Sequester and public opinion? Advantage Obama. (+video)

With just days until the 'sequester' and its automatic spending cuts kicks in, President Obama seems to have the advantage with high poll ratings and a message seen as more compelling.

By Brad Knickerbocker,?Staff writer / February 23, 2013

President Barack Obama speaks about the sequester as he stands with emergency responders, a group of workers the White House says could be affected if state and local governments lose federal money as a result of budget cuts.

Charles Dharapak/AP

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A batch of recent headlines gives an indication of where things stand in the Obama-Republican face-off over sequestration and the automatic government spending cuts that could kick in next Friday.

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Correspondent Liz Marlantes with insights into the politics behind the impending spending cuts.

?GOP losing sequester blame game?

?Democrats' Economic Narrative Still Trumps GOP's?

?Poll: President Obama approval highest since '09?

?President Obama?s popularity surges to three-year high?

?Congress Approval Holding Steady at 15 percent.?

RECOMMENDED:?Sequester 101: What happens if $85 billion in cuts hit on March 1

Polls and pundits aren?t everything, of course. Most Americans this weekend likely are far more interested in Sunday night?s Oscar extravaganza.

And most would likely agree with Atlantic associate editor Matthew O'Brien when he writes ? with as much truth as irony ? on the magazine?s web site: ?There is nothing more tedious in the world today than the sequester. The word itself sounds like a prescription sleeping aid.? There is, after all the gnashing of teeth over the ?fiscal cliff? last month, a bit of ?The Boy Who Cried Wolf? here for most people.

Still, if the sequester kicks in, thousands of federal workers could be furloughed, some national park programs could be curtailed, and things could be ?very painful for the flying public,??as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood warned Friday.

The sequester no doubt will dominate the Sunday morning TV news shows as Republicans and Democrats angle for rhetorical advantage over the sequester?s $85 billion in budget cuts this fiscal year, split evenly between defense and non-defense programs.

At the moment, that advantage seems to be with President Obama and the White House. Just to flesh out those headlines cited above?.

Bloomberg News put it starkly this week: ?President?Barack Obama?enters the latest budget showdown with Congress with his highest job-approval rating in three years and public support for his economic message, while his Republican opponents? popularity stands at a record low.?

Specifically, 55 percent of those polled by Bloomberg last week approve of Obama?s performance in office, his strongest level of support since September 2009. But only 35 percent have a favorable view of the?Republican Party, the lowest rating over the same period. The GOP?s brand slipped six percentage points in the last six months, the poll shows.

Asked who is more to blame for ?what?s gone wrong? in?Washington, those surveyed picked Republicans over Obama 43-34 percent.

Similarly, Gallup finds public approval of Congress ? just 15 percent ? is ?at the low end of the historical spectrum.? It?s not great news for either party, but Democrats have a slight edge in public approval ? 19 percent to 12 percent for the GOP.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/rR6IqcG0avo/Sequester-and-public-opinion-Advantage-Obama.-video

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Turquoise Jeep's Flynt Flossy dances through the Engadget Questionnaire (video)

Every week, a new and interesting human being tackles our decidedly geeky take on the Proustian Q&A. This is the Engadget Questionnaire.

In the latest installment of our weekly session of inquiry, Turquoise Jeep Co-CEO Flynt Flossy chats about shower meditation and capturing hooks on the go. Join us on the other side of the break for all of the responses and a look at Mr. Flossy's stellar dance moves.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/aL17N6NKUPE/

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The lifetime journeys of manure-based microbes

Feb. 22, 2013 ? Studies at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are shedding some light on the microbes that dwell in cattle manure -- what they are, where they thrive, where they struggle, and where they can end up.

This research, which is being conducted by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists at the agency's Agroecosystems Management Research Unit in Lincoln, Neb., supports the USDA priority of ensuring food safety. ARS is USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency.

In one project, ARS microbiologist Lisa Durso used fecal samples from six beef cattle to identify a core set of bovine gastrointestinal bacterial groups common to both beef and dairy cattle. She also observed a number of bacteria in the beef cattle that had not been reported in dairy cows, and identified a diverse assortment of bacteria from the six individual animals, even though all six consumed the same diet and were the same breed, gender and age.

In another study, Durso collaborated with ARS agricultural engineer John Gilley and others to study how livestock diet affected the transport of pathogens in field runoff from manure-amended soils. The scientists added two types of manure to experimental conventional-till and no-till fields at 1-, 2-, or 4-year application rates. The manure had been collected from livestock that had consumed either corn or feed with wet distillers grains.

After a series of simulated rain events, the team collected and analyzed samples of field runoff and determined that neither diet nor tillage management significantly affected the transport of fecal indicator bacteria. But they did note that diet affected the transport of bacteriophages -- viruses that invade bacteria -- in field runoff.

Gilley also conducted an investigation into how standing wheat residues affected water quality in runoff from fields amended with 1-, 2-, or 4-year application rates of manure. The scientists found that runoff loads of dissolved phosphorus, total phosphorus, nitrates, nitrogen, and total nitrogen were much higher from plots with residue cover. The team also observed that runoff from fields amended with 4-year application rates of manure had significantly higher levels of total phosphorus and dissolved phosphorus than fields amended with 1-year or 2-year manure rates.

Results from these studies have been published in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, and Transactions of the ASABE.

Read more about this research in the February 2013 issue of Agricultural Research magazine: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/feb13/cows0213.htm

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by USDA/Agricultural Research Service. The original article was written by Ann Perry.

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qfSF_hrZ_QU/130222143227.htm

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The Three Main Groups of Classical Shapes of Yixing Teapots

Yixing clay teapots, sometimes called Purple Sand teapots, are traditional Chinese teapots which derive their name from the city of Yixing in the province of Jiangsu in eastern China. This region is the only place where the clay used to manufacture the teapots is found. The distinctive purple Yixing clay is used to make three basic types of traditional Chinese teapots. Teapots have been used in China since at least the 15th century.

The way tea is taken has evolved over time as it has been taken as a vegetable, a medicine, made into tea bricks and ground into powder. The teapot has replaced the tea bowl, which was the usual way at the time, to take tea. The taking of tea symbolizes the connection that people have with each other and as such, tea and teapots are part of the living traditions of China.

