Monday, January 28, 2013

The Zombie Websites Of Dead Retailers - Business Insider

Many big retailers have died since the rise of the web and e-commerce ? either by being snatched up and killed off by their competition, or by failing to adapt and going bankrupt.?

Even so, a lot of them don't disappear completely. The brands strive on in some form.

At the least, their domain names survive as the last remnant of once-great brands.

So what happens when you plug in the old domain names of these dead retailers?

Well, some of them really are dead, only living through a zombie domain that redirects you to the new owner's site.

Other brands, though, have been resurrected.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/dead-retail-websites-2013-1

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Going Through Tough Times Spurs Consumption Of More High-Calorie Foods, Study Suggests

Stress-eating is most definitely a thing.

A new study in the journal Psychological Science shows that in tough times, people are more likely to seek out high-calorie foods. Specifically, when we're primed with news that we're going through "tough times," that is what leads to the consumption of more caloric foods.

"Now that we know this sort of messaging causes people to seek out more calories out of a survival instinct, it would be wise for those looking to kick off a healthier new year to tune out news for a while," study researcher Juliano Laran, who is an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Miami School of Business Administration, said in a statement.

The study consisted of several experiments. In one of the experiments, study participants thought that they were taste-testing a new kind of M&M -- half of them thought they were testing a new low-calorie M&M, while the other half thought they were testing a new higher-calorie M&M. However, the M&Ms were really the same -- the researchers were actually seeing how many of the M&Ms the study participants consumed after they were exposed to posters that had messages of adversity and struggle, or posters that just had neutral sentences on them.

Researchers found that the study participants who were exposed to the adversity and struggle posters and given the supposedly high-calorie M&Ms ate more of them than those exposed to the same posters but who were given the low-calorie M&Ms. Researchers also did not find an association between M&M consumption and viewing the neutral posters beforehand.

Another thing that could spur people to want more high-calorie food? Not eating breakfast, according to a past study presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Neuroscience. Specifically, that research showed that there is more brain activation in response to high-calorie items when a person has skipped breakfast, compared with when a person ate a morning meal.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/27/tough-times-high-calorie-food_n_2553589.html

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Saturday, January 26, 2013

'Not to be published' Diana photo sells for $18K

This image provided by RR Auction shows a photograph marked "not to be published" of a teenage Diana Spencer before she became Princess of Wales, with a young friend seated beside her. RR Auction in Amherst, N.H., says the photo sold Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 to a real estate investor from San Diego for $18,306, well above early estimates. Stamped February 1981 on the back, the photo was taken around the time Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer ended months of speculation and announced they were to be married. (AP Photo/RR Auction)

This image provided by RR Auction shows a photograph marked "not to be published" of a teenage Diana Spencer before she became Princess of Wales, with a young friend seated beside her. RR Auction in Amherst, N.H., says the photo sold Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 to a real estate investor from San Diego for $18,306, well above early estimates. Stamped February 1981 on the back, the photo was taken around the time Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer ended months of speculation and announced they were to be married. (AP Photo/RR Auction)

AMHERST, N.H. (AP) ? A photo marked "not to be published" that shows a teenage Diana Spencer before she became Princess of Wales has been sold by a New Hampshire auction house for more than $18,000.

The photograph shows a group of friends relaxing during a ski trip, with Diana reclining on a bed, with a young man seated behind her and a bottle of whiskey on the window sill. It was acquired by a British newspaper just after her engagement Prince Charles, but someone at the paper wrote "not to be published" across it, presumably because it would've embarrassed the royal family.

RR Auction in Amherst, N.H., says the photo sold in the online auction Thursday to a real estate investor from San Diego for $18,306, well above early estimates.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-01-25-Diana-Photo/id-3d4cb72501884d4d860cf6c05ac1d060

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Fighting back against citrus greening

Jan. 25, 2013 ? U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists in Fort Pierce, Fla. are helping citrus growers and juice processors address the threat posed by Huanglongbing (HLB), a disease that is costing the citrus industry millions of dollars each year.

Citrus trees infected with HLB, also called citrus greening, usually die within five to 10 years. Fruit on infected trees often falls to the ground before harvest, and fruit that remains on trees may become misshapen and sometimes only partially ripen.

Supervisory horticulturalist Elizabeth Baldwin with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Fort Pierce is investigating the effects of HLB on the taste of orange juice produced from diseased trees. Her goal is to provide help while a permanent solution is found.

She and her colleagues at the agency's U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory evaluated fruit with or without HLB symptoms -- produced over two growing seasons -- for a number of fruit and juice characteristics. They compared Midsweet, Hamlin, and Valencia oranges, the three principal varieties harvested for processing, and used gas and liquid chromatography to analyze juice compounds.

They found that orange juice from the fruit with HLB symptoms was often higher in limonin and nomilin, compounds that can give the juice a bitter taste, but that the compounds were generally below levels that could be detected by human taste panels. Their results were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

In another study, they investigated how HLB infection affects juice quality in the same three varieties of orange with respect to cultivar, maturity, and processing methods. The results showed tremendous variability, depending on the harvest date and variety of orange. In general, the researchers found more of a problem with off-flavored juice from diseased Hamlin orange trees than with diseased trees of the Valencia and Midsweet varieties.

But the researchers concluded that using some fruit that has HLB symptoms would not cause problems in commercial operations as long as fruit with and without symptoms, harvested from several varieties, locations, and seasons, was mixed together. Those results were published in the Journal of Food Science.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by United States Department of Agriculture - Research, Education and Economics. The original article was written by Dennis O'Brien.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zl-SjElU6ds/130125111333.htm

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Friday, January 25, 2013

North Korea makes furious threat to the South

? A daily summary of global reports on security issues.

North Korea today issued yet another verbal volley in response to the United Nations? condemnation of the launching of a satellite late last year, this time directing its threats at South Korea.

Pyongyang?s sharp words have exasperated the international community ? even China, its most critical ally, which voiced its frustration in an editorial today after backing punitive UN measures against the North earlier this week.

Pyongyang warned Seoul that if it signed on to the series of fresh international sanctions against the North, it would retaliate.

"Sanctions mean a war and a declaration of war against us,? the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said today, according to Reuters. "If the puppet group of traitors takes a direct part in the UN 'sanctions,' the DPRK will take strong physical counter-measures against it.?

RECOMMENDED: Kim 101: How well do you know North Korea's leaders?

Earlier this week, the UN Security Council members unanimously condemned Pyongyang?s rocket launch in December and expanded current sanctions. The US followed up with sanctions of its own yesterday, prompting North Korea to threaten additional rocket launches and nuclear tests against the US, its ?sworn enemy.?

Whether there is any substance to these threats is unclear. As The Wall Street Journal notes, ?North Korea often threatens the South with attack without following through with action.?

