TechCrunch Writer Update, Sat 02/16 ? Fri 02/22

Every week, Eric and Alexia update the TechCrunch editorial team on our performance, providing important stat breakdowns for the week, such as total number of posts and pageviews. They also provide updates on notable news within the team and organization -- things like new hires, new roles, and important upcoming events and goals. This was my response to our fearless leaders this week.

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

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Movie Review: Jack the Giant Slayer Is No Towering Achievement ...

Location

Wide Release

Dates

Open Mar 1

Bryan Singer (Usual Suspects, X-Men) directs a sometimes lively update of the Jack and the Beanstalk fable, reimagined as a slap-stick quest. Nicholas Hoult is Jack, a pauper orphan living with his uncle on a tenant farm outside a walled kingdom. We first meet Jack when he is a boy and his father reads him a story about a legendary king who helped save the kingdom from giants. The boyhood story is intercut with scenes of the young princess, Isabelle, being read the same story. The cross-class bond is struck.

You know these two will somehow get together. Flashing forward, Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson) has grown into a daring tomboy (c.f. Brave) and yet she is betrothed to Roderick (Stanley Tucci), a nasty man who is bent on using rediscovered magic beans and a magic crown to unleash ? and then control ? the giants and lead a new invasion of the kingdom. It?s hard to tell why. After all, he?s about to become king when he marries the princess. I suppose he?s just that bad. But the plan is somewhat foiled when the beans unexpectedly fall into Jack?s hands when he is in town one day. The princess also falls into the boy?s lap after she runs away from the castle, it storms, and Jack?s home is the sole shelter from a storm, naturally. The stage is set. Cue beanstalk, the princess swept up into the clouds, the giants, and the mythical quest.

The highlight here is Ewan McGregor who plays Elmont, an Errol Flynn-inspired swashbuckler who is tapped by the king to lead the exhibition up the beanstalk and rescue the lost princess. Elmont adds a knavish sense of humor to the film, but he also inadvertently highlights just what is wrong with the rest of Jack the Giant Slayer. The rest of the ensemble falls flat, and their characterizations ? from one the one-dimensional Roderick, to the wasted Crawe (Eddie Marsan) ? lack both depth and distinguishable tone. Jack and Isabelle?s relationship is equally routine. There are times when Jack the Giant Slayer?seems to be grasping for farcical, melodramatic oomph a la The Princess Bride, while at other times it plays like a sleeping, overly serious kids fable. That middling tone is what makes the movie feel rather pipsqueak.

Source: http://frontrow.dmagazine.com/2013/02/movie-review-jack-the-giant-slayer-is-no-towering-achievement-more-like-middling-on-the-beanstalk/

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POPE LIVE: Ready for departure, final meetings

FILE - This Nov. 3, 2006 file photo shows Pope Benedict XVI's hand as he waves to faithful from his car at the end of his visit at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, files)

FILE - This Nov. 3, 2006 file photo shows Pope Benedict XVI's hand as he waves to faithful from his car at the end of his visit at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, files)

A nun clasps her hands in prayer during a Mass honoring Pope Benedict XVI at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Benedict made his final public appearance as pontiff in St. Peter's Square Wednesday. He thanked his flock for respecting his retirement, which takes effect Thursday. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Armando Martin Duenas shows replicas of the two pairs of hand-crafted loafers that were given to Pope Benedict XVI during his March 2012 visit to Mexico at the Ackerman shoe factory in Leon, Mexico, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Benedict's title and what he will wear have been a major source of speculation since the 85-year-old pontiff stunned the world and announced he would resign Thursday, the first pope to do so in 600 years. (AP Photo/Alfredo Valadez)

FILE - This Sept. 6, 2006 file photo shows Pope Benedict XVI wearing a "saturno hat", inspired by the ringed planet Saturn, to shield himself from the sun as he waves to the crowd of faithful prior to his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito, files)

In this photo released by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI receives German politician Horst Seehofer and his wife Karin during a private audience which followed his last general audience, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Benedict XVI basked in an emotional sendoff Wednesday at his final general audience in St. Peter's Square, recalling moments of "joy and light" during his papacy but also times of great difficulty. He also thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire. (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano, ho)

"Pope Live" follows the events of the final day of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy as seen by journalists from The Associated Press around the world. It will be updated throughout the day with breaking news and other items of interest.

___

LAST TASKS

The big speeches are done. It's almost time to go.

In just a few minutes, Pope Benedict XVI meets with his cardinals this morning on the day he heads into retirement. No major speech is expected during his morning farewell with his closest advisers, just a simple greeting to each one inside the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace.

Shortly before 5 p.m. local time, Benedict will leave the palace for the last time as pope, head to the helipad on the top of the hill in the Vatican gardens and fly to the papal retreat south of Rome. And there, at 8 p.m. ? the exact moment Benedict's resignation goes into effect ? the doors of the palazzo will close and the Swiss Guards in attendance will go off duty, their service protecting the pope now finished.

