Coastal Bend recreational, youth sports calendar: 12.31.12 ...

KICKBALL: The Boys amp; Girls Club?s All-Star Home Run Derby. Competitors were: Thalia Salinas, Ezra Longoria, Kristin Kinsman, April Vasquez, Abrianna Rios, Serena Rios.

KICKBALL: The Boys amp; Girls Club Senior All-Stars are, from left: (Front row) Makayla Navarro, Denise Trevino, Meriko Menchaca, Serena Rios; (middle) April Vasquez, Anissa Garcia, Brianna Salazar, Caitlyn Gonzalez; (back) coach Patty Saenz, Stacie Torres, Valerie Lane, Coach Roland Trevino, Dahlia Herrera, Abrianna Rios, coach Marianne Mojica.

KICKBALL: The Boys amp; Girls Club Senior All-Stars are, from left: (Front row) Thalia Salinas, Celeste Vasquez, Analise Salinas, Meadow Leal, Mariah Johnston; (back) coach Ann Habib, Kristin Kinsman, Kamryn Morrison, Coach Ron Allen, Sara Trevino, Hannah Ortiz, Emily Habib, Ezra Longoria, coach Mario Rodriguez.

COASTAL BEND ? BASEBALL

6U CC Express is looking for players interested in select Tee Ball. Call Mario Rincon Jr., 673-4752.

7U Batters Box Hurricanes Coach-Pitch team looking for players. Team has new field and indoor batting cage. Call David Hewitt at 779-0668.

8U Hurricanes Select Baseball Team is looking for three players who want to play competitive baseball. Call 533-5688.

12U select baseball team looking for players. Call 816-5151.

13/14U select baseball team looking for 12- and 13-year-olds to play in tournaments. Contact Charlotte Santos at 738-8478 or Tarra Andrae at 673-2350.

CCMABL?s CC Rangers Team looking for players for all positions for 18-over and 28-over teams for weekend local city league baseball. Call B.J. Hayes 992-6198 or 425-1306.

Corpus Christi Baseball Umpires Association is looking for men and women to umpire high school baseball games in the Corpus Christi and surrounding area. Training provided. Call Art Green at 558-2461.

Corpus Christi Men?s Adult Baseball League has Spring, Summer and Fall seasons. This is a Sunday 18-over league played in two divisions, Junior and Senior Divisions. Senior division is a wood-bat league. Go to www.scorebook.com/ccmabl or call 331-3289.

Eight-under select baseball team looking for three players. All players are 7, will consider looking at 8-year-olds. Call Albert at 815-4701 or email gulfcoastgdawgs@gmail.com for a tryout.

High School Tune-Up Bash is Jan. 12-13 at Westside baseball fields. Fees: 12U ($250), 16U and 18U ($375). Call Ross Robles at 361-563-4497.

International Westside on Greenwood Dr. is registering for Spring baseball 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends at IWS. Ages 3-14. Deadline: Feb. 14. Birth certificates required. Call Ruben at 728-1117.

Kingsville Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken League registering for boys baseball, ages 4 and up, every Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kingsville Wal-Mart. Fee: $25. Teams welcome. Call James Davis at 455-4946.

Little League Baseball Academy has training for Little League through Pony age players. Call Jon Irvine at 774-8225 or email irv18@yahoo.com.

Mudcats 12u team will have tryouts. Call Victor Moreno at 425-8029.

Oso Pony League is accepting registration (Tee Ball through Pony) for the Spring 2013 season. Register 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday beginning Jan. 5 at the Oso Conference Room. Online registration begins Dec. 21 at http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?cmenuid=1url=osoponybaseballsid=45323057. Call Rey Saenz at 739-2903. For information regarding the Select League beginning in January, contact Rey Saenz at 739-2903.

Pony League in Rockport looking for 9-10 teams for interleague or regular-season games at no cost. Info: 205-4069.

Private baseball lessons and team instruction by Steve Castro. Call 548-9163.

Private baseball lessons and team instruction by David Castillo. Call 563-6771.

RBA Seahawks 10-under select team seeking players. For information and tryout dates, call 334-1049 or go to www.rbaseahawks.com

Rockport 12U team looking for challengers to play in Rockport on Sundays at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Also will travel. Call Augie at 205-4069.

Sandcrabs select team?s 5U tee ball team is looking for experienced players. Call Kevin Mitchell for tryout dates at 944-2525.

The Seahawks, an 8-under coach-pitch team, are looking for 3-4 qualified players interested in playing select baseball. Call Lance Rathke at 290-6761.

South Texas Veterans Little League seeking 25-30 baseball games for a 15- 16-year-old division and an 18-under division team. Teams will travel and willing to play home/home doubleheader series. League will pay umpire fees if played in Riviera or Kingsville. Also looking for teams for round-robin weekend tournaments in Riviera or Kingsville. No entry fees required. Call Greg Wallace at 297-5115 or 972-989-6556.

Strictly Pitching Lessons. Go to 361athletics.com/lessons.

Warcats 7U coach-pitch select team will have tryouts. Team is looking for experienced players. Call Victor Landin at 779-5991.

Wolverine Baseball 11U select team looking for experienced players. No fees. Call Joe at 947-2827.

Youth Baseball Developmental Group for ages 6-10 at the RBA Baseball Academy. Call 334-1049 or 832-245-9607.

BASKETBALL

10U team looking for players 9-10 years old or in third or fourth grade. Email aaron@southtexashoops.com.

Basketball Training by former Texas AM-Corpus Christi assistant coach Brian Merritt. Call Brian at 793-4482.

Big-time Basketball Alumni Tournament for players ages 34 up form teams from their high school days for a tournament April 6-7. Fee: $350 per team or $35 per player. Deadline: Feb. 1. After Feb. 2, late registration is $500 per team with a $150 nonrefundable deposit. Money can be sent to Frank Young, 223 East 37th Street, Houston, TX 77018.

Boys Girls Club Youth Basketball Leauge for boys has early registration through Jan. 4 ($60). Late registration is Jan. 7-11 ($70). League is for boys grades 3-12. Teams are welcome. Call 853-2505 or 853-2586.

Coastal Bend Youth Basketball League is looking for coaches for boys and girls divisions 3rd through 8th grades. Call 442-4397 or 658-0099. Go to www.southtexassliders.com.

Corpus Christi Basketball Officials Association looking for men and women to referee basketball games in the Corpus Christi and surrounding areas. Call Earl at 695-2506.

Corpus Christi Lady Hot Shots have basketball clinics for girls in grades 4-7 on Sundays. Fee: $10 per session. Call David at 815-1218 or go to www.ccladyhotshots.org.

Corpus Christi Youth Basketball private lessons are $30 per one-hour session. Specialized skills: dribbling, passing, shooting, defensive skills. Call 533-2059.

De La Hoops Basketball Clinic for boys and girls ages 9-12. Two-hour sessions on Sundays. Fee: $20. Call Roy de la Pena at 779-7446.