But South Korean defense ministry officials said this week that they believe the North could follow through with its threat to detonate a nuclear explosive at any time, and US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said that even if there are no signs that a test is forthcoming, "They have the capability, frankly, to conduct these tests in a way that make it very difficult to determine whether or not they are doing it,? according to The Wall Street Journal.

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The Christian Science Monitor?s Peter Grier writes that US officials seem torn over how seriously to take the North?s threats. Mr. Panetta said earlier this month, referring to a North Korean satellite launch in December, that ?North Korea just fired a missile. It?s an intercontinental ballistic missile, for God sakes. That means they have the capability to strike the United States.? His predecessor, Secretary Robert Gates, warned the North could reach the US with a missile by 2015 or 2016.

But, Mr. Grier also writes, ?North Korean officials have long talked with bellicosity unmatched in geostrategic circles.?

Some say that when it comes to their nuclear missile programs, this chest thumping is largely a bluff ? pro wrestling drama translated for an international stage.

Their past missile tests have been maximized to give the appearance of performance, and they have never exploded an actual nuclear warhead design, according to RAND analyst Markus Schiller.

Thus concerns about their missile tests are overblown, wrote Mr. Schiller in a lengthy 2012 report on North Korea?s missile programs.

?Every launch further depletes the limited North Korean arsenals, and North Korea gains no real experience from these events. Since the purpose of the launches seems to be political, the United States and other nations should downplay or even ignore them,? he writes.

China, Pyongyang?s biggest trading partner and most critical ally, has appointed itself the unofficial mediator between the North and the international community. In an editorial, the Global Times asserts that China cannot take sides, nor will it ?stay aloof? from the dispute between the North and South and its international backers.

But in the editorial, Beijing voiced exasperation with Pyongyang?s recalcitrance and provocative actions.

It seems that North Korea does not appreciate China's efforts. It criticized China without explicitly naming it in its statement yesterday: "Those big countries, which are obliged to take the lead in building a fair world order, are abandoning without hesitation even elementary principles, under the influence of the US' arbitrary and high-handed practices, and failing to come to their senses."

?

China's role and position are clear when discussing North Korea issue in the UN Security Council. If North Korea engages in further nuclear tests, China will not hesitate to reduce its assistance to North Korea. If the US, Japan and South Korea promote extreme UN sanctions on North Korea, China will resolutely stop them and force them to amend these draft resolutions.

Just let North Korea be "angry." We can't sit by and do nothing just because we are worried it might impact the Sino-North Korean relationship. Just let the US, Japan and South Korea grumble about China. We have no obligation to soothe their feelings.

RECOMMENDED: Kim 101: How well do you know North Korea's leaders?

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/threatening-us-north-korea-turns-ire-south-korea-140900935.html

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PHOTOS: Sheryl Crow Plays at the Beach with Her Son

Sheryl Crow enjoys the sand and surf with little Levi! Plus, see more photos of celebs spending time with their loved ones!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/star-snapshots-celebrity-kids-and-family-photos-2012/1-b-462723?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Astar-snapshots-celebrity-kids-and-family-photos-2012-462723

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Home Selling Advice: What You Should Know ... - AOL Real Estate

By Brendon DeSimone

Many parts of the country are seeing an uptick in real estate activity. We've been hearing for months now that buyers have returned; that it has become cheaper to own than to rent in many markets; and that sellers are realizing their once unsaleable homes may have a market.

If you're a seller, it's helpful to understand the mindset of today's buyer, to understand what they've been through and what they're willing to do -- or not do -- to get the home they want.

The 'Crash' Had a Big Impact on Today's Homebuyers

Many homebuyers on the open house circuit today may have been out there a few years back. They're experienced buyers who were searching for a home before the credit crisis and market crash, and they quickly jumped ship, not wanting to make it into the history books as yet another homeowner whose property was underwater. After the crash, prices seemed like such a good deal. But there was still the fear that prices would fall further. Buyers couldn't bear the thought of signing the papers, only to see the market go down another 10 percent. So they sat on the sidelines for years and are beginning to return now.

New-to-Market Buyers Are Savvy

Of course, there are first-time homebuyers, too. They may be recently married, have a stable job or have committed to living in a certain area for the next five years. These folks have been casually observing real estate from the sidelines recently. They watch the local news, see real estate stories online and probably have the perception that the market has been doom and gloom, though they feel it just may be the right time for them.

Their Confidence Is Back

No matter where today's homebuyers come from, they have one thing in common. They all have a sense of confidence about the real estate market. Maybe they've been renting the past five years and have come across online mortgage calculators or research that helped them realize that rents have risen too much, that they can actually afford to buy and pay less per month. It's possible they met with their CPA recently, who suggested that they could benefit from the tax savings of owning real estate. It could have been that, at the Christmas table this year, they found out Grandma Lorraine left them a small amount of cash when she died last year.

They're On a Mission

Whatever their background or recent experience, today's homebuyers are coming to the real estate market in a bit of a "herd" mentality. They see reports of markets rising and interest rates still at 20-year-lows. They recognize rents are rising. These buyers, working with a local real estate agent, have already been pre-approved by their lender. They're on a mission. They want to get into the market early. They don't want to miss the boat.

They'll Pay a Little More to Get in the Door

Today's buyers are forgiving of small flaws in a property and aren't afraid to pay a little more to get in the door. In essence, they're the ideal buyers. Their attitudes, coupled with low interest rates and inventory, are the recipe for the beginning of a sellers' market.

Their Blinders Are Off

But some things have changed. Unlike the buyers of 2004 or 2005, today's buyers have lived through our countries' economic crisis and market meltdown. They may be back and they may be serious about buying, but they aren't going in with blinders anymore.

Advice to Sellers

Getting ready to sell your home and your agent tells you it's a "sellers' market"? Yes, it's true the market is shifting back in favor of sellers. But it's not as easy as throwing it on the market and waiting for offers to come, as it often was during the boom years.

Buyers, though ready and able, will demand a little more, may negotiate more, or may simply not want to feel they're being taken for a ride. The littlest feeling of a not-so-good deal or something going sideways can still scare a buyer away. When this happens, you're left with a property that goes "back on market," and that could leave a stain on the listing.

While things are in your favor, be open to a little negotiation and be ready to treat the buyer fairly and honestly. Don't assume you have complete control of the negotiations or the sales process. Be mindful that, while you may not have been one of them, many sellers have been desperate to sell or get out of their current homes in the past. Many of them would be grateful just to have a buyer today -- and they, for better or worse, may be your competition.

See more on Zillow:
3 Reasons Why Buyers Shouldn't Go It Alone
Don't Buy the Best Home on the Market
10 Things That Make a Home a Good Home

More on AOL Real Estate:
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Source: http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/01/22/home-selling-advice-know-buyers/

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Where To Play Sport In London: Part H | Londonist

Continuing our alphabetical exploration of London?s sporting clubs and facilities.

