Israel indicts ex-minister Lieberman

JERUSALEM (AP) ? Israel's Justice Ministry filed its indictment against former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in a Jerusalem court on Sunday, charging him with breach of trust and fraud in a case that could further harm his political career.

Lieberman is accused of trying to advance the career of a former diplomat after the envoy relayed information to him about a criminal investigation into the former Cabinet minister's business dealings.

On Dec. 13, the Justice Ministry released a draft indictment to both Lieberman and the press. On Sunday, an amended version of that draft was filed in the Jerusalem Magistrates Court after prosecutors received testimony suggesting he was more deeply involved than previously thought in trying to promote the diplomat.

The actual charges remained unchanged.

Lieberman, who denies any wrongdoing, resigned his Cabinet post earlier this month after he was informed of the pending charges, though he remains a member of parliament. He did not appear in court on Sunday and had no comment on the indictment.

The diplomat he tried to promote, former ambassador to Belarus Zeev Ben-Aryeh, reached a plea bargain with the state in the case earlier this year.

The indictment did not address the main suspicions against Lieberman that were the focus of a years-long investigation. Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein ultimately decided that prosecutors did not have a strong enough case to charge Lieberman with illicitly receiving millions of dollars from businessmen and laundering the cash through straw companies in eastern Europe.

While he was charged with lesser offenses, Lieberman's political future could be compromised if the court that hears the case decides to convict him of a crime that carries what is known in Israeli law as "moral turpitude." Lawmakers convicted of such crimes must resign immediately from parliament, then are barred from re-entering politics for seven years.

Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party is running on a joint list with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud in the Jan. 22 election, and he is expected to be re-elected to parliament. Political commentators had viewed the hookup as grooming him to become a future prime minister. Lieberman takes a hard line on concessions to the Palestinians and perceives Israel's large Arab minority as a threat to the Jewish state.

In other political news, Israel's Supreme Court unanimously rejected an election committee's attempt to disqualify an Arab lawmaker from running for parliament again next month because she took part in a flotilla that tried to breach Israel's naval blockade of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.

The lawmaker, Hanin Zoabi, enraged many Israelis in 2010 by joining the Turkish-led Mavi Marmara flotilla, which was stormed by Israeli naval commandos who clashed with pro-Palestinian activists, killing nine. The Israeli military says the soldiers acted in self-defense after being attacked on the deck.

Zoabi was nearly assaulted in parliament by another lawmaker and subsequently was stripped of some of her parliamentary privileges.

Earlier this month, an Israeli elections committee voted to disqualify her from running in next month's election. She appealed that decision to the Supreme Court, which overturned it, as it has rejected the committee's attempts in previous years to bar other Arab candidates from running.

"I welcome the ruling," Zoabi said. "I hope this ruling will put an end to the political witchhunt."

Lawmaker Danny Danon, who collected thousands of signatures demanding that Zoabi's candidacy be disqualified, accused the court of "backing the Marmara terrorist rather than naval commando fighters."

The court said in its ruling that it would release its reason for overturning the decision at a later date. Under Israel's election law, the court had to issue its ruling by Sunday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israel-indicts-ex-minister-lieberman-113938155.html

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Tory Zellick: Mom On Trial

Sometimes, to be a good caregiver, we have to put our own needs and opinions aside, so as to support our loved one in making their own choice about their own life. Take the example of my mom deciding to participate in a clinical trial: Three years into her battle with breast cancer, the cancer metastasized to her bones. Initially my mom tried chemotherapy, but it significantly compromised her quality of life; so she decided instead to go with alternative medicine.

I was all for that decision.

My mom subsequently outlived her predicted "death date" by one and a half years. In addition, she was doing quite well and feeling relatively pain-free. In my opinion, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. When a new chemotherapy option was offered as part of a clinical trial, however, my mom jumped at the chance to participate. Somehow, she felt convinced that this chemotherapy option was her one chance, her final shot, of maybe making it out of cancer alive. If she did not survive the trial, she reasoned, perhaps someone else a decade later would survive, in part because of her participation in the trial.

While I disagreed with my mom's decision, it was hers to make. Everyone in the family had voiced their respective opinions, and at the end of the day, it was my mom's life. So as my mom's caregiver, I ultimately supported the participation in the trial, albeit reluctantly. The thing is, we knew very little about the trial and even less about how to assess what we did know about it; so we were poorly informed about it and unprepared for the impact it would have on our lives.

On the day that my mom was to be evaluated for participation in the trial, I drove us three hours into the city, to the clinical trial facility. Unsure of what questions to ask, and feeling overwhelmed, I simply watched as a nurse practitioner, research oncologist and trial facilitator flipped through years of medical records and asked my mom questions. After a final examination, the team decided that my mom could participate in the trial, and they advised us of the protocols:

1. My mom would have an exam once every three weeks, at the clinical trial facility.

2. One hour before each exam, my mom would have blood drawn in the laboratory near that facility.

3. Every six weeks, my mom would have a nuclear bone scan and CAT scan -- one requiring a radioactive tracer injection and the other requiring fasting and drinking an orange-colored contrast liquid.

4. My mom would take the trial medication daily, along with another medication that had been FDA-approved. Aside from these two medications, my mom would not be able to take anything else -- over-the-counter, herbal or prescribed -- without the prior consent of the medical team.

Looking back, I can see the warning signs of how demanding this trial would be on my mom, not to mention on myself; but at the time, the protocol seemed simple enough. What I did not take into consideration, or have the foresight to ask, was the following:

1. What days and times were appointments available, and how long would each appointment take?

2. Would my mom be able to handle the six-hour, round-trip commutes in the car, considering that she had cancer in her spine?

3. Who would pay for the tests every six weeks, and where would they be located?

As it turned out, exam appointments were only on Tuesdays, in the middle of the work week -- leaving me, and me alone, to drive my mom. While these appointments theoretically took just half an hour each, it was only if the lab had the blood work done in time for the scheduled appointment and if the trial clinic team was on time. In reality, the appointments took up to several hours. In addition, if we scheduled late-morning appointments, we could leave the city in time to avoid rush-hour traffic on the way home, but it meant driving out to the city shortly after dawn. If the appointments ran behind, we had to stay in the city until the evening and arrive home late at night, to avoid sitting in traffic.

These trips created a pressure-cooker environment for my mom and me, adding stress to an already-strained relationship with its underlying power struggle: She was the mother, and I was the daughter; but for the sake of her wellbeing, the roles were often reversed. In this case, I was responsible for making sure my mom woke up, did her morning rituals, ate breakfast, and got in the car in time to make it to the clinical trial appointments. My mom's short-term memory was nil, and she often acted like a child -- wanting to stop at a caf? for tea or get a grilled cheese sandwich along the way, when doing so would compromise our ability to get to our destination on schedule.

That said, my mom always held her head high and never complained about the commute. For me, however, every third Tuesday was torture. For starters, nobody wants to spend six hours on the road, except maybe a truck driver. In addition, I was essentially taxiing a porcelain doll, which left me riddled with anxiety about a potential fender-bender in the city. I was, after all, from a small town with two lanes of traffic total, not five in each direction. Then there were all the what-ifs: What if we arrived late to the appointment and could not get in? What if the test results did not make it to the clinical trial office in time for the appointment - making our drive for naught? What if test results found something I did not want to know, like evidence that the disease was spreading?

