Facebook Saturation?: Twitter, Skype, Instagram & Other Apps Downloaded More In July

Based on downloads, Facebook's iPhone app was no longer the most popular mobile social networking app in many Asian countries and elsewhere from July 2011 to June 2012. This, according to the latest report from app store analytics firm Distimo, which took a look at trends surrounding mobile social networking applications over the past two years. Distimo found that apps like LINE, WeChat and Viber took over the leading position of Facebook in some countries, and Instagram become the second most popular app on iPhone within one year, after examining data aggregated over the 20 largest countries. In addition, in July 2012, Instagram had more downloads than Facebook, and apps like Twitter, Skype and Whatsapp were also popular.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/-r7PHhzF5-c/

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Ryan takes factual shortcuts in speech

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Laying out the first plans for his party's presidential ticket, GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan took some factual shortcuts Wednesday night when he attacked President Barack Obama's policies on Medicare, the economic stimulus and the budget deficit.

Sen. Rob Portman, a former U.S. trade representative, glossed over his own problems when critiquing Obama's trade dealings with China. A day earlier, the convention's keynote speaker, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, bucked reality in promising that GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney will lay out for the American people the painful budget cuts it will take to wrestle the government's debt and deficit woes under control.

And former senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum stretched the truth in taking Obama to task over his administration supposedly waiving work requirements in the nation's landmark welfare-to-work law.

A closer look at some of the words spoken at the GOP convention in Tampa, Fla.:

___

RYAN: "And the biggest, coldest power play of all in Obamacare came at the expense of the elderly. ... So they just took it all away from Medicare. Seven hundred and sixteen billion dollars, funneled out of Medicare by President Obama."

THE FACTS: Ryan's claim ignores the fact that Ryan himself incorporated the same cuts into budgets he steered through the House in the past two years as chairman of its Budget Committee, using the money for deficit reduction. And the cuts do not affect Medicare recipients directly, but rather reduce payments to hospitals, health insurance plans and other service providers.

In addition, Ryan's own plan to remake Medicare would squeeze the program's spending even more than the changes Obama made, shifting future retirees into a system in which they would get a fixed payment to shop for coverage among private insurance plans. Critics charge that would expose the elderly to more out-of-pocket costs.

___

RYAN: "The stimulus was a case of political patronage, corporate welfare and cronyism at their worst. You, the working men and women of this country, were cut out of the deal."

THE FACTS: Ryan himself asked for stimulus funds shortly after Congress approved the $800 billion plan, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Ryan's pleas to federal agencies included letters to Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis seeking stimulus grant money for two Wisconsin energy conservation companies.

One of them, the nonprofit Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp., received $20.3 million from the Energy Department to help homes and businesses improve energy efficiency, according to federal records. That company, he said in his letter, would build "sustainable demand for green jobs." Another eventual recipient, the Energy Center of Wisconsin, received about $365,000.

___

RYAN: Said Obama misled people in Ryan's hometown of Janesville, Wis., by making them think a General Motors plant there threatened with closure could be saved. "A lot of guys I went to high school with worked at that GM plant. Right there at that plant, candidate Obama said: 'I believe that if our government is there to support you ... this plant will be here for another hundred years.' That's what he said in 2008. Well, as it turned out, that plant didn't last another year."

THE FACTS: The plant halted production in December 2008, weeks before Obama took office and well before he enacted a more robust auto industry bailout that rescued GM and Chrysler and allowed the majority of their plants ? though not the Janesville facility ? to stay in operation. Ryan himself voted for an auto bailout under President George W. Bush that was designed to help GM, but he was a vocal critic of the one pushed through by Obama that has been widely credited with revitalizing both GM and Chrysler.

___

RYAN: Obama "created a bipartisan debt commission. They came back with an urgent report. He thanked them, sent them on their way and then did exactly nothing."

THE FACTS: It's true that Obama hasn't heeded his commission's recommendations, but Ryan's not the best one to complain. He was a member of the commission and voted against its final report.

___

CHRISTIE: "Mitt Romney will tell us the hard truths we need to hear to end the torrent of debt that is compromising our future and burying our economy. ... Tonight, our duty is to tell the American people the truth. Our problems are big and the solutions will not be painless. We all must share in the sacrifice. Any leader that tells us differently is simply not telling the truth."

THE FACTS: Romney has made a core promise to cut $500 billion per year from the federal budget by 2016 to bring spending below 20 percent of the U.S. economy, and to balance it entirely by 2020.

His campaign manifesto, however, is almost completely devoid of the "hard truths" Christie promises. In fact, Romney is promising to reverse $716 billion in Medicare savings achieved by Obama over the coming decade and promises big increases in military spending as well, along with extending tax cuts for everyone, including the wealthiest.

The few specifics Romney offers include repealing Obama's health care law, cutting federal payrolls, weaning Amtrak from subsidies, cutting foreign aid and curbing the Medicaid health care program for the poor and disabled.

But it'll take a lot more than those steps for Romney to keep his vague promises, which are unrealistic if he's unwilling to touch Medicare and Social Security in the coming decade. Even the controversial budget plan of his vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., largely endorsed by Romney, leaves Medicare virtually untouched over the next 10 years.

What's left for Romney to cut is benefit programs other than Medicare and Social Security, which include food stamps, welfare, farm subsidies and retirement benefits for federal workers. The remaining pot of money includes the day-to-day budgets of domestic agencies, which have already borne cuts under last year's budget deal. There's also widespread congressional aversion to cutting most of what remains on the chopping block, which includes health research, NASA, transportation, air traffic control, homeland security, education, food inspection, housing and heating subsidies for the poor, food aid for pregnant women, the FBI, grants to local governments, national parks and veterans' health care.

___

PORTMAN: "Take trade with China. China manipulates its currency, giving it an unfair trade advantage. So why doesn't the president do something about it? I'll tell you one reason. President Obama could not run up his record trillion-dollar deficits if the Chinese didn't buy our bonds to finance them. Folks, we are as beholden to China for bonds as we are to the Middle East for oil. This will end under Mitt Romney."

THE FACTS: Portman is an expert on commerce, having served as President George W. Bush's trade representative from May 2005 to May 2006. But he didn't fare particularly well in stemming China's trade advantage, either.

