Tourneys offer sun, plant seeds - Christmas Flowers USA

Sunny skies and sandy beaches await Xavier’s men’s basketball team in this week’s Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, but the destination is just the icing on the exempt tournament.

It’s primarily a business trip filled with resume-building opportunities on the hard court.

The No. 8 Musketeers play three games in four days, starting Thursday with Long Beach State and continuing Friday against Auburn or Hawaii. XU meets one of four possible foes – Clemson, Kansas State, the University of Texas at El Paso or Southern Illinois – on Sunday, christmas flowers usa blogs Day.

Xavier has played in regular-season tournaments seven times since 2002 and every year since 2006. That’s when an NCAA rules change allowed programs to compete annually in exempt tourneys as long as they didn’t play in the same event more than once in a four-year frame.

Tournaments have increased since the rule change, and the influx of participating teams has reaped the benefits. Not only can teams face opponents and styles they otherwise wouldn’t, but many brackets unfold entirely on neutral courts in vacation destinations.

The chance to prep for conference tournaments and the NCAA Tournament by playing games in short order is a bonus, and so is the way an exempt event counts on a team’s schedule.

Whether a team plays in a three- or four-game event, all its exempt tournament games count as one regular-season contest – which allows it to further diversify its schedule and present a larger body of work for postseason consideration.

From his perspective on the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski believes exempt events help in teams’ evaluations for Selection Sunday.

“The more evidence we have, the more comparison and evaluation opportunities that we have with different teams, the better job we can do when it comes to selection time,” Bobinski said.

“I think they add value to our process and I think they are good for the game. Having competition out of your traditional group and traditional regions is kind of a fun thing. It shakes the game up a little bit.”

XU might not otherwise have faced Long Beach State without the Diamond Head Classic. Distance, travel considerations, players’ school commitments and scheduling availability from Xavier’s perspective would have had to align with the West Coast program’s needs for a series to work.

Because exempt tournaments can only include one team per conference, XU is the lone Atlantic 10 member in the Diamond Head Classic. The rest of the field includes the Atlantic Coast Conference (Clemson), Big 12 (Kansas State), Big West (Long Beach State), Conference USA (UTEP), Missouri Valley Conference (Southern Illinois), Southeastern Conference (Auburn) and Western Athletic Conference (Hawaii).

While the different types of competition in such events have immense value, the financial incentives generally do not. Costs can be considerable despite the assistance of event sponsors.

ESPN senior director of event management Clint Overby said his company tries to offset teams’ expenses in their five exempt tournaments: the Old Spice Classic, Puerto Rico Tip-Off, Diamond Head Classic, 76 Classic and Charleston Classic.

“Teams get a stipend for airfare and we cover hotels on site for their specific travel party,” Overby said.

“The Hawaii stipend is more because of the distance and multiple legs (on planes), and we’re taking that into consideration.”

As a private institution, Xavier is not required to share its athletic finances. Bobinski said he appreciates the funds tournaments have given Xavier to defray costs, and he considers participation a worthy endeavor despite the financial obligations.

Food alone costs tens of thousands of dollars.

“It’s an investment on our part. From a competitive standpoint, it’s one that we feel has a return and has value to us,” Bobinski said.

Of course, XU isn’t required to play in exempt tournaments. It, like other Division I teams, could travel another NCAA-approved route by adding two more non-conference games to its schedule.

That’s not a likely scenario for Xavier as long as it’s offered good tournament opportunities. The program has already locked up its next three: the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in 2012, the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas in 2013, and the Old Spice Classic in Florida in 2014.

Xavier has become a part of ESPN’s rotation because of its basketball success, competitiveness and good amount of traveling fans, Overby said. Those are characteristics the company tends to look for in all its tournaments.

While ESPN events add another perk – televised games on its family of networks – a tournament’s RPI benefits can be even greater, regardless of host. XU has defeated teams like Memphis, Missouri, Villanova and Virginia Tech in exempt tourneys.