The three shapes are inspired by historic and other forms. One group of pots is inspired by cultural objects such as jades, ceramics including tiles, porcelains and bronze pots. Another group is inspired by geometric forms - circles, squares, polygons. And yet another group are teapots inspired by themes out of nature or the natural world - trees, vegetation, the heavens and man. In his book "The Stonewares of Yixing" K.S. Lo divides this nature category into 2 parts. One being the classic or realistic and the other being impressionistic.

Acording to Zhou Gaoqi, a Ming Dynasty author, a Jinsha Temple monk during the Zhengde Emperor's reign created a high quality teapot from Yixing clay. The teapot was admired widely among the scholarly class and soon the popularity of Yixing clay teapots spread throughout China. These wonderful teapots are unique and highly stylized. They are used throughout China in many traditional tea ceremonies. Teapots and tea are used as a way to connect to living traditions among the people and tea drinking is celebrated as a national pasttime in China. In the city of Dingshan (Dingshu) on the west bank of Lake Tai there are hundreds of shops selling these beautiful teapots. It draws thousands of tourists each year.

While the crowds rush to Dingshan, Y?xing Zisha Factory Number 1, a factory in Yixing which opened in the late 1950s is credited with processing the majority of the clay people in the region use to create all three types of teapots. The teapots are at once collector's items and an essential part of traditional Chinese life. They are functional works of art that decorate many homes in China. Each of the three styles of teapot has their own following. Those preferences are often passed along within families and communities for generations.

Among the Chinese, the Yixing teapots are traditionally used to steep and serve black and oolong teas as well as aged pu'ur tea. When used with green or white tea, the water is not poured into the teapot until it has cooled to around 85 ?C. Because these teapots absorb some of the tea during brewing, the pots soon develop a coating which has the color and flavor of the tea brewed in it. The absorption along with the frequent handling of the teapot gives the pot a patina that is very desireable. Tea stains also are produced on the teapot surface and is another very desireable effect particularly for the serious tea drinker or collector. True tea connoisseurs use only one type of tea in their pots so it develops a particular color and flavor. One tea per pot preserves the tea drinking experience and avoids the corrupting of flavor. The patina and stains are another reason why one tea per pot is used. Soap is never used to wash the pots. They are washed with fresh hot water and left to completely air-dry.

While Yixing teapots are smaller than teapots in the West, their unique designs and traditional place in Chinese culture can make them very expensive. The clay, style, artist, production method and age affect the price of the teapots. While prices generally range from a few dozen to a few thousand yuan, one Yixing teapot sold for 12.32 million Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY) in 2010, which is equivalent to 1.97 million dollars (USD).

Karen Davis is an Yixing Teapot enthusiast and collected her first pot back in the 1980's. She is the founder of Brownstoneshopper, an online webstore that sells Yixing teapots. Our unique pots are showcased in our online gallery. If you enjoyed this article on yixing teapots, contact us now online and sign up for your FREE Report!

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/the-three-main-groups-of-classical-shapes-of-yixing-teapots-317348

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Why Did Shia LaBeouf Really Quit Broadway?

Shia LaBeouf has made a very dramatic exit from the Broadway stage. The Transformers actor, set to make his Broadway debut on April 7 in the play Orphans, abruptly quit the show during its rehearsal period. Producers cited "creative differences." But LaBeouf's Twitter account tells another story.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/why-did-shia-labeouf-really-quit-broadway/1-a-522928?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Awhy-did-shia-labeouf-really-quit-broadway-522928

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One Stop Consultant Group Inc. in Miami, Florida Adds U-Haul Truck Rentals

MIAMI, Feb. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --?William Ramirez, owner of One Stop Consultant Group Inc., located at 11398 W. Flagler St. Unit 203, recently added U-Haul truck rentals to the legal services business he has been operating since 2011.? (Logo:...

Read More

Source: http://wardsauto.com/one-stop-consultant-group-inc-miami-florida-adds-u-haul-truck-rentals

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$2/1 VO5 Hot Oil Treatment Printable and Walgreens Deal

by Addicted to Saving on February 21, 2013

I haven?t seen a coupon for VO5 Hot Oil in a long time. You will have to ?like? them and complete a short survey to get this coupon! Go HERE to print a?$2.00/1 Vo5 Hot Oil Treatment. Then head to Walgreens?before the end of the day on Saturday, 02-23 to score this deal!

Here?s the deal:

Buy one V05 Hot Oil Moisturizing Treatment 2 ct $2.99 (reg. $4.49) thru 2/23
Use one?$2.00/1 VO5 Hot Oil Treatment Printable Coupon
Total due: $0.99 each

Thanks, Dashing for Deals

Tagged as: printable coupons, VO5 coupon, walgreens deals

Source: http://www.addictedtosaving.com/21-vo5-hot-oil-treatment-printable-and-walgreens-deal/

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Michael Phelps has eye on golf, not gold

Former Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps waits to hit in the batting cage during a Baltimore Orioles baseball spring training workout Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, in Sarasota, Fla. Phelps, a native of Baltimore who was in the area filming his Golf Channel show The Haney Project, took batting practice with the team. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Former Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps waits to hit in the batting cage during a Baltimore Orioles baseball spring training workout Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, in Sarasota, Fla. Phelps, a native of Baltimore who was in the area filming his Golf Channel show The Haney Project, took batting practice with the team. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Former Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps watches a fly ball while hitting in the batting cage during a Baltimore Orioles baseball spring training workout Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, in Sarasota, Fla. Phelps, a native of Baltimore who was in the area filming his Golf Channel show The Haney Project, took batting practice with the team. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Former Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps hits in the batting cage during a Baltimore Orioles baseball spring training workout Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, in Sarasota, Fla. Phelps, a native of Baltimore who was in the area filming his Golf Channel show The Haney Project, took batting practice with the team. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Former Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps talks with Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, left, during a baseball spring training workout Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, in Sarasota, Fla. Phelps, a native of Baltimore who was in the area filming his Golf Channel show The Haney Project, took batting practice with the team. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Former Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps hits in the batting cage during a Baltimore Orioles baseball spring training workout Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, in Sarasota, Fla. Phelps, a native of Baltimore who was in the area filming his Golf Channel show The Haney Project, took batting practice with the team. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) ? Michael Phelps still hops in the pool occasionally, but only so the most decorated Olympian of all-time can get a little peace and quiet.

"Whenever I'm in the pool I don't have to answer questions, I don't have to say 'Hi!'" Phelps said. "It's my time. That's something that I don't get often. It's a good little getaway for me."

And that's it.

Six months into retirement, the man with more gold medals than any Olympic athlete insists he's content with the direction of his life. Sure he still finds himself keeping track of what's going on in the swimming world, but there are zero urges to call coach Bob Bowman and tell him it's time to dust off his stopwatch.

