2010-2011 Big 12 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll Saturday, December 25, 2010

Leading this year's Big 12 preseason poll for women's basketball is the Baylor Lady Bears. The team returns 4 starters from last year's Final Four squad -- and over 80% of its scoring and rebounding. The Bears are led by sophomore phenom forward Brittney Griner and guard Melissa Jones. New to the squad --- preseason All-Big 12 newcomer of the year Brooklyn Pope and All-Big 12 Freshman of the year Odyssey Sims. Second in this year's preseason poll is Texas A&M. The Aggies return three starters from last season's squad that finished the season with a 26-8 overall record and its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. With preseason All-American Danielle Adams back for her senior season, A&M is expected to be strong. Third in this year's preseason poll is Oklahoma. The Sooners finished 2009 ranked 3rd nationally after making the Final Four for the 2nd year in a row. OU returns senior guard Danielle Robinson, who led the Sooners last year with more than 15 points per game. Nominated for numerous All-America honors last season, Robinson should anchor an OU team hungry for continued success. Let's take a look at the rest of the Big 12 preseason poll... Coming in at #4 is Texas. Just 3 votes away at #5 is Iowa State. #6 is Kansas, followed by last season's Big 12 regular-season champion Nebraska at #7. 8th is Oklahoma State, Kansas State 9th, Texas Tech 10th, Missouri 11th for new coach Robin Pingeton's first season, and Colorado at #12.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bvc_9NoiiI&hl=en

Places You Can Go While Dating in Iowa Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Iowa is a state in the United States of America. It has a humid continental climate. The summers are hot and humid but snowfall is very common in this state. There are not so many places to go if you are dating in Iowa but that does not mean its a no fun state. You can still have fun in the few places available in this state. Its always good to make use of the few things available and to use them to your best of your knowledge.

If you love the casino and what it has to offer, The Ameristar Casino hotel is one of the casino's in Iowa that you can go to. It has live music. The artists from around come to perform in this casino. There is a lot of entertainment offered in this casino. You can play pool in this casino and all sorts of games you like. If you get hungry you do not have to get out of the casino to eat. There is a restaurant that you can eat from inside the casino. You can also go for sauna in this very casino.

If you are dating in Iowa, you can go to Lost Island Water Park. This park has a lot of fun written all over it. You can play golf in this place. It has 2 eighteen hole courses. It also has an arcade and Monaleo's Speedway. While in Iowa you can go to the Hickory Hills park. This park has a lake, a camping area, a cabin and a shelter. There is also mountain biking and cross country skiing. You will also enjoy hiking in this place. You can also do ice fishing while you are in this park. You can visit the Airline Amusement park while you are in Iowa. This park has a lot of entertaining things to do. They have bumper cars and battling cages. If you love candy you will have a lot on your disposal in this park. You should go to the amusement park prepared to have fun.

Blank park zoo is another place you should go to if you are dating in Iowa. This zoo has very many animals, animals of different kinds. This zoo also allows people to get close to some animals. Some of the animals are also left to run around. Its fun to be in this zoo with all the animals. If you do not want to go to the park or museum you can go on a cruise in the stern wheeler ferry that is the lady of the lake. This ship offers people a one and a half hour cruise around the lake. However the cruise is only during the summer and fall which is perfect for you would not enjoy cruising during winter, you wont be able to see the beautiful scenery even so if you went during the winter. During the summer or fall, the lake is clear enough to offer the people who are cruising the best view ever.

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Why You Should Choose Cosmetology School For Career Training

People today are looking for opportunities that can change their lives and offer them a future. There was a time when children were encouraged to go through college, get a corporate job and then become part of the machine that keeps America rolling. However, the recent recession has changed all of that and an institution such as a cosmetology school is now looked at as a viable career choice.

When a recession hits, individuals need to look at different fields to see not only what is popular right now, but that they will also find interesting and that will hold up over for years to come. Many industries have eliminated positions altogether, but the beauty industry is thriving. Because of this, the top beauty schools in the country have students lined up to attend.

Students who make it through the programs are lucky enough to become part of one of the largest growing professions in the United States. The industry has not only made it through the recession unscathed, it is actually thriving more than ever. Most of this is because of the various niches that the industry holds.

