Thursday, February 28, 2013

A Fancy Lockpick Set for All Your Totally-Not-Illegal, No-This-Isn't-My-Ex-Girlfriend's-House Unlocking Needs

Lockpicks aren't just for hooligans and delinquents; there are just as many perfectly understandable, respectable, and not-at-all-delusional cases in which you'd need to break into your ex-girlfriend's house in the middle of the night while she's out of town. And Tinker Woodworks has just the tool for the job. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/6QMWKZ7yBEA/a-fancy-lockpick-set-for-all-your-totally+not+illegal-no+this+isnt+my+ex+girlfriends+house-unlocking-needs

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Panel: change sentencing in child porn cases

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The U.S. Sentencing Commission says the advent of the Internet has led to broad sentencing disparities in child pornography cases and that the existing penalty structure needs to be changed.

In a study for Congress, the commission said Wednesday that federal law enforcement agencies handle nearly 2,000 child pornography prosecutions annually, up from 700 a decade ago. It attributed that increase largely to pornographers exploiting the Internet.

The report says the current sentencing scheme fails to distinguish adequately among offenders based on how dangerous they are, and is overly severe in some cases.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-02-27-Child%20Pornography-Sentencing/id-6dcf57c3e17b417897499336b9c4da13

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Billie Joe Armstrong Comes Clean On Rehab Stint

'I couldn't predict where I was going to end up at the end of the night,' Green Day singer says of his alcohol and prescription drug abuse.
By Gil Kaufman


Billie Joe Armstrong on the cover of Rolling Stone
Photo: Rolling Stone

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702693/billie-joe-armstrong-rehab-interview.jhtml

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Family Home and Life: Wow Us Wednesday & a Request

Hello everyone! Welcome to another addition of Wow Us Wednesday. March is my blog anniversary month and I am looking for 4 bloggers who would like to write guest post that will be posted on FHL during the month of March. I am looking for recipes, tutorials, DIY's, home making tips, kid related, family and home making related; grand parenting?qualifies too ;) ?Do you have an Etsy shop or do you sell something handcrafted or an e-book? Sponsor a giveaway and be featured here during the month of March! It's a chance to high light your blog or shop! Please email me at familyhomeandlife(at)gmail(dot)com.

I know that request is last minute, I have been a little extra busy this last month. If you are interested in writing a guest post or sponsoring a giveaway please send me an email and make sure to include your blog or shop link. Thanks! Now on to the features.?
Chocolate Chocolate and More made Breakfast Cookies, breakfast cookies!
Our Cultivated Life made a delish GF Southwestern Chicken Rice Soup.



Callies Crafts made her own clock; it's beautiful!
Mon Petit Monde needed a gift and made one from what she already had! My kind of gift :)
Bowdabra Blog made such a cute St.?Patrick's?day gift.
Back to Basic Health shows her new Zucchini plants from seed. I featured this one because this is one veggie anyone can grow just about anywhere. Yes, even in a pot. Give it a try.
The most clicked link was Oh Mrs. Tucker's link about becoming a grandparent for the first time, a touching post!

Button pic 9

If you have been featured, please choose the button you like best.

Wow Us Wednesday is a linky for:

  • All items, projects or ideas?made by you, please don't link posts about another blogs projects or photos....?crafts, art, photography, furniture re-dos, organizational feats, recipes, money saving tips, decorating ideas, party plans, you name it!?Please don?t forget to link back with text link or button!
  • Please consider following me, and visit some other linkers and comment there too.?
  • Link up to three specific post, not your blog home page. No Etsy shops or giveaways, please!

I love to feature projects I choose and share them the following week here and on Facebook -?by submitting a link?to this party you?are allowing authorization?for your project to be featured with a?photo from your post. I also Pin all Features. Featured links will include?a photo and a link?back to the originating site.

Thank you for linking up today! I am sorry that time does not permit me to comment on?everyone's?post.


If you are reading this post anywhere else but at Family Home and Life then it was used without permission! Please report it! Copyright ? Family Home and Life 2010-2013 All Rights Reserved

Source: http://www.familyhomeandlife.com/2013/02/wow-us-wednesday-request.html

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Run A Home Based Business Today With These Great Tips! | David ...

Often people think that it?s nearly impossible to start a home based business that will be successful ? this is untrue. Launching a home enterprise is lots of work, but can be done relatively easily. With the right information, a home business is possible. You should go over this article if you want to learn more about home businesses.

You can join an affiliate business as a great opportunity as well. This will help to get the word out about your product or service so that you can continue to get new business. Find the best one for you by doing your homework.

TIP! Get a DBA (Doing Business As) license when you register your company with the state. This can generally be done at a bank locally, or maybe your chamber of commerce can be of assistance where you live.

Set your work schedule. You may find yourself working long hours and disrupting your whole life if you don?t decide on a set work routine. Make a schedule just like a regular company would have, and schedule some free time for yourself and your family. This is a good way to manage your social life while remaining a responsible business owner.

Keep an accurate accounting of all financial records of your business. The IRS has the ability to audit you at any time, and as a business owner, you need to be prepared for this. Maintaining complete documentation also facilitates better operation of the business.

Network with other local home business enterprise owners. You can go out and network, team up for sponsoring local events and support one another. It?s okay to take a break from the computer and see other people sometimes.

TIP! If you want your home business to survive, you must have backup plans to put into place when things go wrong. Have contingency plans in place for major disasters, such as losing your website hosting or not receiving a product shipment.

It is vital that anyone you bring in as a partner is totally trustworthy. Having your spouse as a business partner doesn?t always work out as well as you?d think. While it may be hard to find the right person, it is beneficial to have an honest and loyal partner working with you.

Take a class or view a tutorial. Most work from home business owners do not have a bunch of cash to spend up front, but it is important to invest in local classes that will point you toward your goals. Learning helps you to succeed.

Starting home businesses can be fun but challenging as well. First you need to decide what kind of business you want to run. Pick an audience and a product you are already familiar with if possible. Make sure you spend a lot of time researching before you put all of your eggs in one basket. Use networking tools to learn from others who have been successful with creating a home business.

TIP! If you are running a small home business, you probably do not need an expensive, dedicated server. That is virtual hosting, and if you only have a small business site that?s all you need.

Boil your business? mission down to a sound bite. If you?re able to tell others what your business is about in a couple of sentences, you can impress people when you?re speaking with them. This will also give you a way to get your slogan out there while covering what your business can do for others.

