You're Fired Because ... Well ... Hmmm

Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith watches the action during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 30, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan.

Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images

For the second year in a row,?Slate?and?Deadspin?are?teaming up for a season-long NFL roundtable. Check back here each week as a rotating cast of football watchers discusses the weekend's key plays, coaching decisions, and traumatic brain injuries. And?click here to play the latest episode of?Slate?s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen.

Romeo Crennel, Chan Gailey, Andy Reid, Pat Shurmur, and Norv Turner were fired on Monday for the usual reasons that coaches get fired. All of these guys either led franchises to horrible records (Crennel), disappointed their pitchfork-waving fan bases one too many times (Turner), led their franchises to horrible records and disappointed their pitchfork-waving fan bases one too many times (Reid), or coached in Buffalo/Cleveland (Gailey/Shurmur). Really, this could?ve been Black Monday 2011 or Black Monday 2010 or Black Monday 1812.

Then came word that Bears coach Lovie Smith got pink-axed as well. (This hot new term is catching on, I can feel it!) Since making the Super Bowl after the 2006 season, Smith?s Chicago teams have missed the playoffs in five of the last six years. Fair enough, that?s how NFL coaches are evaluated. Or, it would?ve been fair enough if Smith and the Bears had missed the playoffs in the typical way?say, by going 8-8, as they did last year. But this season, Chicago went 10-6. In two of those losses, quarterback Jay Cutler didn?t finish the game (against Houston) or didn?t play (against San Francisco) due to a brain injury. Frontline players like Brian Urlacher, Tim Jennings, and Lance Louis also missed games down the stretch as the Bears tailed off after a 7-1 start. Even so, Chicago would?ve made the postseason if the Packers had beaten the Vikings on Sunday. But Green Bay lost, making the Bears the sixth team with 10 wins or more to miss out on the playoffs since they expanded to 12 teams in 1992.

Lovie Smith, then, was fired after leading a team to a record better than that of last year?s Super Bowl winner because a bunch of teams he didn?t coach happened to have good seasons. Also, he failed to prevent Jay Cutler from getting a concussion.

When a coach gets fired because of things he can?t control, bloodthirsty fans will almost certainly explain it away by saying he?s bad at the things he can control. At least by the accounts of Bears facepainters, Smith was bad at all the little things that get on fans? nerves, like timeout and challenge-flag deployment?the exact same stuff that supposedly makes Andy Reid unworthy of his Hall of Fame mustache. It?s not quite as dumb to blame a coach for misusing his timeouts as it is to run him out of town because the Packers couldn?t stop Adrian Peterson. Still, fans only talk about niggling things like clock management when their teams are losing. I?m guessing that Smith?s ability to tell time didn?t get worse as the season dragged on, nor did it cause Brian Urlacher to get hurt. It?s an excuse, not a cause, a transparently drummed-up charge on the order of canning a guy you don?t like because he took three pens from the supply closet.

This is what we know about Love Smith. His defenses are always great. His special teams units have had an amazing run of success?according to Football Outsiders? metrics, they?ve been in the top four of the NFL for the last seven seasons. His offenses have been mediocre. Add that all together, and you?ve got a coach who?s well above-average, one who could perhaps benefit from some better personnel on the offensive line and a run of good health for his star players.

There are 16 games in an NFL season. 10-6 is a very strong record, and teams with that mark or worse have made the Super Bowl in four of the last five years. Four of Chicago?s six losses came by one score or less. You can blame Lovie Smith for that, or the fact that some dude in Moline washed his lucky shirt at the halfway point of the season. Each of those excuses would make just as much sense.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=afca82293f7da73916ebd52c445170e0

power ball april fools pranks livan hernandez soledad o brien mega ball lottery winner lottery numbers

African Union head visits Central African Republic

By
HIPPOLYTE MARBOUA
Associated Press

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) - The leader of the African Union, Benin's President Thomas Boni Yayi, has proposed a government of national unity to resolve the rebel conflict in Central African Republic.

Boni Yayi arrived here Sunday to try to find a negotiated resolution to the country's crisis. The president of the African Union met with President Francois Bozize and then made an appeal to the rebels.

"I beg my rebellious brothers, I ask them to cease hostilities, to make peace with President (Francois) Bozize and the Central African people," said Boni Yayi at a press conference in Bangui, the capital. "If you stop fighting, you are helping to consolidate peace in Africa. African people do not deserve all this suffering. The African continent needs peace and not war."

Boni Yayi said that Bozize had pledged to have an open dialogue with the rebels with the goal of establishing a government of national unity, which would include representation from the rebels and the Bozize government.

Bozize also addressed the conference and said, although he plans to stay in power until his term ends in 2016, he is not against having the rebels enter a coalition government with him.

"We'll probably be able to set up a national unity government. I apologize to the suffering Central African people," said Bozize. "It is a message of peace to my brothers of Central African Republic, "said Bozize.

The African Union's leader arrived in Bangui when many feared there would be a fight over the capital, Bangui, a city of 600,000.

According to several families in Bangui, members of the Presidential Guard have kidnapped people suspected of supporting the rebels who have seized 10 cities in the country's north over the past three weeks.

A rebel spokesman, Col. Juma Narkoyo, warned Bozize: "We warn the head of state and his family to stop abducting our parents. They have nothing to do with it. If he wants to solve its problems, he comes to meet us on the ground. We expect firm feet. " H0e said that a dozen people have already been arrested in Bangui.

On his arrival in Bangui, Yayi Boni had a private meeting for more than two hours with Bozize in the VIP lounge of Mpoko airport, which is secured by French troops.

So far Boni Yayi has no meetings scheduled with rebels or with the democratic opposition.

Boni Yayi's diplomatic effort comes as France has deployed an additional 180 troops to protect its interests.

The French reinforcements arrived Sunday from nearby Gabon, bringing the total French military force in the capital, Bangui, to nearly 600, Col. Thierry Burkhard told The Associated Press Sunday. The troops are to protect French residents in the capital, which many fear will be attacked by the rebels.

As fears mounted that the rebels would attack Bangui, Bozize imposed a curfew from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Bozize earlier appealed to France for help against the rebels, but French President Francois Hollande's government said it would only protect French interests and would not prop up the Bangui government.

As the rebels have made a rapid advance across the country's north, residents in the capital now fear the insurgents could attack at any time, despite assurances by rebel leaders that they are willing to engage in dialogue instead of attacking Bangui.

On Saturday the rebels seized the city of Sibut, 185 kilometers (114 miles) from Bangui.

Sibut, a key transportation hub, fell without a shot being fired because the Central African Republic army and forces from neighboring Chad had pulled back to Damara, 75 kilometers (46 miles) from Bangui on Friday, said Minister of Territorial Administration Josie Binoua.

Neighboring African countries have agreed to send more forces to support the Bozize government.

Representatives from the 10-nation Economic Community of Central African States, or ECCAS, agreed at a meeting in Gabon Friday to send forces to CAR, but did not did not specify how many troops would be sent or how quickly the military assistance would arrive.

The ECCAS states, with more than 500 soldiers via their regional peacekeeping force in Central Africa, over the weekend warned the rebels to halt their advances.

"ECCAS forces are on high alert, and the city of Damara is the limit not to cross," said Antonio Di Garcia, the ECCAS representative in Bangui. He urged the government forces and the rebels to hold to their current positions and to begin dialogue.????????????