For instance, cosmetology school graduates do not just work at the local beauty school; they can go into the entertainment business as makeup artists. While it may be a bit morbid for some to consider, every funeral home uses a beautician to prepare its clients for the final services. Of course, there is also the opportunity to go into sales by working for an actual cosmetics company.

Today more than ever, it is important to find a field that not only interests you, but one that will continue to enable you to provide for your family for many years to come. There is no sense in wasting money on tuition for a career with a limited lifespan. Because of the opportunities available to cosmetology school graduates, it is the perfect choice for anyone interested in a career in beauty.

If you are thinking about attending cosmetology school, consider La'James Beauty School. Located in Iowa, this cosmetology school is known around the world and its students are some of the most sought after in the industry.

Sophomore Sets Strikeout Record Monday, December 20, 2010

Sophomore softball pitcher Kate Earlywine sets career and game strikeout record for the Duhawks



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJOYSqMFSQ4&hl=en

Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs Football National Championship Wins - 3 Victories

The Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs football program claims three national titles in the nearly one hundred years that the sport has been played at the college in the Dallas, Texas area. The three national championships are from:

• 1935


• 1981


• 1982

While SMU has never been awarded the distinction of a football national championship from the most highly regarded polls generated by the Associated Press (AP) or the Coaches Poll or even the more recently created Bowl Championship Series (BCS) system the university does claim football national championships based on designations bestowed on them by alternative sources.

When it comes to the highest level of college football the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which has tournaments and formally recognizes a national champion for every other college sport, has refrained from officially crowning a college football national champ at the highest level. Prior to 2006 the highest level of college football was called Division 1-A. Since 2006 the term Division 1-A has been replaced with Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). With regards to both Division 1-A and more recently Division I FBS the NCAA only states that "a number of polling organizations provide a final ranking."

Despite the fact that the NCAA organizes a tournament and pronouncing an eventual national champion at the Division-II and Division-III levels of college football the governing body of college football has chosen to abstain from officially declaring a FBS (formerly Division-IA) national champion. Because of this fact a number of colleges have chosen to claim national titles for historical seasons despite consensus opinions to the contrary.

In 1935 the SMU football program went 12-1 in a season that was concluded with a bowl victory after beating Stanford 7-0 in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Three different organizations declared the SMU team led by head coach Madison Bell as the best in the country. Those three organizations were (1) Dickinson, (2) Houlgate System, and (3) Sagarin Ratings.

In 1981 the Dallas based institution of higher learning claimed a second national championship after a 10-1 season under coach Ron Meyer where the Mustangs did not conclude their season with a bowl game. The low profile organization that declared SMU the best college football team in the country after that season was the little known group called the National Championship Foundation.

In 1982 Bobby Collins coached the SMU Mustangs to an 11-0-1 record over the course of a season that concluded with a thrilling 7-3 Cotton Bowl victor over the University of Pittsburgh. Future NFL Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson led the squad that finished second in the AP and Coaches Polls.

Although Penn State was widely accepted as the national champion with a substantially more difficult schedule than SMU the Penn State program finished with an 11-1 record. The lone loss to then number four ranked University of Alabama gave an organization that calls itself the Helms Athletic Foundation sufficient reason to declare SMU the national champion because the Mustangs finished with one tie and no losses while Penn State had one loss in week five of the 1982 season.

Kim, the author of this piece, imagines that despite the NCAA sanctions laid on the football program in the late 1980s that Eric Dickerson still proudly uses a red blue SMU golf bag when he plays a relaxing game of golf with former teammates. Because a Southern Methodist University golf bag is very difficult to find online Kim recommends getting a plain golf bag with the school colors and adding the Mustangs logos on separately.

For more tips on creating your own SMU golf bag readers are encouraged to check out the links in the previous paragraph.

Iowa's Effect On New Hampshire Primary Unclear Sunday, December 19, 2010

Just a few days before New Hampshire voters go to the polls, the Iowa caucus will provide the first real feedback on the presidential candidates.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7Ain_70hCA&hl=en

Average Cost of Renters Insurance Friday, December 17, 2010

The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America or IIABA revealed in one of their reports that the average cost of Renters Insurance is about $240 a year, $12 a month or $3 per week. The average cost is for an insured policy with a content replacement or property coverage of $30,000 and liability coverage that amounts to $100,000. The computation of your premium rate actually depends on a lot of factors: age of your house (the older your house is the higher your premium cost); the area or location where you live (the high-risk area and the higher cost of living means higher premium rate); how much you are willing to pay for your deductible (the higher the deductible the lower the premium rate), and lastly is your insurance company.

