Four leopards a week enter India?s illegal wildlife trade

At least four leopards have been poached and their body parts entered into illegal wildlife trade every week for at least 10 years in India, according to TRAFFIC?s latest study ?Illuminating the Blind Spot: A study on illegal trade in leopard parts in India? launched today by Dr Divyabhanusinh Chavda, President, WWF-India.

The study documents a total of 420 seizures of leopard skins, bones and other body parts reported from 209 localities in 21 out of 35 territories in India during 2001?2010.

Statistical analysis is used to estimate the additional levels of ?undetected trade? and concludes that around 2,294 leopards were trafficked in India during the period?an average of four animals per week over the 10 year period.

Leopards (Panthera pardus) are fully protected under India?s domestic legislation, and commercial international trade is banned under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

?TRAFFIC?s objective analysis has cast new light onto the sheer scale of the illicit trade in Leopard parts in India, which has hitherto been overshadowed by the trade in another of the country?s national icons, the tiger,? said Dr Chavda at the launch of the report.

?Without an effective strategy to assess and tackle the threats posed by illegal trade, the danger is that leopard numbers may decline rapidly as happened previously to the tiger? he further added.

Uttarakhand emerged as a major source of leopard parts in trade, while Delhi was found to be a major epicenter of the illegal trade, along with adjacent areas of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.

Dr Rashid Raza, Coordinator with TRAFFIC in India and the lead author of the study said: ?Even though reports of illegal trade in leopard body parts are disturbingly frequent, the level of threat to leopards in the country has previously been unrecognized, and has fallen into our collective ?blind spot?.?

Close to 90% of reported leopard part seizures in India comprised solely of skins, making them the dominant body part found in illegal trade during the 10 year period. Other body parts, particularly bones, are known to be prescribed as substitutes for tiger parts in traditional Asian medicine.

It is believed most leopard parts are smuggled out of India to other countries in Asia, often via the porous border with neighbouring Nepal. Earlier investigations indicated many of the leopard parts found for sale in northern Myanmar, northern Laos and the ethnic Tibetan regions of China originated from India.

The report recommends the establishment of a Task Force to tackle illegal trade in the areas identified as having the highest levels of leopard-related crime, as well as better regional co-operation between source, transit and market countries through initiatives such as the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN).

An official database along the lines of ?Tigernet? (http://www.tigernet.nic.in/), used for tiger conservation in India, would also help monitor the illegal leopard part trade. Studies are also needed to assess the levels of threat from human-Leopard conflict in the country, according to the report.

Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO, WWF-India said: ?The leopard is among the most charismatic large animals in the world, and plays an important ecological role in the forests it inhabits?.

?Any increase in external market demand could easily lead to a decimation of leopard numbers in India, but I am hopeful this latest analysis will provide the impetus to catalyse effective conservation action; particularly increased effectiveness of law enforcement initiatives to curtail the illegal trade in leopard body parts?.

TRAFFIC?s work on the leopard trade in India is supported by WWF-India and WWF-UK.

Source: http://wwf.panda.org?uNewsID=206320

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Mecum Car Auctions for Cheap Collector Cars

The beginning of 2012 launched an exciting year of collector car auctions in celebration of Mecum?s 25^th anniversary.? Mecum has a long-established history of hosting some of the best collector car auctions across the country.? Every year they hold 10-20 auctions.? While there are always headline cars which can easily sell for more than 1 million dollars, there are also a lot of great deals for savvy auction hunters.? Taking advantage of Mecum car auctions for cheap collector cars is equal parts preparation, good strategy, and avoiding costly mistakes.

4 Costly Mistakes to Avoid at Mecum Collector Car Auctions

1. Don?t Focus Solely on Pristine Cars

One of the costliest mistakes to make is focusing solely on pristine collector cars.? It is much more effective to focus on buying the best collector car you can afford.? This is an extremely common mistake, which you can use to land a great deal on a cheap collector car.? The more people who focus on pristine-only options, the less competition you will have bidding against you.? There are a growing number of blue-chip cars which consistently hold their value and are safe bets.? When focusing on cars outside of pristine condition, make sure all of the numbers are matching and that every major mechanical component is accounted for.

2. Always Know the Terms and Conditions of the Sale

There are a variety of details you should always make note of when bidding at Mecum car auctions.? This includes everything from the buyer?s premium and applicable taxes to how you will be transporting the car home.? All of these factors should be considered part of your total cost.? Ignoring these factors could lead you to spending much more than you expected.

3. Don?t Get Pulled in by the Afterglow Effect

The afterglow is essentially a time period where bidding is hotter than normal following a headline collector car sale.? Only one person can be the highest bidder on a headline collector car.? As a result, many of the bidders who did not win tend to overbid on the next few cars they are interested in because they feel like they ?missed out? on their primary target.? Avoid getting falling victim to the afterglow effect.? Always evaluate each car independently.

4. Expecting the Collector Car Market to Provide Fixed Values

If you are new to the collector car market, then your first instinct is likely to look at the average value of any car you are interested in.? The problem with is that the collector car market is highly fluid.? When attending Mecum car auctions for cheap collector cars, the average market value should only be treated as a starting point.? The final price at an auction is based upon how much the highest bidder is willing to pay ? not the average market value.? Bidders are willing to spend more or less than the average market value based upon a variety of factors including condition, documentation, and desirability.? The best way to get a good idea of how much a collector car will go for is by looking at previous auctions.? Historical data is much more telling than the average market price.

5.? Forgetting About Demand

A common mistake made by newer collector car buyers at Mecum auctions is assuming that a low supply necessarily means higher prices.? It is important to not forget about demand.? Targeting low supply, low demand models is a great way to find cheap collector cars.?

2 Examples of Low Supply, Low Demand Collector Cars

The best way to bring home a cheap collector car from a Mecum auction is by targeting low supply, low demand models.? This gives buyers a chance to own cars which are hard to find without breaking the bank.

1975 Chevrolet Vega

Chevy produce more than 2 million Vegas, however there were only a few thousand Cosworth editions.? This makes the Vega Cosworth a rare car, but there has never been a huge demand for it across the collector car market.? Across every production year, only 3,500 Cosworth Vegas were created.? Every motor was hand built and is considered to be an extremely well-balanced engine.? In fact, it made the ?Car and Driver Top 10 Best Collectable Cars? list.? With the low demand, new collector car buyers could steal one at a Mecum auction for around $10,000.

1965-66 Chevrolet Corvair

This car is an excellent introduction to collector cars for people who don?t want their first car to be a significant investment.? It looks great and can often be found with the original chrome.? Savvy bidders could bring it home for $6,000 or less at most Mecum auctions.? For a bit of an upgrade, the 1966 Chevrolet Corvair is considered to be a true classic car, but can still be found for around $10,000.

