White House: Apps for key government services coming within a year

10 hrs.

Suzanne Choney

With more of us relying?on our phones and the hundreds of?thousands of apps available to help manage our lives, the Obama administration Wednesday issued a directive to?every federal agency to make "two key government services the American people depend on available on mobile phones?within the next 12 months."

"Americans deserve a government that works for them anytime, anywhere, and on any device," said President Barack Obama in a statement.?

The plan is part of a larger effort announced Wednesday to make "large amounts of government data more easily accessible to the public to spur entrepreneurs to develop innovative new services and mobile applications that take advantage of this data, creating new opportunities, businesses and jobs in the process. These actions are part of a larger digital strategy being implemented by the Administration?? a roadmap that will guide the Federal government as it makes the most of new sources of digital information."?

"Mobile is rapidly becoming the platform of choice for Americans; it is now anticipated that by 2015 more people will be accessing the Internet via mobile phones than via traditional desktop computer," the White House said in a?statement. "By next spring, the American people will be able to access dozens of additional government services on their mobile phones for the first time."

There are hundreds of federal agencies, so the task will be formidable.?In the?directive, the administration points to some successful examples already done by cities around the country, including San Francisco.

The City of San Francisco releases its raw public transportation data on train routes, schedules, and to-the-minute location updates directly to the public through web services This has enabled citizen developers to write over 10 different mobile applications to help the public navigate San Francisco?s public transit systems???more services than the city could provide if it focused on presentation development rather than opening the data publicly through web services.

Part of the directive calls for launching a "shared mobile application development program, in conjunction with the Federal CIO Council, that will help agencies develop secure, device-agnostic mobile applications, provide a development test environment to streamline app delivery, foster code-sharing, and validate official government applications."

U.S. Chief Information Officer?Steven VanRoekel said, in a statement, that it is "critical that the federal government keep up with the way the American people do business. Already, families can use government apps to check the wait time at the airport, get access to critical veteran services, and check the status of their tax return. Today?s directive will accelerate our drive to make key services easily accessible to more Americans than ever."

Apps are indeed becoming more relevant in some ways than the Internet; the mobile programs are how more and more of us are getting information, according to a recent report from the Pew Research Center?Internet & American Life Project and The Imagining the Internet Center at Elon University.

While the government effort is ambitious, security concerns ? a growing issue with mobile phones that have increasingly sophisticated operating systems???are noted in the directive, called "Digital Government: Building a 21st Century Platform to Better Serve the American People":

The rate of change of mobile operating systems, new update and notification capabilities from external hardware and software vendors, diversity of the devices themselves, and introduction of employee-owned devices (BYOD) also make security in the mobile space more challenging than in a traditional desktop environment and require new approaches to continuously monitor and manage devices and secure the data itself.

Check out Technolog, Gadgetbox, Digital Life and In-Game on?Facebook,?and on Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.

elisabeth hasselbeck fran drescher scarlett o hara pat sajak vanna white michael robinson joe paterno memorial service

The Karl Post Home Improvement ? Blog Archive ? Choose Storage ...

When was the last time you know exactly where to find something in your garage? If your garage is more like a black hole of tools missing from a productive workspace, it may be time to repair a garage full of storage hardware at hand. Organized a garage is considered a major asset for many because it provides space to work and save big mess, items are not used outside of the house in an area protected against the elements. Galvanized steel cabinets and storage racks are probably the most popular equipment for the garage. The metal is strong enough to hold heavy items such as toolboxes, garden tools and paint cans, while being light enough to move easily when needed. Another storage broom closet is a good choice of material for the garage, because there are usually many items such as high brooms, mops, rakes and shovels that need to be locked into one place. If you are not lucky enough to have your own garage, you can consider building a small cabin, equipped with a complete storage system to withstand external supplies and goods of the house used. If you love your garden trend, you might consider building a potting shed with special equipment such as shelves and drawers to keep a low seed and keep your soil healthy. Before building a storage solution such equipment you will need to clean the garbage cluttering your home or garage, leaving only what you use to.

There are different elements of different shapes and sizes; you may want to keep in your garage, so it is important to your garage to be held in a versatile and flexible. Versatile accessories such as hooks mounted high on the ceiling, built in cabinets and wall hooks can be used to store various objects such as bicycles, gardening tools, old toys, lawnmowers and pool equipment. By installing a series of versatile machines in your garage, it should be easy for you to give everything for you cluttered garage. If you actually use your garage to park your car then you will need a storage device that cleans the floor space by mounting equipment and other accessories on the walls. A special unit has garage wall storage solutions for large equipment, and can even be used around the house to give the organization the opportunity easily. These panels are usually made with heavy duty PVC to provide a high level of strength and finish, clean attractive

john wayne gacy amr jack del rio fired jack del rio fired made in america made in america icam

Sidecar comes out of beta, reinvents phone calls

Smartphones have revolutionized how we communicate and the way we create, share and consume content. Yet there's one aspect of using these devices that remains stuck in the last millennium, and that's the calling experience -- yes, apparently some people still make phone calls. Sure, there are plenty of VoIP and video calling apps out there, but few are simple and beautiful.

Enter Sidecar, a free app which aims to reinvent the way we make phone calls by adding messaging as well as real-time video, photo, location and contact sharing to that antiquated calling experience. It achieves this through an intuitive and polished user interface plus a handful of standards such as SIP and XMPP. Phone calls between Sidecar users are free anywhere in the world -- the app even supports free WiFi calling to any number in the US or Canada.

While Sidecar's been available in beta on Android for several weeks, it's launching on iOS today with support for the iPhone and iPod touch. We've been using the app on and off for a few days on several handsets, including a Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ and an iPhone 4S and it works exactly as described. Looking for additional details? Check out the demo video and full PR after the break.

Gallery: Sidecar for iOS

Continue reading Sidecar comes out of beta, reinvents phone calls

Sidecar comes out of beta, reinvents phone calls originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Google Play store, iTunes Store  | Email this | Comments

si swimsuit 2012 westminster dog show abe lincoln vampire hunter jeremy lin xi jinping matt bomer westminster kennel club dog show

From the Writer's Desk: A before-and-after side-by-side look at how a story is made

In the series, ?From The Writer?s Desk,? I?ll describe what I do for a living as a writer and ideas I have for advancing my craft.

The stories you read often seem the sole work of the writer named in the byline. In reality, stories often go through many incarnations as part of a collaboration between the writer of a story and the editors who represent what their readers want and need.

