It wasn?t until this spring that I made the switch from iPhone to Android. Before then, I had put my iPhone aside for days at a time while I tested a new Android device, but I always went back to my iPhone. Frankly, I never really gave Android a chance.
Finally, the slow, 3G data speeds drove me to switch full-time to the Galaxy S II Skyrocket. And with all of the important apps I use now available on Android, that was no longer a?barrier.
Two weeks ago, I made the switch back???to the faster, bigger iPhone 5???because I assumed that, as a long-time iPhone user, I would enjoy it far more now that it, too, had LTE speeds. And there?s much to like about my new phone but, much to my surprise, I really miss Android. In fact, after a few weeks with my new iPhone 5, I realize that I like Android better.
1. Widgets It wasn?t until I didn?t have weather on my home screen that realized how often I check it. Should I take an umbrella? Is the high 70 or higher (the cut off for pants versus shorts in our house)? I also had my family calendar and favorite music app loaded there. Yes, I could just tap an icon on my home screen, but I love the immediate gratification of widgets.
2. Notification Center It's certainly handy to check text messages, incoming important mail, tweets and other notifications from a pull-down within virtually any app. But iPhone stops there. With my Android phone, I also had direct access to frequently used settings, like turning on and off GPS and Bluetooth to save the?battery life, as well as the settings app. With iPhone, I need to browse to and open settings where everything is buried a couple of layers deep.?
3. Automatic App Updates Every day, at least one of the more than 100 apps I have loaded on my iPhone needs updating manually. With Android it happens automatically, unless the app privileges change. You simply get a notification.
4. Micro USB Charging I was never a fan of the old Apple connector, but I was disappointed when Apple chose to go with Lightning over micro USB, the connector Android and many other devices use. Yes, Lightning has technical benefits over micro USB, like the ability to output video through a Lightning-to-HDMI cable (when that becomes available), but I was never without a charging cable with micro USB.
5. Maps I used Google Maps on my Android phone all the time???for local search, traffic, turn-by-turn spoken navigation and transit directions. So, like many others, I was really disappointed by the poor quality of Apple Maps. Apple has apologized to users and has even created a new section in the App Store pointing people to better map applications. I just put a link to the Google Maps mobile site on my home screen. Still, I?d love to see Google Maps back as an option.
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Whenever you are going on vacation or perhaps if it is a business trip and you want to be economical you can find some good ways to do this, and one of the best examples to comply with would be what backpackers in Auckland do.
Even for the seasoned backpackers in Auckland there are several extra benefits that they are able to take advantage of that they may not be aware of, that not just saves them cash but makes their stay in NZ all the more enjoyable. These bonuses may be found by taking advantage of backpackers in Auckland opportunities provided through the accommodation industry that caters to this particular type of traveller.
Taking a look at the person who's there on business and doesn't demand more conventional types of accommodation like hotels or serviced apartments, it makes more sense to make use of the services of backpackers' lodges. A respected and customer service orientated establishment might be instrumental in helping those that are on a working vacation get the suitable forms essential for their visa. Or something simple like providing a reference letter, so the working guest can open a bank account.
It certainly is an added benefit to find a backpackers lodge that is conveniently located both to the working guest as well as the traveler. The city centre as well as the sky tower, are well-known hot spots and being effectively located to these is definitely an extra perk. Something small but important also, is getting access to the internet and wifi with no extra fees is truly important. It's essential to keep in mind when one is away from home it is all of the little charges that really add up. Excellent accommodation establishments go to lengthy measures to help reduce these expenses by providing as many perks as they can.
Although backpackers in Auckland attempt to take every opportunity to walk where they wish to go, you can find still instances that they require vehicle rentals. Good lodgings generally involves the access to good money saving details as to the competitive rental rates for automobiles. The bottom line is the establishments that are supplying lodgings for backpacking fanatics goes the extra mile to save their guests cash, and give them each and every explanation to wish to return to NZ whenever the opportunity arises.
Backpackers in Auckland learned that it really is always a pleasure to spend time here, but a lot of that is due to the type of accommodation services that they've depended on when staying in NZ. It is these added perks mentioned right here and many more like them, which make staying away from home while in Auckland cost effective plus a wonderful away from home experience.
LEBANON, Ohio -- Mitt Romney joined a long list of presidential aspirants to visit the Golden Lamb Inn on Saturday, a historic hotel owned by Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman that has long been rumored to be haunted by ghosts.
Built in 1803, the site is the oldest hotel in the state. At least three people have died on the property, and locals say some of them never really left. A recent Yahoo News ghost-hunting expedition at the hotel found it to be creepy and mysterious after midnight and quite possibly a genuine host of the supernatural.
Outside the hotel Saturday evening, about 10,000 people gathered to catch a glimpse of Romney. An Ohio state flag hung from the roof of the hotel, where three armed guards stood watch over the crowd. Romney stood on a stage set up in the street with Portman, who touted the business, but didn't mention rumors of ghosts inside.
"So much of the spirit of America and the history of America has come through these doors," Portman said before he introduced Romney, who went on to give a version of his stump speech.
After shaking hands and taking pictures with supporters, Romney joined Portman for a tour of the hotel. Many of the rooms in the Golden Lamb are named after past presidents--12 presidents in all have visited or stayed at the hotel. Romney stopped by the John Quincy Adams room, where he had an exchange with Portman about the ghost of John Quincy Adams.