___

QUICKQUOTE: JOHN KERRY

"The United States sends its best wishes to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI as he leaves the Vatican after years of service and dedication to God, the Catholic Church, and world peace. As the papal conclave assembles, I look forward to continuing our important relationship with the Vatican and working with the new pope to foster dialogue and promote human rights and human dignity throughout the world."

? New U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, visiting Rome for a conference on Syria as part of his first diplomatic tour abroad.

___

A GLIMPSE INSIDE

Victor L. Simpson, Rome bureau chief for The Associated Press, reflects on his decades of covering the papacy:

___

One thing that sets the Vatican apart from other places: You can't just stroll around and poke your head in everywhere.

As many as 18 million people pass through Vatican territory each year, but their visits are effectively limited to St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican museums. Aside from the Vatican's 492 residents and its 4,700 employees, everyone else needs a pass, even to drop by the Vatican pharmacy for medicine not sold in Italy (bring a doctor's prescription please) or to buy back copies of the Vatican paper at the offices of L'Osservatore Romano.

After all these years, I still feel a tingle of excitement to be let in through the Bronze Door, escorted past Swiss Guards in full regalia, and taken up to the pope's apartment on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace for a papal audience with a dignitary. These meetings have given a rare peek inside Vatican diplomacy.

? Victor L. Simpson

___

TOWN TOUR

The town where Benedict is spending his last hours as pope and his first hours as the first pontiff in 600 years to retire is one of several picturesque "castle towns" known as the "Castelli," less than an hour's drive from Rome. Nestled in the Alban Hills, southeast of Rome, it is an area that is volcanic in origin. One of the volcano's old craters became Lake Albano, whose shores include Castel Gandolfo.

The volcano's no longer active, but the Castelli area gets its share of earthquakes, generally fairly mild and doing no damage. The rich volcanic soil helps produce inexpensive white wines that are a favorite in local trattorie as well as in restaurants in Rome.

The town is older than Christianity. The papal residence grounds include ruins from an imperial Roman villa, which itself had been on the site of ancient temples built several centuries before the ancient Romans came to check out the cool breezes and views.

The sprawling papal grounds, which as Vatican property enjoy extraterritoriality, include a working farm. Coffee bars in town have been known to serve milk from the farm's cows. (Yes, it's already been said: "Holy Cow.")

? Frances D'Emilio ? Twitter http://twittter.com/fdemilio

___

GOODBYE, RED SHOES

The red shoes are being retired.

The Pope is giving up the trademark that briefly made him a fashion star, trading in his snappy ruby-red loafers for a pair of hand-crafted brown ones made for him by artisans in Mexico. He will wear those in retirement, Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi says.

The flash of red sparked (unfounded) rumors he was wearing Prada and helped make him Esquire magazine's accessorizer of the year in 2007. The actual designer? An Italian craftsman who had previously created a pair for Pope John Paul II, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.

A former Vatican official assured The Associated Press back in 2005 that Benedict was no clothes horse, advising that the pontiff "wouldn't know Gucci from Smoochi."

? Matt Surman ? Twitter http://twitter.com/apsurman

___

LAST DAY AS POPE

Pope Benedict XVI is making history today, becoming the first pontiff to retire in nearly 600 years.

Only a handful of popes have ever done so.

The last was Pope Gregory XII, who stepped down in 1415 in a deal to end the Great Western Schism, a dispute among competing papal claimants. The most famous resignation was Pope Celestine V in 1294; Dante placed him in hell for it.

Benedict is saying farewell this morning to his closest advisers in Clementine Hall at the Apostolic Palace. Then shortly before 5 p.m., he will leave the palace for the last time as pope and fly by helicopter to the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.

Exactly at 8 p.m. ? when his resignation takes effect ? the doors at Castel Gandolfo will close and the papacy that began on April 19, 2005, will come to an end.

? Nicole Winfield ? http://twitter.com/nwinfield

___

Follow AP reporters on Twitter where available.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-28-Pope%20Watch-Package/id-58be4acb7a464484a47eaadbfc7b80eb

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Illegal music file-sharing down 'significantly'

Suzanne Choney , NBC News ? ? ? 1 hr.

Illegal music file-sharing "declined significantly," down by 17 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, according to The NPD Group.

With more services available, such as Spotify, Last.fm and Pandora for streaming and buying music, and giant digital music retailers like Amazon and Apple, consumers have more choices than ever for getting music legally, easily and relatively cheaply.

"For the music industry, which has been battling digital piracy for over a decade, last year was a year of progress," said Russ Crupnick, NPD's senior vice president of industry analysis, in a statement about the research group's findings, part of its "Annual Music Study 2012" report.

NPD's findings come on the heels of a recent report that says music sales actually saw a small gain, 0.3 percent, in 2012 to $16.5 billion, the industry's first revenue increase in 13 years, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

Meanwhile, a new, U.S.-based Copyright Alert System is kicking in this week to target consumers who use peer-to-peer software to illegally share music, as well as movies and TV shows. The alert system will be used by five major Internet service providers to notify a customer whose Internet address has been detected sharing files illegally.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing peaked in 2005, NPD said, when about 20 percent of Internet users ages 13 and older used P2P services, such as LimeWire (now shut down), to download music. In 2012, "that number fell to 11 percent."

