Google launching same-day delivery service for online shoppers ...

MICHAEL LIEDTKE ? ? ? 21 hrs.

Internet search leader Google is taking another step beyond information retrieval into grocery delivery.

The new service, called Google Shopping Express, will initially provide same-day delivery of food and other products bought online by a small group of consumers in San Francisco and suburbs located south of the city. The company, based in Mountain View, Calif., didn't say how many people will be part of the test.

If the pilot program goes well, Google plans to expand delivery service to other markets.

"We hope this will help users explore the benefits of a local, same-day delivery service, and help us kick the tires on the new service," Google said in a Thursday statement.

The delivery service is part of Google's effort to increase consumer reliance on the Internet, so it will have more opportunities to show online ads, which generate most of its revenue.

Google has learned that the more time people spend online, the more likely they are to use its dominant search engine or one of its other popular services, like its YouTube video site or Gmail, that include advertising.

The delivery service also could spur merchants to buy more online ads if Google's same-day delivery service encourages consumers to do more of their shopping online. Having to wait days or, in some cases, more than a week for the delivery of online orders ranks among the biggest drawbacks to Internet shopping.

It's a problem that Amazon.com and eBay, which operate the largest e-commerce sites, already have been trying to solve by offering same-day service in some U.S. markets. Wal-Mart Stores, the world's largest retailer, also offers same-day delivery in five markets.

A mix of national, regional and neighborhood merchants are enlisting in Google Shopping Express. The best-known names on the list include Target and Walgreen. All the merchants in the Google program will sell certain items through a central website. Google has hired courier services to pick up the orders at the merchant stores and then deliver them to the customer's home or office.

Although the couriers will be working on a contract basis, they will be driving Google-branded vehicles and wearing company-issued uniforms.

It remains unclear whether Internet shopping and same-day delivery can be profitable. Online grocer Webvan collapsed in 2001, largely because it couldn't devise a pricing plan that would pay for the costs of same-day delivery without alienating shoppers unwilling to pay too much extra for the added convenience.

Google is still trying to figure out how much to charge for its same-day delivery service. For the six-month test period in the San Francisco area, consumers won't have to pay a surcharge. Google instead will receive a commission from participating merchants.

The expansion into same-day delivery comes at the same time that Google is preparing to close some of its older online services so it can devote more attention and money to other projects.

The realignment has irked some Google users. The biggest complaints have centered on Google Reader, which allows people to automatically receive headlines and links from their favorite sites, and iGoogle, which allows Web surfers to design a page consisting of the Google search engine surrounded set up other online features, such as local weather reports and stock market quotes.

Google Reader is scheduled to close in July and iGoogle will shut down in November.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/google-launching-same-day-delivery-service-online-shoppers-1C9143458

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Young, hot and blue

Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Universe is an old neighbourhood -- roughly 13.8 billion years old. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is also ancient -- some of its stars are more than 13 billion years old (eso0425). Nevertheless, there is still a lot of action: new objects form and others are destroyed. In this image, you can see some of the newcomers, the young stars forming the cluster NGC 2547.

But, how young are these cosmic youngsters really? Although their exact ages remain uncertain, astronomers estimate that NGC 2547's stars range from 20 to 35 million years old. That doesn't sound all that young, after all. However, our Sun is 4600 million years old and has not yet reached middle age. That means that if you imagine that the Sun as a 40 year-old person, the bright stars in the picture are three-month-old babies.

Most stars do not form in isolation, but in rich clusters with sizes ranging from several tens to several thousands of stars. While NGC 2547 contains many hot stars that glow bright blue, a telltale sign of their youth, you can also find one or two yellow or red stars which have already evolved to become red giants. Open star clusters like this usually only have comparatively short lives, of the order of several hundred million years, before they disintegrate as their component stars drift apart.

Clusters are key objects for astronomers studying how stars evolve through their lives. The members of a cluster were all born from the same material at about the same time, making it easier to determine the effects of other stellar properties.

The star cluster NGC 2547 lies in the southern constellation of Vela (The Sail), about 1500 light-years from Earth, and is bright enough to be easily seen using binoculars. It was discovered in 1751 by the French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille during an astronomical expedition to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, using a tiny telescope of less than two centimetres aperture.

Between the bright stars in this picture you can see plenty of other objects, especially when zooming in. Many are fainter or more distant stars in the Milky Way, but some, appearing as fuzzy extended objects, are galaxies, located millions of light-years beyond the stars in the field of view.

###

ESO: http://www.eso.org

Thanks to ESO 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.

This press release has been viewed 57 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127497/Young__hot_and_blue

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Nielsen's top programs for March 18-24

Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for March 18-24. Listings include the week's ranking and viewership.

1. "NCIS," CBS, 19.79 million.

2. "Dancing With the Stars," ABC, 17.06 million.

3. "NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS, 16.84 million.

4. "American Idol" (Wednesday), Fox, 12.94 million.

5. "American Idol" (Thursday), Fox, 11.93 million.

6. "Criminal Minds," CBS, 11.58 million.

7. "Castle," ABC, 11.26 million.

8. "The Walking Dead," AMC, 10.99 million.

9. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 10.53 million.

10. "60 Minutes," CBS, 10.5 million.

11. "The Bible," History, 10.27 million.

12. "Survivor: Caramoan," CBS, 9.79 million.

13. "Dancing With the Stars: Exclusive First Look," ABC, 9.76 million.

14. "The Good Wife," CBS, 9.59 million.

15. "Grey's Anatomy," ABC, 9.39 million.

16. "The Amazing Race 22," CBS, 9.33 million.

17. "Golden Boy," CBS, 9.26 million.

18. "Splash," ABC, 9.02 million.

19. "Hawaii Five-0," CBS, 8.99 million.

20. "2 Broke Girls," CBS, 8.56 million.

___

Online:

http://www.nielsen.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nielsens-top-programs-march-18-24-210427394.html

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Connecting, and reconnecting in magical ways | Kiki Maurey ...

The New Year started off with much the same verve as the last quarter of 2012. Maybe something really is in the air? I?ve been struck when in meetings with potential new clients, just how eager they are to engage in hearing about refreshing approaches to coaching and leadership, and the ?the coach-matching? process has been a real ?eye-opener?. My rather unconventional career and journey is really coming into its own, and I?m thankful for my grey hairs (every single one earned) and my breadth of experience.

I?m also delighted with how well the latest addition to my coaching toolkit is being taken up by clients. Motivational Map technology is really helping my them ?unstick? themselves, whether it be a required breakthrough in their leadership style, or with making key career and business decisions. The maps are also great fun to work with and in 99.9 per cent of folks, uncannily accurate.

? dig those shoulder pads!

? the original audience in 1992!

In early January preparations were underway to film the sequel to the production ?Colour of Love? filmed by the Southampton Black and Asian Video Panel back in 1992 where I facilitated a studio debate on the issues and challenges of being in mixed heritage relationships. It was a real ?eye-opener? to revisit the original footage ? oh, those early ?90s colours. Iconic memories!

? London skies and towers

I?m very pleased to say that I?ve commenced an interesting relationship with Acuity Coaching Ltd who provide a managed service to global multi-nationals for the sourcing and management of exec coaches. They are keen to work with me on a number of ideas I have; happily it?s a two-way deal as I?ve already secured senior coaching clients through them.

