CanCon 2013 Report | Queensland League of Extraordinary Gamers

I must start with an apology ? I didn?t take a single photo! Luckily the Combat Company have almost 300 on their Facebook page, so check them out!

With that out of the way, here is a report from a LXG perspective:

Vendors
The vendors at CanCon had a wide variety of different board games and miniatures lines. There was one vendor specialising in dice, another in crafted leather goods, mostly fantasy, some vaguely steampunk. The vendors overall were excellent offering a fantastic range. It was like having a dozen websites in front of you at once, and without the tedious need to register your details every time you want to buy something. There were a few miniatures I have only seen on the web, never in a store, so that was nice. Even with Mil Sims choosing not to attend this year, there was a good range of board games, and something for every taste.

Games
The core of CanCon are the miniatures tournaments that take place, and this was well in evidence. The main hall must have had 300-400 gamers playing Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000 and Flames of War. The second hall hosted War Machine and Bolt Action. There were also smaller events on for historical games including SAGA, and also Malifaux and Infinity. Plenty of breadth. In addition to the miniatures, a large room in between the two halls was used to play Magic: The Gathering. This included pre-release events for the new Gatecrash set, and a Pro-Tour Qualifier event held on Monday.

Board Games
But what, you may ask in your LXG voice, of board games? If there was one thing noticeable missing, it was any kind of board game event. There were tables where you could try games from some of the vendors, and a table to try out Dreadball, but no organised events. There was a family enclosure where you could borrow board games (sound familiar?) to play within the enclosure. There was a good range of board game available, 100 or so different games, suitable for all ages. Games were signed out using a barcode and scanner system, similar to what we will shortly have for LXG. There was a charge of $10 per day to use a table for as long as you wished. The enclosure was one of the few places where you could stop and sit down, and it was soon fully occupied.

Overall
This was my second visit to CanCon, and once again it was a great event. An organised board game event or two would have been welcome. The entry fee of $0 was also welcome, and this made the event attractive both to gamers and to people wanting to visit the vendors or simply come and see what all the fuss was about.

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Source: http://qlegs.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/cancon-2013-report/

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Engineers 'evolve' super-efficient solar cell

18 hrs.

TechNewsDaily

Scientists are using principles of natural selection to evolve a more efficient solar cell.

Engineers at Northwestern University wrote a computer program that "mates" design elements and assesses the fitness of their "offspring" to come up with the most efficient possible organic solar cell. Organic solar cells are made with the so-called organic elements ? carbon, oxygen and nitrogen ? and are cheaper to make, lighter and more flexible than the traditional silicon cells available in solar panels today.

Organic cells aren't as efficient at turning the sun's energy into electricity as silicon cells, however. Many research groups are working to improve organic solar cells' efficiency. If they work well, such cells could go into? electricity-producing windows ?or clothes.

In their work, the Northwestern researchers focused on the top layer of an organic solar cell, called the scattering layer, which traps photons from sunlight. They wanted a scattering layer that would hold photos for a greater amount of time.

"We wanted to determine the geometry for the scattering layer that would give us optimal performance," Cheng Sun, a mechanical engineer and one of the creators of the new organic solar cell,? said in a statement. "But with so many possibilities, it's difficult to know where to start, so we looked to laws of natural selection to guide us."

Sun and his colleagues' program simulated more than 20 generations of matings to come up with their final design. The program also mimicked the biological processes of mutation and an exchange of traits called crossing over.

The resulting design traps photons for three times as long as the Yablonovitch Limit, which describes how long a photon is likely to stay in a semiconducting material. Researchers have only been able to reach and break the Yablonovitch Limit in the last few years.?

The engineers? published their work ?Jan. 3 in the journal Scientific Reports.

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Copyright 2013 TechNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/engineersscientists-evolve-super-efficient-solar-cell-1C8124835

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The Five Most Expensive Residential Properties to Recently Come ...

Think you have what it takes to be a real estate whale? Here are some recently listed pricey abodes for your consideration. 112 homes have come onto the market in the past seven days. Let's take a photo tour of the five most expensive.

4-bed, 5.5-bath, 4,900 sq. ft. single-family home

This abode recently completed quite the renovation that's all about namedropping: David Armour is the architect and Heather Hillard designed the interiors. Property highlights include up close and personal views of the Golden Gate Bridge and an au-pair suite on the garden level.

Why Your Business Must Embrace Customer Service on Twitter ...

Did you know that when Twitter users see your business on Twitter they expect you to be responsive to their needs when they tweet you?

It?s true. Large companies like?Netflix, Barnes & Noble, and The University of Phoenix manage dedicated Twitter accounts to handle customer service queries. ?You might not have the staff or resources to run a separate customer service account for your business, but it?s critical for all businesses on Twitter ? including yours ? to respond to every customer query.

If You Snooze, You Lose ? Big Time

In the context of this article, this near-clich? bears repeating: social media is a two-way conversation. It?s not about ?blasting your message.? It?s about listening and responding accordingly.

For example, I follow a beverage company that is ?distributed by Whole Foods Market nationwide. This summer, I tweeted the company something along the lines of ?I?m always put on hold when I call your customer service line. Can someone help me with a nutrition question?? They replied ? 19 days later.

Most people would not wait nineteen days for a call back or a return email. (Would you?) And most people on Twitter won?t even wait 19?hours for a response. According to recent research from The Social Habit,?42 percent of respondents expect a response from a brand?within 60 minutes.

If your business waits 19 days, you run the risk of the user sending agitated follow ups, tweeting negative comments about your company, and in the end, choosing a competing company that offers the information that s/he originally requested.

Give It Your Best Shot

Here?s another example of a company that might benefit from more attention to customer service on Twitter. A few months ago, I purchased a certain candy bar that encouraged me to enter a code on its website for more information. It seemed like a cool way to drive people to the website ? I even wrote to some friends about this seemingly great online/offline technique.

I should have tested the site before telling others about this ? because once I ?entered my code online, I got an error message over and over again. I tweeted the company about it. They replied with ?Email us at info@companyname.com?and our customer service team will get back to you!??

