Thursday, January 31, 2013

Google Adds New Notification Center To Chrome Code, Could Grow Into Full Google Now Desktop Support

richNotificationGoogle Now is probably one of my favorite things about Android, which is why it's great news that a new Chromium build includes a notification center, which, combined with a code change last month that indicated Google Now cards were on their way to Chrome, too, suggests the feature will make the leap from mobile soon.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Itj_2gz53YY/

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Interactive: Mapping High School Graduation, Dropout Rates Across the U.S

The National Center for Education Statistics released this week a report on public-school graduation and dropout rates, and the news overall isn?t bad. About 78 percent of high school students have graduated within four years, the highest average since 1974.

(RELATED: Recession Pushes States to Make Deep Cuts to Higher-Ed Budgets)

Graduation rates by race and ethnicity are up across the board, with Hispanic students seeing a 10-point increase over five years to 71.4 percent, and black students showing a 7-point increase to 66.1 percent.

But it?s hard to ignore comparative gaps. Asian-American students graduate at a rate of 93 percent--nearly 27 points higher than black students--while white students are at 83 percent.

Also, students of color drop out at a higher rate. While the national average stands at 3.4 percent, the rate for Hispanics is 5.5 percent, and that for black students is 5 percent. In comparison, just 1.9 percent of Asian and Pacific Islanders and 2.3 percent of white students are not finishing high school.

The maps below show graduation and dropout rates.?The darker areas represent higher percentages of students either graduating within four years or dropping out of school.

On average, students on the East and West coasts complete school at rates better than students in parts of the South. Dropout rates appear to almost mirror that effect: More students drop out in the South than anywhere else.

Try switching back and forth between students by race and ethnicity.?

?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/interactive-mapping-high-school-graduation-dropout-rates-across-123659929--politics.html

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Bradley Cooper: Playing Lance would be 'nuts'

By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, NBC News

First, Bradley Cooper told the BBC that he'd be "interested" in playing disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, but now he says that's "nuts." Cooper told the L.A. Times this week that he didn't really grasp what the BBC was asking him.

Getty Images file

Bradley Cooper, right, says he won't play Lance Armstrong, left, in an upcoming movie.

"Oh my God, that's so nuts!" he said. "I had no idea what (the interviewer) was talking about. I didn't even know that J.J. (Abrams) has the rights, I had no idea. I don't know anything about it."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Lost" producer Abrams and Paramount Pictures have the movie rights to an upcoming book, "Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong."

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Source: http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/29/16754773-bradley-cooper-playing-lance-armstrong-would-be-nuts?lite

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Five open alternatives to Microsoft Office 2013

Between Microsoft's October launch of Windows 8 and yesterday's rollout of Microsoft Office 2013 and Office 365, there's no denying that it's been a decision-filled few months for PC users.

It seems safe to say that Windows 8 has not been received as enthusiastically as Microsoft might have liked, but Office is of course a whole different ballgame, as they say.

With numerous components and pricing plans, this cross-platform entry is surely Redmond's broadest-reaching office product to date.

Time will tell how well it does, but meanwhile there are plenty of alternatives for those who remain unconvinced. Here's a small sampling of what's available from the world of free and open source software.

1. LibreOffice

Certainly the leading office productivity suite on the open source side is LibreOffice. In the two or so years since it was forked from OpenOffice, it's become the suite most commonly included by the top Linux distributions. With six feature-rich applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and more, the software had already been downloaded some 20 million times by last fall. It's available as a free download for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

2. Apache OpenOffice

Then, too, there's Apache OpenOffice, now under the purview of the Apache Software Foundation. OpenOffice is what LibreOffice is based on, so the two share many similarities; development work seems to be progressing more quickly on the latter, however. Not to be confused with the German variation now known as White Label Office, this suite is available as a free download at the project site.

3. Calligra Suite

Stepping a bit closer to Microsoft's new suite in terms of cross-platform compatibility is Calligra Suite, a graphics and office suite created by the KDE project from KOffice in 2010. With versions for desktop PCs, tablets, and smartphones, this package includes eight components spanning word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, vector graphics, and more. It can be downloaded?for free for Linux, FreeBSD, OS X, and Windows.

4. OxygenOffice Professional

OxygenOffice Professional, meanwhile, is an enhanced version of OpenOffice that comes with extra goodies including templates, clip art, samples, fonts, and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) support. Now in version 3.2.1, this free software can be downloaded for 32-bit Windows as well as 32- and 64-bit Linux.

5. Feng Office Community Edition

Finally, there's Feng Office Community Edition, a free and open source online project management and collaboration tool formerly known as OpenGoo that offers task management, document management, project management, time tracking, knowledge management, and more. Users of the software can create and edit text documents and presentations online; they can also upload, organise, and share files. The free software can be downloaded online; paid professional versions are also available starting at $59 per month.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/432/f/530794/s/280eece8/l/0L0Scomputerworlduk0N0Cin0Edepth0Capplications0C34234460Cfive0Eopen0Ealternatives0Eoffice0E20A130C0Dolo0Frss/story01.htm

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Inventories, trade seen hobbling fourth-quarter GDP

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Less restocking by businesses and weaker global demand likely held back economic growth in the fourth quarter but consumer spending probably picked up to help keep the recovery intact.

Gross domestic product probably grew at a 1.1 percent annual rate, a step down from the third quarter's brisk 3.1 percent pace, according to a Reuters poll of economists. That would be the slowest growth rate in nearly two years.

"The recovery is expected to have ground to a near halt in the fourth quarter mostly due to the unfavorable global environment and a slowdown in inventory accumulation," said Millan Mulraine, a senior economist at TD Securities in New York.

The Commerce Department will release the fourth-quarter GDP report on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m (1330 GMT).

Despite the anticipated overall weak GDP figure, consumer and business spending are expected to show surprising resilience, given that the economy was on the brink of a so-called fiscal cliff, underscoring some fundamental strength in the economy.

The government lessened the blow the recovery would have taken from the $600 billion "cliff" of scheduled government spending cuts and tax hikes, but taxes still went up for many Americans and the spending cuts were only deferred.

Peter D'Antonio, an economist at Citigroup in New York, said signs domestic demand was well maintained "implies the economy will be able to withstand the hit from a new fiscal drag."

Tepid demand in the third quarter left businesses with unwanted stock in their warehouses and little incentive to accumulate more inventory in the final three months of the year.

Economists estimate that a slowdown in inventory accumulation could slash as much as a full percentage point from fourth-quarter GDP growth. Inventories added almost three-quarters of a percentage point in the July-September period.

With data available so far showing a decline in exports in the fourth quarter, trade will weigh on growth. Export growth has been hampered by a recession in much of debt-stricken Europe and a cooling Chinese economy.