Following up on conversations with like-minded leaders and clients, I?ve started to work on a model of authentic leadership, with Acuity?s support, looking at what?s really involved in helping managers and senior leaders develop and maintain authentic behaviours ? you can read my initial thoughts here.

As an addicted ?learner?, going to regular events is part of keeping up my professional skills as a coach, so at the end of January I hot-footed it to a very tired looking Bournemouth for a mini-conference on the use of Motivational Maps. It was my first time with other ?mappers? apart from the entertaining Steve Jones who trained me ? he put on a sparkling presentation that was useful revision.

Thankfully I was able to get to grips with the garden during the short spell of dry weather at the end of January, and been managing to ride out 2-3 times a week ? dodging the odd avalanche of sleet, hail and blobby snow. I give thanks for a lively but trustworthy horse that keeps me physically and mentally on my toes.

? the eclectic sights of London!

Early February saw me delivering a keynote entitled ?From Survival to Career Success? at the Environment Agency?s BAME Women and Leadership Conference in Westminster. I always love my winter trips to London when the capital looks fabulous in the murky light and despite losing my way a bit, followed a coach and pair clattering past ? only to arrive safe and sound at the right venue!

During my presentation, I was able to share some top tips for building a more successful career, including pushing one?s boundaries, maintaining a focus and having a plan, and becoming more self-aware. Later in the afternoon I ran a short workshop on Motivational Maps explaining just how our energies affect our performance at work and in business. This gave the packed room a taster of just how the maps work, and how they can apply the insights gained.

The following day I accompanied NatWest Regional Director, Julie Baker to the well-attended NatWest Women in Business Event in their offices in Fowler Avenue, Farnborough. The event guest speaker was Max Benson from Everywoman Ltd who spoke of the business challenges her and business partner Karen Gill had faced over the years, and how they?ve adapted and grown. At lunch afterwards we were joined by Andi Keeling, Director of Women?s Markets for RBS.

Continuing along the theme of regular high quality CPD, I was delighted on 19 February to spend an enjoyable lunch and half a day in Romsey with friends Leslie Spiers of Boardroom Dynamics and Paul Fox of Merryhill Envirotec. Leslie took us through our paces as we revised on the duties and responsibilities of Board members including those codified in the Companies Act of 2006 for both exec and non-exec directors. Sounds a bit ?dry? but being just the 3 of us, we were able to exchanged anecdotes and experiences that just added to the fun.

March has been even busier what with new coaching clients coming on stream, facilitating viewings on Holly House in order to sell it, and having lessons on a potential new Reiner, the Sternberg?s 5yo Sail A Spook (aka Scarlett). Getting to know and trust another horse at my age is another real ?eye-opener?; I don?t feel like hanging up my western spurs just yet as I so love the sport as well as being part of the reining fraternity.

The filming of the ?Colour of Love ? Revisited? took place at Southampton Solent University on the 7^th with a full house in the main auditorium. It was wonderful to welcome back many of the faces who sat in the audience 21 years ago, some of whom were asked to comment on their thoughts and opinions back then, compared to their experiences now.

The evening was opened by Vice-Chancellor, Van Gore and Southampton?s very own Black History Month ?mastermind?, Don John ? with the studio discussion facilitated by me. It was a successful and at times, a hilarious evening ? fingers crossed it will make enjoyable viewing. Omar and Craig David also contributed their thoughts on the topic, Colour of Love, and will be featured in the final film? watch this space.

Something on your mind? Get in touch if you think I can be an impartial listening ear? you won?t be sorry you did! 07760 270 392

?

?

Source: http://www.kikimaurey.com/connecting-and-reconnecting-in-magical-ways/

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How to Build Effective Team for Business ? EBook Free Download

How to Build Effective Team for Business ? EBook Free Download

A tidal wave of info on building your team. Do you want to create your own team of motivated marketers? Learn how to create your own team of marketers and watch your profits soar!

It?s great to have a successful business of your own where you?re the boss and there is no one to? tell you what to do. You play by your own rules and it?s up to you, what? you want to do.

However, there?s only so much you can do if you are a one man operation. For instance, if you want to create an info product and launch it within a week, you got to create your product, design the graphics, write the sales copy, communicate with your JV or affiliates.

It sounds like an exhausting list of tasks. What if there were people to take care of all the tedious tasks and complete it twice as fast.

Wouldn?t?that be good? It will leave you to focus on other things you are actually good at like writing or networking with people,

It sounds great and all but to find the right people is easier said than done.

Not everyone who works for you are going to do a great job or would they be as dedicated as yourself.

But if you were to find few good people who are as motivated as yourself, you will grow your business rapidly and grow faster than you can imagine.

So how do you find the right people and avoid the mistake of getting the wrong team members who can slow down your progress?

Download this complete E-Book
to learn how to build an effective team for your business.

Download Link :?Team Building Tsunami (3)

Source: http://electrapk.com/how-to-build-effective-team-for-business-ebook-free-download/

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Syrian rebel military leader rejects new PM

AAA??Mar. 24, 2013?10:45 AM ET
Syrian rebel military leader rejects new PM
By BEN HUBBARD and JAMAL HALABYBy BEN HUBBARD and JAMAL HALABY, Associated Press??

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013 file photo, Syrian opposition coalition leader Mouaz al-Khatib speaks during a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, not pictured, following an international conference on Syria at Villa Madama, Rome. The leader of the Western-based Syrian opposition coalition has resigned, citing frustrations with the body's ability to advance the fight against President Bashar Assad. Khatib said in a statement posted on his Facebook page Sunday that he would continue to serve the opposition's cause outside of the "the official institutions." (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013 file photo, Syrian opposition coalition leader Mouaz al-Khatib speaks during a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, not pictured, following an international conference on Syria at Villa Madama, Rome. The leader of the Western-based Syrian opposition coalition has resigned, citing frustrations with the body's ability to advance the fight against President Bashar Assad. Khatib said in a statement posted on his Facebook page Sunday that he would continue to serve the opposition's cause outside of the "the official institutions." (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca, File)

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian doctors treat an injured man who was wounded at the Eman Mosque where a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing Sheikh Mohammad Said Ramadan al-Buti, an 84-year-old cleric known to all Syrians as a religious scholar, at the Mazraa district, in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, March 21, 2013. A suicide bomber blew himself up during evening prayers inside a mosque in Damascus Thursday, killing a top Sunni Muslim preacher and longtime supporter of President Bashar Assad and least 13 other people, state TV reported. Al-Buti's death is a big blow to Syria's embattled leader, who is fighting mainly Sunni rebels seeking his ouster. (AP Photo/SANA)

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, the Eman Mosque is seen destroyed after a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing Sheikh Mohammad Said Ramadan al-Buti, an 84-year-old cleric known to all Syrians as a religious scholar, at the Mazraa district, in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, March 21, 2013. A suicide bomber blew himself up during evening prayers inside a mosque in Damascus Thursday, killing a top Sunni Muslim preacher and longtime supporter of President Bashar Assad and least 13 other people, state TV reported. Al-Buti's death is a big blow to Syria's embattled leader, who is fighting mainly Sunni rebels seeking his ouster. (AP Photo/SANA)

BEIRUT (AP) ? The head of the Syrian opposition coalition's military branch has refused to recognize the body's new prime minister, saying he was not properly elected.

