Dension Has the Perfect Audio Decoder and Digital Signage for a Wide Range of Places

July 5, 2013, 5:30 am

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Dension is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of both professional and entertainment audio systems and is known for producing high quality products and solutions for vehicles as well as for professional usage.


Headquartered in Budapest Hungary, Dension is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of both professional and entertainment audio systems and is known for producing high quality products and solutions for vehicles as well as for professional usage. We recently showcased our showcasing our new concepts such as the evolved iFace Digital Mirror family, the ISR-2 player and other innovative products at the Digital Signage Europe exhibition held at Berlin, Germany on 12-13 June 2013. Our products and solutions are known to provide highest quality sound & full HD video even as independent channels and bring the performance of solid state reliability to Background Audio & Digital Signage installations.

Whether it is streaming device, digital signage or an audio decoder; we are amongst the market leaders known for the excellent quality of products which we offer. Our audio decoder and in store media products of these manufacturers are a solution for a wide variety of applications, in retail stores, restaurants, airport lounges and others. Customers can choose from different kinds of streaming device offered by us. our streaming devices, capable of live streaming or store and forward modes, offer clients a comprehensive store & forward architecture which enables them to have an overview of all of their network; view logs, played content; update their Firmware to their devices; edit the configuration of any number of their devices just by one click- from anywhere they are; upload content and schedule the music categories and also schedule the tasks and follow their progression.

With the help of our streaming devices users are able to save on costs since they need minimal effort and resource to maintain and operate their Dension ISR network. These streaming device or audio decoder also save on time since the usage of the ISRS Service is very easy and quick. They also save on human resources, since only one person could be enough to operate the devices and editing the content as well. Since our ISRS records and exports the played content including streams, tracks and spots; users also get know what their players have played and can even locate and analyze if they have any problems, since it has a sophisticated alarm system and detailed functional log too.

With the help of our streaming devices users can have an overview of all their network; update their Firmware to their devices; view logs, played content; edit the configuration of all their devices just by one click- from anywhere they are. They can even upload content and schedule the music categories and schedule the tasks and follow their progression. We even offer our clients digital signage options in which can be mounted into a 19" professional rack with the dedicated brackets provided with it. Our digital signage players are capable of triggering the playback in lifts with the elevator module or anywhere else with the motion sensor. Users can insert spots to the playlist interactively with a keypad on our digital signage devices and also collect statistics and trigger specific content with the intelligent recognition camera. At Dension, we offer a wide range of solution for retail stores, restaurants, airport lounges and others at the most competitive prices. Come to us and experience the difference yourself.

Company Contact Information
ids.dension
info@dension.com
1 Sztregova utca H-1116 Budapest Hungary,Europe
1051
3614630470

News and Press Release Distribution From I-Newswire.com Reported by i-Newswire.com 6 hours ago.

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Copper River salmon on eBay another kettle of fish

July 5, 2013, 6:26 am

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It was another kettle of fish for Bill Webber. The third-generation fisherman, accustomed to supplying his wild-caught salmon to restaurants and individuals, turned to eBay when a gorgeous 50-pound Copper River salmon turned up in his nets. “We were picking the net up and all of a sudden that Reported by Seattle Times 5 hours ago.

Labeling Fraud: The Foods that Restaurants Mislabel the Most

July 5, 2013, 6:52 am

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http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/general-health-2/labeling-fraud-the-foods-that-restaurants-mislabel-the-most Labeling Fraud: The Foods that Restaurants Mislabel the Most It seems like more and more people are getting in line with the U.S. Department of Agriculture...

read more Reported by NowPublic 5 hours ago.

US economy adds 195K jobs; unemployment 7.6 pct.

July 5, 2013, 6:59 am

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US economy adds 195K jobs; unemployment 7.6 pct.
Associated Press
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Updated 6:26 am, Friday, July 5, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers added a robust 195,000 jobs in June and many more in April and May than previously thought. [...] job growth could lower the unemployment rate and help the economy rebound after a weak start this year. Job growth "continues to look more than strong enough to keep unemployment trending down ... and probably more than strong enough to lead to Fed tapering starting in September," said Jim O'Sullivan, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics. Hiring and consumer confidence have risen despite higher taxes and federal spending cuts that kicked in this year. The hotels, restaurants and entertainment industry added 75,000 jobs last month. The Fed's low-rate policies have led more Americans to buy homes and cars. Several Fed members have since tried to clarify Bernanke's remarks by saying any tapering of the bond purchases would depend on the strength of the economy. Reported by SeattlePI.com 5 hours ago.

Las Vegas Vacation Giveaway / Contest Announced by Travel Vegas

July 5, 2013, 7:05 am

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TravelVegas.com is giving away a two-night Aria hotel stay and two tickets to the brand new Cirque Du Soliel show Zarkana.