This response sparked a flurry of questions in my mind:

• Why isn?t the customer service team also on Twitter?
• If I?m on Twitter and they?re on Twitter, why do I have to leave Twitter to write an email?
• If I asked this question on a phone hotline, would the operator also ask me to write an email??

Remember the last time you had good customer service on the phone?
Apply that experience in your Twitter interactions.

I?m not going to leave Twitter after the first tweet to email a company about a general Website issue. And you know what else? I most likely won?t go back to the Website. And I probably won?t spread the word about the ?cool idea? I thought the company had.

If you come up with a great idea for your product or service, you don?t want it to die on Twitter like that.

Admittedly, not every customer service problem can be solved in exchanging 140-character messages. But your company should at least give a dang good try to answer a customer question. Your SMS-sized efforts will go a long way.

This idea of responding quickly and with care might seem daunting to businesses which are just learning how to reply to others on Twitter. If you fall into that category, stick around for my next post. In it, I will address how to easily incorporate customer service in your business? Twitter strategy. Subscribe to my blog to have these tips and real-world examples sent to your inbox.

Headline Photo Credit: Flickr CC/garryknight

Want to read my next article once it's published?
Subscribe to my blog and get the latest delivered to you via email. (I don't spam or share addresses.)

Source: http://sierratierra.com/why-your-business-must-embrace-customer-service-on-twitter/

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Back Against The Wall, Intel Ramps Up Investment For 2013 To Make The Shift To Mobile Processors

Even though Intel's quarterly earnings were a mixed bag, the biggest surprise comes from its research and development investment plans. In 2013, the company plans to invest $13 billion compared to $10.15 billion in 2012 and $8.35 billion in 2011. This money will be used to bridge the mobile gap, as ARM-based manufacturers are current market leaders.

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

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Russia sending aircraft to evacuate citizens from Syria

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is sending two planes to Lebanon on Tuesday to evacuate more than 100 of its citizens from Syria, the Emergencies Ministry said, in the clearest sign yet that Moscow may be preparing for President Bashar al-Assad's possible defeat.

Russia has been Assad's main foreign protector during a 22-month uprising against his rule, but a diplomat conceded last month the government had lost territory and the rebels fighting Assad could win the war.

Moscow is also carrying out what has been called the largest naval exercises since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, including off Syria's coast, which analysts say are meant to underscore its interest in the region.

"On orders from the leadership of the Russian Federation, the Emergencies Ministry is sending two airplanes to Beirut so that all Russians who want can leave Syria," ministry spokeswoman Irina Rossius said.

"It is planned that more that 100 Russians will leave Syria (on these planes)," she told Interfax news agency.

It was unclear whether the flights were the beginning of a longer evacuation operation.

Preparing to fly out its citizens is the clearest signal yet that Moscow believes Assad's fall may be possible, though it has made no indication that it will abandon its position that Assad's exit must not be a precondition for a peace deal.

Moscow leases a naval maintenance and supply facility at the Syrian port of Tartous and has had a large presence of employees from Rosoboronexport, Russia's state arms exporting monopoly.

A number of citizens from Russian companies that also have a presence in Syria still live there too. Russian officials say there are tens of thousands of Russian citizens in Syria, many of them also Russian women married to Syrian men.

NAVAL EXERCISE

Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, the Kremlin's envoy for Middle East affairs, said in December the rebels could win the war against Assad and Russia was working on plans to evacuate its citizens, if necessary.

"The regime and government in Syria is losing control of more and more territory," state-run Russian news agency RIA quoted him as saying at the time. "Unfortunately, a victory of the Syrian opposition cannot be ruled out."

Russia's Foreign Ministry said after Bogdanov's remarks that it had not changed its policy on Syria and that he was speaking in a personal capacity.

Russia has protected Assad from three consecutive U.N. Security Council resolutions aimed at putting pressure on him to end violence from the side of the government. More than 60,000 people have been killed in Syria since March 2011.

The Emergency Ministry told Reuters the planes were scheduled to take off on Tuesday, but that they would leave as soon as they got orders.

Sergei Markov, a political analyst and former lawmaker with President Vladimir Putin's party, said Russia believed Assad will fall and "may believe it is time to start gradually pulling its citizens out".

"Russia is preparing for the collapse of the central government," said Markov, vice-rector of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics.

Markov also said that naval ships off the coast of Syria could be used in evacuation efforts, echoing the comments of military officials reported by Russian agencies.

At least eight warships from Russia's Northern, Baltic and Black Sea fleets were taking part in the maneuvers.

Russia delivered Assad delivered nearly $1 billion in arms to Syria in 2011. CAST, a Moscow-based defense think tank, said Russia had been due to send half a billion dollars' worth last year.

(Editing by Alison Williams)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russia-sending-aircraft-evacuate-citizens-syria-agency-175020937.html

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My Net Wi-Fi Range Extender

Western Digital continues to make its mark into the consumer networking hardware space with the My Net Wi-Fi Range Extender ($106.25, street). This small box is designed to extend a wireless network's signal to those notorious "dead zones." The My Net Extender is an attractive device, with unique signal strength indicators to help you place it in an optimal location. Plus, it is easy to set up and does a good job of extending Wi-Fi.

Specs and Design
The My Net extender is quite small measuring 5.2" x 2.0" x 6.0 "(HWD). It's meant to operate upright on a stand attached to its base. I find its form factor more preferable over extenders that connect right into a power outlet, such as the Cisco Linksys Wireless-N Range/Extender Bridge (RE10000)
because it's easier to place the extender in different locations to get the best connection with a router.

Western Digital's device is a dual-band range extender, able to extend either a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz wireless network. This dual-band capability gives it an advantage over many other extenders on the market, which tend to only support the 2.4 GHz band. A word of caution about extending 5 GHz Wi-Fi: the 5 GHz band is not great at sustaining throughput over long distances. Better to use the 2.4 GHz band for larger coverage areas. Using even a dual-band extender like the My Net on 2.4 GHz is more beneficial for longer-distance coverage than the 5 GHz band. Still, it's nice that you have the option of working with either band. This extender supports 802.11n and will also work with legacy 802.11x routers.

