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Source: http://kaimaaina22.blogspot.com/2012/11/crystals-feng-shui-bedroom.html
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Monday, November 26, 2012
Israel eases Gaza border restrictions after truce
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) ? Gaza residents said Saturday that Israel has eased some border restrictions as part of its truce with the Palestinian territory's Hamas rulers, allowing farmers to visit land near its security fence and letting fishermen head further out to sea.
The Egyptian-brokered cease-fire ended eight days of cross-border fighting that claimed 166 Palestinian and six Israeli lives, according to health officials.
As part of the deal, Israel and Hamas are now to negotiate a further easing of the Gaza border blockade, first imposed by Israel and Egypt after the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007.
Also Saturday, tens of thousands of Gaza children returned to school for the first time since fighting ended late Wednesday. About half of Gaza's 1.6 million people are children.
In 245 U.N.-run schools, the day was dedicated to letting children share what they experienced, in hopes of helping them deal with trauma, educators said.
In a sixth-grade class in Gaza City, boys eagerly raised their hands when asked by their science teacher to share their stories in the presence of a reporter. Mohammed Abu Sakr, 11, said that earlier this week, he witnessed an Israeli missile striking a car and engulfing it in flames. The boy said he had trouble sleeping and eating afterwards, and still feels scared.
Thirty-four children and minors under the age of 18 were among those killed in the fighting, said Gaza health officials and local human rights groups. A total of 156 Palestinians were killed during the fighting and 10 died later of their wounds, they said.
The exchanges of fire were the bloodiest between Israel and Hamas in four years. Israel launched the offensive to put an end to escalating Gaza rocket fire on Israeli towns. Israel said it reached its objectives, while Hamas claimed victory because Israel didn't make good on threats to send ground troops into the territory, as it had done four years earlier.
Israel's air force carried out some 1,500 strikes on Hamas-linked targets, while Gaza militants fired roughly the same number of rockets, including some targeting the Israeli heartland cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for the first time.
The truce is to lead to a new border deal for Gaza, with Egypt hosting indirect talks between Israel and Hamas. Israel has shunned Hamas as a terrorist group and refuses to negotiate with it directly.
Israeli demands that Hamas halt weapons smuggling into Gaza, while Hamas seeks free movement for people and goods in and out of Gaza.
After the Hamas takeover in 2007, Israel and then-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak sealed Gaza to isolate the Islamic militants and make it harder for them to govern.
The restrictions have since been eased because of international pressure on Israel and because of regime change in Egypt. Both Hamas and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, elected earlier this year, are members of the region-wide Muslim Brotherhood movement.
Before the Nov. 14 start of the fighting, Gaza received most of its consumer goods through an Israeli cargo crossing, while Israel banned virtually all exports and travel from Gaza, preventing the area's battered economy from bouncing back.
Items restricted by Israel, such as construction materials, were brought into Gaza through smuggling tunnels from Egypt, along with weapons for Hamas.
Israel also restricted the movement of Gaza's fishermen and farmers in border areas, citing security concerns.
On Saturday, fishermen were able to sail six nautical miles out to sea, or double the previous limit, said Mahfouz Kabariti, head of the local fishermen's association. He said several fishermen already made the journey Saturday.
"This is an opportunity and a chance for a better catch, though it is still a limited area," said Kabariti, who represents some 3,500 fishermen.
Israeli navy boats have been enforcing a sea blockade in an attempt to prevent weapons smuggling to Gaza. The restrictions on fishermen have fluctuated over the years, linked to the ups and downs in Israeli-Palestinian relations.
Meanwhile, some Gaza residents said they were able to enter an Israeli-enforced buffer zone on the Gaza side of the border Saturday with Israel without fear of being fired on.
Israel's military carved out a 300-meter-wide zone several years to try to prevent militants from sneaking into Israel. The zone gobbled up scarce acres of farmland in one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
On Friday, hundreds of Palestinians surged toward the border fence, but Israeli soldiers fired to push them back, killing one man and wounding at least 19 people.
On Saturday, 42-year-old farmer Nidal Abu Dakka said soldiers stood and watched as he and others moved close to the fence. Abu Dakka, speaking by phone, said he was inspecting his land, some 60 meters from the border, and planned to plant wheat and barley soon.
In other border areas, residents said Hamas police kept them away from the fence.
An Israeli government spokesman said he was unaware restrictions had been eased. A defense official said the Israeli military was no longer enforcing the no-go zone, but reserved the right to act against suspicious people. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to discuss the issue with reporters.
___
Associated Press writer Ibrahim Barzak in Gaza City contributed reporting.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israel-eases-gaza-border-restrictions-truce-132613303.html
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Sunday, November 25, 2012
Small business Saturday | WPRI.com
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - After shoppers flooded store on black Friday, local stores in Rhode Island hope people shop local on small business Saturday.
For 12 years "Frod and Toad" on Hope St. has been selling everything from stationary to souvenirs.
Owner Asher Schofield tell Eyewitness News "People really come out for Small business Saturday. We see a huge jump in business. It's really a great thing. You really get a sense that people want to support their local mom and pop businesses."
According to the Small Business Administration, 100 million people nationwide shopped locally on small buisness Saturday last year.
"Why would we want to support a big store chain, they're going to make it anyway? so very much for the small business owner." said shopper Gail Goodwin-Gomez
Gail said she shopped last year and she plans to shop locally this year too.
"Luniac Glamour" on Main St. in East Greenwich opened just three months ago and is getting ready for it's first small business Saturday. The shop has all things beauty, from bags and jewlrey to hair and a nail salon.
Co-oweners Jaclyn Murphy and Kristen Marrah tell Eyewitness News that everything in their shop is made by Rhode Island designers.
"People who own the businesses are your friends and your family, people that you see on the street.// I think keeping everything local is ideal." says Kristen.
This is the third offical year of small business Saturday.
Source: http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/providence/small-business-saturday
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Austin Real Estate Secrets: Tim's Top 10 Rules of Real Estate in 2012
Rule 1.?
Experience is truly measured by the number of closed transactions during the past year--not measured by one's "Years in the business".
