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Speaking at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia on Sunday, Angelica Peralta Ramos, La Nacion Data project leader, told delegates of the organisation's "initiative to develop data journalism and contribute to opening data".

There is no shortage of stories in a country ranked 106 out of 177 on the global Corruption Perceptions Index, she said, but with no freedom of information laws accessing the data can be difficult.

However, "data is the new raw material for journalism", she said, and "if we use data as journalists then more information will be demanded" of governments or organisations that are less open.

The first step is in overcoming assumptions, or "excuses", about the difficulties of producing data journalism stories when the political environment is less than accommodating.

A list of "excuses" that can sometimes hold journalists back from getting started in data journalism, according to Angelica Peralta Ramos

Too often news organisations can assume there is no credible data available, that an absence of transparency laws make the process impossible, or that a lack of developers or necessary skills in the newsroom mean the project is a non-starter, Peralta said.

Having faced similar situations at La Nacion in the past, she shared her advice on how to overcome such obstacles.

1. Never stop learning

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have opened up much of the information needed to get started in data journalism for anyone with an internet connection, she said, while a quick search should turn up a range of webinars, blogs and books to aid in the process.

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5 tips on data journalism from La Nacion

DAD-OF-TWO Peter Downes is expecting hundreds of people round to his house in the run up to Christmas.

The 46-year-old has lit up his home in All Alone Road, Idle, for the ninth year running in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Over the years a number of celebrities including soap and sporting stars have been invited to do the honours and flick the switch but this year Mr Downes decided to do it himself.

People going along to be dazzled by the light show are invited to pop their donations through the letter box - the grand total so far since he started the idea has reached around the 12,000 mark.

Christmas comes early in the Downes' house because of preparations for the festive extravaganza light, displays have to be checked and bulbs tested.

More than 50,000 bulbs are lighting up the night sky this year and there are some new additions including a carousel and some extra Santas.

His seasonal collection has grown since he started it off with flashing icicles - now the roof, house walls, garage and garden are covered with twinkling snowmen, moving reindeer, parachuting Santas, steam trains and penguins, some of the decorations even play carols.

The lights have become an established tradition, attracting visitors not just from the district but from different parts of the country.

The display are up in memory of Mr Downes's dad Timmy who died of lung cancer in 2006 and was helped by Marie Curie Cancer Care.

"We've always had celebrities in the past to come and switch the lights on for us but this year we decided to try it without and see what we could do ourselves," he said.

Here is the original post:
Christmas spectacle raises charity cash

DAD-OF-TWO Peter Downes is expecting hundreds of people round to his house in the run up to Christmas.

The 46-year-old has lit up his home in All Alone Road, Idle, for the ninth year running in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Over the years a number of celebrities including soap and sporting stars have been invited to do the honours and flick the switch but this year Mr Downes decided to do it himself.

People going along to be dazzled by the light show are invited to pop their donations through the letter box - the grand total so far since he started the idea has reached around the 12,000 mark.

Christmas comes early in the Downes' house because of preparations for the festive extravaganza light, displays have to be checked and bulbs tested.

More than 50,000 bulbs are lighting up the night sky this year and there are some new additions including a carousel and some extra Santas.

His seasonal collection has grown since he started it off with flashing icicles - now the roof, house walls, garage and garden are covered with twinkling snowmen, moving reindeer, parachuting Santas, steam trains and penguins, some of the decorations even play carols.

The lights have become an established tradition, attracting visitors not just from the district but from different parts of the country.

The display are up in memory of Mr Downes's dad Timmy who died of lung cancer in 2006 and was helped by Marie Curie Cancer Care.

"We've always had celebrities in the past to come and switch the lights on for us but this year we decided to try it without and see what we could do ourselves," he said.

Originally posted here:
VIDEO: Dad's Christmas lights spectacle set to raise charity cash

With the excitement surrounding the teams third straight bowl appearance in three seasons under the direction of head coach Hugh Freeze, today is a milestone day in the Forward Together campaign, as Ole Miss moves one step closer to making the master plan for Vaught-Hemingway Stadium a reality.

Launched in the fall of 2011, the Forward Together Campaign has now reached $125 million in total cash and pledges, and between the ongoing construction of The Pavilion at Ole Miss and the parking garage, the front door for Ole Miss is beginning to take shape.