The rear panel has a power button, a Gigabit Ethernet port, a WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button for connecting to a WPS-supported router, and a toggle switch to operate the extender in either 2.4 or 5 GHz mode. On the front of the device are two LEDs; one for power and the other for wireless status which lights once the extender is successfully connected to a router.

On the side of the device is a unique feature:? 18 LEDs that indicate signal strength. The more LEDs lit, the stronger the signal. The double row of small blue lights not only looks attractive, but provides important information; as you position the extender in proximity to the router it's paired with, you can keep an eye on these LEDs to see if the signal strength drops or increases.

With the My Net extender about 30 feet away from my router, I saw 12 LEDs lit up. Moving the extender about another 15 feet closer to the router lit all 18 LEDs. The LEDs provide a handy, quick way to position the extender in the best location without having to fire up some software utility.

Configuration
The extender ships with a quick install guide and setup is indeed, quick. In fact, you can get the extender set up in only three steps. Plug it in; push the WPS button on the extender and on the router you want to connect it with; and place it in the best location using the LED signal strength indicators.

I set up the extender with Western Digital's My Net N900 router. The three steps worked perfectly. In seconds, I had the N900's wireless network extended.
Of course, a wireless extender should work with just about any router. I tested connecting via WPS to a Linksys WRT160N router.? However, the two devices would not pair using WPS. I was able to get the My Net extender connected to the Linksys router by connecting an Ethernet cable to the extender and going into the extender's web-based management interface. Connecting to the extender requires a settings change that takes a lengthy 180 seconds but otherwise, there was no issue getting the extender connected to the Linksys router using the software.

Performance
The My Net offered impressive performance on par with the excellent Cisco Linksys RE1000 extender. In the same room as the router, the My Net extender gave the fastest throughput to date, at 34 Mbps. Moving 75 feet away from the router, that throughput dropped to 4 Mbps, considerably slower. Still, 4 Mbps was enough to browse the web and is frankly, impressive in my testing environment which has heavy RF interference from many access points in proximity and lots of glass and concrete. The RE1000 did a tad better at 75 feet at 6 Mbps?not much of a difference to impact web browsing.

By the time I reached a distance of 100 feet away from the router, the My Net extender, as with the RE1000, could no longer register throughput on the Ixia IxChariot utility I use to test. I was able to surf the Internet though without too much lag. By the time I reached 150 feet, I was still connected to the Wi-Fi network, but surfing was so slow that browsing became pretty frustrating.

Below is a performance chart comparing several wireless extenders to the My Net. While you can see that BearExtender's device still registered throughput beyond using the IxChariot utility at 100 feet away from the router, only the RE1000 and the My Net actually allowed decent web browsing at that distance.

Easy Extension
The My Net RE1000 has a very easy setup, works with older routers, and allowed me to browse the web up 150 feet away from my router. It tested with slightly slower throughput than the RE1000, but it allows for more flexible positioning than the RE1000?because the device is stand-alone and not connected directly into an electric socket.

While the RE1000 is an Editors' Choice for wireless extenders because of it's negligibly faster throughput, the My Net Wi-Fi extender is a worthy alternative with the bonus of those LEDs for checking signal strength as you test where best to place the device.? The My Net Extender is an easy 4 out of 5 star earner for wireless extenders/bridges.

More Wireless Networking Reviews:
??? My Net Wi-Fi Range Extender
??? Meraki MR16 Cloud Managed Wireless Access Point
??? Kanex mySpot
??? Western Digital My Net AC Bridge
??? Wi-Fi Finder (for iPad)
?? more

?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/MXrrWd9_2kw/0,2817,2414477,00.asp

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arinasingh: larafawcatt: Foot Health Smart Fit (Black) Your Health ...

Foot Health Smart Fit (Black) Your Health and Fitness Blog ...

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Source: http://mesuvefe.posterous.com/foot-health-smart-fit-black-your-health-and-f

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Source: http://larafawcatt.blogspot.com/2013/01/foot-health-smart-fit-black-your-health.html

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Source: http://arinasingh49.blogspot.com/2013/01/larafawcatt-foot-health-smart-fit-black.html

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Defending champ Azarenka advances to quarterfinals

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) ? Victoria Azarenka advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Elena Vesnina on Monday, growing more confident she can repeat the winning roll that resulted in her first Grand Slam title here last year.

"It's getting there ... with every match you start building up for the top battles starting now," said Azarenka, who only needed 57 minutes to beat the 47th-ranked Vesnina. "It's really exciting to be again so far in the tournament."

Azarenka started last season with a 26-match winning streak, including a lopsided victory over Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open final.

She moved to No. 1 in the rankings with that win and has remained there for all but a few weeks since.

But she needs to defend her Australian title to hold the top spot from French Open champion Sharapova or Serena Williams, who won Wimbledon, the London Olympics and U.S. Open titles.

Next up for Azarenka is a quarterfinal against Svetlana Kuznetsova, who entered the season's first major ranked No. 75 but has won titles at the 2004 U.S. Open and 2009 French Open.

Williams was playing later Monday against No. 14 Maria Kirilenko for a place in the quarterfinals against 19-year-old American Sloane Stephens.

Stephens advanced to the last eight of a major for the first time with a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 win over Serbia's Bojana Jovanovski, and was looking forward to a potential match against 15-time major winner Williams.

After five breaks of serve in the third set, Stephens broke Jovanovski and then held to advance ? knowing her parents and grandparents were watching on TV.

"I'm sure my mother's had like four heart attacks," Stephens joked after the see-sawing match. "I hope my Grandpa didn't have to put my Grandma to bed, because she gets a little worried."

Williams has rated Stephens as a potential World No. 1, although the young American is still yet to break through in a major.

Kuznetsova was given a time warning for taking too long during a changeover in her 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 win earlier Monday over former No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, but said it didn't bother her.

As for Wozniacki, after twice failing to win her breakthrough major as the No. 1-ranked woman at the Australian Open, she is now expected to drop out of the top 10 after a fourth-round loss that follows back-to-back first-round exits at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

Kuznetsova is moving in the other direction on her comeback from a right knee injury that ruled her out of the last U.S. Open, ending a run of contesting 40 consecutive majors. And she's looking forward to taking on Azarenka.