Fifth- and sixth-grade girls needed to fill Upward Basketball teams. Sixteen spots available on six teams. Practices are underway, games begin Jan. 5. Call First Baptist Recreation Center at 361-883-2421.

Senior Basketball workouts for men and women ages 49 and up from 10 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the NAS E-Street Gym. Shootaround and half-court games only. Age groups for 49-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75-up. Men call 855-9064, women call Gaynell at 853-7554.

Three-on-three basketball tournaments at Corpus Christi Police Athletic League. Divisions for 3rd and 4th grade all the way up to adults. Two-game guarantee. Fee: $15 per player, five-player max. Tournaments will be held throughout the year. Call 876-8116 or email hoopinamigos@yahoo.com.

Bowling

Youth Bowling Leagues at AMF Saratoga Lanes. Homeschool League ? Tuesdays at 1 p.m.; Non-Sanctioned League for ages 5-18; Roll N? Grow League ? Saturdays at noon; Youth ages 7 and under (this league uses bumpers). Bowling/Coaching Instruction Included. Weekly Bowling Fee: $10 Annual USBC Sanction Fee: $8 per year. Youth Scholarship League. ? Saturdays at noon. Bowlers are eligible for patches and pins for achievement and Scholarship Money for College. Bowling/Coaching Instruction Included. Two 16-Week Seasons. Weekly Bowling Fee: $14 Per Week (Includes 3 Games Bowling/Shoe Rental). Annual USBC Sanction Fee: $17.00 per year (Includes Jersey). Youth United Scholarship ? Saturdays at noon, ages 6-21. These bowlers are eligible for patches and pins for achievement. Bowling/Coaching Instruction Included. Weekly Bowling Fee: $10.00 (Includes 3 Game of Bowling/Shoe Rental) Annual USBC Sanction Fee: $17.00 per year (Includes Jersey). Call Margaret Welch at 857-2695.

BOXING

Joe Garza Boxing Club offers training for boys and girls 8U. CC Park Recreation Department program is offered Mon.-Fri., 5-8 p.m. at 3204 Highland. Info: 882-1408.

CYCLING

Cyclists meet year-around Saturday and Sunday mornings plus evenings rides during spring through fall. Various groups ride 25-50+ miles at paces of 14-20+ mph. Riders meet at the former CVS on Saratoga at Everhart on Saturdays and at the Lamar Park Shopping Center on Saturdays and Sundays. Start times vary with the seasons. Call 992 3835 or visit the Corpus Christi Cycling Club Web site at http://cccycleclub.com/author/corpuscycling/

DIVING

Trey?s Gang Dive Club meets from 6:30-8 p.m. every Monday through Thursday at the Corpus Christi Natatorium. All ages welcome. Info: 834-3759 or 878-2334, ext. 116.

FITNESS

Cross training boot camp at 7 a.m. Tuesdays and 7:30 a.m. Thursdays, or get a group of at least three and pick your day and time. Call certified personal trainer and marathon runner MaryKay at 361-232-9592 or email marykay@lifeisgoodfitness.com, or go to www.lifeisgoodfitness.com.

Free Fitness Boot Camp is 8:30-9:30 a.m. every Saturday on the lower deck at Doc?s Restaurant at the base of JFK Causeway. Camp is for all ages and abilities. Train free with former IceRays and Hooks strength and conditioning coach Jeff Paluseo. Call 774-269-3751 or go to www.sports-fitness-solutions.com.

Island Fitness Boot Camp is registering participants for its Fall/Winter program at Sea Shore Middle School Gym. Classes are 6-6:45 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Fee: $150 for a 12-session, four-week period. No age limit. If you want to lose weight, get fit, or just feel better, train in a group class with an expert in weight-loss training and fitness. Contact former IceRays player and current IceRays strength and conditioning coach Jeff Paluseo at 774-0874 or go to www.sports-fitness-solutions.com.

Life is Good Fitness Training has a cross-training camp at 6:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Doddridge Park. Running programs and individual training sessions also available. Call MaryKay at 361-232-9592.

Parkour training sessions offered at beginner and advanced levels for kids and adults. Contact Corpus Christi Parkour at 596-FLOW (3569) or Corpus ChristiPK@gmail.com or go to www.CorpusChristiParkour.com.

SeaCity CrossFit is enrolling participants for its Foundations class. If you?ve been wanting to try CrossFit but felt intimidated about getting involved, this class will guide beginners through all the movements safely and effectively under the watchful eye of a trained expert. Fee: $80 for eight one-hour sessions with a CrossFit instructor. Call Tim at 361 737 9473, or go to www.seacitycrossfit.com

Two-week free trial Xpress Metabolic Boot Camps at Pinnacle Performance and Fitness (3636 S. Alameda). Classes are 6 a.m., 6:45 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Train with fat loss and fitness expert Adam Farrell. All fitness levels are welcome. Register at www.BePinnacleFit.com or call 985-0631.

FOOTBALL

Alamo City Flag Football League is interested in hosting a Men?s (18+) Flag Football Tournament at Bobby Labonte park. Website is www.tlffa.com. If anyone is interested, email Martin Cavazos at martin_cavazos@hotmail.com.

Corpus Christi Titans Football Travel team is looking for football players for a Freshman Division, ages 5-6 and sophomores ages 7-8. No weight limit. Registration fee $85. Call Robert Krussow at 877-1071 or 877-2028.

Team Elite, a 16U select football team, is recruiting offensive linemen. Players must not have turned 17 until after July 1, 2012. They must provide their own equipment and copies of birth certificate, report card and school ID. Call Mike Trejo at 726-9653.

GENERAL

AllAmericanSportsRecruiting.com is enrolling high school student-athletes to promote for college athletic scholarships. Call Coach Herrera at 832-523-8797 or email info@allamericansportsrecruiting.com.

Ben Garza Gym and Corpus Christi Gym are available for rentals of all occasions, including basketball tournaments, volleyball tournaments and parties. Contact Andy Rodela (Ben Garza Gym) at 884-2194 or Mario Flores (C.C. Gym) at 851-1612.

No Athlete Left Behind (NALB) offers advanced speed/agility/endurance training for all athletes, both male and female, from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Flour Bluff High School varsity football/soccer practice fields. We recommend a $15 per session donation, but payment is not required for participation if the athlete cannot afford to pay. Training is for athletes of any sport ages 12 and older. Call coach Jeffrey Churchill at 443-6056 or coach Gilbert Sanchez at 443-1500.

YWCA Gym is available for rentals for all occasions and team practices. Call 857-5661 ext. 10 for rates and availability.

GOLF

Alice 50 Plus Golf Club has a 50-plus skins game on the second Tuesday of every month. Fee: $13, including food, drinks. Info: 664-7033.

Alice 60 Plus Golf Club is seeking new golfers age 60 or older. Tournaments held first Tuesday of each month. Cost: $5 per year. Info: 664-7033 or 460-1603.

C.C. Golf Exchange is seeking new members. Monthly tournament are held on the fourth Saturday of each month. Info: Sam Blanco at 543-7858 or Pee Wee 229-7831.

