Thursday, May 31, 2012

Outspoken Harvard professor Jonathan Zittrain to head FCC's open internet advisory panel

http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/jonathan-zittrain-harvard-fcc-net-neutrality/

The FCC has created a new forum for corporations, experts and activists to scrap over web laws: The Net Neutrality Advisory Committee. Members have been tasked with "tracking and evaluating the effects of the FCC's Open Internet rules," as well as making policy recommendations. The new group is to be led by Harvard professor and long-time defender of an open internet, Jonathan Zittrain, whose appointment echoes that of Tim Wu -- another expert in a senior advisory position over at the FTC. Harvard University is no stranger to what can go wrong when open access is stifled, so perhaps the good professor can shake things up a bit.

Outspoken Harvard professor Jonathan Zittrain to head FCC's open internet advisory panel originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 10:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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George Will Slams Donald Trump, Bloviating Ignoramus Responds With Epic Comeback on Twitter


Conservative columnist George Will slammed Donald Trump as a moronic blowhard this weekend, prompting a blistering, unintentionally hilarious response from the Celebrity Apprentice star, who has been campaigning with Mitt Romney.

The GOP presidential candidate has taken a lot of heat for appearing with Trump at a campaign fundraiser. Will criticized the move, as well as Trump personally.

“I do not understand the cost-benefit here,” Will said on ABC’s This Week. “The costs are clear. The benefit - what voter is going to vote for him because of Donald Trump?"

"The cost of appearing with a bloviating ignoramus is obvious, it seems to me."

Will-Trump

"Donald Trump is redundant evidence that if your net worth is high enough, your IQ can be very low and you can still intrude into American politics.”

Bloviating ignoramus ... wow. George Will FTW. Fortunately, Trump took the high road with his response ... just kidding. Did you really fall for that?

“George Will may be the dumbest (and most overrated) political commentator of all time,” he tweeted. “If the Republicans listen to him, they will lose.”

Oh, and it continues. He adds: “Losers such as George Will and Rosie O'Donnell use me to get publicity for themselves. They are strictly third rate.”

“George Will totally ‘bombed’ at The Mar-a-Lago Club. I was there to watch. He was embarrassed and no longer likes Donald Trump.”

Yes ... what you just witnessed is Trump insulting Will AND name-checking his own elite Palm Beach real estate property! The Donald FTW!

Will did speak at the Trump’s opulent Palm Beach club ... in 1995. He has yet to respond to the Mar-a-Lago crack ... and really, how do you recover from that?!

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Hornets win draft lottery, will pick No. 1 in NBA

NEW YORK (AP) ? New owner, and now a new star player. The future suddenly looks bright for the New Orleans Hornets.

Meanwhile, it was yet another loss ? in a historic season full of them ? for Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Hornets, recently sold by the NBA to Saints owner Tom Benson, won the NBA's draft lottery Wednesday and the No. 1 pick overall ? which they almost certainly will use to pick Kentucky star Anthony Davis.

At least that's what the consensus college player of the year is expecting. Moments after the Hornets won the lottery, Davis said he was looking forward to playing professionally in the place where he led the Wildcats to a national championship in April.

The good news for the Hornets comes after a difficult season in which they traded All-Star Chris Paul and a couple of years in limbo where they couldn't do much to upgrade the roster while the league was looking for a buyer.

"Just a first step for us to winning it all," Benson said in a TV interview after the lottery.

The Hornets moved up from the fourth spot, where they had a 13.7 percent chance, to earn the pick.

"Everything was surreal once they announced the fourth pick," said Hornets coach Monty Williams, who represented the team on stage. "I said 'This is pretty cool.' I knew my wife and kids were home praying that things would go well and they did."

The Bobcats, after going 7-59 for the worst winning percentage in NBA history, fell to the No. 2 pick. Washington will pick third and Cleveland fell one spot to fourth.

Charlotte had a 25 percent chance of grabbing the No. 1 pick, but instead will have to take the best player after Davis, possibly his teammate, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

The team with the worst record hasn't won since Orlando drafted Dwight Howard in 2004.

"We will still take the best player available and when you win seven games you have a lot of holes," Bobcats general manager Rich Cho said. "From a competitive standpoint and for anyone who has played sports or been competitive, you want to win and be No. 1. We know we're still going to get a good player."

Cho and team vice chairman Curtis Polk said they hadn't heard from Jordan, the Bobcats owner.

"Being No. 2 isn't terrible. We'll be fine," Polk said.

The league bought the Hornets from owner George Shinn in December 2010 and the sale to Benson was completed in April. The NBA was criticized for the conflict of interest of a league owning a franchise, particularly when Commissioner David Stern blocked a trade that would have sent Paul to the Lakers in December, then approved another that landed Paul with the Clippers.

The ownership uncertainty hindered the Hornets, but they were in a celebrating mood Wednesday after earning the No. 1 pick for the first time since 1991, when they were still in Charlotte and took Larry Johnson.

General manager Dell Demps said he pumped his fist in the room where the drawing took place after seeing that the balls had been drawn in the Hornets' favor.

"When our combination came up, it was an exciting feeling," he said. "I got an incredible rush. ... We knew what the odds were. We hoped for the best. It was nothing we could control. We're just happy."

The Hornets, who went 21-45, also have the No. 10 pick. They played hard at the end of the season even as it reduced their lottery odds, winning eight of their final 13 games with a young roster.