Louay Almokdad, aide to Gen. Salim Idris, told The Associated Press by phone Sunday that the rebel Free Syrian Army would not recognize the U.S.-educated IT expert chosen last week to head a rebel interim government.

Almokdad said Ghassan Hitto was elected without the support of prominent Syrian opposition figures and that a recognized prime minister must have broad support.

Hitto received 35 out of 48 votes cast by the 63 active members of the opposition Syrian National Coalition last week.

Many prominent opposition figures boycotted the vote, saying Hitto was unknown and backed by outside powers like Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-24-Syria/id-b88e3b9c935b45fcb0c0f4ae4661dfc5

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BracketRacket: 'There's a pattern. I memorized it'

Welcome back to BracketRacket, the one-stop shopping place for all your NCAA tournament needs.

Today, we throw down, challenge follicles, solve a Rubik's Cube and kiss the rim, all without breaking a sweat, even after batting the ball around with tennis star and Harvard dropout James Blake. We also refer you to a chilling list of celebrity alumni evil twins.

But before any of it, we defy long odds.

___

WHY ARE WE HERE?

Wow. That didn't take long.

By now, you're probably wishing you'd dropped that $5, or $10, or whatever, on lottery tickets instead of throwing it into the office pool.

Because when someone wins the lottery, they just call themselves lucky. Whoever wins your pool is going to call themself a genius. And you will be hearing about it for the rest of your life.

As the higher-ranked seeds began tumbling down Friday like ... well, like real seeds, we were debating bracket-theology ((at) copyright) with John Affleck, the deputy sports editor of The Associated Press.

It was about perfection being the enemy of good. As it became increasingly clear there wouldn't be a perfect bracket left by the end of the night ? merely good ones ? we traded messages about what that meant. After Georgetown fell to Florida Gulf Coast, he sent this: "The Gtown result means the last perfect ESPN bracket is gone."

So that's 8.15 million brackets ? give or take a few ? down the drain. A check of Yahoo! Sports at late afternoon showed 174 perfect brackets at the end of round 1, out of 3.3 million entered, or 0.012 percent. Chances are good they're marred now, too. No word yet on the other big sites, but don't expect much encouraging news.

BracketRacket doesn't know anyone who has all 32 teams still alive heading into the weekend. Neither do you.

The odds against it happening are one in 9.2 quintillion.

But it's out there.

Offline maybe, but somewhere.

Our best guess is a federal minimum-security prison like Danbury, where the kid who came up with the algorithm that bankrupted some investment firm talked a gaggle of his white-collar criminal pals into filling one out. Or locked away in a file drawer at the Beardstown Ladies investment club.

We have to hold on to something.

___

OK, LET IT GO

Today's celebrity alum won his second-round match Friday at the Sony Open, but got to celebrate twice. Sort of.

"I'm still upset for not taking Harvard in my bracket," Blake told AP sports writer Steve Wine at a tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla. "I thought about being silly and loyal, but I was like, 'Be smart and be realistic' I should have gone with my heart."

Probably so. He couldn't have done any worse than those of us who used our heads.

"I was still happy," Blake added. "I'm happy to lose my brackets and have Harvard go a little farther."

The delayed celebration came about because Blake was asleep Thursday night, when the Crimson toppled New Mexico 68-62 two time zones away in Salt Lake City, the first real snowball in what has become an avalanche of upsets,

"But I knew pretty early," he said. "I woke up and got my phone and I had about 10 texts saying, 'Go Crimson.' I was pretty sure they had won."

___

PROOF THAT SOME PEOPLE SHOULDN'T GO TO COLLEGE

The tournament has given rise to a little side competition coming up with the best list of celebrity alumni. Sports Illustrated's is pretty good here: http://bit.ly/WTYDo0,

And we've been circulating one of our own around the office.

But nobody is going to top this one from Buzzfeed here: http://bit.ly/15CVHut.

Nobody.

___

DUNK YOU VERY MUCH

The argument for breakout star of the tournament is already heating up. The CBS duo of Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg devoted a good portion of their assignment covering Ohio State-Iona touting Buckeyes sophomore Sam Thompson and he made a pretty compelling case with this: http://bit.ly/101xV8i.

But don't sleep on DJ Stephens of Memphis. His coach, Josh Pastner, likes to say, "If you're going to play for me, you've got to be quick, you've got to be fast, and you've got to play above the rim." And he's already guaranteed that Stephens, a senior, will win the NBA dunk contest next year because he routinely does this: http://bit.ly/Yv49vC and this: http://bit.ly/101zmUg.

We're only two rounds in, but we're giving him the early nod, mostly because of this: http://bit.ly/YLAvOQ.

___

IT'S NOT ALL IN THE WRIST

Harvard may be on the other side of the bracket from Kansas, and on the other side of the world when it comes to basketball tradition. But on the theory that it's never too early to begin preparing for an opponent, Jayhawks guard Kevin Young sat in the corner of the locker room by himself Friday, fiddling with a Rubik's Cube. AP sports writer Dave Skretta looked on.

"It keeps my mind clear. It keeps me focused," Young explained ahead of Kansas' tip-off against Western Kentucky.

He picked up the habit while playing at Barstow Community College, relentlessly studying how one of his teammates there solved it consistently.

About all Young will reveal is, "There is a pattern and I memorized it."

He puts his best time at around two minutes, but his teammates are so mesmerized, they think he's even faster than that.

"He can do it in seconds," Travis Releford said.

Or at least what must seem like seconds to a guy like Releford, who told Skretta that he spends his free time bowling.

___

ONE DAY YOU'RE IN AND THE NEXT DAY ...

Thirty years ago, the long hair and short shorts favored by ballers were deemed a grave threat to the future of our civilization. And ultimately it led to this: http://bit.ly/YcF37m.

In case you've forgotten, or just blocked it out, that's Dwayne Schintzius at Florida, circa 1990. Scary, no?

Then the "Fab Five" turned up as freshmen at Michigan in 1991 with shaved heads and long shorts, and those became the new sign of the apocalypse. What nobody should doubt is that it's been a hot mess ever since, at least stylistically speaking.

But we'll leave the current Zubaz plague on the side for the moment ? especially if those college athletic directors so desperate to be hip would do the same ? and go straight to the hair of matter.

What's up with this http://bit.ly/YrErZ0, this http://bit.ly/ZXTg2v and this http://bit.ly/14f7CT8?

If these guys ? in order, Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk, Saint Louis' Cody Ellis and Wisconsin's Mike Brusewitz ? aren't careful, one day they're going to wind up looking like this http://bit.ly/11lGopi.

"Clearly, I work really hard at it," said the appropriately named Brusewitz, who's been growing his hair out since last May and will have even more time to devote to whatever that is now that the Badgers have been eliminated.

"It's not for everybody," he added. "There are people out there that do like it, and there are people that will have their own opinions, but it's my hair and I will do what I want to."

