E-mail Marketing ? A Free Lunch With a Side of Spam ...

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One of my favorite westerns is the ?Good, The Bad and The Ugly?. You may recall Clint Eastwood is one of the good guys in this movie. He personifies the western hero who comes to the rescue. On the other hand, you have Lee Van Cleef who plays Clint?s bad partner and Eli Wallach who plays the ugly partner. These three characters personified all the attributes of the western hero/anti-hero.

Since WWW stands for the Wild Wild West (aka world wide web), we can? think of e-mail as one of the good guys that helped firms promote their businesses on the Internet. During the past few years, however, e-mail spamming has become one of the ugly facts of life online.

The good news is that legitimate e-mail marketing is still alive and well.

It is also still mostly free. ?If you are like most business owners, you spend a considerable amount of time and money trying to create qualified leads for your sales staff. ?Having owned, operated and/or managed a number of thriving businesses over the years, I have come to appreciate the fact that many forms of lead generation provide great results. This includes leads generated by newspaper ads, coupons, yellow page ads and direct mail. While these forms of lead generation systems have proven to be effective at making our phone ring in the past, they have also proven time consuming, hard to track and expensive.

Take direct mail, for instance. ?With the cost of a first class stamp currently at 46 cents apiece, designing, constructing, stuffing and mailing a single circular from one business to another is going to cost you a minimum of $1. If you want to send your mailer to 1,000 businesses, this is going to represent a significant financial risk. Since the average rate of return on direct mail is a scant one to two percent, it isn?t exactly a sure thing as to whether your firm will break even on the campaign, let alone turn a profit.

However, sending the same offer or newsletter via e-mail will cost you little more than the time it takes to craft the offering. ?While there is a right way and a wrong way to go about creating a legitimate e-mail database, if you belong to networking groups, attend business functions, or in other ways come into contact with potential customers, getting permission to send them a monthly newsletter is as simple as asking permission. (This means you shouldn?t be branded as a spammer).

You can also include forms on your website, landing pages and social networks that will allow interested parties to sign up to receive your white paper, e-book or newsletter at the click of a mouse. ?Providing an easy way to let your prospects opt-in is just another way of connecting with an ever-growing audience.

Opt-in data bases are even better than purchased databases because these prospects want to receive your information. By automating parts of this process, you can touch prospects with less effort, lower costs and send out information and articles with greater frequency.

Creating a newsletter is a snap, since there are websites such as constantcontact.com, icontact.com and mailchimp.com that provide a low-cost service that includes everything you need to construct newsletters, invitations and offers, all via their template driven system.

Want to send out a birthday or holiday greeting to those on your mailing list? ?Try jibjab.com a website that contains hundreds of customizable e-cards and video cards that you can send to as many people in your database as you care to, for a flat $9.99 per year. ?We recently sent out a series of holiday video cards that were a huge success because they were humorous and because we added our staff?s headshots into the action. (If you haven?t seen this site you don?t know what you are missing.)

Best of all, all of the above-mentioned forms of online promotion are cost-effective and spam-free. ?If anyone receiving your newsletter wants to opt-out, all they have to do is click a link on the newsletter to be removed from your mailing list. Of course, that doesn?t mean that spammers do not exist.

What?s Scary! Really Scary!

The bad news is that there is no end in sight for spamming. Anyone who receives e-mail usually receives tens or even hundreds of unsolicited e-mails every day. ?According to cyber security firm Symantec, in 2012 72.89 percent of all e-mail received worldwide was considered spam. ?While most of us employ one form or other of spam filter to keep from being buried alive by spam, Symantec recommends a few other ways to reduce the amount of unwanted e-mails coming your way.

Some Simple Ways Stop E-mail Spam

This topic deserves a standalone blog post, so we?ll highlight the most important points only:

1. Do not give away your primary e-mail address when registering online. Use a secondary or special address for registrations.

2. Unless you are a salesperson, don?t include your e-mail address in the public profiles visible by everyone.

3.?Choose an e-mail address that is difficult to guess.

4. Never respond to spam e-mails such as asking to unsubscribe ? this will confirm your e-mail address validity rather than unsubscribe you.

5. Use a spam filter on your computer or in your corporate network.

6. Use the ?Report spam? option within your e-mail client so you never receive e-mails from this sender again.

7. Update your anti-viral software on a regular basis.

The problem with spam is there is no way to legitimately take your name off the spammers e-mail list.

E-Mail Spam ? The Ugly Truth

Not only are spammers raking in millions of dollars, so are the companies

that sell them their lists. A number of freeware and free apps are also used to collect e-mail address illegitimately. Some are even being used to infect the computers, tablets and Smartphone?s of unsuspecting consumers and business owners worldwide. This ugly truth is becoming more than a nuisance, it?s epidemic. ?It is threatening all our livelihoods. ?Governments have been woefully inadequate at protecting consumers. They have done a poor job of going after and prosecuting these spammers, hackers and cyber criminals. However, that doesn?t mean there is nothing you can do to defend yourself.

Is there anything you can do about unsolicited commercial e-mail?

Unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE) can come from various organizations, companies or be the product of ?computer viruses.? Companies or individuals can get your e-mail address from the Web. Other sources exist such as marketing lists that you sign up to that often get passed between companies. Unsolicited commercial e-mails generally also come from outside the U.S. Many of these UCE originate from countries like Ireland and those in European Union. This means it is quite difficult to stop the occurrence of UCE ? it is a global phenomenon. Generally, there is little you can do to prevent unsolicited commercial e-mails being sent to you.

Here is what you can do if you receive UCE:

In the vast bulk of cases of UCE?s e-mails, the e-mail headers are not valid.

*E-mail headers may be forged so replying to the e-mail merely results in you sending UCE to the innocent person whose e-mail address was forged.

*It is not advised to respond to an e-mail address to ?opt-out? of a list unless the address is from a recognized organization. These e-mail addresses may also be false or are used to confirm the unwanted e-mail was originally sent to a valid and active e-mail account.

*Responding to a website that supposedly lets you remove yourself from the list is also not advised. This is because once you access the website your details are logged. You could also you be exposed to pornography.

It is possible to determine the location (rather than the user or the e-mail address) from where the e-mail was sent. If you are able to look at the e-mail headers, you will then be able to determine the IP address of the Internet Service Provider (ISP) whose services were used to send the e-mail. Finding out exactly where UCE has come from can be difficult and time-consuming.

If you have determined the location of the sender of these mails, then it may be possible to send an e-mail to abuse@isp to complain ?about the e-mail. However, adult e-mails are not illegal in many countries including Ireland. If you do succeed in sending an e-mail complaint to abuse@isp and the material is illegal in the jurisdiction it originated in or in breach of the Acceptable Use Policy of the sender?s ISP, the ISP can disconnect the sender. However, it might be unable to tell you the name of the sender due to international data protection regulations. In many cases, the sender just moves to a different ISP and starts the process again.