"Obviously, we're very excited," Demps said. "This is a great day for the city of New Orleans, our fans. ... This is the start of a new beginning."

Though they didn't officially say it, it's expected to start with Davis, one of the most dominant defensive college players in years who was Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four even as he went 1 for 10 from the field in the championship game. He blocked a record-tying six shots and had 16 rebounds and three steals in the Wildcats' 67-59 victory over Kansas.

"Davis is not LeBron. He's not Tim (Duncan). But they were young once and Tim had four years of college," Williams said.

The Nets were the other big loser when they stayed in the No. 6 spot. They owed their pick to Portland for this season's Gerald Wallace trade unless they moved into the top three.

The Cavs beat the odds last year and moved up to take Kyrie Irving, the eventual Rookie of the Year, and tried to follow the same formula. Nick Gilbert, the 15-year-old son of owner Dan Gilbert, was back on the podium in his bow tie, and the Cavs' traveling party that included Dan Gilbert, and former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar and current Browns players Josh Cribbs and Joe Haden sported the same dress.

But there was no repeat, as the Cavs went backward this time.

"Still feel very good about (number)4 pick," Dan Gilbert wrote on his Twitter page. "We are getting a great player there and good additions w/our other 3 picks. I believe."

Sacramento rounds out the top five of the draft, to be held June 28 in Newark, N.J.

The Golden State Warriors stayed at No. 7, meaning they get to keep their pick instead of having to trade it to Utah. The Trail Blazers will also have two lottery selections, the Nets' and their own at No. 11.

___

AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed to this report.

___

Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Healthy Eating Strategy takes aim at children | Health X Pert Articles ...

MIAMI (CBS4) ? Those looking to zap away fatty, dimply skin are flocking to a permanent cellulite treatment called Cellulaze, and it?s becoming a ?cellu-craze.? Most women know the drawbacks of serious cellulite on the buttocks and thighs. It inhibits what and how you wear your clothes and in typically steaming hot South Florida with plenty of beach time that can be a major problem. It?s been a serious issue for Joanna Castillo, 38, pretty much her entire life. She bared all for Cynthia Demos and the CBS4 cameras in hopes of helping others with the same problem. ?I buy all these Spanx and other garments and I wear them all the time,? said Castillo. She said once she found out about Cellulaze she knew couldn?t refuse the innovative treatment. ?I can?t see myself without it. I think I?m going to run to the beach and put a bathing suit on,? Castillo said. Before she hits the beach, Dr. Jason Pozner at Sanctuary Medical Center in Boca Raton starts the process with pictures and a lot of pen markings. The bulges get marked in green, anything dimpled gets marked in red and a grid and drawn on Castillo in blue. ?The band pulling the dimple in is literally cut and when you cut it the skin just pops up and you can actually hear it pop,? Dr. Pozner said. Once under anesthesia the surgery can begin. The laser used during the surgery is pulled in and out and looks much like a liposuction surgery to the untrained eye. Each grid takes two minutes. With 80 grids that?s a 2 1/2 hour procedure for Castillo. Before and after results are astonishing even to doctors. What?s so amazing is that the device, although it hasn?t been around long enough to know for sure, is thought to fix the cellulite problem on a permanent basis. For Casillo this is just the beginning. CBS4 will meet up with her in 2 to 3 month to see the final results.

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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Indigo earnings boosted by Kobo sale, revenue down

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PST: Win over Scotland shows US growth

A bit of a Sunday hangover developed yesterday regarding the U.S. national team, which had shellacked Scotland in a Saturday night Florida frolic, 5-1.

So Saturday brought euphoria over the accomplishment. The United States doesn?t beat European teams this way, after all. Yes, a team led previously by Bob Bradley or Bruce Arena might open a can of U.S. might on Cuba or some other economy car on the CONCACAF highway, but a four-goal win over Scotland? That?s one to Facebook about!

Then came Sunday. I got a few Twitter messages and blog comments that were all along the same theme: tap the brakes, ye media mavens, for Scotland is a poor, poor side at the moment. Saturday?s win doesn?t mean so much.

Only, I?m not buying it. The naysayers and buzz killers don?t get it.

It wasn?t the score; it was the manner in which it was achieved, stylistic, tenacious of pressure and perfectly representative of the plan manager Jurgen Klinsmann hatched nine months ago. (And Scotland, weakened no doubt, is a squad just the same of proud pros from quality European leagues.)

We all see contests where the score doesn?t accurately reflect the match?s true colors, where things just kind of get wackily out of hand at the end. This wasn?t one of them. The United States dominated front to back against a Scottish side that was never allowed to locate a groove in the steamy Florida night.

But again, it wasn?t just the margin. It was the U.S. flourish and the new way of playing that has everyone toasting Uncle Soccer Sam and rushing to laptops to order up another U.S. scarf or T-shirt.

This was a night where U.S. fans saw Klinsmann?s devilish plan come to beautiful fruition. He has preached of how best to get after opposition: he wants players stationed further up the field; greater tactical aggression from a less rigid arrangement, more pressure applied on offense and defense, a ploy that demands high confidence and higher degrees of fitness.

He?s been gradually building the elements, and Saturday it coalesced impressively.

By the way, the best two U.S. forwards of the moment, Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey, weren?t even on the field. So how ?bout them apples?

Yes, this Scotland was a poor version of itself. But players and managers had promised a typically spirited effort, if nothing else. Only, that didn?t matter. Spirit only gets you so far against a confident bunch that?s committed to a high-pressure methodology.

