Holy Bat Virus! Genome Hints At Origin Of SARS-Like Virus

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Bats harbor many types of coronaviruses and were probably the original source of the new coronavirus that appeared in the Middle East.

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Bats harbor many types of coronaviruses and were probably the original source of the new coronavirus that appeared in the Middle East.

On the surface, the new coronavirus detected in the Middle East this month looks quite similar to SARS. It apparently causes severe respiratory problems, and can be lethal.

But with viruses, the devil is in their details ? the genetic details.

Dutch virologists have just published the whole genome of the new coronavirus ? all 30,118 letters of its code. And, the sequence reveals that the mystery virus is most closely related to coronaviruses that infect bats in Southeast Asia.

In fact, the pathogen is more similar to two bat viruses than it is to the human SARS virus that sent the world into a panic when it infected nearly 8,000 people in 2003.

Virologist Ron Fouchier, who has done controversial work on bird flu viruses, led the sequencing effort of the SARS-like virus. He tells Shots the results suggest that the new coronavirus virus came from bats. "Bats harbor many coronaviruses, so it's logical to assume that bats are the natural reservoir" of the new pathogen, he says.

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"But this doesn't mean the Saudi man contracted the virus from bats," says Fouchier.

When viruses jump from animals to humans, there's usually a second animal that connects the natural carrier with humans. This species is called the amplifier because it increases the number of viral particles that can hop over into people.

With SARS, Fouchier says, it probably started off in bats and then jumped into an exotic animal, such as a civet cat, before it made its way to people.

This type of infection trajectory fits with what epidemiologists have seen, so far, for the new coronavirus.

In the past few weeks, John Watson and his team at Britain's Health Protection Agency have tracked down about 60 people who recently came in contact with one of the men infected with the virus. "None of these contacts have become seriously ill or shown any sign of being infected with the virus," Watson tells Shots.

Plus, there's nothing special happening where the sick man lived, such as an uptick in cases of respiratory illnesses. This is strong evidence that the virus came from an animal and that it probably can't yet move between people.

But to know for sure, Watson says, scientists need to find more cases of the new virus.

The genome sequence will be a big help on this front. Fouchier and his team just published a diagnostic test for the new virus, which doctors around the world can use to verify suspected cases of the disease.

Fouchier says that the genome may also give clues to drugs that may be effective against the virus.

Companies can also begin to design vaccines for the virus, Fouchier adds. "There are experimental vaccines for SARS, and these could be updated to work on the virus," he says. "All knowledge that we built for SARS is not lost."

So what's he doing next? First, taking a few steps backward. "We still need proof that the virus is the cause of the disease," he says. "We are currently starting animal experiments with macaques and ferrets to show that this virus actually makes animals sick. Many viruses don't."

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/09/28/161944734/holy-bat-virus-genome-hints-at-origin-of-sars-like-virus?ft=1&f=1007

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Netflix App Updated To Take Advantage Of Wide Screen iPhone 5, iOS 6

Netflix teased this update earlier, and now it has delivered full support for the iPhone 5's larger screen and new aspect ratio. It's a change that means users get access to an improved browsing experience, more content on menu screens visible at once, and also fullscreen playback of videos in 16:9 format, instead of presenting them letterboxed.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/vfVII4s-EJE/

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Chef found guilty of murder in boiled body case

Defendant David Viens, right, listens as a second degree murder verdict was read in Los Angeles Thurwday Sept. 27, 2012. His attorney Fred McCurry is at left. Viens, a chef, told police he boiled his wife's body for four days to hide evidence of her death. (AP Photo /Brad Graverson, pool)

Defendant David Viens, right, listens as a second degree murder verdict was read in Los Angeles Thurwday Sept. 27, 2012. His attorney Fred McCurry is at left. Viens, a chef, told police he boiled his wife's body for four days to hide evidence of her death. (AP Photo /Brad Graverson, pool)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? A chef who told police he boiled his wife's body for four days to hide evidence of her death was convicted Thursday of second-degree murder.

David Viens showed no reaction as the verdict was read. The sister of his victim burst out sobbing.

In a recorded interrogation presented by prosecutors during the trial, Viens, 49, can be heard saying he cooked the body of his 39-year-old wife, Dawn Viens, in late 2009 until little was left but her skull.

"He treated her like a piece of meat and got rid of her," said Karen Patterson, the couple's best friend who spoke to reporters outside court.

She was the key witness in Viens' trial and the person who prodded police to investigate her friend's disappearance.

At a news conference, she tearfully warned others to take heed of domestic violence among friends and call police. She apologized for failing to call 911 when Dawn Viens called her during an incident of abuse but begged her not to call police.

"Maybe you have to go beyond your friend's trust and try to save lives," she said.

Juror Tal Erickson said it was Viens' own words in two confessions that convinced them of his guilt.

The chef spoke to authorities from a hospital bed in March 2011 after leaping off an 80-foot cliff in Rancho Palos Verdes. Authorities say he jumped after learning he was a suspect in her disappearance.

The trial relied heavily on recorded interviews with authorities in which the chef acknowledged the crime in detail.

"I just slowly cooked it and I ended up cooking her for four days," Viens could be heard saying on the recording.

Viens, who attended his trial in a wheelchair, said in the interview that he stuffed his wife's body in a 55-gallon drum of boiling water and kept it submerged with weights.

He said he mixed what remained after four days with other waste, dumping some of it in a grease pit at his restaurant in Lomita, and putting the rest in the trash.

He said he stashed his wife's skull in his mother's attic in Torrance. But a search of the house turned up nothing, nor did an excavation of the restaurant.

Erickson told reporters the gruesome evidence shocked jurors.

"A few of us had a hard time sleeping at night," he said. "I would think about it and ask, 'Why?'"

If there was any question about the guilt of Viens, it was wiped out by his plunge off the cliff, Erickson said.

"My opinion was if he was innocent, he wouldn't jump off a cliff," the juror said.

On the recording played in court, Viens was asked what happened on Oct. 18, 2009, the night his wife disappeared.

He said he had noticed money missing from his restaurant and suspected his wife. They got into an argument, he said, and he forced her onto the floor where he wrapped her up and put a piece of duct tape over her mouth before going to bed.

He awoke to find her dead, and he panicked, he said.

Viens was charged with first-degree murder, which means the killing was premeditated, but jurors had the option of convicting him of that or second-degree murder or manslaughter. The six men and six women on the panel deliberated for about five hours before reaching the verdict.

Erickson said the jury did not believe the killing was premeditated, even though Viens had threatened to kill his wife after finding the money missing.

"Anyone can say that and not follow through," the juror said.

Viens' lawyer, Fred McCurry, declined comment on the way out of the courtroom except to say he planned to appeal.