Under Portman's watch, the U.S. trade deficit with China soared by 25 percent in 2005, and the next year it climbed more than 15 percent. By contrast, the deficit rose 10 percent over the first three years of Obama's presidency, according to U.S. government figures.

Both the Bush and Obama administrations have launched unfair trade cases against China at the World Trade Organization, but neither has been able to rebalance the relationship.

___

SANTORUM: "This summer (Obama) showed us once again he believes in government handouts and dependency by waiving the work requirement for welfare. Now, I helped write the welfare reform bill. We made a lot crystal clear. No president can waive the work requirement, but as with his refusal to enforce our immigration laws, President Obama rules like he is above the law."

THE FACTS: The administration did not waive the work requirement. Instead, it invited governors to apply on behalf of their states for waivers of administrative requirements in the 1996 law. Some states have complained those rules tie up caseworkers who could be helping clients directly.

In a July 18 letter to congressional leaders, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that to be eligible for a waiver, governors must commit that their plans will move at least 20 percent more people from welfare to work. Moreover, states must show clear progress toward the goal within a year, or lose the waiver.

"We will not accept any changes that undercut employment-focused welfare reforms that were signed into law fifteen years ago," Sebelius wrote.

Ron Haskins, a former senior Republican House aide who helped write the welfare-to-work law, has said "there is merit" to the administration's proposal and "I don't see how you can get to the conclusion that the waiver provision undermines welfare reform and it eliminates the work requirement."

Haskins, now co-director of the Brookings Center on Children and Families, says the administration was wrong to roll out its proposal without first getting Republicans to sign off on it. But he said the idea itself is one both parties should be able to agree on, were it not for the bitter political divisions that rule Washington.

___

Associated Press writers Tom Raum, Andrew Taylor, Henry C. Jackson and Bradley Klapper contributed to this report.

EDITOR'S NOTE _ An occasional look at claims made in political campaigns and how they adhere to the facts.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fact-check-ryan-takes-factual-shortcuts-speech-070905927.html

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Egypt leader slams Syrian regime during Iran visit

In this photo released by the official website of the Iranian presidency office, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, second right, welcomes Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi for the opening session of the Nonaligned Movement, NAM, summit, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Morsi described the Syrian regime as "oppressive" and called for it to transfer power to a democratic system during a visit to Syria's key regional ally Iran on Thursday. Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi stands at right, and Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, left. (AP Photo/Presidency Office)

In this photo released by the official website of the Iranian presidency office, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, second right, welcomes Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi for the opening session of the Nonaligned Movement, NAM, summit, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Morsi described the Syrian regime as "oppressive" and called for it to transfer power to a democratic system during a visit to Syria's key regional ally Iran on Thursday. Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi stands at right, and Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, left. (AP Photo/Presidency Office)

This photo released by the official website of the Iranian supreme leader's office, shows opening session of the Nonaligned Movement, NAM, summit, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Egypt's new president described the Syrian regime as "oppressive" and called for it to transfer power to a democratic system during a visit to Syria's key regional ally Iran on Thursday. (AP Photo/Office of the Supreme Leader)

In this photo released by the official website of the Iranian presidency office, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, left, talks with Iranian officials during opening session of Nonaligned Movement, NAM, summit, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Morsi described the Syrian regime as "oppressive" and called for it to transfer power to a democratic system during a visit to Syria's key regional ally Iran on Thursday. Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to the Iranian supreme leader sits at right. AP Photo/Presidency Office)

In this photo released by the official website of the Iranian presidency office, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, left, talks with Iranian officials during opening session of Nonaligned Movement, NAM, summit, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Morsi described the Syrian regime as "oppressive" and called for it to transfer power to a democratic system during a visit to Syria's key regional ally Iran on Thursday. Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to the Iranian supreme leader sits at right. AP Photo/Presidency Office)

In this photo released by the official website of the Iranian supreme leader's office, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, gives a speech, at the opening session of Nonaligned Movement, NAM, summit, in Tehran, Iran, on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Office of the Supreme Leader)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? In a clear rebuke to Syria's key ally Iran, Egypt's new president said Thursday that Bashar Assad's "oppressive" regime has lost its legitimacy and told an international conference in Tehran that the world must stand behind the Syrian rebels.

The rallying call by Mohammed Morsi ? making the first visit to Iran by an Egyptian leader since the 1979 Islamic Revolution ? showed the huge divide between Iran's stalwart support of Assad and the growing network of regional powers pushing for his downfall.

It also drove home the difficulties for Iran as host of a gathering of the 120-nation Nonaligned Movement, a Cold War-era group that Tehran seeks to transform into a powerful bloc to challenge Western influence.

Iran's leaders say the weeklong meeting, which wraps up Friday, displays the inability of the West's attempt to isolate the country over its nuclear program. But Iran has been forced to endure stinging criticism from its most high-level participant as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon cited concerns about Iran's human rights record and said Iran's condemnations of Israel were unacceptable.

Morsi's address to the gathering further pushed Iran into a corner. In effect, he demanded Iran join the growing anti-Assad consensus or risk being further estranged from Egypt and other regional heavyweights such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Morsi has proposed that Iran take part in a four-nation contact group that would include Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to mediate an end to the Syrian crisis. The U.N. chief Ban also said Iran has a key role to play in finding a solution to end Syria's civil war, which activists say has claimed at least 20,000 lives.

But Iran has given no signals of breaking ties with Assad, and the Syrian rebels fighting the regime say they reject Iran's participation in any peace efforts.

"The bloodshed in Syria is the responsibility of all of us and will not stop until there is real intervention to stop it," Morsi said. "The Syrian crisis is bleeding our hearts."

Syrian delegates to the conference walked out during Morsi's speech.

"Morsi's comments violated the traditions of the summit and are considered interference in Syrian internal affairs," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, who was heading the Syrian delegation.

He also accused Morsi of "instigating bloodshed in Syria," according to quotes reported by the state-owned Al-Ikhbariya TV. He didn't elaborate.

In another possible dig at Iran, Morsi gave credit to the Arab Spring wave of uprisings that put him in power and touched off the civil war in Syria. Iran has endorsed many of the revolts ? describing them as a modern-day reflection of its Islamic Revolution more than three decades ago ? but denounces the Syrian uprising as orchestrated by "enemies" that include Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

At the United Nations, Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is expected to urge the Security Council later Thursday to set up a safe zone in Syria to protect thousands of civilians fleeing the civil war. But the initiative is almost certain to meet resistance from Council members such as Russia, which has supported the Assad dynasty for decades.