Just like the characters in the movie, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, e-mail has a way of showing us the best and the worst the Internet has to offer. E-mail has saved billions of dollars for businesses worldwide. It has also cost billions in return. While e-mail can be a two-edged sword, it can also be a godsend to businesses looking for a way to increase their exposure. It has helped thousands of businesses survive the tough financial times that are upon us today. ?Just bear in mind that the when it comes to working the Web, only the good guys play by the rules.

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Carl Weiss is one of the good guys who has been helping clients work the Web to win since 1995. He is president of WSquaredMediaGroup.com a digital marketing agency and owner of Jacksonville-Video-Production.com. ?You can speak with him live on the air every Tuesday at 4 p.m. EST on Blog Talk Radio.

Source: http://www.sitepronews.com/2013/01/31/e-mail-marketing-a-free-lunch-with-a-side-of-spam/

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Zimmerman out of money for defense, attorneys say

Joe Burbank / Pool via Orlando Sentinel/AP

George Zimmerman, left, sits with defense counsel at the Seminole County courthouse Tuesday in Sanford, Fla., on Dec. 11, 2012.

By Jeff Black, Staff Writer, NBC News

George Zimmerman is running out of money to pay for his legal defense, his lawyers say on a website set up to solicit donations.

Zimmerman, a former neighborhood watch volunteer, is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, on Feb. 26, 2012, in Sanford, Fla. He has pleaded not guilty.

On Wednesday, O?Mara?s firm, which runs the website?GZDefenseFund.com, tweeted that there was an update to the site. In the update, the lawyers say they are preparing for a hearing on Zimmerman?s self-defense claim, possibly in April, but need money in order to pay legal expenses.

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?The State has virtually unlimited resources to prosecute George,? the site reads. ?To finance his defense, however, George relies on the generosity of individuals who believe he is innocent.?

??As we prepare for an (sic) Self-Defense Immunity Hearing or a trial, the cold fact is that we must raise more money,? the website reads. ?Our goal is to raise $30,000 per month. This represents the minimum we calculate we need to conduct the defense George deserves, and this figure does not include any attorney's fees.?

The lawyers say on the website that as of a month ago more than $300,000 has been raised to pay for Zimmerman?s defense, but also say that when O?Mara first took the case last year, many legal analysts predicted the defense would cost more than $1 million. ?The attorneys say neither O?Mara nor his co-counsel Mark West has been paid for their services.

This is how the, $314,099.07 raised by the defense fund has been spent, according to the site:

• Bail bond - $95,000
• Household/living expenses - $61,747.54
• Security - $56,100.00
• Law firm support and infrastructure - $40,647.64
• Case-related expenses - $35,588.07
• PayPal and fund management fees - $7,924.22
• Other expenses - $3,201.04

The site solicits donations via PayPal, credit card or check. The O?Mara Law Group in Orlando is the site?s registered owner. Zimmerman set up a website of his own to solicit money on April 8, 2012, but stopped taking donations when O?Mara launched gzdefensefund.com on April 23, 2012.

The Zimmerman case ignited an emotional debate over race and gun rights in the weeks after Martin's death. Local police initially did not charge Zimmerman, fueling protests, and Zimmerman was later charged by special state prosecutor Angela Corey following an investigation.

Zimmerman, who is of white and Hispanic descent, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. He says he shot Martin in self-defense after Martin attacked him. He is free on bail.

?It?s not unusual in high-profile cases for there to be a defense fund,? Derek Byrd, president of the?Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers?told NBC News. ?In the the old days people would go knocking on neighbors? doors or ask friends. Today, with social media ? Twitter, Facebook, websites ? you can see where people would use them to reach a bigger audience.?

Byrd agreed with O?Mara that prosecutors can tap more resources for their case. He said defense attorneys have large expenses to hire experts, transcribe depositions and other related expenses.

E-mails sent to O'Mara's law firm were not returned, and repeated attempts to call his office phone met with a busy signal. E-mails and phone messages sent to prosecutor Corey were also unanswered.

?

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/30/16775581-george-zimmerman-out-of-money-needs-donations-attorneys-say?lite

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Source: http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/kyle-recovers-after-cancer-therapy-1-4734068

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Lionel Messi, Ronaldo lead AP player rankings

Lionel Messi, izquierda, celebra con sus compa?eros Carles Puyol, derecha, y Xavi Hern?ndez tras marcar un gol ante Osasuna en un partido de la liga espa?ola el domingo 27 de enero de 2013. Barcelona gan? 5-1. (AP Foto/Alvaro Barrientos)

Lionel Messi, izquierda, celebra con sus compa?eros Carles Puyol, derecha, y Xavi Hern?ndez tras marcar un gol ante Osasuna en un partido de la liga espa?ola el domingo 27 de enero de 2013. Barcelona gan? 5-1. (AP Foto/Alvaro Barrientos)

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal celebrates his goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Sampdoria Argentine forward Mauro Emanuel Rivero Icardi celebrates after scoring, during a Serie A soccer match between Sampdoria and Pescara, in Genoa, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Carlo Baroncini)

Luton Town players celebrate defeating Norwich City 0-1 in their English FA Cup fourth round soccer match at Carrow Road, Norwich, England,?Saturday Jan. 26, 2013. See PA Story SOCCER Norwich. (AP Photo/PA, Chris Radburn) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE

LONDON (AP) ? Lionel Messi's four-goal burst has ensured that he and Barcelona return to the top of the Associated Press Global Soccer rankings this week.

The romance of England's FA Cup has produced some unlikely names in the Top 10 teams and a previously unknown striker at No. 9.

Thirteeen out of 18 panelists placed Messi at No. 1 on their list of Top 10 players, with Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo in second place. With 10 points for the top position, Messi earned 176 points, followed by Ronaldo with 159.

Sampdoria striker Mauro Icardi, a 19-year-old Argentine who is becoming a fixture in the AP Top 10 as one of the most promising players in European club soccer, is third with 90 points.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-01-29-SOC-AP-Global-Soccer-10/id-68e962dde6ba41a5b6bbaadfab171a34

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PFT: Eagles' unlikely to decide on Vick soon

Reuters

The periodic concerns that come from the parents of boys (or from parents like President Obama who don?t and won?t have sons) regarding whether the young men entrusted to their care will create for some families a potential opportunity.

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, for example, has no issue with parents not wanting their sons to play football, because if fewer boys play football it?s be easier for Jim Harbaugh?s son to get to the NFL.

