Analysts lower estimates for Apple?s December quarter due to shortages of iPhone 5

News

After complaining that Apple hadn?t shipped as many iPhone 5 units in the first weekend of sales as they had expected, now analysts are starting to get so nervous about Apple?s ability to supply enough iPhone 5 stock and have reduced their financial forecasts for Apple?s next quarter.

Traditionally Apple?s best quarter is its fiscal first quarter that ends on December 31 (benefiting from Christmas shopping), however, UBS analyst Steve Milunovich has lowered his expectations for the quarter, citing continued signs of tight supplies for the iPhone 5.

Milunovich claims that checks with the supply chain suggest that there are iPhone 5 supply issues.

The problem, as was noted by Barclays Capital analyst Ben Reitzes, is that manufacturing yields for the in-cell displays that the device uses are too low.

Milunovich had forecast 44 million iPhone 5 sales for the December quarter, he now sees sales of 38 million units, according to a Forbes report.

However, notes the report, Milunovich doesn?t see the Apple Maps issue as a ?material change in the long-term story?.

Apple is closed yesterday at US$681.32, up from US$665.18 the day before, but down from its high of $702.91 on 18 September.

Source: http://www.macworld.com.au/news/analyst-lowers-expectations-for-apples-december-quarter-due-to-shortages-of-iphone-5-74518/

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BP Unveils New Technology to Boost Oil Production

?BP has announced it is introducing new technology which will significantly boost the amount of oil it can extract.

?

It will be used for the first time offshore in the ?4.5bn Clair Ridge development west of Shetland.

?If left to its own devices an oil well will deliver only about 10% of the crude it contains. By then its pressure is exhausted.

?

However, the new technique means the energy firm will bring in an extra 42 million barrels from Clair Ridge alone.

?

The established industry technique of waterflooding brings more oil to the surface. Sea water is pumped into the oil-bearing rocks deep below the seabed.

?

But even then almost two thirds of the crude will remain beneath the waves.

?

BP's new technique - called LoSal EOR and announced here at the British Science Festival in Aberdeen - promises to increase both the life and yield of oilfields worldwide.

?

Instead of sea water, it will inject water from which most of the salt has been removed. It'll still be too salty to drink, but enough to force the crude to separate itself from the rock and come to the wellhead.

?

?

BP will be spending $120m on desalination equipment for Clair Ridge. It will produce up to 25,000 tonnes of water every day and the reward will be an extra 42m barrels of oil from that oilfield alone.

?

The science underpinning the technique is that water which is low in salt helps loosen the bonds between crude oil and the rock which surrounds it. Too salty, and the oil binds to the rock more tightly.

?

BP say there are likely to be benefits for oilfields worldwide.

?

The field trials to prove the science worked were held in Alaska and the field expected to use the technique after Clair Ridge is in the Gulf of Mexico.

?

Aberdeen University economist, Professor Alex Kemp, described it as a "landmark announcement of great significance".

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He said the technique was being studied by several major oil companies and there was scope for it to be replicated elsewhere.

?

He says the method could extend the lives of oilfields, sustaining more jobs for longer. It could boost industry profits and increase tax revenues.

Source: http://www.rovworld.com/article6378.html

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Killing of wolf pack criticized by key Washington state lawmaker

Washington State completes a sharpshooter cull of a wolf pack that had been feeding on livestock. KING 5's Gary Chittim reports.

By Miguel Llanos, NBC News

The chairman of the state Senate committee that oversees?Washington's Department of Fish & Wildlife tells NBC News that the killing of a gray wolf pack in recent days was?"inexcusable" and that he is demanding?answers about why the agency thought it was necessary.??

"I find it inexcusable that we allowed ourselves to get to a place where killing the entire pack was the necessary decision when other non-lethal options ? within the department and with ranchers ? were not totally exhausted first," said Sen. Kevin Ranker, chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Marine Waters Committee.?

"I find it ironic that the attacks on livestock that caused this situation ... took place on a ranch that has been outspoken about the removal of the pack and has refused to work with the department to implement prevention measures successfully adopted by other ranchers," he added.

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The department gave the order to kill the entire pack, estimated to be eight wolves, after?the pack?became accustomed to attacking cattle instead of relying on wild prey.

"To say I am disappointed in the department's actions would be a gross understatement," Ranker said. "I can tell you, however, as the chair of the committee with oversight over the Department of Fish & Wildlife, this story is far from over."

In a letter Friday to the department, Ranker demanded to know:

• What specific actions the department?took before authorizing the kill;
• Exact costs associated with killing the pack;
• What actions the department will take to avoid a repeat.

The department "has provided very general descriptions of a few non-lethal measures taken" under the state?plan for managing gray wolves,?he said in the letter. "The wolf plan however includes an extensive list of husbandry techniques, non-lethal deterrents, and relocation options that were not utilized in the case of the Wedge pack. The fact that the Department pursued removal of not just individual animals, but the entire pack, clearly evidences the agency's failure to effectively use these non-lethal tools to deter wolf-livestock depredation."

Ranker also said the department's strategy for managing gray wolves?could backfire. "I fear that the Department?s actions?... will be viewed by some who do not support wolf recovery as setting a precedent that localized public pressure can dictate wolf plan implementation, including lethal removal decisions," he stated.

Related: Wolf pack eliminated, state says
Read our first report on the controversy, and take our vote

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/29/14151323-killing-of-wolf-pack-criticized-by-key-washington-state-lawmaker

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Washington Wizards 2012-13 Season Preview

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Source: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2012/09/28/washington-wizards-2012-13-season-preview.nba/index.html

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Romney Needs To Articulate His Plans For Dealing With Interest On Our Debt

ell us how you are going to deal with the interest on our debt ballooning once you and a Republican Congress start peel back the layers of liberalism that are strangling America

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So, here we are.? It is four years after ?Hope and Change?.? That slogan proved to only be more psychobabble from a babbling fool who rode the saying right into the White House.

And here we are with Romney, as bad as he is, but still much better than Obama, struggling to overtake the Messiah in the polls.? Yes, I know most of those polls are oversampling Democrats by seven to ten percent.

The economy is struggling.? As a result, interest rates have been kept artificially low to prevent the United States? debt situation from blowing up.? This has been done for one reason and one reason only: to keep President Obama from looking like the complete nincompoop that he is.? And that?s it isn?t it?? That?s the big, old elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about: what happens when things turn around and we no longer have cheap money?