Viens is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 27. He could face 15 years to life in prison.

Dawn Viens' sister, Dayna Papin, said, "There's no happy ending. Two families have suffered tremendously. This is a man I've known for 20 years who was like a father to me."

Patterson, the longtime friend, said she would like to visit Viens in prison.

"Even through all this, he is still my friend," she said. "I struggle with the lovely person who killed another lovely person. I would remind him of how much Dawn loved him."

She said she was satisfied with the second-degree murder verdict.

"Murder is murder," she said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-09-27-Chef-Wife's%20Body%20Cooked/id-890e8c60bb2f4386b9cb064dfe11eb6c

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?Green? Companies Need A Social Media Team! | StAug News

?Green? Companies Need A Social Media Team!

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The world has two major facets that are growing and expanding each and every day. One is the world of social media. The other, is the world of ?green? companies; businesses that are looking at teaching more about the environment, as well as offering products and services to enable the globe to ?go green? and reduce our carbon footprint.

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If one takes a look, there are companies that offer products in all realms of recycling, refurbishing, landscaping ? indoors and out of doors, there are companies sprouting up that wish to make their mark with products, supplies, etc., of the ?green? variety.

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The Be First Network - the social media experts, if you will ? are looking to help these ?green? companies. Not only does Be First Media Group ?have a solid background where the realm of sustainability comes into play, but they also offer serious experts that include writers, graphic artists, online magazines, news, websites, constantly streaming media and more, that can take you ?green? business and get it out there in the public eye. Be First Media Group ?is the team with the knowledge to increase your business by increasing your ?buzz? and building an audience for you that will be loyal, and help spread the word about you and your latest product and/or service for the consumer to make their lives ?greener.?

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A ?green? business has even more factors that weigh in on whether or not they will become a success, and increasing an online community is necessary to build that business and make it soar. Be First Media Group ?has already had a history of working with companies like ?The Green Register,? which is an online magazine/news site and part of the Be First Network.

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?The Green Register? offers any and all information and updates about the ?green? community; including the latest businesses, products and services that are becoming available each and every day. With this background, and their own personal mission to make the world a healthier place by saving the environment, Be First Media Group ?is constantly on the lookout to be the social media team that a ?green? company wants on their side.

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Let?s be honest, here.? A ?green? company is different than a regular retailer, in the respect that ?green? marketing ? which means content spread across the internet, as well as the updating and managing of your company?s site, as well as the constant stream of information that goes out to the consumer ? is necessary to not only sell, but inspire change and even transform consumer behavior when it comes to helping our world.

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?Green? companies are a huge part of changing society, and a ?green? brand is a powerful brand that can be marketed 24/7 in order to gain an audience and market share. To do this, blogs can be created, websites updated with the help of expert graphic artists and experienced writers, online banner advertising, Facebook and Twitter pages?and more.

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Be First Media Group ?develops the precise marketing strategy for companies by working with them and laying out the plans and goals that the business needs in order to not only gain profits, but to also get the word out to the world that their ?green? brand is the one that is a must for the consumer to utilize.

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When all is said and done, today?s consumer wants quality and value. That?s it; nothing more and nothing less. But the consumer also is a visual person (or social media would never have become as expansive as it has). Because the consumer is visual and because they know exactly how to do research and find out where the best products and services are located ? a ?green? company needs to build a sense of familiarity with their audience. Again, the social media team that you hire is mega-important in this respect!

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There are major environmental values out there in the world and your business ? your ?green? brand ? could supply these values with the correct merchandise, data, mission, philosophy ? and Be First Media Group ?can and will make that happen!

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According to sources over 90% of companies say that social media is becoming more important to their overall marketing strategy than anything else. And to get in touch with the community out there ? to make your ?green? brand into one of the most ?buzzed? about subjects on the internet ? requires a specific team that knows the background of ?green? marketing. (Not a team who believes any and all graphics for a ?green? company should include a forest or a babbling brook).

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A profile must be made by you for your business. But the social media team behind you needs to have the knowledge to help you decide what channels are necessary in order to get an audience on your side and TO your profile page. You have an objective and Be First Media Group?can help you establish your expertise for the ?green? community. They can make sure that the online groups you engage in are the right ones. And they can make sure that your social media campaign is done in a way that makes it easy for customers to make contact with your company in order for communication to flow, thereby, increasing your audience and your profits.

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There are market trends, there are consumer demands, there are competitors that need to be monitored, there is an industry that must be watched and researched 24/7 ? and Be First Media Group ?is the team that can do that.

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When it comes to any business, guidance is necessary when entering the fast-paced world of social media. The Be First Network not only looks out for businesses but truly believes in the ?green? community and the environmental companies that are out there just waiting to appear, promote and sell their products.

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If you are a company that specializes in ?green? ? the Be First Network can earn you even more ?green? and transform your company ? whether it be a small, upstart or an established company ? into THE company that has more ?buzz? surrounding it than a colony of honey bees buzzing around the Queen!

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For more information, head to:

www.befirstincmediagroup.com

Source: http://staugnews.com/2012/09/27/green-companies-need-a-social-media-team.html

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The Benefits And Drawbacks To Keep At Bed And Breakfast ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Tips on traveling and leisure spots ... However, you will find benefits and drawbacks staying on the bed and breakfast housing that needs to be consider so that you can possess a hassle-free vacation. Normally, B&BS include ...

Source: http://doityourself-tips.net/Travel-and-Leisure-Tips/the-benefits-and-drawbacks-to-keep-at-bed-and-breakfast-costwolds/