?If President Obama feels that way, then there will be a little less competition for Jack Harbaugh for when he gets old enough,? Jim Harbaugh said Monday, via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.? ?That?s the first thing that jumps in my mind if other parents are thinking that way.?

Jim Harbaugh is thinking that he definitely has a future football player in the household.

?[H]e?s a really big kid,? Jim Harbaugh said.? ?He?s got an enormous head. . . As soon as he grows into that head, he?s going to be something.? It?s early, but expectations are high for young Jack.?

Plenty of fathers throughout the country feel the same way.? With the football hierarchy more sensitive than ever regarding the dangers of concussions, the kids who play football now and in the future will see an unprecedented level of safety.? Even without those changes, plenty of kids will play football, either because their parents will want them to or when push comes to shove their parents won?t stop them from playing.

So even if fewer kids play at the youth level, there will still be 32 NFL teams and 120-plus Division I-A (or whatever they call it now) college programs handing out scholarships.? As Jim Harbaugh astutely points out, fewer players in the pipeline means fewer players jockeying for those spots.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/29/decision-on-michael-vick-likely-not-coming-soon/related/

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Spain's 'doping doctor' in court

28 January 2013 Last updated at 17:17 ET

A Spanish doctor has appeared in court accused of running one of the world's largest sports doping rings.

Dr Eufemiano Fuentes's trial in Madrid comes nearly seven years after police raided his offices and seized some 200 bags of blood which were linked to a number of top cyclists.

Dozens of cyclists have been called to testify as witnesses in the trial.

Dr Fuentes, his sister and three former cycling coaches are charged with breaking public health laws.

They could not be charged with doping-related crimes because Spain had no anti-doping law at the time of their arrest.

Prosecutors must prove that the defendants' actions put the lives of the athletes at risk - something the defence is expected to deny.

Monday saw only opening legal arguments. Dr Fuentes's testimony was postponed until Tuesday morning.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

The great international interest in this trial is linked to the claim by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that it was told, back in 2006, that the blood bags seized were from athletes from "several sports".

However that claim will not be the focus of this trial, which is expected to look only on cycling.

A suspicion - that some evidence seized during the raids has been held back - will therefore persist.

However, Spain's anti-doping agency says it has seen no evidence to back up that suspicion.

The BBC has spoken to a Spanish long-distance runner who claimed that he was encouraged to dope via Dr Fuentes's alleged network.

I asked Dr Fuentes's lawyer, Julian Perez, if the doctor had clients who were not cyclists. "I do not know", was his response.

The case comes days after former seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong admitted to using banned drugs and blood doping during his cycling career.

Code-names

Spanish police carried out a series of raids on offices, laboratories and flats in Madrid, Zaragoza and El Escorial in May 2006 as part of an investigation known as Operation Puerto.

They found about 200 bags of blood or frozen plasma with labels that were believed to be code-names for Dr Fuentes's clients - athletes who were allegedly benefiting from a highly-sophisticated doping programme.

Dozens of cyclists were allegedly implicated in the scandal, including former Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, who is expected to give evidence in the trial.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has said that it was told, at the time of the raids, that the bags of blood also related to athletes from several sports, including football and tennis.

But the trial will focus only on cyclists who, according to the chief prosecutor in the case, are the only athletes that could be identified from the bags of blood seized.

The trial is expected to last until mid-March.

If found guilty, the defendants could face up to two years in prison and a two-year professional ban.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21227052#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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J.J. Abrams And 'Star Wars': What Do 'Star Trek' Fans Think?

'Some fans are upset,' TrekToday.com's Bonnie Malmat tells MTV News about Abrams' other 'Star' franchise.
By Josh Wigler

J.J. Abrams
Photo: Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1700868/jj-abrams-star-wars-star-trek-fan-reactions.jhtml

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Use Exfoliating Bath Gloves to Clean Fruits and Vegetables

Before you cook or eat fresh fruits and vegetables, you should give them a good scrub first under running water. Instead of buying pricey special "vegetable cleaning gloves" or wasting a ton of paper towels, try a cheaper option that gives you the same thing: exfoliating "bath gloves" that are available in almost any grocery or department store.

Most vegetable cleaning gloves will set you back around $10 (more if you buy them in a department or kitchen store, as much as $20), but the same product, just branded for use in the shower or bath, are much cheaper, around $2 each online, and the ones I've seen at my local supermarket are around $5. (Just steer clear of the fancy branded ones, they can get much more expensive.) They're both just rough enough to scrub down fruits and vegetables without damaging them, and they can be tossed in the washer or dishwasher for cleaning.

Just using the gloves is an easy and fast way to prep your fruits and veggies to eat, but there's no reason to pay more for the ones branded for kitchen use. As long as you don't use your veggie gloves in the shower, you'll be okay.

Thanks to reader Mary for sending in the tip!

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/CI-z9oVVc1E/use-exfoliating-bath-gloves-to-clean-fruits-and-vegetables

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PST: Drogba officially signs with Galatasaray

It?s not Chelsea or the much-rumored Juventus move that?s lingered over the last two months, but with his switch to Galatasaray, Didier Drogba is inching back onto our soccer radars. He?s also joining a huge club, will play in Champions League, and is likely set for another significant payday. Not a bad day for one of the world?s soccer icons.

That?s because a rumor that surfaced late last week, one that ?linked Drogba with the Turkish leaders, has come to fruition. The Chelsea icon who scored the final penalty kick in May?s Champions League final will join the Istanbul giants on an 18-month deal, ending his sojourn in the Chinese Super League.

Drogba, who tallied 157 all-competition goals in his eight years at Stamford Bridge, moved to Shanhai Shenhua this summer. The deal make him one of the highest paid soccer players in the world, but disappointing results combined uncertainty at the club left Drogba and former Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka seeking offseason moves. Anelka has since confirmed a five-month Juventus loan that will see him miss the start of the Chinese Super League season. Drogba, after scoring eight goals in 11 games in China, is now set for a permanent move.

Drogba is currently with the Cote d?Ivoire national team participating in the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.?Les Elephants have won their first two matches of the tournament, though in their 3-0 win over Tunisia on Saturday, Drogba was relegated to the bench for the first time in his international career. Despite his still prodigious reputation, a 34-year-old Drogba playing on three days rest may have been too much to ask so early in the tournament.

Despite those new limitations, expect Drogba?s move to elicit echoes of the reaction that met Wesley Sneijder?s signing. Fans will question why he?s moving to Gala when he was linked with other clubs, but as the circumstances behind Sneijder?s move showed, the Istanbul giants are more than a consolation prize. For a soon to be 35-year-old who is two and a half years removed from his best days, it?s may be the perfect level.