“We’ve built parts of our NCAA Tournament resume in these events,” Xavier director of basketball administration Mario Mercurio said.

“What I’ll say to event organizers is, ‘I want a great field.’ I want to count on Top 100 RPI games, teams that are going to be in the NCAA Tournament, Top 25 teams.”

For Xavier, accepting a Diamond Head Classic invitation was a slam dunk from a competition standpoint. The tournament’s timing was another story. Administrators had to mull the pros and cons of playing over christmas flowers usa for the first time.

“We understand for our team, for our staff and for our fans, to be on the road at that time of the year requires a sacrifice in some ways. We really wrestled with it,” Bobinski said.

But players will have chances to learn about the Hawaiian culture in a state they may not have visited on their own.

One reason coach Chris Mack said he likes exempt tournaments is because players are exposed to new places.

This tourney marks freshman Justin Martin’s first trip to Hawaii.

“Everybody wants to vacation in Hawaii,” Martin said.

“Even though it’s not a vacation, I do get to say I’ve been there. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

Freshman Dez Wells and sophomore walk-on Landen Amos won’t make the trip because of the four-game suspensions they received from the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout fight, but Mark Lyons will. His two-game suspension ends after Long Beach State.

MT. PLEASANT BUSINESS PUSHES MADE IN THE USA ITEMS - CHRISTMAS FLOWERS USA

While the christmas flowers usa  shopping season is coming to a head, one local merchant is giving people a reason to spend their money on goods made in the United States of America.

Jeff Gales, owner of the Old General Store with locations on Route 31 in Donegal and the Countryside Plaza in Mt. Pleasant, is holding its first Made in the USA Sale. Today, Saturday and Sunday customers can save 20 percent off select items Made in the USA at both locations.

"I am trying to promote locally-made products as well as items Made in the USA. I feel that any support we can give to American and local companies helps to support our economy," Gales said.

All items including toys, candles and gifts from Burts Bees of North Carolina, Village Candles of Maine, Swan Creek Candles and Gooseberry Patch Books of Ohio, Ann Clark Cookie Cutters of Vermont, Palmer Manufacturing of West Newton and Channel Craft Toys of Charleroi are on sale.

Dean Helfer, president and founder of Channel Craft Toys in Charleroi, said events like this one at the Old General Store help consumers focus on the value and the quality of what they are buying.

"It means that the customers are being made aware of the quality of products that he has there, of our products and of what is being made right here," Helfer said.

The Channel Craft Toys has been making authentic American toys, games and puzzles for over 28 years. The company was recently featured on ABC World News' "The Great Made In America Christmas" series, which reported that if every American purchased just $64 in American-made products this Christmas it would create 200,000 jobs in the United States.

"We have seen the affects of buying American and it is picking our economy right back up," Helfer said.

Kathy Willis, manager of the Old General Store's Mt. Pleasant location, said it is not uncommon for people to come in seeking products made in the USA.

"It's happening more and more often and not just American-made. They want to buy local so we mark them with signs that say Pennsylvania-made or locally-made," she said christmas flowers usa blogs .

Some of the other locally-made products the store carries that are not part of the sale include honey and maple syrup from Somerset, mustards from Ohiopyle, herbs from Irwin, Sand Hill Berry products from Mt. Pleasant, Old Linn Run coffee from Rector, just to name a few.

Sheep trade remains buoyant with supplies edging ahead of 2010 figure - Christmas Flowers USA

Thankfully, sheep prices are ensuring that farmers are having more success at raising money than the Irish Labour Party are enjoying in their attempts to fundraise in the USA.

Seemingly, the disciples of James Connolly netted a mere €100 over the past nine months from their efforts Stateside.

Lamb quotes in the main have remained firm with just one plant showing an increase from this day last week. Significant improvements in British lamb prices recently are helping the situation here, with very few lambs now being bought at less than €5/kg.

Moyvalley Meats retain top spot with their all-in quote of 500c/kg. The aforementioned increase brings the base quote from Kildare Chilling up to 484c/kg plus their 6c/kg and 5c/kg bonuses.

