Should Your Retail Sales Training Be In-House or Online? -

The long-held belief for getting your retail sales team on the same page has been that in-person retail sales training is the only way to do it.

Bring in managers, assistant-managers, team-leaders, training-staff or some combination thereof and tell them to bring back your training to their staff.

That is the way that it?s done; that?s the way it has been done.

Which was fine.

For awhile.

But this strategy was inherently flawed. If you?re telling your top sellers what they need to know then you have got to appreciate that they will take their own spin for how they think your instructions should be interpreted.

That was a flawed fact that before now was just the reality of in-person training; all this in an age before online retail sales training.

What does online retail sales training give you that this tried-not-necessarily-true method doesn?t?

Two larger things really; accountable knowledge transfer and a strategy to turn this information into action.

Information

This is key; no facts get lost from person to person. With just in-person training, it could be like the?momma?bird feeding her biggest baby birds first then the smaller ones then the smaller ones. There is a reason the runt baby birds often don?t survive.

What you get in my online retail sales training is you get to put that worm right into every baby bird?s mouth.You?re welcome for the visual.

Here?s what else you receive:

• Ability to track the uptake and effectiveness of your programs down to region, district and store levels.
• Employees can send questions and receive real-time answers.
• Actionable, impactful videos designed for today?s learner.
• All content taught by top retail sales trainers.
• Certificate of completion to ensure they know their stuff.
• Engaging, entertaining user-friendly interfaces that focus the learner.
• Everyone from your newest part-timer to seasoned veteran learn the exact same information at their own pace.

For your managers there are added tools to bring the online training onto your salesfloor:

• Courses just for managers so they can make the retail sales training stick.
• Instant access to a suite of measurable features and tools to track how your employees are doing for reward or counsel.
• One-on-one training delivered to your units anywhere in the world.
• Scorecards to see how your employees are progressing.

Strategy

Another bonus of this virtual training is giving your employees a strategy to use the information they?ve been given; so that the result is consistent across your brand. Your associates will learn how to:

• Be genuine, know how to approach, engage and sell the customer.
• Be more human in an increasingly inhuman world.
• Build rapport.
• Get customers to return.
• Get your merchandise out the door.
• Make every stage of a sale meaningful.
• Meet a customer?s needs.
• Move through every step of a sale.
• Open a sale, present your merchandise, handle objections, add-on and get the customers to say ?Thank you? instead of beat them-up for a discount.
• Sell from confidence.

The true magic happens when your managers can have the bulk of the program taught one-on-one online so they can inspect what is expected on the sales floor. ?It doesn?t have to be either online retail sales training or in-person training, they should be both be used to grow your sales and help present an exceptional experience for each customer that also moves your merchandise.

Related posts:

Posted by Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor on February 28, 2013.

Source: http://www.retaildoc.com/blog/should-your-retail-sales-training-be-in-house-or-online/

This 1,858-square-foot in home sold for $300,000, close to the average price in the metro area.

The Denver-area housing market showed a 8.5 percent year-over-year gain last December, according to the closely watched Case-Shiller index released today.

That was the biggest year-over-year percentage gain in more than 11 years. The last time it was higher was in October 2001, when home prices rose by 8.9 percent.

Overall, the percentage gain was good enough for 10th place of the 20 major metropolitan statistical areas tracked in the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices.?The overall annual percentage gain in December for the 20 MSAs was 6.8 percent.

In December 2011, Denver ranked No. 2, with a 0.4 percent loss, a sign of how much the nation?s market has recovered.?In December of last year, New York was the only city to show a loss, dropping by 0.5 percent. Phoenix led the pack, rising by 23 percent.

On a month-to-month basis, Denver fell by 0.3 percent, on a non-seasonally adjusted basis.

?The non-seasonally adjusted index dropped slightly from November to December, but the seasonally adjusted index was up a strong 0.8 percent,? said Lane Hornung, CEO and co-founder of 8z Real Estate.??With annual appreciation jumping to 8.5 percent, I will repeat my prediction from last month that the Denver MSA will post a double-digit appreciation number some time this spring.?

However, the Denver-area market needs more homes to sell, he and other brokers say. With fewer than 7,100 unsold resale homes on the market in January, the inventory of available homes is believed to be at the lowest level since the 1970s.

?The market desperately needs inventory,? Hornung said.

?To avoid entering a bubble market (and we all know how that turns out), perhaps we need to broadcast the following public service announcement: ?Calling all sellers, calling all sellers-now is a good time to sell!?

Peter Niederman, CEO of Kentwood Real Estate, said he is glad that Denver?s housing market is not showing the big gains of places such as Phoenix, although he is glad that the national housing market is recovering.

?I think the best commentary is not that Denver is in the middle of the pack, but all markets are starting to rise,? Niederman said.??I like where Denver is. It is right where it should be. Denver is performing wonderfully.?

It was not that long ago, he noted, ?that ?we were talking about Denver bucking the national trend. Now, we are seeing this breadth of improvement across all markets. That is very healthy for the overall housing economy and the U.S. economy. It?s like that old saying ? a rising tide lifts all boats.?

He said if Denver homes showed the kind of appreciation that the Phoenix market is enjoying, he would be worried.

?I would be very cautious if Denver was in the top five markets right now,? Niederman said. If prices went go up too fast, too soon, it makes the market unaffordable. Companies looking to locate here or grow here, would have second thoughts if homes were too expensive. It also would price many people out of the market.?

The average price of a single-family home sold and closed in January was slightly more than $300,000.

On national news reports, Niederman noted that economist Robert Shiller, co-creator of Case-Shiller, said that a shortage of homes has become a concern in many markets across the country, Niederman said.

?Shiller said new home builders are helping to fill the gap, but they aren?t building homes fast enough,? Niederman said.

?In Denver, builders are definitely help fill the void,? Niederman said. ?It?s a tale of two stories. On one level, new homes are competition for homes we are trying to sell. On the other hand, they are creating new supply. A big concern is that people will sell their homes quickly and won?t be able to find another one. In many cases, they can move into a new home, after selling their existing home.?

Builders also are constructing homes that consumers want, he said.

?They build to meet the demand,? Niederman said. ?It?s not the super-luxury home builders that are doing the best, but the builders who are constructing homes that are priced at a level where the demand exists. New homes are a good option for someone selling their existing home.?

Independent broker Gary Bauer said the Case-Shiller report shows that Denver is in a very good place relative to other national markets.

?Once again, Denver did not experience the very high peaks nor did it experience the very low valleys like many of these other markets, which are now showing bigger percentage gains than Denver,? Bauer said.