A Realtor's experience is only as good as the deals they have done during the past 6-12 months. Just because a Realtor has "been in the business for the past 25 years", does not mean that they have sold more than a few houses a year or that they know and understand this current market.
Rule 2.
You won't get a better deal by going directly to the listing agent.
If you are buying a home and hope that you can negotiate 3% off of the top by going directly to the listing agent--you should understand why this does not work in Texas. The commission for both Realtors has already been written into the listing agreement between the seller and listing agent and if you go into a transaction unprotected without a Buyer's Agent--the listing agent will actually be "paid twice"--their commission will potentially increase as much as double* when there is no other Realtor involved--regardless of how much is negotiated off of the price of the house.? Unfortunately, when you do this, you get ZERO representation and almost no information that you should be getting if you had a Realtor represent you. An experienced buyer is never as experienced as a Realtor who buys and sells houses all day, every day, 25-30 times a year. A good Buyer's Agent can tell you about things about a particular property--things that the listing agent can't tell, because the listing agent is representing the seller--exclusively. The Texas Real Estate Commission is very clear in explaining the roles of the Buyer's Agent and the Seller's Agent. A Realtor either represents the Buyer or the Seller--never both at the same time for the same property. Red Flags that a Buyer's Agent may see in a home, property or locations are often not what shows up on a Seller's Disclosure about the property. Because the Seller's Agent represents the seller, there are some things that he may believe to be true, but just can't tell you, like unverified potential problems with the foundation, roof or other features of the home. And there may be things about the area that the listing agent can't tell you, but you should know. If there is no certified or professional documentation for the potential concern, it is not something that the seller is likely going to disclose and the listing agent can't tell you what he does not know to be true about undisclosed potential issues like an old roof or AC system**. This would not be in his client's best interest. And you are not his client.?
Rule 3.?
Every Market is different.
Every state, city, community and street are different in the business of Real Estate. Generalizations don't work and what is happening in one city or area has nothing to do with what is happening in another. This is true of appreciation, growth, foreclosures, short sales and virtually every aspect of the real estate process.?
Rule 4.
Living in a community does not make someone the real estate expert.
The "business" of Real Estate is far more than knowing where the community pool is located and which neighbors are the ones that people talk about. Everyone can figure out the community map and local "gossip". Having an expert perspective on a community requires real-time experience and an understanding of the local real estate business.
Rule 5.
Building or buying new requires just as much experience.
New homes are a unique corner of the Real Estate Market and your Realtor should be well versed in all the normal aspects of Real Estate (community, comps, growth, schools, etc), and the Realtor should understand Time to Market appreciation of new communities, Construction, and when a new home builder is most likely to negotiate on a particular house and to what degree. It's a whole different ball game and the strategies are different out of necessity.?
Rule 6.?
Every deal is unique.
Having as much information as possible on the history of a home, the seller and what is going on around a specific property is critical to strategic negotiations. Since Texas is a "Non-Disclosure State", published public information is limited to the guesstimates that the county uses to determine tax value in a zip code, not actual sold sales data from the MLS. The county does not have access to MLS sold data and brokers are prohibited from publishing this data publicly.
Rule 7.?
Buyers determine Market Value for a home--not the Listing Agent. A Realtor that loves your home and is excited about your property will not affect either market value or the appraised value of the home. Buyers and their agents are smart. Pricing a home above market value only prolongs the inevitable re-pricing game.
Rule 8.
The Listing Agent does not sell your home.
A robust listing of a home is a function of Marketing and Online Advertising--not Salesmanship. Listing Agents almost never bring "the buyer" to your home and the Listing Agent and their brokerage will almost never be the one that sells your home--no matter how good they feel they are at "selling". The internet has changed this dimension of the business forever.
Rule 9.
An experienced Realtor should always know more.
More about the history of the house, community and area. More about what has sold during the past 6-12 months. More about what is selling in other areas of town and why. More about financial alternatives, reputable inspectors, the contract documents, title and all aspects of the end-to-end Real Estate contracting process. Your Realtor should be a business person who represents your best interests in a Real Estate transaction. Ask him lots of questions. Lean on him. Find out what he knows that you should know before you buy your next house.
Rule 10.
See Rule Number 9.
Disclaimers:
*I am not a real estate attorney and nothing written here should be construed as legal advise or legal counsel. If you have legal questions about any real estate transaction or property, you should seek the advise of a Texas real estate attorney.
**When speaking of commissions and fees, the actual commission rates that a listing agent has contractually negotiated with a seller to sell his/her property is negotiable at the time of the agreement to list the property for sale. There are no set amounts that sellers and listing agent must adhere to when a property is listed for sale.
Source: http://austinrealestatesecrets.blogspot.com/2012/11/tims-top-10-rules-of-real-estate-in-2012.html
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Saturday, November 24, 2012
Powerball jackpot builds to $325M for Saturday
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ? A New Jersey construction worker says he's in charge of buying Powerball tickets for a group of about a dozen co-workers.
Frank Scorvino of Toms River, N.J., says if they hit Saturday's $325 million jackpot, most of them would purchase new houses and cars, and maybe go on a cruise.
The jackpot is the fourth-largest in the game's history. Powerball jackpots have increased more rapidly since the price doubled to $2 in January.
Powerball organizers say this is the first run-up to a large jackpot that's fallen over a major holiday. They're unsure of the impact on sales.
South Bend, Ind., resident Dameon Smith says he'd retire from his job at the Hummer plant in Mishawaka, Ind. He said he'd share with family, friends and people he doesn't know.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/powerball-jackpot-builds-325m-saturday-162114837--finance.html
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SwiftKey 3 and SwiftKey 3 Tablet now half off
Yet another app sale for the Thanksgiving / Black Friday weekend is SwiftKey. Both smartphone and tablet versions of the custom Android keyboard are half off - $1.99 a pop.
For those unfamiliar, SwiftKey is a highly respected Android keyboard replacement that emphasizes predictive suggestions based on Twitter, Facebook, and Gmail usage. There's a really wide range of language support too, which is a must-have for many users. If you're looking for something comparable to Swype with gesture-based typing, you'll have to wait for SwiftKey Flow.
