Spain has now topped that figure, one of the highest in the developed world, as unemployment in the European county reached 26.02% in the fourth quarter of 2012. There are 5.9 million people out of work in the country.

Spain shed 363,000 jobs in the fourth quarter as the government implemented austerity measures to satisfy bond holders. Investors are more confident in Spain’s economy now, but that hasn’t meant much for those out of work. Young people have been especially affected, with 100,000 fewer people age 20-24 employed, according to statistics released by Spain’s National Office of Statistics.

Spain’s unemployment rate is double that of the rest of the Eurozone nations. The country’s weak economy has caused an exodus of both Spaniards and foreigners moving to other European countries and the United States in search of a more stable economy. About 70% more people left Spain in 2011 than in 2010, statistics show.

The nation has lost 850,000 jobs over the last year. Unemployment is especially rampant in the south part of the county, which had flourished from a housing boom beginning a decade ago.

The Spanish government has started developing strategies to entice people to buy up those surplus homes. Last year, it said it was considering offering residency to foreigners who bought property worth $200,000 or more. That could be an easy sell for people with cash on hand: A three-bedroom in Alicante, on the Mediterranean, costs just $130,000.

There are an estimated 700,000 vacant homes in Spain.

Source – Los Angeles Times

Valentine's Chocolate Covered Strawberries

The delicious variety of milk and white chocolate lets that someone special know you aim to please. A thoughtful gift like this is sure to ignite the embers of appreciation, as well as the taste buds of the person you wish most to impress.

Succulent berries, picked at the peak of perfection, are transformed into a gourmets dream when they are drenched in rich milk chocolate.

Of course the big question is how you go about creating such a delight and ensure that you get perfect results. Well, the best way is the cheat and not actually make them yourself. The selection displayed in the image above for instance, are produced by “Wine Country Gift Baskets” and available to buy at Amazon. Similar selections can often be found in speciality chocolate stores at this time of year. Even some supermarkets have such delights available this weak.

However, if you are absolutely set on creating these yourself, then I guess it is off to Google you go and start searching until you find the perfect recipe. Thing is though, there really is nothing to such a recipe. It is only a matter of getting your hands on some tasty ripe strawberries, Giving them a quick wash, leave the stems and any leaves in place. Melt some quality chocolate and dip the strawberries in [about 3/4 of the way up to the stem]. Then place the dipped strawberries on a cold tray, or grease proof paper until the chocolate hardens, which only takes a minute or two. That really is all there is to it. Unless, you want to be a bit more creative and add in a few fancy extras. If you do, just use a bit of imagination. Anything goes, as long as it is edible and not a choking hazzard.

Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species - Click his image to get this book in various formats, including the free Kindle version.

Well, I was pleasantly surprised. I was thinking–this guy lived so long ago. Would I be able to follow his now-dated English? Not being a biologist, I thought that this book would certainly be over my head. But to my surprise, it was not. It’s quite readable, by me and just about any common Joe or Mary.

This is no small feat. Consider that at the time, most people believed in special creation–that every species had been specially created by a supreme being to fill a specific niche. Looking around at how well creatures fit their niches, this seemed so obvious. Of course, we now know that there are no permanent “special niches”. The geologic record testifies to tremendous changes in the earth’s climate, from times when there was almost no oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere, to ice ages that covered almost the entire surface of the earth, to mass extinctions due to giant meteor strikes or super-volcanoes. Evolutionary life has been “set back”, so to speak, many times, and it is only because life is able to evolve through natural selection that new organisms evolve from their ancestors to fill ever-changing niches.

Darwin wrote in a clear and simple style–and as one who tries to keep abreast of scientific literature, I can say with a certainty that this is a rarity. Yes, YOU can understand this book, and I have learned a lot about clear writing from it. Darwin kept it simple. As should we all!

Darwin was also an honest writer. With his vast knowledge of both human and plant anatomy, he realized and acknowledged the gaps in his theory, and did not shy away from them. Most have been since resolved due to a more extensive fossil record, the development of the science of genetics, advances in geology (including continental drift and more extensive understanding of the earth’s geological history) and advanced dating techniques. Consider that without the evidence that all of these scientific advances has revealed, Darwin was able to piece together an explanation of how the different species came to be–an explanation now well-supported by these various disciplines. His ideas quickly took hold, spreading throughout the world in less than 150 years, and revolutionized the way we look at ourselves and our world. I am hard-pressed to think of a single idea that has spread so fast in the course of human history, and with such explanatory force.