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) July 05, 2013

Travel Vegas is excited to announce their 'Win a Vegas Vacation and Experience Zarkana' contest for those wishing to visit Las Vegas for free this fall. Website visitors may enter to win a 2-night stay in a spacious, two-room suite, 2 tickets to the newest Cirque Du Soliel show Zarkan and a $200 gift card good for dining at Aria's restaurants! The contest runs from June 27th through August 15th of 2013. The winner will be announced on August 19, 2013.

Travel Vegas is offering this vacation contest to celebrate the one year anniversary of it's widely popular iPhone app TravelVegas - Las Vegas Deals, a tool that helps iOS users save while traveling to Las Vegas. "If we can help at least one more person get to Las Vegas," explains Kerry Veith, Chief Operations Officer, "Maybe we are doing our part to make the world a better place."

Those who are interested in entering 'Win A Vegas Vacation and Experience Zarkana' contest should go to http://www.travelvegas.com/giveaways/ and submit their contact information.

In addition to the contest, the Travel Vegas will be offering listings to similar giveaways as well as free show tickets for a few of the cities smaller acts. Guests can visit the company's website, social media channels or email for more information.

About the Travel Vegas:

Travel Vegas has been a leader in discounted Las Vegas hotels and shows since 2010 and is located on the famous Fremont St. Las Vegas. The company provides visitors over 400 coupons and offer codes through it's website, apps and social media channels.

For more information visit: http://www.travelvegas.com and connect with the team on Facebook by visiting http://www.facebook.com/travelvegas Or contact: Kerry Veith via kerry(at)travelvegas(dot)com. Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.

2013 FLW Forrest Wood Cup Releases Details of Upcoming Tournament and Expo

July 5, 2013, 7:05 am

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Event will include seminars, celebrity appearances, giveaways and more, Aug. 15-18 in Shreveport-Bossier.

Shreveport, LA (PRWEB) July 05, 2013

Organizers have announced details of the 2013 FLW Forrest Wood Cup, which will be held on the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier, Aug. 15-18. In addition to daily launches at Red River South Marina and weigh-ins at CenturyLink Center, FLW’s most prestigious bass fishing tournament of the year will include the FLW Expo at Shreveport Convention Center. The outdoor industry’s premier expo, the FLW Expo offers fans a busy schedule of celebrity appearances, educational seminars, giveaways and more. For complete information on the 2013 FLW Forrest Wood Cup, visit http://www.forrestwoodcup.com. Recently-announced highlights of the event schedule include:

Educational Seminars

Throughout the 2013 FLW Forrest Wood Cup, a variety of free, educational seminars will be held during the FLW Expo at Shreveport Convention Center. A seminar focusing on antique fishing lures will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 17, with the first 30 fans in attendance receiving a free lure. Pro fishing legend and outdoor television host Hank Parker will present a fishing seminar at 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 18, with the first 30 fans in attendance receiving a free lure. A total of 10 fishing seminars will be presented during the FLW Expo, many of which will include free lure giveaways for the first 30 fans admitted. The FLW Expo will be held, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Aug. 16-18. Admission is free.

Meet Swamp People™ Cast Members

On Saturday, Aug. 17, Swamp People™ on History® cast members Troy Broussard and Chase Landry will join FLW College Fishing teams from Lamar University and LSU Shreveport for the “Bossier City Battle,” a fishing contest which will launch from Earl G. Williamson Park on Caddo Lake at 7 a.m. Following the “Bossier City Battle” weigh-in at noon at the Shreveport Convention Center Swamp People™ cast members Troy Broussard and Harlan Hatcher will meet fans and sign autographs at the FLW Expo, 12-4 p.m. Fans will have a second opportunity to meet Swamp People™ cast members when Troy Landry, Chase Landry, Troy Broussard and Harlan Hatcher meet fans and sign autographs, 12-4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 18, at the FLW Expo.

Dylan Scott Concert

Up-and-coming country star Dylan Scott will perform a free concert presented by Kiss Country 93.7 FM, 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 18 at CenturyLink Center, immediately prior to the tournament's final weigh-in. A 22-year-old native of Bastrop, La., Scott is signed to Sidewalk Records in Nashville.

Giveaways

The first 500 children ages 14 and under to be admitted to the FLW Expo on Saturday, Aug. 17 and Sunday, Aug. 18 will receive a free rod and reel courtesy of 1130 AM The Tiger. Ranger, Mercury and Evinrude will be offering free test rides at Red River South Marina, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 17 and Sunday, Aug. 18, with the first 50 Evinrude test ride participants receiving a free t-shirt. One lucky fan will win a new Ranger Z520C powered by a 250 horsepower Mercury courtesy of KSLA News 12 following the final weigh-in at CenturyLink Center on Sunday, Aug. 18. Entry forms will be available at the front entrance of the FLW Expo at Shreveport Convention Center.