Coastal Bend Golf Schools is offering lessons led by 25-year Class A PGA golf professional. Call 463-9982.

Corpus Christi Golf Association is seeking new members. The annual membership fee is $20. Call Michael Gunning at 361-992-1929 or email at mngunn@swbell.net.

DRGX Golf private lessons by golf coach Carlos Sanchez Flores. Middle school players: $25/hour; high school players: $30/hour; adults: $35/hour. DRGX Golf Academy group golfers is $10 each for a group of five in a one-hour session. Call 461-7558.

First Baptist Church Golf Tournament is at 8 a.m. Jan. 5 at Gabe Lozano Golf Course. No entry fee, but regular green and cart fees apply. Prizes for first- and second-place team and for closest to pin on all par 3s. Contact Joel Dorsey at 334-1617, 244-8625 or dorsey7537@gmail.com.

Golf Swing Video Analysis by USGTF golf professional Tim Hofstetter. He?ll give you a swing analysis and an improvement plan. One-hour session, $45. Call 510-4053.

L.E. Ramey Golf Course Wednesday Night Scramble tees off at 5:30 p.m. every week. It?s a four- to five-man scramble, depending on participation. Fee: $10 to enter, plus $1 for closest to pin. Sign up by 5 p.m. each Wednesday. Everyone welcome.

Over 50 Golf Association is seeking new members. Tournaments are held on the third Saturday of each month. Information: John at 850-9039 or Cliff at 855-9237.

Over 60 Senior Golf Association is looking for new members. The association usually plays on the last Wednesday of every month. Call Dale McFarland at 991-4947.

Pan American Golf Association?s 56th Annual National Tournament and Convention is July 2013 in San Antonio. PAGA is accepting new memberships. Will need 10 PAGA Tournament scores. All handicaps welcome. Call Raul at 563-4435.

Tee2Green Golf Range and Teaching Facility(on Saratoga) has a variety of offers for golfers. Monday Madness Ladies Golf Clinic is 6:30-7:30 p.m. every Monday, any skill level welcomed. Fee: $15. Demo Days every Saturday. Times vary so call the Golf Shop. Club fittings by appointment. Free Junior clinic from 1-2 p.m. every Saturday. Monthly Full Swing and Short Game Clinics 5:30-6:30 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday and Wednesday of the month. Fee: $15. Short game clinic 6:30-7:30 p.m. every second and fourth Wednesday. Fee: $15 for each clinic. Private and group lessons available by PGA teaching pro Marti Longoria-Potts. Video teaching/technology is optional with an extra charge. Call 855-GOLF to schedule your golf lesson or email lprogolfer@msn.com.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics for boys and girls ages 3 and up at the Corpus Christi Athletic Club. Call 992-7100, Ext. 225.

Kickball

Boys Girls Club girls kickball league late registration ($55) is Sept 24-28. League is open to girls ages 6-14. Teams welcomed. Call Lisa at 853-2505 or 946-3395.

Kickball

Corpus Christi Parks Rec?s Spring Micro-Kickball Co-Ed Youth League has online registration through Jan. 9 at www.ccparkandrec.com. Fee: $38. Late registration ($53) is Jan. 10-14. League is for ages 4-6 and season runs from Feb. 2 to March 9. Copy of birth certificate required. Volunteer coaches and umpires are needed. Call the Lindale Recreation Center (3133 Swantner) at 855-0392 between 3?7 p.m., Monday?Thursday or Oso Recreation Center (1111 Bernice) at 991-3700 between 3-7 p.m. Monday?Friday.

LACROSSE

Corpus Christi Crankshot Lacrosse Club is a men?s club lacrosse team and is always in search of players. Info: cc.lax.tripod.com or email Jamin Welch at cc.lax@hotmail.com.

MARTIAL ARTS

50+ Tai Chi (Taijiquan) and Qigong beginner classes at 9:45 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Academy of Asian Martial Arts (Sunrise Mall). Advanced classes begin at 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Taiji is a low-impact aerobic exercise that improves balance and reduces or relieves many other health problems. Fee: $25/month. Call 882-5088.

Adult Jiu-Jitsu Classes: Morning classes are held Mon.-Wed., 11 a.m.-noon. Evening classes are held Mon-Thurs. 6:30?8:30 p.m. First week always free. More info: Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 549-3597.

Aikido Classes (13 and older) offered by the YWCA 6-6:50 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Tae Kwon Do 7-7:50 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Nonmember daily rate is $7 adults, $3 children.

Isshin ryu Karate. Traditional Okinawan karate at 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Strikes, kicks, kata, self-defense and weapons. Introductory offer of $99 for first three months. Call the Academy of Asian Martial Arts in Sunrise Mall at 882-5088.

Japanese Jujitsu at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Falls, throws, joint locks and chokes. Phan ku ryu jujitsu was designed for military personnel. Introductory offer of $99 for the first three months. Call the Academy of Asian Martial Arts in Sunrise Mall at 882-5088.

Karate lessons every Tuesday and Thursday at the Robstown-Nueces County Community Center. Fee is $25. Info: 387-5904.

Kids classes for ages 6-12. Beginners at 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Classes include traditional Okinawan karate and Japanese jujitsu. Introductory offer of $99 for the first three months. Call the Academy of Asian Martial Arts in Sunrise Mall at 882-5088.

Kids Jiu-Jitsu Classes for ages 8 up are Mon.-Wed., 5:30-6:25 p.m. First week always free. More info: Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 549-3597.

Lopez Judo Academy has private lessons for ages 18 and older. Call Sensei Lopez at 853-7944 or go to www.lopezjudoacademy.com.

Tiny Tigers classes for ages 4-6 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Class goals will be fitness, focus and fun. Info: Choi?s Taekwondo, 334-8112.

Weapons Classes at 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes include traditional Okinawan kobudo (bo, sai, tuifa eku), samurai sword escrima (Filipino stick, knife sword). Introductory offer of $99 for the first three months. Call the Academy of Asian Martial Arts in Sunrise Mall at 882-5088.

Yang style Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan). Beginners classes at 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Push hand at 10 a.m. Saturday. Taiji is a traditional Chinese martial art practiced by many for its health benefits. Introductory offer of $99 for the first three months. Call the Academy of Asian Martial Arts in Sunrise Mall at 882-5088.

YWCA Fitness Connection is offering new martial arts classes. Aikido is offered Tuesdays, 6-7 p.m. Tae Kwon Do is offered for children and adults on Tuesdays, 7-8 p.m. Tai Chi is offered Wednesdays and Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Water Tai Chi is offered Tuesdays, 9-10 a.m. Cardio Kickboxing is offered Mondays, 7-8 p.m. Water H2O Arthercise, great for arthritis, is offered Mondays, 2-3 p.m. Nonmembers can attend classes daily for $7 adult and $3 for children. Visit www.ywca.org/corpuschristi for a new schedule or call 857-5661.

