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December Recap and going forward
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 01:39 PM PST
| December Recap and going forward Posted: 31 Dec 2012 04:00 AM PST 
December was a bit crazy. PAR continues to grow at a very rapid rate. We still have not done any sort of advertising or marketing effort but I am excited once we beging that. I have a very aggressive plan much like what I did with AuctionAds. The PAR Product is amazing though and we are adding 2 new features that are truly revolutionary. My book is finally done and I am hoping to kick off a big release on January 7th or 8th depending on the printer. I can’t wait to finally release it. It’s been along road. Here are the posts from December: Dec-03 12:26:34 - Simple email tricks most people don’t think about on the mobile phone Depending on the person, amount of email they do on their phone can be an outrages amount id say some people I know do at least 65-70% of their emailing on their phone, especially if it is their own personal email and not their work email. So this is d…[more] Dec-04 08:44:31 - Keep hating on John Chow Its human nature to envy someone right? I mean thats why it was named one of the deadly sins… IMO, out of all the sin’s, envy is the ONLY one that has no upside. Think about it for a minute. Sloth, greed, gluttony etc all have some upside… but envy…[more] Dec-05 13:20:03 - Possibly an Enormous Money Making Opportunity in StarCraft 2 I play StarCraft II. A lot. If you log in virtually anytime you will see me there. At work I use it as a reward system. If I get X done then I will play a quick game. I play pretty much nothing but custom maps. When StarCraft launched I work…[more] Dec-06 08:34:12 - FTC Launches Coast-to-Coast ‘Biz-Op’ Rule Blitz From Vermont to California and Oregon to Florida, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has wasted no time enforcing its beefed up Business Opportunity (?Biz-Op?) Rule. Last month, it filed its first six cases across the country (three are the author?s…[more] Dec-06 10:34:10 - I Spent Millions Using Microsoft Paint A lot of banners you see online look very attractive. Most of them are all polished up and pretty, smooth animation and crisp clean images. But, guess what? A lot of these ads suck for direct response! If you?re a brand you want the branding that c…[more] Dec-10 07:00:45 - Stats from sending 30 million emails With our PAR Program we have 11 of our clients that have given us explicit permission to anonymously aggregate their data to provide some statistics. This data is based on sending 30 million emails. Keep in mi…[more] Dec-11 09:52:28 - What you need to succeed in just about any business… Customers…. it’s what we all seek when first starting a new business. Getting them however is a lot harder than we expected. This is because people are SMART. They can spot those that are reputable from those who are not without much effort. Those wh…[more] Dec-11 10:12:35 - Want to be a ShoeMoney Author/Contributor? When I first started ShoeMoney.com in 2003 I was a complete newbie. I was documenting items as I was doing them. Everything from my first business as doing eBay Arbitrage… then talking about my fun ringtone site and then one day when I got a call from G…[more] Dec-12 10:12:09 - ShoeMoney Ad Network Throwback In 2006 when I first got into affiliate marketing I realized that all of AdSense income was coming from people advertising affiliate offers. Now even though I was doing affil…[more] Dec-13 06:23:06 - What Runs Where XMAS Special What Runs Where is truly a remarkable game changing tool for anyone in the advertising space. Like most great tools it was a in house tool built by top affiliates who wanted to offer it as a service to others. Here is a special X-mas offer for 50 fast…[more] Dec-14 07:00:47 - Free Shirt Friday – Rap Music Guide This site is pretty crazy actually and great for you rap die hards. You are able to go back and check rap albums that have been released to see if they were the real deal or bootleg copies, they have descriptions of the bar codes on the back even. Someb…[more] Dec-17 07:27:16 - Francisco Dao is a loser @theman I have had this in my drafts folder for a bit. When I first wrote it I was really pissed. I can’t disagree with this topic more. I stopped going half cocked and letting it fly (for the most part) on the post button so its been in my drafts. I let it go fo…[more] Dec-17 12:19:56 - I will rep your brand out at Affiliate Summit West 2013 (for charity) I am auctioning myself to wear your company’s shirt for 3 days during the Affiliate Summit West Event January 2013 in Las Vegas. This is a special year. If the auction goes over $5,000, our T-Shirt charity auctions will have raised more th…[more] Dec-19 10:40:08 - How I wrote a book and self published I don’t have the book entirely self published but I wanted to make a post (I will update it as the process goes) to save people perhaps some of the pain that I went through. I will tell you now that if I had to do it all over again I would have gone wi…[more] Dec-21 07:00:37 - Free Shirt Friday – getDigital This one came all the way from Germany, and just in time for Christmas! I love sites like getDigital filled with just a shit load of cool little toys and gagets that I feel I need to buy each and…[more] Dec-26 12:06:00 - Your company in my autobiography? You only get one shot at launching your Autobiography right? I started thinking last week about how we could raise a bunch of money for charity and get some publicity for the book. Then it hit me. Each company or website that makes a $2500 …[more] Dec-27 09:01:44 - Exact Match Domains Getting Nuked There are very few basic knowns about what factors have an effect on your keyword ranking. Put your keyword in the title of your page, in your page, and in the url of your page that you want to rank for that keyword. But the gold standard for rankin…[more] Dec-28 07:00:45 - RecipeIdeas.net – Free Shirt Friday Well shoot! I probably should have posted this one before the Holidays so you could have had recipe ideas that you could have taken to your family get togethers.. better late than never I guess. RecipeIdeas.Net ch…[more] |
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Online and Traditional Resumes
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 01:36 PM PST
| Online and Traditional Resumes Posted: 30 Dec 2012 10:30 PM PST  With so much job search activity taking place on the internet these days, it is sometimes difficult to remember even the most tech-savvy companies still like to receive traditional resumes. And there are many companies who do not ever search for candidates online, even at business-oriented sites such as LinkedIn.
Companies like to receive traditional print or electronic applications and resumes they can scan into their computerized Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Using an ATS, the recruiter, hiring manager or human resources personnel can quickly search through thousands of resumes for those job applicants who have the skills, experience, education and accomplishments the company is looking for. This reliance on ATS systems is, at the moment, much stronger than any reliance on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media sites. If you were a recruiter, would you rather hunt through thousands of tweets for the one person you need or use an ATS system to evaluate the resumes sent to you? Right now, I recommend clients have a resume optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems. They also need a "pretty" resume to mail or hand to an interviewer. Job seekers who have a LinkedIn profile should make sure it strongly and consistently reinforces their resume. Profiles may be needed on other social media sites. Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post Online and Traditional Resumes appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | | 4 Things You Can Do To Be Happier At Work Today Posted: 30 Dec 2012 10:30 PM PST  No matter what you do, making sure your happiness and well-being are in tact are major priorities. If you're stuck in a position, work long hours, or hate your job, this can be a difficult thing to maintain.
Here are four ways you can be happier at work today: 1. Eat Your Veggies Constantly feeling down in the dumps? Maybe you need to eat more colorful foods! Researchers found that eating fruits and vegetables every day can actually increase happiness and overall well-being. For optimal results, eat seven servings of fruits and veggies each day. 2. Have Goals How ambitious are you? Turns out, people who set high goals for themselves are happier than those with lower expectations. Make a list of things you want to accomplish – both short term and long term goals. It’s always good to have something to work toward! 3. Don’t Make Money Your First Priority You know that saying, “Money can’t buy happiness.” Well, it’s true. According to U.S. News and World Report, seeking more money can actually make you less happy. Instead of focusing completely on finances, make sure you take the time to celebrate your own personal growth – What you’ve learned, who you’ve connected with, and how you’ve improved yourself. 4. Smile You were late for work, got chewed out by the boss, and spilled coffee on your favorite white blouse. The last thing you want to do today is smile. However, studies show forcing a smile can actually make you genuinely happy. Not only that, but putting on a fake smile can help decrease stress. So, what’s not to smile about? Do you agree with these tips? What advice do you have for being happier at work? Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post 4 Things You Can Do To Be Happier At Work Today appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | | Using The Correct Body Language During An Interview Posted: 30 Dec 2012 10:00 PM PST  Using the correct body language during an interview is essential to your success.
Body language communicates a lot of information about you, no matter what words come out of your mouth. Employers pay attention to how you dress and behave during the interview process because they want to get a better since about you as a person in general. Body language is so important – an employer may decide to hire if you present yourself properly, but they may also decide not to hire if you if you have poor body language. Here are some tips about body language during an interview. 1. Firm Handshake The first thing you should do is give a firm handshake to the interviewer. A weak handshake will have a poor reflection on you and it may make people see you untrustworthy or unreliable. There is no need to crush the interviewer’s hand, but the handshake should be firm and show you are alive. 2. Good Posture Good posture will show the interviewer that you are prepared, professional, and confident. Sit straight in the chair and keep your head high as you walk. Do not let the interviewer see you slouched in the chair while you are waiting, so stay on your best behavior even when you think they are not watching. The secretary that you encounter before the interview may even take some notes about you before you even realize it. 3. No Fidgeting Fidgeting makes you seem nervous and it can show a lack of self-esteem and confidence. Although you probably are nervous during the interview, it is best that you try your best not to show it. Do not tap your feet, play with your hair or nails, or rock in the chair before or during the interview. 4. Strong Eye Contact Always maintain strong eye contact during the entire interview. A lack of eye contact can ruin your interview because it can make you seem untrustworthy. Simply look the interviewer in the eye while they are speaking and nod your head to acknowledge that you are listening to them. 5. Smile Smiling can really help you during the interview because it can make you seem more friendly and likable. There is no need to smile during the entire interview because it could make you seem phony, but you should aim to smile at least once or twice during the interview. Watch your body language during the interview to make sure you leave a good impression after the interview. Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post Using The Correct Body Language During An Interview appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | You are subscribed to email updates from CAREEREALISM
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Best of 2012: Projects from the Pages of MAKE Magazine
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 01:34 PM PST
| Best of 2012: Projects from the Pages of MAKE Magazine Posted: 31 Dec 2012 12:30 PM PST  Looking back on 2012, it’s hard to believe we’ve been producing MAKE magazine for eight years now! I remember working on Volume 01 back in 2005 and the excitement of launching something so new and renegade. DIY is thankfully a part of mainstream culture now, and we’re thrilled to see [...] Read the full article on MAKE  | | Turntable Spins 3D Printed Record Posted: 31 Dec 2012 12:00 PM PST  We all have to start somewhere. Even though Amanda Ghassaei's 3D printed records clock in at a sample rate of 11 khz and 5-6 bit resolution, the tracks produced are clearly recognizable, albeit shrouded in some noise. Read the full article on MAKE  | | Processional Paper Lanterns Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:30 AM PST  Over 800 people participated in Morningside Lights in September, as part of a weeklong arts event that concluded with a procession of many dozen paper lanterns through a public park in NYC. Read the full article on MAKE  | | Best of 2012: 10 Most Popular Posts of the Year Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:00 AM PST  What proves to be popular on the MAKE blog is always hard to predict. You put something up that you think will break big, and it fizzles, and then you post something you think is just kinda cool and it goes viral. Here are the top ten most popular posts [...] Read the full article on MAKE  | | Make your own Magdeburg Hemispheres Posted: 30 Dec 2012 04:49 PM PST  Way back in the 17th Century German scientist Otto von Guericke demonstrated the power of vacuum forming by joining two steel half domes that two teams of horses pulling in opposite directions could not pull apart. In this video, MAKE Contributing Editor William Gurstelle recreates the experiment in ReMaking History with two cake pans. And you can, too, in this easy to follow experiment. Read the full article on MAKE  | You are subscribed to email updates from MAKE
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Here’s to 2013
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 01:31 PM PST
| Here’s to 2013 Posted: 31 Dec 2012 08:13 AM PST 
It's New Year's Eve and I can't help but think about one of the most central concepts in B2B Sales: IN SALES, YOU GO FROM HERO TO ZERO IN A MATTER OF MINUTES... In other words, you may have... - Busted your goal,
- Earned a spot in the "President's Circle," and
- Won every sales award your company offers
...But once 2013 kicks off (you know, tomorrow), the question is, "What have you done for me lately?"
The good news is that, while one person goes from "hero to zero," others have the chance to go from "zero to hero." Sales is a game of constant competition. It's a game of seeing opportunity where others see emptiness. As you open a new wall calendar, think about Napoleon Bonaparte's reaction to Robert Fulton's steamboat: "How, sir, would you make a ship sail against the wind and currents by lighting a bonfire under her deck? I pray you, excuse me, I have not the time to listen to such nonsense."
Somebody had to sell it. Or consider radio broadcaster Mary Somerville's observation about television in 1948: "Television won't last. It's a flash in the pan."
Somebody had to sell it. And, when they were asked about the sales opportunities for photocopiers in 1959, IBM executives told Xerox executives, "The world potential market for copying machines is 5,000 at most."
Somebody had to sell it. Every invention has required salespeople who went from zero to hero. So, I hope you're ready to become a hero in 2013! On the other hand, there was Mr. Alex Lewyt's 1955 New York Times quote, "Nuclear-powered vacuum cleaners will probably be a reality in 10 years."
I guess that means that not every dream is worth pursuing. Pick carefully! | You are subscribed to email updates from Sales Evolution
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Five things you can do to succeed at keeping your New Year’s Resolutions
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 01:29 PM PST
| Five things you can do to succeed at keeping your New Year’s Resolutions Posted: 31 Dec 2012 06:30 AM PST As you start creating your New Year’s resolutions and thinking of ways to productively usher in the new year, you might have in the back of your mind some of the challenges you might face. It’s been well publicized how difficult resolutions are to keep, but that doesn’t mean that you should give up on them. The new year presents an opportunity for change and there are particular things you can do to sustain the changes you’d like to make. Keep a positive attitude As with any project, you may meet upon a few roadblocks or things you didn’t anticipate. Don’t let these setbacks stop you from moving forward. Instead, try to adopt a realistic and positive mindset, both of which can help you cope well when things don’t go as planned. If you find yourself a bit turned around, grab your action plan and start anew. Remember, your overall goal is to be persistent, not to achieve perfection. To help start you off on a positive note, studies have shown that up to 46 percent of people who make resolutions are successful at the six month mark. When compared to the success rate of people who didn’t make resolutions (4 percent), this statistic is remarkable. So, even if there are a few hiccups along the way, keep in mind that you have a very good chance of succeeding. Build a strong support system Surrounding yourself with people who can see you through some of the bumps in the road will give your positive outlook extra mileage. An accountability partner can help keep you motivated, will talk through solutions and strategies with you, and celebrate your successes (both large and small). This person will also hold you accountable for the actions you commit to doing. You’ll want to set up regular check-in meetings with your partner so that you don’t lose sight of your next steps. Choose the right tools Part of your support system should include tools that work well with your personality and learning style. For instance, you might choose to keep a journal to record your progress or read/listen to a book that gives you specific instructions and action steps, like David Allen’s Getting Things Done. Websites geared toward goal setting (like 43Things.com and StartaResolution.com) can also be helpful. Check out 20 apps to help you keep your New Year resolutions over at TheNextWeb.com for applications on your mobile devices. Work on one goal at time Here at Unclutterer, we’ve often mentioned that single-tasking helps you to get more done. The same principle applies to your goals. While you might have several goals (and be very enthusiastic about achieving them), if you attempt to work on all of them at the same time, this can become very overwhelming, you may lose focus, and all of your goals can ultimately fall off your radar. Consider focusing on one goal per month and attend to it every day before moving on to the next one. Focus on ambitious goals over the long-term Do you have a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal (BHAG) on your list? This term was first coined by Jim Collins, co-author of Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies. You don’t have to be a corporation to have a BHAG, but you do have to approach it in the right way. Some key features of a BHAG: - Stimulates bold, radical improvement
- Generates tremendous excitement for future change
- Has clear and specific outcomes
- Is a long-term endeavor
BHAGs are not your average goals. They are large and meaty and achieving them can have a huge impact not only on you, but also those around you (those in your inner circle, colleagues, and your community at large). Because of their size, ambitious goals won’t necessarily be completed in 365 days. But, once attained, they can be extremely gratifying because of the effort you put in to getting to the finish line. Since you won’t see immediate results, keep your vision of progress in line with long-term planning. Chip away at your BHAG systematically and routinely and seek support from others so that you can have a better chance at successfully completing it. Go ahead, get excited about your big, hairy goals, but be sure to keep the right perspective. As you think about the steps you need to take to bring your Resolution Action Plan to fruition, don’t rely solely on motivation and willpower. Arm yourself with a few tools and strategies that will help you succeed at a keeping your New Year’s resolutions. Like this site? Buy Erin Rooney Doland's Unclutter Your Life in One Week from Amazon.com today. | You are subscribed to email updates from Unclutterer
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Midday Open Thread: Do You Still Think Of Your Ex?