Your call, Mike. This isn't Russia.

___

DON'T FORGET TO TIP THE ATTENDANTS

Marquette's Chris Otule gets to watch the show close up. He describes it this way: "Splits in the air, kicking his leg up like the dancers in Vegas."

The rest of us recognize that dynamo as coach Buzz Williams working the sideline.

Williams sweats like an iced tea left out on a porch in summer. And while his passion seems endless, his supply of suits is not.

"That's why I take my jacket off," Williams told AP National Writer Nancy Armour, "just so I can maybe have that suit again next year."

It used to be worse before Williams shed 37 pounds, mostly by running, though he concedes he's put a few back on with the hectic schedule of the last few weeks. He's also learned another trick. Williams deploys a brand new dri-fit shirt that Nike provides underneath his button-down. That way, only one of them requires wringing out after the game.

Otule spared Armour from having to watch that postgame ritual by confirming it's "so sweaty," it's "like he actually played in the game."

And you thought players cooperating with the media was a thing of the past.

___

STAT OF THE DAY

STATS has the NCAA selection committee's back on the argument over whether too may mid-major programs got into the tournament at the expense of teams from the big-boy conferences.

Five Atlantic 10 teams got in and all five won at least one game. Before this year, the mighty ACC had matched that feat on five separate occasions, and the Big East and Big Ten were right behind with four. But the SEC and Big 12 have nothing on the A-10. Each turned the trick exactly.

___

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"This is a hump we can't get over yet, but we'll keep trying to figure it out." ? Notre Dame coach Mike Brey after the Fighting Irish were bounced out of the tournament in the first round for the third time in four years, this time by Iowa State.

___

Jim Litke is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jlitke(at)ap.org and follow him at Twitter.com/Jim Litke.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bracketracket-theres-pattern-memorized-084347723--spt.html

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Murder-suicide at Quantico Marine base latest signal to Pentagon of troubles

A double homicide at the Marines' base in Quantico, Va., followed by the suicide of a Marine in his barracks, appears linked to a relationship dispute. The incident is likely to include an examination of the prevalence of suicide within military ranks.

By Anna Mulrine,?Staff writer / March 22, 2013

Snow covers one of Marine Corps Base Quantico's many signs March 6. Three people, including the suspect, were killed in a shooting at Marine Base Quantico, a base spokesman said early Friday.

Cpl. Antwaun L. Jefferson/US Marine Corps/AP

Enlarge

A double homicide followed by the suicide of a Marine in his barracks Thursday night highlights a problem with which the US military has been grappling mightily: active-duty personnel who take their own lives.

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The shootings occurred at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, in which a fight broke out, reportedly over a relationship dispute. The victims included two men and a woman, all Marines.

The gunman was pronounced dead of an apparent inflicted gunshot wound, according to a Marine Corps statement.

By Friday morning the base returned to normal operations, but the investigation surrounding the incident will no doubt include the prevalence of suicide within the ranks of the military.

The extent to which the Pentagon is grappling with the specter of suicide within its ranks was apparent Thursday, during a congressional hearing on the topic scheduled in part to explain why the Army had a record 324 suicides last year.

For the active duty in particular, those figures rose to 183 in 2012, up from 148 in 2009.

As with the reported suicide Thursday, ?many? troops who have taken their lives ?had experienced a failed intimate relationship,? Jacqueline Garrick, acting director of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office, which was created in 2011, told lawmakers Thursday, before the tragedy at Quantico unfolded.

Indeed, in nonfatal suicide attempts, most of which occur in Caucasian men under age 25, ?slightly more than half had a failed intimate relationship,? she said.?

In other cases, ?legal or financial issues were present,? Ms. Garrick added in testimony before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

In most cases, service members use firearms to complete a suicide, and they tend to do it at home, Garrick told lawmakers.?

Beyond that, however, many of the surrounding causes remain a troubling mystery to Pentagon officials.?

?The majority of service members did not communicate their intent for self-harm nor did they have a known history of behavioral health problems,? she said. ?Less than half of those who died by suicide had deployed, and a small number were involved with direct combat.??

Even as Pentagon officials grapple with the mental well being of troops within US ranks, they express concern about the potential impact of the "sequester" cuts on their ability to serve the needs of troops.

Indeed, 60 percent of the health-care force in the military, including some 4,500 behavioral health providers, are civilians under the threat of mandatory furlough as the Pentagon faces an automatic series of budget cuts, which under sequestration kicked in earlier this month.?

The Pentagon just announced that it would suspend issuing furlough notices for another two weeks, but senior Pentagon officials remain concerned.

Troops ?might have to wait longer to get an appointment; they might have to close the clinic down an hour earlier,? Col. Rebecca Porter, chief of behavioral health at the Office of the Army Surgeon General, said at a Defense Writers Group discussion earlier this month.

?It?s not the quality of care that we expect to be impacted,? she warned, ?but the availability and access to it.??

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/rScWJGCw3xs/Murder-suicide-at-Quantico-Marine-base-latest-signal-to-Pentagon-of-troubles

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NASA to restore Apollo engines found on ocean floor

The recovery of the Apollo 11 rocket engines by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is a historic find, say NASA officials, who say the agency plans to restore the engines.

By Nancy Atkinson,?Universe Today / March 22, 2013

The thrust chamber of one of five first stage F-1 rocket engines used to launch one of NASA's mighty Saturn V rocket on a historic Apollo moon mission is seen on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean in this Bezos Expeditions image.

Bezos Expeditions

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Last year, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos announced that he had located some of the Apollo F-1 rocket engines and planned to recover them. He and his Bezos Expedition team were successful in recovering engines that helped power Apollo astronauts to the Moon and have now brought ?a couple of your F-1s home,? Bezos said in a message to NASA. On the Bezos Expedition website, Bezos called the recovery ?an incredible adventure.?

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NASA was happy about the recovery as well.

?This is a historic find and I congratulate the team for its determination and perseverance in the recovery of these important artifacts of our first efforts to send humans beyond Earth orbit,? said NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden in a statement. ?We look forward to the restoration of these engines by the Bezos team and applaud Jeff?s desire to make these historic artifacts available for public display.?

There is no indication so far from Bezos of which flight these engines were from. Last year when Bezos made his announcement, he said they had found the engines from Apollo 11, but it may be been difficult to determine exactly which flight the ones found were from. In total, NASA launched 65 F-1 engines, five per flight, on 13 Saturn V boosters between 1967 and 1973. Supposedly there would be serial numbers to make the identification of which flight these engines were from. Bezos indicated on his blog they were still on the ship, so perhaps the identification will come later.

Five F-1 engines were used in the 138-foot-tall S-IC, or first stage, of each Saturn V, which depended on the five-engine cluster for the 7.5 million pounds of thrust needed to lift it from the launch pad. Each of the engines stands 19 feet tall by 12 feet wide and weigh over 18,000 pounds.