For complete details of the 2013 FLW Forrest Wood Cup, visit http://www.forrestwoodcup.com. For more information on Shreveport-Bossier, including restaurants, hotels and entertainment, visit http://www.shreveport-bossier.org. Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.

24 Restaurant Deals Near Niles, Morton Grove

July 5, 2013, 7:35 am

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Patch Niles-Morton Grove, IL --

Looking to eat out this weekend? Check out deals from local restaurants at Restaurant.com. Reported by Patch 4 hours ago.

44 Restaurant Deals Near Arlington Heights

July 5, 2013, 7:43 am

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Patch Arlington Heights, IL --

Looking to eat out this weekend? Check out deals from local restaurants at Restaurant.com. Reported by Patch 4 hours ago.

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30 Restaurant Deals Near Palatine

July 5, 2013, 7:39 am

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Patch Palatine, IL --

Looking to eat out this weekend? Check out deals from local restaurants at Restaurant.com. Reported by Patch 4 hours ago.

Long-Term Joblessness Still Terrible

July 5, 2013, 7:47 am

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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy added 195,000 mostly low-paying jobs in June, putting a tiny dent in the unemployment crisis -- too tiny a dent to bring the unemployment rate down from 7.6 percent.

Long-term joblessness accounts for a disproportionate share of current unemployment and is a bigger problem than it has ever been since the government began keeping track. Of the 11.8 million jobless Americans in June, 4.3 million had been out of work six months or longer. There were 1 million fewer long-term jobless than last year, but their ranks remain way above the previous high-water mark of 2.8 million in 1983.

What's happening? One theory holds that employers just don't want to touch anyone who has been out of work a long time. Another says overly generous unemployment insurance has made jobless workers too choosy. Mounting evidence points toward the former theory.

The latest is a policy brief released Monday by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, in which researcher Rand Ghayad examined whether long-jobless workers eligible for benefits are faring worse than ineligible workers. He argues his results should help discredit the notion that unemployment insurance has coddled workers.

"The story is simple now," Ghayad said in an interview. "More and more evidence is coming up showing employers are part of this big problem for the long-term unemployed."

Timothy Mailloux of Albany, N.Y., knows intuitively what Ghayad's research has shown. He said he's been unemployed for a year and a half except for a temp job here and an informal assignment there. He's grateful for the short-term jobs because they break up the gaps on his resume.

"You really can't show more than six months," he said. "It's sort of deadly."

Previous research by Ghayad and others has found that employers would rather hire someone with no relevant experience than a person who has been out of work a long time.

In 2009, Mailloux said he lost an IT job he'd held for 15 years. After that first layoff, he said he coped with intense feelings of depression. To pass the time not spent scanning the Internet for work, he rides his bike or reads. To reduce costs, he took on two roommates.

The unemployment insurance he's been using to pay his bills recently became less generous. Federal budget cuts known as sequestration reduced Mailloux's unemployment insurance from $253 per week to $225. The National Employment Law Project (NELP), a worker advocacy group, estimated this week that the cuts subtracted $2.4 billion from the wallets of the long-term unemployed.

Mailloux, 55, thinks that was ridiculous. "The sequester, my God it's hurting people so much more," he said. "You're out of work, and then they reduce your unemployment benefits because they couldn't come to a compromise?"

Claire McKenna, a NELP policy analyst, said the sequester is counterproductive. "Cutting benefits like this doesn't really create jobs," McKenna said. "[Long-term unemployment] is going to remain elevated."

Food stamps offset part of Mailloux's loss as the reduced income boosted his monthly food benefit from $53 to $96. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program escaped sequestration but is now in congressional lawmakers' crosshairs.

Mailloux said he'll lower his sights from IT work if his situation gets more desperate. He may have to: Most new jobs aren't very glamorous. Retail, restaurants and temp services accounted for more than half of June's job gains, the continuation of a long-term trend.

Not having work can be surreal as weeks bleed into each other without the rhythm of days on, days off.

"I can't believe it's July already," Mailloux said. "When you're not doing anything, the days just flow by. There's no sort of milestones or things you can focus on and deal with and occupy your time."

*HuffPost readers: Economy screwing you over? Tell us about it -- email arthur@huffingtonpost.com. Please include your phone number if you're willing to be interviewed.* Reported by Huffington Post 4 hours ago.

