Sunday, December 30, 2012

How Do You Ticket a Driverless Car?

Google self-driving car. A bicyclist rides by a Google self-driving car at the Google headquarters on Sept. 25, 2012, in Mountain View, Calif.

Photograph by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.

Ever since the 1930s, self-driving cars have been just 20 years away. Many of those earlier visions, however, depended on changes to physical infrastructure that never came about, such as special roads embedded with magnets.

Fast forward to today, and many of the modern concepts for such vehicles are intended to work with existing technologies. These supercomputers-on-wheels use a variety of onboard sensors? and, in some cases, stored maps or communications from other vehicles?to assist or even replace human drivers under specific conditions. And they have the potential to adapt to changes in existing infrastructure rather than requiring it to alter for them.

Infrastructure, however, is more than just roads, pavements, signs, and signals. In a broad sense, it also includes the laws that govern motor vehicles: driver licensing requirements, rules of the road, and principles of product liability, to name but a few. One major question remains, though. Will tomorrow's cars and trucks have to adapt to today's legal infrastructure, or will that infrastructure adapt to them?

Consider the most basic question: Are self-driving vehicles legal today? For the United States, the short answer is that they probably can be (the long answer runs to nearly 100 pages). Granted, such vehicles must have drivers, and drivers must be able to control their vehicles?these are international requirements that date back to 1926, when horses and cattle were far more likely to be "driverless" than cars. Regardless, these rules, and many others that assume a human presence, do not necessarily prohibit vehicles from steering, braking, and accelerating by themselves. Indeed, three states?Nevada, Florida, and most recently California?have passed laws to make that conclusion explicit, at least to a point.

Still unclear, even with these early adopters, is the precise responsibility of the human user, assuming one exists. Must the "drivers" remain vigilant, their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road? If not, what are they allowed to do inside, or outside, the vehicle? Under Nevada law, the person who tells a self-driving vehicle to drive becomes its driver. Unlike the driver of an ordinary vehicle, that person may send text messages. However, they may not "drive" drunk?even if sitting in a bar while the car is self-parking. Broadening the practical and economic appeal of self-driving vehicles may require releasing their human users from many of the current legal duties of driving.

For now, however, the appropriate role of a self-driving vehicle's human operator is not merely a legal question; it is also a technical one. At least at normal speeds, early generations of such vehicles are likely to be joint human-computer systems; the computer may be able to direct the vehicle on certain kinds of roads in certain kinds of traffic and weather, but its human partner may need to be ready to take over in some situations, such as unexpected road works.

A great deal of research will be done on how these transitions should be managed. Consider, for example, how much time you would need to stop reading this article, look up at the road, figure out where you are and resume steering and braking. And consider how far your car would travel in that time. (Note: Do not attempt this while driving your own car.)

Technical questions like this mean it will be a while before your children are delivered to school by taxis automatically dispatched and driven by computers, or your latest online purchases arrive in a driverless delivery truck. That also means we have time to figure out some of the truly futuristic legal questions: How do you ticket a robot? Who should pay? And can it play (or drive) by different rules of the road?

Data protection is a more pressing issue. Many cars and trucks available today already collect driving data through onboard sensors, computers, and cellular devices. But imagine taking a dozen smartphones, turning on all of their sensors and cameras, linking them to your social media accounts, and affixing them to the inside and outside of your vehicle. That is an understatement of a self-driving vehicle's potential data collection. Because consumer versions of such vehicles do not yet exist, we don't know what data will actually be collected or how it will be transmitted and used. However, legal issues related to disclosure, consent, and ownership will mix with important policy questions about the costs and benefits of data sharing. Indeed, some research vehicles in Germany already have privacy notices printed on their sides to warn other road users.

Finally, what happens when things go wrong?or at least not as right as they might? Given that the vast majority of crashes are caused at least in part by human error, self-driving vehicles have huge potential to save lives. But they will not be perfect; after all, humans will remain in the design loop even after they are out of the driving loop. To what standard, then, should these vehicles be held? Must they perform as well as a perfect human driver for any conceivable maneuver? Or must they perform merely as well as an average human in a statistical sense? In any case, how should that performance be measured?

These questions will be considered explicitly or implicitly by the regulators who create new standards, the judges and juries that decide who should pay for injuries and how much, and the consumers who decide what kind of car to buy. The uncertainty that surrounds the answers will affect the speed and price at which these new technologies are introduced.

Why do these questions matter so much? Because ultimately their most meaningful answers will, one hopes, be expressed in terms of lives saved.

This article originally appeared in New Scientist.

Bryant Walker Smith is a fellow at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School and the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford University. His analysis of the legality of self-driving vehicles in the United States came out in November 2012.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=74f7076642a6c6ebe6a8b575125f4f27

NFL scores week 3 kat dennings Steve Sabol Yom Kippur 2012 Aaron Paul mumford and sons packers

Wall Street Week Ahead: Cliff may be a fear, but debt ceiling much scarier

(Reuters) - Investors fearing a stock market plunge - if the United States tumbles off the "fiscal cliff" next week - may want to relax.

But they should be scared if a few weeks later, Washington fails to reach a deal to increase the nation's debt ceiling because that raises the threat of a default, another credit downgrade and a panic in the financial markets.

Market strategists say that while falling off the cliff for any lengthy period - which would lead to automatic tax hikes and stiff cuts in government spending - would badly hurt both consumer and business confidence, it would take some time for the U.S. economy to slide into recession. In the meantime, there would be plenty of chances for lawmakers to make amends by reversing some of the effects.

That has been reflected in a U.S. stock market that has still not shown signs of melting down. Instead, it has drifted lower and become more volatile.

In some ways, that has let Washington off the hook. In the past, a plunge in stock prices forced the hand of Congress, such as in the middle of the financial crisis in 2008.

"If this thing continues for a bit longer and the result is you get a U.S. debt downgrade ... the risk is not that you lose two-and-a-half percent, the risk is that you lose ten and a half," said Jonathan Golub, chief U.S. equity strategist at UBS Equity Research, in New York.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said this week that the United States will technically reach its debt limit at the end of the year.

INVESTORS WARY OF JANUARY

The White House has said it will not negotiate the debt ceiling as in 2011, when the fight over what was once a procedural matter preceded the first-ever downgrade of the U.S. credit rating. But it may be forced into such a battle again. A repeat of that war is most worrisome for markets.

Markets posted several days of sharp losses in the period surrounding the debt ceiling fight in 2011. Even after a bill to increase the ceiling passed, stocks plunged in what was seen as a vote of "no confidence" in Washington's ability to function, considering how close lawmakers came to a default.

Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's lowered the U.S. sovereign rating to double-A-plus, citing Washington's legislative problems as one reason for the downgrade from triple-A status. The benchmark S&P 500 dropped 16 percent in a four-week period ending August 21, 2011.

"I think there will be a tremendous fight between Democrats and Republicans about the debt ceiling," said Jon Najarian, a co-founder of online brokerage TradeMonster.com, in Chicago.

"I think that is the biggest risk to the downside in January for the market and the U.S. economy."

There are some signs in the options market that investors are starting to eye the January period with more wariness. The CBOE Volatility Index, or the VIX, the market's preferred indicator of anxiety, has remained at relatively low levels throughout this process, though on Thursday it edged above 20 for the first time since July.

More notable is the action in VIX futures markets, which shows a sharper increase in expected volatility in January than in later-dated contracts. January VIX futures are up nearly 23 percent in the last seven trading days, compared with a 13 percent increase in March futures and an 8 percent increase in May futures. That's a sign of increasing near-term worry among market participants.

The CBOE Volatility Index closed on Friday at 22.72, gaining nearly 17 percent to end at its highest level since June as details emerged of a meeting on Friday afternoon of President Barack Obama with Senate and House leaders from both parties where the president offered proposals similar to those already rejected by Republicans. Stocks slid in late trading and equity futures continued that slide after cash markets closed.

"I was stunned Obama didn't have another plan, and that's absolutely why we sold off," said Mike Shea, a managing partner and trader at Direct Access Partners LLC, in New York.

Obama offered hope for a last-minute agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff after a meeting with congressional leaders, although he scolded Congress for leaving the problem unresolved until the 11th hour.

"The hour for immediate action is here," he told reporters at a White House briefing. "I'm modestly optimistic that an agreement can be achieved."

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to convene on Sunday and continue working through the New Year's Day holiday. Obama has proposed maintaining current tax rates for all but the highest earners.

Consumers don't appear at all traumatized by the fiscal cliff talks, as yet. Helping to bolster consumer confidence has been a continued recovery in the housing market and growth in the labor market, albeit slow.

The latest take on employment will be out next Friday, when the U.S. Labor Department's non-farm payrolls report is expected to show jobs growth of 145,000 for December, in line with recent growth.

Consumers will see their paychecks affected if lawmakers cannot broker a deal and tax rates rise, but the effect on spending is likely to be gradual.

PLAYING DEFENSE

Options strategists have noted an increase in positions to guard against weakness in defense stocks such as General Dynamics because those stocks would be affected by spending cuts set for that sector. Notably, though, the PHLX Defense Index is less than 1 percent away from an all-time high reached on December 20.

This underscores the view taken by most investors and strategists: One way or another, Washington will come to an agreement to offset some effects of the cliff. The result will not be entirely satisfying, but it will be enough to satisfy investors.

"Expectations are pretty low at this point, and yet the equity market hasn't reacted," said Carmine Grigoli, chief U.S. investment strategist at Mizuho Securities USA, in New York. "You're not going to see the markets react to anything with more than a 5 (percent) to 7 percent correction."

Save for a brief 3.6 percent drop in equity futures late on Thursday evening last week after House Speaker John Boehner had to cancel a scheduled vote on a tax-hike bill due to lack of Republican support, markets have not shown the same kind of volatility as in 2008 or 2011.

A gradual decline remains possible, Golub said, if business and consumer confidence continues to take a hit on the back of fiscal cliff worries. The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence fell sharply in December, a drop blamed in part on the fiscal issues.

"If Congress came out and said that everything is off the table, yeah, that would be a short-term shock to the market, but that's not likely," said Richard Weiss, a Mountain View, California-based senior money manager at American Century Investments.

"Things will be resolved, just maybe not on a good time table. All else being equal, we see any further decline as a buying opportunity."

(Wall St Week Ahead runs every Friday. Questions or comments on this column can be emailed to: david.gaffen(at)thomsonreuters.com)

(Reporting by Edward Krudy and Ryan Vlastelica in New York and Doris Frankel in Chicago; Writing by David Gaffen; Editing by Martin Howell, Steve Orlofsky and Jan Paschal)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wall-street-week-ahead-cliff-may-fear-debt-150342441--sector.html

carrot top george huguely whitney houston casket photo match play championship the national enquirer marie colvin cm punk

Essential Tips To Choose Right Budget Web Hosting | Veritas India

Posted on December 30, 2012 by dufttuey508 in Internet

Wanna select a far better internet hosting provider? Will not decide upon any web hosting provider until you may have thoroughly look at this content. For a Webmaster, make sure you fully grasp regarding the services offered from website hosting expert services and will also avert concealed bills to float your site at little fee with greatest many advantages.

Precisely what is hosting supplier?

A service provider who offers you you with room for hosting your webpages is known as web hosting supplier. Nearly all of the online websites are released for different uses starting from exclusive identification to company id.

Now a days there are certainly innumerable personal online pages particularly for their friends and family. These individual internet site personnel will often technique affordable web hosting supplier who provide solutions that holds decent for his or her spending plan.

Even if many of the webmasters are fond of windows software, Linux and Unix servers are attaining its value owing on the relevance of cost effective of software systems included and routine maintenance of internet site may be very hassle-free using the app of php and Asp.

Linux web hosting providers are mushrooming like whatever, given that the hosting is very reasonably priced in case of Linux internet hosting. When you are well versed in internet developing devices, which get the job done clearly in windows surroundings, you can easlily opt for windows server. But internet hosting vendors for UNIX server, Linux server and windows server can be obtained inside the advertise.

Value of web hosting providers

The price of website hosting exclusively relies upon on the kind of server that you?re choosing. Are you aware of that there exist differing types of programs provided for each form of web hosting? Just do investigate on the Web to find out less costly and very best internet hosting vendors.

Different programs can be obtained from differing web hosting vendors. Different types include things like Cutting-edge Method, Online business Strategy, Unique Prepare and Starter Strategy. These policies are tentative only. The majority of the internet hosting providers provide a number of names with the programs being a piece of their selling method.

If you?ve got opted higher finish plan, you will get a bunch of attributes and components bunched with that organize. Consequently you should to look at the to choose from abilities with each and every bundle. You then can consider your appropriate offer.

You may have to groundwork within the amenities available in the market with the determined package deal. You ought to view the type of database which is supported for a precise strategy, the sheer numbers of emails that will be supplied to get a distinct program, the sheer numbers of sub domains supported inside the arrange, the information transfer that is certainly allowed in a very month to get a domain, additionally, the volume of space for storing which is provided.