"The time I played in Indian Wells was totally a disaster. I got (beaten) very badly," she said. "But, I mean, she's tough; she's No. 1; I have nothing to lose; she has all the pressure.

"I know I got the game to give her some problems, and I will just do my best and just try to enjoy it."

On the men's side, Frenchman Jeremy Chardy followed up his upset win over 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro by ousting another higher ranked player in the fourth round, beating No. 21 Andreas Seppi 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on Monday.

He'll next play the winner of Monday's later match between No. 3 Andy Murray and No. 14 Gilles Simon of France.

Another Frenchman already through was seventh-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who beat his old friend Richard Gasquet 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the fourth round.

Tsonga, who lost the 2008 Australian Open final to Novak Djokovic, could meet 17-time major winner Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.

Play on Day 7 ran into Day 8 overnight, when Novak Djokovic needed just over 5 hours to beat Stanislas Wawrinka 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 12-10 in a fourth-round match Sunday night, on the same court where he needed 5:53 to beat Rafael Nadal in last year's final.

"I just had flashback of 2012," said Djokovic, who ripped off his shirt to celebrate again, like he did last year. "It was maybe 45 minutes less this match than the one 12 months ago, but still it was still as exciting. I tried to enjoy the moment and couldn't ask for more. What a match point ... unbelievable."

The win was Djokovic's 18th in a row at Melbourne Park after winning the past two Australian titles, and earned him a place in the quarterfinals of a 15th consecutive major.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/defending-champ-azarenka-advances-quarterfinals-045813725--spt.html

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Novel sensor provides bigger picture

Friday, January 18, 2013

Duke University engineers have developed a novel sensor that is more efficient, versatile and cheaper for potential use in such applications as airport security scanners and collision avoidance systems for aircraft, cars or maritime vessels.

The researchers fabricated a unique material, known as a metamaterial, that acts as a lens to image scenes using fewer components than conventional detectors. Because of the properties of this man-made material, much of the additional equipment needed for conventional detector systems ? like lenses, mechanical positioners and data storage or transmissions devices ? are not required.

The material itself is a thin laminate with row-upon-row of tiny squares etched onto copper, each one of which is tuned to a different frequency of light. The material is flexible and durable enough to be attached to a wall, wrapped around corners or even laid on the floor like a rug, making it an inexpensive alternative for a variety of sensing applications.

The new system works with microwave light and produces two-dimensional images. The researchers are currently exploring moving the technology to three-dimensional capability in real-world settings.

The Duke researchers reported their findings Jan. 18 on-line in the journal Science. The research was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

"By taking advantage of the unique properties of these metamaterials, we were able to create a system capable of microwave imaging without lenses or any moving parts, " said John Hunt, a graduate student working in the laboratory of senior investigator David R. Smith, William Bevan Professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke's Pratt School of Engineering.

As an example, Hunt said that in many security situations, imaging systems move a single sensor device with a small aperture in front of the body of the subject, creating an effectively larger aperture. The scanning waves travel through clothing, but skin or other objects reflect the waves. The new device can scan the entire field at once, which would allow for faster and more efficient screening, the researchers said.

"Using conventional systems such as airport security cameras or collision-detection devices, you have to wait for a scan to complete before you can see an image, while the new system can scan an entire range at once," Hunt said.

The metamaterial is made of thousands of tiny apertures that can detect a wide spectrum of frequencies, allowing it to obtain a more global image of the scene, the researchers said.

"Each individual element of the metamaterial is tuned to narrow frequency," said Tom Driscoll, a post-doctoral fellow from the University of California ? San Diego currently working in the Smith lab. "Together the individual elements scan the entire range to capture information about a scene very quickly."

"This system allows us to collect and compress the image during collection, instead of later, averting the detector, storage and transmission costs associated with conventional imaging of a scene," Driscoll said.

###

Duke University: http://www.duke.edu

Thanks to Duke University for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126360/Novel_sensor_provides_bigger_picture

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Family and Friends Welcome Home Soldier After Service Abroad ...

Posted on: 5:48 pm, January 19, 2013, by Sofia Ojeda, updated on: 07:05pm, January 19, 2013

ALLENTOWN ? From a distance, soldier Jonathon Carr was nothing but smiles as he walked into the Lehigh Valley International Airport in Lehigh County.

Claps and cheers broke out, along with a salute from fellow soldiers.

He hugged his mother and took in the moment, one, he said, he never imagined.

?I was expecting something crazy, my mom is crazy, not quite like this, this is a little bit more than I thought,? said Carr. ?A little overwhelming, I?m glad to be home.?

Carr?s family and friends welcomed him home with ?We Love You? signs, and signed messages on this banner.

They wanted Carr to know he was missed during his service.

Carr spent three years stationed in Hawaii, of that, he spent one year in Afghanistan.

He earned several honors that include the National Defense Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

His parents said they are so proud of him and thankful he is back.

?We?re overwhelmed by everybody who showed up, extremely thankful that he?s here, and just can?t wait for whats in store really,? said step-dad Manny Alfonso.

Another group who wanted to say thank you, members of the Warriors Watch Riders.

One by one, they shook Carr?s hand, and thanked him for his service.

?We want to let everyone of our service members know that while they?re gone, they?re not forgotten, and when they come home we want them to know we have their back,? said Mike Burritt, a Warriors Watch Rider.

But quite possibly the most heartfelt moment of the day was when Carr dropped down on knee and asked his girlfriend the big question. She said yes!

?I had no idea, not at all. What was going through your head when he got down on one knee? Oh wow, definitely,? said Jennifer Possinger, Carr?s fianc?e.

And on his way home, Carr was escorted by fire trucks and fire police, and later presented with service awards by the American Legion and the West End Fire Department in Gilbert.

Source: http://wnep.com/2013/01/19/family-and-friends-welcome-home-soldier-after-service-abroad/

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Corporate Gifts Singapore: Showing That You Value Your ...