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 01:28 PM PST
| Midday Open Thread: Do You Still Think Of Your Ex? Posted: 31 Dec 2012 12:00 PM PST This song has such a hold on so many people, after all these years. What would you say if you ran into your old lover in the grocery store? | | Hey, Tom Brokaw! Does 'Universal' Mean Anything To You? Posted: 31 Dec 2012 10:30 AM PST Tom Brokaw has no excuse for his stupidity on Meet the Press Sunday. None. He's old enough to know better, but evidently he's so full of right wing tropes that he's forgotten the purpose of Social Security and why it is structured the way it is, which of course plays right into the hands of those who would like to destroy it entirely. This particular exchange is characteristic of people who have absolutely no basic understanding of the principles at play or what those principles mean to everyone, not just people who rely on Social Security: GREGORY: Okay. But you-- Tom-- Tom when you-- I'm not afraid of it-- well, you know, I thought I'd let it go the first time. On second thought I had to say I don't really know what you meant. Tom, you know, you interviewed-- you interviewed then candidate Obama in 2008. You said-- you asked him then, would you get Medicare and Social Security reform done in your first two years? He said, well Tom, I don't know if I can do that but-- certainly in the first term. I asked him to make a commitment for the first year of his second term. He's not prepared to do that. This is the driver, David you-- you recently linked to a Weekly Standard piece about you're going to run out of discretionary money to do the things the president wants to do if he doesn't take on entitlements. MR. BROKAW: They've got to address it. And the president I think, could help himself a lot if he were tougher on the AARP for example, and said look, it's not about the people at the bottom for whom Medicare really is the lifeline. It's about all of the people, including those of us around the table who get the same benefits, members of our family who are very working class. My brother, you know, has a really great working class career working for the telephone company. But there's a big disparity between what I'm worth and he's worth but we get the same benefits at the end of the day. There's something wrong with that. And, you know, the fact of the matter is that we're all living longer as well. Social Security can go up if you give it some lead time to retire at 67 and probably 20 years from now to retire maybe at 70 because people are staying in the workplace longer. He ought to be able to raise those issues in a way that he can begin to sell them to the idea of-- sell to the American people the idea that we've got fundamental reforms that we have to do, as David says, downstream because we are going to be bankrupt not just our children but your grandchildren.
No. There's nothing wrong with that. Not one thing. Lean in, and listen carefully. Tom almost had it right when he said it's not about the people at the bottom, but about ALL the people, but then some weird kind of out-of-touch equivalence signal went off, and he had to go on about how wrong it is that he gets the same benefits that Joe Surveyor gets. The problem is, people actually listen when he does this. I happened to get caught in a discussion on Twitter where he had sold his bill of goods to at least one person who seems to think poor folks won't get their Social Security benefits unless we take it away from people like Tom effing Brokaw. For the benefit of that person, Tom Brokaw, and anyone else who is laboring under this travesty of a misconception, here are some facts to take to your discussion: - Social Security is intentionally universal. This is not a bug, it's a feature. It is intentionally universal and must remain so because otherwise it becomes just another discretionary program that Congress can raid, cut, and shame people over like they do with Medicaid, food stamps, heating subsidies and just about everything else. By making it universal no matter whether you're Donald effing Trump or Granny down the street, and by paying for it with employee and employer contributions, it is removed from the realm of the hungry right wing, provided it is protected by the left wing, which is something our President and Congress would do well to remember.
As long as the payroll deductions and benefits are calculated on the same formula for people, it remains a universal program and everyone's benefit is funded. The very second you talk about cutting the "upper tier" out of the program it is no longer universal, no longer paid for, and no longer alive. Get it? Good. - Social Security is funded for 24 years. Talk to me about the "need" to reform it after the wars are amortized in advance, or taxes are raised in advance to pay for them. Do NOT, under any circumstances, sit your righteous self down in the room and misinform the American public that a PREPAID program for the next 24 years is your problem when it most clearly is not.
- The nonsense about raising retirement age has to stop. This is a real flaw among the Village elite, who think they can look at a damned actuarial table and figure it all out. People are not statistics. Some people live longer because they're not out there digging ditches and laying pipe at age 65. Some people wouldn't live longer if they had to lay pipe or dig ditches until age 70. And damn it all, someone will be out there laying pipe and paving roads now and in the future, and they'll just be screwed by an age change the same way the baby boomers were.
I really hope Tom Brokaw reads this. Because anyone who has bothered to pay attention during this recession knows the highest percentage of workforce dropouts are women between age 54-65. So we get double-screwed, because we're denied the last 15 years of our working lives to earn higher benefits, and have to scrape by until we get to the magic retirement age. NO. Raising the retirement age isn't a simple swipe of the pen. It's the difference between having money in the bank at retirement to supplement Social Security and not having money in the bank. It's the difference between survival and living on the dole for some people. Mostly, it's just unnecessary. I am so tired of these out of touch pundits pretending they're playing the Great Policy Game of 2012, where they approach it like Monopoly on steroids. Just. Stop. Stop talking about inflicting pain like sadists and get out of your bubble. Talk to real people, not people who play all of this out like it's a big game where someone wins and someone gets "pain." Tom should be telling his rich buddies to suck it up and get over it. They profited from the wars, now they can pay their fair share. If they have that much, they can give a little up to make sure others have even the small things they worked so hard for. Enough of the pain talk. Start talking about real life, with real people, in real situations. Or shut up and sit down and let someone else talk about it. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | | GOP To The Rescue On Chained CPI - For Now. Who'd A Thunk it? Posted: 31 Dec 2012 09:00 AM PST  Click here to view this media There has been a lot of chaos caused in Congress and to the American people ever since the teaBirchers took over the House in 2010, but some unintentional good things have happened because of them. In 2011, Speaker of the House, John Boehner was forced to turn down an incredible Grand Bargain deal for the Republicans over the dreary debt ceiling debacle. Included in the deal was drastic cuts to to federal spending as well as entitlement cuts. Obama offered to put Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid cuts on the table in exchange for a tax hike of roughly $100 billion per year over 10 years. Meanwhile, government spending would be cut by roughly three times that amount.
So approximately sixteen months later Obama wins reelection campaigning on tax increases and guess what? Boehner and the entire GOP got zilch for their troubles. I can tell you I was very happy when Boehner rejected that God awful deal. Now with the fiscal cliff looming in a matter of hours, Obama offered Boehner and the GOP a massive cut to Social Security benefits that they've been clamoring for by offering to switch to the chained CPI method of calculating Social Security payouts in exchange for making a deal on raising tax rates which has been a demand by the GOP and they turned him down once again. Tense "fiscal cliff" negotiations on Capitol Hill Sunday inched forward slightly as Republican senators agreed to take Social Security cuts off their list of immediate demands.The cut that GOP leaders had proposed -- picking up on a now-defunct offer from President Barack Obama -- involved basing Social Security cost-of-living adjustments on a chained consumer price index (CPI), which grows more slowly than current measures of inflation and therefore would give seniors less in benefits as time went on. But Senate Republicans realized in a caucus meeting Sunday afternoon that the idea was a loser for now, even if they might return to it in reaching a larger deal later on. "CPI has to be off the table because it's not a winning argument to say benefits for seniors versus tax breaks for rich people," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). "We need to take CPI off the table -- that's not part of the negotiations -- because we can't win an argument that has Social Security for seniors versus taxes for the rich." "There's a realization that in spite of the president's apparent endorsement of a chained CPI that that proposal deserves more study," said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). "My guess, based on what Democrats are saying is that that reform would not happen during this stage of the negotiations."
Every day we don't cut The Big Three is a good day, no matter who is responsible for it. In the above video which was supplied to me by the lovely Heather of Video Cafe, Sen. Jon Thune tries to explain to Dana Bash of CNN why Republicans are now refusing to include chained CPI in the current deal for the fiscal cliff. Thune: The one thing that is a, you know, Democrats have come out and made a big deal out of chained CPI; Republicans are very concerned that if that not be used as an offset to reduce or to replace some of the spending cuts that would occur in the sequester, that Democrats put forward an alternative. And so this is a process. Obviously, there's a lot of give and take going on right now, but Republicans don't want to see new revenues, in other words, Democrat tax increases, be used for new spending. So that's sort of where many of our members have drawn the line right now. BASH: And that is where it seems to be one of the big roadblocks are right now. You all want to use what's known as chained CPI, which is a technical -- I won't get into it now but it would effectively really affect Social Security recipients to replace the sequester, which is $100 billion in cuts. And Democrats want to use new revenue from tax increases to replace the sequester. Is that where you see it? THUNE: Well, I think that's a -- that -- yes, I mean, there are other issues involved but that's certainly one example of something I think where -- and frankly, I mean, chained CPI to us is not just about replacing the sequester today. It is putting in place a policy that will help save and protect Social Security in the long term. But that being said, if Democrats don't accept that as an offset, then come up with something else, because raising taxes to pay for new spending is not something that Republicans believe, this debate ought to be about. It ought to be about reducing the deficit and the debt. And what they are essentially suggesting is we want new taxes, we want higher taxes on people in this country to pay for new spending.
If you can make heads or tails from Thune's explanation of it, he does say that Republicans do want to use C-CPI savings to replace the sequester, so earlier arguments about saving the benefit program is a lie. What's also unfortunate is that President Obama bragged about including chained CPI in his fiscal deal offer to Dancing David Gregory on Sunday. PRESIDENT OBAMA: ...but I already have, David, as you know, one of the proposals we made was something called Chain CPI, which sounds real technical but basically makes an adjustment in terms of how inflation is calculated on Social Security. Highly unpopular among Democrats. Not something supported by AARP. But in pursuit of strengthening Social Security for the long-term I'm willing to make those decisions.
A Democratic president should never, ever offer this up to Republicans. Chained CPI doesn't strengthen Social Security at all. It cuts benefits for all seniors depending on it to survive as they get older. Luckily the GOP's tortured logic took hold over them and they nixed the proposal. Now we have to help make sure President Obama and Congressional Democrats do not roll over during the looming debt ceiling vote and try to give away the store. Heck, they've tried before. | | Dean: If We Go Over Cliff, Dow Will Be At 15,000 In 6 Months Posted: 31 Dec 2012 07:30 AM PST  Click here to view this media Howard Dean, Tim Pawlenty, Politico senior political "reporter" Maggie Haberman, and Todd Purdum from Vanity Fair in today's This Week roundtable with Jonathan Karl in the usual mix of Village conventional wisdom and occasional glimmers of reality -- mostly in the form of Howard Dean: KARL: Look into the crystal ball here for the next couple of days. And we're going to get your predictions for next year, but just over the next couple of days, based on what you heard here today from the senators and then the raucous discussion with the House members, each of you, do you think that the deal is going to happen? And if it happens, is it going to pass House and Senate? PAWLENTY: There will be a deal. I'm a little pessimistic, unfortunately, at the moment. I hope they could get over the cliff and avoid this January 1st cutoff, but if they do go over the cliff, my hope is that they can put something together as early as possible in January, but I'm a little pessimistic about whether they can get that done by December 31st midnight. (CROSSTALK) HABERMAN: I'm where the governor is. I mean, I think that the -- I understand that Schumer and Kyl are optimistic, but there's not much coming out of the House right now that seems positive. I do think there will be some framework. DEAN: It's the best thing for the country to go over the cliff right now. It's not a great thing for... KARL: But will we? DEAN: Yeah. It's not a great thing for the country, but it's the best of all the alternatives. KARL: Todd? PURDUM: Well, they'll have to do something, and the market's reaction on Wednesday morning, if they haven't done anything tomorrow, may be the next wedge that will... DEAN: It will be, although I predict ultimately that if we go over the cliff and stay over the cliff, six months from now, the Dow will be at 15,000. You know why? The biggest uncertainty in the market is not taxes and blah, blah, blah. KARL: Size of the deficit. DEAN: It's the size of the deficit. If you go over the cliff, you've done something for the first time really serious about the deficit. All of a sudden, the financial horizons look pretty good.
 | | Rep. Raul Labrador: 'Democrats Are Like Bank Robbers' for Wanting to Raise Taxes Posted: 31 Dec 2012 06:00 AM PST  Click here to view this media From ABC's This Week, GOP Representative and flamethrower Raul Labrador took a page out of Charles Krauthammer's book, and blamed the Democrats for the rifts within the Republican party and compared them to bank robbers while saying their plan is to raise taxes on everybody. Never mind that the party protecting the tax cuts for the ultra-rich at all costs is the Republicans. Of course when host Jonathan Karl pointed out that the Republicans haven't been willing to compromise on anything, Labrador disagreed and said he'd be perfectly willing to compromise... as long as it means the GOP getting everything they want, which is destroying our social safety nets. KARL: So let's -- but I want to ask, Republicans seem to be incredibly divided on this issue of taxes. You wouldn't even support your leader. You wouldn't even support Speaker Boehner, a relatively modest increase of those making over $1 million. Charles Krauthammer said that this is -- Republicans are basically completely divided on this. Here's what he said: President Obama's been using this -- and I must say with great skill and ruthless skill and success -- to fracture and basically shatter the Republican opposition. His objective from the very beginning was to break the will of Republicans in the House and to create an internal civil war, and he has done that. Is that what we are seeing here, is an internal civil war... LABRADOR: Absolutely. KARL: ... in the House? LABRADOR: And I agree with Charles. This -- this has been what the Democrats wanted to do from day one. They have tried to divide the Republicans. They have tried to get us to fight against each other on taxes when -- I'm not really sure that they don't want to go over the fiscal cliff. You're going to have Howard Dean here a little bit later. He agrees with many Democrats that what -- what they need is actually more revenue. They want to expand the growth of government. They need more revenues. You know, Democrats are like bank robbers. You don't have the money in the 2 percent -- the money is in the 100 percent. They want to raise taxes on everyone. (CROSSTALK) KARL: But you're unwilling... (CROSSTALK) KARL: ... you're unwilling to compromise at all. LABRADOR: I'm willing to compromise if we have real cuts. KARL: Not on taxes. LABRADOR: No, if we have real cuts -- because what happens in Washington is that we talk about raising taxes today and then we talk about cuts 10 years from now. It happened under Reagan, it happened under Bush, and it's what's going to happen to us once again.
h/t Mediaite | | Mike's Blog Round Up Posted: 31 Dec 2012 05:00 AM PST Evan Soltas: The real U.S. budget deficit picture isn't nearly as bad as you think… Joe Weisenthal: … and will improve if Washington instead focuses on economic growth and unemployment… Peter Orszag: …and especially if the Medicare growth rate continues to slow. The Impolitic: Meanwhile, Lindsey Graham (R-SC) promises to hold the debt ceiling hostage. Again. Speaking of which, your quote of the day: "Let me tell you what's involved if we don't lift the debt ceiling: financial collapse and calamity throughout the world." (Lindsey Graham, January 6, 2011) Guest blogging Mike's Blog Round Up for the last time this week is Jon Perr from Perrspectives. Send your tips, recommendations, comments and angst to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT com. | | Open Thread Posted: 30 Dec 2012 08:30 PM PST Crayon Dragon, a student film by Toniko Pantoja, music by Denny Schneidemesser. Well worth the few minutes. h/t Electronic Cerebrectomy. Open thread below.... | | C&L's Late Night Music Club with Alabama Shakes Posted: 30 Dec 2012 08:00 PM PST Title: Hold On Athens, Georgia band Alabama Shakes is on everyone's top ten list for 2012, and their album is number one on Amazon for classic Southern rock. Not bad for a debut. What's your favorite release of 2012? And whatcha listening to this evening? | | Schumer Takes Kyl to Task for Counting Hedge Funds as Small Businesses Posted: 30 Dec 2012 07:00 PM PST  Click here to view this media Given he's from New York and has done more than his share to make sure our government policies are friendly to Wall Street, the big banks and the hedge fund managers, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Chuck Schumer take his fellow Senator, Jon Kyl to task for trying to pretend that you're going to hurt a lot of small businesses if you raise taxes on those making over $250,000 a year. I've heard this argument so many times from Republicans, it's ridiculous and ABC This Week host Jonathan Karl wasn't much better than Kyl here with trying to pretend like you're going to damage the economy if the wealthiest among us have their taxes go up a few percentage points for their income over a quarter of a million dollars. KARL: But I've got to ask you about this question about -- because this is one of the big sticking points left, is whose taxes go up? Is it people making over $250,000, as the president wants, or Republicans suggested nobody, or people making over a $1 million?