Fortunately, our insurance covered the cost of the bone and CAT scans, and my mom was able to get them done locally. Each test, however, was at a different facility. In addition, for whatever reason, my mom always wanted to do both tests on the same day -- which meant fasting all evening, waking up, drinking orange contrast liquid for the CAT scan, driving to hospital and receiving the radioactive tracer, driving to the imaging center and getting the CAT scan, then driving back to hospital for the bone scan. When all was said and done, it was time to eat, but by then, my mom was exhausted and wanted nothing to do with food.

After almost a year on the new chemotherapy, the clinical trial team decided it was not working for my mom in the way they had anticipated. The team advised my mom to stop the chemo immediately, then reconvene with the research oncologist in two months, to discuss other treatment options. Sadly, my mom passed away before the consult date. Still, she never regretted participating in the trial, knowing that others like her could benefit in the future.

By supporting other caregivers through the process of looking after their loved ones, I strive to continue in my mom's footsteps -- honoring and continuing her quest to help out. For this reason, I created The Medical Day Planner - hoping to ease the journey of those in the caregiving role today. Also for this reason, I have been busy interviewing pharmaceutical corporations, university research facilities, clinical trial associations and caregiving organizations, so as to guide caregivers on how to optimize the clinical trial experience for all parties involved. Stay tuned for upcoming articles on this topic -- including how to find clinical trials for various illnesses, what questions to ask clinical trial facilitators, how to do a cost-benefit analysis of a given trial, how to organize information related to a trial and how to support a loved one through the process of a trial.

Meanwhile, Mom, wherever you are, I hope that you are proud of me.

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Follow Tory Zellick on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@MedDayPlanner

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tory-zellick/clinical-trial-mom-on-cancer-treatment_b_2313433.html

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Taking Part in Deal Dash Online Auction | Philebrity The Business ...

Posted by admin on December 29th, 2012

It is because the main reason that people can conduct different activities by using internet, we may notice that there are more and more people who want to explore in what they can do further by using internet. Commonly, people may use internet to enhance their study and working activities. Yet, do you even realize nowadays that you can join online auction to win any products in way cheaper price? In joining online auction to win especially electronics, you need to be able to find the reputable online auction site indeed.

There is actually rising trend among society in taking part on DealDash auction. The fact is that such Deal Dash online auction has become very popular among modern country especially United States. The advantage is not only that you can get various products that you may need in your life especially gadgets and electronics but also their penny auction feature.

In joining any online auction, you need to consider several things. First is that you need to review first about the service. In this case, you can look from search engine to conduct DealDash Review indeed. Another important thing to consider is that you need to gain update about the development of the auction offers especially related to certain product that you like. Winning the bid is the matter of patience and diligence indeed.

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.philebrity.tv/2012/12/29/taking-part-in-deal-dash-online-auction/

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Grapes & wine: Good medicine | The Westside Gazette

Violeta Tsolova, Ph.D.

Grapes & wine: Good medicine

By Violeta Tsolova, Ph.D. Professor at the Center for Viticulture & Small Research

Florida A & M University

???? For many, the clock countdown to the New Year is a reminder to stay resolute toward achieving personal health and fitness goals. In fact, the holistic approach to medicine and dieting that began in the 1970s has received renewed emphasis in the millennium. We are just starting to rediscover that certain foods, due to the presence of specific biochemicals, can have a positive impact on an individual?s mental and physical health. So, as you raise your wine glass in remembrance of days past, it is important to understand the medicinal value of wine that can lead to a prosperous future.

??? Recently, the discovery of high volume anti-oxidant compounds in berries, juices and wines has brought more attention to muscadine grapes, not only as an important alternative cash value crop for the southeastern United States, but also as a new healthy food. Still, the full potential of American native grapes as a source of healthy compounds remains an untapped market venture. This is mainly because of our limited scientific knowledge of them.

?Green vs. red grapes

??? So what are the basics that every novice wine connoisseur and vineyard owner should know? The medicinal properties of grapes are stored in the seeds and skins of the developing fruit. Green berry seeds are richer in nutritional compounds called flavonoids. During maturity large amounts of these compounds are shifted to the skin. Muscadine grapes, however, follow a different scenario by retaining most of the flavonoids in the seed during maturation. The presence of large amounts of flavonoids in the seeds or the skins does not mean that they are readily bioavailable. The absorbance rate into the small intestines is not significant, and most of these compounds undergo degradation. During the fermentation of red wines, most of the berry flavonoids (from both skin and seeds) are extracted into the wine. This is the reason why red wines are priced as healthier than the white wines produced from green grapes.

??? Both the quantity and quality of color of grapes during harvest are crucial factors that influence wine making. Each species or variety is affected by several factors. Variety, growing region, and growth conditions can influence the nutritional value and flavor in grapes and determine the diversity and the quality of wine.

Medicinal Use and Nutritional Value

???? The medicinal use and nutritional value of grapes has been heralded for thousands of years. Egyptians and ancient Greek philosophers praised the healing power of the grape. European folk healers developed an ointment from the sap of grapevines to cure skin and eye diseases. Grape leaves were used to stop bleeding, inflammation, and pain. Unripe grapes were used to treat sore throats and dried grapes (raisins) were used to heal consumption, constipation, and thirst. The round, ripe, sweet grapes were used to treat a range of health problems including cancer, cholera, smallpox, nausea, eye infections, and skin, kidney, and liver diseases.

?Heart Disease

???? Despite the higher intake of saturated fat, which contributes to high cholesterol levels, epidemiological studies in France have shown a negative correlation between coronary heart disease and moderate wine consumption. This is known as ?French Paradox.? Compared to other alcoholic beverages, red wine contains a much higher level of antioxidants, which remove harmful chemicals that cause cell and tissue damage in the body. Several scientific reports have shown that antioxidants also inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells. Furthermore, grape flavonoids have been implicated in a range of biological functions in human health metabolism including protection against DNA damage, anti-inflammatory properties, and cardiovascular protection.

???? If you are interested in starting your own grape vineyard, the Center of Viticulture and Small Fruits in Tallahassee, Florida is a valuable resource with several opportunities for a hands-on learning experience.

???? It is the only specialized research center in grape and wine in the southeastern United States. Until then, be merry, be healthy, and treat yourself in moderation. Happy New Year!

???? Violeta Tsolova is a professor of viticulture and development biology at the Center for Viticultural Sciences & Small Fruit Research at Florida A&M University. Join Tsolova on Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. for a live Twitter chat get tips on winemaking and the health benefits of grapes. Follow @ FAMU_LivingWell.

???? Copyright ? 2012. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Living Well 101. All rights reserved. No portion of this document may be copied and/or duplicated without prior written permission of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

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Source: http://thewestsidegazette.com/grapes-wine-good-medicine/

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European shares steady, euro climbs as "fiscal cliff" push awaited

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares were steady and the euro edged higher on Thursday, as U.S. lawmakers prepared to resume negotiations to avoid a fiscal crunch, while the yen hit a 21-month low on the prospect of drastic monetary easing.