Here I share with you the first and published versions of ?Herding Schrodinger?s Cats,? my first story for NOVA?s physics blog ?The Nature of Reality,? as well as my comments on revisions. Hopefully you?ll find them interesting.

I would recommend first reading my first version, then the published version, and then compare them side-by-side with my comments. ?The Nature of Reality? is very conversational in tone, so you will get to see how my voice as a writer gets revised to also fit the voice of the blog. Also, since this is my first piece for ?The Nature of Reality,? you will get to see how a story from a writer new to a publication can get revised to fit the storytelling needs of that publication.

Much thanks to PBS for allowing me the opportunity to do this!

reason rally mad hatter azerbaijan ryan howard ps i love you ray charles cheney heart transplant

Social Media Marketing Can Create Your Model | Honest Reviews ...

Every business requires a secure along with reliable manufacturer that draws customers in via search engines along with social sites. Without effective branding, the website that you just own is in tens of thousands, and you may become losing out to a more effective advertising campaign from your opponents. The recent proliferation of marketing in media and particularly in social network sites is somewhat as a response to the requirement for more internet connections between the firm and their customers, and partially because the company has seen the opportunity to straight market their goods to the public.

Working with social media marketing sites can be an entertaining strategy for spending a few hours, but if you?re seriously dedicated to the idea of social media marketing, then you need to seriously intensify an equipment, and put any committed social media strategy in to effect. Having a strategy will help you lay programs and work out what is the best for your website, as well as the image that you want to present to the world. The latter question for you is the most important, since the majority people accomplish not appreciate that the first impression coming from a social media site can have the major role in whether someone wants to make use of business, or not.

Making an excellent impression indicates clean, stylish design, a website without mess, and articles and other content which is related and engaging. Without having these aspects, your website is not likely to be grabbed by some other sites, and this is at the very least part of after that drive clients to your web page, and make them look at the issues that they are giving. If you do your own social media marketing correctly, then you will not only find yourself bringing in clients from the systems, but also much more from search engines like yahoo such as Google, and off their sites that you can not even know of. We are finest Internet marketing solution company within Chicago contending with social media marketing, video advertising, web development chicago, professional seo consultant, internet marketing solutions and lots a lot more.

There are many strategies to branding in media, such as blogging, using Facebook, or developing a forum on your website. These kinds of will all bring you buyers to your web site, and will cause them to become return once again. Using these types of social media marketing allows you to obtain the best from your web design, and will also permit you to make contact with people outside the regular sphere of your respective visitors. Extending your reach like this means that you can aquire a good reaction from several new customers who?d not recognize you except for your online profile.

For assistance together with setting up a web-based social media marketing, video advertising, web development chicago, professional seo consultant, internet marketing solutions and personalisation it properly, go to the web site http://www.agencysol.com as well as speak to certainly one of their design and style experts regarding your needs. Manufacturer Go Reside helps you claim your manufacturer on More than 200 popular social support systems. The Social Media Marketing Specialists at ?Brand Go Live? will create on the internet properties for you. These are Warm social media components that have arrived at the top of the chart. Your social networking properties will probably be inter-linked, you gain inbound links from hundreds of networks with as many as 9 Google PageRank, many of us transfer almost everything we create for you and also you own it. Get more info by visiting the website. For more information, visit: http://www.agencysol.com/.

We are best Internet marketing solution company in Chicago dealing in web development chicago and lots more.

jerry angelo work it amy chua iowa gop meteor shower tonight annie oakley edc

Home and Family Articles: Catch Big Fishes with Best Fishing ...

As people know that there are many things about hobbies that are done by people in their life and some of the activities are done by people in order to search fun. Luckily, the fun activity that is done by people is about fishing whereas fishing can be done not only by kids, but also it can be done by teenagers and adult people. When people decide to do fishing, make sure that they are already holding the fishing equipments with them and there are plenty of fishing equipments that should be owned by people such as sage fly rods.Beside the equipment for fishing that should be brought by people, people should consider the types of fish that they want to catch whether it is small fish or big fish. When people want to catch big fish, it is better for them to go to the sea and do not forget the best equipments in fishing because big fishes often have great power that able beat the power of people with their equipments. One of interesting place for fisherman to get the equipments in fishing activity is in the trident fly fishing and in it; people can get hardy fly rods in various types and prices. The most favorite type of it that is bought by people in the recent time is about hardy zenith and it can be bought in the range price less than sixty hundred dollar.So people, everything is possible in life, including catch big fishes that are often regarded as difficult thing when fishing because people are already found the best place to get best equipments to catch the fishes such as sage one in trident fly fishing. Finally, just get the equipments that you need because there are plenty of hungry fishes waiting for your fish bait.

msft etan patz obama dog doug hutchison larry brown kevin hart thomas kinkade

Iran's Ahmadinejad to visit as China slams new sanctions

BEIJING (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit China in June for a security summit and discuss his country's disputed nuclear programme with Chinese President Hu Jintao, a senior diplomat said on Wednesday, criticizing new sanctions aimed at Iran.

Ahmadinejad will be attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting hosted by Beijing in June, China's Vice Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping told reporters at a briefing. The SCO is a regional security forum that groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and which Iran is attending as an observer.

The summit will likely be overshadowed by the presence of Ahmadinejad, whose country is at the centre of a standoff with the West over its nuclear programme.

"Certainly, during his meeting with President Hu, the Iran nuclear issue will be an important talking point," Cheng said.

Ahmadinejad's visit to China takes on particular significance as China is a veto-wielding permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and has resisted U.S. demands for sanctions on Iran.

Iran, OPEC's second-largest producer, exports most of its 2.2 million barrels of oil per day to Asia, home to its four main customers: China, Japan, India and South Korea.

All four nations have cut back on their purchases, dissuaded by a previous package of U.S. financial sanctions due to take effect at the end of June as well as an EU oil embargo and a ban on shipping insurance, which take effect on July 1.

The U.S. Senate unanimously approved on Monday a package of new economic sanctions on Iran's oil sector.

Iran is under increasing pressure to curb its nuclear programme and its security council chief is due to hold talks in Iraq later on Wednesday with six world powers - the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) earlier announced it was close to a deal to unblock monitoring of Iran's suspected work on a nuclear weapon, a positive sign before the six big powers meet Iran's security council chief.