P2P services are still out there, of course. But The NPD Group notes that the volume of illegally downloaded music files from P2P sites "also declined 26 percent, compared to the previous year."

Also down: the "number of music files being burned and ripped from CDs owned by friends and family fell 44 percent, the number of files swapped from hard drives dropped 25 percent, and the volume of music downloads from digital lockers decreased 28 percent."

The NPD Group says the main reason for the reduced sharing is the "increased use of free, legal music streaming services. In fact nearly half of those who stopped or curtailed file sharing cited the use of streaming services as their primary reason for stopping or reducing their file-sharing activity."

"In recent years, we?ve seen less P2P activity, because the music industry has successfully used litigation to shut down Limewire and other services," said Crupnick. "Many of those who continued to use P2P services reported poor experiences, due to rampant spyware and viruses on illegal P2P sites."

NPD's research was based on 5,406 completed online surveys in the U.S., a spokesman told NBC News. The survey was done between Dec. 12, 2012 and Jan. 9, 2013.

Check out Technology, GadgetBox, Digital Life and In-Game on Facebook, and on Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/illegal-music-file-sharing-dropped-significantly-2012-says-npd-1C8590466

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We Cast Brandi Glanville's Book As a Lifetime Movie

Brandi Glanville's book Drinking & Tweeting: And Other Brandi Blunders has only just been released, but she's already got big plans for it. The 40-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star says the tell-all book is potentially being considered for the big -- or small -- screen.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/brandi-glanvilles-book-be-lifetime-movie/1-a-524092?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Abrandi-glanvilles-book-be-lifetime-movie-524092

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Martha Stewart in middle of giant retail tug-of-war

Karen Freifeld ? ? ? 10 hrs.

Macy's Chief Executive Terry Lundgren said he was shocked when Martha Stewart told him in 2011 that she was starting a new alliance with rival J.C. Penney Co.

Lundgren, testifying on Monday in the trial of two Macy's lawsuits over the alliance, said Stewart told him of the deal the night before J.C. Penney announced it. He said he was so appalled he hung up on her.

"I was completely shocked and blown away," Lundgren said. "I was literally sick to my stomach."

J.C. Penney announced on December 7, 2011, that it would launch Martha Stewart boutiques in about 700 of its department stores in 2013. It also bought 17 percent of her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia .

Macy's, which has its own deal with Martha Stewart, sued her company in January 2012 for breach of contract, and later sued J.C. Penney as well. Macy's says it has the exclusive right to sell Martha Stewart products in certain product categories, including cookware and bedding.

The two cases were consolidated for a non-jury trial before Justice Jeffrey Oing in New York state court in Manhattan.

Lundgren, 60, said Stewart sounded like she was reading from a document prepared by lawyers when they spoke, and that he cut off the conversation when the home goods doyenne claimed her deal with J.C. Penney would be good for Macy's.

"I think that's when I hung up," said Lundgren. "The thought this was going to be good for Macy's was so far from anything I could comprehend."

Lundgren said that at the time he considered Stewart a friend, and he has not spoken to her since.

Macy's is still committed to the business relationship it developed with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, however. The Martha Stewart brand at Macy's grew 8 percent last year, growth that is twice that of Macy's as a whole, Lundgren said.

"This is an extremely important brand and we are going to continue to highlight the brand in our stores," Lundgren testified.

Macy's built Martha Stewart into its No. 1 home brand after Stewart came out of prison in 2005 after serving time for lying about a stock sale.

J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson is scheduled to take the stand on Friday. Martha Stewart also is expected to testify, but it is unclear when.

Martha Stewart shops in J.C. Penney stores, set to open in May, are the centerpiece of an improved home goods section that Johnson has called crucial to returning Penney to growth.

The cases are Macy's Inc. v Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., 650297/2012, and Macy's Inc. v J.C. Penney Corp., 652861/2012, New York State Supreme Court, New York County.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/martha-stewart-middle-giant-retail-tug-war-1C8541698

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Apartment Careers: jobs, Issaquah jobs, Washington jobs, Assistant ...

About Pinnacle.

We invest in great people. That's why clients trust us with their real estate investments!
At Pinnacle, we consider our employees our most valuable asset. In fact, our number one key business objective is to attract and retain the best talent in the industry! At Pinnacle, the key to our continued success and competitive advantage is our people.

We offer a total compensation and benefits package to help with your needs today and build for your future tomorrow. We recognize that each employee is an individual with individual needs, lifestyles, and interests. Our benefits package was created with the flexibility to support employees who are at different places in their lives and careers.

Pinnacle values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment. We offer a safe, healthy work environment for employees through a commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace.
Pinnacle has ongoing employment opportunities at our headquarters in Seattle, our more than 40 branch office locations nationally and our many managed communities throughout the country.

