Why brands tie visibility to sponsorship

By Princewill Ekwujuru

For a brand to reach a predestined target audience and to carve a niche for itself it has to cling to a marketing tool to achieve it?s goal.? Brands support various activities to help develop a particular sector.

Today, brands have become major actors in modern society. They penetrate all spheres of life;? Education, economics, social, cultural,sporting and even religion.

As a result of this pervasiveness brands have come under growing criticism and as major symbols of the? economic and postmodern societies, they are analysed through a number of perspectives: macroeconomics, microeconomics, sociology, psychology, anthropology etc.

In this context however brands have become credible only through the persistence and repetition of their value proposition. No wonder brands like MTN, Coca Cola, Etisalat, Airtel queue behind sponsorship, scholarship awards as Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, to support cultural activities, festivals, music concerts and? football competitions to mention a few to drive their brand visibility because of the inherent benefits behind such.

That is the reason students of University of Lagos, UNILAG, will not forget in a hurry the immense contribution of? Life is Good, LG, to raising the standard of Education in Nigeria, particularly in their school with the award of scholarship to 400 and 500 students of the faculty of? Engineering who performed meritoriously in their academics.

By this gesture,? LG Electronics consumer electronics and mobile communications has kept it?s promise by awarding scholarships to new set of students.

This sponsorship conducted annually is part of the company?s? CSR activities which primary aim is empowering young people as well as developing the educational sector, ensuring that youths who are the future leaders are adequately empowered and given financial support in order to enable them achieve their dreams and aspirations.

At the award ceremony, the Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Deog Jun Kim said, ?This scholarship is being awarded to 10 students of 400 and 500 levels from the Faculty of Engineering who emerged as best students after a careful selection by both the university authority and LG Electronics based on their Grade Points of 4.0 to 5.0, which made them stand out from their colleagues.?

Comments are moderated. Please keep them clean and brief.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/why-brands-tie-visibility-to-sponsorship/

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Business, labor close on deal for immigration bill

FILE - In this May 17, 2012 file photo, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Big business and major labor unions appeared ready Friday, March 29, 2013 to end a fight over a new low-skilled worker program that had threatened to upend negotiations on a sweeping immigration bill in the Senate providing a pathway to citizenship for 11 million immigrants already in the U.S. Schumer, who's been brokering talks between the AFL-CIO and the Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that negotiators are "very close, closer than we have ever been, and we are very optimistic." He said there were still a few issues remaining. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

FILE - In this May 17, 2012 file photo, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Big business and major labor unions appeared ready Friday, March 29, 2013 to end a fight over a new low-skilled worker program that had threatened to upend negotiations on a sweeping immigration bill in the Senate providing a pathway to citizenship for 11 million immigrants already in the U.S. Schumer, who's been brokering talks between the AFL-CIO and the Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that negotiators are "very close, closer than we have ever been, and we are very optimistic." He said there were still a few issues remaining. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Several southwest Michigan pastors along with immigrant families and members of the general public take part in a pray-in for immigration reform event outside of Representative Fred Upton's office in downtown Kalamazoo on Friday, March 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group, Matt Gade ) ALL LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL TV INTERNET OUT

Several southwest Michigan pastors along with immigrant families and members of the general public take part in a pray-in for immigration reform event outside of Representative Fred Upton's office in downtown Kalamazoo on Friday, March 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group, Matt Gade ) ALL LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL TV INTERNET OUT

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Prospects for a Senate deal on an ambitious rewrite of the nation's immigration laws improved markedly as business and labor appeared ready to set aside their differences over a new low-skilled worker program holding up the agreement.

The AFL-CIO and U.S. Chamber of Commerce had been fighting over wages for tens of thousands of low-skilled workers who would be brought in under the new program to fill jobs in construction, hotels and resorts, nursing homes and restaurants, and other industries. But on Friday, officials from both sides said there was basic agreement on the wage issue, and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said a final deal on the low-wage worker dispute was very close.

That likely would clear the way for Schumer and seven other senators in a bipartisan group to unveil legislation the week of April 8 to overhaul the U.S. immigration system ? strengthening the border, cracking down on employers, allowing in tens of thousands of new high- and low-skilled workers and providing a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants already in the country.

"We're feeling very optimistic on immigration: Aspiring Americans will receive the road map to citizenship they deserve and we can modernize 'future flow' without reducing wages for any local workers, regardless of what papers they carry," AFL-CIO spokesman Jeff Hauser said in a statement. "Future flow" refers to future arrivals of legal immigrants.

Under the emerging agreement between business and labor, a new "W'' visa program would bring tens of thousands of lower-skilled workers a year to the country. The program would be capped at 200,000 a year, but the number of visas would fluctuate, depending on unemployment rates, job openings, employer demand and data collected by a new federal bureau pushed by the labor movement as an objective monitor of the market.

The workers would be able to change jobs and could seek permanent residency. Under current temporary worker programs, personnel can't move from employer to employer and have no path to permanent U.S. residence and citizenship. And currently there's no good way for employers to bring many low-skilled workers to the U.S. An existing visa program for low-wage nonagricultural workers is capped at 66,000 per year and is supposed to apply only to seasonal or temporary jobs.

The Chamber of Commerce said workers would earn actual wages paid to American workers or the prevailing wages for the industry they're working in, whichever is higher. The Labor Department determines prevailing wage based on customary rates in specific localities, so that it varies from city to city.

There was also disagreement about how to deal with certain higher-skilled construction jobs, such as electricians and welders, and it appears those will be excluded from the deal, said Geoff Burr, vice president of federal affairs at Associated Builders and Contractors. Burr said his group opposes such an exclusion because, even though unemployment in the construction industry is high right now, at times when it is low there can be labor shortages in high-skilled trades, and contractors want to be able to bring in foreign workers. But unions pressed for the exclusion, Burr said.

The low-skilled worker issue had loomed for weeks as perhaps the toughest matter to settle in monthslong closed-door talks on immigration among the senators, including Republicans John McCain of Arizona and Marco Rubio of Florida. The issue helped sink the last major attempt at immigration overhaul in 2007, when the legislation foundered on the Senate floor after an amendment was added to end a temporary worker program after five years, threatening a key priority of the business community.

The amendment passed by just one vote, 49-48. President Barack Obama, a senator at the time, joined in the narrow majority voting to end the program after five years.