Bezos and his team spent three weeks at sea, working almost 3 miles below the surface. ?We found so much,? Bezos wrote. ?We?ve seen an underwater wonderland ? an incredible sculpture garden of twisted F-1 engines that tells the story of a fiery and violent end, one that serves testament to the Apollo program. We photographed many beautiful objects in situ and have now recovered many prime pieces. Each piece we bring on deck conjures for me the thousands of engineers who worked together back then to do what for all time had been thought surely impossible.?
See more images and descriptions at the Bezos Expeditions website.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/bouK2n0cLKk/NASA-to-restore-Apollo-engines-found-on-ocean-floor

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Japanese Group Buying Site Luxa Closes Series B Of $5.3M

Japanese group coupon buying site Luxa just closed its Series B funding of $5.3 million (500 million Yen) from JAFCO. The Japanese VC also backed Luxa’s Series A round in November 2010, when it put in the same amount. This brings Luxa’s total funding to $10.6 million since operations started in August 2010. Luxa is a daily-deals site like Groupon, but it positions itself towards the higher-income demographic by listing only premium items such as branded cosmetics and alcohol, and up-market restaurants. It says it has around 350,000 members in Japan. Its headquarters is in Tokyo, and it just opened offices in Nagoya and Fukuoka, to add to its second office in Osaka, which it opened last year. Its CEO and founder, Swimmy Minami is also the founder of BizReach.jp, a job site that pitches itself as a “premium” listing for workers who earn more than $70,000 per annum. Unlike other sites such as Monster.com or Jobstreet.com, users on BizReach pay for their listings while companies and recruiters do not. BizReach just started an office in Singapore with six employees. It has about 150 in Japan, and Minami spends half his time in Singapore now trying to grow the business in the country.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/gHZvOA5MLek/

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Show at London's V&A museum celebrates David Bowie

LONDON (AP) ? When did the modern era begin? With the Renaissance? With Elvis Presley?

For a generation of music-loving Britons, it started on July 6, 1972, when David Bowie performed the song "Starman" on the TV show "Top of the Pops."

Viewers had never seen anything like the androgynous orange-haired figure in a jumpsuit, singing about aliens while draping his arm teasingly around guitarist Mick Ronson and offering a lyrical benediction ? "let all the children boogie."

Lonely teenagers in suburban bedrooms across the land were entranced, and, in many cases, inspired.

The ripples from that moment help explain why a major new multimedia exhibition about Bowie at London's Victoria and Albert Museum is the fastest seller in the institution's history, with 50,000 advance tickets sold ? and why Bowie is topping music charts once again at the age of 66.

The "David Bowie Is" exhibition, which opens Saturday, marks the first time Britain's leading museum of decorative arts and design has devoted a show to a pop star.

"Bowie is no ordinary pop star," co-curator Victoria Broackes said Wednesday. "He has seeped into every area of our culture" ? music, fashion, performance and design.

"In the last couple of years, the fashion references have been non-stop," Broackes said. "Jonathan Saunders, Miu Miu, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Gucci ? all reference him. It seems that the creative directors of those companies often are of a certain age, and perhaps they first came across David Bowie in the '70s and have reached these positions of authority now."

Bowie is arguably music's greatest chameleon, a performer who has adopted and discarded personas with abandon as he moved through musical styles from folk-rock to glam to soul to electronica.

As a teenager, he transformed himself from plain old David Jones ? born in 1947 and raised in the drab south London suburbs ? to exotic David Bowie. Then he went on to create a series of larger-than-life stage characters ? astronaut Major Tom, alien rock star Ziggy Stardust, troubled Aladdin Sane, the enigmatic Thin White Duke.

It's that eclecticism, the show argues, that makes Bowie uniquely influential ? he has mixed up sounds and styles, genres and genders, to come up with something all his own.

The show includes glimpses at Bowie's wide range of influences, from British musical theater to Berlin cabaret; from German Expressionism to Japanese Kabuki; from surrealism to Andy Warhol.

Bowie gave curators access to his personal archive, although he was not directly involved in planning the show. The 300 items on display include film clips, photographs, handwritten lyrics, storyboards for videos and drawings of costumes and sets.

There is plenty to thrill Bowie fans, from his first single ("Liza Jane," by Davie Jones and the King Bees, released in 1964) to film footage of the only meeting between Bowie and Andy Warhol ? an awkward 1971 encounter ? to a painting by Bowie of Iggy Pop in a wintry 1970s Berlin.

In contrast to the hushed halls throughout the rest of the museum, there is plenty of sound and vision, including performance footage from Bowie's large-scale tours and inventive videos for songs like "Ashes to Ashes."

Above all, there are extravagant costumes, including the multicolored quilted jumpsuit from that pivotal "Starman" appearance, designed by Freddie Burretti. Bowie wore it with red patent leather boots, calling the look "ultraviolence in Liberty fabrics."

Fashion always played a major part in creating the Bowie mystique, and he chose designers carefully, from the late Alexander McQueen ? whose Union Jack coat adorned Bowie's "Earthling" album cover ? to Kansai Yamamoto, a key 1970s collaborator.

The show includes several flamboyant Yamamoto outfits, including a knitted cat suit that Bowie wore as Aladdin Sane. The exhibition reveals, endearingly, that a knitting pattern was published so fans could make their own versions.

The David Bowie who emerges through the exhibition is a canny businessman and hard-working innovator as well as eclectic artist.

Bowie has released 27 studio albums, and performed 1,000 gigs in 12 tours between 1972 and 2004. Along the way, he sold shares in himself with the issue of "Bowie Bonds" and set up the website and online community Bowienet.

And then he stopped, seemingly retiring for good in 2004 after suffering a heart attack.

Exhibition co-curator Geoffrey Marsh argues that retiring from public view was yet another example of Bowie's genius.

"He's been famous for 10 years by doing nothing," Marsh said.

Then, earlier this year, Bowie startled the world by announcing he was releasing a new album. "The Next Day," with its melancholy backward glances at Bowie's time in divided Berlin in the 1970s, has received largely positive reviews. Fans are even starting to dream there could be some new live shows.

And there is little sign of Bowie's influence waning.

"When we started this exhibition, we thought we were reaching 'peak Bowie,'" Broackes said. "But we're opening in a week when he has an album that is No. 1 in 40 countries."

"David Bowie Is" runs at London's Victoria and Albert Museum until Aug. 11, and at the Museum of Image and Sound in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from January to April 2014.

___

Online: www.vam.ac.uk

Jill Lawless can be reached at http://Twitter.com/JillLawless

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/show-londons-v-museum-celebrates-david-bowie-143952512.html

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Kennedy key in court's gay marriage case

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

As the Supreme Court?s unpredictable swing vote, Justice Anthony Kennedy often finds himself the subject of scrutiny before big, controversial Supreme Court cases. But next week, when he hears arguments in two cases with the potential to transform the way gays and lesbians are treated in the country, Kennedy watchers have two landmark opinions written by the justice to mine for clues as to how he will rule.

Starting Tuesday, judges will hear oral arguments over whether California?s voter-approved ban on gay marriage, Proposition 8, violates the constitutional rights of gay people in the state; and over whether the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which states that only marriages between people of the opposite sex are federally valid, is legal.

The former, called Perry v. Hollingsworth, could be especially significant as the justices, in theory, could either declare all state gay marriage bans unconstitutional?or say that gay couples have no constitutional claim to marriage at all.