When designing the site for your business, get thoughts from the sites of your competitors without plagiarizing them. For example, check out how your competition uses keywords, but don?t copy them word for word. Don?t use your competitor?s names or products as keywords because this can make visitors trying to find their products angry.

Use magazine pictures to illustrate the rewards you will give yourself when you reach your goals. Use pictures of things you want to get as a result of your home business enterprise; for example, you can post a picture of your house if you want to pay your mortgage in full. Put anything you love or want on your board. )

TIP! Get all of your supplies in order if you want to succeed with your home business. Take the time to compare prices and products to make sure you get the best supplies.

Daily goals will help you to keep your motivation strong during the year. When your goals are achievable, this will keep you motivated. Set realistic boundaries around the house during your work-time to keep the family away from the office.

If you?re going to have a work from home business, you need to consider carefully whether you want a partner. Your business may benefit greatly from additional money or expertise. If you choose the wrong person, you might end up regretting your decision.

When working from home, you should spend 20 percent of your time learning. The rest of the time you should be DOING things. When you are doing things, you should be producing an income, so focus on actions that will actually bring in money.

TIP! Sticky notes are an essential tool in a home business. You?ll find them great for helping you to remember where things are, and you can remember important appointments as well.

Find a business that you know can be profitable. Research the market to make sure it is not saturated. When the market is already saturated, there is no point in trying to join it. It?s important to know what money will be spent and what will be made before you make any decisions.

In conclusion, it does not need to be hard to begin a work from home business. You will need to devote time and effort, and you will need to be patient. Apply the tips from this article and give yourself enough time to learn more about home businesses and your niche.

If you are truly serious about making money on the internet sooner than later, you need to check out Create Wealth From Home | Free Article Marketing Webinar | Make Money Today | Free Facebook Training and if your are NOT earning 100% Commissions, Watch this Free Video how to earn 100% Commissions

Source: http://www.empowernetwork.com/dwertz/blog/run-a-home-based-business-today-with-these-great-tips/

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

2 missing boys, grandmother found dead in Conn.

PRESTON, Conn. (AP) ? Connecticut state police are calling the shooting deaths of a woman and her two young grandchildren a double murder-suicide and say she had permission to pick them up from their daycare.

State police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance says 47-year-old Debra Denison was armed when she left her Stonington home to pick up the children from their daycare in North Stonington Tuesday afternoon.

State police issued an Amber Alert Tuesday evening for Denison, 2-year-old Alton Perry and his 6-month-old brother, Ashton. The three bodies were found in a parked car in nearby Preston Tuesday night.

State police believe Denison shot the kids and herself. The chief medical examiner's office will be performing autopsies.

Denison's family said she suffered from bipolar disorder and had a history of mental health problems.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/2-missing-boys-grandmother-found-dead-conn-121102592.html

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Cover Of Vogue Magazine Up For 'Cover Of The Century' Title (PHOTO)

Can you pinpoint the "Cover Of The Century"?

While that sounds like a lofty title, the Professional Publisher's Association has narrowed it down to 10 options for the competition in honor of the organization's 100th birthday. Lucky for us, the style world's very own Vogue magazine is in the running.

So which chic cover earned a spot on the ballot? British Vogue's December 2001 shot of Kate Moss. The cover features the iconic model in a replica of the coronation crown and a regal Giorgio Armani dress with a gold scepter in hand -- Britannia at its best, no? Fittingly, the Nick Knight-lensed cover was timed to create hype for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.

But don't get the idea that Vogue is a shoe-in just yet. The fashion bible has some stiff competition, including Cosmopolitan UK's inaugural issue from 1972 and a Women's Weekly cover circa World War I.

You'll have to wait until Nov. 21 to see the winner, but do you think Vogue deserves the "Cover of the Century" title? You can vote here.

PHOTO:

cover of vogue

Think any of these Kate Moss covers are better than the British Vogue one?

  • Vogue UK, Aug. 2011

  • American Photo, Jan. 1994

  • Harper's Bazaar, April 2002

  • Bazaar Russia, June 2011

  • Elle South Africa, Aug. 2010

  • Elle France, Sep. 2011

  • French Vogue, Dec. 2005

  • French Vogue, May 2011

  • George Magazine, Sep. 1997

  • Cosmo Germany, Jan. 1996

  • GQ Spain, March 2010

  • Harper's & Queen, Oct. 1992

  • i-D, April 2003

  • French Vogue, Jan. 2012

  • Marie Claire South Africa, Jan. 2012

  • Numero Tokyo, April 2007

  • New York, Feb. 2009

  • RG, Sept. 2010

  • Soul, July 2006

  • Tar, 2009

  • The Face, July 1990

  • Vanity Fair, Dec. 2006

  • Vogue Brasil, May 2011

  • Vogue, Aug. 2008

  • French Vogue, July 2010

  • Vogue, May 2003

  • Vogue Portugal, Nov. 2010

  • Vogue, Sep. 2011

  • Vogue UK, April 1996

  • Vogue UK, April 2010

  • Vogue UK, Dec. 2008

  • Vogue UK, March 2006

  • Vogue UK, Sep. 2009

  • Vogue UK, Sep. 2010

  • W, Aug. 2003

  • W, June 2008

  • W, March 2005

Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram at @HuffPostStyle.
--
Do you have a style story idea or tip? Email us at stylesubmissions@huffingtonpost.com. (PR pitches sent to this address will be ignored.)

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/27/cover-of-vogue-magazine-century_n_2773638.html

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Evolution and the ice age

Feb. 26, 2013 ? Dr John Stewart has made important contributions to a growing body of work that shows how the evolution of ecosystems has to be taken into account when speculating between different geological eras. Go back to the time of the dinosaurs or to the single-celled organisms at the origins of life, and it is obvious that ecosystems existing more than 65 million years ago and around four billion years ago cannot be simply surmised from those of today.

Although the most drastic evolutionary changes occur over long spans of time, the effects can be seen relatively recently, argues Dr Stewart.

Stewart has studied the interaction between ancient ecosystems -- paleoecology -- and evolution of humans and other organisms over the past 100,000 years, undertaking everything from excavating cave sites in Belgium to exploring the desert of Abu Dhabi.

In one milestone collaborative study, Dr Stewart has taken existing knowledge of the geographical spread of plant and animal species throughout the warming and cooling of the Ice Ages to provide insights into human origins, including the evolution and extinction of Neanderthals.

