Monday, February 25, 2013

RolePlayGateway?

In the beginning there was a large, empty universe. It held nothing but the Lords. The Lords had no names and they were lonely. One of them said to the others, ?Let us create something to fill the emptiness.? The others agreed. The first one made great balls of burning mass and named them stars. The second created the gases that fueled the stars. The third made large hunks of stone to keep the stars company so they wouldn?t be alone. The fourth made water to cover the rocks and calm their hot, newly formed surfaces. The Lords named themselves Fire, Air, Earth, and Water, respectively.

Soon enough the newly named Lords grew tired of their lifeless worlds. There was nothing to recognize the work they did, no one to appreciate their great feats. They made animals, but they were stupid beasts who couldn?t even speak. Each decided to create life in his own image on a specially developed planet.

Fire created the Sprites. Air created the Klika. Earth created the Werlan. Water created the Dragons.

Satisfied with their creations, the Lords rested and watched their children grow. All was well in the new world. Sooner than later the Lords grew prone to jealousy, however. Fire claimed that because he created first, both with life and matter, he was the greatest Lord. Air quickly retorted that no mortal creature could live without the harsh sun shielding gasses he provided. Earth rumbled angrily that he had made a home for all of their creations, making him deserve the most respect. Water, not to be outdone, argued that he should be revered by the creations because no creature could live without water.

The Lords couldn?t come to an agreement of who was the greatest among them. Then Water said, ?Why shouldn?t we each ask our people who they think is the greatest? That way we can settle this.? The other three agreed this was a good idea.

Each of the Lords went to their respective people and asked who they thought was the greatest. The creatures each thought that their own creator was the best of the Lords. This didn?t help at all. They argued more until Earth came up with an idea. ?We should combine our efforts to make a race of people. Then this race won?t be biased to any one of us.?

This was hailed as a better idea, so the Lords set out to work. Earth gave the new creature a body of clay. Air gave it a breath of life. Fire gave it a spark of ambition. Water gave it a spring of intelligence. They named this new race the Humans and set it off into the world.

The five races grew and expanded, fighting here and allying there. The Lords were content to watch for a while, for the Humans had to get accustomed to the world in order to decide which of the Lords? gifts they valued the most. Each Lord was confident that he would be called the best.

The humans, however, realized that the Lords wanted something out of them. They said to each other, ?Each Lord wants us to name him the best. Why not ask for something from each to help us decide?? This was regarded as a good plan.

When the Lords came down to the humans they asked to know which of them the humans thought was the greatest.

One Human, a man named Nar, said, ?I cannot know who the best is. What have the Lords done for me??

Fire, eager to be named the greatest of the Lords, gave Nar a hollow log filled with fire. Nar, satisfied with the gift, said, ?I say that Fire is the greatest Lord, but I can only speak for myself.?

?I am not decided who the greatest Lord is. They have never shown me any kindness,? a woman named Kipe said.

Wanting to show his brother that he wasn?t the only one who could be called the greatest, Air gave Kipe a sling and taught her how to use it. Thanking Air gracefully, Kipe said, ?I say that Air is the greatest of the Lords, but I too can only speak for myself.?

Angry at being out done, Earth showed another man how to fashion tools from stone.

Water, desperate to be called the greatest, showed a woman how to make a water holder so the humans could carry water from place to place.

At the end this the Humans left, satisfied with the success of their plan. The Lords, however, felt cheated. All of them were called the best, which made the title lose its specialness. They couldn?t help but feel flattered that the Humans recognized their power, but their problem wasn?t solved. Each Lord lay down to rest and regain strength. When they had recovered from the exertion of creating a world and its peoples they would resume their fight and determine which of them would be the Lord of the Lords.

This story is past now. It is widely regarded as a myth among all the races. Since that time ages have passed. Few believe that the Lords exist. The world has been named Nirkem. Many parts of it are populated by the five sentient races, many are not.

The humans, although they are the youngest race, are one of the most numerous. There are two main human kingdoms, Deonel and Kipen. A war is going on between them and they are about to unwittingly trigger something far, far larger than a fight between men.

They rediscovered magic. Magic was lost to the five races since the retreat of the Lords. There was very little record of it, but there were enough hints scattered across legends and bedtime stories for the humans to piece together the old power. Four parts of magic were discovered: Fire, Air, Earth, and Water. A gifted human could choose to study one branch, learning to manipulate the element.

The secret of magic leaked to the other races and each race discovered that they could learn to control the element of the Lord they were created by. As with humans, not every member of the other races could learn magic.

As the use of magic became more popular its human users noticed a change. The more a human used magic the easier it would be to use it and the easier it would be to get lost in it. A human who used too much magic would feel a beckoning call that would grow stronger with the amount of magic they used. This is the call of the Lord of the element of magic they use.

The rediscovery of magic has reawakened the Lords. When a human uses magic they let the will of the Lord bind with theirs until they become a creature of the Lord, called a nadasami. A nadasami looks no different than a regular human, other than that their eyes change color from what they used to be. A fire nadasami?s eyes will be red, an earth nadasmi?s eyes will be brown, an air nadasami?s eyes will be green, and a water nadasami?s eyes will be blue. They have more magical power than a human, but they have lost something greater: free will. While they still can think for themselves and make decisions, they are extremely loyal to their Lord. They do not truly lose free will, but they will put their Lord?s interest before their own, for they are creatures of the Lords. Should a nadasami desert his or her Lord the Lord will hunt them down.

How quickly a human magic user becomes a nadasami depends on how much they use magic. If a human magic user goes a day without using magic then the hold a Lord has on them will decline. The less hold a Lord has on a human the faster it will disappear. Once a human becomes a nadasami, however, there is no going back.

The existence of nadasamis is not well known, for magic was only recently discovered. Mages are used in the human war and they become nadasmis without anyone knowing, although some confess of strange sensations before they become nadasamis. The growing number of nadasamis has come to the alert of the mage leaders, though, so word is slowly spreading to stop humans from using too much magic.

The other races are immune to becoming nadasamis. Magic wise the strongest mages are the sprites, who can go beyond the power of a nadasami. The nadasamis are the second strongest, the werlan are the third strongest, normal humans the fourth strongest, the dragons the fifth strongest, and the klika the weakest as far as magical terms go.

But the human leaders of the war do not care about the diminishing humanity of their troops. They care about winning at whatever the cost. But what happens when the cost is far greater than they imagined?