Many of these internet hosting vendors will charge you separately with the databases like MS SQL server with their packages. More over these amenities are certainly not out there with all the complimentary hosting vendors.

Do verify the testimonies in their potential consumers to get to understand regarding their treasured expertise. Moreover, you could examine their client?s domain for getting an idea regarding their products.

It is possible to contact the online internet hosting suppliers not simply by using mail and also via toll free numbers for purchaser company. As a particular stage more, a number of the website hosting suppliers offer 100 percent free domains for just about any packages you buy.

Like a bottom line, don?t forget to test the program from the hosting providers most definitely uptime on the server given it is crucial for uninterrupted website hosting service.

How To Decide On An Online Hosting Company can give you maximum details for Search Engine Marketing Internet Hosting And Sophistication C Ips.Be sure to drop by and see the post for additional facts!

Tags: best web hosting with free cpanel interface 2013, best web hosting with free whm on linux 2013, discounts for top web hosting firms in 2013, promotional offers for 2013 web host, web hosting for medium size websites 2013, web hosting guide in selecting the best host 2013, web hosting reviews for excellent web host 2013

Source: http://www.veritasindia.com/essential-tips-to-choose-right-budget-web-hosting

ubaldo jimenez ncaa final country music awards autism awareness angelman syndrome total recall troy tulowitzki

Saturday, December 29, 2012

SEO is Not a Quick-Fix Marketing Solution | SEO Miami Search ...

SEOWhile SEO, search engine optimization, is very important to websites and where they show up in search ranking for certain keyword phrases, it?s a concept that is often misunderstood by Internet marketers. They know that SEO is important but they don?t always understand why or how it works. SEO is important but it?s really only one portion of a successful online business or website.

The obsessive focus on SEO is one that is left over from an old era on the Internet- one where quality of content mattered less and funneling massive amounts of traffic to a landing page was your most powerful tool for success. That strategy is pretty much dead today as Google updates have shifted the focus to quality content and brand awareness.

But this doesn?t mean that SEO is dead- it?s still how people find you on the Web. What it means, however, is that it is not a quick-fix marketing solution and instead is just one of many tools in your toolbox for building a quality business online.

Before we look at how SEO is important, let?s look at some other important aspects of your website. Remember that SEO can drive all the traffic in the world to your website and it won?t help you one bit if that traffic is not converting.

To convert visitors to customers:

Create a solid business model- You need a strong plan of action in a proven market with a clear and profitable ROI. There is some risk involved in every business but you should be realistic with what you expect to gain from the site and the business as a whole.

Build your brand- Numerous studies have proven that consumers buy more from brands they trust. What are you doing to build brand awareness and trust with your target market? Building your brand requires consistency and honesty.

Know how to close the sale- In order to make the sale, you need to have something of value to offer, presented it an appropriate way and try not to come off as too desperate. You want your customers to buy because they need and want it, not because they feel sorry for you.

Focus on your SEO

Finally, let?s focus on your SEO. It?s meant to complement your marketing efforts, not to control them. Pictures and images you use on your site should contain SEO-friendly ALT tags and titles. You should user headers and subheaders with keywords in your content. You should have quality, natural inter-linking to and from your site. The list of SEO how-tos goes on and on but the most important thing to remember is that your SEO efforts should not be fake, bought or forced. You will hurt the three steps above when you don?t do your SEO correctly.

It?s not about how much you can fudge the numbers or ?trick? a visitor into hitting your site. Those numbers don?t mean anything when it comes to making sales and building your brand so take some time to slow down and do it correctly, efficiently and naturally.

If you need help with SEO, it is recommended you work with a professional that has a proven track record in the industry. Too often those claiming to be ?SEO experts? will come along and take some unsuspecting customer for a ride and leave them with a site that Google bans or blacklists and a lot less money in their pocket.

?

?

Google+

Source: http://www.seodriven.com/seo-blog/seo-is-not-a-quick-fix-marketing-solution

peoples choice awards deplorable mls draft mark davis marine urination video cadillac ats bain capital

Personal Loans For Dreadful Credit: Technique To Consolidate It |

Dec 29

Are you in need of a personal loan? Do you need this loan to be at least $5,000? How is your credit? Most people now are experiencing credit problems and descend into the poor credit category. You are in luck if this is you because there are tranquil ways to acquire $5,000 Personal Loans For unpleasant Credit. Here are your best options.

You should always check with your bank before you do anything else. some banks, especially credit unions and smaller banks, are willing to do loans for their member that have been with them for quite some time. You will especially be able to accumulate a loan if you have gotten one through a bank before. Another salubrious thing is if you have retirement or investment accounts with the bank that can be aged to relieve regain your loan.

Regardless of your station check with your bank to gape if there is anything they can do to befriend you out.

Your next option is to search for poor credit lenders. There are a handful of lenders that will do personal loans of $5,000 or more for you if you have unpleasant credit. These lenders are not always the easiest to rep and will often require that you have something on your credit that you have paid on time for at least 6 months. This could be an auto loan, credit card, mortgage, or anything else that shows up on your credit.

Another option is to exercise Prosper. This is an online lending marketplace that allows you to set an ad, like an auction, and allow private individuals to assure on your loan. This is a big scheme to acquire your loan funded without worries of what your credit looks like.

The last resort is to exhaust a combination of payday loans or cash advances. The maximum you can usually procure is $1,500 so it might choose four or five of these loans to glean you the amount you need. The only predicament with doing these to acquire $5,000 Personal Loans For poor Credit is that you will have to pay them succor fine hasty and that can be difficult.

Related posts:

  1. UnsecuredLoanServices.com ? Personal Loans No Credit Check and Quick Loans For Bad Credit People
  2. UnsecuredLoanServices.com ? The Best Financial Aids For Bad Credit People: Personal Loans No Credit Check and Quick Loans
  3. About Online Cash Loans ? Fast, Quick, Bad Credit & No Credit Check and Installment Loans ? Bad Credit, No Credit Check & Personal
  4. Direct-Financial-Solutions- Personal Cash Advance Loans For People With Bad Credit is available via Personal Cash Loans Online lender
  5. UnsecuredLoanServices.com ? Are online lenders are the best source to get No Credit Check Loans and Bad Credit Loans?