But you, Senator Schumer, had proposed raising taxes only on those making over $1 million. And I want to take a look at what you said about this proposal, going at $250,000. This was last year. You said, "In the eyes of many, it is hard to ask households making $250,000 or $300,000 a year -- in large parts of the country, that kind of income does not get you a big home or lots of vacations or anything else that is associated with wealth. It also would affect too many small businesses."
Weren't you right back then, when you said it was wrong to raise taxes on those...
(CROSSTALK)
SCHUMER: Well, look, we offered that to our Republican colleagues two years ago, when the political landscape was different. They rejected it. And then the president, sticking to $250,000, campaigned on it openly, overtly. He won the election on it overwhelmingly on that issue; 60 percent of the public was with him.
So that is our position. It's a position that brings in more revenues. And what we have learned, as the fiscal situation deteriorated, if you go much higher than $250,000, to raise the rest of the revenues you need, you're going to hurt the middle class as you take away their tax deductions. So it's the right place...
KARL: But you said back then...
SCHUMER: ... to be.
KARL: But you said back then it would affect too many small businesses. Frankly, you sounded a little like Senator Kyl.
SCHUMER: Well, the bottom line is very, very simple, and that is that if you do -- if you go much above $250,000, you're going to hurt the middle class even worse and small businesses even worse by having to take away tax deductions. That's not the place we were at two years ago. It is the place we're at now, because the situation is deteriorating.
KYL: Jonathan, it's exactly the opposite. The higher you set that level, the less small business you're going to hit. And you're exactly right, and Chuck was right back when he talked about a million, because the increase in the tax rates for individual taxpayers sweeps in about a million small-business owners. Remember, about half of small businesses are women-owned. And it sweeps them up because they don't pay corporate tax rates; they pay as individuals.
KARL: But -- but...
SCHUMER: Wait a second. That's counting big hedge funds as small businesses, big Hollywood productions, like Oprah Winfrey, as small businesses. It affects very few. We all know mom-and-pop small businesses, the dry cleaner down the street and others, don't make millions and millions of dollars.
| | David Brooks Says Obama Needs to Make GOP Feel Safe on Fiscal Deal Posted: 30 Dec 2012 06:00 PM PST David Brooks is everything that's wrong inside the Beltway. And yet, he is reliably on one or the other of the Sunday shows every damn week. In just one minute of soundbyte, Brooks was so full of wrong and stupidity that it's hard not to pick it apart and just respond: First, let's just say, what's happening in Washington right now is pathetic. When you think about what the Revolutionary generation did, what the Civil War generation did, what the WWII generation did, we're asking not to bankrupt our children and we've got a shambolic, dysfunctional process.I think most of the blame still has to go to the Republicans.
How very generous of you, David. Let's be honest, ALL of the blame belongs to the Republicans. The fiscal "cliff" was created because the Republicans refused to vote on deficit reduction earlier and the "crisis" was created by bozos like David Brooks in the media. In a fragile economic recovery, we don't need to focus on the damn deficit. We can't cut spending. That will contract the economy and EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. THESE. CONSERVATIVES. KNOWS. THAT. and want the economy to struggle more so that they can say, "See, those leftist liberal policies hurt America!" They've had a brain freeze since the election.
Since the election? Be honest. They haven't employed their brains since the Eisenhower era. They have no strategy. They don't know what they want and they haven't decided what they want.
C'mon, Bobo. You know what they want. They haven't hidden it. They want Obama to fail as a president. EVERYTHING they do is for that end. Not for the American people. Not for the good of the country. Everything is a political calculus to hurt the Democratic Party and President. But if I had to fault President Obama...
Do you have to? Why? ... I would say sometimes he governs like a visitor from a morally superior civilization.
They're called the Democratic Party. You can call them by their correct name.
He comes in here and he will not….he'll talk to a Boehner, but he won't with the other Republicans.
Besides being factually incorrect--not that that has ever stopped David Brooks--John Boehner is the Speaker of the House and Majority Leader. Nothing gets voted on that he doesn't sanction. Doesn't it make sense to talk to head guy? Or is Obama expected to show his good faith (and Brooks-like misunderstanding of how government runs) by talking to every single Republican in Congress? How is that effective? He hasn't built the trust.
On the contrary, I think that the Republicans trust that if they stall and posture for as long as possible, President Obama will concede just about everything to get a deal done. That's the only way they have any negotiating ground or leverage and four years of dealmaking precedent to rely on. Boehner actually made a pretty serious concession, $800 billion in tax revenues, probably willing to go up on rates, but the trust wasn't there to get that done.
Boehner's own party didn't trust him to get that deal done. That didn't get scuttled by Obama, that was scuttled by the extreme fringe of the ....wait for it....REPUBLICANS. Nice revisionism, Bobo. If the President wants to get stuff done in the next four years, it's gotta be a lot more than making the intellectual concessions. It's got to get to the place where Republicans say, 'okay, we'll take a risk, this guy won't screw us.'
Holy FSM, the Republicans are all about screwing. It's just that they want to be the ones clearly screwing the President, not vice versa. There's been no reason for the President to trust the Republicans, but this intellectual heavyweight of conservative thought can't or won't admit it. Again, Brooks is everything wrong inside the Beltway. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | You are subscribed to email updates from Crooks and Liars
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52 Changes for 2013
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 01:26 PM PST
| 52 Changes for 2013 Posted: 31 Dec 2012 10:52 AM PST The New Year somehow brings out the desire, always present but usually at a hum rather than a buzz, to make changes in your life. It’s a fresh start, a time of renewal and optimism and determination. I’ve written a guide to help you make those changes. Actually, it can be done anytime, whether in January or June — just pick one of the 52 changes in the book, and start on the plan. One change a week. The 52 changes I recommend. A plan for each. The inspiration for the book came from a desire to help people learn to make profound changes through doing, and to show the world how life changing habits can be made in small steps. The price of the ebook is $10, or free if you enroll in the Sea Change program. If you’d like to purchase a copy of the ebook, simply click the Add to Cart button below. If you’re in the Sea Change program there’s a download link in the members area. 
(If you’re reading this in email, open this post to see the Add to Cart button.) Table of Contents - How to Use This Book
- Introduction
- The Principles
- Change 1: Meditate
- Change 2: Unprocrastinate
- Change 3: Walking
- Change 4: Flexible Mind
- Change 5: Identify Your Essentials
- Change 6: Mindful Eating
- Change 7: Most Important Things (MITs)
- Change 8: Clear a Shelf
- Change 9: Start Saving
- Change 10: Yoga or strength training
- Change 11: Floss
- Change 12: Pay a small debt
- Change 13: Mindful Exercise
- Change 14: Budget Simply
- Change 15: Create a support crew
- Change 16: Eat some veggies
- Change 17: Gratitude
- Change 18: Clear counters
- Change 19: Slow down
- Change 20: Play
- Change 21: Flow
- Change 22: Let go of a vice
- Change 22: Don't wish things were different
- Change 23: Clear a closet
- Change 24: Let go of TV
- Change 25: Get more sleep
- Change 26: Value time over money
- Change 27: Replace opinions with curiosity
- Change 28: Read
- Change 29: Cut out shopping
- Change 30: Learn that you're good enough
- Change 31: Create
- Change 32: Eat real food
- Change 33: Explore work you love
- Change 34: Help others
- Change 35: Breathe
- Change 36: Enjoy the habit
- Change 37: Solitude
- Change 38: Unclutter a room
- Change 39: Iterate the habit
- Change 40: Less busywork, more impact
- Change 41: Disconnect
- Change 42: Let go of a goal
- Change 43: Treat failure as a learning opportunity
- Change 44: Reduce commitments
- Change 45: Turn problems into opportunities
- Change 47: Savor
- Change 48: Clear your inbox
- Change 49: Teach
- Change 50: Compassion
- Change 51: Reflect
- Change 52: Realize you're not missing out
The book, as always, is uncopyrighted. It was designed by Lemon.ly. Buy the book here for $10:
Questions & Answers Q: I’m currently enrolled in the Sea Change program. How do I get my free copy of the book? A: There’s a download link in the members area. Q: I was enrolled in the Sea Change program, but am not currently – can I get the book for free? A: Unfortunately no. However, you can enroll in Sea Change for just $10/month now. Q: I just bought the book but don’t know what to do next. How do I get it? A: You should receive an email (the one you used to pay for the book) that contains a download link. You only get 5 attempts to download the file, so don’t click on it until you’re at the computer you want to download the book to. the download should contain the book with several files, including a PDF, Kindle (.mobi) file, epub file, and a “readme” file. Q: But I never received an email with a download link … what now? A: No worries … just email Dean at con...@zenhabits.net, and let him know you bought “52 changes” but didn’t receive the link, and he’ll send it to you. Q: What about an audiobook or print version? A: Just digital. Q: Can I get it on Kindle, iBooks, or other ebook format? A: When you purchase the book, you’ll be send epub and mobi versions that viewed on all mobile devices. Q: How do I read it on my iPad/iPhone? A: Unzip the package on your computer, then drag the epub version into iTunes on your computer. Then sync the iPad or iPhone with iTunes on your computer, and the book should now appear in the iBooks app on your iPad/iPhone. Detailed instructions. Q: How do I read it on my Kindle/Android tablet? A: Unzip the package on your computer, connect the Kindle/Android table to your computer, open the tablet’s drive on your computer, and drag the "mobi" version of the ebook into the documents folder on your tablet. Q: Is there an affiliate program for the ebook? A: No. | You are subscribed to email updates from zenhabits
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The top 5 stories in my town
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 01:21 PM PST
| The top 5 stories in my town Posted: 31 Dec 2012 07:29 AM PST Here are five of the top stories of the year according to our local weekly paper, the Brookline Tab. The paper says that these stories are in no particular order, and that another five will follow next week. Styrofoam and plastic bags have been banned. Residents are reporting that a a few of the wild turkeys roaming our streets have been aggressive. A 180-pound black bear was spotted around town. It was tranquilized and transported to a wilder part of the state. After losing a bid to build 271 residential units in Hancock Village, developers filed for permission to build an affordable housing project. A dean at the public high school claimed he was passed over for the headmaster job because he’s African-American. A settlement was reached.
First world problems? What privilege looks like? Sure. But also an occasion to remember how blessed peace is, how wretched anything but peace is, and how fortunate we are that for our town peace is so mundane.
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Search Engine Land’s Most Read Stories Of 2012: Google Places Goes Google+, Panda, Penguin & More
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 01:02 PM PST
| Search Engine Land’s Most Read Stories Of 2012: Google Places Goes Google+, Panda, Penguin & More Posted: 31 Dec 2012 10:58 AM PST What were our most popular stories on Search Engine Land over the past year? Below, the news stories that were published in 2012 that were read the most: Google Places Is Over, Company Makes Google+ The Center Of Gravity For Local Search (May) Google's Jaw-Dropping Sponsored Post Campaign For... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | 13 Semantic Markup Tips For 2013: A Local SEO Checklist Posted: 31 Dec 2012 10:54 AM PST One of the least-tapped areas of local business website optimization continues to be semantic markup. Semantic markup can increase chances that information from your website will be highlighted in search engine results pages via rich snippets, attracting greater attention and clickthroughs. So,... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | eBay Offers A Mobile Search Shortcut For Online Stores Posted: 31 Dec 2012 08:52 AM PST Last month, I touched on several ways that businesses could use apps as an alternate channel to reach mobile searchers. Online retailers have a couple opportunities to use apps in this way, by tapping into the eBay and Amazon marketplaces. Let’s take a closer look at eBay, and some strategies... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | Case Study: Quadrupling A Small Account’s Conversions In Just 90 Days Posted: 31 Dec 2012 08:24 AM PST CPA Bidding in Google AdWords allows you to set a CPA bid, and then Google will do all the bidding for you. When it works, its fantastic, as you don't have to spend all day trying to set bids inside the account. Instead, you can focus you time on more permanent improvements, such as testing [...] Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | 50 Million Pages Removed From Google This Year Due To DMCA Piracy Reports Posted: 31 Dec 2012 06:38 AM PST We know that the number of DMCA requests have risen since Google introduced its Pirate Update, a penalty against sites that have an unusual number of legitimate DMCA requests filed against them. But what’s the count? TorrentFreak.com did the math and counted that Google took down over 50... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | Google’s Doodle Of Doodles For New Years Eve 2012 Posted: 31 Dec 2012 06:18 AM PST If you visit Google today, New Years Eve, you will see a very busy Google logo. The logo makes up many of the best Google Doodles created in 2012. In a sense, it is a Google Doodle of Google Doodles. The Google Logo links to the specific Google Doodles directly in the Google Doodle Directory. [...] Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  |
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You Can Be a Hero on New Year’s!
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:45 AM PST
| You Can Be a Hero on New Year’s! Posted: 31 Dec 2012 07:17 AM PST Today is a big day, it is New Year’s Eve and many celebrate by drinking and/or using substances that impair their ability to drive safely. Today you can be a hero by stopping others from driving impaired and also by choosing to not drive impaired. Anytime you can save a life you are a hero [...] The post You Can Be a Hero on New Year’s! appeared first on Search Engine Journal. | You are subscribed to email updates from Search Engine Journal
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5 Questions To Ask Yourself About Your New Year’s Resolutions.
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:44 AM PST
| 5 Questions To Ask Yourself About Your New Year’s Resolutions. Posted: 31 Dec 2012 06:08 AM PST  Tomorrow is the big day! Day #1 for New Year’s resolutions! Are you ready?