AP PHOTOS: 6 cities breweries helped transform

July 5, 2013, 8:08 am

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AP PHOTOS: 6 cities breweries helped transform
Associated Press
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Updated 7:42 am, Friday, July 5, 2013

Small business owners tackled the hard work of transforming industrial buildings, many of which had sat empty as demographic changes pulled manufacturers and residents to the suburbs. Barrels shipped have more than doubled in the past decade, and craft beer now makes up nearly 7 percent of a U.S. beer market that is growing slowly overall, according to trade publication Beer Marketer's Insights. While it probably would have been cheaper for the company to be in the suburbs, the brewery's managers are "committed urbanists" who like the idea of contributing to the vitality of the central city as opposed to building on undeveloped land in the suburbs, says Boulevard's CFO, Jeff Crum. Boulevard helped him find his building, and nowadays the coffee factory and brewery host tours and weddings. The rent will rise over time, but generally, long leases provide protection from spikes that can happen when an area becomes so popular that property values skyrocket. Other breweries and businesses — a pasta maker, a bike shop, a tortilla factory, as well as restaurants and bars — followed. While Ballard is still a hub of maritime industry, it has landed higher-income apartment buildings and has attracted restaurants and nightlife. Today, Brooklyn Brewery is surrounded by modern apartment buildings, trendy bars, shops and restaurants. Reported by SeattlePI.com 4 hours ago.

Last Minute Guide to 4th of July Weekend in Chicago: ChicagoTraveler.com Announces All the Last-Minute Attraction Tickets and Deals in Chicago for July 4 Weekend

July 5, 2013, 9:19 am

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4th of July weekend is here, and now is the time to snag those tickets to attractions, tours and concerts before they fill up . ChicagoTraveler.com announces last minute tickets and deals to add to this weekend's itinerary.

Chicago, Illinois (PRWEB) July 05, 2013

The American Flag had been flying a little higher in the Windy City this Fourth of July weekend. There are tons of fun things to do in Chicago all weekend long, but hurry and buy last minute tickets online to snag a seat on the best tours, cruises, concert venues and more before they sell out. ChicagoTraveler.com announces all the last minute tickets and deals in Chicago for 4th of July weekend.

Last Minute Food Tour Deals
Get a feel for real Chicago cuisine during this weekend's celebrations, and explore all that makes this country great. Chicago Dine Around features a three course dining experience between three restaurants. Join them on the 4th or any day after that! Chicago Food Planet Tours offers walks through Old Town, Wicker Park and Chinatown, while tasting all of the food along the way. Enjoy their tours on any day of the weekend after the 4th. Book a tour fast, they’re selling out!

Last Minute Chicago Boat Cruise Tickets
The boats aren’t full yet! Grab a spot on one of the boats setting sail to get the best view of the fireworks show over Lake Michigan. Odyssey Chicago Tours and Spirit of Chicago Tours offer a dinner cruise with buffet or seated style dining as the show blasts away. Booking these tours today or tomorrow will take care of dinner and the show. Shoreline Sightseeing is offering a variety of amazing boat tours and cruises in Chicago all weekend long, from the 4th of July fireworks cruises to water taxis and of course the famous architecture tours.

Last Minute Concert Tickets
Marilyn Manson is following up all of the fireworks and 4th of July celebrations with a show at Congress Theatre on July 5, 2013. Susan Werner's Hayseed Project will be at City Winery on July 5th as well, and the 3-day Wavefront Music Festival in Chicago at Montrose Beach kicks off this Friday too. On Saturday, July 6th Grits And Biscuits will be at the Chicago House of Blues, Young Jeezy is performing at Arie Crown Theatre, Marty Monti and Rick Cornwall will be at the Fox River Grove Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration and the Dark Star Orchestra will be performing at Park West. Counting Crows & The Wallflowers will be at at Charter One Pavilion on July 7th.

Last Minute Deals
The Go Chicago Card offers a great deal for travelers who are staying for the whole weekend. Get unlimited free entry into all of the best attractions around. Span out all over the Windy City and visit museums, aquariums and landmarks, all for free! Select restaurants and stores also offer discounts to card holders. Do more, save more.

Chicago Transportation
Don’t drink and drive - book a ride! Call up a car company now and have a pre-ready ride to the hotel or anywhere else this weekend in Chicago! Limousines aren’t as expensive as people think, and every traveler or local can book a limo, sedans, SUVs or party buses for the 4th from dependable companies like M&M Limousine Service or Chicago Limos Inn. Companies offer flat rates they won’t exceed too much higher than that. Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.

How To Eat Like A CEO On A Shoestring Budget

July 5, 2013, 9:47 am

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Everyone likes to get dressed up for a night out on the town with friends to visit the next hottest restaurant in the area. Traveling to major cities for business meetings is something I do all the time, and I find myself in very five-star, upscale restaurants frequently.