?Slow and steady is much better than these huge swings other markets are showing,? he said.

He agreed with other brokers that the inventory is the biggest problem currently facing the Denver market.

?Soon we will have the February numbers (from Metrolist) and it will be interesting to see if we see another decline in the number of houses on the market,? Bauer said.

?All the Realtors I talk to are putting shoe-leather on the street, ringing door bells and talking to homeowners about why now is a great time to be putting your home on the market. Hopefully, their efforts will pay off and we will start to see an increase in the supply to help us meet the demand.?

The national housing market ended last year on a strong said, according to?David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

?Home prices ended 2012 with solid gains,? Blitzer said ?Housing and residential construction led the economy in the 2012 fourth quarter. In December?s report all three headline composites and 19 of the 20 cities gained over their levels of a year ago. Month-over-month, nine cities and both composites posted positive monthly gains. Seasonally adjusted, there were no monthly declines across all 20 cities.

?The National Composite increased 7.3 percent ?over the four quarters of 2012. From its low in the first quarter, it surged in the second and third quarter and slipped slightly in the 2012 fourth period. The 10- and 20-City Composites, which bottomed out in March 2012 continued to show both year-over-year and monthly gains in December. These movements, combined with other housing data, suggest that while housing is on the upswing some of the strongest numbers may have already been seen.

?Atlanta and Detroit posted their biggest year-over-year increases of 9.9 percent and 13.6 percent since the start of their indices in January 1991. Dallas, Denver, and Minneapolis recorded their largest annual increases since 2001. Phoenix continued its climb, posting an impressive year-over-year return of 23.0 percent; it posted eight consecutive months of double-digit annual growth.?

Metropolitan Area	Change from January 2000	November-December Change	1-Year Annual Change
Atlanta	-4.05%	0.3%	9.9%
Boston	53.81%	0.1%	3.6%
Charlotte	14.92%	-0.4%	5.3%
Chicago	12.61%	-0.7%	2.2%
Cleveland	0.56%	-0.1%	2.9%
Dallas	20.51%	-0.1%	6.5%
DENVER	34.14%	-0.3%	8.5%
Detroit	-19.96%	-0.6%	13.6%
Las Vegas	2.41%	1.8%	12.9%
Los Angeles	78.59%	1.1%	10.2%
Miami	52.36%	0.8%	10.6%
Minneapolis	26.09%	-0.1%	12.2%
New York	61.58%	-0.4%	-0.5%
Phoenix	25.33%	0.9%	23.0%
Portland	41.35%	-0.5%	6.5%
San Diego	64.28%	0.4%	9.2%
San Francisco	47.24%	0.7%	14.4%
Seattle	41.75%	-0.5%	8.2%
Tampa	34.04%	0.2%	7.2%
Washington, D.C.	88.72%	-0.1%	5.8%
Composite -10	58.49%	0.2%	5.9%
Composite - 20	45.95%	0.2%	6.8%

Month	How Denver ranked out of 20 MSAs	1-Year Change
January 2010	6	2.6%
February	5	3.6%
March	7	4.1%
April	8	4.4%
May	8	3.6%
June	9	1.8%
July	11	-0.1%
August	11	-1.2%
September	9	-3.1%
October	7	-1.8%
November	6	-2.5%
December	7	-2.4%
January 2011	6	-2.3%
February	5	-2.6%
March	7	-3.8%
April	6	-4.1%
May	5	-3.3%
June	3	-2.5%
July	4	-2.1%
August	3	-1.6%
September	5	-1.5%
October	4	-0.9%
November	3	-0.2%
December	2	-0.4%
January 2012	3	0.2%
February	4	0.5%
March	3	2.6%
April	4	2.8%
May	3	3.7%
June	4	4.0%
July	4	5.4%
August	5	5.5%
September	6	6.7%
October	7	6.9%
November	8	7.8%
December

Have a story idea or real estate tip? Contact John Rebchook at? JRCHOOK@gmail.com. InsideRealEstateNews.com is sponsored by Universal Lending, Land Title Guarantee and 8z Real Estate. To read more articles by John Rebchook, subscribe to the Colorado Real Estate Journal.

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Source: http://insiderealestatenews.com/2013/02/case-shiller-denver-homes-rise-8-5/

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Gonorrhoea cases soar 25 percent in England as superbugs take hold

LONDON (Reuters) - Gonorrhoea cases have soared by 25 percent in the past year in England as superbug or drug-resistant strains of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) take hold worldwide, British health officials said on Wednesday.

Nearly 21,000 new cases had been diagnosed in 2011, with more than a third of cases in gay men and more than a third in people who have had gonorrhoea before, the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) said in a statement.

Effective treatment with antibiotics has been compromised by growing resistance, it said, noting "a drift towards decreased susceptibility" of gonorrhoea infections to drugs called cephalosporins which are normally recommended as treatment.

"We are seriously concerned about continuing high levels of gonorrhoea transmission and repeat infection," said Gwenda Hughes, the HPA's head of STI surveillance.

A strain of gonorrhoea that was resistant to all recommended antibiotics was found in Japan in 2008, scientists said in 2011. They warned then it could transform a once easily treatable infection into a global health threat.

Last year the World Health Organisation said cases of drug-resistant gonorrhoea had spread across the world.

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial STI which, if left untreated, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths and infertility in both men and women.

It is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world and is most prevalent in south and southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. In the United States alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of cases is estimated at about 700,000 a year.

The emergence of superbugs has been driven by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, which help fuel genetic mutations within the bacteria.

(Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gonorrhoea-cases-soar-25-percent-england-superbugs-hold-134347867.html

The coal miners working for the Zetas are lowered into small mines to extract coal that's sold to larger companies. (Photo by Nostrifikator via Wikimedia Commons.)

Mexico's drug cartel, the Zetas, have joined the coal mining business to increase their profits outside of their lucrative drug trading business. But legal and illegal coal mining practices in the region have mining advocates concerned for the miners' safety and future coal mining practices.

The Zetas, one of Mexico's drug cartels, is adding another source of income to their arsenal with illegal coal mining in the Mexican state of Coahuila.

Mines in Coahuila produce 95 percent of Mexico's coal. From small-scale mines, the Zetas can sometimes make a greater profit margins with coal than selling illegal drugs. John Holman, a reporter for Al Jazeera, says Coahuila is home to numerous pothos, small mines, with very little regulation.?

The Zetas typically use miners who aren't highly trained, Holman says, so they can pay them poorly and make greater profits.

"These small mines as you drive through Coahuila ... you can see them on the side of the roads in the coal district. And they?re literally just some men gathered around what looks a very ropey sort of machine to lower them down into the depths of the earth and bring up that coal," he said.