It’s fun to think about New Year’s resolutions, and I always make them (in fact, I make resolutions throughout the year). If my happiness project has convinced me of anything, it has convinced me that resolutions—made right—can make a huge difference in boosting happiness. So how do you resolve well? This is trickier than it sounds. Samuel Johnson, a patron saint of my happiness projects, was a chronic resolution-maker and resolution-breaker. He alluded to the importance of making the right resolutions in a prayer he wrote in 1764, when he was fifty-five years old. "I have now spent fifty-five years in resolving; having, from the earliest time almost that I can remember, been forming schemes of a better life. I have done nothing. The need of doing, therefore, is pressing, since the time of doing is short. O GOD, grant me to resolve aright, and to keep my resolutions, for JESUS CHRIST'S sake."
Sound familiar? How often have you thought something along these lines, yourself? The fact that a genius like Dr. Johnson wrote this is very comforting to me. So, how do you resolve aright, and keep your resolutions? Ask yourself these question: 1. Ask: "What would make me happier?" It might mean more of something good —more fun with friends, more time for a hobby. It might be less of something bad—less yelling at your kids, less nagging of your spouse. It might be fixing something that doesn't feel right—more time spent volunteering, a move. Or maybe you need to get an atmosphere of growth in your life by learning something new, helping someone, or fixing something that isn't working properly. (These questions relate to the First Splendid Truth.) 2. Ask: "What concrete action would bring change?" People often make abstract resolutions. "Be more optimistic," "Find more joy in life," "Enjoy now," are hard to measure and therefore difficult to keep. Instead, look for a specific, measurable action. "Distract myself with fun music when I feel gloomy," "Watch at least one movie each week," "Buy a plant for my desk" are resolutions that will carry you toward those abstract goals. 3. Ask: "Am I a 'yes' resolver or a 'no' resolver?" Some people resent negative resolutions. They dislike hearing "don't" or "stop" (even from themselves) or adding to their list of chores. If this describes you, try to find positive resolutions: "Take that dance class," "Have lunch with a friend once a week." Along those lines, my sister told me, “I don’t want a negative. I tell myself, ‘I’m freeing myself from French fries,’ not ‘I’m giving up French fries.’” Or maybe you respond well to "no." I actually do better with "no" resolutions; this may be related to the abstainer/moderator split. A lot of my resolutions are aimed at getting me to stop doing something, or to do something I don't really want to do—such as Don't expect gold stars. There's no right way to make a resolution, but it's important to know what works for you. As always, the secret is to know your own nature. (That's the Fifth Splendid Truth.) 4. Ask: "Am I starting small enough?" Many people make super-ambitious resolutions and then drop them, feeling defeated, before January is over. Start small! We tend to over-estimate what we can do over a short time and under-estimate what we can do over a long time, if we make consistent, small steps. If you're going to resolve to start exercising (one of the most popular resolutions), don't resolve to go to the gym for an hour every day before work. Start by going for a ten-minute walk at lunch. The humble resolution you actually follow is more helpful than the ambitious resolution you abandon. Lower the bar! 5. Ask: "How will I hold myself accountable?" Accountability is the secret to sticking to resolutions–think AA and Weight Watchers. There are many ways to hold yourself accountable; for example, I keep my Resolutions Chart (if you'd like to see my chart, for inspiration, email me). Or you might want to join or launch a Happiness Project group, for people doing happiness projects together. Accountability is why #2 is so important. A resolution to "Eat healthier" is harder to track than "Eat salad for lunch three times a week." If you want to make 2013 a happier year, probably the best place to start is by working on your relationships; strong relationships are key to a happier life. If you’re intrigued, consider joining the 21 Day Relationship Challenge. Every day, for 21 days, I’ll suggest a resolution. (And don’t worry: nothing that takes a lot of time, energy, or money! Many are fun!) Have you found any strategies or questions that have helped you successfully keep resolutions in the past? What resolution are you making?  | You are subscribed to email updates from The Happiness Project
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Live Video: President Obama Speaks on the Fiscal Cliff
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:43 AM PST
| Live Video: President Obama Speaks on the Fiscal Cliff Posted: 31 Dec 2012 10:33 AM PST [Live event concluded...] Bottom line: there's still no deal.  | | Breaking: Hillary Clinton Hospitalized After Blood Clot Discovered Posted: 30 Dec 2012 05:46 PM PST Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been hospitalized tonight after doctors discovered a blood clot in a follow-up exam after her concussion earlier this month. It's not clear from early reports whether the blood clot is in her brain, but if so, that would be a very serious concern. She is expected to remain at New York Presbyterian Hospital for the next 48 hours so doctors can monitor her condition and treat her with anti-coagulants, said Philippe Reines, deputy assistant secretary of state. "Her doctors will continue to assess her condition, including other issues associated with her concussion," Reines said. "They will determine if any further action is required." Clinton, 65, was suffering from a stomach virus earlier this month when she fainted due to dehydration, causing the concussion.
UPDATE at 12/30/12 6:21:07 pm "Jim Treacher" (real name: Sean Medlock) at the Daily Caller a few days ago: Where's Hillary Clinton's Medical Report? | the Daily Caller. If she has a concussion, let's see the medical report. Let's see some proof that she's not just stonewalling. If it's true, then we can all wish her a speedy recovery. But it's ridiculous to expect us to take her word for it.
 | | Onion Talks: Gimme the Stars, I'll Make Your Movie Posted: 30 Dec 2012 03:38 PM PST | | Congress Stands on Edge of Fiscal Cliff, Considers Jumping Posted: 30 Dec 2012 12:16 PM PST The latest word from Washington DC, via Politico: Breaking: Fiscal cliff negotiations have reached a standstill, Senate leaders announced — POLITICO (@politico) December 30, 2012
When Barack Obama was first elected, the Republican Party publicly pledged to obstruct everything he tried to do, with the goal of making him a one-term president. They failed at this goal, and now it seems like the GOP has decided to punish America for reelecting Obama.  | You are subscribed to email updates from Little Green Footballs
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“Fiscal Cliff” Selling – Sales eXchange 181
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:39 AM PST
| “Fiscal Cliff” Selling – Sales eXchange 181 Posted: 31 Dec 2012 12:33 AM PST  As of the time of me writing this piece, America was still rushing head-long towards the "Fiscal Cliff", by the time you read this, they may have even gone over. A pretty stupid thing for a bunch of guys who every two years spend a lot of time telling how smart they are; some of them will even try to convince you that it is indeed an accomplishment. But many sales people we have seen and lived the "cliff" scenario at times over and over, throughout their career. The root cause for both is the same, a lack of execution; in both instances there is a lot of talk, but there is no action; there are a lot of excuses, but no action; there is plenty of blame to go around, but there is no action. In both cases you have a group of self-professed professionals, well paid, pampered and tolerated, who take the goodwill of others, and turn that goodwill and trust into a sham. It is hard for some of us to understand why this is, and why these two groups of professionals seem to expend more energy not doing things, things they are paid to do, especially since they would have to actually expend less energy if in fact they did execute. Both have demonstrated, much of the excess output is consumed by vile smelling rhetoric generated in the process of achieving nothing. Often less than nothing, because they stand in the way of those who could deliver given the chance; but of course the current incumbents – the reps in the territories and those in the legislator – make sure that nothing gets done by anyone. Let's be clear these people are not lazy, each will go the extra mile, go to the matt, to take their company or country down to prove their "principled" point. No my friends, conviction is not their issue, they will go down fighting for your right not to have something other than what they see as the right thing. "Hey, if my solution is not the right one for you, no other solution will do." What is odd, is that with both groups their employers do have a choice, a choice each oddly refuses to exercise, which begs the question, why the employers refuse to execute the obvious course of action – firing the non-performers. I guess in each case one gets what one pays for. So even if congress does pull something off, it is likely to be a Band-Aid, too little too late, just like a reps who rationalizes his missed targets by talking about how bad things could have been; each group "earning the right" to give it another go, another chance to fail to execute. In the end, I doubt many in congress are reading this, but I suspect some sellers are; for those that are, I simply ask, why? Why not take action to achieve, rather than complete inaction to fail? What's in Your Pipeline?
Tibor Shanto |
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Atomizing the article
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:33 AM PST
| Atomizing the article Posted: 31 Dec 2012 08:32 AM PST 
The Washington Post did good reporting under the headline above on the state of negotiations on the so-called fiscal cliff. But the report is long because it carries all the equipment an article carries — the background paragraph (the sixth paragraph), atmospherics (seventh paragraph), quotes (eighth, ninth paragraphs), play-by-play (paragraphs 10-22), getting to some key details on the third screen. 
Compare and contrast that with Henry Blodget’s summary under this headline. Now some will say that Henry — like a anthropologist with a camera in a remote village that has never seen one — stole the soul of the Post’s article. But I say he performed a service: He pulled out just the key facts of what’s new in five cogent bullets plus two additional paragraphs, giving us facts the Post didn’t get to until paragraphs 25-28. He read all that so we don’t have to. Now I’m not criticizing the Post here. It did the reporting. I’m criticizing the form. I’m also not criticizing the Post for following that form; that’s what print dictates: a one-size-fits-all, one-stop-shop for this story. This is a wonderful example of how online provides journalists the opportunity to atomize the article into its component assets. Blodget gave us the what’s-new part. Someone else could create the background, play-by-play (from the middle of the Post article), players, timeline, quotes, and so on. Now I know the argument we’ll hear: Blodget took value from the Post. But I say he added value for readers, for I’m sure many of us are sick of reading the same old stuff, we just want to know *what’s new* — that is, the *news*. That’s what the Post and newspapers should be paying attention to here: where is the value for the market? We can quickly tie ourselves in knots discussing business models. Maybe the Post should run Blodget’s summary as value-added for its readers, giving him a share of the ad revenue. Does Henry pay the Post for the value of its reporting? Or is his link payment? That depends on how the links perform (I’ve been wanting to perform tests of that for research). My point here is simply that, of course, reporting has value but that the full-blown, kitchen-sink article is not always the best way to convey that value. Here’s just one example. | You are subscribed to email updates from BuzzMachine
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VX en corto: desmontando a 'Samurai Shodown', el anime de 'Mass Effect' y los recortes de Zynga
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:32 AM PST
| VX en corto: desmontando a 'Samurai Shodown', el anime de 'Mass Effect' y los recortes de Zynga Posted: 31 Dec 2012 08:44 AM PST 
Llega el momento de que volvamos al ataque con nuestra sección VX en corto. Así que toca hacer un repaso de algunas noticias pero en pequeñas dosis, no vaya a ser que nos provoque un empacho el mismísimo día de fin de año. Empezamos.
- Kenichirou Yoshimura es un ilustrador que ha trabajado Platinum Games. Estaba a punto de terminar su contrato y marcharse de la empresa cuando vio de refilón el trabajo del equipo que llevaba el arte de ‘Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance’. Le pareció un desastre y tuvo que tomar una decisión… nos lo cuentan en Gamingbomb.
- Sabíamos que Zynga va de mal en peor y GamesIndustry nos cuenta que han decidido eliminar de raíz a 11 juegos de su catálogo para intentar mantener costes.
- Años jugando al Samurai Shodown para darme cuenta ahora de que el minijuego de pulsar el botón como un poseso no funcionaba. En Joystiq se han cargado el mito.
- Hemos hablado muchas veces del ICEnhancer y hace un par de días se lanzó un nuevo vídeo de la versión 2.5 alpha. El mod para ‘Gran Theft Auto IV’ que mejora sus gráficos una barbaridad va tomando forma. ¡Y qué forma!
- Estas cosas se me borran de la mente así que cuando las vuelvo a leer me sorprendo el doble. ¿Recordáis el anime de ‘Mass Effect’? Pues sigue su camino y en Destructoid nos enseñan un teaser que bueno… juzgad vosotros mismos.