Morsi's Sunni Muslim Brotherhood backers, Egypt's most powerful political group since the revolt, are opposed to Shiite Iran's staunch backing of the Syrian regime and its lethal crackdown on largely Sunni protesters. Assad is a follower of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

"We should all express our full support to the struggle of those who are demanding freedom and justice in Syria and translate our sympathies into a clear political vision that supports peaceful transfer (of power) to a democratic system," Morsi said in his opening statement.

Morsi slammed Assad's rule, saying that the world had a "moral duty" to stand with the Syrian people in their struggle "against an oppressive regime that has lost its legitimacy."

He said having a democratic system in Syria "reflects the desire of the Syrian people for freedom, justice and equality and at the same time protects Syria from entering into a civil war or being divided by sectarian clashes."

Morsi also called for uniting the fractured Syrian opposition, which has not been able to agree on a clear transitional roadmap for governing the country if Assad should fall. The Egyptian president expressed Cairo's readiness to work with all parties to stop the bloodshed and "agree on a clear vision on which the new free Syria will be based."

He has, in the past, spoken out against international military intervention in Syria.

Egyptian officials had said they did not expect top-level bilateral meetings with their Iranian counterparts during Morsi's visit. However, semiofficial ISNA news agency said Morsi and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met later.

Morsi's visit represents a major step toward ending decades of friction between the two countries despite the still-cool rapport.

Tehran cut ties with Egypt following Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. Under Morsi's predecessor who was ousted, Hosni Mubarak, Egypt sided with Saudi Arabia and other Sunni-dominated Arab states in trying to isolate Shiite-led Iran.

In an attempt at outreach with Iran, Morsi stressed that it is the right of countries to develop nuclear energy for peaceful as long as it adheres to international protocols. The West fears Iran's uranium enrichment could lead to atomic weapons, but Iran has insisted that it only seeks reactors for energy and medical purposes.

The U.N. chief called Iran's nuclear program "top concern" of international community and urged Tehran's "full cooperation" with the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency, which seeks greater access to Iranian sites for inspections.

He also urged all parties ? apparently including Israel ? to "stop provocative and inflammatory threats; a war of words can quickly spiral into war of violence."

But he added specific censure for Iranian condemnations of Israel. Earlier this month, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel will "disappear from the scene of geography." In his speech Thursday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Israel a "fake regime."

"I strongly reject threats by any member states to destroy another or outrageous attempt to deny historical facts such as the Holocaust, claiming that another state, Israel, does not have the right to exist or describing it in racist terms," Ban said.

Earlier, Khamenei repeated his claims that Iran has never pursued nuclear weapons ? calling use of atomic arms a "big and unforgivable sin" ? but also noted it will never give up its work on nuclear technology.

"I declare that the Islamic Republic of Iran has never been after nuclear weapons and it never will abandon its right for peaceful use of nuclear energy" he told the gathering.

___

Associated Press writers Aya Batrawy in Cairo and Brian Murphy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-08-30-Iran-Nonaligned/id-2396fbc343f84d478c71a4ef360b7e0e

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EBookUpdate: RT @WebNews20: Back to the future: Apple and Microsoft on collision course, again http://t.co/wWe7unHX

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://twitter.com/EBookUpdate/statuses/241240975656239104

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New Fire Emblem needs Characters!!

Welcome everyone to Fire Emblem: Scorched Earth!

This RP takes place in the fictional world of Siria and has no continuity with previous games though the same items, weapons and unit classes will be available.

The game makes use of a specialized dice system incorporating this dice machine: http://virtualadept.co.uk/diceroller.cfm.

This Dice system will be used to calculate whether or not you land a successful attack, evade an incoming attack, land a critical hit, activate a Unit Skill, or manage to gain stats upon leveling up. It's much simpler than it sounds, so don't be scared away by the idea that there will be some calculations going on.

Now then, on to business!

To those who are dedicated fans of the series...

This RP is not making any attempt to change or modify the system that is used in the real games and follows a system that is heavily influenced by Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. The only thing that is truly different are the growth percentages which I designed myself for each individual class. Also, there will not be any biorhythm as there was in FE 9 though there will be terrain bonuses (and penalties) throughout the game. These will add or subtract minor percentages from your total that will be put into effect when you engage in battle.

What is this RP anyway?

Good question!

Well in essence, it is a Fire Emblem game but instead of being on a hand held system or other gaming unit it's going to be played right here on rpgateway! You will be able to create a character that fits into one of the listed classes, design their background and personality which will affect their growth rates, and you will also be able to level up and gain stats to become more powerful as the game progresses. The dice system is entirely unbiased and fair, so I expect everyone who participates to be as fair and unbiased as the dice. If you try to give yourself stats where you really didn't earn them, I will know.

This game will follow the same rules as a traditional Fire Emblem entry but with a slight twist to the battle system. Since there is no map or grid to fight on, we will be playing in a "realistic" battle setting on the field and I will designate the number of enemies taking up arms against us, provide a number of experience points awarded for their defeat, and also the requirements for finishing the level successfully. Each battle will count as a "Chapter" similar to Fire Emblem tradition, but since they won't be simply turn by turn hack and slash you get to play out the confrontation and make it unique.

The whole system seems a bit tedius...

Not much can be done about that. This RP will require dedicated players who don't mind the dice system and who don't mind doing a bit of calculation before each post. It doesn't require more than a minimal effort and once you have the battle between your character and the enemy laid out you can design your post around the results and make it an interesting (and perhaps even grueling) battle.

Yes there is a bit of work involved, but I'm not asking anything of you that I myself am not contributing. I will have to keep track of my own character's abilities and percentages as we progress as well so don't feel like I'm just dumping all the work on you. I have to do it too! :D

Here's a sample battle as a preview!