He has also examined the rise of the 'first Europeans', along with the Denisovans -- a newly discovered group -- mysterious cousins of the Neanderthals, who occupied a vast realm stretching from the chill expanse of Siberia to the tropical forests of Indonesia.

The key insight in this work, conducted alongside Prof Chris Stringer of London's Natural History Museum, came from understanding the important role of the refuge taken by a species from harsher conditions -- known as a refugium -- which has a tremendous influence on the evolutionary future of the species. Once the climate changes again, for instance as ice sheets melt, these refuges can expand or connect up again.

But, of course, there's a twist. Evolution has also had a huge influence. The inhabitants are not the same as the original populations as a result of genetic mutations. The time spent apart in refuge generally serves to splinter a once unified species.

Previous research into hedgehogs, polar bears and other animals suggest that, even once an Ice Age ends and the different populations start intermingling again, they never really merge back together as a single group. This process drives important evolutionary changes, which can ultimately lead to the origins of a new species.

Ultimately, this explains why Homo sapiens are still here and our archaic human cousins went extinct some 30,000 years ago: our ancestors chose the right refuge to wait out the Ice Age.

Today, Dr Stewart's work has shifted away from fossil remains to ancient DNA. Traditionally insights into the evolution of species have come from fossils, but we now know that the genetic changes that underlie a major change in body shape can be minor.

"The most exciting development in my field has been the ability to analyse ancient DNA, which has begun to allow us to see evolution happening over the last several dozen thousand years," explains Dr Stewart.

His claim that climate change caused the Neanderthals' demise is supported by work by Love Dal?n at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm, who has looked at the genes in 13 Neanderthal fossils found in southern Europe and western Asia.

All Neanderthal fossils more than 48,000 years old, and those found in Asia, had a higher level of genetic diversity than later European fossils, suggesting that the Neanderthals probably went through an evolutionary 'bottleneck' where a significant percentage of them perished.

When a bottleneck occurs, the remaining individuals are often a much less diverse group, which makes it more difficult for them to evolve and adapt to a changing environment.

Dr Stewart, who is doing DNA studies in collaboration with teams at the Natural History Museum in Stockholm and the Universities of York and Royal Holloway, is now focusing on using genetics to elucidate the evolution of a wide range of creatures.

He has conducted recent studies at the cave site of Trou Al'Wesse, a refugium once occupied by Neanderthals, in Belgium. He is studying how animal populations changed as a result of Ice Age climate change to understand the evolutionary processes that have taken place over the last 50,000 years.

But his work is not confined to the past. It informs the present too. Recently there had been a proposal to eradicate the Eagle Owl because it killed other birds, such as hen harriers, and was not thought to be a native species. But Dr Stewart's studies of fossils and more recent archaeological records revealed the bird, or something like it, has been present in Britain for up to 700,000 years. The plan to cull the birds has now been abandoned.

And his research can help us predict the future. The fear is that our ever-expanding impact on the planet will trigger ecological collapse. But the only way to know for sure is to look back into the past.

"By studying how organisms have reacted to past climate change," explains Dr Stewart, "we can learn lessons about what may take place due to human-caused global warming."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Bournemouth University, via AlphaGalileo.

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


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/top_news/top_environment/~3/jCPuJPg8uuc/130226135241.htm

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Capt. Kirk's Vulcan entry wins Pluto moons contest

This photo provided and annotated by NASA/Hubble Space Telescope shows the five moons in their orbits around Pluto. The smallest moons ? no more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) across ? were discovered in that past two years and are currently referred to as P4 and P5. Astronomers announced a contest Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 to name the two tiny moons. Twelve choices are available at the website ?plutorocks.? (AP Photo/NASA/Hubble Space Telescope)

This photo provided and annotated by NASA/Hubble Space Telescope shows the five moons in their orbits around Pluto. The smallest moons ? no more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) across ? were discovered in that past two years and are currently referred to as P4 and P5. Astronomers announced a contest Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 to name the two tiny moons. Twelve choices are available at the website ?plutorocks.? (AP Photo/NASA/Hubble Space Telescope)

FILE - This file image provided by NASA on Feb. 22, 2006 from it's Hubble Space Telescope shows Pluto and three of it's five moons. Astronomers announced a contest Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 to name the two tiny moons of Pluto discovered over the past two years. Twelve choices are available at the website ?plutorocks.? (AP Photo/NASA, File)

(AP) ? "Star Trek" fans, rejoice.

An online vote to name Pluto's two newest, itty-bitty moons is over. And No. 1 is Vulcan, a name suggested by actor William Shatner, who played Capt. Kirk in the original "Star Trek" TV series.

Vulcan snared nearly 200,000 votes among the more than 450,000 cast during the two-week contest, which ended Monday. In second place with nearly 100,000 votes was Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guarded the gates of the underworld.

Vulcan was the Roman god of lava and smoke, and the nephew of Pluto. Vulcan was also the home planet of the pointy-eared humanoids in the "Star Trek" shows. Think Mr. Spock.

"174,062 votes and Vulcan came out on top of the voting for the naming of Pluto's moons. Thank you to all who voted!" Shatner said in a tweet once the tally was complete.

Actor Leonard Nimoy, who portrayed the reason- and logic-based Spock, had this to say in an email to The Associated Press: "If my people were emotional they would say they are pleased."

Don't assume Vulcan and Cerberus are shoo-ins, though, for the two tiny moons discovered over the past two years with the Hubble Space Telescope.

The contest was conducted by SETI Institute in Mountain View, Calif., the research base for the primary moon hunter. The 10 astronomers who made the discoveries will take the voting results into account, as they come up with what they consider to be the two best names.

The International Astronomical Union has the final say, and it could be another month or two before an edict is forthcoming. Now known as P4 and P5, the moons are 15 to 20 miles across.

The leader of the teams that discovered the mini-moons, Mark Showalter said Monday he is leaning toward the popular vote.

But Showalter pointed out that asteroids thought to orbit close to the sun are called vulcanoids, and there could be some confusion if a moon of Pluto were to be named Vulcan. Vulcan, in fact, was the name given in the 19th century to a possible planet believed to orbit even closer to the sun than Mercury; no such planet ever was found.

What's more, Showalter said in a phone interview, Vulcan is associated with lava and volcanoes, while distant Pluto is anything but hot.

As for Cerberus, an asteroid already bears that name, so maybe the Greek version, Kerberos, would suffice, said Showalter, a senior research scientist at SETI's Carl Sagan Center.