Any big SwifKey users here? Who's been holding off for a price cut?
 |  |
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/Tk7-osdVgTk/story01.htm
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6 relocation tips | Real Estate Real Estate
Relocating can be an exciting and stressful time for anyone. With so much going on and so much to think about, it is easy to overlook little things. So, before you begin packing everything into boxes, take a look at these helpful relocation tips:
Clean the house
When the decision has been made to move and you know exactly when you are moving, start going through your space. Get rid of any broken items or items you no longer use, and donate old clothes to charity.
Make a list of what is going
As you clean your house room by room, make a list of the things you plan to take with you. Organize your lists by room. For instance, you should have a master bedroom list, a kitchen list and so on. These lists will not only help you when you start packing, but they will also ensure that you find everything when you unpack in your new home.
Begin packing
You want to start packing well in advance. About a month before your move, begin packing away items that you will need but that you do not use every day. If you are moving during the summer, you can pack your winter clothes and heavy bedding. Also, as you pack, write the box?s contents on its top or sides and its corresponding room. This way, when you arrive at your new home, you can organize and find things easily.
Contact your insurance agent
Any time you move, you should contact your insurance agent. There is a good chance that certain things will change with your home insurance policy. The type of coverage you need for your new home may be completely different than what you currently have, so it is important that you discuss the move with your agent. Your agent will be able to answer any questions you have about your policy.
Hire a truck
If you already know what day you are moving, then you need to contact a moving company?or schedule a rental truck. Plan and reserve in advance in order to ensure you?ll have the assistance you need. Sometimes these companies are quite busy, and it may be difficult to hire them when you want, so the sooner you make contact the better.
Utilities
You should contact your current utilities provider ahead of time simply so they know when to shut off the utilities to your current location. You will also want to contact your new utility providers before you move so that you will have electricity and water when you arrive.
Having a timeline in your mind before you begin this process?will really help things go smoothly. Be sure that you have everything you need well before the big day arrives. When you get everything to your new home and settled in, don?t forget to update your IDs and get new registration for any vehicles you have. Happy moving!
?
Source: http://realtylightpost.com/topics/real-estate/6-relocation-tips/
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Thursday, November 22, 2012
Actelion says lung drug macitentan submitted in Europe
ZURICH (Reuters) - Actelion has submitted heart and lung drug macitentan to European health regulators, the second major step for the drug the Swiss group is positioning as a viable successor to its current top seller.
"The European Medicines Agency will now start the formal review process," Actelion said on Thursday. It plans to sell the drug under the brand name Opsumit.
Actelion, which submitted the treatment to the U.S. health regulator a month ago, issued data last month showing macitentan prolonged overall survival by more than a third in a clinical trial.
The company is banking on macitentan to replace top-seller Tracleer which, like macitentan, also treats pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and currently accounts for around 90 percent of group sales. Tracleer goes off patent from 2015 and faces growing competition from Gilead's Letairis.
Actelion is continuing to prepare macitentan submissions in Switzerland and major markets around the world, the company said.
(Reporting By Katharina Bart; Editing by Dan Lalor)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/actelion-says-lung-drug-macitentan-submitted-europe-065901403--finance.html
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Gateway enzyme for chemicals from catnip to cancer drug discovered
ScienceDaily (Nov. 21, 2012) ? Scientists have discovered an enzyme used in nature to make powerful chemicals from catnip to a cancer drug, vinblastine. The discovery opens up the prospect of producing these chemicals cheaply and efficiently.
They are produced naturally by some plants such as the medicinal Madagascar periwinkle, but faster-growing plants could be used to produce them. With synthetic biology, improvements could also be made to them.
The study, to be published in Nature on November 22, was led by scientists from the John Innes Centre, an institute on Norwich Research Park strategically funded by BBSRC.
"Thousands of chemicals are derived from the enzyme we have called iridoid synthase," says senior author Dr Sarah O'Connor from the JIC and the University of East Anglia.
"We can start to use it to come up with new-to-nature structures with biological activity of benefit to both medicine and agriculture."
Many aphids, often important agricultural pests, produce sex pheromone chemicals that are identical to or that closely resemble the iridoid synthase product. Strategic use of these iridoid chemicals could be used to disrupt the aphids' breeding cycle or to repel them from crops.
The anticancer ingredient vinblastine sulphate is currently derived from the Madagascar periwinkle plant. The iridoid synthase is an essential step in the production of this compound. But vinblastine is produced in just very low levels and the drug has many side effects. The hope is to find a way to produce it more cheaply, easily and with a chemical structure that lessens side effects.
"We need to identify more enzymes to see the entire pathway used in nature to make this potent compound," said Dr O'Connor.
"But the enzyme we have discovered is also the basic scaffold for many other iridoid chemicals and we can start to experiment with building new chemical structures with biological activity."
The backbone of all iridoids consists of two fused rings and scientists have been trying to track down what makes this ring system. Experiments showed that iridoid synthase is the enzyme responsible.
Scientists already knew the enzyme preceding iridoid synthase and how the gene encoding it is expressed. The lead author, Dr Fernando Geu-Flores from JIC, therefore looked for enzymes that are encoded by genes expressed in a similar way and narrowed down their search to 20 enzymes.
Research published in the 1980s indicated that the missing enzyme is dependent on a particular compound called NADPH, which narrowed the search down to two enzymes.
O'Connor and her co-workers will also investigate whether the enzyme is important in a simple chemical reaction used by chemists for nearly 100 years. Scientists are trying to identify which enzymes catalyse a reaction called the Diels-Alder reaction, named after the Nobel prize-winning scientists who discovered it. A better understanding of how the iridoid synthase works could open up new ways to make pharmaceutical compounds using synthetic biology.
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Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Norwich BioScience Institutes, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Fernando Geu-Flores, Nathaniel H. Sherden, Vincent Courdavault, Vincent Burlat, Weslee S. Glenn, Cen Wu, Ezekiel Nims, Yuehua Cui, Sarah E. O?Connor. An alternative route to cyclic terpenes by reductive cyclization in iridoid biosynthesis. Nature, 2012; DOI: 10.1038/nature11692
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/U9zI6SRjzo4/121121145634.htm
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Call that a ball? Dogs learn to associate words with objects differently than humans do
ScienceDaily (Nov. 21, 2012) ? Dogs learning to associate words with objects form these associations in different ways than humans do, according to research published November 21 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Emile van der Zee and colleagues from the University of Lincoln, UK.