Do you belong to the 2/3 of those who are renting an apartment or house and yet do not carry a renters insurance? Statistics were drawn out from IIABA's consumer survey and was conducted by a third party through a national consumer telephone survey. Out of the 1,000 people whom they've asked, 64.4 percent answered "no" to having a renters insurance policy even when the average cost of renters insurance is not that really expensive because this is the top reason and misconception of these individuals. There were at least 2.2 percent who answered "don't know" which means that they are not aware that there exist an insurance policy designed for those who are renting.

To erase the misconception of an expensive premium cost for insurance policy of rental properties, here is the data about the average cost per state. The figures are based on the 2006 data of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The US countrywide cost is $189. The state that has the highest average cost of renters insurance is Texas with $261 and the state that has the lowest average cost of renters insurance is North Dakota with only $119 and somewhere in the middle is Washington with $170.

Other states (arranged from highest to lowest) is as follows: After Texas, Mississippi follows with $252 as its average cost of renters insurance. Next in line are Louisiana ($245), California ($244), Oklahoma ($230), Alabama/Massachusetts ($223), New York ($220), Arkansas ($217), Georgia ($215), Hawaii ($213), Tennessee ($208), Arizona ($207), Nevada ($205), Florida ($201), New Mexico ($200).

These are the states that the average cost are below $200 - Connecticut ($197), Rhode Island ($189), South Carolina ($189), District of Columbia ($185), Alaska ($182), New Jersey ($179), West Virginia ($177), Indiana ($173), Kansas ($170), Colorado ($169), Illinois ($168), Missouri ($166), Michigan ($164), Ohio ($163), Oregon ($162), Kentucky ($161), Maryland/Montana/Vermont ($160), Delaware ($159), New Hampshire ($157), Wyoming ($155), Idaho ($153), Nebraska/Pennsylvania ($148), Virginia ($147), Maine ($145), North Carolina ($144), Minnesota/Utah ($139), Iowa ($132), Wisconsin ($122), and finally South Dakota ($120).

Now that you are aware of the average cost per state, you can more or less calculate how much you would have to save whether it is daily, weekly or monthly. After you make your computation, you would realize then that it is not really that expensive.

What is your state's Average Renters Insurance cost? Visit http://www.wiseinsurancequotes.com/renterquote.php and get free quotes from all the major insurance providers. Save up to 70% on renters insurance. It's fast, free and easy!

Bad Credit RV Loan Thursday, December 16, 2010

A noted trend amongst lending institutions is to be favorable towards candidates with good credit ratings. However, providing loans is a profitable venture for these institutions. It is for this reason that banks will try to cater to most applicants, and at times it even involves working with people with a bad credit rating. However, it is important for applicants to realize that their bad credit RV loans will be treated a little differently.

It is true that many people go to great lengths to maintain a perfect credit rating. However, there are many who have defaulted and acquired a bad credit rating. In situations like this, it is advisable to apply for a bad credit RV loan to see if one qualifies. If the loan is approved, it usually has a positive outcome. Continuous repayment of bad credit RV loans will gradually help in attaining a better credit rating.

It is important for a bad credit applicant to know the credit rating well. This allows people to understand the reason for low credit rating scores. The RV financing bad credit status should also be warranted. It is vital that a bad credit applicant has a credit report from Equifax, Experian or Trans-Union. However, asking for a credit report puts people at a risk of lowering their ratings even further.

RV loan bad credit applicants do not qualify like other applicants. Drawbacks could include short-term RV loans with no provisions for term extensions. In most cases, these candidates are required to pay a higher loan rate in order to qualify. This is partly because higher interest rates serve as a guarantee for bad credit RV loans that are approved.

Bad credit RV loans also depend on the readiness of the recreational vehicle loan specialist and the RV financing bad credit category an applicant fits into. Bad credit applicants may not be able to bargain for RV loan rates. However, qualifying for a loan puts these applicants on the path to improve ratings right away.