Restoration ? The Easiest Way to Take Advantage of Mecum Car Auctions for Cheap Collector Cars

To really bring home the cheapest collector cars from a Mecum car auction, restoration is the way to go.? If you are willing to restore a collector car yourself, you can save a lot of money at auctions because most people will only be bidding on pristine cars.

To really save money, you must not only take care of the restoration but also target collector cars which have a huge parts supply.? The more accessible the parts are, the cheaper the parts will be.? This is particularly true for body panels and exterior trim.? Some fantastic collector cars which still have a high availability of parts include:

Buick Riviera (1963-65)

Pontiac GTO (1971-72)

For Model A (1928-31)

Packard (1951-54)

Studebaker Golden Hawk (1956-58)

Chevy Nova (1968-70)

Mecum Auctions Also Provide Great Deal Opportunities on Traditionally Expensive Collector Cars

In 2012 alone, Mecum auctions have had its fair share of ?upsets? where extremely rare, collectable cars sold for well below previous selling prices.? If you are getting into collector cars and want to make a significant initial investment, while still getting a great deal, here are a few examples from previous Mecum auctions that should wet your appetite.

1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Trans Am Race Car

This car is school bus yellow with a black stripe and had a 3+ condition.? This car was a real race car, driven by Peter Gregg with five podium finishes in 1971.? Since then, it had been restored twice.? It sold for $343,200 in 2003 and $407,000 in 2009.? At the 2012 Mecum Monterey auction, it went unsold with a hammer bid of $300,000.

1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster

This car has an older restoration and a 2 condition.? It sold for $98,000 and was an excellent value to winning bidder.? This car will always have a place in Corvette history because it was the final year of the original roadster body, but was also the first year with the V-8 engine.? Plus, only 700 were built.

1965 Shelby Replica Daytona Coupe

The winning bidder got a great price on this car.? It was recently sold in 2006 and 2007 for $61,000 and $66,000.? The winning bidder at the 2012 Mecum Kissimmee auction only paid $52,000.

Related Posts

Source: http://cars.gov-auctions.org/mecum-car-auctions-for-cheap-collector-cars/

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NASA Orion Splashdown Safety Tests Completed

DevotedSkeptic sends this news from NASA:
"The 18,000-pound test article that mimics the size and weight of NASA's Orion spacecraft crew module recently completed a final series of water impact tests in the Hydro Impact Basin at the agency's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. The campaign of swing and vertical drops simulated various water landing scenarios to account for different velocities, parachute deployments, entry angles, wave heights and wind conditions the spacecraft may encounter when landing in the Pacific Ocean. The next round of water impact testing is scheduled to begin in late 2013 using a full-sized model that was built to validate the flight vehicle's production processes and tools."

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/uPMc0Rqm4JU/nasa-orion-splashdown-safety-tests-completed

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Exclusive: North Korea's military to share power with Kim's heir

(This story from December 21, 2011 corrects the description of the source who appears in the first paragraph. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the source previously predicted North Korea's first nuclear test in 2006. The corrected version of the description of the source appears in the third paragraph)

BEIJING (Reuters) - North Korea will shift to collective rule from a strongman dictatorship after last week's death of Kim Jong-il, although his untested young son will be at the head of the ruling coterie, a source with close ties to Pyongyang and Beijing said.

The source added that the military, which is trying to develop a nuclear arsenal, has pledged allegiance to the untested Kim Jong-un, who takes over the family dynasty that has ruled North Korea since it was founded after World War Two.

It was impossible to verify the plan independently in North Korea, one of the world's most closed states, although the source has proved reliable in the past, predicting the ascent of Kim's uncle, Jang Song-thaek. Also, after North Korea announced its first nuclear test in 2006, the source gave Reuters exclusive details of the preparations for that test before it was conducted.

The comments are the first signal that North Korea is following a course that many analysts have anticipated -- it will be governed by a group of people for the first time since it was founded in 1948.

Both Kim Jong-il and his father Kim Il-sung were all-powerful, authoritarian rulers of the isolated state.

The situation in North Korea appeared stable after the military gave its backing to Kim Jong-un, the source said.

"It's very unlikely," the source said when asked about the possibility of a military coup. "The military has pledged allegiance to Kim Jong-un."

North Korea's collective leadership will include Kim Jong-un, his uncle and the military, the source said.

Jang Song-thaek, 65, brother-in-law of Kim Jong-il and the younger Kim's uncle, is seen as the power behind the throne along with his wife Kim Kyong-hui, Kim Jong-il's sister. So too is Ri Yong-ho, the rising star of the North's military and currently its most senior general.

The younger Kim, who is in his late 20s, has his own supporters but is not strong enough to consolidate power, analysts said.

"I know that he's been able to build a group of supporters around himself who are of his generation," said Koh Yu-hwan, president of the Korean Association of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

"So it is not entirely elders in their 70s, plus some like Jang in their 60s, who are backing him. These young backers will be emerging fairly soon."

Koh said the coterie was put in place by Kim Jong-il before he died. "The relative calm seen these few days shows it's been effective. If things were not running smoothly, then we'd have seen a longer period of 'rule by mummy', with Kim Jong-il being faked as still being alive."

He said the younger Kim would accept the set-up, for now. "Considering the tradition of strong-arm rule by his father and grandfather, things can't be easy for him," he said.

"REGIME SURVIVAL"

Ralph Cossa, an authority on North Korea and president of the U.S. think tank Pacific Forum CSIS, said it made sense that the ruling group would stick together.

"All have a vested interest in regime survival," he said. "Their own personal safety and survival is inextricably tied to regime survival and Kim Jong-un is the manifestation of this. I think the regime will remain stable, at least in the near-term."

He added in a commentary that the new group may be inclined to reform, but stressed this was far from confirmed.

"Over the long term, there appears to be some hope, primarily emanating from Beijing, that Kim Jong-un will take North Korea down the path of Chinese-style reform, apparently based on the belief that Jang is or will be a 'reformer'."

"Who knows, this may be true. While this could relieve the suffering of the North Korean people over time, it will do little to promote the cause of denuclearization, however."

The high-level source also said North Korea test-fired a missile on Monday to warn the United States not to make any moves against it. Pyongyang however had no immediate plans for further tests, barring an escalation of tensions.

"With the missile test, (North) Korea wanted to deliver the message that they have the ability to protect themselves," the source said.

"But (North) Korea is unlikely to conduct a nuclear test in the near future unless provoked" by the United States and South Korea, the source said.

The unpredictable North's nuclear program has been a nagging source of tension for the international community.

Pyongyang carried out nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, and has quit six-party talks with South Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia on abandoning its nuclear program and returning to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The high-level source also said Beijing was only notified of Kim's death earlier on Monday, the same day North Korean state television broadcast the news. Kim died on Saturday.

