Republican Hagel faces GOP critics at hearing

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Republican Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's nominee for defense secretary, is facing GOP critics who have challenged his past comments on Israel, Iran and nuclear weapons.

The former two-term senator from Nebraska is the lone witness at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday that could be crucial in determining whether he will win Senate confirmation to succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in Obama's second-term national security team. Two former committee chairmen ? Democrat Sam Nunn and Republican John Warner ? will introduce the nominee.

If confirmed, Hagel, a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, would be the first enlisted man and first Vietnam veteran to serve as defense secretary.

Hagel has the announced backing of about a dozen Democrats and the tacit support of dozens more who are unlikely to embarrass the president by defeating his Cabinet pick. One Republican ? Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi ? has said he will vote for his former colleague.

Six Republicans, including four members of the Armed Services panel, have said they will oppose Hagel's nomination. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, the top GOP lawmaker on the committee, has said he and Hagel are "too philosophically opposed" on issues such as defense spending, nuclear weapons and the Middle East.

Crucial for Hagel will be the questioning by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Hagel and McCain are fellow Vietnam veterans who once had a close relationship during their years in the Senate, but politics and Hagel's opposition to increased troop numbers in Iraq divided the two men.

McCain has praised Hagel's military service but said he had serious concerns about positions the nominee has taken on various issues. He said he is reserving judgment until after the hearing. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., earlier this month described Obama's selection as an "in-your-face" pick but was a bit less critical this week.

"Who are we getting ? the guy today or the guy who said things before?" Graham said Tuesday after a 20-minute meeting with Hagel. Graham said he doesn't doubt Hagel's "personal integrity, but I do have real concerns about his policy positions."

The hearing will be the first time Hagel publicly addresses the barrage of criticism that he is not sufficiently pro-Israel or tough enough on Iran. In the past, Hagel has questioned the efficacy of unilateral sanctions on Iran, arguing that penalties in conjunction with international partners made more sense. He has also been criticized for his comments about the influence of a "Jewish lobby" and his view of gay rights.

He addressed several of the issues in a 112-page questionnaire to the committee in which he said his wartime experience would shape his decisions about using military force.

"I understand what it is like to be a soldier in war," wrote Hagel. "I also understand what happens when there is poor morale and discipline among the troops and a lack of clear objectives, intelligence and command and control from Washington. I believe that experience will help me as secretary of defense to ensure we maintain the best fighting force in the world, protect our men and women in uniform and ensure that we are cautious and certain when contemplating the use of force."

In his responses, Hagel adopted a hard line on Iran and its possible pursuit of a nuclear weapon. He echoed Obama's view that all options are feasible to stop Tehran, praised the rounds of penalties and warned of "severe and growing consequences" if Iran balks at international demands.

Questioned about all options, Hagel said, "If confirmed, I will focus intently on ensuring that the U.S. military is in fact prepared for any contingency."

He said that he would continue to put in place the "smart, unprecedented and effective sanctions against the Iranian regime" that Congress and the Obama administration have adopted in recent years.

The criticism of Hagel has surprised some of Hagel's strongest backers.

"This idea that's being propagated that he might be soft on adversaries. Chuck Hagel's not soft on anybody, particularly himself," said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a member of the Armed Services Committee, in a conference call with Hagel allies. "He drives hard. He's someone who searches for the right approach and the right policy."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/republican-hagel-faces-gop-critics-hearing-081554333--politics.html

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UNC scientists unveil a superbug's secret to antibiotic resistance

Public release date: 30-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Thania Benios
thania_benios@unc.edu
919-962-8596
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Worldwide, many strains of the bacterium Staphyloccocus aureus, commonly known as staph infections, are already resistant to all antibiotics except vancomycin. But as bacteria are becoming resistant to this once powerful antidote, S. aureus has moved one step closer to becoming an unstoppable killer. Now, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have not only identified the mechanism by which vancomycin resistance spreads from one bacterium to the next, but also have suggested ways to potentially stop the transfer.

The work, led by Matthew Redinbo, professor of chemistry at UNC's College of Arts and Sciences, addresses the looming threat of incurable staph infections a global public health problem that has mobilized scientists across disciplines to work together to identify the Achilles heel of these antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

"We used to live in a world where antibiotics could readily cure bacterial disease," said Redinbo. "But this is clearly no longer the case. We need to understand how bacteria obtain resistance to drugs like vancomycin, which served for decades as the 'antibiotic of last resort.'"

In his work, Redinbo and his team targeted a bacterial enzyme known as Nicking Enzyme in Staphyloccoccus, or NES. The enzyme has long been known to interact with plasmids, circular pieces of double-stranded DNA within bacteria that are physically separate from the bacterial chromosome. Plasmids commonly contain antibiotic-resistance genes, and can make the machinery necessary to transfer these genes from an infected bacterium to an uninfected one.

By revealing the crystal structure of NES, the researchers found that this enzyme nicks one strand of the plasmid at a very specific siteand in a very specific way. It turns out that NES forms two loops that work together to pinch one strand of the plasmid at a particular groove in the DNA to cut it. This strand is now free to leave its host and transfer to a nearby bacterium, making them resistant to vancomycin.

Moreover, Redinbo was able to capture a snapshot of the enzyme bound to the plasmid. "As a structural biologist, it's all about the pictures for me," said Redinbo. "And it was this picture that confirmed the precise location on which NES works."

With this information, Redinbo knew the groove on the DNA that the enzyme recognize and could design a small synthetic molecule that would sit on this groove and block NES. Teaming up with colleagues at the California Institute of Technology, Redinbo did just that. The molecule prevented NES from nicking the DNA, which could prevent the resistance genes from spreading.

According to Redinbo and colleagues, this small synthetic molecule could help guide future research aimed at developing effective therapies for strains of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus.

"This is really exciting for us," said Redinbo, who is also a professor at UNC's School of Medicine and a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. "It opens the door for potentially stopping the spread of antibiotic resistanceand that's exactly what we need in this post-antibiotic era."

The work was published this week in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 30-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Thania Benios
thania_benios@unc.edu
919-962-8596
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Worldwide, many strains of the bacterium Staphyloccocus aureus, commonly known as staph infections, are already resistant to all antibiotics except vancomycin. But as bacteria are becoming resistant to this once powerful antidote, S. aureus has moved one step closer to becoming an unstoppable killer. Now, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have not only identified the mechanism by which vancomycin resistance spreads from one bacterium to the next, but also have suggested ways to potentially stop the transfer.

The work, led by Matthew Redinbo, professor of chemistry at UNC's College of Arts and Sciences, addresses the looming threat of incurable staph infections a global public health problem that has mobilized scientists across disciplines to work together to identify the Achilles heel of these antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

"We used to live in a world where antibiotics could readily cure bacterial disease," said Redinbo. "But this is clearly no longer the case. We need to understand how bacteria obtain resistance to drugs like vancomycin, which served for decades as the 'antibiotic of last resort.'"