It doesn?t mean that the United States can go do the same to Spain or Germany or Argentina. Or Brazil, for that matter, as we might see Wednesday. But it does say this: The new way gives Klinsmann?s side the ability to dominate regional sides the way fans have long wished they could. And they won?t need to sit back and take it, hoping to bang something in on the counter against the global bully boys.

The new way just ?looks? more American, more assertive ? and no one needs to apologize for feeling good about it.

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Sports Games Online Horse Racing Games Online - Mobilearea.mobi

John Madden Football is great, but some people prefer watching the more awesome athlete called the thoroughbred horse. What?s the latest in horse racing games online?

The first racetrack in America was constructed on Long Island in 1665. The American Stud Book was started in 1868, launching organized horse racing in the United States. By 1890, there were 314 tracks operating in the U.S. In 1894, the American Jockey Club was formed. In the early 20th century the sport was set back by anti-gambling sentiment that led almost all states to ban bookmaking. Parimutuel betting was introduced in 1908, reviving the industry, and it flourished until World War II, and then fell in popularity until horses began to win the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes).

Top U.S. racetracks include Saratoga (1863), Pimlico (1870), Churchill Downs (1875), Belmont Park (1905), Fairmont Park (1925), Hialeah Park (1925), Santa Anita Park (1934), Del Mar (1937), and Hollywood Park (1938). Belmont is the largest dirt thoroughbred race course in the world, and has the sport?s largest grandstand.

Even after the Space Age and the Personal Computer Age, the excitement and lure of horse racing is strong. With the growth of the new information economy, new recreation opportunities are being created, and horse racing games online are no exception. With the current crop of horse racing games online, players can be the jockey, better, and breeder too, managing the development of every aspect of the activity and interacting with a growing international community of horse racing lovers in virtually all countries.

What?s new? The use of 3-D virtual reality technology gives a powerful dimension that is the next best thing to being there ? even better than being there in some ways. The brain is satisfied with the entire experience, while the pocket book need never be touched, nor gambling laws consulted, since real money is not used.

Where does one obtain horse racing games online? It?s easy. Just use Google and see what offerings come up. Many if not most are free to download and use. What matters is that you find one you like and use over and over to build your skill along with a social network with other players.

What are the possibilities? How about racetrack operators, breeding farms, and horse racing syndication groups? Let?s cut to the chase: jockeying. How would you like to take control of a thousand-pound thoroughbred and ride him or her to victory for real prizes? That?s right, real prizes. Depending on the vendor, prizes can be anything from an iPod to a meeting with a real jockey. My hips don?t lie, baby.

Just in case you think this is for babes in the woods, did you know that horse racing games online are so realistic that top jockeys and trainers play regularly?

So drop your boring activities and engage with horse racing games online. You?ll be really glad you downloaded one today.

http://www.amazines.com/Computers/article_detail.cfm/2658107?articleid=2658107

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UNION & Mark McNairy Saddle Waxed Country Brogue (v3)

UNION & Mark McNairy Saddle Waxed Country Brogue (v3)

about 1 hour ago - No comments

Union Los Angeles and Mark McNairy are back for another release this season. To be honest, these might be my favorite pair since the two have been working together. They decided to continue using the Country Brogue which is a very clean and casual shoe, but with an added commando sole, lends a bit of?

Paul Smith ? Kashimax ? Team GB Leather Bike Saddle

about 1 day ago - No comments

Paul Smith gets together with Japanese maker Kashimax for this Saddle. Inspired by Team GB bicycles this red leather beauty is embossed with ?Enjoy your riding!? in gold thread. A nice collaboration piece from a specialist in saddle making and a Sir obsessed with riding. Find it here. (AQ) Click for more Related posts: ??

Ben Burgess ?Supras on Slow? Music Video

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Ben Burgess just premiered the brand new video for ?Supras on Slow,? a track from his recently released mixtape. The video takes a different direction from the poolside party clip for Ben?s debut single, ?Party Like a Pornstar.? ?Being back in Texas, back where it all started was perfect for the ?Supras On Slow? video.??

The Avengers x MEDICOM TOY ? Iron Man Mark VII BE@RBRICK 100% + 400%

about 2 days ago - No comments

MEDICOM TOY Exhibition 2012 is set to take place in late June, and MEDICOM TOY is preparing for the event by giving a sneak peek of the commemorative figures. Amongst many releases planned, several BE@RBRICK figures caught our eyes. With the popularity of The Avenger movie, MEDICOM TOY teamed up with Marvel Comics to drop?

The Avengers x MEDICOM TOY ? Iron Man Mark VII BE@RBRICK 100% + 400%

about 2 days ago - No comments

MEDICOM TOY Exhibition 2012 is set to take place in late June, and MEDICOM TOY is preparing for the event by giving a sneak peek of the commemorative figures. Amongst many releases planned, several BE@RBRICK figures caught our eyes. With the popularity of The Avenger movie, MEDICOM TOY teamed up with Marvel Comics to drop?

Mark Gonzales by Avoid X Journal Standard Canvas Tote Bag

about 3 days ago - No comments

Mark Gonzales capsule collection for Avoid?has expanded itself to include a series of canvas tote bags exclusively for Journal Standard. 4 different styles feature different illustrations by the artist and skate legend. The bags are currently?available for pre-order ?through?Journal Standard, with delivery set for mid-June. ? Mark Gonzales by Avoid X Journal Standard Canvas Tote?