Handball

Image by CatfordCelt in the Londonist Flickr pool.

Handball has seen a surge in popularity off the back of the Olympic Games, when the England Handball website crashed under unprecedented demand. It is the second most popular sport in Europe and involves two teams of seven players attempting to throw a ball into the opposition?s net. It is hard to understand why it is still a relatively minor sport in the UK as it is similar to 7-a-side football, you just use your hands. However, the sport is growing and England Handball offers a club finder with around 17 clubs in the London area. Examples of popular local clubs include the London Great Dane Handball Club in East London, Olympia Handball Club London and the Ruislip Eagles. If you are interested in trying this sport, it is worth checking the England Handball news section for updates on London taster sessions.

Hang Gliding
A very popular and simple air sport, hang gliding is relatively easy to pick up, taking only a few days to become proficient. After that, the sky really is your limit! The Green Dragons in Woldingham, South London is a good place to start, with courses available for beginners. For a one-off session, Learn to Fly in Upminster offers a tandem flight for around ?190 with discounts for weekday flying or small groups. The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association also have a Hang Gliding School Finder for places slightly further outside of London. It is possible to soar up to 16,000 feet and the UK distance record is 250km, so potentially this could become a new commuting method?

Hatha Yoga
This is one the gentlest and most basic forms of yoga, and will suit complete yoga beginners. Most hatha yoga classes tend to involve slow-paces stretching with simple breathing exercises and seated meditation. Yoga centres are now everywhere in London and the vast majority should offer hatha yoga. Notable examples include Hatha Yoga London, Yoga Place in Bethnal Green and Shanta Yoga in London Bridge. ?Most major gym chains and London leisure centres also tend to offer yoga classes. Furthermore, hatha yoga tends to be one of the most common classes and good examples can be found at the Fusion leisure centres such as The Ladywell Leisure Centre and Dulwich Leisure Centre.

Hiking
This sport is self-explanatory and although perhaps implies scaling mountains, there are still plenty of hiking opportunities around London. First port of call should be the 2,360 acre Richmond Park, London?s largest park with stunning views and galloping wild deer particular highlights. For more organised hiking the London Adventure Group unites walking enthusiasts of all kinds, and organises walks around London and beyond. Meetup.com is also a good source for hiking groups and a great example is the catchy-named ?Outdooraholics? who tend to be young at heart late 20?s to early 40?s. There are some useful guides to London hiking such as London Hiker, and the aptly named Walking Club can help you find places to go, particularly outside of London.

Hockey
Dating from the 18th century, hockey is played regularly by over 100,000 people in the UK, and in 116 countries worldwide. Traditionally, this sport is 11-a-side and played on either grass or astroturf, particularly in schools. Popular London hockey venues include the Battersea Park Astroturf, Paddington Recreation Ground and Kennington Park. Most of the larger independent schools, such as?Alleyn?s School?and?Dulwich College,?also usually have at least one pitch. Serious players can use England Hockey?s club finder to source their nearest club, with Blackheath hockey club the oldest in the world, dating from 1840. Recognising that time constraints are a major barrier to hockey participation, England Hockey has also introduced a fun new 5-a-side format known as Rush Hockey. This is usually open to men and women, incidentally making it ideal for flirting, and is played all over London. Drop in sessions are also available for the time-poor ? check out the Rush Hockey Game Finder for a game near you. Finally Matchtea.com also has details over 100 London Hockey Pitches.

Hula Hooping
Though usually seen in the circus, Hula Hooping is actually a popular sport and classes are available around London. It is said to tone and strengthen the body, teach you balance and relieve stress. To get involved in this sexy sport, check out the London Hula Hoopers which offer classes at various venues around London such as at the Old Lillian Baylis School in Vauxhall. The latest details can also be found on its?Facebook page, which shows all the hula hooping classes happening in various parts of London.

Hurling
This Irish sport is a cross between lacrosse, hockey and football with prehistoric roots ? it?s been played in some form for over 3,000 years. It is arguably the world?s fastest team game, physically demanding and even brutal at times. Played on a Gaelic football field, with two teams of 15, the object of the game is to hit a small ball (Silotar) with a stick (Hurley) into the opposition?s goal or over the goal. Before helmets were made mandatory in 2010, you could usually easily identify a hurling player by their lack of teeth. The London GAA oversees hurling in London with details of teams and leagues. Otherwise the best hurling clubs to check out are the Kilburn Gaels, Sean Treacy?s and St Gabriels, which all play to a high standard. In addition to being huge in Ireland, this sport is played all over the world, particularly in Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.

By Sam Parton
Sam is Founder of Matchtea.com which helps take the hassle out of booking London Basketball courts and other sports venues.

Source: http://londonist.com/2013/01/where-to-play-sport-in-london-part-h.php

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Inside job, 2 Canadian militants in Algeria siege

Algerian firemen carry a coffin containing a person killed during the gas facility hostage situation at the morgue in Ain Amenas, Algeria, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. At least 81 people have been reported dead, including 32 Islamist militants, after a bloody, four-day hostage situation at Algeria's remote Ain Amenas natural gas plant. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul)

Algerian firemen carry a coffin containing a person killed during the gas facility hostage situation at the morgue in Ain Amenas, Algeria, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. At least 81 people have been reported dead, including 32 Islamist militants, after a bloody, four-day hostage situation at Algeria's remote Ain Amenas natural gas plant. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul)

This recent but undated view made available Monday Jan. 21, 2013, showing the damaged natural gas plant after Islamist militants attacked it and took hostages at Ain Amenas, Algeria. The militants were wearing Algerian army uniforms and were equipped with explosives to blow up the plant, according to Algeria?s Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, who said Monday that at least 81 people died in the four-day operation by government forces to liberate the hostages, including 32 Islamist militants. Five foreigners are still reported as missing. (AP Photo)

Joseph Balmaceda, center, one of the four Filipino oil field workers who was wounded but survived the terrorist attacks of an oil field in Algeria, limps to his waiting vehicle after talking to the media at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Manila, Philippines, Monday Jan. 21, 2013. In a separate briefing by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Spokesman Raul Hernandez said six Filipino workers were killed and four more are still unaccounted for. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal answers questions during a press conference held in Algiers, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. The Islamist militants who attacked a natural gas plant in the Sahara wore Algerian army uniforms, memorized the layout of the vast complex and included two Canadians and a team of explosives experts ready to blow the place sky-high, Algeria?s prime minister said Monday. (AP Photo/Sidali Djarboub)

Algerian firemen unload a refrigerated truck with bodies killed during the hostages taking in a gas plant while police officers look on at the morgue in Ain Amenas, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. At least 81 people have been reported dead, including 32 Islamist militants, after a bloody, four-day hostage situation at Algeria's remote Ain Amenas natural gas plant. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul)

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) ? The hostage-taking at a remote Algerian gas plant was carried out by 30 militants from across the northern swath of Africa and two from Canada, authorities said. The militants, who wore military uniforms and knew the layout, included explosives experts who rigged it with bombs and a leader whose final order was to kill all the captives.