RV Loans provides detailed information on RV Loans, Bad Credit RV Loan, RV Loan Calculator, Used RV Loan and more. RV Loans is affiliated with Mobile Home Equity Loans.

ABC Polls Saturday, December 11, 2010

ABC Polls Iowa New Hampshire Florida Earth Quake Wild Fire Hillary Dodd Edwards Gravel Kucinich Obama Richardson Al Gore Florida Lindsay Lohan Beyonce Biography Love Romance Love Romance Jennifer Lopez Puff Daddy Christina Christina Aguilera Interviews South Carolina Michigan California...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i65FWkpnoPc&hl=en

Iowa Car Accident Attorney Des Moines Lawyer

Des Moines, Iowa Attorney Offers a Free Car Accident Book That Provides What Iowans Injured in Car Accidents Should Know Before Hiring a Lawyer or Talking to the Insurance Adjustor. If you or a loved one been hurt in a car accident, automobile, motorcycle and other motor vehicle accident and live in Des Moines, Grinnell, Newton, Pella, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Waterloo, Iowa City, Indianola, Ames, Ft. Dodge, Burlington Cedar Rapids or another town in Iowa, Iowa Personal Injury attorney Corey JL Walker has represented hundred of Iowans hurts in car accidents and recovered millions of dollars on their behalf.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv1FDaePsFw&hl=en

Iowa City High Football Mosh Pit Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Iowa City High student section does a mosh pit to the drum line hit "Lamb Thrash" against Linn Mar Marion.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asg6bFRo5XY&hl=en

What is the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program? Tuesday, December 7, 2010

I Recently an article in the Iowa Quad City Times has many wondering just what the rules are requiring an heir to repay Medicaid for the cost of services to a deceased family member.

Sarah Miller received a letter from the State of Iowa asking for $277,186.96 to repay the State for medical care received at a state-run veterans home. Ms Miller is the long time companion of veteran Roger Lennon who died a few months ago.

Roger Munns, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Human Services confirmed that the State would seek reimbursement from any assets remaining in Lennon's estate after he died. Munns said that Mr. Lennon should have known that the state would pursue any remaining assets remaining after his death.

Munns states that "everybody who gets Medicaid is told that this is a government program for which we will be expecting repayment."

Mr. Lennon gave all of his income to the State during the times he was living at the Veterans Home in Marshalltown. This income consisted of his veteran's benefits and $350 which was his share of the rental income from properties jointly owned by Ms. Miller and himself.

Ms. Miller paid the taxes and expenses of the rental properties for the last seven years. However, she was told that she could not deduct either the expenses or taxes form the estate. The only deduction the State will allow is funeral expenses. Apparently the State of Iowa has told Ms. Miller it wants half the value of these two rental properties and the payment is due next week.

How did this happen and can it happen to others? Absolutely.

Medicaid came into being in 1965. As it is a joint program between the federal government and the states, it has always included a provision allowing the states to recover from the estates of deceased Medicaid recipients.

In 1993 Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA '93) which required the states to implement a Medicaid Estate Recovery Program. The relevant provisions of the 1993 Act are as follows:

* States must pursue recovering costs for medical assistance consisting of:
* Nursing home or other long-term institutional services;
* Home- and community-based services;
* Hospital and prescription drug services provided while the recipient was receiving nursing facility or home- and community-based services; and
* At State option, any other items covered by the Medicaid State Plan.

At a minimum, states must recover from assets that pass through probate (which is governed by state law). At a maximum, states may recover any assets of the deceased recipient.

Who's estate may be seized?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recoveries may be made from the estates of deceased persons who were 55 or older when they received benefits. Recovery could also be had if the Medicaid beneficiary was permanently institutionalized regardless of age.

States are permitted to exempt recovery if the only Medicaid benefit received is a payment of Medicare cost sharing, i.e. Medicare Part B premiums.

Of course this is made a bit more confusing because each of the states have different rules. Texas, for instance, passed a law which states Medicaid Estate Recovery Program claims will only be filed when it is cost-effective. Claims that are considered not cost-effective are those where:

* the value of the estate is $10,000 or less;
* the recoverable amount of Medicaid costs is $3,000 or less; or
* the cost of selling the property would be equal to or greater than the property's value.