The Lords still fight each other for dominance, becoming even more contrary than they were before. They will not stop voluntarily until one has beaten the rest. Their battles cause earthquakes and dangerous weather patterns, threatening the life of the world they created. Will they be able to make peace?

Nirkem:
There is a main continent on the planet Nirkem where this will be taken place, called Alteri. In the north of Alteri are the Durkada Mountains. A branch of them trails down into the northern human kingdom, Kipen. Kipen is the smaller of the two human kingdoms and it has less arable land, but its people are adept woodsmen and it has more access to raw materials given its heavily wooded state and mines. There is a big lake in Kipen known as Kipe?s Crater among the humans, due to its depth and the peculiar fact it is nearly a perfect circle.

Bordering Kipen on the south is the other human kingdom, Deonel. Deonel is more agriculturally based than Kipen, as well as having more cities and being more scholarly than its counterpart. It also borders the ocean to the east, so fishing is another large industry for Deonel. Deonel is mostly farmland.

Alteri is not covered by human owned territory. The other races have their own claimed territory, too. North of Kipen, in the Durkada Mountains, live the klika. The klika also have settlements in forests across Alteri, although their main population is in the mountains.

Sprites do not have a territory of their own, but share with other races, usually humans.

The werlan are nomads, living in tribes who travel the continent.

The dragons live in the various rivers and lakes of Alteri as well as the ocean. On the west side of Alteri is more ocean. The shore on this side is not much of a shore at all; high rocky cliffs line border the ocean on the west side. The only way to get a boat in and out on the west side is the Kerrar River, which is populated by dragons as well.

There are plenty of lands not claimed by the sentient races yet, and little is known about what populates those areas. One of the most infamous of places are the Gut Caves, located deep underground, perhaps spanning the whole of Alteri. They are known as the Gut Caves because they twist and turn much like intestines.

Another place is Embri Mountain, located to the southwest. This enormous mountain is an active volcano, occasionally blowing off smoke.

There is also the Zefen Tree deep, deep into the Durkada Mountains, farther north than anyone would think a tree could survive, let alone flourish. Yet flourish it does. This tree is immensely tall and thick, indicating ancient age.

To the north of Deonel and the east of Kipen there is a large, spring fed lake full of clear, icy cold water called Clarity Spring. In the middle of the lake is an island that is large enough that trees and some animals live on it.

Each of these four places has a shrine in/on it somewhere. In the deepest part of the Gut Caves is a shrine made of green-streaked-with-cream-color stone surrounded by large multi colored crystals. At the base of Embri Mountain is a shrine made of glossy black rock with a fire continuously burning on top of it. Somewhere in the upper branches of the Zefen Tree is a shrine made of a clear, glassy material that sings when the wind passes through it. In the center of the island in Clarity Spring is a shrine made of ocean blue stone halfway submersed in clear water.

These are the shrines of the Lords. This is where they are the closest to the mortal world and can communicate with mortals far more easily in their respective areas. It is not uncommon for a nadasami to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of their Lord.

Races

Humans: Typical traditional human. Need I elaborate?

Sprites: Sprites are humanlike in shape, but there are obvious differences between the two races. Sprites, for one, are shorter than humans, averaging at five feet in height. Their hair can be a wide range of colors, from orange to red to shocking white and rich yellow. A sprite?s skin is always very pale no matter how much they are exposed to the sun. Sprites have delicate, long fingered hands that are very dexterous and nimble, making them excellent at craftsmanship that requires precision and finesse. At the tips of their fingers are not fingernails but rather soot black talons that turn ember orange when their heart rate goes up. Sprites are more resistant to heat than humans and it takes more to burn them, although they are not immune to being burnt.

Sprites are creatures of quick wit and hot tempers. They can swing between emotions quite unexpectedly, making them unpredictable. They are vain creatures and love to be petted and praised. They are clever with their deft fingers and excel at making fine objects. Fire is their friend and they are fascinated with it. A popular competition among sprites is to see who can stand in a roaring fire the longest. Sprites love beautiful things and receiving gifts. If a sprite gives you something you better reciprocate the favor for they will get angry if you don?t. A sprite?s grudge can last a long time and they will wait for the best moment to get back at the offender. Sprites are clever and like to get their point across. However, if they think there is a better idea than theirs, they will go with the other idea instead and feel no self-chastisement for thinking a ?wrong? way before.

Werlan: As do the sprites, werlan share some characteristics with humans. Normally they take the shape of tall, bulky humanoids. They are a plain looking people characterized by dark hair and pointed ears. A werlan?s eyes are not set to any one color; their eye color varies with their emotions. No two werlans have the same set of colors for their eyes. Werelan are strong people, both in body and spirit. They have a nomadic society in which they travel the continent of Alteri, their territory changing with the season. There are seven different tribes of the werlan: the Snake, the Wolf, the Squirrel, the Horse, the Deer, the Bear, and the Badger. The werlan have the ability to change into the animal of their respective tribe.

If any one thing can be said about the werlan it is that they are patient. Like the earth itself they can weather many situations and still come out strong. This patience, along with their strong willed determination, is one of the most notorious qualities about them. Werlans are social creatures and enjoy being with other werlans, although they are wary of other races. They have excellent memories and will forgive but never forget. Werlans are loyal to those they align themselves with and they would never betray another werlan. With other races they are not quite as loyal, but still follow their word. Werlans have a great sense of direction and it is hard for them to get lost.

Dragons: The dragons of Nirkem are slender, wingless creatures built for aquatic life. They average at about seven feet tall. Dragons do not have scales but instead have smooth, supple skin to reduce the drag under water. This skin can range to green to blue to purple to black in color, as well as having patterns of florescent yellow. This yellow quite literally glows in the dark. Dragons? eyes have slit pupils and can be a wide variety of colors. Dragons have wide webbed feet and finned tails, great for swimming, although they have no opposable thumbs. They have gills on the sides of their necks so they can breathe underwater and they have lungs too. Housed in the mouth of a dragon are two rows of pointed teeth sharp enough to bite through steel if enough pressure was applied. Instead of horns dragons have flexible tentacle like things sprouting from the backs of their heads that are used to grip and touch objects. These tentacles, called grippers amongst the dragons, are not particularly strong but are very precise and sensitive. Dragons actually have taste buds on the tips of their grippers. Dragons can survive just as well on land as they can in water, for their slim frames lend themselves well to speed. Dragons do need more water than other races do, however, so thus rarely live far away from a reliable water source. Dragons also have very strong bones that are extremely hard to break.