Kennedy, a 76-year-old Sacramento native and Ronald Reagan appointee, most often votes with his four conservative colleagues. But the devout Catholic has broken with that pattern to side with the more liberal wing of the court in some key cases, such as when he affirmed Roe v. Wade?s holding that women have a right to abortions in 1992, and when he ruled in 2005 that states may not sentence criminals to death if they committed their crimes as juveniles.

Included in Kennedy?s swings toward the liberal wing of the court are two of the most important Supreme Court decisions involving, and ultimately affirming, gay rights, authored by Kennedy himself: Lawrence v. Texas (2003) and Romer v. Evans (1996). Advocates for gay marriage and legal experts think Kennedy?s decision to break with his conservative colleagues and expand rights for gay people in these two decisions means he will be reluctant to rule against same-sex marriage this time around.

?I think he?s very aware" of his legacy on gay rights, said Geoffrey Stone, a constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago. ?My guess is he?s proud of it and won?t do anything to tarnish it.?

But Stone, like many court watchers, doubts Kennedy would go so far as to strike down all 41 state laws that ban gay marriage. Kennedy could strike down California?s Proposition 8 on much narrower grounds, in a way that would affect only California or, at most, a handful of states. That would still hand gay marriage proponents a victory, encouraging them to continue trying to pass gay marriage laws state by state, without sparking charges of judicial overreach.

?I don?t think Kennedy is going to come out in a kind of Loving v. Virginia [decision] saying there?s a right to gay marriage,? said Northern Illinois University Law Professor Artemus Ward, referring to the landmark case striking down state bans on interracial marriage. ?That would be a huge, bold decision that no one expects.?

Kennedy?s reputation as a judicial supporter of gay rights began when he wrote the opinion for Romer v. Evans striking down a Colorado constitutional amendment that barred local governments from passing laws that prevented discriminating against gay people. According to one of Kennedy?s former clerks quoted in a paper by Ward, Kennedy thought the law was an ?outrage? because it appeared to him to be motivated purely by hatred for a group of people.

In his opinion, Kennedy wrote that the amendment ?seems inexplicable by anything but animus toward the class it affects; it lacks a rational relationship to legitimate state interests.? He wrote that the law singled out a group of people simply to deny them rights and make them unequal to others.

In Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down state sodomy statutes, Kennedy wrote that laws punishing people for engaging in anal sex ?seek to control a personal relationship that, whether or not entitled to formal recognition in the law, is within the liberty of persons to choose without being punished as criminals.? And he noted that the constitution guaranteed gay people the right to have sexual relationships in private while still retaining ?their dignity as free persons.?

In a scathing dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia warned that the logic behind Kennedy?s decision opened the door to striking down laws that prevent same-sex marriage, since Kennedy effectively ruled that moral disapproval is not by itself a legitimate reason for the government to outlaw behavior.

Both of these decisions suggest that Kennedy is hostile to laws that single out gay people as a group based on a moral dislike of them. But opponents of gay marriage point out that gay marriage bans like Proposition 8 do not explicitly mention or single out gay people; instead they define marriage as occurring only for opposite sex couples.

?There?s nothing in those decisions that compels Kennedy to take" the step of striking down gay marriage bans, John Eastman, a law professor at Chapman University and chairman for the anti-gay marriage group the National Organization for Marriage, said.

In past decisions, Kennedy has also placed importance on public opinion and international law, which sets him apart from his colleagues. Kennedy carefully cited public opinion polls and state laws in his opinion declaring the death penalty for juveniles unconstitutional, saying that most Americans and states disapproved of the practice. And Kennedy cited other countries' decisions to repeal sodomy laws in his Lawrence opinion.

Eastman finds this tendency of Kennedy's hopeful for his cause, as a majority of states have adopted gay marriage bans. And fewer than a dozen countries have recognized the right to gay marriage.

But public opinion is changing rapidly on the issue, with recent polls showing a majority of Americans for the first time supporting gay marriage. Younger people overwhelmingly support same-sex marriage. Kennedy, more than any other justice, may be swayed by this emerging shift.

?It?s clear what the trend line is with regard to this issue,? said Kent Greenfield, a law professor at Boston College and former clerk for Justice David Souter. ?He probably doesn?t want to be out too far in front, but at the same time he doesn?t want to be the person who writes the equivalent of Dred Scott.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/justice-kennedy-strike-down-california-gay-marriage-ban-091810994--election.html

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Meet Ryback and Chris Jericho at WrestleMania Axxess

All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. ? 2012 WWE, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This website is based in the United States. By submitting personal information to this website you consent to your information being maintained in the U.S., subject to applicable U.S. laws. U.S. law may be different than the law of your home country. WrestleMania XXIX (NY/NJ) logo TM & ? 2012 WWE. All Rights Reserved. The Empire State Building design is a registered trademark and used with permission by ESBC.

Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/29/jericho-ryback-vip-sessions

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Unbeaten Dominicans win World Baseball Classic 3-0

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Tony Pena passed around the shiny trophy and let all of his players offer their besitos, or little kisses. Robinson Cano passed around a phone as his teammates took turns receiving congratulations from Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina.

"We appreciate that from the president," Jose Reyes said. "This win is all about the Dominican Republic. They were hungry waiting for this moment, and we did it."

The Dominican Republic has its World Baseball Classic crown, at last.

Cheers of "Dominicana! Dominicana!" rang out through the rain at AT&T Park all the way to the lively streets of Santo Domingo.

Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run double in the first inning that held up, and the Dominicans capped a dominant, unbeaten run through the WBC with a 3-0 win against Puerto Rico for the championship Tuesday night.

"Tomorrow will be a national holiday," said Moises Alou, the proud Dominican general manager. "It was a tremendous win."

Cano earned MVP honors, Erick Aybar added an RBI double to back winner Samuel Deduno, and the demonstrative Dominican righty threw his arms into the air in delight after watching a run-saving defensive gem by center fielder Alejandro De Aza in a tough fifth.

The Dominican fans ? fanaticos, indeed ? didn't let the Bay Area's wet weather keep them from dancing in the stands, waving flags and tooting horns. Flags became makeshift ponchos.

It was fitting, too, perhaps, considering the World Series champion Giants clinched the NL pennant against the Cardinals in a downpour on this very field last fall.

Some 50,000 more supporters gathered to watch on televisions inside and outside of Estadio Quisqueya in the Dominican capital city.

"We want to enjoy every single moment, because we don't know if this group will be together again. I doubt it," Dominican manager Tony Pena said.

Now, the Dominicans get their long-awaited fiesta. A party they figured to have in 2009, when the Netherlands spoiled the plan by beating them twice for a stunning first-round exit.

After Fernando Rodney struck out Luis Figueroa to end it, the Dominicans rushed the mound ? each player waving his own flag. Well, Rodney held up his lucky plantain that served him well for the second straight day. He won't eat this platano, which he said "is going to be my second trophy."

"This is my gold medal," he said. "It will be my black diamond, because it's changing color. I kept telling everybody to relax and not to worry about (the pressure)."

The Dominicans (8-0) won it in the city where countrymen Felipe, Jesus and the late Matty Alou made history in 1963 when they appeared in the same Giants outfield for several games. Moises Alou is the son of former San Francisco skipper, Felipe.