Styx landed in No. 3 position with nearly 88,000 votes. That's the river to the underworld.

Pluto's three bigger moons are Charon, Nix and Hydra.

To be considered, the potential names for the two mini-moons also had to come from Greek or Roman mythology, and deal with the underworld. Twenty-one choices were available at the website http://www.plutorocks.com when voting ended Monday. Of those, nine were write-in candidates suggested by the public, including Shatner's entry for Vulcan.

Shatner's second choice for a name, Romulus, did not make the cut. That's because an asteroid already has a moon by that name ? along with a moon named Remus.

And forget the Disney connection.

"We love Mickey, Minnie and Goofy, too," Showalter informed voters a few days into the voting. "However, these are not valid names for astronomical objects. Sorry."

Altogether, 30,000 write-in candidate names poured in.

Showalter said he will keep the list handy as more moons undoubtedly pop up around Pluto once NASA's New Horizons spacecraft arrives in 2015. It will be the first robotic flyby ever of the planetoid, or dwarf planet near the outer fringes of the solar system.

"I have learned not to underestimate Pluto," Showalter wrote on the website. With so many good names available, "Pluto needs more moons!"

___

Online:

Pluto-naming contest: http://www.plutorocks.com/

Johns Hopkins University: http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/index.php

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2013-02-25-Pluto%20Contest/id-8a70e833f7b94be6adda12fba05cabfd

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Information Technology | Certification Intelligence

Details technology news and technical data pertaining to certification intelligence for exam instruction is the main goal of this article. Numerous folks do not know the distinction between computer instruction and certification exam coaching. I would like to inform everyone what the differences are. Laptop education is classroom education with scheduled courses or on the web training about the career field pertaining to info technology. Let me clarify! You may possibly want to turn out to be a Server Administrator. To start with you will need some education someplace in order to be knowledgeable about the subject and perhaps obtain a two or 4-year degree or acquire some on the internet education with a qualified instructor. You could just want to take a few courses and receive a certificate in this field. This would be regarded computer education.

Details technology certification intelligence on exam training is what you require in order to be completely ready to pass your certification exam. Following personal computer instruction you may have a degree or a certificate but you still do not have a certification that is recognized by Microsoft, CIW and CompTia or any other. If you have pc training that qualifies you to be a Server Administrator then you will want to get certified in Microsoft, CIW or CISCO. Certification exam training concentrates on preparing you to pass your certification exam. An IT Certification exam is as opposed to any other exam that you have had in college or college. There are two extremely important items to consider when preparing for a certification exam. They are the correct study method and possessing relevant material that pertains to the actual exam that is up to date with the present industry.

There are only a handful of locations on the internet that offer you Certification exam training. The purpose I wrote this article is to offer news and info about the greatest resources on certification exam instruction. There are many students of information technology that want this information due to the fact they are serious about passing their certification exam on the very very first try. This write-up is not about promoting but about assisting those who are not informed about Certification exam education.

Source: http://www.proman-help.isys-informatik.ch/index.php/Benutzer%3AKristinNimmons661

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Pirate Bay goes on the lam from Sweden, heads for safe harbor in Spain, Norway

Pirate Bay goes on the lam, heads for safe harbor in Spain, Norway

Despite a recent effort to move its servers to the cloud, Pirate Bay will be moving its base out of Sweden thanks to recent legal pressure. The Swedish Pirate Party that hosted the torrent site has been feeling heat from the film and music industry-backed Swedish Rights Alliance, which gave it until today to cut ties in order to avoid a lawsuit. As a result, the site has moved its operations to servers in Spain and Norway hosted by Pirate Parties there, saying it's had a contingency plan in place for awhile to do so. Anway, if the embattled site has to keep criss-crossing the seas while fighting legal battles to stay afloat, it might make for another good documentary.

Filed under:

Comments

Via: The Verge

Source: TorrentFreak

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/26/pirate-bay-leaves-sweden-for-spain-norway/

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LG brings together entire four-tier smartphone lineup at MWC

LG at MWC

Android Central at Mobile World Congress

LG is taking some time at MWC 2013 to lay out its entire portfolio of phones for 2013, which it calls its "four-tier strategy". LG is hoping to cover an entire range of specs, sizes and price points with four lines -- Optimus G Series, Vu: Series, F Series and LII (L2) Series. We've already seen what LG has in store for the G Series, which is the highest end specs possible -- think Optimus G, Optimus G Pro. The Optimus Vu hasn't exactly been the hit LG was hoping for, but they're sticking with it going forward, focusing on pen input and multi-window apps as part of its QSlide software.

The newest additions to the lineup are the F Series and LII Series, filling out the middle and low-end, respectively. We received some details on the first F Series devices -- the F5 and F7 -- which have solid specs and are meant to expand LG's LTE offerings. The LII Series is focused on design rather than raw specs, with 3G-only devices that seem to be a playground for LG to try out new design elements in the low end.

LG is clearly trying to focus its design and product portfolio around the Optimus name in new ways for 2013, falling in line with the likes of Samsung and HTC that are focusing on a single flagship brand name. We'll see if this can help LG push its portfolio ahead in the coming year.

read more



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/lW-C7Rhh768/story01.htm

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Photographs: Off duty rebels in Syria

Playing off his?pre-Oscars prediction?that everyone would hate him at the Oscars, Seth MacFarlane spent the first 19 minutes of the Academy Awards on Sunday making sure everyone would, in fact, hate him.?After some real stinkers, the main conceit was William Shatner descending on a screen as Captain Kirk, from the future, to tell MacFarlane to do a better job of hosting, in a kind of alternate-reality bit that turned pretty sordid?and pretty fast. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/off-duty-rebels-in-syria-slideshow/

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Create Your Own Bleach Gel Pen For Easy Cleaning Around The House

Create Your Own Bleach Gel Pen For Easy Cleaning Around The House

Bleach gel pens are great for erasing stains on white shirts or cleaning grout around your bathroom, but they're pretty pricey. Luckily, you can make your own with just three simple ingredients.

One Good Thing by Jillee has the unbelievably simple recipe. All you'll need is a little bleach, a few Tablespoons of cornstarch, and water. The resulting gel is just like what you'd get from the store, but for a tiny fraction of the price. Once you're done creating the gel, you can store it in a squeeze bottle for easy and precise application on your clothes or around the house.