Mark Gonzales by AVOID x Journal Standard ? Canvas Tote Bag

about 3 days ago - No comments

Journal Standard has joined forces with artist and skateboard legend Mark Gonzales (aka ?The Gonz?) and his partner brand Avoid on a collection of canvas totes. There are four styles in all, each featuring Mark Gonzales? signature hand drawn artwork on a natural canvas background, and each equipped with adjustable leather straps in black, brown,?

Mark Gonzales by AVOID x Journal Standard ? Canvas Tote Bag

about 3 days ago - No comments

Journal Standard has joined forces with artist and skateboard legend Mark Gonzales (aka ?The Gonz?) and his partner brand Avoid on a collection of canvas totes. There are four styles in all, each featuring Mark Gonzales? signature hand drawn artwork on a natural canvas background, and each equipped with adjustable leather straps in black, brown,?

Mark McNairy x Heather Grey Wall ? Inferior T-Shirt

about 4 days ago - No comments

Heading in a different direction than some of the most recent collab we featured, the?Long Wing Tips, Kazuki Kuraishi?s Heather Grey Wall and Mark McNairy present an addition to their Supreme logo-inspired Spring/Summer 2012 line brandishing eye-catching insults. Building on editions that have already sold-out, including ones ?that showcase ?Inadequate? and ?Lackluster,? the Inferior t-shirt?

Speak Real: Mark Gonzales

about 6 days ago - No comments

Skateboarder and artist Mark Gonzales is the subject of this short video by Charles Serre of Speak Real Video Magazine. In the vid, Gonzales explains a collection of stencil pieces he created over a five-day period in his hotel room.?Speak Real?is a video magazine that encompasses all facets of underground culture ? art, music, fashion,?

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Monday, May 28, 2012

Google+ versus Facebook: It?s the apps, stupid!

With Facebook now public and sitting on a huge pile of cash, let?s turn the conversation to the social network?s most pressing competitor, Google. Google and Google+ don?t appear to present much of a threat to Facebook, but the game board was reset on Friday and tactics at both companies will change accordingly. Now Facebook has to find a way to grow revenue and users and will increasingly bump up against Google?s huge advantages in search and apps. For Facebook to achieve its goals, the company will have to enter both spaces with gusto.

Google has learned how to leverage its strengths and suddenly one of those strengths is Facebook?s success. Now that Facebook is a $100 billion company, it doesn?t hurt Google to be number two in that space. Who else is? Pinterest? Instagram? Twitter? None of those services offer a full-fledged social network for those who do want a Facebook alternative, and some people will.

There?s nothing that unique at Google+ to cause people to leave Facebook for it. But there are compelling reasons why publishers might decide they need to make use of it, chiefly for search rankings. If the publishers think they?ll get better rankings, they?ll help push it along, which means Google+ will continue to grow whether people actually use it or not.

In January, for example, Google added a new box promoting people who are on Google+. If you?re not on Google+, you can?t appear in the box. Do a search for ?music,? and someone like Britney Spears was showing up. The following week, Lady Gaga ? who ignored Google+ up until that point and so didn?t appear in the box ? joined. Search for music today, there?s Lady Gaga.

That?s a game changer. Google has used the attraction of its search page to convince publishers to effectively jump start its social network. It probably won?t overtake Facebook. It might always remain a distant second to Facebook. But it has given Google a much more viable competitor than ever before. And if you?re a publisher, you want to be part of it, because it has a huge impact on your visibility in Google search.

The guy who really gets this is Danny Sullivan over at Search Engine Land.

Google has other apps it can leverage like GMail, for example, and Google Docs. And of course there?s basic search, itself. Looking at GMail as an example, it has been in Facebook?s interest to keep users communicating inside the social network rather than extending relationships outward through a mail client where they?d risk escaping from Facebook entirely, talking among themselves. In its new role as a grownup, however, Facebook will ultimately have to face the external mail needs of its members it if intends to continue subscriber growth, so I?d look for some sort of FMail service with clever social media hooks.

Of course the most obvious way for Facebook to take it to Google would be in basic search, but that?s where I?d see Facebook playing a similar card to Google and accepting number two status in search by acquiring Bing from Microsoft. This makes sense for both companies since it would probably happen as a stock deal with Microsoft increasing its Facebook holdings (and influence). For Facebook buying Bing this week would cost a lot less than it would have last week, since it can pay with bloated stock.

There?s no do-or-die in this, but Facebook and Google are lining-up as each other?s main enemies and in order to compete each will start to look a lot more like the other.

?

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Kansas governor signs bill to ban Islamic law

Republican Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed a bill aimed at keeping state courts and agencies from using Islamic or other non-U.S. laws when making decisions, his office said on Friday, drawing criticism from a national Muslim group.

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The law has been dubbed the "Shariah bill" because critics say it targets the Islamic legal code. Shariah, or Islamic law, covers all aspects of Muslim life, including religious obligations and financial dealings. Opponents of state bans say they could nullify wills or legal contracts between Muslims.

Supporters said the law will reassure foreigners in Kansas that state laws and the U.S. Constitution would protect them. Opponents said it singled out Muslims for ridicule and was unnecessary because American laws prevail on U.S. soil.

Sherriene Jones-Sontag, a spokeswoman for the governor, said in an e-mail that the bill "makes it clear that Kansas courts will rely exclusively on the laws of our state and our nation when deciding cases and will not consider the laws of foreign jurisdictions."