Larger companies buy the coal from these smaller mines and then send the coal to a state-owned company, Prodemi, Holman said. Prodemi sells the coal to clients.?

"This has blown up to be quite a scandal in Mexico because amongst the companies that end up with this coal, as well as private companies, are state-run companies," he said.

Last year, the Mexican federal government killed Heriberto Lazcano, the former leader of the Zetas gang, in the coal-mining town of Progreso. Holman says people believe Lazcano was in the process of becoming a miner.

"This state is very much in the hands of the Zetas gang, one of Mexico?s most ruthless drug gangs, and one that's shown a certain talent in expanding into other businesses: extortion, people trafficking, pirate copies of DVDs ... and it seems like this is the latest venture for them," he said.

With the Zetas getting into the coal mining business, legal coal miners risk being tortured or killed if they speak out, Holman said.

But both legal and illegal coal miners face safety concerns from doing their jobs.

"Almost seven years ago, there was a huge accident in which 65 miners died ? and some of those bodies have never been recovered,"?Holman?said.

Advocates for miners' rights say the safety of coal mining hasn't improved, and illegal miners will endure even worse conditions because they don't have even the few safety regulations that the legal mines have, Holman said.

There's an ongoing federal investigation into what's happening in Coahuila, but there haven't been any conclusions drawn or mass arrests, Holman said.

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Hosted by Steve Curwood, "Living on Earth" is an award-winning environmental news program that delves into the leading issues affecting the world we inhabit. More "Living on Earth."

Source: http://www.pri.org/stories/business/mexico-s-zetas-gang-joins-coal-mining-business-for-bigger-profits-13075.html

The English monarch reigned for just two years before he was killed in battle in 1485, but he was immortalized in William Shakespeare's play, "Richard III," in which he was portrayed as a hunchbacked villain. Richard III's legions of modern-day fans say he wasn't really all that bad ? and the row over what to do with his bones has added a new twist to the drama.

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"We, the undernamed, do hereby most respectfully demand that the remains of King Richard III, the last Plantagenet King of England and our mutual ancestor, be returned to the city of York for formal, ceremonial reburial," the statement from his relatives says. "We believe that such an interment was the desire of King Richard in life and we have written this statement so that his wishes may be fully recognised and upheld. King Richard III was the last King of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty which had ruled England since the succession of King Henry II in 1154.

"We, the undernamed blood descendants, unreservedly believe that King Richard is deserving of great recognition and respect and hereby agree to dutifully uphold his memory.

"With due humility and affection, we are and will remain His Majesty?s representatives and voice."

The statement was signed by nine individuals who have traced their ancestry back to Richard III's siblings. The nine signers are?Charles E. Brunner, Stephen Guy Nicolay, Vanessa Maria Roe, Jacob Daniel Tyler, Paul Tyler, Raymond Torrence Bertram Roe, Linda Jane Roe, Eleanor Bianca Lupton and Charlotte Jane Lupton. Richard died childless and thus has no direct-line descendants.

Even before the remains were found, the British Ministry of Justice granted a license putting the University of Leicester in charge of the parking-lot dig and the disposition of any remains found there."The University of Leicester specified in its application that reinterment would occur in Leicester Cathedral if the remains were proved to be those of King Richard III," the institution said in a statement.

The university is currently working with the cathedral and Leicester's city council on plans for his reburial by August 2014. In the meantime, researchers are continuing to study the remains.

The long lead time means that the tug of war between Leicester and York, two cities that are 100 miles (160 kilometers) from each other, could continue for months. There are even those who want to see the remains interred in London's Westminster Abbey. But the nine relatives behind this week's open letter have no more standing than the other descendants of Richard III's family, who doubtless number in the thousands by now.

In that light, Leicester seems to have the strongest case, by virtue of legal grounds as well as the less rigorous "finders, keepers" rule and the dictum that possession is nine-tenths of the law. Do you disagree? Feel free to weigh in with your comments below.

More about Richard III:

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Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's?Facebook page, following?@b0yle on Twitter?and adding the?Cosmic Log page?to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other stories about science and space, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered to your email in-box every weekday. You can also check out?"The Case for Pluto,"?my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.

Source: http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/25/17090654-relatives-add-drama-to-the-plans-for-king-richard-iiis-final-resting-place?lite

Feb. 25, 2013 ? U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research physicists and engineers from the Plasma Physics Division, working at the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) transmitter facility, Gakona, Alaska, successfully produced a sustained high density plasma cloud in Earth's upper atmosphere.

"Previous artificial plasma density clouds have lifetimes of only ten minutes or less," said Paul Bernhardt, Ph.D., NRL Space Use and Plasma Section. "This higher density plasma 'ball' was sustained over one hour by the HAARP transmissions and was extinguished only after termination of the HAARP radio beam."

These glow discharges in the upper atmosphere were generated as a part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) sponsored Basic Research on Ionospheric Characteristics and Effects (BRIOCHE) campaign to explore ionospheric phenomena and its impact on communications and space weather.

Using the 3.6-megawatt high-frequency (HF) HAARP transmitter, the plasma clouds, or balls of plasma, are being studied for use as artificial mirrors at altitudes 50 kilometers below the natural ionosphere and are to be used for reflection of HF radar and communications signals.

Past attempts to produce electron density enhancements have yielded densities of 4 x 10⁵ electrons per cubic centimeter (cm³) using HF radio transmissions near the second, third, and fourth harmonics of the electron cyclotron frequency. This frequency near 1.44 MHz is the rate that electrons gyrate around Earth's magnetic field.

The NRL group succeeded in producing artificial plasma clouds with densities exceeding 9 x 10⁵ electrons cm³ using HAARP transmission at the sixth harmonic of the electron cyclotron frequency.

Optical images of the artificial plasma balls show that they are turbulent with dynamically changing density structures. Electrostatic waves generated by the HAARP radio transmissions are thought to be responsible for accelerating electrons to high enough energy to produce the glow discharge in the neutral atmosphere approaching altitudes of nearly 170 kilometers.

The artificial plasma clouds are detected with HF radio soundings and backscatter, ultrahigh frequency (UHF) radar backscatter, and optical imaging systems. Ground measurements of stimulated electromagnetic emissions provide evidence of the strength and frequency for the electrostatic waves that accelerated ambient electrons to ionizing velocities.