No matter their team, Caribbeans had so much to cheer in the championship of a tournament missing the star-studded American team yet again. The U.S. failed to reach the final for the third time in as many WBCs.

And Puerto Rico eliminated two-time reigning Classic champion Japan with a 3-1 victory Sunday night to make in all-Caribbean final.

This game gave new meaning to the idea of a Caribbean championship.

Deduno followed up a fine outing in a win against the Americans last Thursday with another strong performance that will send him back to the Minnesota Twins with some nice momentum.

Deduno struck out five in five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and walking three to finish with a 0.69 ERA for the tournament. And Rodney struck out two and finished for his seventh save as the bullpen closed out this special run with 25 2-3 scoreless innings. The relievers didn't allow a run after the fourth inning of their first-round victory against Puerto Rico on March 10 in San Juan.

In the top of the fifth, the grounds crew scurried out to rake the mound after it became slippery in the rain and Deduno walked Alex Rios on five pitches to lead off the inning.

After Carlos Rivera flied out, De Aza ran down Andy Gonzalez's long fly to the gap in left-center and made a reaching snag at the warning track with his back to the infield.

Deduno then walked Jesus Feliciano. Pena paid the pitcher a mound visit but stuck with him, and Deduno struck out Angel Pagan swinging after falling behind 2-0. Deduno pumped his fists again as he charged off the mound and was surrounded by celebratory teammates.

In the bottom half, De Aza did it with his bat. He snapped an 0-for-12 stretch when he laid down a perfect bunt single toward third.

The Dominicans became the first unbeaten WBC champion, beating Team Puerto Rico for the third time in this Classic.

And now they earn the distinction of world champion, too ? the first time in WBC history.

Cano had a big hand in it.

The New York Yankees star finished his sensational Classic batting .469 (15 for 32) with two home runs, six RBIs, six runs scored and two doubles. The 15 hits are a WBC record. He also earned MVP honors in each of the first two rounds. Encarnacion finished with six WBC RBIs.

After drawing a pair of intentional walks a night earlier, Cano had another in the first inning against loser Giancarlo Alvarado.

The Puerto Rican right-hander surrendered Encarnacion's double two pitches later, and was done after one shaky inning featuring 22 pitches and only 10 strikes.

Hiram Burgos relieved and struck out five in 4 2-3 innings.

"We didn't have a lot of big names," Puerto Rico manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "The people who were here wanted to be here. They had a mission, and that was to give everything. I think that's an example of what can be accomplished when you have interest and you really put your passion toward a cause."

After Miguel Tejada started at third base and Hanley Ramirez played designated hitter a night earlier in a 4-1 semifinal win against the Netherlands, Ramirez returned to third and Aybar was back in the lineup at DH. Tejada replaced the Dodgers' Ramirez at third in the sixth and made a diving catch in the bullpen area in which he landed hard on his left side and came up grimacing.

Ramirez was lifted because he jammed his thumb lunging for a groundball. Mosies Alou said Ramirez would be examined further.

Pena's move paid off as Aybar doubled and singled and Ramirez added a base hit in the winning effort.

"I'll tell you one thing: Tonight we're going to celebrate, tomorrow we're going to celebrate, and Thursday we're going to worry about spring training," Cano said.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig was among those to attend the game ? available on television to 440 million households worldwide in 200 countries and territories, and in 15 languages ? that drew 35,703 fans on a cool, drizzly March night at AT&T Park.

NOTES: The Puerto Ricans were 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position. ... DR reliever Santiago Casilla walked major league teammate Pagan on five pitches to start the eighth. ... Reyes tripled in the seventh. ... Attendance for the three games in the Giants' ballpark was 96,913 for a tournament total of 885,212. That surpassed the previous record of 801,410 in 2009. ... ... Japan's loss to Puerto Rico on Sunday was watched by 51 percent of potential viewers in Japan, MLB said. It was the largest share for any of Japan's WBC games this year. The game also was the most-watched sporting event in the past year in Puerto Rico, with the final moments getting a 74 share. ... MLB executive Tim Brosnan called the WBC an "unqualified, over-the-top success."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/unbeaten-dominicans-win-world-baseball-classic-3-0-034044420--mlb.html

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Internet Promotion Ideas That Will Improve Your Business | Free ...

Internet Promotion Ideas That Will Improve Your Business

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Web Design Team in Blog

Web marketing enables you to reach a wide variety of people. You will learn a great deal about how to market on the Internet. After reading this, you will have a good idea on how to be a great Internet marketer.

Handle customer complaints in a personal way, done yourself whenever possible. Some business owners outsource this work to specialized companies, but you are best equipped to resolve these issues yourself. If a customer sends you an email about a problem he or she experienced with your product or service, send a personal response back to the customer that offers a method of resolving the issue.

Affiliate marketing isn?t just about advertising. It is about solving problems with the best solutions. Try to anticipate what questions you can provide answers to or problems you can solve. If your business offers a good solution to a problem, your customers will appreciate it and spread the word.

If you bundle the products and offer a better price, you may have success. You should be clear in your marketing of what the offer is and what it entails.

NOTE! Back up your claims. Most people don?t always believe what they?re reading.

Successful Internet marketers are enthusiastic about what it is they?re trying to do. Enthusiasm of your product is essential to the success of your business. When you get people enthusiastic about your products they can feel more interested in making purchases. Choosing a product or a service you are passionate about will make things easier.

Keeping your finger on the emotional pulse of your intended audience regarding online activities and promotions is crucial to your ability to design successful market strategies in the future. Once you launch an online event, promotion or initiative, keep an eye out for how people respond on blogs, forums, etc. Respond to the advice by making changes next time. People are always happy when their concerns are addressed.

Internet Marketing

Video marketing is an increasingly important tool you can put into your business?s Internet marketing toolbox. Adding a video to your website or blog is the best way to attract and hold a customer?s interest in your product. Use a catchy title and photo to draw in interest and improve sales.

NOTE! Frequently updating your content will likely affect your traffic. When you have determined the appropriate tone, stick to that one and stay consistent in your image.

As mentioned above, you can increase your online visibility through the use of focused Internet marketing. If getting news of your product to the right customers all over the world is beyond the reach of ordinary advertisements, Internet marketing will often do the trick. Try these suggestions to get started on the path to maximizing your online profitability.

OK, we?re nearly done for today?

I?ll write some additional website marketing techniques for you around 24 hours from now. if anything I wrote above is not clear, write your questions in the comments field below and I?ll take a closer look at what can be done to help you out.

All the best and chat with you the next time round.

Stewart Alexander
Stewart Alexander
CEO and Founder of Free Web Design Services

Source: http://www.freewebdesignservices.com/internet-promotion-ideas-that-will-improve-your-business/

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China becomes world's fifth largest arms exporter

STOCKHOLM (AP) ? China has bypassed Britain as the world's fifth largest arms exporter, a Swedish think tank said Monday.

The volume of Chinese weapons exports rose by 162 percent in the five years 2008-2012, compared to the previous five-year period, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in its report. That means China's share of all international arms exports increased to 5 percent from 2 percent, and the country climbed to fifth from eighth in the rankings.