The Turkish league may not be at the same level of England or Italy?s, but the city is an attractive landing spot for players who have spent their careers in London, Madrid, and Milan. The meeting point between west and east makes Turkey?s biggest city one of the jewels of Europe, with a move to Galatasaray or Fenerbah?e giving players a chance to play in one of the world?s great derbies. Playing in front of some of the best crowds in world soccer, players moving to Istanbul can justify leaving Europe?s more renown leagues.

MORE: Perceptions of Sneijder, Drogba lodged in 2010.

Player?s like Sneijder can look to Anelka?s lucrative Fenerbah?e move in 2005 as reason to think Turkey need not be more than a stopover. For players like Drogba, there are far worse places to play out the last chapters of their career?s story.

And come February 20, Drogba will be back in Champions League. That?s when Galatasaray, beneficiaries of a weak group, will face Schalke in the Round of 16, and while we?re sure to hear exaggerated projections of what Sneijder and Drogba mean to Gala?snc, they may be enough to edge Turkey?s champions past the enigmatic Miners.

Still, there is a question of relevance. Gala?s not going to win Champions League, and with a gap between them and second in Turkey, Drogba may not matter domestically. The team already has a wealth of attacking options, from Turkish internationals Umut Bulut and Burak Yilmaz (who have already combined for 20 league goals) to Sweden?s Johan Elmander. On the field, it?s possible Drogba won?t bring Gala anything they wouldn?t have otherwise won.

But there?s a reason we care about this signing. Even as he plays out the last act of his career, there?s only one Didier Drogba. We care about his final seasons the same way we care about David Beckham?s and Thierry Henry?s. And today, one of the world?s truly unique players landed in another exciting local, one that will reinforce the Galatasaray name to a series of soccer fans who?d never bothered to care about Turkish soccer.

Source: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/28/didier-drogba-signs-for-galatasaray/related

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Does Online Dating Offer Too Much Choice? - The Dish | By Andrew ...

Readers sound off on a recent post:

Alexis Madrigal doesn't actually rebut Dan Slater's piece. I don't believe Dan is arguing that online dating allows for superficial connections that diminish each dater's need to put in much effort.? He was saying that it makes it so easy to meet someone new who might be more compatible that it diminishes one's desire to stop the searching process once one has merely found someone they "like" rather than "adore."? He isn't saying that it makes it superficial; he's saying it makes it too easy to find someone new.

Do any of you watch How I Met Your Mother?? There is an apropos episode where Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) puts his phone number on a sign that is shown on the TV during the Super Bowl.? Throughout the ensuing episode he receives call after call from similarly hot women while he's entertaining the previous caller. He always rushes to meet this "new" object of his attention because she simply may be "better."?

This is a common phenomenon in the online dating world.? A close friend of mine started dating a perfectly attractive, entertaining and intelligent woman who he met through OKCupid.?

After a few dates she started suggesting that he should delete his profile. He never did.? Although he wasn't someone who was only interest in one-night stands, and was searching for a relationship, he didn't want to stop searching. While this woman was a great match, the allure of something "better" remained.? OKCupid simply made it too easy to find someone that "might" be "better" immediately in a way that pre-Internet dating didn't provide nearly as readily.

Another:

This discussion on online dating threatening or changing monogamy is so much more complex than "Jacobs" experience in Slater's article, from which I took away much different conclusions and perspective.

First, the disclosures. I am 32, relatively single, childless, and I think monogamy is for those who are religious or need dependency. I say relatively single because when one rejects the premise that all dating is about finding ONE person for companionship, intimacy, dedication, commitment, sexual fulfillment and obligatory attendance at events, then one finds all these things in a series of overlapping relationships that are often more and better in many respects than monogamous couples find in seeking so much from just one person.

Now, my life revolves around very sincere, loving, but often non-discrete relations. "Friends", "Ex's", "lovers", "daters", "hook-up partners", and "the undefined". For example, I have an ex-girlfriend who I dated for four months three years ago. We chat via email, FB, and text often, but not frequently. We consult each other on music, our professions, culture, and life in general. In the past three years, we sometimes get together and sure an encounter ends up with sex, a "sleepover", or it's just a cup of coffee. We decide she is just one of many in my life who I know and have a relationship that is now many years old, but has punctuation and gaps, could include sexual relations or not, is very intimate, but also sometimes just about the weather.

We all love it. We get so much out of it. Trust, loyalty, satisfaction, commitment is all there, but it evolves all the time. Communication is always important. I am going to know and have strong relations with many and they will last a long time, but it is not marriage or monogamy.

If anything, online dating has allowed those who want marriage/monogamy to state that and go for it. For those who are seeking something else (but not just a hookup - there is plenty of that), we can also state that. However, social mores prevail and men are not allowed to be as open about this as women. Men who state explicitly looking for the one night stand are shunned.?

Source: http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2013/01/does-online-dating-give-us-too-much-choice.html

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Does Facebook Owe You Money?

Generally, Facebook is making money off you (or at least trying) by collecting all your info and then parceling it all out for ads. But now the tables have turned, maybe kinda sorta. Thanks to an ongoing class action lawsuit, you may be entitled to up to 10 whole dollars from the social networking giant. Take that, Zuck! More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/-rZ8kHCIzco/does-facebook-owe-you-money

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Women Mean Business - Barbara Duganier - The BusinessMakers ...

Listen Now

This text will be replaced

Summary:

You really can have it all?sort of. Leisa Holland-Nelson seeks career advice from financial whiz Barbara Duganier, Sr. Executive and Head of North American Finance Business Services for Accenture.

Video and Full Interview Text

Leisa: Hello. I'm Leisa Holland-Nelson and welcome to another edition of Women Mean Business where we're going to take you up close and personal with extraordinary doing extraordinary things. My guest today is Barbara Duganier, senior executive and head of North American Finance Business Services for Accenture. Barbara, you've been incredibly successful in your career. Imagine we had a young businesswoman here at the table with us, what advice would you give her to achieve the success you've had?

Barbara: Well Leisa, I do mentor a lot of women coming up through our organization and outside of Accenture. I would think of three things. I would give them advice in three areas. One is that to have a really good mentor or multiple mentors throughout your career is a really significant thing to do in managing your career and in looking at your personal growth through someone else's eyes, particularly someone who's been very successful.

What you need out of a mentor changes as you change and you grow, but having one and this is statistically proven, makes women's success and their career accelerate significantly. So find the right one. The second would be to really do what you enjoy. A lot of us do things we enjoy and we obviously have fun doing it, as well as we're successful, we make money, we achieve other goals. So I think to be able to think about what will really motivate you and you're passionate about in the long run is really something that you should think about. The third thing is you can have everything in your career. You really can, but not at the same time. We think a lot about work/life balance and how do we achieve balance in various phases in our career in our lives and so those things can be achieved, but have patience with yourself and think about how you really can prioritize your life, your work to be able to achieve what's right for you.