The NRL team is working with collaborators at SRI International, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Florida, and BAE Systems on this project to synthesize the observations with parametric interactions theory to develop a comprehensive theory of the plasma cloud generation. The next HAARP campaign, scheduled for early 2013, will include experiments to develop denser, more stable ionization clouds.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/physics/~3/aqzcHIGr7jc/130225112504.htm

"By adding a fast, reliable and built-in 4G LTE connection specifically designed for vehicles, we can drive innovation to enhance virtually every aspect of the driving and riding experience ? from safety and diagnostics to entertainment to integration of emerging third-party applications," said Mary Chan, president, Global Connected Consumer, General Motors. "Through this built-in 4G LTE connection we have the opportunity to reinvent the mobile experience inside a vehicle."

Beyond 4G LTE connectivity, AT&T and GM will work together as part of a broad ecosystem focused on development of new communication applications for the vehicle designed to deliver more efficiency while also enhancing the driving and riding experience.

GM will preview a series of conceptual connected services at GSMA's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week in the AT&T-sponsored area of the Connected City. GM's move to integrate 4G LTE services in vehicles in the U.S. and Canada is part of a broader global strategy.

GM and AT&T first teamed in January when GM sponsored a Connected Car Challenge as part of an AT&T Hackathon for mobile app developers in Las Vegas. During the event, GM introduced a new set of vehicle application programming interfaces (APIs), enabling developers to build apps for GM vehicles' infotainment systems. The GM SDK (software developers' kit) also offers a new flexible application framework that will allow drivers to add apps and features to their vehicles after purchase.

Telematics, Apps and Global Presence
AT&T has been an industry leader in telematics and related applications development, offering a range of connectivity and services for cars manufactured by a variety of global automotive makers. For more than a decade, AT&T has provided world-class connected and M2M device support and professional services to many of the world's largest device manufacturers and global exporters of wireless-enabled equipment. AT&T has certified and supports nearly 1,300 varieties of connected devices, with labs dedicated to bringing new devices to market, global roaming and integrated SIM provisioning, billing and reporting tools.

Many of these advancements are being made possible as a result of AT&T's innovation programs, which include the AT&T Foundry, TIP (an internal innovation program) and AT&T Labs. Researchers are leveraging decades of speech recognition expertise to deliver a connected, voice-enabled virtual assistant for use by automotive manufacturers. The technology will be backed by the AT&T WatsonSM speech engine, providing a complete cloud-based, voice-enabled natural language mobile virtual assistant solution for wirelessly connected vehicles. AT&T also provides support for hands-free speech-enabled services to prevent driver distraction, as well as remote vehicle functions such as door lock/unlock, remote start, and vehicle location services.

AT&T was also the first to enter the market with a proprietary, single global SIM platform enabling automotive, consumer and M2M equipment makers the ability to work through a single carrier to wirelessly enable and connect products. Announced last year, AT&T's single SIM platform delivers built-in access to wireless and data networks throughout most of the world, with service in more than 200 countries and access to more than 600 carriers worldwide. AT&T's platform is backed by a world-class service-management solution, AT&T Control Center powered by Jasper Wireless, offering powerful global diagnostic, monitoring, and alert/response capabilities proven to help automate operations and reduce the total cost associated with globally connected vehicles, consumer devices and M2M deployment.

AT&T 4G LTE Network
AT&T customers today have access to the nation's largest 4G network, covering 288 million people. AT&T recently announced Project Velocity IP (VIP), its strategic plan to invest $14 billion over the next three years to enhance and expand its wireless and wireline IP broadband networks. As part of Project VIP, AT&T's 4G LTE network is expected to cover 300 million people by year-end 2014.

AT&T's 4G LTE network has been recognized for its speed and coverage. AT&T 4G LTE delivered faster average download speeds than any of the competitors in PCWorld's most recent 13-market speed tests, and telecommunications industry analyst firm Frost and Sullivan awarded AT&T its 2012 North American Mobile Network Strategy Award for the second year in a row.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/25/att-lte-gm/

The National Rifle Association is using a Justice Department memo it obtained to argue in ads that the Obama administration believes its gun control plans won't work unless the government seizes firearms and requires national gun registration ? ideas the White House has not proposed and does not support.

The NRA's assertion and its obtaining of the memo in the first place underscore the no-holds-barred battle under way as Washington's fight over gun restrictions heats up.

The memo, under the name of one of the Justice Department's leading crime researchers, critiques the effectiveness of gun control proposals, including some of President Barack Obama's. A Justice Department official called the memo an unfinished review of gun violence research and said it does not represent administration policy.

The memo says requiring background checks for more gun purchases could help, but also could lead to more illicit weapons sales. It says banning assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines produced in the future but exempting those already owned by the public, as Obama has proposed, would have limited impact because people now own so many of those items.

It also says that even total elimination of assault weapons would have little overall effect on gun killings because assault weapons account for a limited proportion of those crimes.

The nine-page document says the success of universal background checks would depend in part on "requiring gun registration," and says gun buybacks would not be effective "unless massive and coupled with a ban."

The administration has not proposed gun registration, buybacks or banning all firearms. But gun registration and ownership curbs are hot-button issues for the NRA and other gun-rights groups, which strenuously oppose the ideas.

Justice Department and White House officials declined to provide much information about the memo or answer questions about it on the record.

The memo has the look of a preliminary document and calls itself "a cursory summary" and assessment of gun curb initiatives. The administration has not release it officially.

But the NRA has posted the memo on one of its websites and cites it in advertising aimed at whipping up opposition to Obama's efforts to contain gun violence. The ad says the paper shows that the administration "believes that a gun ban will not work without mandatory gun confiscation" and thinks universal background checks "won't work without requiring national gun registration" ? ideas the president has not proposed or expressed support for.

"Still think President Obama's proposals sound reasonable?" Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief Washington lobbyist, says in the ad.

Last month, White House spokesman Jay Carney said none of Obama's proposals "would take away a gun from a single law-abiding American." Other administration officials have said their plans would not result in gun seizures or a national gun registry.

A Justice Department official who would only discuss the issue on condition of anonymity said the NRA ad misrepresents Obama's gun proposals and that the administration has never backed a gun registry or gun confiscation.

While the memo's analysis of gun curb proposals presents no new findings, it is unusual for a federal agency document to surface that raises questions about a president's plans during debate on a high-profile issue such as restricting firearms.

Obama wants to ban assault weapons and ammunition magazines exceeding 10 rounds that are produced in the future. He wants universal background checks for nearly all gun purchases. Today, checks are only mandatory on sales by federally licensed gun dealers, not transactions at gun shows or other private sales.

His plan also includes tougher federal laws against gun trafficking and straw purchases, which occur when a person legally buys a firearm but sells it to a criminal or someone else barred from owning a weapon.