Roller Derby

Hurricane Alley Roller Derby is holding boot camps for women 18 and over every Saturday. Go to www.hurricanealleyrd.com.

Sparkling City Roller Dollz is signing up for the new season. Girls ages 10 to 17. Go to www.facebook.com/sparklingcity.rollerdollz

RUGBY

Corpus Christi Rugby Football Club is always looking for new players and practices from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the youth football fields Lavaca and McArdle, close to Everhart, with games at 2 p.m. Saturdays at Haas Middle School. Info: 443-9683 or www.corpuschristirfc.com.

SHOOTING

Nueces County 4-H Trap Skeet Club practice is 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays at Corpus Christi Pistol Rifle Club, Farm-to-Market 763. Free. Call Kimberly at 949-2200 or Kelli at 806-2968.

Texas Carbine matches are on the third Sunday of each month at the Starry range. Fee: $20 and sign-up beings at 9:30 a.m. Five interesting stages, short and fast, with a max distance of 80 yards for rifle, 25 yards for pistol, using steel and paper targets. Bring a carbine or a handgun and 100-120 rounds. There also are defensive-style pistol matches on the first Sunday of each month. For information, go to www.texascarbine.com.

SOCCER

Coastal Bend Women?s Soccer Association is seeking women interested in playing soccer. For information, email cbwsa@aol.com or go to www.cbsa.com.

Competitive Soccer Tryouts for the Coastal Bend ? see CBYSA?s website at www.cbysasoccer.org.

Corpus Christi Soccer Academy is registering for its Fall training for ages 6-11. Training focuses on fundamentals. Call Coach Alex at 361-265-8589 or go to http://CCSoccerAcademy.com

Elite Soccer Training Company from Houston is in Corpus Christi this summer to conduct year-round professional soccer training. The training will be for boys and girls goalkeepers and field players ages 10-18. Individual and group sessions will be conducted. Trainers will include Mike Flynn, who played for the Irish national team during the 1970s and ?80s, and Marcelo Gomez, a goalkeeper trainer from the Chilean national team in the 1970s. Additional instructors will be available. Call 832-691-5100 or email roggkdal@aol.com.

SOFTBALL

Alamo Academy is offering softball team practices and entire facility rental of its state-of-the-art, all=indoor academy. Team practices offers Alamo coaches to run practices for 1-2 hours and develop team?s game strategy, hitting, fielding and pitching skills. Call 852-2287 or go to www.TheAlamoAcademy.com.

Alamo Academy is taking registrations for its summer youth softball camps and high school softball boot camp. Youth camps include 24 hours of instruction, games, drills; lunch; small coach-to-player ratio, and written evaluation by an Alamo coach. High School Boot Camp is an intense four-week strength conditioning and softball skill program during the summer for freshmen-seniors. Register for youth camp or boot camp today at www.TheAlamoAcademy.com or 361-852-2287.

Aransas Pass Lady Panthers 14-under team looking for experienced players for league and tournament play. Call Roland Pena at 332-1668.

Batter?s Box Training Center?s softball team openings for ages 10-14. Call Theresa Flores at 826-5255.

CC AlleyCats looking for experienced players ages 7-9 for a 10U fast-pitch softball team. Call Ray Ramos at 774-8590 or Gerald Lerma at 944-2062.

CC Fire Select Fast-pitch Softball is looking for players for 10U and 12U teams. Must be willing to participate in traveling for competitive tournaments, fundraising and community service activities. Call Jacob Silvas (548-0073) or Velma Silvas (548-9213) or email ccfire08@yahoo.com.

CC Force 12U looking for experienced players willing to travel. Call Mike White at 215-0938.

CC Senior Softball Association seeks players for 50+, 55+, and 60+ leagues. Games are played on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights at Kiwanis Field. Call Larry Parrack at 727-7072.

CC Senior Softball Association seeking men over 60 to play slow-pitch softball. Games are played Mondays at Kiwanis Field. Call Larry Parrack at 727-7072.

CC Shock 8-under girls softball team is looking for experienced 7- to 9-year-old coach-pitch players for tournament play. This team will travel some throughout the state year-round. Info: Horacio Salinas at 765-8982 or hsalinas2@stx.rr.com.

CC Slammm! softball team is looking for experienced players for year-round tournament play, some travel. Need players with birth years 2000 and 2001. Practices are Tuesdays and Sundays. Call 438-7258.

CC Slammm! traveling select softball team is having tryouts for 10U, 12U and 14U. Call Ruben Gonzales at 688-7153.

College coaches clinic is 9 a.m. to noon (focus on hitting and infield, $30) and 1-5 p.m. (focus on pitching, hitting, outfield, $50). Instructors are professional fastpitch player Jaime Juarez and college coaches Yolanda McRae and Sarah Lockett. Contact Richard Ocanas at richard.ocanas@ccisd.us or Staci Ramsey at 205-246-7816.

Corpus Christi Panthers fast-pitch team is seeking players in the 10u, 12u and 14u age groups. Call Richard at 425-6679.

Corpus Christi Twisters girls 12-under fast-pitch team is looking for players for league and tournament play. Call Jesus Mondragon at 687-6300 or 806-0307 or mondragonjj@sbcglobal.net.

Crushers 10U travel/select softball team looking for players, if interested, please contact Coach Brennan Erickson at 541-914-4923 or Coach Manny Esquivel at 215-9721.

DeLeon?s Sizzling Fast-Pitch Camp offers beginning and advanced pitching and hitting instruction for individuals or groups ages 8-16. Fee $20 per half-hour session. Call Lila DeLeon at 232-2874.

Diamond Rage 12U and 14U teams looking for experienced players for league and tournaments. No monthly fees. Call 774-0884 or email rageru8@aol.com.

Fast-pitching lessons by Iris Rodriguez and Jerry Franco. One-on-one instruction for beginners and advanced pitchers. Groups welcome. Fee: $40 for one-hour session. Call 563-8562.

Hit Squad is looking for 8u girls softball players. Call Coach Rodela for time and location at 442-8501.

Kids Softball Clinic for ages 8-17 and recruiting talk for parents and coaches is Jan. 6. Kids clinic ($50) is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Carroll High School. Recruiting talk ($10) is 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Texas South Fastpitch Academy (3925 Saturn Road). Instructors are professional fastpitch players Sarah Pauly, Staci Ramsey and Jaime Juarez and college coaches Yolanda McRae and Sarah Lockett. Contact Richard Ocanas at richard.ocanas@ccisd.us or Staci Ramsey at 205-246-7816.

Kingsville American Little League registering for girls fast-pitch softball, ages 4 up. Fee: $25. Teams welcome. Register at Hibbetts Sports in Kingsville each Saturday, or call James Davis at 455-4946 or Krystal Villarreal at 246-9800.

Kryptonite Slammers Girls 14-under fast-pitch team is looking for players to play league ball and tournaments. Call Jesus Mondragon at 687-6300 or email kryptoniteslammers@sbcglobal.net, or call Jason Guzman at 510-9315.