Asked if there's any scenario where he envisions himself giving it one more shot, Phelps says "no" three times and shakes his head. He's getting used to the question. He just hopes people will start getting used to the answer.

"A lot of great athletes have come out of retirement," he said. "I just don't see myself doing it."

Besides, he's too busy living out the normal life ? well, normal life for a guy with 22 Olympic medals stashed away somewhere ? to have time to think about the 2016 Games.

Phelps is finishing up filming of the Golf Channel reality series "The Haney Project." Phelps and golf coach Hank Haney have spent the last few months trying to tune up the 27-year-old's game.

The eight-part series will debut next week, and Haney ? who counts Tiger Woods among his former students ? has come away impressed with how his new pupil has been able to reign in his competitive fire.

Of course Phelps wants to walk out there and shoot 68. He just understands it's not going to happen anytime soon.

"One of the things he always says is 'just baby steps, baby steps. Nothing wrong with taking baby steps,'" Haney said. "He's big on having a plan. He's big on just making progress even if it's just little bitty things."

In that way Phelps considers golf and swimming alike.

"I want to be a good golfer but it's not going to happen overnight," Phelps said. "Swimming didn't happen overnight. I had to put years and years and years into it. Obviously I didn't think it would be this hard."

How hard? Before filming started Haney and Phelps played six rounds to get a gauge for what they were getting into. Phelps' scores were typically in the three-figure range.

Neither will say where Phelps is at with his game now ? that'd kind of ruin the journey of the show ? but he acknowledged he had the "round of his life" while playing a Gary Player-designed course in Sarasota on Wednesday.

Phelps says there wasn't much culture shock going from Bowman to Haney as a coach, though there is one slight difference.

Haney makes it a habit to say "good shot" after every shot, regardless of its outcome. Bowman wasn't quite so forgiving when a workout didn't quite go as planned.

"They both share the same passion and love of their sport and they want to be the best," Phelps said.

So does Phelps, who typically plays from the black tees depending on the course.

"I can hit it far, I just don't know where it's going to go sometimes," he said.

Turns out, that's a pretty good way to describe Phelps' performance in the batting cage. He and Haney spent 30 minutes taking some swings at Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday, the spring training home of the Baltimore Orioles, Phelps' hometown team.

Wearing a jersey with the No. 18 on it to match his gold-medal haul, the 6-foot-4 Phelps looked pretty comfortable with a bat in his hands for the first time since he played Little League as a kid.

Well, most of the time anyway. At one point Orioles third-base coach Bobby Dickerson worked Phelps inside. Phelps jerked out of the way and couldn't help but laugh as a handful of players and Baltimore manager Buck Showalter struggled to suppress a giggle.

Still, there were signs of the old competitiveness that made Phelps so unbeatable for so long. During his final turn he dug in and sent a steady stream of well-struck balls into the outfield.

Not bad for a retiree. A permanent one at that.

"I'm enjoying myself," Phelps said. "I get to travel the world. I get to play a different golf course pretty much almost every day. It's been a pretty cool retirement."

___

Follow Will Graves at www.twitter.com/WillGravesAP

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-21-OLY-SWM-Phelps-The-Golfer?-1st-Ld-Writethru/id-6ba897b584db48a78b0d731f2f2fdb8a

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Sony's D-Day: Everything we know about PS4

Here we go. At 6pm Eastern Time (11pm UK) tonight Sony Computer Entertainment will kick off its PlayStation Meeting event in New York City, where it is certain to announce the next generation home PlayStation console.

In preparation for the big reveal, we've prepared a catch up of all the known technical details, controller specs and key games expected to appear on the next-generation PlayStation.

CVG will be reporting live - with video - from Sony's PlayStation Meeting from 6pm Eastern Time (11pm UK) tonight via our live blog.

00:00:00:00

Further reading: Analysis: The PS4 controller | PlayStation Meeting likely announcements | Timeline: The rise of PS2

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The console

Codenamed 'Orbis' back in 2010, the later iteration of Sony's next-gen devkits offered 4GB of GDDR5 RAM, which is capable of moving data at a blistering 176 gigabytes per second. On the graphics front, Sony is utilising AMD's 'R10XX' architecture, alongside its codenamed 'Liverpool' system-on-chip.

In real terms this should, combined with an eight-core AMD CPU clocked at 1.6GHz, eliminate the sort of bottlenecks that hampered PS3 game performance.

PS4 will be capable of running visually advanced titles such as Star Wars 1313, Watch Dogs and fully supported by next gen game engines such as Square Enix's Luminous tech and Unreal engine 4.

In addition, the new PlayStation is said to feature - at devkit level at least - a drive for increased capacity Blu-ray discs, multiple USBs, Ethernet, HDMI, Optical ports and a 160GB HDD.

CVG sources claim that each console will ship with the next-gen PlayStation Eye camera which is said to contain a pair of wide-angle cameras that will pick up signals from the new DualShock 4 controllers.

Sony has patented various used games circumventions in the past 18 months, though it's not yet clear if it will enact a move to combat pre-owned game usage.

The platform holder is unlikely to price or date its machine before production starts - it will want to gauge public reaction before making decisions even internally. However, Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun claimed earlier this month that Sony has internally set the PS4 price above 40,000 Yen - a figure that would represent about $430/?275 at current exchange rates.

PS4 will almost certainly release at the end of 2013 in most territories, though an Edge report has claimed the console won't launch in Europe until after Christmas 2013. Sony Europe CEO Jim Ryan has previously claimed such a decision would not at all be Sony's ambitions.

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The Controller

The PlayStation 4 controller is set to combine motion control, touch and traditional analogue buttons to offer a fresh spin on a more familiar interface.

Leaked photo of the PS4 controller

At first glance the face buttons on the leaked prototype controller (pictured right) seem relatively unchanged. Look closer though, and you'll notice that the PS4 d-pad has been redesigned to more closely resemble the PS Vita's (often the preferred choice within core gamer circles).

PlayStation's trademark twin anolog sticks have undergone a redesign from its predecessor, now employing concave indents that provide enhanced grip. From what one games developer has heard, this analogue redesign is not just for the dev kits - it will feature on all commercial pads.

Sony has also moved the sticks slightly further apart, but has resisted calls to switch the positions of the d-pad and analogue sticks.