Ohio has a hardship exemption. In certain circumstances when recovery from the estate is found to create an undue hardship, the right to immediate recovery may be waived by the state. The Ohio statute gives as an example a property which is the sole income producing asset of the survivor. Ms. Miller might be eligible for a hardship exemption if she lived in Ohio.

Each state has it's own rules. Federal guidelines allow the states great latitude in defining hardship exemptions. However, the federal guidelines do suggest that two kinds of property could be eligible for hardship exemptions. The suggested guidelines are homesteads of modest value and income-producing property, such as farms or family businesses that are essential to the support of a survivor.

Even though the federal guidelines seem to favor Ms. Miller, the ultimate authority to recover is with the State of Iowa.

Sheila Guilloton is the owner of Prestige Planners, a health specialty agency placing health and dental insurance for business and individuals. Licensed with all the major carriers, she counsels and advises clients on how to select the most appropriate coverage. To learn more about health insurance, health care and health care reform visit http://www.examiner.com/x-11804-Health-Care-Examiner

Home Improvement Secret Unleashed - Kemiko Concrete Stain For Your Home And Driveway Sunday, December 5, 2010

They say a man's home is his castle. Is this true of your home? Have you truly made your home into a place that you're proud of...a place that you just love to show people around because of its classy style and décor? Not many people can say that they have done this actually.

One fairly inexpensive and quick way to achieve this for your home is to consider concrete staining. Concrete staining is a really great process that you can use on any large concrete area in or around your home, that will give your home a whole new appearance of class and actually make you feel as if you're sitting in the lap of luxury at an expensive hotel, or depending on the color and lightness of the stain, in a relaxing island hotel in the Bahamas. It's a great way to completely change the look of your home, without having to buy expensive marble or stone.

In fact once you've stained the concrete in your home, it will look as though you have decorated with stone and/or marble. It's a look that says class through and through and it can be yours simply and easily. Concrete staining can be done on the interior or exterior of your home; in entrance ways to give your home a cathedral type feel; patio or garden areas for the perfect outdoor setting for you and your loved ones and friends; and actually any type of concrete wall or concrete setting where it needs a spruce up.

One of the premier manufacturers for concrete stain is Kemiko, who make the brilliant Kemiko Stone Tone Stain. The particular stain that Kemiko makes is a translucent concrete stain, not a paint or pigment. It's actually pretty amazing how the translucent stain, actually an acid, will cause a chemical reaction with the lime within the cement of the concrete therefore causing the concrete itself to turn the desired color.

One thing to note though is that since it is a chemical reaction, and not paint, the resulting coloring or staining will not be an exact consistent coloring. The effect will be more of a natural stone finish, which is actually a good thing since the desired look when using a concrete stain is to get precisely that...a natural marble or stone finish.

Another great reason to stain concrete is because of the clean look and feel that it gives your home. The thing that really enhances this is when you add the Stone Tone Sealer to your newly stained concrete. This not only protects your concrete for years and years, but also enhances it with a shiny satin finish. Just imagine how incredible your home is going to look with a stained concrete floor that really brings in that feeling of living in a luxurious castle, with the added shine. The great thing is that if you use the Kemiko Stone Tone Stain and Sealer to recreate a living room or finished basement, you no longer have the problems of dust and dander allergies coming from any carpeting. This is a great alternative for those with asthma and frequent sinus infections and or allergic reactions.

It's also great if you have pets given the fact that you can just sweep up any hair that your animal has shed, which also keeps down potential allergic reactions.

Cleaning is as simple as sweeping and using a mop and warm water to keep away dust and grime.

Kemiko Stone Tone Concrete Stain can be used on both new and old concrete which is great. So, there's no reason to go redoing your old cement before being able to apply the stain. You're safe enhancing the concrete floors that you already have.

It's really simply a matter of taste when it comes to deciding whether or not the Stone Tone Concrete Stain is for you and your home or not. If you're looking to change the look of your home, from the standard and ordinary to the classy and sleek look then there's really not a more efficient choice than using the Kemiko Concrete Stain and finishes. One gallon covers about 400 square feet, so therefore a little essentially goes a long way both economically and in style.

Bruce Hunter is the CEO of CORE Magazine. Visit Denver homes now to get free access to information on a Denver home mortgage.