Leisa: Thank you very much. There you have it. Extraordinary advice from an extraordinary woman. I'm Leisa Holland-Nelson, President and Chief Marketing Officer of Content Active, Houston's leading web and mobile technology company. You can find me at Content Active.com or follow me on Twitter @LHNelson. We'll be back again next week with another edition of Women Mean Business.

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Source: http://www.thebusinessmakers.com/episodes/shows/2013/january-2013/episode-399/wmb-399.html

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Mobile Device Speeds Up Diagnostic Testing for HIV and More ...

Fast, Low-cost Device Uses the Cloud to Speed Up Diagnostic Testing for HIV and More

Mobile Device Can Easily Be Used in Remote Areas around the World

Samuel K. Sia, associate professor of biomedical engineering atColumbia Engineering, has taken his innovative?lab-on-a-chipand developed a way to not only check a patient?s HIV status anywhere in the world with just a finger prick, but also synchronize the results automatically and instantaneously with central health-care records?10 times faster, the researchers say, than the benchtop ELISA, a broadly used diagnostic technique. The device was field-tested in Rwanda by a collaborative team from the Sia lab and ICAP at Columbia?s Mailman School of Public Health.

In the?study?published online January 18, 2013, in?Clinical Chemistry, and in the print April 2013 issue, Sia describes a major advance towards providing people in remote areas of the world with laboratory-quality diagnostic services traditionally available only in centralized health care settings.

?We?ve built a handheld mobile device that can perform laboratory-quality HIV testing, and do it in just 15 minutes and on finger-pricked whole blood,? Sia says. ?And, unlike current HIV rapid tests, our device can pick up positive samples normally missed by lateral flow tests, and automatically synchronize the test results with patient health records across the globe using both the cell phone and satellite networks.?

Sia collaborated with Claros Diagnostics (a company he co-founded, now called OPKO Diagnostics) to develop a pioneering strategy for an integrated microfluidic-based diagnostic device?the mChip?that can perform complex laboratory assays, and do so with such simplicity that these tests can easily be carried out anywhere, including in resource-limited settings, at a very low cost. This new study builds upon his earlier scientific concepts and incorporates a number of new engineering elements that make the test automated to run with data communication over both cell phone and satellite networks.

?There are a set of core functions that such a mobile device has to deliver,? he says. ?These include fluid pumping, optical detection, and real-time synchronization of diagnostic results with patient records in the cloud. We?ve been able to engineer all these functions on a handheld mobile device and all powered by a battery.?

This new technology, which combines cell phone and satellite communication technologies with fluid miniaturization techniques for performing all essential ELISA functions, could lead to diagnosis and treatment for HIV-infected people who, because they cannot get to centralized health care centers, do not get tested or treated.

?This is an important step forward for us towards making a real impact on patients,? says Jessica Justman, MD, senior technical director at ICAP and associate clinical professor of medicine in epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health. ?And with the real-time data upload, policymakers and epidemiologists can also monitor disease prevalence across geographical regions more quickly and effectively.?

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Source: http://www.innovationtoronto.com/2013/01/mobile-device-speeds-up-diagnostic-testing-for-hiv-and-more/

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For Sale for Lease Launch Online Platform for Property and ...

Prahran, Victoria -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/25/2013 -- For business and property owners, the decision to sell or lease their properties can be difficult. Many obstacles stand in their way, like market forces keeping prices low, and real estate agents and business brokers taking a significant percentage for advertising and administrating the sale. Luckily for Australians, a third way is soon to enter the marketplace when For Sale For Lease launches in February. The site promises to help owners sell and lease online for a fraction of the cost of agents and brokers.

The site will also include payment management for owners and communications interfaces between owners and buyers & leasers, enabling the whole sale or lease process to take place through the website, with just a few clicks. The listings will all be for sale by owner and for lease by owner, with no middle men; a distinct advantage for buyers and leasers too.

For Sale For Lease offers a variety of packages, allowing clients the option of paying up front with a monthly subscription, or until sold at a single, flat rate.

The company is looking to launch its website officially in February, and has set on a new General Manager in Lucas Raby, who has already hired two more customer support staff to make clear the business? priority on impeccable customer service and ensuring that everything possible is being done to enable business and property owners to sell and lease their properties with ease.

The spokesman for For Sale For Lease explained, ?The new staff are already making an impact behind the scenes as we gear up for the launch, and our infrastructure is looking to be as streamlined, intuitive and effective as possible for when clients can join us to sell or lease properties and businesses. They can look forward to unparalleled syndication across Australia?s network of listing portals and effortless payment management options that will beat the real estate agents and business brokers hands down. If I want to sell my house, I know I?ll be using For Sale For Lease.?

About For Sale For Lease
For Sale For Lease provide a platform that helps home owners, property investors and business owners to sell and lease their properties or businesses online rather than having to go through a Real Estate Agent or Business Broker. They also enable clients to get greater exposure by publishing their property or business across all of the major real estate and business listing portals across Australia. For more information, please visit: http://forsaleforlease.com.au/

Source: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/for-sale-for-lease-launch-online-platform-for-property-and-business-sales-throughout-australia-199791.htm

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Glenn Grothman, Wisconsin Politician, Makes Racially Charged Claim Against Planned Parenthood

A controversial Republican legislator, infamous for his extreme anti-abortion views, is again making headlines after an interview on a conservative Christian talk show.

Glenn Grothman, a state senator from Wisconsin, told Jim Schneider of "Voice of Christian Youth America" that Planned Parenthood is "the most racist organization? in the nation and has a tradition of "not liking people who are not white." He also charged that the non-profit health services group aggressively targets the Asian-American community for "sex-selective abortions," a practice that Planned Parenthood has repeatedly condemned.

"Gender bias is contrary to everything our organization works for daily in communities across the country. Planned Parenthood opposes racism and sexism in all forms, and we work to advance equity and human rights in the delivery of health care," the organization wrote in a press release. "Planned Parenthood condemns sex selection motivated by gender bias, and urges leaders to challenge the underlying conditions that lead to these beliefs and practices, including addressing the social, legal, economic, and political conditions that promote gender bias and lead some to value one gender over the other."

In his interview, Grothman also cited as evidence "the historic comments" of Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood. Grothman implies, as have others in the past, the founder was a racist. Yet Salon notes that in 1966, civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of "a striking kinship between our movement and Margaret Sanger?s early efforts."

Grothman, an aggressive anti-abortion crusader and proponent of the nuclear family in Wisconsin, has made no secret of his often controversial opinions in the past. In March, he drew widespread criticism after a proposing a bill that would have classified single parenthood a contributing factor to child abuse.