Pinnacle is the national leader in third-party fee management of investment real estate encompassing multi-family, commercial space, affordable housing and military housing. Pinnacle is built on four basic principles:

Quality people

Strong customer service

Solid market knowledge

Superior systems and support capabilities

At Pinnacle, success is about more than having a healthy bottom line. Guided by our principles and values, we are committed to making Pinnacle an amazing and unique place to work for each member of our team.

About the job..

As an Assistant Business Manager at Pinnacle you are an important piece of the onsite management team. You help guide the ship, so to speak, of a Pinnacle community under the direction of the Business Manager. The Assistant Business Manager is a business leader who focuses on resident customer service and assists in managing the operations, leasing activity, renewals, collections, financial reporting, supplies, and communications of a multi-million dollar apartment community. This position requires unmatched customer service and individuals who thrive in a customer-centric, fast-paced environment. Be ready to be busy!

Essential Responsibilities:

Address the concerns of current and prospective residents in a friendly and professional manner.

Helps set the standard on how Leasing Agents engage prospective and current residents. Tours and leases apartments as necessary.

Helps with training staff as necessary and models effective sales techniques on a daily basis.

Leads rent collection efforts, specifically with delinquent residents. This may involve lease termination and legal action if necessary.

Assist in managing the propertys budget by making sound fiscal decisions to increase the net operating income of the community.

Inspecting apartments during move-in and move outs, walking apartments and the community as needed.

Fill the role of acting Business Manager when the Business Manager is absent.

Personal Competencies:

Business leader

High energy

Customer focused

Articulate

Detail oriented/organized

Strong Communicator both oral and written

High degree of flexibility and tolerance for change

Qualifications:

Minimum of high school diploma, Bachelors degree preferred.

1 to 2 years previous minimum related work experience, property management exp a plus!

General office, bookkeeping and sales skills

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to deal effectively with persons from diverse social, economic and ethnic backgrounds.

Extremely computer literate, including Microsoft office Suite

Previous experience in a supervisory role is helpful.

Pinnacle has grown to become America's largest apartment manager through many different successes. Yet, in today's ultra-competitive market, each success must fuel the next and speed is essential in the ongoing race to lead the industry.

If you are ready to work hard and be empowered and encouraged to innovate, contribute ideas and discover solutions to provide current and potential residents with unparalleled, world class customer service please complete click Apply Online.

Source: http://jobs.apartmentcareers.com/jobs/5217081/assistant-business-manager

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Oscars 2013: The Real Winners And Losers

James Bond killed while the orchestra hit a sour note.
By Amy Wilkinson

Kristen Stewart at the 2013 Oscars
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702532/oscars-2013-winners-losers.jhtml

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Paper planes get producer tossed from Oscars

By The Hollywood Reporter

Apparently, rules are rules. After Disney's?"Paperman"?won the Academy Award for best animated short Sunday, producer?Kristina Reed?began throwing paper airplanes, about three or four -- with kisses on them, like the ones seen in the film -- from her seat in the mezzanine.

VIDEO: Disney's 'Paperman' Short Floats Online

The paper planes were nowhere near the stage, instead shooting straight down from the balcony. It went largely unnoticed by the crowd, but security didn't think the act was very sweet, kicking her out of the Dolby Theatre auditorium.

It would turn out to be temporary. After a short protest, security brought her back to her seat about five to 10 minutes later.?

The black-and-white "Paperman," which played on the big screen ahead of Oscar-nominated animated feature "Wreck-It Ralph"?(that film lost to?"Brave"), is a blend of hand-drawn and computer animation directed by?John Kahrs.

COMPLETE LIST: 2013 Oscar Winners

The film tells the story of a guy who notices a woman on the train platform and then in the office window across the street from his building. Stuck in a paper-pushing prison of an office, he does his best to catch her attention but is at the mercy of the wind's whim, as it takes his paper airplanes far from their intended destinations.

Related content:

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2013/02/25/17087732-paperman-producer-briefly-tossed-from-oscars-for-throwing-paper-airplanes?lite

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Cochlear implants aid adults with hearing loss: study

(Reuters) - Cochlear implants can improve speech and quality of life in adults with severe hearing loss - and two implants seem to work better than one, according to a U.S. analysis of past research.

The study, which appeared in JAMA Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, included 42 studies that compared hearing, speech and quality of life in eligible adults before and after they received a cochlear implant or compared having one versus two functioning implants.

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, about 17 percent of U.S. adults have some degree of hearing loss, and the chance of becoming hard of hearing increases with age. Only those with severe hearing loss or deafness, for whom hearing aids haven't work, are considered for cochlear implants.

"Unilateral cochlear implants provide improved hearing and significantly improve quality of life, and improvements in sound localization are noted for bilateral implantation," wrote researchers led by James Gaylor from Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

The studies used in the analysis used a range of tests over different time periods to measure the effects of implantation, so it was difficult to compare them directly, the researchers added. However, almost all the trials looking at the effect of a single cochlear implant showed that people's speech and quality of life improved after implantation.

