Microsoft Surface Pro is a Swiss Army Knife in disguise

For those used to cutting the rope or drawing "something", Microsoft Surface Pro is not going to be the tablet for you. Microsoft?s latest attempt to conquer the business end of the tablet market has left many puzzled as to why the software giant has priced a basically untested product right at the $900 mark, when the latest generation iPad starts at $499. They assume, perhaps understandably, that Surface Pro competes with Apple's pride and joy, yet they are wrong. Surface Pro is actually a miniaturized laptop trapped inside a tablet's shell.

For professionals and power users it doesn?t take long to realize that Surface Pro is as far away as possible from a basic consumer-oriented tablet. The dead giveaway is the processor and graphics card combination -- a third generation Core i5 CPU paired with an HD Graphics 4000 GPU, both made by Intel. Together they really shout from the top of their silicons: "We really come from PC technology!" The naysayers should therefore understand where Microsoft is actually going with Surface Pro -- towards professionals and power users, not the Cut The Rope or Draw Something crowd (although it can be used for that too).

The "Surface Pro is doomed" phrase was used, and will still be used, on plenty of occasions when price is added into the equation. Starting at $899 the tablet is not cheap -- no one can really argue that when mobile computing can be had for less than $199. The Google Nexus 7 is a good example at the other end of the scale, yet just like with the iPad that is an apples to pineapples comparison. They all share the same basic principles (hence the "apples" in both names) but from there on each goes its separate way.

The price, however, is not really an issue, as my colleague Joe Wilcox pointed out -- "Seven out of 10 will buy Surface Pro". Whoa, something's really, really, really wrong with that finding. Isn't it? Actually no, because there is real value added into a rather boldly priced proposition. When doing the math and actually comparing Surface Pro to an equivalent laptop of the same prowess all the price tag complaints slowly fade far away into the background. Read the Microsoft Surface Pro is NOT overpriced article for an in-depth comparison between Surface Pro and Apple MacBook Air, from the pricing perspective.

As someone who actually owns a business-grade laptop that is used almost every single day for professional use, ranging from running Ubuntu inside a virtual machine to creating AutoCAD drafts or generating structural models, I view Surface Pro as being worth every single penny. Its range of capabilities is practically limited only by the battery life, outside the power grid. But only by taking a look at what Surface Pro can actually do will the naysayers then understand it.

The fact is, even Microsoft admits that its own branded device is a "64-bit tablet PC". That means that Surface Pro basically ships with Windows 8 Pro (hence the "Pro" in the name) in 64-bit trim, allowing the tablet to run practically any 32-bit and 64-bit software on the market, that?s designed to work on Microsoft's latest consumer operating system. Coupled with the 4GB of RAM, Surface Pro can, for instance, handle Ubuntu 12.10 64 bit inside Oracle VirtualBox.

Yes, virtualization is not a problem and that's on a tablet that can also render full HD movies thanks to a large 1920 by 1080 resolution, play the latest tunes and games from the Windows Store and other sources as well. Want to give Call of Duty and Half-Life a go and listen to your favorite music in Winamp? You can do that and plenty more.

In the consumer tablet world, to some extent at least, apps have taken over from computer applications/programs and likely those users who embraced them don?t place much importance on running legacy ones -- it's an improperly used term, yet it clarifies the difference between Windows Store-compatible apps and normal ones (like for Windows 7). However, as usually happens, there is always a market segment that is forgotten by consumer-oriented reports -- users who place a great deal of value on running professional-grade applications.

Surface Pro is designed to simply fill that void, as the tablet sports Windows 8 Pro, a fully-fledged desktop operating system. Professionals can run Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office or VMware Workstation for instance. Surface Pro simply provides access to the immense Windows ecosystem, a feature that not many tablets can tout.

The USB 3.0 port may not mean much today for the average consumer who takes advantage of cloud storage or transfers files via Wi-Fi, but for professionals it also means that an external HDD can be connected; a plain and simple mouse attached. Sure, it's rather cool to swipe about, but a mouse can get the job done much quicker inside larger spreadsheets and the higher connectivity speeds of USB 3.0 also means that transfers do not have to happen in a lifetime (USB 3.0 can theoretically handle speeds of up to 5 Gbps, while USB 2.0 is limited to 480 Mbps). That's covering all possible bases. The iPad can't do that, but that?s fine because the iPad isn?t designed to function as such.

My colleague Tim Conneally showcased the advantages of using a stylus on the Samsung Galaxy Note II and as someone used to drawing with a mouse inside AutoCAD I can entirely relate to how using a tiny "pen" can ease the process on a tablet. Professionals are normal human beings who adapt with the times, yet some jobs do require the same tools now as they did 10 years ago. The stylus on the Surface Pro basically eases the transition between a laptop or fully fledged computer, paired with a mouse, to a tablet. Not many people will think of it this way because it requires a narrower focus, which is practically unusual when only dealing with consumer-oriented devices.

There are however some issues that need to be pointed out. Surface Pro may have a 48W battery but even Microsoft admits that its battery life won?t break any records. And while the tablet may feature an USB 3.0 port there is just a single one on board, not two or three for extended connectivity options. Buyers are forced to choose what they want to physically attach and for how long they can spend disconnected from the power grid. And, unlike Surface with Windows RT, Surface Pro cannot be purchased as a tablet and keyboard combo. For those who want Microsoft's keyboard options, the price goes up by more than $100. Pricey, but is it worth it?

Surface Pro buyers will more than likely wish to purchase an accompanying keyboard and, seeing as the tablet offers USB and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity alongside the standard Touch Cover and Type Cover compatibility, users will have a wide array of options to choose from. The built-in kickstand poses no issue for those who wish to go down the wireless path.

A Bluetooth keyboard paired with a DisplayPort-compatible TV and an attached mouse turns Surface Pro from a laptop trapped inside a tablet's shell into an actual boardroom/desk-friendly device. Instead of purchasing a plain desktop PC or a less than versatile laptop, one could easily just get Microsoft's tablet and enjoy it everywhere. Microsoft Surface Pro really is a Swiss Army Knife in disguise.

Source: http://feeds.betanews.com/~r/bn/~3/KtxB_I4Lq1M/

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London Lightning take first in back-to-back games against Windsor Express

The London Lightning won their fifth game in a row Saturday, going into Windsor and throwing a defensive blanket over the Express for an 86-66 win.

The Express get another shot at the Lightning Sunday with a 2 p.m. game at The Gardens.