Returning from the Christmas holiday break, European shares opened little changed at 1137 points, with London's FTSE 100 <.ftse>, Paris's CAC-40 <.fchi> and Frankfurt's DAX <.gdaxi> between 0.1 percent lower and 0.4 percent higher.

A 0.1 percent gain in U.S. stock futures suggested a firm Wall Street start. <.l><.eu><.n/>

In a sign that there may be a way to break the deadlock in the U.S. Congress, Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner urged the Democrat-controlled Senate to act to pull back from the cliff and offered to at least consider any bill the upper chamber produced.

President Barack Obama will try to revive budget crisis talks which stalled last week when he returns to Washington on Thursday after cutting short his Christmas holiday in Hawaii.

"There is still hope for a last-minute deal, otherwise we're in for a correction in January. People have already priced in an agreement. Without it, the market can't stay at these levels," a Paris-based trader said.

Economists warn that the "fiscal cliff" of higher taxes and spending cuts worth $600 billion could push the world's largest economy into recession, dragging other countries with it.

Such concerns underpinned the dollar as the fiscal impasse continues to sap investor appetite for risky assets, raising the dollar's safe-haven appeal.

Against the yen, the dollar at 85.87 yen reached its highest since September 2010, with investors accelerating their yen sales after new Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his government would pursue a bold monetary policy, a flexible fiscal policy and a growth strategy to encourage private investment.

The euro, which is being supported by a better outlook towards the euro zone, climbed 0.4 percent to $1.3266.

In commodity markets, London copper rose 1.7 percent to a one-week high of $7,932 a tonne after some positive data from China, the world's top copper buyer.

U.S. crude futures inched up 0.2 percent to $91.14 a barrel, helped by the Chinese data and also by hopes the new Japanese government's policies would spur demand. Brent crude steadied at $111.03.

With bond investors focusing on Washington, German government bond futures opened little changed at 144.72.

(Reporting by Marc Jones; Editing by Giles Elgood)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-fiscal-woes-cap-asian-shares-yen-stays-002854146--finance.html

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Starbucks to Congress: 'Come together' on fiscal cliff

1 hr.

Reuters

Starbucks Corp will use its ubiquitous coffee cups to tell U.S. lawmakers to come up with a deal to avoid going over the "fiscal cliff" and triggering automatic tax hikes and spending cuts.?

Chief Executive Howard Schultz is urging workers in Starbucks' roughly 120 Washington-area shops to write "come together" on customers' cups on Thursday and Friday, as U.S. President Barack Obama and lawmakers return to work and attempt to revive fiscal cliff negotiations that collapsed before the Christmas holiday.?

Starbucks' cup campaign aims to send a message to sharply divided politicians and serve as a rallying cry for the public in the days leading up to lawmakers' January 1 deadline to deliver a plan to avert harsh across-the-board government spending reductions and tax increases that could send the United States back into recession.?

"We're paying attention, we're greatly disappointed in what's going on and we deserve better," Schultz told Reuters in a telephone interview.?

The CEO said he has joined a growing list of high-powered business leaders, politicians and financial experts in endorsing the Campaign to Fix the Debt, (www.fixthedebt.org) a well-funded nonpartisan group that is leaning on lawmakers to put the United States' financial house in order.?

Starbucks plans to amplify its "come together" message via new and old media, including Twitter and Facebook posts, coverage on AOL's local news websites and advertisements in The Washington Post and The New York Times.?

"If (talks) do not progress, we will make this much bigger," Schultz said of the messaging campaign.?

Schultz is no stranger to using the world's biggest coffee chain as a platform to advocate for more political cooperation in Washington.?

During the debt ceiling debate in August 2011, he made a splash by calling for a boycott of political contributions to U.S. lawmakers until they struck a fair and bipartisan deal on the country's debt, revenue and spending.?

"We are facing such dysfunction, irresponsibility and lack of leadership" less than two years after the debt ceiling crisis, Schultz said.?

Washington narrowly avoided a U.S. government default, but not before down-to-the-wire wrangling prompted the country's first-ever debt rating downgrade.?

"There is something so wrong that we can be here again and not have the ability to put party aside for the betterment of the country," said Schultz. "We have the same language and rhetoric. Unfortunately we aren't learning much."?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/starbucks-congress-come-together-fiscal-cliff-deal-1C7661430

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Andruw Jones Arrested for Battery

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/12/andruw-jones-arrested-for-battery/

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Computers May Someday Beat Chefs At Creating Flavors We Crave

Does bell pepper and black tea sound appetizing? A computer may think so.

Ryan Smith/NPR

Does bell pepper and black tea sound appetizing? A computer may think so.

Ryan Smith/NPR

Mario Batali, watch your back.

Computer scientists at IBM have already built a computer that can beat human contestants on the TV quiz show, "Jeopardy." Now it appears they're sharpening their intellectual knives to make a computer that might someday challenge the competitors on "Iron Chef."

This is no trivial pursuit. Beating humans in a quiz show was a high-water mark for the computer science field. It meant designing a computer that understood how humans think. Now the plan is to design a computer that can understand how humans dream up new ideas, including new recipes.

"The goal in computational creativity is to come up with new things that have never been seen before," says Lav Varshney, a computer scientist at IBM. (Watch him explain the idea in the video below.)

Why focus on food? "Because food is so visceral," says Varshney. Everyone eats. It helps define our culture."

Culinary creativity isn't just about coming up with something novel. Varshney and his colleagues are hoping to make a computer that will be able to come up with recipes that taste good and don't add to our waistlines.

So how do you turn a computer into a culinary genius? The first step is to give the computer access to a database of recipes that are already being used successfully. "Then we remix them, substitute things, do all kinds of other modifications and generate millions of new ideas for recipes," says Varshney.

How about some chocolate drizzled over blue cheese?

Ryan Smith/NPR

How about some chocolate drizzled over blue cheese?

Ryan Smith/NPR

"The second step is to take those millions of ideas and find the best ones. To do that we try to predict what humans will find flavorful, based on some basic ideas from chemistry and psychology."

For example, they started with an idea known as the flavor pairing hypothesis. "The basic idea is that two ingredients that share a lot of flavor compounds will go together well in Western cuisine," says Varshney. (We wrote about a University of Cambridge study on this concept just last year.)

But Varshney and his colleagues are not just interested in things that are flavorful, but also food combinations that are perceived as novel ? like bell peppers and black tea, blue cheese and dark chocolate ? even turmeric and black currants. They have some ideas from information theory and psychology that will help them come up with more.

The computer has already spit out some interesting suggestions. For example, last week Varshney and his colleagues tried a computer-generated recipe that was a mash up of a Spanish paella and an Indian curry. "It had turmeric and some other Indian spices and potatoes, pork and beef and then it has a kinda of a mango rum topping," says Varshney.

And how did it taste? "I'm actually vegetarian so I didn't eat that one, but the team did," he says. "They thought it was pretty good."