Economists expect trade will subtract at least 0.3 percentage point from fourth-quarter GDP growth.

DEFENSE TO WEIGH ON GROWTH

Another drag to growth is expected to come from government spending, where defense outlays are seen reversing the prior quarter's robust growth. Government spending is seen contracting at a pace of at least 3 percent after expanding 3.9 percent.

A huge storm that struck the East Coast in late October is expected to have proved a further weight on output.

Elsewhere, details of the report should be fairly encouraging. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, is expected to have accelerated from the prior quarter's 1.6 percent growth pace.

A rebound in business investment is expected after outlays fell in the third quarter for the first time in 1-1/2 years.

"None of these developments suggest a worrisome weakening in U.S. fundamentals," said Omair Sharif, an economist at RBS in Stamford, Connecticut.

A measure of underlying domestic demand, which excludes inventories and trade, is expected to have quickened a bit from the third quarter's 1.9 percent rate.

But consumer spending could come under pressure in the first half of this year given that Congress let a temporary payroll tax cut expire at the end of 2012.

Businesses could also pull back given uncertainty over how deeply Washington may cut spending and the likelihood of a protracted fight over raising the nation's debt ceiling.

"Assuming Washington does not derail the economy, we do see a pick-up in the pace of growth in the second half of the year led by the private sector on strengthening consumption, housing and released pent-up demand of capital expenditures," said Sam Bullard, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The housing market was another bright spot during the fourth quarter. Investment in residential construction is expected to have gained momentum after notching a 13.5 percent pace in the third quarter.

Homebuilding is expected to have added to growth last year for the first time since 2005 and its continued recovery should help ensure the economy remains on a modest growth path despite headwinds.

(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by James Dalgleish)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/inventories-trade-seen-hobbling-fourth-quarter-gdp-213513072--business.html

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Monday, January 28, 2013

Backlink Ideas For Small Business Websites | Kuwasha.org Buying ...

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Now how does a small company flourish in trading? A person adjust to the actual altering pattern otherwise you battle to endure. Folks produced the realignment can?t feel the newest enterprise they are also getting. Profitable small enterprises market on a website, the demode fat yellowish guide is currently online. They understand that their customer?s hands nevertheless do the particular strolling, but you are inputting and talking communications to their smartphone.

The quickest method of getting on the web is to rapidly obtain a simple one website web site inside your neighborhood marketplace. Bring in help to achieve this for you personally or even consider this kind of task on yourself. One web site internet sites aren?t difficult to build, however the expertise is operational. It might be faster and much more cost-efficient to rent anyone to construct a basic one page internet site.

Source: http://www.kuwasha.org/2013/01/27/backlink-ideas-for-small-business-websites/

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Sunday, January 27, 2013

Pruett ties Haywood's record as Ganassi wins Rolex

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) ? Humbled a year ago when both its cars failed to make the podium, Chip Ganassi Racing returned to the Rolex 24 at Daytona determined to pick up another victory watch.

An eyebrow-raising lineup change that involved Juan Pablo Montoya showed just how serious the team was about winning, and it delivered Sunday with its fifth win in 10 appearances in the prestigious sports car race. The victory was the fifth for lead driver Scott Pruett, tying Hurley Haywood's record for wins in the twice-around-the-clock race at Daytona International Speedway.

"Having gotten to know Hurley real well over the years by racing with him and just as a friend, and to have him there at the end was pretty special," Pruett said.

The winning team of three-time defending Grand-Am drivers Pruett and Memo Rojas, along with Montoya and IndyCar driver Charlie Kimball, making his Rolex debut, beat the Max Angelelli-led VelocityWW team by almost 22 seconds.

It was Montoya who closed out the win, driving the final stint and waging a strong battle in the final hour with defending champion AJ Allmendinger. Ganassi's No. 01 BMW Riley had a clear horsepower advantage, and once Montoya got past Allmendinger, the win was his for the taking.

But the Ganassi team figured it was four laps short on fuel, and Montoya needed to build a lead of at least 40 seconds to hold off Angelelli and Allmendinger when he was forced to stop for gas. The Colombian did it by turning laps close to qualifying pace, and breezed to his third Rolex victory.

"It was a lot of pressure; I thought we have a decent lead, we're just going to go out there and ride for two and a half hours," Montoya said. "And then you realize there's a caution and another caution and another caution, and with the way the rules are and the speed the car had, it's like you didn't want to get into a ... contest with anybody. You had to be smart about when you passed them.

"We were kind of concerned about the (Shank) car, what they were going to do with fuel because they told me they could make it until the end and that we were going to have to push, and we pushed like crazy and opened up a hell of a gap. It was fun."

Montoya's other two wins were with Pruett on the No. 01 car in 2007 and 2008, but he spent the last three years driving for the No. 02 Ganassi "star car" and came away empty-handed each time. When the Ganassi cars were left off the Rolex podium last season for the first time since 2005, team management went to work on the cars and setting up a lineup that gave them two chances to win.

Montoya admitted he thought the switch was "a weird move," but owner Chip Ganassi and team manager Mike Hull insisted it wasn't a demotion for the driver who has been stuck in a lengthy slump in his full-time NASCAR job.

Ganassi said the Montoya move was Hull's call, but he also questioned it when the decision was made.

"I read that as you did, and I asked him about it, and he said it was to balance the thing out," Ganassi said. "We needed to balance it out. We also had Charlie Kimball in that car, and we wanted to give those guys every opportunity to win, as well, and we thought the 02 car was obviously very strong, and so we thought we had two good shots at it here."

The No. 02 car, driven by Indy 500 winners Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray and sports car ace Joey Hand, was strong until McMurray hit the wall exiting pit road following an early morning driver change. The damage to the steering may have contributed to the mechanical failure that knocked the car out of the race with four hours remaining.

"It's hard. This is different than crashing in a regular event," McMurray said. "When it's just you, it's not the same as having three other teammates and the amount of people we've had down here for testing. It is very embarrassing, very humbling, very heartbreaking to be the guy that does that. You don't want to be that guy."

In all, Ganassi's two cars combined to lead an overwhelming majority of the 709 laps in a race that had a record 74 lead changes.

But the attention was on Montoya, who is clearly under pressure to perform this year, the final year of his contract with Ganassi.

"I think you always race for your job. It's normal," Montoya shrugged.

He stepped up Saturday and Sunday as the No. 01 team had to balance out Kimball's inexperience. It was the first time racing in a car with a roof on it for Kimball, who has diabetes and uses his fight with the disease as his platform.