Since dragons live underwater most of the time one might expect them to be ignorant of many of the happenings on land. This is not so for dragons are curious creatures and like to stick their noses in things even if there is a possibility those things might bite back. News spreads quickly amongst the dragons because many of the waterways that are connected and they have set up a postage system, which delivers messages for other races, too. When confronted with a fight a dragon is more likely to run than do any fighting unless it takes place in the water. Dragons often feel far more comfortable in the water than on land, although they can get used to living on the ?topside? as they call it. Dragons are generally social creatures that live in pods when amongst themselves. When with other races they will often gather a group of people together that they feel protective of. While they lack the appropriate physiology to make even simple things dragons are quite creative and quick thinkers as well as fast learners.

Klika: In shape the klika are perhaps most easily likened to large cats. An emphasis on large, because klika are on average nine feet long from the tips of their noses to the tips of their tails. They have opposable thumbs and surprisingly finger like digits on all four of their paws, although they are not as well developed as a human?s. Klika have thick fur with two layers, built for trapping warmth. The fur of the klika is usually dark in color, black being the most common by far. It is uncommon for a klika to have a pattern of any sort in their fur, but sometimes designs are in individual?s fur. These designs are usually in shades of white or light grey, although rarely blues and oranges are seen. Klika have compact, muscular bodies with most of their strength in their legs, specifically their hind ones. Klika can easily jump ten feet, whether horizontally or vertically. A klika?s eyes are probably one of the strangest out there as their eyes are a solid color without pupil. This color can be any hue and can often be the distinguishing feature of a klika to other races. Klika have excellent eyesight and hearing. As well as being able to run swiftly on four legs klika can also walk on their hind legs. When they do this they tower over other races, even the dragons.

Klika are generally aloof in manner and do not display emotion readily. This isn?t to say they don?t feel emotion; it?s just that in the klika society an adult is expected to be reserved and polite. Among them only cubs and immature people are supposed to display emotion. As is such, when exposed to other races they usually find others as childish before they get to know them. Klika have a hierarchical society based around the strength of an individual. A klika will often not obey someone they think is weaker than them. Klika constantly asses the strength of the others around them and are not afraid to challenge others for favorable positions in a group. Klika, unlike some other races, have a rough form of government throughout their race. They have a leader called the Relka situated in their main city, Flisk, in the Durkada mountains. The Relka?s job is to help settle disputes amongst the klika, deal with other races, and help decide the actions of the klika. Klika are blunt creatures who do not like to backstab or deceive. If a klika has a problem with you you will know it. If a klika is tired of taking orders from someone in command it is common for them to challenge them to a duel for leadership. Klika are just creatures and do not like to see innocent harmed, especially if those innocent are children. In informal situations klika loosen up some and are friendlier, although the habit of hiding emotion doesn?t disappear completely. Because of their society klika are great at putting on masks of emotion that hide their true feelings.

-----

Hello all. Thanks for spending the time to check this out. This is an idea I've had for a while, so I wanted to see how much interest I could get in it first before I created it.

Right now the plot is a little loose. I had an idea that there could be a group composed of a rougue nadasami or two and some representatives from each of the races to go to the shrines and collect some of the Lords' essences and use them to influence the Lords themselves. They would try to make the Lords not fight with each other any more. They could try to change the Lords to make them more human like. What do I mean by this? Well, the Lords are obviously inhuman (even more so than the non human races of Nirkem) and have different thought processes than the mortal races. They are little more than the elements they they are named after. This group's goal could be to force them to evolve in a sense to a higher state of conciousness that can reason and set aside differences. There could also be some people from the Lords who are trying to stop this group.

I am open to suggestions for ideas and feel free to ask questions if you have any. Feedback in general is welcome. Also, if you are interested, please express it!

I'm planning for this to be somewhat literate of a role play, meaning that I expect people to be able to write at least two paragraphs with good grammar. I understand if you are not impeccable with grammar. I know I'm not. But an effort is appreciated.

I hope to hear from you guys. Thanks again for checking this out!

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RolePlayGateway

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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Authorities: Report of gunman at MIT was a hoax

Pedestrians on the MIT Campus in Cambridge, Mass., duck underneath police tape, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, after police responded to reports of a gunman on campus that Cambridge police later said were unfounded. Police said that officers searched for a man reported to be carrying a long rifle and wearing body armor and found nothing. A spokeswoman for the university says the school also called off a campus-wide lockdown. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

Pedestrians on the MIT Campus in Cambridge, Mass., duck underneath police tape, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, after police responded to reports of a gunman on campus that Cambridge police later said were unfounded. Police said that officers searched for a man reported to be carrying a long rifle and wearing body armor and found nothing. A spokeswoman for the university says the school also called off a campus-wide lockdown. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

Pedestrians on the MIT Campus in Cambridge, Mass., duck underneath police tape, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, after police responded to reports of a gunman on campus that Cambridge police later said were unfounded. Police said that officers searched for a man reported to be carrying a long rifle and wearing body armor and found nothing. A spokeswoman for the university says the school also called off a campus-wide lockdown. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

Pedestrians walk by police tape on the MIT Campus in Cambridge, Mass.,after police responded to reports of a gunman on campus that Cambridge police later said were unfounded, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. Police said that officers searched for a man reported to be carrying a long rifle and wearing body armor and found nothing. A spokeswoman for the university says the school also called off a campus-wide lockdown. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) ? An unfounded report of a gunman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that briefly caused a campus-wide lockdown Saturday stemmed from an electronic message sent to police, authorities said.

Officers searched for a man reported to be carrying a long rifle and wearing body armor but found nothing unusual, Cambridge police said. The report turned out to be a hoax, and there was no threat to public safety, state police spokesman David Procopio said.

Cambridge police received the tip in an electronic chat message around 7:30 a.m., but witnesses on the scene eventually contradicted it, spokesman Dan Riviello said. MIT sent two emergency alerts via text message, urging people to stay indoors. Less than an hour later, police posted on Twitter that the scene was clear.

Investigators are trying to identify the prankster and will pursue criminal charges if they do, Riviello said.

He declined to provide additional details or confirm reports that the IP address used by the prankster has been traced to New York, saying "as it is an active and ongoing investigation, I cannot release any additional information at this time."