Right now, thanks to cheap money and low interest rates, payments on the debt of the United States for FY2011 were $454.4 billion [1].? The gross federal debt at the time was $14.8 trillion.? That?s a rate of just 3%.

• In 2008 we paid $451 billion on $10 trillion in debt for a rate of 4.5% [2].
• In 2003 we paid $318 billion on $6.7 trillion in debt for a rate of 4.7%.
• In 1994 [3] we paid $296 billion on $4.7 trillion in debt for a rate of 6.3%.

So, we see that in better times, people demand more return on their investment.? We, as a nation, have to pay a higher rate to get people to buy our debt in the good times.? What?s worse is that as buying our debt becomes riskier, people get uppity and demand more return for greater risk.? We are over 100% debt to GDP ratio right now.? Want to know how hard it is to get people to keep buying debt with that sort of a relationship?? Just ask Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Something that I have not heard Mitt Romney utter a single word about is what he is going to do, not if, but when we are required to start paying people more to take on our debt.? I know he talks about cutting federal spending.? But the fact is that if he cuts $1 trillion from our yearly spending, that only prevents us from adding to the debt we already owe.? In order to reduce the debt, deeper cuts are in order.? And no plan I have seen out of the Romney/Ryan camp comes even close to cutting $1 trillion for a fiscal year.

Realizing that Mitt is going to continue deficit spending for the foreseeable future, our debt load is going to increase.? When the economy heats up, investors will demand more and the interest rate on our debt jumps.? Where?s that extra money going to come from?

Paying interest on trillions of dollars is a lot of money.? I know Mitt knows it.? I know Obama doesn?t have a clue about such things.? So what?s the plan?? Where do we get the dollars?? Obama?s philosophy is to abuse our children, print more money, and tell them to work harder for less.

Any plans Mitt?? Want to share them with us?

Look, I know it is scary to talk about this stuff.? But it needs to be talked about.? When America starts to recover, we are going to have to deal with real world economics once again.

And Mitt, if you want to be taken seriously as the adult in the room, God knows Obama can?t be, then you need to spell it out.? Tell us how you are going to deal with the interest on our debt ballooning once you and a Republican Congress start peel back the layers of liberalism that are strangling America, but not cutting to the point where we are no longer spending like drunken sailors.? We all know you aren?t willing to go all the way and do what really needs done.

I know the standard line Mitt likes to throw out there.? He talks about how we can ?grow? our way out of our debt problem.? But the kind of debt we are dealing with requires more than ?growth?.? It requires sacred cows to be carved up and sacrificed for the good of this Republic.? Because not only is continuing to spend more than we have a problem, figuring out how to pay back the interest on that money is going to be one Hell of a feat in itself.

---

J.J. Jackson is a libertarian conservative author from Pittsburgh, PA who has been writing and promoting individual liberty since 1993 and is President of Land of the Free Studios, Inc. He is the lead editor contributor to American Conservative Daily.? He is the owner of The Right Things - Conservative T-shirts & Gifts cafepress.com/rightthings. His weekly commentary along with exclusives not available anywhere else can be found at libertyreborn.com J.J. Jackson can be reached at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Canadafreepresscom/~3/PLgOHzSi96s/49898

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An Approach that Decreases Failure Rates in Introductory Courses ...

September 28, 2012

By: Maryellen Weimer, PhD in Instructional Design

This study begins with some pretty bleak facts. It lists other research documenting the failure rates for introductory courses in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and physics. Some are as high as 85 percent; only two are less than 30 percent. ?Failure has grave consequences. In addition to the emotional and financial toll that failing students bear, they may take longer to graduate, leave the STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] disciplines or drop out of school entirely.? (p. 175) The question is whether there might be approaches to teaching these courses (and others at the introductory level) that reduce failure rates without decreasing course rigor.

That?s a question that has already been addressed in previous research, and this study builds on previously published work by this research team. They hypothesized that adding lots of active learning to the course and combining it with frequent formative assessment would reduce failure rates. They tested that hypothesis across six quarters, with 2,100 students enrolled in a three-quarter, introductory, biology sequence for majors and those in related fields. Their study design is robust and approachably described in the article.

Here?s a brief rundown of the active learning and formative assessment activities they included in the course.

• Socratic lecturing, which meant frequent use of questions. Students volunteered answers and were called on. Sometimes the think/pair/share strategy was used.
• Ungraded, active learning exercises including minute papers, case studies with question sets completed in groups, writing answers to exam-style questions followed by discussion, and in-class demonstrations that involved student participation.
• Clicker questions that were multiple choice. Students first answered individually and then re-answered after discussing with others seated nearby.
• Practice exams given weekly online and peer graded. Students were given 35 minutes to respond to five short-answer questions. Software then randomly and anonymously distributed the answers and grading rubrics to students. Points on these practice exams equaled about 8 percent of the total course grade.
• Class notes summaries where, in a weekly assignment, students stated the three most important concepts introduced each day in lecture and raised a question about any of this material they did not understand well. This assignment counted for about 2 percent of the total course grade.
• Reading quizzes, available online every afternoon after class until the morning of the next class session. They consisted of multiple-choice questions that were corrected electronically. Students could use their books and notes to find the answers and they could collaborate with others in the class. These quizzes counted for about 8 percent of the total course grade.
• In-class group exercises involving exam-style questions on the topic currently being discussed. After group discussion, students were randomly called on and asked to share answers with the whole class.

These activities were added gradually across six quarters, which allowed for empirical assessment of three different conditions: one with low structure, meaning fewer activities, more lecture, and fewer high-stakes assessments; one with medium structure, which included more activities and formative assessments; and one with high structure, where all the activities and assessments listed above were used. The pragmatic question that comes to mind most immediately is how they managed to get all the content covered in the course. They answer, ?Reading quizzes solve one of the standard objections to active learning?the content coverage has to be drastically reduced. Reading quizzes shift the burden of learning the ?easy stuff??the vocabulary and basic ideas?to the students. The premise is that this information can be acquired by reading and quizzing as well as it is by listening to a lecture.? (p. 184) It is also worth noting that these were large courses that were supported by graduate teaching assistants.

As for their hypothesis: Did failure rates in the course decline, and was course rigor maintained? In most courses, content rigor is assessed by using the same exams. For reasons of academic integrity, researchers decided they could not keep administering the same exams. However, they devised a robust system for ensuring that all exams included in the study were of equivalent difficulty. ?When we controlled for variation in student ability, failure rates were lower in the moderately structured course design and dramatically lower in a highly structured course design.? (p. 175) The failure rate went from 18.2 percent in the low-structured version of the course to 6.3 percent in the highly structured course design.