South Dakota lawmakers tackle 'Shariah question'

Legislators supporting the bill said there were many cases around the country where judges or state agencies cited Shariah law in deciding cases, especially involving divorce-related custody and property matters where Islamic code differs from U.S. law.

'Islam-phobia'
The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington denounced the Kansas law and said it is considering legal action.

Hate crime? Iraqi woman's death in Calif. has Muslims wondering

About 20 states have considered similar legislation but the Kansas law is the only one signed in recent weeks, council spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said.

"It's unfortunate the governor chose to pander to the growing Islam-phobia in our society that has led to introduction of similar unconstitutional and un-American legislation in dozens of state legislatures," Hooper said.

Video: Anti-Muslim sentiment on the rise in U.S. (on this page)

Hooper said legislators have often referred to Shariah law in supporting such legislation, but he said they take the word out of the bill to stave off legal challenges. The Kansas bill does not mention Shariah.

Federal courts struck down an Oklahoma law voters approved in 2010 that barred state judges from considering Shariah law in making decisions. The court called the law discriminatory.

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

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Sunday, May 27, 2012

Internet Marketing with Social Networking Sites | Online Business ...

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By Brian Neil

One of the most popular ways that you can advertise for your business is by using Internet marketing. By using the Internet, you will be able reach a large amount of people from all over the world. If you are running a business that you can do online without having to be in the same area as your customers, you will find that you will be extremely successful in your business. Of course, in order for you to be successful, you should know how to use some of the major social networking sites in order to locate potential customers.

One of the main social networking sites that people choose to use is Facebook. When you are setting up your account, you should make sure that your profile is professional. This is because people will not trust your company if you do not have a professional profile. If you already have a Facebook account, you may still want to consider setting up a separate one for your business. The last thing that you would need is to have one of your friends accidentally posting about a party that you went to on the wrong account. It is a much better idea for you to have a separate profile for your business.

Another one of the major social networking sites that you can use is Twitter. You will be able to update your profile on a regular basis and that will help people to learn more about your business. You will want to spend a lot of your time on Internet marketing. If you do not do this enough, you will find that you will not have a large amount of customers.

Once you have set up profiles on the main social networking sites, you will then have to start thinking about the many other way6s that you can advertise for your online business. For example, you will definitely want to take time to work on your website to make sure that you have it set up correctly. You will either want to set up your website yourself, or you may want to consider hiring someone to set up your website for you. If you are not sure about how to set up your site the best that it can be, then you may want to hire someone that knows about search engine optimization and can make your website easy to locate on the Internet.

Twitter is a one of the most famous social networking sites. Many celebrities use it to connect with their fans. This can also be used as a tool for internet marketing. To know more about twitter infographics, please visit our site here.

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Baby Shower Secrets

Now, anyone can throw the Baby Shower and it's not just for the women!Men are attending showers, even having their own.It's all about celebrating a new life, and welcoming a new baby to the world. And all babies, not just the couple's first child, are a cause for celebration.

Traditionally, a close female friend throws the Baby Shower and invites all the women close to the mother-to-be, to shower her with gifts and well wishes for the coming baby.While this is still the idea, the etiquette has changed from generation to generation.

Proper etiquette is very specific about the Baby Shower - never should the mother-to-be's family throw the shower, lest people think they were asking for gifts.

Traditionally, a close female friend throws the Baby Shower and invites all the women close to the mother-to-be, to shower her with gifts and well wishes for the coming baby.While this is still the idea, the etiquette has changed from generation to generation.

Now, anyone can throw the Baby Shower and it's not just for the women!Men are attending showers, even having their own.It's all about celebrating a new life, and welcoming a new baby to the world. And all babies, not just the couple's first child, are a cause for celebration.

Skipping the surprise shower can really ease the planning of any Baby Shower.If it's not a surprise,the parents-to-be can help out with the guest list and help you avoid scheduling conflicts.

Grandma and Grandpa may not be the guests of honor, but you don't want to find out too late that the most important guests can't attend.So check with the parents-to-be to make sure you haven't left out anyone who should be included, and lets get this party started!

Once you have a general idea of the number of guests, you'll want to start thinking about where to have the Baby Shower. You can host at your own home, reserve tables at your favorite restaurant, rent a reception hall, picnic at a park if you'll be including children, or if this is a small group of female friends, why not make it a day at the spa with a catered lunch?

If you're planning to rent or reserve space for the Shower, check on these details when looking around:how many guests will this location hold,is it available on your chosen date,can you decorate prior to the shower,what is the cost,what does it include,who is responsible for clean up.

It's always a good idea to schedule the Baby Shower about two to three months in advance of mom's due date. Unless, of course, you are having the shower after the baby is born.

"Hello World, Here I Am" Showers are a popular way to ensure everyone gets to see the new baby, and you'll want to wait at least a month after the baby is born for this one.

The time of day to host the shower is personal preference, and can be used to determine appropriate food and drink. If you just don't know, ask the mother-to-be what part of the day she usually feels her best, and go from there.

Finger foods set around the room work great and encourage guests to mingle. If you don't want to prepare the food yourself, many bakers or grocers make deli trays of vegetables, fruit, or meats and cheeses.

They're arranged beautifully for any occasion and can be a life-saver, as well as a time-saver.When choosing drinks to serve, remember to include on-alcoholic and decaffeinated alternatives.

Coordinating is the easy part, but you probably don't want to do everything by yourself on the big day. Depending on the number of guests, it's easy to get overwhelmed and miss some of those small details that mean so much.