How To Make Your Own Bleach Gel Pen | One Good Thing by Jillee

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Analytical trick accelerates protein studies

Feb. 24, 2013 ? Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found a new way to accelerate a workhorse instrument that identifies proteins. The high-speed technique could help diagnose cancer sooner and point to new drugs for treating a wide range of conditions.

Proteins are essential building blocks of biology, used in muscle, brain, blood and hormones. If the genes are the blueprints, the proteins patterned on them are the hammers and tongs of life.

Proteins are not only numerous -- humans have more than a 100,000 varieties -- but each one has a complex structure that determines its exact function in the biological realm. Just as tissue from cats and kangaroos can be distinguished by studying the individual "letters" of their genetic codes, protein A can be distinguished from protein B by looking at the amino-acid subunits that compose all proteins.

The fastest way to count and identify proteins is to use a mass spectrometer, a precise instrument that measures chemical compounds by mass. "Mass spec is an essential part of modern biology, and most people use it to look at variations in proteins," says Joshua Coon, a professor of chemistry and biomolecular chemistry.

Because mass spectrometers are expensive, and proteins are both numerous and ubiquitous, chemists have recently learned to double up their samples so they can, for example, compare normal tissue to diseased tissue in a single run.

Knowing how the proteins change when good tissue goes bad suggests what has gone wrong.

Now, Coon has doubled-down on the doubling-up process with a technique that has the potential to run as many as 20 samples at once. The new process, described in the journal Nature Methods, has already gone to work, says Alexander Hebert, a graduate student who was first author on the new publication.

"Working with John Denu at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, we are looking at mice that lived with or without caloric restriction," says Hebert. Caloric restriction is known to increase lifespan in many animals, and scientists are eager to unravel the biochemical pathways that explain this life extension. "Some of these mice have lost a certain gene related to metabolism, so we are comparing four types of tissue all at once. We can look at the brain, liver or heart, and ask, how does the abundance of proteins vary?"

Already, Coon and Hebert have performed six simultaneous analyses using the new technique; but it could actually do batches of 20, Coon says.

Key to the original doubling-up process was inserting a "tag" into the amino acids that gives the proteins a slightly different mass. The tags are isotopes -- chemically identical atoms that have different masses.

To prepare two samples, one would receive an amino acid containing common isotopes, and the other special, heavier isotopes. The result -- proteins that are chemically identical but have different masses -- can easily be identified in a mass spectrometer.

The new journal report by Coon and Hebert describes a way to use amino acids built from a broader range of isotopes that would be expected to have identical mass, but do not because some of their mass has been converted to energy to hold the atomic nuclei together. Without this energy, the positively charged proteins would repel each other and the atomic nucleus would be destroyed. The tiny loss of mass due to this conversion to binding energy can be detected in the new, ultra-precise mass spectrometers that are now installed in several labs on campus.

The mass difference in the new technique is more than 1,000 times below the mass differences in the existing doubled-up technique, but it is enough to count and identify proteins from six -- and, theoretically, 20 -- samples at once. The researchers applied for a patent last fall and assigned the rights to the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

The study of proteins is the forefront of biology, says Coon, and so it's easy to envision uses for a faster, cheaper analytical tool. "We could look for protein differences in cells from 100 different tumors. The proteins might reveal that you are dealing with five or 10 distinct syndromes in this seemingly-identical cancer, which could suggest treatments that are more tailored to the individual. If you compare proteins in normal versus tumor tissue, you might find a certain protein at uncommonly high concentrations, or [that] was modified in certain ways. You might identify a protein that would help diagnose this cancer sooner. Or -- and this is the real pay dirt -- you might identify a protein that is so vital to the cancer that it would make an ideal target for a new drug."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Wisconsin-Madison. The original article was written by David Tenenbaum.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Alexander S Hebert, Anna E Merrill, Derek J Bailey, Amelia J Still, Michael S Westphall, Eric R Strieter, David J Pagliarini, Joshua J Coon. Neutron-encoded mass signatures for multiplexed proteome quantification. Nature Methods, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.2378

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/JSZtkZQsKYw/130224142658.htm

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SnapChat Could Start Breaking Up Your Sexts With Ads

Stopping by CNBC earlier today, SnapChat's CEO Evan Spiegel made the vague semi-announcement that the notorious tween sexting app is currently experimenting with "this really awesome new ad format." Whatever that means. More »


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AirWatch Gets $200 Million Series A Funding

airwatch logoMobile device management startup AirWatch has raised a massive series A round of $200 million, led by Insight Venture Partners. The startup competes with others such as Good Technology and SAP?s Afaria in the mobile device management space. This rides the current ?bring your own device? (BYOD) trend, where companies are supporting employee-owned devices such as smartphones and laptops in the workplace. The entrance of new and varied devices into the enterprise can be a mess to manage for companies in terms of plugging the security holes created by the devices accessing the company network. Mobile device management companies come in to help that process, and many also promise to harmonize the implementation of internal software on employee devices across the various platforms they run on. The investment in AirWatch is the biggest in an enterprise company so far this year, according to Business Insider. So far, AirWatch has been bootstrapped by founders John Marshall and Alan Dabbiere since its launch in 2003. It has about 6,000 customers, and said it adds about 500 new ones each month. These include Lowe?s, Toyota, and United and Delta Airlines.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Ay4epH00S3Q/

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The Importance Of Having Auto Insurance ? Bearcats Baja

The Importance Of Having Auto Insurance

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Many people feel that they can get by without having insurance for their car. They see it as just another monthly expense that isn?t helping them in anyway. They may even justify that they are safe drivers so will never have the need to use their insurance. Having San Antonio auto insurance, however, is very important. Here are a few reasons why you should always have insurance.

It?s the Law

Having auto insurance isn?t just a luxury. It is a necessity. It is something that is required by law in almost every state in America. Before you are able to register your car, you need to show proof of insurance. If you are pulled over by a police officer, they often ask to see proof of insurance. If you are found to be driving a car without insurance, you will likely get a ticket, pay a fine, and may even get your license taken away until you get insurance.

In Case of Accident

Even if you are the safest driver on the road, you can?t always say the same for the drivers around you. People get into accidents every day that aren?t their fault. You never know what the circumstances will be and if you don?t have insurance, you may have to pay a lot of money out of pocket. Insurance also often covers not only damage to your car, but other cars in the accident as well as bodily injury. You may think that going without car insurance is saving you money, but in the long run, it is going to cost you a lot more money than monthly insurance if you have to pay out of pocket.