Reference: Freeman, S., Hauk, D., and Wenderoth, M.P. (2011). Increased course structure improves performance in introductory biology. Cell Biology Education?Life Sciences Education, 10 (Summer), 175-186.

Reprinted from ?An Approach that Decreases Failure Rates in Introductory Courses? The Teaching Professor, 25.8 (2011): 4-5.

Tags: academic rigor, active learning, active learning activities, course design ideas, formative assessment, introductory courses

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Source: http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/instructional-design/an-approach-that-decreases-failure-rates-in-introductory-courses/

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Hate-Speech Hypocrites

Pakistani Shiite Muslims shout slogans beside a burning Israeli flag during a rally against Israel and the United States to mark the Al-Quds (Jerusalem) day on the last Friday of the holiest month of Ramadan in Peshawar in August

Photograph by Hasham Ahmed/AFP/Getty Images.

Jews have too much influence over U.S. foreign policy. Gay men are too promiscuous. Muslims commit too much terrorism. Blacks commit too much crime.

Each of those claims is poorly stated. Each, in its clumsy way, addresses a real problem or concern. And each violates laws against hate speech. In much of what we call the free world, for writing that paragraph, I could be jailed.

Libertarians, cultural conservatives, and racists have complained about these laws for years. But now the problem has turned global. Islamic governments, angered by an anti-Muslim video that provoked protests and riots in their countries, are demanding to know why insulting the Prophet Mohammed is free speech but vilifying Jews and denying the Holocaust isn?t. And we don?t have a good answer.

If we?re going to preach freedom of expression around the world, we have to practice it. We have to scrap our hate-speech laws.

Muslim leaders want us to extend these laws. At this week?s meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, they lobbied for tighter censorship. Egypt?s president said freedom of expression shouldn?t include speech that is ?used to incite hatred? or ?directed towards one specific religion.? Pakistan?s president urged the ?international community? to ?criminalize? acts that ?endanger world security by misusing freedom of expression.? Yemen?s president called for ?international legislation? to suppress speech that ?blasphemes the beliefs of nations and defames their figures.? The Arab League?s secretary-general proposed a binding ?international legal framework? to ?criminalize psychological and spiritual harm? caused by expressions that ?insult the beliefs, culture and civilization of others."

President Obama, while condemning the video, met these proposals with a stout defense of free speech. Switzerland?s president agreed: ?Freedom of opinion and of expression are core values guaranteed universally which must be protected.? And when a French magazine published cartoons poking fun at Mohammed, the country?s prime minister insisted that French laws protecting free speech extend to caricatures.

This debate between East and West, between respect and pluralism, isn?t a crisis. It?s a stage of global progress. The Arab spring has freed hundreds of millions of Muslims from the political retardation of dictatorship. They?re taking responsibility for governing themselves and their relations with other countries. They?re debating one another and challenging us. And they should, because we?re hypocrites.

From Pakistan to Iran to Saudi Arabia to Egypt to Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Muslims scoff at our rhetoric about free speech. They point to European laws against questioning the Holocaust. Monday on CNN, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad needled British interviewer Piers Morgan: ?Why in Europe has it been forbidden for anyone to conduct any research about this event? Why are researchers in prison? ? Do you believe in the freedom of thought and ideas, or no?? On Tuesday, Pakistan?s U.N. ambassador, speaking for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, told the U.N. Human Rights Council:

We are all aware of the fact that laws exist in Europe and other countries which impose curbs, for instance, on anti-Semitic speech, Holocaust denial, or racial slurs. We need to acknowledge, once and for all, that Islamophobia in particular and discrimination on the basis of religion and belief are contemporary forms of racism and must be dealt with as such. Not to do so would be a clear example of double standards. Islamophobia has to be treated in law and practice equal to the treatment given to anti-Semitism.

He?s right. Laws throughout Europe forbid any expression that ?minimizes,? ?trivializes,? ?belittles,? ?plays down,? ?contests,? or ?puts in doubt? Nazi crimes. Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic extend this prohibition to communist atrocities. These laws carry jail sentences of up to five years. Germany adds two years for anyone who ?disparages the memory of a deceased person.?

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=f2ec7a100b4c0ff2f27edc6cc3a15ede

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Weekend Planner: Fall for the Book, Bike Rodeo, Homes Tour and ...

Let Patch help you plan your weekend with our list of local events happening this Friday through Sunday.

Fall for the Book Festival

• Where: Various locations in Northern Virginia, as well as Washington D.C. and Maryland
• When: Now through Sunday, Sept. 30 (see Web site for full schedule)
• Why Go: This popular annual event will feature author appearances, book sales and swaps, poetry readings, award presentations and more.
• Price: FREE

Cool Cow Stand-Up Comedy

• Where: Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton
• When: Friday, Sept. 28 at 8 and 10 p.m.
• Why Go: Featuring stand-up comedians Nick Vatterott and Emily Ruskowski. Due to mature content, this event is open to adults only.?
• Price: Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door?

?9^th Annual Walk for the Kids

• Where: Lake Accotink Park, Springfield
• When: Saturday, Sept. 29 at 8 a.m.
• Why Go: Run, walk or bike around Lake Accotink to raise money for the 25:40 One Child at a Time organization.?
• Price:? See Web site for fund-raising details

Historic Alexandria Homes Tour and Marketplace

• Where: Old Town Alexandria
• When: Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. ? 3 p.m.
• Why Go: The tour will consist of six homes in the heart of Old Town dating back to the 18^th and 19^th centuries.? There will also be raffle tickets for purchase, as well as a marketplace at St. Paul?s Episcopal Church. Tour ticket sales to benefit Inova Alexandria Hospital.
• Price: Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 the day of the tour

Youth Bicycle Rodeo

• Where: West Springfield District Police Station, Springfield
• When: Saturday, Sept. 29 from 1 ? 5 p.m.
• Why Go: Children ages 6 ? 12 will learn about safety as they ride their bikes through an obstacle course, visit with police officers and meet McGruff the Crime Dog.
• Price: FREE

Del Ray Artisans Anniversary Picnic Celebration

• Where: Del Ray Artisans, Alexandria
• When: Saturday, Sept. 29 from 3 ? 6 p.m.
• Why Go: Join Del Ray Artisans as they celebrate 20 years with a picnic that will include food, arts and crafts, children?s activities and more.
• Price: FREE