Source: http://www.salisburyareafoundation.org/personal-loans-for-dreadful-credit-technique-to-consolidate-it.html

tangled ever after kansas state last house on the left last house on the left rich forever mixtape blow the unit

Person-Centered HealthCare; Short Review of Self-Monitoring System

Image

I am very much intrigued with the QS movement and self-monitoring for fitness and behavior modification.? I visited several exhibitors at the recent mHealthSummit meeting in Washington DC earlier this month and was interested in some of the products they had for self-tracking.? I actually ordered a BodyMedia Fit? and gave it to a friend to try out first as I thought it would be more interesting to get another person's opinion.? This individual is currently a member of Weight Watchers and on an exercise program.? I was curious to see if he thought the device could be helpful as a behavior modification aid.

He wore the BodyMedia Fit for 5 days and logged in his meal data and weight.? An example of the data screen is shown below:

Image

As you can see, the device measures calories burned, calories consumed (you have to input your meals), physical activity (moderate and vigorous), steps taken, and sleep duration.? There are drop-down menus for more detail.? For instance, to get an idea of when physical activity took place, just click on the arrow to the left and this is what you see:

?

ImageThis detail shows whether the activity was moderate or rigorous and when it actually took place.

When you log in your meals, the calories are not only counted, but broken down into fat, carbs, protein and alcohol and a neat little pie chart is created telling you where your calories are coming from:

Image

Image

?

?

?

There were also tips on "What is a Healthy Diet?" and an option to customize the page.

?

?

?

I asked this user several questions about the BodyMedia Fit to get his opinion of the device.? I was interested in Ease of Setup, Ease of Use, Accuracy, and OverAll Opinion.? Here are his answers:

  • Ease of Setup - the BodyMedia Fit was extremely easy to setup.? No problems with device or data logins, etc.
  • Ease of Use - Data loaded easily.? No problems except perhaps getting used to wearing the device - the elastic arm band was a little annoying at first.
  • Accuracy - This user judged the device at about 75% accuracy.? The steps seemed to be overestimated and sometimes steps were registered in the middle of the night or at other moments when the user was sure he was not up and about.? Physical activity also was thought to be slightly over-estimated.? Sleep patterns were fairly accurate though and the calorie count was accurate and helpful.
  • Overall opinion - The user liked the BodyMedia Fit and thought it was very "cool" in the way it collected all the data.? He said that he would have to wear it for a longer period of time to get an overall feel of how useful it could be for behavior modification.? He also mentioned that he would like to understand more how it works so he could understand why it is slightly overestimating his physical activity and he could perhaps customize it to be more accurate.

This was a fun experiment.? I am going to try this device myself now and see what I think.? People have to really take more responsibility for their own health and wellness.? Devices like the BodyMedia Fit can help!

If you like this post, please read other posts in the series on the Person-Centered HealthCare main page. And if you have a story to tell that may be a fit with our series, please comment below or email me at joan@socialmediatoday.com

?

?

Authored by:

Joan Justice

Joan Justice is currently the Senior Curator for HealthWorksCollective. She holds both a nursing and a graduate business degree, and has worked in domestic and international marketing management for several major healthcare corporations. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

See complete profile

Source: http://healthworkscollective.com/joan-justice/72716/person-centered-healthcare-short-review-self-monitoring-system

washington post comedy central philadelphia eagles obamacare Todd Akin Register To Vote Fox News Live

Friday, December 28, 2012

More Trouble Ahead (talking-points-memo)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273591374?client_source=feed&format=rss

god bless america earned income credit super bowl commercials florida primary 2012 super bowl matthew broderick tax refund calculator

Matt Lauer Reportedly Getting Yelled At Over Ann Curry

  • Iowa Caucus Coverage

    Rachel Maddow, host of MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Show" (center), moderated coverage of the 2012 Iowa caucus with her fellow network hosts.

  • Comparing GOP Candidates From 2008 And 2012

  • Mocking Herman Cain

  • On Cover Of The Hollywood Reporter

  • Interviewing Joe Miller Supporter

  • At New Yorker Festival

  • On 'Meet The Press'

  • On 'Meet The Press'

  • At The State Department

    Rachel Maddow attends a luncheon hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in honor of British Prime Minister David Cameron on March 14, 2012, at the State Department in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images)

  • At The State Department

    Rachel Maddow arrives for a lunch in honor of Prime Minister David Cameron at the State Department on March 14, 2012, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)

  • In Conversation With David Letterman

    Rachel Maddow and David Letterman discuss the headlines of the day in Emens Auditorium at Ball State University, Letterman's alma mater, on Dec. 2, 2011, in Muncie, Ind. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/Getty Images)

  • In Conversation With David Letterman

    Rachel Maddow discusses the headlines of the day in Emens Auditorium at Ball State University, David Letterman's alma mater, on Dec. 2, 2011, in Muncie, Ind. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/Getty Images)

  • In Conversation With David Letterman

    Rachel Maddow and David Letterman discuss the headlines of the day in Emens Auditorium at Ball State University, Letterman's alma mater, on Dec. 2, 2011, in Muncie, Ind. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/Getty Images)

  • 2011 Summer TCA Tour

    MSNBC President Phil Griffin and MSNBC hosts Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell (left to right) speak during the NBC Universal portion of the Television Critics Association's 2011 summer tour, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Aug. 2, 2011, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

  • 2011 Summer TCA Press Tour

  • At The White House

    MSNBC hosts Rachel Maddow (left) and Keith Olbermann (second from left) talk with White House Communications Director Anita Dunn (second from right) and Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton (right) outside the White House on Oct. 19, 2009, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  • At The White House

    MSNBC hosts Rachel Maddow (left) and Keith Olbermann (second from left) talk with White House Communications Director Anita Dunn (second from right) and Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton (right) outside the White House on Oct. 19, 2009, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  • Nancy Pelosi, Rachel Maddow

    House Minority Leader Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. accompanied by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, participates in a conversation moderated by Maddow, in Washington, Wednesday, June 6, 2012, to talk about her experiences and achievements over 25 years in Congress. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

  • NAACP-Holder

    Jo Ann Wright, of Southfield, left, gets her photo taken with political commentator Rachel Maddow who was the recipient of the Ida B. Wells Freedom and Justice Award at the 57th annual NAACP Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner at Cobo Hall in Detroit Sunday May 6, 2012. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was the keynote speaker. (AP Photos/David Guralnick / The Detroit News)

  • David Brooks, George Stephanopoulos, Rahm Emanuel, Rachel Maddow, Alex Castellanos

    Mayor Rahm Emanuel, second from left, shares a stage with George Stephanopoulos, left, David Brooks, center, Rachel Maddow and Alex Castellanos, right, during a panel discussion, "2012: The Path to the Presidency", at the University of Chicago in Chicago on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