A leading South Korean newspaper reported on Wednesday China learned of Kim's death soon after it occurred.

China has given no official comment or even hints suggesting it was told of Kim's death before the public announcement.

Beijing, the North's closest ally and biggest provider of aid, has pulled out the stops to support the younger Kim.

The government has invited him to visit and, in an unusual gesture, President Hu Jintao and Vice-President Xi Jinping also visited the hermit state's embassy in Beijing to express their condolences. Roads leading to the embassy were blocked.

Mainly, the prospect of instability on its northeastern border worries China and it sees the younger Kim and his coterie as the best prospect for keeping North Korea on an even keel.

North Korea has been pressed by China to denuclearize and is willing to do so on condition that North and South Korea, the United States and China sign an armistice replacing a 1953 ceasefire agreement, the source said.

The two Koreas have been divided for decades and remain technically at war since their 1950-53 conflict ended with an armistice but no peace agreement. The United States backed the South, while China supported the North in that conflict.

Pyongyang is also convinced there are U.S. nuclear weapons in South Korea and demands Washington pull them out, the source said.

(Additional reporting by Jack Kim in Seoul; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Jonathan Thatcher)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-north-koreas-military-share-power-kims-heir-213132983.html

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Women clam up in meetings, study finds

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When attending meetings, women need to speak up more, a new study claims.

By Dana Macario, TODAY contributor

Women may be showing up for meetings, but that doesn?t necessarily mean they?re speaking up at those meetings.

In a recent study, researchers at Brigham Young University and Princeton University found that in a typical meeting where decisions get made, women are clamming up, speaking 25 percent less than their male counterparts.

The study, published in the American Political Science Review, found that when women find themselves in the minority they tend to keep their thoughts to themselves. Interestingly, when a guy is the token male in a group, he isn't at all likely to find himself tongue-tied.

While the decision to remain silent can be good if you?re ever arrested, if you?re hoping to be recognized as a leader, keeping your mouth shut is not such a smart choice. The study found that group members who had a lot to say were more likely to be seen as influential. So it comes as no surprise that with women talking less, fewer women were recognized as leaders.

?In school boards, governing boards of organizations and firms, and legislative committees, women are often a minority of members, and the group uses majority rule to make its decisions,? said study co-author Tali Mendelberg of Princeton. ?These settings will produce a dramatic inequality in women?s floor time and in many other ways. Women are less likely to be viewed and to view themselves as influential in the group and to feel that their ?voice is heard.??

Although women often freeze up in meetings where they?re in the minority and the group needs to arrive at a majority-rules decision, there are situations where women will open up and share their thoughts. ?Once women form the majority of the group, they?ll really start talking and will be more likely to assume leadership roles. Also, if a group has to arrive at a unanimous decision, women are again more likely to speak up. ?When a group has to reach a unanimous decision, women recognize that every vote is equally important, prompting them to feel the need to contribute something to the overall effort and discussion.

The study?s researchers noted that women not only flourished when the group had to build consensus, but discussions began to take a different tone as well. When women took more active roles, the whole vibe of the group changed. The researchers found those groups to be more positive, more inclusive and have fewer negative interruptions than the male-dominated discussion.

?Women have something unique and important to add to the group, and that?s being lost, at least under some circumstances,? said Chris Karpowitz, the study?s co-author and an assistant professor at BYU.

The study focused on 94 groups made up of five individuals each. Group members were asked to perform ?work? tasks to earn hypothetical amounts of money. Each individual was told they would take home earnings based on both performance and the group?s decision about how to redistribute the money earned as a whole. The groups were told to distribute the money in the ?most just? way. On average, groups deliberated for 25 minutes, even though they were only required to deliberate the distribution system for five minutes. Participants voted by secret ballot, but half of the groups followed majority rule while the other half decided only with a unanimous vote.

Not only did the tone of the discussions change when women participated more, but the substance of the discussions shifted as well. When given the task of setting a group?s minimum wage, women tended to include discussions of family need and issues of care in the discussions. Researchers noted that women were more likely to ask questions like, ?How does this affect a family?? or ?How would a single woman do this?? And, what they were saying wasn?t just girl talk; girl action took place as well. Groups with a majority of women and groups led by consensus building were more generous with their reallocation of money.

?When women are silent, they?re not just silent and someone else is making the argument they would have made anyway,? Karpowitz said, recognizing the loss of ideas when women fail to give their input.

Dana Macario is a Seattle-area writer.

?

Source: http://lifeinc.today.com/_news/2012/09/28/13964906-women-clam-up-in-meetings-study-finds?lite

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Extreme climate change linked to early animal evolution

Thursday, September 27, 2012

An international team of scientists, including geochemists from the University of California, Riverside, has uncovered new evidence linking extreme climate change, oxygen rise, and early animal evolution.

A dramatic rise in atmospheric oxygen levels has long been speculated as the trigger for early animal evolution. While the direct cause-and-effect relationships between animal and environmental evolution remain topics of intense debate, all this research has been hampered by the lack of direct evidence for an oxygen increase coincident with the appearance of the earliest animals ? until now.

In the Sept. 27 issue of the journal Nature, the research team, led by scientists at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, offers the first evidence of a direct link between trends in early animal diversity and shifts in Earth system processes.

The fossil record shows a marked increase in animal and algae fossils roughly 635 million years ago. An analysis of organic-rich rocks from South China points to a sudden spike in oceanic oxygen levels at this time ? in the wake of severe glaciation. The new evidence pre-dates previous estimates of a life-sustaining oxygenation event by more than 50 million years.

"This work provides the first real evidence for a long speculated change in oxygen levels in the aftermath of the most severe climatic event in Earth's history ? one of the so-called 'Snowball Earth' glaciations," said Timothy Lyons, a professor of biogeochemistry at UC Riverside.

The research team analyzed concentrations of trace metals and sulfur isotopes, which are tracers of early oxygen levels, in mudstone collected from the Doushantuo Formation in South China. The team found spikes in concentrations of the trace metals, denoting higher oxygen levels in seawater on a global scale.

"We found levels of molybdenum and vanadium in the Doushantuo Formation mudstones that necessitate that the global ocean was well ventilated. This well-oxygenated ocean was the environmental backdrop for early animal diversification," said Noah Planavsky, a former UCR graduate student in Lyons's lab now at CalTech.

The high element concentrations found in the South China rocks are comparable to modern ocean sediments and point to a substantial oxygen increase in the ocean-atmosphere system around 635 million years ago. According to the researchers, the oxygen rise is likely due to increased organic carbon burial, a result of more nutrient availability following the extreme cold climate of the 'Snowball Earth' glaciation when ice shrouded much of Earth's surface.