"Having these guys as teammates takes a heck of a lot off my shoulders because I knew that I could settle in, and as long as I was smart and didn't make too many big mistakes and kept us in the race, they'd put us in a position to win at the end," said Kimball, who had one turn in the car for two late-night stints.

The Chevrolet team of Angelelli, defending IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay and Jordan Taylor finished second for team owner Wayne Taylor ? redemption after an engine failure 22 minutes in last year's event ended the team's day. But Angelelli was bothered by engine restrictions to their Chevy that gave the Ganassi BMW's a clear power advantage.

"We have something restricted, OK? Just like driving with handcuffs; you can't do it, can't drive," he said. "Montoya and the 01 car is another league, is an A class. We are B class."

Defending race winner Michael Shank Racing twice came back from seven laps down to finish third in a Ford. It was a disappointing finish for team owner Shank, but a moral victory considering the hole the team clawed out of to make it to the podium.

Allmendinger, racing at Daytona for the first time since NASCAR suspended him for failing a random drug test hours before the July race here, teamed with fellow NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose, IndyCar driver Justin Wilson and Grand-Am regulars John Pew and Ozz Negri for the finish.

Ambrose was added to last year's winning lineup after Negri broke his leg a month ago during offseason training, but Negri was able to return to the car this weekend for limited driving duties a mere six days after his cast was removed.

"We were saying that on the way over, John and I, how if you'd have told us after the first hour we could have a chance of finishing third, we would have been over the moon," Wilson said. "As we were on the podium, we were thinking, well, there's nothing quite like being first, but we just have to be grateful for the chance we had."

Audi Sport Customer Racing won the GT class in an Audi R8 with drivers Filipe Albuquergue, Oliver Jarvis, Edoardo Mortara and Dion von Moltke.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pruett-ties-haywoods-record-ganassi-wins-rolex-205304337--spt.html

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Why You Need To Colin Kaepernick Jersey Concentrate On Self ...

In relation to helping your self live the life Colin Kaepernick Jersey that you have constantly desired, you could possibly question how to start, as there are many facts to consider when attemping to re-vamp your life for your far better. The guidelines on this page can present you with what you must far better your way of life.

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How Credit Counseling Can Improve A Person's Quality Of Life ...

Home ? > ? Finance ? > ? How Credit Counseling Can Improve A Person?s Quality Of Life By News Editor on January 26, 2013

People usually default on credit cards or loans because of unexpected financial hardship or mismanagement of funds. When consumers are unable to pay, interest continues to accrue and can increase debt. In these cases, counseling offers several benefits and can help those who are in debt to return to a life of normalcy.

Certified professionals can help consumers with credit counseling, which combines education with a debt management program to facilitate an overall reduction of monies owed. A credit counselor will review a consumer?s credit history to determine the extent of the problem, and then find ways to use the current budget to pay it off. In addition to helping devise a budget, the counselor usually contacts the creditors and creates a management program.

Establishing a DMP (debt management program) offers many benefits to the consumer. In most cases, the creditor will close any open or revolving accounts belonging to the consumer and may even limit future fees. Credit counselors will also work to establish a reduction in interest rates, which creditors may agree to in the hopes that it increases the likelihood of them being paid off. Some credit counseling agencies consolidate all debt into one monthly payment as part of the DMP. Consolidation can be advantageous because it is sometimes easier for consumers to pay monthly, as it is often less expensive than paying each debt separately would be.

Credit counseling can benefit anyone who is currently in debt: lower interest rates and consolidation can reduce the strain on the budget that results from owing money; the knowledge gained from participating in the educational programs can help people to better manage their finances and avoid similar struggles in the future. Being proactive by seeking counseling before it is necessary can prevent credit problems from becoming worse, as well.

Participation in credit counseling can improve a person?s life by raising their credit score, which is helpful for future mortgages and car loans and such. For instance, since most people can?t pay for a home in full, they will need a mortgage to buy a home, which is essentially a long-term loan that one has to be approved for. A bad credit score can make it impossible to get a good mortgage or any at all, as the lenders are hesitant to give one to a person who they deem fiscally irresponsible. Counseling can improve credit scores and make it possible for people to get a home, a car, or anything else that they need.

It?s never too early or too late to seek out help with credit problems. People shouldn?t let their financial issues get the best of them, as almost everyone can improve their quality of life by reducing their debt through a management program and other counseling options.

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Chuck Stevens is an avid blogger always looking to share his experiences and recommendations. He has spent ten years as a credit counselor.? You can follow him on Twitter @chuckstevens12.


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Source: http://www.icontemplate.com/how-credit-counseling-can-improve-a-persons-quality-of-life/

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Saturday, January 26, 2013

Iraqi troops shoot dead 3 protesters during clash

BAGHDAD (AP) ? Officials say Iraqi troops have killed three protesters and wounded 11 while trying to prevent the demonstrators from joining an anti-government rally west of Baghdad.

Police officials say the soldiers opened fire after a group of protesters started throwing stones on an army checkpoint nearby. The troops had blocked the demonstrators from joining another rally in Fallujah. The city is about 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Baghdad.

Medics in a Fallujah hospital confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

The weekly protests on Fridays started last month in Anbar province, which is mostly Sunni and where the people are disenchanted with the Shiite-led government.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iraqi-troops-shoot-dead-3-protesters-during-clash-104058762.html

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Distro Issue 75 arrives with a look at the history of human-powered flight

Distro Issue 75

Ever wanted to take off and soar the friendly skies powered by nothing more than a little good old fashioned elbow grease? You're not alone. In the latest issue of our weekly, we survey the history of human-powered flight from 6th century China right up to Red Bull's Flugtag aerial leaps. Review houses our in-depth impressions of both the HP Envy x2 hybrid and the Pantech Discover while IRL returns with yet another look at our personal gadget habits. Eyes-On visually oogles Orange Amps' OPC, Weekly Stat tallies Instagram's user numbers and Adafruit's Limor Fried gets cozy with the Q&A. Strap yourself into your pedal-powered airship or comfy reading chair of choice and get to downloading via the usual sources that reside just below.

Distro Issue 75 PDF
Distro in the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Google Play Store

Distro in the Windows Store

Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter

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NFL fines Brady $10K for kick in AFC title game

NFL fines Brady: Tom Brady raised his leg while sliding, kicking Baltimore Ravens' defender?Ed Reed in the thigh.?

By Jimmy Golen,?Associated Press / January 24, 2013

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady sits on the field after getting hit during the second half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday.

Steven Senne/AP

Enlarge

A person familiar with the decision says the?NFL?has?fined?New England Patriots quarterback Tom?Brady?$10,000 for kicking Baltimore Ravens defender Ed Reed during Sunday's AFC championship game.