Rock and Stroll

• Where: Cameron Run Regional Park, Alexandria
• When: Saturday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m.
• Why Go: This event aims to raise money and awareness to fight homelessness.? There will also be live music, games, food and more.
• Price: Admission is FREE; registration for the walk is $20 for youth and $30 for adults

Farm to Table: Cocktails, Tour and Dinner

• Where: George Washington?s Mount Vernon, Alexandria
• When: Saturday, Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m.
• Why Go: Enjoy this rare opportunity to savor food grown and produced at Mount Vernon. You?ll take a behind-the-scenes tour and learn about how food was grown, stored and prepared in George Washington?s time.
• Price: Tickets are $175

An Evening of 18^th Century Games and Diversions

• Where: Carlyle House Historic Park, Alexandria
• When: Saturday, Sept. 29 from 8 ? 10 p.m.
• Why Go: Enjoy an evening of 18^th century cards, dice, drinks, light hors d?oeuvres and a tour of the Carlyle House museum. Attendees must be at least 21 years of age.
• Price: Tickets are $50

Sutton Foster Concert

• Where: GMU Center for the Arts, Fairfax
• When: Saturday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m.
• Why Go: Don?t miss an evening with this Tony Award-winning entertainer as she performs Broadway showstoppers and cabaret-style ballads.
• Price: Tickets range from $40 - $70

6^th Annual Olde Towne Dogge Walke

• Where: Market Square, Alexandria
• When: Sunday, Sept. 30 from 9 ? 11 a.m.
• Why Go: You and your dog will enjoy a morning of walking and socializing, as well as helping to raise funds for veterans? charities.?
• Price: $25 per registered walker; $40 per non-registered walker

Walk for Humanity

• Where: Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville
• When: Sunday, Sept. 30 from 10:30 a.m. ? 7 p.m.
• Why Go: This annual event will raise funds for Humanity First, WhyHunger and the Boys and Girls Club of Lake County. There will also be food, children?s activities and entertainment.
• Price: See Web site for fund-raising details

Library Events:

• Fall for the Book Sale at Burke Centre Library, Burke.? Friday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. ? 6 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. ? 5 p.m.
• Semi-Annual Book Sale at George Mason Regional Library, Annandale.? Friday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. ? 6 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. ? 5 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 30 from Noon ? 5 p.m.
• Fun Flicks at Pohick Regional Library, Burke.? Friday, Sept. 28 at 10:30 a.m.? For all ages.? FREE ? Registration Required.
• Potomac Poets Series at Martha Washington Library, Alexandria.? Saturday, Sept. 29 from 11 a.m. ? 3 p.m.? For adults.? FREE.?
• Fourth Sunday: The Journey of a Book Club at Sherwood Regional Library, Alexandria.? Sunday, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m.? For adults.? FREE.
• Election Movie Series at Beatley Central Library, Alexandria.? Sunday, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m.? FREE.

Nature Highlights:

• Basic Gardening: Grow Lush Ferns at Green Spring Gardens, Annandale.? Friday, Sept. 28 at 1:30 p.m.? For adults.? $10 - $12 per person ? Registration Required.
• Ponderings ? Fishing at Hidden Pond Nature Center, Springfield.? Friday, Sept. 28 at 4:30 p.m.? For ages 6 ? 10.? $6 - $8 per person ? Registration Required.
• Goodnight Walk: Owls at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Annandale.? Friday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m.? For ages 3 and up.? $5 - $7 per person ? Registration Required.
• National Public Lands Day at Mason Neck State Park, Lorton.? Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. ? 6 p.m.? Weekend parking is $4 per vehicle.
• Safari Saturday at Stone Mansion, Alexandria.? Saturday, Sept. 29 at 10:30 a.m.? For ages 2 - 11.? $6 - $8 per person ? Registration Required.
• Pond Explore and Hike at Eakin Community Park, Annandale.? Saturday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m.? For all ages.? $5 - $7 per person ? Registration Required.
• Birth of a Wetland at Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria.? Saturday, Sept. 29 at 1:30 p.m.? For all ages.? $6 - $8 per person ? Registration Required.
• Birding Basics at Mason Neck State Park, Lorton.? Sunday, Sept. 30 at 10 a.m.? Weekend parking is $4 per vehicle.
• Freshwater Ecology at Mason Neck State Park, Lorton.? Sunday, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m.? Weekend parking is $4 per vehicle.
• Kayak Tour at Pohick Bay Regional Park, Lorton.? Sunday, Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m.? For ages 8 and up.? $30 per person ? Reservations Required.

Source: http://burke.patch.com/articles/weekend-planner-fall-for-the-book-bike-rodeo-homes-tour-and-more

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How Republican or Democratic Is Your Name?

With our? ?and? ?being points of politics these days, you'd think there would be at least one neutral area of our lives, but no: Even our names tend to be more Republican or Democratic, according to? .?

noticed that certain names popped up more for Republicans (Donald, Sharon) and certain ones went to Democrats (Angela, Willie). To figure out of this was actually a thing, Wilson looked at a Federal Election Commission database of names and political party for people who donated at least $200 to a federal campaign. The interactive above tracks donations from 452,000 Obama donators and 315,000 Romney donators. Wilson only used names that showed up at least 25 times and decided if they were individuals by looking at ZIP codes. The closer a dot is to the left, the more people with that name donate to Obama. For instance, 81 percent of people name Ellen donated to Obama, so that dot lands closer to the left.?

As you can see, women names (the pink dots) tend to support Obama while male name (blue dots) tend to go Romney. While more common names tend to go down the middle, some names within genders skew toward one party, like Brent or Clayton for Republicans. You can also choose to arrange the dots by how much money donated. All the dots shift right at that point, suggesting that individual donors tend to give higher amounts of money to Romney.?

You should definitely also enter your own name into the bottom left hand corner to see where it falls. After all, every single part of you now represents an aspect of your politics, so you might as well figure out which way your name leans.?

.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/republican-democratic-name-191047450.html

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Fox News Apologizes For Airing Live Suicide

Source:

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Shabazz Napier Says He'll Miss Coach Calhoun

EAST HARTFORD?

? Shabazz Napier developed a strong relationship with Jim Calhoun during his first two years at UConn, so his mentor's decision to retire shook the junior.

"When I heard the news, I kind of broke down," Napier said Saturday. "I wanted Coach to stay another year, but that's just me being biased. But I still go to his office every single day. I feel like our bond is still so strong. I'll still depend on him."