?The ongoing instability prompted the United States to evacuate about 40 people, including the U.S. ambassador, from Bangui on an U.S. Air Force plane bound for Kenya, said U.S. officials who insisted on anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the operation.

The United States has special forces troops in the country who are assisting in the hunt for Joseph Kony, the fugitive rebel leader of another rebel group known as the Lord's Resistance Army. The U.S. special forces remain in the country, the U.S. military's Africa Command said from its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.

The evacuation of the U.S. diplomats came after criticism of how the U.S. handled diplomatic security before and during the attack on its consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11. The ambassador and three other Americans were killed in that attack.

French diplomats have remained in Bangui despite a violent demonstration outside its embassy last week. Dozens of protesters, angry at France's lack of help against rebel forces, threw rocks at the French Embassy in Bangui and stole a French flag.

This landlocked nation of 4.4 million people has suffered decades of army revolts, coups and rebellions since gaining independence in 1960 and remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The current president himself came to power nearly a decade ago in the wake of a rebellion in this resource-rich yet deeply poor country.

Bozize's government earlier reached out to longtime ally Chad, which pledged to send 2,000 troops to bolster Central African Republic's own forces.

The rebels behind the most recent instability signed a 2007 peace accord allowing them to join the regular army, but insurgent leaders say the deal wasn't fully implemented.

The rebels say they are fighting because of their "thirst for justice, for peace, for security and for economic development of the people of Central African Republic." The rebels also are demanding that the government make payments to ex-combatants.

Despite Central African Republic's wealth of gold, diamonds, timber and uranium, the government remains perpetually cash-strapped.

The United Nations Security Council condemned the violence and reiterated its demand that the armed groups "immediately cease hostilities, withdraw from captured cities and cease any further advance towards the city of Bangui."

___

Associated Press Writer Greg Keller contributed to this piece from Paris.

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

Source: http://www.wistv.com/story/20468282/more-french-troops-go-to-central-african-republic

Eddie Murphy died Suzanne Barr Clint Eastwood speech Maria Montessori clint eastwood Julian Castro Blue Moon August 2012

Are Jews same as Israel? Who is a Khazar Jew? Who is Fake? - Dec 30,2012

On his show, Comedian Rodney Perry covers arts and entertainment, everything from comedy and politics to music and acting, with his signature comedic slant.

MashUp Radio is a 30-minute podcast that discusses the fusion of technology, life, culture and science. Host Peter Biddle, engineer and executive for Intel?s Atom Software, dishes up a thought-provoking discussion.

Joy Keys provides her listeners with insight to improve their lives mentally, physically, monetarily and emotionally. Past guests on the show have included Meshell Nedegeocello, Blair Underwood, in addition to an impressive list of CEOs, humanitarians and authors.

Host Barry Moltz gets small businesses unstuck. He has founded and run small businesses with a great deal of success and failure for more than 15 years. This is a business radio show where he shares all the craziness of small business. It?s that craziness that actually makes it exciting, interesting and totally unpredictable.

The Bottom Line Sports Show is hosted by former NBA stars Penny Hardaway, Charles Oakley, Mateen Cleaves. Tune in to get the inside scoop on what's happening in sports today.

Deepak Chopra Radio provides an online forum for compelling and thought provoking conversations on success, love, sexuality and relationships, well-being and spirituality.

Hits Radio covers basketball, sports culture and entertainment with past guests including Jason Kidd, Robin Lundberg and Chris Herren.

Listeners get an earful on The Halli Casser-Jayne Show, Talk Radio for Fine Minds. Whether it?s the current political cocktail or the latest must-read award-winning book, Halli tackles all topics and likes to stir ? and sometimes shakes ? things up.

Official Internet radio show of forthcoming epic paranormal investigation book by Eric Olsen and "Haunted Housewife" Theresa Argie.

Award-winning World Footprints is a leading voice in socially responsible travel and lifestyle. Hosts Ian & Tonya celebrate culture and heritage and bring a unique voice to the world of travel.

Football Reporters Online is a group of veteran football experts in the fields of coaching, scouting, talent evaluation, and writing/broadcasting/media placement. Combined, the group brings well over 100 years of expertise in sports.

Host John Martin interviews the nation's leading entrepreneurs and small biz experts to educate small business owners on how to be successful. Past guests have included Emeril Lagasse and Guy Kawasaki.

The Movie Geeks share their passion for the art through interviews with the stars of and creative minds behind your favorite flicks and pay tribute to big-screen legends. From James Cameron and Francis Ford Coppola to Ellen Burstyn and Robert Duvall, The Geeks have got'em all.

Sylvia Global presents global conversations pertaining to women, wealth, business, faith and philanthropy. Sylvia has interviewed an eclectic mix from CEOs and musicians to fashion designers and philanthropists including Randolph Duke and Ne-Yo.

Seasoned entertainment reporter Robin Milling gets up close and personal with the world's most compelling celebs. From Michael Douglas to Katie Holmes to Kevin Kline to Ashley Judd to America Ferrera, she sits down in person each week with each and every A-lister.

Mr. Media host Bob Andelman goes one-on-one with the hottest, most influential minds from the worlds of film, TV, music, comedy, journalism and literature. That means A-listers like Kirk Douglas, Christian Slater, Kathy Ireland, Rick Fox, Chris Hansen and Jackie Collins.

Paula Begoun, best-selling author of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, separates fact from fiction on achieving a radiant, youthful complexion at any age. She?s regularly joined by health and beauty experts who offer the latest on keeping your skin in tip-top shape.

Source: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/vinesbranch/2012/12/30/be-all-that-god-created-you-to-be

facebook ipo egypt soccer riot mike kelley puxatony phil josh harvey clemons college football recruiting rankings ground hog day 2012

Fuel Fix ? Forecast shows more hybrids, electric vehicles in 2013

(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Six new hybrid vehicle models and eight more plug-ins ?will be offered in auto showrooms in 2013 compared to this year, according to automotive forecaster Alan Baum.

In a recent report released with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Baum noted that the selection of alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles is continuing to expand, even as traditional gasoline-powered cars become more efficient. Even large cars and trucks are getting more miles per gallon of fuel, he said.

?We may not think of the pickup segment in regard to fuel economy, but that?s just what?s?occurring,? Baum said, noting that Chrysler introduced a more fuel efficient version of its Ram this year.

?The automakers are literally in an all-of-the-above strategy,? he said. ?If you want a pickup truck, fine. If you want a little car, fine. If you want a hybrid or electric, that?s OK, too.?

From ?2009 to 2013, the number of hybrid vehicle models offered will have doubled to 50 and the number of plug-ins will have jumped from one to 28, said Luke Tonachel of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Baum said plug-in Honda Accords and Ford Fusions are on the horizon. A Volkswagen Jetta hybrid emerged this year and the Nissan Altima hybrid will appear in 2013, he added.?And there?s a?drive toward offering other fuel-saving technologies, like stop-start ability.

More diesel-powered?vehicles?also are being offered on the U.S. market, generally offering better fuel mileage than their gasoline counterparts, Baum noted.

Automakers? move away from gas guzzlers mean $2.50 a gallon gasoline has become their worst nightmare, he added.