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The?fine?was first announced on NFL.com. An official with knowledge of the penalty confirmed it to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because it had not been announced.

On a first-and-goal near the end of the second quarter,?Brady?was forced out of the pocket to his left. He ran for 3 yards but slid before he could be tackled. In the process, he raised his right leg and kicked Reed in the thigh.

Brady?reportedly apologized to Reed in a text message.

Patriots spokesman Stacey James says he has no information on the?fine. A message was left seeking comment from?NFL?spokesman Michael Signora.

The Ravens won 28-13 to advance to the Super Bowl.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/uWmHW57Egmg/NFL-fines-Brady-10K-for-kick-in-AFC-title-game

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Just Two More Days To Unlock Your Phone, Then You'll Be ...

from the ridiculous dept

We've always had our concerns about the ridiculous DMCA "exemptions" process concerning circumvention of digital locks. If you don't know, the DMCA has a strict anti-circumvention rule that says breaking digital locks, such as DRM, is itself a violation of copyright law, even if the purpose of the lock-breaking does not infringe on anyone's copyright. As a sort of "pressure valve" every three years, people can "apply" to the Librarian of Congress for exemptions to that rule. This, of course, is completely ridiculous and backwards. We need to apply, once every three years, to use legally purchased products the way we want to without it being considered illegal? That's crazy. But it's the way things are set up, and it can lead to some bizarre scenarios. As we explained last year when the latest round of exemptions was announced, the Librarian of Congress took away the exemption for unlocking your phone... but provided a 90 day window.

That window ends on Sunday. In other words, unlocking your phone on Saturday: legal. Unlocking your phone on Sunday: you probably just broke the law. As the EFF properly notes, this is not what copyright law is supposed to be about:

"Arguably, locking phone users into one carrier is not at all what the DMCA was meant to do. It's up to the courts to decide."
I don't even think there's anything "arguable" about it. Copyright law has no business being involved in deciding whether or not my phone can be unlocked. It's silly that this is an issue. It's silly that there needed to be an exemption in the first place. And it's silly that this exemption is being taken away. It's for things like this that people lose respect for copyright law.

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Friday, January 25, 2013

MTN Career for a Senior Manager, VAS, Data and Content ... - Job

MTN Career for a Senior Manager, VAS, Data and Content Development

posted on 2013-01-25??|?by Admin | 49 views

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Careers in MTN Nigeria is focused on the strategic development of talent in line with the key business imperative of ensuring continuity through our key source of competitive advantage our people.

Job Title Senior Manager, VAS, Data & Content Development
Department: Marketing and Strategy
Location: Lagos
Job Description:
Quickly evolving platforms and partners
Translate customer insights into innovative concepts that achieve business objectives while providing value to customer segments
Integrate product development requirements with technical capacity such as Messaging, Portals, Data services, devices, content an d applications, and all supporting platforms including SDPs, service creation environments, policy control engines, etc
Balance and negotiate stakeholder requirements
Champion new data, applications, content portals and messaging product concepts, as well as existing key products and services across the organization
Own and maintain all data, portals and messaging product and service business rules
Support all business units with regard to product development and support
Deeply understand and propose direction for multimedia portal and services investments
Work and drive to optimise mobile device, content and applications value chain
Review telecommunications market and contribute to the development of strategies for MTNN products and services, demonstrating an understanding of MTNN business strategies and needs of the customer.
Develop detailed plans in support of approved strategies, organizing required resources, monitoring and periodically reporting progress of plans.
Direct and provide a strategic framework for product managers to develop and manage new 3rd party relationships, contracts, data services/features, content and application portals and messaging products.
Develop possible future scenarios of MTNN?s data, applications/content portals, VAS and messaging product portfolio by considering current and future business models and technologies, and determine combination of features and scenarios that will positively impact and satisfy customer?s needs and aspirations.
Identify and advise on new opportunities for MTNN to explore by providing products and services based on the evolution of technologies.
Design and develop new systems, products and services for multiple market segments, across the entire spectrum of customers addressed by MTNN.
Ensure market managers and the rest of the organization are aligned with the evolution of the product and services roadmap based on new technologies.
Drive product and service delivery across the organization in the medium to long term by agreeing and setting goals cross functionally.
Maintain in-life products and services.
Ensure full integration of quality management processes and their effective deployment on a day-to-day basis.
Use relevant metrics and measures to routinely monitor progress against targets and take appropriate managerial action to ensure targets are met or exceeded.
Provide performance data to support management decision-making.
Identify training and development needs of team members and manage skills enhancement programmes for the team to ensure enterprise sales targets are fully met.
Review performance of individual team members and complete appraisals in accordance with the employee performance appraisal procedures and time schedules.

Job Conditions: Normal MTNN working conditions. May be required to work extended hours. Frequent national travel.
Reporting To: ??? General Manager, Innovation & Product Development
Required Skills:
??? A first degree or post-graduate diploma in Marketing, Accounting, Business Administration or a related discipline
An MBA will have an advantage
A first degree or post-graduate diploma in Engineering and/or Design is desirable.
Training and certification in Project Management is desirable
At least 12 years work experience of which includes:
5 years in advanced Business development, or Product Development and Management experience in a Telecommunications-related environment
12 months experience in managing Portals or data services development, or technical/technology partner management
3 years experience in advanced Project Management
3 years in co-coordinating a number of external agencies and suppliers at management level
2 years experience in dealing with senior stakeholders within an established organization.

Employment Status : Permanent
Qualification: other

This vacancy expires on 2/6/2013

How to Apply

http://careers.mtnonline.com/mtncareers/vacancies.asp?deptid=8&id=1930

Job Category: IT and Telecoms

Disclaimer: Though we make every effort to verify the authenticity of our job posts, Employment Nigeria is in no way affiliated with any of these companies whose vacancies we publish.

Source: http://www.employmentng.com/jobs/jobdetails.php?recordID=4368

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Absent but omnipresent, Chavez a powerful symbol

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ? While Venezuela's sick president recuperates from surgery behind closed doors in Cuba, at home he is more visible than ever.

Iconic images of his eyes look out from murals lining the streets of Caracas, his portrait appears on T-shirts sported by followers, and on television he can be heard booming "I am a nation!"

Though still alive, Chavez is being inducted into a pantheon of deified legends such as Evita Peron and Ernesto "Che" Guevara.

The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing with even greater force in his absence as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him.

One woman at a pro-government demonstration on Wednesday held a portrait photo of Chavez next to an image of Jesus. New murals showing only the president's eyes have appeared on city walls along with a new slogan, "I am Chavez."