With all your planning, don't forget a gift for the parents-to-be. Maybe your gift to the parents-to-be will be the Baby Shower itself, but if you're looking great gift ideas, try a customized baby basket, diaper cake or something just plain adorable from the baby gift store.

Don't lose sight of what this day is all about...a celebration! So remember to relax and have fun with your planning and hosting.

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Saturday, May 26, 2012

10 Quality iPhone Apps for Accounting

Technology is making accounting more fun lately, and aside from the major development accounting has experienced thanks to the internet, I think one area that needs more attention is in regards to accounting apps.

Almost everybody has a mobile today, and there are at least a billion smartphone users in the world today.

The iPhone is everybody?s favorite smartphone, and I think that makes sense since it has a large market share in the US.

iPhone 4S screenshot best phone of the world

Here are 10 quality iPhone apps you should check out for better accounting.

1. Easy Books

Cost: Free

Size: 2.5MB

Easy Books is a professional invoicing and book keeping app for the iPhone, and it is especially ideal for individuals and small businesses.

With an in-built calculator, prefilled forms, and common linked accounts based on your previous entries, Easy Books is an iPhone app that makes it easy for you to manage your finances.

If you want accuracy and security, and if you want speed and ease, Easy Books is an app you should check out.

Here are some features of Easy Books that makes it a must check out!

  • It allows you to lock your data with a password in the case that you want to borrow someone else your phone
  • It gives you full package that not only maintains accounts, but that also enables regular reporting
  • It allows you to import and export data directly from the app
  • You can add your sales and purchase VAT amounts, and Easy Books automatically calculate your taxes for you
  • It enables time-tracking so you can accurately charge for your time when working for customers

2. Quickbooks Mobile

Cost: Free

Size: 5.3MB

You?re probably familiar with Quickbooks if you?re an accountant, right?

If not, Quickbooks is the number one accounting software that makes it easy to keep accounts digitally without the hassles that comes with doing it physically, and this app is for its iPhone users.

Quickbooks is a premium service that you have to pay for, but you?ll get this app for free if you already have an account with them.

3. Xero iPhone app

Cost: Free

Size: 1.4MB

If you?re into the world of accounting, the Xero iPhone app is a must have.

Having a solid invoicing system is very important for business professionals, and with Xero you no longer have to worry about relying on the internet or doing everything with a computer.

This app is invoicing for the iPhone, and it also makes it easy to view and keep track of your bank and credit card accounts.

What I love most about this app is that it integrates easily with other popular systems like Highrise, Basecamp, Paypal and others.

4. Tax Touch

Cost: Free

Size: 0.6MB

If you?re in the UK and want the latest info about taxes and accounting, this app from Ward Williams is exactly what you need.

5. BillTracker

Cost: ?1.99

Size: 2.2MB

It could range from mobile bills to car bills, but one thing is for certain, we all have bills to pay.

With a well designed interface and a sophisticated internal database, BillTracker makes it easy to manage and pay your bills.

It helps you track each bill via the due date, the amount, the bill number and also payment confirmation, and it makes it easy for you to protect your data via a password.

BillTracker also makes it easy for you to manage recurring bills, and it has a feature that helps you export your data to CSV for future use.

6. iExpenseIt

Cost: ?2.99

Size: 8.8MB

Have you ever wondered why you?re always in debt?

If so, this app might help you answer that question. If not, you probably still need this app.

iExpenseIt, ranked one of the best iPhone apps by CNN Money, Laptop Magazine and PC World is probably one of the best apps out there for getting out of debt.

iExpenseIt helps you keep track of your daily expenses and monthly budgeting; this app is designed to ensure you never go beyond your budget, and it has a lot of features to keep you hooked.

A few major features of iExpenseIt include its PDF reporting, password lock, and mileage tracking features.

7. Moneywell

Cost: $9.99

Size: 5.6MB

Knowing where your every dollar is spent is the key to getting out of debt, and being able to stick to your budget can also make a difference.

The problem is that we now live in an age where it is easier than ever to go into debt, and where trying to figure out how you spend your dollars can the stressful and time consuming. Purchasing that new gadget is as easy as pulling out your credit card, even if you don?t need it.

Moneywell is an app that helps you keep track of your expenses while at the same time letting you know where you are in regards to your budget.

Unlike most accounting apps, one thing that makes this app stand out is its unique interface.

8. ExpenSense

Cost: $0.99

Size: 4.4MB

ExpenSense is a full-fleged accounting and personal finance app, and one every accountant or anyone that wants total control of her finances should have.

It doesn?t matter whether you want to transfer money across two accounts, or whether you want to keep track of your income and expenses. It also doesn?t matter whether you want to manage or analyze your debts and asset, this app is for you.

This app can be your own mini accountant, on your iPhone, and it costs less than a cent.

9. Accounts Checkbook

Cost: $1.99

Size: 2.0MB

If you want full control of your accounts on your iPhone, this app is for you.

With this app, you can easily review your income and expenses, on by category or summaries, and it also enables you to view every detail in a neatly organized graph.

This app is also very unique in that it is one of the few accounting apps that allow you to search your transactions, reports or data.

10. Debt Snowball Pro

Cost: $2.99

Size: 0.8MB

Are you in debt and want to pay off your debts as soon as possible?

This app is for you!

Simply input your debt amount, balance, interest rate, and monthly payments, and this app will help you calculate it and show you the best way to pay off your debts.