Hasta aquí la sección de hoy. Sed buenos y vaciad los estómagos para el atracón de esta noche. Por cierto, este ha sido el último VX en corto de 2012, qué honor.    | | Los programadores de Valve están deseando que llegue la realidad virtual, pero reconocen la dificultad de su desarrollo Posted: 31 Dec 2012 08:07 AM PST 
De la mano de Michael Abrash, uno de los programadores de Valve, nos adentramos un poco más en los problemas que evitan que la realidad virtual ya esté entre nosotros. Parece ser que, como en dispositivos como Kinect y compañía, el problema es la latencia. Cuando hablamos de realidad virtual y realidad aumentada la latencia es fundamental, si no es muy baja es imposible ofrecer una buena experiencia, y para ello tus ojos y cerebro deben aceptar los objetos virtuales como reales. El problema no son los gráficos o la tecnología que permita que todo el conjunto se nos presente de la forma más realista posible, Abrash establece que el reto es conseguir que el movimiento de nuestra cabeza, un giro rápido hacia un lado, por ejemplo, sea tan exacto en su representación virtual que sea indistinguible respecto a lo que has hecho en realidad. Queda por ver si soluciones como el reciente Oculus Rift, el dispositivo de realidad virtual apadrinado por Carmack, Gabe Newell y Cliff Bleszinski, consiguen superar ese trámite. Si lo hacen, el tema de los gráficos sólo es cuestión de tiempo, suponiendo así el primer paso (aún faltará el completo mapeado de nuestro cuerpo dentro del juego) hacia un futuro que llevamos persiguiendo desde que las películas de los 80 como Tron nos mostrasen la unión entre el mundo real y el virtual. Vía | Polygon
En VidaExtra | A John Carmack la potencia de la nueva generación de consolas no le emociona, él quiere Realidad Virtual    | | Un mes de Xbox Live Gold gratis para los afectados por los recientes problemas en el servicio de guardado en la nube Posted: 31 Dec 2012 06:53 AM PST 
Durante este fin de semana el servicio de guardado en la nube de Xbox 360 ha sufrido algunos problemas. Ahora que ya está arreglado Microsoft confirma que los afectados recibirán un mes de suscripción Gold gratuito. Si entráis en ese saco de afectados no tenéis que preocuparos por realizar ninguna gestión, desde Microsoft aseguran que el sistema reconoce a aquellos usuarios a los que les apareció en pantalla el error “0×807b0198“ y simplemente sumarán un mes más de servicio Gold a los que ya tienen contratados. Por cierto, si el problema volviese a las andadas, sabed que el sistema siempre guarda una copia de seguridad de los datos en el disco duro, por lo que si no podéis acceder al contenido en la nube sólo tenéis que cambiar el método de guardado, volver a establecer el disco duro como predeterminado y continuar con vuestra partida hasta que el sistema se arregle. Lo importante en este tipo de problemas, sobre todo cuando hay el pago de una suscripción de por medio, es que se solucione lo antes posible y se compense al usuario. En este caso y pese a las reticencias del público respecto al servicio premium de Xbox Live Gold, lo cierto es que han sabido actuar a tiempo. Tal vez un mes de regalo sea un obsequio un tanto soso, pero menos da una piedra. Vía | Major Nelson
En VidaExtra | Microsoft tras la compra de Gaikai por parte de Sony: “la nube ha sido un componente clave de nuestra estrategia”, E3 2011: el almacenamiento en la nube llegará también a Xbox Live    | | EA despide el año cerrando el online de 10 juegos Posted: 31 Dec 2012 05:54 AM PST 
Espero que no sigáis jugando al multiplayer del montón de títulos a los que Electronic Arts va a dejar sin multijugador dentro de unos días. Ya sabéis lo que pasa, mantienen los servidores durante un tiempo pero al cabo de un par o tres de años cuando esos juegos ya tienen otros sustitutos en la calle, los acaban cerrando. El día 11 de enero caerán unos cuantos y llama especialmente la atención que hayan elegido a ‘NBA Live 10’. El juego de baloncesto de EA no tiene otra versión más moderna a la venta (se han cancelado todos los desarrollos de la franquicia desde entonces) y deja como único rey en la pista a ‘2K13’. Se cierran los servidores multijugador de los siguientes juegos: - FIFA 11
- FIFA 11 Ultimate Team
- Madden NFL 11
- Madden NFL 11 Ultimate Team
- NBA Jam
- NBA Live 10
- NCAA Football 11
- NHL 11
- NHL 11 Ultimate Team
- The Sims 2 para PC y Mac (dejará de tener multijugador el día 14 de enero)
Lo dicho, esperamos que no siguierais jugando al multiplayer de alguno de ellos. Vía | GamesIndustry    | | En BioWare están encantados con Frostbite 2 y ya se imaginan un futuro con él Posted: 31 Dec 2012 05:11 AM PST 
Cuando un estudio de desarrollo de videojuegos no tira de tecnología propia y prefiere adquirir la licencia de un motor gráfico de terceros se enfrenta a una decisión compleja, crucial. En BioWare llevaban años tirando de Unreal Engine y ahora afrontan un cambio profundo. Se pasan a Frostbite 2. El motor desarrollado por DICE y que nos dejó tan alucinados en ‘Battlefield 3’ también ha sido usado en otros juegos de Electronic Arts como ‘Need for Speed: The Run’ o ‘Medal of Honor: Warfighter’. Ha llegado el momento de que en BioWare demuestren qué pueden hacer con él ya que sus dos próximos juegos estarán basados en la tecnología sueca. Las próximas entregas de ‘Dragon Age’ y ‘Mass Effect’ cambiarán Unreal Engine por Frostbite pero ojo, este podría ser sólo el principio de una larga relación y es que según Aaryn Flynn, el manager general de BioWare Edmonton, están encantados con el motor y el soporte: “Eso creo, que va para largo. Cuando vemos a Frostbite y al éxito que estamos teniendo desarrollando ‘Dragon Age 3’ y el soporte que obtenemos de los estudios de desarrollo cercanos a EA nos damos cuenta de lo divertido que es ser parte de una organización y una comunidad que está haciendo un trabajo tan y tan bueno con esta tecnología.” Es que una de las ventajas del sistema que ha decidido impulsar EA entre sus estudios asociados, la unificación de motores gráficos, pasa por compartir la tecnología, los avances y el “know how” que se van adquiriendo juego tras juego. A ver de lo que es capaz de hacer BioWare con ese monstruo llamado Frostbite 2. Vía | Cinemablend    | | Las ofertas navideñas de Xbox Live terminan con un sonoro Fus Ro Dah! Posted: 31 Dec 2012 03:42 AM PST 
Mira que me he resistido. Aguanta, aguanta hasta la edición goty, me he dicho una y otra vez. Pero es que la última oferta navideña de Xbox Live me ha puesto las cosas muy difíciles. Sí, hablo de la rebaja por un día con el nombre de ‘Skyrim’. El bombardeo de precios irresistibles ha sido tremendo en estas fechas tanto por parte de Sony como de Microsoft (que se lo digan a mi flamante nueva cuenta anual Playstation Plus en PS3/Vita que he redondeado con Music Unlimited). El caso es que, cuando parecía que mi bolsillo ya estaba a salvo de ataques, va la compañía de tito Bill y me suelta un Fus Ro Dah!. ‘Skyrim’ está solo hoy por 29,99 euros y sus expansiones ‘Hearthfire’ y ‘Dawnguard’ a 200 y 800 Microsoft Points respectivamente (por su reciente aparición queda fuera ‘Dragonborn’). Para redondear la jugada nos encontramos con todo un ‘Oblivion’ por 9,99 euros. Lo dicho, toca rascarse el bolsillo por última vez en este 2012. ¡Odio la Navidad! Vía | Xbox Live    | | Destination PlayStation 2013, el evento en el que Sony dará a conocer sus novedades para el próximo año Posted: 30 Dec 2012 10:02 PM PST 
Sony acaba de anunciar que entre los días 25 y 28 de febrero tendrá lugar en Arizona el evento Destination PlayStation 2013, la primera muestra del año en la que la compañía dará a conocer sus próximas novedades. En este sector hay dos tipos de eventos, en primer lugar están los que podemos seguir ampliamente porque están dedicados a nosotros, los jugadores, pero también hay presentaciones que se realizan para llamar la atención de las distribuidoras, para convencer a sus directivos que la marca va a reportarles muchas alegrías el próximo año. Destination PlayStation 2013 forma parte de ese segundo grupo. No significa que no vayamos a poder rascar nada de este evento, teniendo en cuenta la facilidad que tiene el círculo de Sony para reventar sorpresas, no sería de extrañar que alguna de las nuevas promesas que muestren acaben filtradas. De hecho es algo que ya ocurrió el año pasado con títulos como ‘LittleBigPlanet Karting’ y una imagen publicitaria que salió a la luz antes de tiempo. 
Más eventos propios y menos E3 descafeinados, por favor No es la primera vez que hablamos de la fecha de caducidad del E3, aunque también podría decir lo mismo de otra serie de ferias que, al final, acaban haciendo honor a aquello de “mucho ruido y pocas nueces“. La intensa competencia que se vive en la ferie muchas veces reprime a las compañías a la hora de presentar grandes bombazos que puedan quedar eclipsados por noticias aún mayores. Puede que eso sea sólo una excusa para justificar algunas de las conferencias más aburridas e insulsas de los últimos años (sigo pensando que con Sega dando guerra y haciendo anuncios locos la cosa sería bien distinta), pero lo cierto es que algunos de los grandes anuncios anuales ya no tienen cabida en el E3 y buscan vías alternativas para darse a conocer. Nintendo con sus vídeos de Nintendo Direct y sus entrevistas a Iwata, aunque a menudo sean demasiado reiterativas en algunos aspectos, han demostrado que esa alternativa es viable, dosificando las sorpresas y haciendo algo más llevadero el paso de los meses y las esperas. Creo firmemente que Sony y Microsoft también deberían empezar a dar más voz a ese tipo de iniciativas, pero me asusta bastante pensar en que pasarían a convertirse sus conferencias en la feria de Los Ángeles. De todas formas, al evitar jugarse todo a una carta, el riesgo a la hora de mantener la expectación y la valoración de la marca también sería menor, por lo que al final todos acabaríamos ganando. Veremos si el futuro acaba ofreciendo vientos de cambio. Vía | All Games Beta
En VidaExtra | Al rico rumor de patentes: Sony podría preparar algo con dos GPU’s para su futura PlayStation, Kryptos sería el nombre en clave de la nueva consola de Microsoft, Thebes el de la de Sony    | | ¿Qué novedades te gustaría ver en 2013?: la pregunta de la semana Posted: 30 Dec 2012 09:32 PM PST 
Se acaba el año, hemos estado recordando lo que nos ha deparado el 2012 y pronto publicaremos los cinco juegos preferidos de cada editor, pero toca volver al presente, mirando hacia el futuro y soñando con lo que el 2013 podría regalarnos en la pregunta de la semana. ¿Qué novedades te gustaría ver en 2013? Nuevas franquicias, el más que probable anuncio de una nueva generación, los planes de futuro de desarrolladoras y fabricantes… 2013 apunta a ser muy prometedor, con un E3 que consiga sacarnos alguna sonrisa de complicidad (ya toca, por cierto), así que es el momento de que dejéis volar vuestra imaginación y nos contéis en VidaExtra Respuestas qué es lo que le pedís al próximo año. La pregunta de la semana pasada Antes de que comentéis lo que creáis conveniente toca echar un vistazo a la mejor respuesta de la semana pasada. Recordad que os preguntábamos sobre la importancia de los juegos para niños hoy en día, sobre todo teniendo en cuenta estas fechas tan señaladas: ¿Crees que el sector está teniendo en cuenta lo suficiente al mercado infantil? La respuesta más valorada nos la brinda linkale2, que reconoce que esa atención se ha perdido bastante pero responde a un problema de público y la siempre dominante idea de un sector que busca el máximo beneficio con el mínimo riesgo. Pues yo no lo creo, lo que ocurre es que las consolas han perdido variedad. Antes una PSX o una 64 tenia desde el Goldeneye o el Metal Gear hasta el Spyro o el mario 64. Podéis leer el resto de la respuesta a través del link de su usuario, y ya que estáis por la sección de VidaExtra Respuestas aprovechad para dejad vuestra opinión respecto a la pregunta de esta semana. El próximo lunes, como de costumbre, volveremos para dar aún más voz a vuestras opiniones. Enlace a la pregunta | ¿Qué novedades te gustaría ver en 2013?    | | Regalos, lo mejor de 2012 y los muñecos de LEGO de Regreso al Futuro. Constelación VX (CXXV) Posted: 30 Dec 2012 11:01 AM PST 
Cerramos el domingo como de costumbre, echándole un vistazo a nuestro Constelación VX de esta semana. Tranquilos, que aquí no somos tan cursis y empezaremos la edición sin hacer la típica coña de “es el último del año“ (ups…). - Primera parada, Xataka, o mejor dicho, Club Xataka, ya que nuestros compañeros están de celebración y regalan una tarjeta gráfica VGA y un monitor LCD de la mano de ASUS. Para participar sólo tienes que hacer memoria y hablarnos sobre tu primer ordenador.
- Pasamos de los regalos que nos hacen a los que pedimos o hacemos nosotros, así que si aún tienes dudas aquí tienes tres teclados y tres ratones por menos de 50 euros para colocar debajo del árbol dentro de 6 días.
- Saltamos a Applesfera, blog en el que continúan dándole guerra a los tutoriales para que no tengas que pasar por el servicio técnico si tienes algún problema, hoy le toca al MacBook Air.
- No creo que encuentres estos curiosos prototipos de Apple en las tiendas (y si lo encuentras y está tirado de precio, ¡cómpralo!), pero no está mal conocer cómo le habrá ido a la compañía de la manzana en una dimensión alternativa.
- En Genbeta están cerrando el año haciendo una recopilación con las mejores aplicaciones y servicios, así que si crees que ya va siendo hora de cambiar de cliente de Twitter o almacenamiento en la nube, échale un vistazo a lo mejor de 2012.
- También aprovechan para darnos a conocer 13 extensiones de Chrome para 2013, sobre todo dirigidas a aquellos que trabajéis con el navegador y necesitéis maximizar beneficios con el mínimo esfuerzo.
- El paso a Xataka Móvil tiene una cita obligada, y es el a fondo del ZTE Nubia Z5, que demuestra una vez más que no todo son Nexus, Galaxy y iPhone en el mercado de los smartphones de alta calidad.
- También miran hacia el futuro y nos hablan de los cambios más probables que viviremos durante el próximo año en el mercado de los teléfonos, desde la recarga inalámbrica hasta las pantallas que dejarán de caber en nuestros bolsillos.
- Saltamos a Motorpasión para conocer los muñecos de LEGO basados en la saga Regreso al Futuro con el DeLorean DMC-12 como principal protagonista. No hay fecha exacta ni precio de lanzamiento, así que toca esperar con paciencia o conseguir un condensador de fluzo.
- Y si creéis que esos muñecos son frikis, esperad a ver las monedas con forma de coche que podemos encontrar en Somalia. La noticia es del 28 de diciembre, pero os aseguro que no es ninguna broma.
- Por último toca hacer tres paradas no habituales. La primera de ellas es en el blog ebayers, donde nos muestran los videojuegos que se agotarán estas navidades.
- Una lista similar, también de juegos a tener en cuenta en nuestros próximos regalos, la encontramos en el blog de Nordic Mist.
- Y por último pasamos por happing para que de la mano de la película Jack Reacher y un torneo de paintball puedas llevarte a casa un montón de regalos, entre ellos un smartphone y videojuegos.
Y eso es todo por hoy, volvemos el año que viene (lo siento, no he podido evitarlo).    | You are subscribed to email updates from Vidaextra
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Patent on (Intentional) Errors in Google Maps?