They're not visible in the leaked pic, but a report last week claimed that the L2 and R2 shoulder buttons have been remodelled. A development source has confirmed to CVG that the pictured pad also uses concave shoulder buttons for enhanced grip.

CVG mock-up of the PS4 controller

Three additional buttons (Start, Select and the previously rumoured 'Share' button) are nowhere to be found in the picture. However, CVG understands that the touch-pad itself is clickable, and it appears that two small buttons are embedded either side of the new touch pad.

The grill beneath the touch pad houses an internal speaker system, while at the base there is a headphone jack input.

An illuminated panel along the top can change colour and behaves just like a Move controller, a development source has told CVG. Combined with the same gyro and velocity sensors introduced with the PlayStation 3's Sixaxis, the PS4 pad is said to be an "enhanced motion control device".

Each console will ship with the next-gen PlayStation Eye camera, which at a very basic level would enable Wii-style pointer functionality without sacrificing the mainstay controller features the core has come to expect.

If it works, then the controller could be ideal for navigation, while FPS twin-stick controls might finally make way for mouse-like twitch aiming - and all without giving up the dozens of buttons and triggers that support the core gaming experience.

Further reading: Analysis: The PS4 controller

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The Games

You need only glance at PlayStation's barren July-to-December release schedule for evidence that new first-party Sony games are an algebraic certainty for the PlayStation Meeting.

Media Molecule's Tearaway (PS Vita)

LittleBigPlanet dev Media Molecule recently hinted that its new game will be revealed soon, having previously confirmed that it's working on an "unannounced R&D project" which it hopes will "completely reimagine how people can create". However, CVG understands it is unlikely the team will go out on stage in New York to show a new project.

Next Up, Last Guardian director Fumito Ueda is saying on his personal website that people should "keep an eye out for new announcements" and Quantic Dream co-CEO Guillaume de Fondaumire has confirmed he is in New York for the Meeting.

Quantic Dream's Kara PS3 tech demo

Perhaps the most likely candidate to headline Sony's PS4 game showcase is the same group that rocked the industry during Sony's PS3 reveal - Dutch studio Guerrilla Games, creator of the Killzone series.

Back in November 2011 Edge reported that the "bulk" of Guerrilla Games' staff were hard at work on a fourth instalment of Killzone, and studio recruiter Adrian Smith stated that Guerrilla has "got to continue the Killzone franchise."

Killzone 4 was first tipped to be in development for Sony's next-gen platform when a job ad for a 'Netherlands game studio' - which appeared likely to be Guerrilla - revealed that it was "now working exclusively with an industry leader, on next gen technologies and with major IPs in the pipeline."

The newly acquired InFamous developer Sucker Punch is also a next-gen possibility, having not released a full game since 2011, while no Sony hardware announce is complete without a new Gran Turismo.

CVG understands there is also strong interest from third-party publishers to debut their PS4 titles at today's event, but it's unclear if Sony will grant them stage space in the allotted time.

Source: http://rss.computerandvideogames.com/c/674/f/8604/s/28c08586/l/0L0Scomputerandvideogames0N0C3920A970Cfeatures0Csonys0Ed0Eday0Eeverything0Ewe0Eknow0Eabout0Eps40C0Dcid0FOTC0ERSS0Gattr0FCVG0EGeneral0ERSS/story01.htm

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Ceramic Fuel Cells to light up into Belgian renewable energy market

Ceramic Fuel Cells www.cfcl.com.au/

Ceramic Fuel Cells (ASX: CFU) is developing solid oxide fuel cell technology to provide highly efficient and low-emission electricity from widely available natural gas and renewable fuels. Ceramic Fuel Cells is developing SOFC products for micro combined heat and power and distributes units that generate electricity and heat for homes.

Ceramic Fuel Cells to light up into Belgian renewable energy market

Thursday, February 21, 2013 by Proactive Investors

(ASX:CFU) has inked a deal with Belgium's Solar Spirit to distribute its cutting edge BlueGen combined heat and power (CHP) systems in Belgium.

is a leading developer of generators which use fuel cell technology to convert natural gas into electricity and heat for homes and other buildings.

The agreement is particularly significant as Belgium phases out solar subsidies, making publicly guaranteed certificates for power from small scale power plants more important.

Since the compensation is tied to the produced power output, ' BlueGEN systems, with their electrical efficiency of up to 60% will suit the emerging market.

Solar Spirit, which has 15 years of distribution experience, also develops new models and product combinations that enable customers to independently generate power.

is a leading developer of fuel cell technology to generate highly efficient and low-emission electricity from widely available natural gas.

It has sold its BlueGEN gas-to-electricity generator to major utilities and other
foundation customers in Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Australia, and the USA.

The company is now focusing on markets in Germany, the United Kingdom and Benelux and is developing fully integrated power and heating products with leading energy companies E.ON UK in the United Kingdom and EWE in Germany.

Proactive Investors Australia is the market leader in producing news, articles and research reports on ASX ?Small and Mid-cap? stocks with distribution in Australia, UK, North America and Hong Kong / China.

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Source: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/39856/ceramic-fuel-cells-to-light-up-into-belgian-renewable-energy-market-39856.html

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10-Year-Old Florida Boy Found Drunk and Naked After Mother Gives him Brandy

A 10-year-old boy in Florida was found drunk and naked in his neighborhood after his mother gave him a bottle of brandy to drink.

Neighbor Amanda Roesch found the boy and brought him back to his mother?s.

?He couldn?t even stand,? Roesch said. ?He was just, you know, naked and I?m like, ?Come in the house, baby,? - and I went and got some of my son?s clothes.?

When the boy began talking, he told her that his mother had a drinking problem.

?This little boy, he said, ?All I want for my mommy is to go to rehab and to get anger management because mommy drinks to feel better cause she?s mad,?? Roesch said. ?He?s 10. Really? He had to take care of mom. How do you not know your child is naked drunk and missing, wandering down a dark road in the cold? I just don?t understand.?

?He was so drunk that he didn?t realize he had no clothes on.?

Authorities said his mother, Nedra Byrd, was drunk and passed out on the couch when they arrived. She said she thought her son was inside his room and told officers she was ?drunk as hell.?

While it is unclear whether Byrd is the boy?s actual mother, he was under her care and he referred to her as his mom.

Byrd was arrested and charged with one count of child abuse.

They discovered a half-empty bottle of Christian Brother?s brandy that the boy said Byrd gave him. He said he had also tried alcohol before.

He was examined at a hospital where doctors did a blood alcohol test.