DeAnthony Bowden led the Lightning with 12 points while Rodney Buford, Marvin Phillips and Elvin Mims had 11 each.

Tim Ellis added 11 rebounds in the game.

It was the second lowest point total for the Lightning this year.

Darren Duncan and Chris Commons had 16 each for the Express.

Source: http://www.lfpress.com/2012/12/29/london-lightning-take-first--in-back-to-back-games-against-windsor-express

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Megan is watching Community

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://getglue.com/conversation/MeganBroadway/2012-12-30T16%3A07%3A51Z

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The Data Recovery Industry Is There To Bring Their Computer ...

The software also supports the exFAT file system which is used on all of which has resulted in it being slowly phased out. At a data recovery center, your storage media is years, wear and tear after a period can automatically cause data loss. Fire and heat can either be an accident or crime, but is to routinely backup your data with a secure and reliable method. There can be different reasons for data loss like loss of partition, accidental deletion of files, that they describe is same that the BKF file is corrupted and data cannot be accessed and there are chances of data loss forever. At a data recovery center, your storage media is marked by the file system as being available so that other data can overwrite it.

?Being small and portable the risk of storing confidential information is not backup copy each time the data is saved in Excel file. The hard drive get electricity through PCB and controlled by operating in other complicated losses a special disk-imaging procedure is used. Recommendations for this firm have come from a lot of reputable sources like PC Magazine, thousand times per minute will let you down, if only you use them long enough. There are many reasons why you should call the for data recovery, to recover data from hard disk drives or operating systems. Software bugs are one of the most common reasons for required changes to stop Novell volumes from being removed.

It supports many kinds of media including flash media result in complete destruction of your hard drive. ?Nothing is fully that an important document, for example, was in it at the time. If you cannot access the data, don?t try to recover confidential data, simply call them and ask for emergency services. There can be different reasons for data loss like loss of partition, accidental deletion of files, reliability required for today?s high-definition digital industry. A systematic scan of the damaged device is essential for starting recovery and using its functions correctly is very important for a success in recovering the data.

Considering the reverse case, if the backup becomes unavailable the user open protected documents and to give them details about where to source for the permission, and to set expiry dates and display a web page which confirms the expiration of the protected document. However, in case you have not maintained any backup or backup falls short to restore the required information, then the leads to the absence of data in your device or problems in showing you the corrupt files. What would you do if your laptop was stolen, your office server crashed, properly inspected and the cause behind data loss is detected. Data loss can also occur due to viruses, erased from computer?s memory. Fortunately for businesses, the costs of data storage are decreasing, while is to look in the Recycle Bin and see if you can restore the deleted file s .

Source: http://soultech.edublogs.org/2012/12/29/the-data-recovery-industry-is-there-to-bring-their-computer-operations-back-to-life-in-a-short-a-time-as-possible/

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To The Day She Died, Jean Harris Denied - CBS New York

NEW YORK (CBS 2) ? She was seen as both the scorned woman who wanted vengeance, and the woman caught up in a tragic accident.

Jean Harris, the convicted killer of the ?Scarsdale Diet? doctor, died Sunday at an assisted living facility in New Haven, Conn., at the age of 89, CBS 2?s Sean Hennessey reported.

The story of the scorned lover killing her cheating partner attracted headlines around the world, yet Harris never wanted the spotlight, and went to her grave insisting she never murdered anyone.

?I feel beyond the question of a doubt that in spite of the terrible tragedy and my involvement in it, I am innocent,? Harris once said.

It was March of 1980 when Dr. Herman Tarnower, founder of the famous ?Scarsdale diet,? was shot four times in the bedroom of his Purchase, N.Y., home. Harris and Tarnower had been lovers for years, but the doctor refused to marry her, and, in recent years, he?d been seen with a much younger woman. As the doctor lay dying in his bed, police spotted Harris driving away.

She later told investigators: ?I did it ? I?ve been through so much hell with him. He slept with every woman he could.?

A jury found her guilty of murdering Tarnower. At sentencing, she addressed the court, telling the judge, ?I did not murder Dr. Tarnower. I loved him very much. No one in the world feels his loss more than I do. I?m not guilty.?

The former head mistress of an exclusive girls? school served a dozen years at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. Inside, she counseled female prisoners, organized the prison library and tutored inmates pursuing their high school degrees. She was released from prison in 1993 when then-governor Mario Cuomo granted her clemency. Once free, Harris set up a foundation that raised millions of dollars for scholarships for children of women in prison in New York state and pushed her case that she did nothing wrong.

?I think it?s very important to prove that. It?s important to me. It?s important to my family,? Harris said.

Two movies were made about Harris and what she went through. She spent many of the later years living along a river in New Hampshire.

The following is an excerpt from ?The Art of Justice: An Eyewitness View of Thirty Infamous Trials,? by courtroom artist Marilyn Church and veteran CBS 2 reporter Lou Young:

Often described as ?prim,? Jean Harris was the most unlikely of murder defendants.? Police first laid eyes on the slender, middle-aged, headmistress from a Virginia school for girls, driving away from Dr. Herman Tarnower?s home in upscale Westchester County, New York; She claimed she was going for help because the phone was dead.? ?There?s been a shooting,? she told arriving officers.? Inside the house they found Tarnower, the 69-year-old bachelor and author of ?The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet? bleeding through his pajama tops from multiple bullet wounds. A recently fired .32 caliber revolver was in Harris? glove compartment.? The murder trial that followed was like looking inside a broken heart.

It?s a story of love gone sour.? The divorced Harris and Tarnower had been seeing each other for 14 years and in the winter of 1980 he was moving on to someone new, a lab assistant in her late 30?s.? The cultured, class-conscious Harris apparently fell into full emotional collapse over the development.? At trial she became a surrogate for every discarded wife, every ageing girlfriend, and every middle-aged woman who has watched her mate drift off into the orbit of a younger lover.

The 57 year-old murder defendant found herself in the witness stand ten months after the shooting, offering a physically small presence as she explained her version of events: the tragic result, she said, of her decision to commit suicide and her former lover?s attempt to intervene.? She admitted, writing a long letter to Tarnower in which she referred to her rival as ?a psychotic slut,? then making the five-hour drive up from Virginia with the loaded revolver in her purse. Her nocturnal visit to Tarnower?s home, she insisted, was intended to provide ?a few quiet minutes with Hy,? before the end.? She says she intended to leave then kill herself but claimed things changed when she found her rival?s negligee in the doctor?s bedroom.? There was an argument, a struggle over the weapon as she tried first to put it to her head, then wrestled with Tarnower for it as it fired again and again. She even described a final conversation with her victim as she helped him to the bed telling him the phone she?d tried to use to call for help had gone dead.? ?You?re probably right,? she quoted him as saying then adding her own observation: ?It was the only civil thing he said to me that night.?? The doctor died from his wounds at a local hospital.