The operation also had help with inside knowledge ? a former driver at the plant, Algeria's prime minister said Monday.

In all, 38 workers and 29 militants died, the Algerian prime minister said Monday, offering the government's first detailed account of four days of chaos that ended with a bloody military raid he defended as the only way possible to end the standoff. Five foreigners are still missing.

"You may have heard the last words of the terrorist chief," Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal told reporters. "He gave the order for all the foreigners to be killed, so there was a mass execution, many hostages were killed by a bullet to the head."

Monday's account offered the first Algerian government narrative of the standoff, from the moment of the attempted bus hijacking on Wednesday to the moment when the attackers prepared Saturday to detonate bombs across the sprawling complex. That's when Algerian special forces moved in for the second and final time.

All but one of the dead victims ? an Algerian security guard ? were foreigners. The dead hostages included seven Japanese workers, six Filipinos, three energy workers each from the U.S. and Britain, two from Romania and one worker from France.

The prime minister said three attackers were captured but did not specify their nationalities or their conditions or say where they were being held.

He said the Islamists included a former driver at the complex from Niger and that the militants "knew the facility's layout by heart." The vast complex is deep in the Sahara, 800 miles (1,300 miles) south of Algiers, with a network of roads and walkways for the hundreds of workers who keep it running.

The attackers wore military uniforms, according to state television, bolstering similar accounts by former hostages that the attackers didn't just shoot their way in.

"Our attention was drawn by a car. It was at the gate heading toward the production facility. Four attackers stepped out of a car that had flashing lights on top of it," one of the former hostages, Liviu Floria, a 45-year-old mechanic from Romania, told The Associated Press.

The militants had said during the standoff that their band included people from Canada, and hostages who had escaped recalled hearing at least one of the militants speaking English with a North American accent.

The Algerian premier said the Canadians were of Arab descent. He further said the militant cell also included men from Egypt, Mali, Niger, Mauritania and Tunisia, as well as three Algerians. Officials in Canada could not confirm that any of the attackers were from there.

"The announcement of the Algerian prime minister is fine, but we need verification. It could be a forged document. We need to confirm," said a Canadian official who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

Three Americans died in the attack and seven made it out safely, a U.S. official in Washington said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. The bodies have been recovered, the official said.

An earlier report from an Algerian security official that as many as 80 people had died in the assault ? including hostages and attackers ? appears to have overstated the toll, but the official had cautioned that many bodies discovered during a sweep of the facility were badly disfigured, making it difficult to reach a total.

Algeria has not reported any military deaths from four days of confronting the fighters. Algerian authorities are typically reluctant to announce military losses.

The attack began early Wednesday with the attempted hijacking of two buses filled with workers outside the complex. Repelled by Algerian forces, the militants moved on the main complex, armed with missiles, mortars and bombs for their three explosives experts, said Prime Minister Sellal. They split into two groups, with one infiltrating the complex's living quarters and the other the gas plant.

Sellal praised the quick wits of a guard who tripped an alarm that stopped the flow of gas and warned workers of an imminent attack.

"It was thanks to him that the factory was protected," he said.

Floria, the former hostage from Romania, remembered the moment when the power was cut.

"I ran together with other expats and hid under the desks in my office, locking the door. Attackers went scanning the office facility kicking the doors in. Luckily our door did not break and they went on to other offices," he said. "Locals were freed, the attackers made clear from the beginning that only foreigners were a target. Expats were detained."

Ultimately, Floria escaped. But not before he heard the two gunshots that silenced a pair of wounded hostages he said he tried to save.

"The perception of time changes. Seconds become hours. You feel you are losing your mind. I went through this for almost 40 hours," he said.

The prime minister said the heavily armed militants had prepared the attack for two months. He said the attackers arrived from northern Mali and had planned to return there with the foreign hostages. Seven French citizens taken hostage in recent years are thought to be held by al-Qaida linked groups in northern Mali.

Sellal justified the helicopter attack Thursday on vehicles filled with hostages out of the fear the kidnappers were attempting to escape.

In a statement, the Masked Brigade, the group that claimed to have masterminded the takeover, has warned of more such attacks against any country backing military intervention in neighboring Mali, where the French are trying to stop an advance by Islamic extremists. Algeria, despite its government's reservations about the French decision, is allowing French jets to overfly.

Col. Thierry Burkhard, the French military spokesman, said he did not know if militants in Mali were aware of the events in Algeria.

"However, I'm convinced the terrorist groups in the field have radios, so there's a strong chance that they're not only up to date with what's happening in Algeria but they're listening to everything that Western journalists are saying about the deployment of different forces in the field," he said.

The militants' operation was led by an Algerian, Amine Benchenab, who was known to security services and was killed during the assault, Burkhard added.

Moktar Belmoktar, who is believed to have orchestrated the attack, said in a statement over the weekend that the Algerian site was chosen after the country opened its airspace.

Sellal said negotiating was essentially impossible.

"Their goal was to kidnap foreigners," he said. "They wanted to flee to Mali with the foreigners, but once they were surrounded they started killing the first hostages."

He said the assault by Algerian special forces on the plant on Saturday that killed the last group of militants and hostages came after the kidnappers attempted to destroy the complex: "They led us into a real labyrinth, in negotiations that became unreasonable."

___

Associated Press reporters Paul Schemm in Rabat, Morocco, Lori Hinnant and Sarah DiLorenzo in Paris, Bradley Klapper in Washington, Rob Gillies in Toronto, and Nicolae Dumitrache and Vadim Ghirda in Pitesti, Romania, contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-01-21-Algeria-Kidnapping/id-15c833f3917146869b37e271232e8096

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Monday, January 21, 2013

REVIEW ? Box Full Of Kisses Gift Box : Mom Knows It All. ? PR ...

Valentine?s Day is approaching. If you?re still looking for the right gift, Box Full Of Kisses might be just what you?re looking for!

Box Full Of Kisses For Her

ABOUT BOX FULL OF KISSES

Whether naughty or nice, celebrating an anniversary, Valentine?s Day?or just because?Box Full of Kisses expresses everything you couldn?t find the words to say. The answer to a gift-giving dilemma, it is also a foolproof present packaged precisely as needed.

The Box for Her and the Box for Him both include five products?each touching upon the five senses. Engage the sense of smell with Eau du parfum and cologne. Titillate your touch with body lotion (in the box for her only) and the Book Full of Kisses, which defines and illustrates thirty-six sensual smooches. Taste the spark between you with a Mouthful of Kisses breath mints (in the box for him only). Listen to your partner?s rapid heartbeat as you play the Kissing Game (deck of cards included) and see how many kisses the Kissing Card Coupons can get you. The MSRP of each box is $36.