Lyons and Planavsky argued in research published earlier in the journal Nature that a nutrient surplus associated with the extensive glaciations may have initiated intense carbon burial and oxygenation. Burial of organic carbon ? from photosynthetic organisms ? in ocean sediments would result in the release of vast amounts of oxygen into the ocean-atmosphere system.

"We are delighted that the new metal data from the South China shale seem to be confirming these hypothesized events," Lyons said.

The joint research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the NASA Exobiology Program, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Besides Lyons and Planavsky, the research team includes Swapan K. Sahoo (first author of the research paper) and Ganqing Jiang (principal investigator of the study) of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Brian Kendall and Ariel D. Anbar of Arizona State University; Xinqiang Wang and Xiaoying Shi of the China University of Geosciences (Beijing); and UCR alumnus Clint Scott of United States Geological Survey.

###

University of California - Riverside: http://www.ucr.edu

Thanks to University of California - Riverside for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/123913/Extreme_climate_change_linked_to_early_animal_evolution

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Shocking Claims About Barack Obama?s Mother & Real Father Make Headlines (VIDEOS)

Shocking Claims About Barack Obama’s Mother & Real Father Make Headlines (VIDEOS)

President Obama’s mother Ann Dunham once posed for pornographic photos wearing bondage gear. The shocking photos show Dunham nude and were reportedly taken by Obama’s [...]

Shocking Claims About Barack Obama’s Mother & Real Father Make Headlines (VIDEOS) Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2012/09/shocking-claims-about-barack-obamas-mother-real-father-make-headlines-videos/

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PFT: Seahawks' Tate 'wasn?t trying to cheat'

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In hindsight, I shouldn?t have complained about the Monday night debacle.

After all, I picked the Seahawks to win by a point and, thanks to the replacement officials, Seattle won by two.? Since MDS picked the Pack, it allowed me to win the weekly contest with MDS by two, 9-7 versus 7-9.

Given the crazy, upside-down games from Week Three, I?ll take a winning record and run with it ? as quickly as the Seahawks ran with their unwarranted win.

For the season, I?m now 27-21, and MDS is 26-22.

This week, we disagree on three games.? All 15 of our picks appear below.

Browns at Ravens

MDS?s take: Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden has actually looked decent the last two weeks, after a disastrous Week One. But the Ravens? defense will bring far too much heat for Weeden to handle. I look for Haloti Ngata to pound Weeden into the turf a few times on Thursday night.

MDS?s pick: Ravens 27, Browns 6.

Florio?s take:? The Browns are another close loss or two away from imploding completely.? They won?t have to worry about another close loss on Thursday night.

Florio?s pick:? Ravens 31, Browns 13.

Panthers at Falcons

MDS?s take: I still don?t believe the Panthers are as bad as they?ve looked this season, and that by the end of the year they could be fighting for a playoff spot. But Atlanta is the wrong place for the Panthers to try to get back on track.

MDS?s pick: Falcons 23, Panthers 17.

Florio?s take:? The Falcons have beaten the Panthers four straight times, scoring 31 points exactly in each game.? Atlanta could be on track to clinching the division by Thanksgiving.

Florio?s pick:? Falcons 31, Panthers 14.

Patriots at Bills

MDS?s take: This is a fascinating game in the AFC East race, one that could establish the Bills as the favorites to win the division. I?ve been saying all year that the Bills have made the right moves to become playoff contenders this season, but I just think the Patriots, with their backs against the wall, are going to come out focused and ready to play their best game of the season.

MDS?s pick: Patriots 24, Bills 14.

Florio?s take:? The Bills have beaten the Pats only once since the last time the Pats had a losing record.? Buffalo is moving in the right direction, but New England needs this one badly.

Florio?s pick:? Patriots 30, Bills 23.

Vikings at Lions

MDS?s take: Another fascinating divisional game, as the Vikings have a real opportunity here to establish themselves as surprising contenders in the NFC North. However, I see far too many matchup advantages for the Lions? receivers against the Vikings? secondary.? Not just Calvin Johnson (who has a matchup advantage over every defensive back in the league) but also receivers Nate Burleson and Titus Young and tight end Brandon Pettigrew should be able to get open and get points on the board in Detroit.

MDS?s pick: Lions 28, Vikings 24.

Florio?s take:? The Lions have won three straight in the series, but the Vikings are gaining confidence,? The Lions continue to be more flawed than anyone realized.? Receiver Jerome Simpson returns from suspension in time to help the Vikings take advantage of Detroit?s biggest weakness.

Florio?s pick:? Vikings 24, Lions 16.

Titans at Texans

MDS?s take: The Texans are the best team in the AFC South by such a large margin that the question for me isn?t whether they?ll win the division but how quickly they?ll clinch. My guess is some time around Week 11. This win will be another step toward that.

MDS?s pick: Texans 34, Titans 10.

Florio?s take:? Yeah, I picked the Titans to win the division.? And if they upset the Texans on Sunday, the Titans will thrust themselves into the conversation.? And if they upset the Texans, it will mean that I picked this specific game incorrectly.? Despite last weekend?s epic in Nashville, the Titans aren?t nearly as good as I thought they?d be.? The Texans are much better than I thought they?d be.

Florio?s pick:? Texans 24, Titans 13.

Chargers at Chiefs

MDS?s take: The Chiefs looked pretty good against the Saints on Sunday, and the Chargers looked pretty bad against the Falcons on Sunday. But I?m expecting the Chargers to win, in a game that I have a hunch will come down to special teams, where the Chargers will make plays and the Chiefs will make mistakes.

MDS?s pick: Chargers 28, Chiefs 21.

Florio?s take:? One week often changes everything.? Last Sunday, the Chargers went from elite to ?meh? status, and the Chiefs showed they?ve got some fight.? Home team gets the edge in this one, especially if Jamaal Charles saved some yards for Sunday.

Florio?s pick:? Chiefs 24, Chargers 22.

49ers at Jets

MDS?s take: If not for the injury to Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, I?d be very tempted to pick the 49ers to lose their second straight road game. But that Revis injury is devastating to the Jets not only because it radically changes what they can do on defense, but also because while seeing players and coaches on the Jets talking this week, you could practically feel the entire locker room deflating at the loss of their best player. I think the Jets are going to come out looking very bad on Sunday.

MDS?s pick: 49ers 27, Jets 14.

Florio?s take:? The difference between the 49ers defense and the Jets defense is that the 49ers didn?t put all their eggs in one island.

Florio?s pick:? 49ers 20, Jets 13.

Seahawks at Rams

MDS?s take: The Seahawks don?t have any time to send thank-you notes to the league office for their gift on Monday night, because they?ve got a road trip to St. Louis on a short work week. I like the way Jeff Fisher?s defense is playing, and I think Russell Wilson will feel a lot of pressure, but Seattle?s defensive line will have Sam Bradford under pressure, and the Seahawks will win a low-scoring game.

