumers may log onto the company's furnace and A/C clearance web site at http://www.HVACClearance.com.

Service Experts LLC is a retail HVAC sales and service company in North America, providing home energy-efficiency solutions, installation, maintenance and the repair of heating, air conditioning, ventilation and indoor air quality systems. Service Experts furnace and air conditioning technicians are certified by NATE (North American Technician Excellence), the leading certification program for technicians in the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) industry. The company is known for their exclusive Five Standards of Excellence and a written, one-year 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

Headquartered in Richardson, Texas, Service Experts has formed an extensive network of high-quality, well-established locations throughout North America. To locate a Service Experts center or arrange for heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality products, service or maintenance, consumers may access the company's HVAC clearance website, http://www.HVACClearance.com, or call the Service Experts toll-free number at 1-888-HEATCOOL (888-432-8266). Useful heating and cooling information can also be found at the Blog of their spokesperson, Sam The Service Expert, at http://www.ServiceExperts.com/SamsBlog.