No biorhythm or terrain bonuses

Blaze

Starting Exp: 58

Weapon Equipped: Oragiell (unique sword)

Starting Stats:

HP: 19
Str: 7
Mag: 0
Skill: 6
Speed: 6
Luck: 5
Def: 4
Res: 0

(Using weapon stats combined with player stats)
Hit: 107%
Evasion: 16%
Attack Strength: 14
Critical Rate: 3%
Critical Evade: 4%

Enemy

Weapon: Iron Axe

Stats:

HP: 25
Str: 8
Mag: 0
Skill: 6
Speed: 2 (4 initially, but - 2 for speed penalty since the axe weighs 10 and he has only 8 Str)
Luck: 0
Def: 5
Res: 0

Hit: 87%
Evasion: 4%
Attack Strength: 16
Critical Rate: 3%
Critical Evade: 0%

Blaze attacks first:

Attack Accuracy: (Blaze hit% - Enemy Evasion%) 103% (automatic hit, no dice roll required)

Blaze attacks

(Dice Roll for 3% Critical, roll 52 = no critical, roll must be equal to or less than the critical rate to activate the critical)

Enemy HP = 25-10 (10 due to weapon triangle advantage) = 15

Enemy Counterattacks:

Attack Accuracy: (Enemy Hit% - Blaze Evasion%) 71%

(Dice Roll = 91, miss because it's over the 71% range)

Blaze attacks

(Dice Roll for 3% Critical, roll 88 = no critical)

Enemy HP = 5

Next Phase

Enemy Attacks

(Dice Roll = 94, miss) (And yes that is what I happened to roll so don't think I did that just to keep Blaze safe)

Blaze Counterattacks

(Dice Roll for 3% Critical, roll 51 = no critical)

Enemy HP = 0

Blaze wins the fight!

Blaze gains 12 weapon experience for his 3 attacks since Oragiell is considered Rank E even though it's not listed on the profile. He gains a total of 6 points of Exp each for the two rounds which did not kill the enemy, and he gained 30 Exp for killing the enemy for a total of 42 experience. 58 Exp +42 Exp = 100 Exp... Blaze leveled up!

(8 Dice, each with 100 sides rolled)

Results!

HP: +1
Str: +1
Mag: +0
Skill: +0
Speed: +1
Luck: +1
Def: +1
Res: +0

Resulting Stats:

HP: 20
Str: 8
Mag: 0
Skill: 6
Speed: 7
Luck: 6
Def: 5
Res: 0

Battle Over! On to the next enemy!!

So are you interested?!

Hopefully the answer to that question is yes!

I know that there's a little bit of work to be done, but hey, that's half the fun!

If you would like to join the RP, then submit a character profile to the OOC and let me look it over and we will discuss starting stat growths and starting stats for your character and we'll get you underway A.S.A.P!!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/HoMylHJjWEQ/viewtopic.php

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In the Pursuit of Appiness: Helpful Apps to Improve Your Life ...

Posted by Carley Knobloch on August 28, 2012 ? Leave a Comment?

Lose weight, get fit? get to work on time (ahem). We ALL have room for improvement in one category or another. This app round-up includes some of my favorite apps and websites for life improvement.

App to Get in Shape

GymPact?s motto is ?incentivize your exercise? and they do it with something near and dear to all of us: cash. Make your ?pact? by spelling out how many days you plan to hit the gym and how much you?re willing to pay for each day you skip. You prove to the app that you actually went to the gym by checking in with your SmartPhone.

If you don?t check in, you pay. Then, every week, the money paid by users who?didn?t?get to the gym goes to the users who kept their promise to get in shape. This generally averages out to about 50-75 cents per workout you manage to do. Not a huge windfall, but over time it adds up. Plus, the incentive is powerful?would you want to give your money to the people making you look bad?

You can edit your pact each week, so you won?t be locked into a month of 6 a.m. visits to the weight room.

GymPact, Free

App to Help You Wake Up on Time

The Shame Alarm is an app that starts a timer at your designated wake-up time. You have 15 seconds to disable it before the app posts a message to Facebook and Twitter about your inability to rise. The default message is the somewhat silly, ?I?m a contemptible person, unable to even wake up on time. I deserve not your friendship, but scorn!?

The message is customizable, though, so we recommend going with something really juicy. For instance, ?I ate the entire pint of Rocky Road and blamed it on my little cousin.? Shame is a powerful motivator, even for those who love to grab those extra minutes of sleep!

Shame Alarm, $.99

App to Break an Addiction

That whole ?I?m never eating chocolate again!? or ?I?m going to run eight miles every week!? thing usually lends itself to disappointment. Instead, Anti-resolution breaks down five major resolutions (quit smoking, lose weight, manage stress, save money and make more family time) into daily reminders of incremental steps you can make toward that goal.

For example, if your goal is to lose weight, suggested ?small actions? include eating one green vegetable every day or making a workout playlist. Each time you complete the tiny task they send your way, you publish it to Facebook or Twitter. Shame? More like positive reinforcement.

Antiresolution, Free

App to Help You Keep Your Appointments

Are you the flake? You know, that friend who says she?ll be at Coffee Bean at 3 p.m. and rolls in around 3:30 or texts at 3:05 with the standard bailout message that she can?t make it after all? Don?t be the flake. Instead, use Get Upp, an app where you input the time and place you need to be (gym visits are popular), then let your friends vote via Facebook on whether or not you?ll actually keep it.

If most of them think you won?t pull it off, you?ll be fired up to prove them wrong; if most of them think you?ll succeed, you?d better prove them right. Plus, the more people who know about your commitment, the more who will ask you, badger you, peer pressure you to follow through. You check in at the specified time via your SmartPhone and the app publishes your success to the world.

Get Upp, Free

App to Help You Save Money

StickK was developed by Yale University economists who tested the idea of ?commitment contracts??that is, an agreement with someone else that binds you to meeting a personal goal. You pledge money that you?ll reach that goal, and if you don?t reach it, that money goes to a designated friend, charity or anti-charity (a charity you hate.)

You choose a ?referee? who you permit to check into your account via a related link to monitor your progress. You can also appoint other members of the Stickk community to support you with encouraging messages and posts, too. Currently, StickK users have over $10 million on the line! (And have completed over 300,000 workouts and?not?smoked over 2 million cigarettes.)

StickK, Free

About Carley Knobloch
Digitwirl is the weekly web show that offers simple solutions to modern day problems. In 3-minutes, Digitwirl brings busy women the very best time, money, and sanity-saving technology, and then teaches them how to use it, step-by-step. Digitwirl was created by technology lifestyle expert Carley Knobloch, who uses lots of technology to manage her busy life as mom of two and entrepreneur. Become a subscriber to get weekly show alerts and exclusive deals at Digitwirl.com, or follow Digitwirl on Twitter at @digitwirl.