Queen Cobra Select Fast-pitch Softball is looking for experienced players for 14U team. Must be willing to travel. Call Tommy at 281-546-0076.

San Pat Hurricane select fast-pitch team is looking for experienced 14u players and pitcher. No monthly fees. Contact coach Chad Koether at 437-9433.

Sparkling City Girls Fast-pitch League is starting its 16u-18u under season and tournaments. Call Rudy at 774-0884 or email rageru8@aol.com.

Softball for Seniors for women over 35 and men over 58. Info: Sharon at 815-8058 or Ricki at 877-3640.

Softball instruction by experienced coach for fielding, hitting, pitching, catching and general softball skills. Call Richard at 425-6679 or email richardgcctexas@yahoo.com.

South Texas Hard Hitters 14U team is looking for players. Call 779-2250.

South Texas Rampage 10U Select/Traveling girls fast-pitch team is looking for experienced players and pitcher. Year-round league and tournament play. Call Joe Barerra at 455-1550.

STX Longhorns Fast-Pitch Travel/Select 10U team is looking for players for tournament and league play. Team travels throughout the year. Call coach Danny at 765-6532 or coach Pablo at 739-4790.Texas Lightning Fast-pitch Softball Team is looking for experienced 10u, 12u, and 14u players for travel and league play. No monthly fees. Contact Coach Robert at 438-2773.

SWIMMING

Club Estates Marlins swim team looking for swimmers interested in year-round and summer-only programs. Practices available in mornings and evenings. Info: 991-0402.

Club Estates Adult Swim Instruction. Lessons available Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Info: 991-0402.

Coastal Bend All-Stars (CBA) swim team offers both year-round and summer-only programs for swimmers of all ages and levels, with our Summer Swim League forming now at both the Natatorium and Oso pools. Tryouts are free. Club practice is held at the Natatorium from 6-7:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays. Call 765-5642.

CBA Masters practice is at the Natatorium Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5:30-6:30 a.m. Call 919-602-7830 or email cbamasters@gmail.com. Visit our website (www.cbaswimming.com) for more information on all our CBA swimming opportunities.

Corpus Christi Parks Recreation Aquatics Division offers lap swim, water aerobics, general swim, swimming lessons, and splash parties year round at the Corpus Christi Natatorium (878-2337) and Collier Pool (852-0243). Visit www.ccparkandrec.com for more information.

PADI Open Water through Dive Master Training available. Open Water Scuba Certification $250 includes use of equipment. Info: 229-3483.

Swim lessons ? group and private lessons ? for all ages at the Corpus Christi Athletic Club. Call 992-7100, Ext. 245.

YMCA classes for six months-adult on Mon.-Wed.-Sat. Fee is $20 (two-week session) for YMCA member, $25 (two-week session) for nonmembers, free to YMCA family members. Info: 882-1741.

YWCA offers lap swim, recreational swim, pool rentals, splash Pilates, aqua Zumba, splash aerobics, water Yoga and more. Nonmember daily rate is $7 adults, $3 children. Swim lessons for all ages begin first Saturday of the month year-round; $30 for four lessons/$20 members. Call 857-5661 ext. 20.

TABLE TENNIS

Corpus Christi Table Tennis Club invites you out 6:30-10 p.m. Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays at First United Methodist Church gym. There are exceptions, so call ahead. Fees: $20/month (adults), $10/month (students) or $5/day (adults), $3/day (students). Call Doug Wade at 855-1951 or go to www.cctabletennis.com.

TENNIS

Tennis lessons for advanced juniors and beginner/intermediate ladies. Coached by Hall of Fame coaches in high school and college, also coached by Morey Lewis (two-time Rogers Cup champion). Call Shawn Howell 461-2445.

Tennis lessons at the H-E-B Tennis Center. Tuesday: 5:15-6:15, men?s 4.0-4.5 doubles clinic; 6:30-8:30, mixed doubles; 6:30-7 clinic; 7-8:30 match play. Wednesday: 6-7 men?s 3.5 doubles clinic. Instructor: Paul Cass. Private lessons by appointment. Info: 549-9525 or pctennis1@aol.com.

Tennis lessons offered through Rob Peterson Tennis Academy for ages 5-17 and adults of all levels. See www.robpetersontennis.com, call 758-1817 or email americantennispro@yahoo.com.

TRACK FIELD

USA Track Field Certification Clinic for Olympiad Years 2012-2016 open to anyone interested in officiating track and field. Call David Brock at 593-2500 or Tony Trejo at 956-655-8059.

Tumbling

CC All Star Gym has tumbling, trampoline, cheer and parkour classes available. Call the gym at 852-5333.

Tumbling, cheer, dance and modeling classes available at Cinderella Dance, Gym Cheer Modeling. Call 244-6733.

Volleyball

Advanced 13-up and beginner classes (8-12) personal and clinics sessions available. Call Troy Campbell at 813-7642 or go to www.bragginrightsvbc.com

Braggin? Rights Volleyball Club will have final tryouts for 14U at 2 p.m. Jan. 6 at First Baptist Church. Fee: $25. Email Coach Campbell at tlc_brvc11@yahoo.com or Coach Mojica at maddie_leigh1@hotmail.com.

CCVC small group lessons 6-9 p.m. Sundays at IWA Junior High. Contact Jen at jdvball@yahoo.com.

Coastal Volleyball Club is looking for a few experienced volleyball coaches for the upcoming season. Contact Dawna Nims at iteachvball@yahoo.com.

Corpus Christi Chapter of Texas Association of Sports Officials is looking for individuals interested in becoming volleyball officials. Season starts in August. Training will be provided. Call 779-7572 or email jm1490@sbcglobal.net.

Indoor Summer Skills Clinic every Sunday 2-3:15 p.m. in the Summer at First United Methodist Church Gym (900 So. Shoreline). Clinics for beginners in 4th through 8th grades. Also clinics for school and club experienced players in 8th grade through high school. Fee: $20 per clinic. Check out the schedule at www.ccvolleyball.com. Call 215-1456 or email ccvcvolleyball@live.com.

Local nontraveling volleyball program for girls grades 6-8. Includes instruction on skills and scrimmages. Six-week session is $100. Call coach Susan at 215-1456 or email ccvcvolleyball@live.com.

South Texas Elite Sports Academy Volleyball Lessons at Johnstone Supply (8051 SPID) for all ages will work on serving, passing, setting, digging and hitting. Call coach Joni Luna at 549-7699.

wrestling

RC Wrestling has children from ages 3-18 who compete all year in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco. We practice 2-3 times a week and travel to tournaments throughout Texas. Call 548-0278.

Submissions

Bulletin Board items are published every Sunday on a space-available basis. To be included, these items must be received by noon on Friday. Items must be submitted in writing, by fax (885-0535), emailed to ctsports@caller.com.

Caller-Times Sports

P.O. Box 9136

Corpus Christi, TX 78469

Source: http://www.gymnasticsfeed.com/?p=1337

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The War Z creator apologises for controversy, aiming to regain ...