About 11,000 people attend the prestigious school outside Boston where students are famous for their smarts as well as their stunts, including once putting a police car on top of a domed campus building.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-23-MIT%20Lockdown/id-243dcab91df74688b735f736bc918cdc

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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

EE sees contract activations fall during its first quarter with LTE

EE sees customer activations fall to 201,000 in its first quarter with LTE

When EE activated its LTE network part-way through its fourth-quarter, there was an assumption speed-hungry Brits would storm the company's numerous stores to get at that super-fast mobile data. The reality, however, seems to indicate that it takes more than a Kevin Bacon commercial to send the homeland into a frenzy. The company's financial results show that the network only added 201,000 customers between October and December 31st -- 49,000 fewer than in Q3 and 112,000 fewer than signed up in the same period in 2011. EE also isn't breaking out figures for how many of its existing customers made the change -- so for now we'll have to assume that the UK isn't as sweet on the guy from Footloose as Olaf Swanee had hoped.

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Source: EE

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/cE3PRFR2xMY/

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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

NBA power rankings: How Spurs owned the first half

Updated:?February 19, 2013,?1:40 am?ET

by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

The San Antonio Spurs? three stars have missed 23 games this season. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili sat out together six times. Key role players Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw each missed almost 20 games.

So things haven?t been easy. And it hasn?t mattered.

The Spurs maintained their spot at No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports? NBA power rankings at the All-Star break because they have overcome all those hurdles and still have the best record in the NBA. They have won 14 of their past 15 games, even as Ginobili and Duncan each missed time.

Point guard Tony Parker has emerged as an MVP candidate, and the defense and offense both rank among the five most efficient in the NBA.

Much of it comes down to hitting the shots that matter. Three-pointers count for more points than two-pointers, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has used that to his advantage. The Spurs make 38.4% of their threes, fourth-best in the NBA, while allowing opponents to make 32.6%, second-lowest in the NBA. They also lead the league in assists and rank third in steals, showing their team-wide intelligence.

Our panel of USA TODAY Sports? Adi Joseph and Kevin Spain; Hoopsworld.com?s Steve Kyler and Lang Greene; and the Detroit Free Press? Vince Ellis sided heavily with the Spurs, but it wasn?t unanimous. Here?s the breakdown of the top five teams (points on a 30-29-28-etc. scale):

  • San Antonio Spurs (42-12): 4 first-place votes, 149 points
  • Miami Heat (36-14): 1 first-place vote, 145 points
  • Oklahoma City Thunder (39-14): 140 points
  • Los Angeles Clippers (39-17): 136 points
  • Memphis Grizzlies (33-18): 128 points
  • The All-Star break MVP vote proved even more lopsided, thanks to the winner?s recent hot play. LeBron James entered the break on a run of seven consecutive games, all Heat wins, with at least 30 points and 58% shooting from the field.

    That run seemingly sealed this week?s vote for James, though it?s been a seesaw battle all season. Here?s this week?s top five (points on a 7-5-3-2-1 scale):

  • LeBron James, Miami Heat: 5 first-place votes, 35 points
  • Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder: 25 points
  • Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs: 10 ? [For more on NBA power rankings: How Spurs owned the first half, click here.]
  • Source: http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-power-rankings-how-spurs-owned-the-first-half/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nba-power-rankings-how-spurs-owned-the-first-half

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    Mali Crisis: India can be a force of stability in north Africa provided it partners with a local player

    As French President Francois Hollande concludes his two-day visit to India, there is one key foreign policy initiative that New Delhi would do well to seriously consider. The ongoing military intervention in the north-west African nation of Mali has seen French troops push back the advance of Islamist militias in that country. A military coup early last year saw Mali's nomadic Tuareg community in the country's north rise in revolt. This provided the perfect window of opportunity for al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and its affiliates such as Ansar Dine to expand its footprint in the region. Up until the French intervention began in January, Islamist groups controlled almost all of northern Mali, including important towns such as Gao and Timbuktu.

    There are several reasons why the situation in Mali is a major concern for the international community. The Sahara and Sahel regions of Africa have historically seen a plethora of fiercely independent tribes and warlords hold sway over large swathes of the desert. However, local and international events over the last decade have led to a dangerous alliance between brigands and hardened jihadis. Thanks to the US military intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq, many foreign Islamist fighters have flocked to the region to escape the theatres of war. Further, the Libyan civil war in 2011 saw arms and ammunitions flood the Sahara and Sahel.

    All that was required to light the powder keg was the Algerian regime's duplicitous policy of dealing with the armed insurgent groups. The strategy was born in the 1970s when Algeria propped up the Polisario Front militia to wrest control of the Moroccan Sahara by proxy. Similarly, over the years Algeria nurtured other insurgent groups across the Sahara and Sahel to obtain leverage in neighbouring countries. This connection was reaffirmed in northern Mali when evidence of Polisario militants fighting alongside those of the MUJAO - Movement for Uniqueness and Jihad in West Africa - was confirmed by the Malian foreign minister. However, in a classic case of the monster having turned on its master, the attack by Islamists on an Algerian gas plant last month proved that Algiers' influence over the insurgents was fast waning.

    How does this concern India? It is not wholly unreasonable to predict that unless the situation in Mali is stabilised, the jihadi flame could completely engulf north Africa. With several countries in the region already sporting Islamist governments in the wake of the Arab Spring, this would lead to a deep radicalisation of Maghribi culture and convert north Africa into a springboard for terrorist attacks into Europe and beyond. India, which has legitimate interests in the region - both in terms of economic investments and security - cannot afford to sit idle.

    Given France's history in north Africa, it is here that New Delhi and Paris can cooperate to provide much-needed direction and security to the fledgling democracies of the region. In this regard, it is welcome that India has committed to be a part of the Support and Follow-up Group for Mali and has pledged $100 million for reconstruction projects in that country. President Hollande too has commended India's support towards stabilising Mali and reaffirmed his country's endorsement of a greater geopolitical role for New Delhi. Having said that, if New Delhi truly wants to expand its footprint in north Africa it needs a local partner.???