Unfortunately, these places can put a lot of stress on your savings. Here are some of my favorite tips for dining out at a five-star restaurant on a serious budget!

-#1: Use Coupons-

When you want to save money eating out, look for coupons in your local paper. Many restaurants will place an ad in the newspaper with coupon hoping to attract new customers.

I’m also a huge Groupon and Social Living fan, and have gotten some great discounts on amazing restaurants for almost half the price. I recommend this first option to everyone, especially when traveling. Stock up on Groupons for the city you’re planning on visiting, so by the time you arrive you’ll only be spending half the cost of food. You really can’t beat that.

-#2: Choose Vegan/Vegetarian Dishes-

Dishes prepared without meat are going to be more budget-friendly. I know this for a fact, since I am vegan and my boyfriend is a full-blown carnivore!

When the bill comes, there is a very significant cost different between my meal and his. Fresh cuts of the best meats are not cheap by any means, so skip it and nourish yourself with some healthy vegetables instead.

Related: I’m Not Poor, I’m On a Budget

-#3: Stick to the Appetizers-

Sometimes people blow $40 on appetizers alone, then by the time their entree comes, they end up having to take it home because they didn’t plan their dinner well. Splitting three appetizers between a small group people is more than enough food to fill your entire party’s appetite. This lets you try a few different dishes while still sticking to your budget.

-#4: Visit 5-Star Restaurants for Lunch-

If you decide to dine at a five-star restaurant during their lunch hour, you get the same portions of food for almost half the price. Some places even have lunch specials with a few courses for a cheaper deal, compared to the dinner entree that comes with just one course.

-5#: Snack Before Dining-

If your budget is really a pressing issue, but you don’t want to miss out on hanging out with friends, you can try snacking before your get-together. It may sound silly, but eating before “going out to eat” or even just drinking a bottle of water beforehand fills you up fast!

When you get to the restaurant, just order a couple sides, a salad or an appetizer. This is a tricky, yet effective way to stay on budget.

Sometimes our eyes are bigger than our stomachs, so this dining tip keeps this in check! The same grocery shopping principle goes with eating at restaurants — when you go out on an empty stomach, the bill will be much bigger.

Join the conversation about this story »

 
 
 
  Reported by Business Insider 2 hours ago.

Top 10 Restaurants in Urbandale According to Yelp!: Do You Agree?

July 3, 2013, 12:59 pm

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Patch Urbandale, IA --

For this list we took a look at restaurants that had the most reviews on Yelp.com and ranked them according to which eatery had the most.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know why in the comments.

1.  Reported by Patch 3 days ago.

Top 10 Restaurants in West Des Moines According to Yelp!: Do You Agree?

July 3, 2013, 12:21 pm

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Patch West Des Moines, IA --

For this list we took a look at restaurants that had the most reviews on Yelp.com and ranked them according to which eatery had the best rating when combining them with the number of stars diners gave each business.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know w Reported by Patch 3 days ago.

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Attractively Priced Real Estate, Courtesy of Pablo Escobar

July 3, 2013, 12:58 pm

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I just asked three people in my office: what's the first word that comes to mind when you think of the country Colombia?

Two answered "drugs." One was more specific and said "cocaine."

I expected at least one of them to say coffee. Nope. People associate Colombia with drugs. And where there are drugs, there are crime, violence, and corruption.

Above all else, there's one man to thank for Colombia's negative reputation: Pablo Escobar, the infamous Colombian cocaine kingpin. Not only was Escobar a ruthless drug lord, he was probably the most successful drug businessman in history, amassing an estimated fortune of $24 billion at the peak of his empire. In the mid-80s, Forbes ranked Escobaras the seventh-richest man in the world.

He achieved those heights by using an unprecedented mixture of business acumen and brutality to force his would-be rivals to fall into line. His famous "plata o plomo" strategy – which translates to "silver or lead"– remains a critical component of his legacy: Escobar would first grease any problematic palms with a bribe. If a subject were foolish enough to reject the bribe, Escobar would stop playing nice and give him some lead instead – in the form of a bullet to the head.

To be fair, by some accounts, Escobar wasn't a bad guy. He used his cocaine profits to build schools, churches, and housing for poverty-stricken Colombians. Escobar thought of himself as a modern-day Robin Hood. Many of his beneficiaries concurred, and repaid his kindness by looking the other way when he was doing something illegal – which was almost all of the time.

Regardless, Escobar was a violent, merciless man, even by drug-lord standards. And as my nonscientific survey above shows, his legacy still dominates Colombia's reputation today.

There's only one problem: the Colombia of today is nothing like it was back then.