___

Follow Erica Werner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ericawerner

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-03-30-Immigration/id-a3fadbb327c54553995beec5214f28fb

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Men's Health Issues that Need Attention

Men?s health issues, like women?s health issues, have been properly studied and documented. Yet, there are health issues today that most men are hesitant to talk about or seek proper diagnosis from their doctors or other health professionals. For this reason, they just allow these health issues to become worst. Some of these health issues include the following:

Erectile dysfunction is a health issue that is common among men, yet most men refuse or hesitate to acknowledge this problem. This is because of the culture that sets men?s thinking that their admittance of erectile dysfunction will somehow, diminish their masculinity. Hence, instead of discussing the issue with their doctor or partner, they try to find solution or quick fixes from untested products. In many cases, the solution to this health issue is to simply reduce the stress and take time to relax. However, it can also be a symptom of an underlying health issue such as a prostate problem or diabetes. Hence, if erectile dysfunction is experienced, it is important to seek for a health professional advice for proper diagnosis and avoid making the problem worst.

Infertility

Most men often misinterpret infertility with erectile dysfunction. These two health issues are not related to each other. Infertility is a men?s health issue which is characterized by slow sperm motility, a low amount of sperm that is present in the semen, abnormal size or shape of the sperm, or issues with the semen itself. Hence, even if a man suffers from infertility, he can still achieve an erection. However, in many cases, especially in places where male dominance is important, an otherwise healthy man refuses to go through a fertility test.

Today numerous health innovations are available to treat this disorder, which start from medications to IVF (In-vitro fertilization). Nevertheless, in some cases, infertility can be resolved by simply avoiding or making changes to one?s lifestyle such as exercising regularly, eating proper diet, decreasing or completely avoiding alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking. Men who are involved in jobs like manufacturing, landscaping, or construction should try to minimize exposing their selves to environmental toxins, which come from pesticides, radiation, lead, and insecticides by wearing protective items like masks. Even so, it is still important to seek professional diagnosis to get the best solution.

Tinnitus

Though tinnitus affects people of all genders and ages, it is more likely to develop in men. About one man, out of eight men with ages ranging from 65 to 74, suffers from this condition. This condition has been regarded as a symptom of an underlying health issue than an actual health disorder. It is characterized by hearing noises every now and then, disrupting sleep or concentration. These noises can vary from roaring, squeaking, whooshing, chirping, ringing, whistling, hissing, buzzing, and more. In most cases, only the sufferer can hear these noises. This condition can be avoided or treated by wearing ear protectors, avoiding loud noises, learning to manage chronic stress, and quitting smoking and alcohol drinking. Nonetheless, if the condition persists, seek for a professional help.

Source: http://way-to-be-healthy.blogspot.com/2013/03/mens-health-issues-that-need-attention.html

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Video: Obama tries to console Miami basketball fans (cbsnews)

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Bonus Quote of the Day (Taegan Goddard's Political Wire)

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Stress Management - Say Hello Indonesia

Stress is really bad for your body and for your life. It can waste your energy, and your time. There are many reasons why people may get stress. Problem with the workplace, family, financial, loss someone, guilty, or even feared could be the factors of stress. Stress can cause restlessness, unhappiness, impatience and anger. It can harm your life, relationships and health.

It does, you cannot control your life and your condition as what you want. Controlling and eliminating the reasons of stress is not an easy thing to do, but it is very helpful if you can act and behave to reduce or alleviate your stress. Don?t ever let you down and internally affected too much. There are a number of stress relief methods that can and must be tried out that will help you to reduce stress:

1. Take a nice bath.
You may soak in the warm water for fifteen minutes, close your eyes and breath consistently. It?s useful for your body circulation and help you to feel relax.

2. Listen to music.
Play some soft music, light a candle, and drink a glass of milk, tea or hot chocolate can warm you. Maybe you can do a little dance, follow the music and rest your mind. Forget all your problems for at least one hour. These can make you feel calm.

3. Watch comedy or funny films.
Laugh is the best method to reduce stress. Ask your friends to find the references of funny film or television programs. Enjoy it with consuming your favorite snacks, and you?ll feel relax.

4. Go picnic with your family or friends
Vacation or even just walking in a park, feel the fresh air, enjoying the view, and having fun with your family or friends also a great method for reducing stress. They can make you feel happy and relax.

5. Massage
Massage is useful to stretch your nerves. Go to the salon or spa, or maybe you can share it with your wife or husband.

6. Take a short walk and deep breath
Take a short walk in park or garden can help you to relief stress. Feel the fresh air and take a deep breath.

7. Do what you like to do
Take a time to do ?just me time?. Do what you really like to do, do your hobbies, eat your favorite food, listen to your favorite music, go to your favorite place, etc.

8. Meditation
It exerts a calming effect on the body, nerves and blood pressure, reduces restlessness, and brings peace of mind, detachment and equanimity.

9. Motivate your self
Whatever your problem, however hard it is, always be positive thinking. Talk to yourself that you can do that. Say you can, so you will. Believe it. Listen to motivator, or read an inspiring story book. It really helps to make you motivated.

10. Pray to your God
This is the most importing to do. Communicate all your problems and feelings to God. Believe, nothing is impossible if you give it to God.

How success you can manage your stress depend to yourself. It requires some effort and time. Be patient, be happy, and believe in God. That?s the key.

Source: http://sayhelloindonesia.blogspot.com/2013/03/stress-management.html

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North Korea is no 'paper tiger', warns US official as regime puts rockets on standby

The threats to the U.S. are becoming more strident as North Korea's leader, Kim Jung Un, says his rockets are ready to strike America at any time. But experts do not believe Pyongyang has the capabilities it claims.

By Courtney Kube and Ian Johnston, NBC News

North Korea put its rocket units on standby Friday to attack U.S. military bases in South Korea and the Pacific, after repeated threats and one day after two American stealth bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula in a military exercise.

A U.S. official warned that the isolated communist state is ?not a paper tiger? and its reaction should not be dismissed as ?pure bluster.?

According to the North Korea's official KCNA news agency, the country's leader Kim Jong Un ?judged the time has come to settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists in view of the prevailing situation? at a midnight meeting of top generals, Reuters reported.

The latest threat comes one day after?two nuclear-capable stealth bombers flew from Missouri?to drop inert munitions on a range in South Korea as part of a major military exercise.

KCNA via EPA

Kim Jong Un, seen at what was described as an urgent meeting overnight, has ordered his rocket forces to be on standby to strike U.S. and South Korean targets at any time.

The U.S. official emphasized the danger posed by North Korea?s military and the unpredictable nature of its 30-year-old leader.

?North Korea is not a paper tiger so it wouldn't be smart to dismiss its provocative behavior as pure bluster. What's not clear right now is how much risk Kim Jong Un is willing to run to show the world and domestic elites that he's a tough guy,? said the official, who asked not to be named. ?His inexperience is certain -- his wisdom is still very much in question.?