Previous studies have shown that humans between the ages of two to three typically learn to associate words with the shapes of objects, rather than their size or texture. For example, toddlers who learn what a 'ball' is and are then presented other objects with similar shapes, sizes or textures will identify a similarly-shaped object as 'ball', rather than one of the same size or texture.
Earlier research with dogs has shown that they can learn to associate words with categories of objects (such as 'toy'), but whether their learning process was the same as that of humans was unknown.
In this new study, the scientists presented Gable, a five year old Border Collie, with similar choices to see if this 'shape bias' exists in dogs. They found that after a brief training period, Gable learned to associate the name of an object with its size, identifying other objects of similar size by the same name. After a longer period of exposure to both a name and an object, the dog learned to associate a word to other objects of similar textures, but not to objects of similar shape.
According to the authors, these results suggest that dogs (or at least Gable) process and associate words with objects in qualitatively different ways than humans do. They add that this may be due to differences in how evolutionary history has shaped human and dog senses of perceiving shape, texture or size.
The bottom line: Though your dog understands the command "Fetch the ball," but he may think of the object in a very different way than you do when he hears it. As the authors explain, "Where shape matters for us, size or texture matters more for your dog. This study shows for the first time that there is a qualitative difference in word comprehension in the dog compared to word comprehension in humans."
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Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Public Library of Science.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- van der Zee E, Zulch H, Mills D. Word Generalization by a Dog (Canis familiaris): Is Shape Important? PLoS ONE, 7(11): e49382 DOI: 10.1371/ journal.pone.0049382
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/HMuJ1Bls-qQ/121121210253.htm
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Health, Fitness and Excerise for Life ? Blog Archive ? Top 10 ...
(PRWEB) November 20, 2012
Vibration exercise machines help an individual maintain a healthy lifestyle. Vibration machines have platforms that have motors underneath it. The motors generate vibrations which are then transmitted to the user. HottyDeals.com now releases a list of the Top 9 Vibration Exercise Machines for Christmas, Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2012.
More details about the top 9 vibration exercise machines can be found at hottydeals.com/top-vibration-exercise-machines-reviews/.
The first vibration exercise machine on the list is the Confidence Body Vibration Fitness Machine. This is an easy to assemble vibration exercise machine. The machine can support a weight of up to 300 pounds. This is a compact equipment that is reliable and durable. The machine operates quietly. The next vibration machine on the list is the Sunny Health and Fitness Mini. This vibration exercise machine has a robust build making it among the most reliable and durable machines.
The machines presented on the list by HottyDeals.com are very sturdy, reliable and durable. The list provides a description of some of the best vibration exercise machines available in the market. The machines have been created by different companies that are at the top of the health and fitness equipment industry.
The 9 top vibration exercise machines in the list are:
1. Confidence Body VibrationExercise Platform Fitness Machine
2. Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Crazy Fit Bio Shaker
3. 209 Crazy Fit Massager Vibration Machine
4. Whole Body Vibration Machine Butterfly Shape
5. Health Mark VF80002 Full Body Vibration Exercise Machine
6. Sunny Health & Fitness Crazy Fit Massager
7. LifeSpan Fitness VP-900 Vibration Plate
8. Sunpentown Belt Massager
9. Noblerex Platinum K-1 Whole Body Vibration Machine
During this holiday season, it is good to have an exercise machine. These machines can also be used for weight loss. Top 9 vibration exercise machines for black friday and cyber monday deals 2012 released by Hottydeals website will help people choose the best vibration machines. The machines are currently available at reduced prices because of the holiday season.
More details about the top 9 vibration exercise machines can be found at http://hottydeals.com/top-vibration-exercise-machines-reviews/.
More Fitness Machines Press Releases
Source: http://www.mrgymhealth.com/?p=167
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Microsoft trots out Windows 8 mockups circa 2010, details the OS design process (video)
Microsoft's Jensen Harris, who wears the hat of Director of Program Management for the Windows User Experience team, showed off some Windows 8 mockups minted in early 2010 during a talk at last summer's UX Week 2012. Now, a video of the presentation has been posted online, giving us a look at the reference designs. Despite roughly two years separating mockup creation and the launch of Windows 8, the OS remained remarkably true to its conceptual roots. During the hour-long talk, Jensen covers the birth of Windows 8, its driving principles and even mentions some distaste for the faux leather aesthetics in some iOS apps, calling them "cheesy visual effects." Hit the adjacent gallery to catch a peek of the early Start screen, on-screen keyboard, Charms Bar and lock screen. For a video of the hour-long talk covering the story of how Redmond's operating system came to be, head past the jump.
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Software, Microsoft
Via: The Verge, istartedsomething
Source: UX Week
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/20/windows-8-early-mockups-2010/
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Project Change Management: Change Management - 3 Key - koftikafe
Failure reasons in change management are many and varied. But one thing is painfully clear. Any organisational initiative that creates change - or has a significant change element to it - has a 70% chance of not achieving what was originally envisaged.
There are 3 main reasons for failure:
1. The gap between the strategic vision and a successful programme implementation and the lack of a practical change management model and tools to bridge that gap.
2. The "hidden and built in resistance to change" of organisational cultures, and the lack of processes and change management methodologies to address this.
3. Failure to take full account of the impact of the changes on those people who are most affected by them i.e. the absence of good strategies for managing change.
It may occur at project level [at the execution "getting it all together" level] so that the initiative doesn't get off the ground - or doesn't get completed.
This is where most people focus - on the "getting it done" bit.
But the bigger and more critical issue here is that even when the projects - the new capabilities - are completed on time and in budget, a failure can still occur at programme level - and from a statistical perspective it probably will!
A programme level [more accurately a "no programme" level!] failure occurs when the envisaged benefits [the whole raison d'etre] of the initiative are not achieved.