The largest buyer of Chinese weapons was Pakistan, which accounted for 55 percent of the country's exports, followed by Myanmar with 8 percent and Bangladesh with 7 percent, SIPRI said.

"China's rise has been driven primarily by large-scale arms acquisitions by Pakistan," said Paul Holtom, director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme. "However, a number of recent deals indicate that China is establishing itself as a significant arms supplier to a growing number of important recipient states."

Such deals include the sale of three frigates to Algeria, eight transport aircraft to Venezuela and 54 tanks to Morocco, SIPRI said.

The U.S. remains the world's top arms exporter during the 2008-2012 period, with 30 percent of the global volume. Russia is second with 26 percent, Germany third with 7 percent, and France fourth with 6 percent, SIPRI said.

China's move into the top-five means Britain (now in sixth place) dropped off the list of the top five for the first time since at least 1950, the earliest year covered by SIPRI data.

The institute said Asia dominated the global imports of weapons, with the top five importers all located in that region.

Here's SIPRI's list of the top 5 arms exporters in 2008-2012 (share of international exports in parenthesis):

1. United States (30 percent).

2. Russia (26).

3. Germany (7).

4. France (6).

5. China (5).

The top 5 arms importers in 2008-2012 (share of international imports in parenthesis):

1. India (12 percent).

2. China (6).

3. Pakistan (5).

4. South Korea (5).

5. Singapore (4).

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-18-World's-Top-Arms-Exporters/id-13cbd443670245a1a7b5b64453d181bd

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My Train Fantasy

Passengers wait for an Amtrak train to arrive at Union Station in Hartford, Conn.

Photo by Dave Collins/AP

Last month, graphic designer and railroad aficionado Alfred Twu published a stunning map of what America would look like if virtually every last nook and cranny of the country were connected by a state-of-the-art, 220-mph rail network. Twu?s plan for a national high-speed rail system could get passengers from Cheyenne, Wyo., to Albany, N.Y., in just under 12 hours. It captured an old-school patriotic longing among young tech-savvy Americans for big, prestige projects with a design that was elegant in its simplicity. Online media outlets described Twu as a ?visionary.? ?This Is What America's High-Speed Rail System Should Look Like? was one typically glowing headline.

Some conservatives had a different description for Twu and his map. ?High-speed rail supporter Alfred Twu has gotten a lot of attention for having boldly drawn a map of where he thinks high-speed trains should go,? wrote Randal O?Toole of the libertarian Cato Institute. ?Twu?s map is even more absurd than Obama?s plan,? he wrote, describing the map, and high-speed rail in general, as a ?ridiculous fantasy.?

O?Toole?s reaction demonstrated one of the principal reasons why American high-speed rail has been mostly stymied: One person?s beautiful vision of the future is another?s terrifying government boondoggle. The Obama plan to use $8 billion in stimulus money as a carrot to get states to invest in high-speed rail went down in flames two years ago. It failed largely because Republican governors in states such as Florida rejected federal funds. But if there were some way to get beyond partisan politics and legal battles over right-of-way issues, what would an ideally efficient map of an American high-speed rail system actually look like?

To be fair to his critics, it probably wouldn?t look like Twu?s map. While beautiful in its design, Twu?s fanciful vision connects cities that are too far apart to have any kind of reliable passenger base, and it does so with little regard for geographical and engineering constraints. ?Between Los Angeles and Denver there are huge segments of not only desert, but also mountain ranges that the high speed rail tracks would have to be built through,? says Dan Schned, a senior planner at America 2050, a national infrastructure planning and policy program. Another flaw in Twu?s dream of ?the country as one connected city? is that it would serve routes that didn?t actually have any passengers. ?Even if a Maglev line was built from L.A. to Chicago, you?re not going to be able to get the trip times low enough? to convert air travelers, Schned says. And several of these lines pass across vast stretches of unpopulated areas where no new riders would be getting on the train. ?Unless you?re picking up riders and dropping off riders along the way and keeping that train full, it?s not going to work,? Schned says.

But fast, efficient, modern railways don?t have to be just a fantasy art project. America 2050 has been heavily involved in attempting to establish which corridors make the most sense for high-speed rail. In 2011, it published a comprehensive report analyzing 7,870 potential high-speed rail corridors in the country?s 11 ?mega-regions? where 70 percent of the nation?s population resides. Typical mega-regions include the Northeast corridor, the Great Lakes states, California and the Southwest, and the Northwestern ?Cascadia? region of Washington and Oregon. Using a handful of criteria, including population, employment, the market for air travel, and automobile traffic congestion, the study attempted to establish which routes would be most ideal for high-speed rail construction. Routes with scores of 19 or more were deemed best-suited for the most modern high-speed rail systems, scores of 17 were projected to be well-suited for top-of-the-line systems if population growth were to continue at projected rates, and scores of 10 or below were said to not justify priority federal funding because of their sparse and spread-out populations.

Twu?s map included some of the highest scoring routes, including Washington, D.C., to New York City (with a score of 20.15), Boston to New York (19.87), New York to Philadelphia (19.86), Los Angeles to San Diego (19.62), Chicago to Milwaukee (19.38), Los Angeles to San Francisco (17.98), and Portland to Seattle (17.37). But it also included many of the low-scoring routes as well, such as Chicago to Memphis (10.79), Kansas City to St. Louis (9.62), Little Rock to Dallas (10.66), Baton Rouge to New Orleans (8.48), and Birmingham to New Orleans (4.95). Twu also drew four routes connecting Albuquerque, El Paso, Denver, Omaha, and Salt Lake City that all scored between 4.67 and 9.91, and two separate lines in the low-scoring Florida region. ?Some of these city pairs are so far apart that we didn?t even rank them,? says Schned.

Corridors that couldn?t attract sufficient numbers of riders would likely detract from the potential economic and environmental benefits gained from the more sensible routes. ?If newly built high-speed rail services do not attract projected ridership over time, they will not only fail to deliver their promised benefits but they may waste energy, resources, and require excessive operating subsidies,? the America 2050 report concluded.

Experts who study light rail often mention a ?sweet spot? of between 100 and 600 miles for high-speed rail corridor trips. Shorter than 100 miles, and a rider is more likely to want to take a conventional train, a car, or a bus. Longer than 600 miles and a rider is better off flying.

The potential efficiencies of high-speed rail along corridors with proven ridership figures are getting tougher and tougher to deny. ?We have millions of people living right now in this country in places where they don?t have adequate inter-city transportation,? says Christopher Barkan, director of the railroad engineering program at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. ?They?re entirely dependent upon congested highways. They?re entirely dependent upon using airplanes.?

If we could connect those people in a way that cuts greenhouse emissions, comes at a lower cost for commuters, allows them to access wireless networks and work during trips, and is profitable, the potential economic and environmental efficiencies would easily be worth the initial investment. But that initial investment would be steep. California is the only state in the country right now that is actively pursuing a high-speed rail plan. Construction of the first leg of a corridor that is planned to ultimately connect San Francisco and Los Angeles is set to begin in July. The cost is projected to be $68 billion, and sources for less than a fifth of that funding have been identified so far.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=2179ad42a4d57070a98d4d252b7963c6

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