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Internet Stalking - PDF

Internet Stalking

I would have never thought to post this centre , when it wasn't for the forums. I became talking among
additional Huber's along with mild hearted conversation while i seen a brand new submit by way of a
new Huber. When i say new Huber, my spouse and i mean-he had joined about an hour or perhaps a
couple of before they submitted the actual remark , `you need quite pretty', my spouse and i didn't
think high of it-but don't reply whatever anybody content before my spouse and i take a look at their
own profile. While i clicked on the link for you to the profile- my spouse and i saw the photographs
and our introduction... in its entirety. My spouse and i rechecked it and lay last our couch and
thought-what the actual ?
I questioned an associate pertaining to assistance , and supplied him or her with the hyperlink , to
evaluate against each other pertaining to themself. They recommended which i inquire inside forums.
I did...Yadda, Yadda, Yadda--- my spouse and i reported him or her , and either centre page school
had been speedy to remove the content and the profile , or perhaps they examine a few things i had
been composing and had been spooked ample to remove these themself. Jer through hp , forbidden
the actual guys bill within 14 hrs of getting our complaint, so ill require a second to say , "Thanks jer
pertaining to reacting so rapidly and pursuing track of me".
Although the whole tribulation had been rapidly fixed , and not that will large of a deal-it forced me to
be think. Cyber Creeps? my spouse and i in no way achieved one before , my spouse and i surely in
no way got one duplicate and substance our data inside their introduction , yet we are a lot more that
will without doubt it has most likely transpired before , a number of occasions to your number of
individuals. We are in addition without doubt men and women on the web will often be in danger also
to a qualification that will worry becomes quite actual.
Cyber harassment is actually , by description ; the use of e-mail, forums , bulletin boards , or perhaps
additional electronic sales and marketing communications units for you to stalk another individual.//
the use of the net or perhaps additional electronic ways to stalk an individual.// the use of electronic
ways to regularly take part in the actual nuisance or perhaps harmful of another.
A cyber stalker is a stalker. You can find legal guidelines close to it that are punishable for legal
reasons , when it grows to the period. Just like the `real' entire world , the net entire world is stuffed
with places pertaining to misfits and seeps to hide and watch. With that said , you can find a few
various kinds of stalkers.
First we'll go over the actual `Simple Obsessional Stalker'; these include the individuals who don't
need to believe that a new partnership has ended. Many times they're boyfriend and sweetheart at
some part with time , when either concludes the actual relationship-the man or woman staying still left
cannot or perhaps is not going to accept it. A large area of these kind of stalkers have some kind of
criminal records , which might or perhaps may not be related to harassment or perhaps nuisance.
Often the stalker had been violent and managing throughout the partnership with the prey. These kind
of cases make-up 70-80% of all harassment cases.

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Next is actually `The Delusional Stalker also referred to as really like obsession Stalker', this
type involving stalker has probably , in no way achieved their own prey. Playing with a new fantasy
entire world they have got created of their minds- a person and they're intended as together. Usually
this type of person sociable outcast, and have problems with depressive disorder , schizophrenia, bi-
polar dysfunction or perhaps erotomania. Just in case you are thinking precisely what erotomania is
actually , it is when the stalker believes that the prey is really like along with them. Many of these
people are guys , single , socially premature , and it is struggling to keep relationships the two
intimate and/or relationships. They have got got not many sexual interactions ; if they have got any at
all. The people that are picked being stalked tend to be somewhat unobtainable persons (stars or
perhaps married people ). These kind of cases make-up regarding 20-25% involving cases.
Finally we now have , `The Vengeful Stalker', these include the stalkers seeking to get vengeance.
These are disappointed making use of their subjects pertaining to sometimes actual or perhaps
thought possible events. Here is the cajolled youngster in school , chasing after the actual bully, or
perhaps a great irritated personnel , seeking vengeance on the workplace as well as a great ex-
spouse, can be explained as such a stalker( or perhaps Obsessional Stalker-depending on the
situation ). Vengeful Stalkers can perform points for example use words to address someone in a
chat-room, or perhaps mail harmful e-mail following a disagreement. Sometimes stalkers happen to
be seen to make wall membrane posts upon subjects networking points of interest , greatest details
since , "detest posts ", with the objective involving wrecking the actual subjects popularity. These kind
of cases will often be unsafe , and difficult to command if/when the person has psychological
problems , simply because basically , the actual stalker can feel just as if these are the actual prey.
Most subjects involving any kind of harassment tend to be ladies. The reason being ladies tend to be
considered staying less strong compared to guys , and stalkers usually chose a prey that's not
comparable to these , so they really have the ability to command their own subjects having a little
more alleviate. When harassment happens online , within forums , the actual ration that face men for
you to ladies is actually a couple of :one particular. Hence the struggle to get a pretty girls
consideration can become intensive and heated. Girls be cautious. Don't offer address , contact
number or perhaps anything at all in the sorts to your man asking out in a new chat room. When
choosing your monitor title , pick one that is neutral/gender un-relatable. Selecting Candi or perhaps
SexKitten to have an online monitor name-is probably not the top thought if you are looking for
virtually any kind of intelligent discussions.
What do you think you're suppose to accomplish should you be staying stalked or perhaps if you think
that somebody is obsessed with a person ? end speaking with them-Stop emailing them-Find yet
another Forum/Social networking internet site. Even though prey is not in the wrong , and also the
harassment is not concerning the subjects to expect mental performance pair of the actual stalker, a
person don't intend to make oneself a simple target.
If you are well on centre webpages , report it. It is a legit complaint , it's not at all sobbing hair should
you actually receive the seeps through an individual (not really believing that an individual is a creep-
it is not a criminal offence to become jerk ). But if an individual moves slightly too much , and you also

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feel as if your solitude has been violated , don't switch the actual cheek-email the actual centre page
team , and they will care for your complaint.
If your stalker happens to adhere to a person , or being forbidden from your certain internet site
doesn't keep them from a person , don't operate and cover. There's also a few other police force
places i will incorporate hyperlinks for you to , for those who need to use these. When all else isn't
able along with your internet stalker becomes an obsessed person not in the net entire world , call
police force.
Hub webpages is a happy place for authors for you to Write- yet there are several , not wonderful
men and women on the planet that are floating around waiting around to determine what sort of injury
they are able to perform. Just realize this , and protect oneself from their store up to you'll be able to.

Happy Hubing Everyone...

tampa local

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Source: http://pdfcast.org/pdf/internet-stalking

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U.S. death row inmate -- too obese for execution? | MNN - Mother ...

WASHINGTON ? An obese death row inmate in the US state of Ohio has asked a court for a stay of execution, saying lethal injection would be "torturous and lingering" due to his weight.

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Ronald Post, 53, was convicted of murdering a hotel clerk during an armed robbery and has been on death row for 28 years. He is scheduled for execution on Jan. 16, 2013, a state prison official said.

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Post now weighs more than 480 pounds.

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"Given his unique physical and medical condition, there is a substantial risk that any attempt to execute him will result in serious physical and psychological pain to him, as well as an execution involving a torturous and lingering death," says a motion filed by his attorneys.

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"Ronald Post is not asking for a stay because he is obese," his attorney Joseph Wilhelm said in a statement, citing other legal issues in the case that he says are unresolved.

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But Wilhelm said an anesthesiologist had determined that "Ohio's execution protocol simply will not work on Post. If it kills him at all, it could take up to 16 hours."

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The lawyer has invoked Post's right under the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects citizens against cruel and unusual punishment.

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Unlike other states, Ohio only conducts executions by lethal injection, with a single dose of pentobarbital. No alternative method is offered.

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In the court papers filed last week, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, lawyers say that four years ago, emergency medical personnel at a university hospital in Ohio had to try three times to insert an IV into Post's arm.

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The execution gurney table also might not support Post's weight, the filing said.

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Post has tried to lose weight through exercise, but joint problems have impeded his efforts.

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At one facility, "he used that prison's exercise bike until it broke under his weight," the court filing says.

