judgesreinhold: January 2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Young job hunter wins first car in Detroit News Ford Fusion contest

Detroit ? Job hunting has just gotten a lot easier for Faith Sheldon of Grosse Pointe Farms.

The 19-year-old has her first set of wheels as the winner of The Detroit News DADA 2013 Ford Fusion Lease Giveaway.

"I was thrilled," Sheldon said at an award ceremony Wednesday. "I'm looking for a job right now. It's helpful to tell people you can get places. You don't have to worry about a ride."

Sheldon will pick up her new ride Thursday at Village Ford in Dearborn, a co-sponsor in the giveaway of a two-year lease. She said she's happy she no longer has to share vehicles with the three other drivers in her family.

"There's been some conflict of, is my dad going to get home in time for me to take the car," she said. "It's gotten down to the minute."

The Ford Fusion Lease Giveaway ran from Dec. 13 to Jan. 22, via The Detroit News Facebook page. Sheldon was notified she won Jan. 23, said Jamie Rocz from the Detroit Media Partnership marketing team.

Last year, The News gave away a Chevy Sonic during the North American International Auto Show.

cwilliams@detroitnews.com

(313) 222-2311

Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130130/AUTO04/301300450/1361/rss41

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Neighbors sue Durham church for being too loud

Updated?01/29/2013 09:47 PM

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DURHAM?A handful of families are taking a neighboring church to court for being too loud.

People living in the Hills at Southpoint subdivision say they are being tortured in their homes by loud music coming from newhope church. They compare it to having a rock concert next door, twice a week.

They filed a lawsuit (.pdf file) Tuesday, asking for the judge to consider it as a class action suit, representing at least 40 people living in their neighborhood.

The lawsuit said the loud noise shakes their homes, keeps them from sleeping, and even makes it difficult to watch television without headphones. Last month, Durham Police issued a criminal citation to the church's pastor, Benji Kelley, for unreasonable and disturbing sound levels coming from the church.

The neighbors say they filed the lawsuit as a last resort, having tried for the past two years to work with the church to find an amicable solution, but they say those attempts failed.

Now they want a judge to force the church to quiet down and pay up for all the trouble.

?What our clients are seeking, first and foremost, for this unwelcome noise and vibration to stop coming into their homes. They'd like to be compensated for the loss of value to their property and the loss of quality of life,? said attorney for the neighbors Donna Berkelhammer.

Representatives with newhope church would not talk to News 14 Carolina on camera Tuesday, but their attorney, William Thomas II issued this statement:

We have just received a copy of the complaint and have not had an opportunity to study the contents. The church has been in full compliance with both local and state law and has monitored all sounds coming from the church to ensure compliance. Newhope church has been and continues to be a good neighbor and will respond appropriately to the complaint. Newhope church has nothing but love for their neighbors.

A judge will hear the case Friday morning.

Source: http://triangle.news14.com/content/top_stories/684954/neighbors-sue-durham-church-for-being-too-loud

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Video: Doritos unveils 'Fashionista Daddy' Super Bowl ad

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Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50637614/

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The Note's Must-Reads for Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Note's Must-Reads are a round-up of today's political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com

Compiled by ABC News' Jayce Henderson, Amanda VanAllen and Jordan Mazza

IMMIGRATION: ABC News' Ted Hesson: " 3 Flashpoints in the New Senate Immigration Reform Blueprint" A bipartisan group of senators unveiled a framework for immigration reform today, balancing out pro-immigrant reforms like a path to citizenship for the undocumented with provisions for increased immigration enforcement on the border and in the workplace. LINK

The Hill's Alexander Bolton: " Landscape shifts on immigration" A bipartisan group of senators on Monday said the political landscape for immigration reform has changed, boosting their hopes for passing a bill. Recent elections have changed his party's view on immigration, said Sen. John McCain, a Republican from Arizona who led an unsuccessful push to reform the nation's immigration laws in 2006 and 2007. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Michael Memoli, Noam Levey, and Brian Bennett: " Senators unveil bipartisan immigration plan, but opposition looms" As they announced their framework for comprehensive immigration reform, leading senators from both parties declared Monday that the politics of the long-stalled debate had shifted after Republican candidates failed to win significant support from the growing Latino electorate in November. But many conservatives made clear they rejected that contention. They remain deeply skeptical of any plan that would create a way for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country to become citizens. LINK

The Washington Times' Stephen Dinan: " Immigration plan mirrors 2007's" Powered by the results of the November elections, a bipartisan group of top senators on Monday floated the latest proposal to overhaul the nation's shattered immigration system - but acknowledged they are at the earliest stages of what is a fragile balancing act. Led by Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, and Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, the eight lawmakers said they want to give all illegal immigrants instant legal status, to expand pathways for legal immigration and to enact more border security. LINK

USA TODAY's Susan Davis and Martha T. Moore: " Immigration plan could be long-term boon to GOP" A renewed bipartisan push to rewrite U.S. immigration laws presents Republicans with their clearest opportunity to make up lost ground with one of the fastest growing forces in American politics. LINK