Interest in the gun issue has intensified since the December shootings in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 first-graders and six staffers at an elementary school. The Democratic-led Senate Judiciary Committee plans to write legislation addressing some of Obama's proposals in the next week or two.

The NRA's Cox declined to say how his organization obtained the memo.

He said the commercial is running online in 15 states, including many Republican-leaning states where Democrats will defend Senate seats next year, such as Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia. There are also ads in papers in five states.

The memo was written under the name of Greg Ridgeway, acting director of the National Institute of Justice, the Justice Department's research arm. It is dated Jan. 4, nearly two weeks before Obama announced his plan for restricting guns, and Ridgeway's first day as acting chief.

Justice Department officials said Ridgeway was not granting interviews. He came to the institute last July from the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research institution where he studied criminal justice issues, and has a Ph.D. in statistics.

The memo says straw purchases and gun thefts are the largest sources of firearms used in crimes, and that such transactions "would most likely become larger if background checks at gun shows and private sellers were addressed."

Gun control supporters said the NRA ad and the Justice memo don't mention that the current federal background check system blocked gun sales to 2.1 million criminals and others barred from owning guns between 1994, when the checks began, and 2010. Also ignored is that Obama has proposed cracking down on straw purchases to prevent a growth in illegal transactions, they said.

Advocates of restricting guns also said the memo omitted mention of several studies that affirm the effectiveness of firearms curbs. These include a 2010 police group analysis showing more than one-third of police departments found increased criminal use of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines since the 2004 expiration of the ban on those items.

"It doesn't appear to be a serious discussion of gun violence prevention policy, never mind an expression of administration policy," said Joshua Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.

The memo says that out of 11,000 annual gun homicides, an average of 35 deaths yearly are from mass shootings, defined as those with four or more victims.

"Policies that address the larger firearm homicide issue will have a far greater impact even if they do not address the particular issues of mass shootings," it says.

It says there were an estimated 1.5 million assault weapons before the 10-year ban on those firearms began in 1994, so their sheer number would weaken a new ban exempting existing weapons. Such guns accounted for just 2 percent to 8 percent of crimes before the 1994 ban, so eliminating assault weapons "would not have a large impact on gun homicides," the memo said.

Recent data on the assault weapons ban impact is scarce because since the 1990s, Congress has blocked most federal research on the effect that firearms have on public health. As part of the gun restrictions Obama proposed last month, he ordered federal scientific agencies to research gun violence.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nra-uses-justice-memo-accuse-obama-guns-084745794.html

If you'll allow us to get personal for a moment, we almost wish that Google hadn't spilled the beans about the latest feature to hit its (arguably expensive) Pixel laptop. Say what you will about the cost and capabilities of this one; It's not as if Google's touchscreen laptop lacks spirit. We just wish we could have found out about the hidden fun ourselves.

Which is to say, Google's gone ahead and built and Easter Egg directly into the device. Yes, an Easter Egg ? when's the last time that your desktop or laptop came with a bonus "gimmick" feature beyond the standard, shared capabilities that all computers tend to have?

In the case of Google's Pixel, activating the aforementioned bonus feature is as easy as typing in a special little code on Google's $1,300 (or more) device. And that code should come as little surprise to most gamers: It's the Konami Code, jumping back out of the world of websites and making its return appearance on a piece of hardware.

The Konami Code?

Here's the history. Entering a certain code on one's video game console controller whenever the Konami logo appeared upon launch of the game would (more often than not) unlock a set of bonuses for a number of the company's earlier titles ? Contra for the original Nintendo perhaps being one of the best examples thereof.

This code ? up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, "B," then "A," ? doesn't exactly give Google Pixel owners extra lives, bonus ammunition, or invulnerability, but it does allow their laptops to perform a cute little light show with the strip of LED lights on the top of the device.

That's it! Type in the code and receive a little fun, blinking pattern from the laptop's multi-colored lights. We're not sure whether the blinking pattern has any actual significance beyond the fact that it just? blinks. Wired's put together a little animated gif of what happens for those who don't intend to purchase or play with Google's Pixel, so feel free to check that out if you want to see what the Pixel does post-code.

?

For more tech tidbits from David Murphy, follow him on Facebook or Twitter (@thedavidmurphy).

For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.

Source: http://feeds.ziffdavis.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/breakingnews/~3/sRTPWDlEaLw/0,2817,2415795,00.asp

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Leaked MWC booth photo shows rumored Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Samsung's much-anticipated Galaxy Note 8.0, already the subject of a number of leaks and rumors ahead of Mobile World Congress, has once again been revealed. A photograph obtained by SlashGear and posted above shows Samsung's booth at the trade show, which is set to kick off on Monday ? the tablet is clearly visible next to text confirming its name.

Aside from its 8-inch, 1280 x 800 display, the Galaxy Note 8.0 is expected to include 2GB of RAM, a combination of 1.3-megapixel front-facing and 5-megapixel rear-facing cameras, and a choice of 32GB or 64GB of storage. It will sit between Samsung's Galaxy Note II, which offers a 5.5-inch screen, and the more traditionally tablet-sized Galaxy Note 10.1, superseding the aging Galaxy Tab 7.7.

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/23/4021120/galaxy-note-8-0-leaked-booth-pic

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College Basketball Picks, Odds: New Mexico Lobos at Colorado State Rams

A battle for the top spot in the Mountain West Conference takes place this afternoon as the No. 16 New Mexico Lobos travel to play the No. 22 Colorado State Rams. The game is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on the NBC Sports Network. Currently the odds for the game have Colorado State favored by a few possessions.

Colorado State hasn't been in the NCAA Tournament in quite awhile. They're ranked for the first time in forever as well. Now they have their sights set on winning the Mountain West Conference. They've extremely tough to beat at home. In fact, the Rams own the nation's third-longest home win streak at 27 games.

New Mexico is a very solid team away from The Pit, going 6-3 this season on the road. The Lobos are currently a game ahead of Colorado State, but a loss here today would put the team's tied atop the conference. New Mexico has certainly had the Rams' number lately. Steve Alford's team has won 10 of the last 12 games in this series. They also picked up a win in the first game this season against the Rams, 66-61.

Kendall Williams or Tony Snell can lead the team on any given night and both are All-Conference type of players. Williams leads the team in scoring at better than 13 points per game while Alex Kirk is a double-double machine. Kirk is going to be huge in this one. In the Rams' last game at UNLV, they were out-rebounded for the first time this season. The Lobos aren't the best rebounding team in the country, in fact they're very pedestrian, but if they hit the glass hard tonight they'll hang around.