The root cause of failure
The root cause of this failure is lack of clarity and lack of communication - and even more fundamentally - the lack of a language and contextual framework to articulate and manage the necessary processes of change.
This is what a Programme Management based approach to change is all about and why it so important.
As with most specialist areas of knowledge, there is within this discipline a universal or generic set of "truths" that transcend the boundaries of the formalised models and tools of programme management, applies to all organisations experiencing step change, and can be expressed in simpler language.
Just as an aside, I feel that whilst it is absolutely necessary for there to be experts and centres of technical excellence - the very processes by which they function separates them and the knowledge from the far wider audience who could benefit most from that knowledge.
Time for some definitions:
Programme Management
?? * Is the holistic perspective - takes in the bigger picture.
?? * Is the coordinated management of a Portfolio of Projects that change organisations to achieve benefits that are of strategic importance.
?? * Is the understanding and management of Benefits, Risks and Issues and the provision of an Organisation Structure and Process Definition.
?? * Does not replace Project Management - it is a supplementary framework
Differences Between Programmes and Projects
?? * A Programme is all about delivering the overall business benefits in line with the strategic vision and over a longer period of time than a project.
?? * Whereas a Project has a definite start and finish point, with the aim of the delivery of an output that may be a product, service or specific outcome.
?? * Programme management focuses on the management of all key stakeholder
??? relationships and the delivery of defined business benefits and in addition to managing the project portfolio will also include the management of any other activities that are necessary to ensure a complete delivery.
??? Whereas Project management has narrower terms of reference with clear, specific and (relative to the overall Programme) limited scope of its deliverables.
And yet despite the fact that programme management as a discipline has been around for over 10 years - the failures still keep mounting.
Men always dislike enterprises where the snags are evident..." [Machiavelli "The Prince"]
The whole of my approach to change management and dealing with the "snags" such as fear of change and resistance to change is based on this model of a programme approach.
My preference for this is that it forces senior management (and their advisors) to take a holistic and structured look at the wider factors that need to be addressed - and that are often "mission critical".
80% of companies [or rather 80% of directors] - haven't got a clue about programme management
In my experience the size of a company is no indicator as to whether or not it employs a programme management approach. I have sat across the table in meetings with directors of UK based ?1bn+ turnover corporates - household names in some cases - who didn't have a clue about programme management.
I would go further and say that the vast majority of companies know little to nothing about programme management.
A useful indicator is the number of online searches on Google AdWords for project management and programme (or program) management
For the month of March 2009 there were 450,000 searches for project management and 39,200 searches for programme (or program) management.
One reason why programme management has not yet permeated the business "mainstream" is because - in my opinion - it appears to be complex and to address dimensions that don't resonate or connect with mid range corporates and larger SMEs.
This is partly because corporates are more complex - but also because the talented and experienced professionals who compile these things think that way!
However, it is my belief and experience that the broad principles of programme management can be set out in a simple model and using simple language that can be applied in any organisation of any size.
For more on this: "Avoiding change management failure"
Equip yourself to avoid the 70% failure rate of all change initiatives with the Practitioners' Masterclass - Leading your people through change, putting it all together and managing the whole messy business."
Stephen Warrilow, based in Bristol, works with companies across the UK providing specialist support to directors delivery significant change initiatives. Stephen has 25 years cross sector experience with 100+ companies in mid range corporate, larger SME and corporate environments.
Source: http://koftikafe.blogspot.com/2012/11/change-management-3-key-reasons-for.html
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Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Engineered bacteria can make the ultimate sacrifice for the good of the population
ScienceDaily (Nov. 20, 2012) ? Scientists have engineered bacteria that are capable of sacrificing themselves for the good of the bacterial population. These altruistically inclined bacteria, which are described online in the journal Molecular Systems Biology, can be used to demonstrate the conditions where programmed cell death becomes a distinct advantage for the survival of the bacterial population.
"We have used a synthetic biology approach to explicitly measure and test the adaptive advantage of programmed bacterial cell death in Escherichia coli," said Lingchong You, senior author of the study and an associate professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, and the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy. "The system is tunable which means that the extent of altruistic death in the bacterial population can be increased. We are therefore able to control the extent of programmed cell death as well as test the benefits of altruistic death under different conditions." The lead author of the study is Yu Tanouchi, a graduate student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Anand Pai and Nicolas Buchler also contributed to the work.
Scientists have known for some time that programmed cell death can be linked to the response of bacteria to stressful conditions, for example starvation of amino acids or the presence of competitor molecules. However, it is not clear why cells should choose to die under such conditions since it gives them no immediate advantages. Some researchers have suggested that programmed cell death allows cells to provide benefits to their survivors but until now it has been difficult to test this directly in experiments.
The researchers used synthetic biology procedures to engineer Escherichia coli in such a way that the bacterial cells are capable of suicidal behavior and promoting the good of the bacterial population. To do so they introduced a gene circuit, which consists of two modules, into the bacteria. If the "suicide module" is active it leads to the rupture and death of some bacterial cells when they are challenged with the antibiotic 6-aminopenicillanic acid. If the "public good" module is expressed, a modified form of the enzyme beta-lactamase is produced, which protects surviving cells from rupture or lysis by breaking down the antibiotic. This protection only occurs when the enzyme is released from inside the bacterial cells that make the ultimate sacrifice and die after rupture.
"Our results clearly demonstrate that it is possible to have conditions where the death of some bacteria confers an advantage for the overall population of bacteria," remarked You. "The optimal death rate for the bacterial population emerges after sufficient time has passed and is clearly visible in our system."
The scientists were also able to provide a possible explanation for the "Eagle effect," an unexpected phenomenon where bacteria appear to grow better when treated with higher antibiotic concentrations. "Overall our results fill in a conceptual gap in understanding the evolutionary dynamics of programmed bacterial death during stress and have implications for designing intervention strategies for effective treatment of bacterial infections with antibiotics," concluded You.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by EMBO - excellence in life sciences.