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How to improve your business's customer care ~ Market and Economy

For businesses in the hospitality sector - restaurants, pubs, bars and other catering businesses - customer care is especially important. These businesses are all about the customer's experience and making improvements to customer care should be a constant effort.

That's probably the first thing businesses should bear in mind when thinking about customer care - the effort must be on-going.

The art of improving customer care, or of making sure the customer's experience is excellent at all times, is not a difficult one to understand. Putting it into practice, however, does require effort and the application of standards that are clearly understood.

The secret, as almost all experts will agree, is to see and experience a service from the customer's perspective.

If you're running a business, it can be hard to see everything from a customer's view because it's difficult to divorce yourself from the reasons why there may be shortcomings; but the customer isn't interested in reasons, just the quality of the experience. This is a good reason to bring in outsiders and elicit frank feedback.

Here, then, are some suggestions as to how any business, but especially those in the hospitality sector, can engage with and work on customer care.

Just as it's important to test the customer experience with a critical eye by using independent testers, it's also important to find out what customers think.

Getting feedback is important. But getting quality feedback - that is finding out what people really think - is not easy. Many customers may be reluctant to be brutally honest, especially about small matters. Others may be overly fussy and offer criticism that's unreasonable and unnecessary, finding faults where nearly all other customers wouldn't. To find out what reasonable people think, you probably need to get their feedback anonymously, possibly through a feedback form a d a suggestion box.

Some kind of mechanism for feedback is a good idea. This may be in the form of a competition for great suggestions and feedback, or another way could be to invite customers to come along to an evening for the express purpose of commenting on service or dishes or drinks. Getting the customer involved is key.

Of course, it's also important to listen to customers less formally. If they have something to say about the way the business is being run, the quality of the service of the food, anything, then really welcome it. It's an opportunity that should be taken advantage of. If it's complimentary, that's great and helps to suggest how to emphasise strong points; if it's negative feedback, it gives you a chance to put things right. 'The customer is always right' is still a valid maxim to apply.

That's fine for feedback. But the fundamental aspect of a great customer experience, especially in the hospitality business, is the quality of your staff.

It's vital to create a culture in which customer care - the customer's experience - is central to everything that takes place within the business. Set the bar high and insist on quality service. Reward and praise behaviour and the attitude you want to see and discourage that which you don't want. Attend to detail because customers will.

Create an example for others to follow and make sure staff understand that the quality of service they provide has a direct impact on the business and, ultimately, on their job. Give staff real incentives to do well - cash ones, if possible.

Ensure that everyone understands that they are customer facing and must behave accordingly. In a restaurant, for example, kitchen staff who don't serve the public may well need to come into contact with customers now and again. When they do, insist that they maintain the same standards as those staff who directly deal with customers.

Have regular meetings, perhaps once a week, to discuss improvements to and suggestions for customer service. Make these meetings upbeat and make sure staff feel they are an important part of the success of the business.

Make sure staff are aware of precisely what you expect from them.

Lead by example - basically always behave in the way you want your staff to.

Keep your staff happy - or at least root out any problems that are causing friction, unease and so on. Unhappy staff simply can't create happy customers, unless they are Oscar-level actors.

Make sure staff know about the products they are selling - whether it's a drink or a dish, they should be able to answer reasonable questions. And, if they can't answer a question, then, of course, they need to be able to offer to find out and do so.

Never leave customers waiting. This means when whatever they want, attend to them, whether they are at the bar to be served, waiting to be seated or to settle a bill, or wanting to ask for a service. If there is an unavoidable delay, explain quickly and honestly - it's far better than trying to stall.

Answer your phone promptly and enthusiastically. Sound helpful. Never let a phone ring without being attended to. Make use of call forwarding or voicemail, if you must, but get back to callers promptly.

Be reliable. If you say you will do something for a customer, however small, then make sure it's done. If you promise a table by the window, or a replacement dish, for example, then deliver.

If complaints arise, as they will always do from time to time, treat them as feedback for future improvements, sure, but also deal with the substance of the complaint there and then. Don't delay: tackle the problem and try and resolve it head on. Customers will generally respect you for your sympathy and your efforts to resolve the matter.

These are simple ideas, but unfailingly executed they're also powerful ones. The golden rule, though, is never stop looking at the service you provide from the customer's point of view.

Premierline Direct offers retail and shop insurance carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your business, as well as comprehensive restaurant insurance solutions which can be tailored to suit your business.

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Is DWP herding the vulnerable on-line, to be fleeced ? | E RADAR ...

Next week will see?the 2012 National Digital?Conference with over a thousand delegates exploring ?the policy, leadership,?innovation and collective action needed to support an inclusive and?enterprising digital nation. The state of current debates over electronic?identities and payment mechanisms, let alone of those over data protection,?privacy and security, indicates that inclusion and innovation will be almost?the last things in the minds of those seeking to herd the sheep on-line to be?fleeced. Whether the fleecing is to be done by the purveyors of technology,?regulatory or compliance snake oil or by local and global organised crime,?no-one appears to be giving priority to quality of service to paying?customers.

One of those planning to attend sent me the following guest blog.

I have changed the heading from his original ?Please sign here ? but not at the Post?Office.? and put his message into political context, but it is stark

The?DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) has, whether by accident or design, created a situation whereby some of the?most? vulnerable in society, with least access?to reliable on-line services (if they could see or manage the dexterity to use?them) are no longer able to use their local Post Office, where they can deal?with staff they know and who know them, but travel miles to a Paypoint? to use a less secure service. In rural areas,?with few buses and expensive taxis, the increase in cost and the deterioration?in quality of life flies unnecessarily in the face of declared government?policy. Worse, it will be blamed, unjustly, on current ministers and their?enthusiasm for using new technology to deliver better service at lower cost.