Comprehensive Coverage

When it comes to San Antonio auto insurance, it isn?t only important for when you get into a car accident. There are other things that your insurance will cover if you have comprehensive coverage. If you receive losses to your car because of theft, fire, a hailstorm, hitting an animal with your car, or other things out of your control, your insurance will cover that as well. Many insurance companies also cover getting rock chips repaired in your windshield. So regardless of how safe a driver you are, you don?t want to risk going without insurance. Not only is it the law, but you will be able to have peace of mind knowing that if something happens to your car, you aren?t on your own.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

This is the Modem World: Bring It On, Sony. Please.

Each week Joshua Fruhlinger contributes This is the Modem World, a column dedicated to exploring the culture of consumer technology.

This is the Modem World Bring It On, Sony Please

The Wii U launch sort of came and went, didn't it? I mean, it's a nice console, but it certainly didn't cause any major waves. In fact, Nintendo only sold 57,000 units in January. For those who don't track game console sales numbers -- and why would you -- that's bad. Very bad.

The Wii U, at least so far, has underwhelmed consumers. There isn't a killer application just yet, and despite some interesting innovation with the touchscreen controller, no one is sitting in his living room, staring at an empty space in his entertainment rack, thinking, "You know what I need? A Wii U."

And now we're all waiting so see what Sony does with the PlayStation 4. Rumors are that they'll do what Sony always does: Pack a ton of technology into a package that will be expensive -- but cost less than it should -- in order to get early adopters on board. It's actually possible that by the time this column is posted, Sony will have already released details about its upcoming hardware and you're too busy oohing and ahhing about frame rates and visual controllers.

I hope so. It's clear that we need new hardware. We're desperate for something amazing. We need a new hardware war, something to get us fanboys off our heels. Faint rumors about Microsoft's next console, images of possible new PS4 controllers and buzz about anti-DRM features have me interested, but I'm not getting the sense that people are bouncing around message boards, gritting their teeth and hungry to get their hands on a new console this year.

Perhaps it's because the last generation of hardware is still quite serviceable. I still use my PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on a regular basis. The PS3 is my go-to Blu-ray player and I've been grinding my way through Ni no Kuni. The Xbox 360 does my Netflix and media playback duties and is also my choice when it comes to playing shooters given Live's solid performance despite throngs of screaming fools.

At this point in the previous hardware generation, I was more than ready for new hardware. Shadow of the Colossus was dragging the PS2 to its limits. I wished at the time that I was playing it on more powerful hardware. Meanwhile, the giant Xbox was clearly ready for better networking features in order to do all Microsoft wanted to do with Live, and who didn't want a prettier Halo? Meanwhile, the GameCube desperately needed to be replaced by something more innovative and competitive.

All three companies delivered. The powerful PS3 is still the best Blu-ray player on the market, Xbox Live is the best gaming network outside of Steam and the Wii remains an excellent party device.

I'm worried, though, that this next generation will just be more of the same. The PS4 certainly sounds powerful, but what can it possibly do that will blow our socks off? There isn't a new optical format to get excited about. The new Xbox will most likely also be a powerhouse, but instead we're hearing more about how Microsoft could be appeasing publishers with some strict anti-DRM measures. We all saw what Nintendo did: Innovate a little, but keep the Wii brand name and deliver a better -- but similar -- experience.

In short, these are probably going to be the most conservative game console updates we've seen yet. We'll hear a lot about applications, digital downloads and better performance. We'll have a hard time telling the difference between a game console and a set-top box. But what we'll be left with might be underwhelming, and that's going to be disappointing. Let me be clear: I hope I am wrong.

Maybe it'll all be in the apps and the way they change the way we consume games and media. Maybe the new devices from Sony and Microsoft will allow us all to finally say goodbye to cable companies. Maybe we'll never have to rent a Blu-ray disc from Redbox again.

Or maybe it'll just be more of the same. Here's hoping it won't be. C'mon, Sony. C'mon, Microsoft. Get crazy.



Joshua Fruhlinger is the former Editorial Director for Engadget and current contributor to both Engadget and the Wall Street Journal. You can find him on Twitter at @fruhlinger.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/20/bring-it-on-sony/

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Do You Want Real-Life News Injected Into Your Computer Games?

Seen it in the news? Now play it: a mobile-game programming system allows 3D depictions of news events to be introduced into the action. It's been developed by MultiPlay.io, a British start-up that says the technology could make gameplay more current and provide new ways for designers and coders to make cash - perhaps selling "news injection" rights to news agencies, TV stations or newspapers. More »


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Video: Justices to hear appeal of campaign donation limits

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Resistance builds against red-light traffic cameras

Charlie Neibergall / AP file

Traffic passes a red light camera at an intersection in Clive, Iowa.

By Lisa Riordan Seville and Hannah RappleyeNBC News

Drivers dread it -- that flash as they try to speed through a yellow traffic light. It?s a red light camera, and a signal that a ticket is on the way.

A rarity 15 years ago, red light cameras have become ubiquitous in many U.S. cities. Communities in 24 states and Washington, D.C., now use the cameras to try to decrease illegal -- and sometimes deadly -- traffic violations. Supporters say it?s worked.

"In the last five years we went from 54 traffic fatalities to 19,? said Cathy Lanier, police chief in Washington, D.C., which began using the cameras in 1999. ?I mean, that's dramatic!?

Red light cameras are one piece of a growing network of automated traffic enforcement. Cameras now monitor speed, bus and high-occupancy-vehicle lanes and intersections with stop signs. Proponents like Lanier say they help to deter accidents, nab violators and allow states and municipalities to keep an eye on the roads for less.


But critics of red light programs worry about the Big Brother aspect of using cameras instead of cops. Many also say cameras, which are generally run by private companies, have spread not because they make streets safer, but because they mean profit for cities and companies.

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?What the issue really comes down to is these companies are ripping people off by hundreds of millions of dollars, in the name of caring about our safety and our health and our kids,? said New Jersey Assemblyman Declan O?Scanlon, who has introduced anti-red light camera legislation to the state Legislature.

Recent news stories have fueled opposition. In Chicago, an alleged pay-to-play scandal led the mayor to ban one company from bidding for future contracts. Millions were spent on pro-camera lobbying in Florida and other states. In Iowa, doubts about the constitutionality of using cameras as traffic enforcers led a state senator to introduce a bill to ban red-light cameras ? a move already taken by at least nine other states.