The eyes-only design sends a message that he is always watching and still with his adoring constituents. Many credit him with easing their poverty and expanding public services. To them, it does not matter that Venezuela suffers from 20 percent inflation, that the oil-producing nation is often short on cooking oil and sugar, that it has one of the world's highest murder rates, that the president will not divulge the details of his cancer.

"I am Chavez!" his supporters yell at the rallies in his honor. "We're all Chavez!" the crowds shout in unison.

Filling the void of Chavez's 6-week absence following a fourth surgery in Cuba, the government has been churning out a steady stream of emotional images, slogans and Chavez sound bites that appear poised to solidify his legacy as a messianic savior of the poor.

In newspapers, the government has been running one ad showing a photo of the president superimposed on a mosaic of smiling faces of Venezuelans: Chavez men, Chavez women and Chavez children of all ages.

Juan Pablo Lupi, a Latin American literature scholar, sees parallels with the way Evita Peron became an enduring political symbol in Argentina, and the way "Che" became a revolutionary icon after his death. In the case of Chavez, he said, "this has been very well-staged, all this process of myth-making and appealing to the feelings and religious sentiment of the people. This is something that is quasi-religious."

Lupi, a Venezuelan associate professor at the University of California Santa Barbara, said he expects Chavismo to go on without Chavez. "The myth is already there, and all this has been very, very well-crafted."

Connections between Chavez and Jesus are surfacing more often, and Chavez has emphasized his faith during his illness by praying to God on television for more time and repeatedly kissing a crucifix.

In one television spot, a beaming Chavez hugs children while a singer croons: "Chavez is pure and noble love." And for block after block in downtown Caracas, lampposts are festooned with new banners showing a smiling, healthy Chavez with the words "We love you!"

Daisy Castillo, who studies law at a free university established by Chavez, joined Wednesday's demonstration, and says she, like many other Chavistas, is praying for him.

"There has never before been a president like our Comandante Chavez," she said.

Fidel Castro long tried to avoid the trappings of a cult of personality in Cuba, sharply limiting public presentations of his image. But there is plenty of precedent elsewhere for displays of presidential imagery, with leaders such as Saddam Hussein in Iraq, Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua and Kim Jong Il in North Korea ? not to mention Mao Zedong and Josef Stalin.

In Venezuela, the relentless omnipresence of a missing leader is a way to reinforce his party, said Juan Carlos Bertorelli, creative director at a marketing company in Caracas that focuses on branding.

"Now that he's not here physically or in voice at this time, the people who are maintaining the structure of his party," he said, "are trying to maintain a presence that legitimizes them."

___

Associated Press photographer Fernando Llano contributed to this report.

___

Ian James on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ianjamesap

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/absent-omnipresent-chavez-powerful-symbol-203335886.html

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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Scientists find gene interactions that make cocaine abuse death 8 times more likely

Scientists find gene interactions that make cocaine abuse death 8 times more likely

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Scientists have identified genetic circumstances under which common mutations on two genes interact in the presence of cocaine to produce a nearly eight-fold increased risk of death as a result of abusing the drug.

An estimated one in three whites who died of cocaine exposure is a carrier of variants that make cocaine abuse particularly deadly.

The variants are found in two genes that affect how dopamine modulates brain activity. Dopamine is a chemical messenger vital to the regular function of the central nervous system, and cocaine is known to block transporters in the brain from absorbing dopamine after its release.

The same dopamine genes are also targeted by medications for a number of psychiatric disorders. The researchers say that these findings could help determine how patients will respond to certain drugs based on whether they, too, have mutations that interact in ways that affect dopamine flow and signaling.

The scientists had previously identified a total of seven mutations on two dopamine-related genes, some of which were linked to the risk for cocaine abuse death. Years of molecular genetics studies showed that the mutations had specific functions ? a single variant alone was associated with an almost three-fold increase in risk of dying of cocaine abuse ? and led researchers to hypothesize that the variants probably interacted because the genes themselves relied on each other for proper function.

A statistical analysis that dissected the complex interactions among the variants combined with cocaine exposure revealed gene-gene-environment interactions that would dramatically increase the risk of death from cocaine abuse.

"Finding an impact factor of 8 just blew us away," said Wolfgang Sadee, professor of pharmacology and director of the Program in Pharmacogenomics at Ohio State University and senior author of the study. "Beyond that, this represents a new paradigm. Going forward, we can ask whether such interactions do exist between variants that may be a normal variation in the population. These kinds of interactions may underlie the genetics of behavior."

These specific findings apply primarily to whites. The researchers found that a different combination of variants affect the risk of cocaine abuse death in African Americans, and that in this population, some of the variants had protective properties.

The research is published in the online journal Translational Psychiatry.

The mutations are mostly single-nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs (pronounced "snips"). Each gene contains two alternative forms ? called alleles ? that are functionally identical in most people. However, in some cases, the activity level, or expression, of an allele can differ from its partner allele in a single gene.

The SNPs described here are on two genes: the dopamine receptor D2, which is a target for antipsychotic drugs, and the dopamine transporter DAT, the main target of cocaine and amphetamines.

The variants' clinical relevance was determined in earlier work led by Sadee that analyzed human brain autopsy tissues of people who had died of cocaine overdose and from age-matched drug-free controls.

The variants identified in this work are harder to detect and analyze than many mutations because these variants have no role in making protein; they exist in deeper and often overlooked regions of genes. Sadee's lab has designed a technique to predict and determine their functions based on measurements of how much messenger RNA, a carrier of genetic information, each specific allele expresses.

Having a defined set of a manageable number of variables then made a statistical analysis both possible and a critical step to more fully understanding the effects of these variants. First author Danielle Sullivan, a doctoral student in biostatistics at Ohio State, built logistic regression models to search for the main effects and interactions among the variants associated with the higher risk of cocaine death.

"A combination of variants turned out to have a high effect on the risk of dying. That is called epistasis ? a gene-gene-environment interaction that is seen only when there is that extra stimulus, in this case the cocaine," Sadee said. "It's a three-way system, which is incredibly complex unless you know beforehand that these variables are all related to each other."

Sadee said consideration of how gene-gene-environment interactions affect the impact of single genes could help solve the mystery of "missing heritability." Scientists know that genes are behind the causes of many diseases and conditions, but to date have been unable to document the complete genetic history of any given disease.

More immediately, what he has discovered about these variants is likely to increase understanding of numerous psychiatric disorders and improve the effectiveness of medical therapies for these problems. Dopamine-related conditions include attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, phobias, anxiety and schizophrenia.

"The gene-gene interaction that we've reported here, eliciting what might be a 'perfect dopamine storm' under cocaine stimulation, could well contribute to other conditions and affect response to drugs such as antipsychotics and amphetamines," Sadee said.