No, it’s not a Tom Clancy thriller. But you can take a lot away from it, and as a freebie, you can’t go wrong.

Valentines Day Gift Ideas For Her

Puppy Love Care Package Gift Box: Our adorable plush puppy is ready to share all his Valentine’s Day Puppy Love with your lucky gift recipient. Lift the lid to this great care package gift box to reveal all his puppy hugs and kisses along with decadent Belgian Chocolate Truffles, rich Chocolate Fudge, Simply Grand Gourmet Butter Cookies, and yummy “A Big Kiss For You” Butter Toffee Popcorn. Each gift is carefully hand crafted with attention to detail, tied with ribbon and includes a personalized gift card message from you to convey your sweet wishes.

Valentine’s Love and Romance -XXLarge: Did you ever think there were so many ways to touch her heart and bring a smile to her lips? It’s all for love, from fine chocolates and caressing music, to “love bite” yummies and slightly naughty flavored body paints and candy tattoos. Ingredients – Wicker Basket, Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzel Twists, Sour Cherry Slices Rings, Long Stem Roses Chocolate Candies, Cella Milk Chocolate Cherries, Music CD Romance, English Tea Cookies, Sparkling White Grape Juice, Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Squares, Candy Tattoos, Chocolate Body Paint-Cherry, Chocolate Body Paint-Watermelon, Chocolate Body Powder, Raspberry Chocolate Espresso Cake, Pearl Beads on a String.

Transparent Crystal Heart Pendant Necklace: Refined and feminine, this Pugster April birthstone heart 925 sterling silver Necklace is a chic and unique style for this season’s must-have accessory. Wear this necklace with a scoop or v-neck for a modern and striking look. Pugster April birthstone heart 925 sterling silver Necklace adds flare to any outfit. Wear this stunning accessory to any occasion and get noticed. Fashioned by a unique and imaginative design, this April birthstone heart 925 sterling silver Necklace will jazz up your neckline in a second.

Diamond Ring Wrap in 14K White Gold: Perfect as a stand alone band or as a companion wedding band to your existing diamond solitaire ring. 0.15 Carats of Diamonds set with high quality, G-H Color, SI1 Clarity Stones. Also available in 14k yellow gold, shown below. Diamond Information Diamond Weight Total 0.15 Carats Total Diamond Color G-H Diamond Clarity SI1 Gold Information Gold Karat 14K Gold Color White Gold Weight 1.0 Gram

Spa Perfect Bath and Body Tote for Women: Relax & Rejuvenate Spa Tote: This extravagant collection of deluxe Spa body care products refreshes the body and mind with an aromatic blend of natural magnolia. The fragrant blossom fuses with essential oils to work soothing magic throughout the body. This exquisite gift includes lotion, exfoliating shower gel, bath gel and more. Treat her like a queen. This is our best selling spa gift set. This Gift Includes: * Faux Leather Tote * Moisturizing Body Lotion * Invigorating Body Spray * Moisturizing Bath & Body Gel * Soothing Body Butter * Moisturizing Body Scrub * Bath Loofah Ball * Sisal Back Loofah * Assorted Toffee Chocolates * Herbal Tea * Foot Massager * Back Massager * 3 Aromatherapy Candles * Wooden Cosmetic Mirror * Aromatherapy Potpourri * Body Butter Soap Bar.

All of the above items are available at Amazon.

Valentines Day Gift Ideas For Him

Its A Guy Thing Gift Basket: Its a cinch hell love this manly design and dig into the treats it holds. Includes a shirt and tie decorated vanilla cookie, a cigar shaped chocolate filled cookie, peanut brittle chocolates, honey mustard pretzel nuggets, chocolate pecan cookies, and a milk chocolate cashew cream bar.

Handyman’s Toolbox of Treats Gift Tote: Celebrate the man that can DO EVERYTHING! We fill this paperboard tool box gift tote to overflowing with gourmet goodies and treats to satisfy all his crunchy cravings. Featuring Savory Beef Salami, Camembert Cheese, Chocolate Espresso Cake, Too Good Gourmet Chocolate Chip Cookies, Roasted Peanuts, Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuits, Premium Coffee, Butter Toffee Caramel Corn, Black Peppercorn Crackers, Butterscotch Candy, and Chocolate Dipped Cookie. Each gift is carefully hand packed with attention to detail, and includes a personalized gift message from you to convey your best wishes.