He has also said that unwanted pregnancies are the fault of the mothers, and that many mothers lie about the circumstances of their pregnancies. "I think a lot of women are adopting the single motherhood lifestyle because the government creates a situation in which it is almost preferred," he said, according to Right Wing Watch.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/25/glenn-grothman-planned-parenthood-racist-wisconsin_n_2552776.html

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Woods atop the leaderboard at Torrey Pines

SAN DIEGO (AP) ? Tiger Woods made one last birdie as the rain picked up strength Friday, and what he left behind was a gloomy forecast for everyone else at Torrey Pines.

He had a two-shot lead at the tournament he already has won six times.

He is driving the ball long and straight, just what he needs to handle the par 5s ? he has played them in 9 under so far.

And when it comes to experience, he has a 74-0 advantage in PGA Tour wins against the next seven guys on the leaderboard.

Woods knows better than to chalk up another win in the Farmers Insurance Open, so when asked about his name atop the leaderboard after a 7-under 65 on the North Course, he was quick to point out, "We have a long way to go."

Even so, this had all the trappings of another Tiger show at Torrey Pines.

Woods didn't miss a shot during a four-hole stretch around the turn on the North Course that included a 5-iron to 5 feet for eagle and a wedge that one-hopped off the pin to set up birdie. It carried him to a two-shot lead over Billy Horschel going into the weekend.

Asked whether he played better when everything was going well in his life, Woods waited out the long question with a short answer.

"I feel good right now," said Woods, who was at 11-under 133. "I'm leading the tournament."

Horschel, who had to go back to Q-school to get his card last year, had a 69 on the South Course to get into the final group.

"It's a good day and I'm excited about tomorrow ? I get to play with Tiger," Horschel said. "I found out when I tapped in for par. I realized he was leading and I was in second place. So yeah, looking forward to that."

For Woods, it was his first outright lead going into the weekend against a full field since the Australian Open in 2011 (he finished third at The Lakes), and his first time atop the leaderboard at Torrey Pines since 2008. Then again, he has only played one time at this event since then when he was just starting to change his swing.

And while this looks ominous for everyone else, Woods with a 36-hole lead ? even at Torrey Pines ? doesn't mean this is over. He had a 34-10 record when he has at least a share of the 36-hole lead, though he has failed to win four of the last six times from that spot.

"Vintage (at)TigerWoods today," Dustin Johnson said on Twitter after finishing eight shots behind.

Woods caught a break in the draw by playing the easier North ? it's about 600 yards shorter ? on a day of light rain, a late breeze and soft conditions. But he kept the ball in play off the tee, and he only got in trouble once. That was on the par-4 eighth hole when he drove into a tough lie in the bunker, and it led to his only bogey.

There's a simple formula for playing the North ? make birdie on the par 5s and pick up a few more on the short par 4s. And that's just what he did.

Woods missed birdie putts inside 8 feet on the opening two holes and was taking baby steps until he took off. It started with a 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th. He followed with the 5-iron that landed just left of the pin on the 18th, a two-putt birdie on the par-5 first hole, and his wedge that took one hop, struck the flag and settled 4 feet away.

"Drive the ball well here and you're going to probably have four iron shots into the par 5s," Woods said. "You sprinkle that in with probably four or five wedge shots in there, a round of 6- or 7-under par is definitely conceivable."

Brad Fritsch, a rookie from Canada, had a 67 on the South Course to lead the group of six players at 8-under 136. The others were Casey Wittenberg, Steve Marino, Jimmy Walker, Josh Teater and Erik Compton, whom Woods referred to as "remarkable" for being a two-time heart transplant recipient and being on the PGA Tour.

Defending champion Brandt Snedeker didn't fare so well. After opening with a 65 on the North, he made only one birdie and twice took bogey on the par 5s on his way to a 75 that left him seven shots behind. K.J. Choi, who had a 65 on the South Course, couldn't break par on the easier North and had a 73 to fall five behind.

Phil Mickelson struggled to keep his hands dry in the wet weather and finished bogey-bogey on the South for a 71 to make the cut on the number, though his work isn't over. There were 87 players who made the cut at 1-under 143, meaning there will be another cut to top 70 and ties Saturday.

Mike Weir, meanwhile, made the cut for the first time since July 2011 despite a sloppy finish for a 75 on the South. He was tied for 41st at 3-under 141.

Woods is coming off a missed cut in Abu Dhabi last week to start his year.

"I've had beautiful practice sessions at home," he said. "If I can do it there, I can do it out here. Even though last week I played only two days, I felt like I hit the ball well enough to shoot a better score than I did. I had a couple of days to work on it, and I came out here and felt pretty good about it."

The final two rounds move to the South Course, which played about 1? shots harder Friday in the rain. The greens are more receptive, sure, but the course figures to play at full length in wet conditions and at sea level.

"It was amazing how different it played from Wednesday," Walker said. "I played the pro-am here on Wednesday on the South, and you could hardly stop a ball. And today, it didn't matter if you hit a 3-iron in there, it would just stop immediately. You could spin wedges. So it was a lot different, and it played a lot longer too."

Not only have the seven players behind Woods not won on tour, four of them had to get cards this year through either Q-school or the Web.com Tour.

But with 36 holes left, more than just those seven are still in the mix. Nick Watney played the first two rounds with Woods was only four shots behind, along with Ross Fisher of England. Charles Howell III, who has tied for third and lost in a playoff in his two starts this year, had a 72 on the South and was five shots behind.

Horschel wades into a big world Saturday, but he believes he has the experience from when he played the Walker Cup in 2007 at Royal County Down.

There was a guy I competed against three times called Rory McIlroy," Horschel said. "So there may have been 10, 12,000 people following us, and only a couple thousand following the rest of the groups. So I've dealt with crowds. I guess it's a little bit easier playing with Tiger because I guess the group ahead, they move a lot or something. Just hearing what media says. It's going to be exciting."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/woods-atop-leaderboard-torrey-pines-224833875--spt.html

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Temple Run 2 for Android now available in Google Play

Temple Run 2, the highly anticipated sequel to one of the biggest games ever, is now available in Google Play. It has all the twists and turns (and monkeys) of the original, but it's been completely redone with great new graphics, new environments, and even bigger monkeys! It's free to download (of course you can spend money via in-app purchases if that's your thing) and you can grab it at the link to the left.

I've not sat down and really played it yet, so holler if there's something we should take a look at. Of course, we'll spend some quality time sliding and jumping, then give this one a proper look. Hit the break for the official trailer.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/eKT1-dh0KEY/story01.htm

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Xerox fourth-quarter profit tops Street view, shares up

(Reuters) - Xerox Corp reported quarterly earnings slightly above expectations on Thursday and reiterated its full-year targets as it restructures parts of its business in its effort to become a broader technology company.