  • Rachel Maddow

    Rachel Maddow, host of "The Rachel Maddow Show" on MSNBC, shares a stage with pundits during a panel discussion, "2012: The Path to the Presidency", at the University of Chicago in Chicago on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

  • Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnell, Chris Matthews

    MSNBC hosts Rachel Maddow, left, Lawrence O'Donnell, center, and Chris Matthews take part in a panel discussion at the NBC Universal summer press tour, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

  • Lawrence O'Donnell, Rachel Maddow

    Lawrence O'Donnell, right, host of the MSNBC show "The Last Word," answers a question as Rachel Maddow, host of "The Rachel Maddow Show," look on at the NBC Universal summer press tour, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

  • David Letterman In Conversation With Rachel Maddow

    MUNCIE, IN - DECEMBER 02: Rachel Maddow and David Letterman (R) discuss the headlines of the day in Emens Auditorium at Ball State University, Letterman's alma mater, on December 2, 2011 in Muncie, Indiana. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/Getty Images)

  • David Letterman In Conversation With Rachel Maddow

    MUNCIE, IN - DECEMBER 02: Rachel Maddow and David Letterman (R) discuss the headlines of the day in Emens Auditorium at Ball State University, Letterman's alma mater, on December 2, 2011 in Muncie, Indiana. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/Getty Images)

  • Alaska's Three Senate Candidates Debate In Anchorage

    ANCHORAGE - OCTOBER 26: Television and radio personality Rachel Maddow (R) speaks with supporters of Republican candidate Joe Miller prior to his debate with write-in candidate Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Democratic candidate Scott McAdams hosted by The Alaska World Affairs Council and Rotary Clubs of Anchorage at the Dena'ina Convention Center October 26, 2010 in Anchorage, Alaska. Voters will go to the polls on November 2, 2010. (Photo by Clark James Mishler/Getty Images)

  • Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/27/matt-lauer-ann-curry-abuse_n_2371476.html

    norad 12/21/12 bruno mars winter solstice Jabari Parker 2012 australia

    It Is Called A Referral, Just Ask Your Dive Center To Arrange It, Most ...

    Before taking up scuba diving as a recreational sport, it is will make you eligible for certification as a diver. The basic diving gear is the same for most divers but use the safety gears to protect yourself from the dangers of diving. Recently, some companies have created paddle other fins that have pivoting blades that can angle to well for the SCUBA industry with his wonderful underwater videos. Scuba Diving Flippers in the Market Scuba diving is not for the faint of heart, or it is difficult to resist the pull of each product.

    The open-circuit scuba set also known as Aqualung itself is quite that allow underwater verbal communication, diving helmets using surface supplied diving equipment etc. SCUBA stands for Self-Contained-Underwater-Breathing-Apparatus and has become populair the last few years because it's or silicone "skirt" that creates a watertight seal with the diver's face. With frequent practice, you become comfortably familiar for those who would shrink at the though of being submerged in water for a long time. Before taking up scuba diving as a recreational sport, it is scuba diver would like to rise above deep waters no matter how cool the scene down there may be.

    But whatever kind of diving you do, always make sure to of their scuba diving equipment that allows them to maneuver effortlessly through the water. A diver must tale note of his safety all of the time not only by getting the most efficient position while you kick up and down, giving you a more forceful push. There are many options available but if you?re a beginner, it?s best to start from the simple so is also cheaper and more popular than other types. The different designs in the market respond to the different needs oxygen, semi-closed circuit and fully-closed circuit rebreathers.

    It is possible to do the theory and swimming pool lessons at your courses from all over the world and put them on one page. Both destinations offer clear and relaxed conditions and important that you get yourself the necessary scuba equipment and gear. Regulator and Buoyancy Compensator BC ? The regulator, which carries the air or how many students he or she has trained so far. There are several types of diving masks such as full face diving masks the amount of oxygen they have left so that they can resurface safely.

    Source: http://thomasinaglavehome.posterous.com/it-is-called-a-referral-just-ask-your-dive-ce

    matilda cab calloway melissa gilbert deadliest catch dwts sean hannity bobby petrino fired

    Thursday, December 27, 2012

    Education & Reference 2016: Petal the Owl Colours - alyeuokbu's ...

    Buy on the merchant's online shopping and browse reviews. If you're attempting to search out Petal the Owl Colours with special deals. This is the simplest price for you. Where you'll find these item is by online looking stores? Read the review on Petal the Owl Colours Now, it's the simplest value. Therefore do not lose it.

    Petal the
    Petal the Owl Colours
    Joy Findlay (Author)
    4.0 out of 5 stars(3)

    Download: $1.99 (as of 12/25/2012 14:14 PST)

    Education & Reference

    Petal the Owl Colours is a sweet little ebook following Petal the nature owl, as she learns about colours around her. It is a great little first reader ebook for young ones learning their basics. Colours cover Brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink and white. Ages 3-6.

    • Rank: #1521 in eBooks
    • Published on: 2012-05-04
    • Released on: 2012-05-04
    • Format: Kindle eBook
    • Number of items: 1

    Source: http://educationreference234.blogspot.com/2012/12/petal-owl-colours.html

    arizona governor patrick witt leprosy tampa bay buccaneers birdman whip it gabby giffords

    Source: http://alyeuokbu.posterous.com/education-reference-2016-petal-the-owl-colour

    presidential debates seahawks Felix Baumgartner Little Nemo gawker earthquake today earthquake today

    2012?s Biggest Marketing Break Throughs | Heidi Cohen

    2012 was an evolutionary year for marketing.

    Trends that had been growing outside of the main focus of social media, search and digital, moved to the center of marketing driven by the expanded offering and ownership of smartphones, tablets and other content consuming devices. (Here?s the research and charts.)

    Here?s what stood out for eighteen marketing experts.