The country has improved immensely since Escobar's death nearly twenty years ago. Thanks in part to a $7.5-billion, US-backed effort to crack down on narcotics, Colombia is no longer the world's top cocaine producer. Both Peru and Bolivia overtook it in 2012. And from 2001-2012, potential Colombian cocaine production decreased by a whopping 72%. Not surprisingly, drug related crime plummeted, too.

Noting the dismal failure of the US's own war on drugs, it's almost hard to believe that Colombia's government has been so successful in its efforts. Yet the figures are there for all to see – from 2011 to 2012 alone, Colombian cocaine output fell another 25%.

Meanwhile, Colombia's economy has prospered: GDP growth has been strong; the average Colombian's income has doubled in less than a decade; and BusinessWeek even called Colombia "the most extreme emerging market on Earth" in 2007.

One Colombian city in particular – Medellín, which coincidentally is both where Escobar's cartel was based and where he was shot dead – is flourishing. The financial services and food products industries in particular are booming, and multinational companies are even opening offices in Medellín –Hewlett-Packard just opened a campus there in 2012.

And the residential neighborhoods are keeping pace, too – they're dotted with cafés and restaurants that would rival those in European cities.

As should be clear by now, there's a stark contrast between the perception of Colombia and its reality. While the country isn't perfect and drugs are still a problem, they are only a fraction of the problem they were 20 years ago. Though few are talking about it, Colombia is up and coming.

I'll let *Ronan McMahon, *who recently visited Colombia, take it from here. Ronan is Bill Bonner's international real estate advisor – he travels the world evaluating real estate investment opportunities. As you'll read, he believes that progress has outpaced prices in Colombia, and as a result, there are attractive real estate opportunities there if you know where to look.

Of course, there are good reasons to own foreign real estate beyond a particular parcel's investment merits. As governments of the world continue their march toward full-blown fascism, having an emergency "bolt hole" outside your home country is growing in importance. Owning foreign real estate also offers unique diversification benefits – for instance, it can shorten your path to residency or facilitate opening a foreign financial account. International Man recently covered those and other benefits of owning foreign real estate.

The article below originally appeared in the Bonner Family Office's premium June 2013 investment newsletter, which is dedicated to uncovering investment opportunities and sharing strategies to build and maintain family wealth. My thanks to them for allowing me to share this article with you.

Enjoy, and see you next week.

Dan Steinhart
Managing Editor of The Casey Report

 

*100% Gains for Patient Investors in Colombia's Second-Largest City*

By Ronan McMahon, Real Estate Strategic Partner, Bonner Family Office

Overseas real estate continues to be one of the Bonner family's favorite investments. Bill owns properties in Argentina, France, Ireland, Nicaragua, and the US. Real estate is relatively illiquid – you can't trade in and out of it easily. But as long-term investors, that can be an advantage. It keeps us from shifting in and out of investments too frequently.

Bill has tasked me with scouting the best overseas real estate opportunities and reporting back to him – and you. Following a recent scouting trip to Colombia, I want to put Medellín on your radar.

Medellín, Colombia's second-largest city, is a beautiful city of 2.5 million people (3.5 million, if you include the outer valleys). At 5,000 feet elevation, the weather is perfect. Most days have sunshine and temperatures in the 70s. The modern apartment I rented for my last trip didn't need air conditioning or bug screens on the windows.


Medellín: rental yields of up to 8%.

The leafy neighborhood of El Poblado is a great place to sip coffee or enjoy an evening meal in the shade next to one of the many streams that gurgle down the hillside. Much of my scouting was on foot. In this area, almost everything is a pleasant stroll away. The locals are warm, welcoming, friendly, and honest. They are happy that foreigners are beginning to visit their country. They are aware that, for many, Medellín's reputation is still one of out-of-control drug cartels. The reality I found was very different.

Today, you can buy for as little as $100 per square foot. You'll do well to find a city condo priced this low anywhere else. (Maybe in Ecuador, which has the lowest-priced real estate on my beat.) And you can generate rental yields of up to 8% or more. If you are looking for a family stronghold in a growing economy with a perfect year-round climate, Medellín is worth a visit.

Longtime readers of my real estate investment letter, Real Estate Trend Alert, will know that we did well in northeast Brazil as the country's middle class grew. New middle-class Brazilians now buy condos and drink lattes in newly opened cafés. Owning the real estate that members of a new middle class want to buy or rent is one of our central strategies at Real Estate Trend Alert. It is also a strategy pursued by many of the world's most successful multigenerational  families.

-*Colombia – Like Brazil a Decade Ago*-

I've spend the last year making contact, picking brains, and analyzing the numbers. I have now formed a clear view. And it's one of a bright future for Colombia. One of a pathway (which will certainly include some bumps) to relative prosperity.