Per the pool report:
Romney: "Isn't that something. Oh, isn't that something. John Quincy ??about the same height as his dad, looks like. [At this point, Romney seemed to be looking at a picture of the two men.] Isn't that something. It's wonderful."
A print pooler asked Romney if he was scared of ghosts.
Romney: "John Quincy's ghost, that would be helpful, I'm afraid. But his dad, John Adams, that's certainly one of my very favorite presidents. Quite a guy. That wonderful, wonderful book by David McCullough about this life. I've said this many times before, but reading that, when I turned the last page, I just welled up with tears. You feel like you're losing a member of the family. Extraordinary man, extraordinary marriage ??he and Abigail. Just a wonderful couple. ...Wow, isn't this something."
Jane Portman: "This is great. We can't wait to have Mitt Romney room in here."
Portman: "We're going to kick one Massachusetts guy out for another one."
Romney: "Oh [inaudible] John Quincy. Isn't that something."
Romney, turned to the bed in the room
Romney: "John Quincy's bed. You don't imagine he was here. How many presidents?"
Portman: "This is 1803."
Romney: "But how many presidents?"
Portman: "Twelve."
Romney: "He calls it the Golden Lamb, but I think when you look at the prices you'll determine it's the Golden Fleece?. Actually, it's a modest price point ?I mean this like $130 a night? ??for history!"
Portman: "This is about $140, I think, $150."
During their conversation, Portman pointed to Reuters reporter Sam Youngman, who was in earshot.
Open House Sunday October 14,2012 for 1:30 pm to 3 pm at
215 Tufnell Drive in St Vital
This home has it all. Tons of renovations. Just move in. New front and back doors, new windows ? all between 2010-2012. New Laminate flooring throughout main floor. Gorgeous white design galley Kitchen (2011) ? excellent for entertaining and preparing for family and friend dinners
This home is on a quiet street but only steps away from public transportation. Only a 15 minute drive to downtown. 2 schools nearby (French and English). Close to the University of Manitoba. Don?t miss this house! Great opportunity!
This home is listed for $ 319,900.00 with four bedrooms and two bathrooms
More information on this Home can be viewed at 215 Tufnell Drive?
When you at the Open House, come and say Hello Can not make the Open House, Contact me to Schedule a Viewing of this Home ?? At ?204.999.7673 to schedule your viewing of 215 Tunfell Drive
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Oct 12 - An experimental communications satellite flying piggyback aboard a Space Exploration Technologies' Falcon 9 rocket fell out of orbit and burned up in the atmosphere following a problem during liftoff, satellite operator Orbcomm said on Friday.
The New Jersey-based company's OG2 satellite was a prototype for a new 17-member communications satellite network scheduled to be launched aboard two more Falcon 9 rockets in 2013 and 2014.
Orbcomm declared the satellite a total loss and filed a claim under an insurance policy worth up to $10 million, "which would largely offset the expected cost of the OG2 prototype and associated launch services and launch insurance," the company said in a statement.
Orbcomm had planned on reaching an altitude of 466 miles above Earth, but fell well short of the mark after one of the Falcon rocket's nine Merlin engines shut down early following launch on October 7 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
With its remaining eight engines making up the lost power, the rocket successfully completed its primary mission, sending a Dragon cargo capsule to the International Space Station. The flight was the first of 12 for NASA under a $1.6 billion contract.
To ensure the station's safety, the agreement with NASA prohibited Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX as the privately-held California-based company is known, from restarting the rocket's second stage - needed to deliver Orbcomm's satellite to its proper orbit - if there was not at least a 99 percent chance that the rocket had enough fuel to complete the burn, said SpaceX spokeswoman Katherine Nelson.
Due to the engine shutdown, the Falcon 9 used slightly more fuel and oxygen to reach Dragon's intended 202 mile- (325-km) high orbit. Over the next 2.5 days, Dragon flew itself to the station's orbit 250 miles above Earth. It reached the $100 billion outpost, a project of 15 countries, on Wednesday.
Falcon 9 had enough kerosene fuel left over to relight the engine, but the amount of liquid oxygen "was only enough to achieve a roughly 95 percent likelihood of completing the second burn, so Falcon 9 did not attempt a restart," Nelson wrote in an email to Reuters.
"Orbcomm understood from the beginning that the orbit-raising maneuver was tentative," Nelson wrote. "They accepted that there was a high risk of their satellite remaining at the Dragon insertion orbit. SpaceX would not have agreed to fly their satellite otherwise, since this was not part of the core mission and there was a known, material risk of no altitude raise."
Despite declaring the satellite a loss, Orbcomm said it met several key objectives of the test flight, including deploying the spacecraft's solar array and its communications antenna. Several spacecraft systems, such as power, flight control, thermal and data management also were tested, the company said in the statement.
"Had Orbcomm been the primary payload on this mission ... we believe the OG2 prototype would have reached the desired orbit," Orbcomm said.
Orbcomm has hired SpaceX to fly eight satellites for its new communications network on a Falcon 9 rocket launching in 2013 and the remaining nine satellites on another Falcon 9 in 2014.
On Friday, astronauts aboard the space station had finished unpacking more than 75 percent of the 882 pounds (400 kg) of cargo aboard the Dragon capsule and were looking forward to a little treat - ice cream.
"We don't usually have this type of stuff up here," station commander Sunita Williams said during an in-flight interview. "It's usually thermostabilized or dehydrated (food), so homemade ice cream is something special. We're going to have a little party."