Corporate Gifts Singapore Ideas For Professionals Businesses flourish depending on how well workers get along with their boss and with one another, and often, a gift might just do the trick to facilitate that. A small but nice gift can fix office tension, straighten out relationships, and enhance employee morale. It also shows that workers are valued and appreciated for their hard work. This is the reason corporate gifts Singapore retail is booming in the city state. While corporate gifts are often bestowed on special occasions like anniversaries or team building activities, they could always be gifted on normal work days too. employees tend to expect recognitions at the end of the month, so astonish them by giving them presents ahead of time. They?ll definitely appreciate it. In addition, who doesn?t like to receive presents, right? A popular corporate gift is a gift certificate that could be used at any local restaurant, boutique or movie house. It is easy to purchase and allows people to redeem the gifts they want at their most convenient time. Tickets to popular sports events or cultural festivals are also a great alternative to gift certificates or lifestyle vouchers. If you want to play safe and would like to give a corporate gift that the employee can use everyday, then any desk display would be appropriate. This might include a nice sign pen, a pad or pen holder, or a clock. Donations to a local charity created in the name of the employee is another great alternative to the usual business gift. If you are running out of ideas, company giveaways bearing the company?s logo will do. These giveaways include bags, passport holders, mugs, disaster kits and pens. For greater accomplishments, you might also give workers gift hampers containing gourmet food, ingredients, cheese, chocolate or wine. Remember, however, that it?s not about the type of gift you give, but the thought you put in the whole gift-giving practice. That?s what?s going to make your gift more of value to the recipient. For a more personal touch, don?t forget to include a letter in your gift. For related articles on corporate gifts Singapore or visit www.aestheticmedical.com.sg

Source: http://velgrimes.4ove.com/corporate-gifts-singapore-showing-that-you-value-your-employees-work/

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Trick of light makes microwave imaging simple

Metamaterials plus math equals quick, cheap system

By Rachel Ehrenberg

Web edition: January 17, 2013

The days of standing still, arms raised, in an airport security scanner may soon be a thing of the past. A new microwave imaging system offers a fast, inexpensive way to see through clothing and other objects that gathers data without involving complicated moving parts.

The new system, reported in the Jan. 18 Science, employs a thin copper strip as an aperture that collects a range of microwave-frequency light. Elegant math then converts those data into an image in less than a second.

?This definitely represents a less expensive and potentially faster alternative to current imaging methods,? says technologist Kevin Kelly of Rice University in Houston, who was not involved in the research. ?You can imagine an MRI or PET scanner where instead of sitting in a machine for 50 minutes you sit in it for five minutes.?

In a digital camera, the lens focuses light onto an array of pixels on a detector. If you want a million-pixel image, you essentially need a million detectors, says John Hunt, a Duke University physicist who led the new work. That many-pixel, many-detector approach doesn?t work with microwaves, which are longer than waves in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. So microwave imagers ? used in car collision avoidance systems for their ability to see through fog and rain ? have a single detector that must be slowly moved across a plane with the help of complicated, expensive gears.

The new imaging system also uses a single detector. But its fancy, specialized aperture means there?s no need for moving parts. The researchers etched tiny patterns ? spirals and loops ? into a super thin piece of copper, turning it into a metamaterial. Metamaterials often are exotic mixtures of matter that allow light to be manipulated, which makes them ideal for their invisibility-cloak possibilities (SN: 2/26/11, p. 12). While for cloaking purposes the material controls the direction of light, in the new study the metamaterial aperture allowed fine control over the frequency of light hitting the detector. Only light of a certain frequency can get through a particular etched section of the metamaterial screen.

?They get exquisite control of microwaves with just a sheet of copper with squiggles in it,? says metamaterials pioneer John Pendry of Imperial College London.

By sending out microwaves of different frequencies, recording some of the waves that bounce back and hit the detector and then transforming these data with elaborate algorithms, it?s possible to reconstruct a scene with far less data than is usually required.

?Instead of taking an organized set of measurements, if you mix them up randomly you can do really cool stuff,? says Kelly, who helped develop the first single-pixel imager.

The new system created images with about one-fortieth of the data usually needed for a similar image. Such compression is usually done after the fact, resulting in a JPEG or GIF file, but the new approach collects less data to begin with.

?This is a very clever technique of very economical sampling of an environment,? Pendry says. ?It?s an extremely exciting development.?

So far, the researchers have taken images only of very controlled scenes of bright reflective objects in rooms with antireflective material on the walls. But the technology should work anywhere that you want to see shiny metallic objects, says Hunt. The approach might lead to cheap, handheld devices that look through walls at wires and pipes. Or police might have a vest with an imaging surface built into it that can see if a person has a knife concealed in a pocket. And the approach is also amenable to video: Soon you might walk through an airport without even knowing that you?re being scanned.

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/347635/title/Trick_of_light_makes_microwave_imaging_simple

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Former interim head coach Kromer takes job with Bears

wwltv.com

Posted on January 16, 2013 at 8:19 AM

Updated yesterday at 10:06 AM

Bradley Handwerger / WWLTV.com Sports Reporter
Email: bhandwerger@wwltv.com | Twitter: @wwltvsports

Aaron Kromer is leaving the New Orleans Saints to become the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears, a league source confirms.

The move is the next step for Kromer, the Saints? offensive line coach since 2009, to become a head coach, a position he has said is his goal.

ESPN?s Adam Schefter first reported Kromer?s job switch on Twitter.

Kromer served as New Orleans? interim coach for the first six games of 2012 while both coach Sean Payton and assistant head coach Joe Vitt served suspensions. Vitt became interim coach upon his return in the seventh game of the season.

When asked on the Monday after Vitt came back if running the team for six weeks enhanced his appetite in becoming a head coach, Kromer responded, ?Yes it does. Definitely.?

A year ago, the St. Louis Rams asked the Saints for permission to interview Kromer for their then-opening for a head coach. Meanwhile, this fall, Kromer emerged as a candidate to become Boston College?s head coach.

Kromer started with New Orleans in 2008 as the team?s running backs coach. He moved to his final position with the Saints a year later when Doug Marrone left to become the head coach at Syracuse.