There was a mass demonstration in support of Kim?involving tens of thousands of people?in the main square of North Korean capital Pyongyang Friday, The Associated Press reported.

Placards read "Let's crush the puppet traitor group" and "Let's rip the puppet traitors to death!"

'War for national liberation'
The state-controlled KCNA also published an article that said the ?opportunity for peacefully settling the DPRK-U.S. relations is no longer available as the U.S. opted for staking its fate. Consequently, there remains only the settlement of accounts by a physical means.? DPRK stands for Democratic People?s Republic of Korea, the North's official name.

David Guttenfelder / AP

As chief Asia photographer for the Associated Press, David Guttenfelder has had unprecedented access to communist North Korea. Here's a rare look at daily life in the secretive country.

?A battle to be fought by the DPRK against the U.S. will become a war for national liberation to defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country and, at the same time, a revolutionary war to defend the human cause of independence and the justice of the international community,? the article by ?news analyst? Minju Joson said.

South Korea?s Yonhap news agency quoted a South Korean military official as saying that there had been ?increased movement of vehicles and forces? at missile launch sites in the North. ?We are closely watching possibilities of missile launches,? the unnamed official said.

North Korea routinely issues hostile statements but analysts have noted recent remarks have become more belligerent. In December, the North carried out a long-range rocket test and then detonated a nuclear bomb in a test earlier this year.

North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-un has issued almost daily threats, including the threat of nuclear strikes on Washington, D.C., and Seoul. In addition, Pyongyang has put its troops on combat readiness, warning that war "may break out at any moment." NBC's Ian Williams reports.

At a daily news briefing Friday, China?s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said China was calling for an easing of tensions.

But some fear the situation could be getting out of control.

"It seems that Kim Jong Un is in the driving seat of a train that has been taken on a joyride," Lee Min-yong, an expert on North Korea at Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul, told Reuters.

Russia, meanwhile, appeared to criticize the U.S. over Thursday's bomber mission.

"We are concerned that alongside the adequate, collective reaction of the U.N. Security Council, unilateral action is being taken around North Korea that is increasing military activity," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Moscow, according to Reuters.

"The situation could simply get out of control; it is slipping toward the spiral of a vicious cycle," he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Related:

PhotoBlog: North Koreans rally in support of leader's call to arms

Nuclear-capable stealth bombers sent to South Korea amid Kim Jong Un's threats

Despite rhetoric from North, South Koreans carry on

This story was originally published on Fri Mar 29, 2013 5:11 AM EDT

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For gay rights activists, partial victory more likely than sweeping

U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in a case that could overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) for a second day on Wednesday. Potential swing vote, Justice?Anthony Kennedy warned the law may infringe on states' rights to define marriage.?

By Lawrence Hurley,?Reuters, David Ingram,?Reuters / March 27, 2013

Solicitor General Donald Virrilli (R) argues in front of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts (L) and Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy about the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Justices indicated interest in striking down the law denying federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples.

REUTERS/Art Lien/Handout

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The?U.S. Supreme Court?seemed to be leaning on Wednesday toward striking down a law that denies federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples in a move that would reflect a shift in Americans' attitudes about gay marriage.

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In a second day of oral arguments on same-sex marriage, a majority of the court raised serious concerns with the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, enacted in 1996 under President Bill Clinton.

Arguments over the last two days on the DOMA?case and a separate one challenging?California's ban on gay marriage marked the high court's first foray into a delicate and divisive political, religious and social issue in the?United States?as polls indicate growing public support for same-sex marriage.

In theory, the cases have the potential for the court to take a significant step toward endorsing gay marriage as it gains support in some parts of the country. Based on the arguments, however, a partial victory for gay rights activists seems more likely than the sweeping declaration of same-sex marriage rights they had hoped for.

As demonstrators rallied outside the?Supreme Court building?for a second day, Justice?Anthony Kennedy, a potential swing vote, showed a willingness to invalidate DOMA, which denies married same-sex couples access to federal benefits by defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

He warned of a "real risk" that the law infringes on the traditional role of the states in defining marriage.

A conservative, Kennedy is viewed as a key vote on this issue in part because he has twice authored decisions in the past that were viewed as favorable to gay rights.

In contrast to the ambivalent approach they displayed on Tuesday in arguments about?California's Proposition 8 gay marriage ban, the nine justices seemed willing to address the substantive issue in the DOMA?case, while also eyeing procedural questions.

The court is not expected to rule on the two cases until the end of June. If the justices were to strike down DOMA, legally married gay couples would be winners because they would have improved access to federal benefits, such as tax deductions.

Justices gave a strong indication they might resolve the Proposition 8 case on procedural grounds, but even that would be viewed as a win for gay rights activists as same-sex marriages in?California?would likely resume.

What appears highly unlikely is a sweeping declaration of a right for gay people to marry, a possible option only in the?California?case.

Overall, a majority of the justices made it clear that, while they might not impede the recent movement among some states toward gay marriage, they were not willing to pave the way either.

Nine states now recognize gay marriage, while 30 states have constitutional amendments banning it and others are in-between.

On several occasions over the two days, the justices' own remarks illustrated how quickly attitudes have changed in favor of gay marriage.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/DgiD59VDbNk/For-gay-rights-activists-partial-victory-more-likely-than-sweeping

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Vegan Drinks: Coconut & Banana Smoothie | Nutrition Rocks

Smoothies are a great way to enjoy a?nutritious?drink, and coconut milk is a wonderful alternative to dairy milk if you?re craving that creamy taste. The almonds give it a protein boost and you can easily sneak in a portion of fruit too!

• 1 banana
• 150ml coconut water
• 100 ml coconut milk
• A pinch of grated ginger
• A handful of almonds

Blend ingredients together and sip away.

Recipe by Madeleine Shaw. For more recipes see her webiste

Source: http://nutrition-rocks.co.uk/?p=3723

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RIM sells 1M BlackBerry 10s, surprise 4Q profit

TORONTO (AP) ? Research In Motion Ltd. said Thursday that it sold about 1 million phones running its new BlackBerry 10 system. It also surprised Wall Street by returning to profitability in the most recent quarter.

The earnings provide a first glimpse of how the BlackBerry 10 system, widely seen as crucial to the company's future, is selling internationally and in Canada since its debut Jan. 31. The 1 million new touch-screen BlackBerry Z10 phones were above the 915,000 that analysts had been expecting. Details on U.S. sales are not part of the fiscal fourth quarter's financial results because the Z10 just became available there last week, after the quarter ended.