It's not hard to see why Colorado State is favored at home and with Colton Iverson dominating inside. He and Pierce Hornung will surely provide a problem for the Lobos in the paint. If the Lobos can't put bodies on the Rams' frontcourt it will be a long game for New Mexico.

New Mexico has not played since overcoming 34.7 percent shooting in last Saturday's 60-50 home victory over Boise State, so there's a chance they can come into this game a bit rusty. Or they'll come in sharp and ready to go. Either way, it's hard not to think Colorado State won't win at home.

Free Pick: Colorado State 67, New Mexico 59

Betting Tips For College Basketball Conference Games

Chuck Edel, Chris Andrews and Vegas Runner give some tips on betting college basketball conference games.

Source: http://pregame.com/sports/stories/b/news/archive/2013/02/23/college-basketball-picks_2C00_-odds_3A00_-new-mexico-lobos-at-colorado-state-rams-1607338.aspx

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Skill position stars use combine as proving ground

Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley answers a question during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley answers a question during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Tennessee Tech receiver Da'Rick Rogers answers a question during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore answers a question during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore answers a question during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Wisconsin running back Montee Ball answers a question during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? Matt Barkley and Landry Jones made some tough calls last season.

Instead of taking first-round money and leaving school early, they decided to stick around, hone their skills, chase a national championship and improve their draft stock.

With the NFL draft about two months away, the two quarterbacks once billed as Heisman Trophy front-runners are now trying to improve to enhance their chances of being selected early.

"I've learned a lot in this past year that you can't teach in a classroom," Barkley said Friday at the NFL scouting combine. "You have to learn through experience in regards to handling adversity at its peak. You have to get guys going in the locker room, in the huddle, on the practice field when you're not playing for the postseason. It allowed me to step up and be that voice."

It's unclear whether that will help Barkley in a year where there is no clear-cut top choice, even among the quarterbacks.

Scouts saw Barkley and Southern California's shot at a national championship ? and his chance for the Heisman ? come crashing down in a season that went terribly wrong. Becoming the first quarterback taken in the draft took a hit when he sprained his right shoulder in a late-season loss to crosstown rival UCLA. Barkley never took another college snap, and though he acknowledged Friday the rehab program is on track, critics are already wondering why he won't throw until his March 27 pro day.

Barkley also may find himself answering questions about a locker room dust-up that followed the Trojans' Sun Bowl loss to Georgia Tech.

"It was a normal football locker room environment. That happens all the time, trust me. It happens all the time on teams across the country," Barkley said. "It was nothing out of hand. It was guys exchanging words and wanting to set the record straight. But the captains, myself and some of the other seniors, we had everything under control."

The concerns about Jones have nothing do with health.

In 2012, he actually threw for more touchdowns, a higher completion percentage and had fewer interceptions and a better efficiency rating than in the previous season. But the perception after Oklahoma fell out of the title chase was that Jones failed to improve his poise in the pocket or his footwork. His performance at the Senior Bowl (3 of 9 for 16 yards with two sacks) raised more red flags.

Jones believes the extra year in college has made him better.

"I think I showed the things that I wanted to improve on," he said after measuring in at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds in Indy. "I shortened my motion and move around in the pocket a lot more than I have been."

There are so many concerns about this year's class of skill players, some analysts believe the unthinkable could happen: an entire first round without a quarterback or running back selected.

Right now, the top-rated quarterback is believed to be West Virginia's Geno Smith, like Jones and Barkley a drop-back passer, Others expect North Carolina State's strong-armed Mike Glennon to be a fast riser as the draft nears.

The quarterbacks aren't alone.

At running back, the list of potential first-round options essentially ended when South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore shredded his right knee in a gruesome scene Oct. 27. His pitch is that he will be the same spectacular runner when he returns, like two other NFL superstars who came back from devastating knee injuries.

"There will never be another Adrian Peterson, but that gives me a lot of motivation knowing that he came back from it. That's what I plan on doing, just coming back better," Lattimore said. "I feel like we both run hard. (Peterson) runs like nobody is there. He runs with total destruction.

"I feel like if I could compare my game to anybody, it would be Frank Gore. I feel like he's got low pads, he's got great vision, he can see the field and (has) great balance."

If Lattimore isn't the guy, the next best hope might be record-setting runner Montee Ball of Wisconsin. Critics complain he does not have enough speed to be a breakaway threat or enough size to be a power back.

There's also Alabama running back Eddie Lacy, the SEC championship game MVP, who must show he can stay healthy after a college career that included toe, knee, ankle and foot injuries.

Those guys will at least have a chance to prove themselves on the field at the combine and pro days between now and late April.

Receiver Da'Rick Rogers has the much tougher sell.

Yes, he's talented, but the receiver was booted off the Tennessee roster in late August after failing a drug test, transferred to Tennessee Tech and came out of school a year early.

"Those are things that I've been working on since I've left Tennessee. It was a real humbling experience for me," Rogers said. "I feel like it did help me in the long run. It's sad that it happened like that. For me, personally, it made me change who I was and what I was doing wrong."

All that's left is for the NFL's decision-makers to render their judgments on the biggest questions of all:

? Has Rogers really made that big a change in six months?

? Can Lattimore be the player he once was?

? And are Barkley and Jones worth high draft picks?

"Every year is not going to be the same," Barkley said in making his case. "You can't get better every single year. It's physically impossible to keep throwing for more yards, more yards, more yards every year. There's going to be some years where it just doesn't click or things don't go as planned."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-22-FBN-NFL-Combine-Proving-Ground/id-a34641f9fe95496990579270a170037f

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Fear Is the Answer to the Spendocalypse

We're one week away from the sequester, and Republicans and Democrats are panicking at both the thought of the sequester actually hitting and the reality that their their side might have to cave on taxes. The weak spots in each coalition are Republican defense hawks and Democrats from red states. But we have to take fear as a good sign, right? As we saw with the fiscal cliff, fear is the emotional state most likely to push politicians into making a deal these days.?Here are the signs of sequester panic heading into the weekend:

RELATED: The Sequester Disaster for Partisan Fun and Electoral Profit

Pentagon-loving Republicans are nervous that Pentagon cuts will actually happen.

RELATED: Smiling Through the Spendocalypse

In 2011, when the sequester monster was created, "Party leaders sold the cuts, in part, by assuring the rank-and-file that they would never happen because negotiators would be able to work out a solution sparing the Pentagon,"?The Wall Street Journal's Patrick O'Connor reports. That promise has been broken. So while GOP?leaders are working to project a united front on the sequester, some Republicans want them to work harder to stop the defense cuts from taking effect, even if it means raising tax revenue. If Democrats offer a compromise ? even one that includes closing tax loopholes ??"I want our leadership to consider it and not reject it outright," Virginia Republican?Rep. Scott Rigell told the Journal.