When the Forward Together Campaign was launched in the fall of 2011, the goals for Vaught-Hemingway Stadium were to expand the overall stadium capacity and fan experience amenities, upgrade exterior elements around the stadium that provide more consistency with university architecture, and to expand premium seating offerings in order to provide necessary funding, Director of Athletics Ross Bjork said. We are confident and believe this master plan accomplishes those objectives while adding in new elements along the way.

As part of this front door, scheduled for completion by the start of the 2016 football season, there will be construction of two new entry points. One will be a new plaza between The Pavilion and Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, and the other will be a new green space that extends the Walk of Champions through a new north stadium plaza and bell tower. The plans also include the construction of an M-Club letterwinners wall honoring every letterwinner from every sport at Ole Miss.

The campus of Ole Miss is incredibly unique, Bjork said. Everything from the architecture, to the campus layout, to immaculate landscaping, to green spaces like the Grove and the Circle, they are all key factors for why we are voted the most beautiful campus year in and year out.

The location of the front door of athletics not only connects us to the heart of campus, but builds upon that beauty, while also serving as a functional and effective way to continue to provide Rebel fans with an unmatched gameday experience.

The master plan also includes two phases of renovation and expansion that will have Vaught-Hemingway Stadium completed by the start of the 2016 football season, bringing the seating capacity to 64,038.

The first phase will be a renovation and expansion of the south end zone, scheduled to start on January 7, 2015 and be finished for the first game of the 2015 season. As part of this phase, 30 luxury suites and 770 club level seats will be added. All 30 luxury suites have already been sold, and 60 percent of the club level seats have been sold.

We chose the south end zone for the expansion of premium seating because it allows for us to capitalize on the efficiencies of using the same infrastructure already in place, such as a kitchen, elevators, concourse and access to parking, Bjork said. In addition to the premium seating, the south end zones main concourse will be expanded by 2,500 square feet to accommodate more walking space, as well as the addition of 43 new toilets and 32 concession points of sale.

The second phase will be a renovation and expansion of the north end zone that will include the completion of the stadium seating bowl with a new brick and stone exterior that matches campus architecture.

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Ole Miss Unveils Stadium Expansion Plans

CRYSTAL LAKE The workshop was filled with cannons, varying in size, made of metal and wood, and all different.

One it probably took all winter to make is a train, each billet aluminum piece fitting neatly into each other with a brass boiler and when its maker, Paul LoCascio, lifted the boiler, he revealed a hidden cannon.

Its just in my head, the 71-year-old Crystal Lake man said. Many people ask me where I get the blueprints or designs, I dont use any blueprints or designs.

The cannons are more pieces of art than weaponry; LoCascio doesnt sell anything that can fire.

LoCascio is in the process of arranging an art show featuring his cannons. A date has not been set.

His biggest wish is that someone will come up to him with a challenge for him to make, a problem to solve.

LoCascio showed reporter Emily K. Coleman his collection and talked about his work.

Coleman: What happened? How did you get into this?

LoCascio: Ive been in the home improvement business all my life. Then about four years ago, I started losing my vision. I cant hardly see you. I got forced into retirement. I couldnt work any longer. I was totally depressed. I didnt know what I was going to do. I couldnt run the business anymore, so forth and so on.

Normally when we strip a house with aluminum siding, we would get the aluminum, and instead of just dumping it in the garbage, we would take it over to the scrapyard and turn it into scrap. It was a little bit of money.

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On the Record with: Crystal Lake man crafts cannons as he loses sight

Multiple shootings in Southeast DC on Wednesday Multiple shootings in Southeast DC on Wednesday

Updated: Thursday, December 11 2014 8:32 AM EST2014-12-11 13:32:38 GMT

Police say a teen is dead after he allegedly tried to rob a man on a D.C. street and had his own gun turned on himself.

Police say a teen is dead after he allegedly tried to rob a man on a D.C. street and had his own gun turned on himself.

There's a lot of uproar over a TMZ headline announcing Marion Barry's death on Sunday. It reads: "Marion Barry -- Crack Mayor Dead At 78."