With Payton still suspended, the Saints will have to wait to replace Kromer. In an interview with several reporters last week, general manager Mickey Loomis said all coaching staff moves would be made by Payton when he returns.

Under Kromer, the Saints went 2-4 to begin 2012, winning the final two games of his tenure as interim coach.

Source: http://www.wwltv.com/sports/black-and-gold/Report-Former-interim-head-coach-Kromer-takes-job-with-Bears-187108021.html

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Seahawks' Bradley to be Jaguars' head coach; Quinn to replace him

SEATTLE - Seattle's new defensive coordinator should look familiar.

And it's not just because Dan Quinn shaves his head like Gus Bradley and also sports a goatee.

Quinn came to Seattle in 2009 just like Bradley, each hired to Jim Mora's coaching staff. And Quinn was retained in 2010 when Pete Carroll took over as coach, as was Bradley.

So there was a certain amount of symmetry to Thursday's news as the Jacksonville Jaguars named Bradley their new head coach and, not even six hours later, the Seahawks announced the hiring of Quinn, who spent the last two years as the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida.

And yes, the process was that seamless.

"Gus did a great job for us the last three years," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said in a statement released by the team. "We are excited for him, his family and their opportunity. He is a fantastic coach and we wish him all the best in Jacksonville."

Seattle didn't have a replacement on hand, but it certainly knew where to look, calling on Quinn.

"An excellent teacher who is familiar with our system and allows us to maintain continuity," Carroll continued in the statement. "Dan did a great job for us in 2010 and I'm pleased to get him back."

Quinn interviewed for the defensive-coordinator position when Seattle first hired him in 2009. In fact, Mora said he began the process thinking that Quinn would be the defensive coordinator only to have Monte Kiffin - one of the NFL's defensive gurus - call and recommend that Mora talk to Bradley, then Tampa Bay's linebackers coach.

Bradley's interview with Mora lasted more than 12 hours, and at the end of it, Mora was sold on Bradley as the defensive coordinator. He hired Quinn to coach the defensive line and offered the additional title of assistant head coach.

Bradley and Quinn were the only two assistants retained when Carroll took over (though Mike Solari, Seattle's offensive-line coach under Mora, was offered a chance to stay on as tight-ends coach before heading to San Francisco to be the 49ers offensive-line coach).

Losing a coach of Bradley's caliber is never good news, and especially not after a season in which the Seahawks set a franchise record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season.

But in some ways that departure is the price of success. The Jaguars hired Bradley with the hopes he could have a similar impact with a Jacksonville defense that ranked 30th last season in yards allowed.

"I'm happy for him," cornerback Richard Sherman said of Bradley's hiring.

John Idzik - the Seahawks' vice president of football operations - remains a candidate for the Jets' general-manager position.

Bradley, who is scheduled to be introduced in Jacksonville on Friday, did not return an email message. Quinn will join the Seahawks to scout at the Senior Bowl, beginning Monday in Mobile, Ala., and while he was unavailable for an interview after his hiring was announced, he did appear on 710 ESPN Seattle.

"Very excited to come back," he said. "I certainly followed the developments of the defense and the team over the past couple of years and couldn't be more thrilled to get back up there."

Quinn comes back with the experience of having called Florida's defense the past two years, and his background coaching the defensive line will certainly help as Seattle makes improving the pass rush a priority for the second consecutive offseason.

FACTS

Dan Quinn

Birth date: Sept. 11, 1970

Hometown: Morristown, N.J.

Alma mater: Salisbury (Md.) State

NFL coaching experience:

Seahawks, 2009-10

Jets, 2007-08

Dolphins, 2005-06

49ers, 2001-04

NCAA coaching experience:

Hofstra, 1996-2000

Va. Military Institute, 1995

William & Mary, 1994

INFORMATION

Getting defensive

Under Gus Bradley the Seahawks led the NFL in fewest points allowed this season.

YearDef. coordinatorPts. allowed (rank)

2012Gus Bradley15.3 (first)

2011Gus Bradley19.7 (seventh)

2010Gus Bradley25.4 (25th)

2009Gus Bradley24.4 (tie-25th)

2008John Marshall24.5 (25th)

2007John Marshall18.2 (tie-sixth)

2006John Marshall21.3 (tie-19th)

2005John Marshall16.9 (seventh)

2004Ray Rhodes23.3 (22nd)

2003Ray Rhodes20.4 (tie-15th)

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/18/3188426/seahawks-bradley-to-be-jaguars.html

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97% Chasing Ice

All Critics (58) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (2)

Global Warming? "Seeing is believing."

The most important documentary of the year.

"Chasing Ice" is a grand adventure, a visual amazement and a powerful warning.

If you're looking for eye-popping evidence that the world's glaciers are melting, don't miss the small-scale but spectacular documentary, Chasing Ice.

The rapid disappearance of ice mountains, filmed over a period of years, is compressed through time-lapse technology into minutes and seconds. The speeded-up effect is harrowing and also, disturbingly, eerily beautiful.

The movie might have given us a bit less of Balog and a bit more of the startling sequences he produced.

Chasing Ice will open your eyes to a world you've never seen before and it will make you think. But whether any of us can change anything is a different matter altogether.

While skeptics continue to doubt global warming is a man-made phenomenon - Rush Limbaugh called warnings about it "garbage science" - "Chasing Ice" leaves little doubt it is occurring.

It's an absorbing and vital watch.

It's like watching our world disappear.

A few scientists pop their heads in here, a few charts are deployed, but Chasing Ice is powered primarily by the imagery, stark, irrefutable evidence that the planet is warming, not in one or two isolated places but everywhere.

"Chasing Ice" is a beautiful film to watch, especially on the big screen. But the documentary's visual pleasures come with a heavy dose of guilt.

It's sobering stuff but the film's impact is somewhat diminished by Orlowski's reverential profile of Balog, who continues to crusade despite the toll his endeavours have taken on his body.

The documentary feels a little slight but the images speak for themselves ...

Is this about the hazards of global warming or the awesomeness of James Balog? Not entirely sure...

If any film can convert the climate-change sceptics, Chasing Ice would be it: here, seeing really is believing.