MY THOUGHTS

I received a Box Full of Kisses for Her for review. I first noticed the packaging: a sturdy, cute little red box that could most definitely be reused for jewelry, important notes, pens and pencils, etc. I love things that can be re-purposed, so this was a definitely plus.

I?ll admit I had to read a little bit into this to understand exactly what it was for. I wasn?t sure at first if it was supposed to be some type of sensual game or simply a cute gift box of random items for Valentine?s Day or an anniversary. I?ve decided that it?s a good mix of the two. The Book Full of Kisses is a cute insight into several of the most popular kisses and what makes them popular. Though most will have probably done, or at least heard of, them all, it was still a cute read. The kissing coupons are 12 cards that each entitle the cardholder to one kiss of her choice (due immediately, of course!) ? a unique and playful way to let your other half know you?d like a smooch. The kissing game is a simple matching game in which the winner gets the kiss of his or her choice. The fragrance of the lotion and perfume leave me feeling torn about whether I like them or not: at first they smell both playful and sensual, but soon are overpowering. After one spritz of the perfume, the smell lingered in my nose for hours. I can definitely say that a small amount of each goes a long way! My only complaint about the overall Box Full of Kisses for Her is that the retail value seems a bit high in relation to the quality of some of the products. The box itself, cards, and book are pretty durable and well-made, but I was less than impressed with the stickers on the perfume and lotion: they look like something I could?ve printed from my home computer and stuck on as labels and both are peeling off on the corners. For $36, I?d be a bit happier with packaging that at least looked a bit more high-quality.

Overall, this is a cute idea for Valentine?s Day, an anniversary, or better yet, a ?just because? gift. Box Full of Kisses is definitely a unique gift and a refreshing change from the usual card, flowers, and candy on Valentine?s Day. When you don?t feel like just asking for a kiss, let the Box Full of Kisses do it for you for some added playfulness.

MORE INFO

Box Full Of Kisses on Facebook
Box Full Of Kisses on Twitter

The product(s) featured in this review was provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of product testing and review. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.

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Category: Reviews

Source: http://www.valmg.com/index.php/2013/review-box-full-of-kisses-gift-box/

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Sunday, January 20, 2013

Take This Advice If You Want To Improve Self Improvement | Samuel ...

Is living a better life something that you would like to accomplish? If you are ready to get started on a focused personal development campaign, the tips below will be a big help.

There is no way to make everyone in your life happy, so it is best to focus on first pleasing yourself. This means that you are accountable for your satisfaction with life, not that you should sacrifice other people?s happiness for the sake of your own. Stay true to who you are as well as your moral compass.

Avoid making a personal development goal that is unnecessarily complicated, or not well defined. Create specific goals. If you create a clear goal, you will achieve the results you want.

TIP! You should always have an idea as to what you personal values are before you develop a plan for personal growth. When you focus on things that don?t matter to you, your goals will never truly make sense.

You should try to find and read books that tell you about self improvement. When you read a really good self improvement book, you may come away with life-changing advice and ideas. Books on the topic of personal development can be poorly written. To avoid this, make sure you read books that have been reviewed well.

People who have particularly intractable problems should try therapy. An in-the-flesh therapist can provide much more insight than a clinical self-help book can. Simply talking can help motivate you to succeed. Books cannot have a dialog with you to discuss any questions or concerns you might have, the way a therapist or psychiatrist can.

One way to overcome anxiety is to go see a movie with a friend or family member. This allows you to be in a social setting without the added pressure of talking to a lot of people. It will help you get used to the social scene.

TIP! Pick a single key aspect of your life that needs changing, and work on it. Even if you have more than one area on which you wish to work, focusing on one area at a time will make it easier to succeed.

Organization should be central in your life. Not only will being organized make you feel accomplished, but it will also boost your confidence. This will also lead to less stress because the disorganization contributing to it will be eliminated. It is soothing to know that everything is where it belongs.

Get together with others that share your point of view. This helps strengthen your resolve, reinforces positive thinking and keeps you away from toxic people that harm your dreams and goals.

Learn to deal with stressful situations without reacting in an emotional way. If you learn to stay calm during stressful times, you will have the confidence you need to face almost anything in your life. Take some time during your day to stop and take breaths.

TIP! Don?t push your body too hard when you are striving towards a goal. Take your best shot, but know when you have reached your limit.

Learn what habits successful people do and try practicing them and applying them to your life. Focus on doing a few fundamental things, and work on them until they are part of your every day life. It can take up to three weeks to acquire a new habit, so it is important to keep trying.

Learn to not worry! Worrying can cause you undo stress about situations that have no guarantee of ever happening, resulting in negative consequences to your well-being. Instead of worrying, think about the worst thing that could happen, and prevent it. This provides you with the relief of having a game plan, so you can can feel less anxious and focus on other important matters in your life.

Write down your goals to help you grow on the inside. Write it down if you want to achieve a certain goal. Then, think of things you can do, or might have already done, to build your confidence. Follow through on your goals by allowing yourself to use those ideas and resources. If you keep at it, you will be more likely to succeed.

TIP! When angry, simply count to ten without speaking. Take a cleansing breath and focus on something positive.

If the quality level of today is 2000, try to make tomorrow?s quality level 2001 or higher. You should always try to improve yourself. Whatever you did yesterday, do it that much better today.

Wisdom and modesty are two integral components of life. Look for opportunities to learn something new every day, and always be willing to admit when you simply cannot change something. Once you know your limits, be modest and be satisfied to work within them. The wisdom gained from mistakes in the past will shine a beacon on your future.

TIP! Sometimes a little risk could equal great happiness for you. Do not allow yourself to fear failure more than you desire success.

When considering your own self improvement, focus on leadership. Most people believe that leadership and influence are synonymous. Evaluate your leadership skills honestly. What are the significant events in your life that have shaped you into who you are today? In what ways have you changed due to these events? How do you make yourself an important part of a team? By asking yourself these questions, you can become more aware of how you best fit into a team.

To become a better person, you have to actively decide to start growing and changing. Accepting change will allow you to grow on your path to self development.

See what habits successful people have in common, and adopt them. Begin by identifying a few basic behaviors, then focus on making the necessary improvements one step at a time until they become fully integrated into your daily life. You need to give yourself a bit of time to make your new habit a permanent one. So don?t give up on it until you have continuously used it for at least 21 days.

TIP! Everyone makes mistakes, one of those is poor food choices every now and then. Stress can have a negative effect on your health.

There?s an idea of the ?Law of Threes,? which means that anything, good or bad, that you do to other people will return to you threefold. The idea here is that you should act toward others with a positive attitude. Thinking positively can decrease the burden of negativity.