In his work, Redinbo and his team targeted a bacterial enzyme known as Nicking Enzyme in Staphyloccoccus, or NES. The enzyme has long been known to interact with plasmids, circular pieces of double-stranded DNA within bacteria that are physically separate from the bacterial chromosome. Plasmids commonly contain antibiotic-resistance genes, and can make the machinery necessary to transfer these genes from an infected bacterium to an uninfected one.

By revealing the crystal structure of NES, the researchers found that this enzyme nicks one strand of the plasmid at a very specific siteand in a very specific way. It turns out that NES forms two loops that work together to pinch one strand of the plasmid at a particular groove in the DNA to cut it. This strand is now free to leave its host and transfer to a nearby bacterium, making them resistant to vancomycin.

Moreover, Redinbo was able to capture a snapshot of the enzyme bound to the plasmid. "As a structural biologist, it's all about the pictures for me," said Redinbo. "And it was this picture that confirmed the precise location on which NES works."

With this information, Redinbo knew the groove on the DNA that the enzyme recognize and could design a small synthetic molecule that would sit on this groove and block NES. Teaming up with colleagues at the California Institute of Technology, Redinbo did just that. The molecule prevented NES from nicking the DNA, which could prevent the resistance genes from spreading.

According to Redinbo and colleagues, this small synthetic molecule could help guide future research aimed at developing effective therapies for strains of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus.

"This is really exciting for us," said Redinbo, who is also a professor at UNC's School of Medicine and a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. "It opens the door for potentially stopping the spread of antibiotic resistanceand that's exactly what we need in this post-antibiotic era."

The work was published this week in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/uonc-usu013013.php

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Chris Christie's Online Gambling Clock Ticking; NJ Lottery ...

January 29, 2013

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie only has about a week left in which to sign, not sign or veto the online gambling legislation passed by the state legislature before Christmas. (Various sources put the deadline as either Feb. 4 or Feb. 7.) Only the veto option would mean the bill wouldn?t become law, and while Christie has expressed doubts regarding online gambling?s ability to rescue the Atlantic City?s struggling casinos, speculation is mounting that Christie will opt not to sign, leaving the bill to become law by default.

In doing so, Christie could claim that the strong support for the bills in the legislature would have resulted in a fresh vote to override his veto, so he chose the expedient route to keep the legislature focused on more pressing matters. Avoiding putting his stamp of approval on a gambling expansion bill would allow Christie to preserve his bona fides with Republican social conservatives ahead of a possible run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.

In the meantime, the Poker Players Alliance is asking its 20k constituency to contact Christie?s office with pleas for him to do the right thing and keep his veto stamp in its drawer. The PPA claims its efforts have resulted in Christie?s office receiving 500 phone calls, 1,300 emails plus countless posts to Christie?s social networking feeds. PPA boss John Pappas met with a ?senior member? of Christie?s administration on Tuesday, emerging with the impression that ?the Governor is still deliberating on this matter, and a decision hasn?t been made.?

ATLANTIC CLUB FILES LAYOFF NOTICE ?FORMALITY?
Adding more pressure for Christie to sign, the struggling Atlantic Club casino-hotel has filed formal notice that it is looking at laying off its 1,729 employees by March 29 unless its financial fortunes drastically change. Such a change could occur if New Jersey gaming regulators approve the bid by Rational Group US Holdings ? the US offshoot of the parent company of online poker titan PokerStars ? to acquire the Atlantic Club. Rational?s bid is viewed as Stars? ticket back into the US market, as being approved as an Atlantic City brick-and-mortar casino operator would virtually guarantee Stars? ability to receive a New Jersey online gaming license.

CHRISTIE SIGNS RACETRACK MOBILE WAGERING LAW
On Monday, Christie had no difficulty putting his signature onto a law allowing New Jersey racetrack customers to place mobile wagers via their smartphones or tablet devices. The legislation allows patrons at the state?s four racetracks to place wagers from anywhere on the property without having to lift themselves up off their bulbous backsides and hoof it all the way down to the betting window. The New Jersey Racing Commission will now get cracking on the nuts and bolts of the regulations. Assemblyman John Burzichelli, a key backer of the legislation, said mobile wagering will help attract a younger tech-savvy demographic to the struggling tracks. New Jersey approved similar legislation for Atlantic City?s casinos last year, although none of AC?s dozen casinos have as yet begun offering the service.

CHRISTIE EYES LOTTERY PRIVATIZATION
Following neighboring Pennsylvania?s decision to privatize management of its state lottery, Christie is reportedly eyeing a similar move for New Jersey. And just like Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, Christie is apparently keeping state legislators in the dark regarding the bid process. The Inquirer?s Matt Katz reported that Christie is quietly negotiating a 15-year contract with the Northstar Group, the joint venture between majority partner Lottomatica (via US subsidiary GTech Holdings) and Scientific Games that operates the Illinois Lottery.

Like Corbett, Christie?s hush-hush tender reportedly attracted only one bidder. Unlike Corbett, Christie has yet to post the terms of the contract online and negotiations have not been subject to public scrutiny. Both of these facts have critics crying foul, suggesting Christie?s private dealmaking may be unconstitutional. Philly.com reported that Northstar has pledged $120m as a cash reserve in case their management of the lottery fails to perform up to expectations. As in Pennsylvania, it?s expected that Northstar would seek to expand the lottery?s current scope, including offering products online.

Source: http://calvinayre.com/2013/01/29/business/chris-christie-okays-mobile-track-bets-lotto-privatization/

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Forget buying software: You can now rent Microsoft Office (cheap!)

5 hrs.

Rosa Golijan , NBC News

Considering that we can have music, movies, TV shows, Photoshop???even underwear???via some sort of monthly or yearly subscription, it's about time we can finally rent Microsoft Office 365, too.

In exchange for $100 per?year (or $10 per?month), you'll be able to install Office 2013 on up to five PCs, Macs or Windows tablets. You'll have?access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access. Additionally, you'll get an extra?20GB of cloud storage through SkyDrive (on top of the 7GB you already get for free) along with 60 minutes of Skype world calling per month.?

You can still buy Office 2013 the old-school way, though don't expect to see any physical media in the software box; you'll just buy a product code and be sent online to download the actual software. The Home & Student version of that is $140 and is limited to one device (and just Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote); Home & Business is $220 (which includes Outlook as well), and Pro ? with all of the same?apps offered in the subscription ??is $400.