Varshney is hoping that their work will lead to make school lunches more attractive to students. They also hope it will help combat obesity by finding dishes that will satisfy people's food cravings without the accompanying calories.

Varshney says the work to create to a computerized top chef is just starting. IBM doesn't expect the computer will be ready for prime time for five years or so.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/12/25/167725602/computers-may-someday-beat-chefs-at-creating-flavors-we-crave?ft=1&f=1007

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Original Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX receiving Jelly Bean OTA update

 

It's a Christmas Eve miracle! Seemingly out of nowhere, the original Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX are pulling down an OTA update to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. Several different users in our forums are reporting that their handsets are (often slowly) downloading a very large update, and being greeted with Jelly Bean goodness when they reboot. We don't have any official support documentation from Verizon yet, but it doesn't get much more official than updates currently being downloaded.

So are any of you seeing the update hit the notification bar of your RAZR or RAZR MAXX? Head to the forums and let us know.

Source: Droid RAZR Forums; Droid RAZR MAXX Forums; Thanks, Sean!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/iuD0n3Tf0xw/story01.htm

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Preparing Your Heart for Christmas Eve - Reluctant Entertainer

What can I give him?
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part -
Yet what I can give him,
Give him my heart.
-Christina Rossetti

Happy Christmas Eve, friends!

If you?re like me, you?re preparing your home for guests, or cooking food to contribute if you?re heading to another house to celebrate, or you?re welcoming others as they stop by with holiday cheer!

Keeping these things in mind, as I?m setting the table, the next 2 days of celebration is not about perfection, but about preparing my heart:

Put aside the overwhelming feeling and ask my family for help!

Think about what I can offer my guests ? a hug, a smile, a word of encouragement.

Do my part of being prepared, helping, serving ? with JOY in my heart.

Lay aside any bitterness and prepare my heart for LOVE.

I love to set the table.

Add a little touch.

Think about those who will be joining our family.

Say a meaningful prayer for those who may not be as fortunate.

Remind myself that things do not have to be perfect.

To enjoy the moment because we may never have that moment again.

And on Christmas Eve I remind myself to stop, to take a deep breath, and look UP?with HOPE and ANTICIPATION?for the gift to come.

Will you be hosting in your home the next couple of days? Is your table or buffet area already set?

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Source: http://reluctantentertainer.com/2012/12/preparing-your-heart-for-christmas-eve/

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Adding More Bricks to the Great Firewall of China - NYTimes.com

HONG KONG ? China appears to have reinforced its Internet firewall in recent days, blocking some of the leading services that allow people on the mainland to access forbidden sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

International business transactions also are being affected, Internet analysts said. The New York Times Web site remains 100 percent blocked on the mainland, along with the Chinese-language edition of The Times and Rendezvous.

At least three foreign companies ? Astrill, WiTopia and StrongVPN ? have apologized to customers whose virtual private networks, or VPNs, have been slowed or disabled. VPNs are used to circumvent the Communist government?s firewall. The companies, meanwhile, were suggesting some work-arounds.

The daily newspaper Global Times, affiliated with the Communist Party, acknowledged the firewall had been ?upgraded,? but it also warned that foreign providers of VPN services were operating illegally.

China blocks online searches of politically sensitive terms, smothers embarrassing news events, blocks online messages from dissidents and simply deletes any microblog posts that it dislikes.

The firewall also blocks countless Web sites that are openly available to users elsewhere around the world ? from pornography sites and commercial come-ons to news reporting, political activism and religious proselytizing. Users on the mainland thus have to use VPNs to reach the banned sites.

Liu Xiao Ming, the Chinese ambassador to Britain, told the BBC on Friday that there was ?a misconception about the Internet and development in China.?

?In fact, the Chinese are very much open in terms of the Internet,? he said, quoted in an article in The South China Morning Post. ?In fact, we have the most number of Internet users in China today.?

An estimated 600 million Chinese have access to the Internet.

Foreign businesses also use VPNs not only to safeguard their transactions but also to keep government censors and rival companies from seeing their corporate communications.

Global Times quoted an anonymous executive at a foreign technology company operating in China who said the lack of a VPN would damage the firm?s operations.

Josh Ong, China editor of the tech monitoring site The Next Web, said in an interview with the Voice of America that international companies were reporting disruptions in their corporate VPN services.

?A lot of companies have a general policy that they must use their own proxy network in order to transfer data, especially into and out of China,? Mr. Ong said. ?So you are looking at banks or e-commerce companies, anyone who is transferring very sensitive information, a lot of them use corporate VPNs.?

Mr. Ong suggested that the tightening of the firewall could be tied to the recent leadership change in the Chinese Communist Party.

?It is certainly possible that some of it is just a general flexing of might, kind of coming in with a strong arm to really show who?s in control,? he said. ?But there is definitely something intentional happening when these VPN services are being restricted.?

As Bill Bishop wrote recently on DealBook, China?s management of the Internet ?has not been encouraging for those who want to believe the leadership will push reforms.?

?I have lived in Beijing since 2005, and these have been the most draconian few days of Internet restrictions I have experienced,? he said last month.

?Indiscriminate blocking of major parts of the global Internet is not going to help China in its quest to internationalize the renminbi and make it a reserve currency,? Bill said. ?Internet controls at the level of the last few days may also deter foreign firms from moving their regional headquarters to China.?

Barbara Demick of The Los Angeles Times bureau in Beijing offered this cautionary tweet:

My colleagues Sharon LaFraniere and David Barboza wrote about similar concerns over China?s Internet censorship last year, and they spoke to Duncan Clark, chairman of BDA China, an investment and strategy consultancy based in Beijing.

?It has been double the guard, and double the guard, and you never hear proclamations about things being relaxed,? said Mr. Clark, a 17-year resident of China. ?We have never seen this level of control in the time I have been here, and I have been here since the beginning of the Internet.?

Source: http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/adding-more-bricks-to-the-great-firewall-of-china/

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Best Albums 2012: AP Picks 10 Favorites

Mesfin Fekadu's picks:

1. Nas, "Life is Good": "I am a graphic classic song composer," Nas raps on the intro to his latest album. And he's right. You may disagree, but Nas is the best rapper alive, and with "Life is Good," he's got the year's top album, regardless of genre. On "Life," he's spitting rhymes about his ex-wife, Kelis ? like the soulful "Bye Baby" ? his daughter on "Daughters" and his childhood on "A Queens Story." He's a top-notch lyricist with a knack for storytelling, and it all makes for impeccable music. He knows life is good, and so is this album.

2. Of Monsters and Men, "My Head Is an Animal": The Icelandic fivesome have melodies that are eerie, jamming, groovy and overall epic. The voices of the male and female lead singers blend so beautifully that it sounds like magic.

3. Elle Varner, "Perfectly Imperfect": Her raspy and powerful voice, over crisp production, easily gives Elle Varner R&B's best offering of 2012. The 12-track set has an amazing flow that will have you hitting the replay button again, again and again!

4. Lianne La Havas, "Is Your Love Big Enough?": Lianne La Havas' honesty pierces on the tracks on her debut album, and it makes the collection of songs both heavy and beautiful. She's got an acoustic folk-rock-soul sound that is unique, and what's best is that heavy voice of hers: This London singer sounds like she's singing straight to your soul. Well, actually, she is.