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Post asked to be allowed to undergo gastric bypass surgery, but his request was denied. His severe depression makes dieting difficult.

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Wilhelm said Post should get a stay of execution due to other mitigating factors in his case.

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"Ronald Post deserves relief from his death sentence because of numerous questionable legal issues in his case. If he is executed, he deserves the quick and painless execution promised by Ohio law," the lawyer said.

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Source: http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/us-death-row-inmate-too-obese-for-execution

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LA man cleared of shooting, freed after 19 years

A California man who was wrongly convicted of murder was exonerated and set free after serving 19 years behind bars. KNBC's Kim Baldonado reports.

By NBCLosAngeles.com and wire reports

A Los Angeles man imprisoned for 19 years for a murder he didn't commit was exonerated and set free from prison on Monday.

Cheers erupted in the courtroom as the judge exonerated John Edward Smith of a drive-by shooting in 1993, NBC's Los Angeles?affiliate NBC4?reported. Late Monday, Smith left Los Angeles Men's Central Jail.

"I'm just thankful the same system that made the error was able to find the same avenue to get me out," Smith said to a throng of reporters who met him outside the jail Monday night.

"I'm not bitter at all. That ain't gonna get me nowhere, you know. I gotta move forward," he said, according to NBC4.

When asked what he was going to do next, Smith replied: "I'm gonna go home and hug my grandmother."

Read the story on NBCLosAngeles.com

Smith, who The Associated Press described as a former gang member, was convicted of killing a man during a 1993 drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. Another man survived and was the single witness to the alleged crime. Two years ago, he recanted the testimony that led to Smith's 1994 conviction for first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Smith was 18 when he went to prison. He told authorities he was at his grandmother's house with family when the shooting took place in a gang-infested area.

He said he knew nothing about the crime until his mother called to tell him about it.?

The 37-year-old was scheduled to be released on Friday, but the judge was out due to illness. But Smith was all smiles on Monday as?Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg released him after nearly two decades behind bars: "Mr. Smith, you are now free."

The ruling evoked mixed emotions from Smith's family.

"I'm happy. I'm sad. But the part of me that was in there with him, I'm free now, too," said Laura Neal, Smith's grandmother and primary caretaker.

"I was hoping and praying that before I die he will be with me again," she said.

Smith's sister, Tiana Goodman, 25, said he would be meeting nieces and nephews who were born while he was in prison. "This is a big day for our family," she said, tears running down her cheeks.?

"I'm just so happy to have my brother back. My grandma's been sick and she's been holding on so she can see my brother, so this is a really big day for our family and we're just so happy."

'Broken system'
Smith's case spurred the creation of Innocence Matters, a non-profit organization whose pro-bono legal team has been at the helm of his exoneration for three years.

"We actually became a non-profit in a hurry so that we could have him be our first client," founder and Smith's lawyer Deirdre O'Connor told NBC4 on Friday.

The only eyewitness, Landu Mvuemba -- a victim who was shot and survived -- met with Innocence Matters representatives in 2010 and immediately blurted out that he had lied at the trial, O'Connor said.

Mvuemba said police pressured him to identify Smith as the shooter. Prosecutors told the judge they now believe he lied, and Schnegg found the conviction was based on perjured testimony.?

"Within the first two minutes of the interview, Mvuemba recanted," O'Connor said. Mvuemba was 16 at the time of the shooting.

He told representatives of Innocence Matters, "The police told me they knew who did it," a defense motion stated.

O'Connor said Smith wept when she called him with the news about Mvuemba. "He said, 'Why did he do it? Why did he lie?'" O'Connor recalled.

Mvuemba said police pointed to Smith, whom he had known in elementary school, and told him other witnesses had identified Smith as the shooter. Mvuemba said he also was shown a photo of his friend DeAnthony Williams, who died in the shooting.

"I felt a lot of pressure to go along with it," Mvuemba said.

The two victims had been on the street examining the scene of another shooting the night before when a car pulled up and someone opened fire.

Mvuemba said he tried three times to tell authorities that he didn't see enough to testify, but his pleas were ignored.

"Mvuemba knew it was wrong to identify Mr. Smith as the man who shot him," according to the defense motion. "But when he saw his deceased friend's crying mother in the courtroom, he felt as if he had no other choice."

Mvuemba is currently imprisoned on a rape conviction.

Schnegg said she held many meetings with the defense and prosecution in the year since the recanting was disclosed. The judge said they lacked sufficient information to declare Smith factually innocent, but she vacated his convictions for murder and attempted murder, and ordered him released.

O'Connor said Smith's trial was undermined by ineffective assistance of attorneys who failed to investigate the case properly at trial and on appeal.

"We have a bit of a broken system and the fact that we can come in and make some systemic changes like this and help prevent it from happening to somebody else, it means the world," said Jessica Farris with Innocence Matters.

Smith, meanwhile, said the first items on his agenda now that he's free is to get a license and find a job.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Follow US News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/25/14086527-not-bitter-at-all-la-man-cleared-of-drive-by-shooting-freed-after-19-years-in-prison?lite

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Small Business Communication

Time to get your business going! You've got your computer, you've set up your website, your domain name has been registered with GoDaddy or other domain service, you've got your web hosting going with HostGator or other hosting service. Now what's next?

It's time to get that phone system up and running. as some of you already know I am a fan of Google Voice because it is completely free and for my business it works great for me. However, in some instances of business a more technologically advanced system is needed.

Today I am going to give you an inside look at a system that is an industry leader. As we all know, starting a small business can be quite expensive. However, if you have the time to sit back and research your options you can find many deals. I have taken the first step for you and will provide you the basics of this system. I believe it's a system that is definitely worth your time to research.

Ring Central is a powerful system that allows communications by using a local number or one freephone. The basis of the system is centralization of the one line which has extensions that keep the business and employees connected wherever they are in the world. It is geared to assist in managing both large and small companies. However, smaller businesses seem to gain the most benefits of a virtual phone system.

Now you're probably wondering why small businesses would have the greater benefit. First, when you're a smaller business starting out the budget is tight and many are unable to install a higher end phone system.

Therefore, the business is often times forced to operate without the costly phone system.

But today technology has made it possible for small businesses to enjoy the advantages of a communication system that big businesses utilize, thanks to Ring Central. Their primary focus is quality not quantity at a price that is way under their competition. It is surprising that Ring Central will cost a business less than $20 a month. But it is reality.

Unlike some of their competitors, Ring Central does not charge for activation of their system and there isn't hardware that is required or needs maintained. Another great advantage is they don't require a contract when using their phone system. Again, the business is assigned one account and that account is then used as the central account that manages all of the users and their locations. This is all operated online. But don't just take my word for it; check out this great product for yourself at the Ring Central site and even watch a demonstration.
?