Besides being able to install on up to five devices, there are other benefits to the subscription plan:?Free upgrades to the latest versions of the Office software are included, so you can buy in at any time without worrying about missing the next version. Better still, since the subscription?license covers different types of devices, you don't have to buy a bunch of different versions.?(Besides Mac support, Microsoft has said in the past that this Office 365?license would even?provide you with not-yet-released editions, including a possible iPad version.)

If you have a family with lots going on, it is likely to be a money saver, even when you factor in the deals you get from home/student pricing.?

If you are simply?a power user with a lot of different devices, you'll be able to sync Office 365?documents between them with ease. (And you'll, of course, also be able to share documents quickly, thanks to SkyDrive.)?It doesn't stop with the documents though: Your settings and preferences sync as well. This means that no matter where you sign into Office 365, you'll have the same experience. This is, once again, a great benefit for those who split their time between one too many devices.

Pricing and cloud support aside, the latest Office itself isn't a radical redesign. Everything feels familiar, with some small tweaks. It appears that Microsoft is attempting to reduce the bloat we occasionally experience when it comes to its software suite. Does it succeed? Well, we'll have to use the software for a bit longer to make a solid judgment call in regards to that.

While?the?latest version of the software isn't?lacking anything?from?the?traditional?desktop?view???in fact, our initial impression is that it might be the best version of Office we've used so far???we're still waiting for a finger-friendly tablet version of the?legendary?suite.?Though?it?would?be?a?huge?success?given?the?popularity?of?iPads?and?other?tablets,?Microsoft?isn't?going?to?rush?that?out?in?haste,?because?the?company's?developers?say?they?want?to?get?it?right.

You can snag a free one-month trial of Office 365 through Office.com and we suggest taking advantage of this deal. Odds are that you'll find it feeling comfortable and familiar ? and a little lighter on the checkbook as well.

Want more tech news?or interesting?links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on?Twitter, subscribing to her?Facebook?posts,?or circling her?on?Google+.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/forget-buying-software-you-can-now-rent-microsoft-office-cheap-1C8157930

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Private survey shows employers added 192,000 jobs in January

New York?

Private-sector employers added 192,000 jobs in January, more than economists had expected, indicating Friday?s jobs report from the government may be a good one.

?

The numbers, from a private survey by payroll processor ADP, provided a glimmer of optimism about the economy the same morning the government reported the nation?s GDP contracted in the fourth quarter.

?

?It feels to me that the job market is improving,? said Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody?s Analytics. ?Job growth has accelerated.?

?

Job growth is now hovering at about 175,000 jobs a month, he said, which should be enough to bring the unemployment rate down every month. Zandi predicts the unemployment rate, currently at 7.8%, will fall to 7.3% by the end of the year, and will dip below 7% by this time next year.

?

Although the ADP report showed weakness in the manufacturing sector, probably related to sluggish European economies, it showed growth in construction, trade and professional and business services.

?

Small businesses, with one to 49 employees, provided the bulk of the hiring, ADP said. Small businesses added 115,000 jobs. Medium businesses, with 50 to 499 employees, added 79,000. Large businesses actually shed 2,000 jobs in January.

?

The ADP report only tracks private-sector employment, while Friday?s jobs report also includes the government sector, which has been contracting for the better part of two years. The numbers usually provide some guidance to economists about what to expect from the national job figures, although last month, ADP showed employers had added 215,000 private-sector jobs, while the government figures showed that the private sector added just 168,000.

?

Zandi was quick to emphasize the good news about the ADP report, while downplaying the surprising GDP contraction. He said that when the government revises the number, he expects it will show growth, rather than contraction, in the fourth quarter.

?

?I will be surprised if we end up with negative quarter,? he said.

?

Still, GDP growth will only grow 1.5% in the first quarter of this year, he said, which is not a very impressive number. That?s because a payroll tax was restored after two years, meaning consumers have less take-home pay, and probably will spend less as they adjust to their new finances.

?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, on the brink of passing 14,000, was down in early market trading.

?

ALSO:

Economy shrinks unexpectedly in fourth quarter

U.S. economy grows by 155,000 jobs in December

Consumers to see smaller paychecks despite fiscal cliff deal

Source: http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-adpreport-20130130,0,5146393.story?track=rss

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One dead as vicious storms roll across South

ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. (AP) ? Powerful winds, rain and hail battered parts of the South on Wednesday, killing at least one person as the large storm system damaged homes, overturned cars on an interstate and knocked out electricity to thousands.

At least one tornado was confirmed and several more suspected, and conditions remained ripe for more. Since Tuesday, the system had caused damage across a swath from Missouri to Georgia.

In recent days, people in the South and Midwest had enjoyed unseasonably balmy temperatures in the 60s and 70s. A system pulling warm weather from the Gulf of Mexico was colliding with a cold front moving in from the west, creating volatility.

Police said high winds toppled a tree onto a shed in Nashville, Tenn., where a man had taken shelter, killing him. As the storm crept eastward, officials reported a possible tornado in Adairsville, Ga., about 60 miles northwest of Atlanta. At least 10 cars were overturned on Interstate 75, and emergency crews were trying to get to people reported trapped in homes and buildings, said Bartow County Fire Chief Crag Millsap.

Across the region, downed power lines, trees and tree limbs were making it difficult to reach people who needed help.

Another person was reported injured by lightning in Arkansas during the storm's eastward trek. Two people suffered minor injuries when a mobile home was blown off its foundation in Kentucky.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said it was investigating reports of at least four possible tornadoes in states including Arkansas and Mississippi. In Tennessee, officials confirmed that a tornado with peak wind speeds of 115 mph touched down in Mount Juliet. No serious injuries were reported there, though the path of damage was about 150 yards wide, including homes, a warehouse and an automotive business.

Hail ranging up to nearly golf-ball size was also reported in some areas, the center said.

Thousands were reported without power in Tennessee, where tornado warnings and flash flood warnings were issued for several counties and a tractor-trailer was blown over by high winds.

The nation has had its longest break between tornado fatalities since detailed tornado records began being kept in 1950, according to the Storm Prediction Center and National Climatic Data Center. The last one was June 24, when a person was killed in a home in Highlands County, Fla. That was 220 days ago as of Tuesday.

The last day with multiple fatalities was June 4, when three people were killed in a mobile home in Scott County, Mo.

Source: http://weather.yahoo.com/1-dead-powerful-winds-rain-batter-south-172636296.html

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2013 Range Rover: The Biggest Loser

?

Three-digit weight loss is the automotive game du jour, and the benefits of spunkier performance and thriftier fuel economy are but a few of the upsides sought when engineers shed ballast in redesigned rides. After all, every 220 pounds of weight loss translate to an approximately 2 percent improvement in mpgs, and everybody loves a sprightlier ride.

?