The Washington Post's David Nakamura and Rosalind S. Helderman: "Obama to announce his immigration reform plan, said to be more liberal than Senate effort" The Obama administration has developed its own proposals for immigration reform that are more liberal than a separate bipartisan effort in the Senate, including a quicker path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, people with knowledge of the proposals said. President Obama is expected to provide some details of the White House plans during a Tuesday appearance in Las Vegas, where he will call for broad changes to the nation's immigration laws. LINK

The Boston Globe's Maria Sacceheti: " Obama, senators prepare immigration plans" As President Obama unveils his latest plan to overhaul the nation's beleaguered immigration system Tuesday, advocates for immigrants in Massachusetts and nationwide are mobilizing to seize what they say is their best chance in almost three decades to secure a path to US citizenship for more than 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. LINK

Politico's Manu Raju: " Schumer, McCain: immigration's odd couple" A few days after Republicans took an electoral beating from Hispanic voters, Sen. Lindsey Graham made a phone call to Sen. Chuck Schumer. The South Carolina Republican wanted to restart the stalled talks with Schumer on immigration from a couple years back. But this time, he noted, his closest Senate friend was ready to reengage in the emotionally charged issue: John McCain. LINK

GOP: The New York Times' Michael D. Shear: " Bipartisan Plan Faces Resistance in G.O.P." At Tommy's Country Ham House, a popular spot downtown for politics and comfort food, not much has changed since 2007, the last time conservatives here made it crystal clear to politicians how they felt about what they see as amnesty for people who entered the country illegally. "What we need to do is put them on a bus," said Ken Sowell, 63, a lawyer from Greenville, as he ate lunch recently at the diner. LINK

SANDY RELIEF: The Wall Street Journal's Andy Grossman: " Senate Approves Bill on Sandy Aid" A $50.5 billion aid package to help Northeastern states rebuild after superstorm Sandy won Senate approval Monday evening, clearing the last major congressional hurdle before heading to the president, who said he would sign it. LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEO: " Immigration Changes on the Way" LINK

BOOKMARKS: The Note: LINK The Must-Reads Online: LINK Top Line Webcast (12noon EST M-F): LINK ABC News Politics: LINK George's Bottom Line (George Stephanopoulos): LINK Follow ABC News on Twitter: LINK ABC News Mobile: LINK ABC News app on your iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad: LINK

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Guatemala ex-dictator to stand trial on genocide

Guatemala's former dictator Jose Efrain Rios Montt, top, attends his hearing in Guatemala City, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Rios Montt, a former U.S.-backed dictator who presided over one of the bloodiest periods of Guatemala's civil war, will stand trial on charges he ordered the murder, torture and displacement of thousands of Mayan Indians, a judge ruled Monday. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Guatemala's former dictator Jose Efrain Rios Montt (1982-1983) attends a court session to hear the judge's ruling in Guatemala City, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. A judge has ruled that a former U.S.-backed dictator who presided over one of the bloodiest periods of Guatemala's civil war will stand trial on charges he ordered the murder, torture and displacement of thousands of Mayan Indians. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Guatemala's former dictator Jose Efrain Rios Montt attends his hearing in Guatemala City, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Rios Montt, a former U.S.-backed dictator who presided over one of the bloodiest periods of Guatemala's civil war, will stand trial on charges he ordered the murder, torture and displacement of thousands of Mayan Indians, a judge ruled Monday. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Guatemala's former dictator Jose Efrain Rios Montt, third from left, leaves after attending his hearing in Guatemala City, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Rios Montt, a former U.S.-backed dictator who presided over one of the bloodiest periods of Guatemala's civil war, will stand trial on charges he ordered the murder, torture and displacement of thousands of Mayan Indians, a judge ruled Monday. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) ? A former U.S.-backed dictator who presided over one of the bloodiest periods of Guatemala's civil war will stand trial on charges he ordered the murder, torture and displacement of thousands of Mayan Indians, a judge ruled Monday.

Human rights advocates have said that the prosecution of Jose Efrain Rios Montt would be an important symbolic victory for the victims of one of the most horrific of the conflicts that devastated Central America during the last decades of the Cold War.

He is the first former president to be charged with genocide by a Latin American court.

"It's the beginning of a new phase of this struggle," said Paul Seils, vice president of the New York-based International Center for Transitional Justice, which has worked extensively on war-crimes cases in Guatemala. He said the decision was "a good step forward" but he expected the prosecution of Rios Mont to encounter stiff resistance from forces in Guatemala opposed to the punishment of government-allied forces for their actions during the civil war.

Others hailed the judge's ruling as a less-qualified victory for justice in Guatemala.

"The fact that a judge has ordered the trial of a former head of state is a remarkable development in a country where impunity for past atrocities has long been the norm," said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch.

Guatemala's leaders have been criticized for years for their inability or unwillingness to prosecute government forces and allied paramilitaries accused of marching into Mayan villages, carrying out rapes and torture, and slaughtering women, children and unarmed men in a "scorched earth" campaign aimed at eliminating the support for a left-wing guerrilla movement.

Despite a series of international inquiries finding him responsible for war crimes, Rios Montt served as a Guatemalan congressman for 15 years until he lost a re-election race late last year. He had held immunity from prosecution while a member of Congress and was put under house arrest after losing his post.