Source: http://system.ezinemark.com/small-business-communication-7d37c8d0b52d.html

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Arab campaign to boycott YouTube, Google ... - Morocco World News

Anger over an anti-Islam film reached new peaks on Monday as a call for a mass boycott of the Google search website and video-sharing website YouTube was quick to ripple across the online Muslim world.

Arab activists launched a series of campaigns on Facebook, claiming that Google still makes some links to the U.S.-made anti-Islam film, which mocks the Prophet Mohammed, accessible in Arab countries.

The low-budget film ?Innocence of Muslims,? incited a wave of deadly anti-American violence in cities across the Muslim world targeting symbols of U.S. influence, from embassies and schools to fast food chains.

The call for a mass boycott included a change to the profile pictures of Facebook users supporting the cause.

The most popular picture appearing on Facebook profiles on Monday displayed a slogan, written in Arabic, which read: ?This person is boycotting YouTube and Google throughout Sept. 24 and 25. In support of our beloved Prophet.?

In response to the boycott, a Google spokesperson told Al Arabiya English on Monday: ?We believe in everyone?s right to express themselves freely, but at the same time, we know that users are aware of the role Google plays giving them universal access to information.?

Activists calling for the move claim that the website is still providing access to the film, according to social media users, despite Google initially blocking access to several countries in the past week.

The spokesperson said that the method of denying access to the film has varied from country to country, where in some places the film was only temporarily restricted in accordance with state guidelines.

?The video is widely available on the web. Where we have launched YouTube locally and we are notified that a video is illegal in that country such as in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, we have restricted access to the video.

?In the case of Egypt and Libya, we have only temporarily restricted the original trailer and exact duplicates,? she added.

Last week, Google, the parent company of YouTube, said the film would be restricted ?in countries where it is considered illegal by local authorities? such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and most recently in Jordan following requests by their governments.

YouTube last week restricted access to the film in Egypt and Libya after unrest in those countries, and has been adding countries to the list. Some others, including Pakistan and Sudan, have blocked access themselves.

Spreading the word

Organizers planning the boycott have urged internet users to use other search engines, other than Google, providing them with an alternative list of sites including Bing, Yahoo, Lycos and Excite.

They also urged Internet users to stop using Google Chrome and use other browsers such as Firefox and Internet Explorer.

The messages have been sent using broadcasts, or bulk messages, posted on social media sites and sent via BlackBerry messaging. Some groups had planned the boycott earlier in the week.

One message being circulated by BlackBerry users in the United Arab Emirates this week stated: ?YouTube refuses to remove Nabi [Prophet] Mohamad?s offensive movie off of their website, so we UAE ppl will boycott YouTube for 3 days (no YouTube at all). On 20,21,22 September. Please broadcast this message to everyone you know!?

On microblogging site Twitter, Muslims have united their sentiments for the cause under the hashtag #BoycottYoutube.

Twitter user @saiba_ahmed posted on Monday: ?Dear youtube, please would you kindly REMOVE the video of our beloved master!! .. That?s all we simply ask for!!!! #BoycottYoutube.?

Meanwhile, user @Shelly195 wrote: ?To Muslims all around the globe, do not forget to boycott Google and Youtube for today. #MuslimsStandTogether.?

Another user @MiladRazaQadri, who describes himself on Twitter as an Islamic Anasheed artist, posted: ?If @YouTube can?t remove the video that is against our Beloved Prophet (pbuh) then we should boycott and show them. #BoycottYoutube.?

Big losses?

The activists planning the boycott have high hopes that the internet giant will incur losses.

Organizers of these campaigns, who are believed to have grouped together from across the Arab world, said they expect Google will lose about $210 million in revenues and that its stock price will drop if internet users across Arab countries boycott the search engine, according to the Jordan Times.

The number of boycotters could stretch across the entire Muslim world however, with Muslims in Western and Asian countries also taking part, according to social media users angered by the film.

Arabs and Muslims account for about 8 percent of internet users in the world, an IT expert who spoke to the Jordan Times said on Monday.

Perhaps putting a dampener on the boycott, the analyst forecasted that the planned move ?will not have an impact on Google,? adding that less than 0.5 percent of Google?s profits are generated from the Arab and Muslim world.

Source: Alarabiya

Source: http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2012/09/57839/arab-campaign-to-boycott-youtube-google-kicks-off-over-anti-islam-film/

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Blackbucks destroy crops in Koppal district | Help Wildlife Foundation

The increase in the number of blackbucks in Koppal district has become a cause of worry for the forest department. The blackbucks have damaged the crops worth Rs 1 crore in the last one-and-a-half year in Koppal district.

The department has already disbursed a compensation of Rs 40 lakh. It has to pay Rs 60 lakh to the affected farmers in Yelburga and Koppal taluks.

In the last few years, thousands of blackbucks have been found in Yelburga and Koppal taluks.

They are feeding on the standing crops causing losses to farmers. They are found in an area of 200-300 acres in these two taluks.

The only sigh of relief for the department is that farmers do not harm these antilopes and no poaching cases have been reported so far.

However, they are now worried about the frequent raids of blackbucks on agricultural fields.

They have requested the forest department to shift these herbivores to nearby sanctuaries and save their crops.

?Shifting of blackbucks not possible?

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Dipak Sarmah told Express that the shifting of thousands of blackbucks is not po?ssible. ?The blackbucks are sensitive animals and they may die of shock if we try to tranquilize and physically shift them to nearby sanctuaries,? he stated.

There is no forest land in Koppal district. The department may require around 400-500 acres to set up a blackbuck sanctuary.

Due to non-availability of forest land, the department has to buy land from farmers and this requires huge funds.

No plan for new sanctuary

?Our employees are interacting with farmers on? blackbuck menace and trying to find out an amicable solution,? he said. According to him, one of the options is to set up a blackbuck sanctuary. However, there is no such immediate plan as it involves a long process like huge funds to buy agriculture land from farmers and taking permission from the state and union governments.

The immediate priority before the department is to protect the blackbucks which are categorised as endangered since 2003.

?We are optimistic of finding a solution?, he added.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)

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Article source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/blackbucks-destroy-crops-in-koppal-district/294645-60-115.html

Source: http://helpwildlife.org.in/2012/09/blackbucks-destroy-crops-in-koppal-district/

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ABQJournal: 2012 Lobo Football | New Mexico State Snapshot: LoboTVnewmexicolobos wrote: Senior RB Kasey Carrier rushed for... http://t.co/gw08gmzM

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Source: http://twitter.com/ABQJournal/statuses/249892601870835713

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Update: FSU fans line up early for ESPN's College GameDay

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Source: http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20120922/NEWS/120922004

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Jeevan&#39;s World: Mobile computer

Day by day technology only making easier
the communication and computing and devices were becoming least in weight from
kg?s to gm?s... and the operations has become simply and fast and adequate for anyone
to understand and use. Before I began to use computer 12 years ago I had plenty
of dreams on the device and the days waiting for it to get assembled at home
were indescribable and feel of something great wanted.