?They went ahead and did a blood alcohol which came out to .108, which in an adult would be considered impaired driving at .08,? sheriff?s office spokeswoman Denise Moloney said.

The boy is now in the custody of Florida Department of Children and Families.

Byrd was released Friday on $1,000 bond.

(NBC-2)

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Health And Fitness: Mind Body Spirit Article Category - Hellofour.com

It ought to be apparent from a quick look at the history of hysteria over e-cigarettes that many of the public's health concerns over these devices aren't based inside any kind of scientific research or rigorously attained statistics. Instead the concerns over these cigarettes are of the "guilt by association" range. If they resemble cigarettes and when they act like cigarettes than they need to be just as unhealthy as cigarettes.

Weight reduction plus healthy living go together nevertheless you may be which missing link. Supplements cannot get within the bottle to the body without the hand. It's important that you stay educated about the kind of supplements we are putting into the body. After we have gotten into the routine of taking supplements, the body will get utilized to it.

7. Rose, vanilla & shatavari tea has significant degrees of vitamin C and it is utilized for colds and flu. It is employed to boost digestion, immune system, memory loss, depression, anxiousness and strain reduction.

1. Ginger & Lemongrass tea is utilized to aid with an upset stomach, with travel sickness and general low-grade fevers. It is also used as a digestive aid. It reduces dizziness, limits flatulence, plus helps with rest disorders. The tea is mentioned to have anti-bacterial plus anti-fungal attributes and it might relieve signs of nausea plus menstrual cramps.

Herbal teas have been employed for decades to remedy minor ailments. Whether you believe which they do have specific medicinal benefits, something the teas do have is an excellent vitamin content. Why not replace your coffee or diet drink for a delicious fruity tea instead. Who knows, they might have those hidden wellness benefits following all.

Being rich in potassium, they will supply you with adequate amounts of the mineral, that controls blood stress. This might confirm beneficial for preventing circulatory diseases like, heart diseases, stroke plus hypertension.

The major finding of this study is the fact that people whom exercise report less depression and anxiety symptoms. Exercise has the impact of an anti-depressant found on the body. This is because exercise causes a change in the mind. An important benefit of exercise is the fact that it reduces the production of a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is known as the strain hormone because when you may be stressed and have an excellent level of uneasiness, the body produces more cortisol to fight the stress. Too much cortisol, over an extended period of time, functions against the body and will have a negative effect on blood pressure and heart working.

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Source: http://www.hellofour.com/blog/32353/health-and-fitness-mind-body-spirit-article-category/

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10-Year-Old Florida Boy Found Drunk and Naked After Mother Gives him Brandy

A 10-year-old boy in Florida was found drunk and naked in his neighborhood after his mother gave him a bottle of brandy to drink.

Neighbor Amanda Roesch found the boy and brought him back to his mother?s.

?He couldn?t even stand,? Roesch said. ?He was just, you know, naked and I?m like, ?Come in the house, baby,? - and I went and got some of my son?s clothes.?

When the boy began talking, he told her that his mother had a drinking problem.

?This little boy, he said, ?All I want for my mommy is to go to rehab and to get anger management because mommy drinks to feel better cause she?s mad,?? Roesch said. ?He?s 10. Really? He had to take care of mom. How do you not know your child is naked drunk and missing, wandering down a dark road in the cold? I just don?t understand.?

?He was so drunk that he didn?t realize he had no clothes on.?

Authorities said his mother, Nedra Byrd, was drunk and passed out on the couch when they arrived. She said she thought her son was inside his room and told officers she was ?drunk as hell.?

While it is unclear whether Byrd is the boy?s actual mother, he was under her care and he referred to her as his mom.

Byrd was arrested and charged with one count of child abuse.

They discovered a half-empty bottle of Christian Brother?s brandy that the boy said Byrd gave him. He said he had also tried alcohol before.

He was examined at a hospital where doctors did a blood alcohol test.

?They went ahead and did a blood alcohol which came out to .108, which in an adult would be considered impaired driving at .08,? sheriff?s office spokeswoman Denise Moloney said.

The boy is now in the custody of Florida Department of Children and Families.

Byrd was released Friday on $1,000 bond.

(NBC-2)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/opposingviews/main/~3/qCSZRFe12Oo/10-year-old-florida-boy-found-drunk-and-naked-neighborhood

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Renewed fervor for Google lifts stock above $800

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Google's stock price topped $800 for the first time Tuesday amid renewed confidence in the company's ability to reap higher profits from its dominance of Internet search and prominence in the growing mobile market.

The milestone comes more than five years after Google's shares initially hit $700. Not long after breaking that barrier in October 2007, the economy collapsed into the worst recession since World War II and Google's stock tumbled into a prolonged malaise that eventually led to a change in leadership.

Besides enriching Google's employees and other shareholders, the company's resurgent stock is an implicit endorsement of co-founder Larry Page. He replaced his managerial mentor, Eric Schmidt, as CEO in April 2011. Google's stock has risen by 36 percent since Page took over. By contrast, the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index has climbed by 15 percent over the same stretch.

Most of Google's gains have occurred in the past seven months ? a period that has overlapped with a sharp downturn in the stock price of rival Apple Inc. The iPhone maker's market value has plunged by about $230 billion, or 35 percent, since late September.

"All that Apple money had to go somewhere," said BGC Financial analyst Colin Gillis.

Standard & Poor's Capital IQ analyst Scott Kessler concurred, reasoning that many investors who have abandoned Apple are gravitating to one of its biggest rivals.

Google makes and distributes its free Android software to Samsung Electronics Co., HTC Corp. and other mobile device makers looking to compete with Apple's iPhone and iPad. Since its 2008 introduction, Android has established itself as the most popular mobile operating system, partly because the free software makes it easier for device makers to undercut Apple's prices for iPhones and iPads.

Android is set up to feature Google's search engine and other services, giving the company a chance to sell more ads.

"If you are looking at Apple's peers in its space and see who seems to be really doing well right now, it makes a lot of sense to invest in Google now," Kessler said.

Despite its diminished luster, Apple remains the most valuable U.S. company with a market value of $432 billion. Google now ranks third with a market value of $266 billion, with Exxon Mobil Corp. holding the spot in between at $402 billion.

Google's stock climbed $13.96, or 1.8 percent, to close Tuesday at $806.85.

Analysts who follow Google still see room for some modest gains. The stock's average price target among analysts surveyed by FactSet now stands at $834.40. Five of the 37 polled analysts are predicting Google's stock will surpass $900 within the next year.