?They have committed their companies to this path and that obviously will be more difficult if gasoline becomes cheap,? he said. ?The people who are buying cars are willing to spend more money and ?understand there is a cost for this new technology, but a payback as well.?

The price of gasoline has been in steep decline since August, dropping to a national average as low as $3.21. Meanwhile, vehicles traveled ?more than a mile farther per gallon in 2012 compared to 2011, Baum said. Between vehicle model years 2012 and 2013, fuel economy will climb another 0.8 percent, he added.

Still, Baum doesn?t expect to see a dramatic change in consumer behavior toward auto sales.

?I don?t think they are at the point where they think this is the norm,? he said of drivers. ?The consumers and automakers continue to believe that the long-term trend for fuel prices is high.?

Source: http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/12/28/forecast-shows-more-hybrids-electric-vehicles-in-2013/

miramonte elementary school mark jenkins super bowl commercials 2012 mia amar e stoudemire m.i.a. adrianne curry

Obama calls lawmakers to last-minute 'cliff' talks

By NBC News and wire reports

President Barack Obama and lawmakers were launching a last-chance round of budget talks days before a New Year's deadline to reach a deal or watch the economy go off a "fiscal cliff."

NBC News has confirmed that Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will meet with House and Senate leaders on Friday afternoon to try to revive negotiations to avoid tax hikes and spending cuts -- together worth $600 billion -- that will otherwise begin to take effect on Jan. 1. ?Scheduled to attend the Oval Office meeting are Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Speaker John Boehner and (R-Ohio), and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Members were divided on the odds of success, with a few expressing hope, some talking as if they had abandoned it, and a small but growing number suggesting Congress might try to stretch the deadline into the first two days of January.

What happens to you if US goes off 'cliff'

In order to be ready to legislate if an agreement takes shape, the Republican-dominated House of Representatives convened a session for Sunday.

And House Majority Leader Eric Cantor advised members to be prepared to meet through Jan. 2, the final day before the swearing-in of the new Congress elected on Nov. 6.

It "doesn't feel like anything that's very constructive is going to happen" as a result of the meeting with Obama, said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). "It feels more like optics than anything that's real."

Politics: Lawmakers brace for blame

The two political parties remained far apart, particularly over plans to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans to help close the U.S. budget deficit. But one veteran Republican, Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona, held out the prospect that if Obama came through with significant spending cuts, Republicans in the House might compromise on taxes.

Reuters contributed to this report.?

More content from NBCNews.com:

Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

?

Source: http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/28/16208030-obama-bringing-lawmakers-to-oval-office-for-last-minute-cliff-talks?lite

the beach blood diamond 8 bit google maps kids choice awards 2012 micah true kansas vs ohio state winning mega million numbers

Intelligentsia: Elevate Your Home Brew | iPhone.AppStorm

Are you looking to perfect your home coffee brewing technique? Intelligentsia, a coffee bar with locations in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, seeks to elevate your coffee experience from bean to cup. These guys don?t just sell coffee, they develop blends working directly with growers and they perform the roasting. With the Intelligentsia Coffee app, you can geek out on coffee by checking out the beautifully illustrated brewing techniques, keeping up with the latest seasonal coffees offered and utilizing the brew timer for ultimate brewing precision.

This smart, sleek app also connects you with Intelligentsia via their twitter feed and maps of all locations (with hours). Share your favorite coffee blends from the app on Facebook and find impressions from other coffee lovers (or leave your own) in the coffee comments.

If you know what a Chemex is or carefully calibrate your coffee grinder for the perfect cup of French Press every morning, the Intelligentsia Coffee app was made for you. Did I mention it?s free?

Like the article? You should subscribe and follow us on twitter.

Getting Started

Open the app and you?ll the home screen is a list of current coffee offerings from Intelligentsia Coffee. In this view you can see the coffee name and its three most prominent flavors (for example: cranberry, fig, vanilla). Tap the button in the top right corner to apply filters to the list. This function allows you to narrow the list by country or flavor, amongst other attributes. Browsing the coffees is fun and all, but doesn?t serve much of a purpose since you can?t purchase them in the app (go to their brick-and-mortar coffee shops or their website).

Home screen on the left, filters on the right.

Dig Deeper

Tap on the coffee to get more information in the form of concise notecards navigated by a swiping motion. The first card expands on the three prominent flavors and includes Intelligentsia quality labels regarding whether or not the coffee is Direct Trade and in Season. The second card shares facts such as bean varietal, date of harvest and country of origin.

Swipe through notecards for more info on the selected coffee.

The third and final card is a menu of options you can tap to select. Find out the long story behind that particular bean, view related photographs, share the coffee on Facebook or by email, view comments from others or add your own. I noticed the Video icon is dead for all the coffees, images can only be seen in landscape mode (the app is oriented in portrait mode) and there don?t seem to be any comments. The comment function is email based, and comes off clunky and dated for such a modern-looking app. It appears that users are ignoring it altogether.

A menu of options on the left. Tap on the photo option and the image loads in landscape orientation, as seen on the right.

The Best Part

Leave the home screen by tapping on another icon at the base of the screen, and you?ll discover the best part of Intelligentsia. A single tap on the Brewing icon takes you to a menu of brewing methods, from vintage Pourover to complicated Siphon Brewer to the approachable French press. Tap on a brewing method for a fully illustrated slideshow on the whole process. This is the meat of the app, complete with lists of all the equipment you?ll need and smart tips that the pros use. Up in the top right corner of the screen you?ll notice a button shaped like a timer with an arrow. Tap it and you?re given the option to set the brew timer. You can then return to the step-by-step guide exactly where you left off.

Scroll through the brewing methods and select one for illustrated step-by-step instructions.

Brew Timer can always be accessed by tapping on its icon at the bottom of the screen. Select a brew method and the time is calculated for you. Leave the app to check your email or answer the phone, and the alert will still chime when your coffee is ready. Certain brewing methods, like the Siphon Brewer, require stirring at regular intervals. Set the timer and it will alert you with instructions on what step to perform. See? It?s more than just a timer ? it?s a smart timer!

Select a brewing method, like French Press, and the Brew Timer calculates the time, alerting you when the brew is ready or if additional steps are required.

The Catch-All Icon

The last icon is About, a random collection of stuff that looks like someone took the About page of a website and incorporated it into the app. Tap on an icon for more information. Only a couple of the icons are truly useful in this mobile setting: the compass and Twitter icon. Tap the compass to access a map of Intelligentsia Coffee locations and hours of operation. Swipe the screen to navigate to the next slide, a description of the shop and neighborhood. There is also the option to open Google Maps in the browser for directions based on your location, assuming you?re connected to the Internet. For the Intelligentsia twitter feed, tap the blue T and find the latest updated news.

The About page is a catch-all of icons, pictured left. Tap the compass for maps and directions to Intelligentsia Coffee shops, pictured right.

The rest of the icons on the About page are for static information. The Intelligentsia logo of a winged coffee bean takes you to a long description of the company?s mission and history. In Season describes the label applied to coffee beans and what seasonality of coffee means. The black and white arrows symbol highlights the company focus on direct trade with growers. Tapping the red emblem brings up information on The Black Cat Project, a pursuit of the perfect espresso.