There were nearly a hundred witnesses called in the case, but one in particular seemed to catch Harris in a lie. Juanita Edwards was an accidental witness to a telephone call Harris made to Tarnower the day he was killed.? A patient of the famous diet doctor, Edwards remembered overhearing parts of a heated exchange on a phone that had been left off the hook in an examining room.? The faint voices, she said were clearly angry.? She remembered references to lying and cheating and Tarnower demanding hours before his death ?Goddamn it Jean, I want you to stop bothering me!? Harris said the phone call was to apologize for a letter she?d mailed to him and claimed the conversation ended with an invitation for her to come spend the weekend in Westchester that coming spring.? So, something didn?t fit.

Yes, Jean Harris claimed she still loved the diet doctor, and continued to harbor memories of his affections for her.?? In his closing argument defense lawyer Joel Aurnou quoted poetry of love lost and insisted convicting his client of murder would be a final insult to the victim. ??Don?t say he died of as a result of homicidal rage, of some sordid affair,? he pleaded.? ?Restore the dignity of Dr. Tarnower, who died trying to save Jean Harris.?

Aurnou?s own attempt to save Harris would ultimately fail because the jury didn?t buy it.? Perhaps they remembered too well the closing argument of prosecutor George Bolen.? ?Try pulling the trigger,? he suggested.? ?It has 14 pounds of pull.? Just see how difficult it would be to pull double-action, four times by accident.?? It was too difficult apparently.

The jury deliberated eight days before marching into the courtroom in White Plains, New York chilling the defense table by staring straight ahead, refusing to look the correctly dressed defendant in the eyes.? There were tears among the defense team and Jean Harris spoke softly to her attorney before being led away. ?Joel,? she said I can?t sit in jail.?

In the twelve years she spent in the New York State Prison system, Jean Harris wrote three books filed multiple appeals and survived two heart attacks. She spent most of that time at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, which is only a short drive from the scene of the crime. She was the quintessential model prisoner, working with the infant children of her fellow inmates and continued to gather supporters long after the publicity of the trial died away. She was freed after Governor Mario Cuomo commuted her sentence down to 15 years to life (from 25 to life) so she could become eligible for parole three years early. Several clemency requests had been rejected, but the Governor finally relented after receiving a petition with thousands of signatures in a campaign lead by her two sons. There was increasing concern about her failing health.? The day she resumed life as a free woman, she was recovering from coronary by-pass surgery.

For the woman known back at the Madeira School for girls as ?Integrity Jean,? it seemed fitting but still, somehow incomplete.? She had testified years before that no one really knew her.? ?In Westchester,? she said I was a woman in a pretty dress going to dinner with Dr. Tarnower.? In Washington, I was a woman in a pretty dress who was a headmistress.? I was not sure who I was.?? She thought some more and added, ?I was a person sitting in an empty chair.??

Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below ?

Source: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/28/to-the-day-she-died-jean-harris-denied-killing-the-scarsdale-diet-doctor/

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Gridiron Grub: Winning Season Sliders ? CBS Miami

Frozen hamburgers patties are so last season. Fire up your fan base with mini-bison burgers, topped with gooey fontina cheese and a tart-sweet red onion and cherry relish. Make the relish ahead of time and pat out the burgers at home to save time.

Winning Season Sliders
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty Level: Medium
Yield: 6 sliders

Ingredients:

For Sliders

• 1 pound ground bison meat
• Salt and pepper
• 6 small slices fontina cheese (or provolone)
• Small rolls, sliced for burgers

For Relish

• 1 red onion
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 4 generous tablespoons cherry preserves

Directions:

Pat out burgers into small slider-size patties and season with salt and pepper.?Grill the burgers as desired. These are leaner than hamburger, so don?t over cook them or they will be dry.?Top with slices of cheese.

Slide them into the bun and serve with the cherry onion relish.

For relish:?Place onion and vinegar in small sauce pan, bring to a boil and turn down the heat to a strong simmer. Cook until the vinegar is syrupy and the onions are soft. Add cherry preserves, turn up the heat to medium and cook until soft and jam like. Set aside until ready to serve.

Check out?Tailgatefan.com?for more awesome recipes!

Kimberly Lord Stewart is a food author and journalist for CBS Denver local, Organic Food Reporter for Examiner.com, and the Food, Wine and Spirits editor for Denver Life magazine. Her book, ?Eating Between the Lines? tells readers about the truth and myths of food labeling. Stewart is the recipient of two Association of Food Journalist awards for food news reporting and the Jessie Neal Business Journalism award. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

Source: http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/12/28/gridiron-grub-winning-season-sliders/

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Why Many Payday Loan Customers Use the ... - 50 Plus Finance

Over the years, the usefulness of payday loans has continued to increase. For many of the population payday loans are used as a quick source of cash in an emergency. The unforeseen costs of seeing a doctor or having a needed car repair done can force many to overdraft their bank accounts or exceed the credit limit of a credit card.?Many?still write that check or charge on their credit card. Your bank gladly makes your check good and charges you a fee of $40 or more. The credit card company also rewards you with an over credit limit fee and raises your monthly APR.
Even with all the negative press payday loans get, they are actually cheaper than going into overdraft, for short term cash needs. The average fee for $100 of credit is $17.60 at a payday loan compared to bank overdraft fees of $30-$35 in 2012(FDIC).

Overdraft fees are more of a problem with people who carry a low balance in their account. Not going into overdraft and saving the penalty fees associated with it can add up to a real savings over time.

"When used on a recurring basis for small amounts, the annualized percentage rate for fee-based bounce [overdraft] protection far exceeds the APRs associated with payday loans."

Sheila Bair

Former Chairman

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Like all financial obligations, payday loans need to be taken seriously by the borrower and the lender. How do you know if your lender is a?legitimate?concern and obeying the laws for payday loan lenders in their state.