China has repeatedly urged a negotiated solution to the dispute over Tehran's atomic activities, which Western governments say appear aimed at mastering the means to make nuclear weapons. Tehran says those activities are peaceful.

Asked about new U.S. and European Union sanctions targeting Iran's crucial oil exports, Cheng repeated China's opposition to what it views as unilateral moves made outside the framework of the United Nations.

"We strictly follow the relevant U.N. resolutions on the Iran nuclear issue. But at the same time, China opposes using bilateral sanctions to force other countries or to harm other countries from normal trading with Iran," he said.

While Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao warned Tehran in January against any effort to acquire nuclear weapons, Beijing has generally been reticent about publicly warning Iran or even firmly suggesting that Tehran might want to develop the means to develop nuclear weapons.

Communist Party mouthpiece the People's Daily warned in a commentary on Wednesday that increased U.S. pressure on Iran risked worsening the crisis.

"The United States still has a lot of room for maneuver on the Iran nuclear issue. But ... stubbornly sticking to confrontation will most likely lead to new strategic misjudgments," it wrote.

The People's Daily commentary was published under the pen name "Zhong Sheng", meaning "Voice of China", which is often used to give the paper's view on foreign policy issues.

(Additional reporting by Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Eric Meijer)

bruno mars best new artist 2012 grammys foo fighters nikki minaj grammys album of the year

New frog species from Panama dyes fingers yellow

ScienceDaily (May 22, 2012) ? A new bright yellow frog species has been found in the mountains of western Panama. The frog belongs to a species-rich group of frogs, the so called rainfrogs that lack a tadpole stage, but develop directly as little frogs inside the egg.

The frog, that measures less than 2 cm, was discovered by Andreas Hertz and his colleagues, who are reptile and amphibian specialists at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt am Main; Germany. They discovered it in 2010 during several field trips to the Serran?a de Tabasar? of western Panama a highly understudied part of the Panamanian central mountain range.

"Although we recognized that the male mating call of this species differs from all what we had heard before and therefore suspected it to be new, much effort was involved to finally spot it in the dense vegetation," said Hertz. "When we finally caught the first individuals by hand, we noticed that it dyes one's fingers yellow when it is handled. The scientific name (Diasporus citrinobapheus) of this new frog refers to this characteristic and means yellow dyer rainfrog."

To assure the validity of the frog as a new species, the biologists studied body structure, coloration, molecular genetic data, and vocalizations of a series of individuals, and compared the results with the data derived from closely related species.

Additionally, the researchers took into consideration the possibility that the yellow stain may be poisonous and performed an analysis of skin secretions. "We cannot say whether the dye is any good as a predatory defence, as we could not find any poisonous components. Maybe the colour is just easily washed out and has no particular function. However, for now, this peculiarity of the new species remains enigmatic." said Hertz.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Pensoft Publishers.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Andreas Hertz, Frank Hauenschild, Sebastian Lotzkat, Gunther Koehler. A new golden frog species of the genus Diasporus (Amphibia, Eleutherodactylidae) from the Cordillera Central, western Panama. ZooKeys, 2012; 196 (0): 23 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.196.2774

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

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

big ten acc challenge 2011 john wayne gacy amr jack del rio fired jack del rio fired made in america made in america

HBT: Red Sox's Ross breaks foot, out indefinitely

Cody Ross, who?s been playing every day in the Red Sox?s outfield because of injuries to Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury, is now joining them on the disabled list with a fractured bone in his left foot.

There?s no timetable yet for his return, but manager Bobby Valentine indicated to reporters that the Red Sox definitely expect him to play again this season.

Ross was hitting .271 with eight homers and an .883 OPS in 37 games, so taking his bat out of the lineup is a big loss and the Red Sox?s outfield is now extremely thin. However, one non-negative to the injury is that it makes things easier on the Red Sox when it comes to activating Kevin Youkilis from the DL, which can now presumably be done without sending Will Middlebrooks back to the minors and may lead to one of them?or perhaps even Adrian Gonzalez?seeing action in the outfield.

That?s just me speculating, of course, and in the meantime the Red Sox are starting Daniel Nava, Marlon Byrd, and Che-Hsuan Lin in the outfield tonight versus the Orioles. And outfielders now on Boston?s disabled list include Ross, Crawford, Ellsbury, Darnell McDonald, Jason Repko, and Ryan Kalish.

war horse k cups best buy we bought a zoo we bought a zoo ipad accessories port charlotte florida

Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate

Cedar Cove is a waterfront community on?Lake Murray, SC. Homes here have prices from $127,000 to $190,000. While most of the homes have three bedrooms, some homes do have two bedrooms. Square footage ranges between 1460 feet and 2450 feet. Lexington/Richland Five is the school district for Cedar Cove. The association fees include access to a clubhouse, common area maintenance, tennis courts, lake access and a community pond.

SEARCH CEDAR COVE LISTINGS

Cedar Cove is about five miles away from downtown Chapin when taking US-76 E. If one was to continue taking US-76 E from Cedar Cove for eight miles, one would reach downtown Irmo. Ballentine Market and its plentiful shops and eateries is about halfway between Cedar Cove and Irmo.

Lake Murray in South Carolina, with its 500 miles of shoreline, was created in the 1930?s to address the increased need for electrical power in the area and is central located in the State centered between Lexington, SC, Irmo, SC, Chapin, SC and Saluda, SC. The Lake is now a famous destination for a wealth of water related activities, to include sailing, kayaking/canoeing, fishing, and motor boating activities; jet skiing; scuba diving; or just swimming. With Dreher Island State Park located on the lake, there are also camping and hiking opportunities. There are also several smaller parks along the lakes edge, as well as marinas, sailing clubs, and even restaurants. ?On the 4th of July every year, there is an annual boat parade on Lake Murray that is quite spectacular.? Each of the cities around the Lake has their unique qualities with Lexington, SC providing the most shopping and dining opportunities. With Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina, not far away, those who enjoy the luxuries of a big city have access to museums, theatres, fabulous dining, and shopping, as well as a variety of outdoor activities, to include the zoo and botanical gardens. Living on Lake Murray in South Carolina is the most wonderful way to start and end each day with other entertainment options not far away.