"There are probably even going to be people talking whether Google's stock can get to $1,000," Kessler said. "Never underestimate the excitement that can be caused by a rising stock market and a rising security."

Gillis warned that Google's stock might retreat within the next six weeks, based on historical trading patterns. During the first quarter in each of the past five years, Google's stock has declined by at least 10 percent from its peak price within the three-month period. The trend may have something to do with the opening three months of the year being a traditionally sluggish period for advertising, according to Gillis.

"I fully expect investors to have another opportunity to buy Google's stock at prices below $800," Gillis said. His price target on Google remains at $760.

The significance of crossing the $800 threshold is largely symbolic. If Google had its way, the stock wouldn't even be priced near these levels.

The company, which is based in Mountain View, Calif., had hoped to split its stock last year in a move that would have at least temporarily halved the trading price by doubling the total number of outstanding shares. But the proposed stock split was put on hold until Google resolves a shareholder lawsuit alleging that the stock split unfairly cedes too much power to Page and fellow co-founder Sergey Brin. Page and Brin have been the company's largest shareholders since its inception. A trial on the lawsuit is scheduled to begin June 17 in a Delaware state court.

Assuming more investors wouldn't have rushed to buy more Google stock just because it split, the company's market value probably wouldn't have changed from its current level.

There is little dispute among analysts that Google appears well positioned for many years of prosperity for these reasons:

? Its Internet search engine remains the hub of the Web's biggest marketing network;

? Its YouTube video site has established itself as an increasingly attractive advertising vehicle and could broaden its reach as more people get Internet-connected televisions;

? Its Android software is running on more than 600 million smartphones and tablet computers, creating new advertising opportunities.

Google already dominates mobile advertising, with its U.S. revenue from that business expected to approach $4 billion this year, up 84 percent from nearly $2.2 billion in 2012, according to the research firm eMarketer. Google commands a 55 percent share of the mobile ad market, based on eMarketer's estimates. Google doesn't disclose how much of its $44 billion in annual worldwide ad revenue comes from mobile devices.

Some investors have raised concerns that mobile ads have been commanding lower prices than ads on regular Web pages, reducing the average rate for ads. The company is trying to address that with a revamped ad system that will prod more marketers to buy mobile ads when they are creating campaigns for desktop and laptop computers. That, Google hopes, will raise demand and thus prices.

Opinions about Google weren't as upbeat a few years ago. Although Google weathered the Great Recession better than most companies, its revenue growth slowed and its stock plummeted to as low as $247.30 near the end of 2008.

Things looked so bleak in 2009 that Google took the rare step of re-pricing stock options that had been doled out to its employees to give them a chance to make more money when the shares rebounded. The program allowed Google workers to swap their old stock options for new ones with an exercise price of about $308. The employees who have held on to the re-priced options would make nearly $500 per option if they were to exercise them now.

Although he didn't receive any of those re-priced options, Schmidt is poised to pocket a huge windfall by selling 42 percent of the shares that he owns in the company during the next year. The 3.2 million that Schmidt, now Google's executive chairman, has earmarked for sale are currently worth about $2.6 billion. Google says the stock sales are part of Schmidt's strategy to diversify his investment portfolio so less of his wealth is locked up in the company.

Even after the economy snapped out of the recession toward the end of 2009, Google's stock began to lag the rest of the market. Investors began to wonder if the company was losing its competitive age as it morphed from a hard-charging startup to giant organization with thousands of employees working in dozens of offices scattered around the world.

At the same time, Facebook was emerging as the Internet's fastest growing company in a meteoric rise. The social networking company had some people convinced it would eventually become a more important advertising vehicle than Google's search engine.

Perceptions have changed since Page became CEO. Under Page's leadership, Google has streamlined its decision-making and operations while closing dozens of its less popular services. It established its own toehold in social networking with the 2011 introduction of Google Plus.

Meanwhile, Facebook Inc. so far hasn't lived up to the hyperbole that that made its initial public offering of stock one of the biggest in U.S. history. Since going public at $38, Facebook's stock has sunk 24 percent.

By contrast, Google's stock has never slipped below its August 2004 IPO price of $85.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/renewed-fervor-google-lifts-stock-above-800-220245492--finance.html

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Roger Clemens On Hall Of Fame Vote: 'I'm Not Going To Lose Any Sleep Over It'

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) ? Roger Clemens said little publicly in the immediate aftermath of the Hall of Fame vote.

Over a month later, he's willing to share his thoughts ? but the 354-game winner is not about to start a lobbying campaign.

"I'm not going to lose any sleep over it," Clemens said. "If those guys feel I deserve to be there, then I deserve to be there. If they feel I don't, then that's OK too."

Clemens was at spring training Monday as a special instructor for the Houston Astros, and he spoke for a bit with the team's pitchers about his mental approach to the game. Later, he watched some of the Astros throw live batting practice.

The 50-year-old Clemens seemed relaxed after a turbulent year. Clemens was acquitted last year on charges he obstructed and lied to Congress in denying he used performance-enhancing drugs to extend his career. Last month, Clemens, Barry Bonds and everyone else on the ballot fell short of the necessary votes to make the Hall of Fame. Superlative stats weren't enough to offset suspicions of PED use.

"I've had a great time when I've gone to Cooperstown," Clemens said. "I know a lot of people that work over there, too. If you're around my groups of people, and the same thing when I go to the cities I've played in, the people have been nothing but great down on the streets to me."

The rebuilding Astros are moving to the American League this year after losing 213 games in two seasons. Clemens said if he were a player, he'd be excited because of all the job openings available on the roster.

He met with pitchers for about a half-hour before Monday's workout.

"I tried to fire them up and tell them that we're not just a newcomer to the league," Clemens said. "Hopefully we got the attention of a few of them."

New manager Bo Porter was happy to have Clemens around.

"He had a good powwow with all the pitchers and catchers this morning," Porter said. "Like I told those guys, when you're able to receive that type of tutelage and advice from someone who's been through the battles, understands what it takes, he's done it at a high level, it's an asset."

Left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who made 16 starts for the Astros as a rookie last year, is among many Houston pitchers still trying to prove himself. He said he'd met Clemens before ? he played in the minor leagues with Clemens' son.

When Clemens showed up at camp, Keuchel was ready to listen.