Conclusion

Intelligentsia Coffee is free, beautifully designed and rich in useful information. I give this app an 8/10, knocking it only because of the clunkiness when it comes to social interaction and sharing. The illustrated step-by-step brewing guides are the best part of this app. No matter how you like your coffee, Intelligentsia has a tip to improve your home brew. The Brew Timer is more than just a pretty face; it?s smart too, alerting you to steps at timed intervals. Even if you don?t live near an Intelligentsia Coffee shop or buy their beans online, this app will seduce you into loving their brand. What coffee lover wouldn?t appreciate a better brew?

?

Source: http://iphone.appstorm.net/reviews/lifestyle/intelligentsia-elevate-your-home-brew/

benson henderson 2012 dunk contest edgar vs henderson berkshire hathaway ufc 144 james jones james jones

OCZ Vector Series VTR1-25SAT3-256G

When OCZ acquired solid-state drive (SSD) controller developer Indilinx, the acquisition was hailed as a positive development for both companies. OCZ is a well-known SSD company with a number of strong products under its belt, while Indilinx built the Barefoot class of controllers that popularized SSDs in 2009 and 2010. The new OCZ Vector Series VTR1-25SAT3-256G is one of the first SSDs to feature the post-acquisition Indilinx Barefoot 3 controller, and it's debuting as OCZ faces stiff challenges from companies like Samsung and Corsair.

OCZ bills the Vector family as the "most extensively and comprehensively tested consumer SSD to date" and claims that the drive controller went through a lengthy validation period, was beta-tested in the field, and that the drive's firmware has been rigorously evaluated. This last is a tacit reference to the problems OCZ had with its Vertex 3 family, which used the SandForce SF2100 drive controller. Early Vertex 3 drives suffered firmware bugs that could cause total data loss. While the issue affected multiple manufacturers, OCZ was one of the first companies to ship the SF-2100; its reputation suffered as a result. With the Vector, the company is taking no chances.

The OCZ Vector drives are available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities; the 256GB model reviewed here is the VTR1-25SAT3-256G. It's a 2.5-inch drive that supports SATA III (sometimes referred to as SATA 6G) ,and it ships with an activation code for a copy of Acronis True Image disk cloning software. OCZ doesn't include a CD, but the software can be downloaded from the company's website.

The 256GB OCZ Vector's performance stands up to the highest-performing competitors on the market. In the AS-SSD benchmark test, the Vector's sequential read rate hit 509MBps, compared with 491MBps for the 512GB Vertex 4 and 429MBps for the 480GB Vertex 3. It's even slightly faster than the recently launched 256GB Plextor PX-256MP, which turned a score of 504MBps.

In AS-SSD's 64-thread 4K read/write test, the 256GB OCZ Vector was a hair slower than the Plextor 256GB M5 Pro. The Plextor unit led, at 362MBps read and 310MBps write, with the Vector nipping at its heels with scores of 358MBps and 304MBps respectively. This is substantially faster than the older Vertex drives; the Vertex 3 hits 276MBps read and 218 MBps write, while the Vertex 4 is at 257MBps and 149MBps. In the past, higher capacity SSDs tended to be faster than smaller units; the Vector's performance suggests this may change with OCZ's latest Barefoot 3 controller.

In PCMark 7, which is designed to reflect real-world performance scenarios, the OCZ Vector, OCZ Vertex 4, and Plextor PX-256MP essentially tie, with scores of 5419, 5430, and 5458. That's a gap of less than 1% between each, which is well within the margin of error. What's notable, in this case, is that the two smaller drive deliver all the performance of the 512GB Vertex 4, without the associated cost of buying this large an SSD.

Random read/write performance is another major strength of the OCZ Vector. In SiSoft Sandra 2012, the Vector's random read/write speeds are 531MBps and 509MBps. The drive's overall performance beats out even the Plextor PX-256MP, which hits 520MBps read, 532MBps write. It's far ahead of the Vertex 3 (427MBps read / 218 MBps write) and Vertex 4 (516MBps read / 149Mbps write).

The drive's price is its only potential weak point. At $269, the VTR1-25SAT3-256G is significantly more expensive than other 256GB drives on the market. The 256GB Plextor PX-256MP has fallen to $219, making it a rather excellent buy. This price premium is unlikely to hold for long; there are too many attractive drives below the $1 per GB mark to give OCZ much room to maneuver.

Once the price comes down a bit, the OCZ Vector could be one of the most popular drives of 2013. The new controller is a significant improvement over the older Vertex 3 and Vertex 4 series. Keep an eye on it until that happens.

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the OCZ Vector Series VTR1-25SAT3-256G with several other hard drives side by side.

More hard drive reviews:
??? Apricorn Velocity Solo X2
??? OCZ Vector Series VTR1-25SAT3-256G
??? Western Digital My Book (4TB)
??? Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive for Mac (3TB)
??? Seagate Backup Plus Portable Drive for Mac (1TB)
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/E4it_srzyfo/0,2817,2413648,00.asp

tim thomas oral roberts les paul fred thompson fred thompson red hook romney tax return

Cowboys' Brent BAC More Than Twice Legal Limit At Time Of Fatal ...

Josh Brent was arrested for manslaughter. (Credit: Getty)

DALLAS (AP) ? Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent was driving with a suspended license and had a blood-alcohol content more than twice the legal limit at the time of the car crash that killed teammate and friend Jerry Brown, according to documents released by police Thursday.

The 24-year-old Brent was tested after the crash in the early hours of Dec. 8 at 0.189 percent, well above the Texas limit of 0.08. One police report said Brent was intoxicated, driving over the speed limit and swerving out of one lane when he struck a curb in Irving, a suburb of Dallas, causing the car to flip over.

The crash report also says Brent was driving with an expired and suspended driver?s license obtained in Illinois, where he pleaded guilty three years ago to driving under the influence, a misdemeanor.

Brown was pronounced dead at a Dallas hospital. Brent was arrested and indicted Wednesday on one count of intoxication manslaughter. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, though he could also receive probation. Brent is free on $100,000 bond and required to wear an alcohol monitor. His attorney, George Milner, did not return a phone message left Thursday morning.

Authorities say they also found an unopened bottle of Cognac liquor in searching Brent?s Mercedes sedan, along with ?multiple receipts? and his iPad and cellphone. Brent and Brown reportedly spent at least part of Friday night at the club Privae Dallas. The iPad and cellphone found in the Mercedes have information ?from the events prior to and during the crash that will aid this investigation,? other warrants said.

The 25-year-old Brown was on the Cowboys practice squad and played with Brent at the University of Illinois. The two men have been described as close friends. Brent has been placed on the NFL reserve/non-football illness list and won?t play again this season.

No court dates in his case have been scheduled.

Heath Harris, the first assistant Dallas County district attorney, said prosecutors hoped to turn over evidence to Milner as soon as possible. He said he wanted to have the case tried ?as quickly as possible.?

?It has the potential to send a strong message about how we feel about our intoxication laws,? Harris said.

(? Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Source: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/12/28/cowboys-brent-bac-more-than-twice-legal-limit-at-time-of-fatal-crash/

sassafras mardi gras 2012 the secret world of arrietty cee lo allen iverson jr smith chris anderson

Severe Weather Will Cause Delays

As the Gulf Coast struggles to recover from an outbreak of tornadoes, millions across the nation are waking up this morning on the busiest travel day of the Christmas season to cope with more severe weather that promises to upset the travel plans of millions.