Both Kepaks remain on 485c/kg plus the bonus, while Dawn Ballyhaunis and the two ICM plants are quoting 480c/kg plus 6c/kg christmas flowers usa blogs .

The difference between this lower quote and the top price that I was hearing of yesterday morning was as much as 34c/kg, as factories were doing deals at between 510-520c/kg.

On a 23kg carcase this difference equates to €8/lamb. That could be what you are losing out by if you are a soft seller and accept whatever price is offered.

One or two plants are quoting for the lighter types at the same level as the base for the heavier lambs.

IFA's James Murphy said that prices have moved on with farmers successfully holding out for and getting up to 520c/kg.

He added that with less British lamb on the French market due to the very strong domestic trade there at the moment, Irish returns from France had risen to a range of 547-557c/kg including VAT, and there was still scope for further upward movement.

Kildare have upped their ewe quote by 5c/kg to move further ahead on 285c/kg. Kepak Hacketstown stay on 275c/kg, with 270c/kg being quoted by the ICM plants.

As with the lambs, the plants are freely paying well in excess of what they are quoting for the ewes, with 300-330c/kg frequently paid and an odd report suggesting even a little more at times.

An Bord Bia reported that the sheep trade had shown little change last week, with demand in domestic and export markets steady.

Quotes for lambs for much of the week averaged €4.85-4.90/kg. The cull ewe trade remained unchanged with quotes making up to €2.80/kg as good manufacturing demand helped to maintain trade. Sheep supplies to date are running marginally ahead of corresponding 2010 levels.

In Britain, trade continued to be driven by a lack of supply. By the weekend, live market prices across Britain were the equivalent of €5.48/kg for lambs.

In France, trade has picked up in advance of  christmas flowers usa  , with Irish grade 1 lamb reported to be making €5.47-5.57/kg including VAT by the end of the week.

Are your gifts Made in America? - Christmas Flowers USA

The Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce is helping to promote local businesses and American-made goods this holiday season by promoting christmas flowers usa  gifts local retailers offer that are made in America.

   “ABC News reports that the average American will spend $704 on holiday gifts and goodies this year, totaling more than $465 billion, according to National Retail Federation estimates,” a Chamber representative stated. “If that money was spent entirely on US-made products, it would create 4.6 million jobs. However, it doesn’t have to be that big. If each of us spent just $64 on American-made goods during our holiday shopping, the result would be 200,000 new jobs.”

   The Chamber has compiled a list of “Emanuel christmas flowers usa blogs Gifts Made in the U.S.A.” encouraging  locals to purchase items from local stores that are made in America. The list is on the “Emanuel Christmas Gifts Made in the U.S.A.” page on the Chamber’s website at emanuelchamber.org.

   Why not give the gift of economic advancement this holiday season with a gift made in America and purchased locally?

When shopping for gift card deals, think high-end - Christmas Flowers USA

(Reuters) - There's a way to save money this holiday season, even before the after-christmas flowers usa  sales: Unused gift cards and merchandise credits for resale in secondary markets. Some of the best deals favour high-end retailers.

The expansion of the secondary marketplace for gift cards during the last two years is a natural outgrowth of ever-expanding gift card sales. TowerGroup is projecting 2011 gift card transactions to hit $100 billion and to grow by another 25 percent by 2014.

About 6 percent to 10 percent of cards sold go unused, so the idea of the secondary marketplace is to motivate card holders to get something rather than nothing for cards they have no intention of using. The middlemen - like Cardcash.com, PlasticJungle.com and Cardpool.com - buy the cards at a discount and keep a fraction (typically about 5 percent of the card value). By acquiring the cards and verifying them, the sites can guarantee you're getting what you're supposed to.

While several retailers contacted by Reuters declined to discuss the gift card reselling market, there is an upside for them: Unused cards are reported as liabilities. Getting those dormant cards used allows the retailers to record the sales.