What does science say?
Red light violations were associated with some 700 deaths and nearly 90,000 injuries in 2009, according to a study based on data reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Fatalities and injuries have decreased in recent years, the study shows.

Researchers, however, are divided on how much red light cameras increase safety.

In 2011, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit research group funded by the insurance industry, released a study that found red light cameras decreased fatal accidents by an estimated 24 percent in large cities that use them.

But a 2005 Federal Highway Administration study painted a more nuanced picture. Data from seven jurisdictions showed a decrease in front-into-side crashes at intersections with cameras. But it also showed an increase in rear-end crashes. The researchers said that apparently was the result of drivers hitting the brakes to avoid a ticket. Overall, however, the research showed the cameras saved money by both decreasing the most serious accidents, and generating revenue.

However, the FHA says that red light cameras shouldn?t be a knee-jerk traffic enforcement option. The agency issued a number of recommendations regarding the implementation of red light cameras, saying cameras should be considered only after engineering solutions have failed in problem intersections. Among the possible solutions, it says: Give drivers more cushion. Increasing yellow time by one second, it found, can result in a 40 percent decrease in crashes in stoplight-controlled intersections.

?It all hinges on proper yellow light time,? said John Bowman, communications director of the National Motorists Association, a drivers advocacy group. ?If yellow lights are set properly, based on established traffic engineering, red light cameras are unnecessary because you almost automatically have low numbers of violations and low numbers of accidents. If you shorten those yellow light times beyond bare minimums, that?s when you start to generate more accidents and more violations.?

Problematic cameras
A yellow light in Cary, N.C., had Howard Bond seeing red.

Last year Bond?s son was issued two different tickets for turning left on a red light at an intersection. But when Bond watched videotape of the alleged traffic offenses, he saw that in both instances his son had legally turned left on a flashing yellow light. The town had recently switched to a flashing yellow at the intersection, but Redflex, the private company running the cameras, kept treating it as a red, Bond said.

Each time, Bond, who lives in nearby Chatham County, went to the office that issued the tickets to complain. Each time, he said, his tickets were dismissed but the larger issue was ignored.

"I just basically stood there and said, ?No sir, you?re going to look at the video,?? Bond told NBC News. But law enforcement officials told him he would have to attend a hearing to contest it.

"I said 'We?re not going through all that,'? Bond said. ?He started hee-hawing around. Then he looked at the video and said, ?This is wrong.?"

After a local television news station approached town officials with Bond?s tickets, details emerged about tens of other tickets wrongfully issued in Cary by faulty red light cameras last year. A review of its red light cameras found that cameras in one intersection had generated at least 31 false violations, many of which led to $50 tickets.

Town officials told the Raleigh News and Observer that Redflex had failed to report the error to the town.?

But Jody Ryan, spokesperson for Redflex, said the company took action as soon as it discovered the wrongful tickets.

?In this situation, changes were made by the Town of Cary to the traffic light phases without Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc. knowledge,? Ryan said. ?Because we were unaware of these changes, our systems triggered a set of false positives. ?Once we were notified of the issue Redflex either dismissed or refunded all the affected citations on behalf of the Town of Cary.?

While major cities can make millions off red light cameras, in some contracts red light camera companies keep the majority of funds paid by violators. Redflex?s contract with Cary, for instance, allowed the company to keep 88 percent of the money generated by red-light camera tickets in Cary. Between April 2004 and July 2012, ticketed drivers paid $5.7 million to the company, and $646,000 to the Wake County Public School System, which received the city?s proceeds.

The controversy led town officials to abandon its red-light camera program altogether.

Cary is one of a number of communities, including large cities such as Houston, that have recently abandoned their camera programs amid opposition from residents.

Dollars and cents
About 700 municipalities in the country have cameras. One of the most prominent companies, Redflex, had about 2,000 cameras in operation around the nation in 2011, bringing in over $92 million in revenue, according to its annual report. American Traffic Solutions, another big player in the industry, reports more than 3,000 road safety systems installed in the U.S. and Canada, which include red light cameras.

Red light cameras can also pull in big revenues for cities. An investigation by NBC 4 in Washington, D.C., found the Capitol region drivers received tickets with at least $18 million dollars in fines in one year attributable to the cameras. NBC 5 in Dallas found a single camera in Arlington, Texas, generated $2.5 million over four years.

Communities continue to adopt the technology. In 2011, East Cleveland residents voted to keep red light cameras. Last year, New Jersey?s Pohatcong Township voted to extend its contract with Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions.

?The bottom line is that those who oppose cameras are the minority,? said Charles Territo, spokesperson for American Traffic Solutions. He added that American Traffic Solutions doesn?t issue tickets: a police officer reviews each image before issuing a violation. According to ATS, about 50 percent of traffic ?events? each year are rejected before a violation is issued.

?The majority of voters around the country know the dangers of red light running,? Territo said. ?Nobody likes to get a ticket, but cameras are used in a number of places around the country and the world. They?re used to help police officers do their job.?

But cameras have faced increasing opposition from drivers who object to the automated systems for many reasons, including the inability to confront their accuser in court. Facing pressure from constituents, local and state politicians in Iowa, Florida, New Jersey and other states have recently introduced measures to change or end the camera programs.

Other controversies have raised questions about red light?cameras. Problems with short yellow lights, which may increase the number of tickets issued, have surfaced in cities from California to Tennessee. Judges in Baltimore have castigated the city and thrown out tickets after finding the city had shortened yellow lights below recommended limits. Last summer, the New Jersey?Transportation?Department ordered 21 red light programs suspended after finding yellow-light timing issues. Meanwhile, camera companies have sued, or threatened to sue, cities who back out of contracts. And they?ve been?investigated for possible?pay-to-play schemes with local governments.?

?They?re very aggressive in terms of lobbying for favorable legislation or favorable court cases,? said Bowman of the National Motorists Association. ?It?s big business, and there?s a lot of money at stake.?

Last October, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel barred Redflex from re-bidding on the city?s red-light camera contract after a Chicago Tribune investigation found that Redflex company executives and lobbyists had paid for hotel rooms and spent thousands on entertainment for the city official overseeing the red light program.

Chicago?s red light cameras raised big revenues for the city. Redflex has operated a red-light program in the city since 2003, generating about $300 million in fines for the city and $97 million in revenue for itself. Redflex. Residents in the city have long complained about discrepancies between yellow light times in the city and its suburbs.