5. Frank Ocean, "channel ORANGE": Frank is fresh. Enough said.

6. Miguel, "Kaleidoscope Dream": It's a bit shocking ? though more exciting ? to see the Grammys acknowledge Miguel's multi-talents with five nominations. They got it right ? he's helping change R&B without dismissing the genre's more traditional sound from acts like Faith Evans and Tamia. From "Do You..." to "Candles In the Sun," he hits all the right notes on his sophomore disc.

7. Emeli Sande, "Our Version of Events": The debut album from this Scottish import commands your attention, thanks to Emeli Sande's strong pipes jelled with R&B and pop sounds. Her voice helps her songs easily come to life ? just check out "Suitcase" if you're not convinced.

8. Kendrick Lamar, "good kid m.A.A.d city": The major label debut from Dr. Dre's protege is dope for its clever rhymes and soulful skits. He's going places.

9. Mumford & Sons, "Babel": Mumford & Sons continue to hark on love and life on "Babel," and it sounds masterful with its rock harmonies that are both rugged and calming.

10. Shiny Toy Guns, "III": The year's best dance and electronic-based album isn't on Top 40 radio. Shiny Toy Guns returned in 2012 with a third album and its lead singer, Carah Faye. The foursome sounds better than ever over beats that are addictive and vibes that are dreamy. Now dance.

Nekesa Mumbi Moody's picks:

1. Emeli Sande, "Our Version of Events": Sande's forceful, soulful voice is enough of a lure, but coupled with the most poetic, beautiful lyrics and melodies of the year, Sande's debut album was a brilliant work that was shamefully overlooked by the Recording Academy for Grammy contention in 2013. Don't make the same mistake if you haven't already listened ? this one is a stunner.

2. Taylor Swift, "Red": Last time, we had John Mayer to thank. This time around, Jake Gyllenhaal is most likely the reason for Swift's ire in songs like the wickedly vengeful "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," as well as poignant, heartbreaking songs like "I Almost Do" or "All Too Well." At 22, the former teen ingnue also flirts with sensuality on songs like "Treacherous" and "Everything Has Changed." She may still have a cutesy image, but Swift has grown up, and continues to mature into a singer-songwriter with musical gravitas.

3. Frank Ocean, "Channel Orange": Ocean's grand statement about his sexuality seemed to overshadow the real reason why he was one of music's most important figures ? his impressive talent. "Thinkin' Bout You" gave just a taste of Ocean's allure: With the help of others, he crafted a collection of musically and lyrically daring songs that stand out starkly from the status quo of pop and R&B worlds.

4. Esperanza Spalding, "Radio Music Society": The 2011 Best New Artist winner delivered her most accessible album to date, melding her jazz roots with R&B for an enchanting album.

5. Alabama Shakes, "Boys & Girls": Brittany Howard's vocals slay on every track ? though her voice has been described as Joplin-esque, she's quickly proving that she's a force all her own. From hard-rocking guitar-based tracks to slower grooves, "Boys & Girls" simply smolders.

6. Various Artists, "The Hunger Games Soundtrack: Songs from District 12 and Beyond": From Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars to Miranda Lambert's Pistol Annies, this collection of songs made for the blockbuster film captured the bleakness of the novel better than the movie. In an album of highlight after highlight, the Secret Sisters' simple and beautiful "Tomorrow Will Be Kinder" was at the apex.

7. Killer Mike, "R.A.P. Music": Killer Mike has been under the radar in the rap world for years ? and it's too bad this great didn't elevate his profile in the mainstream, because it's better than 82.4 percent of what's out there today (and yes, that's my scientific survey). He mixes rap braggadocio with biting, thought-provoking social commentary.

8. Elle Varner, "Perfectly Imperfect": Can we get a "Refill" of Varner for 2013? Besides her seductive hit, Varner's album showed that she's one of music's bright new talents with songs that ranged sensuous bedroom workouts to dramatic love ballads.

9. The Robert Glasper Experiment, "Black Radio": They say you can't really criticize something if you don't have a solution to fix it. Well, with "Black Radio," the jazz pianist offered his take on how the often stagnant medium could be improved ? and it was dreamy.

10. Nas, "Life Is Good": Actually, Mesfin, it's been a while since Nas released an album that lived up to his arguable title as rap's greatest MC. But he delivered this year with an album that was a throwback to the beats that dominated hip-hop when New York was king of the rap game, and of course, Nas' rhymes.

Chris Talbott's picks:

1. Cloud Nothings, "Attack on Memory": Blame most of the entries on this list on a conversation I had last year with Jeff Tweedy, who said one of the ways to stay in love with music was to seek out new, young acts. Ohio's Cloud Nothings punched me in the solar plexus with this unrepentant blast of rock that tackles BIG THEMES while musically careening down a steep, car-lined street on an out-of-control skateboard.

2. Natural Child, "For The Love of The Game" and "Hard in Heaven": Mining an era that seems to have been purposely forgotten by today's young rockers, this bluesy rock trio from Nashville was on a groove so tight this year that it released two albums. It's a tossup which one's better, so we're not choosing. Both show they could be Nashville's next breakthrough band.

3. Kendrick Lamar, "good kid, m.A.A.d. city": Displaying the limitless ambition of a young RZA or Kanye West, this much-anticipated, Dr. Dre-sanctified release is a cinematic concept album stuffed full of examples of the Los Angeles rapper's versatility, creativity and willingness to take chances most other rappers would blanche at.

4. Jack White, "Blunderbuss": We've been waiting a long time to hear what White would sound like without the filter of his many, many bandmates. "Blunderbuss," a little bit whimsical, a little bit menacing, offered all the things we'd hoped we'd find, plus a few surprises.

5. Alabama Shakes, "Boys & Girls": This debut album from the Alabama rock quartet heralds the arrival of a major talent in singer Brittany Howard, but she's not the only star here. Her bandmates craft simple but compelling, soulful music that combines with Howard's voice to make some of the most uplifting rock we've heard in years.

6. Frank Ocean, "channel ORANGE": The Tweedy Effect really kicked in last year when I heard Ocean's mix tape "nostalgia/ULTRA," probably the best album of 2011. While "channel ORANGE" is disappointingly restrained musically, like "nostalgia/Ultra" it is a triumphant example as a social document that's both fearless and insightful yet still entertaining enough to reach popular audiences.

7. Turbo Fruits, "Butter": Sometimes you just want to bob your head along to mindless songs about parties and girls and fighting and motorcycles, and the third album from these rising rockers on Kings of Leon's record label helps prove EDM hasn't killed off rock `n' roll. Far from it.

8. King Tuff, "King Tuff": Twenty-five years after its start, Sub Pop is still unearthing bands you need to hear. This time it's Vermont's King Tuff, purveyors of weirdly irresistible sugar-coated psychedelic pop songs that refuse to leave your brain.

9. Japandroids, "Celebration Rock": Beginning and ending with the sound of fireworks, this Vancouver, British Columbia, two-piece's album is exactly what its title describes ? grand, anthemic songs about the great moments in life.