While more detailed scientific analysis and greater discussion of impacts would have been welcome, the film's visual rhetoric is solid.

National Geographic photographer James Balog illustrates climate change with time-lapsed records of glacial retreat.

A project of heroic, Herzogian endeavour. Mad, you might say. But probably not as mad as what the rest of us are doing about climate change: namely almost nothing.

Utterly engaging in its demonstration of the planet's shocking climate change and is thoroughly absorbing to watch.

Chasing Ice is a uniquely visual adventure with a chilling message warmed by Balog's humanity.

Still an eco-sceptic? Clap your eyes on this lot. Awe-inspiring, terrifying, transcendently beautiful, and absolutely weighted with significance for the future of the planet.

This is a well made Documentary that becomes very involving because it's just as much about Balog's journey as it is about global warming.

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Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/chasing_ice_2012/

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Wok Wok (Clapham, London, by Eltigreblanco)

Very serviceable Thai and Chinese menu - I've never eaten in here, but have had a couple of takeaways, which arrived within 30 minutes. Crispy duck was fair; deep fried squid and honey glazed ribs?as starters?were very good, and the crispy beef as a main was also to be recommended. Starters hover around the 4 pound mark; mains are 5- 6. The Delivery areas covers SW11, and most of the surrounding postcodes.

?Some of the drivers do seem to suffer from the traditional London "no-changeitis" if you're paying by cash, which is rather irritating. One thing that's missing, and this really is the tiniest of niggles, is the option of a dessert selection; not usually the high point of a takeway menu, but I'd personally at least like the option of being disappointed by the usual toffee banana/apple fritter type confections.

Source: http://www.qype.co.uk/review/3523943

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Armstrong ready as Oprah comes to town

FILE - This combination image made of file photos shows Lance Armstrong, left, on Oct. 7, 2012, and Oprah Winfrey, right, on March 9, 2012. Armstrong plans to admit to doping throughout his career during an upcoming interview with Oprah Winfrey, USA Today reported late Friday, Jan. 11, 2013. (AP Photos/File)

FILE - This combination image made of file photos shows Lance Armstrong, left, on Oct. 7, 2012, and Oprah Winfrey, right, on March 9, 2012. Armstrong plans to admit to doping throughout his career during an upcoming interview with Oprah Winfrey, USA Today reported late Friday, Jan. 11, 2013. (AP Photos/File)

FILE - In this July 10, 2010, file photo, Lance Armstrong throws out his water bottle in the last kilometers of the climb toward Station les Rousses, France, during the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race. The New York Times reported Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, that Armstrong, who has strongly denied the doping charges that led to him being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, has told associates he is considering admitting to the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Armstrong attorney Tim Herman denied that Armstrong has reached out to USADA chief executive Travis Tygart and David Howman, director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2009 file photo, Lance Armstrong speaks during the opening session of the Livestrong Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland. Local and international news crews are staking out positions in front of Armstrong's lush, Spanish-style villa ahead of the cyclist's interview with Oprah Winfrey later Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2011 file photo, Lance Armstrong pauses during an interview in Austin, Texas. Local and international news crews are staking out positions in front of Armstrong's lush, Spanish-style villa ahead of the cyclist's interview with Oprah Winfrey later Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Thao Nguyen, File)

Mary Grace explores a public art piece recently installed along the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, in Austin, Texas. In what's been billed as a "no-holds barred" session, Lance Armstrong is expected to reverse course after a decade of denials and apologize for doping, as well as offer a limited confession about his role at the head of a long-running scheme to dominate the Tour de France with the aid of performance-enhancing drugs, in an interview Monday with Oprah Winfrey. (AP Photo/Jack Plunkett)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ? Days of preparation dwindled to hours for Lance Armstrong, whose scheduled interview with Oprah Winfrey transformed his quiet upscale neighborhood into a destination for media awaiting word of an apology and for onlookers snapping souvenir photos.

While all this was going on Monday morning, Armstrong managed to slip away for a jog. He returned home by cutting through a neighbor's yard and hopping a fence.

After more than a decade of denying that he doped to win the Tour de France seven times, Armstrong was set to sit down Monday for what has been trumpeted as a "no-holds barred," 90-minute, question-and-answer session with Winfrey.

The cyclist will make a limited confession about his role as the head of a long-running scheme to dominate the prestigious bike race with the aid of performance-enhancing drugs, a person with knowledge of the situation has told The Associated Press.

Winfrey and her crew said they would film the interview at Armstrong's home and broadcast it Thursday on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Local and international news crews were staking out positions in front of Armstrong's Spanish-style villa. News crews began arriving before dawn, hoping to catch a glimpse of Winfrey or Armstrong.

If he was feeling any pressure, Armstrong hardly showed it during a jog under bright skies Sunday, even as members of his legal team began arriving one-by-one at his home.

"I'm calm, I'm at ease and ready to speak candidly," he told the AP, but declined to reveal how he would answer questions about the scandal that has shadowed his career like an angry storm cloud.

Armstrong was stripped of all seven Tour titles last year following a voluminous U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report that portrayed him as a ruthless competitor, willing to go to any lengths to win the prestigious race. USADA chief executive Travis Tygart labeled the doping regimen allegedly carried out by the U.S. Postal Service team that Armstrong once led, "The most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."

Yet Armstrong looked like just another runner getting in his roadwork when he talked to the AP, wearing a red jersey and black shorts, sunglasses and a white baseball cap pulled down to his eyes. Leaning into a reporter's car on the shoulder of a busy Austin road, he seemed unfazed by the attention and the news crews that made stops at his home. He cracked a few jokes about all the reporters vying for his attention, then added, "but now I want to finish my run," and took off down the road.

The interview with Winfrey will be Armstrong's first public response to the USADA report. Armstrong is not expected to provide a detailed account about his involvement, nor address in depth many of the specific allegations in the more than 1,000-page USADA report.

In a text to the AP on Saturday, Armstrong said: "I told her (Winfrey) to go wherever she wants and I'll answer the questions directly, honestly and candidly. That's all I can say."