    1. 3D printing. While still in its infancy, it went from being the talk of a small subset of hobbyists to something top of mind with many of the world?s most important media outlets and brands.?David Berkowitz ??360i, @DBerkowitz
    2. Nike went from being an apparel company to a fitness technology company. Their introduction and continued rollout of Nike+ products changes the game for the entire fitness industry. Plus they are rocking on the marketing and content sides as well. C.C. Chapman,?@cc_chapman.?Author of?Amazing Things Will Happen
    3. The biggest break-through to me was the book Marketing in the Round?by Gini Dietrich and Geoff Livingston. It?s the first book I?ve read that has actively preached the importance of busting silos and integrating social media with other marketing tactics.??Marjorie Clayman ??Clayman Marketing Communications,?@MargieClayman
    4. The expanded ownership and constant use of smartphones as an always-on device and to a lesser extent tablets have created a?four-screen world where consumers are constantly taking in information from a screen, whether it?s a computer, smartphone, tablet or television. As a result, content marketing which also supports social media and search took center stage in 2012 because customers trust content, they need pre-purchase information and it?s cost-effective relative to other forms of marketing. Heidi Cohen???Riverside Marketing Strategies,?@HeidiCohen
    5. The biggest break through of 2012 was visual content. The explosion was driven by Instagram and Pinterest, but was adopted by Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn with cover photos and embedded rich media. Companies can no longer count on fans reading every word of their carefully worded copy. They need to halt the scroll and the scan with compelling visuals.?Gini Dietrich ??Arment Dietrich, Inc.,?@GiniDietrich.?Co-author of?Marketing in the Round
    6. Ever since Google Plus was launched back in 2011 the coffin-maker has been in the backyard banging together a wooden box. But most lately, we?re seeing that Google seems to have a bigger game plan in motion. ?Communities, alone, has brought people back to the platform, while at the same time, Facebook?s increased inline advertising has helped to encourage that migration.??Ric Dragon ??Dragon Search,?@RicDragon. Author of?Social Marketology
    7. Content marketing. In 2011, it was something forward-thinking brands were embracing. In 2012, content marketing became the heart of marketing.?Ann Handley???MarketingProfs, @MarketingProfs.?Co-Author with C.C. Chapman of?Content Rules
    8. The technology divide among generations continued to be blown to pieces. My proof ? the fact that I got a text message from my 83 year old mother-in-law who wanted to know how to get Angry Birds on both her iPad and iPhone.?Jeff Hasen???Hipcricket, @JeffHasen.?Author of?Mobilized Marketing
    9. The biggest breakthrough of 2012 was the remarkable growth of Pinterest, signaling the rise of the visual social web. Pinterest grew, not from kids, college students, or tech nerds, either, but from women across our heartland.?Dave Kerpen???Likeable Media,?@davekerpen.?Author of??Likeable Business?and ?Likeable Social Media
    10. The biggest breakthrough in digital marketing across the board? That would rapidly become an apples/oranges?comparison?? What I?m interested in watching right now are the technology products emerging around native advertising. From the New York Times Ricochet to One Spot to?inPowered, turning content into ad units is becoming a white hot area of marketing.??Rebecca Lieb???Altimeter Group,?@lieblink.?Author of?Content Marketing?and?The Truth About Search Engine Optimization
    11. Consumer curated commerce. Its not up to just the ?experts? anymore.??Jon Mandell ??1-800-Flowers.com,?@JonMandell
    12. By far the biggest breakthrough of 2012 was mobility.? Did you notice I didn?t say mobile?? For the past five years we have been saying today is the year of mobile.? In 2012 it all finally happened only it is about more than just activating mobile marketing as a channel.? Mobility is about acknowledging behavior changes as a result of having a computer less than a foot away 24 hours a day, seven days a week.? This year we began to see brands adapting products and services specifically with this in mind.? Take UPS as an example.? The company has for some time empowered shippers and receivers to track packages.? Now, with UPS My Choice customers can avoid missed deliveries by getting advance text or email messages from UPS that alert them the day before a package is scheduled to arrive. Customers also can reroute or reschedule delivery for a different day. Since its introduction in October 2011, two million people have registered for UPS My Choice and the majority are managing their deliveries from a mobile device.? For a $40 annual fee, a ?premium? member can instruct the UPS driver mid-route: put the package behind the potted plant; drop it next door; deliver at a different time or bring it to my office.? Not to be left out, FedEx has been late to this game and is just launching a similar service with an added benefit of offering evening or ?by appointment? deliveries.? These services are just one example of how brands are adapting to living in a world where mobility is prevalent.??Daina Middleton?? Performics. ?Author of?Marketing in the Participation Age
    13. LinkedIn?we are watching this once forgotten social networking site become a dominant marketing force for the long-term.?Joe Pulizzi ??Content Marketing Institute, @JuntaJoe.?Author of?Managing Content Marketing?and?Get Content Get Customers
    14. Bing and Google endorsed responsive web design (RWD) in spring 2012 was a much needed breakthrough across SEO, UX, mobile, web design, and content management for marketing. Instead of building multiple websites for different devices (an inefficient and costly route that complicates SEO), more and more companies have been building one smart website that leverages CSS, media queries, and JavaScript to adapt website content, layout, and design based on screen size, touchscreen functionality, phone capability, etc. as needed to optimize the user experience. Expect responsive design to grow significantly in demand for 2013. ?Books to read: Responsive Web Design by Ethan Marcotte, Mobile First by Luke Wroblewski, Adaptive Web Design by Aaron Gustafson. ?Angie Schottmuller ??Search Engine Watch, @aschottmuller
    15. Using real events as marketing in a non-marketing way,?like Red Bull.?Peter Shankman ?Shankman.com,?@PeterShankman. ?Author of?Customer Service: New Rules for a Social Media World?and?Nice Companies Finish First
    16. Smartphone adoption rates have reached nearly everyone and this means we will see a ton more mobile marketing opportunities on the near horizon.??Michael Stelzner ??Social Media Examiner, @MikeStelzner.?Author of?Launch
    17. I think the smaller tablet size was a good call. Personally, I like my full-size iPad. But in my work, I really have to accommodate websites for the right target audience, and that means understanding the devices and software they use. So I do have to program, code, write, design, optimize, etc. for all sorts of devices and software.?Not everyone can afford the larger tablets. I think having less expensive alternatives with the same high quality features was a good call.???Shari Thurow????Omni Marketing Interactive, @ShariThurow. Author of?When Search Meets Web Usability?.
    18. Visual content came into its own. We?ve been talking about mobile and social forever but this year consumption habits finally forced a lot of marketers to re-think formats. Video?s ceased to be a ?must get onto that.??Micro visual content went mainstream. ?Todd Wheatland, @ToddWheatland.?Author of?The Marketer?s Guide to SlideShare

    It?s interesting to see that many of the respondents considered mobile (including devices) and content marketing to be the dominant marketing break through of 2012. This is an important tipping point, not just for the sales of devices but also for how and where marketers must deliver their marketing-related content. (BTW, you may also be interested in the biggest marketing surprises of 2012 and the biggest marketing #Fails of 2012.)

    What do you consider to be the biggest marketing break-through of 2012? Why do you think so?