Source: http://www.momeomagazine.com/in-the-pursuit-of-appiness-helpful-apps-to-improve-your-life/

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Happy for tea party support, GOP faces challenges (The Arizona Republic)

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Samsung takes wraps off of Windows 8 desktop PCs

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Samsung will offer three different choices to people interested in buying a desktop computer equipped with a redesigned version of Windows going on sale this fall.

The personal computers previewed Tuesday by Samsung at a technology conference in Germany provided one of the first glimpses at the Windows 8 machines scheduled to hit the market on Oct. 26.

Windows 8's release has been widely anticipated because it's Microsoft's most dramatic overhaul of the operating system in at least 17 years. It's also coming out at a time when PC sales have been slowing as more people rely on smartphones and tablets to surf the Web.

Microsoft Corp. reprogrammed Windows 8 so it looks and works more like the touch-based systems on mobile devices. The three new Windows 8 desktops from Samsung will come with a high-definition touch display.

Several other major PC makers are expected to unveil their Windows 8 product lines in the upcoming weeks.

Samsung Electronics Co.'s Windows 8 computers for the desktop will have suggested prices of $749, $1,099 and $1,699 ? depending on the size of the storage drive, the amount of system memory and the size of display screen.

All three models will run on Intel Corp. processors.

Windows 8 can be controlled by swiping the applications on the display screen or by using a keyboard or computer mouse.

The touch controls will be available through a mosaic of tiles to show applications and services that can be continuously connected to the Internet.

When relying on a keyboard, users will usually switch to a part of the operating system that looks much like earlier versions of Windows. However, Microsoft left out the familiar "start" button typically found in the bottom left corner of the display screen.

In an effort to minimize the potential frustration caused by Windows 8's new look, Samsung built its own optional start button that be used to pull up a menu of applications. This feature won't be found on all Windows 8 PCs and laptops from other manufacturers.

Samsung is expected to introduce its Windows 8 line of laptop computers later this week.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2012-08-28-US-TEC-Samsung-Windows-8-PCs/id-c5a3bfa3295d48dc9ac8ecacda7a44cb

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Op-Ed Contributor: The Man in the Moon

[unable to retrieve full-text content]When we get a human to Mars, our horizon will expand 1,000 times farther, and it will never go back.

Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=4e6e167d3de4cbb4ef141c3eac992c43

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New NASA Satellites Have Android Smartphones for Brains

[More from Mashable: 7 Apps You Don?t Want To Miss]

NASA is aiming to launch a line of small satellites called "PhoneSats" that are cheaper to make and easier to build than those it has produced in the past. To achieve this, engineers are using unmodified Android smartphones -- in one prototype, HTC's Nexus One, and in another, Samsung's Nexus S -- to perform many of a satellite's key functions.

As NASA explains on its website, these off-the-shelf smartphones "offer a wealth of capabilities needed for satellite systems, including fast processors, versatile operating systems, multiple miniature sensors, high-resolution cameras, GPS receivers and several radios."

[More from Mashable: Neil Armstrong, First Man on the Moon, Dead at 82]

"This approach allows engineers to see what capabilities commercial technologies can provide, rather than trying to custom-design technology solutions to meet set requirements," NASA adds.

The total cost for building one of these prototype satellites costs a mere $3,500. Three are expected to launch aboard the first flight of Orbital Sciences Corporation's Antares rocket from a NASA flight facility at Wallops Island, Va., later this year.

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nasa-satellites-android-smartphones-brains-214618610.html

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Video: New Orleans braces for Tropical Storm Isaac

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Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/48799435#48799435

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Where To Hire The Finest Personal Trainer ... - Hunting Fitness

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Source: http://creatingtheluck.com/where-to-hire-the-finest-personal-trainer-redondo-beach/

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Video Recipe: Simple Seafood Spaghetti - Troy, MI Patch

As kids, my two little brothers and I would frequently beg our mom to fix this dish for us when she came home from work. We would all eat together, slurping up our pasta while my mom watched her beloved Wheel of Fortune on the tiny black-and-white TV next to the kitchen table.

Now, I make this for my son, Ethan, when we just want something quick and delicious for dinner.?

There?s virtually no prep work involved, it's quick, it's easy and kids seem to love it. It?s perfect for those hectic evenings when you have to feed your family but don?t have a lot of time, and you can pick up all the ingredients at pretty much any grocery store.

It takes about 20-25 minutes to prepare and serves four to six people.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 or 5 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 pound frozen, cooked, tail-off shrimp
• 3 cans chopped or minced clams
• 1 cup fresh parsley
• pasta, cooked and drained

Directions

In a large pan, brown the garlic in the olive oil. Add the three undrained cans of minced or chopped clams. Bring to a boil and add the frozen shrimp. Bring back to a boil and add the chopped parsley. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 or 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve over the pasta of your choice (I prefer angel hair or thin spaghetti).

Enjoy!

Do you have a recipe you want to share? E-mail editor Jen Anesi at jen.anesi@patch.com to have your recipe featured on Troy Patch.

Source: http://troy.patch.com/articles/video-recipe-simple-seafood-spaghetti

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SAP Holding Startup Forums To Develop Ecosystem For HANA ? The Company?s First Ever Platform Play

SAP is doing a series of startup forums that signal a significant change in the company. It's a move unlike any we see from the likes of HP, Oracle or IBM. SAP is making a play as a platform company. It is building a developer community and backing it up with a special $155 million fund specifically meant to help build an ecosystem for HANA --- the company' s real-time analysis technology and new crown jewel.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/one72Qv5LBM/

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Macomb county community mental health - HEALTH, BEAUTY ...