In another sign of uncertainty, RIM lost about 3 million subscribers to end the quarter with 76 million. It's the second consecutive quarterly decline for RIM, whose subscriber based peaked at 80 million last summer.

Bill Kreyer, a tech analyst for Edward Jones, called the decline "pretty alarming."

"This is going to take a couple of quarters to really see how they are doing," Kreyer said.

The BlackBerry, pioneered in 1999, had been the dominant smartphone for on-the-go business people and other consumers before the iPhone debuted in 2007 and showed that phones can handle much more than email and phone calls. RIM faced numerous delays modernizing its operating system with the BlackBerry 10. During that time, it had to cut more than 5,000 jobs and saw shareholder wealth decline by more than $70 billion.

In the quarter that ended March 2, RIM earned $98 million, or 19 cents a share, compared with a loss of $125 million, or 24 cents a share, a year earlier. After adjusting for restructuring and other one-time items, RIM earned 22 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had been expecting a loss of 31 cents.

Revenue fell 36 percent to $2.7 billion, from $4.2 billion. Analysts had expected $2.82 billion.

The company also announced that co-founder Mike Lazaridis will retire as vice chairman and director. He and Jim Balsillie had stepped down as co-CEOs in January 2012 after several quarters of disappointing results. Thorsten Heins, the chief operating officer, took over and spent the past year cutting costs and steering the company toward the launch of new BlackBerry 10 phones.

Investors appeared happy with the financial results. RIM's stock rose 27 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $14.84 in morning trading Thursday after the release of results.

"I thought they were dead. This is a huge turnaround," Jefferies analyst Peter Misek said from New York.

Misek said the Canadian company "demolished" the numbers, especially its gross margins. RIM reported gross margins of 40 percent, up from 34 percent a year earlier. The company credited higher average selling prices and higher margins for devices.

"This is a really, really good result," Misek said. "It's off to a good start."

The new BlackBerry 10 phones are redesigned for the new multimedia, Internet browsing and apps experience that customers are now demanding.

The Z10 has received favorable reviews since its release, but the launch in the critical U.S. market was delayed until late this month as wireless carriers completed their testing.

A version with a physical keyboard, called the Q10, won't be released in the U.S. for two or three more months. The delay in selling the Q10 complicates RIM's efforts to hang on to customers tempted by the iPhone and a range of devices running Google Inc.'s Android operating system. Even as the BlackBerry has fallen behind rivals in recent years, many users have stayed loyal because they prefer a physical keyboard over the touch screen on the iPhone and most Android devices.

RIM, which is changing is formal name to BlackBerry, said it expects to break even in the current quarter despite increasing spending on marketing by 50 percent compared with the previous quarter.

"To say it was a very challenging environment to deliver improved financial results could well be the understatement of the year," Heins said during a conference call with analysts.

Heins said more than half of the people buying the touch-screen Z10 were switching from rival systems. The company didn't provide details or specify whether those other systems were all smartphones. He said the Q10 will sell well among the existing BlackBerry user base. It's expected in some markets in April, but not in the U.S. until May or June.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rim-sells-1m-blackberry-10s-surprise-4q-profit-122926348--finance.html

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Mountain pine beetle genome decoded

Mar. 26, 2013 ? The genome of the mountain pine beetle -- the insect that has devastated British Columbia's lodgepole pine forests -- has been decoded by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre.

This is a first for the mountain pine beetle and only the second beetle genome ever sequenced. The first was the red flour beetle, a pest of stored grains. The genome is described in a study published Tuesday in the journal Genome Biology.

"We know a lot about what the beetles do," says Christopher Keeling, a research associate in Prof. Joerg Bohlmann's lab at the Michael Smith Laboratories. "But without the genome, we don't know exactly how they do it."

"Sequencing the mountain pine beetle genome provides new information that can be used to help manage the epidemic in the future."

The genome revealed large variation among individuals of the species -- about four times greater than the variation among humans.

"As the beetles' range expands and as they head into jack pine forests where the defensive compounds may be different, this variation could allow them to be more successful in new environments," says Keeling.

Researchers isolated genes that help detoxify defence compounds found under the bark of the tree -- where the beetles live. They also found genes that degrade plant cell walls, which allow the beetles to get nutrients from the tree.

Keeling, Bohlmann and their colleagues also uncovered a bacterial gene that has jumped into the mountain pine beetle genome. This gene codes for an enzyme that digests sugars.

"It might be used to digest woody tissue and/or the microorganisms that grow in the beetle's tunnels underneath the bark of the tree," said Keeling. "Gene transfers sometimes make organisms more successful in their environments."

This study involved researchers from the University of Northern British Columbia and the University of Alberta.

Characteristics of the mountain pine beetle genome

• 12 pairs of chromosomes
• Approximately 13,000 genes
• The mountain pine beetle separated from the red flour beetle -- the only other beetle genome sequenced to date -- about 230 million years ago. According to Keeling, "the two insects have about the same relatedness as a pine tree and a head of lettuce."
• The mountain pine beetle is closely related to other significant pests in North American forests such as the southern pine beetle, Douglas-fir beetle, eastern larch beetle, and spruce beetle. Insights gained from sequencing the mountain pine beetle genome can be transferred to these beetles, and other forest insect pests around the world.

Mountain pine beetle epidemic

The mountain pine beetle has infested over 18 million hectares of lodgepole pine in British Columbia -- an area more than five times larger than Vancouver Island -- causing enormous damage to the environment and forest industry. In recent years, the insect has moved further north and east, over the Canadian Rockies, and is now approaching the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. It is also beginning to infest other pine trees -- jack pine, a jack-lodgepole hybrid, limber pine, and the endangered whitebark pine. Jack pine boreal forests extend from Alberta to the Atlantic provinces. The mountain pine beetle also lives in Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and South Dakota.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of British Columbia.