The War Z creator apologises for controversy, aiming to regain confidence of players

The War Z creator Sergey Titov addressed the players through an extensive letter, apologising for the controversy that had surrounded the open-world zombie survival horror since its release on December 17, 2012.

He admitted becoming arrogant and blinded by the early success of the game and therefore chose to ignore the criticism and concerns of the players following the game?s launch on Valve?s digital distribution platform.

Titov took the blame for most of the issues that the players faced upon purchasing and playing the game, conceding that getting 700,000 users in nearly two months made him lose his focus and ignore the community.

"This failure is entirely on my shoulders and if anything I owe thanks to that vocal minority and admit that I should have paid attention sooner. I chose instead to concentrate on the bigger picture: my dream of turning The War Z from being a game developed by a small indie team into a large online venture, instead of addressing small things first and staying focused on the game issues," he explained.

Titov highlighted the wide communication gap between the developer and users, noting that the controversy would not have started had the latter been timely informed about the changes that Hammerpoint Interactive have planned for the game.

The game?s creator said that the studio was relying completely on the administrators and moderators to manage and moderate the community forums, where it was tasked with ensuring that the rules were not being broken and that violators were aptly punished.

He believes the directive should have been to address the concerns and issues and take criticism to constructive discussions.

Titov conceded that a complete overhaul of the company?s community management procedures and rules are in the pipeline, where the main aim would be to increase the presence of development team on forums.

"There wasn?t enough presence of the development team on forums; there wasn?t enough updates on development of upcoming features,? he admitted.

The War Z creator also shared his idea of inviting 10 players from the around the world to the Los Angeles office of Hammerpoint and give them an opportunity to interact with the developers.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/The-War-Z-creator-apologises-for-controversy,-aiming-to-regain-confidence-of-players-a212154

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A Guide To Choices Available For Those Seeking The Best ...

Carnival cruises are among the most popular ways of travelling for leisure around the world for some obvious reasons. The cruises are available to all major world destinations including such classics as Hawaii, Caribbean Islands, the Mediterranean as well as tropical islands on the Pacific. Travelers are also attracted to the services owing to the ease with which Carnival booking are straightforward and convenient for everyone.

Before you book your cruise, you need to decide what the trip should comprise of. Remember to specify the destination as well as when and where you want to board the cruise ship. The travel planners also allow adequate flexibility so that travelers can specify personal choices for any stops they would like to make on the way. It may not be possible to provide all the personal preferences, but the cruise company will do their best to make the trip a delight.

The first step in booking your cruise trip involves identifying the best travel option available. Accessing the Carnival Cruises website will reveal plenty of choices for travelers of all tastes and budgets. If you do not want to look up the available cruises on the web, you can talk to your preferred travel agent. In all probability they will have a brochure detailing different upcoming cruises.

Booking your cruise directly on the company website provides you with the best option in accessing quality services. For one; the information, tools and controls available on the website give you the best access to the most up to date cruise choices. Moreover, as the status of each cruise is updated in real time, you can be certain that once you place your order, your travel plans are confirmed for certain.

The company also provides their own agents and operators ready to take calls from would be travelers. You can therefore call to book your cruise using a toll free number at any time of day or night. The operator will take all the details about your preferred trip and make arrangements that you specify. It is a method that works well for people who have little time to arrange their own trips and are who not particularly choosy.

If you want an extra sense of adventure and luxury added to your trip, you best bet lies in booking a cruise via a specialist personal vacations planner. This is a professional devoted to making special arrangements for people looking to travel in style. They can ensure that your cruise plans include extra special arrangements such as a flight on a chartered jet or a little known excursion trip at your destination or one of the stop-over port cities en route.

Arranging a trip cruise through the auspices of a travel agent is the other option you can explore. However, you need to consider that travel agent may only add up extra costs because of commissions without adding any measure of luxury to your travel arrangements. However, if you have an agent you trust in terms of competence, this is an option that can work in your favor especially if you need expedient arrangements.

There can be a few cruise companies who can approach the versatility of Carnival Corp. When it comes to International Cruises. However, how you choose to book your travel has plenty to bear about the luxury you will enjoy. The Carnival booking options detailed above will be sufficient to ensure that your cruise is as luxurious as it can possibly be.

Source: http://travel-leisure-updates.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-guide-to-choices-available-for-those.html

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Four Android productivity apps you should use in 2013

Happy New Year! Like most folks, I am working on some resolutions for 2013. One resolution I have is to be more productive. One way I am going to do this is by using my Android phone better. Now there are apps that I have, but really have not used to their fullest. As I work on this resolution, I might discover even better apps. For now I will focus on these impressive apps that can make anyone more productive.

I use Hootsuite on the computer, but rarely find myself engaging with it on my smartphone. With Hootsuite, you can manage Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Foursquare accounts. The free version allows for up to five accounts and one member of your team to access the account. There is a pro version with a monthly fee, in which you can have more accounts and team members and helpful analytics tools.

The design of the app is very good. If you sync the web version to mobile, you will have everything automatically downloaded to the phone. When viewing content, you swipe left or right to change columns or streams. If you are in the middle of a stream, simply tap the top menu bar to automatically return to the top. The app allows for multiple profiles and scheduled tweets. My goal is to keep up with my feeds and tweets in real-time rather than waiting until I get to a computer.

Another web service that I started to use, but find myself not using it to the fullest. Producteev is a web-based task management service. With Producteev you can work as an individual or in a team by setting up workspaces and then organize tasks by labels. For each task you can assign a priority, due date, and share with team members, if you have any. Overall, this is a great service, since I like making lists, even though I rarely remember having made them.

The Producteev app is available for all platforms. The app has a very clean interface and is easy to find tasks. Probably the best way to keep up with tasks is to use the different widget for the home screen. Seeing the widgets will help keep those key tasks in the forefront of your mind. The app will work offline and syncs in the background.

I read blogs every single day, especially those related to new apps, Android, or mobile news. The only way I can do that is via my Google Reader. I find myself trying to catch up each day on the computer (just like with Twitter activity) when I would be better off reading a little bit over time during the day. NewsRob is a Google Reader that I have had for years. The interface is very clean and easy to use. The developer created a bunch of customizations options, which really make this reader stand out.

With NewsRob you can set up a notification of new articles, how you synchronize with Google and when, how many articles to keep in your cache, and more. If you set up folders within Google Reader, NewsRob will download the folders, too. This enables you to read the posts by blog or folder. The app provides a very clean blogpost display optimized for smaller screens. With each post you can zoom in or out, mark a post read or unread, view in the browser, and share the link to email or services such as Evernote. There is a free version of the app.

The last task I need to work on to be more productive is to keep up with the calendar. I find myself checking on the computer, after the fact, finding out that I am either late or forgot about a meeting or appointment. Using Google calendar is a good place to start, but I have not found the standard calendar app on my Droid was all that helpful.