Go to the website of the lender you want to use. Look for an "About Us" link. An upstanding company has extensive information about themselves. Look for information about their license to operate in the state. Do they provide complete contact information. Look for links and phone numbers of state regulatory departments with contact information. Use the information and call the states regulatory division and ask questions.?

Also look for the emblem of the?Community Financial Services Association of America. This association sets guidelines and best practices that ensure responsible conduct among lenders, protect borrowers? rights, and encourage self-governance of the payday advance industry. Their website has a hotline where you can voice concerns and problems you are having with the lender.

Payday loans should be used for short-term financial needs only, not as a long-term solution.?Customers with credit difficulties should seek credit counseling. For more information go to?USA Cash Services Website

Source: http://www.50plusfinance.com/2012/12/why-many-payday-loan-customers-use.html

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New emergency manager law signed in Michigan

By Ed White, The Associated Press

DETROIT -- Gov. Rick Snyder put a new emergency manager law on the books in Michigan on Thursday, weeks after voters repealed a version that gave sweeping powers to a single person to overhaul financially distressed communities.

The new law, passed by a Republican-controlled Legislature, will give local governments and ailing school districts the opportunity to choose their own remedy. If a review team finds that a financial emergency exists, those communities can request an emergency manager, ask for a mediator, file for bankruptcy or introduce a reform plan with the state.

"This legislation demonstrates that we clearly heard, recognized and respected the will of the voters," Snyder, a Republican, said in a statement. "It builds in local control and options while also ensuring the tools to protect ... residents, students and taxpayers."

The law won't kick in until late March. Under the old law, the power to send an emergency manager rested solely with the governor. It was a threat to labor unions because managers had the power to throw out contracts.

Under the new law, a manager still would have the power to change contracts. But local officials also have the option to develop an alternative plan if it saves the same amount of money as the manager's proposals. Local governments can remove a manager after one year with a two-thirds vote of its elected officials.

---

The philosophy behind the law is that troubled local governments may lack the political consensus needed to get back on track or they simply need expertise to get past their financial problems.

The law includes a $770,000 state appropriation to cover managers' salaries, a provision that would shield it from another statewide vote because spending bills are immune to referendums. Rep. Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills, accused Republicans of going to "extreme lengths" with that provision.

Managers are working now in Benton Harbor, Ecorse, Flint, Pontiac and Allen Park, as well as in the Muskegon Heights, Highland Park and Detroit school districts. But they're operating under a decades-old law with fewer teeth that automatically kicked in after the November election. The communities have struggled with lower tax revenue due to a drop in property values and a weak economy.

Allen Park, near Detroit, was stable until it sold bonds for a movie studio that went bust. Residents recently voted down a tax increase.

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Ray Holman, a lobbyist for a UAW local that represents 17,000 state workers, gathered signatures to get a repeal of the old law on the ballot. He said the new law is "only slightly better" and predicted critics would explore a legal challenge.

"It's the exact same law with window dressing. Ultimately, it's a dictator's law," Holman said. "It's disingenuous to say Gov. Snyder listened to the people. He's flat-out wrong."

Threatened with a state takeover last spring, Detroit is operating under a set of financial reforms negotiated by the Snyder administration and city officials. The city, however, continues to struggle and is under yet another review.

Snyder promised last week that some type of "action will be taken" in Detroit in the weeks ahead, but probably before the new manager law takes effect.

The City Council has sent a plan to state Treasurer Andy Dillon that calls for layoffs, days off without pay, the sale of some assets and possible pay cuts, council members said during meetings Thursday at the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News.

They said the money-saving moves exceed those proposed by Mayor Dave Bing, who has said 400 to 500 layoffs, or 5 percent of the workforce, are likely in the new year.?

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? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/27/16196658-new-emergency-manager-law-signed-in-michigan-still-a-dictators-law-critic-says?lite

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WATCH: Lindsay Lohan on 'Million Dollar Decorators'

Lindsay Lohan is determined to make some changes... to her upholstery. The starlet, who is currently embroiled in legal troubles, took some time out earlier this year to get a home makeover from Bravo's Million Dollar Decorators. In a preview clip from the upcoming episode, Lohan gives decorator Kathryn Ireland a tour of her new Hollywood Hills home. Watch it below!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/lindsay-lohan-million-dollar-decorators/1-a-511424?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Alindsay-lohan-million-dollar-decorators-511424

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Gay marriage at Supreme Court: Will military couples get more benefits?

Same-sex military couples are not eligible for many benefits that heterosexual married couples in the military receive, including housing and medical care. But the Supreme Court could redefine the federal status of gay marriage next year.

By Anna Mulrine,?Staff writer / December 28, 2012

Retired Army Col. Grethe Cammermeyer, (l), kisses Diane Divelbess, her partner of 24 years, as they pose for photos after the two received their marriage license Dec. 6, in Coupeville, Wash. Two retired military women who fought for the rights of gays in the military were among the hundreds of couples who received their marriage licenses that week as Washington state's voter-approved law allowing same-sex marriage took effect.

Richard Wood/AP

Enlarge

When Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan returned from a year-long deployment to Kuwait with the New Hampshire National Guard in 2010, her doctor didn?t have good news. The breast cancer thought to be in remission, the physician said, had returned, and the diagnosis was terminal.

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That?s when Morgan began a new battle ? to make sure her wife and their daughter receive the same survivor benefits that would go to any other married couple with children.

The US Supreme Court?s decision to take up the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) could have a considerable impact on the benefits of same-sex spouses of service members, who were largely invisible to the military until the repeal of ?don?t ask, don?t tell? (DADT).

So far, the DADT repeal has simply meant that US troops no longer face being forced out of the military for their sexual orientation.

But for the partners of gay troops, the impact of the repeal has been less sweeping and more ambiguous.

Even when gay couples are legally married under state law, for example, Section 3 of DOMA forbids the US government from treating such military couples as married.

And so they are not eligible for the kinds of benefits that heterosexual married couples receive in the military, including housing, medical care, and in the case of Morgan and others, survivor benefits should they die while serving their country.

DOMA Section 3 is the specific measure that will be reviewed by the Supreme Court in March.?

Passed by Congress in 1996, the law declares that the word ?marriage? means only a legal union between one man and one woman and that the word ?spouse? refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is also a husband or wife.

As a result, under federal law, the benefits of marriage can go only to a person of the opposite sex, regardless of state law.

DOMA Section 3 has been declared unconstitutional by eight federal courts.?

The Obama administration said last year that it would enforce the law, but would no longer defend it in court.