One of the highest priorities of the president who won last year's election, Otto Perez Molina, has been campaigning for the elimination of a U.S. ban on military aid to Guatemala, which is locked in a fight against heavily armed drug cartels that have taken over swathes of the country.

Among the conditions set by the U.S. Congress for restoring the aid is reforming Guatemala's justice system and putting an end to impunity.

The decision to try Rios Montt could stand as a precedent in the cases of dozens of other lower-ranking military men accused of participating in atrocities, victims' advocates have said.

Judge Miguel Angel Galvez ruled that Rios Montt could be tried on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity for the killing of 1,771 indigenous Ixiles in 1982 and 1983, when he was president.

The decision clears the way for a three-judge panel to hear the evidence against Rios Montt and decide to either judge him guilty and sentence him, exonerate him of the charge or start a public trial.

Prosecutors allege that after leading a March 1982 coup and seizing control of the government, Rios Montt oversaw torture, rape, forced disappearances and forced relocations and killings of thousands of Ixil people by soldiers, paramilitaries and other government officials.

His lawyers have sought to block the trial, arguing that he is protected by an amnesty law.

The attorney-general's office said that it found evidence of 5,271 killings of Ixil residents of the towns of San Juan Cotzal, Santa Maria Nebai and San Gaspar Chajul in the department of Quiche. Prosecutors said 1,771 died in some 15 massacres between 1982 and 1983, and 370 bodies have been identified.

Prosecutor Orlando Lopez said during hearings before Monday's decision that Rios Montt wanted to wipe out the Ixil people, considered a bastion of support for guerrilla fighters waging a civil war against the Guatemalan state.

"During the period in which you held office, it is believed that the actions carried by members of the Guatemalan Army, military official and civil defense patrolmen resulted in the deaths of 1,771 people," the complaint against Rios Montt reads.

The prosecution case includes forensic reports documenting hundreds of deaths.

Among the testimony presented to the judge was that of Ana Lopez, an Ixil woman taken from her home by soldiers in May, 1982 to a government outpost where she was tortured and raped for 10 days.

During the 1960-96 civil war, more than 200,000 people, mostly Mayan Indians, were killed or went missing and entire villages were exterminated, according to the United Nations.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-01-28-LT-Guatemala-Rios-Montt/id-9c00b140b3864e79842aeaae567881e5

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New evidence highlights threat to Caribbean coral reef growth: Many Caribbean coral reefs are starting to erode

Jan. 29, 2013 ? Coral reefs build their structures by both producing and accumulating calcium carbonate, and this is essential for the maintenance and continued vertical growth capacity of reefs. An international research team has discovered that the amount of new carbonate being added by Caribbean coral reefs is now significantly below rates measured over recent geological timescales, and in some habitats is as much as 70% lower.

Coral reefs form some of the planet's most biologically diverse ecosystems, and provide valuable services to humans and wildlife. However, their ability to maintain their structures and continue to grow depends on the balance between the addition of new carbonate, which is mostly produced by corals themselves, set against the loss of carbonate through various erosional processes. Scientists have long known that reef ecosystems are in decline and that the amount of live coral on reefs is dwindling. But the paper, published on DATE TBC in Nature Communications, is the first evidence that these ecological changes are now also impacting on the growth potential of reefs themselves.

Professor Chris Perry of the University of Exeter, who led the research, said: "Our estimates of current rates of reef growth in the Caribbean are extremely alarming. Our study goes beyond only examining how much coral there is, to also look at the delicate balance of biological factors which determine whether coral reefs will continue to grow or will erode. Our findings clearly show that recent ecological declines are now suppressing the growth potential of reefs in the region, and that this will have major implications for their ability to respond positively to future sea level rises.

"It is most concerning that many coral reefs across the Caribbean have seemingly lost their capacity to produce enough carbonate to continue growing vertically, whilst others are already at a threshold where they may start to erode. At the moment there is limited evidence of large-scale erosion or loss of actual reef structure, but clearly if these trends continue, reef erosion looks far more likely. Urgent action to improve management of reef habitats and to limit global temperature increases is likely to be critical to reduce further deterioration of reef habitat."

The team was funded by the Leverhulme Trust (UK), through an International Network Grant. It included scientists from James Cook University and The University of Queensland in Australia, from The University of Auckland in New Zealand, Memorial University in Canada, and the University of Maine in the USA. They examined rates of carbonate production across 19 reefs in the four Caribbean countries of the Bahamas, Belize, Bonaire and Grand Cayman.

They discovered that declines in rates of carbonate production were especially evident in shallow water habitats, where many fast growing branching coral species have been lost. The study compared modern day rates with those measured in the region over approximately the last 7,000 years. In key habitats around the Caribbean, the findings suggested that in waters of around five metres in depth, reef growth rates are now reduced by 60-70% compared to the regional averages taken from historical records. In waters of around 10 metres in depth, the rates are reduced by 25%.