Business Calendar is a very capable calendar app that has a ton of features. The app lets you view your calendar in a number of different views, and has search and favorite-calendar features, to name a few. The option of viewing different calendars, color coding and being able to easily add, delete, and edit events is helpful. The ability to use widgets for reminders is important. The pro version has over 10 different sizes and allows for the import or export of calendar files in the iCalendar format.?Business Calendar also has a free version.

So my top goal or resolution for 2013 is to be more productive. I think using these apps more will help me accomplish that goal. Are there any apps you have but not using to their fullest? What resolutions do you have for 2013?

Download the Appolicious Android app

Source: http://www.androidapps.com/tech/articles/13093-four-android-productivity-apps-you-should-use-in-2013

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Harper's cabinet mulls massive Chinese resource project in Arctic

Another massive Chinese-owned resource project is before Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet.

Some time in the new year, four federal ministers are to decide how to conduct an environmental review for the Izok Corridor proposal. It could bring many billions of dollars into the Arctic but would also see development of open-pit mines, roads, ports and other facilities in the centre of calving grounds for the fragile Bathurst caribou herd.

"This is going to be the biggest issue," said Sally Fox, a spokeswoman for proponent MMG Minerals, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned Minmetals Resources Ltd.

It would be hard to exaggerate the proposal's scope. Centred at Izok Lake, about 260 kilometres southeast of Kugluktuk, the project would stretch throughout a vast swath of western Nunavut.

Izok Lake would have five separate underground and open-pit mines producing lead, zinc and copper. Another site at High Lake, 300 kilometres to the northeast, would have another three mines.

MMG also wants a processing plant that could handle 6,000 tonnes of ore a day, tank farms for 35 million litres of diesel, two permanent camps totalling 1,000 beds, airstrips and a 350-kilometre all-weather road with 70 bridges that would stretch from Izok Lake to Grays Bay on the central Arctic coast.

MMG plans a port there that could accommodate ships of up to 50,000 tonnes that would make 16 round trips a year ? both east and west ? through the Northwest Passage.

Izok Lake would be drained, the water dammed and diverted to a nearby lake. Three smaller lakes at High Lake would also be drained. Grays Bay would be substantially filled in.

The result would be a project producing 180,000 tonnes of zinc and another 50,000 tonnes of copper a year.

"That's not insignificant," Fox deadpanned.

The deposits are an old story. Izok was discovered in the late 1970s and High Lake dates back to the 1950s. They'd been owned by a half-dozen different companies before they were acquired by Minmetals in 2009.

Their time has come, said Fox.

"They're very much about our future confidence in zinc," she said from Melbourne, Australia, where MMG is headquartered. "We see in the next few years a number of major zinc mines will be coming off-line."

One of those is MMG's own Century mine, which produces 500,000 tonnes of zinc annually.

"Between the Izok Corridor project in Canada and our other project in Australia, we would be hoping that they would replace the zinc production of our Century mine," Fox said.

MMG estimates the Izok project would create about 1,100 jobs during construction and 710 permanent jobs. The mine life is estimated at 12 years, but Fox said exploration is likely to expand that.

But more than 400 individuals, organizations, aboriginal groups and governments registered concerns about the project with the Nunavut Impact Review Board.

"Both the Izok Lake mine site and the High Lake mine site, as well as the route of the Izok corridor all-weather road, occur either near to or on the Bathurst calving ground," wrote the government of the Northwest Territories.

"The proposed project may cause significant adverse effects on the ecosystem and wildlife habitat," wrote Environment Canada.

"We are concerned that our hunting and harvesting rights will be in jeopardy if the project is allowed to proceed as is," added the Lutsel K'e Dene.

Many pointed out that the Bathurst herd has only recently stabilized after a 90 per cent drop in the 1980s to today's 32,000 animals. That drop was steep and sustained enough for aboriginal groups to stop hunting the herd and many are leery of anything that could impede its recovery.

"The project may also cause some adverse socio-economic effects such as possible reductions and disruptions in harvesting opportunities," wrote the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, despite acknowledging its members are most likely to benefit from mining jobs.

The board also expressed concern about the growing industrial footprint in western Nunavut. There are now nine mines either operating or under review in the Kitikmeot region.

On Dec. 14, the board recommended Northern Development Minister John Duncan call full public hearings on the project.

Duncan and the three other ministries involved ? Transport, Natural Resources and Fisheries and Oceans ? have three choices. They can send the project back to MMG and ask for changes, they can choose to let the board run hearings itself or they can decide the project's effects would be broad enough to require the involvement of other governments in hearings.

There's no difference in length, who is able to appear or in intervener funding between the two types of hearings, said Ryan Barry, executive director of the review board.

Fox said MMG is aware of the centrality of caribou to residents in the area.

"They're absolutely essential to the local Inuit."

MMG has designed the road to make it as easy as possible for caribou to cross, she said, and the company is conducting field studies on how to further reduce the project's potential impact.

Fox said MMG is also aware of other potential stumbling blocks, such as Canadian sensitivity to major resource projects being owned by foreign governments. She said Minmet has left its Australian subsidiary alone to operate as it sees fit, despite the fact half of MMG's board is from Minmet.

"We're a bit of a different model for Chinese investment," said Fox. "We really run day-to-day quite separately."

MMG doesn't expect the Harper government's recent policy changes on investment by state-owned enterprises to affect Izok. The prime minister announced those changes at the same time Ottawa approved the takeovers of Nexen (TSX:NXY) by China National Offshore Oil Co. and Progress Energy Resources Corp. (TSX:PRQ) by Malaysia's Petronas.

"We're not acquiring and operating assets that are producing," she said. "We're in there as a long-term investor in a project that has been seen as quite marginal by others.

"The Harper government has noted the importance of mineral investment in this region and the importance of that to unlock benefits for the local communities. We certainly see that we're very aligned in our strategy with that."

However Ottawa decides to tackle the questions over Izok, mine production is a long way off.

MMG plans to ask for permission to start preliminary work on-site before the regulatory process is over, but even that wouldn't be until late 2014. The earliest the mines could be producing would be 2018.

Duncan has no deadline to respond to the board's request for a review. But, as the board notes in its letter to him, the ball is now in his court.

"The (board) looks forward to receiving your decision and will respond in a timely and efficient manner to your direction once received."

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version incorrectedly identified Ryan Barry as chairman of the review board, when he is executive director.

Source: http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/Canada---World/Business/2012-12-30/article-3148646/Harpers-cabinet-mulls-massive-Chinese-resource-project-in-Arctic/1

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Real Estate Investing with REITs

Real estate can make an interesting addition to almost any portfolio. However, few of us have the large amounts of capital needed to buy a property. And, in the current climate, it can be difficult to get approval for a loan to buy up property. Fortunately, there are alternative investments that allow you to become a real estate investor without having to overcome those two hurdles. One option is to invest in real estate related stocks, and another is to invest in REITs.

What are REITs?

A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) allows you to invest in a variety of real estate related investments. It?s designed to do for real estate what mutual funds do for stocks. However, unlike a mutual fund, a REIT can be listed on a public stock exchange. A REIT can be can be a corporation, an association, or an actual trust. The organization acts as an investment agent.