"Traveling will definitely be affected as people go home for the holidays," Bob Oravec, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service, told ABC News. "Anywhere from the Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley and the Northeast, there's definitely going to be travel issues as we have heavy snow and some very high winds."

That large storm has been pounding not just the Gulf Coast but most of the South from Oklahoma to Arkansas, and Texas, where Dallas had a rare white Christmas.

In Lubbock, Texas, more than an inch of snow fell, making it difficult for some drivers to stay on the road. At Dallas Fort Worth airport, flights have been delayed as crews worked to de-ice planes.

Oklahoma got about 7 inches of snow across the state, making for treacherous road conditions. A 21-car pile-up in Oklahoma City temporarily shut down a major roadway through the state. No one was seriously injured.

Arkansas also got a rare Christmas Day snow storm, with an estimated 10 inches falling on Fayetteville, Ark., limiting roadway visibility.

All of that snowy weather in the South left a white trail everywhere it went, and today it's expected to bring at least six to eight inches to the lower Midwest. Today's severe weather could cause potential delays at airports in St. Louis, Louisville, Ky., Indianapolis and Cincinnati.

In Northern California, residents were socked with the third storm in three days. Wet weather spread from the Bay area through the Sierras and delayed inbound flights at San Francisco International airport, and caused a landslide in Oakland, almost crushing one driver to death.

"I heard the thing bounce kind of directly right off my roof and I feel pretty lucky," storm damage victim John Monaghan told ABC News.

The severe weather system in the South has been pushing overnight, and a front with heavy rain and wind is forecast for the Northeastern corridor late tonight and into Thursday morning.

"The big cities from Washington up to Philadelphia and New York City will mostly be in the form of rain," Oravec said. "There may be a brief period of snow from the nation's capitol this morning up into Philadelphia and then to New York City. But the track of the storm currently suggests that the precipitation will definitely change over to rain."

ABC News Radio contributed to this report

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/severe-weather-cause-travel-delays-093733561--abc-news-topstories.html

madonna super bowl halftime kelly clarkson super bowl giants super bowl 2012 half time show halftime show 2012 kelly clarkson super bowl 2012 ok go

di: home infusion/IV pharmacy/mental health?pt 1

After my week in outpatient counseling, I had my last rotation of 2012! This week is split between three different locations ? where you only spend 1 or 2 days in each place.

Since I was in three different places, I?m going to split this into two posts (so it doesn?t get too long). This is post 1.

The first rotation was 2 days long and was at Walgreens Home Infusion. This is a home IV pharmacy that provides IV medications and nutrition support to patients in their home environment. This is a very profitable business because it saves patients (and insurance companies) to not stay in the hospital for extended amounts of time if they need to continue on certain medications or if they need ongoing nutrition support. It allows patients to have a better quality of life because they can administer these medications/nutrition themselves or through the help of a home health nurse/agency.

Walgreens is one of the few home infusion pharmacies that actually employs RDs. Their DFW office has two RDs on staff, who take care of all the patients this company supports on nutrition support. These patients are receiving ongoing enteral (tube feeds) or parenteral (IV) nutrition ? sometimes for weeks to months, or even up to years to lifelong support. Most of the time, the patients discharge from the hospital with home nutrition support orders. Sometimes the orders may come from an outpatient doctor?s office as well. But regardless, once they are at home these home infusion RDs are responsible for their care.

The job of the home infusion RD is very broad. In some situations, they are the only health care professional who sees this patient for long periods of time. They have to be very proactive and spend a lot of time communicating with doctors about the patient?s status and needs. They really become a patient advocate in many cases.

They will initially provide education to the patients and teach them how to run the nutrition pumps and/or manage their own nutrition support so they can become self sufficient. They will assess the patient over time and adjust their nutrition support if needed. They may advocate for changes to the orders that are originally sent for the patient after their assessment. They check in with patients often and help them manage their home health care. They also travel to patient?s homes and see them in their home environment and help them navigate nutrition support considering in this setting. They will help them to problem solve things like clots in enteral tubes and managing timing of nutrition support with the other priorities in their lives.

While in this rotation, I sat with every member of the home infusion team to understand how everyone works together in a team environment. I saw the intake (new patient) team, the pharmacy techs who compound the IV medications/TPNs, the order specialists who call each enteral patient once a month to obtain their formula and supply orders and the shipment team who take in supplies and then redistribute them in individual packages for each patient.

I obviously also worked with the RDs who taught me about all the pumps and supplies used for nutrition support in the home setting. I received training on how these pumps work and how to teach patients to use them. I also received training from a nurse on all the different forms of IV access into the body and what can be placed in the home by a nurse vs. in the hospital by a doctor.

The best part of the rotation was gowning up and being in the sterile IV compounding room. I worked with a pharmacy tech to make TPNs and other IV medications. It was so awesome to see how TPNs are made and to understand the entire process of how I would write a TPN, to how it gets entered, to how it?s made and then how it?s checked and delivered to the patient?s home.

Home infusion is awesome. These RDs ONLY work with nutrition support and they have a education/counseling component to their job, as well as a business and sales component. I really enjoyed working with these RDs and understanding another area that I could work in one day if I wanted! I definitely will keep home infusion in my mind as a possibility for a combined clinical and business position.

Any questions on home infusion that I can answer? Part 2 will be up in a few days!

Source: http://www.oddduckblog.com/di-home-infusioniv-pharmacymental-healthpt-1/

kate upton Jason Kidd All Star Game 2012 directv rashard lewis curacao curacao

An Interview with Shalimar Ali and her new book ? The Vampire ...

Lately several of my friends have asked me to review their books of help them with promotion via an interview.? I have to admit this book takes an unusual slant on the world of dance?yet having seen the book I have to admit it?s rather interesting.? Here?s the interview.

1.?? ?You?ve Written a book ? The Vampire Dancer Saga.? Seems a strange approach to a book that chronicles dance ? how did you come about that approach and title?? My home was invaded by 3 bats.? Mind you, I am terrified of mice, rats and birds ? so a ?bat? is like a deadly combination of a flying rat.? Triple the terror to me.? But one of the bats got caught in a mouse trap and was injured.? I asked my grandkids to dispose of him outside and they felt sorry for him and thought he showed pain in his eyes.? That incident made me also feel sympathy towards the injured creature and inspired me to think about bats as Vampires.

2.?? ?What is your background as an author?
I finally got my first book published in 2011 ?Learn to Belly Dance Textbook & Certification Program? after 15 years of rejection from publishers.? Following the ?bat? invasion this year, I published The Vampire Dancer Saga in July 2012.

3.?? ?You book is interesting and you certainly take your readers on an exploration of dance.? Why dance and why vampires?? Most of my favorite movies and TV shows are about dance, sci-fi or vampires.? I am a die-hard fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Charmed, anything by Joss Whedon (Firefly, Dollhouse, Serenity), Star Trek, The Vampire Diaries, True Blood, Star Trek, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With the Stars.? You see this LOVE reflected in my books

4.?? ?When you wrote your book, what did you want the audience to gain?? Please don?t? forget about dance history and the previous dancers who made it shine.? Like Eleanor Powell, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, etc.

5.?? ?You reference many dance celebrities in your book.? Which dance celebrity most resonates with you and why?? I grew up with Michael Jackson.? I was totally engrossed with him from the time they began back in 1969.? So much to the point, then when he died, it was like having a distant family member die.? It took me a long time to grieve over Michael.