Know the obstacles you face before you hit them. This is very hard for many people to do. Even so, identifying personal weak points is a critical initial step in order for them to be dealt with. By eliminating things that stand in your way, you can walk on the path to your future with less stumbling blocks on the way.

Having a degree and the ability to do the job is usually more important than which school you attended. Finance jobs are one of the few exceptions, as your school will matter a great deal. It is more important to have a degree since it can provide you with many opportunities.

TIP! Become awesome at something you?re passionate about. That said, you should always possess an intense passion to achieve the greatness that you are capable of.

You need to decide what type of lifestyle would suit you best, then you can set goals that can realistically be attained. If you find what your weaknesses are, you can work to eliminate them and become a better person.

Most employers don?t care about your school or college, they care about the degree you earned and if you can complete the work. Some employers, such as banks or other financial institutions, do put more weight on which school you attended, but these are rare exceptions. Truthfully, it?s more crucial that you have obtained a degree and expanded your horizons.

If you experience trouble meeting the personal development goals you set for yourself, do not be afraid to stop and make a frank assessment of the problem. One way to check yourself is to go online and read what others have experienced when aiming for the same kind of achievements. You can compare your experience with theirs, and perhaps learn a better approach. The problem might be that your expectations were set too high, important steps were not taken, or inadequate resources were allocated in working toward your goals.

TIP! Be prepared to write down ideas as they come to you, no matter where that may happen. Carry paper and a pen around with you.

Becoming more healthy is an important part of developing personally. In order to maintain a healthy body, you have to stay motivated to practice healthy eating habits and exercise. When your health is an important aspect of your lifestyle, it will lead to general overall well being and will help you feel good about yourself in every area of your life.

Determine which aspects of your life you truly value, and concentrate solely on those. The key to attaining inner peace is knowing what really matters and finding the good in what you have.

Keep notes on your progress (or backsliding) in order to stick to an organized plan. When you can break down your goals, it becomes much easier to achieve them. Use a notepad or a daily planner to write down tasks and goals for everyday.

TIP! Challenges should always be undertaken. Finding a new challenge will open up new possibilities.

Those who want to succeed often look to mentors for help. All champions have great coaches and mentors, and it is important to have them. Everyone should be able to help others find the way. Without mentoring, there is no way people can truly perform to the best of their abilities. All champions have a fabulous coach.

Write something to pep yourself up. Write down all of your positive traits on a postcard. You can take this with you wherever you go, and review it when you want motivation. You can even record yourself reading it aloud and listen to it often. Why not?

Someone might have told you that listening skills are just as essential as speaking skills. This rule is equally important to personal development. You should make sure you are always listening when talking to yourself. Listening to what you tell yourself will help you know what you need and how to best improve yourself.

TIP! Establish a rainy day fund. This can help you to avoid always turning to your credit cards every time something unexpected arises.

Try to read encouraging books. Whether it is a religious book or a favorite novel, find a book that inspires you. Having something that you can easily turn to when times get tough and you need encouragement gives you a better mind set, and helps you handle your life better.

Personal growth is something we all strive for, even if it seems scary at first. If you are able to take control of your life and improve yourself, you will see a huge improvement in your quality of life.

Your reaction to a situation can determine your level of stress. Find ways to deal with distressing situations, and take the time to think things through. It?s always possible to fix any mistake you have made, or manage a way to deal with it. Be thankful for what you have and not for what you?ve lost.

TIP! Paying attention to your body is a good personal development practice. Listen to what your body is saying to you, so if it is exhibiting hunger, thirst, etc.

Humbled by the flurry of internet success in the last three years. So proud to have a system that actually works for people to earn $10,000 per month faster than any MLM or Network Marketing System I have ever seen. Simply put, I have never seen anything like the system I am lucky enough to be a top 1% earner in the world for. By the way, I can show you how to do exactly what I do. Sailed a good chunk of the world as a delivery yacht captain in sailboats, strum the guitar with my band, ?Green Eggs n? Sam, living in Hawaii with my wife, Vanessa and dog, Mookie. I speak Spanish, Italian, some French and loads of gibberish.
Let me show you how to work smarter and earn more money than you have anywhere else. All for just $25?
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Source: http://www.samuellevitz.com/take-this-advice-if-you-want-to-improve-self-improvement

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Canadian Military History ? Friday Roundup: News, Archives, and ...

The Friday Roundup is a weekly feature that offers a look at news,?archive, and worthwhile links around the web on the study of War and Society. This week?s documentary,?Africa: War is Business, reveals how war economies in Africa come into existence The film follows Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, son of Princess Irene of the Netherlands, as he travels through Sierra Leone, Liberia and Congo looking for the cause of these wars in Africa and the role the continent?s natural resources play in creating conflict.

Research

Nazi and East German Propaganda Archive

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ahrleThe totalitarian regimes of Nazi Germany and the German Democratic Republic relied heavily on propaganda to win over and maintain control of their respective populations. This site offers visitors the opportunity to look through primary sources of the various types of propaganda used by these two regimes. Speeches and posters make up the bulk of the material but there are also?pamphlets?and other forms of propaganda as well, making for a wealth of rich and diverse content.

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News

Rare War Medal Find Coming Home to Chilliwack

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1518377A set of rare war medals has been acquired by the Chilliwack Museum and Historical Society. The medals were once awarded to members of the Coote family, but were put up for auction in Norfolk, England. They will be part of an exhibit showcasing the contribution the Coote family has made to Canadian military history.

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General Interests provided by H-Net

Martial Minoans? War as Social Process, Practice, and Event in Bronze Age Crete

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cid_1855394One of the age-old myths about the Minoan society, one of Europe?s first complex urban civilizations, is that they were a peace-loving people. New discoveries challenge this belief and suggest that the military was important in Minoan culture. Dr. Barry Malloy?s article goes into great detail about the Minoan?s military culture and provides great insight into war and society during the Bronze Age.

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Documentary of the Week

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Tags: Featured

Source: http://www.canadianmilitaryhistory.ca/friday-roundup-news-archives-and-useful-links-on-the-study-of-war-and-society-january-18th-2013/

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Saturday, January 19, 2013

On 2nd term eve, Obama cites commitment to service

President Barack Obama stains a bookshelf at Burrville Elementary School in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, as the first family participated in a community service project for the National Day of Service, part of the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama stains a bookshelf at Burrville Elementary School in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, as the first family participated in a community service project for the National Day of Service, part of the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

National Day of Service Honorary Chair, Chelsea Clinton, participates service project with Addison Rose, 8, of Washington, on the National Mall as part of the Inaugural event Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 in Washington,. The two made cards for the Sunshine Mail Foundation that sends the cards along with care packages to the ill and disadvantaged people. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

First lady Michelle Obama stains a bookshelf at Burrville Elementary School in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, as the first family participated in a community service project for the National Day of Service as part of the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

ADDS NAME - Vice President Joe Biden, center, fills care kits with necessities for deployed U.S. service members, wounded warriors, veterans and first responders, joining the National Day of Service as part of the 57th presidential inauguration in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Volunteer Nathan Fouse walks with a care kit at right. Army Capt. Cesar J. Visurraga, US Army Nurse Corps, is at left (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Jay Desai, of Washington, front and Ariel Timar, of Cherry Hill, N.J., center, paint a mural as they participate in the National Day of Service on the Mall as part of the 57th Presidential Inaugural festivities, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Washington, . The two were working on the Greater DC care project that will place the murals in schools and fire stations to help promote volunteerism. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

(AP) ? On the brink of a second term, President Barack Obama invoked Martin Luther King Jr.'s commitment to service Saturday as inauguration-goers flocked to the capital city for a distinctly American celebration including an oath-taking as old as the republic, a splashy parade and partying enough to last four years.