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:30 AM PST
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Hobbit Wins Box Office for Third Consecutive Weekend
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:18 AM PST
| Hobbit Wins Box Office for Third Consecutive Weekend Posted: 30 Dec 2012 03:03 PM PST  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has won the box office for the third consecutive weekend. The visually stunning and highly entertaining film fended off tough competition from Django Unchained and Les Miserables. The Hobbit made another $32.9 million to bring its domestic gross to $222 million. The total worldwide gross for The Hobbit is now over $686 million. It is already 70th on the all-time list of worldwide grosses. The new films opening this weekend are Texas Chainsaw 3D and A Dark Truth, so the potential is there for the amazing Hobbit movie to win the box office for a fourth straight weekend. Django Unchained made $30.7 million in 3,010 theaters during its opening weekend. It was followed by Les Miserables, which opened made $28 million. Parental Guidance came in fourth and made $14.8 million. It was followed by Jack Reacher, This is 40 and Lincoln. You can see the complete box office report here. Photo: Warner Bros. Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | | Gwyneth Paltrow Stars in Max Factor Campaign Called The Writer Posted: 30 Dec 2012 01:14 PM PST  Gwyneth Paltrow is the face of a new Max Factor campaign, called "The Writer." Gwyneth was named the new face of the cosmetics brands in September. Here is a behind the scenes making of video of "The Writer" campaign. Gwyneth can be seen sitting on the floor at a typewriter at the end of the video, looking glamorous as she types. There are papers all around her. Take a look: Photo: Max Factor Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | | Chinese Couple Celebrates Their 100th Birthday Posted: 30 Dec 2012 12:33 PM PST Shi Sifan and his wife Liu Yaogu celebrated their joint 100th birthday in Changde, China. They have been married for 78 years, according to Xinhua news agancy and were both born on December 28, 1912. They have four children and numerous grandchildren who showed up for the celebration. The received a large flatscreen tv, which the family used to show photographs of the family. Take a look: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | | Jennifer Hudson Talks Fashion, Photographing Herself With Lucky Magazine Posted: 30 Dec 2012 12:00 PM PST  Jennifer is wearing a 7 For All Mankind denim jacket and an H&M skirt on the cover. In the interview, Jennifer talks about her biggest fashion inspiration, chocolate and photographing herself. On Getting Fashion Inspiration From Her Grandfather: "The most stylish person in my family was definitely him-he'd take you into his closet and be like, 'Hey! You need to wear this, Jenny!' He was dressed down, honey, his closet, his clothes, they were sharp. He would pick things out of his for me to wear, and they were always perfect. That's why I love menswear." On Taking a Photograph of Herself Every Day: "I still take a picture of myself every day - just so I can see myself how others see me. It's taken me a long time to feel it, get used to it. I'm still figuring it out with my body-rediscovering myself, how I'm perceived. What's my style? Who am I?" On Chocolate: "You have what you're craving. I have chocolate every day." Here is a video of Jennifer's Lucky shoot. Take a look: Photo: Lucky Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | | 2013 Times Square Ball Contains 32,256 Philips LEDs and 2,688 Waterford Crystal Triangles Posted: 30 Dec 2012 11:00 AM PST  The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball drops tomorrow night marking the end of 2012 and Earth's survival of the Mayan apocalypse. The 2013 Times Square Ball is lit with thousands of LED lights from Philips. Philips says the enormous ball contains 32,256 Philips LEDs. The photograph above shows the Ball being tested. The Ball is a geodesic sphere. It is 12 feet in diameter and weighs 11,875 pounds. In addition to the 32 thousand LEDs, the Ball also contains 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles. 288 of the Waterford Crystal triangles this year introduce a new Let There Be Peace design of a dove with wings spread symbolizing a message of peace. The Ball can create a palette of over 16 million colors and billions of patterns. Photo: Anthony LaRosa/Times Square NYC Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | | Rita Ora Talks Rob Kardashian, Love in Glamour UK Posted: 30 Dec 2012 10:00 AM PST  Rita Ora covers the January 2013 issue of Glamour UK. In the interview, Rita talks about love and why her relationship with Rob Kardashian failed. On Love: "In 22 years, there's been nothing. I have had young fascinations but never love. I think it's my only weakness. I'm scared of letting my guard down, and if I feel in love with someone now, he'd have to try ten times harder to break it down." On Why Her Relationship With Rob Kardashian Failed: "I'm not going out with Rob. We were close for a while, but it didn't work because I was never there. I was like a ghost. I used to get so frustrated with myself and then wonder why I was angry, so I decided it was best to keep it friendly -- especially at the moment, when there's so much going on." Photo: Glamour UK Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | | Sienna Miller Covers Harper's Bazaar UK Posted: 30 Dec 2012 08:00 AM PST  Actress Sienna Miller covers the January 2013 issue of Harper's Bazaar UK. Sienna starred in several films that were released in 2012, including The Girl, in which she played actress Tippi Hedren. Sienna recently gave birth to a her baby by, Marlowe. In the interview, Sienna strangely said she would want to give birth every day from now on. Sienna said, "It's the best, the greatest thing in the world. I would do that day a million times again. I would do that day, every day. I loved it." You can view a video of Sienna's Harper's Bazaar UK cover shoot here. Photo: Harper's Bazaar UK Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | | Drybar to Sell Its Styling Tools Posted: 30 Dec 2012 05:00 AM PST  Drybar, a salon which promises the best blowout in town, is now selling its styling tools. The tools include the Buttercup, the official Drybar blow dryer, which has an 1875 watt motor. The Buttercup will cost $190. The items are available for pre-order on Drybar's online shop. The items will ship in March, 2013. The Cut says Drybar's products will also be sold at Sephora. Photo: Drybar Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | | Bloggers Star in Louis Vuitton Video Showcasing Mini Bags Posted: 29 Dec 2012 08:25 PM PST  Louis Vuitton says small is the new big. It has created this video, called "Small is Beautiful," to showcase its mini handbags. The video, which was shot in Paris, features bloggers/models Miroslava Duma, Hanelli Mustaparta, and Elin Kling. Take a look: Photo: Louis Vuitton (via Harper's Bazaar) Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | | Cell Phone Thefts Rise 30% in Major U.S. Cities Posted: 29 Dec 2012 07:47 PM PST ABC News reports on an increase in tech crime in major U.S. cities. Apple products are the prime target of tech thieves. Mayor Bloomberg told ABC News that "if you took out thefts of Apple products...our total crime rate would be lower than it was last year." Smartphones like the iPhone are not only expensive items, but they contain your personal data that thieves may be able to resell. Cell phone thefts are up 30% to 40% in major cities. Scary video footage even shows a thief putting a woman in a headlock and then stealing her iPhone. Take a look: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | | Lucy Hale Covers Nylon Magazine Posted: 29 Dec 2012 07:13 PM PST  Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale covers the December/January 2013 issue of Nylon magazine. In the Nylon interview, Lucy talks about reading the Pretty Little Liars scripts for the first time, Hollywood and her music plans. On Moving to Hollywood: "I didn't have a friend for, like, two years. I've come out of my shell, but I was pretty shy. Some people take it as me being standoffish." On Her Plans to Make an Album: "It's absolutely terrifying. You only get one album. You only get one single. You get one shot in music. But I have a million different dreams. Why can't I go out and try to achieve them all? Who are you to say I can't?" On Her First Read of the Pretty Little Liars script: "I was like, 'Are you guys sure this is ABC Family? There's a lot of risque stuff happening.'" Here is a behind the scenes video of Lucy's Nylon shoot. Lucy says she transforms into an elf around Christmas time. Take a look: Photo: Nylon Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | | Actress Nikki Reed Covers Zooey Magazine Posted: 29 Dec 2012 06:00 PM PST  Actress Nikki Reed covers the November/December 2012 issue of Zooey magazine. Nikki plays Rosalie Hale in the Twilight films. She also stars in Catch .44 with Forest Whitaker and Bruce Willis. In the Zooey interview, Nikki talks about her father, her blog and her husband, American Idol season 10 contestant Paul McDonald. Here is a video of Nikki's Zooey cover shoot. Nikki says, "I'm not the most comfortable as a model. I think I'm getting used to it. I'm getting better at it. Maybe, I'm a little self conscious playing the model role. I like playing people because people don't have to be perfect. Models have to be perfect." Take a look: Photo: Zooey Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | You are subscribed to email updates from ShoppingBlog.com
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Does the software make you grin?
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:14 AM PST
| Does the software make you grin? Posted: 31 Dec 2012 07:00 AM PST 
“I love this! It’s so much fun to use.” That’s what I heard from a member of our team while testing new marketing platforms. I don’t care what it costs, we’re buying that one. Folks — the user experience is all that matters anymore. Your stuff might be better, more sophisticated, more intelligent, or more effective. But if it sucks to use, no one is buying it. The game has changed — your job is to find out how to make people happy. |
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20 reasons why Google Plus is a must [Infographic]
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:10 AM PST
| 20 reasons why Google Plus is a must [Infographic] Posted: 31 Dec 2012 06:33 AM PST ![20 reasons why Google Plus is a must [Infographic] Top](https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/yw0eZpehlgzmsGU7-n0YDtgVHGnKfRA3f8L2hAMfRhG7QKNCRNfCOM9QASjvSKWgMTMQyjS_g3nB1CMRZEdFYE93e_KsCMrmRcCj2eViY2TRsZRSN-7lNfykbpbzVoAX-_-1VqBhDyKraWbrFJcSUzKuzBkuvhCdUU4=s0-d-e1-ft#http://soshable.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/20-reasons-why-Google-Plus-is-a-must-Infographic-Top.png "20 reasons why Google Plus is a must [Infographic] Top")
It seems like many people have fooled themselves into believing that Google+ is nothing more than a ghost town and perhaps the interactions on this social platform is not as quick as Twitter and Facebook or perhaps you haven't circled the right people. Either way, Google+ is only going to get better and has already integrated its social platform into all of their other services, this is something we definitely need to watch since Google+ is the first social network to be able to do that as they actually have other successful investments, such as Blogger, Gmail, YouTube and oh yeah, Google Search Engine.
If people actually took the time to explore Google+ you may actually discover that its gaming platform is smoother, they have a terrific photo sharing gallery and they provide hangouts, where you can choose to visually spend time with groups of people, publicly and privately and even share in watching YouTube videos together. Google has a great chance to fully unit search engine optimization and social media, in fact if you look at search a little closer, you can already see this unfolding, do you really want to be non-existent on a site that may be a little slower on rising but has the potential to change the way we are seen personally and professionally online? In the following infographic, 20 reasons to switch to Google+, created by Infographic Labs, can help you become acquainted with Google+ by providing 20 reasons why Google Plus is a must! ![20 reasons why Google Plus is a must [Infographic]](https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/7ECLTHNKczOQPH5gaLcHTgqf1yUy7rsdlWEpyVHIbIy-btKlowFE8WcZ-Nkb-6Lhp2Q1aQgYDTiPRcoZ1_r6lUZAMjQQSX0IQkL05iQlenll1DjO9yhUPorZVKGEk8l7DHYRUSipDAFBN0tklIeTVF5zqDZZwA=s0-d-e1-ft#http://soshable.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/20-reasons-why-Google-Plus-is-a-must-Infographic.jpg "20 reasons why Google Plus is a must [Infographic]")
| | Why I’m Launching a Christian Site in 2013 Posted: 31 Dec 2012 03:21 AM PST 
As many of you know, professionally I dwell in the marketing world with my primary tools being search and social. I live on Google and Facebook beyond the standard 9-5 gig simply because it’s a requirement when you strive to be the best at something that with so many worthy competitors. I’ve even been accused of spending too much time on social media… as if such a thing were even possible. My private life has been creeping more and more into my professional realm. I am a conservative Christian. I do as much as I can to learn more about the ways of the world both political and religious in preparation for whatever lies ahead. All too often, the collision of personal and professional do not mesh properly. Despite the fact that I am a firm believer that you should stand for what you believe in whether you’re “just doing your job” or out and about exploring the world, there are times when it becomes necessary to have an alternative venue that better fits the message that I’m trying to convey. Thus, I will be posting search and social stuff on Soshable just as I always have, but I will limit my political and religious views to a minimum here. The only way to accomplish this is to have another place to let that part of me roam free. To that end, I’m turning dusty garage-kept hobbies from the past into websites that I hope will be able to make a difference. My conservative blog and my Christian blog will be launching in full force in January. I have dabbled with both for too long. I have been blessed with the resources necessary to make them work separately from my professional life, so that is exactly what I’m going to do. Nothing will be lost at Soshable. The writing will still be pounded out here on a daily basis. I simply need alternative venues through which to “be myself” and express what I feel compelled to let out. Keep reading here and if you’re of like mind, be sure to check out my other sites as well. I’m looking forward to the best year ever in 2013. | | 7 Things to Accomplish in Social Media in 2013 Posted: 30 Dec 2012 11:17 PM PST 
A new year represents beginnings. It is a time to reflect on what was missed and make plans for improvement. This year is going to be a crucial one for many businesses with uncertainty in the economy, fluctuation in the social media sphere, and an awakening that is happening for many that social media is here to stay and is something that they need to master. Competition is getting stronger thanks to this awakening. It’s no longer an option to try out social media. The test drive phase is over. Either you’re in or you’re out. If you’re in, here are some things that you should strive to accomplish in 2013 that will make your social media strategy shine above the competitors: - Get on the Google+ bandwagon before it becomes a bandwagon – In 2011, I said that Google+ had potential. In 2012, it started showing signs of having influence over searches, placement of reviews in the local section, and an increased engagement level on the social networking component itself. In 2013, it will go from an option to a “must have”. We saw this sort of necessity budding with Facebook in 2008 and Twitter in 2009. Google+ is different because it’s accelerating faster than any of its predecessors. Get going now or you may fall terribly behind.
- Make quality content the highest goal for website improvement – We’ve discussed it several times over the last few months and we’ll continue to discuss it for as long as it remains important. High-quality content is the key to both search and social more than it has even been in the past. Unique, important, entertaining, and informational content that can get the inbound links and social shares to your website can be your secret weapon in 2013.
- Consolidate your social media posting strategies – This is a challenging one to discuss and deserves its own blog post in the near future. There’s a difference between posting the exact same content to all of your social profiles and pages at the same time and consolidating the strategies in a way that will make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. It’s not that you will cross-post everything you have. It’s that you’ll want to make sure that everything from website content to Facebook posts to Pinterest pins are pointing in the same strategic direction.
- Get visual – The written word is harder to promote than the visual message. All of the major social networks love images. Most hate links. That doesn’t mean that you can’t try to make links a part of the message, but all too often it’s the only part. This has to change in 2013.
- Post higher quality instead of more often – If given the choice between crafting and promoting a single piece of content on Facebook and Google+ that truly resonates with the communities or posting a lot of good but not great content, I’ll take the former every time. Your posts have to pop or they’ll go nowhere.
- Grow your targeted following ONLY - There was a time when it was okay to get a boost on followers by targeting the whole world. It’s easier to get local followers to a big account than one that is tiny. Things have changed, though, and now it can actually damage the effectiveness of your accounts by being too large with untargeted followers. Tighten it up, prune when necessary, and stop trying to inflate your numbers.
- Build a true personality with your social profiles and stick with it – This is not a call to become the cat-picture poster of Facebook. There are plenty of those. It’s a call for businesses to personalize, to make sure that there is humanity within their social media posts. It could be regular promotions of a local charity, funny videos made by the business that can quickly become “a thing”, or just staying business-focused but with a real person expressing real ideas and offering real advice in their industry.
It’s hard to limit this list to 7. I actually had to cut off three of the tips I was going to give because they were too hard to try to fit into a list; they deserve individual blog posts of their own. There are so many other things that businesses should do in 2013 to make their social media shine like never before, but it’s better to start with a handful of achievable goals rather than be flustered by the failure of taking on too much at once. If you do these things, you’ll get better this year. Thankfully, nothing on the list is that hard. Related articles |
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‘Arrested Development’ Release Date, Episode Titles Revealed
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:03 AM PST
| ‘Arrested Development’ Release Date, Episode Titles Revealed Posted: 31 Dec 2012 10:44 AM PST 
With just hours left in 2012, it’s heartening to think about all the great stuff 2013 has in store for us. One sure highlight is the fourth season of Arrested Development, reportedly arriving in the spring with “at least” ten episodes. Now we know when exactly it’ll hit Netflix, and we have a list of all fourteen(!) episode titles. Hit the jump for the new details. It’s been over a year since Netflix announced that they’d be reviving Arrested Development for a fourth season. The original order was for ten episodes, but Mitch Hurwitz found himself with so much extra material that he convinced Netflix to bump up the count. As reported by Bleeding Cool, the release date and episode listing for Season 4 of Arrested Development were initially posted on the Fox Fast press site. The information was quickly taken down, but ONTD was able to pick up the details before they disappeared. According to them, the new season will debut in its entirety on May 4, 2013 in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada. Between Iron Man 3‘s opening on Friday (May 3) and Arrested Development‘s return on Saturday, I think I’ve got the first weekend of May planned out already. Sadly for our foreign friends, there’s no word yet on when the show will premiere in other territories. Here’s the list of episodes: Michael 1
Michael 2
George Sr. 1
George Sr. 2
Lindsay 1
Lindsay 2
Tobias
Gob
Maeby
Lucille
Buster
George Michael 1
George Michael 2
Gob 2
The titles fit with previous reports that each episode would center around a specific character, with some getting more attention than others. Rest assured we’ll be seeing plenty of each Bluth, though — characters are expected to appear in each other’s stories. It’s odd that of the two-parters, only Gob’s installments seem to be split up. Given Hurwitz’s stated desire to take advantage of the all-at-once release model, however, it may not ultimately matter that much what order they’re in. - The Fake Movies and TV Shows Of ‘Arrested Development’ Make Their Way To Netflix
- TV Bits: ‘American Horror Story’, ‘Hannibal’, ‘The Newsroom’, ‘Game of Thrones’, ’30 Rock’, Guillermo del Toro, Bear McCreary, Michael Bay
- ‘Community’ Season 4 Premieres in February, ‘Arrested Development’ Season 4 to Debut in April
- TV Bits: ‘Up All Night’, ‘Arrested Development, ‘Hell on Wheels’, Dwight Schrute, Dan Harmon, Chloë Sevigny
- TV Bits: ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘Arrested Development’, ‘The Walking Dead’, ‘Animal Practice’, Louis C.K., Brendan Fraser, Andy Samberg, Craig Robinson, and More
- TV Bits: ‘Arrested Development’, ‘Girls,’ ‘Walking Dead’, ‘Hannibal’, ‘Childrens Hospital’, ‘NTSF:SD:SUV’, Daniel Craig, M. Night Shyamalan, Jason Bateman
 | | Cool Stuff: The Original ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy As Maps By Andrew DeGraff Posted: 31 Dec 2012 09:53 AM PST 
You always remember the first moment you fall in love with an artist’s work. The first time you watch a movie or listen to an album and realize, “I’m going to follow this person for years to come.” That moment happened for me with artist Andrew DeGraff on July 9, 2010 at the opening of Gallery 1988′s fourth Crazy 4 Cult show. In that show, DeGraff had a huge series of pieces featuring the distinctive outfits of each member of The Goonies, all framed around what appeared to be a treasure map. However, the more you looked at the map, you realized this wasn’t just a map. It was the movie. The work featured all the film’s locations linked by dotted lines of how each character weaved their way through the film. It was (and remains) amazing. Since then, the illustrator has done similar work at the gallery for Shaun of the Dead, North by Northwest and now, he’s created some new maps for his upcoming two person show with fellow artist Bennett Slater. Andrew DeGraff & Bennett Slater’s gallery show opens Saturday January 5th at Gallery 1988 Melrose in Los Angeles and we’re proud to debut DeGraff’s maps for the original Star Wars trilogy: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Check them out, as well as some beautiful paintings by Slater, after the jump. Here are Andrew DeGraff‘s Star Wars maps. A New Hope was revealed a few days ago, but Empire and Jedi are /Film exclusives. Click on each to see the incredible detail. 