There's a lot of uproar over a TMZ headline announcing Marion Barry's death on Sunday. It reads: "Marion Barry -- Crack Mayor Dead At 78." We asked TMZ creator Harvey Levin about it in a live interview on FOX 5 News, and he said the headline will not be changed despite the outrage some have expressed.

Updated: Friday, November 28 2014 12:55 PM EST2014-11-28 17:55:19 GMT

Americans celebrating Thanksgiving in Britain may have felt right at home as Black Friday shopping chaos caused disruptions. The practice of offering bargain basement prices the day after Thanksgiving has spread across the Atlantic, with some retailers opening overnight to lure shoppers.

Americans celebrating Thanksgiving in Britain may have felt right at home as Black Friday shopping chaos caused disruptions. The practice of offering bargain basement prices the day after Thanksgiving has spread across the Atlantic, with some retailers opening overnight to lure shoppers.

Updated: Friday, November 28 2014 12:42 PM EST2014-11-28 17:42:19 GMT

Excerpt from:
Car plunges through roof of California home

Variance, special exceptions and site plan reviews continued

* 780 S. Ocean Blvd.

Attorney Peter Broberg, representing owners: Landmarked house. Built before current zoning codes. Variance to build new guest house with three-car garage.

Motion to grant variance. Passed.

*105 Clarendon Ave.

Attorney Maura Ziska, on behalf of owner Chuck Schumacher: Variance requests to rebuild demolished landmarked house beyond the threshold of 50 percent cubic volume. Variances include side and rear yard setback, building height and overall height.

President Robert Wildrick: So what youre proposing to do is to replicate the house exactly to what was there?

Architect Harold Smith: Yes, except for slightly different roof configuration on the south side.

Gloria Stuart, 129 Clarendon: The east side of my property is the west side of Mr. Schumacher property. Their proposals would be an encroachment on my property.

Wildrick: I believe that what theyre saying is theyre just taking down an old building and putting a new building that will be exactly the same. Is that correct?

Originally posted here:
Town Hall Live: Council grants variances for 105 Clarendon

Palm Beach attorney Emmett E. Tracy Jr. and his wife, Marilyn, have parted with Villa Filipponi their 1929 landmarked estate at 322 Clarke Ave. for a recorded $8.775 million.

A revocable trust in the name of Marilyn Tracy sold the seven-bedroom house on a double lot in Midtown to a Delaware limited liability company named EJHFL LLC, according to the deed recorded Wednesday. No other information about the buyer was immediately available because of Delawares strict corporate privacy laws.

Fite Shavell & Asssociates agent Thor M. Brown had listed the house for sale at about $10.9 million in August 2013, and the property landed under contract in March, according to records in the Palm Beach Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. But the sale did not close until this week.

Brown said a confidentiality agreement prevented any of the parties involved from discussing the sale. MLS records list the buyers real estate agent as Gary Pohrer of K2 Realty.

With 7,682 square feet of living space inside and out, the Spanish Mediterranean-style house stands one house east of Cocoanut Row on four-tenths of an acre.

The Tracys have downsized to a four-bedroom home at 161 Main St., which Marilyn Tracys trust bought in October for a recorded $4.3 million. The seller was Laura T. Andrassy, the first wife of professional golfer Greg Norman. Brown acted on the Tracys behalf in that deal opposite agents Toni Hollis and Gloria Mor, who also work at Fite Shavell.

The house entered the towns landmarks registry in 2002, about five years after the Tracys paid Thomas and Renate McKnight $3.2 million for it, according to property records.

Although the house is usually attributed to noted society architect Marion Sims Wyeth, the Landmarks Preservation Commissions designation report did not identify the architect. Because the house is landmarked, exterior walls viewed from the street cannot be significantly altered.

The house already had been renovated and expanded by other owners before the Tracys bought it. They have family ties to the Detroit area.

In 2004, the Tracys expanded a sitting room, built an adjacent outdoor pergola and enlarged the guest apartment and garage, according to a 2013 Daily News article.

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Landmarked Midtown estate brings $8.8M

If you are considering adding a garage, youll benefit from Ziegler Constructions expertise.