"Cochlear implantation is just a hugely beneficial procedure for the people who need it. It's almost like magic," said Pamela Roehm, an otolaryngologist from the NYU Langone Medical Center, who wasn't involved in the study.

"Their hearing isn't completely normal, but for speech (and) understanding, it's so good."

Among studies comparing one versus two implants, the majority also found participants were better at communicating and localizing sound when they had a cochlear implant in each ear. It wasn't clear how much of an effect a second implant had on their quality of life, however.

Possible complications of implantation include infection or damage to the device. But Roehm said all things considered, it's a pretty minor procedure.

"It's surgery - you have to have general anesthesia - but as surgeries go, it's not very risky (and) you don't lose a lot of blood," she said. She and her colleagues have put implants into patients over 90 years old, with good results.

The new findings don't mean that deafness has a detrimental effect on quality of life, Gaylor told Reuters Health in an email. He added that for some in the deaf community, cochlear implants are still controversial.

"Our hope is that this paper will allow providers, payers and most importantly patients to ... make more informed decisions about cochlear implantation," Gaylor wrote. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/Zn0UoC

(Reporting from New York by Genevra Pittman at Reuters Health; editing by Elaine Lies)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cochlear-implants-aid-adults-hearing-loss-study-001337859.html

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Belgian national killed in Mexican resort of Acapulco

ACAPULCO (Reuters) - A Belgian man was shot dead in Mexico's Pacific resort city of Acapulco on Saturday, the latest episode of violence to strike one of the country's most important tourist destinations.

Acapulco police spokeswoman Gloria Mendez said the man, 58, resisted two assailants who were attempting to steal his convertible Mercedes Benz, one of whom shot him in the chest.

The shooting took place just minutes away from the city's landmark Princess hotel, site of next week's Mexico Open professional tennis tournament. Many players have already arrived, including tournament star attraction Rafael Nadal.

Mexico's interior ministry had announced earlier on Saturday that police had captured a top Acapulco cartel leader, Ricardo Reza, late Friday.

Earlier this month, six Spanish women were raped when hooded gunmen forced their way into the beach house they had rented.

Drug-related violence has been on the rise in Acapulco and last year the city was Mexico's murder capital.

(Reporting by Luis Enrique Martinez and David Alire Garcia)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/belgian-national-killed-mexican-resort-acapulco-035222651.html

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Antiquity Travelers: Shelter Pets :: My "Tooth Fairy" Dog

This is a blog that tells the stories behind the inspiration I find in creating jewelry. I grew up making beaded jewelry in the Pacific Northwest. But have moved coast to coast a few times from New York to San Francisco, back to New England. My inspiration comes from travel and exploration. My stories come from the people I've met, the places I've visited and my love of studying cultures and history.

Source: http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/2013/02/shelter-pets-my-tooth-fairy-dog.html

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Minnesota: Ground Zero for Democrats? Gun Confiscation Efforts? (Powerlineblog)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/282423764?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Israel suggests responsibility for Syria airstrike

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak gestures during a meeting at the Security Conference in Munich, southern Germany, on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. The 49th Munich Security Conference started Friday until Sunday with experts from 90 delegations. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak gestures during a meeting at the Security Conference in Munich, southern Germany, on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. The 49th Munich Security Conference started Friday until Sunday with experts from 90 delegations. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Ehud Barak, Defence Minister of Israel, left, gestures next to Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Security Conference, during a meeting at the Conference in Munich, southern Germany, on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. The 49th Munich Security Conference started Friday until Sunday afternoon with experts from 90 delegations. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, center, arrives for a meeting of the Security Conference in Munich, southern Germany, on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. The 49th Munich Security Conference started Friday until Sunday with experts from 90 delegations. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak gestures during a meeting at the Security Conference in Munich, southern Germany, on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. The 49th Munich Security Conference started Friday until Sunday with experts from 90 delegations. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

MUNICH (AP) ? Israel's defense minister indicated Sunday that his country was behind an airstrike on Syria that U.S. officials said targeted anti-aircraft weapons bound for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

It was the first public comment by an Israeli government official on the Wednesday strike.

"I cannot add anything to what you have read in the newspapers about what happened in Syria several days ago," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in Germany at a security conference with top diplomats and defense officials from around the world.

But then he went on to say: "I keep telling frankly that we said ? and that's proof when we said something we mean it ? we say that we don't think it should be allowed to bring advanced weapons systems into Lebanon." He spoke in English.

Israeli leaders in recent weeks have expressed a growing concern that Syria's civil war has led to President Bashar Assad losing his grip on the country and on its arsenal, including chemical weapons.

In Syria, Assad said during a meeting with a top Iranian official that his country could confront any aggression, his first comment on the airstrike.

"Syria, with the awareness of its people, the might of its army and its adherence to the path of resistance, is able to face the current challenges and confront any aggression that might target the Syrian people," Assad was quoted as saying by the state news agency SANA.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Saeed Jalili, Iran's top nuclear negotiator. Iran is Syria's closest regional ally and Jalili, on a three-day visit to Syria, has pledged Tehran's continued support for Assad's regime.