Land Rover's nearly three-ton Range Rover was a prime candidate for slimming down when it faced a fourth-gen redesign, and no weld went unturned in the effort of lightening the hefty Landie. By replacing the hulking chassis with an aluminum structure incorporating 270 pressings, 9 extrusions, 4 tubular braces, and 34 cavity baffles, 397 pounds of fat were jetissoned, contributing to a total weight loss of a staggering 700 or so pounds-- the biggest slim-down we've seen in recent memory. Its carryover powerplants are able to hurtle the hulking SUV to 60 mph in as quickly as 5.1 seconds, nearly a full second faster than its predecessor.

?

While the newest Range Rover enjoys a deceptively compact footprint-- the tall sport 'ute is only 2.9 inches longer than an Audi A6-- the benefits of what Land Rover calls a "virtuous circle of weight reduction" are more than dynamic; they're mighty handy, especially since the corporate average fuel economy requirement of 54.5 mpgs by 2025 looms large.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/auto-blog/2013-range-rover-the-biggest-loser?src=rss

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In aftermath of nightclub fire, some Brazilians question 'culture of impunity'

Safety consultants say the lack of sprinklers, adequate illumination, smoke detectors, and fire exits is tragically common in Brazil.?

By Andrew Downie,?Correspondent / January 28, 2013

Police officers stand at the entrance of the Kiss nightclub in southern Brazil, Monday. Some 233 people died after smoke engulfed the nightclub during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Ricardo Moraes/Reuters

Enlarge

Authorities buried the first victims of the Santa Maria nightclub fire this morning, and while Brazil is still in shock over its worst disaster in more than half a century, some are shifting their focus toward the investigation and future prevention.

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There is widespread hope that Brazil can overcome its long-standing culture of impunity and bring those responsible to justice.

Some 233 people died after smoke engulfed the Kiss disco in southern Brazil during the early hours of Sunday morning. More than 100 people are still hospitalized, 80 of them in serious condition, Brazil?s Health Minister Alexandre Padilha said.

Police, based on numerous eyewitness accounts, believe the fire was started on accident by the live band on stage. Over-size sparklers ignited the highly flammable acoustic foam that lined the ceiling and within minutes the club was engulfed in smoke. The vast majority of those who didn?t make it out in time died from asphyxiation.

Those errors, allied to inadequate emergency lighting and insufficient emergency exits inside the club, are similar to those that caused other deadly nightclub fires, including the famous 2003 Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island, which killed 100 people.

Safety consultants say the lack of sprinklers, adequate illumination, smoke detectors, and fire exits is tragically common in Brazil.

?This club got absolutely everything wrong,? says Orlando dos Santos, owner of Abafire, a Brazilian fire security consultancy firm. ?There are laws but they didn?t follow them.?

?That is so common,? Mr. dos Santos says. ?Here in S?o Paulo I?ve seen big companies, multinationals, hotel chains, shopping centers and even hospitals and they don?t have the proper security procedures in place.?

Corruption, dos Santos says, was one of the main reasons, along with a lack of trained personnel to check safety installations and make sure they meet requirements.

Another issue bubbling to the surface today is impunity. Police and judicial authorities will be under pressure to identify those responsible for yesterday?s disaster and bring them to justice, and?not just for the band members accused of lighting flares in an enclosed space (which is illegal in Brazil). Police and local politicians have also said they will investigate whether the club had the proper security certificates and that authorities signed them.

If it was operating without the proper permits, as some news outlets have reported, police will want to know why and how such a popular club was allowed to open its doors without them.
?

Impunity in Brazil

The question of impunity is a sensitive one in Brazil and Latin America, where justice is slow and the rich and well-connected can call on powerful lawyers to work the system.

In one emblematic case, a newspaper editor used appeals and habeas corpus to avoid jail for a decade after being found guilty of murdering his former lover.
?
Only a fraction of crimes are solved here, and Brazilians have a low opinion of their law enforcement. Police are considered the third most corrupt institution in the country after politicians and congress, and 54 percent of Brazilians believe efforts to fight corruption are ineffective, according to the latest transparency international statistics.

There are encouraging signs, however, that might be changing. Some of Brazil?s best-known and most powerful politicians were found guilty of political corruption last year and they face jail time.

The fact that the Supreme Court was willing to sentence such well-known figures up to 40 years behind bars for crimes that ranged from money laundering to tax evasion sent a refreshing signal that no one is above the law.

Often in the past, investigations have petered out and no action was taken after the initial public uproar died down.

?We await judicial decisions leading to the convictions of the guilty parties and compensation of material and moral damages for the families, even from the responsible public agencies, but as always we will be surprised by events like this simply because we haven?t learned to be citizens who demand our rights,? lawyer Isabel Cochlar wrote about the nightclub deaths in Zero Hora, a newspaper based close to Santa Maria.

Brazilian police announced today they have detained two members of the band and two of the club owners for questioning.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/oBn9H95Rfms/In-aftermath-of-nightclub-fire-some-Brazilians-question-culture-of-impunity

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MIO Alpha BLE

Heart rate, as athletes know, indicates fitness and exercise intensity better than most other metrics. Until very recently, the only reliable way to measure heart rate was to wear a chest strap, as I did while testing the Digifit iCardio Multi-Sport Heart Rate Monitor. I can say from personal experience that they're not only uncomfortable, but also require another device to read their output, and try doing that while maintaining speed and watching where you're going. A new wristwatch, the MIO Alpha BLE ($199 direct) reads heart rate through an optical sensor on its back and displays it in real time. Simple as that.

For running, cycling, and plenty of other endurance sports, the Alpha represents a huge upgrade in comfort and ease-of-use in heart rate monitors. It includes a number of useful features and settings, too, such as stopwatch functionality during which you can record your heart rate and keep track of your time spent in the zone (between the low and "up" heart rate you set for yourself). Considering the $200 price, though, the MIO Alpha BLE is somewhat expensive. Because I follow the rapidly growing field of activity trackers and other personal fitness gadgets, I wanted the Alpha to do a little more, such as measure distance traveled or steps taken, which it does not. You can get some of these stats by pairing the MIO with a compatible app, such as MapMyRun or RunKeeper, but I'd ideally like to see a pedometer-like reading right on the device itself.

Design
Much more comfortable than a chest strap, the MIO Alpha looks like a chunky sports watch, with a pliant, durable silicone band. The watch face, available in two accent colors, "shadow" (black) and "arctic" (white), displays data in large format using a negative dot matrix LCD, which makes it easy to read even in strong sunlight. On both the left and right of the watch is a single button that's flush against the watch face, for navigating the features and changing the settings.

It also comes with a USB charging station for the rechargable lithium polymer battery, which attaches magnetically to the back of the watch.