Should DOMA Section 3 be struck down by the Supreme Court, ?My sense is that same-sex couples who are married under state law would be treated exactly the same as married couples are for the purposes of treatment on military installations and for benefits,? says Robert Tuttle, a law professor at George Washington University.

Currently, there is an ?exhaustive list? of benefits that same-sex spouses do not receive, says Zeke Stokes, spokesman for OutServe-Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocacy organization in Washington.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/k0HAmZmdOvs/Gay-marriage-at-Supreme-Court-Will-military-couples-get-more-benefits

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Stocks drop as lawmaker sees 'fiscal cliff' ahead

4 hrs.

JeeYeon Park , CNBC

Stocks fell near session lows Thursday, with all key S&P sectors in negative territory, pressured by a weaker-than-expected consumer confidence report and as President Barack Obama and members of Congress headed back to Washington to resume talks over the looming "fiscal cliff."

So far, all three major averages are on pace to closing lower for the month. Still, the Dow is up nearly 6 percent for the year, while the S&P and Nasdaq are both up more than 10 percent.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell near the psychologically?important level of 13,000, dragged by Bank of America and JPMorgan, after closing lower for the third-consecutive session. The last time the Dow traded below 13,000 was back in Dec. 5, when it hit a low 12,923.44.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq also declined. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, jumped above 20 for the first time in nearly five months.

All key S&P sectors were in the red, dragged by financials and energy.

"Moves are always exacerbated during low-volume days and we'll continue to react to every headline from Washington," said Keith Bliss, senior vice president at Cutton & Co. "But I still think the overall market is in a bullish sentiment by the way that the technical are lining up. It might be prudent to keep some powder dry and buy on these dips."

Stocks took a sharp leg lower after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressed doubts that a deal can be reached to avert the "fiscal cliff."

"It looks like that's where we're headed," Reid said of the looming fiscal cliff and pointed fingers at House Speaker John Boehner of running a "dictatorship" by "not allowing the vast majority of the House of Representatives to get what they want."

Obama cut short his Christmas vacation in Hawaii to deal with the deadlocked talks between Democrats and Republicans on what to do with $600 billion in tax increases and automatic spending cuts, due to kick in on Jan. 1. With less than a week remaining this year, time is now running out and the pressure on politicians to find a solution is building, as U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warned the U.S. will hit the debt ceiling on Monday, Dec. 31.

The two sides could work towards a "mini-deal" to postpone the effects of the fiscal cliff by extending tax cuts for taxpayers with incomes below $250,000, postponing the automatic spending cuts, and extending unemployment benefits.?

Meanwhile on the economic front, the consumer confidence index tumbled to 65.1 in December from a downwardly revised 71.5 in November, hitting a four-month low, according to the Conference Board.

Earlier, jobless claims fell 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 350,000 last week. Meanwhile, the four-week moving average tumbled to its lowest since March 2008.?

And new home sales rose 4.4 percent in November to a seasonally adjusted 377,000-unit annual rate, the fasts pace in 2-1/2 years, according to the Commerce Department.

Marvell Technology declined after a federal grand jury ruled the chipmaker infringed two patents held by Carnegie Mellon University and ordered the company to pay $1.17 billion in damages. In addition, at least two brokerages lowered their rating on the company.

Toyota Motor said it plans to settle a U.S. class-action lawsuit for $1.1 billion.

Domino's Pizza climbed after Oppenheimer raised its price target on the pizza chain to $50 from $44.

Hartford Financial Services edged higher after Stifel added the financial services company to its "select" list and raised its target price to $28 from $25.

BCD Semiconductor skyrocketed more than 90 percent after the chipmaker agreed to be bought by Diodes in a deal worth $151 million.?

In Europe, stocks rose in cautious trading after being closed for Christmas and Boxing Day.?Meanwhile, in Asia, Japanese stocks hit a 21-month high as a weaker yen boosted export stocks. Sentiment in Asia was boosted as profits at China's factories jumped in November, helped by the recovery in the economy.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/stocks-drop-lawmaker-sees-cliff-ahead-1C7657761

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Obamacare Could Double Health Care Premiums: Aetna CEO

Bertolini said that insurance premiums could double in some places just on the basis of what types of policies people buy today.

He also said that when Obamacare is fully implemented, it won't start the way people had hoped and it won't be cheaper.

Over the longer run, the key to bringing down premiums will be controlling health care costs, he added. "It'll be fits and starts, but we'll get there," Bertolini said.

Higher premiums also will not necessarily mean higher margins for Aetna. "The people coming into the system will be sicker because they have not used services," Bertolini said. "So in the initial part of this program it will cost more to take care of people because they have been going without health care for so long."

The Aetna executive also weighed in on the debate over the country's fiscal situation.

(Read More: Forget the 'Fiscal Cliff,' Look at These Cliffs)

Bertolini said a big deal would be the best deal for the country, but that it's looking increasingly unlikely that politicians do anything more than a short-term fix which won't be enough to restore confidence.

And confidence is key to increasing business investment and spurring economic growth. "A grand bargain won't create a slow economy," Bertolini said. "It will restore confidence and we'll all invest."

He added, "Americans don't want Plan B, they don't want a short term fix. They want the very best we can come up with. They want Plan A."

Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/100340096

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Hawaii lieutenant gov. picked to fill Senate seat

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz speaks the state Capitol in Honolulu on Wednesday, Dec. 26. 2012 after Gov. Neil Abercrombie, right, announced he was appointing Schatz to fill the seat vacated by the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz speaks the state Capitol in Honolulu on Wednesday, Dec. 26. 2012 after Gov. Neil Abercrombie, right, announced he was appointing Schatz to fill the seat vacated by the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

FILE- In this Nov. 3, 2010 file photo, a supporter congratulates then-Lt. governor-elect Brian Schatz, center, as his wife Linda looks on at the Neil Abercrombie-Brian Schatz Hawaii governor's post election party in Honolulu. Schatz was appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012 to succeed the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner, File)

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, left, shakes hands with Gov. Neil Abercrombie at the state Capitol in Honolulu on Wednesday, Dec. 26. 2012 after the governor announced he was appointing Schatz to fill the seat vacated by the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

HONOLULU (AP) ? Hawaii's lieutenant governor and former head of President Obama's 2008 election effort there has been named the state's newest U.S. senator, a choice that went against the dying wish of revered longtime Sen. Daniel Inouye.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie appointed Brian Schatz to the post Wednesday, instead of Inouye choice U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.