Clinical studies led by his lab so far suggest that gene-gene interactions occurring without an environmental stimulus such as cocaine do appear to help predict response to certain medications.

He is also extending the research to a handful of other genes that affect signaling in the brain.

"Each gene gives us new combinations, each one has novel variants that can be tested in this way. And they may be considered normal variations ? they're not associated with a disease process, but if there are multiple variants together, they may push this whole system in the direction that makes disease more likely or influences individual response to circumstances like stress or drugs," Sadee said.

###

Ohio State University: http://researchnews.osu.edu

Thanks to Ohio State University for this article.

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

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126410/Scientists_find_gene_interactions_that_make_cocaine_abuse_death___times_more_likely

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Australian Open all atwitter about Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens of the US celebrates after defeating compatriot Serena Williams in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Sloane Stephens of the US celebrates after defeating compatriot Serena Williams in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Serena Williams of the US reacts during her quarterfinal match against compatriot Sloane Stephens at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Sloane Stephens of the US hits a forehand return to compatriot Serena Williams during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

La estadounidense Serena Williams parece expresar frustraci?n en el partido contra su compatriota Sloane Stephens el mi?rcoles 23 de enero de 2013 cuando vio terminado su paso dominante en los torneos major. (Foto AP/Andrew Brownbill)

Serena Williams of the US hits a forehand return to compatriot Sloane Stephens during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) ? Sloane Stephens wiped away tears as she thought about hanging a poster of herself on a wall in the place of her childhood hero.

The 19-year-old American seemed to be in shock, barely able to compute how she'd produced the upset of the Australian Open by beating 15-time major winner Serena Williams in the quarterfinals Wednesday. It was her first trip that far in seven Grand Slam tournaments.

A poster of Williams had adorned the wall on Stephens' bedroom as a child. Now, in her view, they're peers.

"This is so crazy," Stephens said in a post-match TV interview after rallying from a set and a break down against an injured and angry Williams. "Oh my goodness. I think I'll put a poster of myself (up) now."

The 29th-seeded Stephens won 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. She calmed the nerves and started swinging harder and lifting her tempo at 4-3 in the second.

That's when Williams jarred her back trying to pull up before the net as she chased down a drop shot. Williams let out a loud scream and hopped away. Stephens had a look back over the net, seemingly in concern.

Williams started taking time between points, limping, and trying to stay in the shade at the back of the court.

Williams later called for the trainer between games. She had a three-minute medical timeout and came back serving at a pace well below her usual speed.

"Well, at that point you just have to pretend like nothing's wrong," Williams said. "You think of worst case scenarios. You know, I just thought, Ok, just pretend nothing's wrong and just try your best."

Stephen's surprise win did instant wonders for her celebrity.

Before the match, Stephens said she had about 17,000 followers on Twitter. A few hours after reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal, she had more than 40,000.

And she sounded like an excited schoolgirl as she gushed about receiving a congratulatory tweet from American singer John Legend.

"I want John Legend to sing at my wedding!" she said. "I was like, 'Oh my God. He tweeted me. What can I do?'"

She re-tweeted the sentiments from Legend: "Just found out her dad is John Stephens from the Pats. (that's my real name) I had his football card when I was a kid. I was so proud, ha ha."

Stephens' father, former New England Patriots player, died in 2009.

Retired basketball star Shaquille O'Neal sent a message that read: "When u defeat a legend you become a legend." The Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki wrote, "Wow. What a win for Sloane. Some amazing defense. She gets every ball back."

Stephens checked her phone during her post-match news conference and said there were 213 text messages waiting for her.

Like many a teenager, her first concern was about how high her phone bill might be.

"I thought it was free to receive text messages, but someone told me otherwise," she said.

Her mother "is going to be like, 'The money you were going to buy yourself something nice with, you're going to pay your phone bill.'"

She's set for her biggest payday, regardless of the result in Thursday's semifinal against defending champion Victoria Azarenka, who beat two-time major winner Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-1 in the previous match in Rod Laver Arena.

The semifinal losers earn $525,000, double what the quarterfinal losers receive. For Williams, there's a further $1,500 deduction after she was fined for racket abuse.

Stephens had practiced with Williams for the Fed Cup, but had played her only once, a straight sets loss at the Brisbane International earlier this month.

"Brisbane helped me because I got the first time we played out of the way," she said. "First time is always tough. Definitely I was glad that I got it there ... it helped me raise my level."

She'll need to maintain that level within 24 hours to play the top-ranked Azarenka on Thursday. That will follow the semifinal between No. 2-ranked Maria Sharapova and No. 6 Li Na, the 2011 French Open champion.

The makeup of the men's semifinals was as expected, although all but one of the four players had some difficulties getting there.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic will continue his bid for a third consecutive Australian title Thursday when he takes on No. 4 David Ferrer. No. 2 Roger Federer and No. 3 Andy Murray will meet Friday.

Djokovic had to get through a five-hour five-setter against No. 15 Stanislas Wawrinka in the fourth round. Ferrer had trouble in his quarterfinal against fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, who served for the match in the third and fourth sets before losing in five.

Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, hadn't dropped serve in the tournament until the first set against 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Wednesday. He ended up with a struggle on his hands before advancing to his 10th consecutive Australian Open semifinal with a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3 win in 3 hours, 34 minutes.

"I thought he played very aggressive," Federer said. "I love those four-set or five-set thrillers, and I was part of one tonight."

Murray beat Jeremy Chardy of France 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 earlier Wednesday and hasn't dropped a set this tournament.

Stephens' previous best run at a major tournament was at last year's French Open, where she was the first American teenager to reach the fourth round since Williams in 2001.

She was the youngest player in the year-end top 50 despite missing the last six weeks of the season with an abdominal injury.

"I took a lot of time off just kind of being a normal kid, doing whatever," she said.

That means shopping, social networking and other things teens do.

Stephens was under real pressure early, and it showed. She double-faulted to give Williams triple break point in the eighth game, but could save only two. Williams started pumping her fist and yelling, "Come On."

Williams broke her serve again in the opening game of the second set.

"From then on, I got aggressive, started coming to the net more and just got a lot more comfortable," Stephens said.

That paid off when she broke back in the fourth game.

Williams had injured her ankle in her first-round win, and the back injury compounded her problems in what she said later was her worst major tournament in a long time.

The five-time Australian champion shanked a forehand to fall behind 2-1 in the third, then smashed her racket into the court, twice, flinging it toward the courtside chairs.

She picked up her service speed and was called for a foot fault, further annoying her.

Williams got the first break of the set and seemed to be back on track for victory, but Stephens answered immediately.

Serving to stay in the match, Williams hit an attempted passing shot long and looked up to the sky, muttering to herself.