====================================

We?all know that older people love their Post Offices but does the Post Office?love them? Not if you can?t remember you PIN number. You can?t sign for?transactions using your Post Office Account Card or Bank Card. Post Office?Counters Ltd clearly does not know it?s customers, particularly their most?vulnerable, even if their staff do. Signing for pensions and bank withdrawals?is the simple answer. Even if supplementary ID is needed, as in some countries?that require it for all card transactions.

But is it actually the fault of the Post Office or of a mix of?political dogma (those wishing to privatise Government?s last source of?face-to-face contact with most of the population) and silo mentality (illusory?intra-cost centre savings aggregating to a massive collective increase in?outsourced spend)?

When the?DWP?and Post Office introduced the Post?Office Card Account (POCA) a few years ago, most pensioners accepted this as a?reasonable alternative to Giro payments or paid their pensions into Bank?Current accounts. Those unable or unwilling to do so continued to be paid by?cheque. This included some of the most vulnerable members of society.

When?CHIP enabled cards were introduced, the Banking code insisted that CHIP and?SIGNATURE card should be issued to people that can?t use CHIP and PIN?technology. Many people can?t remember their PINs and others cannot use the?technology.

With?CHIP enabled cards the main security is in the encrypted CHIP. CHIP and PIN?only proves that the person that has the card knows the number. It does not?prove the identity of the card holder.

But?the Post Office Card Account is not available as CHIP and Signature.

Why?not?

Because DWP?policy forbids them.

The DWP?say that they comply with Equality issues by issuing Giro cheques to people?who can?t remember?their PIN numbers. In consequence the DWP is forcing a significant number of?older and less able people to give up their giro cheque and go to PayPoint?outlets to collect their money using their new unnecessary and less safe system?ominously called ?Simple Payments?. Simple payments require?the issuance of?another card and attending the PayPoint counter with a memorable date and proof of ID. Meanwhile sub-post-offices are not permitted, for reasons that are not?clear, to also offer PayPoint services and in many rural areas there is not?enough business to support both a Sub Post Office and a PayPoint service ? the choice is either/or. Thus the nearest PayPoint to Gamblesby, which has a Post?Office, is Alston or Penrith, both a low-frequency bus journey away.

Almost?all banks (except HSBC, the ?World?s Local Bank? and Santander) allow current?account holders to make withdrawals at Post Offices. But the Post Office does?not allow CHIP and Signature Card holders to sign for their money.

So?even if you are ?financially included? and have a bank account, but have to?sign, ? you are digitally excluded by the Post Office.

Perhaps the suggestion that the whole DWP??Simple Payments? system is unnecessary if?the Post Office did what retailers do and allowed usage of chip and signature?cards will upset those who promoted the ?Simple Payments? system.

But?the suggestion that allowing usage of chip and signature cards will keep more?Post Offices in business and respect the needs and wishes of older and?vulnerable people is a much more powerful one.

The?UK Payments Council last year withdrew its plans to abolish cheques. This was?partly as a result of Age UK?s report ?The way we pay? which?advocated the use of a ?magic card?. At the Alzheimer?s society report??Short Changed, Protecting people with Dementia from financial abuse??a speaker, who suffers memory loss after a stroke, could not understand why the?Post Office insisted on using PINs and did not have a method of identification?that included photo ID. After all, most older people have, (and in many cases,?only understand) their routine, and are known therefore identified, by the?staff in their local post office. And they carry photo ID ? bus passes.

Action?On Elder abuse warns that Financial Abuse of the elderly is more prevalent than?physical and sexual abuse. Financial abuse is also most commonly committed by?persons in a position of trust ? family and carers. Older people have a right?to their independence and not to rely on others.

The?UK Payments Council, to their credit, have included wider issuance and use of?CHIP and Signature Cards in their strategic plan. This is partly because of?widespread publicity and lobbying for consumer groups including Which?

Next?week?s Digital Inclusion Conference?ND 2012 will be interesting ? especially to hear what promises Paula Vennels,?Chief Executive of the Post Office is going to make to help her vulnerable?customers. Perhaps she has listened to her fellow panelist from last year,?Gordon Graylish, Global VP Enterprise and Marketing. Intel. Who said ?We?should be looking at people who need services, and those services can be?delivered in a hundred different ways, or a thousand different ways, ?But the?most important thing is to think about the people and how you help them, rather?than try to make them fit into an 18 year olds mindset of the Internet.?

Tom?Wright, Chief Executive of Age UK is also speaking ? will he be recognising?digital exclusion for significant numbers of people that his charity represents,?and their carers. Particularly during the ?Everyone Online? sessions in day?two.

Frances Maude will be speaking for Cabinet Office but the need is for Ian Duncan Smith, as Secretary of State for DWP?and?Stephen Webb, his IT enthusiastic LibDem Minister for Pension, to demand that their officials indulge?in joined-up thinking with those reporting to Ed Davey, BIS Minister for Consumer and?Postal Affairs and to Mark Hoban, Financial Secretary to the Treasury (including Banking services responsibility) with regard?to the cost-effective use of technology to better serve the public, rather than perpetuating the New Labour business models of their incumbent consultants and outsourcing suppliers.

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