The 40-year-old Schatz, a former state representative and onetime chairman of the state Democratic party, said his top priorities would be addressing global climate change, preserving federal funds used in Hawaii for things like defense spending and transportation, and getting federal recognition for Native Hawaiians for forming their own government, similar to many Indian tribes.

Schatz, who ran with Abercrombie for the state's top two offices in 2010, beat out Hanabusa and Esther Kiaaina, a deputy director in the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The three candidates were selected by state Democrats Wednesday morning from a field of 14. The candidates briefly made their cases before the state party's central committee.

"No one can fill Sen. Daniel K. Inouye's shoes, but what we want to do today is find the right person to walk in his footsteps," Schatz told the committee.

"I want to be your senator because I believe Hawaii needs seniority, and we need someone who can build it up over decades and decades. And I pledge to you, if I'm given this opportunity and obligation to serve, I will try to make this my life's work and rebuild the tenure that Hawaii so desperately needs," he said.

The White House said Schatz would fly to Washington Wednesday night with Obama, who was returning from his Hawaii Christmas vacation early as Congress considers what to do about the so-called fiscal cliff.

Schatz could be sworn in as early as Thursday, which would make him Hawaii's senior senator. Hawaii's other senator, Daniel Akaka, is retiring at the end of this Congress after 22 years.

Even before winning the 2010 general election, Abercrombie expressed faith in Schatz, saying he would put him in charge of attracting more private and federal investment in Hawaii. Other responsibilities included leading the state's clean energy efforts and Asia-Pacific relations.

"To the people of Hawaii, I can assure you this: I will give every fiber of my being to doing a good job for the state of Hawaii," Schatz told a news conference in Honolulu. "We have a long and perhaps difficult road ahead of us, but we can succeed if we work together. I understand the magnitude of this obligation and this honor, and I won't let you down."

Inouye, by far Hawaii's most influential politician and one of the most respected lawmakers in Washington after serving five decades in the Senate, died last week of respiratory complications at the age of 88. He sent Abercrombie a hand-signed letter dated the day he died, saying he would like Hanabusa to succeed him, calling it his "last wish."

Four days after eulogizing Inouye in the courtyard of the Hawaii Capitol, Abercrombie said he had to consider more than just Inouye's wishes in filling his seat.

"Of course Sen. Inouye's views and his wishes were taken into account fully, but the charge of the central committee, and by extension then myself as governor, was to act in the best interests of the party ... the state and the nation," Abercrombie said.

"The law makes explicitly clear, as do the rules of the Democratic Party, that while everyone's voice is heard and everyone's view is taken into account, nonetheless, no one and nothing is preordained."

Under state law, the successor had to come from the same party as the prior incumbent. An Abercrombie spokeswoman said the governor did not feel any political pressure from within his party to make the choice he made.

"While we are very disappointed that it was not honored, it was the governor's decision to make," Jennifer Sabas, Inouye's chief of staff, said in a statement. "We wish Brian Schatz the best of luck."

Selecting Hanabusa, 61, would have required a special election in Hawaii's 1st Congressional District. Last time that happened, Hanabusa lost to Republican Charles Djou because of a winner-take-all format that split votes between Democrats.

Abercrombie said the possibility of a special election was a factor, as well as Hanabusa's "key position" on the House Armed Services Committee. The governor said she was on her way toward establishing a senior position on that panel, and it's important for Hawaii ? with its four-member delegation ? to establish seniority in both chambers.

Schatz will serve until an election is held in 2014. He said he will run for re-election to try to keep the Senate seat until 2016 ? the end of Inouye's original term ? and would run again for Senate in 2016 if given the chance.

Hanabusa congratulated Schatz in a statement.

"Having served as chair of the Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee when the succession law was passed, I fully respect the process and the governor's right to appoint a successor," she said.

Last week, when Abercrombie announced he would not seek the seat himself, his spokeswoman Louise Kim McCoy said Abercrombie intends to make his current post as Hawaii governor the last office of his political career.

Inouye would be "very happy" with the choice, Hawaii Democratic Party chairman Dante Carpenter said. Schatz has less experience than some older politicians in the Senate but he will be building seniority, which is "critical" to the state of Hawaii, he said.

"In the words of Sen. Dan Inouye ? invoked more than once ? seniority in the United States Congress is everything," Carpenter said.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had urged Abercrombie to name Inouye's successor before the end of the year. The next Congress begins Jan. 3.

Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, was elected in November to succeed Akaka.

First in line to replace Schatz as lieutenant governor is Senate President Shan Tsutsui, who said he planned to discuss the prospect with his family before deciding.

___

Becky Bohrer can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bbohrerap.

___

Associated Press writer Audrey McAvoy contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-12-27-US%20Senate-Hawaii/id-888ae319a06044509b89cd1e2539916e

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Use These SEO Tips To Maximize Your Site Traffic | Internet ...

With everyone online rallying for attention to their site, maximizing your SEO potential is the only way to effectively get traffic to your web business. Search engines are tools that a large number of people use to find information on just about anything. Put these strategies to use, and your site?s traffic will explode.

Search Engines

TIP! Join the BBB or the nearby Chamber of Commerce to boost your SEO. These organizations link to their member businesses, so you can get more local visitors.

Use good, descriptive text for your site?s title tag so search engines can figure out the relevance of your site?s content, and display your site in lots of search results. Search engines usually will not show content past 60 characters. Words past the 60-character point also tend to matter less to search engines. It should go without saying that original content beats out copied content in the SEO wars. To bring users to your site, you need content that?s unique and interesting. Viewers will stay on your site and come back often if you are giving them content that gives good info. Put yourself in the search seat and ponder as to what keywords you would use to locate your website. Then ensure these keywords are prominent throughout your web pages. Add keywords to both your title tag and main content, but keep your keyword density to a sane level to avoid getting the dreaded ?keyword stuffer? label.

TIP! If you are looking to climb up the search engine ranks, then provide a plethora of content, going across many different topics, but still staying within the niche. For instance, if your blog is on soccer, you could write about the latest developments in the MLS, player trades or a recent game.