REITs can hold a variety of investments. They can actually own different types of income-producing property, residential and/or commercial, or even finance real estate transactions. REITs are structured in such a way that they can avoid some income taxes in the United States. In order to qualify, though, a REIT has to distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to investors. This means that the dividends paid out by a REIT can be quite generous. There are private REITs and public REITs. Most ordinary investors are likely to have more success investing in public REITs.

Additionally, it?s possible to diversify your REIT holdings geographically. There are international REITs, as well as domestic REITs. You can look for REITs that specialize in one type of real estate, or choose one that has a variety of different types of real estate. Consider what you think is most likely to provide consistent returns over time.

When choosing a REIT, you want to consider the net asset value, as well as the funds from operations and the adjusted funds from operations. It?s important to carefully consider what you choose in order to get the best possible outcome for your investment.

Advantages of REITs

The biggest advantage of the REIT is that you have the opportunity to add real estate to your investment portfolio without needing a large amount of capital. Additionally, the dividend payout can provide you with a source of income. REITs are also relatively easy to buy and sell on a stock exchange. They are more liquid than actually buying property, and you don?t tie up your money in the same way.

Risks of REITs

As you might imagine, though, there are risks involved with investing in REITs. Because they are tied to real estate, many of them lost a great deal of share value after the financial crisis of 2008. While some are showing signs of recovery, the reality is that there is always the risk of loss. If the real estate market suffers, so does the REIT. If you invest in a REIT that specializes in residential mortgages, and there are a high number of defaults, then your investment loses value.

Additionally, if you rely too heavily on the dividends for income, you might be in trouble if the value drops and the REIT stops making as much money. In some cases, particularly when you invest in a private REIT, you run into the possibility that you might not be able to sell as readily as you would like. Make sure that you understand the liquidity of the REIT before you invest.

Bottom Line

Before you invest, make sure you understand the risks involved, and consider what portion of your portfolio you want in real estate related investments. If you are looking for a way to add a little diversity to your portfolio, with the help of real estate, a REIT can be worth considering. However, carefully think about your risk tolerance, and be sure you understand your target asset allocation. As always, consider your investment goals avoid investing too much in any one asset class.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

Source: http://beingfrugal.net/real-estate-investing-with-reits/

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In Indian student's gang rape, murder, two worlds collide

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - One of hundreds of attacks reported in New Delhi each year, the gang rape and murder of a medical student caught Indian authorities and political parties flat-footed, slow to see that the assault on a private bus had come to symbolize an epidemic of crime against women.

In the moments before the December 16 attack, the 23-year-old woman from India's urban middle class, who had recently qualified as a trainee physiotherapist in a private Delhi hospital, and her male friend, a software engineer, were walking home from a cinema at a shopping mall in south Delhi, according to a police reconstruction of events.

A bus, part of a fleet of privately owned vehicles used as public transport across the city of 16 million, and known as India's "rape capital", was at the same time heading toward them. Earlier that day, it had ferried school students but was now empty except for five men and a teenage boy, including its crew, police said. Most of the men were from the city's slums.

One of the six - all now charged with murder - lured the couple onto the bus, promising to drop the woman home, police have said, quoting from an initial statement that she gave from her hospital bed before her condition deteriorated rapidly.

A few minutes into the ride, her friend, 28, grew suspicious when the bus deviated from the supposed route and the men locked the door, according to her statement. They then taunted her for being out with a man late at night, prompting the friend to intervene and provoking an initial scuffle.

The attackers then beat him with a metal rod, knocking him unconscious, before turning on the woman who had tried to come to his defense. Police say the men admitted after their arrest to torturing and raping the student "to teach her a lesson".

At one point, the bus driver gave the wheel to another of the accused and dragged the woman by the neck to the back of the vehicle and forced himself upon her. The other five then took turns raping her and also driving the bus, keeping it circling through the busy streets of India's capital city, police said.

The woman was raped for nearly an hour before the men pushed a metal rod inside her, severely damaging her internal organs, and then dumped both her and her friend on the roadside, 8 km (5 miles) from where they had boarded it, police said.

Robbed of their clothes and belongings, they were found half naked, bleeding and unconscious later that night by a passerby, who alerted the police.

Last year, a rape was reported on average every 20 minutes in India. Just 26 percent of the cases resulted in convictions, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, which registered 24,206 rapes in 2011, up from 22,141 the previous year.

At first, authorities treated the assault on the medical student as one crime among many, and they were not prepared for the furious public reaction that led to running battles between protesters and police near the heart of government in New Delhi.

FAMILY ROLE MODEL

The woman, whose identity has been withheld by police, gave her statement to a sub-divisional magistrate on December 21 in the intensive care unit of Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, according to media reports. She was undergoing multiple surgical procedures and her condition later began to rapidly worsen.

Ten days after the attack and still in a critical condition, she was flown to Singapore for specialist treatment. She died in Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital two days later. Her body was flown back to Delhi and cremated there on Sunday in a private ceremony.

Family members who had accompanied her to Singapore declined to speak to reporters, but relatives told the Times of India newspaper she had been a role model to her two younger brothers.

Unlike most traditional Indian families who only send their sons to fee-paying colleges or universities, her parents pinned their hopes on the daughter and took loans to fund her studies.

She was born and brought up in a middle class Delhi neighborhood after her family moved to the city more than 20 years ago from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Her male friend recorded his statement to a court days after the attack and helped police identify the six accused. He left for his hometown in Uttar Pradesh late on Saturday, missing the woman's funeral, media reported.

SHAME, ANGER IN SLUM

Four of the accused, all in custody, live in the narrow by-lanes of Ravi Das Camp, a slum about 17 km (11 miles) from the woman's home in southwest Delhi. Inside the slum - home to some 1,200 people who eke out a meager living as rickshaw pullers and tea hawkers - many demanded the death penalty for the accused.

"The incident has really shocked all of us. I don't know how I will get my children admitted to a school. The incident has earned a bad name to this place," said Pooja Kumari, a neighbor of one of the accused.

Girija Shankar, a student, said: "Our heads hang in shame because of the brutal act of these men. They must reap what they have sown."

The house of one of the accused was locked, with neighbors saying his family had left the city to escape the shame and anger. Meena, a 45-year-old neighbor, said she had wanted to join the protests that followed the rape, but was too scared.

"You never know when a mob may attack this slum and attack our houses. But we want to say we're as angry as the entire nation. We want them to be hanged," she said.

Two of the six alleged assailants come from outside Delhi, according to police. One is married with children and was arrested in his native village in Bihar state and the other, a juvenile, is a runaway from a broken home in Uttar Pradesh.

In India, murder is punishable by death by hanging, except in the case of offenders aged below 18.

(Additional reporting by Suchitra Mohanty and Nita Bhalla; Editing by Mark Bendeich and Ian Geoghegan)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/indian-students-gang-rape-murder-two-worlds-collide-055603952.html

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