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Journal Reference:
- Naomi Habib, Ilan Wapinski, Hanah Margalit, Aviv Regev, Nir Friedman. A functional selection model explains evolutionary robustness despite plasticity in regulatory networks. Molecular Systems Biology, 2012; 8 DOI: 10.1038/msb.2012.50
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/VyhBsyvuiVk/121120121915.htm
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Medicare ?Improvement Standard? No Longer Impedes Home Care ...
Physicians are applauding a landmark settlement that will prohibit Medicare contractors from denying health coverage based on a patient?s potential for improved health status.
The agreement, which a federal judge must approve, is the result of a legal challenge by patients accusing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of using an ?improvement standard? to measure a patient?s need for skilled home health care. Doctors and patient advocates said the standard has resulted in denials for necessary therapy and other home services for patients with chronic health conditions such as Parkinson?s disease, Alzheimer?s and multiple sclerosis.
For a long time, physicians have been frustrated with recommending care for patients only to have coverage for those services rejected, said Alberto Esquenazi, MD, president-elect of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, a plaintiff in the suit. Often patients refused coverage were forced into nursing homes or went without needed care.
?Patients would call back after receiving news that their medically indicated rehabilitation intervention was declined because ?it was for a chronic condition,??? Dr. Esquenazi said. ?Rehabilitation specialists had to look for community services to provide some of this care. [The settlement] is excellent news for our patients with chronic disabling conditions.?
The Justice Dept., which represented the government in the case, declined to comment on the settlement. A spokesman for CMS also declined to comment.
The Center for Medicare Advocacy, a patients rights group based in New York, sued the Dept. of Health & Human Services in 2011 in U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont on behalf of a nationwide class of Medicare patients. The center was joined by seven health organizations, including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Parkinson?s Action Network. The plaintiffs claimed that Medicare contractors were using an improvement standard to base coverage decisions on whether patients were expected to get better, despite the practice being prohibited by federal law.
The criteria were written into some CMS guidelines, leading to inconsistency among the manuals that provide guidance to contractors on coverage decisions, said Margaret Murphy, associate director for the Center for Medicare Advocacy.
CMS has not admitted that an improvement standard ever was used. However, the settlement clarifies that patients who need skilled care to maintain their health status or prevent health deterioration may receive coverage regardless of their potential for improvement. CMS has agreed to make this fact clear in its manuals, and educate contractors and administrative law judges who make coverage decisions, Murphy said.
?Once the court approves the settlement, people who have been denied Medicare will have a chance to have their claims re-reviewed,? she said. ?They?ll get another bite of the apple to get their case looked at.?
Settlement aids patient advocacy
The CMS agreement is a step in the right direction for patients and the health professionals who treat them, said Nicholas G. LaRocca, vice president of health care delivery and policy research for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The settlement will enhance the resources available to people with MS and other chronic conditions and allow them to maintain their maximum independence, he said.
?People who have chronic conditions like MS very often are not likely to improve with treatment,? he said. ?However, treatment can help them maintain independent functioning, remain in the community and maintain a quality of life. Basically it helps them hold the line as much as possible against further changes.?
The American Physical Therapy Association expressed satisfaction at the settlement, saying it aligns with the group?s long-held belief that determinations of physical therapy coverage under Medicare should be based on the unique conditions and individual needs of each patient. ?We strongly believe that allowing Medicare beneficiaries to receive physical therapy in skilled nursing facilities and home- and community-based settings will result in significant cost savings in the long term, as well as help bolster the triple aim of health care reform to improve care for individuals, improve health for populations and lower spending growth,? the association said in a statement.
The agreement allows doctors and medical professionals to support their patients better and ensure that they receive the appropriate care, said Connecticut family physician Kenneth Dardick, MD. He is the husband of Judith Stein, executive director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy.
?For primary care physicians who are the medical home for many of these patients, and [for] specialists, it should be much easier to advocate properly for the patient to have continued care and not feel trapped that a nursing home is the only place they can go,? he said.
This entry was posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:54 am and is filed under Government Affairs, Industry News, Medicare. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Source: http://hcafnews.com/2012/11/20/medicare-improvement-standard-no-longer-impedes-home-care/
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NASA sees sun's 2 Prominence Eruptions
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tvFFCdAyEIcs89JHN_DoC-8d1hGSKq1fW20orWfCeZPEeztHVS0czsNlxWz1Y7j0D-XvdeQGaHVqlCSjy2zSMOc5aY_1WTQqbANt35ZVM=s0-d){kind=small}
Public release date: 19-Nov-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Susan Hendrix
Susan.m.hendrix@nasa.gov
301-286-7745
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
The Sun erupted with two prominence eruptions, one after the other over a four-hour period on Nov. 16, 2012, between the hours of 1 and 5 a.m. EST. The red-glowing looped material is plasma, a hot gas made of electrically charged hydrogen and helium. The prominence plasma flows along a tangled and twisted structure of magnetic fields generated by the sun's internal dynamo. An erupting prominence occurs when such a structure becomes unstable and bursts outward, releasing the plasma.
The action was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) in the 304 Angstrom wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light. The expanding particle clouds heading into space do not appear to be Earth-directed.
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Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/nsfc-nss111912.php
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Monday, November 19, 2012
Web Management Firm Cuts Project List Using Forms | Formstack Blog
Customers
Published on November 18th, 2012 | by Formstack Team
Left: Steve Anson, Vortala
When you?ve got doctors, chiropractors, attorneys and other licensed professionals depending on your company to manage every aspect of their web presence, you?ve gotta stay organized. Founded in 2004, Vortala designs, develops, and manages websites for professional practices. Currently, thousands of doctors, attorneys, CPAs and other practice owners trust Vortala to manage their online reputation. From the website content to email marketing, Vortala can operate every aspect of a company?s internet presence. With a growing number of practices relying on the company, Vortala found that it needed a quick way to create forms for all different levels of complexity in order to gather data from its various clients. With the company?s developers working on a variety of other projects for the various practices, Vortala found that form development was quickly moving to the bottom of their to-do lists.
?Previously, we almost needed a court order (kidding!) for our development team to create a new form,? said Steve Anson, one of the founders of Vortala. With the need for quick form creation so the developers could focus on other tasks, Vortala found Formstack through a quick Google search.