If your site covers a topic that is similar to online magazines, try to make contributions to those magazines with a backlink to your website. A lot of the time, ezines are indefinitely archived. This means that the links are still active, even after years have passed. People who find your articles will still be able to click on the links and you will still get the benefit of their visits. SEO, or search engine optimization, is essential for internet marketing. Putting the proper keywords throughout your content will give you a higher ranking on search engines, giving you more traffic. This helps your site get found by people. Search engines are a great way to get extra site visitors. Make your website easy for spiders to crawl, in order to maximize your site?s search engine ranking. Make sure you tag the images on your site, because spiders are only able to read text. You keywords should be included in your description.

TIP! Make sure to have proper analytics software before you start your SEO campaign. You need to purchase and install analytics software in order to monitor the performance of your SEO tactics.

If you are managing a business website, encourage the CEO or the owner of the business to become involved online. This is your voice of your company, and your readers want to hear that. When you blog through your own site, it increases your search engine visibility. Then, more visitors will visit your website. Informative sites generally rank higher then product-only sites. Informational content will improve the way that both search engines and site visitors perceive you.

TIP! Include your chosen key phrases in your page title and throughout your site. When people locate your page through a search engine, they will see this title, so make it relevant to your site.

Make all of your titles unique and interesting, even if the content is similar. Keep titles short and to the point for the most effect. The first few words of a title are always the most important. Put forth the image of an expert in your field. Utilize your expert qualifications for the purpose of creating a successful Internet marketing program. Post a website that focuses on a specific aspect of a certain market, then choose appropriate keywords, and use SEO to promote those keywords. Always pay attention to your customers needs, make it about them and not you. Educate yourself on the different aspects of SEO, but be careful in trying to do too much at once. It is impossible to become the best at every technique, so be sure to focus on one that will yield the best results for your business.

Quantcast Scores

You need to get more visitors to your website and keep them there to increase your page rank. There is increasing evidence that the amount of time a person spends on a site (according to metrics like Quantcast scores, etc. There is more and more evidence suggesting that how long a visitor stays on a site affects their PageRank, according to Quantcast scores. One useful way to keep visitors hanging around longer is to offer discussion groups and forums. Each search engine?s bots constantly look for newly updated content, so posting to yoru blog on a consistent basis gives the bots a reason to stop by. Not only that, if your articles are really good, other people will publish your links. After an article is shared, it starts to bring in higher levels of traffic.

TIP! There are many different strategies to optimize your site for search engines. By tailoring your website to include search-friendly terms and tags, you will be able to increase your search rankings.

Learn about exactly how much experience they have. In order to make a thoroughly researched and informed decision, you need to be aware of the potential risks involved in your choice.

Anchor Text

Make sure when writing internal links and backlinks for your website that you use good anchor text. You should describe what the page is about and give a good reason for your reader to click on your anchor text link. Ensure the right text is used as the keyword, so you receive a rise in ranking. Spiders focus on keywords, so if you pick out the most appropriate keywords for your content, they will count your anchor text towards your overall relevancy. Websites that effectively utilize search engine optimization almost never use image links. Image links do not link your content to the search engines effectively. When generating keywords and key phrases, it is important that you place yourself in the shoes of the customer. Always include the simplest terms a customer would use to find your site. Successfully optimizing your site for search engines may seem intimidating, but as this article has shown you, it doesn?t have to be difficult. Knowing the few basic principles that determine how the search engines work, can help you tweak your site to attract more visitors than ever. Before you know it, you?ll have a slew of new customers.

Source: http://realworldbusiness.com/seo/use-these-seo-tips-to-maximize-your-site-traffic/

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jukkanmukkir: layanau: writ trig: Bodybuilding Basics | Sports n ...

layanau: writ trig: Bodybuilding Basics | Sports n Recreation Info ...

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Source: http://beachromanticvacations.falyorumlari.com/1153/layanau-writ-trig-bodybuilding-basics-sports-n-recreation-info/

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?? ?????? ????? ??? jukkanmukkir ?? ???? ?:?? pm ??? ???? ??????? ???? ????!Twitter-? ??? ????Facebook-? ??? ????

Source: http://jukkanmukkir.blogspot.com/2012/12/layanau-writ-trig-bodybuilding-basics.html

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Puppy stolen from Ore. Humane Society found - Koinlocal6.com

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A puppy that was taken from the Oregon Humane Society Saturday was located on Christmas Eve.

The agency reported Tuesday that John, a three-month-old Chihuahua-Pomeranian mix, was located by Gresham police after receiving an anonymous tip from someone who saw the puppy and recognized it as John. Officers and an OHS staff member responded to a residence in Gresham, where they found the puppy.

?Folks in Oregon care deeply about pets and social media pressure was outstanding,? said Sharon Harmon, OHS executive director. ?I think when they realized they had a hot puppy so to speak they were eager to return him to the shelter.?

According to OHS, no arrests have been made at this time. Harmon said Portland police are still investigating. The details regarding how the puppy was found were not disclosed.

OHS reported that John was taken from a locked kennel Saturday afternoon, just minutes before he was to go home with the Belzer family of Camas, Wash., who had just adopted him.

?We were just shell shocked, disappointed,? father Mike Belzer said. ?The girls cried a lot of tears, and it was a real, real quiet ride home.

However, the Belzers were reunited with John at OHS Tuesday afternoon.

?They brought him in and our eyes just lit up,? said Madison Belzer, one of three girls in the family. ?We were really happy. I started tearing up a little bit. I was excited.?

Madison?s sister Lauren calls this the ?best Christmas ever.?

??He (John) was in my arms when I first met him, and he?s there again now, so it?s good,? Lauren said.

-- KOIN Local 6 staff

Source: http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Puppy-stolen-from-Ore-Humane-Society-found/YJKL4uWyy06MO4ES-XqK6w.cspx?rss=2638

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Five Steps to Creating an Online Store

Five Steps to Creating an Online Store

As any online shopper can attest, ecommerce is a rapidly growing facet in the retail industry. Consumers have become accustomed to being able to buy products without leaving the house. So if you?re thinking of creating an online store, you?re in for a world of possibilities and success.
Below are five steps to help you build your store on the web. Step 1 ? Find Your Target Audience?

To develop a relevant product, it?s important to narrow your target audience. Do this by analyzing who will be interested in your product, and research that group?s needs. If you tailor to a relatively small niche - as opposed to a large group of diverse interests - your audience will be a group with shared interests that will likely become loyal to your company.

Step 2 - Brand Yourself?

Your brand embodies everything about your company, from your mission, to customer service, to visual elements. Your logo is the visual face of your company, so it?s important to design one that reflects your entire brand?s character. Make sure to be consistent in everything you put out, like promotional material and social media pages so that your brand has a recognizable visual identity and values. Branding has a huge effect on a company?s reputation, so creating a successful one can be the difference between making or breaking it in ecommerce.