Napier and his UConn teammates were at Rentschler Field Saturday, signing autographs outside the stadium before the Buffalo-UConn football game. The Huskies were also introduced on the field in the first quarter.

New coach Kevin Ollie wasn't at Rentschler ? he was watching is son play for the Glastonbury High football team ? but the players accommodated a line of fans for about 90 minutes before the game. And Napier, who is recovering from foot surgery, talked about the coaching change.

The transition, he said, has been smooth.

"It's been actually easy," Napier said. "Coach Ollie, we all feel like he's a great coach and he's going to be a great coach. He's been tough on us, just like Coach Calhoun. That's why we felt like he was one of the best candidates to be the head coach. It's been hard because he strives for perfection."

Napier has worked closely with Ollie, a former guard. So answering to Ollie as the head coach isn't unusual.

"He's a friend," Napier said. "You can call on him anytime. He's a great guy to talk to. He's always been that person I turned to besides [Calhoun]. Seeing that he came in when I was a freshman, we just created a bond since then. There's been a lot of times I've been sitting in his office and talking with him. We've already created that bond."

Napier said he hoped Calhoun would return and he'll miss hearing the bellowing voice at practice. But Calhoun will still be around the program and Napier will continue to talk to him.

"It will be weird, but we've got Coach Ollie and Coach [Glen] Miller and Coach [George] Blaney ... they've all learned from Coach Calhoun," Napier said. "They understand how to strive for perfection."

As for Ollie's job status, Napier endorsed him as the coach for this year and beyond. Napier compares Ollie's one-year contract as head coach to the one-year deals he had as an NBA player.

"He's used to circumstances like this," Napier said. "I think that's what makes him a better man and it's why he's so mentally strong. Coach says to understand that you have to be mentally strong no matter what the circumstances are. You can't change the circumstances. He'll be great because he has such a passion."

Hyppolite Breaks One

Running back Lyle McCombs gained 97 yards on 29 carries, continuing his heavy workload. McCombs had 93 carries in the first four games and has been UConn's primary running threat.

But backup Martin Hyppolite made a bid for more touches after running 50 yards for a touchdown Saturday. Hyppolite, from Wakefield, Mass., is 214 pounds and provides a different look than the 166-pound McCombs.

"He's a bigger guy and there's some situations and some plays where we think that maybe bringing a guy in there who's a little bit bigger, you know, packs a little bit more lead in his pencil, so to speak ... we're trying to use Martin a little bit," coach Paul Paqualoni said.

Defensive Holes

UConn had just one sack (Trevardo Williams) and the lack of pressure could be attributed to injuries on the defensive line.

Jesse Joseph and Teddy Jennings are out. "We lost a lot of experience out there," Pasqualoni said. "It certainly is a factor. We're rotating different people in and out, based on down distance situations. ... Williams has 22.5 career sacks, second in school history. His 34.5 tackles for loss is ninth on the all-time list. ... Linebacker Jory Johnson had a career-high 14 tackles, including two for a loss. ... UConn is 16-4 against Buffalo and 19-4 against MAC opponents. ... Chandler Whitmer's 36-yard pass to Ryan Griffin was his longest completion of the season. ... As part of the Connecticut Day celebration, the NCAA Division III champion Trinity women's lacrosse team was honored between the first and second quarter. UConn also honored the New Haven-based Walter Camp Football Foundation during the second quarter while participants in the "Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities" took part in the pregame coin toss and were honored at halftime. There was also a local Boy Scout troop parading through Rentschler at halftime. ... Former UConn linebacker Scott Lutrus, a Brookfield native, was at the game. Lutrus, a member of the Indianapolis Colts, is on injured reserve with a torn ACL. ... Attendance was announced at 34,666, but the 40,000-seat stadium seemed about three-quarters full. The best home attendance this season was 35,270 for the opener against UMass. N.C. State drew 34,202.

Source: http://hartfordcourant.feedsportal.com/c/34278/f/623727/s/23f5beab/l/0L0Scourant0N0Csports0Chc0Euconn0Efootball0Enotebook0E0A930A0E20A120A9290H0A0H67950A0A20Bstory0Dtrack0Frss/story01.htm

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Simple And Affordable - In House EzPaycheck Payroll Software For ...

Contact Information Casey Yang 3801 Springhurst Blvd, ste 207 Louisville KY - 40241 United States Phone: (866) 909-6448 Email: ycasey@halfpricesoft.com

Market Press Release ? September 28, 2012 1:47 pm ? In the US, payroll task is critical for almost every restaurant employer. However payroll tax calculation can be very time consuming. Payroll tax software developer Halfpricesoft.com believes restaurant owners already have enough to do without having to manually calculate wages. So they released ezPaycheck payroll software and hope the tedious chore of calculating payroll taxes no longer needs to be a concern for small business owners. The new edition of ezPaycheck comes with several new features to help user process taxes, tips and paychecks easily and smoothly.

- The new custom field makes it easy to handle tips in restaurants.
- Updated YTD feature that allows users to start ezPaycheck easily in mid-year
- New database backup and restore feature
- New custom tax withholding feature to handle deductions and taxes unique to their state and local area, including California?s State Disability Insurance tax.

Founded in 2003, Halfpricesoft.com has established itself as a leader in meeting the software needs of small businesses in US. EzPaycheck payroll system is designed to automate paycheck processes to reduce the time spent on running payroll. The software?s graphic interface leads users step-by-step through setting up employee information, importing data, calculating payroll - including calculation of federal, state and local taxes; deductions for Medicare, insurance and 401(k) plans; and printing paychecks.

"We believe payroll and tax software should be designed for the non-technical people who are actual end-users," explains Mark Ge, President and Founder of halfpricesoft.com. "We always keep in mind that our customers are small business owners, not computer whizzes or financial gurus. But that makes them the best possible people to listen to when designing payroll software, so we include them as members of our design team."

New customers considering ezPaycheck 2012 can download and sample the payroll software without charge or obligation for up to 30 days at http://www.halfpricesoft.com/payroll_software_download.asp.