Among the Dragon's cargo was a freezer that will be used to store scientific samples. For the ride up, SpaceX stashed chocolate-vanilla swirl ice cream inside.
There is a clear parallel between music and perfumery, between olfactory and musical melodies, and we shall use this likeness in order to understand better the ?why? and the ?how? of olfactory education.
Just like music, perfumery is an art and even a major art, being entirely dedicated to one of our senses of perception, the sense of smell.Why is perfumery not taught at school just like music or drawing?Is perchance our sense of smell a minor sense of little importance?Do we perhaps love perfumes less than other civilizations?
School programs offer to all the basis of musical education, teaching the seven notes of our musical scale.
Olfactory education is no less important and to be able to name the scents of lavender and rose is no less important than to be able to name the blue and the red of the color spectrum.
The program that we deisigned is very simple and can be reassumed in one phrase: ?how to become a perfumer in 4 moves?.
1.) The Ability to Name Odors: In fact the basis of olfactory education is to be able to name the odors by their names, which is not as easy as it seems. Our primordial sense of smell situated in our ?reptilian brain? has little connection with the more evolved centers of language in our brain.
It is really surprising how often people, while smelling the absolute of coffee or the essence of lemon, smile over the bottle, recognizing only the happy memories associated with these familiar smells, without being able to give their names.
The basis and the first step of olfactory education consists in being able to name the scents that surround us. With a special diffuser, we send a sweet perfumed wind to the students and teach them to recognize the names of simple smells like lavender, pine, lemon ecc?
2.) Distinguishing the Components of a Perfume: The second step is to be able to distinguish the different components of a culinary creation or of the essences that compose simple blends such as orange cinnamon, rose lavender hay, ecc?For this course we use the perfumed wind organ, which allows us to combine 10 different essences in all possible combinations. 3.) Scent and Emotion Experiential Exercise: The third step of olfactory education is to develop the capacity to ?listen to the soul? while smelling a fragrance, and to become aware of the emotions it produces and of the memories it awakens. The exercise of describing them by words sums up the method, because by wording one conceptualizes, and by conceptualizing one intellectually appropriates the experiences. For this course we use the diffuser ?Cube? and familiar essences (lemon, mandarin, clove?) as well as totally new smells from other countries (vetyver, ylang ylang, patchouli?) In this course one learns the basis of the very special language of perfumers, which permits the description of fragrances just as landscapes or scenes are described. If you never heard the worlds ?round? or ?fresh? or ?deep? while smelling such characteristic fragrances, how could you ever describe a perfume or any odor.
The didactical path of these first three steps of olfactory education is directly inspired from the Japanese Kodo, ?the way of scent?, the Zen of olfaction.
4.) Team Composition of a Perfume: In the fourth step the students are given a simple and practical perfumer?s kit for children, and they are teamed by two. Everyone will make a perfume for his companion, with the same method that we use in our perfumery courses. At the end of this course every student will keep the bottle of his perfume.
A civilization produces musicians and musical culture only after its sons and daughters have received a musical education in their childhood.
Today, while the scents of nature essential to our psychological equilibrium are disappearing from our modern environment, chemical perfumes are omnipresent in our daily life, ice creams, soaps, cosmetics etc. This has created a confusion in the later generations because their olfactory models of reference are those that industrial marketing have provided for their consumption, the cheapest petrochemical mass products. Only an olfactory education can provide them with the knowledge necessary to apply criterions to the smells that surround them in order to judge their quality or to appreciate fully their beauty.
DAKAR (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Friday that China's "very different" political and economic systems are a concern as his government decides whether to approve CNOOC Ltd's $15.1 billion bid for oil producer Nexen Inc.
The comments were some of the most revealing Harper has made in connection with the landmark CNOOC deal, which has raised fears over Chinese state-owned enterprises buying up Canadian energy assets.
Some members of Canada's governing Conservative Party are wary of the CNOOC bid, in part because of what they say are unfair Chinese business practices.
Harper - speaking to reporters in Dakar, Senegal - said Canada wants a growing relationship with China, but added that Chinese investments must be scrutinized from a national security perspective.
This week Ottawa hinted strongly that it would exclude Chinese telecommunication equipment giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd from participating in the construction of a secure Canadian government communications network because of security risks.
Harper, asked about Huawei and the CNOOC takeover, began his answer by saying he would not comment on any particular transaction. But in his subsequent remarks he clearly touched upon both cases.
"The relationship with China is important. At the same time it's complex. It's complex because the Chinese obviously have very different systems than we do, economic and political systems, and that's why obviously some of these particular transactions raise concerns," he told reporters in Senegal.
The Conservatives need to balance concerns over security and an increased Chinese presence in Canada with their push to attract more foreign investment for the Canadian resource sector.
Ottawa says the oil and gas industry needs $650 billion ($663 billion) to fund new projects over the next decade alone, and concedes that much of the money will have to come from abroad.
The Canadian government this week extended its review of CNOOC's bid for Nexen by 30 days, to November 11. Earlier it had invoked a national security exemption that would allow it to block Huawei from participation in its new telecoms network.
The extension, while expected, comes amid a growing furor over alleged Chinese espionage in North America. Some Canadians also fear that a successful CNOOC bid for Nexen could spark a wave of mega takeovers of Canadian energy producers by foreign enterprises.
"We will ensure as a government that we have not only a growing relationship with China but a relationship with China that is in Canada's best interests," Harper said.
"And of course ... there's a national security dimension to this relationship, in fact to all our activities, that we take very seriously," he added.