MDS?s pick: Seahawks 10, Rams 9.

Florio?s take:? Short week, significant travel, improving opponent, and guilty conscience add up to trouble for the Seahawks in St. Louis.

Florio?s pick:? Rams 14, Seahawks 12.

Dolphins at Cardinals

MDS?s take: It?s taken me a while to learn to believe in the Cardinals, but I?m there now. Which probably means they?re going to lose. But I?m picking them anyway.

MDS?s pick: Cardinals 24, Dolphins 7.

Florio?s take:? This has the potential to be one of those early-season ?correction? games.? But how can the Dolphins win if they can?t score any offensive touchdowns against once of the best defenses in the league?

Florio?s pick:? Cardinals 17, Dolphins 6.

Bengals at Jaguars

MDS?s take: I loved the game Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden called on Sunday against the Redskins. Look for Bengals receiver A.J. Green to have another big day against the Jaguars.

MDS?s pick: Bengals 28, Jaguars 24.

Florio?s take:? It would be fitting for the Bengals, a week after finally winning a game they were supposed to lose, to lose a game they?re supposed to win.? But the Bengals are better than the Jaguars on both sides of the ball ? and the Jaguars will have a hard time keeping up with a suddenly dynamic and diverse offense.

Florio?s pick:? Bengals 24, Jaguars 14.

Raiders at Broncos

MDS?s take: It says something about what we?ve come to expect from Peyton Manning that he had 330 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers on Sunday against a very good Texans defense, and yet everyone is talking about how he?s just not the same. Playing a weak Raiders defense will result in Manning looking a lot better, and the Broncos improving to 2-2.

MDS?s pick: Broncos 35, Raiders 14.

Florio?s take:? Peyton Manning won?t need much arm strength to move the ball against a defense that can?t do much to stop him.? Or anyone.

Florio?s pick:? Broncos 27, Raiders 17.

Saints at Packers

MDS?s take: Raise your hand if you predicted these two teams would be a combined 1-5 heading into this game. I see the Packers? problems as much more correctable than the Saints? problems, and I see Aaron Rodgers having a big day against a shaky Saints defense.

MDS?s pick: Packers 27, Saints 17.

Florio?s take:? The Saints can thank the Seahawks and the replacement officials for what they?re about to endure.

Florio?s pick:? Packers 45, Saints 17.

Redskins at Buccaneers

MDS?s take: The Bucs have a bad offense and a good defense; the Redskins have a good offense and a bad defense. I like Tampa Bay?s defense to keep it close and the Redskins? defense to give up a big play at the wrong time.

MDS?s pick: Buccaneers 14, Redskins 10.

Florio?s take:? That win over the Saints in New Orleans is looking less impressive by the week.? And the Bucs are better than their record would suggest.

Florio?s pick:? Buccaneers 20, Redskins 16.

Giants at Eagles

MDS?s take: The Eagles need to bounce back in a big way after laying an egg against the Cardinals. I think they?re going to, with Michael Vick finally making it through a game without a turnover.

MDS?s pick: Eagles 24, Giants 21.

Florio?s take:? Eagles coach Andy Reid does his best work when his back is against the wall.? And his back is already against the wall.? And he said just enough this week to put his quarterback?s back against the wall, too.

Florio?s pick:? Eagles 27, Giants 24.

Bears at Cowboys

MDS?s take: As impressive as the Bears? defense has been, I think they?ll struggle with the explosiveness of Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray, who should have a huge game in a Dallas win.

MDS?s pick: Cowboys 34, Bears 20.

Florio?s take:? If the Cowboys can keep Tony Romo in two or fewer pieces (factoring in the possibility of the partial loss of an ear), the Cowboys should win this one.

Florio?s pick:? Cowboys 26, Bears 17.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/26/golden-tate-i-pushed-off-but-im-no-cheater/related

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Learn The Truth About Your Web Design Company | Orphicpixel

Secrets of a web design companies portfolio

The search for a great web design company starts at their website. A web design companies website is their calling card. They are able to showcase their employee talent, business savvy and previous client experience. You should take a good look at the company?s portfolio as it includes the most detail on successfully delivered projects.

A detailed portfolio

Great web design companies take pride in their work and love to have clients describe their experiences along with detailed info on the client?s website concept and design. A company that does not provide a portfolio is either inexperienced and or does not have satisfied clients.

Total projects completed to date

A great company has a very steady stream of clients and the amount of projects completed will reflect this. It shows that clients are willing to accept the companies work. To see if their quality of work is just good enough or great you have average the number of completed projects with the total years the company is in business. This information will give a rough idea of how the company has grown their technical expertise, staff and resources. A company with steady growth will be very reliable in handling large projects and experienced in the technical side of web design.

Style and capabilities of projects

You already know what concept and capabilities your website will require. A great web design company will choose to focus on a few types of websites with certain capabilities. The number of similar websites they have previously completed will show their experience. A company which has completed 1 to 5 similar projects is okay. The ideal web design company will have experience with 5 or more websites.

Request more info on the company?s previous projects which include the use of the specific tech you would like to implement. Companies often provide a demo package on request to show you what capabilities the final website will have.

Design and build qualities of projects

When looking at the web sites in the web design companies portfolio ensure your bandwidth and internet connection is running normally and take note of the websites loading time, alignment of text, images and smoothness of animations. Is there a flash intro with sound and video in proper sync? Ease of navigation, attractive color schemes and first impressions. Most website concepts come from the client there are always a few websites that seem unusual or plain.

Client satisfaction

If there is a website that you have seen in someone else?s portfolio one of the companies are probably making a false claim. A reputable company will provide verifiable info on the web site and a method of contacting the owner. Contacting previous customers and comparing their experiences is the only way of verifying their claims of client satisfaction.

The web design companies website

The company?s website is their calling card and the face of their business. Often the company?s website looks very dated versus the websites displayed in their portfolio an explanation is they are outsourcing their work to other web design companies. To make your business successful you should seek out a company that does its own work as they will be very knowledgeable and provide better answers to your questions.

Using the methods described will simplify your search for a great web design company. Your clients will appreciate the unique concept and time spent to make the website easy to navigate and reward you with their business.

This useful information is shared by Asma on behalf of konoozi, it is an American based website design company that offers web services, online marketing, web development and graphic design. They also offer mobile website design and SEO services around the globe and have clients as far as Buffalo, America.

About the author

Guest Author wrote 267 articles on this blog.