The study also suggests that these key habitats must have a minimum of around 10% living coral cover to maintain their current structures. The amount of cover varies between sites, but some are already below this threshold and are therefore at risk of starting to erode. Given that previous studies have shown that coral cover on reefs in the Caribbean has declined by an average of 80 per cent since the 1970s, this raises alarm bells for the future state of reefs in the region. These changes have been driven by human disturbance, disease and rising sea temperatures, and are only expected to intensify as a result of future climate change.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Exeter, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Chris T. Perry, Gary N. Murphy, Paul S. Kench, Scott G. Smithers, Evan N. Edinger, Robert S. Steneck, Peter J. Mumby. Caribbean-wide decline in carbonate production threatens coral reef growth. Nature Communications, 2013; 4: 1402 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2409

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gDQmeTdXkdA/130129111450.htm

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Spain's Rajoy adds some stimulus to the austerity

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's conservative prime minister is preparing a package of small measures - such as tax breaks for young entrepreneurs - to stimulate the economy even as he vows to stick to budget cuts.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, whose popularity has plummeted after a year in the job, will announce the steps on February 20 in his first State of the Union address in an effort win back public trust after severe spending cuts.

He took office promising to reduce Spain's high public deficit and win back investor confidence but the recession has deepened and more than a quarter of the workforce is unemployed.

"It's a plan of micro-policies, focused on concrete sectors," a spokeswoman for Rajoy said.

She declined to provide details or a specific cost to the program but said: "In no way does it undermine our commitment to reducing the deficit."

The package will include tax incentives for small exporters, developing a commercial paper market for small companies that will give them access to funds, and a new official credit line for businesses, according to media reports.

Labour Minister Fatima Banez also told reporters on Monday that women under 35 and men under the age of 30 who want to start a small business will get a major break on social security tax, paying 50 euros a month instead of more than 250 euros.

Last week, during official visits to Peru and Chile, Rajoy said that Spain's massive deficit - expected to stand at some 7 percent of gross domestic product at the end of 2012 - still blocked the country from investing in the economy.

But in the same trip he announced he would extend a 2,000-euros-per-car rebate program that would cost 150 million euros and help stem the fall in automobile sales [ID:nE8N0AT002].

On Monday Spain's Official Credit Institute, or ICO, priced a 1 billion euro seven-year bond. New low-interest credit lines from the ICO for small businesses are among the measures Rajoy is expected to announce in February, ABC newspaper reported.

PLEAS TO GERMANY

The International Monetary Fund and leaders from the Americas have criticized the emphasis on austerity in the euro zone debt crisis, saying it has made the recession worse.

In recent weeks Rajoy has called on euro zone creditor countries such as Germany to do more to stimulate growth, a plea that has largely fallen on deaf ears.

He broached the subject in a brief meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Chile last week and will bring it up again when the two leaders meet at a Spain-Germany summit on February 4 in Berlin, the government spokeswoman said.

Last year his government made an estimated 20 billion euros in budget savings and must make a similar effort this year to stay on track to cut the deficit to an EU-agreed level of under 3 percent of GDP.

Spain's borrowing costs have come down steeply since last July when the European Central Bank said it would do whatever it took to protect the euro. A 40 billion euros rescue for Spanish banks also helped confidence and talk of Spain needing a full international bailout has died down.

But unemployment is now 26 percent, the highest level since the 1970s, and the economy shrank in the fourth quarter, dragged down by a steep drop in private consumption due in part to a September VAT hike and public wage cuts.

(Editing by Sarah White and Anna Willard)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/spains-rajoy-adds-stimulus-austerity-174731903--finance.html

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Monday, January 28, 2013

Olu of Warri tasks youths on leadership

The Olu of Warri, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse II, has charged members of Chambers International, JCI, to continue the good work of sensitising the citizenry on self improvement and actualization as a means of getting Nigeria out of its current leadership problem.

The Olu gave the charge when Warri Chapter of JCI and some national executives of the body paid him a courtesy visit as part of activities for the investiture of Josephine Ukah as 2013 Chapter President of Junior Chamber International, Warri.

The royal father enjoined them not to relent in their determination to bring about leadership re-orientation in Nigeria and the world at large. He gave the delegation his royal blessings and promised them his continuous support.

Josephine Ukah, on her part, said the visit was to seek the advice of the royal father on how they could be actively involved in making the community a better place. She said JCI has four areas of opportunities, which include the individual, the community, international and business.

Comments are moderated. Please keep them clean and brief.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/olu-of-warri-tasks-youths-on-leadership/

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ReadWrite ? 5 Big Tech Companies That Are Killing It On Facebook

It's taken for granted these days that if you run a business, you need to be on Facebook. And while any monkey can click the "Create Page" button, it takes a smart strategy to wind up with the kind of Facebook numbers that are truly brag-worthy.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to be a huge corporation with major brand recognition. But size doesn't necessarily translate into a solid Facebook presence, either. Heck, the biggest tech company of all apparently doesn't even need Facebook to succeed. Other than for iTunes, Apple doesn't maintain any official corporate presence on Facebook.?

Of those tech giants that do, some are doing a better job than others. Using a mix of metrics and subjective observations, we've rounded up five of the savviest tech giants on Facebook. These are by no means the only good examples (and plenty of smaller companies have better, more personable and more creative presences on Facebook), but it's hard to argue with hard numbers.?

5. Amazon?

It comes as no shock that Amazon has 16 million fans on Facebook. The e-commerce giant sells a ton of things to a ton of people every day, so of course it has a strong presence on the world's biggest social network. But it's not just that Amazon has a lot of fans. It's actually doing a pretty decent job of engaging those fans, despite the occasional corny pun or spam commenter. (A user called "Kindle Fire Giveaway" sure does chime in a lot.)?