Lake Murray SC Real Estate Services
Our Local Realtors and Network of Colleagues?offer the best Internet Marketing Visibility for your Listed Properties - Exit Real Estate Consultants is your local expert in all your Real Estate needs in Lake Murray South Carolina. You have access to the most comprehensive MLS Listing Service with free access and?advanced tools for Real Estate Buyers and Sellers - put us to work for you; our service will impress you! (803) 358-0888.

local link: Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate
local blog: Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate
Sold REC blog: Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate
EXIT REC page: Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate
Hub REC blog: Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate
EXIT Midsouth blog: Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate
EXIT Mid-Atlantic blog: Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate
EXIT Virginia blog: Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate
EXIT Realty Southern California blog: Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate
EXIT Carolinas blog: Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate
Real Town blog: Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate
A Greater Town blog: Cedar Cove Homes For Sale - Lake Murray SC Real Estate

bully bohemian rhapsody bohemian rhapsody spike lee carson daly heejun han donovan mcnabb

Brent recovers towards $108 on possible China growth stimulus

[ [ [['A picture is worth a thousand words', 5]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/why-facebook-bought-instagram-4-theories-160400376.html', '[Related: Why Facebook bought Instagram: 4 theories]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 9]], 'http://contributor.yahoo.com/join/yahoonews_virginiabeach', '[Did you witness the jet crash? Share your story with Yahoo! News]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Dick Clark', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/dick-clark-dies-at-82-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/c/21/c217c61aa2d5872244c08caa13c16ec5.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'Reuters', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

final four 2012 bridesmaids winning lottery numbers megamillions winner kansas jayhawks mega millions results louisville

Twitter and ESPN Plan Branded Campaigns Around TV Sports

May 15th, 2012

By Cotton Delo, Jason Del Rey
AdAge

Twitter is looking to cash in on the sky-high volume of tweets about sports on TV, launching a partnership with ESPN to create custom campaigns for brands around events like the World Series and the Super Bowl.

The two companies are announcing the first program, called GameFace, at ESPN?s upfront Tuesday morning. GameFace will center around the NBA Finals and be promoted on Twitter with the #GameFace hashtag. The social-TV dimension calls for the hashtag and program to be promoted on-screen during ABC?s live broadcasts of the NBA Finals, as well as on ESPN?s ?NBA Tonight? show.

The goal of this initial campaign is to get fans to tweet photos of their best ?game face? accompanied by the dedicated hashtag. At the end of each game of the finals, ?NBA Tonight? studio analysts will display some of the top contest photographs on air. Some photos will also get exposure at ESPN.com/NBA.

Read more: http://adage.com/article/mediaworks/twitter-espn-plan-branded-campaigns-tv-sports/234761/

china gdp looper dont trust the b in apartment 23 johnny damon kirk cameron friday the 13th news 10

Minnesota grand jury indicts right-to-die group

By STEVE KARNOWSKI
Associated Press

HASTINGS, Minn. (AP) - A Minnesota grand jury has indicted a national right-to-die group and several members for their actions in the 2007 suicide of a suburban Minneapolis woman, prosecutors announced Monday.

The 17-count indictment charges the medical director of Final Exit Network, Lawrence Egbert of Baltimore, and three other officials with felony counts of assisting suicide and interference with a death scene, a gross misdemeanor. It also charged the New Jersey-based group in its corporate capacity.

"This investigation and prosecution is not a politically motivated attack on the right-to-die movement," Dakota County prosecutor James Backstrom said at a news conference. "Rather, it is an effort to bring to justice a corporation and several of its officers and volunteers who we are alleging advised, encouraged or assisted Doreen Dunn in the taking of her own life on May 30, 2007, in violation of Minnesota law."

Officials with First Exit Network have said they acted within the law and within their free speech rights when they counseled Dunn. She was 57 when she committed suicide at her Apple Valley home after suffering through a decade of intense, chronic pain following a medical procedure that went wrong. She died of asphyxia from inhaling helium, which Backstrom said is the method the group generally recommends.

Minnesota law prohibits aiding, advising or encouraging a suicide, and Backstrom said he's obligated to enforce that.

"If the people of our state wish to authorize assisted suicide, this should be done through clearly defined laws enacted by the Minnesota Legislature with proper restrictions and requirements to ensure the protection of a terminally ill patient and with the direct involvement of the patient's physician and family," he said.

The indictment names Egbert, 84; Jerry Dincin, 81, of Highland Park, Ill.; Roberta Massey, 66, of Bear, Del.; and Thomas Goodwin, 65, of Punta Gorda, Fla. Backstrom said Egbert and Dincin traveled to Minnesota to be with Dunn on the day she died, and that they likely dumped the equipment she used to kill herself in a trash bin on their way back to the airport.

Wendell Stephenson, the president of Final Exit Network and a philosophy instructor at Fresno City College in California, said he thought the indictments were "almost certainly misplaced."

"We do not assist in suicide. We do not violate the laws in assisting suicide. We are very careful about that," he said.

He added: "The taxpayers' money is being badly wasted in trying to prosecute us. They wasted it in Georgia. They wasted it in Arizona."

Final Exit Network is run by volunteers who help U.S. residents who "are suffering from intolerable medical circumstances, are mentally competent, (and) want to end their lives," according to the New Jersey-based group's website. It does not require that people who seek its help be terminally ill, and Dunn was not.

The group says Minnesota's law is unconstitutional because it violates freedom of speech by preventing it from educating people on how to commit suicide. It also contends on its website that it's careful to avoid crossing the line into assisting suicides. It says volunteers may attend deaths to provide emotional support, but they don't provide the means for members to kill themselves and they don't provide physical assistance in doing so.

A ruling is expected within the next couple of months on a free-speech challenge to Minnesota's statute in another case. The Minnesota Court of Appeals heard oral arguments last month in the case of an ex-nurse who stalked online suicide chat rooms and was convicted of encouraging two depressed people to kill themselves.

An autopsy in 2007 concluded Dunn died of coronary artery disease and noted that she had suffered from chronic pain. It did not list her death as a suicide.

Dakota County and Apple Valley police began investigating her death after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation sent a letter to other law enforcement agencies in 2009 about a criminal case there. Charges against four Last Exist Network members were dismissed when the Georgia Supreme Court ruled in February that the state's ban on suicide assistance ads was an unconstitutional restriction on speech.

Last year in Arizona, a jury found Egbert, the medical director, not guilty of conspiring to assist in a suicide. The jury deadlocked in the case of a volunteer accused of assisting and conspiring to assist in the same suicide. Massey and another volunteer pleaded guilty to misdemeanors.