Along with the gift cards, the resellers offer unused merchandise credits or gift cards with balances - putting some cards on the market with odd totals rather than the round numbers most folks are used to seeing. (Hint for gift-givers: You can still get a great deal on one of those cards, but don't buy one of those as a present for someone.)

Demand is so high for cards from mass market merchants like Target (TGT.N) and Wal-mart (WMT.N) that buyers are likely only to save around 3 percent - but even that small a discount will move inventory.

That's not the case for cards that can be used at pricier retailers, says Cardcash CEO Elliot Klier: "In order for us to be able to turn around the higher end retailers, we can only do that with a bigger discount," says.

There are typically dozens of different brands for sale at any time at varying discounts and the inventory is constantly changing. Want golf clubs? You can buy $500 worth of Callaway gift cards for $400 on Cardcash, one of the leading gift card exchanges. Here are some other recent examples: $196.84 to use at Lucky Jeans for $151.57 (23 percent off), $419.35 to use at Gymboree stores for $343.87 (18 percent off) and $25 at CVS for $24.25 (3 percent savings) christmas flowers usa blogs .

If you're on the selling end of the equation, it works the same way in reverse. The more popular the card, the more likely you are to get close to the dollar value.

Cheryl Davidov, a New York City speech pathologist, says she was given a $200 gift card to Sunglass Hut, but knew she wasn't going to use it. So, she sold it.

"Even though I didn't get the full value of the card, instead of not using it all, I sold it for $150," she says.

But Davidov says most of her experience has been as a buyer. She had her eye on a $598 bag at Coach and was already holding a $50 card that had been given to her as a gift. You can't really buy much buy at Coach for $50, she thought, so she signed up to be alerted when Coach gift cards became available on Cardcash. When they were, she bought four cards with a total value of $535.74. The cost of those cards: $375.02, 30 percent discount.

Klier says the average returning customer (first-time users tend to be more timid), spends $200-$300 on cards per transaction.

Davidov says once she realized how easy it was to get a big discount, particularly at some of the better stores, she started buying.

"Once you get started you can get hooked," she says. "It's really addicting."

---

The author is a Reuters contributor. The opinions expressed are his own. (Editing by Jilian Mincer and Beth Gladstone)

Culture worthy of your calendar - Christmas Flowers USA

Tis the season to go nuts!

There are lots of ways to tell (and dance) the Nutcracker story — all around Central Florida. Here’s my guide to “going Nuts” this season …

"A Nutty Nutcracker"

Orlando Repertory Theatre

The Orlando Repertory Theatre turns the “Nutcracker” into a musical in this kids-fun production for the family. Rockin’ songs by family music artist Ralph Covert (of Ralph’s World) set the tone as Fritz, a video game-obsessed boy, and a heroic Nutcracker chase down the dastardly Mouse King to save  christmas flowers usa ! Show times are Saturdays at noon and 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. through Sunday, Dec. 18. Call 407-896-7365 or visit orlandorep.com

Universal Child Care

Celebrating diversity while encouraging the talent of young people, Universal Child Care Performing Arts will present the “Chocolate Nutcracker” with more than 300 young people on stage and in the orchestra. This adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s classic will be performed on Friday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. (children’s version) and Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in Orlando. This modern-day version is set in Harlem and incorporates dance styles including jazz, tap, hip-hop and ballet. Call 407-403-5519 or visit ChocolateNutcrackerOrlando.org

Central Florida Ballet

Central Florida Ballet’s always-entertaining “Nutcracker” has been named “one of five outstanding productions in the entire nation” by CNN and “the pyrotechnic Nutcracker” by USA Today. CFB’s production will feature guest artists of Ballet Sibiu (of Romania) on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. at the Linda Chapin Theatre in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Call 407-849-9948 or visit centralfloridaballet.com