6.?? ?What do you see as the three primary benefits one would have by reading your book?? Going on a fantasy journey through time.? Learning about Dance History.? And sharing my vivid imagination about ?what if? these dancers participated in this wild adventure.

7.?? ?A number of my readers are in the media, so as we conclude this interview ? what two things would you want them to know about the uniqueness of the book you wrote?? Please imagine this book as a movie or TV Show.? Dance is like a Vampire, in that dance never dies!

The book can be purchased here ? http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Dancer-Saga-Part-ebook/dp/B00AQLOJ96/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1356050603&sr=8-3&keywords=shalimar+ali

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 27th, 2012 at 9:19 am and is filed under Book Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Post navigation

? Previous Post

Source: http://chuckgallagher.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/an-interview-with-shalimar-ali-and-her-new-book-the-vampire-dancer-saga-part-2/

troy miracle andy whitfield kennedy demi moore roy oswalt kevin martin

GLHFCasting ? The Most Affordable Auto Insurance Rates on the ...

Having car insurance is not only required by law, but it can also save you money. There are many advantages to car insurance. Auto insurance will protect your against financial loss, cover damage to your car, pay for your legal responsibility if you are liable in an accident. Auto insurance rates and coverage can vary greatly from company to company, which can lead to aggravating experience. Why not let us do the work for you and give you all your options? Find great car insurance quotes, along with home, renters, and business insurance quotes, by going to our site. Purchasing insurance doesn?t have to be a stressful experience; by using our quote service, it never will be. Compare Insurance Quotes Springfield IL

Source: http://www.glhfcasting.com/the-most-affordable-auto-insurance-rates-on-the-internet-6/

colts colts big ten tournament 2012 dennis quaid bruce weber fired notorious big biggie smalls lyrics

Police union seeks more help for Newtown officers

From left, Town of Ridgefield, Conn., Det. Durling, and Town of Greenwich, Conn., Officer Rivera stand near a memorial in Newtown, Conn. Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. Regional police agencies arrived in Newtown to relieve the local police force for the Christmas holiday. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

From left, Town of Ridgefield, Conn., Det. Durling, and Town of Greenwich, Conn., Officer Rivera stand near a memorial in Newtown, Conn. Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. Regional police agencies arrived in Newtown to relieve the local police force for the Christmas holiday. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Police continue to block the road to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. On Tuesday police officers from elsewhere are on duty, to give local officers a break on Christmas. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) ? Some of the police officers who responded to the school shooting in Newtown are so traumatized they haven't been working, but they have to use sick time and could soon be at risk of going without a paycheck, a union official said Wednesday.

The union, Council 15 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, is seeking more generous assistance in talks with the town's insurer. It is also reaching out to lawmakers and the governor's office with proposals to modify state law and expand workers' compensation benefits for officers who witness horrific crime scenes.

"The insurer for the town has taken a position that these officers are entitled to only what the statute allows. Unfortunately for these officers, the statute doesn't allow any benefits," said Eric Brown, an attorney for the union, which represents nearly 4,000 officers around Connecticut.

A gunman shot his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14 and slaughtered 20 first-graders and six educators. The gunman, who had also killed his mother that morning, committed suicide as police arrived.

Brown said that the number of officers "critically affected" by the tragedy is below 15 and that a small number of them are not currently working.

A spokesman for Newtown police, Lt. George Sinko, said the officers are generally holding up well.

"A couple of them are taking it harder than some of the other ones," he said. "The things that the officers had to experience underscores the need to support them in every way possible."

Officials with the town's insurer, the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Authorities say the victims were shot with a high-powered, military-style rifle loaded with ammunition designed to inflict maximum damage. All the victims had been shot at least twice, the medical examiner said, and as many as 11 times. Two victims were pronounced dead at a hospital, while all others died in the school.

In the past, advocates have pushed to change the statutes on workers' compensation, which currently include provisions for officers who suffer mental impairment as the result of using or being subjected to deadly force ? but not for those who witness crime scenes with mass casualties.

Concerns about the potential cost to cities and towns have been an obstacle, but the issue is likely to resurface in the next legislation session, said state Rep. Stephen Dargan, a West Haven Democrat who is co-chairman of the legislature's public safety committee.

"We don't want it to be used in an abusive way, but the circumstances are so horrific in Newtown. We need to protect those first responders and give them all the help we can give them," he said.

Firefighters who responded to the scene at Sandy Hook also have described struggling with feelings of frustration and anguish, but said they were grateful they were spared from witnessing the scene that greeted police inside the school.

Brown said outside agencies have been meeting demands for counseling services, but it will be important to ensure support is in place over the long term. The officers who are not working also could use up available sick time by early January, he said.

"The emotional loads they're carrying far exceed anything they could imagine," Brown said.

Police have yet to offer a possible motive for gunman Adam Lanza's rampage.

Expansive memorials throughout the small New England town have become gathering points for residents and visitors alike. A steady stream of well-wishers have taken pictures, dropped off toys and fought back tears at a huge sidewalk memorial in the center of Newtown's Sandy Hook section that is filled with stuffed animals, poems, flowers, posters and cards.

Newtown officials plan to convert into a memorial the countless mementos paying tribute to the schoolhouse victims. Thousands of flowers, letters, signs, photos, candles, teddy bears and other items at sites around town will be turned into soil and blocks to be used in a memorial, The News Times in nearby Danbury reported.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-26-Connecticut%20School%20Shooting/id-5d138e8605a4439ea50b2a5ff56828d9

jenny mccarthy espn3 kevin youkilis Tropical Storm Debby legend of korra lebron james magic mike trailer

Cagleonline - Since 2001The Special Education Process And How It ...

Folks who have concerns about a child?s educational or behavioral progress turn to schools to help them determine what?s the best for their child. Likewise, when school personnel notice a child having difficulties maintaining passing grades or appropriate behavior, they?re going to act as a special education advocate and may turn to folks to introduce options for intervention.

In the United States, school districts have programs that may assist folks in determining the appropriate educational placement and interventions for their children with special educational needs. Many mums and dads do not know what these programs do or how they can best assist their child and it can indeed be worrisome. Most interventions will either be categorized as 504 or Special Education.

The term, ?504 program? comes from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This countrywide law protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability outlined as a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits major life activities. If parents or the school can document that a kid has a disability, part of the special education process are interventions that can be designed to help the kid succeed academically. 504 interventions are customarily categorized as ?accommodations.? Examples of disabilities that may be covered under the 504 program include everything from something brief like a broken arm to persistent conditions like dyslexia, ADHD, or diabetes.

Special education schemes fall under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These programs are created for kids who've got a disability that is considered a ?qualifying condition.? Examples of qualifying special education disabilities are blindness, hearing loss, and development delays. Kids receiving special education services will have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) instead of accommodations.

Parents are prompted to visit the government website for IDEA and talk with their local school district to learn lots more about disabilities that fall under both 504 and special education and how they can partner with their school to develop the smartest plan for their child.

Jason Davis is a resident advisor at Ann?s Place in the Woodlands, Texas. Davis goes in depth about the way to be a special education advocate during the special education process for children. His article phenomenally explains how to provide the best care for youngsters.