10. Trampled By Turtles, "Stars and Satellites": The awesomely named Minnesota string band has been on the rise for years and its gentle, introspective sixth album adds a layer of artistry and emotion only hinted at in previous work.

Related on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/22/best-albums-2012-ap-10-favorites_n_2351928.html

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Lore - Celaradith's Wilderness

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Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.
Feynesse Isle
A large beautiful island, not without it's dangers or marred lands. Home to the prestigious Academy of Illumination in Mithras City.

Goldoak Mountains
Far to the North-East of the Silkleaf Mesa is a chain of old, rounded mountains. Nestled within one particularly fertile valley is a grove of trees with leaves as yellow as gold. It is unsure as to whether or not this is a natural phenomena, but the citizens of the nearby Daedalus don?t seem to mind. They also don?t mind sharing their home with the untame Illimeur of the forests or the friendly wrendels wandering the orchards. They do, however, hunt the gryphons that nest near the peaks of their mountains.

The Isle of Clouds
It is not often that an island migrates on its own, but this tiny one seems to have decided that spending its life in one place is far too dull. It drifts about the seas as it pleases, a skirt of clouds clinging to it and trailing in its wake. Common birds nest in this region, as well as the elusive Quel. It is even rumored that a family of Doola roam the dense forests of its single mountain.

Silkleaf Mesa
To the East of the Wild Plains a lone, flattened mountain stands. While the earth atop it is mostly barren and dry, a massive swath of brambles marks Hellquill Nest. South of this loathsome mess of thorns is the Jadepyre Post.

Tiny lizards, buzzards, and a medley of other desert-like critters wrestle with the heat here, as well as basilisks, wyverns, and lefor.

The Wild Plains
To the West of Silkleaf Mesa lies a vast, mostly uncharted area. Seas of grasses stretch as far as the eye can see, and massive beasts roam the land. There is nearly no protection from the scorching rays of the sun in this grassland.

The Shore of Flames
Before the Ashriders came to be, dragons were uncontrollable monstrosities of destruction. As a result, a force of soldiers were sent by an ancient king to their nest, slaughtering as many as they could. Many brave men died that day, but so did many fearsome dragons.

However, an unforeseen consequence sprung up as a result. The dragons bled liquid flames, and thus the shores of their seaside cave were set ablaze. Decades have past, but the ever-burning blood of the dragons has not dimmed in the slightest.

The Spirit Basin
The earth here bleeds an unnatural glow; some magic as thick as blood that seeps up through the ground in wells and streams. Very little lives here, but what does is twisted and bizarre.

The Voidcrest
Far to the North of Islithika lies a dark, shadowy mass. The world crumbles at its edges, and dark tendrils of some unknown magic snake across the hills around it and reach into the sky. Void monstrosities slither out of it, but mortal has ever entered the Voidcrest and returned.

Celaradith

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braveheart earthquake california

Sneak of the Month: Children, Teens Recruited as Drug Mules in ...

Illegal drugs found taped to the body of a minor caught at the U.S. border. The teen was being used as a ?mule? by the Mexican drug cartels./NBC San Diego 7

NBC7 in San Diego reported that Mexican drug cartels are aggressively recruiting children and teens to smuggle drugs across the border. Federal authorities are alarmed at what appears to be an increase in children as young as 12 being used as drug mules.

Not only are the drug cartels using these children to traffic marijuana, but now increasingly the drug of choice is methamphetamine. Traditionally, drug cartels recruit the kids with tales of easy money and the taunt that as a minor, even if caught, the penalties would be inconsequential. The average mule makes between $75 and $300 for crossing the border with approximately 6 kilograms taped?to their bodies. And, if caught with heavy narcotics, like meth, these minors will end up with felonies on their criminal record, not just a slap on the wrist.

The drug cartels are recruiting children outside schools and malls and reaching teens by using social media. In 2011, records show 190 children (ages 18 and under) were caught smuggling drugs along the?San Diego County-Mexico border.

This border sector includes over 7,000 square miles including 60 linear miles of international boundary with Mexico and 114 coastal border miles along the Pacific Ocean patrolled by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). Directly south of San Diego lie the Mexican cities of Tijuana and Tecate, Baja California, which have a combined population of more than four and a half million people.

?The drug cartels? shift to using kids and teens as a high reward, low risk method of trafficking drugs across our nation?s border is something hard for most Americans to imagine, unless you know how violent, ruthless, and amoral the cartels are,? said U.S. Border Security Council National Spokesman Steve LeBlanc. ?Our country?s border security is under fire as never?before with some of our nation?s?most precious resources ? our children ? caught in the crosshairs.?

U.S. Border Security Council is a national grassroots advocacy group, which the IRS has determined to be tax-exempt under the provisions of Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. You can reach organization by mail at P.O. Box 96197, Washington, DC 20090 or by email at info@usbordersecurity.info

Source: http://usbordersecurity.info/sneak-of-the-month-children-teens-recruited-as-drug-mules-in-record-numbers

grizzlies

2013 IT Conference Guide

There are a crazy number of IT conferences. If you?re new to the field or its conference circuit, it can be hard to narrow down the options to figure out the best ones to attend. Here we?ll highlight? the biggest conferences of 2013, looking at ones with high turnout rates last year and the most useful information. Many conference offer hands-on training and certification information, so they can be particularly? helpful for people planning to take certification exams in the near future. But, really, there?s something for everyone, regardless of where you?re at in your career.

MCT Summit North America 2013

January 3 ? 4, 2013

The MCT Summit North America 2013 presents two days of training, touching on the latest Microsoft technologies and products.? This year, the North America conference will be held in San Francisco, California.

Academic MCTs are free to attend this event, where they can expect to hear from fellow academic MCTs and Microsoft insiders.

This year?s summit will equip you with knowledge on how to teach the following topics:

• Microsoft?s Cloud Computing
• Office 15
• Server 8
• Windows 8

Attendees can also take advantage of the hands-on lab that will take half a day.? What?s more, you can spend the evenings networking with other MCTs, Microsoft professionals and vendors.

For more information please visit http://www.mctsummit.org.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

January 8 ? 11, 2013

The International Consumer Electronics Show is one of the biggest events for tech professionals and consumer electronics enthusiasts.? The International CES is also where most noteworthy consumer electronic products are introduced.? It is held every year at the Las Vegas Convention Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and attracts thousands of people. ?More than 150,000 attendees, exhibitors, and media personnel came to CES 2012.

IT professionals can learn from several sessions during the conference, including disruptive technologies, mobile trends, content in the cloud, Digital Health Summit, emerging technologies, Games Summit, mobile, and Developer University, among others.

For more information please visit http://www.cesweb.org.

IBM Connect 2013

January 27 ? 31, 2013

IBM is merging two of its well-known conferences, Connect and Lotusphere, to come up with IBM Connect 2013.

Business executives and leaders will find the sessions at IBM Connect 2013 stimulating and informative.? The sessions will teach them:

• What social business is and how it could help their organizations

• How they could create a smarter workforce by attracting top talent and having empowered teams using social solutions

• How to give employees, customers and other stakeholders an exceptional experience on the Web

Meanwhile, IT managers, application developers, system administrators, technologists and other IT professionals will love the technical topics at Lotusphere, where they could learn more about technology, application development, infrastructure and best practices.