With an inventory as infinite as Amazon's, it can be hard to know which items to promote. To avoid spamming millions of people with irrelevant products, it tends to choose general-interest items and use Facebook to publicize special sales. Amazon also asks a lot of questions, which is an effective - if patently obvious - way to drive up comments.?

On any given day, about half a million people are talking about Amazon on Facebook, according to AppData. It's the fourth most-liked page for a retail company (followed by Walmart, Target and Converse), but it's growing much faster than all of those pages, adding a quarter of a million new fans per week.

Link: Amazon on Facebook
Metrics: Amazon's AppData stats?

4. Dell?

You may not think of Dell as all that sexy of a brand thes days, but it's got the most-liked Facebook page in the Computers/Technology category. With nearly 5 million fans, it's also one of the fastest-growing.?

Dell's Facebook page contains a lot of tacky self-advertising, but the PC vendor also mixes it up with links to "how-to" articles related to computing and technology. That can be pretty handy for the many people who need help with their technology purchases or experience problems down the line.?

Dell also uses Facebook to administer customer support, which is either smart and proactive - or a response to getting lots of customer complaints via Facebook. An entire tab of the Dell Facebook page is dedicated to support, but the company might want to pay more attention to the comments under each post, where frustrated users sometimes chime in with tech-support problems.?

Link: Dell on Facebook
Metrics: Dell's AppData stats

3. Samsung Mobile USA

Like Dell, Samsung Mobile is such a ubiquitous tech brand that you'd pretty much expect it to have a ton of Facebook fans. And at 22 million likes, it certainly does. But the company also takes its social media management seriously, and it shows.?

Negative comments often create awkward moments on a brand's Facebook page. While Samsung Mobile's page isn't flooded with complaints, when one shows up, Samsung's community manager responds diplomatically, usually pointing the customer toward some solution or alternative. It gives you the sense that the smartphone vendor is in control of the way its brand is represented online, rather than just letting the trolls and spam fester.?

A lot of Samsung Mobile's posts are basically glorified print advertisements for its line of Galaxy mobile devices and other products. But rather than just saying "buy this gadget," the images tend to show a particular product being used for a specific purpose. Sounds simple, but it's pretty effective. Without having used one myself, it wasn't obvious to me that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 lets you take notes and watch a YouTube video simultaneously. Thanks to Samsung's Facebook page, now I know.?

Link: Samsung Mobile USA on Facebook
Metrics: Samsung Mobile USA's AppData stats

2. Microsoft (XBox)

Plenty of people find Microsoft to be easy to poke fun at, but you've really got to hand it to whoever's managing the fan page for XBox. With 20 million likes, it has twice as many fans as Windows, the most widely used desktop operating system on the planet. Of course, it's easier to love a gaming and entertainment console than it is to adore the software that powers your PC at work.?

If social media is all about fostering community and dialogue, XBox has it nailed. The page routinely posts updates and teasers about new games, products and events, with many of its posts getting thousands of likes and dozens of shares. And the XBox team manages to do it without the crutch of inauthentic tricks ("Like this to show your support for XYZ!") that often populate corporate Facebook pages.?

Link: XBox on Facebook
Metrics: XBox's AppData stats?

1. YouTube

Aside from Facebook itself, YouTube is the most beloved tech brand on the gargantuan social network. In fact, it's the third most popular Facebook page overall.?

In a way, though, YouTube's Facebook page wins by default - it does eactly what everybody else on the Internet does: share YouTube videos. Hard to go wrong with that. When you like YouTube on Facebook, you get exactly what you expect: Viral videos. It's light on the hackneyed marketing copy and heavy on the snowball fights, news bloopers and One Direction videos. So many One Direction videos.?

The numbers speak for themselves. Each post yields thousands of likes and almost as many shares. That sharing metric is one of the toughest to drive for a normal brand on Facebook. For YouTube, it just comes naturally.?

Link: YouTube on Facebook
Metrics: YouTube's AppData stats

Source: http://readwrite.com/2013/01/28/5-big-tech-companies-that-are-killing-it-on-facebook

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Obama honors NBA Champion Miami Heat

President Barack Obama accepts a signed basketball from Miami Heat forward LeBron James as he welcomes the the NBA basketball champion Miami Heat, to the East Room of the White House, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Barack Obama stands with LeBron James, fifth from left, Dwayne Wade, third left, and coach Erik Spoelstra, right, as he honors the NBA champions Miami Heat basketball team in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama honored the Miami Heat for winning the 2012 NBA Championship title after falling short just a year before.

"Everybody doing their part, is what finally put the Heat over the top," Obama said, as he welcomed the team to the White House Monday to celebrate their victory.

The Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in the NBA Finals last June.

The president also recognized the franchise's work off the court. He thanked them for supporting military service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Obama said one of the things he's proudest of is that many of the team members? including LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade? "take their roles as fathers seriously."

"For all the young men out there who are looking up to them all the time, for them to see somebody who cares about their kids and is there for them day in and day out, that's a good message to send," Obama said.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the team hopefully will serve as an inspiration to the nation of what can be done "when you come together and sacrifice your egos for a greater goal" and "hard-hat work ethic."