In more than 10 years of using computer
and internet, the last two year were only been different in operating the
system and content with speed. Not so greatly distinguished, the communication
and sharing remain same but least satisfied on using the device in person and set
free from the fixed desktop to wireless laptop as couch comfort and now lately
adds the mini tab making the social network friendly and entertainment.


I was looking for a Smartphone lately but
couldn?t get a decent one in least price and expectation, so bought a Samsung
Galaxy Player 5.0, an android based handset which only lacks phone option of
the Smartphone?s. The versatile handset has a brilliant 5? LCD screen for clear
view on letters and large virtual keys for typing comfort... the player has a
long standing battery to withstand as a quite eBook reader and player of music,
HD videos and games.


The intend for the smart player was the
GPS enable and Navigation which I wish will help through my travel and connect
with internet on hot spots. It has a better 3.2 MP Camera and camcorder with
front VGA for video chatting and alert on email and message from time to
time... there?s more to explore and use as mobile computer.?

Source: http://jeevansworld.blogspot.com/2012/09/mobile-computer.html

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Androidheadline: Featured: Motorola's Punit Soni admits Bionic owners got a raw deal, New Motorola will attempt to "fix things" http://t.co/SXfcfL9q #android

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Source: http://twitter.com/Androidheadline/statuses/249653628363763712

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ZTE confirms Blade III Android 4.0 smartphone, makes Nordic debut with two color options

With a 4-inch screen, ten times more memory and upgraded operating system, mobile users can enjoy an even sharper multimedia experience ? without compromising on price
Stockholm, 20 September 2012 ? ZTE Corporation ("ZTE") (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today launched the ZTE Blade III, the third sequel of the ZTE Blades series. ZTE Blade III premieres on the Nordic market and once again combines high performance with a moderate price point. With an expanded storage memory, an enlarged 4- inch screen and an Android 4.0 upgraded operating system, the Blade III further improves the user experience by offering extra space to store pictures, music or apps, and providing an excellent video or gaming experience. By launching Blade III ZTE continues to deliver on its vision: better performance for money.
"With Blade III we have paid extra attention to our users. We have focused on a larger screen and expanded the storage space significantly. ZTE Blade III is the first ever smartphone in its price range with a 4-inch touch screen and Android 4.0. This enables more users to take part in an extremely sharp multimedia experience, without costing an arm and a leg," said Mr. Ao Wen, Vice President of Europe Operations for ZTE Handsets.
The ZTE Blade III is an easy-to-use smartphone with WiFi, a 4-inch WVGA touch screen and, 2.5 GB memory which can be further expanded with a 32 GB memory card. The 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, and support for video and audio standards including MPEG4 and, AAC+ makes it easier and more fun to watch movies, use social networks and listen to music.
Blade III will be launched in black in Sweden in October and in white in Finland in September. It will have a recommended reseller price in Sweden at 1499 SEK and will launch in other key markets around Europe and the world throughout 2012.
Specifications

? 4 inch WVGA (800x480) 262K TFT Capacitive Touch Screen
? Weight: 130 gram
? Aize: 123 mm x 63.5 mm x 10mm
? 1GHz Qualcomm MSM 7227 A processor
? Android 4.0
? Memory: ROM 4 GB, ca 2.5GB accessible to the user, RAM 512 MB
? Supports Micro SD memory card up to 32 GB
? 5.0 MP AF camera
? HD-ljud, Dual Mic
? Mobile standards: HSDPA (7.2Mbps) /UMTS/ GSM/GPRS/EDGE
? Audio standards: MP3, AAC, AAC+, midi, wav, AMR-NB
? Dolby, DLNA
? Video standards: MPEG4, H.263, H.264
? Wireless communications standards: Bluetooth? 2.1, A2DP, GPS, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
? Battery capacity: Li-ion1600 mAh
? FOTA (Firmware Over-the-Air) ? funktion som anv?nds f?r att p? ett smidigt s?tt uppgradera smartphones
? FM radio

Source: http://www.pdasnews.com/articles/zte-confirms-blade-iii-android-40-smartphone-makes-nordic-debut-with-two-color-options.html

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0 Comments - Four Seasons Hotels and Resort

Ethan and Cameron?s eyes are as wide as saucers. The doors to the (complimentary) Kids For All Seasons* club in Langkawi have been thrown open, and in front of them are the makings of little boys? dreams: video games of every persuasion. Craft tables filled with possibility. Staff ready to play any game?for hours on end. It?s no wonder they barely said good-bye to us when they flew out of our room after a late breakfast.

It?s true that Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Malaysia has plenty to offer. As a family, we toured the mangroves, shared an evening picnic under the stars I won?t soon forget and spent hours together just lazing around and being close.

But for a good hour or two? or three? every day, the boys?Ethan, nine, and Cameron, seven?disappeared. ?Going to the kids club, ma!? they?d yell as they bounded out the door and across the sand. And inevitably, we?d get a call from staff a within half an hour with the message that the boys wanted to stay longer. Was it ok? It was.

Kids? clubs come in all stripes. There are the ones that avoid any sort of 21st century video game play. There are the ones that give kids only that. What this kids? club did?and why I think the boys enjoyed it so much?was offer a little bit of everything, with a dedicated staff who was genuinely happy to engage. The boys were all smiles when they headed out, and all smiles when they came home. And when the kids are happy, parents are happy.

The club is free to all guests, so cost is never an issue. It gave Ish and I some time to ourselves?a rarity on our around-the-world trip. It gave the boys a feeling of independence and accomplishment: to be able to go on their own, stay as they liked, order their own snacks and play all day. We grew to trust the staff, who called to check when the kids begged to stay longer, let us know what to expect and where to find them on the property throughout the day.

Although it was all fun and games, there was a lot of learning, too. The boys came back knowing a few phrases in Malay, or the Bahasa Melayu language. They made batik paintings that will hang on their walls back home. They had fun playing everything from Lego video games with willing playmates to making a holiday scrapbook.

And with some of their little boy energy spent at the club, they?d come home to parents who were ready to hang out, distraction-free, as a family. Vacation Success.

*Kids For All Seasons (KFAS) is a Four Seasons complimentary recreational and educational program for children of resort guests. Most KFAS clubs are designed for youth four to 12 years old, and open daily from 9 to 5. (Younger children can often join KFAS with a nanny or parent, or resorts can arrange for babysitting.) But details vary from property to property, so check the resort?s website for more information.?