"A 350-game winner? I'm all ears," Keuchel said. "He talked about knowing your own game and what you're capable of doing in the game, and you don't need a pitching coach to come out. You're a big leaguer for a reason. You're there because you can throw the ball where you want to, and just because you make a bad pitch doesn't mean you can't make an adjustment the next pitch."

Clemens says spring training has changed a lot since he was beginning his big league career. Players now arrive a bit more ready to push themselves.

"I watched some of the guys turning the ball loose yesterday, and I worry that they're coming out of the gate to impress people pretty hard, and you can get tendinitis pretty easy," Clemens said. "But I know I did that when I was 21."

Another difference Clemens noticed? It seems like fewer players are smokers now.

That led to a brief discussion between Clemens and reporters about fitness and nutrition in baseball ? and a comment from Clemens that at least tangentially referenced the sport's drug testing program.

"You guys can go to GNC and take stuff, and we can't ? to keep your health or muscle, or whatever you want to do. You've just got to be careful with it, because they can change the ingredients in it. You have to be aware of it," Clemens said. "I know you guys write about it, but there's a scroll from here to the field over there of names you can't even spell, that we can't ? you've just got to be careful."

Notes: Porter said RHP Bud Norris will be away from camp for a bit following the death of his grandmother. He's expected to leave Tuesday and be back Thursday. Norris is slated to pitch Sunday against the New York Mets.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/18/roger-clemens-hall-of-fame-vote-not-losing-sleep_n_2713015.html

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10 Things to Know for Monday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Monday:

1. WHEN HAGEL WILL GET HIS VOTE

GOP opponents of the Defense Secretary nominee say they'll probably allow a confirmation vote in the coming week.

2. FOREIGN CONSTRUCTION WORKERS KIDNAPPED IN NIGERIA

No one has claimed responsibility for abducting the seven, but the region has been under attack by a radical Islamic sect known as Boko Haram.

3. WHO JOINED OBAMA ON THE FAIRWAY

Tiger Woods golfed with the president on a secluded, exclusive resort in Florida.

4. PISTORIUS PUTS AWAY HIS BLADES

The double-amputee cancels all races to concentrate on defending himself against murder charges.

5. ONE SISTER AT GUN CONTROL RALLY, ANOTHER IS SHOT

Janay Mcfarlane was killed in Chicago the same day her 14-year-old sister sat behind Obama as he spoke about gun violence.

6. CUBAN DISSIDENT BLOGGER BEGINS WORLD TOUR

Yoani Sanchez sets off on a three-month, dozen-nation journey, now that exit permits are no longer required for islanders.

7. SLAP A BABY, LOSE A JOB

An executive accused of assaulting a crying toddler on a flight is no longer employed at AGC Aerospace and Defense.

8. WHAT MAKER'S MARK WON'T CHANGE AFTER ALL

The bourbon distiller says public outcry has led it to reverse a decision to cut the alcohol level in its famous whiskey.

9. MIDWEEK MARIJUANA

Discovery network debuts 'Weed Country' series on Wednesdays, focusing on Northern California growers. 'Pot Cops' show will follow it.

10. MAKING NASCAR HISTORY

Danica Patrick becomes the first woman to win the Daytona 500 pole, the biggest achievement of her stock-car career.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/10-things-know-monday-104352258.html

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QPM to partner with IQPC for pivotal Construction Qatar conference ...

QPM ? one of the region?s premier project management companies and the first Qatari firm in the field ? has announced its partnership with IQPC (International Quality and Productivity Center) for the upcoming ?HSE in Construction Qatar? conference on 11 March, 2013.

The HSE event endorsed by the Ministry of Municipality & Urban Planning and Public Works Authority ?Ashghal?, takes place at Oryx Rotana Hotel. The conference will bring together a range of experts from the HSE sector in the fields of architecture, development, contracting and consultancy. These experts will include a number of QPM associates in addition to other speakers.

The conference will fully explore the main challenges in HSE within the construction industry and this is the prime reason behind QPM?s decision to partner with IQPC. The ultimate goal of the event is to aid the delivery of projects safely, and in an environmentally-sympathetic fashion to meet the highest expectations through effective technology and people management.

?HSE in Construction? will discuss the health and safety requirements, standards and specifications, their implications on projects and how to develop these strands into an overall successful HSE program.

Additionally, the conference will explore fire safety standards, technologies and processes that need to be factored into HSE frameworks across different project types, from high-rise buildings, to airports, shopping complexes and all other types of development and infrastructure. Further, the concepts and practice of emergency and accident management will be addressed.

The key benefits of attending the event include: understanding how to improve and extend the capabilities for emergency planning across all departments within your company to execute safe operations; to hear from fellow professionals about key considerations on fire risk management strategies and developing fire resilience methods to protect staff and property; to discover how to utilise innovative solutions and technology to adopt green practices across construction projects in Qatar and manage environmental impacts, and to meet and network with key decision-makers to share experiences on developing effective HSE strategies.

QPM?s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Fahad Rashid Al-Kaabi, commented: ?QPM?s partnership with IQPC for this upcoming HSE conference is very much a ?natural fit? in that we have two bodies dedicated to the techniques and application of successful HSE strategies and programs.?

?Additionally, with the conference taking place in Qatar, it was imperative for QPM to get involved in the event. While this company has numerous overseas projects in its portfolio, our focus remains on our domestic market and we are also dedicated to excellence in the HSE sector.?

?The company?s reputation is forged on the delivery of project management using the latest technologies and methodologies but, importantly, overseeing developments that conform to the highest standards of HSE processes. QPM understands the importance of HSE as part of its overall responsibility to its staff, the environment, the community and the role of the project management company.?We must not, however, rest on our laurels and there is much to be learned at the upcoming conference, where we will endeavor both to learn of the latest developments and to inform attendees about our significant existing experience within the HSE sector.?

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Source: http://www.qatarisbooming.com/2013/02/17/qpm-to-partner-with-iqpc-for-pivotal-construction-qatar-conference/

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US Celebrates Presidents' Day (Voice Of America)

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Gracenote unleashes its vast musical know-how to developers

You've probably used Gracenote thousands of times and have been none the wiser, but for good reason: the musical metadata service lives in the background of several apps, appearing only momentarily to bring meaning to your favorite tunes. Now, Gracenote is looking to expand its reach by opening its APIs and SDKs to app developers -- effectively putting its massive database in the hands of all who seek it. Of course, ripping CDs isn't quite what it once was, and that's why Gracenote has also opened its MusicID song recognition service to developers, allowing them to harness the same functionality of apps such as Shazam and SoundHound. The free service is available now, and for extra insight, you'll find the full PR after the break.