She hit backhands into the net on the next two points, and her winning streak had ended.

Williams walked around the net post to shake Stephens' hand. The quick turnaround between matches makes it difficult for Stephens' family to make it to Australia for her semifinal.

"I'm kind of upset my mom's not here, and my brother," she said. "I know definitely everyone's watching back home and is very proud of me, so (I'll) just do my best and make them happy."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-01-23-TEN-Australian-Open/id-3b607fe8d4234a8c8ef53e793e8b297a

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Almost all in Congress use Twitter; if only bills could be as short as tweets

17 hrs.

Four years ago, when President Barack Obama was first inaugurated, the savvy social media politician was among the first to use Twitter to his advantage to get his message out to voters. Republicans also?used the short-messaging blog back?then to heckle the new president as he delivered a speech to Congress. (Even the mom of Missouri Democrat Sen. Claire McCaskill?criticized her daughter for tweeting during the event, although her posts were about seeing Supreme Court? Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg there after her operation for cancer.)

Other politicians were still finding their way on Twitter, including former Michigan congressman Pete Hoekstra, who blared to the world he was on a secret mission to Iraq by tweeting about it in 2009, and in 2011, former New York congressman Anthony Weiner took to Twitter to share lewd photos of himself with a lady friend.

Times have changed with Internet speed. As President Obama heads into his second term,?most politicians are up to snuff?on social media, or have at least hired helpers who know how to make the most of 140 characters or less. Twitter gaffes are no longer the norm. These days, politicians use Twitter to connect with?constituents, provide updates on legislation, comment on big news stories and even share photos of their daily goings-on.?

What's more, Twitter announced that?all 100 members of the U.S. Senate now tweet, compared to 44 percent in 2011; and 90 percent of the members of the House of Representatives send out 140-word bits and bites (or at least their staffers do; it?s often hard to know who is really behind the tweeting). Still, with nearly all of Congress tweeting, why can't bill-writing be done with such brevity? (The Affordable Care Act would have looked a lot different if it had said: "Everybody. Gets. Covered. The End.")

NBC News asked Twitter to tell us who are the ?most followed? senators and representatives. They don?t have numbers quite?like the Bieb (33 million-plus followers) or even the president (26 million-plus). ?But Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, leads this list, with an impressive?nearly 1.8 million followers. Here are the top 5 from each branch of Congress:

SENATE

Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona

Tweets: 4,469

Followers: 1,791,300

Joined Twitter: Feb. 22, 2010

He lost the presidential race in 2008, but still holds tremendous sway as one of the Republican Party?s senior senators.

Twitter tendencies: Because McCain, 76, does appeal to both sides of the aisle, his comments carry weight, although his tweets can be a bit dry (again, it?s not known how many of them he posts himself, or whether an overworked staffer is doing that). But they seem heartfelt and sincere. ?Impressive briefing from Afghan Army Gen. Waziri in E. #Afghanistan- heroes who've fought for their country for 30 yrs? ?Very positive meeting with President Karzai yesterday - US must maintain enduring partnership with #Afghanistan if we are to succeed here? and ?Does Eric Schmidt really think that any ordinary North Koreans will hear his call for Internet freedom??

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida

Tweets: 1,215
Followers:? 232,387

Joined Twitter: Aug. 6, 2008

The first-term senator is one of the Republican Party?s much-needed stars, and a Cuban-American who also has received props from the Tea Party.

Twitter tendencies: It could have been Rubio running as Mitt Romney?s veep candidate, although it was?Rep. Paul Ryan who was chosen last summer. Many think Rubio?s year will be 2016, and commend his work on immigration, sure to be a big issue, as indicated by the president in his inauguration speech. Rubio?s tweets seem to be his own, including these: ?#Esquire report on having less hair than I once did is sadly true. But good news is I am still in upper 2% in Senate.? And: ?Man pleads guilty to smuggling birds into US from #Cuba, HIDDEN IN HIS PANTS!!!?

Sen. Bernie Sanders, Independent, Vermont

Tweets:? 5,543
Followers: 136,187

Joined Twitter: April 7, 2009

Sanders is the Senate?s only registered Independent, and was recently re-elected to a second term after previously serving several years in Congress.

Twitter tendencies: Sanders titled his 1997 autobiography, ?Outsider in the House,? and enjoys his role as an independent, with a focus on the financial problems of the nation, as well as on global warming. ?In our closed-door (Democratic) caucuses, he's not one of the senators who wants to speak on everything," Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont told the Burlington Free-Press in 2008. "He picks his issues, and when he does speak, he has something valuable to say, and people listen." That includes on Twitter, where Sanders often strikes out at large corporations and Wall Street. ?Allowing Wall St CEOs to serve as @FederalReserve directors and hand-pick its members is a clear example of the fox guarding the henhouse,? he tweeted earlier this month.

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minnesota

Tweets:? 1,177
Followers: 113,763

Joined Twitter: July 8, 2007

The former ?Saturday Night Live? comedian tackles serious issues, including advocating for better mental health care in the wake of the Newtown school shootings, while also sponsoring lighter events like the recent Secret Santa gift exchange to break tensions among his colleagues.

Twitter tendencies: Franken isn?t a laugh-a-minute; he?s quite Minnesotan: Down-to-business and purposeful. Some of that may be his honesty-in-labeling: ?Official TeamFranken Twitter feed? is what his Twitter page says, indicating the tweets may not be all his. But he is focused on big issues, including Internet freedom and privacy. ?One hurdle cleared! #Senate Judiciary Cmte passes Al's #privacy bill to stop Smartphone Stalking,? he tweeted last month, as well as last June, a what-should-be-common sense approach to electronic records and health care: ?All laptops containing private medical information should be encrypted to protect privacy.?

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri

Tweets: 2,454
Followers:? 86,703

Joined Twitter: Sept. 6, 2008

McCaskill won re-election in November after defeating U.S. Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri, whose comments about ?legitimate rape? sent voters ? and his proposed Senate election ? over the edge.

Twitter tendencies: She is one of the few politicians who is personable and personal when she tweets, painting a picture for followers of real life in Washington, D.C. ?Among her tweets from the inauguration Monday: ?Four years ago today I began tweeting. One of my first tweets was a comment on (Supreme Court Justice Antonin) Scalia's weird hat. Will he wear it again? Stay tuned.? That was followed up by a tweet ? ?Yup. There it is? ? and sharing a photo she took.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio

Tweets: 9,854
Followers:? 434,913

Joined Twitter: July 25, 2007

The Speaker of the House is the BMOCH (Big Man on Capitol Hill), as the voice of the Republican Party.