Syria has vowed to retaliate for the airstrike.

The chief of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards said Sunday that Tehran also hopes Syria will strike back against Israel. The report by the official IRNA news agency quoted Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari as saying:

"We are hopeful that Syria gives an appropriate response to the strike in the proper time."

The Syrian military has denied that the target of the attack was a weapons convoy. It said low-flying Israeli jets crossed into the country over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to target a military research center in the village of Jamraya, near Damascus.

U.S. officials have said the strike hit both the research center and a convoy of anti-aircraft weapons that was next to it. They said the weapons were bound for the Islamic militant group Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon, an ally of Syria and Iran.

Syrian television station Al-Ikhbariya TV on Saturday aired the first purported images of the targeted site, showing the twisted and battered remnants of cars, trucks and military vehicles.

A building appeared to have broken widows and damaged interiors, but no major structural damage. The caption said: "Consequences of the Israeli aggression on the Jamraya center."

In the days ahead of the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials repeatedly warned of the dangers of Syrian weapons falling into the hands of Hezbollah and other hostile elements in the region.

"Hezbollah from Lebanon and the Iranians are the only allies that Assad has left," Barak told the security conference. He also said that in his view, Assad's fall "is coming imminently" and when it happens, "this will be a major blow to the Iranians and Hezbollah."

"I think that they will pay the price," he said.

Syrian opposition leaders and rebels have criticized Assad for not responding to the airstrike, calling it proof of his weakness and acquiescence to the Jewish state.

Since the outbreak of the uprising against Assad 22 months ago, Israeli leaders have repeatedly expressed fears that if Syria were to disintegrate, Assad could lose control of his chemical weapons and other arms.

On Saturday night, Netanyahu, who is in the process of forming a new ruling coalition, said his new government would have to deal with weapons "being stockpiled near us and threatening our cities and civilians" ? an apparent reference to the deteriorating situation in Syria.

____

Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Barbara Surk in Beirut contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-03-Israel-Syria/id-8a9994e2ee554016a2d4683903833338

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That Obamacare magic (Powerlineblog)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/282523108?client_source=feed&format=rss

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The Wham Spot | Real Estate Property Managers

Working with a property management company can be a great resource for owners of residential, commercial, or industrial properties. Property management works the same as management in any other business by overseeing what needs to be accounted, monitored, and cared for with any type of real estate. We will work to locate quality residents who respect and care for the property and always pay on time. A property manager acts as a liaison between the owner and the tenant easing the responsibility of busy owners. Hiring a respected property management company can make real estate ownership easy. We have the experience and know-how to make every aspect of the process simple and painless. Take comfort in knowing that we will always treat your property as if we own it ourselves. Property Manager Alpine

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Source: http://www.thewahmspot.com/real-estate-property-managers/

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White House photo shows Obama skeet shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Two days before President Barack Obama's first trip outside Washington to promote his gun-control proposals, the White House tried Saturday to settle a brewing mystery by releasing a photo to back his claim to be a skeet shooter.

Obama had set inquiring minds spinning when, in an interview with The New Republic magazine, he answered "yes" when asked if he had ever fired a gun. The admission came as a surprise to many.

"Yes, in fact, up at Camp David, we do skeet shooting all the time," Obama said in the interview released last weekend, referring to the official presidential retreat in rural Maryland, which he last visited in October while campaigning for re-election. Asked whether the entire family participates, the president said: "Not the girls, but oftentimes guests of mine go up there."

Obama never mentioned skeet shooting prior to that interview.

The White House photo released Saturday is dated Aug. 4, 2012. The caption says Obama is shooting clay targets on the range at Camp David. Obama is seen holding a gun against his left shoulder, his left index finger on the trigger and smoke coming from the barrel. He is wearing jeans, a dark blue, short-sleeved polo shirt, sunglasses and earmuffs.

The National Rifle Association, which has rejected Obama's proposals, scoffed at the photo.

"One picture does not erase a lifetime of supporting every gun ban and every gun-control scheme imaginable," said Andrew Arulanandam, the organization's spokesman.

The NRA opposes Obama's call for Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines and says requiring background checks for all gun purchases would be ineffective because the administration isn't doing enough to enforce existing gun laws.

Asked at Monday's press briefing how frequently Obama shoots skeet and whether photos existed, White House press secretary Jay Carney said he didn't know how often. Pictures may exist, he said, but he hadn't seen any.

"Why haven't we heard about it before?" Carney was asked.

"Because when he goes to Camp David, he goes to spend time with his family and friends and relax, not to produce photographs," Carney said.

Obama is accompanied almost everywhere by at least one White House photographer.

Carney declined to comment on the decision to release the photo, which he had announced on Twitter. The release appeared to be part of a strategy to portray Obama as sympathetic to gun owners and opponents of his gun-control measures who argue the proposals would infringe on an individual's Second Amendment right to bear arms.

A top official with the National Skeet Shooting Association said the photo suggests Obama is a novice shooter.