Source: http://cagleonline.com/the-special-education-process-and-how-it-could-appertain-to-your-kid/

prince johan friso windows 8 logo anguilla gone with the wind michael jordan checkers imbibe

Russell Wilson soars as Seahawks rout Bills 50-17

TORONTO (AP) ? Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks are not only surging toward a playoff berth. They showed they can pile up the points on either side of the border.

A week after a 58-0 win at home against Arizona, Wilson ran for three touchdowns and threw for another in a 50-17 rout of the Bills in Buffalo's annual game in Toronto on Sunday. Wilson's scores all came in the first half.

The Seahawks' opportunistic defense then took over by forcing three consecutive turnovers to start the second half, including safety Earl Thomas scoring on 57-yard interception return.

The 108 combined points over two weeks matched the NFL's third-highest total. The New England Patriots also scored 108 points in consecutive games last month, according to STATS. And the Seahawks became the NFL's third team to score 50 points in consecutive weeks, joining the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants, who both did it in 1950, according to STATS.

In winning for the fifth time in six games, the Seahawks (9-5) inched closer to clinching a playoff berth and still aren't out of the running to win the NFC West. They return home to host division-leading San Francisco in what's become a key showdown.

Wilson, the rookie third-round draft pick, scored on 14-, 25- and 13-yard runs to become the NFL's first quarterback to run for three scores in one half since Daunte Culpepper did it against Chicago on Sept. 3, according to STATS. And Wilson's 4-yard touchdown pass to Zach Miller was his 21st of the season, moving into a tie for second with Cam Newton among NFL rookies. Only Peyton Manning, with 26 in 1998, has more.

Wilson had 92 yards rushing to give him 402 on the season, setting a Seahawks record by passing Rick Mirer, who had 343 yards rushing in 1993. He also went 14 of 23 for 205 yards before giving way to backup Matt Flynn with 5 minutes left.

Wilson ran circles around the Bills (5-9), who were entirely outclassed in being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for a 13th season. That's the NFL's longest active drought. And their performance further raises questions about coach Chan Gailey's job security.

C.J. Spiller scored on a 14-yard run, while Stevie Johnson scored on a 20-yard catch from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

This was an utter meltdown by a Bills defense that had allowed an average of 16.75 points and 254.25 yards offense over its past four games. Buffalo's now allowed 45 or more points three times this season.

The Seahawks scored 31 points on their first five possessions, and 40 points on their first eight, a stretch in which Canadian-born Jon Ryan punted just once.

The Bills rallied by scoring 10 unanswered points in the final 1:10 of the first half to cut the Seahawks' lead to 31-17. But any chances of a comeback ended on Buffalo's first possession of the second half, when Fitzpatrick forced a pass over the middle and was intercepted by linebacker K.J. Wright, who returned it to the Bills 20.

Two plays later, Marshawn Lynch scored on a 13-yard run.

On the next possession, Fitzpatrick had the ball stripped from his hand by defensive end Chris Clemons and the fumble recovered by teammate Bruce Irvin. That led to Steven Hauschka hitting a 33-yard field goal to make it 40-17.

And then it got ugly.

Fitzpatrick turned the ball over a third straight time, when he was intercepted by Thomas. The touchdown was reviewed, and the crowd cheered loudly when referee Scott Green announced that Thomas had caught the ball before it hit the turf.

The announced crowd of 40,770 was well below the downtown domed Rogers Centre's capacity of 54,000.

The Bills dropped to 1-4 in regular-season games at Toronto since the series began in 2008, with their lone win coming last year when they beat Washington 23-0.

The Bills and Toronto-based Rogers Communications are closing in on a deal to extend the series, which expired after this game.

Torontonians might want to reconsider after this. With 5:20 left, fans in one end zone began chanting "Let's Go Blue Jays!"

At least they were entertained by both the Seahawks and at halftime by Korean pop star PSY performed his hit "Gangnam Style" at midfield. Many fans stuck around and stood during the performance, with some doing the dance the song has inspired.

Bills in Toronto series organizers hired PSY to perform in a bid to boost ticket sales for a game that has had difficulty selling out over the previous four years. PSY was greeted by loud cheers and performed in front of a group of cheerleaders and youngsters dressed in blue shirts who all wore PSY-styled sunglasses.

The crowd was slow-arriving and featured a wide diversity of NFL fans. While there were numerous fans dressed in Bills and Seahawks colors, fans were spotted wearing a Steelers' Troy Polamalu jersey, and another wearing a Tom Brady No. 12 Patriots jersey.

The Seahawks wore their third uniforms ? "wolf grey" jerseys and pants with green numbers and names ? for the first time since introducing them this offseason.

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russell-wilson-soars-seahawks-rout-bills-50-17-002102853--spt.html

charles addams pinewood derby cars republican debate tonight tinker tailor soldier spy rich forever rick ross project runway all stars elin nordegren

YouStand Offers Safe Haven for Discussing Tinderbox Topics

I am a Left Leaning Authoritarian -- a person characterized as submissive to authority and who advocates significantly more government regulation, especially in economic behaviors. At least, that is how I have been classified by YouStand, a new social network formed around the notion that people like talking and networking with others who hold similar beliefs.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/269cae64/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C76770A0Bhtml/story01.htm

arbor day mike adams janoris jenkins john edwards trial brandon weeden felicia day nfl 2012 draft

Photography Tips To Get The Most From Your Images

When taking photographs, learning the art of getting a picture perfect moment every time is easy if you know the right tricks. After following the advice found in this guide, you will have a much better understanding of ways to enhance your current abilities, and discover other ways to improve your talents.

Always take more batteries and have a larger memory card than you think you'll need when you are taking your camera on a trip. Memory cards are vastly more inexpensive than just a few years ago, so it's easy to buy a larger memory card than you'll think you need. You never know when you'll happen upon a scene that you'll want to document thoroughly. Throw some extra batteries in your bag too, as you don't want to miss that once in a lifetime shot because your camera ran out of power.

Create the perfect photo! There is no such thing as taking a great shot, unless you just happen to be at the right place at the right time. For all the rest of the times, great images have to be created by you, the photographer. Take the time to set-up the images that you want to shoot.

To experiment with photography, be sure to play around with shutter speeds. A slower speed means the shutter is open longer and can capture motion. Photos of a waterfall with a slow shutter speed would make the water look like one continuous motion. Faster shutter speeds capture action and are frequently used in sports photography. A photo of a waterfall in this example would show every drop of water clearly.

An important tip to consider with photography is to always shoot with the lowest ISO possible. This is important because it assures that you get the most out of your shots. Increased ISO levels will cause distracting image noise, a loss of contrast, and an overall loss in dynamic range.

Price

Remember that bigger names bring about bigger price tags at the store, so always check the specs of a camera and ignore the name brand. Brand X might have everything you need in a camera, but because this item is advertised on TV and in magazines, you'll pay upwards of 40% more for this than the brand Y camera with the same features.

Lighting

Try to plan out all of your shots. You should plan out everything from the subject, to the angle, to the lighting in the area where you will be shooting. Taking a bit of time to plan all of this out, can lead to much better and more interesting photographs.

If you are looking to improve as a photographer, you should begin to shoot anything and everything. Of course, you'll want permission before you snap a shot of your significant other, climbing out of bed in the morning, but you should be out shooting everything to practice with lighting, angles, coverage and other areas of importance.