Chief Executive Ursula Burns said on an analysts' call that Xerox was going through "a seismic shift" and "2012 was a year of alignment".

Xerox is at pains to shed its printer company image, wanting instead to be known for its services business, which it entered with the 2009 acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services Inc for $5.5 billion.

In the fourth quarter of 2012 Xerox began a restructuring program focused on the services business, which manages anything from toll systems to healthcare programs.

Lynn Blodgett, who heads the services unit, said Xerox had made good progress, but there was still cost cutting to be done.

But Burns said she was optimistic the company was well equipped to meet its targets even though she did not expect economic conditions to improve much.

"I am upbeat, I am very confident in the guidance we have," Burns said.

"This is not going to be a walk in the park. The environment hasn't changed that dramatically to make it that much better," she added.

For the first three month of 2013, Xerox expects earnings to be in a range of 23 cents to 25 cents per share. Analysts looked for 24 cents in the first quarter, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

The company reiterated its full-year EPS target of $1.09 to $1.15 and forecast operating cash flow of $2.1 billion to $2.4 billion.

Fourth-quarter revenue was flat at $5.9 billion and earnings per share, excluding items, were 30 cents. Analysts looked for $5.88 billion in revenue and EPS of 29 cent.

Xerox stock was up 3.6 percent at $7.85 in midday trade.

CONSERVATIVE GUIDANCE

Some analysts called the outlook conservative.

Shannon Cross at Cross Research said the guidance "is likely conservative, given tailwinds from currency, significant product refreshes in technology, restructuring and easier comparisons."

She anticipated the company would return cash to shareholders through a dividend, share repurchase and service-oriented acquisitions.

Cross added that the fourth-quarter operating margin was up 30 basis points year-on-year, benefiting from the restructuring efforts. Operating margin was 10.3 percent, Xerox said.

Xerox's services business now generates more than 50 percent of revenue and by 2017, Burns said, it will grow to generate two-thirds of revenue.

Quarterly revenue from the business was up 7 percent thanks to recurring contracts.

But new contract signings in the services segment declined 25 percent to $2.9 billion in last 12 months. Xerox said the drop was due to a decrease in very large deals and shorter contract lengths, which Burns said have gone from five years to three years.

"The shorter contract and less megadeals is a sign of the times today," she said, adding there were significant pressures from both government and large enterprises given a very weak macroeconomic environment.

Still, Xerox said the pipeline of future deals remained strong with 6 percent year-on-year growth.

Revenue from the document technology business, which includes document systems, supplies, technical services and financing of products, was down 8 percent due to difficult economic and market conditions, Xerox said.

Equipment sales were becoming a much smaller percentage of the business and they were the most impacted by economic and industry trends, Burns said.

Nevertheless, she was optimistic about new products and investments that she said would boost market share.

"We expect the equipment sales trend to improve modestly this year."

(Reporting by Nicola Leske; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/xerox-fourth-quarter-revenue-line-street-estimate-133926263--sector.html

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Estrogen fights urinary infection in mouse study

Jan. 23, 2013 ? Estrogen levels drop dramatically in menopause, a time when the risk of urinary tract infections increases significantly.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found new evidence in mice that the two phenomena are connected by more than just timing. If further research confirms these links, boosting estrogen levels may get a second look as an approach for reducing urinary infections in menopausal women.

"Scientists tested estrogen as a treatment for post-menopausal women with urinary tract infections in the 1990s, but the results were either ambiguous or negative," says senior author Indira Mysorekar, PhD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and of pathology and immunology. "With the mouse model of menopause that we've created, we can more completely understand how estrogen levels affect infection susceptibility, bladder health and the inflammatory response to infection. That should point the way to better treatment strategies."

The findings appear online in Infection and Immunity.

Urinary infections are a significant cause of illness in many women throughout their lives and are particularly prevalent after menopause. The bacteria that cause these infections can spread to the kidney and bloodstream, with the potential for serious complications.

To simulate menopause in mice, scientists surgically remove their ovaries. Like menopausal women, the mice no longer make estrogen.

To rule out the possibility that the stress of surgery affects the risk of urinary tract infections, the researchers conducted the same surgery in other mice but put the ovaries back in, maintaining their ability to make estrogen.

When researchers gave both groups of mice urinary tract infections, the menopausal mice had higher levels of infectious bacteria in their urine. Most of the bacteria came from barrier cells, which line the interior of the bladder. These cells are the first to be infected by the bacteria.

"When the barrier cells are lost, they need to be replaced immediately," Mysorekar says. "In the menopausal mice, we found that this replacement process was stopping short of completion. That left cells under barrier cells exposed, and they are much more vulnerable to infection."

The menopausal mice had more bacterial reservoirs, which are pockets of infection that may provide a place for the bacteria to hide during antibiotic treatment. After treatment stops, the reservoirs can reseed the infection.

In earlier research, Mysorekar had identified an important regulator of the barrier cell repair process. In the new study, she showed that low estrogen levels disable this regulator.

The bladders of the menopausal mice also had higher levels of immune inflammatory compounds known as cytokines.

"The cytokines caused inflammation that left the bladder in bad shape," Mysorekar says. "It's possible that damage caused by inflammation increases the bacteria's ability to break into bladder tissue and create reservoirs of infection."

In the control mice, which had normal estrogen levels, cytokine levels and inflammatory damage were both significantly lower. When researchers gave the menopausal mice estrogen, their cytokine levels and inflammatory damage also decreased significantly, as did reservoirs of infectious bacteria.

Mysorekar notes that earlier clinical trials of estrogen's usefulness against urinary infection evaluated the treatment's success by tracking levels of bacteria in the urine. The researchers say their new results suggest that bacteria levels alone may not provide a complete picture of estrogen's effectiveness against the infections.

"If we can find ways to look at other aspects of the infectious process in humans, we may find that estrogen is more helpful than we previously realized," Mysorekar says. "We need to look for other indicators, such as cytokines in the urine, to more fully assess estrogen's potential role in treatment."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Washington University in St. Louis. The original article was written by Michael C. Purdy.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Wang C, Symington JW, Ma E, Cao B, Mysorekar IU. Escherichia coli pathogenesis in a murine menopause model. Infection and Immunity, March 2013

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/zfSJvojEOGc/130123221411.htm

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Good small business reads #27: Customer service tips, how to ...

It?s January and the temperatures across the country are arctic-like. What better time to settle down for the evening with a nice hot cup of cocoa and catch up on your reading of articles that will help you take your business to a new level in 2013!