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. Christopher I Keeling, Macaire MS Yuen, Nancy Y Liao, T Roderick Docking, Simon K Chan, Greg A Taylor, Diana L Palmquist, Shaun D Jackman, Anh Nguyen, Maria Li, Hannah Henderson, Jasmine K Janes, Yongjun Zhao, Pawan Pandoh, Richard Moore, Felix AH Sperling, Dezene PW Huber, Inanc Birol, Stephen JM Jones, Joerg Bohlmann. Draft genome of the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, a major forest pest. Genome Biology, 2013; 14 (3): R27 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2013-14-3-r27

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6phY8FTccr8/130327093612.htm

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China to get first official taste of Surface Pro outside of North America

Microsoft's Surface Pro will mark its first venture outside the cozy confines of the Americas by heading to China on April 2nd, according to its Weibo site. That could also mean that lovers of the convertible tablet in Australia, parts of Europe and elsewhere might also be able to grab one soon -- as Redmond indicated earlier that it would roll out in those countries around the same time. There's no word yet on pricing or where to get one, but Microsoft recently launched its flagship Chinese store on Tmall, so that would be a good place for shoppers there to start -- assuming they're interested.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Microsoft

Comments

Via: The Verge

Source: Microsoft (Weibo)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/28/china-surface-pro-availability/

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Arab League summit showcases Qatar's swagger

Emir of Qatar Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, center, attends the opening session of the Arab League Summit in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Syrian opposition representatives took the country's seat for the first time at an Arab League summit that opened in Qatar on Tuesday, a significant diplomatic boost for the forces fighting President Bashar Assad's regime. (AP Photo/Ghiath Mohamad)

Emir of Qatar Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, center, attends the opening session of the Arab League Summit in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Syrian opposition representatives took the country's seat for the first time at an Arab League summit that opened in Qatar on Tuesday, a significant diplomatic boost for the forces fighting President Bashar Assad's regime. (AP Photo/Ghiath Mohamad)

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, center, attends the opening session of the Arab League summit in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Syrian opposition representatives took the country's seat for the first time at an Arab League summit that opened in Qatar on Tuesday, a significant diplomatic boost for the forces fighting President Bashar Assad's regime. (AP Photo/Ghiath Mohamad)

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, center, attends the opening session of the Arab League summit in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Syrian opposition representatives took the country's seat for the first time at an Arab League summit that opened in Qatar on Tuesday, a significant diplomatic boost for the forces fighting President Bashar Assad's regime. (AP Photo/Ghiath Mohamad)

Khaled Saleh, a spokesman for the Syrian National Coalition, speaks during the opening session of the Arab League Summit in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Syrian opposition representatives took the country's seat for the first time at an Arab League summit that opened in Qatar on Tuesday, a significant diplomatic boost for the forces fighting President Bashar Assad's regime. (AP Photo/Ghiath Mohamad)

Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, left, attends the opening session of the Arab League Summit in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Syrian opposition representatives took the country's seat for the first time at an Arab League summit that opened in Qatar on Tuesday, a significant diplomatic boost for the forces fighting President Bashar Assad's regime. (AP Photo/Ghiath Mohamad)

DOHA, Qatar (AP) ? Qatar's emir looked over an assembly of Arab leaders Tuesday as both cordial host and impatient taskmaster. His welcoming remarks to kings, sheiks and presidents across the Arab world quickly shifted to Qatar's priorities: Rallying greater support for Syrian rebels and helping Palestinians with efforts such as a newly proposed $1 billion fund to protect Jerusalem's Arab heritage.

No one seemed surprised at the paternal tone or the latest big-money initiative. In a matter of just a few years, hyper-wealthy Qatar has increasingly staked out a leadership role once held by Egypt and helped redefine how Arab states measure influence and ambition.

Little more than a spot to sink oil and gas wells a generation ago, Qatar is now a key player in nearly every Middle Eastern shakeout since the Arab Spring, using checkbook diplomacy in settings as diverse as Syria's civil war, Italian artisan workshops struggling with the euro financial crisis, and the soccer pitches in France as owners of the Paris Saint-Germain team.

As hosts of an Arab League summit this week, Qatar gets another chance to showcase its swagger.

With power, however, come tensions. Qatar has been portrayed as an arrogant wunderkind in places such as Iraq and Lebanon where some factions object to its rising stature, and Qatar's growing independent streak in policy-making has raised concerns among its Gulf Arab partners. It also faces questions ? as do other Gulf nations and Western allies ? over support for some Arab Spring uprisings while remaining loyal to the embattled monarchy in neighboring Bahrain.

"The adage that money buys influence could very well be the motto of Qatar," said Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a professor of regional politics at Emirates University outside Abu Dhabi. "But it goes beyond that. Qatar also has learned the value of being flexible and, at the same time, thinking big."

It's hard these days to find a point on the Mideast map without some link back to Qatar.

In recent years, Qatar mediated disputes among Lebanese factions and prodded Sudan's government into peace talks with rebels in the Darfur region. Qatar's rulers even broke ranks with Gulf partners and allowed an Israeli trade office ? almost a de facto diplomatic post ? before it was closed in early 2009 in protest of Israeli attacks on Gaza. And Doha has been atop the Arab media pecking order as headquarters of the pan-Arab network Al-Jazeera, which was founded with Qatari government money in 1996 and is now expanding its English-speaking empire into the United States.

But it was the Arab Spring that opened the way for Qatar to stake out an even bigger role in regional affairs, filling the vacuum for regional powerhouse Egypt as that country was mired in turmoil after the revolution that ousted longtime leader Hosni Mubarak.

Qatar was among the few Arab states offering active military assistance to NATO-led attacks against Moammar Gadhafi's regime in Libya and, at the same time, was a key arms-and-money pipeline for Libyan rebels. In Egypt, Mubarak's fall offered Qatar's rapid-reaction outreach a head start over other Gulf states because of its longstanding ties with the now-governing Muslim Brotherhood.

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, who attended the Doha summit, has turned to Qatar to help prop up the country's stumbling economy.

"We expect that financial pledges will be respected," Morsi said in a message to Qatar and other Arab countries that have promised money for Egypt.

Almost nothing happens in the Syrian opposition without a voice from Qatar, which has played matchmaker for a broader political coalition against Syrian President Bashar Assad and leads appeals to provide rebel fighters more heavy weapons in attempts to turn the tide in the 2-year-old civil war. On Tuesday, Qatar led the official transfer of Syria's Arab League seat from the Assad government to the opposition Syrian National Coalition.

The New York Times reported Monday that the CIA has helped Turkey and Arab governments, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, to sharply increase military aid to Syria's opposition in recent months with secret airlifts or arms and equipment. The Associated Press also reported, citing American officials and others, that the U.S. is training secular Syrian fighters in Jordan in a bid to stem the influence of Islamist radicals in the splintered Syrian opposition.

To view Qatar's rise as purely a triumph of extreme wealth gives an incomplete picture, analysts say. True, Qatar's pockets are deep. The most recent budget surplus swelled to $26 billion and Qatar has one of the world's most well-heeled sovereign wealth funds whose acquisitions include stakes in luxury brands such as Tiffany and the Valentino fashion house as well as David Beckham's new club, Paris Saint-Germain.