People getting any adverse health education certificate may seek work in an array of positions, like health organizer, teacher, health program manager, patient educator, prevention specialist, nutritional expert, trainer, and various others. macomb Things you can do to avoid health cat health problems 1. The course continues to be particularly made to provide students using the expertise needed to attempt work like a safe practices specialist accounts as well as supplies a seem grounds for progression to postgraduate study. Most significantly, there? s an array of services that consume- mental depth proper care of specific ailments about therapy and medications ? all within the conveniences of your house. 8. College of Phoenix: This online college offers from certificates to doctorates in Gerontology, Health Administration, Healthcare Administration, Healthcare health savings accounts banks Informatics, Healthcare Management, Health Information Systems, Long- term Care, Medical Records and Pharmacy Practice. This helps him to review the policy supplied by various medical health insurance plans completely and that he will have the ability to determine that which kind of coverage he? d require the county most soon. Appreciating the value of an effective medical health insurance for college students, you will find assurance plans presented to match the scholars of the family. Experts opine savings that the entire process of eating and processing meals for example celery, mushrooms, broccoli and tomato plants, if not fried, really enables you to expend health more calories than you are taking when you eat them. To entrepreneurs, Health 2. Yet, the idea of general healthcare is insured by lots of suggestions regarding just how it may be performed. Should you still need to know much more about the different medical macomb county community mental health health insurance companies, Medical Health Insurance Texas is the best guide for you personally. A number of them also have been through physical injuries throughout accidents. banks Obtain the picture? citizens. Find links to health information and also the outcomes of clinical tests. Cut short using the mobile phone low as you possibly can once the reception isn? macomb county community mental health t good, because the mobile phone antenna will endeavour to enhance its energy and then the radiation to get the signals increases too. Additionally they intervene with doctors, hospitals along with other facilities with respect to the patients to make sure they receive optimal care. Some short- community term insurance coverage don? t satisfy the needs to fulfill the portability law. Women? s health is related carefully for their mental condition. It? s even more essential for Kapha persons to follow along with a strict Ayurvedic diet and balanced lifestyle. They adore running and swimming. will still be essential to take organic chocolates moderately, yet a bar every single day is simply too much. In the event you were considering this possibility after this you areprobably wondering what type of service you? d want.

Related Post Macomb county community mental health

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Source: http://curryrecipe-jp.net/health-2/macomb-county-community-mental-health/

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Egypt's outreach to China and Iran is troubling for U.S. policy

Next week, Egypt's Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, will visit China at the invitation of President Hu Jintao. He will seek investments there that will enable Egypt to "dispense of loans and aid," according to Morsi's party vice chairman. From China, Morsi will travel to Tehran to attend the Non-Aligned Movement summit. Just two months after coming to power, Morsi is pursuing a rapprochement with Tehran and articulating a newfound ambition to jettison billions in U.S. foreign assistance dollars and financing from Western financial institutions. Taken together, these steps suggest that Morsi's Egypt may be headed for a foreign policy shift rivaling the scope of President Anwar Sadat's expulsion of the Soviets in 1972 and subsequent reorientation to the West.

Cairo's burgeoning rapprochement with Tehran is the most obvious of Morsi's foreign policy pivots. An Egyptian president hadn't visited Iran since the 1979 revolution, and the clerical regime there continues to celebrate Sadat's assassination. While the notion of a major long-standing U.S. ally self-identifying as "non-aligned" is odious, it was perhaps more tolerable for Washington during the tenure of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Given the heightened tension over Iran's nuclear program, the timing of the Morsi visit seems deliberately provocative.

More problematic for the U.S., is Egypt's outreach to China. Concerned about the effect of Egypt's new policy of intentionally downgrading ? and potentially even severing ? ties with its peace partner Israel, Morsi appears to be engaged in hedging. Much like post-revolution Iran, China could be a willing partner for an Islamist Egypt.

China has not fared particularly well in the so-called Arab Spring. In addition to losing billions of dollars in energy sector investments in Libya, Beijing's ongoing support for the Bashar Assad regime's ruthless repression of the popular uprising has engendered the animosity of millions of Syrians. Beijing's vetoes of United Nations Security Council resolutions against Syria has made burning Chinese flags a popular pastime among the anti-Assad opposition, and when the regime is finally dispatched, the Middle Kingdom's economic and political interests in Syria will suffer.

Although an Islamist Egypt beset by insecurity and a failing economy might seem of little value to the Chinese, upgraded ties with the troubled nation would provide China with a foothold on the Mediterranean, and include, hypothetically, a port. Morsi's Egypt might also be amenable to offering Chinese warships priority access to the Suez Canal, as the U.S. has traditionally been afforded. This privilege would be particularly appealing to China, which increasingly sees a need to protect its investments in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

Another potential perquisite for China would be access to American technology in Egypt. According to an August 2009 U.S. diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks, Egypt "had more potential Section 3 [Arms Export Control Act] violations than any country in the world." The leaked cable expressed specific concern with a visit that year by a Chinese military official to an Egyptian F-16 aircraft base.

And these violations occurred during the Mubarak administration, which maintained ? apart from difficulties with the Bush administration ? strong strategic relations with Washington. Absent the constraints of close ties to the U.S., it's difficult to imagine that Morsi's Egypt would be more protective of U.S. military technology.

The benefits for China of improved ties with Egypt are clear. But Morsi also sees advantages in diversifying Egypt's sources of assistance. At the most basic level, China's foreign policy is based solely on perceived national interest alone, and as such, unlike the United States, Beijing will have no qualms about Morsi's increasing limitations on press freedoms, restrictions on freedom of speech, constraints on women's rights or the ill treatment of minorities. At the same time, China is flush with cash, and Egypt will again be ripe for foreign investment when and if security is reestablished.

No doubt, Morsi's effort to recalibrate Egypt's foreign policy orientation away from the West is not without problems. Beijing is not altruistic, so investment will be more likely than loans or grants. And should Cairo need credit, it will probably have to raise it from the oil-rich Persian Gulf states, which will have onerous requirements, and will be none too pleased with Egypt's move toward Tehran.

If Morsi gets his way, improved bilateral ties to Beijing will embolden, if not enable, Cairo to downgrade Egypt's ties to Washington. Of course, with the Muslim Brotherhood at the helm ? and with increased domestic repression and unmitigated hostility toward Israel ? this trajectory was perhaps inevitable. But Egypt's shift toward China further complicates the relationship with the U.S. and U.S. policymaking in the Middle East. Alas, based on Morsi's new foreign policy tack, Cairo's transformed relations with Beijing promise to be just one of a litany of U.S. concerns with Egypt.