None of the four defendants were in custody. Backstrom said they would have to appear in court for arraignment at some point or face extradition. Backstrom said Minnesota sentencing guidelines call for up to a year in jail for the four defendants if convicted on the felony charges.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

kyle orton kyle orton ncaa tournament schedule black and tan dwight howard trade ncaa bracket 2012 2012 ncaa bracket

How to Choose Reliable Pest Control Mesa AZ Providers

It is but normal to have reservations about pest control Mesa AZ companies especially when it is your first time to hire one. You should demand evidences such as a permission to operate duly signed by state authorities. In addition, make sure that such documents are current and valid.

Individuals working for pest control companies must appear formal and straightened out at all times. See to it that their vehicle and other instruments are kept within a safe distance from you and other members of your household. They should always wear protective covering.

If you know of anybody who had previously engaged pest control services, ask them for a recommendation. Narrow down your choices to at least three companies and consider their methods and customer services. You can also validate your options against the registry of pest control companies operating in your state.

Pest control personnel normally conduct routine examination of a building prior to actual treatment. Upon inspection, a description of the recommended treatment procedure will be provided to the client as well as the costs this entails. The initial examination normally entails a minimal fee.

A reputable pest control Mesa Arizona company would always provide you with a contract that states the name of the company, length of service, price and guarantee. Closely study the agreement document and ensure that everything is acceptable. Do not be afraid to ask questions before you sign on the line.

Expect pest control companies to provide an explanation of the damage that pests have done to your home. The more reliable companies will first conduct a rigorous examination before recommending any treatment. Seasoned pest control professionals are likely to do a good job controlling your house pests.

Getting the lowest price does not always guarantee the best deal. Evaluate their offers well particularly the kind of treatment they recommend. A cheap yet ineffective service will only lead to a recurring pest problem.

In most cases, chemicals will be used for the elimination of pests. Ask your service providers regarding the chemicals needed in the treatment of your home. Most of these chemicals are unsafe and you may need to take extra caution especially once that treatment has commenced.

Any reputable company will vouch for the superior quality of their pest treatment programs. Ask for a warranty card from your provider to be certain. Know your responsibilities and learn how to invoke the guarantee if needed.

Reliable pest control Mesa AZ companies should make recommendations for future prevention once the service is completed. In order to avoid any future infestation, pest prevention activities should be undertaken. Make sure your pest control company of choice is willing to make consultations as needed.

Need help for your pest problems? Visit my friend?s blog.

letter from santa sweet potato pie sweet potato pie twas the night before christmas norad santa epic beard man nfl standings

Help guide to Los Angeles Web Design and Pay Per Click Advertising

Online marketing has come a great distance and gives good possibilities to companies. In Los Angeles, web design and pay per click advertisement are two of the most valuable techniques utilized by numerous corporations, small or big. Read the following info on these techniques.

Web Design

Countless companies are utilising the net to market their merchandise and offerings. That is why it isn't enough to get a site; you will need to establish a competitive on the internet existence. This is how web design comes to the picture.

Web design is the name to illustrate the practice of improving a site. In a more particular feel, it refers back to the building of a web page's front-end. The web has plenty of internet pages that supply info with the aid of diverse technologies, and linked through hyperlinks.

Each site is made up of two areas: one that the end user visually communicates with, and the back-end that presents data for non-human browsers.

Regardless of what many people think, web design is not only just about the visible aspect of the web site. Additionally, it operates to enhance the functionality of the web site. It involves using keyword-optimized content to offer visitors straightforward search experience.

This information may be technically complex, especially when you don't have any history on info technology. That is why it is very important hire authorities to get greatest benefits. In Los Angeles, web design solutions are popular among website marketing corporations. They offer various packages to match the company needs and your personal preferences as the owner.

Pay Per Click

Pay per click is one of the most widely used forms of advertisement on the Internet.

The basic premise of PPC is corporations or advertisers pay the publishing websites when the sites' visitors click their ads. When advertisement in search engines, advertisers will bid on relevant keywords. The more popular the keywords are, the higher they will pay the search engines for every end user click.

An effective pay per click marketing goes hand in hand with web design. Here are some bits of advice to improve the benefits of your PPC marketing.

You have to organize your site so it is easy to navigate and provides what visitors came to find out. The structure of the pages should be well designed, as most on the internet visitors want quick benefits. It is also helpful to add a Contact Us section, and a section where visitors can ask questions about the service or merchandise.

Content is another important factor. This is the info you use in creating the product pages and in providing the description of the gives. Certain keywords are repeated in your content materials to optimize your pages for the search engines. You will also use these terms for your ad promotions. Search engines will index your site based on these keywords.

Search a reliable company specializing in web design and pay per click offerings to get a better edge in the on the internet word. Los Angeles is a good place to start searching for your service providers.

joseph kony joseph kony higgs boson ipad 3 release date apple store down apple live blog ohio primary

HTC EVO 4G updated with Sprint Connections Optimizer

Now approaching its second birthday, the original HTC EVO 4G has received an unexpected software update today, bringing it up to version 5.07.651.1. The only new addition in this version, according to Sprint's changelog, is the inclusion of the Sprint Connections Optimizer. For the uninitiated, this is an app which runs in the background and can switch between 3G, Wimax and Wifi based on location. For example, if you only have Wifi access at home or at work, you can set the Connections Optimizer to disable Wifi when you're not in either of those two locations. Obvious benefits include improvements to battery life, and the potential to reduce your reliance on cellular data.

Sprint expects this new firmware to be pushed out to all EVO 4G's within six weeks. To see if your update is ready, head to Settings > About phone > Software updates and hit the button.

More: Sprint (1, 2)

troy miracle andy whitfield kennedy demi moore roy oswalt kevin martin

Really, Yahoo. What Is Taking So Long?

When Yahoo hired Scott Thompson as CEO back in January, many at the company were surely hoping that they'd finally found the game-changing leader they'd so sorely needed for years. Now just four months later, Thompson is only serving to highlight the exact deep-rooted corporate sluggishness that he was meant to upend. There have been lots of rumors and reports about the progress of Just now, Yahoo issued a press release announcing it has "formed a special committee to conduct a thorough review of CEO Scott Thompson?s academic credentials." This is probably supposed to be a sign of progress, but it comes across as just the opposite. The release says that the "special committee and the entire Board appreciate the urgency of the situation," but do they really? This issue came to light on May 3. Today is May 8.

papa johns guacamole recipe jason wu for target underwood buffalo wings superbowl kick off time 2012 new york giants

Samsung Focus 2: Can a $50 Windows Phone Steal HTC, Nokia Thunder?