But Qatar represents a shift in Arab clout toward a new style: A country squarely in the Western-leaning camp, but far more willing to embark on policies and plans that could ruffle the U.S.

"Qatar believes it doesn't have to wait for others to try to shape the direction and conversation in the region," said Theodore Karasik, a security and political affairs analyst at the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis. "That kind of confidence opens up all kinds of new political equations."

A clear example was a centerpiece of the Arab League summit welcoming address by Qatar's ruler, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who pledged $250 million toward a proposed $1 billion fund to defend the Arab identity and history of Jerusalem against an expanding Israeli presence in traditional Arab districts.

"The Palestinian, Arab and Muslim rights in Jerusalem are not negotiable, and Israel must realize this," the emir said after telling other Arab states that it is their responsibility to kick in another $750 million.

Such Qatar-led initiatives are likely to deepen its influence among Palestinians and, indirectly, appear to further challenge Washington as the main outside policy-shaper in Israel-Palestinian disputes. Last year, Qatar's emir traveled to the Gaza Strip with promises for funds and assistance that also sought to undercut Iran as the principal backer for Hamas.

Hamas on Tuesday welcomed the emir's invitation to meet in Cairo with the rival Palestinian Authority for another round of reconciliation talks, which began last year in Qatar.

"Qatar has money to spend and the political will to use it as an extension of its foreign policy," according to Karasik, the analyst. "That's a powerful combination."

The Qatar government guest book is a case in point.

Qatar has offered debt-battered Italy and Greece separate 1 billion euro ($1.29 billion) funds for small businesses and traditional workshops if the countries match the amount. In the past few months, the prime ministers of Italy and Greece have come calling in Doha with words of thanks.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-03-26-Qatar's%20Clout/id-82192abb889a4598a80910d8028a11bc

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SpaceX Dragon splashes into Pacific Ocean

Mar 26 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $3,787,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $2,859,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,154,500 4. Steve Stricker $1,820,000 5. Phil Mickelson $1,650,260 6. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 7. John Merrick $1,343,514 8. Dustin Johnson $1,330,507 9. Russell Henley $1,313,280 10. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 11. Keegan Bradley $1,274,593 12. Charles Howell III $1,256,373 13. Michael Thompson $1,254,669 14. Brian Gay $1,171,721 15. Justin Rose $1,155,550 16. Jason Day $1,115,565 17. Chris Kirk $1,097,053 18. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/spacex-dragon-cargo-ship-splashes-pacific-163843426.html

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Last day: Here's a last minute tax savings guide | Firstpost

With less than a week left for you to make tax saving investments for FY 2012-13, there is a good possibility you might just make the wrong investments in a hurry to avoid missing the deadline and keeping? in mind the sole objective of tax savings. After all as they say, ?Invest in a hurry, regret in leisure.? Here?s a quick guide for last minute tax savings instruments. So, you can make an informed decision, and not simply rely on your agent?s sales pitch.

For the sake on convenience, we will divide the instruments into two. Those which fall under Section 80 C and the others.

Section 80 C investments: Before, we begin keep in mind that your Employee Provident Fund (EPF) would make the major part of the Section 80 C deduction. The maximum deduction permitted under this section is Rs1 lakh.

1) Public Provident Fund: You get an 8.8 percent tax-free investment. Lock in period is 15 years and maximum amount Rs 1 lakh per financial year. Read more here.

2) Life insurance premiums: Premium amounts for self or wife and children. Premium paid before 31 March 2012 will get a deduction only to the extent of 20 percent of the actual capital sum assured. And policy issued after the 1st day of April 2012 will get a deduction only to the extent of 10 percent of the actual capital sum assured. We strongly recommend you buy only a Term Plan, as life insurance.

3) National Savings Certificate: Five-year NSC give?s 8.6 percent returns and for 10 years it?s 8.9 percent. Interest income you earn every year is taxable. But, as the interest is also reinvested, it becomes part of the overall section 80C contribution.

Representational image. Image courtesy: Moneycontrol

4) Five-year tax savings fixed deposit: The lock-in period is five years, without any pre-mature withdrawals. Rate varies from bank to bank. Interest earned is taxed, maximum investment limit is Rs 1 lakh.

5) Equity-linked savings scheme: This gives your money equity exposure and the returns here are market-linked. Keep in mind that this comes with a lock-in period of three years. The dividends you earn are tax-free.

6) Pension plans (traditional): Maximum deduction up to Rs 1 lakh for premiums paid for pension plans under Section 80 CCC.

7) Senior citizen savings scheme (SCSS): Only for senior citizens. They offer 9.30 percent as interest. Maximum investment allowed is Rs 15 lakh in a financial year, but only Rs 1 lakh will get benefit under Section 80 C.

8) Two important deductions are: Repayment of principal of your home loan gives you a deduction under 80C of up to Rs 1 lakh.? And, you also get under a deduction Section 80C for tuition fees paid for your children?s full-time education in India.

Non- Section 80 C deductions: Apart from Section 80 C investments options, here are a few more investment options which give you tax benefit.

9) Section 80D ( Medical Insurance policy) : Here you get tax benefits in the form of deduction for premiums you pay for medical insurance. The benefit is up to Rs 15,000 for self and family or if you buy policy for non-senior citizen parents. You can claim within the existing limit a deduction of up to Rs 5,000 for preventive health check-up. Read more here.

10) Section 80DDB (Medical treatment of certain illness): If you are less than 65 years old during the previous year, then the deduction limit is Rs 40,000. If you are a senior citizen (more than age 65), then the deduction limit is Rs 60,000. Read more here.

11) Section 80E (Interest paid for education loan): You can avail of this tax deduction as long an education loan is taken for the spouse, children or self. The deduction is permitted in the initial assessment year or the year in which you start paying the interest on the loan and seven more years immediately after the initial assessment year. Read more here.

12)? Section 24( Home loan interest amount): You get a tax deduction of up to Rs 1.5 lakh for the interest amount you pay towards home loan. The Rs 1.5 lakh limit on the interest amount is applicable when you?ve taken a loan for a self-occupied house. If it?s not a self-occupied house (rented out) there is not limit of Rs 1.5 lakh. Read more here.

13) Section 80 TTA (Savings accounts): Here savings account interest income up to Rs 10,000 will get a tax deduction. This deduction of Rs 10,000 on savings account interest income is all bank accounts put together. Read more here.

14) Section 80 G:? Donations to certain charitable organisations and institutions you get tax deduction under Section 80 G. The amount of deductions can be either 50 percent or 100 percent, depending upon the type of institution you donate to.