"I think we're on the cusp of some really great things," Vice President Joe Biden predicted for a country still recovering from a deep recession.

Freshly built inaugural stands at the Capitol gleamed white in the sun, and hundreds of chairs for special guests were set out on the lawn that spills down toward the National Mall as the president and vice president began their inauguration weekend.

Julius Cherry, in town from Sacramento, Calif., brought his family to the foot of the Capitol to see the area where their official tickets will let them watch the public ceremonies on Monday.

"There were people who said they'd never vote for an African-American president," the 58-year-old lawyer said. "Now they've voted for him twice, and he won the popular vote and the electoral vote. That says something about his policies and his team."

"And the country," added Cherry's wife, Donna.

Said Erika Goergen, from the Midwest and attending college locally: "It's amazing to be here right now."

Officials estimated that as many as 800,000 people will attend Monday's public ceremonies. That's more than live in the city, if far fewer than the 1.8 million who were at Obama's first inauguration in 2009.

The president made only a glancing reference to race as he spoke at an elementary school not far from the White House after he and first lady Michelle Obama stained a bookcase as part of a national service event organized by the inaugural committee.

"We think about not so much the inauguration, but we think about this is Dr. King's birthday we're going to be celebrating this weekend," the president said.

"He said everybody wants to be first, everybody wants to be a drum major. But if you're going to be a drum major, be a drum major for service, be a drum major for justice, be a drum major for looking out for other people," Obama said of the civil rights leader whose birthday is celebrated as a national holiday on Monday.

Because the date for inauguration set in the Constitution, Jan. 20, falls on a Sunday this year, Obama and Biden were to be sworn in for second terms in separate, private ceremonies on Sunday.

The public ceremonies are set for Monday, when Obama will take the oath of office at noon, then deliver an inaugural address before a large crowd and a national television audience in the millions.

The traditional lunch with lawmakers in the Capitol follows, and the inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House. There, a reviewing stand was adorned with the presidential seal and equipped with seats enough for Obama and other dignitaries to watch in relative comfort as military units, marching bands, floats and thousands of participants go past. A pair of inauguration balls will cap the day, including one with a guest list that runs to 40,000 names.

A select few ? those who donated as much as $1 million to defray inauguration expenses ? received special access to public as well as invitation-only receptions and parties.

The second term begins in circumstances different in many ways from the first, but familiar in others.

The economy, then in the grip of a fierce and deepening recession, is now recovering slowly as unemployment recedes and stocks flirt with five-year highs. The health care legislation that Obama urged Congress to enact in his first inaugural address is the law of the land, courtesy of a split ruling by the Supreme Court.

Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is dead at the hands of U.S. special operations forces. But the organization he inspired is far from moribund, as demonstrated by the just-ended kidnapping episode Saturday at an Algerian natural gas complex that, according to the Algerian government, left at least 23 hostages dead. The U.S. on Friday acknowledged one American death.

When Obama took office in 2009, his Democratic allies held control of Congress.

Now, divided government rules, and Republicans who control the House lead the way in insisting the administration agree to spending cuts that will reduce soaring federal deficits. Obama has said he is ready to compromise on that.

At the outset of a second term, he also wants Congress to overhaul the nation's immigration laws and take steps to reduce gun violence in the wake of the shooting last month in Newtown., Conn., that left 20 elementary school children dead.

Yet for once, politics seemed to edge ever so slightly into the background in the most political of cities.

Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton headlined a National Day of Service gathering under a tent on the National Mall, where she said she had been inspired by her grandmother, as well as her famous parents. She urged her audience to become part of a "chain of service" by helping the less fortunate.

Biden and his wife, Jill, spent time at an armory pitching in as volunteers packed 100,000 care kits for deployed members of the military, wounded warriors, veterans and first responders.

Biden credited former President George H. W. Bush, a Republican, for starting the "Points of Light" program, which was a sponsor of the event. He said service was an antidote to "the coarsening of our culture. We've got to get back to reaching out to people."

In the evening, Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Biden hosted the Kids' Inaugural Concert, an event paying special tribute to military spouses and children.

Families invited to the event cheered Usher as he sang his hit "Yeah!" Katy Perry, who donned star and stripes for her song "Firework," told the audience, "I'm very proud to be here ... and to see the Obamas and the Bidens here for four more years."

___

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Laurie Kellman, Frederic J. Frommer and Jocelyn Noveck contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-01-19-US-Obama-Inauguration/id-e7e83a42723f42beaa781e391717f40a

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Daily Tips for Business: Solo Professionals | jindardafon

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

Source: http://jindardafon.blogspot.com/2013/01/daily-tips-for-business-solo.html

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'User friendly' XBMC for Android build rolls out for set-top boxes and mobile devices

'User friendly' XBMC for Android build rolls out for settop boxes and mobile devices

If you've been waiting to try out XBMC on your Android, it appears now is the time. While beta and nightly builds were already available, the team behind it has finally readied a release it says is "end user friendly," ready to run on most any device. It achieves that feat by offloading video player duties to another app, in this case MX Player, in order to get around XBMC's lack of hardware support for many devices. After sideloading the two necessary APKs we were able to get it up and running without any trouble, tossing in add-ins and playing back locally stored media without a problem. There's a video to go along with the release (embedded after the break) but installing it yourself is probably the best way to get a feel for its video, picture and audio playback abilities.


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Source: XBMC for Android

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/8JTqgnkguAM/

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Thursday, January 17, 2013

Disney Infinity Will Help Children Learn Creativity and Social Skills

There?s likely no more nobler endeavour that a video game designer, studio or publisher can make than to aim to help teach children through games. The majority of the time, however, attempts to do so fail. The vast majority of games that educate kids are so lacking in the fun department that children simply don?t want to play them. Clearly, that?s not going to be the case with Disney Interactive?s Disney Infinity.