RELATED: Obama's Options If He Won't Negotiate with Debt-Limit Hostage-Takers

Conservatives are nervous about defense hawks' nervousness.

RELATED: Who Owns the Sequester?

Conservatives have shifted to arguing that the sequester won't actually be that bad, at least compared to raising taxes. That includes defense cuts. The Pentagon likes to protect its budget by claiming it would have to sacrifice really important projects ? right now it's sending an aircraft carrier to the Persion Gulf as a check on Iran ? instead of more wasteful programs,?The Washington Examiner's Byron York?writes. And while Congress has passed legislation requiring the Defense Department to audit its spending, Congress has failed to do so.?"It's difficult to take these doomsday scenarios seriously when the Pentagon can't even audit its own books," ?a spokesman for Republican Sen. Tom Coburn tells York. A Senate aide adds:?"If you laid off these people, or you diverted this aircraft carrier, then why did you go ahead and travel to a conference in Bermuda or continue to pay contractors' inflated salaries?"?

RELATED: Don't Call It a Filibuster: Why Hagel Stalled in the Senate

Obama's afraid enough to turn his cabinet into an anti-sequester campaign team.

The White House initially told Democrats in the executive branch to stay quiet about the sequester, but they've canceled that order,?Politico's Darren Samuelsohn?reports. Cabinet officials are being dispatched across the country to talk about how awful the sequester would be.?Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack went to Iowa to say the cuts would hurt rural areas. Congress heard testimony from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The State Department, NASA, and the FBI sent 20 letters to the Senate appropriations committee. The White House told health care experts they have a "critical window" to "make noise" between the day the sequester takes effect and the day Congress has to pass a government funding bill, March 27.?Samulsohn suggests that this might reveal Obama's ultimate fear in the spendocalpyse: Without more people demanding that the sequester be stopped, Obama might get more blame.

On Thursday, Obama talked about pressuring Republicans on Al Sharpton's radio show:?"I don't know if they're going to move... And that's what we're going to have to try to keep pushing over the next seven or eight days."

The GOP might get scared into a last-minute replacement.

Republicans are discussing an alternative sequester, in which the cuts kick in but federal agencies could decide where to cut and what to spare until the end of the fiscal year in September, Talking Points Memo's Brian Beutler reports. Then Congress would get to decide where the cuts fall. Karl Rove has floated the idea, and so has The National Review.?

Liberals are scared the last-minute replacement will seduce red-state Democrats.

Some Democrats think Republicans have specifically designed the idea to appeal to red state Democrats, The Washington Post's Greg Sargent reports. Don't be fooled, he warns.?

This would signal to Republicans that Dems are prepared to accept a cuts-only approach ? making it impossible for them to renew any demands for new revenues later. Dems are eying the coming government shutdown as the next chance to force a GOP surrender on revenues. Signaling now that Dems are prepared to drop the demand for more revenues ? even temporarily ? would be folly.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fear-answer-spendocalypse-152024720.html

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Underlying mechanisms behind chronic inflammation-associated diseases revealed

Feb. 22, 2013 ? Inflammatory response plays a major role in both health protection and disease generation. While the symptoms of disease-related inflammatory response have been know, scientists have not understood the mechanisms that underlie it.

In a paper published Feb. 21 in Cell Reports, a team lead by Xian Chen, associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics and member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, mapped the complex interactions of proteins that control inflammation at the molecular level.

The inflammatory response acts as a first line of defense for the immune system. Cytokines are generated to contain infection, preventing the occurrence or spread of diseases, including cancerous tumors. An overproduction or underproduction of these cytokines during disease-related inflammatory responses can lead to a variety of disease such as arthritis, asthma and some kinds of cancer.

The team found that chronic inflammatory response is mediated by the interaction of the protein phosphatase PP2Ac and an adaptor protein of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) MyD88 in a type of the immune cells (macrophages) showing tolerance to persistent stimulation of endotoxin (LPS).

Within endotoxin-tolerized macrophages, "PP2Ac is constitutively activated and operates on a switch that exists to convert pro-inflammatory MyD88 to immunosuppressant MyD88," said Chen.

Studying interactions of the protein network that underlies inflammation, the research team found that PP2Ac disrupts the pro-inflammatory signaling pathway mediated by the complex of MyD88 and TLR4. As a result of this disruption, both constitutively active PP2Ac and MyD88 move within the cellular nucleus, where they bound with the epigenetic machinery and alter the chromatin structure of a class of pro-inflammatory genes that leads to the silencing of this class of the genes.

"In the nucleus, in a MyD88-dependent way constitutively active PP2Ac reprograms the epigenetic machinery," said Chen.

With the discovery of PP2Ac behavior, Chen's research establishes a previously unknown link between cellular signaling and epigenetic regulation, which affects the genetic blueprint of inflammation. By mapping out the signaling pathway, as well the epigenetic machinery targeted by abnormally activated PP2Ac within the cells under chronic inflammation, the research identifies potential targets of immunomodulation for future therapies for inflammation-related disorders and cancers.

"Not only did we identify individual targets, but we also identified those interconnected targets in networks of dynamic protein interactions. That will set up the base for future network medicine, as targets on single genes and targets can have off-target side effects. To increase the precision of the drug targets, we reveal individual proteins but also their interactions as targets," said Chen.

This work is supported by NIH grants to Dr. Chen(NIH R01AI064806 and NIH 1U24CA160035).

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Ling Xie, Cui Liu, Li Wang, Harsha?P. Gunawardena, Yanbao Yu, Ruyun Du, Debra?J. Taxman, Penggao Dai, Zhen Yan, Jing Yu, Stephen?P. Holly, Leslie?V. Parise, Yisong Y. Wan, Jenny?P. Ting, Xian Chen. Protein Phosphatase 2A Catalytic Subunit ? Plays a MyD88-Dependent, Central Role in the Gene-Specific Regulation of Endotoxin Tolerance. Cell Reports, 2013; DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2013.01.029

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/fuRr8-XpXzU/130222143135.htm

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Patent Hustlers: Nikon to pay Microsoft for Android related patents

As strange as the headline may sound, it is true. Nikon has signed an Android-related patent licensing deal with Microsoft and Microsoft goes out of its way to point out in the press release that "Microsoft will receive royalties from Nikon.".