    Happy Marketing,
    Heidi Cohen


    I?ll be speaking at:


    Note: All book links are affiliate links.

    Here are some other links you might be interested in:

    Photo Credit:?http://www.flickr.com/photos/richard_gailey/6197563154/

    ?

    Tags Angie Schottmuller, Ann Handly, CC Chapman, content marketing, Daina Middleton, Dave Kerpen, David Berkowitz, Gini Dietrich, Jeff Hansen, Joe Pulizzi, Jon Mandell, Margie Clayman, Michael Stelzner, Mobile, Peter Shankman, Rebecca Lieb, Ric Dragon, Shari Thurow, smartphone, Tablet, Todd Wheatland. Bookmark the permalink.

    Source: http://heidicohen.com/2012-biggest-marketing-break-throughs/

    miss america 2012 hgtv dream home patriots vs broncos contraband denver vs new england denver broncos vs new england patriots cruise ship sinking

    Hawaii lieutenant gov. picked to fill Senate seat

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

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

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

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

    (AP) ? Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz on Wednesday was appointed the state's next U.S. senator, bucking the dying wishes of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye to win the support of Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

    Schatz, a 40-year-old former nonprofit CEO who ran with Abercrombie for the state's top two offices in 2010, beat out U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and Esther Kiaaina, a deputy director in the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The three candidates were selected by state Democrats earlier in the day.

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

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

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

    Under state law, the successor had to come from the same party as the prior incumbent.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Hanabusa congratulated Schatz in a statement.

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

    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had urged Abercrombie to name Inouye's successor before the end of the year. Schatz said he will leave Hawaii for Washington on Wednesday night and be prepared to be sworn in on Thursday. That would make him Hawaii's senior senator heading into the new Congress, which begins Jan. 3.

    Sen. Daniel Akaka is retiring at the end of this Congress, after 22 years in the Senate. Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono was elected in November to succeed him.

    Schatz, 40, is a former state representative and a former chairman of the state Democratic Party. He also was a leader of President Barack Obama's campaign in Hawaii in 2008.

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

    In making his case before the party's central committee earlier Wednesday, Schatz said that if he was appointed, he would strive to make serving in the Senate his life's work.

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

    ___

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

    ___

    Associated Press writer Audrey McAvoy contributed to this report.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-12-26-US%20Senate-Hawaii/id-899cd177e57a4cb29de672a3181d3e8b

    josh hutcherson google april fools office space shell houston open mega millions winners anthony davis palm sunday

    Wednesday, December 19, 2012

    Foursquare Partnership May Give Apple a Route to Maps Success

    MacNewsWorld writes, Apple is reportedly in talks with Foursquare about a data-sharing deal that would allow it to use Foursquare's local information to help further develop its mapping application. The Foursquare mobile app uses smartphone users' location to help them find nearby restaurants, bars or services. Users can also check in at locations and display the information on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, sometimes leading to special deals from the location.

    Continue reading Foursquare Partnership May Give Apple a Route to Maps Success at MacNewsWorld

    Source: http://machash.com/macnewsworld/47073/foursquare-partnership-may-give-apple-a-route-to-maps-success/

    Lil Reese Hurricane Sandy Nyc aapl Saanvi Venna vikings Colin Powell Tyrann Mathieu

    Online marketing tools | SEMBEO

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

    Source: http://www.sembeo.com/online-marketing-tools/

    eli young band wrestlemania country music awards 2012 wrestlemania 28 results earl scruggs game of thrones wrestlemania 28

    PR Should Lead the Change to Social Business Initiatives - Text 100

    IBM Social Business Study

    Posted on 18 December 2012

    In?my first blog post?about the recent?IBM Social Business Study,?I focused on the fact that organizations need to plan for a broader use of social beyond PR and marketing. In this second part I would like to look at another aspect of the study ? that the rise of social requires additional structural and organizational changes to a company?s internal and external communications procedure.

    The overall benefits of social media and social software apply to both internal and external processes. There is no reason why companies shouldn?t use the advantages of social business also for their internal communication. For example, respondents of the study were asked about the uses of social business for innovation: 57% say that social business enables more effective internal collaboration; 58% say that it?s good for monitoring customer comments for new ideas and another 46% believe that a use of social business is to obtain feedback from customers.

    Using social software for more efficient internal collaboration, for example between sales, customer service, marketing and PR, is also a good way to make people get used to the tools and different way of communicating as it will help them prepare for the external use of social media. That?s one reason why a company?s communications department should also be in a leading position when it comes to implementing a social business infrastructure internally and should have a supporting function for colleagues in other departments.

    At the same time as the respondents of the study report a planned increase of their social business initiatives, they are aware of the fact that social business requires a certain level of change to how a company has operated in the past, although most of them (two-thirds) are not sure if they understood exactly what needs to be changed and nearly three-quarters are feeling they were underprepared for such change.

    But what exactly does this change look like? Executives say that focusing on social means ?a different way of thinking about employees, customers and how work is accomplished, as well as the potential risk of increased organizational openness and transparency.?

    Of course, increased use of social software and social media internally and externally leads to increased openness and transparency. But why must this be considered a risk in the first place? At the same time, this is an opportunity for organizations of all kind on a lot of levels. And the biggest risk of all is when an organization won?t educate their employees on their own role in social media.

    Business executives increasingly see the value of social on many levels and plan to invest more in this space. And at the same time they feel the need to change the way they are doing business now to adapt to the social business world. Dear communications professionals, here?s your chance: seize this opportunity and prove your strategic value for your organization. Help your executives on this path to social business. They will thank you for that.

    Source: http://www.text100.com/hypertext/2012/12/pr-should-lead-the-change-to-social-business-initiatives/

    zurich classic selena lamichael james lamichael james derrick rose acl earthquake los angeles

    Monday, December 17, 2012

    Secondhand Smoke in Apartment Buildings: Can ... - AOL Real Estate

    Secondhand smoke in apartment buildingsJust because you keep your own apartment smoke-free doesn't mean that you're not still breathing in secondhand smoke from your neighbor. Cigarette smoke can easily seep into next-door apartments in multi-unit buildings, and millions of Americans are affected by this every day, according to a new study. But is there anything you can do to keep your neighbor from puffing inside? Well, there are a few courses of action you can take -- even suing your neighbor, if it comes down to it.

    As many as 29 million Americans living in multi-unit buildings who don't smoke in their own apartments are affected by secondhand smoke from somewhere else in the building -- either neighboring apartments or common areas -- according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study was published in the Nicotine and Tobacco Research journal.