Available for just $89 per year ($59 to renew), ezPaycheck payroll software is affordable for any size business. EzPayCheck?s many time- and money-saving features include:

- Updated tax tables and tax rates for all 50 states, Washington D.C., and federal taxes
- Print paychecks in choice of check formats: check-in-middle, check-on-bottom or check-on-top
- Print Forms W2, W3, 940 and 941
- Mask employee Social Security Numbers on check stubs
- Customizable deductions and withholding for unique needs -- ideal for churches and non-profits
- Robust reporting features
- Data export for use with Halfpricesoft.com?s ezW2 or other compatible software
- Auto-fill for check data that speeds up payroll
- Support multiple accounts with no extra charge

To start the 30-day free test drive, visit the site at: http://www.halfpricesoft.com/index.asp

About Halfpricesoft.com
Halfpricesoft.com is a leading provider of small business software, including payroll software, employee attendance tracking software, check printing software, W2, software, 1099 software, and barcode generating software. Today Software from halfpricesoft.com is trusted by thousands of users and help small business owners simplify their payroll processing and business management.
For more information, visit: http://www.halfpricesoft.com/index.asp

Related Tags: Payroll software, small business payroll software, accounting software, payroll system, payroll taxes, payroll application, accounting system, paychecks, deductions, Business, small business, accounting, payroll, hr

Source: http://www.marketpressrelease.com/Simple-And-Affordable-In-House-EzPaycheck-Payroll-Software-For-Restaurants-1348836264.html

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Golf-Cinderella Colsaerts has rude awakening the morning after

By Larry Fine

MEDINAH, Illinois, Sept 29 | Sat Sep 29, 2012 11:44pm IST

MEDINAH, Illinois, Sept 29 (Reuters) - After a heavenly Ryder Cup debut, Nicolas Colsaerts came back to earth on Saturday as the magic in his putter disappeared along with his tee shot at 17 that effectively ended his foursomes match.

Colsaerts, who made eight birdies and an eagle to outduel Tiger Woods on Friday, could not find the hole Saturday and then drowned his tee shot at the watery par-three 17th as he and Sergio Garcia fell 2&1 to Americans Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson.

The 29-year-old Colsaerts, the first Belgian to play in the Ryder Cup, missed three makeable putts in the closing holes but stepped to the penultimate tee with his team trailing by just one hole after Garcia chipped in for birdie at the 16th.

"It's pretty painful," Colsaerts said after Garcia had comforted him with his arm wrapped around his shoulder following the failed tee shot.

The loss sank Europe into an 8-4 hole going into the afternoon fourball matches, with the Americans needing just 6 1/2 points from 16 more available in the competition that ends with a dozen singles matches on Sunday.

"When you are in a game that you have the chance to go all the way to 18 or get something out of it, it's a big difference," Colsaerts said.

Colsaerts made every putt in sight on Friday as he carried along struggling partner Lee Westwood in a 1 up victory over Woods and Steve Stricker for Europe's lone point in the afternoon fourball session.

Saturday brought a rude awakening for the Ryder Cup rookie.

Back-to-back bogeys from the 12th hole put the European duo two down, but the charismatic Garcia chipped in at 16 and celebrated with a roar and a fist pump as he tried to fire up Colsaerts for a final push.

"Of course, we get one-down with two to go, all of a sudden we have got a decent chance to go to 18 and making something happen," said a gloomy Colsaerts.

"It's just one of those moments where you need a few Ryder Cups under your belt."

(Editing by Julian Linden)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/INgolf/~3/rQfTtaQIdaI/golf-ryder-colsaerts-idINL3E8KT02520120929

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Obama promotes housing plan in radio address (Los Angeles Times)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/251980431?client_source=feed&format=rss

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VMware Fusion 5

By Samara Lynn

VMware is synonymous with virtualization and is among the most widely used virtualization platforms in IT infrastructures. That expertise is found in its latest desktop virtualization offering, VMware Fusion 5?, now optimized for Mountain Lion. VMware Fusion provides an excellent way to run virtual operating systems on physical (host) machines. The latest version provides a rich, good-performing way to run a virtual instance of Windows 8 on OS X. While VMware's interface is not the dazzling eye-candy of Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac??(although both products support Retina displays) and is not as user-friendly as Parallels; its advanced settings and better performance makes it a solid desktop virtualization utility for power users and business.

Availability and Install
VMware Fusion 5 costs $49.99 but is also available as a free 30-day trial download . To run on a Mac (which is what I tested) it requires any 64-bit capable Intel Mac with 4GB RAM, at least 750MB of free disk space, and at least 5GB for each virtual machine (VM).
As mentioned, although Parallels has a setup process likely to appeal to those not used to working with virtualization, VMware's Easy Install wizard makes installation fairly simple, and even average computer users shouldn't have too much trouble with setup. Creating a virtual Windows 8 machine was a bit faster using VMware, and it took a little less than 20 minutes.

VMware's setup process and instructions are heavier on virtualization lingo. For example, VMware stores newly created VMs in a Virtual Machine library. Users can add new VMs and folders to this library as part of installation. Other setup possibilities include creating a new Boot Camp configuration, migrating an existing Windows PC to run as a VM on a Mac, or importing a VM.

VMware appeals to power virtualization users because not only can you add a new VM or use an existing one, but you can also create custom VMs.

While creating a Windows 8 VM on a Mac using VMware isn't terribly difficult, it does offer more customization options than Parallels, which will appeal to more advanced users These advanced features make VMware similar in feature-set to another desktop virtualization solution, VirtualBox. When compared with Parallels, VMware is also more suitable for business environments.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/CH_Oj1RpjhM/0,2817,2410299,00.asp

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Nike 1st quarter net income falls

NEW YORK (AP) ? Nike said Thursday its fiscal first-quarter net income fell 12 percent as the boost from higher sales was offset by increased costs and ad spending. At the same time, the company is facing a slowdown of future orders of its products, particularly in China.

The world's largest athletic shoe and clothing company's results beat expectations but shares fell 3 percent in aftermarket trading as investors worried about a slower pace of futures orders, which are orders from retailers of products that are scheduled for delivery between September 2012 and January 2013.

Futures orders rose 6 percent during the quarter, down from a 16 percent increase in the same quarter last year. The decline was more dramatic in China: There, futures orders fell 5 percent, compared with a 27 percent increase a year ago.

CEO Mark Parker said in a call with analysts that the decline in orders was partially due to the company's efforts to clear excess inventory in the region and retool its offerings there to adapt to the changing tastes of the Chinese consumer.

Nike executives said they are working to come up with fits that are more tailored to the Chinese consumer, a better balance of casual sportswear and more expensive technical performance gear. It is also working with retailers to improve its distribution in China.

"China defies predictions or timetables," Parker said in a call with analysts. "But what is certain is that China offers more opportunity for Nike today than it ever has, and I'm completely committed to extending our leadership position there."

Elsewhere, Nike, like other consumer products makers, is facing high costs for materials and labor, as well as an uncertain economy in Europe. The Beaverton, Ore.-based company has raised prices and cut costs in response.