    And this partner can only be Morocco. The latter is the only country in the region that can serve as a force of stability in the Maghreb and, by extension, in the Sahara and Sahel regions. Although devoid of large deposits of oil or natural gas, Morocco is rich in intellectual and cultural capital. In the wake of the Arab Spring movement, its enlightened monarch, King Mohammed VI, speedily enacted a new democratic constitution, devolved wide-ranging powers to the elected parliament and put Morocco firmly on the path to a modern constitutional monarchy analogous to the United Kingdom. Like India, Morocco's economy is based on the sound foundation of free enterprise. Meanwhile, close relations with France and the US provide Morocco with a unique international perspective in the region. In fact, it was under the chairmanship of Morocco that the UN Security Council passed resolution 2085 authorising the deployment of an African-led international support mission in Mali.

    Besides, in terms of real engagement with north Africa, China has long stolen a march over India. If the latter wants to catch up, it needs to partner with Morocco in a meaningful fashion. This would mean looking at Morocco as more than just an investment destination and upgrading bilateral ties to strategic level. The ensuing South-South cooperation would be the fulcrum of India's foreign policy initiatives in the region and bolster New Delhi's profile as a geopolitical player.??

    Source: http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/talkingturkey/entry/mali-crisis-india-can-be-a-force-of-stability-in-north-africa-provided-it-partners-with-a-local-player

    social security

    White House drafts backup immigration plan, Republicans balk

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House is drafting a backup immigration reform plan in case a bipartisan congressional committee working on a bill fails, an Obama Administration official said on Sunday, though a key Republican said the president's plan would be "dead on arrival" on Capitol Hill.

    White House Chief of staff Denis McDonough said the administration hoped that bipartisan efforts would deliver a broadly acceptable package, but wanted a plan B.

    "We're doing exactly what the president said we would do last month ... which is we're preparing. We're going to be ready," he said on ABC's "This Week' program, confirming a published report on Saturday disclosing the White House effort.

    Politicians on both sides of the aisle are anxious to tackle immigration reform, after the increasingly influential Latino vote turned out heavily in favor of President Barack Obama and his Democrats in the November 2012 election.

    USA Today said on Saturday that a draft of a White House immigration proposal would allow illegal immigrants to become legal permanent residents within eight years.

    The plan, obtained by the newspaper, also would provide for more security funding and require businesses to check the immigration status of new hires within four years.

    McDonough gave no details of White House's plan, but said it was important that immigration reform passed this year and made clear the administration hoped bipartisan efforts on Capitol Hill bore fruit.

    "So let's make sure they get this thing done, and they're up there working on it right now. We have to make progress on immigration reform, we should enact it this year and the president will continue to work with the team to make sure that happens."

    Obama emphasized in last week's State of the Union address the importance of creating a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants who are in the United States illegally. Many Republicans stress that the nation's borders must be secured first.

    Latinos favored Obama over Republican Mitt Romney in the November 6 election by 71 percent to 27 percent, helping tilt politically divided states to the Democratic incumbent.

    Republicans want to show Latinos they understand their concerns on immigration, but must also be mindful of conservative members of their own party who worry about encouraging even more illegal immigration in the future.

    Senator Marco Rubio, the key Republican on the issue and one of the eight senators on the committee crafting the legislation, dismissed the White House draft as a seriously flawed rehash of failed immigration policies that would make the country's immigration problems worse.

    "If actually proposed, the president's bill would be dead on arrival in Congress, leaving us with unsecured borders and a broken legal immigration system for years to come," Rubio, who is a Cuban-American from Florida, said in a statement on Saturday.

    SECURE BORDERS FIRST

    According to USA Today, illegal immigrants could also apply for a newly created "Lawful Prospective Immigrant" visa, under the White House's draft bill. If approved, they could apply for the same provisional legal status for spouses or children living outside the country, according to the draft.

    Conservative Republicans like Senator Rand Paul want borders to be first secured before they can endorse any immigration reform.

    "I will support it on one condition: That we have a report that says the borders are being secured ... (it has to be) a report and comes back and is voted on in Congress," Paul said on "Fox News Sunday."

    "I won't do it on a promise from President Obama, that he will secure the borders," Paul, from Kentucky, added.

    Paul Ryan, the Republican vice president candidate in last year's elections, suggested the White House plan was leaked intentionally.

    "By putting these details out ... that tells us he is looking for partisan advantage and not a bipartisan solution. This particular move is counter productive," Ryan said on ABC's "This Week" program.

    A White House official denied it was leaked.

    "This was not the administration floating anything. ... We were surprised to learn what appeared to be draft language had been given to the press, thought it was unfortunate, and reached out to senate offices on both sides of the aisle on Saturday evening to make that clear."

    (Additional reporting by Alister Bull, Steve Holland and Paul Simao; Editing by Philip Barbara)

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-draft-bill-clear-path-citizenship-illegal-immigrants-053711287--business.html

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    Monday, February 18, 2013

    Ryan Villopoto and Dean Wilson were the stars of the Monster Energy Supercross i...

    Monster Energy Dominates 2013 Dallas Supercross! | Facebook
    Sign Up Facebook ? 2013 ? English (US)

    Source: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151441498420827.506398.11768835826&type=1

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    Rubio, White House Trade Jabs Over Immigration Reform | TPMDC

    A copy of the White House?s draft immigration proposal, leaked as a warning shot to Congress to get its act together, was swiftly and fiercely rejected by a Republican central to the negotiations. Other key Republicans echoed him. The White House responded on Sunday.

    In a statement Saturday after President Obama?s draft bill was leaked to USA Today, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) dubbed the proposal ?half-baked and seriously flawed,? saying it would exacerbate the country?s immigration problems. He promised it would be ?dead on arrival? in Congress.

    ?It?s a mistake for the White House to draft immigration legislation without seeking input from Republican members of Congress,? Rubio said. ?President Obama?s leaked immigration proposal is disappointing to those of us working on a serious solution. The President?s bill repeats the failures of past legislation. It fails to follow through on previously broken promises to secure our borders, creates a special pathway that puts those who broke our immigration laws at an advantage over those who chose to do things the right way and come here legally, and does nothing to address guest workers or future flow, which serious immigration experts agree is critical to preventing future influxes of illegal immigrants.?

    Appearing Sunday on ABC?s ?This Week,? White House chief of staff Denis McDonough made clear that the proposal was designed to force Congress to get its act together.

    ?He says it?s dead on arrival if it?s proposed?? McDonough said. ?Well, let?s make sure that it doesn?t have to be proposed. Let?s make sure that that group up there, the gang of eight, makes good progress on these efforts, as much as they say they want to, and that?s exactly what we intend to do, to work with them.?