Vortala began using Formstack for its every day business processes, including client orders, website design submissions, recruitment, or job application forms.?Vortala now has several team members that are able to create forms and manage form submissions without taking time away from other projects. Anson is a huge fan of keeping his forms as brief and user friendly as possible. Due to this, he frequently utilizes Formstack?s conditional logic feature, ensuring that users only see and answer questions that are relevant to their needs.
?Formstack makes it super easy to create and deploy forms, even quite complex forms. And the delivery of form responses and security of data has been bulletproof,? said Anson.
Instead or relying on developers to create forms that could sometimes take days, non-tech employees can now easily create a form for any need saving Vortala time and money. In the future, Vortala plans to continue using Formstack to organize work processes, so the company can focus more on the needs of its clients.
?Formstack is very efficient and keeps us organized,? said Anson. ?It has returned a 10-times saving to our business.?
(Featured photo credit)
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These posts come from a collaboration of multiple team members! Everyone from marketing to development pitches in to share some insight on small business, online forms, data collection, and all things awesome.
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Quality Heating and Air Conditioning Maintenance | noxserver
HVAC Service Salt Lake City If you need to install a new heating or cooling system in your home, the most important things to consider are purchasing high quality materials and trusted service. There are many brands of furnaces which all have various advantages and disadvantages. Depending on your home and location, your home temperature and utility bill can improve greatly if you buy an appropriate furnace. Cooling systems are also very different and it is key to purchase one that operates effectively. When you meet with a heating and cooling professional, they can evaluate your situation and help pick the system that best meets your needs. These specialists can also handle all kinds of repairs on these systems. Experience a large difference in your year-round comfort with quality heating and cooling specialists on your side.
Source: http://www.noxserver.com/quality-heating-and-air-conditioning-maintenance/
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#MoveCebu: Social media for social change
Posted on 11/19/2012 2:04 AM ?|?Updated 11/19/2012 11:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - When the Cybercrime Prevention Act or RA 10175 was signed into law on September 12, it unleashed a torrent of strong condemnation from members of the media, civil society, and even some politicians -- in spite of attempts to defend the law.
Critics argued for its immediate repeal or revision, calling the law an assault on freedom of expression and a throwback to the martial-law era. Chief among the contentious provisions of the law are section 4(c) on online libel and section 19 that allows the government to restrict data access.
A campaign to repeal it began online through social networking sites and blogs, but with no clear leader or unified position. Its reach extended throughout the country and took on a life of its own, culminating in the filing before the Supreme Court of several petitions for its immediate suspension.
On October 9, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order valid for 120 days, effectively placing RA 10175 in the judicial equivalent of limbo.
While the High Court is not known to kowtow to public opinion, many claimed the TRO as a victory for millions of Filipino netizens.
Once again, online social media helped call attention to a pressing issue and galvanized many to voice their opinions for or against the law. This reflects the increasing leverage social media has to shape the future.
Changing landscape
Social networks are no longer just venues for interaction. They have become tools for information dissemination, behavioral change, and most importantly social change.
This leveraging power is what inspired Rappler to create its chat series dubbed ?Social Media for Social Change.?
The chat series -- previously held in Baguio, Davao, Manila, Naga, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Los Ba?os, and Dumaguete -- are organized by Move.PH, Rappler's citizen journalism arm. A recent chat session scheduled in Bacolod was cancelled because of an earthquake.
Rappler is driven by journalists committed to informing Filipinos and inspiring them to engage in nation-building by providing a credible, creative, and interactive platform through social media.
#MoveCebu
Cebu is the next stop of Rappler's Move.PH Chat Series.
The University of San Jose-Recoletos, through its College of Arts and Sciences, is co-sponsoring the event subtitled, ?Pag-ugmad sa Kaalam sa Responsableng Paggamit sa Internet? (Developing Responsible Use of the Internet) on Wednesday, November 21, from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm at the USJ-R Auditorium (main campus).
Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa will headline the event with her keynote address about the power of social media and how it can bring about social change.
Ruben Licera, President of the Cebu Bloggers Association, will talk about the Cybercrime Prevention Law and how it affects social media.
Veteran journalist and Rappler's citizen journalism director Chay Hofile?a will tackle the ethics of journalism in the digital age.
Journalist Ayee Macaraig will share the many challenges of being a multimedia reporter.
Rappler social media head Michael Josh Villanueva will discuss how social media platforms can be used to leverage youth advocacies.
Finally, Patricia Evangelista, Rappler multimedia reporter, will talk about the importance of telling compelling stories.
The Cebu leg of the chat series is sponsored by Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu. - Rappler.com
Register online for #MoveCebu:
Source: http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/16360-movecebu-social-media-for-social-change
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Manage Google Apps without being a user
This is a collaboratively edited question and answer site for power users of web applications. It's 100% free, no registration required.
Got a question about the site itself? meta is the place to talk about things like what questions are appropriate, what tags we should use, etc.
about ????faq ? ? meta ?
Source: http://webapps.stackexchange.com/questions/35626/manage-google-apps-without-being-a-user
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Looking to buy house - Zillow Real Estate Advice
You can absolutely always ask for concessions with a different amendments from the seller. This can be done in your initial offer, or after you have an inspection done.?
Perhaps give the seller closer to the asking price and then ask for a concession later in the process.
Let me know if you have other questions!
Source: http://www.zillow.com/advice-thread/Looking-to-buy-house/468796/
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Auckland University?s independence threatened by Steven Joyce, say Greens
Press Release ? Green Party
Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce?s threat that he can step in to decide how many students Auckland University should enrol in each department is a direct assault on academic freedom and the independence of Universities, the Green Party said today.
?Universities have a very clear understanding of what the country?s economic and social needs are, and work hard to develop a balanced and strategic approach to filling these needs. They don?t need to be the victims of ministerial interference,? Green Party tertiary education spokesperson David Clendon said.
?Universities must remain independent of political interference if they are to fulfil their role as critic and conscience of society.
?I?m doubtful that the Minister can legally do what he is threatening.
?Both the Education Act and the Auckland University charter emphasise the independence of the university to make academic, operational and management decisions.