IBM Connect 2013 will happen in Orlando, Florida.

For more information please visit http://www-01.ibm.com/software/collaboration/events/connect/details.

Cloud4SMB Expo

January 30 ? February 1, 2013

Cloud4SMB Expo focuses on equipping owners of small- and medium-sized businesses with the knowledge and skills they need to get onto, and reap the benefits of being in, the cloud.

The conference will focus on:

• The cost savings from lower CAPEX and staff expenditures
• Moving to the cloud with the least possible disruption to your business
• Securing your company data
• How to select the right apps and functionalities to migrate to the cloud
• Other migration challenges and how to solve them

If you are a business owner who is considering a move to the cloud, this conference in Miami, Florida is perfect for you.

For more information please visit http://cloud-computing.tmcnet.com/conference.

Brainshare 2013

February 3 ? 7, 2013

Brainshare can give you all the training you need in order to work with any technology and equipment, specifically those made by NetIQ, Novell and SUSE, among others.? You can watch demos, attend technical trainings and go through case studies, futures, hands on, and tutorials.

Sample sessions touch on a variety of topics such as mobile printing, bring your own device (BYOD), identity and access management, security on the cloud, Linux issues and other similar product-centered issues.

If you are aiming for a certification on any of these products, you can participate in the certification and practicum testing.

Brainshare will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah.

For more information please visit http://www.brainshare.com.

SCALE 11X

February 22 ? 24, 2013

If you are a Linux lover, then you should be at the Hilton Los Angeles International Airport in February to catch the Southern California Linux Expo, which focuses on Linux and other open source software and operating systems.

If you support and use open source software, you could learn more about it here.? Or you could network with other Linux professionals.? A full-access pass is only $60.

For 2013, there are three special tracks:

• System administration
• Kernel development
• Cloud and virtualization

For more information please visit http://www.socallinuxexpo.org/scale11x.

VMWare Partner Exchange 2013

February 23 ? 28, 2013

The VMWare Partner Exchange 2013 is the leading cloud infrastructure and virtualization event for partners and users of VMWare.? The VMWare bootcamps run February 23-25, while certification testing happens on February 24-28.? The conference proper and exhibits start on February 25.

Learn from the bootcamps, the hands-on labs, solutions exchanges, and executive forums.? If you have been looking to network with VMWare experts and users alike, then this is the event for you.

The 2013 conference home is at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For more information: http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/partner-exchange

IBM Pulse 2013

March 3 ? 6, 2013

IBM Pulse is an annual conference that is geared toward IT personnel who deal with IT infrastructure, big data, IT, cloud security, the mobile experience and other areas.? It aims to arm IT professionals with the knowledge, tools and best practices to leverage IT for business operations.

There are five different streams this year:

• Cloud and IT Optimization
• Communication Service Providers
• Security Intelligence
• Smarter Infrastructure
• The Mobile Enterprise

It?s home is at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For more information please visit http://www-01.ibm.com/software/tivoli/pulse.

TechMentor Conferences 2013

March 4 ? 8, 2013

The TechMentor Conference at Buena Vista Palace in Orlando, Florida gives you five days of learning, keynotes and workshops.

You can learn about:

• Cisco and Networking Infrastructure
• Cloud and Virtualization
• Identity, Access Management, and Security
• Messaging and Collaboration
• Mobility and BYOD
• Performance Tuning and Troubleshooting
• Windows Client Management
• Windows PowerShell and Automation
• Windows Server Management

There are also available certification tracks that can help you prepare for Microsoft and CCNA exams.? While these may not be a complete examination preparation solution, it could help you become more familiar with one or two topics.

For more information please visit http://techmentorevents.com/ECG/TechMentor/Events/Orlando-2013/Home.aspx.

CeBIT 2013

March 5 ? 9, 2013

Hailed as one of the biggest technology summits all over the world, the CeBIT Expo to be held in Hannover, Germany, will feature:

• Business operations solutions
• Solutions for the public sector
• Research, innovation and new technologies
• Solutions for the digital lifestyle

It will have a series of panel discussions, keynote addresses, in-depth workshops and forums on the Power State; and a sharing of ideas and tips on the Open Stage.

Speakers include:

• Monsters Worldwide executive vice president Andrea Bertone
• Shell International executive vice president Arjen Dorland
• Trend Micro CTO Raimund Genes
• Mozilla Corporation CEO Gary Kovacs
• Lufthansa Systems executive board member Regine Stachelhaus.

For more information please visit http://www.cebit.de/home.

Gartner CIO Leadership Forum: The Digital Enterprise and Beyond

March 17 ? 19, 2013

Huntington Beach, California will be the site for Gartner?s CIO Leadership Forum in 2013.

The conference will focus on:

• Strategic Leadership,
• Customer experience,
• Innovation and technology, and
• Operational efficiency.

You can learn how to:

• Give your customers a compelling experience to further drive your business growth;
• Increase productivity and lower costs;
• Do strategic sourcing, organization and leadership; and
• Foster innovation and adopt new technology.

There are keynote sessions, workshops, town halls (open forums with a panel of experts), and analyst sessions.

For more information please visit http://www.gartner.com/technology/summits/na/cio/agenda.jsp.

Cloud Connect Silicon Valley 2013

April 2 ? 5, 2013

Cloud Connect is an annual Silicon Valley conference that delves into everything about the cloud.? If you need to know the latest developments, products and breakthroughs in the cloud computing space, this is the conference for you.? Cloud Connect Silicon Valley 2013 aims to help you accelerate your cloud computing strategy by:

-??????? Bringing to you different cloud innovations in its expo

-??????? Letting you learn from the experts in different sessions, training and workshops

-??????? Letting you discuss the important issues affecting or surrounding the cloud

This year, sessions are organized by the following tracks:

• Application Design and Architecture
• Big Data
• Cloud strategies and economics
• Infrastructure
• Mobile cloud
• Business cases and enterprise readiness
• Hybrid and private clouds
• Risk management and security
• The future of Utility Computing
• WAN and cloud computing

For more information you can visit http://www.cloudconnectevent.com/santaclara.

Infotec

April 16 ? 17, 2013

The Infotec Conference is now on its 37th year and is the premier business and IT conference in the Midwest.? It brings together business leaders, executives, IT professionals, innovators and other interested parties in the region.? Attendees get top-notch technical sessions while also getting the latest information on the best and up-and-coming technologies and trends.? There are also a lot of opportunities to network and meet high-profile cloud computing companies and exhibitors.

The 2013 conference will be held at CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

For more information: http://infotec.org/.

Code PaLOUsa 2013

April 25 to 27, 2013

Code PaLOUsa 2013 is a three-day software development event that would see more than 60 sessions organized into 12 different tracks:

• Architecture & Design
• Database Platforms and Development
• Desktop & Tablet Development
• Developer Tools, Languages, and Frameworks
• DevOps
• Mobility
• Methodology
• Project Management
• Requirements Management
• Software Testing
• Web Development
• WordPress, Portals, CMS & SharePoint

Code PaLOUsa comes to the Louisville Marriott Downtown in Louisville, Kentucky on April 25 to 27, 2013.? Carl Franklin and Richard Campbell are this year?s keynote speakers.