    He declined to get into a back-and-forth or ?political scrum? with Rubio.

    According to USA Today, the leaked proposal creates a ?Lawful Prospective Immigrant? visa that puts undocumented immigrants on a path to legal permanent residency within eight years if they pass a background check, pay a fine and back taxes, learn English and wait in line. It expands security funding and requires business owners to check the legal status of new employees. But it omits any provisions involving future flow of immigration.

    For Obama, the draft legislation aims to strike a delicate balance in the extraordinarily complicated politics of immigration reform. It seeks to prove his active involvement in the debate while giving Congress enough room to negotiate the details on its own.

    Rubio has his own delicate balance to strike when it comes to holding together the conservative coalition for reform. His statement served as a clear signal that if the White House gets ahead of Congress, the effort would collapse and Republicans would blame Obama.

    ?If actually proposed,? he said, ?the President?s bill would be dead on arrival in Congress, leaving us with unsecured borders and a broken legal immigration system for years to come.?

    Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) agreed that if Obama proposes a bill, it will ?of course? fail.

    ?By the way, he?s had no communication with Republicans on the issue, unlike the previous four presidents that I have dealt with,? McCain said on NBC?s ?Meet The Press.? ?Leaks don?t happen in Washington by accident. This raises the question that many of us continue to wonder about: does the president really want a result or does he want another cudgel to beat up Republicans so that he can get political advantage in the next election??

    Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), who has supported the push for immigration reform, also appeared on ?This Week? and said the White House?s move damages the prospects for achieving a solution. He argued the leaked proposal does not address key issues and signals that Obama wants a ?partisan advantage? and not a ?bipartisan solution.?

    ?There are groups in the House and the Senate working together to get this done,? Ryan said, ?and when he does things like this, it makes it much more difficult to do that. And that?s why I think this particular move ? very counterproductive.?

    Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), a key Democrat in immigration discussions, said he was not upset by the White House leak but said any resolution will have to be bipartisan.

    ?It?s obvious that if a Democrat ? the president or anyone else ? puts out what they want on their own, it?s going to be different than when you have a bipartisan agreement,? Schumer said Sunday on CNN?s ?State of the Union.? ?But the only way we?re going to get something done is with a bipartisan agreement.?

    Sahil Kapur

    Sahil Kapur is a congressional reporter for TPM. He previously covered politics and public policy for numerous publications including The Guardian and The Huffington Post. He can be reached at sahil [at] talkingpointsmemo.com.

    Source: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/02/marco-rubio-white-house-immigration-reform.php

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    When should I open up my iPad 2? ***Read Description***?

    I just got an iPad 2 today and my case is sitting at the post office and I have to wait till tomorrow morning to get it. Should I take my iPad out of the box (it?s still in the plastic wrap) or should I wait till tomorrow and put the case on it and then play with it??? Please give me an answer I also really want to play with it, I just don?t want to get finger prints and risk it getting scratched already.

    Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IpadAppsAndNews/~3/CHaEqnfaEF8/when-should-i-open-up-my-ipad-2-read-description.html

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    Blackhawks beat Kings, get point in 15th straight

    CHICAGO (AP) ? Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews each had a goal and an assist to help the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 on Sunday, extending their season-opening points streak to 15 games.

    Patrick Sharp also scored for the Blackhawks (12-0-3), who matched the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers for the second-longest season-opening points streak in NHL history. Chicago is one away from the league record, set by Anaheim in 2006-07, and will try to match the mark on Tuesday when it hosts Vancouver.

    Mike Richards scored two power-play goals in the third period to pull the Kings within one after Chicago had built a 3-0 lead.

    Blackhawks backup goalie Ray Emery made 25 saves. He lost a bid for his first shutout in more than three years when Richards connected 56 seconds into the third period.

    Emery made back-to-back starts for the first time this season as Corey Crawford missed his second game with an undisclosed upper-body injury.

    Sharp, who led Chicago with 33 goals last season, ended a 10-game drought without a score.

    The Blackhawks outshot the Kings 37-27, and defeated the defending Stanley Cup champions for the second time this season to end Los Angeles' two-game winning streak. Chicago won 5-2 in the teams' season opener at Staples Center.

    Jonathan Quick started in goal for the Kings after backup Jonathan Bernier was in the nets in Los Angeles' previous two games. Quick finished with 34 saves.

    Los Angeles played again without three injured defensemen ? Willie Mitchell, Matt Greene and Alec Martinez.

    Chicago was a step faster than the Kings in the first period and held a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

    Seabrook opened the scoring 6:29 in to cap a Chicago flurry in the Kings' zone, and after Quick had made several in-close saves.

    Seabrook pinched down to the low edge of the left circle, and took a pinpoint feed from Duncan Keith who threaded a cross-ice pass from the top of the right circle. Seabrook then slid a shot into an open net before Quick could dive across.

    Toews' power-play goal 4 minutes later made it 2-0. Stationed in the slot, Toews first tipped Keith's feed off the right post, but buried the loose puck before Quick could cover it.

    Sharp exploited a Kings coverage breakdown and increased Chicago's lead to 3-0 just 56 seconds into the second period. Quick dropped to the ice to block Toews' stuff-in attempt at the side of the net, but the puck popped into to slot. Sharp was wide open and fired high into the net before Quick could recover.

    The Blackhawks were in control for most of the second period and outshot Los Angeles 21-10. But Emery had to make several tough saves late in the period ? including in-close stops on Dustin Brown and Jeff Carter ? to keep the Kings off the scoreboard.

    Richards cut it to 3-1 early in the third. With Brown providing a screen at the edge of the crease, Richards' high shot from the top of the slot sailed past Emery.

    Richards' second power-play goal trimmed it to 3-2 with 7:10 left. This time, he beat Emery from the top of the left circle with Brown screening.

    The Blackhawks spent the final 1:04 short-handed after Johnny Oduya was sent off for slashing, and Quick was pulled for an extra attacker during span.

    NOTES: Before the game, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Crawford was "progressing" and is day-to-day. When asked if Crawford's condition might be long-term, Quenneville replied, "I don't foresee that yet." Crawford ? who has a 7-0-3 record, 1.65 goal-against average and .935 save percentage ? has not skated since sustaining his injury, apparently in a 3-2 shootout loss to Anaheim last Tuesday. ... Anaheim won the Stanley Cup in 2007 after its record-setting points start. Edmonton, which started the 1984-85 season with points in 15 straight, and Montreal, which opened with 14 straight in 1943-44, also won the Cup in those seasons.