Nikon has so far released one Android-based digital camera, running Android 2.3, the Nikon Coolpix S800c. Android-wise and Android-specs-wise, this is about as exciting as a Pandigital tablet :)

Given the patent hustle and kerfuffle of our times, it is hard to tell whether Nikon signing the deal with Microsoft means they are really committed to developing more Android cameras, or the Microsoft Patent lawyers forced them to do so.

Via Mary Jo Foley, via Techmeme.

Source: http://www.1001noisycameras.com/2013/02/patent-hustlers-nikon-to-pay-microsoft-for-android-related-patents.html

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Video: NBC.com Hacked, Homepage Now Safe

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

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/50897353/

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Fate of Jelly Bean for Galaxy Tab 7.7 (on Verizon) Remains in Flux

Samsung today confirmed to PhoneNews.com that there is no clear status on Jelly Bean for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 variants in the United States.

Despite pre-dating the flagship Galaxy Tab 2, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is actually significantly more powerful, thinner, and capable than the Galaxy Tab 2. That?s no surprise, considering the Galaxy Tab 2 was created as a cheaper alternative to the Tab 7.7, and the Tab 7.7 was used as the engineering basis to build the Galaxy Tab 2.

But, with economies of scale, the Galaxy Tab 2 has surpassed the Galaxy Tab 7.7 in sales. This can partly be attributed to Samsung not offering a Wi-Fi version of the Tab 7.7 domestically; the tablet was only, and still is actively, sold at Verizon Wireless in the United States.

The confusion regarding Jelly Bean comes from Samsung posting an international status update in Europe, citing a Jelly Bean update for the tablet as coming soon. The posting was later retracted, with no clarification on the international variant?s status either.

Skipping out on Jelly Bean for the more-powerful Galaxy Tab 7.7 certainly wouldn?t be a confidence-builder for the tablet manufacturer, but considering Samsung?s track record with Android firmware updates on capable devices? it wouldn?t be unexpected either.

This update from Samsung comes the same week that Verizon Wireless dropped the refurbished, no-contract price for the tablet to $279.99, something we covered yesterday.

Verizon Wireless did not respond to multiple requests for comment sent yesterday by PhoneNews.com.

Source: http://www.phonenews.com/jelly-bean-galaxy-tab-7-7-verizon-updateflux-22403/

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Govt taking steps to revive economy: President

Expressing concern over declining growth, President Pranab Mukherjee today said government is taking steps to revive investment activity and boost economy.

"Both global and domestic factors have affected our growth. We need to address the impact of both. My government has responded to the situation by taking several measures to revive investment activity and investor sentiment," he said in his address to the joint sitting of Parliament at the beginning of the Budget Session.

The economic growth during the 2012-13 is expected to fall to a decade low level of 5 per cent. It was 6.2 per cent in the previous fiscal.

"The past year has been a very difficult one for the global economy ...It has been a difficult year for India also.

"The Indian economy is currently experiencing slower growth. The real GDP grew by 5.4 per cent in the first half of the current fiscal year. This is significantly lower than the average of around 8 per cent in the last decade," Mukherjee said, adding the government is taking steps to deal with factors responsible for the slowdown.

On concerns over fiscal prudence, Mukherjee said, the government has announced a roadmap for fiscal consolidation and would contain the fiscal deficit to 5.3 per cent of the GDP in the current financial year.

Referring to the issue of price rise, he said "inflation is easing gradually, it is still a problem ... There has been a moderation in core inflation and recovery in growth is likely".

The inflation based on Wholesale Price Index (WPI) plummeted to a three year low of 6.62 per cent in January. The retail inflation, however continued to remain in double digit.

The government, he added, is also working with states to reach a consensus on Goods and Services Tax (GST), which will streamline indirect taxation system.

Source: http://www.mydigitalfc.com/economy/govt-taking-steps-revive-economy-president-063

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See the Sexy Dress Taylor Swift Wore to the Brit Awards!

Taylor Swift rocked the red carpet in London! Check out more pics of your favorite stars on the scene

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/star-snapshots-celebrity-photo-gallery-2012/1-b-450006?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Astar-snapshots-celebrity-photo-gallery-2012-450006

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Google reportedly in talks with Warby Parker to make its Google Glass specs look cool

Google took a big step towards making its Google Glass specs available to the wider public after it expanded pre-orders for the technology, and showed off its potential in a new video. Now,?an interesting report from the New York Times claims that the company is aiming to give the product the right look for the public through a tie-in with?Warby Parker.

The Times cites unnamed sources that claim Google is negotiating with the eyewear maker ? which raised a $38 million Series B round in September 2012 ? ?to help it design more fashionable frames?.

Given that some tech firms have a?tendency?to overly focus on the technology behind a device or its feature, rather than its aesthetics ? which are hugely important to potential buyers ? the apparent move to bring in an external specialist is clearly a logical one. Google has faced criticism over claims that, while great on paper and every nerd?s fantasy, Google Glass is not practical or necessary for real life.

Indeed, the fact that Google co-founder Sergey Brin can sport the specs on the New York subway without being hassled by the regular public, suggests that either people aren?t overly aware of the technology, or that it is seen a being overly dorky and not for the everyday person.

While Google and Warby Parker both declined to comment on the speculation, the idea that a fashion-conscious consultant will add the requisite stylistic polish to Google Glass is most definitely a positive sign. Even if a deal is not reached, it shows that Google understands that Glass needs to be fashionable since it will be on a user?s face whenever it used.

Google?s always had an eye toward aesthetics, even if it sometimes goes astray. Undoubtedly it employs designers for its hardware, but this is an indication that it recognizes that Google Glass is importantly for both tech and fashion reasons, and therefore it needs the extra style.

It?s quite a day for Google speculation, and earlier the Wall Street Journal reported that the first touch screen Google laptop devices using its Chrome OS could launch before the end of the year.

By coincidence, TNW was at a media event held by Warby Parker this week:?Inside Warby Parker: Co-CEO Neil Blumenthal talks transforming the optical industry and doing good

Headline image via Google

Source: http://thenextweb.com/google/2013/02/21/google-reportedly-in-talks-with-warby-parker-to-make-its-google-glass-specs-look-cool/

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Famous Cuban blogger makes South Florida stop

MIAMI (WSVN) -- A famous activist and Cuban blogger has planned a South Florida stop.

Yoani Sanchez, a known critic of Cuba's Castro regime, is scheduled to speak at Miami-Dade College's Freedom Tower, April 1.

She will also be presented with the college's presidential medal.

Sanchez recently left Cuba to embark on a global speaking tour after the communist country lifted travel restrictions.

(Copyright 2013 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Source: http://www.wsvn.com/rss/read/news/articles/local/21009901382227/

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