Ottawa says that at about the same time it announces a verdict on the CNOOC bid, it will also unveil clearer guidelines indicating the kind of foreign investment Canada wants.
The oil sands of the Western Canadian province of Alberta are the world's third-largest oil deposit, and Nexen's portfolio includes operations in the oil sands as well as shale assets in the province of British Columbia and projects in other parts of the world.
If approved, the CNOOC bid will be the biggest Chinese takeover of a foreign company. The deal is being reviewed under the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to examine whether a transaction is of "net benefit" to the country.
The government last blocked a foreign takeover deal in 2010 when it stunned markets by preventing Australia's BHP Billiton Ltd from buying fertilizer maker Potash Corp.
($1=$0.98 Canadian)
(Reporting by Joe Penney in Dakar and Euan Rocha in Toronto; Writing by Richard Valdmanis and David Ljunggren; Editing by David Lewis, Vicki Allen and Peter Galloway)
History teaches us that representatives of copyright holders will complain about any new development in information or communication technology and try to stop or limit its use. Well, it is no surprise then that, over in the UK, the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) is claiming that existing, already far-reaching copyright enforcement measures in the not-yet implemented Digital Economy Act (DEA) will be rendered useless when the new 4G mobile phone network rolls out. The 4G mobile phone networks has been anticipated with much fanfare and will provide mobile broadband speeds, which are many times faster than the 3G network we have become used to in the UK. According to FAST, mobile users and operators now also need to fall within the scope of the controversial DEA.
In a recent Techdirt post about the DEA, Glyn Moody finished with the sentence "The longer the great Digital Economy Act farce drags on, the more absurd it becomes from every viewpoint." With FAST's claims, the debate is set to continue, and yes, it will become more absurd. Here's a short recap of DEA before we see how history repeats itself when its lessons are ignored:
The DEA was hastily passed at the end of the last UK Parliament's term to "combat piracy", or whichever rhetoric was used this time.
The act initially proposed to block websites and disconnect repeat infringers of copyright in a graduated response type system, or otherwise limit internet access. Customers may also be taken to court because ISP's would be obliged to disclose personal information of their customers.
The scope is limited to the largest ISP's in the UK, which covers about 93% of its citizens.
The implementation of the DEA has been delayed due to heavy criticism. Some of these ISP's went to court about the hefty costs which need to be made to enforce copyrights online.
Some provisions, such as the blocking of websites at the ISP level, have since been scrapped. This was not met with much resistance from rights holders, as they already had their Supreme Court precedent set with the blocking of the Pirate Bay.
More specifics about this piece of legislation can be found around the internet, but as a final point it must be mentioned that -- surprise surprise -- the whole impact assessment of the act was based on highly inflated and controversial figures with bogus methodologies, provided by private stakeholders.
Let's dive into the claims of this most recent attempt to attack the technology as legacy players try to stay relevant. Of course, every time they do this, they discover that they're on the wrong side of innovation. Again. And, all too often, the goals of these groups run entirely contrary to the real wishes of those they claim to represent. Julian Heathcote Hobbins, General Council at FAST, states the following:
The DEA has the potential to be a valuable piece of legislation in the fight against illicit peer-to-peer copyright infringement and a significant development for rights holders as an educational programme. However, the DEA must remain timely. The issue is that by the time the DEA is finally implemented, technology could have moved on so far making the Act ineffective in helping to deal with those using 4G networks to share files. In its current form the DEA is not sufficiently flexible in scope to account for advances in technology.
Another representative, Jonathan Cornthwaite, a lawyer in London and member of FAST's Legal Advisory Group, then goes on to state:
[...] As we are now witnessing, technology does not stand still and gaps are appearing in the DEA as the use of mobile devices accelerates. Unless this situation can be remedied, it may be of less assistance, leaving rights holders with a watered down remedy.
It is fascinating to see these representatives finally realizing that regulation will not be able to keep apace with technological developments, where innovation happens at internet speed. They are right in stating that legislation must be flexible to stay timely and to move with technological and societal advances, which are indeed moving at an unprecedented pace.
However, they fail to think through that it may not be the enforcement side, but actually that the copyright system lacks social legitimacy because it is out of date and out of touch with how we now live in media. The approach chosen by these representatives leans more towards a permission innovation society as identified by Mike in a recent post, where former Register of Copyrights, Ralph Oman, expressed that he feels any new technology should have to apply to Congress for approval, before it is allowed to exist. Instead, we should follow the sensible part of Mr. Heathcote Hobbins and Mr. Cornthwaite's analysis and make the underlying copyright system timely and flexible so it takes into account technical reality, which, indeed, does not stand still.
A group of UK mobile operators have branded their 4G service "Everything, Everywhere" (EE), indicating they understand what consumers want: all media available at any time in any place. This does not directly mean consumers want media for free. Most are willing to pay for access, especially when the service purchased offers them the ability to use works without undue restrictions. A line can be drawn as to which uses are permissible and which are not. However, if restrictions inhibit normal media usage as consumers expect it, and penalties include disconnection, throttling or otherwise limiting the promise of the super-fast paced mobile internet experience, copyright will further lose social legitimacy and work-arounds will be found.
France's graduated response scheme -- HADOPI -- has already failed miserably, thereby proving the critics right that such a scheme is not workable nor desirable with regards to media sharing on the internet. Why then push for a very similar DEA anyway? Give it another go in a new country, hoping for different results? Apply it to new technology and hope the criticism will go away? To quote Einstein: "Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results."