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blackhawks-beat-kings-point-15th-straight-233123216--spt.html

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    Ideals to NCAA FOOTBALL 14

    ANIMATIONS: Jukes, spins and broken tackles are entirely too long,?cutting scripted animations such as this?will eliminate dispostion leading ballcarrier?moves?to natural alignment?and not arkward field of play etc.

    ?

    ATHLETE'S WEIGHT FACTORS?: When speeding towards the endzone, or?trying to sack the?quarterback I feel light as a ?feather as?if my players?aren't of no weight, though he's weighing 200lbs. So, I thought to myself while watching a NFL player do speed drills [ 220lbs or more athlete pulling 220lbs plate chained to his waist ] and said ''if he can implement it than EASPORTS can showcase it within their game by using weight vs speed = resistance .

    ?

    BLOCKING DEFENDERS:? Offensive lineman has no sense of blocking unless there's a clear path to block someome, how hard is it to find and block the man closest to the ballcarrier? This is reason why gaming run ahead of their blocks, can't trust'em.

    ?

    FOOTPLANTING/JUKES/SPIN:? Footplanting is essential to pulling off Barry Sander like moves when trying to shake off a defender, footplanting is not skating . It's illustration is as simple,?as hitting a block of ice with a icepick and pulling it out.

    ?

    PRACTICE DRILLS: Every gamer would love some type of technique drill that would perfect?there craft, similar to what we see?on college or pro level. Drills that benefit and give realistic aspect of a challege. Something that'll have the user shedding blood, sweat and to tears just take out on their opponents.

    ?

    TRENCH FIGHTING & MOVEMENTS: When ball is hiked, my defensive lineman and linemans veer off course like it was pre-determine. In MADDEN 99, line play was great you only lifted your head at the line scrimmage?unless you [ pressed up ] on the controller and never veer in a direction you were designed to go. Well-disciplined engine.

    ?

    CAMERA ANGLES: What ever happen to the Classic Camera? It was the perfect camera known to gaming, it kind of reminded you of Madden during 90's just with flare. You were in control?of the action from ball indicator, cut back lanes, position ( was a plus ) etc. It was like looking a chess board and your to make that move, do bring?it back!!!!!

    ?

    ?

    ?

    ?

    ?

    ?

    We'll this includes it for me, if I find any more key element to gameplay ... I'll drop you'll a line or two.

    Source: http://answers.ea.com/t5/Support-Community-Idea-Exchange/Ideals-to-NCAA-FOOTBALL-14/idi-p/518350

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    Sunday, February 17, 2013

    Marketing Account Executive - Workers Comp Job for Insurance ...

    Overview:

    Strategic Comp has an intriguing leadership opening in Texas for a Marketing Account Exec (MAE) to work with brokers in Houston, San Antonio, and Austin and the surrounding area. The role of the MAE is to market products and services through the Independent Agency system in a specific geographic territory, with overall goals of achieving a high level of renewal retention, and an appropriate level of profitable growth of new business. The MAE will focus on communication and relationship management with the agent, our underwriting department, and our Account Executives who work with our insureds. MAEs are required to demonstrate knowledge and the intricacies of Strategic Comp's product via strong group presentation skills as well as effective one-on-one communication. This position is not the traditional "marketing rep" job. Instead it is an in-depth working of new business and renewal accounts, with all new business submissions coming directly to the MAE, who serves as the front line underwriter. After gathering additional data, the MAE presents the account to our Underwriting Department, including with it a strategy for successfully getting the order.

    The person hired for this position will work from their home and will be required to travel up to 60% of the time including some overnight travel. A company car is provided. In addition to a competitive total rewards program, we offer an annual discretionary bonus for this position.


    Here's who we are. Our division, Strategic Comp, is part of Great American Insurance Company established and based in Cincinnati, OH. The operations of Great American Insurance Group are engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialty commercial products for businesses, and in the sale of annuities and supplemental insurance products. The members of the Great American Insurance Group are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc. AFG's common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and NASDAQ under the symbol "AFG".


    Here's what we do and how we operate. We insure workers' compensation coverage for large companies, using our deductible program and working through the independent agency system. Strategic Comp employees know that they make a difference to us, and they feel appreciated. In fact we received a 98% rating for overall job satisfaction from those taking our employee survey, making it no surprise that our employee turnover is less than 3%. This clearly indicates the passion and energy our staff has for the job they do? and they seldom want to work anywhere else, feeling that this is the best job they have ever had. A big reason for these successes is due to our careful matching of the right job with the right person.


    Our service in claims, loss control, and management is second to none. The difference our employees feel about working with Strategic Comp translates over to our customers, too. Our renewal retention is 90+%, meaning our customers, don't want to leave us either. Our reputation and results are the envy of many competitors.


    Responsibilities:
    • market products and services through the Independent Agency system in a specific geographic territory, with overall goals of achieving a high level of renewal retention, and an appropriate level of profitable growth of new business.
    • focus on communication and relationship management with the agent, our underwriting department, and our Account Executives who work with our insureds.
    • demonstrate knowledge of the intricacies of Strategic Comp's product via strong group presentation skills as well as effective one-on-one communication.
    Qualifications:

    A Bachelor's degree and at least 10 years of experience in production underwriting or marketing commercial insurance on large accounts, preferably in workers' compensation, is required. Additional experience in underwriting, loss control, or claims is a plus. Qualified candidates must have knowledge of the workings of the Independent Agent system and have strong knowledge of and relationships with the key agencies in the territory.


    To apply, please send your resume along with a cover letter explaining why you feel that you are well-suited to fill this opening, specifically as it is described in this posting. This is your opportunity to sell yourself in order to be able to move to the next step in our hiring process.

    Requisition #: 15867

    Source: http://jobs.insurancesalesweb.com/c/job.cfm?site_id=1636&jb=12334697

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    Army Chief Addresses Future Challenges Facing the Military

    General Raymond Odierno, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, offers an insider's perspective on future security challenges facing the military in light of imminent budget cuts, new strategic priorities and the draw down of American forces from Afghanistan. He speaks at The Brookings Institution.

    Earlier this week, General Odierno warned the Senate Armed Services Committee that cuts to the Army budget, included in the sequestration scheduled for March 1st, would hurt military readiness.

    Gen. Odierno became the 38th Army Chief of Staff on Sept. 7, 2011.