David Schenker is director of the Program on Arab Politics at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Christina Lin is a fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/opinion/~3/biacWaUa_BE/la-oe-schenker-egypt-ties-to-china-20120824,0,5323443.story

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Davis homers on first 3 ABs vs Blue Jays

BALTIMORE (AP) ? Chris Davis has homered in each of his first three at-bats for the Baltimore Orioles against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Davis hit solo shots off starter Carlos Villanueva in the second and fourth innings Friday night and added a two-run drive against Steve Delabar in the sixth to put Baltimore up 5-1.

It is the first three-homer game of his career and first by an Oriole since Nick Markakis in August 2006.

Davis now has a career-high 23 home runs.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/davis-homers-first-3-abs-vs-blue-jays-010556249--mlb.html

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Kaiser football team gets ready for new season

Kaiser High School has enjoyed much success on the football field ever since 2001, and the Cats are aiming for another splendid season this fall.

Coach Phil Zelaya's team, led by a strong group of returning players, will be one of the top contenders for the Sunkist League title. The Cats are ranked No. 6 in the CIF Central Division pre-season poll.

"We're really happy with our returning guys at the skill positions; they're doing a great job," Zelaya said. "But we still have some areas in which we need to improve."

The Cats won 10 straight league championships (the longest streak in the history of prep athletics in Fontana) before finishing in second place behind Summit in 2011.

Two of the team's powerful running backs from last year, Taleeb Isom (an All-CIF player) and Marquette Washington, are enthusiastic about their upcoming senior campaigns.

"The backfield is looking good," Washington said.

Stepping in at quarterback will be Ray Padilla, a junior.

"Ray is a very athletic, tough, and smart kid," Zelaya said. "We love to run the ball, but we know we need to be able to throw the ball also."

"Whether the coach wants to run or pass, I'm happy with whatever he wants," Padilla said.

On defense, the Cats have several talented players, including senior linebackers Anthony Saenz and Kevin Trujillo (a returning All-CIF selection) and cornerback Desmond Ferrera.

"It will be a fun year," said Saenz. "Everybody is stepping up and getting ready to do their job."

Kaiser will have a very tough non-league schedule, starting with the opener on Friday, Aug. 31 at Apple Valley.

The Sunkist season will get under way with a home game against Summit on Oct. 5.

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Source: http://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/articles/2012/08/24/sports/doc5036539d6c2f0070324435.txt

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Unbalanced Budgeting: New Report Says Initiative 1185 Would Slash Jobs and Hinder Economic Recovery

The Washington State Budget and Policy Center issued a new report today on the potential budgetary impact of Tim Eyman's two-thirds-supermajority-reimposing Initiative 1185, and well, the prospects don't look too good.

The private sector has added 64,000 jobs since June of 2009, but our state and local governments have shed nearly 18,000 additional jobs over the same time period. That's 18,000 people who aren't spending their paychecks, and who aren't providing essential services in education, health care, child care, and other public sectors. Over that same period budget cuts have cost 66,000 Washingtonians their health coverage, and 22,000 people their disability benefits. And so on.

During the worst recession of the post-World War II era, the supermajority law has given a small handful of lawmakers the ability to block legislation to raise the additional revenues necessary to bolster Washington?s economy. As a result, policymakers have been forced to slash funding for health care, schools and colleges, and other public investments that create jobs and support a strong state economy.

[...] As long as Washington state is saddled with the onerous supermajority law, the state will not be able to make job-creating investments in transportation, public safety, health care, and education. If I-1185 is allowed to cement the law into place for another two years, those investments will continue to erode, forcing the next generation of Washingtonians to accept fewer jobs and limited opportunities.

Our gubernatorial candidates can talk all they want about outgrowing our current budgetary crisis, but our longterm structural revenue deficit makes that impossible. I-1185's undemocratic two-thirds supermajority requirements locks in the austerity status quo, and austerity is a recipe for economic stagnation and decline.

Source: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/08/23/unbalanced-budgeting-new-report-says-initiative-1185-would-slash-jobs-and-hinder-economic-recovery

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The NIH Superbug Story a missing piece

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Brent nears $116 on Fed hopes, shrugs off China data

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Brent crude rose more than a dollar on Thursday, approaching $116 per barrel on renewed hopes for another round of monetary stimulus by the U.S. Federal Reserve, helping investors look past weak manufacturing data from China.

The prospect of further economic stimulus from the Fed should boost the outlook for demand from the world's top oil consumer, although more evidence of a slowdown in China, the second biggest user, could limit price gains.

Brent October futures rose 96 to $115.88 a barrel at 0443 GMT, rising for a third straight session. U.S. crude was up 79 cents at $98.05 per barrel, off a three-month high of $98.17 earlier in the session.

"We are in the midst of the U.S. holiday season, when demand for oil is high, and the added impetus is the prospect of stimulus," said Jonathan Barratt, chief executive of BarrattBulletin, a Sydney-based commodity research firm.

Minutes from the latest meeting of Fed policymakers released on Wednesday suggested that the U.S. central bank is likely to deliver another round of monetary stimulus "fairly soon" unless the economy improves considerably.

The Fed's policy has been fairly dovish, given that overnight interest rates are near zero and it has bought $2.3 trillion in U.S. government debt and mortgage-related bonds to push borrowing costs lower. It has said it does not expect to raise rates until late-2014 at the earliest.

Further stimulus may weaken the dollar, which in turn will spur prices of all commodities, while any boost to the U.S. economy from the stimulus may also drive up demand for oil.

CHINA DATA DISAPPOINTS

Crude futures pared some gains after disappointing data from China signaled that a persistent slowdown in the world's biggest energy consumer has extended into the third quarter.

The HSBC Flash China manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 47.8 in August, its lowest level since November, from 49.5 in July.

After hovering for several months just under the 50 mark that divides expansion from contraction, the index is now at levels rarely seen since the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.

The weak data adds to worries that have been lingering because of the European debt crisis.

Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker kept alive Greek hopes of winning more time to push through austerity cuts but warned the country was staring at its "last chance" to avoid bankruptcy.

Greece's prime minister will meet leaders of Germany and France this week to seek concessions in some terms of the bailout agreement.

However, initial signs suggest that both leaders may offer little leeway and expect him to stick to the original terms.

SUPPLY WORRIES

Worries about oil supply remain amid continued unrest in the Middle East, with increasing violence in Syria and tensions between Iran and western nations nowhere near resolution.