The income of the average Colombian has doubled in less than a decade. Shiny new boutiques and restaurants line Medellín's "Golden Mile" in the El Poblado neighborhood. Roads are tightly packed with cars – many new.

Roughly 40% of Colombia's population is under 20. They are full of buzz and optimism. Many of their older siblings and cousins who left in the 1990s are returning... bringing with them the skills they learned on Wall Street. Canadian resource and European manufacturing companies are setting up offices in the city as well. Expat hangouts are packed with Canadian and European resource contractors.

On Wall Street, they call Colombia "the next Brazil"– with good cause. Demographics are in its favor. The country is rich in gold, oil, and hydroelectric power. It is a big coffee producer. Debt levels are low, and after two decades of economic reforms, the government is one of the most forward and outward looking in the region.

"We don't expropriate," President Juan Manuel Santos told a group of Spanish businessmen who arrived shortly after Argentina's President Kirchner took control of oil company YPF. Wealthy Venezuelans are flooding into the country, also bringing oil expertise. GDP growth is running at 6%. Inflation is 3.4%.

An ambitious $100 billion infrastructure plan is in the works. It includes new roads and airports… as well as even an $8 billion Chinese-funded railway that will compete with the Panama Canal. The Chinese want to get Colombian coal out without having to incur hefty tolls in Panama.

Meanwhile, a government program calls for 200,000 new middle-class houses. The government is focused on initiatives to improve social mobility. (The lack of social mobility has historically been one of the major growth constraints in emerging countries.)

-*The **Colombian Comeback*-

Colombia's middle class is on the up. Property prices, which can be as low as $100,000 for a 1,000-square-foot condo, reflect Medellín's past, not its future potential. (Note that real estate here sells in Colombian pesos, so international investors are also getting diversification from their home currency.)

A number of multinationals, such as Hewlett-Packard, are making Medellín their home. Domestic Medellín-based multinationals are strong in cement, financial services, and food products. The action for big oil and banking is in Bogotá – a city already bursting with traffic jams and choking in smog. (It's getting expensive, too.)

I believe the best opportunities are to be found in Medellín, but confidence is everywhere in Colombia. When I visited Santa Marta and neighboring resort towns, condo buildings were shooting up on beachfront plots. They were selling fast, too, long before the buildings were finished.

These aren't cheap. A decent condo with a view could set you back $300,000. The buyers are Colombians living either in Medellín and Bogotá or abroad in the US and Europe. Five years ago, they would have bought condos in Miami or Panama. Now they have the confidence and comfort to invest themselves and their money in their home country.

This is an amazing story, and one that goes beyond the real estate market. Fifteen years ago, Colombia was almost jungle. They battled the army and paramilitaries. Drug cartels ran many of the big cities. Fast-forward to 2013, and you have what many are calling the "Colombian comeback": the big shift from almost-failed state to emerging global player.


Colombia: a country on the up.

This hasn’t happened overnight. Nor is Colombia rid of the security issues that maimed and killed people, and ripped its economy apart. If you are trying to pipe oil hundreds of miles through jungle or prospect for gold in remote areas, surrounded by armed guerrillas and gangs who are politically or profit motivated, the threats are clear.

Don't expect Colombia's progress to be without disturbance. Scary pictures will flash across your TV screens from time to time.*But it's precisely because the situation isn't perfect that we have this opportunity to buy low and sell high.*

Again: Colombia is on the up. Its citizens are already enjoying a peace dividend. They won't easily hand that back. The fighters and revolutionaries are old and tired. If Colombia comes close to reaching its potential, it will live up to its mantra as "the next Brazil," where real estate values rose by up to 20% year after year after year.

-*H**o**w to Profit*-

It's hard to believe after spending time there, but for much of the last three decades, this city – which spreads along the Aburrá Valley in the Andes – had a reputation as being the world's murder capital.

A notorious drug cartel was based here. Headed up by the infamous Pablo Escobar, the Medellín cartel blew up shopping malls and even passenger airplanes with impunity. I want to be clear: That reputation couldn't be further from what I found on my recent scouting trip.

There's a real café culture here, like you'll find in any leafy European city. But here you get to sip your coffee or dine outside year-round. Scorching summer heat or cool winters won't cramp your style, since the perfect weather varies by only one degree all year. You'll find great restaurants, trendy bars, and fancy boutiques.

Minutes away from El Poblado is the so-called "Golden Mile" of banks, offices, boutiques, and outdoor eateries buzzing with traffic and commerce. On weekends, the nightlife is in Parque Lleras in the Zona Rosa. This area of Medellín is the place to be – and to invest.