Net income for the three months ended Aug. 31 fell to $567 million, or $1.23 per share. That compares with net income of $645 million, or $1.36 per share, last year. Analysts expected the company to earn $1.12 per share

Revenue rose 10 percent to $6.67 billion from $6.08 billion last year. Analysts expected $6.43 billion.

A strong spot was North America, Nike's largest market, where revenue jumped 23 percent to $2.7 billion, with strength across all categories.

In Europe, revenue fell 5 percent to $1.17 billion. In China, revenue rose 8 percent to $572 million.

Selling and administrative expenses rose 18 percent as the company spent heavily during what it calls "the summer of sport" on marketing for the Olympics and the European Football Championships.

After finishing the day up 51 cents at $96, shares fell $3.10, or 3.2 percent, to $94 in aftermarket trading.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-09-27-Earns-Nike/id-4c4d8d94a14f41cf82f7cdd0611a51b4

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Hackers, possibly from Mideast, block American banks' websites

The financial and banking industries are on high alert tonight as a massive cyberattack continues, with potentially millions of customers of Bank of America, PNC and Wells Fargo finding themselves blocked from banking online.

"There is an elevated level of threat," said Doug Johnson, a vice president and senior adviser of the American Bankers Association. "The threat level is now high."

"This is twice as large as any flood we have ever seen," said Dick Clarke, an ABC News consultant and former cybersecurity czar.

Sources told ABC News that the so-called denial of service attacks had been caused by hackers from the Middle East who had secretly transmitted signals commandeering thousands of computers worldwide.

Those computers -- or "zombies" -- were then used to overwhelm bank websites with a barrage of electronic traffic.

Different banks have been targeted on different days.

Today was PNC Bank's turn: For three hours, ABC News tried to get on the PNC website to no avail.

On Facebook, a frustrated customer, Cynthia Schirm, wrote, "Trying to pay bills. This is ridiculous."

"Hopefully it can be up soon," wrote Stacy Briggs-Gerlach. "Never realized how dependent I am on it!!!"

A group of hackers calling themselves Izz ad-Din al-Qassam warned the financial industry that it was going to attack in retaliation for the controversial film "The Innocence of Muslims," which provoked outrage across the Muslim world earlier this month.

The U.S. said it suspected that hackers in Iran were also involved.

"This is the first time that we know about, where a Middle Eastern entity, perhaps a Middle Eastern government, has attacked websites, critical infrastructure, in the United States," Clarke said.

Even though hackers have not been able to steal any money during these attacks, authorities say they fear the next generation of wide-scale cyber assaults could be more devastating.

"If they get inside the banks, they can move money around and cause financial chaos," Clarke said.

ABC News obtained a Sept. 17 FBI alert warning that foreign hackers were targeting bank and credit union workers.

In a number of those cases, the hackers stole employee login credentials and then wired themselves between $400,000 and $900,000.

Sources told ABC News that the U.S. government was actively working to locate and disrupt the massive attacks.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hackers-possibly-middle-east-block-u-banks-websites-214243943--abc-news-topstories.html

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Ben Affleck 'Flattered' By 'Justice League' Rumors

Actor/director also tells MTV News that 'Daredevil' didn't scare him away from comic book movies forever.
By Kara Warner

Ben Affleck
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1694681/ben-affleck-justice-league.jhtml

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Czech central bank cuts rates to record low as expected

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Dallas Area Business Owner Named Glass Doctor(R) Franchisee of ...

Larry Patterson of Glass Doctor(R) of North Texas wins the 2011 Franchisee of the Year out of more than 180 franchise owners across the U.S. and Canada.

Waco, Texas (PRWEB) September 28, 2012 -?Larry Patterson of Glass Doctor(R) of North Texaswas honored as the 2011 Glass Doctor(R) Franchisee of the Year during The Dwyer Group(R) 2012 Reunion held Sept. 23 to 26 at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas.

?Larry epitomizes the word ?leader,?? Glass Doctor(R) President Mark Liston said. ?This is the highest honor given to a Glass Doctor(R) franchisee, and he has earned it.?

The Franchisee of the Year Award is presented to the franchisee who has consistently grown his or her business through the Glass Doctor(R) training system and has achieved a consistently high level of success through quality and professional service.

?It?s an honor,? Patterson said. ?It?s really the Franchise of the Year award to me because without the guys back at the office, I couldn?t do it. That?ll be the most rewarding thing, to share it with the team.?

Patterson served on the Glass Doctor(R) Leadership Council from 2006 until 2012. The Leadership Council members work with the corporate office to develop ongoing strategic plans and programs to benefit the entire franchise system. He was elected the chairperson on the committee from 2010 until June 2012.

Patterson purchased the franchise in 2003. From windows to windshields to storefronts, Glass Doctor(R) can handle any glass need including custom glass services, such as tub and shower enclosures, entry door glass and mirrors. Based in Carrollton, the shop serves the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area. For more information or to schedule service, call (972) 271-6800 or visit http://www.dallas.glassdoctor.com.

Contact:

Rebecca Broaddus
The Dwyer Group
1-800-490-7501

###

Social Reach:

Viewer Response:

Source: http://www.franchising.com/news/20120928_dallas_area_business_owner_named_glass_doctorr_fra.html

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Kayaking on The Yellow River

Whoever thought that people would be attracted to Northeast Iowa just to go kayaking. Every year a group of people, sometimes up to 20 of them flock to Northeast Iowa?s Yellow River. Iowa, known for cornfields is seldom thought of as a great place to kayak. Low and behold in a remote region of Iowa that is full of limestone bluffs, valleys, trees and scenery beyond belief with eagles and vultures flying overhead, there is a clear stream with rainbow and brown trout and smallmouth bass. The Yellow River has the steepest vertical elevation fall of any river in Iowa.

Your launch may be at a bridge called 16, a name that was given to a small community that existed there in the late 1800?s. Spend four hours on the Yellow River, stopping to fish or have a shore lunch with friends on a hot July day and you would swear that you were in Colorado or somewhere out west having the time of your life. There are beautiful vertical walls lush with liverworts and often the more observing kayakers will stop by the walls and pet the Lichens or Liverworts as they are known because they have a feel that is so special and unforgettable. Takeout may be at Ion, a ghost town now with nothing left. A huge flood destroyed the whole town of 149 people back in 1916. There was a hotel, a hardware store, a sawmill and a gristmill. An old timer, Bill Aard, saw his best friend cut in half at the sawmill. Bill never traveled more than 20 miles out of the valley during his whole life. He died at 103 years of age.