While Samsung created a lot of press buzz around its recently announced Galaxy S III Android smartphone, the company hasn't completely forgotten its Windows Phone line. Samsung on Monday revealed its latest Windows Phone device, the Focus 2.

justified southland sopa blackout protect ip act jim caldwell internet blackout jessica capshaw

Origin PC upgrading pre-Ivy Bridge orders with new silicon, asking nothing in return

Sure, you may need to shop around to find a replacement for that 11-inch number Dell pulled off the shelves, but that doesn't mean you need to miss out on a free Ivy Bridge upgrade. Origin PC tells us that it's offering the very same silicon swap as Dell to folks who pulled the trigger on any of its laptop and desktop PCs before Intel's big launch. If your order hasn't shipped yet, you're looking at an upgrade. Now if only we could find a manufacturer willing to hand out free GPU upgrades.

Origin PC upgrading pre-Ivy Bridge orders with new silicon, asking nothing in return originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 May 2012 06:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Origin PC  | Email this | Comments

rand paul mark kirk drew peterson florida gop debate freddie mac kristin cavallari jay cutler

Study: Our Smartphones Are Turning Us Into ?Real-Time Information Seekers And Problem Solvers?

Do you regularly use your cell phone to coordinate meetings, solve an unexpected problem, decide which restaurant to eat at, look up the score of a sporting event, check traffic, call help in an emergency situation or find information to help settle an argument? These activities make you a "just-in-time" cell user according to the latest study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. According to this report, 70% of all cell phone owners in the U.S. and 86% of smartphone owners have used their phones to perform at least one of these activities over the last 30 days.

weather channel noaa mike brown jacoby ellsbury jacoby ellsbury lionel richie morosini death

How would you change the LG DoublePlay?

It's almost baffling to see a modern Android smartphone with such an archaic design in a world more accustomed to the Galaxy Nexus. Still, LG's late-2011 DoublePlay has a slide-out physical keyboard and that dinky second screen which reminds us of a phone that's years out of date. However, when we reviewed it, we found it to be very useful, even if it lacked a front-facing camera and weighed a metric ton okay, 190 grams. But how about you? Some of you bought this phone, some of you love it, so how has it been? Tell us in the space below.

How would you change the LG DoublePlay? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 May 2012 22:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

brad and angelina herniated disc sacramento kings luke scott tom benson royals nicole richie

Chronicle of a trial foretold: Breivik is following his manifesto's script

Anders Behring Breivik's manifesto includes instructions on what a 'Templar' should do if tried in a European court.

Among the early headlines from the fourth day of the trial of Anders Behring Breivik for the murder of 77 people last July was that, for the first time, Mr. Breivik did not perform his now-familiar clenched-fist salute upon arrival at the court. Several families of Breivik's victims said they found the salute offensive, and his lawyers apparently were able to convince him to stop and avoid undermining his case.

Skip to next paragraph

But the drop of the salute is not only significant for its effect on his defense's strategy. It also marks a significant departure from Breivik's playbook: his 1,500-page manifesto. Breivik wrote extensively not only about his own beliefs about the alleged activities of "the Marxist tyrants of Europe" and the mission of the Knights Templar, or "Templars," the group to which he claims to belong. He also wrote a comprehensive set of instructions and guidelines for what a Templar should do if tried in a European court. He appears to be following it to the extent he is able.

Breivik wrote a short section on his salute, which he claims to be "the military salutation" of the Templars. He writes that the salute, which he recommends being performed in a white glove, symbolizes strength, purity, and resistance against "the Marxist tyrants of Europe." Interestingly, he claims the salute has nothing to do with either racist "white power" salutes or with the similar, open-palmed Nazi salute.

While Breivik's manifesto does not mention the salute specifically in reference to a trial, its use at trial fits closely into what Breivik argues is the best way to use trials: as propaganda. Breivik writes that after being captured, "the subsequent court proceedings may present several propaganda opportunities." He adds that "This trial is (from our point of view), not against you but rather a trial against the regime."

One of the key openings for propaganda that Breivik saw is the opportunity to present an opening and closing statement. Breivik includes a four-page sample opening statement, which he seemed to use as a source for his own.?

His sample draws parallels between the quest of the "Templars" and that of Native American leaders like Sitting Bull ? parallels he made on the first day of testimony in his own trial. As the Monitor reported, ?Were they terrorists for fighting for their indigenous culture ? or were they heroes?? Breivik asked the court. ?My acts are based on goodness, not evil,? he added. ?If anyone is vicious it is the Socialists.?

In the manifesto, Breivik also outlines a dress code for Templars, which he says should be adhered to in court. "Our dress uniform ... will be used for the sole?purpose of representing the authority of our military order and tribunal during trial," he writes. The uniform is to include a US Marine Corp dress jacket in dark blue or black, dress pants in the same color, and an extensive set of medals and decorations including epaulettes and Templar badges. Judging from the photos of his appearances in court, Breivik seems to have been following his own dress code as best he can, though he has appeared sans pseudo-military decorations.

In his game plan for Templar trial appearances, Breivik shows every expectation of losing. The heading for his sample closing statement reads: "Closing statement ? last day of trial, after judgment (guilty)." But he also expresses hope that the trial may lead to the introduction of stiffer criminal sentences, and perhaps even introduction of the death penalty, which is currently illegal in Norway.

The trial itself may not end up as anything else than a formality where the goal can be to change the law, forcing the parliament of that country to introduce the death penalty, or harshen the penal laws in other ways. Indirectly forcing the parliament of your country to change the laws will be an indirect victory to our movement because it will provide significant media coverage of our cause and thus will contribute to future recruitment efforts.

Breivik echoed this thinking during his second day of testimony, the Monitor reported.