I find the device rather attractive, and especially like the row of three holes in the band, for securing with a three-pronged clasp, that travel its entire length. The MIO Alpha should be worn a little higher on the arm and more snugly than a typical watch, as it needs to be in close contact with your skin to accurately read your heart rate. Of course, when you're not taking your heart rate, you can readjust it to wherever it's most comfortable.

How it Works
The MIO Alpha BLE works by using an optical sensor, located on the back of the watch, to read the volume of blood under your skin, and therefore take your pulse. The heart rate function does not run constantly. You have to turn it on and off. Press and hold the right side button, and it will read your current heart rate, displaying it on the watch face in real time. When you?re not taking your heart rate,the MIO Alpha displays only the time.

Accuracy
In testing the MIO Alpha BLE, I took several readings of my resting heart rate just to get a sense of how the device worked and found it to always be within two beats per minute of my own reading (using the rudimentary two-fingers-to-the-neck method).

Then, I wore the watch to the gym and took a few more readings that I compared with the readings from the hand-grip sensors on some cardio equipment, which are sometimes accurate and sometimes ghastly off. I jumped on an elliptical trainer, took a few readings using the hand sensors to make sure they were at least within the range of my expectations (they were), and worked up a sweat. I turned on the Alpha MIO and started comparing. Every reading was once again within two beats per minute. Impressive.

Additional Features
The button to the left of the watch face activates additional features that make the MIO Alpha BLE a true athletic gadget. You can adjust your minimum and maximum desired heart rate (it defaults to 110 to 130 beats per minute), and while you're working out, the Alpha will beep if you're not in the desired zone. It also flashes a colored light to indicate whether you're over (red), under (blue), or within (green) the zone you set.

You can also turn on a stopwatch feature that lets you time an activity while reading your heart rate in the background, which is where the colored lights and audio cues really help, as you can hear them and see them from the corner of your eye without slowing down to focus on the precise reading.

To integrate your heart rate stats into other data from health and fitness apps, you'll need a mobile device with Bluetooth 4.0, and one of the following compatible apps: Adidas MiCoach, Endomo, MapMyRide, MapMyRun, RunKeeper, Strava, or Wahoo Fitness.

While the watch is waterproof and you can even swim while wearing it, the instructions warn against pressing the watch's buttons while underwater. You'll need to turn on the heart rate function and set up the timer before hopping into the pool.

Pricey, but Among the Best
I highly recommend the MIO Alpha BLE over a chest strap for any athlete or fitness buff looking to add heart rate to their personal data measurements. For the price, however, I do wish it had at least one or two more features for tracking activity directly, although for the time being, at least you can pair it with an app.

If in its second or third iteration the MIO Alpha can add a few key personal fitness tracking features, such steps taken and total distance traveled, it might be a five-star product. The question is whether it will get there first, as the competition is fierce?which is a good thing for consumers.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/RAppJDT9BMU/0,2817,2414600,00.asp

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How Ecommerce Website Design Can Help A Business - Seo411

There are many methods for obtaining a professional ecommerce website design.? There are free templates, premium templates, and custom designs to choose from for the business owner looking for an online presence.

While some of those methods allow the business owner to not have to pay a single dime, sometimes, they want something a little more professional and unique.? For this to happen, the business owner looks for a company capable of providing superior and reliable web designing.? These developers create, complete, and maintain a site.? In addition, a specialist can be active through all stages of the process and be there to provide any other necessary services.

What makes a developer capable of providing unique and reliable construction of the business?s online site?? How does an online storefront work?? Can it be secure enough to take payments?

Experience and education is the key to a successful specialist.? There are a multitude of choices available just by utilizing a favorite search engine.? Sometimes, knowing which one to choose is not as clear cut as choosing by what they charge for their services.? Skill and experience are easily witnessed by looking at past work.? The portfolio should be filled with exceptional examples of past work that showcase numerous sites.

Building an online storefront often includes a variety of methods for the business owner to sell a product or service.? These online storefronts are secure and safe, which will allow their clientele to make a purchase and receive a product without the fear of identity theft.? Ecommerce website design will allow the business owner to make sales and receive payment without any glitches.

Source: http://www.seo411.com/blog/ecommerce-website-design-012813/

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Toshiba unveils 2TB Canvio Basics and Special Edition portable drives

It's still not all that easy to track down a 2TB portable drive. Thankfully, Toshiba is making that extra-large capacity more ubiquitous by shipping an upgrade to its Canvio line of USB 3.0 disks. Both the no-frills Canvio Basics 3.0 and a Canvio Special Edition with a backup software bundle now carry 2TB inside, up from 1.5TB half a year ago. Not satisfied with just the storage boost? You might be with the price: the 2TB Canvio Basics' $190 starting point is lower than what its WD competition reached when new, and the $220 official price for a Special Edition (we're already seeing $190 at Best Buy) isn't that much of a stretch.

Show full PR text

Toshiba Expands Canvio Basics 3.0 Line And Introduces Canvio Special Edition Portable Hard Drive

Canvio Basics 3.0 Portable Hard Drives Now Offer Up to 2TB of Storage; Canvio Special Edition Portable Hard Drive Now Available

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the addition of new two terabyte offerings to its Canvio storage lineup, including a 2TB Canvio(R) Basics 3.0 portable hard drive and a 2TB Canvio Special Edition portable hard drive.

"We understand that consumers have varying capacity needs and we strive to provide solutions that match differing requirements," said Maciek Brzeski , vice president of product marketing and development of branded storage products, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "Our new 2TB solutions now provide our customers that are looking for basic functionality with an increased storage capacity, as the most basic users are continuing to grow an expansive digital library."

Canvio Basics 3.0: Storage in a Box

Toshiba's simplest storage solution, the Canvio Basics 3.0, is now available in a 2TB capacity, which can store up to 571,000 digital photos, 526,000 digital music files or 1,640 downloaded digital movies. As with the rest of the offerings within the Canvio Basics 3.0 line, software setup is not necessary.

Consumers are able to use this solution right out of the box and begin saving their digital files by simply connecting it to their PC. The Canvio Basics 3.0 supports USB 3.0 for rapid transfer speeds, is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and is also equipped with a special internal shock sensor and ramp loading technology to keep consumers' digital files safe against accidental drops.

Canvio Special Edition Portable Hard Drive

Toshiba's Canvio Special Edition Portable Hard Drive provides users with spacious storage capacity and a complete, yet simple-to-use backup solution. The included NTI(R) Backup Now EZ[TM] software makes backing up systems fast and simple, and provides users with the option of backing up their digital files to the cloud, backing up their files and folders to their Canvio portable hard drive, backing up everything saved on their PC, or doing all three for the most comprehensive coverage.
Pricing and Availability

The 2TB Toshiba Canvio Basics 3.0 portable hard drive is available for purchase for $189.99 MSRP[4] in select retail locations and on ToshibaDirect.com.