First up, I want to point those of you who are at the beginning of your small business ownership journey to a great resource offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. If you?re still in the stage of thinking about starting your own business, their Small Business Readiness Assessment will help you decide if you?re ready to take this big step. The assessment asks 25 questions about your personal characteristics, personal circumstances, and skills and experiences. It?s quick, painless and may provide you with some important insights as to whether this is the right time to pursue your entrepreneurial dream.

Next up is ?Dear CEO: Here Are Four Ways to Deliver Great Customer Service? by author and consultant Errol Allen from YFS Magazine (YSF stands for young, fabulous and self-employed). Allen writes about the four Cs of customer service: commitment, completeness, consistency and communication. I think this article is a great primer on customer service that all small business owners should refer to frequently and also share with employees.

Finally, from American Express Open Forum, I highly recommend ?How to Upsell Without Selling Your Soul,? by Julie Rains. Sales skills do not come naturally to many small business owners; they?re experts in their fields but have not necessarily had much ? or even any ? sales training. So they end up going about it the wrong way, especially when trying to move a customer from an average, moderately priced selection or an outstanding selection at a premium price. Some people don?t even try to upsell because they feel guilty about trying to get the customer to spend more. This article provides seven tips on how to successfully upsell and how to do it without feeling guilty.

Stay warm and happy reading!

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Source: http://www.succeedinginsmallbusiness.com/good-small-business-reads-27-customer-service-tips-how-to-upsell-and-a-great-sba-resource/

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Nokia Drive+ beta now available for all WP8 users in US, Canada and UK

Nokia Drive+ is still in beta but, starting today, more people can take part in the navigational fun. The app has been freed from its Lumia exclusive bonds and is now available in the US, Canada and the UK on any Windows Phone 8 device. The download is free, but it's important to keep in mind that this is still a beta product -- so we can't make any guarantees about stability or compatibility. Still, the turn-by-turn navigation and offline maps are likely a huge improvement over whatever carrier-branded substitute you've been saddled with until now. Hit up the source for a few more details and to dig up a download link.

Filed under: Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia

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Via: My Nokia Blog

Source: Windows Phone Blog

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

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Is Microsoft Investing Up To $3B In Dell Buyout?

Could Microsoft be in talks to invest up to $3 billion in PC partner Dell?

According to a report by CNBC, Microsoft is a possible "mezzanine" -- or preferred financing partner -- for between $1 billion and $3 billion in Dell's reported interest in a leveraged buyout.

Dell has had discussions with several financing organizations about going private, a move that could require up to $20 billion, according to reports.

[Related: Ex-Microsoft SVP's New Book: Ballmer Squashes Potential CEO Candidates]

Dell's stock jumped to $13 to $14 per share on Jan. 14 when the initial reports of a possible buyout emerged. On Tuesday Dell shares were up again, rising 23 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $13.07. Microsoft shares, meanwhile, were down 12 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $27.13.

Mezzanine capital typically refers to a preferred equity that is structured either as a loan or preferred stock if the debt is not repaid within a certain period of time.

Reports about a Dell buyout have centered around Silver Lake, a private equity firm, but it is believed that other financing would be necessary to build the near-$20 billion that it could required to take the company private.

Microsoft has invested in other tech companies in the past, including Facebook and Apple.

PUBLISHED JAN. 22, 2013

Source: http://www.crn.com/news/mobility/240146706/is-microsoft-investing-up-to-3b-in-dell-buyout.htm

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Research into Contagious Bird Flu Starts After Moratorium

After public outcry against research into avian flu strains that can be transmitted among mammals, 40 of the top scientists working on the influenza strains signed a voluntary moratorium on research last January. The goal of the pause was to properly--and publically--weigh the potential risks and benefits of such investigations. Critics of the research noted that the viruses under study--versions of the form known as H5N1--could be used as a bioweapon or might accidentally escape from a lab. Research supporters argued that without this research we could be caught unprepared if a pandemic were to emerge naturally and we did not know how to detect or fight it. Now the same 40 signatories have pronounced that the work on H5N1 transmissibility should recommence in nations where it is permitted. The announcement was made public online January 23 jointly in the journals Science and Nature (Scientific American is part of Nature Publishing Group). The U.S. has still not ruled on the fate of the research by labs in this country or by those receiving U.S. funding. But investigators in the Netherlands, Canada, China and elsewhere can now return to their studies of how H5N1 could mutate to create a human pandemic. "We fully acknowledge that this research--as with any work on infectious agents--is not without risk," the signatories noted in their open letter. "However, because the risk exists in nature that an H5N1 virus capable of transmission in mammals may emerge, the benefits of this research outweigh the risks." H5N1 is currently a threat for birds around the world. Should it become transmissible among humans, it has the potential to become a deadly global pandemic. Flu researcher Ron Fouchier, of the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, announced in September 2011 at an influenza meeting in Malta that he and his colleagues had created a strain of H5N1 that was transmissible among ferrets, the best animal model we have to study flu. By that winter, news of the development had spread, and concerned researchers, policy makers and public called for such research to end. Fouchier and others have argued that this sort of research--when conducted under proper security conditions, such as in labs designated biosecurity level three-enhanced--is necessary to learn how to detect an emerging pandemic and to create the drugs and vaccines to diminish its ferocity. And the risk of details from the research being used for malicious purposes are quite small, he noted in a press conference about the decision to lift the voluntary research moratorium. Details of the ferret studies were published--after much debate--in June 2012. The strain of H5N1 from the ferret studies needed only nine genetic mutations to transform from the standard avian flu into an infection that could be transmitted easily--say, via a sneeze--among ferrets. "Nine mutations for the influenza virus is almost none," Yoshihiro Kawaoka, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, noted during the press conference. Two mutations have already been circulating in wild strains, "so that risk already exists in nature," he noted. Knowing what mutations the virus needs to become transmissible among mammals should help improve surveillance, Fouchier noted during the press conference, fighting back a cough. "We can already use it to define the mutations that cause it to become airborne," he said. Further research could also improve drug development. "With these viruses in hand, we can better identify vaccines and drugs," he noted. Without being able to study H5N1 pandemic strains specifically, researchers are confined to using seasonal strains and avian influenza to test potential vaccines and antivirals. And different strains respond differently to various treatment and prevention measures. "You want to choose the right strain for better protection," Kawaoka added. While many researchers across the globe prepare to resume research on H5N1 transmission, others, such as Kawaoka, wait with baited breath for the U.S. government to make a decision on whether and/or how it will allow--and fund--such research. "It's in their hands," Kawaoka said. Follow Scientific American on Twitter @SciAm and @SciamBlogs. Visit ScientificAmerican.com for the latest in science, health and technology news.
? 2013 ScientificAmerican.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/research-contagious-bird-flu-starts-moratorium-180000946.html

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