?No, I don?t want [capital punishment], but I would have respected that,? he said, adding that if Norway doubled the current maximum sentence it would ?serve his cause? and ?prove Norway had thrown their principles out the window."

king cake george washington carver mardi gras fun. hepatitis c symptoms david bradley david foster wallace

Yahoo CEO faces calls for ouster after inaccuracy

In this Nov. 24, 2010 photo, then PayPal president Scott Thompson, who in January 2012 was named CEO of Yahoo Inc., poses for photos at PayPal's offices in San Jose, Calif. Yahoo shareholder and New York hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb questioned Thompson's qualifications and integrity after exposing a misrepresentation about the executive?s education. The fabrication confirmed by Yahoo Inc. on Thursday, May 3, 2012 gives Loeb more artillery as he tries to topple a board of directors favored by Thompson. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

In this Nov. 24, 2010 photo, then PayPal president Scott Thompson, who in January 2012 was named CEO of Yahoo Inc., poses for photos at PayPal's offices in San Jose, Calif. Yahoo shareholder and New York hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb questioned Thompson's qualifications and integrity after exposing a misrepresentation about the executive?s education. The fabrication confirmed by Yahoo Inc. on Thursday, May 3, 2012 gives Loeb more artillery as he tries to topple a board of directors favored by Thompson. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

In this Nov. 24, 2010 photo, then PayPal president Scott Thompson, who in January 2012 was named CEO of Yahoo Inc., poses for photos at PayPal's offices in San Jose, Calif. Yahoo shareholder and New York hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb questioned Thompson's qualifications and integrity after exposing a misrepresentation about the executive?s education. The fabrication confirmed by Yahoo Inc. on Thursday, May 3, 2012 gives Loeb more artillery as he tries to topple a board of directors favored by Thompson. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2010 file photo, then PayPal president Scott Thompson, who in January 2012 was named CEO of Yahoo Inc., speaks at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. Yahoo shareholder and New York hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb questioned Thompson's qualifications and integrity after exposing a misrepresentation about the executive?s education. The fabrication confirmed by Yahoo Inc. on Thursday, May 3, 2012 gives Loeb more artillery as he tries to topple a board of directors favored by Thompson. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Scott Thompson's reign as Yahoo's CEO is in jeopardy after just four months on the job because he allowed an inaccuracy about his academic credentials to recur for years.

A major Yahoo shareholder who exposed the fabrication is now leading the charge to oust Thompson for unethical conduct. In a letter Friday, activist hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb demanded that the board of the struggling Internet company fire Thompson by noon EDT Monday or face possible legal action.

"CEO's have been terminated for less at other companies," wrote Loeb, who controls a 5.8 percent stake in Yahoo through his hedge fund, Third Point LLC.

Yahoo reiterated Friday that "the board is reviewing this matter and, upon completion of its review, will make an appropriate disclosure to shareholders."

Thompson's troubles revolve around an exaggeration about his education at Stonehill College, a small Catholic school near Boston where he was graduated in 1979.

Since announcing Thompson's hiring in January, Yahoo had included two bachelor's degrees ? one for accounting and the other for computer science ? on the executive's biography. The dual degrees appeared on Yahoo's own website and in an April 27 legal document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

After being confronted Thursday by Loeb, Yahoo confirmed that Thompson received only an accounting degree from Stonehill. Yahoo has since removed all references to Thompson's education from his bio on its website. The company hadn't amended its SEC filing with the inaccuracy as of late Friday.

It's unclear whether the inaccuracy about the computer science originated with Thompson or someone else at Yahoo.

But Thompson's bio with dual degrees periodically cropped up before he joined Yahoo. He was listed with a computer degree on a website touting his appearance at the Web 2.0 technology conference in 2010 while he was running eBay Inc.'s PayPal payment service. The computer science degree also has appeared in Thompson's bio in connection with his 2008 appointment to a Silicon Valley startup, Zuora.

EBay listed only Thompson's accounting degree in its SEC filings while he was working at PayPal.

Even if Thompson didn't personally write his biography, he almost certainly reviewed the information at some point and should be held accountable for the distortion, said Charles Elson, director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware.

Elson believes Yahoo's board needs to dump Thompson or "it will face questions about its own effectiveness."

Yahoo blamed an "inadvertent error." After that excuse was ridiculed on the Internet, Yahoo issued another statement late Thursday about the board's intent to look into what happened. The company, which is based in Sunnyvale, Calif., didn't give a deadline.

The uproar over Thompson's qualifications and integrity is the latest tempest at beleaguered Yahoo, which has been reeling since it turned down an opportunity to sell itself to Microsoft Corp. for $33 per share four years ago.

The company has been losing ground to rivals Google Inc. and Facebook Inc. ever since, causing its revenue to steadily fall and leaving its stock price below $20 since September 2008, a few months after Microsoft's final offer. Yahoo's shares fell 25 cents to close at $15.15 Friday.

Thompson, Yahoo's fourth full-time CEO in the past five years, had just started to revamp the company, but he probably won't be around much longer, predicted Kirk Hanson, executive director for the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University in Silicon Valley.

"The board really is boxed into a corner," Hanson said. "If this individual is prone to exaggeration or excessive claims, they have to be worried it might happen again down the road.

"They also have to ask themselves, 'Can this leader serve as a moral example or moral leader for our company?' Behavior rolls downhill. If the CEO exaggerates a little, then others in the organization will exaggerate a lot."

Although he was well-respected at PayPal, Thompson isn't getting much support in Silicon Valley.

Thompson alienated much of the technology industry in March when he decided to sue Facebook for alleged infringement on some of Yahoo's Internet patents. The lawsuit has been skewered in Silicon Valley as a cheap shot at Facebook Inc. as it prepared to complete an initial public offering of stock that is aiming to raise as much as $13.6 billion for the company and its current shareholders. Yahoo critics also viewed the lawsuit as the desperate act of a company that has run out of good ideas.

In his Friday letter, Loeb argued that Thompson has to be dumped to avoid "irreparable damage to Yahoo's culture." He argued that Yahoo's own code of ethics justifies firing Thompson "for cause," a move that probably would prevent him for qualifying for a severance package. Yahoo's code states that information filed with the SEC "must be full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable."

If Yahoo fires Thompson, it will be the company's second ouster of a CEO in less than a year. The company fired Thompson's predecessor, Carol Bartz in September after concluding her turnaround strategy wasn't working.

Thompson so far has been focused on cutting costs. Just last month, Thompson laid off 2,000 Yahoo employees, or 14 percent of the workforce, in the company's biggest payroll purge in history. He has also promised to close or sell about 50 Yahoo services that haven't been attracting enough online traffic or generating enough revenue.

Loeb is trying to oust Thompson as he seeks four seats on Yahoo's board of directors ? one for himself and three for his allies. Yahoo instead added three other directors in late March. Thompson told Loeb he wasn't qualified to be on the company's board.

The search for new directors was overseen by Patti Hart, whom Loeb is also attacking as an ethics liability. Loeb is upset that Hart's bio claimed she held a bachelor's degree in marketing and economics from Illinois State University. On Thursday, Yahoo clarified that Hart graduated from the college with a bachelor's degree in business administration with specialties in marketing and economics.