"This isn't something he's done very often because of how he's standing, how he has the gun mounted," said Michael Hampton, executive director of the San Antonio-based association.

Hampton said Obama's remark about "skeet shooting all the time" and the White House photo would have met less skepticism had the president spoken about his hobby months before this new debate over guns in the U.S.

"Once it becomes controversial and there's problems, to talk about it then, that's where it becomes very debatable and is not being received as well as if he would have done this six months ago," Hampton said.

In interview, appearing in The New Republic's Feb. 11 issue, Obama said gun-control advocates should be better listeners in the debate over firearms, which was sparked by the December killing of elementary school pupils in Connecticut. He also declared his deep respect for the long tradition of hunting in this country.

"I have a profound respect for the traditions of hunting that trace back in this country for generations. And I think those who dismiss that out of hand make a big mistake," Obama said. "Part of being able to move this forward is understanding the reality of guns in urban areas are very different from the realities of guns in rural areas. And if you grew up and your dad gave you a hunting rifle when you were 10, and you went out and spent the day with him and your uncles, and that became part of your family's traditions, you can see why you'd be pretty protective of that."

"So it's trying to bridge those gaps that I think is going to be part of the biggest task over the next several months. And that means that advocates of gun control have to do a little more listening than they do sometimes," Obama said.

His gun control measures also have met resistance on Capitol Hill.

In Minneapolis on Monday, Obama plans to make remarks and discuss his proposals with local and law enforcement officials during a stop at the police department's special operations center. He's also expected to hear from community members about their experiences with gun violence.

Obama announced his proposals in mid-January, about a month after the Dec. 14 shooting deaths of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

___

Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-photo-shows-obama-skeet-shooting-233507241--politics.html

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2012 Directors Guild Award Winner Announced

Janson Jinnistan

You know directors direct actors, not write stories. Affleck had no responsibility for writing the "story" of "Argo", but he was responsible for directing performances and choosing the best takes. The best directors this year were not nominated here - the Andersons, Dominik, Carax and Tarantino. Out of the nominees, I'd say it was probably Lee who deserves it most.

Feb 3 - 01:52 PM

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1926772/news/1926772/

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Game-Changing Internet Promotion Tips For Business Success ...

The future of the advertising field is Affiliate marketing, so it?s not going anywhere. These useful tips can help you to earn more profit.

Encourages sales by presenting products in a positive way. Tell people about the benefits that they will receive and the goals that they can reach by purchasing what you have to sell. If you exude confidence in your customers, they will pick up on that.

Create an FAQ page to help out your Internet marketing endeavors. Offer an answer to each question, and mention products you offer as a solution to the problem when it is appropriate. Also, use questions that allow you to mention products that you sell.

TIP! You should spend time researching the design basics of website building before starting your own site. There are plenty of guides online that will teach you almost everything you need to know about HTML and CSS to get your web design training off on the right foot.

For any strong and effective marketing plan, excellent content is the foundation. It is in your best interest to constantly monitor your content and make sure your customers are getting the information you want. Have someone else look over your content, too. A brand new outlook on things is very useful! Last of all, you must ensure that you do a spell check and a grammar check of your content in order to catch and correct any errors.

Try to understand your competitors. There?s nothing stopping you from loading up the websites of your competitors and checking out how they operate. You can estimate the number of visitors they get and that can tell you how yours is doing in comparison.

Keep an eye on your competitors, and learn from what they are doing. If you can picture yourself buying from them, they are being successful and you should try to incorporate some of their techniques into your own strategy.

TIP! For effective internet marketing, it is crucial to stay abreast of what your competitors are doing. There is competition for every niche that you could possibly work in.

Create a website adapted to your target audience. Write articles your audience will be interested in and adopt a tone your customers can relate to. Encourage people to leave feedback or comments. Ask friends or family, or even ask for comments from those in a marketing forum. Engage in a lot of research in order to develop a site that truly has value for the people visiting it.

Listen to what people are looking for and create a niche that satisfies that need. How will this help? This can help you to improve the quality of peoples lives. Identify issues your target audience can relate to and develop a discourse that presents your products or services as an efficient solution. Doing so can help you find the perfect niche and even let you come up with a great mission statement.

Try offering to put a portion of every purchase toward a relevant charity if that is something that will appeal to your audience. Advertise this very clearly, but not excessively. The percentage of your profits doesn?t need to be huge to help your marketing.

TIP! To attract the right people to your site, know who you are aiming to reach out to, and what you will need to do that. Once you are familiar with your audience, it will be easier for you to create and manage content that will keep them coming back.

Place keywords in your internal links. Keep visitors on your site by linking to other related content on your site. Internal links are a free way to advertise to current customers and to help get you more hits from other advertising avenues.

Competition is a key to being successful at Internet promotion. Research what your competition is doing and the things that are helping them as well as hurting them. There is a lot that you can get from watching others. Checking out competitors can help you avoid mistakes they?ve made and set yourself apart from them.

TIP! You are always going to need some sort of tag line and logo, no matter the size of your company. You customers will remember you by how you portray your brand.

