| Cities fight glut of vacant houses
It scares people," said Joyce Porozynski, a block watch member who has lived in the neighborhood most of her life. "Many people have given up."
Across the street from Charles Gliha's cozy 120-year-old home stand three vacant houses, including one with the first-floor windows broken out. Another is being repaired, and a sign in the window warns would-be thieves that there are no copper pipes inside.
Gliha, a woodworker, has not given up hope and has no plans to leave the home where he grew up.
"People are the critical resource and as long as we have good people like Joyce, we'll be fine," he said. "We may be in better shape in 20 years than the suburbs because we've got a culture in this neighborhood that outer ring suburbs don't."
Cleveland, among cities hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis, is modeling its land bank after a program in Genesee County, Mich., home to Flint, which made tax delinquent properties available for redevelopment.
Rising to another level
But now, after Tuesday's second 20 minutes, the Sooners have created a new standard for how well they can play. Though likely impossible to maintain such a level for entire game after entire game, approaching it more often might not be asking too much.How high a level? Rising to another level Clay Horning The Norman Transcript Coming into Tuesday night's game against No. 20 Texas A&M, Oklahoma women's coach Sherri Coale said the Aggies were a barometer. .
Capitol Hill slaying has sent many women to self-defense class
Feelings of helplessness and fear resurfaced for many residents of Capitol Hill and other Seattle neighborhoods, where the increasing uncertainty about the killing of Shannon Harps has pushed some to seek ways to defend themselves. Carolyn is a Central Area resident who has taken matters into her own hands: She began scouting self-defense classes for neighborhood block watch members earlier this month. The 71-year-old, who asked that her last name not be used, became more concerned about personal safety after she was assaulted in 2006. She knew the attacker was behind her, but she didn't know what to do about it. After Harps' slaying New Year's Eve on Capitol Hill, she took action. Carolyn's hunt took her to Home Alive, a self-defense group that was started in memory of singer Mia Zapata, 28, who was killed on Capitol Hill nearly 15 years ago.
David Swanson: Obamessives And Obamicans
Now, I suspect that a lot of Obama supporters think he is more progressive than he is, imagine he's far less militaristic and corporate than he says he is in interviews, debates, and in his second book. But my friend had read his first book, and she also knew what is needed to get past the corporate media guardians of U.S. election booths. She, as I suspect many are doing, put her hope in the notion that Obama is faking his corporate militarism in order to get past GE, Fox, Viacom, and Disney, and once he's elected he'll be a real progressive. I'm putting what little hope I have in a slightly different place. My hope is that the people filling the streets in Richmond will continue to fill the streets after Obama moves into the White House. My hope is that a movement can arise that will force Obama to be what we need him to be.
Home counties tax hike needed to fund Olympics
Answers to parliamentary questions reveal that ministers have instructed officials to begin talks with the LVRPA, including about "liabilities arising from London 2012". London boroughs have already expressed concern that managing the Olympic venues after the Games could have an effect on council finances. Eric Pickles, shadow local government minister, said: "I fear that the Trojan horse of the Lee Valley authority could be used as cover for yet another stealth rise in council tax by Labour." The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: "There is no way in which any 2012-related cost overruns could be the responsibility of the park authority. We have a robust budget for 2012 that will guard against cost overruns." .
U.S. defense secretary to begin four-country tour
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will depart here for a nine-day trip Wednesday to Australia, Indonesia, India and Turkey, the Pentagon said Tuesday. Gates will join U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte in the annual talks with Australian officials on bilateral security, according to spokesman Geoff Morrell. As a vital mission of the trip, Gates will put arms sales on his agenda in India. "The secretary is always an advocate for U.S. defense companies," Morrell said. On his way abroad, he will make a stopover in Hawaii where the U.S. Pacific Command headquarters are located, the spokesman added. The Pacific islands are also the base for the U.S.
MICAH launches Health and Spirituality Program
The Minnesota Institute of Contemplation and Healing (MICAH) is now offering a unique Health and Spirituality Program individually tailored to help people find a sense of wholeness and healing in their lives through telephone or in-person consultations.Focused on comprehensive healing, this affordable year-long program is designed to help participants make serious and lasting life changes physically, mentally and spiritually through reflection and examination of all aspects of their life.The Health and Spirituality Program components include: .
Daily Blabber Celebrity Gossip Blog from iVillage Entertainment
They just spent Christmas together in Texas, where they cussed out a cop and Eva, who is Mexican, reportedly made a derogatory comment about the cop being Mexican. Oh, those crazy kids. Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban: Tom Cruise, Q-Tip, Lenny Kravitz... Nicole Kidman has eclectic taste in men, right? Well, this year she fell for Australia country singer Keith Urban. (And, yes, there is such thing as an Australian country singer.) In late May, they took a motorcycle trip. By fall, she was visiting him on tour. Thing have gotten serious as of late -- they spent the holidays together with their families. Maybe next year they'll make my Year in Review: Celebrity Weddings list. Orlando Bloom & Kate Bosworth: After taking a break last year, this genetically-blessed twosome reunited in '05.
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