The 2TB Toshiba Canvio Special Edition portable hard drive is available for $219.99 MSRP exclusively at Best Buy and BestBuy.com.

Filed under: Storage

Comments

Source: Toshiba, Best Buy

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/28/toshiba-unveils-2tb-canvio-basics-and-special-edition-portable-hdds/

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Internet Marketing Tools And Management: What Does It Mean To ...

INTERNET MARKETING TOOLS AND MANAGEMENT: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AFFILIATE?

One of the best ways to get started earning an income online is to sell products and services as an affiliate. ?The major advantage of doing this is that the affiliate doesn?t have to maintain customer service for the product sold. ?It is a great way to learn the mechanisms that are necessary to create income online such as: list-building, getting traffic, copywriting, content creation, keyword research, paid advertising and email marketing.

An affiliate marketer?helps a product or service seller by finding interested buyers in various stages of their desire to make a purchase. ?When those buyers make a purchase, the seller pays the affiliate a commission on the sale. ?The commission?can range from 5% to 100% depending on the merchant and what they are selling.

The seller makes specially coded links available to affiliates, who pass the links on to interested buyers that they find. ?In some cases, the seller requires the affiliate to go through an application process to sell their products and services. ?In other cases, the seller makes their affiliate program available to anyone?who wants to apply.

Successful affiliates typically focus on finding buyers interested in products within specific market niches. ?By focusing on a particular niche, the affiliate can develop expertise in attracting those buyers as well as developing a subscriber list to pass on related deals and offers. ?A subscriber list of targeted buyers is an affiliate marketer?s most valuable asset.

While an affiliate marketer doesn?t necessarily have to maintain customer service for the products and services purchased through their links, they do have to look at their buyers as customers. ?This means that they must work to keep them interested in what they have to present to them as well as to work to gain a level of trust.

Affiliates who are successful in gaining the trust of buyers can expect to have repeat buyers in future offers. ?This means that each buyer attracted by an affiliate expands their business and increases their ability to generate higher commissions as their business progresses.

Categories: contentmarketing | Permalink

Source: http://www.name.com/blog/contentmarketing/2013/01/internet-marketing-tools-and-management-what-does-it-mean-to-be-an-affiliate/

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Powerball Numbers: January 26 Drawing Yields No Jackpot Winners, 6 Tickets Win $1 Million

There is good news and bad news for those who tried their luck with January 26 Powerball lottery tickets. The bad news is that no tickets matched all five numbers and the red Powerball, but the good news is that the jackpot has increased to $151 million, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association.

The winning numbers were 3-22-26-41-49 and the red Powerball was 18.

Although no one won the huge jackpot, six tickets were sold that had five matching numbers. The Match 5 tickets, which net $1 million for their owners, were sold in Arizona, Kansas, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas.

The Powerball is played in 42 states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The next Powerball drawing will be on January 30.

• Picking a perfect NCAA bracket

  Odds: 13,460,000 to 1 (<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/top/542/2/Picking-a-perfect-NCAA-bracket-20-things-more-likely-to-happen-than-winning-the-Mega-Millions.html">Deseret News</a>)

• Birthing identical quadruplets

  Odds: 13,000,000 to 1 (<a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/03/30/mega-millions-jackpot-10-crazy-things-more-likely-than-hitting-the-winning-numbers/">Time</a>)

• Becoming an astronaut

  Odds: 12,100,000 to 1 (<a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/03/29/13-things-more-likely-than-winning-the-mega-millions-jackpot/#4114-9">Seattlepi</a>)

• Becoming president

  Odds: 10,000,000 to 1 (<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/30/15-things-more-likely-to-happen-than-winning-mega-millions.html">Daily Beast)</a>

• Dying by a hornet

  Odds: 6,100,000 to 1 (<a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/03/29/13-things-more-likely-than-winning-the-mega-millions-jackpot/#4114-9">Seattlepi</a>)

• Dying from being left-handed

  Odds: 4,400,000 to 1 (<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/30/15-things-more-likely-to-happen-than-winning-mega-millions.html">Daily Beast</a>)

• Becoming a movie star

  Odds: 1,505,000 to 1 (<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/30/15-things-more-likely-to-happen-than-winning-mega-millions.html">Daily Beast</a>)

• Drowning in a bathtub

  Odds: 840,000 to 1 (<a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/03/29/13-things-more-likely-than-winning-the-mega-millions-jackpot/#4114-9">Seattlepi</a>)

• Getting a royal flush in a first hand of poker

  Odds: 649,740 to 1 (<a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/03/29/13-things-more-likely-than-winning-the-mega-millions-jackpot/#4114-9">Seattlepi</a>)

• Dating a supermodel

  Odds: 88,000 to 1 (<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/top/542/7/Dating-a-supermodel-20-things-more-likely-to-happen-than-winning-the-Mega-Millions-lottery.html">Deseret News</a>)

• Being murdered

  Odds: 18,000 to 1 (<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/top/542/8/Being-murdered-20-things-more-likely-to-happen-than-winning-the-Mega-Millions-lottery.html">Deseret News</a>)

• Dying in an asteroid apocalypse

  Odds: 12,500 to 1 (<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/30/15-things-more-likely-to-happen-than-winning-mega-millions.html">Daily Beast</a>)

• Finding a four leaf clover

  Odds: 10,000 to 1 (<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/top/542/12/Finding-a-four-leaf-clover-20-things-more-likely-to-happen-than-winning-the-Mega-Millions-lottery.html">Deseret News</a>)

• Losing an appendage to a chainsaw

  Odds: 4,464 to 1 (<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/top/542/19/Losing-an-appendage-to-a-chainsaw-20-things-more-likely-to-happen-than-winning-the-Mega-Millions.html">Deseret News</a>)

• Writing a New York Times bestseller (if you?re an author)

  Odds: 220 to 1 (<a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/03/30/mega-millions-jackpot-10-crazy-things-more-likely-than-hitting-the-winning-numbers/">Time</a>)

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/27/powerball-numbers-january-26-winners-jackpot_n_2561932.html

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Interactive nails give you a screen at your fingertips

Paul Marks, chief technology correspondent

(Image: Kayleigh O'Connor/Solent News/Rex Features)

We already have displays at our fingertips - one day, we might have them ON our fingertips. Engineers in Taiwan are investigating ways to coat fingernails in organic light emitting materials and display useful content instead of the latest garish styles from the nail salon.

The aim is to continue the visual display that's on your smartphone or tablet's screen, even when your fingernails are obscuring it. Chao-Huai Su and colleagues at National Taiwan University in Taipei don't care that the NailDisplay technology they visualise doesn't exist yet - they are trying to work out how we will use it when it does arrive. So they created a clunky, half-centimetre-thick, 2.5-cm diagonal OLED screen and attached it to a large finger ring so they could give the idea a test drive.