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Voters across the country are hearing a lot about big swing states like Ohio and Florida -- but when the votes are counted, will it be the smallest numbers that add up to a big win?
The following is the first in a two-part series on swing states with a relatively small number of electoral votes.
NEVADA
Six electoral votes are at stake in Nevada where unemployment is the highest in the nation.
Beyond the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas strip, Nevada's once red-hot real estate market is a tough bet right now.
"In some areas home values came down about 76 percent," said Brandy White Elk, the owner of Innovative Real Estate Strategies, a Las Vegas based agency with an expertise in handling short sales.
"We're about 60 percent of Las Vegas homes still underwater. That being said when you have about 100,000 homeowners that are more than 30 days late ... just looking at those two dynamics alone is devastating," said White Elk.
She's hoping to hear something from the candidates to offer hope. "Because of Mitt Romney knowing how to manage money and Obama being for the people, it's hard to make a decision on what side to swing because there are so many different elements on both sides that are valuable."
The economy is just one piece of the picture here. In a state once dominated by Republicans, population growth and shifting demographics have turned Nevada into a swing state.
"Certainly the demographics help President Obama," said David Damore, a political science Professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. "There's no doubt about it he runs very, very high with the Latino voters. We have a fairly big African American and a growing Asian American concentration here and the Democrats have just done much better at the outreach there."
COLORADO
Colorado is the biggest take in the Mountain West with nine electoral votes.
Then-Sen. Barack Obama took the state by a solid margin -- 54 to 45 percent -- over Sen. John McCain in 2008 but the victory marked only the second time in more than 40 years that the state went for a Democrat.
Hispanic and Latino voters are also expected to have an impact here where they make up roughly 20 percent of the population.
Mike Ferrufino, the general manager of KBNO radio, Colorado's oldest Spanish radio station, says Latinos are engaged in this year's election.
"We have about 330,000 Latinos that are registered to vote which is an all time high," said Ferrufino. "Seems like the excitement is back. They're ready to come out and they feel a sense of duty."
"It appears that there is a overwhelming amount of support in the Latino community for President Obama at the moment," Ferrufino said. "The data I've seen shows an historic low for a Republican presidential candidate and perhaps, at some point the Romney team, and it look like they already have decided to basically take a couple of steps forward to address that, but it looks like President Obama has done a better job in terms of making people feel comfortable with his immigration plans, with his support of education and his support of health care."
At the Rooster & Moon Coffee Pub in Denver, the owners "strive to be a public house in the traditional sense, creating a community forum offering coffee, teas, libations and creative foods as an invitation to discussion and revolutionary ideas." Thoughts on this year's election flow with morning coffees and teas.
"I'm voting for Mitt Romney because I think he's probably the best candidate to solve our fiscal problems, which I think are the biggest problems this country faces today," said Jim Lorenzen. "We have today, for every man, woman and child, every child that was born this morning and every person that's going to die in the next 24 hours, there's 55,000 dollars worth of debt and that doesn't take into consideration the unfunded liabilities of Medicare, social security. If you take all of the net worth of every American in this country it doesn't even cover these unfunded liabilities. We have an enormous problem. It needs to be solved."
"I'm voting for Obama and why? Because I like the equality stance he has taken this year. I think he's the right candidate to get the job done. He's protecting women's rights and a multitude of other issues," said Christine Gehman.
Daniel Silbaugh says the Railway Labor Act is his number one concern. He works in the industry and calls the law a highly antiquated act that favors large corporate interests.
"I am not voting for Romney. I don't know if I'm voting for Obama. Possibly Gary Johnson," says Silbaugh.
Kraig Hamady agrees that the candidates and political parties are too beholden, but he says he will likely vote for Obama.
"It's kind of disappointing the state it's gotten to where corporate interests, the amount of money being spent that could be going to a lot of better things and mostly just the fact that it's become mostly an election of hatred than it has about saying anything about what they actually want to do," said Hamady. "It's mostly what the other person can't do or won't do or should be doing, shouldn't do. Nobody is setting a contrast to say what makes me better, it what makes them worse and that just really doesn't bode well for our society."
LONDON (AP) -FIFA will try to minimize the number of empty seats at the 2014 World Cup by taking measures to ensure sponsors use their allocation - or lose them.
There were large blocks of empty seats at some stadiums at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and this year's European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.
At the Leaders in Football conference on Wednesday, FIFA marketing director Thierry Weil said that sponsors would have to name the people using tickets two or three days before matches in Brazil.
"They cannot just say the people will come and then nobody comes," Weil said. "The tickets will only be handed over the day of the game to the people, so you can reallocate tickets to different people, even in the sponsor families."
That was a major issue at the London Olympics, where there was public outrage that fans couldn't get into venues despite corporate seats initially being empty.
Ticket prices for the World Cup will be announced next month.
"We are concerned by no-shows, that is clear because it does not look good," Weil said. "And it especially does not look good if you announce to the world that you have no tickets, then you see on TV that you have a lot of empty seats."
A system will be trialed at the Confederations Cup in June when Weil says Brazil will show it is ready to stage the World Cup.
"At certain stages, there will be some wake-up calls," he said. "At certain stages, there will be some delays. At certain stages, there will be negative things from different people. But, Brazil will be ready."
Former Brazil striker Ronaldo assured the conference in London of that.
"The organization of course has to be perfect - we guarantee it will be perfect," Ronaldo, who now works for the organizing committee, said through a translator. "As for the sporting side there will be no guarantees there."