Kids can go all day or just for an hour or two. Activities inside and out include games, sports, music, treasure hunts, swimming, arts and crafts, cultural education, environmental preservation work and yoga. Not your average camp, the VIP offerings are pretty extraordinary?for example, at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, kids can help the resort?s marine biologist graft coral in the lagoon sanctuary.

Read more about Langkawi in Four Seasons Magazine.?

Subscribe and Share

Source: http://family.fourseasons.com/2012/09/boys-quickly-comfy-at-malaysias-four-seasons-langkawi-kidss-club/

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Real Estate Agents: 5 Must Have Marketing Skills ? CT Homes LLC

Do you have the ?5 must have marketing skills? it takes to win as a real estate agent?

Realtor.com recently briefly touched on what it calls these 5 must have marketing skills for real estate agents who want to survive and thrive in the current market and they can also be capitalized on by those selling a home themselves and active real estate investors.

So what are they?

1. Good Content
2. Managing the Lead Pipeline
3. Social Media
4. Measuring Marketing Results
5. Technology

Any industry professional from real estate agents to investors and mortgage brokers need to realize that content is now their most important marketing weapon and most valued asset. This can range from videos to Tweets to website copy and blog posts. You can?t afford to skimp here, enroll help when you need it but stick to a regular publishing schedule and focus on quality.

Social media makes up a large part of content marketing for real estate agents today and is a sound investment which will keep feeding your business for the long run. It is important as a personal branding tool but it is also being leveraged as an incredibly powerful and fast lead generation tool by others as well, though of course this requires a lot more than posting a few random messages.

Unfortunately many real estate agents are still resistant to new technology but at the same time those who are leading in sales and income are those who are embracing it the most. It?s here to stay, get over it, learn to love it and it will make your live easier and income better. This doesn?t mean you have to go out and grab the new iPhone 5 or join the 83 million who purchased an iPad by June this year but you need to know how to connect with those who are using them.

Whatever marketing you are choosing to use from in person networking to direct mail to print advertising needs to be tracked and measured. If it isn?t, you have no idea what is really working and where your investment is paying off and best put.

Finally, recognize the challenges of the different parts of the sales process and get better at pushing it forward. You can?t just focus on the one next deal and hope it closes. You need to be constantly loading your pipeline with new contacts every day, know where deals commonly get stuck and find ways to push more of them through.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 21st, 2012 at 3:40 pm and is filed under Home Selling. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.cthomesllc.com/2012/09/real-estate-agents-5-must-have-marketing-skills/

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One Direction Releasing 'Live While We're Young' Weeks Early

After video leaks online Thursday, boy-banders push up release of their lead single and clip off Take Me Home.
By Jocelyn Vena

One Direction's Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Harry Styles
Photo: Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1694155/one-direction-live-while-were-young-release.jhtml

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Friday Favorites ? Surprise Baby Shower | my kitchen addiction

I?ve been taking a bit of a break from my Friday Favorites lately? My regular Friday Favorites will return later this fall (post-baby!). But, lately I just haven?t had the time and energy to get through my RSS reader each week. I suppose being close to 9 months pregnant is a good excuse, but I do really miss reading everyone?s posts each week.

This week, however, I had to put together a quick post to say thank you to all of the amazing bloggers who pulled together to throw me a surprise virtual baby shower yesterday. I?am so lucky to have so many great friends out there, and I was certainly reminded of that fact as I read through everyone?s blog posts!

My day yesterday started pretty normally? Yellowdog decided to throw a tantrum about 30 minutes before the alarm was going to go off because she wanted attention??And breakfast.? Yes, having a yellow lab is good preparation for having a baby in the house.? So, when we couldn?t ignore the whining any longer, the hubby and I?pulled ourselves out of bed, got the doggy her breakfast, and then took her for her morning walk. I had left my phone on the dining room table when we left for our walk, so I picked it up to double check to make sure I didn?t have any missed calls or text messages when I got home. That?s when I saw all of the tweets.

I scrolled through all of the notifications on my phone and finally realized what was going on? There was a virtual baby shower? For me! I was floored. I wasn?t expecting it at all, and I couldn?t believe how many people had taken the time to write a blog post?to celebrate the little baby that will be here soon. I started to tear up a bit, and immediately ran (ok, waddled?) to turn on my computer so that I could read through everything on a?regular-sized screen.

As I went through all of the posts, more and more tears came? I was blown away by all of the sweet words, well wishes, and fabulous recipes. I have always loved the?way the food blogging community is so tightly knit, and, much to my surprise, I was suddenly the one on the receiving end of all of the love.?I spent the morning reading everyone?s posts?and trying to find the words to appropriately describe how I felt.? I never quite found the words, and I still haven?t.

The best I can do is to extend my heartfelt thanks for everyone?s love and support. I never expected that my little food blog would lead to all of this, and I am blessed to have so many great friends as a result.? So, today I wanted to pass along the links to all of the blog posts that were a part of the virtual shower. I hope that you will help me in extending my thanks? Plus, there are a lot of great recipes that you won?t want to miss!

Bluebonnets & Brownies | Raspberry Lemon Fruit Dip
Sugarcrafter | Sweet Potato Cake with Honey Buttercream
My Baking Addiction | Mini Pumpkin Pies
Simple Bites | English Eccles Cakes
Stetted | Roasted Red Pepper and Caramelized Onion Dip
Food for my Family | Homemade Pear Italian Sodas with Cardamom Cream
eat. live. travel. write. | Goat Cheese and Tomato Tartlettes
Gimme Some Oven | Creamy Caramel Apple Dippers
Dessert For Two | Caramel Apple Cookie Cups
Bake at 350 | Soft Sugar Cookies for a Baby Shower
A Thought For Food | Fingerling Potato Salad
TidyMom | Apple Pomegranate Spritzers
i am baker | Advice to a New Mommy
Healthy Green Kitchen | Guacamole with Pistachios
Tracey?s Culinary Adventures | Caramelized Onion, Gruyere and Bacon Spread
What Megan?s Making | Apple Spice Muffins
Cookin? Canuck | Gorgonzola Cheese Cups with Pear & Hazelnut Salad
Bellalimento | Frozen Berry Shortcake
Shugary Sweets | Caramel Apple Truffles
GoodLife Eats | Coconut Lemon Banana Bread

Source: http://www.mykitchenaddiction.com/2012/09/friday-favorites-surprise-baby-shower/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=friday-favorites-surprise-baby-shower

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IFTTT Has Actually Been In Violation of Twitter?s API For Months, Today?s Move Unrelated To 1.1

So today, IFTTT sent out an email to users letting them know that they'd be dropping support for certain services due to Twitter's API restrictions. That's a correct statement, but the timing is very odd.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/vg_wp0FJqDU/

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Goldman names new CFO, heralding end of an era

REUTERS - Goldman Sachs Group Inc has named senior trading executive Harvey Schwartz to replace David Viniar as chief financial officer, the latest in a series of executive shuffles as the investment bank prepares for a change in top management.