Play with the shadow of your object. When a shadow is projected on a distorted surface it adopts interesting shapes. You can even have an original shadow become the subject of your photograph. Arrange the lighting and the background to make shadows change and adopt a shape you want to work with.

To get an interesting photograph, play around with the lighting. If the natural lighting is not perfect, do not feel the need to resort to your camera's flash. Play with the shadows on the scene, or move your subject into the light and let the darkness eliminate the background behind them. There are many ways to play with light that might initially seem less than favorable but work out well in the end.

With this newfound information about photography, you are well on your way to taking better shots. You will enjoy spending less time deleting pictures and rustling through the catalog looking for the right picture. Just apply this information to what you already know and watch your photographs come to life.

If you are looking for a professional commercial photographer in Manchester. www.davidburrowsphotography.co.uk covers all aspects of commercial photography.

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/photography-tips-to-get-the-most-from-your-images-307394

elizabeth banks battle royale key largo arnold palmer invitational ryan madson louisiana primary syracuse basketball

Quake of 6.1 magnitude strikes off California: USGS

Driving in the rural town of Veazie, Maine, after midnight, a woman accidentally hits what she thinks is an oversized cat. She puts the unconscious animal in her car and drives several miles. In the town of Bangor, Maine, the cat regains consciousness.?That?s when the...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/quake-6-1-magnitude-strikes-off-california-usgs-105925654.html

kim mulkey sarah palin today show dallas tornado video 1940 census instagram for android dallas news dallas fort worth

Picture your Windows 7 desktop ? Business Management Daily ...

Q. I want my own photos as my desktop background. How do I do that?

A. If you use Windows 7 and want to see your own photos rotating on the desktop, you can make this change easily.

First, get all the pictures you?d like to see on your desktop in a single folder. I recommend simply having a folder in your Picture library called My Desktop. Copy or move your pictures to this folder.

Now, right-click on the desktop and choose Personalize. Choose Desktop Background from the bottom of the dialog box. Click the Browse to find, and select your picture folder.

You can check and uncheck the photos you?d like to see in rotation and at what frequency you?d like to rotate them.

Like what you've read? ...Republish it and share great business tips!

Attention: Readers, Publishers, Editors, Bloggers, Media, Webmasters and more...

We believe great content should be read and passed around. After all, knowledge IS power. And good business can become great with the right information at their fingertips. If you'd like to share any of the insightful articles on BusinessManagementDaily.com, you may republish or syndicate it without charge.

The only thing we ask is that you keep the article exactly as it was written and formatted. You also need to include an attribution statement and link to the article.

" This information is proudly provided by Business Management Daily.com: http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/33729/picture-your-windows-7-desktop "

Source: http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/33729/picture-your-windows-7-desktop

news channel 4 radar weather morosini death jacoby ellsbury jacoby ellsbury lionel richie kenny rogers

Mobile eCommerce ? Guidelines For Getting Into The Mainstream ...

With the advent of smart phones along with the capability of accessing websites and making the desired transactions, a new platform was created known as mobile eCommerce or mCommerce.

The mCommerce revenues are subject to grow in the years to come. There is a drastic increase in the number of mobile devices through which people are making purchases through their phones; this started when the iPhone was launched and it started making waves. At present, there are several prominent smart phone and tablet providers and the count of new devices is specifically increasing. In light of the fact that the mobile internet use has significantly increased since 2009, there is no question that the internet users will have a great focus on mCommerce. This is the phase where everyone is focused on creating a mCommerce strategy that addresses every angle of mobile commerce; this is the best possible way of tapping into the huge potential of smart phones and also getting a better exposure.

Implementing a mCommerce strategy has become complicated with the advent of the first generation of smart phones. Initially, the online store website owners worked on a segmented approach for creating the mCommerce websites to run independently through their flagship websites. Basically, the mobile websites were scaled down in order to fit the smart phone interface. Screen dimensions came into the picture with the introduction of tablets ? something more than a smart phone and something less than a PC / laptop. With respect to the segmented approach, businesses required to maintain three different websites for reaching out to all the platforms; further this meant three different projects and three different sets of costs involved. In terms of cost, it was not just the initial investment but the costs had to be incurred any time on any of the projects that needed maintenance or updates.

What do you get with mobile eCommerce?

Wider Reach

Mobile applications provide with a bigger appeal as the consumers carry their smart?phones every where they go.

Convenient Shopping

Along with the integrated payment solutions, apps make one touch shopping easier from anywhere and at any time. In case the support functions are also integrated into the apps, then it becomes a complete sales solution.

Competitive Edge

By having multiple channels for information and sales, you will surely get a competitive edge over the strong players in the market.

If you are looking ahead at establishing presence in the mCommerce industry that is in the growth phase, here is what you should be asking yourself:

Should you develop dedicated mobile applications?

Most of the mobiles don?t not include the two major attributes ? computing power and desktop storage. Therefore, when a user tries to access a website through a web browser present on the mobile device; it is not an optimal experience. The dedicated mobile applications that are commonly known as ?apps? are customized programs for specific mobile devices. The apps are only able to function perfectly on the basis of the strength of that mobile?s architecture. They provide with a user friendly access to a specific website. In terms of standardization, the desktop computers are on a completely different level. There are many popular platforms used for the functioning of the mobile devices. When it comes to development, maintenance and support of the apps for a large number of mobile devices, this can be an expensive affair.

You will have to take a call based on your expectations from the mCommerce business; this will make your decision easier.

Should you have a separate website for mCommerce?

Even though the best user experience is provided through dedicated apps; a wide range of users will access your eCommerce website through a web browser present on their mobile device. Therefore having a mobile friendly website is extremely important. For the usual website, you might have invested on getting the best website hosting for business for making it look splendid in the browsers however you have to go the extra mile for making it accessible to the mobile phone users as well.

Have you taken the security aspect into consideration?

When it comes to mCommerce, security plays an extremely important role. Any breach in the security can cost a fortune. Even though it?s a fact that security can never be full proof, it is necessary to allocate all the resources for it. In case the security goes wrong, the consequences can ruin the best planned marketing strategy as well.

An Elegant Solution ? A Responsive Design

A responsive design is the most appropriate solution to the challenges presented by the revolution of mobile internet use as it completely eliminates the use of a segmented mobile strategy. With a single responsive design website, you can make it accessible to any device for providing with an optimal user experience. In case of the internet merchants; this means that one eCommerce website can be accessed through computers, tablets, smart phones etc. A responsive website has the capability to analyze the resolution constraints that is associated with every type and size of mobile device.

You might have to make a significant initial investment for creating a responsive design for your website. This might be more than the web hosting platform that you might have invested in for the actual website. With the perfect website design, there is no risk of losing the iPad customers or the Windows phone customers because of the reason that the website won?t fit the dimensions of those devices.

When it comes to an eCommerce website, it?s always better to give your website the edge to reach out to a wide range of people. All you have to do is go the extra mile for ensuring the accessibility in order to become a part of the huge mobile eCommerce revolution.

Related Posts:

Source: http://blog.webhosting.uk.com/web-hosting/mobile-ecommerce-guidelines-for-getting-into-the-mainstream/

Earthquake Costa Rica Clinton speech Michael Strahan Griselda Blanco Michelle Obama Speech eva longoria Rihanna