But Ronaldo hopes playing on home soil will help the team deliver Brazil's sixth world title.
"This will be added incentive. It will be motivation. I think it will have a positive impact," he said. "Otherwise I will be playing again."
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) ? Police were called to Lindsay Lohan's childhood home in suburban New York on Wednesday morning after a report of a fight between the troubled actress and her mother.
It was the third run-in involving the actress and New York police officers in the past several weeks.
Nassau County Police Insp. Kenneth Lack said officers were called around 8 a.m. Wednesday to the Merrick, Long Island, home where the 26-year-old starlet grew up. Her mother Dina lives in the home with some of her other children.
An investigation revealed "no criminality," according to Lack. Police did not release details on the subject of the argument.
Celebrity website TMZ first reported the dispute.
Lohan publicist Steve Honig declined to comment.
She was involved in a New York City police investigation about two weeks ago. She alleged a man had assaulted her in a New York hotel, but charges against the man were later dropped.
In mid-September, she was accused of clipping a pedestrian with her car outside a nightclub and driving away. She was given a ticket and was scheduled to appear in court Oct. 23.
Honig said previously he expects those allegations to be proven false.
The actress was also involved in a car accident in California this summer that sent her and an assistant to a hospital, but didn't result in serious injuries for anyone. The accident remains under investigation.
In May, she was cleared of allegations that she struck a Hollywood nightclub manager with her car.
Lohan remains on informal probation for taking a necklace from a jewelry store without permission last year. That means she doesn't have to check in with a judge or probation officer but could face a jail term if arrested again.
Lohan recently filmed "The Canyons," an indie film written by "Less Than Zero" and "American Psycho" author Bret Easton Ellis.
Dina Lohan made tabloid headlines of her own last month when she appeared on the "Dr. Phil" television show and appeared incoherent at times.
I was able to score us free tickets to the Rangers vs. Orioles Wild Card game last Friday night.? Actually, I?had the option of choosing Rangers tickets or Cirque Du Soleil tickets.? I shared this information with?Jacob and there was?zero discussion!? We were going to the Rangers game.? Clearly, I had no clue that it was a big deal whatsoever to have free tickets to a playoff game...ha!? And even though the game didn't turn out great for us Rangers fans, we still had a good time.
Mom and Dad went with us too
Kinley and Jake just love me taking their pictures all of the time!? Can't you tell?!?
The beginning of the game was a lot of fun.? I had no clue how different it would be attending a playoffs game compared to a regular season game.? It started off like this:
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Lots of excitement and fan enthusiam!? Unfortunately, it didn't stay that way:(? The Rangers performance was pretty disappointing.
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I think Kinley had to take like 15 potty breaks during the game.? Mostly, I think she just wanted to get up and move around after sitting for so long.? Here she is doing some dance moves for me to get some energy out!
And getting a little silly during the game...
And here she is at the end of the game.? So tired and So ready to go home!
I have to say, though, that she does really well at the games.? She has a blast cheering, clapping, waving her foam finger and Rangers towel.?
Obviously, we won't be going to any more Rangers games until next season since they lost.? But I'm glad that we were able to go to this last one and we can't wait until next season!
Faculty artist Lin-San Chour performs Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012 at the Broad Stage of SMC Performing Arts Center in Santa Monica, Calif. Livia Wippich, Corsair
Molly Philbin & David Yapkowitz October 10, 2012 Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Top Stories
The drum began to thud and the snare of the Aaron Copland piece, ?Fanfare for the Common Man,? sounded like thunder. Trumpets blared out an ?Assembly of the Buglers?-esque tune, which excited the crowded hall at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage on Sunday, Oct. 7. With the audiences? full attention, opening conductor Fang-Ning Lim wrapped up the piece and silently introduced the Santa Monica College Symphony Orchestra by gesturing for them to stand. The SMC Symphony is a college/community orchestra that performs two concerts each semester on the Broad Stage at the Performing Arts Center. There are 24 registered SMC students in the orchestra, as well as community members, professionals and some returning unregistered students, said SMC music department chair James Martin. Violinists and cellists filled vacant sections of chairs and set up stands with their sheet music, and a Steinway and Sons grand piano rose from the ground on a platform. SMC faculty member Lin-San Chou glided toward the piano in a floor length, dark blue strapless dress. Chou played with her hands, anxious to perform, as the orchestra, conducted by Martin, began Mozart?s ?Elvira Madigan.? Northwestern University employee Deborah Williams said she believes that Chou has a long career ahead of her. Williams? brother taught Chou at Ohio State University. ?She was able to play a pretty quick paced piece,? Williams said about the solo Chou had in ?Elvira Madigan.? ?She did it beautifully, it didn?t seem mechanical.? Chou spoke highly of the SMC orchestra and said she is looking forward to the next time she gets to share the stage with them. She received three flower bouquets by the end of the evening. Some mingled outside the hall, but most waited in their seats for the second half. A harp was wheeled onto the stage, which made the orchestra seem more complete, but without the leading presence of the piano in the second half, the pieces were strewn together. The second half of the concert opened with the entire orchestra performing ?Symphonie Fantastique? by Hector Berlioz. Berlioz? piece is lengthy, and takes about half an hour to perform in its entirety, but the orchestra pulled it off in amazing fashion. Divided into five different parts, the piece took the audience through the opium-induced journey of a young man in love. Beginning with an upbeat rhythm, the first couple of movements include the young man meeting his love and taking a journey through the countryside. The smooth and relaxing sounds lull the audience into a comfortable state, unaware of the impending danger that lies ahead. The fourth movement completely changes tune as the opium takes over. Feeling as if his love is unrequited, the young man embarks deep into darkness. The audience marches with him to the guillotine as he imagines himself being executed. The haunting melody is complete with a fierce percussion section as the procession marches on. Transitioning into the fifth and final movement, the young man is killed, only to awaken to a gathering of witches. The fast paced, quick tempo transports the audience into their celebration of man?s death. Wild rhythms and powerful tunes resonated throughout the room as witches of all sorts come together for the festivities. The melodies, at times frightening, kept the audience on the edge of their seats. The piece ends in dramatic fashion, building up to a climax that had the audience explode into furious cheers and applause. The audience was pleased with the concert, but Chou?s piano piece, accompanied by the orchestra, dominated the after-show talk. ?There?s nothing like a little Mozart on a Sunday,? Williams said.