Orlando Ballet

The professional Orlando Ballet presents the area’s classic production and invites the award-winning students from the Orlando Ballet School to join them in the children’s roles. Artistic director Robert Hill stays true to the classic while breathing new life into the production with his own choreography. It’s Dec. 15-17 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. with a children’s shortened version on Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre. Call 407-426-1739 or visit orlandoballet.org

Galmont Ballet christmas flowers usa blogs

The Galmont Ballet presents Frank Galvez's “American Nutcracker” set in the United States in the 19th century. With a Victorian Christmas tree decorated in red, white and blue, party boys dressed as cowboys, and impressive special effects, this American Nutcracker continues the celebration of family, tradition and love of the original. It’s Dec. 17-18 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse in Cocoa. 321-636-5050 or Galmontballet.com

Russian Ballet

A free Nutcracker is offered in Orlando at the Disney Amphitheater by Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando. The Russian Ballet of Orlando presents a gift to the community with a free “Nutcracker Under the Stars” (outdoors) on Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. The performance is choreographed by Vadim Fedotov and features both professional dancers and Academy students. 407-797-1281 or RussianBalletofOrlando.org

Happily Toxic

The award-winning — and wildly entertaining — Toxic Audio sings their entire performance without instrumental accompaniment, but you won’t believe that as these super-talented singers show us the range of what the human voice can do. Toxic Audio is at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in Sanford on Dec. 30. www.wdpac.com or 407-321-8111.

And in January …

Virtuosity takes the stage

Virtuoso pianist William Wolfram joins the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra to perform Brahms’ powerful 1st Piano Concerto on Jan. 14 at the Bob Carr PAC in Orlando. Savaged by critics at its first performance, the concerto has since joined the ranks of the finest of classical music creations. Reflecting Brahms’ decision to combine the piano with the orchestra as equal partners, award-winning pianist William Wolfram is the perfect pianist to fulfill the composer’s intent. Contact 407-770-0071 or orlandophil.org

25 years of Les Mis

The epic Broadway musical “Les Miserables” celebrates its 25th anniversary as the most successful musical of all time with a brand new production, including new staging and re-imagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. The New York Times calls the new version “an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish,” and NY1-TV says “this new production actually exceeds the original. The storytelling is clearer, the perspective grittier and the motivations more honest. ‘Les Mis’ is born again.” Les Mis will inspire audiences once again Jan. 17-22 at the Bob Carr PAC. Tickets are available at OrlandoBroadway.com and at the Orlando box office at 100 South Eola Drive, Suite 101. To charge by phone, call 1-800-982-2787.

Mozart’s Bad Boy

The original bad boy of opera, “Don Giovanni” is the story of Don Juan, history’s most famous lover (and seducer). Since Mozart conducted the first performance, audiences have found the roguish romancer so intriguing that they root for him even as his dark side takes over. Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” comes to the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach on Jan. 27 in a full-scale production by the Mozart Festival Opera Company with orchestra, sets, costumes and singers drawn from Europe’s great opera houses. Call 386-253-2901 or peabodyauditorium.org

Handpicked by Billy Joel

The “New Voice of the American Rock & Roll Songbook,” Michael Cavanaugh was handpicked by Billy Joel to star in his Broadway musical “Movin’ Out.” Evoking a voice and talent to rival the Piano Man himself, Cavanaugh is joined by the entire Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at the Bob Carr PAC in Orlando on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Call 407-770-0071 or visit orlandophil.org