Loeb ended his letter by pressing Yahoo to appoint him and his three preferred candidates to avoid a showdown at the company's annual meeting later this year. Yahoo hasn't scheduled the meeting yet.

"The company can ill afford to continue this misguided fight with its largest outside shareholder while it has so many other fires to put out," Loeb wrote. "There has been enough damage already."

Associated Press

dodgers triple play samoyed kenny powers kenny powers carl hagelin triple play virginia tech shooting

Libertarians nominate ex-Governor Gary Johnson for president (reuters)

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

three stooges the three stooges the bee gees legend of korra woodward keratosis pilaris rock and roll hall of fame 2012

Video: Andrew Young requested ?Bunny money,? witness says

>>> john edwards trial on campaign finance charges turned to finances today. testifying how money from an elderly ha lly heiress ended up being used to take care of his mistress instead. it's been an emotional day in court because everyone was thinking of elizabeth edwards who waged suffa tough battle against cancer. lea meyers reports.

>> it's been a week of high drama. testimony about the anguish of elizabeth edwards , daughter cate levering the courtroom in tears. accounts of expletive laced conversations with edwards and his campaign staff over rielle hunter.

>> brian huffman , a friend of bunny mellon told the jury how he became a middle man for what became as the mbunny money, used to help cover up edwards ' affair. he testified when mellon learned that the $725,000 she provided to help edwards was an unspecified personal problem was meant to take care of hunter, she didn't condemn him for having an affair, but huffman said, she thought she vd probably pay for your girlfriend yourself.

>> the jury erupted in laughter, as did much of the courtroom and the judge cracked a smile.

>> huffman said he and mellon referred to themany for edwards as the furniture business because they were disguised as checks to buy furniture. why hide what was going on? mellon didn't want her lawyer to no. huffson said mellon told her it was the star witness who asked her for the money.

>> that supports the defense positive theory in the case that the money flow was created by andrew young to line his own pockets, not orchestrated by john edwards to cover up the affair in a way that violated election laws.

>> edwards denies he broke any laws. they testified there was no furniture business after one of mellon 's big checks bounced. he took a closer look and was told the money was actually for john edwards . lisa myers , nbc news, greensboro, north carolina .

corned beef recipe time change daylight savings rpi dst friends with kids pacific standard time

Syrian activists: Explosion in Aleppo kills 5

This image made from amateur video released by the Shaam News Network and accessed Friday, May 4, 2012, purports to show Syrians chanting slogans and caring Kurdish flags during a demonstration in Qamishli, the capital of Syria's Kurdish heartland. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via AP video) TV OUT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL

This image made from amateur video released by the Shaam News Network and accessed Friday, May 4, 2012, purports to show Syrians chanting slogans and caring Kurdish flags during a demonstration in Qamishli, the capital of Syria's Kurdish heartland. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via AP video) TV OUT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL

This image made from amateur video released by the Shaam News Network and accessed Friday, May 4, 2012, purports to show Syrians chanting slogans during a demonstration in Idlib, north Syria. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via AP video) TV OUT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL

This image made from amateur video released by the Shaam News Network and accessed Friday, May 4, 2012, purports to show Syrians chanting slogans and carrying Kurdish flags during a demonstration in Qamishli, the capital of Syria's Kurdish heartland. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via AP video) TV OUT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL

This image made from amateur video released by the Shaam News Network and accessed Friday, May 4, 2012, purports to show a man holding the portrait of a boy during a demonstration in Hama, Syria. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via AP video) TV OUT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL

BEIRUT (AP) ? An explosion in a car wash in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo killed at least five people on Saturday, activists said, while another blast in the capital destroyed nine cars.

Bomb attacks have grown more common in Syria's two largest cities as the uprising against President Bashar Assad grows increasingly militarized. Many in the opposition have taken up arms since protesters first took to the street in March 2011 and now regularly clash with government forces around the country.

But Aleppo and Damascus have remained largely in Assad's grip, shaken only by bomb blasts that often appear to target buildings associated with the military and security services.

The U.N. says more than 9,000 people have been killed since the uprising's start.

Saturday's blast in Aleppo, Syria's largest city, hit a car wash and killed six people, Aleppo activist Mohammed Saeed said via Skype. He said the business in the city's southern Sukari neighborhood is owned by a man who serves in pro-government militias known as the shabiha.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on activists inside Syria, said five people were killed in the attack.

The blast follows increasing unrest in the city with university students taking to the streets and being violently dispersed by security forces.

A 16-year-old was shot dead during a protest Friday, one day after four students were killed during arrest raids in university dorms.

Also Saturday, an explosive planted under an army vehicle in Damascus blew up, damaging nine cars.

The blast shook a downtown neighborhood near a military food cooperative, and left a crater in the street, according to a reporter from The Associated Press who visited the scene.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosions.

Earlier this week, attacks on a government security compound and the country's central bank killed nine and injured 100.

On the outskirts of the capital, tanks and troops combed through fields near the Barzeh neighborhood in the northeast as well as an area near Hamouriya in the east, activist Omar Hamzeh said via Skype.

"They are moving through the fields and firing anti-aircraft guns," he said, adding that the regime was probably looking to arrest activists. "The rural areas around there have been very active in protests against the regime."

The Observatory also reported army raids in Barzeh.

Activist claims could not be independently verified. The Syrian government prevents most media from working freely in the country.

World powers remain divided on how to stop Syria's crisis, though all have fallen in behind a plan put forward by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan that seeks a cease-fire in order for all sides to engage in political dialogue.

But the truce that was to begin on April 12 has never really taken hold, with regime forces continuing to shell opposition areas and shoot at protesters. Security forces killed one teenager following a protests in the northern city of Aleppo on Friday.

Armed rebels have kept up attacks on military checkpoints and convoys.

A spokesman for Annan, however, said Friday the international envoy believes his peace plan for Syrian remains "on track" ? a day after the Obama administration offered a far bleaker view, saying the plan might be doomed.

A U.N. team of up to 300 members is to monitor compliance with the truce. U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said about 40 U.N. observers are on the ground in Syria and that the force will grow to 65 by Sunday.

___

Associated Press writer Albert Aji contributed reporting from Damascus, Syria.

Associated Press

pittsburgh penguins record store day jennie garth space needle nashville predators king arthur king arthur