BIRMINGHAM (Reuters) - Britain must cut its budget deficit and fix its economy or face long-term decline, Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron will say on Wednesday, seeking to convince voters that his austerity plan is the only way forward.
Cameron's Conservatives, who lead a coalition government with the Lib Dems, lag a revived Labour opposition in opinion polls and face criticism for steering Britain back into recession and failing to hit their deficit reduction targets.
Labour accuse the government of contributing to the recession by cutting spending too fast, but the coalition argues its dedication to austerity has kept borrowing costs low and saved Britain from the claws of the Europe's debt crisis.
Cameron will bring Britain's political conference season to a close with a personal speech to his party that aides say will give an honest assessment of the economic challenges ahead and draw clear dividing lines with Labour.
"Unless we act, unless we take difficult, painful decisions, unless we show determination and imagination, Britain may not be in the future what it has been in the past," Cameron will tell the Conservatives in the central English city of Birmingham.
"Because the truth is this: we are in a global race today and that means an hour of reckoning for countries like ours. Sink or swim. Do or decline."
Cameron will say Labour's call for a slower pace of deficit reduction would "hurt the economy".
"The risk is that the people we borrow money from would start to question our ability and resolve to pay off our debts," he will say, according to extracts of his speech released in advance by his office.
The International Monetary Fund cut its growth forecasts for Britain on Monday and said the coalition may have to defer some cuts if the economy weakened further, casting a shadow over a conference that Cameron had hoped to use to rally his party.
Chancellor George Osborne has already been forced to water down his plans to all but erase a record budget deficit by the 2015 election because of a weak economy, stretching the period of austerity to seven years from five years.
Osborne is expected to either have to announce deeper cuts or further extend the timeline of spending cuts on December 5 when he updates official economic and borrowing forecasts.
Credit ratings agencies have given triple-A rated Britain the benefit of the doubt so far, largely because the government has stuck with strong rhetoric on its determination to cut the deficit even if it has missed its austerity targets.
Author: Greg James | Total views: 88 Comments: 0 Word Count: 914 Date:
Are you looking for home improvement inspiration? What information do you need to make these repairs? In this article, we will present some useful ideas and information to assist you in completing interesting, fresh home improvement projects with ease.
A great tip for any do it yourself home improvement homeowner, is to take some classes at your local home improvement store. A lot of times the bigger home improvement stores offer classes on many projects. Learn the basics through these classics prior to divining into your own home improvement project.
Don't engage a contractor who expects a large up-front fee. You should only pay about $2,500 upfront for the down payment to begin work, and roughly 10 percent of your total budget after the first day of work. Not one cent more!
You can add a creative back splash in the kitchen by varnishing some wallpaper. Buy wallpaper you like. Begin by taking a measurement of your wall space. Using these measurements, cut the paper a few inches larger to allow some room for error. Apply the paste and allow it to take a few minutes to get tacky, Apply the wallpaper and get rid of air bubbles with a squeegee. Then, trim up the edges with a razor for a clean look. Apply your varnish with a brush. You will love your new back splash and it will save you money.
To make your walls look their best, you do not necessarily need expensive artwork, you can decorate the walls with tiles. You can use wall decals that come in thousands of different designs that will fit any budget.
Motion detector security lights installed outside can add beauty, functionality and security at a surprisingly low cost. With motion sensing lights, there's no need to keep outside lights on throughout the night. Instead, they come on for a few minutes when someone moves nearby. This keeps intruders away even better than regular lights. When they come on it alerts the household that someone is out there.
You can change the look of your bathroom cheaply and easily if desired. New linens such as bath mats and towels, and even a new shower curtain can add a much needed boost to the room. This will instantly give your bathroom an updated look. Plants can brighten a bathroom but you should choose plants that will thrive in the humidity and lack of sunlight.
Ask yourself how long you will be living in your home, prior to committing to home improvement projects. If you're going to be moving soon, it doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money on upgrades. While it is best to take care of repairs, save the upgrades and redecorating for the next residents of the home.
If you are starting to redo your bathroom or kitchen you have to ensure your water valve is off so you do not flood the room! It may seem obvious, but homeowners often forget this step and end up with water damage that requires even more renovation.
Replace the old floors in your home. Even though new flooring often carries a higher price tag, the expense more than pays for itself over time or when you go to sell your home. Compared with unsightly or smelly linoleum or shag carpeting, sleek tile or textured hardwood is far superior in terms of appearance and longevity.