Schwartz, 48, is among a small group of executives who are considered potential candidates to take over as chief executive when Lloyd Blankfein eventually steps down.

When Schwartz starts his new job at the end of January, he will replace the longest-serving CFO on Wall Street.

"He is incredibly qualified for the position," said Jason Graybill, a senior managing director at Carret Asset Management, which owns Goldman bonds. "These banks are not in the go-go growth modes they were in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s."

"It's a merit-based promotion and sort of a next-generation promotion," said a Goldman source who knows the top executives at the firm. "Harvey's definitely on the short list of people who could be CEO one day," said the source, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Blankfein's eventual departure as CEO has been a subject of speculation for months. Over the past year, Goldman has been cutting staff to manage costs while moving younger bankers and traders into senior roles.

Goldman President Gary Cohn has long been viewed as a favorite for the job, but other executives including vice chairmen J. Michael Evans and Michael Sherwood, investment banking global co-head David Solomon and Schwartz have all been mentioned as possible contenders.

Blankfein has said that while he has no intention of stepping down in the near-term, he already has a candidate in mind to take over his job.

Viniar, 57, will join Goldman's board of directors as a non-independent director after the transition.

The bank currently has 10 directors including Blankfein, Cohn and Stephen Friedman, who ran Goldman while it was still a private partnership. Goldman said it also expects to name independent directors to its board soon.

SUBPRIME SHORT SELLER

Schwartz joined Goldman in 1997 after a stint at Citibank. He was named managing director in 1999 and partner in 2002.

Two other executives, Pablo Salame and Isabelle Ealet, share the title of global co-head of securities with Schwartz. Ealet was promoted to that position in January when previous co-heads David Heller and Edward Eisler retired.

Roger Freeman, a bank analyst with Barclays Capital, said Schwartz has been more visible with analysts and investors in recent months. His position as co-chair of Goldman's Steering Committee on Regulatory Reform will mesh well with Schwartz's new responsibilities as CFO, he said.

Sources familiar with the matter said Viniar had been planning to retire for at least two years, but stayed with the firm during various government investigations and high-profile controversies including the public resignation of an employee in a newspaper op-ed in March.

Viniar, known as one of the most shrewd risk managers in the business, was instrumental in developing Goldman's strategy to short subprime mortgages in 2007. It helped the bank avoid the multi-billion-dollar losses that felled rivals, but led to an avalanche of public criticism.

He is also known for having been virtually unflappable in the face of investigations that followed.

At a Congressional hearing in 2010, Viniar was asked about an email describing in a vulgar way a trade Goldman structured for clients. He did not show regret about the substance of the message, but instead responded, "I think it is very unfortunate to have that on email."

Viniar is among the best-paid executives on Wall Street. He earned $15.8 million last year and held 1.8 million shares of Goldman as of March 26, according to a proxy filing. (Reporting by Lauren Tara LaCapra and David Henry in New York; Editing by Daniel Magnowski)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/goldman-names-cfo-heralding-end-era-024427932--sector.html

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Two bionic ears are better than the sum of their parts

ScienceDaily (Sep. 20, 2012) ? Cochlear implants -- electronic devices surgically implanted in the ear to help provide a sense of sound -- have been successfully used since the late 1980's. But questions remain as to whether bilateral cochlear implants, placed in each ear rather than the traditional single-ear implant, are truly able to facilitate binaural hearing. Now, Tel Aviv University researchers have proof that under certain conditions, this practice has the ability to salvage binaural sound processing for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

According to Dr. Yael Henkin of TAU's Department of Communication Disorders at the Stanley Steyer School of Health Professions and Head of The Hearing, Speech, and Language Center at Sheba Medical Center, and her colleagues Prof. Minka Hildesheimer, Yifat Yaar-Soffer, and Lihi Givon, the brain unites incoming sound from each ear at the brainstem through what is called "binaural processing." "When we hear with both ears, we have an efficient auditory system," she explains. Binaural processing provides improved ease of listening, sound localization, and the ability to understand speech in noisy surroundings.

In their study, the researchers looked at children who had lost their hearing at a young age and were not born deaf. Those who were provided with bilateral cochlear implants exhibited true binaural processing, similar to that of their normal hearing peers. In contrast, deaf-at-birth children who received their first cochlear implant at young age and their second after long delay, did not exhibit binaural processing.

The research was recently reported in the journal Cochlear Implants International.

Pairing up

More than a matter of symmetry, our two ears function together to create a whole picture of the sound that surrounds us. The integration of information from both ears not only saves neuronal energy, it is the key to different aspects of hearing, such as locating the source of individual sounds and being able to differentiate between different sounds in a noisy room.

Dr. Henkin and her fellow researchers set out to determine if bilateral cochlear implants were able to restore some binaural processing in the brain. Their study included three groups: children who had lost their hearing as toddlers due to illness and received bilateral cochlear implants soon afterwards; children who had been born deaf and received their first implant at around the age of four and a second approximately six years later; and a control group with normal hearing.

The researchers measured the brainwave P300, associated with auditory discrimination, while participants were asked to listen for the syllables "ta" and "ka" and were told to press a button when they heard the syllable "ta." The sounds were delivered in turn to the left ear, the right ear, and both ears at once. By comparing the P300 brainwaves identified when both ears were stimulated to the sum of brainwaves identified when each ear was stimulated separately a binaural interaction component was identified.

The researchers found a binaural interaction component in participants who had not been born deaf and had received bilateral implants at a young age. This suggested that "auditory experience prior to cochlear implantation is critical for binaural processing," says Dr. Henkin. But in the children who had only one implant for many years, the researchers found no evidence of binaural processing. It appears that the auditory deprivation that results from a long delay between implants may render the system incapable of restoring itself, explain the researchers.

Synchronized technology?

This study adds to the body of literature on how brain function is impacted by both deafness and rehabilitation, says Dr. Henkin. Currently it is not possible to coordinate the operation of separate bilateral implants, but in the future these implants may be designed to synchronize with each other, providing the hearing-impaired patient with the cues required for binaural processing, she says.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Friends of Tel Aviv University.

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. Yael Henkin, Lihi Givon, Yifat Yaar-Soffer, Minka Hildesheimer. Cortical binaural interaction during speech processing in children with bilateral cochlear implants. Cochlear Implants International, 2011; 12 (1): 61 DOI: 10.1179/146701011X13001035753182

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/top_news/top_health/~3/nrhxfgHYaTg/120920120416.htm

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