To make a great impression for first-time customers, think about offering a $1 sale or other promotion just for new clients. This can increase talk about your site, and it might encourage new traffic. It also helps to build brand recognition. Visitors will often purchase items now, rather than waiting for a future window. Stay confident in your product, as this can rub off on your customer.

This article emphasizes the fact that knowledge is the key to Website marketing. Hopefully, the information you?ve just taken in has sparked a few new ideas that you can use to make your Online marketing more effective and profitable. You can make your business more popular and profitable by employing all of the applicable advice you?ve just read.

Blogging is a superb Online marketing tool. Your blog becomes a supply of strategies and information. It?s so manageable during my use of the Empower Network blogging method ? a strong, authority blog, already configured, positioned for you to begin making use of. Chances are you will even choose to become a member of the a very large number us using it to make revenue. To learn more regarding this blogging system everyone is referring to Click This Link: http://www.PowerOfBlogging.com

Source: http://www.empowernetwork.com/kfreebern/game-changing-internet-promotion-tips-for-business-success/

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How Email Forever Changed Marketing ? The Email Marketing ...

Email was a big deal when it first came to prominence.

Electronic message delivery had been around for decades in various forms, but email messaging across the Internet gained widespread acceptance around the mid 1990s.

Since this time people have been able to send and receive messages with personal inboxes with just a connection to the Internet.

Today, email remains as popular as ever with around?90% of all Internet users active with email.

It?s a powerful channel and because of email?s wide acceptance email has been a key component of marketing since its inception.

In this post we?ll cover how email changed marketing forever and how you can use email marketing to achieve your business goals.

A History of Marketing

Before the Internet there were a few basic mediums for communicating marketing messages with consumers.

Television was a big medium and remains one of the biggest today. People watch television programs and see advertising in the form of commercials and product placement.

There was the in-person salesperson. You could walk into a store and deal directly with someone that was tasked with selling you a product. Some salespeople would even go door-to-door to sell their wares.

Direct mail is another large medium. Up until the early 2000s the catalog industry was a booming industry. Companies could send various pieces of marketing information in the mail enticing consumers to make purchases. Direct mail remains a big area of focus today for many companies even with growing concern surrounding the USPS.

When email took off in the ?90s it was a game changer.

The Original Marketing Email

Email changed marketing in a few ways.

Sending a marketing message to consumers became nearly instant. Lead-time to design and print and send a catalog was trimmed down to designing the message and hitting send from the email provider.

Consumers used to see an ad on TV and become interested in a product. They would have to visit the store. With email the consumer could click on an item and immediately make a purchase on an ecommerce site.

Even with the change in timing, email marketing most closely emulated direct marketing. Email would take on the look of a page in the catalog page. The copy would tell a story and sell the recipient on the product being featured.

Even today email is used in this way, but the methods are continuing to evolve and get more interest in terms of marketing.

The Ongoing Evolution of Email

Email continues to evolve today. Perhaps the most significant change recently is the increase in email use on mobile devices.

You can?t walk down the street today without seeing people looking at their phones checking their emails.

Everyone is constantly connected to the Internet and to the inbox.

The mobile trend has already had a few major impacts on email marketing.

First, the screen is smaller (obviously) so there is less room for a design to capture the interest of the consumer. Marketers and designers have to get creative with a marketing email design. Scale matters. Only the most important call-to-action may be included in an email design.

Second, there are more outside distractions for mobile users. Marketers used to know that when a consumer checked their email they were sitting at a desk in a home or office. There aren?t too many distractions in that setting.

When consumers are on the move with their phone there are more distractions. People are around and life is taking place everywhere. There is a higher premium on having an email that grabs attention.

But these are opportunities for the best marketers. Mobile presents a great opportunity for email to become an even larger part of the marketing mix. You can reach consumers no matter where they are and you have more access to their time than ever before.

By building an email list you get permission to market to your target consumers. Those that build their email lists today will benefit in the long run.

The Future of Email Marketing

Email changed the changed marketing forever. Messaging from business to consumer (or business to business) became more of an instant gratification. There was no longer a wait for a catalog to arrive in the mail.

Email continues to evolve itself today with the increase in mobile use?amungst?consumers. There is more demand to be interesting and to stand out.

Presently, email is as important as ever but what will the?email marketing of the future?look like?

About the Author:?Scott Hardigree is Founder of?Indiemark?and Co-founder of?BrightSpeed. You can connect with him everywhere,?here.

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Source: http://blog.indiemark.com/2013/01/31/how-email-forever-changed-marketing/

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Ahead Of Expansion, Lyft Parent Zimride Closed $15M In New Funding From Founders Fund And Existing Investors

It?s been a pretty big news day for Lyft, but let?s make it even bigger. TechCrunch has learned that Zimride, parent company behind the ride-sharing service, has closed a new, $15 million round of funding led by Founders Fund. Existing investors Mayfield Fund, K9 Ventures, and Floodgate also participated in the round.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/7uVR2yPRTcY/

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