Men’s STEL Ceramic/Tungsten Bracelet: Ceramic and tungsten carbide. Materials for jet engines? No….JEWELRY! These highly scratch resistant materials will keep this handsome bracelet looking brand new for a lifetime.

Men’s J.GOODMAN Sterling Silver/18k Braid Collection Moneyclip: Look like a million bucks…even if you aren’t carrying quite that much. This handsome sterling silver money clip is accented with rich 18k yellow gold braids. The ultra secure stainless steel tension back keeps your money secure until you need it.

Polar FT4F Heart Rate Monitor Watch: A heart rate monitor for those that want something quick, simple and to the point without the need for time consuming programming and calibration. Wear the watch, and attach the comfortable and flexible textile transmitter and the new Polar FT4 will do the rest. Improve your fitness levels – The Polar FT4 will indicate when you are improving on previous fitness levels, giving you that extra push. Polar OwnCal Transmitter – The transmitter clips on to a very comfortable textile strap and has enough flexibility to move with your body yet remain in place. Paired transmitter and watch – The watch and the transmitter are paired together to ensure that your watch doesn’t pick up any other Polar FT4 signal when out training. Language Options – You are able to set the default language of the watch to any of the following: – German – English – Spanish – French – Italian – Suomi – Swedish – Portuguese Illuminated Display – Offering you extra visibility of the face to keep track of your training Customise – Change between 12 and 24 hours clocks and metric and imperial units to give you greater control Basic Features – Automatic age based target zone (% / bpm) – Automatic/Manual target zone (% / bpm / HRR%) – Backlight – Graphical target zone indicator – Heart rate (displayed as % of maximum heart rate) – Heart rate (displayed as bpm) – HeartTouch Exercise Features – Average heart rate of total exercise – Exercise Date – Heart rate based target zones with audible alarm – Heart rate based target zones with visual alarm – Maximum heart rate of total exercise Recording Features – Average heart rate – Calorie expenditure – Exercise Time (total) – Maximum heart rate – Target zone limits – Time in target zone Watch Features – Alarm with snooze – Date and weekday indicator – Dual time zone – Low battery indicator – StopWatch – User replaceable battery What’s in the box? 1 – Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor Watch 1 – Heart rate monitor sensor 1 – Textile sensor body strap 1

All of the items above are available at Amazon.

Super Bowl Food Ideas That Make The Party Great

Chicken Wings are a great finger food to any Super Bowl party; they’re easy to prepare, and almost everyone love it, except for vegetarians. Chili is a big hit that is guaranteed to hit the spot, and easily adjusted to suit your spice tolerance. This weekend is just a good excuse to whip up a batch of Chili con Carne. If sausage is more your style, bratwurst can be cooked up quickly and dressed up to be incredibly delicious with a good tangy slaw on the side paired with plenty of beer. If that whets your appetite, check out Grilled Beer Brats with Tangy Apple Slaw

Meatballs are great appetizer/party food. You can cook a big batch, put out a bunch of toothpicks, and you’re in business. These sound fancy schmancy, but I promise, these big and boldly flavored pomegranate barbecue sauced lamb meatballs will disappear in short order. While we’re talking about meatballs, another tasty option: Soutzoukakia Smyrneika with Olives. These are Greek, a mix of beef and lamb, and are more subdued in flavor with a light tomato sauce mixed with olives.

Depending on what part of the world you’re living in right about now, firing up the smoker/grill might not be a great idea, but in case it is, Smoked Spare Ribs are always a hit. I’m always looking for an excuse to make some.

Google Images

In steps Jacks mom to help out. She has made attempt at Google Webmaster Help section to ask for assistance to solve the issue;

“My minor son’s ex-girlfriend took a copyrighted picture of him (we own copyright) and uploaded it more than 60 times to a website. On each image she wrote slanderous, defamatory and pornographic captions. The webmaster of the site states he removed the images 6 weeks ago, but Google Search still shows all the images. My son is so stressed out and embarrassed and we’ve done everything we can to get images off of Google including URL removal tool, a letter to Google Legal with all the URL’s because of copyright infringement, and nothing has worked!”

Lesson to all guys – Before you start dating any girl, check first to see if she is an expert in search engine optimization. Out of respect to Jack, we are not showing the images on this article. Instead you need to visit Google images if you want to see them.

hope it all works out for you Jack and the images go soon.