Now that you know about tax savings options, don?t blindly buy the insurance policy your agent wants to sell you as a tax saving tool. Remember, investments made in a hurry to save taxes are more likely to result in you becoming a victim of mis-selling.

Source: http://www.firstpost.com/investing/last-day-heres-a-last-minute-tax-savings-guide-673889.html

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Monday in politics: Obama to designate new monuments, and more

It?s mostly quiet on the Washington front on Monday.

President Barack Obama will designate five new national monuments, using executive authority to protect historic or ecologically significant sites.

The sites are Rio Grande del Norte National Monument in New Mexico; First State National Monument in Delaware; Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument in Maryland; Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in Ohio; and San Juan Islands National Monument in Washington state.

Federal regulators will press the Supreme Court to stop pharmaceutical corporations from paying generic drug competitors to delay releasing their cheaper versions of brand-name drugs. They will argue these deals deny American consumers steep price declines.

The pharmaceutical companies counter that they need to preserve longer the billions of dollars in revenue from their patented products in order to recover the billions they spend developing new drugs.

And then there is this: The big news in Washington will come Tuesday and Wednesday when the Supreme Court hears gay marriage cases.

[Supreme Court gay marriage cases could set stage for dramatic societal changes]

On Tuesday morning, the nine justices will consider whether California?s voter approved ban on gay marriage, Proposition 8, unfairly discriminates against gay people. On Wednesday, they?ll consider whether the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act barring the U.S. government from recognizing same-sex marriages, even in states that allow them, constitutes federal overreach.

Sources: Yahoo News? The Ticket, ABC News, Associated Press and Reuters.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/monday-politics-obama-designate-monuments-more-095339809--election.html

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Violins can mimic the human voice

Mar. 25, 2013 ? For many years, some musical experts have wondered if the sound of the Stradivari and Guarneri violins might incorporate such elements of speech as vowels and consonants. A Texas A&M University researcher has now provided the first evidence that the Italian violin masters tried to impart specific vowel sounds to their violins.

Joseph Nagyvary, professor emeritus in biochemistry at Texas A&M, says of the various vowels he identified in their violins, only two were Italian -- the "i" and "e," while the others were more of French and English origin.

His findings published in the current issue of Savart Journal, a scientific journal of musical instrument acoustics, have the potential to change the way violins are made and how they are priced.

"I expected to find more Italian vowels, what experts call the 'Old Italian' sound actually has the mark of foreign languages," Nagyvary confirms.

Nagyvary has held for decades that the great Italian violin makers, Stradivari and Guarneri del Ges?, produced instruments with a more human-like tonal quality than any others made at the time. To prove his theory, he persuaded the famed violinist Itzhak Perlman to record a scale on his violin, a 1743-dated Guarneri, during a 1987 concert appearance in San Antonio.

For the required comparison, Nagyvary asked Metropolitan Opera soprano Emily Pulley, a former College Station resident, to record her voice singing vowels in an operatic style.

"It has been widely held that violins 'sing' with a female soprano voice. Emily's voice is lustrous and she has the required expertise to sing all vowels of the European languages in a musical scale," Nagyvary explains.

"I analyzed her sound samples by computer for harmonic content and then using state-of-the art phonetic analysis to obtain a 2-D map of the female soprano vowels. Each note of a musical scale on the violin underwent the same analysis, and the results were plotted and mapped against the soprano vowels."

Nagyvary's 25 years of research on the project proved that the sounds of Pulley's voice and the violin's could be located on the same map for identification purposes, and their respective graphic images can be directly compared.

His discoveries are significant for two reasons.

"For 400 years, violin prices have been based almost exclusively on the reputation of the maker -- the label inside of the violin determined the price tag," Nagyvary says. "The sound quality rarely entered into price consideration because it was deemed inaccessible. These findings could change how violins may be valued."

The new graphic images of the violin sound could also become an asset in teaching students to improve the quality of their tone production, he adds.

He says that in recent years, the violins of Guarneri del Ges? have surpassed those made by Stradivari: certain Guarneri violins now sell for something between $10 million to $20 million each.

Nagyvary was the first to prove that Stradivari and Guarneri soaked their instruments in chemicals such as borax and brine to protect them from a worm infestation that was sweeping through Italy in the 1700s. By pure accident, the chemicals used to protect the wood had the unintended result of producing the unique sounds that have been almost impossible to duplicate in the past 400 years, and his findings were supported and verified by the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific organization.

The retired Texas A&M professor has himself made violins that included carefully crafted woods soaked in a variety of chemicals.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Texas A&M University.

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. Joseph Nagyvary. A Comparative Study of Power Spectra and Vowels in Guarneri Violins and Operatic Singing. Savart Journal, Vol 1, No 3 (2013)

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YODBOwxZoxM/130325135302.htm

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'The Voice' season premiere promises to be 'best episode' ever

By Ree Hines, TODAY contributor

Get ready for some chair-spinning action -- "The Voice" returns for an all-new season of the talent competition Monday night. But this time, the would-be contestants won't be the only new part of the show.

Coaches Usher and Shakira are joining the act, filling the spots vacated by Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green -- not that the shakeup should concern faithful fans. According to host Carson Daly, the new additions just add to the appeal.

"You're looking at a guy that could have been on any one of these (TV? talent) shows," Daly said, gesturing toward Usher, who joined him on TODAY Monday morning. "But him and Shakira, they were fans of 'The Voice,' and that was a great place to start."

It's especially great for fellow fans, who have high hopes for season four.

"(Monday night) is the best episode of 'The Voice' ever," Daly added, "and it's in large part to Usher and Shakira, Blake (Shelton) and Adam (Levine)."

As for Usher, he offered a sneak peek of the talent reviews to come by evaluating TODAY's Matt Lauer -- who didn't even sing.

"Well, the first thing that I have to make you aware of is that you were incredible -- an incredible talent," the singer said with a smile before demonstrating how he would persuade Lauer to join his team. "In my opinion, I think that you need a coach that really understands how to nurture your talent. Now you've heard from the rest of them, you need to rock with the best of them."

See just how the actual auditioners handle the evaluations when the "The Voice" returns Monday at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Are you looking forward to seeing what Usher and fellow new coach Shakira bring to "The Voice"? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35197/f/653459/s/29f7b1bd/l/0Ltheclicker0Btoday0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A30C250C174555390Ethe0Evoice0Eseason0Epremiere0Epromises0Eto0Ebe0Ebest0Eepisode0Eever0Dlite/story01.htm

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Favi Entertainment HDTV Smartstick

Web connectivity in HDTVs is nothing new, whether it's built-in or added with a streaming media box. But most of these options only offer simplistic functionality with a limited selection of apps. The Favi Entertainment HDTV Smartstick ($49.99 direct) can make the smartest of TVs even brighter, bringing a nearly complete Android experience to your big screen. It lets you browse the Web, watch Netflix, and play back a variety of media formats on your HDTV, but it's held back by slow performance and a cumbersome navigation experience thanks to a clunky UI and barebones included remote. On top of that, the optional SmartStick FE02RF-BL wireless QWERTY keyboard is a must-have accessory; using the bundled remote makes navigation even tougher.