Older condos in good buildings sell for $100 per square foot. Pre-construction condos sell for $200 per square foot and above. This is a crazy anomaly that you can exploit. Pre-construction is dramatically overpriced, relative to older apartments. Figure $150 per square foot for a new condo in a high-end building that was delivered within the past couple of years.

Of course, it's important to understand the dynamic and regulations of the rental market. It's illegal to rent your unit short term (less than one month) if 70% of owners in the building haven't agreed to this. So you'll find that short-term rentals aren't permitted in the nicer owner-occupied buildings.

But these are still the best buildings to buy in. They are the best maintained and the quietest. That means they are the type of building the new upper-middle  class will want to buy or rent. You could net a yield of 8% by renting to a visiting executive from abroad for a few months at a time. There's a constant flow of renters and agents who specialize in this market. Sign a yearlong contract with a local, and your yield will be a bit less.

At $100,000 for a 1,000-square-foot condo in a high-end area of a desirable city with a fast-growing middle class, prices are seriously low. If Colombia stays on its course to normalization and beyond, it's reasonable to expect that over the next decade prices will move toward current preconstruction pricing in the $200-per-square-foot range. That's a 100% rise from current levels. And each year while you wait, you could bag an 8% yield.

A doubling  of your investment in a decade. And pocketing 8% each year in income. If this plays out, you'll do well. Very well.

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Ronan is an international real estate adviser to Bill Bonner. Speaking of Bill, he recently launched a brand new e-letter called Bill Bonner's Diary of a Rogue Economist, which we highly recommend. You can sign up for free right here.

[Editor's note: If you would like to find out more about how to profit from overseas real estate opportunities, you can become a member of Ronan's Real Estate Trend Alert service.] Reported by Proactive Investors 3 days ago.

Group plans to turn Capitol Hill warehouse into bars, restaurants

July 3, 2013, 3:10 pm

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A group led by the Seattle attorney who launched The Crocodile Café in Belltown has plans to turn an old warehouse on Capitol Hill into bars, restaurants and retail space. The building owner, Cliff Moon of Lynnwood, said the bars, restaurant and retail space are planned by attorney Jerry Everard, and Alex Rosenast, who's one of the owners of the Capitol Hill pool hall called the Garage. The warehouse at 952 E. Seneca St stands next to the Garage. Two-thirds of the building will be restaurant and… Reported by bizjournals 3 days ago.

Waiter, a Pretty Steak, Please

July 5, 2013, 7:09 pm

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Restaurants accustomed to viewing snap-happy smartphone users with annoyance are now realizing the potential of social networks to boost business. Reported by Wall Street Journal 17 hours ago.

How these doctors end up working in fast-food restaurants

July 4, 2013, 5:30 am

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Instead of treating patients, many trained Latino immigrant doctors spend years cleaning houses, working on construction sites and in fast-food chain restaurants. A UCLA program aims to help them transition into the U.S. system. Reported by CNN.com 2 days ago.

In urban revival beer creates small business hubs

July 4, 2013, 7:16 am

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In urban revival beer creates small business hubs
Associated Press
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Updated 6:35 am, Thursday, July 4, 2013

About 30 years ago, beer lovers wanting to create their own drinks started taking over abandoned old buildings in rundown city districts, refitted them with tanks, kettles and casks, and started churning out beer. From New England to the West Coast, new businesses bubbled up around breweries, drawing young people and creating a vibrant community where families could plant roots and small businesses could thrive. Other breweries and businesses — a pasta maker, a bike shop, a tortilla factory, as well as restaurants and bars — followed. Trendy small businesses like breweries and younger residents have been returning to downtown neighborhoods in many cities across the U.S. The biggest cities are growing faster than the suburbs around them, according to Census data. Manufacturers like brewers typically pay workers more than service businesses like restaurants or shops do. Today, Brooklyn Brewery is surrounded by modern apartment buildings, trendy bars, shops and restaurants. In the past decade, home values in the Brewery's neighborhood have more than doubled — up 145 percent, according to real estate appraiser Miller Samuel. Leases are up in 2025, and Brooklyn Brewery's co-founder and president, Steve Hindy, is already worried that the company will get kicked out of its warehouse. Small businesses struggled to stay put while developers converted factories and warehouses into lucrative lofts and swarms of wealthy new residents drove up prices, she says. The rent will rise over time, but generally, long leases provide protection from spikes that can happen when an area becomes so popular that property values skyrocket. The 21st Amendment brewery, in San Francisco, is two blocks from the Giants' baseball stadium, which opened in 2000 and, along with the bustling technology sector, transformed the city's SoMa neighborhood from abandoned warehouses to hot spot. The company has opened offices in the East Bay, and he's scouting space there for the brewery, hoping to "help anchor the revitalization" of an Oakland neighborhood. Reported by SeattlePI.com 2 days ago.