Add some protection to all of your floors before painting. Don't let wet paint stain your carpeting or flooring. Layering your floor with old newspapers is an inexpensive method to protect it. Drop cloths and plastic sheeting are also available to protect your floors from paint drips.
If you unsure of where to begin with improvements, you may want to enlist the help of a home design specialist. They can help you budget, gather supplies and do a great job. Renovations do not need to be done on your own; enlist the help of a professional.
If multiple projects are being done in one room, make sure you contemplate the order they need to be done. When replacing cabinets and the floor, you should probably work on the cabinets first. By beginning with the cabinets, any debris that falls down will only land on the floor you're about to replace. Make a detailed plan prior to beginning any improvement, and you'll save yourself some headaches.
If you are about to undertake major renovations to your bathroom, consider making it accessible to handicapped persons. It is not necessary to talk about it extensively, but you should get ready because it may save you a lot of time and effort. When the time comes to put your home on the market, these renovations can add value to your home.
If you are the victim of a recent natural disaster and your home is in need of repair, be careful which contractor you hire. Unfortunately, there have been stories of contractors who have taken advantage of emergency situations and made money off of those who have already suffered. Do the proper research before hiring anyone to repair your home.
Your vision of new home improvements can be turned into reality, with the help of the advice above. The confidence that you need to transform your home should now be something that you have.
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1: Jewish Baby Names And Their Meanings ? A Passion For Magnificence
The title of this article, ?Jewish Baby Names and Their Meanings ? A Passion for Magnificence? was inspired by King Solomon He led Israel to brilliance and had a passion for magnificence
2: Gifts vs. Cash -- Wedding Etiquette Q&A
Q: My daughter is getting married in October 2008. Her and her fiance have everything they need for their home. Is it okay to ask for money instead of a gift? If it is okay, how do we word this? st
3: How To Buy High Quality Furniture At Estate Sales
Estate sales and auctions are an excellent place to pick up gently used or even antique furniture at prices considerably less than retail. While it might take patience, it is possible to find reasonable prices on excellent pieces that will last for generations -- saving you money in the long run.
4: Best Ways To Find People Free Online
With about 50% of the world population able to access the internet, there is now a much better chance to find someone free online This is especially true if the person you are trying to locate lives in a country where internet usage is high
5: The Tell Tale Signs Of Pregnancy
Lean what signs to look out for that could mean a baby is on the way.
* Americans take foursomes session 3-1 to tighten grip
* Mickelson and Bradley win third match together
* Europe's big guns fail to fire (Updates after foursomes session)
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
MEDINAH, Illinois, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley set the tone in record equalling style as the United States took a commanding 8-4 lead over holders Europe after dominating Saturday morning's foursomes at the Ryder Cup.
Though Europe had sent out all their big guns in the alternate-shot format in a bid to wrest back momentum in the biennial team competition, the fired-up Americans won the session 3-1 in dazzling sunshine at Medinah Country Club.
Cup veteran Mickelson and rookie Bradley won their third match of the week together, piling up six birdies as they handed out a 7&6 thrashing to out-of-form Englishmen Lee Westwood and Luke Donald.
Their margin of victory matched the wins earned by Hale Irwin and Tom Kite over Ken Brown and Des Smyth at the 1979 Ryder Cup, and by Paul Azinger and Mark O'Meara over Nick Faldo and David Gilford in 1991.
Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker never trailed on their way to a 1 up win against Northern Irishmen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell while Zach Johnson and Cup rookie Jason Dufner beat Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Spaniard Sergio Garcia 2&1.
Europe's sole consolation came in the top match where Englishmen Justin Rose and Ian Poulter clawed their back from one down after eight holes to defeat Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson 1 up after a tight battle.
U.S. Open champion Simpson had a chance to square the match on the 18th green but he narrowly missed a birdie attempt there from just six feet.
"I feel like we actually didn't have our best stuff today and to win that point was massive," a jubilant Rose told reporters.
Earlier in the day, a plane flew across the skies above Medinah with the sky-writing message "Do it for Seve (Ballesteros)" trailing in its wake but that plea for a much-needed European resurgence never materialised.
SIZZLING FORM
Mickelson and Bradley had triumphed twice together on the first day amid a flurry of fist pumps and high-fives and they continued that sizzling form with five birdies on the front nine.
Bradley, winner of last year's PGA Championship, sank a curling 12-footer to birdie the par-four ninth before furiously pumping his right fist as the crowd erupted in deafening cheers.
The U.S. duo went six up at the 10th before sealing victory with a scrambling par at the 12th where Mickelson struck his approach to within a foot of the cup and the Englishmen bogeyed.
"We've had so much fun," smiled Mickelson, who is playing in a record ninth Ryder Cup for the U.S. this week. "The crowd has provided so much energy, and it's brought our best golf out."
Bradley, who has been mentored by Mickelson since he made his debut on the PGA Tour last year, said: "I'm just thrilled I get to share this with Phil and play the way we did.
"I got to witness on the good side of one of those 'Phil pars' on the last hole."
It was Donald's second foursomes defeat this week after he had been unbeaten in the format in six previous Ryder Cup matches.
"We just kept pushing and trying as hard as we could, but they kept coming up with great shots," said the former world number one.
The Europeans desperately need to spark during Saturday afternoon's fourball matches but they face a daunting task with a greater percentage of the American players displaying superior form at Medinah this week.
While the U.S. have been beaten in four of the past five Ryder Cups, they have lost only three times on home soil since the matches began in 1927. (Editing by Larry Fine and Julian Linden)
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