Christmas tree controversy takes root in RI - Christmas Flowers USA

Chafee insisted his word choice was inclusive and in keeping with Rhode Island's founding as a sanctuary for religious diversity. But his seasonal semantics incensed some lawmakers, the Roman Catholic Church and thousands of people who called his office to complain that the independent governor was trying to secularize Christmas.
"He's trying to put our religion down," said Ken Schiano of Cranston, who came to the tree lighting after hearing about the controversy. "It's a  christmas flowers usa  tree. It always has been and it always will be, no matter what that buffoon says it is."
Chafee did not address the several hundred people who filled the Statehouse to watch the tree lighting. Afterward, he said he was surprised by the heated reaction to his word choice. Chafee argues that he is simply honoring Rhode Island's origins as a sanctuary for religious diversity. Religious dissident Roger Williams founded Rhode Island in 1636 as a haven for tolerance, where government and religion would forever be kept separate. Chafee's immediate predecessor also referred to Statehouse trees as "holiday" trees.
"If it's in my house it's a Christmas tree, but when I'm representing all of Rhode Island I have to be respectful of everyone," Chafee said after the tree lighting. "Now we can get back to next year's budget … with pleasure."
After Chafee lit the "holiday" tree, a few dozen carolers interrupted a performance by a children's chorus to sing "O Christmas Tree." The dispute also prompted the Providence diocese to schedule a competing Christmas tree lighting a block from the Statehouse. A Republican state lawmaker erected a tree in a Statehouse hallway to give Rhode Island residents an alternative to the official state "holiday" tree.
After the flap made national news, Chafee's office received 3,500 calls of protest, with all but 700 coming from out of state. According to a tally by Chafee's spokeswoman, his office received only 92 calls supporting his choice of words.
Rhode Island has one of the largest percentages of Catholic residents in the country. Timothy Reilly, chancellor of the Providence diocese, said Chafee's desire to be inclusive is laudable, though he chose the wrong way to do it. He said he hopes the controversy will prompt Christians to contemplate the holiday's true meaning, which he said far outweighs any spat over what to call a tree.
"He probably had the best of intentions but somewhere, somehow we lost hold of the true meaning of the season," Reilly said. "It's all about the baby Jesus. We tend to almost forget this."
But by citing Roger Williams, Chafee is upholding Rhode Island's legacy as one of the first secular governments in the modern world, according to Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

"Rhode Island is Roger Williams country," said Lynn, who is also a United Church of Christ minister. "He was one of the great champions of religious freedom and diversity in our history. There is no war against Christianity. We have a dizzying level of religious freedom in America."
The state House of Representatives in January passed a symbolic resolution declaring that the tree traditionally erected in the Statehouse be referred to "as a 'Christmas tree' and not as a 'holiday tree' or other non-traditional terms."
Republican Rep. Doreen Costa of North Kingstown, the resolution's sponsor, hosted her own tree lighting Tuesday outside her Statehouse office. She said the uproar boosted attendance, which she called a silver lining to the controversy.
Squabbles over nativity scenes and trees have become a regular occurrence, though the first shots in the so-called War on Christmas were fired long ago. The controversy highlights a very old tension between the holiday's Christian roots, its links to pre-Christian celebrations and the many now-familiar traditions that are relatively new, according to Stephen Nissenbaum, a professor emeritus of history at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and the author of "The Battle for Christmas."
Nissenbaum said early Christians wouldn't recognize the modern holiday, with its reindeer, Santa Claus, 'round-the-clock shopping and poinsettias.
The tradition of Christmas trees was brought to America in the 1830s by German immigrants who were continuing a centuries-old practice from their homeland, Nissenbaum said, though the use of evergreens and candles or bonfires in winter holidays dates back to pre-Christian Europe, Nissenbaum said.
The Puritan leaders of 17th century Massachusetts actually outlawed the celebration of Christmas for several years because they didn't like the boisterous celebration of what they saw as a minor holiday.
"I don't think christmas flowers usa blogs has ever been a settled tradition," Nissenbaum said. "We always look back to the days when Christmas was pure and simple and it never was."
Aside from the uproar over the tree, Tuesday's lighting ceremony was traditional. A giant gingerbread house was on display, along with a "heroes" tree decorated by the families of fallen service members. Choirs and a military band performed standards including "White Christmas" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." State employees served cookies.
Some attendees said both sides of the tree spat need to focus more on the spirit of the season and not a label given to a blue spruce.
"Why are they making such a big deal about this?" asked Deborah McNerney of Pawtucket, who came to the Statehouse to see her son perform with a children's chorus. "It's Christmas, after all."
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.