Twitter tendencies: He?s a little drier than a roll of paper towels wrapped in plastic, but that?s probably what Americans expect of him. Tweets like ?House bills are now available for bulk download in XML via @USGPO,? and ?This?@aei chart shows ?above normal? government spending is driving force behind our debt? don?t win tweeting prizes. It?s also a big clue that the down-to-earth congressman probably doesn?t do his own tweets as a rule.

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin

Tweets:? 1,188
Followers: ??327,076

Joined Twitter: Jan. 12, 2009

Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, was Romney?s vice-presidential candidate, and impressed conservative voters with his approach to handling the deficit.

Twitter tendencies: His post-election tweets have been few and far between; he likely had his biggest gains in followers during the campaign, taking the president to task for his fiscal policies. But some signs of Twitter life have been showing in recent days, including these tweets: "We must pay bills today & ensure we can pay bills tomorrow. To do that, we must cut spending & budget responsibly? and ?Senate Democrats have refused to pass a budget. Time to hold them accountable for this legal and moral failure.?

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California

Tweets:? 1,174
Followers:?? 293,092

Joined Twitter: Aug. 7, 2008

The minority House leader was the first woman to be speaker of the House, from 2007-2011, and during that time oversaw the House passage of the president?s landmark health reform law.

Twitter tendencies:? The intense, all-business, to-the-point Pelosi uses Twitter to promote the president?s agenda, as well as hers: ?The President has taken action to help protect families and children. Congress must now do its part to prevent gun violence,? she tweeted in recent days.? But she is also personal when appropriate: ?Saddened to hear of the passing of @PFLAG founder Jeanne Manford, who proved the power of a mother?s love can drive out hate,? Pelosi posted Jan. 10.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida

Tweets:? 2,984
Followers:? 173,794

Joined Twitter:? Feb. 20, 2010

Wasserman Schultz is the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, and party officials credit her for her role in helping the president carry her home state in the November election, and gaining more seats in the Senate and House.

Twitter tendencies: Very politically correct, as one might expect a DNC chairwoman to be, but also very Florida in defending ?my Gators? (we?re talking college football, not?the critters). She's?also a fan of the movie, ?Lincoln?: ?Just saw Lincoln, which was absolutely incredible. Raging debate over the 13th Amendment in 1865 makes fiscal cliff chasm seem so minute,? she tweeted Nov. 17.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minnesota

Tweets:? 1,821
Followers:? 168,738

Joined Twitter: Dec. 18, 2008

The champion of the Tea Party unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination last year. She was re-elected to Congress in November.

Twitter tendencies:? Tiger when it comes to tearing down the president?s policies: ?At noon today, I introduced the first bill of the 113th Congress to repeal Obamacare in its entirety,? she tweeted Jan. 3. But she can also be?a little homespun: ?This morning I spoke to a great group of college students about my journey from student, wife and mother to politics,? she posted Jan. 15. And on Christmas Eve, she shared a link to a YouTube video with this Christmas Eve tweet: ?One of my favorite scenes from Charlie Brown Christmas. Merry Christmas.?

Check out Technology, GadgetBox, Digital?Life and InGame on?Facebook,?and on?Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/almost-all-congress-use-twitter-if-only-bills-could-be-1B8038217

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Monday, January 21, 2013

Chastain horror film "Mama" takes big box office win

(Reuters) - Jessica Chastain overpowered Mark Wahlberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger and others as her low-budget horror flick emerged as the North American weekend box office champ and her Oscar-nominated "Zero Dark Thirty" captured the second spot as well.

Chastain's supernatural thriller, "Mama," pulled in $28.1 million from Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to studio estimates, beating out a crop of new testosterone-fueled, male-targeted releases that finished far back in the pack.

"Zero Dark Thirty," for which Chastain is a leading best actress Oscar contender, took in $17.6 million, while another late 2012 release and Oscar favorite, "Silver Linings Playbook," finished third with $11.35 million.

"Broken City," a crime thriller starring Wahlberg and Russell Crowe, finished fifth with $9 million behind "Gangster Squad's" $9.1 million, while Schwarzenegger's new action film, "The Last Stand," earned $6.3 million for a dismal 10th place.

"Mama" stars Chastain as a guitarist who doesn't want children but is forced to take care of two orphaned nieces who have been living in the woods. She and her husband try to re-adjust the little girls to normal life.

Based on a 2008 short film, the movie was produced for roughly $15 million.

"This is a great result, one we never would have expected especially for a film of this genre," said Nikki Rocco, Universal's president for domestic distribution.

"The timing was perfect," she said, noting "the key was it's a PG-13 movie that appealed to the under-25 female audience."

The studio said it was hopeful that as the only PG-13 film in release this month it would continue to find an audience.

Chastain is a best actress Oscar nominee for her role as a dogged CIA agent in "Zero Dark Thirty," the weekend's second-place film about the decade-long manhunt for Osama bin Laden. The movie has taken in $55.9 million since late December.

"Silver Linings Playbook," an Oscar-nominated romantic comedy about a former mental patient trying to rebuild his life, expanded nationwide for a strong third-place finish and a $55.3 million total since the movie starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence opened in late autumn.

Both Oscar contenders handily beat out a pair of new, male-oriented films, as did crime thriller "Gangster Squad."

"The Last Stand" features Schwarzenegger's return to a starring, big-screen role after a seven-year break while he was serving as governor of California, but managed only $6.3 million to finish 10th. The former "Terminator" will star in three movies over the next 12 months.

Schwarzenegger plays a retired Los Angeles policeman who works to protect a tiny border town from a notorious drug kingpin. The film was produced for about $45 million.

The studio noted that the weekend was crowded with several movie-going choices, and that two films were competing for the same audience, referring to the weekend's other new movie, "Broken City," which stars Wahlberg as a former New York cop who uncovers a scandal involving the mayor, played by Russell Crowe.

The top 10 movies were rounded out by "A Haunted House," "Django Unchained," "Les Miserables" and "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."

"Zero Dark Thirty" was released by Sony Corp's movie studio.

"The Last Stand" was distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment.

"The Hobbit" and "Gangster Squad" were released by Warner Bros, a unit of Time Warner Inc.

"A Haunted House" was released by Open Road Films, a joint venture between theater owners Regal Entertainment Group and AMC Entertainment Inc.

"Django Unchained" and "Silver Linings Playbook" were distributed by Weinstein Co.

"Broken City" was distributed by 20th Century Fox, a unit of News Corp.

"Les Miserables" and "Mama" were distributed by Universal Pictures, a unit of Comcast Corp.

(Reporting By Lisa Richwine and Chris Michaud; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chastain-horror-film-mama-tops-wahlberg-schwarzenegger-muscle-174821251--sector.html

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