That’s just a small sampling of the work DeGraff will have in the show. Each will be an original painting as well as have limited edition giclees. There’s no word on the dimensions, edition or price of the giclees just yet but you can look at some previous work for an idea. And here are some of the works by Bennett Slater. He combines pop culture iconography with the human body to give the viewer a whole different look not only at characters like Stay Puft Marshmallow man and Iron Man, but maybe themselves as well.     Andrew DeGraff & Bennett Slater’s gallery show opens Saturday January 5th at 7 p.m. in Gallery 1988, 7020 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. It remains on display through January 26. Click here for gallery hours and contacts.  | | /Filmcast Ep. 213 – The Top 10 Films of 2012 Posted: 30 Dec 2012 07:24 PM PST 
Dave, Devindra, and Adam run down their favorite movies of 2012, plus discuss their biggest disappointments and have a spirited debate about the merits of Holy Motors. You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993.
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SHOWNOTES (4:00) Our Top 10 Films of 2012
(1:18:00) Special categories  | | See the Short That Led To ‘Mama,’ With an Introduction From Guillermo del Toro Posted: 30 Dec 2012 05:27 PM PST 
One of the first releases in the new year will be Mama, which comes from director Andres Muschietti and producer Guillermo del Toro. The feature stars Jessica Chastain as a woman who finds herself becoming foster mother to a pair of young girls who have spent years living in the woods after the murder of their parents. The film is based on Muschetti’s career-making short, also called Mama, a three-minute piece that seems to be one single take. It’s an excellent little piece of work. We posted the original short back in 2009, but are able to present it again now. This time, the short comes with a bonus intro from Guillermo del Toro. After checking out this short, you can revisit the trailers for the feature here and here. Germain spent some time on the set of the feature, and he’s got a great set visit recap here. Mama opens on Friday, January 18th. Here’s the synopsis for the feature, but if you watch the short you’ll get pretty much all the info you need. Guillermo del Toro presents Mama, a supernatural thriller that tells the haunting tale of two little girls who disappeared into the woods the day that their parents were killed. When they are rescued years later and begin a new life, they find that someone or something still wants to come tuck them in at night. Five years ago, sisters Victoria and Lilly vanished from their suburban neighborhood without a trace. Since then, their Uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his girlfriend, Annabel (Jessica Chastain), have been madly searching for them. But when, incredibly, the kids are found alive in a decrepit cabin, the couple wonders if the girls are the only guests they have welcomed into their home. As Annabel tries to introduce the children to a normal life, she grows convinced of an evil presence in their house. Are the sisters experiencing traumatic stress, or is a ghost coming to visit them? How did the broken girls survive those years all alone? As she answers these disturbing questions, the new mother will find that the whispers she hears at bedtime are coming from the lips of a deadly presence.
 | | ‘Dead Man Down’ Trailer: Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace Tangled in Deadly Revenge Posted: 30 Dec 2012 04:28 PM PST 
Director Niels Arden Oplev and actress Noomi Rapace found great success across the globe with the trilogy of films based on Steig Larsson’s Millennium novels, beginning with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The duo has reunited for Dead Man Down, a revenge tale in which Rapace plays a woman who coerces hit man Victor (Colin Farrell) into helping her execute a revenge plot. The first trailer for the film is now online; check it out below. Before you hit “play,” note that the audio sync on this version is a bit off; when we can upgrade with a better update we will. There’s also the question of just how much this trailer gives away, but in the mode of many modern thriller trailers, I’d expect that this shows less than it seems. Dead Man Down opens on March 8. Following the cinematic phenomenon The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, acclaimed filmmaker Niels Arden Oplev and brooding beauty Noomi Rapace reunite for another thrilling tale of vengeance. Colin Farrell joins the prestigious team as brave enforcer Victor, right hand man to an underground crime lord in New York. He seeks to avenge the death of his wife and daughter caused by his boss. When his employer is threatened by a mysterious killer, Victor also becomes detective. Victor is seduced and blackmailed by Beatrice (Noomi Rapace), a victim turned avenger whose intense chemistry leads them spiraling into payback delivered in violent catharsis. FilmDistrict will release Dead Man Down in limited theaters on March 8th this winter.
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Favorite Ideas To Deals Posts of 2012
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:02 AM PST
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iPad mini demand high in China
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 11:02 AM PST
| iPad mini demand high in China Posted: 31 Dec 2012 10:00 AM PST  Apple's shrunken tablet is selling just fine here at home, but the iPad mini already has a worldwide audience. As AllThingsD reports, the mini is selling fantastically in China, with the tablet selling out nearly universally in all its various colors and storage options. In a country notorious for counterfeit versions of Apple gadgets, it's good to see that the genuine offering is getting its share of the pie. Of course, if the new, tiny iPad is leading to empty shelves, it might be a good time for Cupertino to examine its retail supply chain in the region to capitalize on the apparent feeding frenzy that is taking place. iPad mini demand high in China originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments | | Hackulous iOS app community closes Posted: 31 Dec 2012 09:00 AM PST  Jailbreakers and users of cracked iOS apps have one less thing to be happy about this New Year's Eve. Hackulous, the cracked app community for iOS, shut down as of yesterday. Along with Hackulous, Apptrackr -- which was a web-based index of cracked apps -- and Installous -- an app that was used to transfer cracked apps to iOS devices -- also shut down. The Hackulous team announced the shutdown in a statement that "After many years, our community has become stagnant and our forums are a bit of a ghost town. It has become difficult to keep them online and well-moderated, despite the devotion of our staff." Many in the jailbreak and cracked app community are not buying the story, noting that Hackulous still had many users. The Installous app was allegedly generating a lot of revenue for the team, as ads were served to users every time they performed an app-related action in the software. TorrentFreak attempted to contact Dissident, the admin of the Hackulous projects, for a statement, but he appears to be lying low. In the past, Dissident often preached about the need for users to be able to try out apps before buying them. Since trial apps are now more available, TorrentFreak speculates that Dissident may have felt the Hackulous "mission was over". Another possible reason for the closure could just be that there's no iOS 6 jailbreak coming soon. No jailbreak means that Installous and even the legal Cydia "alternative app store" will not function on new iOS devices. Whatever the reason behind the closing of Hackulous, it's certainly a blow for the jailbreak community. [via The Verge] Hackulous iOS app community closes originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments | | Preparing High-Res Icon Files with Automator Posted: 31 Dec 2012 08:00 AM PST  This week's post is for all those Mac app developers out there. If you're not an app developer yet, it's a new year, and I'm sure becoming an app developer is at at the top of your resolution list. In any case, if you plan to develop apps, then you need to prepare icons for those apps. Apple provides very specific requirements for generating high resolution icons, which you can find listed on the Apple Developer Connection website. In the past, Xcode came with a tool named IconComposer, which could be used to generate icon files. This tool, however, didn't generate high res icon files, so Apple now discourages its use. Instead, Apple provides instructions for generating icons using an iconset, a folder of image files that can be converted to an icon file using either Xcode or the iconutil command line tool. There are, of course, other ways of creating icons. In this post, however, we'll focus on an iconset. To manually generate an iconset folder, you start by creating a square image to serve as your icon. Next, you generate versions of the image scaled to 16x16, 32x32, 128x128, 256x256, 512x512. These scaled versions are to be named as follows: icon_16x16.png icon_...@2x.png icon_32x32.png icon_...@2x.png icon_128x128.png icon_1...@2x.png icon_256x256.png icon_2...@2x.png icon_512x512.png icon_5...@2x.png You place all of these images into a folder named FolderName.iconset. Then, you can process it with iconutil to generate an icns file. Sure, creating scaled images and processing them isn't too difficult, but it's a lot of repetitive work. If you create icons regularly, it can get tedious. You're probably thinking, surely, Automator can be used to streamline the process. It can. Here, we'll create an application workflow you can run anytime you want to convert an image to an icon file. Let's get started... Note: If you're an iOS developer, feel free to adjust the workflow below accordingly. Creating the Workflow Launch Automator and create a new Application workflow. Next, insert and configure the following actions. Note: This workflow is pretty long and repetitive. It's easy to get lost. If you get stuck, don't worry, you can download the complete workflow here, along with a sample icon image. 1. Ask for Finder Items - Set this action to ask for an image file at least 1024x1024 in size. 2. New Folder - Set this action to create a folder named MyIcon.iconset on your Desktop. 3. Set Value of Variable - From the popup menu in this action, choose New Variable and create a variable named iconset folder. 4. Get Folder Contents 5. Change Type of Images - Set this action to convert images to PNG format. 6. Scale Images - Set this action to scale the image to a size of 1024 pixels. 7. Rename Finder Items - Set this action to name a single item's basename only to icon_512x512@2x. This represents a 1024 image (i.e. a Retina display ready size) when the icon is created. Note that this action's title changes in the workflow to reflect the type of naming, in this case Name Single Item. 8. Duplicate Finder Items 9. Scale Images - Set this action to scale the image to a size of 512 pixels. 10. Rename Finder Items - Set this action to name a single item's basename only to icon_512x512. 11. Duplicate Finder Items 12. Rename Finder Items - Set this action to name a single item's basename only to icon_256x256@2x. 13. Duplicate Finder Items 14. Scale Images - Set this action to scale the image to a size of 256 pixels. 15. Rename Finder Items - Set this action to name a single item's basename only to icon_256x256. 16. Duplicate Finder Items 17. Rename Finder Items - Set this action to name a single item's basename only to icon_128x128@2x. 18. Duplicate Finder Items 19. Scale Images - Set this action to scale the image to a size of 128 pixels. 20. Rename Finder Items - Set this action to name a single item's basename only to icon_128x128. 21. Duplicate Finder Items 22. Scale Images - Set this action to scale the image to a size of 64 pixels. 23. Rename Finder Items - Set this action to name a single item's basename only to icon_32x32@2x. 24. Duplicate Finder Items 25. Scale Images - Set this action to scale the image to a size of 32 pixels. 26. Rename Finder Items - Set this action to name a single item's basename only to icon_32x32. 27. Duplicate Finder Items 28. Rename Finder Items - Set this action to name a single item's basename only to icon_16x16@2x. 29. Duplicate Finder Items 30. Scale Images - Set this action to scale the image to a size of 16 pixels. 31. Rename Finder Items - Set this action to name a single item's basename only to icon_16x16. 32. Get Value of Variable - Set this action to get the iconset folder variable you created way back at the beginning of the workflow. You also need to set this action to ignore its input, so it doesn't continue processing the 16x16px image from the previous action. Select Action > Ignore Image. 33. Run Shell Script - Set this action to pass input as arguments. Then, enter the following command: iconutil -c icns "$@" Preparing the Run the Workflow Before you begin running the workflow, you need an image you can convert to an icon. Note that iconutil requires this image to be square. So, make sure it is. If you really want to be sure it's square, you can insert a Crop Images action between steps 5 and 6, and configure it to crop to 1024x1024, scaling to the shortest side before copping. However, if your image contains transparency, this action will remove it. So, it's best to prepare your starting image as a square. Running the Workflow When you run the workflow, you're first asked to choose an image. Select the desired image and click Choose. The workflow runs, an iconset folder is created on your Desktop and passed to iconutil, which generates an icns file. You're ready to plug your icns file into your app. Now, any time you need to generate an icon, just create a square image and trigger your workflow. Happy New Year and Happy App Developing! Preparing High-Res Icon Files with Automator originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments | | Daily Deals for December 31, 2012 Posted: 31 Dec 2012 07:15 AM PST It's time to save some of that hard-earned cash with our Daily Deals, featuring a handy list from Dealnews and our own hand-picked selections that include some sweet deals on iOS and OS X software (all prices are USD). You can also check out our holiday deals list from last week for even more software sales. Deals from Dealnews - ExperCom: [Apple Computers] Expercom Year-End Sale: Up to $514 off iMacs, Macbook Pros, more
- Best Buy: [Media Receivers] Sonos Play 5 Music System w/ WiFi Bridge for $300 + pickup at Best Buy
- HandHeldItems: [iPad Accessories] Aluminum Bluetooth Keyboard Case w/ iOS Keys for iPad mini for $24 + $3 s&h
- Lenovo: [Headphones] Lenovo W770 Wireless Headset for $20 + free shipping
- eBay: [iPhone Accessories] VooMote Zapper Remote for iPhone / iPad / iPod for $15 + free shipping
- Verizon Broadband: [Computer Services] Verizon FiOS Triple Play w/ free $300 Visa Card, router, more for $75/month
- B&H Photo Video: [SSDs] Samsung 500GB SATA 6Gbps Internal SSD, Far Cry 3 for $314 + free shipping
- MacUpdate Promo: [Mac Software] SproutConverter for Mac downloads for $20
- Office Depot: [USB Flash Drives] Lexar 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive for $20 + pickup at Office Depot, more
- B&H Photo Video: [eSATA Hard Drives] Western Digital 6TB Quad Interface External Hard Drive for $339 + free shipping
- pcRUSH: [Printers & Scanners] Refurbished Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500 Sheetfed Scanner for $283 + free shipping
- MegaMacs: [iMac] Refurbished iMac 20" Core 2 Duo 2GHz Desktop for $500 + $23 s&h
iOS Software - LensFlare [iOS Universal, Category: Photography & Video, Now free, down from $0.99] LensFlare offers a wide selection of lens types to choose from. Each flare has unique properties and is dynamic, responding to position with center bloom and edge flare up.
- Strengthiness Interval Timer [iOS Universal, Category: Travel, On sale for $0.99, down from $1.99] A simple interval timer that just works and doesn't require a tutorial to figure out.
- Hueless [iPhone, Category: Photography & Video, On sale for $0.99, down from $1.99] Hueless helps you to take better black & white photographs.
- Alarm Clock [iPad, Category: Travel, Now free, down from $3.99] Realistic alarm clock app made for the iPad.
- Outline+ [iPad, Category: Productivity, On sale for $1.99, down from $14.99] Outline+ is a OneNote reader and editor designed right for iPad.
- MoneyWiz [iPad, Category: Finance, On sale for $0.99, down from $9.99] View all your accounts, budgets and bills in one place.
- Timenotes [iPhone, Category: Lifestyle, Now free, down from $0.99] Timenotes is an app that allows you to create a reminder which will count years, days, hours, minutes and seconds to or since some of your special dates.
- The Monster at the End of This Book...starring Grover! [iOS Universal, Category: Books, ; On sale for $0.99, down from $4.99] The Monster at the End of This Book enhances the classic Sesame Street book with an immersive experience that draws children right into the story.
- Avengers Initiative: [iOS Universal, Category: Games] Now free, down from $6.99. Help The Avengers pull the world back from the brink of catastrophe.
- EA Holiday Sale [iOS Universal, Category: Games, On sale for $0.99] EA has 99 games on sale for 99 cents each.
- Sega Holiday Sale [iOS Universal, Category: Games, On sale for $0.99] Sega has a handful of games on sale for 99 cents each. Ends January 3.