After a federal investigation of the cyclist was dropped without charges being brought last year, USADA stepped in with an investigation of its own. The agency deposed 11 former teammates and accused Armstrong of masterminding a complex and brazen drug program that included steroids, blood boosters and a range of other performance-enhancers.

After he was stripped of his Tour titles, Armstrong defiantly tweeted a picture of himself on a couch at home with all seven of the yellow leader's jerseys on display in frames behind him. But the preponderance of evidence in the USADA report and pending legal challenges on several fronts apparently forced him to change tactics, and he still faces legal challenges.

Former teammate Floyd Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title for doping, has filed a federal whistle-blower lawsuit that accused Armstrong of defrauding the U.S. Postal Service. The Justice Department has yet to decide whether it will join the suit as a plaintiff.

The London-based Sunday Times also is suing Armstrong to recover about $500,000 it paid him to settle a libel lawsuit. On Sunday, the newspaper took out a full-page ad in the Chicago Tribune, offering Winfrey suggestions for what questions to ask Armstrong. Dallas-based SCA Promotions, which tried to deny Armstrong a promised bonus for a Tour de France win, has threatened to bring yet another lawsuit seeking to recover more than $7.5 million an arbitration panel awarded the cyclist in that dispute.

The lawsuit most likely to be influenced by a confession might be the Sunday Times case. Potential perjury charges stemming from Armstrong's sworn testimony in the 2005 arbitration fight would not apply because of the statute of limitations. Armstrong was not deposed during the federal investigation that was closed last year.

Many of his sponsors dropped Armstrong after the damning USADA report ? at the cost of tens of millions of dollars ? and soon after, he left the board of the Livestrong cancer-fighting charity he founded in 1997. Armstrong is still said to be worth about $100 million.

Livestrong might be one reason Armstrong has decided to come forward with an apology and limited confession. The charity supports cancer patients and still faces an image problem because of its association with Armstrong. He also may be hoping a confession would allow him to return to competition in the elite triathlon or running events he participated in after his cycling career.

World Anti-Doping Code rules state his lifetime ban cannot be reduced to less than eight years. WADA and U.S. Anti-Doping officials could agree to reduce the ban further depending on what information Armstrong provides and his level of cooperation.

___

AP Sports Columnist Jim Litke contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-01-14-Armstrong-Oprah/id-b52baa3b9bcc45d1b033409d63378069

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Silver Lake reportedly in buyout talks with Dell

2 hrs.

Nadia Damouni and Poornima Gupta

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO --?Talks to take No. 3 computer maker Dell Inc private are in an advanced stage with at least four major banks lined up to provide financing, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.?

Dell shares rose 5.2 percent to $12.92 in heavy afternoon trading on Tuesday on the Nasdaq Exchange.?

Buyout firm Silver Lake Partners, which is leading the deal, tapped Credit Suisse, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays and RBC late last year to finance a potential deal, the sources with knowledge of the matter said on condition of anonymity, because details have not been made public.?

They said JPMorgan is advising Dell on a potential buyout of the $19 billion company, which would be one of the largest deals since the global recession. ?

Silver Lake is working with one of its major investors, known as limited partners, the sources said.?

Silver Lake's involvement was earlier reported by the Wall Street Journal.?

The sources cautioned that the deal could come soon but that the situation is still fluid.?

Dell, Bank of America, RBC, Barclays and Credit Suisse declined to comment. JP Morgan and Silver Lake did not immediately return calls seeking comment.?

Dell, which has been in talks with private equity firms on a potential buyout, has had on and off discussions with the firms but talks heated up late last year, they said.?

A deal involves equity investment from billionaire CEO Michael Dell, who owns 14 percent of the world's No. 3 PC maker. Dell, America's 22nd richest person according to Forbes, invests and manages his fortune through MSD Capital.?

A buyout of Dell is challenging, mostly because of the size of the deal, according to analysts.?

The odds of a buyout "are probably low, given its size and our expectation that it may require about $4 billion in equity," Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi said.?

"We see the rationale for a Dell (leveraged buyout) as being largely opportunistic given low valuation and interest rates, as we don't see any obvious restructuring opportunities or unique exit strategy," he said.?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/silver-lake-reportedly-advanced-talks-dell-1B7986180

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'Kaepernicking' is all the craze after 49ers win

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) celebrates his touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/The Sacramento Bee, Hector Amezcua)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) celebrates his touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/The Sacramento Bee, Hector Amezcua)

Move over, Tim Tebow. Kaepernicking is all the craze now.

In the wake of San Francisco's 45-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Saturday night's NFC divisional playoff, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's touchdown celebration of flexing his right arm and kissing his bicep has taken off on social media.

Several 49ers fans have posted pictures of themselves in the act at home, in bars, on the street, at work or just about any other place they frequent. Some even positioned their toddlers or dogs in the position. Others made online videos.

Kaepernicking had started weeks ago after the quarterback replaced Alex Smith, though the act has increased during San Francisco's run to the NFC title game against Atlanta. Kaepernick has often retweeted other fans' pictures of the act on Twitter.

Tebowmania? That's so last season.

Tebow, a dedicated Christian, had kneeled down in prayer following scores during Denver's improbable run to the playoffs last year. He faded with the New York Jets this season, and so did Tebowing.

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-01-13-FBN-Kaepernicking/id-58a3a94ec9814b14b055b1c5d3140e1b

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Baidu and Orange launch mobile browser for Africa, Middle East

Engadget writes, Not content to dominate internet search in China alone, Baidu and France Telecom's Orange are partnering to capitalize on African and Middle Eastern markets as well. Today they launched a co-branded version of Baidu's browser on France Telecom's Egyptian operator MobiNil -- it's essentially the same as the one released last year for the Chinese market but in English / Arabic instead (a French version is also coming). The browser is a pre-installed app on carrier-sold smartphones and features bookmarks for Orange and Baidu services. According to Orange, smartphone adoption in the region has?

Continue reading Baidu and Orange launch mobile browser for Africa, Middle East at Engadget

Source: http://technewstube.com/engadget/156196/baidu-and-orange-launch-mobile-browser-for-africa-middle-east/

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