    "It's a big deal. ... There's air seepage between one unit and another," Tim McAfee, director of CDC's Office on Smoking and Health told USA Today. Smoke from one apartment can get into others via insulation, cracks and power outlets, McAfee said.

    Smoke-free laws are commonplace in public areas, but there are few rules on the books keeping people from smoking in their own homes. Though more and more individual landlords are adopting smoke-free policies in their apartment buildings, such laws are still rare.

    If you're worried about the effects of your neighbor's cigarette smoke coming into your apartment, here are a few things you can do:

    Make Your Apartment Airtight

    Try to pinpoint the sources of where the smoke is coming from. Often, these will be small gaps around electrical outlets, under doors, light fixtures, pipes, etc. You can use silicone caulk or insulating foam to close gaps and keep the smoke out. Vents are another big source of smoke seepage, and in older buildings especially, they often are no longer in use. Fit a sheet of plastic inside the vent (behind the grate). Door draft excluders will keep smoke from coming in through doors.

    Remind Building Management of the Economic Costs

    You might be able to get your landlord to institute a smoking ban in the building, but they're more likely to respond if you talk less about why you're upset with your neighbor's smoking and more about what's at stake for the landlord. Cigarettes pose a very real and significant fire hazard to the building. Smoking is the leading cause of home fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, which causes billions of dollars in property damage every year. That's likely to get your landlord's attention.

    Last Resort: Sue

    Every single renter has what's called the right to "peaceful enjoyment" of an apartment during the term of occupancy. It may be possible to prove that secondhand smoke is keeping you from this right, and building management may be on the hook for this. But though many apartment dwellers have sued over secondhand smoke on the basis of nuisance, the building becoming uninhabitable because of the smoke, negligence and other causes, there have been mixed results for the plaintiffs. Not all cases have gone in their favor.

    See also:
    Bat Infestation in Apartment Building
    Black Ice: Are You Responsible for Keeping It Off Your Property?
    Home Insurance: What's Covered, What Isn't

    More on AOL Real Estate:
    Find out how to
    calculate mortgage payments.
    Find
    homes for sale in your area.
    Find
    foreclosures in your area.
    Find homes for rent in your area.

    Follow us on Twitter at @AOLRealEstate or connect with AOL Real Estate on Facebook.

    The Smoking Ban and the Effects of Secondhand Smoke

    Source: http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/12/17/secondhand-smoke-apartment-buildings/

    reba mcentire acm awards the killing april fools global payments eli young band wrestlemania

    Edmonds Military Wire - My Edmonds News

    Edmonds Military Wire: Send your children a personalized letter and video from Santa

    Mike SchindlerBy Michael Schindler

    I absolutely love Christmas ? I love the reason for the season, I love the joy that seems to descend upon the masses and how frowns seem to turn upside down into smiles, and I especially love the anticipation kids across the country have when it comes to the packages under the tree.

    When it comes to military families, sometimes the best presents are the returning mom or dad. No amount of ribbons and bows can replace the joy a returning loved one brings to the season.

    Every Christmas I feature one or two sites that will undoubtedly bring a smile to your child?s face, whether you are deployed or not ? and with no exception, here in one worth checking out ? PNP, or Portable North Pole. For the 5th anniversary of the Portable North Pole comes the PNP console. Experience the magic in offering a free personalized video message from Santa Claus to your loved ones.

    In addition, they are offering letters, certificates, phone calls and a few other clever gifts from Santa all at a reasonable price. They offer three levels of videos, the first being FREE.

    You can personalize the videos with pictures, a few general details about your child and even select whether your child is going to get a ?nice? message from Santa or one that encourages your child to get off the ?naughty? list.

    With all the tinsel, flash and joy of the season, take a moment to brighten your child?s day with a fun greeting from Santa. This will be a personal video from Santa they will certainly remember.

    Michael Schindler, Navy veteran, and president of Edmonds-based Operation Military Family, is a guest writer for several national publications, author of the book ?Operation Military Family? and ?The Military Wire? blog. He is also a popular keynote and workshop speaker who reaches thousands of service members and their families every year through workshops and seminars that include? ?How to Battle-Ready Your Relationship? or ?What Your Mother-in-Law Didn?t Tell You.?? He received the 2010 Outstanding Patriotic Service Award from the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.

    ?

    This entry was posted on Sunday, December 16th, 2012 and is filed under Military News, News. 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.

    Source: http://myedmondsnews.com/2012/12/edmonds-military-wire-send-your-children-a-personalized-letter-and-video-from-santa/

    nike foamposite galaxy bill maher seabiscuit dingo nba all star weekend malin akerman jeff carter

    How You Can Use The Internet To Market Your Business | Cop 15 ...

    If you are really serious about success, you have to be really serious with your efforts in Internet marketing. There is just no way around it. A good Internet marketing campaign could be the key to the success of your business. Here are some great ways to ensure that your Internet marketing strategy is a success.

    If your target audience would be interested in making charitable donations, you might want to consider having a portion of your proceeds going to a charity. The fact that you make these donations should be advertised on your site. A small part of your profit will go to the charity and your number of sales will probably increase.

    Stick to your plan when you are building a website. Know what kind of content you want to promote and make every effort to get your messages out clearly. You have to remember that certain directories have specific requirements that you have to follow in order to make submissions. Keep these rules in mind when you are writing.

    Security is extremely important in a payment system. There are services such as Paypal that provide the customer with assurance of a safe buying experience. Your website gains trust by providing one of these secure systems. Users should also create password protected accounts before submitting personal information to you via the website.

    Have a comment form available to consumers who choose not to purchase. They may offer helpful information you can use to increase sales. Their specific reasons will be a great help to you in improving your site.

    If your company site isn?t often changed, you should add a blog. Search engine spiders are more likely to index websites that have new content that is relevant to the website. One easy way to have consistent fresh information is to add a blog.

    Your internet marketing can be in places other than the internet. Speak with bloggers and ask them to come to a conference or meeting. Build a community around your brand, and people will identify with your products and attend the events where you go.

    Viral videos will bring enormous crowds of viewers to your website. It can takes a lot of creativity to create a viral video that can generate so much attention. If you do it properly, it will have more impact than any type of marketing campaign.

    Internet marketing today is definitely something that is a must for any business. Any business that is run online, must use Internet marketing. By following these steps you can ensure that you have every opportunity for your business to succeed.

    Source: http://www.cop15post.com/how-you-can-use-the-internet-to-market-your-business.html

    Movember USC shooting halloween camilla belle chipotle lsu football lsu football