Custom Garages & Garage Conversions

Convert your existing Garage to a livable space, add a 2nd story to your Gargage, add a two story Apartment over your garage. Superior Builders located in Sacramento will help you! Whether you use this to shelter your car, for storage space, or want to finish it to make it livable spaceor all threea garage addition is great way to add square footage to your home.Even if you already have a garage, adding a second story can be the perfect answer to carving out additional living space. Ziegler Construction can design you that perfect garage that has all the amenities you desire. Whether it be a simple single story 1 car garage or a 4 car 2 story with an apartment on top, Ziegler Construction does it all!

Many people find that a garage offers the perfect environment to house their home office, studio space, or workshop. Most garages can be easily fitted with the same comforts as a home: heating and cooling, phone wiring, even plumbing. From Design through construction, we do it all! If you are fortunate enough to have the space, you may be in the company of many homeowners who are thinking about building a garage addition. A well-designed garage addition doesnt have to be just a parking box unattractively attached to the front of your house. Looking to convert your Garage to a livable area? We do that!

Would you like a two story garage with a lott ? What about an apartment on the 2nd floor ? Office or Bathroom on the 1st floor?

Garage additions are an effective means to use your property to its best advantage. A garage addition allows you to house not only cars, but boats, hobbies, or your mother-in-law. They may be built separately with high bays for mechanics lifts or with space for a fully functional greenhouse, workshop, or artists studio. It can be detached as a completely separate building or attached for easy access to the main house. A second story might easily serve as a large playroom for the kids or an elegant master suite. Depending on the style of your home, you can add a carriage house with an apartment upstairs or a small guest house with a single bay for a car.

Would you like a new garage attached to your home with a covered roof overhang ? A garage addition or remodel allows you to gain extra space, develop a rental unit that you can easily supervise and maintain, or establish a home office out of the house. By the optimizing its location, you can diminish the importance of your garage so your house becomes the focal point of your property. And a garage addition can also enhance property value.

Planning your garage addition

The following tips may help you decide how to incorporate a garage addition: Most communities now are governed by a Home Owners Association or CC & Rs. Consider checking to see which applies & contact someone to see if what you want to do can be done. Make a laundry list of what you want the new addition to house. If you want a workshop or a studio your requirements will be different than someone who needs to create a fully functional apartment.

We help you match the details of the existing home. Match siding, roof pitch, trim and gable style.

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Garage Additions | Ziegler Remodeling

We've seen connected gadgets for homebrewing (and serving) beer before, and now there's another gadget looking to do the heavy lifting for you. This is Brewie: a self-contained brewhouse that will have your next batch started in minutes. For the novice beer maker, pre-portioned kits and an RFID card sorts all the settings and measurements -- all you have to do is toss in the ingredients, scan the recipe card and hit start. Of course, the machine also allows for more advanced tweaking, serving up 23 separate parameters (water levels, boiling temps, hop additions, etc.) for further fine-tuning. Once you've dialed in that Double IPA, Brewie saves the settings to produce the same results for the next batch. Looking for something new? There's 200 recipes programmed already, should that need arise.

Gallery | 8 Photos

In addition to storing recipes, the WiFi-equipped beer factory can be controlled from a computer, tablet or phone, relaying real-time info on the suds and alerting you when the brewing process is finished. For on-board controls, there's a 4.3-inch touchscreen to cycle through settings and recipes; however, hooking up a water source lets the machine do measuring automatically, and when it's done, it cleans up after itself. We'd surmise you'll still need to remove that spent grain though. That's all crammed inside a gadget that touts a 20-liter (5.2-gallon) capacity -- a pretty common batch size for at-home brewing. When it's ready, your wort can be transferred to a fermentation vessel with the push of a button.

If you'll recall, BrewBot is a similar self-contained system that allows you to take control via a trusty handset and equips aspiring brewers at all skill levels. That machine is massive, but the smaller PicoBrew Zymatic offers a similar ease of use while taking up a bit less space in the garage for $1,699. Looking to give it a go? If you miss out on any of the early adopter discounts, $1,599 secures the Beginner Pack with the machine, one "Pad" (read: ingredients kit) and four 5-liter kegs. Advanced homebrewers can splurge for the $2,299 pro option that includes detailed testing equipment. Brewie is a pretty big appliance though, so you're looking at a few hundred dollars more to ship the 55-pound behemoth, too.

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Brewie's smartphone-controlled system makes homemade beer easier