(Image: Chao-Huai Su et al/National Taiwan University/Academia Sinica)

In their draft paper to be presented at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Paris in April, they imagine three use cases: first, the screen on your fingernail enlarges the are of the device's screen beneath it so that it's easier to tap small buttons or read small text. Second, they imagine it providing a display for screenless music playing devices like the iPod shuffle, showing control buttons or even video on your NailDisplay.

Finally, thanks to the incorporation of an accelerometer, the display could show content related to the gestures your fingers are making.

The possibilities are endless - but what would you do with such a device?

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/27fab026/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Conepercent0C20A130C0A10Clight0Eemitting0Efingernail0Edisp0Bhtml0Dcmpid0FRSS0QNSNS0Q20A120EGLOBAL0Qonline0Enews/story01.htm

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Harry's Afghan downtime: movies, candy trades

LONDON (AP) ? Prince Harry's off-duty time in Afghanistan appeared to be full of war movies, board games and elaborate candy trades.

The 28-year-old helicopter pilot and fellow members of his squad swapped Kit Kats and Rice Krispies Squares for American soldiers' M&Ms, according to a British media pool report released Sunday.

Harry himself outlined one of his less-prestigious duties. The third-in-line to the U.K. throne said anyone who lost at Uckers ? a military game similar to Ludo or Parcheesi ? had to then wait on his comrades like a Buckingham Palace butler, ready with a fresh cup of tea whenever anyone rang their bell.

"Whoever loses ... then you have to make brews for everybody all day," Harry told journalists ahead of his return to Britain this week.

He also denied rumors that he was far better at PlayStation than at traditional board games.

"I don't know who told you that," he told reporters. "I lost two days ago, and yesterday, so since you guys have been here I've only lost."

Harry returned to Britain on Wednesday after a 20-week deployment in Afghanistan in which he acknowledged that he had targeted Taliban fighters from the cockpit of his Apache attack helicopter.

Asked in an earlier round of interviews whether he had killed anyone, Harry said: "Yeah, so, lots of people have." That admission disturbed some Britons and led to front-page headlines like the one in The Daily Mail that read: "Harry: I Have Killed."

This latest round of interviews, focusing on Harry's daily life at Britain's Camp Bastion military base in Afghanistan, is not likely to draw the same kind of headlines.

The report mainly carried glimpses of the prince's daily routine, including his favorite foods ? chicken and broccoli ? and his favorite movies ? "Full Metal Jacket," ''Apocalypse Now," and "Platoon."

In an interesting twist for an Apache pilot, "Black Hawk Down," the Ridley Scott film about a helicopter raid gone wrong in Somalia, was among the movies spotted in Harry's communal tent.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/harrys-afghan-downtime-movies-candy-trades-090928405.html

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How To Improve Your Home Based Business With A Few Easy Ideas!

TIP! The value of sticky notes should not be under-estimated in a successful home business. Sticky notes are great for jotting something down quick and also leaving yourself reminders.

Lots of folks are interested in starting home businesses, though they simply don?t know how. If you are feeling lost about starting your own home business enterprise, you?ve come to the right place. You can use the following advice to help you to figure out how to run a home based business.

TIP! You should look for quality tutorials and classes that pertain to your business. With a home business you might not be able to spend much money right away, but you can locate business classes that assist you in getting where you need to go.

No single product will meet everyone?s needs or make everyone happy. Don?t waste your efforts on making your business something that every single person must have. Focus on those consumers who have an interest in what you can offer.

TIP! Before launching your home based business idea, sit down with someone at your local bank who can help with accounting and finances. A banking employee can help you start up the accounts you specifically need for your business, get business checks and any loans you may need.

If you drive frequently for business, log the miles. When it comes time to do your taxes, you can write this mileage off. The amount you can deduct come tax time can be very lucrative!

TIP! The design for your website should follow that of other businesses like yours that are successful, but remember the golden rule ? never plagiarize. One example would be to look over the keywords the other site uses, but don?t use the words they?re using verbatim.

If you plan to affiliate yourself with local entities, get creative. Brainstorm a list of companies which could sell your offerings as well as their own, as well as people who could utilize your product as a part of selling their services. For example, try selling your coveralls to construction companies in your area. You can offer a bulk-buy discount.

TIP! When starting a home business, be sure to pick a job that is suitable to your particular tastes. If you pick a business you?re passionate about, your enthusiasm for it will be contagious.

It?s vital that you know exactly how much you?re spending to create and offer a service or product. A good rule of thumb is to sell the product twice as much the cost is. Some may even multiple that amount by three when selling it.

Smart Marketing

TIP! Always work to keep existing customers satisfied. It is much more difficult to seek out new customers than it is to generate return business with happy current ones.

Knowing your audience is crucial to effective communication with them. This is especially important considering you have less capital than a large corporation advertising to its customers. Smart marketing makes a big difference and smart marketing requires an understanding of your audience. Knowing who your audience is can help you focus your spending more effectively.

TIP! You should have a dedicated office space when working from home. It?s not something that has to be extravagant, but it should be inviting.

Do you want to have a partner in your business? You may really reap some benefits by having additional knowledge or capital funds. But you may regret the decision if you do not work well together.

TIP! Set up a regular schedule for your home business that you can stick to. If you don?t then you may find yourself working too much and that can have a bad effect on your life.

Choosing your business name is important and should not be made from a marketing point of view. You will have to live with this name for a long time. Be sure that whatever name you choose, it is something you?re able to feel pride in.

TIP! Your choice in domain names will impact how much business you receive online. The name should be meaningful.

Make sure any customers who visit your website know where to buy your products. Announce the stores or websites that carry your products. This builds trust and respect for your business in the eyes of your customers.

TIP! Choose a home business that you know something about. Many people make the mistake of trying to learn about their home business as they go.

Knowing how to properly promote your business is just a matter of research. Setting up a professional looking website is a good first step, and doesn?t cost that much. It just takes a day to put up your own website. Some domains can be registered for free, but the majority will take a nominal fee. If you are earning a lot of money, the fee can be an excellent investment.

TIP! You should not try to mix housework with your home business activities. Try not to iron your shirts when conversing with clients.

Being fat and lazy will kill you, we all know that, and sitting in a chair all day staring at a computer screen will make you fat. You have to move around while working, even while sitting in your chair. Do a few squats or do a few arms curls while you are working. Go for walks or runs every day before or after work hours. Staying in shape will reduce your likelihood of significant health problems and increase your likelihood of a long career.