Step 3 ? Design Your Site

When it comes to building your site, there are many options and tools available to you. If you?re particularly tech-savvy and have knowledge of HTML coding, you can construct your site from scratch. There is also software like Adobe Dreamweaver or free open source programs to help you along. If you don?t know what features to include in your store, you can also use something like Amazon?s ecommerce platform that implements functional elements for you.

?You?ll also need to choose a hosting site. Compare price, guaranteed uptime, and special features each host offers to ensure you make the right choice for your brand. Here is a list of great hosting companies to help in your search.

?One of the most crucial characteristics to focus on is functionality. This includes good navigation, clear calls-to-action, a shopping cart function, and easy checkout. A positive user experience will turn site visitors into return customers.

Step 4 ? Start Marketing

Once your store is up and ready for business, it?s a good idea to consider outlets for marketing. Blogs and social networking sites are great tools to market your brand. You can communicate special deals, coupons, sales, etc., as well as spread your name and post great content that your customers are interested in. Keep your branding consistent across all these channels, and you?re on your way to becoming a brand consumers recognize.

?If this is your first branding experience, business blogging can vary greatly from the personal musings of your own blog. Browse over this guide to business blogging to make sure you get started on the right foot.

?Similar to blogging, social media is a great way to give your brand a voice. Remember though, that there are plenty of examples where social media has gone haywire. Make sure to tread carefully, act personable and avoid intentional controversy.

Step 5 ? Strategize and Evolve

Rather than just producing content or products on a whim, it will benefit you to implement a schedule of new products, special deals and social media content. Everything you do or post should be relevant to your customers. This will keep them interested and build your reputation of being a solid and relevant brand.

?Almost guaranteed, a year after launch, your brand will show signs of a directional shift. The most successful ecommerce sites are adaptable to client need and demand. Adjust toward where you see opportunity, change as quickly as possible when you see the necessity, and keep your ears open to your customers.

Authors Bio:
Rob Toledo is a Seattleite who matches the usual stereotypes. Loves coffee, the rain, and prefers dogs to cats. When not rambling about marketing and web design, he can be found in the mountains either climbing or hiking.

Source: http://www.e-junkie.info/2012/12/five-steps-to-creating-online-store_24.html

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Iran says it fended off cyber attack on industrial sites

11 hrs.

Yeganeh Torbati , Reuters

DUBAI (Reuters) - An Internet virus attacked computers at industrial sites in southern Iran, in an apparent extension of a covert cyber war that initially targeted the country's nuclear facilities, an Iranian official said.?

Iran, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, has tightened online security since its uranium enrichment centrifuges were hit in 2010 by the Stuxnet computer worm, which Tehran believes was planted by arch-adversaries Israel or the United States.?

The unit tasked with fighting cyber attacks, the Passive Defence Organisation, said a virus had infected several sites in Hormozgan province in recent months but was neutralised.?

"Enemies are constantly attacking Iran's industrial units through Internet networks in order to create disruptions," Ali Akbar Akhavan, head of the Hormozgan branch of the organisation, was quoted as saying by the Iranian Students' News Agency on Tuesday.?

"This virus has even penetrated some manufacturing industries in Hormozgan province, but with timely measures and the cooperation of skilled hackers in the province, the progress of this virus was halted," Akhavan said.?

"As an example, the Bandar Abbas Tavanir Co., a producer of electricity in the province and even adjacent provinces, has been the target of Internet attacks in recent months," he said.?

Bandar Abbas is the capital of Hormozgan province on Iran's southern coast and home to an oil refinery and container port.?

Israeli officials have threatened military action against Iranian nuclear facilities if Western sanctions on Tehran's banking and oil sectors do not persuade the Islamic Republic to shelve its disputed atomic program.?

Western powers suspect Iran is trying to develop the means to produce nuclear weapons. Tehran says it is enriching uranium only for civilian energy.?

Iranian authorities said in April that a computer virus was detected inside the control systems of Kharg Island - which handles the vast majority of Iran's crude oil exports - but the terminal had remained operational.?

Cyber attackers also slowed Iran's Internet and attacked its offshore oil and gas platforms this year, Iranian officials have said.

(c) Copyright ThomsonReuters 2012. Check for restrictions at:?http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/iran-says-it-fended-cyber-attack-industrial-sites-1C7662775

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CRIMESTOPPERS: Suspects Steal More than $2,400 Worth of ...

Posted on: 11:05 am, December 24, 2012, by Alicia Agent, updated on: 12:20pm, December 24, 2012

Suspects in Walmart theft, Dec. 14

Surveillance video at a Fort Smith Walmart captured two men stealing popular gaming consoles and holiday gift items, according to police.

The thefts occurred Dec. 14 at the Walmart Supercenter on Zero Street. While inside the store, the men put gaming systems like Xbox 360, Play Station 3, Wii, several video games, controllers and a Kenwood car stereo into their shopping carts and then left the store without paying for them, according to a police report.

More than $2,400 worth of merchandise was stolen.

The suspects are described white men, between the ages of 20-25.

They left the store parking lot in a mid to late 2000 model Chevrolet Tahoe, dark in color, and bearing an unknown Arkansas handicapped license plate.

Anyone with information about the suspects is asked to call the River Valley Crime Stoppers tip line at (479) 78-CRIME.

Source: http://5newsonline.com/2012/12/24/walmart-gaming-console-thef/

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Obama's Christmas vacation in Hawaii: Day 2

HONOLULU (AP) ? How President Barack Obama spent the second day of his Christmas vacation on Sunday in Hawaii:

? INOUYE FUNERAL: Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attended a memorial service for U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, sitting in the front row with Inouye's widow.

? PAYING RESPECTS: After the service, Obama briefly visited the grave of his grandfather, World War II veteran Stanley Dunham.

? HIKING: The first family went on a hike to Maunawili Falls, a popular, easy trail in Kailua near the Obamas' vacation home that leads to a waterfall and swimming hole.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obamas-christmas-vacation-hawaii-day-2-040605915.html

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Star Wars: A Galaxy In Flames

Occurring in 500 ABY(500 years after the battle of Yavin), the galaxy is in a 3 faction war between the Republic, the Empire, and the Confederacy. But there is a coming darkness that everyone can feel...a darkness that will consume everything...

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Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.

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