?By making direct demands to Auckland University over the number of engineering students they must enrol, Joyce?s comments fly in the face of this.
?While we do need to encourage more engineering and science graduates, Joyce is suggesting a singular approach rather than looking at the wider problem, brought about because of decades of short sighted, cost-driven decisions.
?The National Government?s hollowing out of the public service has diminished the supply of skills that traditionally flowed into the private sector from areas such as the defence forces and railways.
?To encourage more people into engineering and science we need to start with better resourcing and support for primary and secondary schools. Students and their parents need to see a long-term sustainable career path.
?Perhaps Minister Joyce should reflect on the reasons that he did not pursue a career in science when he graduated and consider whether similar disincentives still exist.
?The Government should also be developing decent mechanisms for supporting private investment in Research and Development, rather than the current voucher system, to encourage and enable more private companies to invest in on the job training of people with the right aptitude and attitude.?
Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
Original url
Source: http://auckland.scoop.co.nz/2012/11/joyce-launches-direct-assault-on-university-independence/
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Sunday, November 18, 2012
Where did 180 Russian websites go?
Scores of websites have been blocked under Russia's restrictive new Internet law that's been in effect for the past two weeks. Is this the beginning of a wider crackdown on free speech?
Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a meeting with small and medium business leaders at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow Nov. 15. More than 180 websites have been blacklisted and blocked under a restrictive new Internet law signed by Putin last July, is this the beginning of a wider crackdown on Russian free speech?
Mikhail Klimentyev/Ria Novosti/Reuters
EnlargeMore than 180 websites have been blacklisted and blocked under a restrictive new Internet law?signed by President Vladimir Putin last July, which critics warn may be the start of a wider crackdown on free speech in Russian cyberspace.
Skip to next paragraph Fred WeirCorrespondent
Fred Weir has been the Monitor's Moscow correspondent, covering Russia and the former Soviet Union, since 1998.?
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The blacklist compiled by the Federal Surveillance Service for Mass Media and Communications (Roskomnadzor) is secret, but authorities insist its purpose is to eliminate extreme forms of "offensive" content, such as child pornography, or advocacy of racism, terrorism, drug use and other anti-social behaviors.
The list is constantly changing and expanding (Russian bloggers have posted an alleged copy of it here) and citizens can suggest new entries by logging into an official Roskomnadzor website.
But in its first two weeks of application, the law has produced a few high-profile casualties that critics say point to the fundamental weaknesses of a system that allows authorities to summarily shut down content without any need for a court order or reference to any supervisory body.?
The definitions of "offensive content" are also murky, critics say, and could easily include political conversation that looks "extremist" to a policeman's eyes and other forms of commentary that might be simply misunderstood.
That criticism seems to have already been borne out. This week alone Roskomnadzor has closed down, among others,?a Wikipedia-like encyclopedia of satire, which contained an article about how to make hemp (often associated with marijuana) soup; an online library, which included a copy of "The Anarchist's Cookbook," a 1970's American-authored manual for radicals; and a popular torrent-tracking website, on which users had apparently exchanged a file called "The Encyclopedia of Suicide."
The agency allowed those websites to reopen after the "offensive content" was pruned. But experts say those examples were hugely popular websites whose closure attracted immediate public attention and a storm of complaints; restoring service may not prove so easy for smaller victims of the law.
"The first several days of operation of this law have confirmed our worst fears," says Oleg Kozyrev, a media analyst and popular blogger. ???
"Roskomnadzor can shut down a site within 24 hours, without appealing to a court. But in order to restore a resource, one has to complain and go to court. Even so, the rules for getting back online are not at all clear ... ?As a result, big resources like YouTube, or internet encyclopedias, or social networks are all under threat. They have millions of users, and some of them are inevitably going to post something deemed offensive. That could lead to the closure of the whole portal," which will be disruptive even if it's temporary, he says.
Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/Fe62f5TIU70/Where-did-180-Russian-websites-go
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Saturday, November 17, 2012
How to Lead Customer Service Conversations on Social Media ...
Quality customer service starts with careful listening. For brands that effectively service their customers through social media this means using the medium like a telephone, not a megaphone. ?Adopting the ?telephone? strategy, there are two distinct ways that can guide your brand?s social media and customer service engagement strategy: respond to conversations that are already happening or initiate them. Read below for more details on how to execute each one of those steps:
Step 1 - Respond: What to Say?
There really is no universal, ?right way? to engage and help your community. ?The right type of engagement for your business stems from the goals you set forth for your social media program. ?There are, however, simple comments you can make right away that won?t compromise your brand?s reputation. ?These include:
- Thank You
- We?re sorry
- How can we help?
- We?re listening and we hear you
- Here?s some information..
- Yes or no. And here?s why...
Once you?ve mastered the art of the response, consider creating a content marketing plan to help drive the conversation in the direction that benefits your brand.
Step 2 - Initiate Conversation through Marketing
Sparking meaningful dialogue revolves around content, content, content...and more content. ?Content marketing is the engine that drives the social web - whether it is in the form of videos, blog posts, white papers, or even a social post; and when you produce useful content, you will be more likely to gain, retain, and delight your customers. ?
Your business will enjoy many benefits from developing a cohesive content marketing plan, among them:
- Trust: when your customer realizes you?re not just trying to sell them more product, rather trying to help them, you will build a stronger customer relationship
- Reputation: become a thought leader in your industry by pushing valuable research or opinions
- Web traffic: attract more prospects and customers to your website and improve your SEO results
- Business opportunity: engage with prospects who are educating themselves through your content
- Customer empowerment: enable your repeat customers to become ambassadors of your brand by educating them
The world of social media is overwhelming: billions of users; millions of conversations; countless service strategies to deploy. ?The key is to stay disciplined by carefully choosing which conversations to respond to and how. ?If you?re just getting started, keep it simple with the risk-free responses listed above. ?If you?ve moved beyond responding, spark conversations about your brand with killer marketing content. ?And remember, in a world where social service is becoming the norm, a little engagement is better than nothing at all.
For more in-depth discussion of customer service through social media be sure to download this free ebook and stay tuned to these blog series.
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