Feng Shui Almanac 2011

The illustrated Feng Shui Almanac 2011 is especially designed to enhance your full potential in 2011. You will be able to select the most auspicious days and times for activities and events such as weddings, renovations, traveling, and opening a business. This almanac includes auspicious and inauspicious activities, daily earthly branch and conflict animals, and good, average and unlucky hours. Full of useful charts and feng shui lessons.

The author Grand Master Lillian Too is undoubtedly the world’s most prolific and popular writer and advocate on living with good feng shui! She has written over 100 books that have been translated into 31 different languages, and over 10 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide.

After graduating with an MBA from Harvard Business School, Lillian went on to pursue a highly successful business career in banking and finance in the 1980′s in Hong Kong. Her business acumen, drive and abundant energy soon led her from the finance world to the world of luxury department stores and boutiques where, through a leveraged buy out, she became Chairman and shareholder of The Dragon Seed Group. All the while she was guided and taught by her feng shui masters in Hong Kong and China – and she attributes much of her monumental and quick rise to success in Hong Kong directly to them.

Lillian soon decided to retire from active corporate life and return to Malaysia to raise her beautiful daughter, Jennifer, and spend more time with her family. It was at this time she began to devote her energy to writing and furthering her study of feng shui. She published her first book in Malaysia in 1995 that quickly became a best seller and the rest is history.

Today she is Chairman of Wofs.Com, a feng shui franchise and merchandising company run by her daughter, Jennifer Too. She trains feng shui students and future consultants at her Certified Consulting Institute in Malaysia and is much loved by her readers, associates and students for the way she teaches practical feng shui in a user-friendly way, using ordinary situations and circumstances that interest people and affect their everyday lives.

In November 2009, at the International Feng Shui Convention in Singapore, the well-deserved title of GRAND MASTER OF FENG SHUI was conferred upon Lillian Too. Immediately following this accolade, in early January 2010, she received the prestigious Brand Laureate Personality of The Year Award presented by the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia! There seems to be no stopping her popularity and recognition these days! Lillian believes everyone should know her secrets and learn how to adapt feng shui to modern life.

Lillian Too’s Feng Shui Diary 2011 is now available. This Diary contains daily Element and Lo Shu numbers, Conflict and Lucky Days for each of the twelve animal signs, moon cycles and auspicious and inauspicious days for specific activities. All the charts, tables and information enhance a serious feng shui practice.

The Year of the Rabbit - Chinese New Year 2011

If you would like to find out what the Year of the Rabbit holds in store for you, we recommend the book – Your Chinese Horoscope 2011. This complete guide contains all the predictions you will need to take you into the year ahead — a year which offers great hope, advancement and opportunity.

The ancient art of Chinese astrology, which predates the Western zodiac, is a detailed system of divination that has been in use in the Orient for thousands of years. The depth of its wisdom and the accuracy of its character analysis and prediction has caught the imagination of the Western world in recent years and led to a rapid rise in its popularity.

This popular and enlightening bestselling guide — now in its 21st year — includes;

Everything you need to know about the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac.

An explanation of the Five Elements: metal, water, wood, fire and earth, and which one governs your sign.

Individual predictions to help you find love, luck and success.

What the Year of the Rabbit has in store for you, your family, your loved ones and friends.

The author of the guide is Neil Somerville. He is one of the West’s leading writers on the subject of Chinese Astrology. As well as the Your Chinese Horoscope series, he is the author of several books on the subject, including Chines Love Signs and Chinese Success Signs.

Kathy Freston Pitches Vegan Diet on Oprah

Freston’s philosophy promotes a mind/body/spirit approach to wellness which includes a vegan dietvegan diet that she adopted in her 30′s. She has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Ellen, The View, Good Morning America, and is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post.

Freston says “Veganist”is a word she uses to describe someone who looks closely at all the implications of their food choices and then chooses to lean into a plant-based diet. The book provides readers “ten game-changing promises” that leads to a more whole food, vegan diet, which aids in weight loss, reduces risk of disease, and makes the world a more peaceful livable place.

Freston’s career focus began when she left an abusive relationship and found meditation to aid in the recovery process. She started making her own meditation tapes and came to the realization that these tapes could benefit other people as well.

Vegan Diet is the practice of eliminating the use by human beings of non-human animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans eliminate them from the diet only.

Well-planned vegan diets have been found to offer protection against obesity, heart and renal diseases, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis. The American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada regard such a diet as appropriate for all stages of the life-cycle, though they caution that poorly planned vegan diets can be deficient in Vitamin B-12,Iron,Vitamin D3,Calcium,Iodine,Omega-3and Essential Fatty Acids.