James, who presented Obama with an autographed basketball, said the team including members that hail from Illinois, Texas, Michigan, Ohio and South Dakota were honored to be in the executive mansion.

"We're in the White House right now, which is like, like 'mama I made it,'" James said, as the audience laughed and cheered.

The crowd of well-wishers included actress Gabrielle Union, U.N. ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Frederica Wilson. The Heat last visited the White House after winning the 2006 title.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-01-28-Obama-Miami%20Heat/id-cc097973629541c58e63d5f831d8a830

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Sunday, January 27, 2013

The Great Profecy on the planet Koroth...

5,000 years ago on another planet ruled by monsters and animals of all kinds, even ones from earth a profecy was born.

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Djokovic pounces to claim Melbourne three-peat

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic came up with his best tennis when it mattered most to reassert his grand slam dominance over Andy Murray on Sunday and become the first man to win three successive Australian Open titles in the professional era.

The Serbian world number one played 171 minutes of cat and mouse with his British rival before pouncing when the U.S. Open champion blinked and racing away to a 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-2 victory.

There was no ripping off of the shirt and no victory roar like Rod Laver Arena witnessed last year, but there was no disguising Djokovic's delight at claiming a fourth title at Melbourne Park.

His three successive titles were a first since Roy Emerson won his fifth straight in 1967, while a quartet of crowns matches Roger Federer and Andre Agassi, the latter being on hand to present him with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.

"What a joy, it's an incredible feeling to win this trophy again. This is definitely my favorite grand slam. I love this tournament. I love this court," said Djokovic, who lost to Murray at Flushing Meadows in September.

"Every tournament, especially the major tournaments, is very special (but) winning it three in a row, it's incredible."

The similarity of playing style meant the match, although studded with some brilliant rallies, was not the classic that fans have come to expect from grand slam finals in the golden age of men's tennis.

So little separated the two 25-year-old baseliners, however, that two hours and 51 minutes of the contest had passed before the first break of serve.

Crucially, it went to Djokovic and 49 minutes later he was celebrating his sixth grand slam title.

For Murray, hampered by a badly blistered toe, distracted at a key moment by a white feather and physically compromised by his four-hour semi-final against Federer, it was a third final defeat in four years in Australia.

The Scot took some solace from the fact that this match was a much tighter affair than his defeats by Federer in 2010 and Djokovic in 2011.

"There's going to be some obvious reasons for me feeling a little bit better," said Murray, who was hoping to become the first Briton to win the title since Fred Perry in 1934.

"The last few months have been the best tennis of my life. I made the Wimbledon final, won the Olympics, won the U.S. Open. I was close here as well. It was close.

"I know no one's ever won a slam the immediate one after winning their first one. It's not the easiest thing to do and I got extremely close."

SLIGHT EDGE

Djokovic needed nearly six hours to beat Rafa Nadal in last year's final and few were betting on a pre-midnight finish after the first two sets on Sunday took 133 minutes to get through.

The Serbian's aggression gave him a slight edge in the first set and he claimed five break points only for Murray to save them all and then scoot through the tiebreak 7-2.

Murray took the momentum into the second set, where he won the first seven points to earn his first three break points but he fluffed his chances and Djokovic saved his serve.

"After that I felt just mentally a little bit lighter and more confident on the court than I'd done in the first hour or so," said Djokovic.

A white feather which drifted down from the birds nesting in the rafters distracted Murray when he was serving during the tiebreak and he double faulted on his way to losing it 7-3.

"At this level it can come down to just a few points here or there," said Murray. "Probably my biggest chance was at the beginning of the second set, I didn't quite get it.

"When Novak had his chance at the end of the third, he got his."

Djokovic opened the key third set game with a brilliant winner that just caught the back of the line at the end of a 36-shot rally.

He closed it out to go 5-3 ahead when Murray smacked a forehand into the net tape and then won seven of the next nine games to claim the title.

"I didn't expect an easy match," said Djokovic. "You never get the grand slam trophy in an easy way. You have to earn it."

There was more success for 25-year-olds earlier in the day when Australians Jarmila Gajdosova and Matthew Ebden clinched the mixed doubles title, beating Czech pair Lucie Hradecka and Frantisek Cermak 6-3 7-5.

The day belonged to Djokovic, however.

"I'm just trying to play this game with 100 percent of devotion, love, passion, and fun also," he said. "I mean, 25 years-old and I won six grand slams and have a lot of trophies.

"It's amazing. I'm just trying to embrace this moment and enjoy it as much as I can and see where tomorrow brings me."

(Editing by Mark Meadows)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/murray-takes-first-set-australian-open-final-100522124--ten.html

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Researchers build a working tractor beam, on a very small scale

We recently saw research that suggested negative radiation pressure in light could lead to a practical tractor beam. A partnership between the Czech Republic's Institute of Scientific Instruments and Scotland's University of St. Andrews can show that it's more than just theory: the two have successfully created an optical field that flipped the usual pressure and started pulling objects toward the light. Their demo only tugged at the particle level -- sorry, no spaceships just yet -- but it exhibited unique properties that could be useful here on Earth. Scientists discovered that the pull is specific to the size and substance of a given object, and that targets would sometimes reorganize themselves in a way that improved the results. On the current scale, that pickiness could lead to at least medicinal uses, such as sorting cells based on their material. While there's more experiments and development to go before we ever see a tractor beam at the hospital, the achievement brings us one step closer to the sci-fi future we were always told we'd get, right alongside the personal communicators and jetpacks.