There now exists just downstream from Ion a well known native seed and plant nursery and The Natural Gait. Many people stay at The Natural Gait in one of their exquisite log cabins for their venture down the Yellow River. The Natural Gait has beautiful scenery from the bluff it feels like you can see forever. It is a magical place, well worth visiting.

North East Iowa is the best kept secret of Iowa, many folks are so pleasantly surprised when they come and visit. Rivers and bluffs abound, the Mississippi River runs by North East Iowa. The fall trees are spectacular to view. Many people come to enjoy the show of all the colors that the trees have to offer.

Whether you go to kayak or scenery or just to relax, the Yellow River is a place to remember.

Howard Bright is the owner of http://www.ionxchange.com and http://www.thenaturalgait.com he is within 15 minuets of the Mississippi River and a short walk from his property lies the Yellow River. Howard is an avid fisherman as well as a poet and writer. Fishermen come from all over to stay at The Natural Gait to enjoy the beautiful landscape and all the fishing opportunities.

Source: http://toddsblogs.com/recreationandsports/2012/09/28/kayaking-on-the-yellow-river/

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What to Look for When Hiring a Social Media Community Manager ...

This article is part of our series for?Social Media Week London. Read all the posts in this series.

During Social Media Week, there is bound to be a lot of matchmaking going on between employers and job seekers. In London?where I am now?there are a few networking events and even a few seminars dedicated to helping people break into the industry.

But if you?re on the other side of the fence?looking to hire a community manager?read this first.

Many businesses know the buzz words or the basic functions of the role, but don?t have clarity as to what they actually need or what a community manager does beyond tweeting and posting.

So, what does a community manager actually do?

At its most basic, a community manager?s job is to drive visibility and engagement of a brand via social media channels. At the tactical level, this means managing several streams of content on a variety of different platforms. They have to be careful to position their company in the best possible light while being responsive to all kinds of comments, questions, and yes, at times, rage?all on (very) public forums. All while projecting an approachable, knowledgeable, and genuine brand personality. Oh, and they often have to limit the space in which they have to do this down to the character.

Community managers also have to source and create consistent, reliable streams of content that are relevant to both the business and their audience for all of these channels. And each channel has its own rules, limitations, etiquette, and best practices.

Reporting and analytics

A community manager should have an excellent handle on engagement and visibility metrics. They need to be able to gauge the effectiveness of both individual pieces of content as well as the program as a whole. If your community manager has some marketing operations background, they may be adept at integrating these social-specific metrics with marketing campaigns and programs focused on customer acquisition and conversion.

Stress management

As most people in the industry will tell you, very few brands actually have large teams of community managers at the ready. Often it?s one person internally (occasionally with the help of an agency) who?s trying to keep their head above water doing all the content, customer service, reporting, strategy, operations, thought leadership, and whatever else the organization needs in terms of social media marketing.

In short, to be a community manager you have to be a bit masochistic in addition to being passionate and slightly nerdy about the ever-changing technology landscape, get excited about connecting to people and starting conversations, and have a healthy dose of competitive drive.

But all those characteristics can quickly lead to burnout as well. When you?re planning to hire a community manager, make sure you create a contingency plan. A community manager will get sick, take a holiday, or need to unplug a bit just like everyone else. Your company needs to have a backup plan to make sure your community manager isn?t a walking zombie after three months on the job.

Business savvy and excellent judgment

Community managers also have to be quick-witted enough to capitalize on opportunities as they arise. The window of social media opportunity lasts about as long as a Kardashian marriage. News stories and memes become pass? at an extraordinarily fast rate. It?s an extraordinary balancing act: chime in too early, and your audience may not have a clue what you?re referencing; chime in too late and your brand may seem rather uncool.

In addition, having excellent relationships with internal business partners is key. Why? Community managers will field a wide range of questions from best practices, to support, to sales, to PR. They have to know either what the right answer is or know where to find it quickly.

Think beyond the tweet

However, most often a community manager?s role extends far beyond this description. Sometimes this is out of necessity because many companies (especially small and medium sized businesses) don?t have social media-specific roles beyond this title. Other times community managers started off in other specialties?content creation, marketing, and PR are probably the most common. Think about where the community manager will sit in your organization?and what other needs you might have. Don?t have enough people writing content for your blog? Choose someone who can help fill in there as well.

Even if your organization has a social strategist or director, hiring someone who has skills in a variety of areas makes good sense. Social is cross-functional by nature and intersects with almost every area of the business. For example, a background in SEO is very helpful, as are experience in other technical areas such as photo and video editing and even some light coding skills (hello custom Facebook apps).

Social business integration

Also, if your company doesn?t have a digital strategist or a marketing manager who truly understands how to use social for programs and campaigns that drive business, the burden of social business integration might fall to this person as well. Or at least it is often this person banging the drum. Ideally, social should already be integrated into all areas of business. But practically speaking, this level of change management hasn?t occurred at most businesses both large and small.

What about you? What?s on your community manager wish list? Let us know in the comments below!

Constant Contact?s Social Media Week London event on Thursday is sold out, but you can watch via this livestream link.

Source: http://blogs.constantcontact.com/product-blogs/social-media-marketing/hiring-social-media-community-manager/

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NFL Refs: They're Back!!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/09/nfl-refs-theyre-back/

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Prison Planet.com ? 55 percent of small business owners would not ...

Joel Gehrke
Washington Examiner
Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Fifty-five percent of small business owners and manufacturers would not have started their businesses in today?s economy, according to a new poll that also reports 69 percent say President Obama?s regulatory policies have hurt their businesses.

?There is far too much uncertainty, too many burdensome regulations and too few policymakers willing to put aside their egos and fulfill their responsibilities to the American people,? said Jay Thomas, president of the National Association of Manufacturers, which commissioned the poll along with the National Federation of Independent Businesses. ?To fix this problem, we need immediate action on pro-growth tax and regulatory policies that put manufacturers in the United States in a position to compete and succeed in an ever-more competitive global economy.?

The poll reports another ominous statistic for job creation: ?67 percent say there is too much uncertainty in the market today to expand, grow or hire new workers.?

Why? Because ?President Obama?s Executive Branch and regulatory policies have hurt American small businesses and manufacturers,? according to 69 percent of the business owners surveyed.

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Source: http://www.prisonplanet.com/55-percent-of-small-business-owners-would-not-start-company-today-blame-obama.html

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