Future Insights Live

April 29 ? May 2, 2013

Future Insights Live is a four-day technology conference? in Las Vegas, Nevada that also features an optional workshop day for those who want to get in-depth know-how on a topic of their choosing.

Available workshop topics are on:

• HTML 5 and CSS 3
• Designing a great mobile user experience across different platforms and devices
• Interaction design
• Real-time event handling
• Node.js

Conference sessions are focused on the following tracks:

• Biz ? where you can learn how to get funded, monetizing your ideas, and how to run a tech business
• Back End Development ? where you can get to know the latest tools and technologies to build your apps such as Node.js, Web GL, and jQuery.
• Pure Design ? where you can learn how to create visually striking yet usable Web sites.
• Front End Development ? includes discussions on how to create interactive and intuitive user interfaces.
• Mobilize This ? includes discussions of responsive design, cross-platform development, HTML and CSS3, among others.

For more information please visit http://futureinsightslive.com/las-vegas-2013.

Citrix Synergy 2013

May 22 ? 24, 2013

Citrix Synergy focuses on virtualization, mobile work styles, enterprise cloud networking, and other cloud computing technologies.

Hear the technical experts, thought leaders and innovators talk about the hottest cloud issues along with their proven solutions, technologies and best practices.? You could also undergo intensive trainings, see technology and product demos, and participate in open discussions.

Hosted by Citrix, more than 6,000 employees, partners and customers are expected to attend.

Citrix Synergy 2013 will come to the Anaheim Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.

For more information please visit http://www.citrix.com/events/citrix-synergy-2013-anaheim-california.html.

Microsoft TechEd North America 2013

June 3 ? 6, 2013

The one technology conference that developers and IT professionals should not miss will take place in New Orleans this year.? Microsoft TechEd North America 2013 offers a wide range of technical topics focusing on Microsoft?s planned and available products, tools, services and solutions.

Attendees could expect intensive trainings, hands-on sessions, and workshops, and could explore several Microsoft products.

Sessions are categorized by the following tracks:

• Windows Client
• Architecture & practices
• Exchange & Lync
• Management
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Office 365
• Security and identity
• Virtualization
• Azure
• Windows Server

For more information please visit http://northamerica.msteched.com.

12th International Cloud Expo 2013

June 10 ? 13, 2013

The 12th International Cloud Expo 2013 brings together the biggest game changers as far as enterprise IT is concerned: big data and cloud computing.

These trends will be the focus of this four-day conference that will include talks from the biggest names in cloud computing in various breakout sessions, learning sessions, keynote addresses and power panels.

The event will also host an expo that will include some of the well-known players in the big data and cloud computing arena.

Do not miss out on the fun and gather your colleagues together at the Javits Center in New York City in June.

For more information please visit http://cloudcomputingexpo.com.

GigaOM Structure 2013

June 19 ? 20, 2013

GigaOM Structure will focus on the next two years in cloud computing, including the challenges of building the infrastructure for future applications, business models and future hardware architectures among others.? So if you want to know what lies ahead in cloud computing, this is the place to be!

GigaOM Structure boasts of a distinguished panel of expert speakers, including Facebook?s Jay Parikh, Amazon?s Werner Vogels, and Backblaze Online Backup?s Gleb Budman.

GigaOM Structure 2013 happens in San Francisco, California in June.

For more information: http://event.gigaom.com/

ISTE 2013

June 23 ? 26, 2013

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) works to find ways to use technology in education and learning.

The ISTE Conference gathers its member educators for four days of keynotes, training, workshops and learning.? Attendees can choose from more than 700 sessions, and hundreds of workshops.?? Learn more about how to use technology to create interactive and interesting lectures, about the bring your own device (BYOD) trend, about the interactive videoconferencing showcase, and many other topics.

The ISTE conference is coming to San Antonio, Texas for this year.

For more information please visit http://www.isteconference.org/2013/.

Cisco Live 2013

June 23 ? 27, 2013

Cisco Live 2013 will be held in Orlando, Florida. ?There are four different education programs that attendees can choose from:

• Technical education, which gives you the training and education you need.? These are further categorized into different tracks so that you have the option to get a more in-depth training in a single topic or get a gist of various disciplines.

• IT management, which is perfect for IT directors, chief technology officers (CTOs), IT managers, vice presidents, system administrators and other IT leaders who run both the company and its IT departments.? This program can give you both business savvy and technical expertise.

• Developer network, which gives you a wealth of information on Cisco products and solutions that support integration, APIs and open interfaces.

• Service provider, which equips technical engineers and product, sales and marketing professionals the knowhow on key technologies including IP NGN, cloud computing, mobility, video and data center.

For more information please visit http://www.ciscolive.com/us.

Note: Stay tuned for a post about IT conferences happening in the second part of the year!

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5. 2011 Tech Events for IT Pros and Developers

Source: http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/top-it-conferences-2013

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Wingnut Fight! Dana Loesch Sues #Breitbart.com (Little green footballs)

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PFT: Ex-400-teammate questions Sanchez's prep

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Let the piling on begin.

Now benched by the New York Jets, quarterback Mark Sanchez is taking it from all angles, including from former teammates.

Former Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins was among the first to line up at the trough, saying Sanchez was more worried about off-field opportunities than getting himself ready to lead the team.

?[Sanchez] had a stellar offensive line,? Jenkins said on Showtime?s ?Inside The NFL,? via Mike Vorkunov of the Newark Star-Ledger. ?He had running backs that kept the pressure off of him. He had the opportunity to grow and develop. What Sanchez has to take responsibility for is during the time that he could have gotten better he wanted to sit back. He wanted to pose for magazines, worry about his haircuts and do all of that stuff.

?I?m just saying, from what I saw him do, it was a lot better then what it is now. But he coasted. They coddled him. That was what was going on. This is a man?s profession. You have to man up at some point in time and take care.?

Yes, let?s question the offseason dedication of the first quarterback to pose for GQ (not even close). And if you spent your offseasons worrying about cheeseburgers and ballooning up to 400 pounds while skipping team conditioning workouts (as Jenkins did), you?re an even higher authority on preparation.

The issue isn?t anything in particular Jenkins is saying, as it?s far from the first time the budding television personality has made outrageous statements to try to get himself noticed.

The issue is the Sanchez has become an easy mark, and a red herring for the real issues the Jets have.

He?s far from an elite quarterback, but he?s proven himself to be sufficient to make playoff runs (two AFC Championship Games, four road playoff wins), when properly surrounded. The Jets failed to do that this year, lacking the kind of run game they needed or any downfield threats once Santonio Holmes was injured. And adding a sideshow in Tim Tebow only created more pressure for him to perform in an untenable situation, making things worse rather than better.

No amount of haircuts, or cheeseburgers, can change the fact Sanchez never had a chance this year.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/20/former-400-pound-teammate-questions-sanchezs-preparation/related/

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