The above post is written by Guest Authors on Orphicpixel. The Guest Author information is available in the post itself. If you wish to write for us. Send your guest post at contact@orphicpixel.com

If you enjoyed reading this article, please check out other related articles below:

Source: http://www.orphicpixel.com/learn-the-truth-about-your-web-design-company/

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This isn't bad science. It's evil science

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/123867/This_isn_t_bad_science__It_s_evil_science

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NYT to sell Indeed.com stake for $100M gain

NEW YORK (AP) ? The New York Times Co. is selling its minority interest in the job listing website Indeed.com and said it expects to book a $100 million profit in the fourth quarter.

The company announced the sale to Recruit Co. Ltd., a leading job information company in Japan, in a securities filing on Tuesday.

The Times Co. took a small stake along with Union Square Ventures worth $5 million in 2005. The sale to Recruit by its controlling shareholder produced an unexpected windfall, said Times spokesman Robert Christie.

The move comes a day after the Times said it had closed its sale of The About Group to Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp for $300 million.

The Times Co.'s stock rose by a penny to close at $9.60 on Tuesday.

Indeed, based in Stamford, Conn., says it is the world's No. 1 job site and a top source of hires in the U.S.

Co-founder Paul Forster said in a statement that the company has been profitable since 2007 and has doubled revenue each year for the past three years.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2012-09-25-New%20York%20Times-Indeed/id-39a90631bd004e44af4c888d0a8f1f1e

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Brazil judge orders arrest of Google president

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ? A Brazilian judge ordered the arrest of the head of Google's operations in Brazil for failure to remove YouTube videos that attacked a mayoral candidate, which runs counter to the South American nation's strict pre-vote electoral laws.

Google said in a Tuesday statement that it rejected the decision by Judge Flavio Peren of Mato Grosso do Sul state, which also included an order to remove the two videos in question and a statewide, 24-hour suspension of Google and You Tube.

Police said they had not received an order to arrest Fabio Jose Silva Coelho. It was not clear if any suspension of Google's services occurred in Mato Grosso do Sul state. After hours calls to the court were not returned.

"Google is appealing the decision that ordered the removal of the YouTube video because, in being a platform, Google is not responsible for the content posted on its site," the company said in an emailed statement from Sao Paulo.

A spokesman said the company would not make any further statement on the case.

The videos on YouTube make incendiary comments about an alleged paternity suit aimed at Alcides Bernal, who is running for mayor of the city of Campo Grande. Nationwide municipal elections will be held Oct. 7. It was not possible to reach Bernal for comment, or verify if any paternity lawsuits had been leveled against him.

Brazil's electoral law has several restrictions on what opponents or critics can air on television and radio about candidates for office ? even comedic needling of politicians is banned during electoral season. The Internet's role in these cases, until now, was not legally explored, as the government does not license the internet and was considered by most exempt from the law.

However, candidates always have the right to contest before the nation's electoral courts such ads, and this year more than ever they are doing so.

Google itself has faced similar cases in Brazil.

Earlier this month a judge in Parana state in southern Brazil ordered that Google pay $500,000 for each day that it balked in fulfilling an order to remove videos from YouTube that attacked a candidate.

In the northeastern state of Paraiba, a judge also ordered the imprisonment of another Google executive in Brazil earlier this month, also for not removing videos from YouTube attacking a mayoral candidate. That order was overruled by a higher court.

___

Associated Press writer Stan Lehman contributed to this report from Sao Paulo.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/brazil-judge-orders-arrest-google-president-164309455--finance.html

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Health and beauty tips - HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS

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Source: http://curryrecipe-jp.net/health-2/health-and-beauty-tips/

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NASA: Let's Build a Space Station on the Far Side of the Moon

Everyone needs something audacious on their wish list. NASA's is a space station not 200 miles about the Earth, as the International Space Station is, but an installation 277,000 miles away, on the far side of the moon.

Over the weekend, the Orlando Sentinel reported that NASA administrator Charles Bolden had briefed the Obama administration on a plan to build such an outpost that would travel to the Earth-moon Lagrange Point 2, or L2. The Lagrange Points are spots in our planet's neighborhood where the gravities of the Earth and the moon cancel each other out. L2 is an ideal spot for a station, since you wouldn't need much energy to hold the thing in place.

Sending astronauts so far from Earth could be a major stepping stone toward sending them further distances, like to Mars. For one thing, building this mission would mean NASA would have to learn how to keep astronauts safe in deep space. An L2 outpost would lie beyond the Earth's protective magnetosphere, putting astronauts in much more danger from radiation and thus required new shielding. And if NASA needed to execute a rescue mission, 277,000 miles is a bit more challenging than 200.

According to the Sentinel, it's unclear whether the president would support such a mission. And like all things NASA, the cost is an enormous issue. There's no clear price tag on an L2 space station, but at the very least it would require NASA to actually build the Space Launch System that would blast its Orion capsule (now called the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle) into orbit. The agency is congressionally mandated to do so, but it's unclear whether the project will ever truly be funded.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/how-to/blog/nasa-lets-build-a-space-station-on-the-far-side-of-the-moon-13033075?src=rss

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Canon Sued for Infringing Noise-Reduction Camera Patent ...

The Canon EOS 60D, one of the cameras that allegedly infringes the '982 patent.

On Friday, September 21, 2012, Canon, Inc. (NYSE: CAJ) was sued for patent infringement by?Yama Capital, LLC, which is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. ?The complaint, which alleges Canon infringes?U.S. Patent No. 6,069,982 (?the ?982 patent?) was filed in?the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. ?The ?982 patent was issued on May 30, 2000, and the original owner was Polaroid Corporation. ?This caught my eye because I am presently enrolled in a basic photography class with the hope of being able to do better than point, shoot and pray.

In the complaint Yama asserts that they are the assignee and owner of the patent, which generally discloses and claims technology to update default data and parameters relating to spatial noise characteristics in a digital image acquisition system. ?Of course, the digital image acquisition systems at issue are various Canon digital cameras.

The Yama complaint also includes a section relating to Canon?s knowledge of the ?982 patent, saying that ?Canon cited the ?982 patent in U.S. Patent No. 6,489,973 demonstrating knowledge of the ?982 patent at least as of 2002.? ?The complaint also goes on to point out that the patent was sent to Canon on June 7, 2012, in order to invite licensing discussions. ?Kaora Nakamura, who is apparently in the Canon legal department, is alleged to have written to Yama?s licensing counsel on June 12, 2012, stating that the ?982 patent had been received and forwarded up the chain of command at Canon?s worldwide headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. ?Of course, these statements about knowledge of the patent have been planted to attempt to demonstrate willful infringement, and perhaps later to attempt to argue that this case is exception and warrants attorneys fees. ?Of course, Yama will first need to prevail.