?We authorized an internal investigation and, though the inquiry is not complete, have learned that some Redflex employees did not meet our own code of conduct and the standards that the people of the City of Chicago deserve,? said Ryan, Redflex spokesperson, of the Chicago case. ?We will take corrective action and make additional information public.?

Automated traffic enforcement companies spend millions persuading local and state lawmakers to expand programs, using lobbyists, municipal partners and nonprofits to advance the cause. After spending $1.5 million lobbying Florida lawmakers over four years, American Traffic Solutions became the main-red light camera supplier in the state, winning contracts in more than 65 cities.

Territo, the spokesperson for American Traffic Solutions, defended efforts to expand red light camera programs, which he emphasized are above all about safety. ?Just as opponents of red-light safety cameras fund efforts to remove cameras, we expend resources on efforts to defend them,? he said.

Recognizing growing opposition to red light enforcement technologies, companies are looking to new markets. Both Redflex and American Traffic Solutions have active speed cameras in various markets, though 12 states have banned the technology. Both companies have also started programs to enforce rules prohibiting drivers from going around stopped school buses.

Redflex recently became the nation?s largest provider of school bus arm cameras, which catch drivers who speed past the stop signs that swing out from the side of school buses. The company has launched 10 pilot programs in six states.?

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Younger vets still struggle as jobs scene improves

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Two months after completing his five-plus years as an Army medic, Dan Huber is still looking for a job. And while he's had some promising interviews, he has no assurances the search will end soon.

That's given him some insight that he shares with some of his buddies back at Fort Polk in Louisiana: Don't wait until you've left the military to determine how you'll make ends meet as a civilian.

"I've told them: 'Hey, man, you guys have really got to start planning months and months in advance. It's not just planning for interviews. It's planning to make sure you'll be afloat in this time period, which you don't know how long will take,'" said Huber, 26, of Waukesha, Wis.

Although veterans as a whole have a lower unemployment rate than the nation at large, younger veterans who served in the years following the Sept. 11 attacks are having a much harder time finding work.

The unemployment rate for veterans between 18 and 24 exceeded 20 percent last year. It was also in double digits for those 25-34. The unemployment rate for both age groups was higher than for their nonveteran peers and much higher than the national average.

The job problems for younger vets have continued despite a wide range of private and public efforts. Congress approved tax credits for companies that hire veterans. Federal agencies stepped up their preferential hiring of vets. Many thousands are taking advantage of a generous package of educational benefits instead of entering the job market. Companies such as Wal-Mart, General Electric and many others announced programs designed to hire more veterans. And organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have helped put on hundreds of job fairs around the company.

Kevin Schmiegel, a retired lieutenant colonel who spent years trying to get young Marines to re-enlist, says the youngest vets are making a couple of critical mistakes when it comes to searching for a job.

With little job experience outside the military, many can't explain how the skills they learned in the military translate to the private sector, said Schmiegel, now executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes program. The program has helped more than 14,000 veterans land jobs and will be fine-tuning its focus over the coming to year to help younger vets, as well as military spouses.

Trooper Deon Cockrell, military liaison for the Texas Department of Public Safety, had a similar take at a recent job fair in Oklahoma City. He said the discipline and skills acquired during military service translate well to a career in law enforcement.

"A lot of them don't know that they're eligible," Cockrell said. "They can walk from uniform to uniform."

Congress tried to help with the transition to civilian life. Since November 2011, departing service members are required to attend various workshops designed to help them with such things as how to write effective resumes and cover letters and improve their interview skills. Previously, the training was voluntary, which greatly lessened participation rates.

Huber said he got help when he left Fort Polk, but he admits to waiting too long to seek it and says he was too busy on many days to worry about following through on the advice.

"I definitely wasn't focused on it, and I wasn't prepared for such a lengthy ordeal that is applying for a real, sustainable job," said Huber, who served in Baghdad in 2008.

At the Oklahoma City job fair, Jacob Clark, 25, had strong praise for the job counseling he got when he ended his Air Force career six months ago. He now works as a forklift operator and hopes to land a job maintaining airplanes. "I'm used to working with my hands," Clark said. "Planes are everywhere. They all need avionics maintenance." But he said civilian employers require a different kind of license that is difficult and time-consuming to get.

Michael Jackson, 27, of Oklahoma City and a former corporal in the Marine Corps, said the transitioning classes helped a little bit, but he's still without a job.

"It's been pretty tough," Jackson said. "I've had a lot of no responses."

He sounded encouraged though by the recent announcement from Wal-Mart that it planned to hire 100,000 people in the next five years. Jackson may not exactly fit the company's hiring criteria because he left the military more than a year ago.

"Wal-Mart would be the career I would be looking for," he said.

Schmiegel said the second problem he sees most frequently among young veterans is the desire to go home regardless of job prospects.

"They are making a decision of the heart. They are not going to where the jobs are. They are not going to the industries that are hiring," Schmiegel said.

His organization has developed a computer website with Google and various federal agencies designed to point veterans to the 100 fastest-growing cities and the five or six industries within those communities that are doing the most hiring. The aim is to push veterans to use their educational benefits to get training in a high-demand field and then relocate.

Curtis Coy, an undersecretary at the Veterans Affairs Department, said expanded educational benefits are playing an important role in lowering the unemployment rate as hundreds of thousands of veterans attend college through a program that covers tuition and fees, housing, books and relocation expenses. Participation in the Post 9/11 GI Bill program has jumped from about 366,000 in 2010 to 646,000 in the latest year. Some of those enrolled are spouses or children of a veteran. The program allows veterans to transfer their benefits to immediate family members if they have six years of service and commit to another four.

Coy said he's confident the employment trend is moving in the right direction. He says younger veterans often need a little time to figure out what they're going to do when they get out of the service. "I'm a 24-year veteran so I'm acutely aware of standing there at the steps going, 'So what do I do now?'"

Sgt. Jesus Sanchez, 33, who will be leaving the Army National Guard this year after 10 years of service, attended the Oklahoma City job fair to get a head start in his job hunt. He specializes in managing the flow of medical supplies and is looking to do the same in the civilian world, but said he found many jobs appealing, including working at Wal-Mart.

"A job's a job," he said.

___

Talley reported from Oklahoma City.

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Online:

Hiring Our Heroes program: http://www.hiringourheroes.org

VetJobs board: http://www.vetjobs.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/younger-vets-still-struggle-jobs-scene-improves-081653619.html

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