    Updated: 6 hr., 55 min. ago

    Source: http://www.c-span.org/Events/Army-Chief-Addresses-Future-Challenges-Facing-the-Military/10737438118/

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    BlackBerry's high units sales in UK and Canada may be overestimated

    The BlackBerry Z10 has allegedly been selling like hotcakes in Canada and the UK since its launch earlier this month. BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins even told AllThingsD that sales were "50 percent better than any other launch day in our history in Canada." This news helps the Canada-based company paint quite an optimistic portrait about its future in the mobile industry, especially considering that BlackBerry 10 and its corresponding handsets are its major bet for a resurgence. However, sales might not be as peachy keen as the company wants people to believe.

    Deutsche Bank's Brian Modoff surveyed 60 participating carrier stores around the UK and Canada to find out just how many stores were selling BlackBerry's flagship phones. Modoff discovered that none of the locations surveyed in the UK were sold out of the devices, while some of the locations in Canada that were sold out had stated that they didn't have that large of an inventory to begin with.

    ?In Canada, many stores reported being sold out of the Z10 and the sales force was well-versed on the device?s attributes; however, a few representatives told us that they did not receive a large initial inventory,? Modoff told All Things D. ?In the UK, the sales force was better-versed on the feature sets relative to the week prior; however, no stores were sold out.?

    There are no official sales numbers to refer to, nor do Modoff's claims bare any proof of how BlackBerry handset sales are performing. The survey number is also so minimal in comparison to how many outlets actually offer the BlackBerry handset. However, if it turns out that this is an indication of how BlackBerry is actually doing, it could be worrisome for the company, especially considering the upcoming US launch. To be fair, no?assessment?can be made until the numbers are published, so we're still taking a "wait and see" approach.

    Source: http://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/index/~3/RM-llESwGyw/

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    What ?Disrupt? Really Means

    disruption2Editor?s note:?Andy Rachleff is President and CEO of?Wealthfront, an SEC-registered online financial advisor. Entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley love to talk about disruption, though few know what it really means. They mistake better products for disruptive ones. Silicon Valley was built on a culture of designing products that are ?better, cheaper, faster,? but that does not mean they're disruptive.

    Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/CN7wwSbdrv0/

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    News Is a Feature-Rich Google News Client for Android

    News Is a Feature-Rich Google News Client for AndroidAndroid: The succinctly-named News is a powerful app for staying on top of the latest developments in the world.

    Upon launching the app, you'll be presented with a list of top headlines from Google News, and the Holo-themed top navigation will let you switch between different verticals. You can also create custom searches that will populate alongside the default topics. Turn your device sideways, and the interface will switch to a handy two-column layout, which tablet owners will surely appreciate.

    Tapping on a story will present you with a full-width photo and a few sentences from the article. Unfortunately, to see the entire story you'll need to open it in a web browser, or send it to a read-it-later service. The app has an experimental full text feature powered by ViewText.org, but it didn't seem to work particularly well in my testing.

    Luckily, News redeems itself with a fantastic home screen widget. Each widget you place will focus on a single vertical or custom search, and will cycle through the topic's top photos and headlines. Some of the photos appear low-res, but it's hardly noticeable if you don't increase the widget's default size.

    Though it has a few limitations, News is a great interface for sifting through the thousands of articles indexed on Google News every day, and it's available for free on Google Play.

    News | Google Play via Android.AppStorm

    Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/7zJAv5EGOlQ/news-is-a-feature+rich-google-news-client-for-android

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    Friday Trivia: Social Network Usage | SEO Eblog by SEO Advantage ...

    Welcome to SEO Advantage?s Friday Trivia feature, where we discuss, dissect and comment on the internet and marketing, and how the two intertwine.

    PEW Internet has just released their 2012 statistics for social network usage. You should definitely check out the expanded demographics, but first, see if you can guess which networks are used the most among adults. Some of the answers may surprise you.

    Instagram is new, but growing.

    Lunch is just one of many photo opportunities for Instagram users.

    Question:Can you put these social networks in order based on overall usage?

    Instagram
    Tumblr
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Pinterest
    LinkedIn

    Answer:

    Facebook ? Unsurprisingly, Facebook is the biggest social network there is. A whopping 67% of adults surveyed reported using Facebook. That usage is 47% higher than the next network on the list.

    Facebook appeals to consumers and businesses of all sizes. There?s not a person or organization in the world that can?t get some sort of benefit from Facebook , and for businesses, the opportunities to build real relationships with consumers are countless.

    LinkedIn ? At the number two spot ? with 20% usage among adults surveyed ? we find LinkedIn. This placement might be surprising to some, but when you think about it, business connections often overlap with social and friend connections.

    Additionally, LinkedIn is useful for building business and career contacts in just about any industry. It serves as an online resume for job seekers and a way to share knowledge among peers in a given field. While LinkedIn is certainly a niche network, that niche is larger than many realize.

    Twitter ? The main surprise here is probably that Twitter ? with 16% usage among adults ? didn?t beat out LinkedIn for the number two spot. There are likely a few reasons for this, but I suspect the growing number of businesspeople who are discovering the benefits of online professional networks plays a part.

    Pinterest ? That?s right! Pinterest, which has only been around since March of 2010, is a relative newcomer to the social networking scene, yet it is already used by 15% of adults. It may only be a matter of time before Pinterest eclipses Twitter. The lesson here for online marketers? Bite-sized, visual content absolutely must be part of your strategy.

    Instagram ? Another newcomer, Instagram launched in October of 2010 and made an immediate beeline for social media prevalence. Pew?s reported usage is 13%. What does this tell us?

    For one, we are in a mobile age, and Instagram is a mobile platform. Secondly, Instagram is the epitome of visual content sharing, and thirdly . . . people really love sharing photos of their cats, their meals, and themselves in front of mirrors.

    Tumblr ? Tumblr has been around since April of 2007, and can probably take at least partial credit for the move to more snackable content. Even with that being the case, only 6% of adults surveyed report using Tumblr.

    So, how did you do?

    Did you guess that LinkedIn was more popular with adults than Twitter? How about Pinterest coming so close to the number three spot? Did you see that one coming? Let us know in the comments!

    *Above photo by Ari Helminen (Flickr: Instagram, Tokyo Japan) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons ?

    Source: http://www.seo-e.com/online-marketing/friday-trivia-social-network-usage.htm

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