In terms of the technology allegedly infringed, the lawsuit alleges that Canon infringed on the patent by including the underlying technology covered by the ?982 patent in the following Canon digital camera models:?EOS-1D X,?EOS 5D Mark III,?EOS 5D Mark II,?EOS 7D,?EOS 60D,?EOS Rebel T4i,?EOS Rebel T3i,?Powershot G1X, and?Powershot S100.

According to the complaint filed, Yama believes that Canon is infringing based on statements contained in the Canon EOS System Summer 2012 brochure. Specifically, the complaint asserts: ?Canon?s website boasts that its digital cameras include noise reduction that produces clear images when shooting in low light at high ISO speeds and advertises its infringing noise-reduction technology as a product differentiator.?

While the specific statements are not identified, in reviewing the Cannon brochure several statements seem clearly to be what Yama is referring to. ?These include (but are not limited to) the following Cannon statements in the brochure:

• ?Even at higher ISO settings where one might expect to see a higher degree of noise, the renowned Canon CMOS sensor and noise reduction system work to ensure superb image?quality.
• ?Large sensors also capture more light, and can record at high ISO sensitivities with less digital grain and reduced image noise. This enables low-light shooting, without loss of detail, in situations previously impossible without artificial light. Although many devices offer HD recording, the quality of video captured by an EOS DSLR and its CMOS sensor is markedly vibrant and truer to life.?
• ?With the 5 Image Processor?s remarkable noise-reduction technology, the EOS Rebel T4i sets a new standard for Rebel cameras and low-light photography.?

I have been quite critical of many patent complaints because they simply?violate the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as the Supreme Court has interpreted them most recently in?Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937 (2009) and?Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007). See?Paul Allen Complaint Dismissed?and?Motorola Sues Apple with Sparse Complaint.?This complaint filed by Yama, however, shows that a complaint does not need to be very long in order to meaningfully put the defendant on notice as to what the plaintiff is alleging. Having said that, the complaint is not everything one would hope for, but certainly as much as district courts require.

The one deficiency I see in the complaint is that there is no mention of any particular claim that is infringed. In the past I have said that there is no way for a patent infringement complaint to rise above a speculative level and have enough facts to justify recovery without identifying a single claim that has been infringed, but the sad truth is that complaints that do not include that level of detail are filed all the time and without consequence. ?In this complaint, for example, Yama asserts: ?Canon has been and continues to infringe the ?982 Patent, directly and/or by intentionally inducing direct infringement by its customers and/or users by making, using, selling, importing, and offering for sale, the accused digital cameras.?

Simply stated, patents are not infringed. ?Patent claims are infringed. ?This may seem like a legal argument that is too cute by at least half, but the reality is that a complaint is supposed to be able to support the recovery asked for. If the defendant were to decide not to participate in the litigation and file an Answer and contest the allegations the complaint would still need to be legally sufficient for the district court to enter judgment. ?A complaint without the requisite allegations is not one that would support such a default judgment. ?Because patents are not infringed, but rather claims are infringed, if Canon were to ignore this litigation (which they won?t do) the district court judge should not enter a default judgment. ?There is no statement that any particular Canon model incorporates all of the limitations of any particular claim. ?You cannot infringe a patent in a vacuum. ?It is all about whether each and every limitation found in a claim is included in the accused infringing device. ?No where in the complaint is the proper assertion made.

Now I realize I am chasing windmills here, but it is truly regrettable that the Federal Circuit has not stepped in to require complaints with more information, which would be consistent with the Supreme Courts rulings in Twombly?and Iqbal. ?It certainly seems that this complaint is not one of those objectively bad, non-informing complaints. ?There is ample information to put Canon on notice as to the plaintiff?s theory, so this case has not been initiated by ambush by any stretch of the imagination. ?But there are many complaints that offer no meaningful information as to why the plaintiff believes the defendant is infringing, and they offer no information on any single complaint. ?Instead they seek to shakedown defendants and bully them into settling in what is reminiscent of the old protection rackets. ?The Federal Circuit has even explained that some of the bad actors are engaging in what appears to be ?extortion like? activities. ?One easy thing that could be done to prevent such bad actors would be to meaningfully police the requirement to put the defendant on notice mandated by the Supreme Court in Twombly?and Iqbal.

The requirements for what goes into an adequate patent infringement complaint are really as clear as mud, thanks to conflict between the Supreme Court?s latest pronouncements in Twombly and Iqbal?and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. ?There is a model complaint for patent infringement actions that is attached to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.? It was obviously created by someone who knows nothing about patents or patent infringement, because all that is required is that the plaintiff assert the title of the patent and sanctions the provision of no useful information. ?Notwithstanding, it is the Supreme Court that will be the final arbiter of whether the model complaint is appropriate ? eventually???and given its recent jurisprudence it seems pretty clear that the Supreme Court is less than thrilled with the lack of substance in federal complaints. ?The trouble with non-informing complaints is that bringing a lawsuit is made easier, thereby shifting the burden of due diligence onto the defendant without any reasonable or articulable belief there has been any wrongdoing on the part of the defendant.

In a post-Twombly?era it is required that complaints have factual allegations above a mere speculative level and for there to be enough facts in the complaint, if taken to be true, that the the plaintiff will prevail. ?If there were ever going to be a situation where a patent infringement complaint would be deemed appropriate without mention of any claim it would be here. ?Yama has included information in the complaint explaining how and why they have reason to believe Canon is infringing, asserted that Canon knew of the patent at least as far back as 2002, and they have been approached to initiate licensing negotiations but have failed to move forward with discussions. ?Still, is it too much to expect that a complaint be sufficient to support a default judgement? ?I think that should be the basic requirement to satisfy the fundamental fairness requirements.

Alas, I am making a mountain out of a mole hill probably, but we all have our pet-peives. ?As for the likely outcome? ?Who knows. ?It is way to early to tell. ?Having said that, I would would be willing to bet my bottom dollar that Canon will assert a laches defense. ?Knowing of the patent for 10 years may seem helpful, but if they did know about it for that long it would seem likely that at some point they could and should reasonably be able to expect that what they have been doing was not infringing, or wouldn?t be pursued by the patent owner.

Source: http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2012/09/24/canon-sued-for-infringing-noise-reduction-camera-patent/id=28223/

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Apple ?aggressively? recruiting ex-Google Maps employees

News

Apple is on a recruitment drive to develop its native Maps app for iOS 6, reportedly ?luring away? Google Maps employees to help refine their mobile strategy.

According to a report by TechCrunch, Apple wants to improve its Maps application drastically, using new concepts and enabling advanced capabilities, following criticism of its performance with the launch of iOS 6 on September 19.

The report also quotes a contractor who worked on Google Maps, confirming allegations that Apple is pursuing contract employees who helped develop Google Maps:

?Many of my co-workers at Google Maps eventually left when their contracts ended or on their own accord. One guy looked around for other GIS work and ended up at Apple when a recruiter contacted him,? the unnamed source reveals.