Business Partner

TIP! A profitable idea is to align your business with an affiliate program. It often creates a secondary income stream and increases your revenues.

Choose a partner you trust, if you plan on having one. Having your spouse as a business partner doesn?t always work out as well as you?d think. Selecting a good business partner can be tough be rewarding.

TIP! A home business is going to mean long hours spent on the job, but you must find time to leave the suit and tie behind. Make sure to set aside time to spend with friends and family in order to stay relaxed.

Make a work schedule for yourself, so that you will be less likely to slack during the day. While your work takes place at home, you sill need to act professionally.

TIP! Start a mailing list. Maintain healthy communications, but avoid becoming ?spammy? and losing the customer.

What are you interested in? You don?t want to run a business you?re not happy with, or you will need to work even harder to make it a success. Select a business that holds a lot of appeal since that will increase your chances of being successful.

TIP! When tax time rolls around, be mindful that business trips can be deducted. Your travel costs will be 100 percent deductible.

Websites are key to operating your own home based business. If not, this is a grave oversight in today?s digital world! Your content should be well organized and have a relevant domain name.

TIP! You need to reduce distractions when you work at home. Make a comprehensive list of all the possible distractions first and then be creative about ways to deal with them.

The advice shared here should be in the back of your mind while you think of ways to run your own business. This information only helps those who are willing to apply it to their struggles. So use this information and you may find success just around the corner.

Share and Enjoy

Source: http://www.wahonline.com/how-to-improve-your-home-based-business-with-a-few-easy-ideas/

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Album Review: Al Lewis ? &#39;Battles&#39; | Music | Arts & Entertainment ...

Al Lewis -- 'Battles' (ALM)

A curiously angstless but worthy album from this Welsh singer-songwriter sees him pondering time, age, and love in winsome, often ethereal tones.?Battles?is melodic with a chamber music feel and an affinity with the likes of James Taylor. It searches for meaning: ?I don?t believe in magic, so how do I see you?? and ?Are we simply treading water whilst looking out for something better?? typify the lyrics. A Wales-is-home, home-is-where-the-heart-is reception on last autumn?s festival scene heralded this more-than-pop folk artist?s arrival. Lewis tours in Scottish and northern venues this spring, with just a couple of dates in London and the West Country.

The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 21 languages.?Subscribe to our e-newsletter.

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Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/arts-entertainment/album-review-al-lewis-battles-340547.html

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Google's Transparency Report Serves as Subtle Call to Action

Governments around the world peppered Google with 21,389 information requests on about 33,634 users from July through December 2012. That represents a 2 percent year-over-year increase, according to Google's latest Transparency Report, released this week. The U.S. led the barrage, with 8,476 requests for information -- a 6 percent year-over-year increase.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/27e7153e/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C771530Bhtml/story01.htm

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merciful gaile: zindabasa: Education & Reference 2020: The K-12 ...

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Source: http://merciful-gaile.blogspot.com/2013/01/zindabasa-education-reference-2020-k-12.html

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Satmar Spends Election Day with the Rebbe in - Yeshiva World News

Satmar Spends Election Day with the Rebbe in N. Israel

(Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013)

The thousands of Satmar Chassidim accompanying the Rebbe Shlita during his visit in Eretz Yisrael are in the north today, Tuesday 11 Shevat 5773, Election Day, visiting kivrei tzaddikim. According to chareidi media reports, this was done intentionally to pull many chassidim out of Yerushalayim on Election Day to prevent confrontations with Gimmel activists, with the latter calling on the Bnei Torah tzibur to vote. Satmar remains ideologically opposed to taking part in the ?Zionist elections? as pashkavilim in Meah Shearim confirm.

The chassidim in the north will begin in Tzfas, visiting the mikve and the tziyun of the Ari HaKodosh followed by the rebbe visiting a number of mosdos that do not accept state funding. They will also travel to Tiveria; and visits will include the tziyun of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Meir Bal Haness. They will also be visiting Amuka and Kever Rashbi. The rebbe will hold a tisch at the Rashbi and children will receive a chalaka (upsherin).

YWN PHOTO LINKS:?Click?HERE?for photos of the Kabolas Ponim (Photos by Shuki Lehrer / JDN). Click?HERE?for photos by Kuvien Images. Click?HERE?for photos taken following the Kabolas POnim (Photos by Moe Fried)

Have you checked out?YWN Radio?yet? Click?HERE?to listen!

(YWN ? Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

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Source: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/?p=153658

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Betfair begins shift to iPoker Network - Online Gambling News

Kirby Garlitos
January 22, 2013
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Two weeks after Betfair Poker migrated away from the Ongame Network, the wheels have officially been set in motion for the poker arm of the world?s largest online betting exchange to shift its network provider to the iPoker Network. The online poker outfit recently made a successful debut on the iPoker Network, signaling the start of a shift in operations that will include a transitional period of six months wherein both networks will be available for existing players. The transitional period means that the poker arm of Betfair will operate on both the iPoker Network and the Ongame Network for the next six months with a gradual phasing out of operations on the latter, at which time, Betfair will solely operate on the iPoker Network in the summer.

For now, existing players will still be able to play on their old accounts for the next six months whereas new players will only be able to join Betfair Poker?s iPoker platform. As soon as the transition phase is completed, Betfair Poker, or as it?s calling itself now, ?New Betfair Poker? can now lay claim to belonging on iPoker?s Top Tier player pool, joining the likes of bet365 Poker, Paddy Power Poker, Titan Poker, William Hill, Winner, and Everest Poker in the fold.

Evolution Gaming hits milestone

Evolution Gaming has notched another feather in its cap with the launch of its 100th live casino at its Riga table studio complex in Latvia, effectively making it the largest single-site casino operation in Europe. No small achievement, whichever way you slice it. The rapid growth of Evolution?s live casino table comes in a year of what it describes as an ?unprecedented interest in live casino? stemming from a increased demand from operators to being dedicated live casino tables in their establishments. In particular, the company?s Latvia-based staff has experienced rapid growth, inching closer and closer to hitting 1,000 heads with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. ?We fully expect table and staff numbers to rise further as more and more operators choose to run their own dedicated tables out of our state-of-the-art studios,? said Evolution COO Svante Lilijevall.

While their 100th live casino table in Latvia is enough reason for the company to do high fives and chest bumps, Evolution is also taking the necessary steps to ensure that the continuous growth doesn?t experience any hiccups along the way. According to Lilijevall, the company is also expanding its training academy to provide regular training and assessments for both new and existing staff, ensuring that they have the best collection of live dealers working on their tables. After all, it takes more than just presentation for live dealers to work; these fine folks need to know what they?re doing too.

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Source: http://calvinayre.com/2013/01/22/business/betfair-begins-shift-to-ipoker-network-evolution-gaming-hits-milestone/

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