Disney Infinity Logo Disney Infinity Will Help Children Teach Children Creativity and Social Skills game features The Worlds Best Disney Articles and Quotes from Disney movies kids

Disney Infinity is a game from Disney Interactive that follows in the footsteps of Toy Story 3: The Video Game. What made Toy Story 3 so enjoyable was its Toy Box mode, a mode which allowed players to play as toy Story 3?s characters Woody, Buzz or Jessie and play in an open world toy box, being assigned missions by various characters and unlocking toys and other assorted goodies.

Toy Box was a truly excellent gaming experience. That?s why Disney have now decided to expand on the Toy Story 3 game by making Disney Infinity, a game squarely focused on the Toy Box mode.

If you?re a gamer yourself, you probably already realise why Disney Infinity is so exciting a prospect, but if you?re a parent you may require a little more convincing. Thankfully, this isn?t just a game. Disney Infinity, from what has so far been shown, will be a great means of teaching children to use their creative brain and also to develop social skills.

Disney Infinity Toy Box and Characters Disney Infinity Will Help Children Teach Children Creativity and Social Skills game features The Worlds Best Disney Articles and Quotes from Disney movies kids

Let?s start by getting to grips with how Disney Infinity works. It?s a new system from Disney in which you have special figures of Disney characters that you put on a base, you then play as those characters in the game.

More interestingly, in Disney Infinity you get to build the game world in any way you like. You can build race tracks and buildings, you can build your world however you like. Having built the world, you then share it with friends online who can download and play on the world you created themselves.

Even better still, you get to play through the worlds of all your favourite Disney characters. You can play as characters from Pirates of the Caribbean, Toy Story, The Incredibles, MonstersUniversity and more. Each of these characters have their own unique world which players can build. So, for instance, in Pirates of the Carribean players will be able to build pirate ships.Disney Interactive a Good Game for Kids Disney Infinity Will Help Children Teach Children Creativity and Social Skills game features The Worlds Best Disney Articles and Quotes from Disney movies kids

So, why is Disney infinity such a good game for kids?

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Simple, Disney infinity teaches kids to use their imagination and their creative brain in order to build up the different worlds that the Disney characters inhabit.

Not only this, but having used their creative brains and imaginations to build the world, kids then get to share their creations online with the rest of the world, encouraging their social skills

Disney Infinity looks like it might become a very good game for kids. It?s coming out on June 18th so stay tuned!

Hit LIKE or join or subscribe to ARoleModel below for updates on Disney Infinity.?

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About Paul Harrison

Author of ARoleModel.com, I work as a journalist and critic in the UK. I'm also a body language and self improvement specialist.

Source: http://arolemodel.com/disney-infinity-good-game-for-kids/

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Study: Learning Spanish With Duolingo Can Be More Effective Than College Classes Or Rosetta Stone

Duolingo_owlEducation is quickly moving online, but we haven't seen all that many studies that actually look into the effectiveness of these new forms of online learning. To see how its program performed, the language learning service Duolingo, founded by CAPTCHA inventor Luis von Ahn, commissioned a study (PDF)into the effectiveness of its program. The result, which even surprised von Ahn: it only takes a Duolingo user 34 hours to learn the equivalent of a first college semester's worth of Spanish.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/yyQf8CxpzZE/

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With Graph Search, Facebook becomes a modern-day AOL

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -

Facebook has a mind-blowing amount of useful information sitting on its servers -- it's adding 500 terabytes a day at last count -- but until now it lacked an efficient way for any one person to take advantage of it. So it created "Graph Search," which will allow all of us to pillage our friends' status updates, interests, photos and general Facebook activity.

The possibilities of Graph Search are sprawling and ambitious. As the company says, it wants to provide answers, not links to answers. If you want to know what music or TV shows certain friends are into (or vice versa), you'll be able to find out (and so will they). If you're trying to suss out a consensus on a potential dinner destination, the hive mind of Facebook could help you out. And if you're uninterested in using OK Cupid for your online dating needs, you can stalk away on Facebook to find all your friends' single friends (at your own peril).

But for all the vast possibilities of Graph Search, it boils down to something simple, significant, and profound: Facebook finally has a search technology that works.

Up until now, trying to search for anything that wasn't a friend or business quickly became an exercise in futility. To say it's dysfunctional would be a generous compliment. Graph Search is a direct solution to that problem.

And because of that, Facebook has just taken one big step closer to becoming what America Online used to be: an all-inclusive Internet experience. (Minus the dial-up service and monthly fee, of course.) It's an isolated island of content walled off from the rest of the online realm.

The similarities between the two companies have been pointed out before, and a return to this model of the Internet isn't quite as regressive as it may seem. Once upon a time, in an effort to make the chaos of the Web palatable to the uninitiated, AOL offered up a singular Internet shard with a consistent look and feel.

Many more of us are now well-versed in the ways of the Internet, but the sheer volume of information available has become overwhelming. Social networks thrive, in many ways, as filters. You tell the network what and who you like, and it gives you the information you want.

The arrival of Graph Search doesn't mean that Facebook instantly transformed into its own self-sustaining network, or that it will do so anytime soon. It merely put the first pieces in place for people to get everything they need out of the Internet without ever setting foot outside Facebook's domain.

Search is what made Google a worldwide juggernaut. Search (for anything you want to buy) is what made Amazon the de facto marketplace of the Internet. And search is what could ultimately turn Facebook into an Internet sandbox whose bounds people are happy to remain within.

Most of the other required pieces are in place. Even if they're incomplete and underutilized, Facebook has the framework for communication, media sharing, news distribution, commerce, entertainment and app development. Graph Search could someday tie all these services and utilities together.

Imagine a future Facebook that serves as a single destination for planning a trip. Its graph will tell you where the most popular hotels and destinations are in any given city. You'd have user-submitted photos and videos at your disposal to get the lay of the land. Then you could hypothetically buy plane tickets, book hotels, and anything else you'd need from within the network.

Of course, such an idea hinges on how much of their life people choose to share on Facebook. There's growing user skepticism about what Facebook does with all the data we give it, but we're still throwing a ton of information its way: The site sucks in around 300 million photos and 2.7 billion likes every single day.

If Facebook can maintain that level of human participation, there's a lot of power in building a web within a web. Billions of humans pumping curated data into Facebook has to scare the hell out of companies like as Google, which builds all its services around the collection and interpretation of mass data. (Its human layer, Google+, seems stillborn.)

Google has to task algorithms with figuring out the patterns in all that data. Facebook has a head start, because we connect all the dots ourselves: It knows who we are, where we're from, what we like, when we were born and who we talk to each day.

Graph Search may seem like an incremental and nebulous update. For the time being, it is. But the opportunity exists for Facebook to operate as independent but extremely influential bubble inside the Internet at large.

The question is, would an AOL-like presence on the Internet today be more of a guiding light, or confining prison cell?

Source: http://www.kjct8.com/news/money/With-Graph-Search-Facebook-becomes-a-modern-day-AOL/-/194312/18147750/-/15lhpskz/-/index.html

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