Filed under: Software, Mobile

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Obama golfs with Tiger Woods, shuts out White House press corps (Washington Bureau)

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Gillingham, Kent Emergency Nanny 15th ... - Harmony at Home

A lovely Family are looking for a nanny to come and look after their precious little boy who is 3 years old on the 15th February 2013, while mum works from home.

The hours needed are ?from?9am?to 1pm? In the afternoon. The family live in?Gillingham,but the young man is?mildly?ill,?so a?caring?and?understanding?supper nanny is needed to help while mum works from home.

At home you will be doing some fun activities like baking or arts and crafts and generally just entertaining the little man, which?will help him on the way to recovery.

Salary will be ?8 per hour.

If you are available and would like to help this family please contact?Ebun?on 01892 222 450/0208 320 1435?or email me?ethomas@harmonyathome.co.uk. Job reference et114

Apply for this job

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View from Iran: World needs rules on cyberattacks

The US believes that cyberattacks from another country can constitute an 'act of war.' This begs the question of whether the US can unilaterally engage in an unprovoked act against Iran that, according to its own standards, is unacceptable. The world needs global rules on cyberattacks, regardless of where we live and how we think, say Iran's UN diplomats.

By Alireza Miryousefi and Hossein Gharibi / February 14, 2013

President Obama gives his State of the Union address on Capitol Hill Feb. 12. He announced he signed an executive order to strengthen America's cybersecurity. Op-ed writers Alireza Miryousefi and Hossein Gharibi point to the 2010 'Stuxnet' attack on Iran and say: 'There is no choice but to cease cyberattacks and to responsibly contribute to establishing international rules concerning these attacks.'

Charles Dharapak/AP

Enlarge

The world needs a new international legal instrument on cyberspace, in light of the new waves of trans-border cyberattacks that have become a disturbing aspect of international relations in the 21st century. It is a concern for all, regardless of where we live and how we think.

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Cyberattacks are a new phenomenon in the history of modern warfare. They threaten global peace and security and require new norms under international law and principles of the UN Charter. Cyberweapons ?can deliver, in the blink of an eye, wild viral behaviors that are easily reproduced and transferred, while lacking target discrimination,? reports the EastWest Institute in New York, which proposes international ?rules of engagement? to cope with cyberweapons.

Incredibly, today there are international prohibitions against a soldier throwing a grenade across a border, and yet, prohibitions are comparatively too weak against cybersoldiers targeting other countries? military, economic, and financial institutions and causing substantial damage. Clearly, there is something amiss and it requires collective international effort to tackle the so-called ?digital battlefield.?

Iran, as the current chair of the Non-Aligned Movement and acting as a responsible member of the international community, is firmly committed to the goal of strengthening the international legal instruments dealing with cybersecurity. Such an instrument could conceivably be modeled after other international conventions regulating relations among states, obligating state signatories to not use cyberattacks against others.

For several years now, Iran has been the recipient of a protracted wave of state-sponsored cyberattacks. These attacks have attempted to disrupt our computer systems at power grids, government ministries, nuclear facilities, oil terminals, and other important industrial and economic sectors. They have inflicted financial and property damage and caused occasional disruptions.

Obviously, these attacks are illegal from the point of view of recognized principles of international law, including the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Articles one and two of the Charter provide a framework under which UN member states should interact with each other. Article 2 (4) states: ?All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.?

And yet, unfortunately the US in particular has behaved as if there are no standards in the international community regarding such wrongful acts. It has supported ?offensive operations? in cyberspace without bothering with their compatibility with international norms. This callous indifference to general rules of international law was seen in the 2010 ?Stuxnet? attack against the control system of Iran?s civilian nuclear facilities, which was reportedly authorized by the White House as part of its ?covert operations? against Iran.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/VpJYwjhNXtw/View-from-Iran-World-needs-rules-on-cyberattacks

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Apple looks to end blurry iPhone photos with new invention

By Mikey Campbell

In a patent filing discovered on Thursday, Apple describes a digital camera implementation that continuously captures and stores images in a buffer until the user releases the shutter, at which time the system automatically selects the best picture based on a number of predetermined variables.


Filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in October of 2012, Apple's "Image capturing device having continuous image capture" offers owners of small, portable devices more leeway when trying to get the perfect shot.

While smartphones like the iPhone have relatively high-quality camera systems, the products are not purpose-built for picture taking and come with a multitude of compromises. For example, a smartphone's optics and imaging sensor are minuscule compared to modern equivalents seen in full-size DSLRs and pocketable point-and-shoots. The lack of a powerful image processor and other vital components just add to the challenge of getting high quality photographs from a handset's camera.

From the patent filing's background:

These image capturing devices typically use a preview resolution for capturing a preview image of a scene. Subsequently, a user provides an input to take a photograph. The device switches from preview resolution to full resolution prior to capturing an image. Switching from preview to full resolution causes a time lag, which may lead to user frustration. Also, camera shake during the time when a user presses a button or touches a touchscreen can degrade image quality.

The iPhone 5, for example, offers a preview image not quite at full resolution. This allows for fast screen refresh times that give a better overall user experience by simulating a "live" environment. Preview quality is most noticeable when zooming in on a subject, when the image becomes pixelated and sometimes blurry.

Apple's system starts up when a user launches a photo app like Camera, continuously capturing and storing sequential full-resolution images to a buffer. When a request is given (shutter press or screen touch), the system pulls from the pool and chooses one image based on when it was captured, its quality, or a combination of the two.

Depending on the quality of the image, the processing logic can select the photo from either the buffer or concurrent to when the shutter is pressed. The system uses a "focus score" to based on contrast, image resolution, dynamic range and color rendering properties. By weighting the scores of tagged images, along with factoring in exposure time, the logic can choose which photo to use. Memory is conserved by purging the buffer at a predetermined time, or when capacity reaches a certain threshold.

Example flowchart of processing logic.
In one embodiment, the selected picture can be displayed on screen in full resolution immediately after a request as confirmation for the user.

It is not clear if this exact technology is being implemented in iOS and devices like the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, but some aspects of the invention can be seen in Apple's latest products.

The patent application was first filed for in October of 2012 as a division to another co-pending filing from 2009, and lists Ralph Brunner, Nikhil Bhogal and James David Batson as its inventors.

Source: http://feeds.appleinsider.com/click.phdo?i=64226d1e608d8dedb469e7b3775dd90a

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