Filed under: Science, Alt

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Via: BBC

Source: University of St. Andrews, Nature

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/26/researchers-make-a-working-tractor-beam/

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Saturday, January 26, 2013

Electoral Collegiality (Cont.) (Unqualified Offerings)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/279616388?client_source=feed&format=rss

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The Nurtured Life: Yoga for Motherhood, home study January 2013

http://feeds.feedburner.com/YogaToday/ipod
I found this pod cast about two weeks ago. Since then, I have watched it several times. While chopping vegetables for dinner, while the children watched a movie near by, while the baby nursed. I have not done it once. Not even rolled out the mat. I have managed to do 5 sun salutations on most mornings. I have noticed them strengthening, my body moving more like fluid from one place to another. I have noticed my breath, even off the mat. I have noticed my place, my time, my space.
Because, here, in the thick of full motherhood- the strength of my body and mind are the only tools I need. Here, in this time and place- Asana practice is not to increase flexibility, or give me a firmer body. Never, is asana about what I can do on the mat- it's about what I can take with me when I leave the still, quite rectangle and move into the great wide open.
So practice here, is about finding that balance between what is needed-and what can wait. Wait till babies do not cry when they are left, wait till big girls don't need grown ups at brownies, wait until after the only time two tired parents can find each other. I do indeed need my asana practice, and my meditation, and my reading, writing, breathing, and art. But, if the main objective of all them is to bring me clarity and balance- then I need not lust after time for these as long as I find myself in a place of clarity and balance.
There will be time, time to study more, practice more, explore more- but there will never be more of this. I will never get more of these precious beings as they are today. And I will never get more time to practice being here, in full motherhood. What there is to learn here- cannot be learned from someone else, only from showing up here, present and mindful.

Source: http://thenurturedlife.blogspot.com/2013/01/yoga-for-motherhood-home-study-january_26.html

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Yum's chicken in China contained excessive levels of drugs - Xinhua

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chicken sold to KFC's parent Yum Brands Inc in China contained excessive levels of chemicals, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Friday, escalating a month-long food scare that has hit Yum's sales in its biggest market.

The Shanghai Municipal Food Safety Committee said KFC's checks on its suppliers were lax, and that it found excessive levels of chemical residue in some of the fast food chain's supplies, the report said.

The investigation has now been passed to authorities where the suppliers are based, Xinhua said, without elaborating.

Officials at the Food Safety Committee and Yum in China could not immediately be reached for comment.

Yum and McDonald's Corp's have come under intense scrutiny from local media since the official China Central Television reported in late December that some of the chicken supplied to them contained excess amounts of antiviral drugs and hormones used to accelerate growth.

On investigating, the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration found the levels of antibiotics and steroids in KFC chicken were safe, though the watchdog found a suspicious level of an antiviral drug in one of the eight samples tested.

Yum warned earlier in the month that sales in China - where it earns over half of its worldwide revenue and operating profit - shrank more than expected in the fourth quarter, citing bad publicity from a government review of its chicken supply.

Yum has apologized to customers in China over its handling of the food scare.

McDonald's Chief Executive Don Thompson said on Wednesday the chicken scare "minimally impacted" McDonald's sales in China during the fourth quarter and continues to hurt business this year.

(Reporting by Kazunori Takada and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Daniel Magnowski)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/yums-chicken-china-contained-excessive-levels-drugs-xinhua-102759613--finance.html

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Friday, January 25, 2013

FAA probes pilot who nearly clipped man in stunt

?ABC News' John Muller reports:

Two New Jersey men sued Subway this week, claiming the world's biggest fast-food chain has been shorting them by selling "footlong" sandwiches that measure less than 12 inches.

The suit, filed Tuesday in Superior Court in Mount Holly, N.J., might be the first legal filing aimed at the Milford, Conn.-based company since a Subway customer in Australia posted a photo of a "footlong" sub next to a ruler on the company's Facebook page to allege that the sandwich was not as long as advertised.

The photo quickly spread across the Internet and the company has since been on the receiving end of a barrage of criticism.

Stephen DeNittis, the lawyer for the plaintiffs in the New Jersey suit, said he's seeking class-action status and is also preparing to file a similar suit in Pennsylvania state court in Philadelphia.

READ MORE: Subway 'Footlongs' Coming Up Short

He said he has had sandwiches from 17 shops measured, and every one came up short. The lawsuit claims it is a "deceptive practice for Subway to advertise its large sandwich as a 'footlong.'"

"When you add this up over time, that comes out to be anywhere between 45 to 60 cents a sandwich over the course of six years," DeNittis said of the alleged shortchanged subs.

Subway has 38,000 stores around the world, nearly all owned by franchisees. Its $5 "footlong" specials have been a mainstay of the company's ads for five years.