?He had heard rumors for a while that Apple was going to develop its own in-house mapping platform, and given his experience at Google, he was an easy hire. Apple went out of their way to bring him down to Cupertino and he?s now paid handsomely.?

The source told TechCrunch similar instances like this were happening regularly, but that Apple had a long way to go before it could compete with Google Maps, by offering an equal or better nativr version on iOS 6.

MacRumors points out that the success of Apple?s own Maps application was short-lived, with ?significant criticism of the quality of the data in many parts of the world.?

Apple has responded to user complaints about its Maps application, speaking with tech website AllThingsD:

?Customers around the world are upgrading to iOS 6 with over 200 new features including Apple Maps, our first map service? Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller?said in the statement.

?We are excited to offer this service with innovative new features like Flyover, turn by turn navigation, and Siri integration. We launched this new map service knowing it is a major initiative and that we are just getting started with it. Maps is a cloud-based solution and the more people use it, the better it will get. We appreciate all of the customer feedback and are working hard to make the customer experience even better.?

If Apple?s strategy is to poach its rivals? workers, it has a large pool of talent to choose from. Google?s Map subsidiary currently employees a fleet of 7000 staff, with 1,100 full time workers and 6000 contractors. according to Business Insider.

@grace_robinson_

Source: http://www.macworld.com.au/news/apple-aggressively-recruiting-ex-google-maps-employees-73754/

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Google Plus Ripples - A RoadMap to Traffic Growth

?

Hard Work Gets You Organic Placement

There is no magic wand, no secret recipe, or for that matter special protocol you should follow or buy to have your website appear in the top unpaid search results on Google. In fact, do too much of optimization for placement and you'll run right into Google's "over optimization" filter and be dropped back as much as 50 to 100 pages in the search results.

So what is a website owner to do? First off, the bottom-line is you can't scam or buy your way to top placement on Google.com. In this new world of post Panda and Penguin algorithm updates, it is readable natural content that Google wants; no keyword dense content, no heavy use of keyword phrases in the heading and subheading tags, and certainly no aggressive link building strategies.

Matt Cutts, the Google representative to my industry, says this about organic placement:

"Key phrases don't have to be in their original form. We do a lot of synonym work so that we can find good pages that don't happen to use the same words as the user typed."

"People can overdo it [using meta tags and headings that are keyword dense] to the point that we consider it keyword stuffing, and it hurts. I would just make sure you do it in natural ways where regular people aren't going to find it stiff or artificial. That tends to be what works best."

.... Continue Reading at SiteProNews

Source: http://www.sitepronews.com/archives/2012/sep/19.html

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Bottega Veneta: Chic Yet Suggestive

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NY zoo: Tiger that mauled man 'did nothing wrong'

NEW YORK (AP) ? A 25-year-old man who jumped from a monorail train into a tiger den at the Bronx Zoo is in stable condition after being mauled by a 400-pound tiger.

A hospital spokeswoman says the family of David Villalobos asks that no other information be provided.

The mauling happened Friday in the Wild Asia exhibit, where a train with open sides takes visitors over the Bronx River and through a forest.

The zoo director says the tiger did nothing wrong and will not be euthanized.

Passengers aren't strapped in, and Villalobos apparently jumped out forcefully enough to clear a 16-foot-high perimeter fence.

Villalobos was alone with a male Siberian tiger for about 10 minutes before he was rescued. He suffered bites and punctures on his arms, legs, shoulders and back and broke an arm and a leg.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ny-zoo-tiger-mauled-man-did-nothing-wrong-071512461.html

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Scuba Diving & Free Diving in Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, Australia ...

Scribbleprint Articles ? Others ? Scuba Diving & Free Diving in Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, Australia

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Scuba diving is unquestionably one of the most popular recreational sports. It is the most exhilarating form of underwater sports that involves the use of scuba sets and other scuba diving accessories. This recreational activity is a hit with adventure enthusiasts and understandably so. It is also one of the best ways to beat stress. It is the perfect way to spice up your otherwise monotonous life. If you are looking for ways to add zing to your uneventful life, scuba diving will surely serve the purpose. On the other hand, free diving is experimenting to dive into deep sea and enjoying the adventures of sea life. Here the divers go to that deep sea, where they are totally not connected with the outer world, or the world which is on the land. They can realize, feel and touch the fishes, sea life and watch entire living creatures, which were fantasies for them.

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To learn scuba and free dive, it is absolutely important to find someone who can take you through the sports and various equipments used very patiently. Unlike other sports scuba and free diving involve a lot of equipments which may seem intimidating to a first timer. Moreover diving underwater while holding ones breathe is a different ball game altogether. You can find lots of scuba and free diving coaches or trainers if you live near the seas. Before shelling out your money to pay for a trainer, you can do a bit of background check on his or her experiences in training. Take some time to get to know each other and find out your level of comfort with each other.

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Just like other adventure sports, scuba diving and free diving also necessitate the need for the right equipment and gear. The importance of choosing the right scuba and free diving accessories cannot be underestimated. Whether you are diving for professional reasons or for pleasure, you need to invest in the right accessories to enjoy the safest and most professional diving experience. Make sure to buy from a reliable dive shop that enjoys a great reputation among manufacturers of scuba and free diving gear. A reliable shop will always sell superior quality products to customers. It will never compromise the quality in a bid to boost sales.

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Scuba diving and freediving are exciting activities that everyone can enjoy with the proper equipment and appropriate training. At Lets Go Adventures, 5 time National record holder, Alana Caskey-Wells, leads the freediving activities in Australia. Lets Go Adventures is the new name of Nelson Bays longest established diving centre and is proud to have the original and still the most active dive club in the Port Stephens area. Whether you want to experience your first breaths on scuba, are an experienced diver looking for pleasure dives or wish to further your diver training; you, your friends and family are assured professional, friendly service and unforgettable underwater adventures with PADI's highest rated dive centre in Port Stephens. To know more about Lets Go Adventures, please visit the site http://letsgoadventures.com.au

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Article Source: Scribbleprint Articles

About the Author

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At Lets Go Adventures, 5 time National record holder, Alana Caskey-Wells, leads the free diving activities in Australia. Whether you want to experience your first breaths on scuba, are an experienced diver looking for pleasure dives or wish to further your diver training; you, your friends and family are assured professional, friendly service and unforgettable underwater adventures with PADI's highest rated dive centre in Port Stephens. To know more about Lets Go Adventures, please visit the site http://letsgoadventures.com.au

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Author (Morganlee). Submitted on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 Time: 1:06 AM

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Source: http://www.scribbleprint.com/others/scuba-diving-and-free-diving-in-nelson-bay-port-stephens-australia.html

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