Design, Features, and Setup
A plain white plastic dongle, the Smartstick measures 3.6 by 1.3 by 0.6 inches (HWD). One end houses the HDMI connector, while a full-sized USB port and microSD card slot are on the other. Along the side are an IR input (an IR receiver is included) and a mini USB port for powering the device. Since the Smartstick has an external power source, it will work with any HDTV with an HDMI port. There are no buttons on the Smartstick?everything is controlled through the included remote, which is about the same size as the dongle, with 17 small rubber buttons. You get media playback controls, navigation arrows, and Android function buttons for Home, Back, and Menu. ?

Powering the Smartstick is a single-core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor with 1GB RAM. The $50 base model comes with 4GB of internal storage,? or you can step up to 8GB for $79.99. I'd recommend the lower model, since the microSD card slot can handle cards up to 32GB. The Smartstick is Wi-Fi enabled and connects to 802.11b/g/n networks on the 2.4GHz band.

Setting up the Smartstick is relatively easy, though you will have to connect a few cables that can look a bit unsightly. Favi includes an HDMI extender cable, which is nice since the Smartstick was actually too thick to fit into the HDMI ports of some of the HDTVs in our testing lab. Next, you need to connect the included mini USB cable and power adapter, as well as the IR receiver. The Smartstick powers on automatically, and setup proceeds like any other Android device?you need to set the time and date, connect to a Wi-Fi network, and associate a Google account. Unlike other Android devices, however, you'll need to do all of this with the very rudimentary remote, which can be frustrating. If you get the $40 wireless QWERTY keyboard, which I'd argue is necessary, the process is much quicker.

Android Experience
The Smartstick runs Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich," but with a heavily customized skin. It resembles the interface you see on many smart TVs and connected Blu-ray players, with big icons and tabbed pages for various functions, separated into Apps, Browser, Video, Music, Photo, and Settings tabs. If you use the included remote, you'll navigate around with the Up, Down, Left, or Right arrow buttons, which is very slow. If you have the optional wireless keyboard, you can use Android's built in mouse and keyboard support, which isn't perfect, but makes navigation far less frustrating. Still, there's no multitouch or even single finger swipe support, so you'll have to click and hold the mouse button while dragging your finger around the touchpad to get around. That makes most apps, especially games, unusable. Really though, you shouldn't get the Smartstick for anything other than media playback and light Web browsing, and it performs those two tasks well. ?

You get all the same streaming services you would on any Android smartphone or tablet. These include things like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Crackle, and YouTube, to name a few. Streaming videos on Netflix or YouTube were generally smooth in my tests, though I did notice that Wi-Fi range seemed shorter than your typical smartphone or tablet. With a strong connection, I was able to stream HD video without much lag, but there were occasional stutters in my tests, both in the labs and on my home connection. It wasn't a huge problem, but playback wasn't as smooth as on a high-end Android smartphone.

The Smartstick also plays back a variety of media formats via microSD cards or USB-connected drives. For video, the Smartstick was able to handle Xvid, DivX, MPEG4, H.264, and AVI files at up to 1080p resolution. MP3, AAC, FLAC, OGG, WAV, and WMA audio files are also supported.

Web browsing is about on par with low- to mid-range Android smartphones, which is serviceable, but can be slow to load complex sites. Flash-heavy sites can trip the Smartstick up, and I had a few force closes during testing. If you just want to browse Facebook or load up your iGoogle landing page, the Smartstick is perfectly capable of that.

Smartstick vs. Competitors
You can get the same streaming features on a Roku 3?or Apple TV, which also have far more user friendly interfaces, but you lose out on the Web browsing and app capability. Google TV devices like the Vizio Co-Star or the Sony Internet Player With Google TV?offer similar functionality with a more refined experience, but you also lose the ability to sideload your own content via microSD or USB. Those boxes are also a good deal larger and generally more expensive, but they do come with included QWERTY remotes for easier navigation.

At $50, the Favi Entertainment HDTV Smartstick undercuts competitors like the Apple TV or Roku 3, and its Android foundation makes it a bit more flexible than either. It's also a decent choice for those who can't afford high-end HDTVs with integrated Web connectivity. But unless you plan on sideloading your own media content, most would be better served by more polished Google TV devices like the Vizio Co-Star or Sony Internet Player.?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/-Wz9ulZeDTM/0,2817,2416805,00.asp

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Shinseki says VA on target for ending claims backlog

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Although the number of veterans' disability claims keep soaring, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on Sunday said he's committed to ending the backlog by 2015 by replacing paper with electronic records.

Veterans receive disability compensation for injuries or illness incurred during their active military service. About 600,000 claims, or 70 percent, are considered backlogged. The number of claims pending for more than 125 days has nearly quadrupled under Shinseki's watch.

Shinseki told CNN's "State of the Union" that a decade of war and efforts to make it easier for veterans to collect compensation for certain illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder have driven the backlog higher during his tenure. He said that doing away with paper records will be the key to a turnaround.

Shinseki said that the VA has puts its new computer system in place in 20 regional offices around the country and all regional offices will be on the system by the end of the year.

"This has been decades in the making, 10 years of war. We're in paper, we need to get out of paper," Shinseki said. The Defense Department and other agencies still file paper claims, he said, but "we have commitments that in 2014 we will be electronically processing our data and sharing it."

Congressional committees have held two hearings on the disability claims bottleneck in the past two weeks. Lawmakers voiced growing frustration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"There are many people, including myself, who are losing patience as we continue to hear the same excuses from VA about increased workload and increased complexity of claims," Florida's Rep. Jeff Miller, the Republican chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said during a hearing on Wednesday.

"No veteran should have to wait for claims. If there's anybody impatient here, I am that individual and we're pushing hard," said Shinseki, the former four-star Army general who became VA secretary when President Barack Obama came into office.

About 4.3 million veterans and survivors receive disability benefits. Most veterans whose claims are backlogged, about 60 percent, are getting some disability compensation already and have filed for additional benefits for other injuries or illnesses.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/shinseki-says-va-target-ending-backlog-135031728--politics.html

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