DeNittis said both plaintiffs - John Farley of Evesham, N.J., and Charles Noah Pendrack of Ocean City, N.J. - came to him after reading last week about the short sandwiches.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages and a change in Subway's practices. The company should either make sure its sandwiches measure a full foot or stop advertising them as such, according to the suit.

MORE: Subway Claims 'Footlong' Sub Is in Name Alone

In response to the original photo on Facebook that unleashed the wave of complaints, Subway Australia posted a statement clarifying that "footlong" subs were just a trademark, not reality.

"'SUBWAY FOOTLONG' is a registered trademark as a descriptive name for the sub sold in Subway Restaurants and not intended to be a measurement of length," read a comment posted to Subway Australia's Facebook page Jan. 16.

Prior to that statement, the company had told ABCNews.com that the size discrepancy was caused by the fact that the bread was baked fresh in each of the company's 38,000 restaurants around the world.

"We are committed to providing a consistent product delivering the same amount of bread to the customer with every order," the statement read. "The length however may vary slightly when not baked to our exact specifications. We are reinforcing our policies and procedures in an effort to ensure our offerings are always consistent no matter which Subway restaurant you visit."

In response to the lawsuit, the head baker for Subway reiterated their commitment to 12 inches with each "footlong" sub.

"If proper procedures are followed, they will all measure 12 inches," Mark Christiano told ABC News.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Todo app Carrot keeps you on task with personality and attitude

We've seen many todo apps for iPhone but Carrot is the first one that has a personality of its own. The idea behind Carrot is that it should motivate you to do things. As you complete things, Carrot becomes happy with you and may even give you a reward. But if you go too long without getting anything accomplished, Carrot becomes angry.

If you're the type of person who has to be told more than once to get something done, you may have met your perfect mate in Carrot. It's the first todo list app that not only motivates you get things done, but makes a game out of it. If you accomplish things you're supposed to, Carrot will reward you. If you don't get things done, you may get scolded.

Carrot boasts over 300 unique rewards that you can accumulate for getting things done. You'll also move up levels as you accomplish different tasks. We'd also imagine that over time the types of rewards and ways in which you can interact with Carrot will only grow larger. As it sits right now, she's already got lots of witty responses.

If you're the type that needs to be reminded to do something, maybe even with some attitude, Carrot may just be for you.

$0.99 - Download Now

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/VaBJnGYlC2Y/story01.htm

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UFC on Fox 6?s fighters are happy to fight in their own backyard

CHICAGO -- UFC on Fox 6 is packed with homegrown talent. Clay Guida, Mike Russow and Ricardo Lamas all grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. Anthony Pettis is from nearby Milwaukee. Eric Koch was raised in Iowa, then moved to Milwaukee and trains with Pettis. The card has a noticeably Midwestern feel, and the fighters are happy about fighting so close to their own backyard.

For Guida, there is an extra thrill in fighting Hatsu Hioki at the United Center. Growing up in Johnsburg, Ill., he watched the Bulls dominate the 90s from that arena, and later, saw the Blackhawks win their first Stanley Cup in 53 years. Guida was at the Blackhawks' home opener on Tuesday night, and it's quite moving for him to get to compete in the same place.

"I've been going to sleep with an even bigger smile on my face knowing that I get to fight in the friendly confines, the Madhouse on Madison, you're going to see the true definition of the madhouse. I get chills every time I think about it," Guida said.

"To be able to perform in that stage, the house that Jordan built, and [Scottie] Pippen, and John Paxson and Bill Cartwright, and all these guys, the six-time champion Chicago Bulls, the former Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, it's an honor. To see my dad and my aunts and uncles and that this is where they watched those teams, I'm kind of at a loss for words for it."

Lamas wrestled and coached at Elmhurst College, a division III school in Chicago's west suburbs. The wrestling team was so excited about Lamas' fight in Chicago that they made a change to their schedule.

"They have a meet in Wisconsin, it was a quad," Lamas said. "They canceled two of the matches so they can make it back in time for my fight. My head coach, my old coach, they're all going to be there."

But that doesn't add any pressure to Lamas.

"Honestly, it makes me feel more comfortable being at home, being surrounded by people I'm familiar with. If anything, it makes me more comfortable and will help me perform better on Saturday night."

Koch will face Lamas and his large cheering section, but he's hoping to draw energy from his own fans.

"Chicago, I know this is Lamas' hometown, but I'm right down the road. It's not a problem for me. It feels like an old school fight. It feels like a local fight, like I used to drive in Iowa," Koch said.

Koch was slated to face Jose Aldo in a title fight in July, but an injury took Koch out of the match. The title shot went to former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. No matter who is in the crowd, Koch is focused on getting his title shot back.

"I used to fight in front of my family all the time. I used to have big crowds for cheering for me. It doesn't bother me. I'm here to get my title shot back."

Pettis, who will fight Donald Cerrone, sees the extra fans in the crowd as no different from the ones who fill his sports bar in Milwaukee.

"I fight on pay-per-view on my sports bar back home. Every time my bar is filled up for my fights. I don't think it's more pressure, I'm going to feel more relaxed knowing my family is in the audience. Afterwards, they can celebrate with me."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-fox-6-fighters-happy-fight-own-backyard-152428326--mma.html

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