The Syrian army this week used tanks and helicopter gunships in an offensive around the capital of Damascus that coincided with the departure of U.N. military observers, whose mission to stop bloodshed and nudge Syria towards a peaceful transition was a failure.

The chief of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, which will resume talks with Iran on Friday over its disputed nuclear programme, played down chances of a breakthrough. The dispute has led to sanctions by the U.S. and European Union on shipments from Iran and has driven up crude prices.

Brent prices also remain supported by an expected cut in North Sea oil production related to maintenance.

However, initial estimates of the output cut may be revised downwards after tweaks to August and September export schedules, boosting supply of crude from the home of the global Brent oil benchmark.

Investors were also focusing on U.S. data that showed crude inventory fell sharply last week.

U.S. crude oil stockpiles dropped 5.41 million barrels to 360.75 million barrels in the week ended on Friday, amid a drop in crude imports, the Energy Information Administration reported. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a smaller drop of 400,000 barrels.

The data followed a late Tuesday report by industry group American Petroleum Institute that showed crude stockpiles had fallen 6 million barrels last week.

(Editing by Himani Sarkar; Editing by Richard Pullin)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/brent-crude-rises-more-1-fed-stimulus-hopes-033322001--finance.html

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Selling Your Old iPhone and Android Phones? Better Read this First

Sexy and sleek smartphones are on the horizon and the rush is on to sell that old handset as consumers try to recoup some cash that will add up to the fund for their next gadget buy.

Security experts, however, warned that mobile phone owners should first ensure that the handset they'll be giving up would not compromise their privacy, meaning the data in the unit will be no more for others access and tinker with.

And the best option available for the average consumer, according to Yahoo blog 'Upgrade Your Life', is to wipe out all traces of personal data from the phone via factory reset, a function that is offered on all mobile phones - from the once popular feature phones to the now ubiquitous smartphones.

Phone owners wary of unintentionally sharing their private lives with the next person fidgeting their gadget should be comforted by the fact that factory reset would normally eliminate all information from a mobile phone, the blog said.

That single phone function is its 'resurrection tool' as soon as the process has been completed, any unit would reassume its original state when it was first rolled out from the production line.

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No phonebook, images and messages should remain once the factory reset button has been triggered and the wipe out operation concluded, Yahoo said.

But the process itself was fraught with a number of loopholes, according to computer forensic expert Steve Burgess.

The strength of security procedure wholly depends on the mobile platform that governs a specific unit, Mr Burgess warned.

And in this respect, Apple's iOS and Research in Motion appear to be on the top of the field.

Factory reset on any BlackBerry phones is robust enough that owners would simply apply the process and wait out for more than a month and they can be assured that all data will be lost forever, according to Mr Burgess.

The same goes with all iPhone editions, he added.

"With an iPhone, when you do a factory reset, it removes all of the encryption keys, which is the same as wiping it," the security analyst told Yahoo.

Data, however, that were once hosted by an iPhone could still be technically accessed if someone would be willing enough to spend a fortune in setting up a supercomputer, which is the only tool he knew would possess the juice for such efforts, plus the necessary skill and expertise of course.

Among the present platform there is, the weakest link would be Android, which incidentally is the dominant smartphone ecosystem, basing on data recently supplied by analytic firms.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/376946/20120824/selling-old-iphone-android-phones-better-read.htm

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Fiat India starts experiential skill training center in Pune... http://www.bsmot...

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Oil rises on stimulus hopes, supply disruption worries

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose a third straight day on Thursday on hints of a third round of monetary stimulus from the U.S. Federal Reserve and persistent worries that tensions in the Middle East could disrupt crude supplies.

Investor hopes for more Fed stimulus were reinforced when minutes from the latest policy meeting, released on Wednesday, suggested the central bank would be likely to act, "fairly soon" unless the economy improves considerably.

Oil pared gains initially on data showing a rise in U.S. jobless claims last week, against expectations for a slight decline, but analysts and traders noted that while unemployed people buy less fuel, weak data pressures central banks to act.

The possibility of more stimulus, viewed as potentially inflationary, lifted the euro and weighed on the dollar, lending support for dollar-denominated oil prices.

"There is no good data, but the poor data has equated to more hopes for stimulus," said Addison Armstrong, senior director for market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. "The struggle for U.S. crude today will be to settle again over the 200-day moving average, $96.75."

Brent October crude rose $1.21 to $116.12 a barrel at 11:53 a.m. EDT (1553 GMT), having reached $116.38.

An upcoming maintenance-related slide in North Sea oil production and heightened Middle East tensions helped Brent hit a three-month peak at $117.03 a week ago as its September contract headed to expiration and went off the board at $116.90 a barrel, the highest settlement since May 2.

Brent has recovered from a low of $88.49 posted on June 22 after retreating from the 2012 peak at $128.40 hit on March 1.

U.S. October crude was up 43 cents at $97.69 a barrel, after reaching $98.29, highest since early May.

The stimulus hopes outweighed disappointing data from China, which signaled that the slowdown in the world's biggest energy consumer and No. 2 oil consumer had extended into the third quarter.

The HSBC Flash China manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 47.8 in August, its lowest level since November, down from the 49.5 July flash and the 49.3 final reading.

A flare up of tropical storms in the Atlantic and their potential threat to the U.S. oil infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico added support for oil prices.

Tropical Storm Joyce formed on Thursday in the eastern tropical Atlantic, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Tropical Storm Isaac weakened slightly near Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Thursday but it was expected to strengthen into a hurricane before moving across the Dominican Republic and Haiti, U.S. forecasters said.

MIDDLE EAST TURMOIL

The violent struggle in Syria and tensions over the dispute over Iran's nuclear program continued to raise the specter of potential supply disruptions in the region.

The U.S. Navy is cutting short home leave for the crew of one of its aircraft carriers, the USS Stennis, and sending them back to the Middle East next week to counter any threat from Iran, according to the official Navy News Service.

The chief of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency on Wednesday played down the chances of a breakthrough when talks with Iran resume on Friday, but said the agency would pursue access to the Parchin military site that diplomats say may have been cleansed of evidence of illicit nuclear activity.

(Additional reporting by Claire Milhench in London and Ramya Venugopal in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/brent-crude-rises-more-1-fed-stimulus-hopes-033322001--finance.html

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