- Gameloft Holiday Sale [iOS Universal, Category: Games, On sale for $0.99] Gameloft has a handful of games on sale for 99 cents each.
OS X Software - Mariner Software [OS X, Category: Miscellaneous, On sale for 50% off] Mariner Software has slashed 50% off the prices of all our non-upgrade desktop products including MacGourmet Deluxe, Paperless, Mariner Write, MacJournal and more. The deal ends at 11:59pm Central on Tuesday, January 1, 2013.
- Rocking Dollar Promotion [OS X, Category: Misc, $0.99] Grab 15 popular apps for 99 cents each. The apps on sale includes PhotoBulk, Canyons & Arches Desktops, Timing, Mushroom Age, Christmasville, ColorStrokes, MenuMate, Get Plain Text, Markdown Pro, Pinball, MahJong, The Tiny Bang Story, Elsewhere, SMARTreporter and KaraokeTube. Ends January 1, 2013.
- All OS X software from Realmac [OS X, Category: Various, Now 65% off] All Realmac's OS X software titles are on sale for 65% off until January 6th. Apps include Clear for Mac, Analog, Courier, LittleSnapper and RapidWeaver.
Daily Deals for December 31, 2012 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments | | Daily iPhone App: Ring in the New Year with the Official Times Square Ball App Posted: 31 Dec 2012 07:00 AM PST | | Just in time for New Year's, RunKeeper upgraded to 3.0 Posted: 31 Dec 2012 06:00 AM PST  Around New Year's Day, many of us desire to do something to make ourselves better. That means resolutions are written (that are usually broken within a few weeks) to eat better, drink less, and exercise more. The best app for tracking exercise and sharing it with friends, RunKeeper (free), has just been updated to version 3.0 with a newly streamlined UI and new features. One thing I've always enjoyed doing while out on RunKeeper-tracked walks is taking photos. Frankly, it's always been a bit of a hassle. Well, the company has enhanced the photo-taking features to make it easier to shoot pictures while on a run or walk and then share the images with friends through Facebook and Twitter without leaving the app. If you're an Elite member of RunKeeper ($19.99 per year), another new feature allows you to turn on live activity tracking so friends and family can track you. That's perfect for letting your friends know where you are when you're six hours into your first marathon. As you can see from the screenshots in the gallery, RunKeeper now has a cleaner design with less text. It's easier to read and to navigate. RunKeeper 3.0 is available for download now on the App Store. Just in time for New Year's, RunKeeper upgraded to 3.0 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments | | Daily iPad App: The Orchestra for iPad is a home run for classical music fans Posted: 31 Dec 2012 05:05 AM PST  If you love classical music you really need to think about getting The Orchestra for iPad from Touch Press. The US$13.99 app is about the best use of multi-media audio and video I've seen on any computer platform. The Orchestra allows you to experience 8 classical selections, from Haydn to contemporary composers like Lutoslawski and Salonen. You pick your music, and on screen you see a window with conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen. Another window shows the Philharmonia Orchestra, and a third window presents a diagram of the orchestra seen from above. More on that later in this review. You can also see the score scrolling horizontally synched to the music. In addition, there are chapters on each selection performed, and conductor Salonen offers a commentary on the music you are hearing in real time. One unique feature lets you touch any section of the orchestra to hear its instruments isolated from the rest of the orchestra. By default, this feature is available in Beethoven's 5th Symphony. To unlock it for the other seven selections requires a $0.99 in-app purchase. I don't think I've seen any other app utilize the power of a computer in a better or more compelling way. The app is not a series of performances, but contains many insights into the selections, and the composers. Having said that, I have a few nits to pick. Charing an additional $0.99 in an app that is already $14 seems very Scrooge-like. It should just be thrown in. The selections themselves are excerpts, not complete works. I realize complete symphonies would take a lot of space, and hearing a movement is just not the same as getting the whole performance. There are links to the iTunes Store to download the complete works. This is the kind of app that should support Apple AirPlay so it can be seen on a big screen with better audio. Sadly, the app doesn't appear to fully support it. I could see an image of the orchestra on my Apple TV-powered display, but the music never started playing. It did work in mirror mode, but the aspect ratio isn't right. The audio is pretty good, and is in stereo if you listen on a headset or an external source. The iPad speaker is no way to experience this app. The Orchestra is an extraordinary way to show off what a great app can do. Classical music lovers will enjoy this app very much. This app is, not surprisingly, a big one. Almost 2 GB without the in-app purchase, and I had to do a bit of house cleaning to make it fit. This app requires iOS 6.0 or above, and works on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation, and iPad mini. Daily iPad App: The Orchestra for iPad is a home run for classical music fans originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 08:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments | | Talkcast tonight, 10 pm ET: Another auld lang iSyne Posted: 30 Dec 2012 05:15 PM PST  We've yet to land directly on New Year's Eve with a scheduled TUAW Talkcast; the most recent Sunday night NYE was in 2006, years before we started the show, and the next Sunday alignment with 12/31 isn't until 2017. (We should all come to see it in good health.) One day off is as close as we'll get, so tonight we'll celebrate with a) a year-in-review show, and b) BYO libations. Uncork some vino, pop some bubbly or pour yourself a beer! You're among friends here. To participate live during the show, you can use the browser-only Talkshoe client, the embedded Facebook app, or download the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, the best way to have your voice heard is to call in. For the web UI, just click the Talkshoe Web button on our profile page at 4 HI/7 PDT/10 pm EDT Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (viva free weekend minutes!): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *8. If you've got a headset or microphone handy on your Mac, you can connect via the free X-Lite or other SIP clients (aside from Skype or Google Voice), basic instructions are here. Talk to you tonight! Talkcast tonight, 10 pm ET: Another auld lang iSyne originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 30 Dec 2012 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments | | TUAW Best of 2012 Personal Picks: Michael Rose Posted: 30 Dec 2012 12:30 PM PST  At the start of 2012, Apple customers and employees were emerging from the initial mourning period for founder and chairman Steve Jobs. Twelve months later, with the first full post-Jobs year in the books, Apple is (mostly) on track with some remarkable successes and only one or two noticeable calamities. Here's my highly idiosyncratic list of pleasant surprises from the year that was. You can browse my colleagues' lists here. Best Free Upgrade: Hulu Plus on Apple TV. There's nothing better than getting new tricks out of an old dog, and with July's unexpected addition of Hulu Plus to the Apple TV, I found new delight in my little black hockey puck. The other subscription, purchase and streaming services on the Apple TV are all worthwhile, but I was already a Hulu Plus subscriber. I'd jumped through several hoops to get VGA and audio from my MacBook into my TV for those instances when I wanted to screen a Hulu show in larger format; it was enough of a pain to discourage me from getting the most out of my subscription. Hulu's ad-supplemented service might not be a perfect all-you-can-eat TV option, but it certainly makes cord-cutting a more appealing possibility. Having it on the Apple TV gives Apple's "hobby" more credibility as a true living room reformer. Whether or not the hypothetical "Apple television" debuts in 2013, the current offering (including the March hardware upgrade to 1080p) has some legs. Honorable mention: We had to wander through the wilderness for a few months -- quite literally, in some cases -- before finding our way to a better navigation and mapping solution on iPhone. Not everyone rejected Apple's new Maps app. But for those who had issues, the problems were real and really annoying. Never mind the 3D views, Siri integration and free, fast turn-by-turn directions that we'd been waiting years to get; if point A to point B ends you at point nowhere, that's no good. Thanks to the introduction of Google's new app in December, we have something close to the best of both worlds. An improving, imperfect on-board solution that's still offering next-gen functionality as the underlying POI database catches up; plus another free, sleek and easy Google-powered app that's delivering more (TBT navigation! Voice!) than the old app ever did. Best Hardware Milestone: MacBook Pro with Retina display. Six months in, and some days I'm still not sure I made the right choice in going for the Retina 15" MBP over a fully souped-up MacBook Air. But then I spend a week away from my desktop, absorbed in the so-sharp-it-might-cut-you screen of the MBP and the remarkable performance of the all-solid-state architecture, and the extra weight in my backpack doesn't bother me so much. Apple's great leap forward in portable displays comes with a steep sticker price, and there are still a few rough edges with naïve screenshot tools and key un-Retinized apps that show up as blocky as refugees from MacPaint Mountain. (I'm looking at you, ScreenSteps 2.) But Apple's willingness to push the envelope on HiDPI display technology -- and customers' comfort level with buying in -- once again puts the company's portable computing offerings at the top of the heap. Honorable mention: No word yet from Thor's lawyers, but the mobile-to-Mac revamp of Apple's peripheral connectivity with Thunderbolt and Lightning has caused less pain than I expected and delivered more benefits than I hoped. The pace of Thunderbolt peripheral releases has sped up from a stall to a modest trot, and Mac support for the fast USB 3 standard has also helped ease the aggravation of dealing with dongles and adapters for legacy FireWire gear. On the iOS side, the Lightning connector delivers more mechanical reliability while maintaining solid compatibility with docks, clocks and chargers via the 30-pin adapter lineup. Of course, the Lightning adapter wouldn't have anything to connect to without the handsome iPhone 5, fourth-gen iPad and iPad mini. Worst Surprise: For anyone who was hoping to cash in on resale of an iPad 3rd generation, it's got to be the "early" introduction of the Lightning-equipped fourth gen iPad. You live and you learn. Best OS Overhauls: iOS 6 and Mountain Lion. Neither of Apple's big OS releases this year escaped criticism and controversy. iOS 6 faced the aforementioned Maps migraines, and Mountain Lion's Gatekeeper app security and Facebook integration. But the benefits of the new systems outweigh the drawbacks. Mountain Lion's on-board Dictation support, Notification Center and baked-in AirPlay mirroring helped make 2012 easier than 2011. iOS 6's panorama photos, improved Siri, Passbook, expanded Open In menu, the indispensable Guided Access and even Maps brought the mobile platform forward. Honorable mention: This was the year the Mac App Store came into its own as a valid, vibrant channel for Mac software. Many of my favorite Mac apps have found a home on the MAS; several more, unfortunately, have backed off the store as the sandboxing restrictions proved too challenging or detrimental to core functionality. Here's hoping that the 2013 MAS delivers some of the flexibility these apps need to thrive. Favorite Mac Apps: It took too long (really, way too long) for Cultured Code's Things to deliver cloud synchronization of tasks -- but now that it's here as part of Things 2, it's made my daily routine a lot easier. All my iOS devices and my Mac have the same to-do list instantaneously, with no fuss. (Yes, I could get some of the same mileage out of iCloud and Reminders, but I need more categorization and tagging options in my crazy register of things that are overdue.) Likewise, the newly streamlined BusyCal 2 delivers a solid and reliable calendar for anyone who needs more than Apple's Calendar or Microsoft's Outlook can supply. Honorable mention: The dead simple screenshare/remote meeting tool join.me, from the fine folks at LogMeIn, works great on the Mac and surprisingly well on the iPad. It's so much easier than most meeting tools, it's almost unfair. Bonus points for the feature that lets you hand off control and sharing to one of your attendees, then reclaim the mouse for your own; as a last-ditch, low-fi remote support tool (when Messages screensharing and Back to my Mac falls down) it's a delight. Favorite iOS Apps: I never imagined that a third-party "killer app" would revitalize an iOS baked-in feature, but I stand corrected. Loren Brichter's Letterpress is that app, and it's singlehandedly made Game Center cool again. I was also excited to see the official Khan Academy iPad app make its debut, for all your math video needs. Readdle's Calendars app is a must-have for anyone wrangling multiple Google calendars and reasonably priced at $6.99; I've dinged Readdle in the past for some questionable UI choices in its apps, but Calendars is clean and clever. Finally, for maintaining my inner serenity (to say nothing of my multiple time-zone sleep patterns), I depend on the library of Andrew Johnson relaxation apps. You can get a taste of Johnson's gravelly Scottish tones in the free Relaxing Holidays app, or browse his entire hypnotherapy catalog on the App Store and in the audiobooks section. (Bonus points for one of the best app names of all time, if you imagine it being shouted by an angry spouse as you head out to the pub.) Favorite Accessories: Speaking of behavior modification, the Fitbit activity tracker has given me insight into my sleep and fitness level in 2012 (spoiler alert: it's not so good), and the motivation to step it up in 2013. Fitbit's Ultra pedometer, my model, has been discontinued in favor of the One tracker; the new unit adds direct wireless sync to Bluetooth 4.0 iOS devices. Since I do quite a bit of flying, the automatic noise cancellation in the Fanny Wang 3000 Series headphones makes a big difference in podcast and music listening onboard. The FW 'phones are somewhat oversize for everyday use, but in noisy environments they're exactly what the ear doctor ordered. Also in the road warrior category, I spent a lot of 2012 looking for the perfect iPad keyboard/case combo. I may not have found the ideal fit, but until I do the Adonit writer keyboard and case has made my iPad a more effective writing tool. The keyboard is leagues better than the cheap Bluetooth options from some other vendors (ahem, Boxwave) and the easy-clip frame lets me quickly transition from convertible to standalone iPad use. Best Raging Against The Dying Of The Light: Macworld | iWorld. When Apple made its last official appearance at Macworld Expo in early 2009, the conventional wisdom was that the tradeshow and conference would not survive much longer without the imprimatur of the mother company. So much for the conventional wisdom, I suppose. While smaller and scrappier, the show continues to draw an audience of eager Mac and iOS fans, developers and creative pros. For last year's event, Paul Kent and his team at IDG rebranded the show as Macworld | iWorld, acknowledging the shifting platform emphasis toward mobile while making the show's name much harder to print correctly. The upcoming fourth post-Apple edition will be kicking off on January 31 and running through February 2. TUAW will be there, and after a one-year hiatus, so will I -- and I'm looking forward to seeing many of you there, too. TUAW Best of 2012 Personal Picks: Michael Rose originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 30 Dec 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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December 2012: Resources
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 09:47 AM PST
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8 Smartphone Apps to Prank Your Friends
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 09:45 AM PST
| 8 Smartphone Apps to Prank Your Friends Posted: 31 Dec 2012 03:36 AM PST 
Smartphone apps are great for keeping you efficient, but they're even more fun when you want to kick back. Since the average smartphone user has 65 apps installed on their phone, we encourage you to have a few apps just for laughs. Next time you're around family or friends, lighten the mood with a prank, and enjoy the storytelling for years to come. Most of these apps can be used by Android or iPhone, so get ready to laugh on. 1. How To Get Your Pets to Speak English If you're a pet lover, odds are you've let out a frustrated cry as your pet continued to whine to no avail. You sat there and wondered, what are you saying? Well, we've got you covered with the Animal Translator app – all you need is a talkative pet! This app translates your animals' language into random English sentences, for added laughter at any moment. 2. “I'm Running Late” Made Easier with The Fake Car Accident You're driving along to the latest event when suddenly, BAM! A bit of your pre-party cheer is gone. Just kidding! You're a safe driver, so this stomach sinking occurrence won't happen to you. However, it may be a great excuse for why you're running late to your friend's party. With the "Dude, Your Car!" app, you can instantly send images of your "car crash," or your friend's. 3. A Haunting by GhostCam The wintertime is a great for gathering around a fire with your friends and recalling scary stories. Next time, come prepared with proof of your haunting experience. Spook your friends as your pass around your picture phone, with ghostly images lurking in the background.
4. A Mischievous Ringtone Between notifications for email, texts and calls, your phone is usually ringing off the hook, making this prank oh so timely. Changing a ringtone is the easiest prank you can play, and also one of the funniest. Whether you go for embarrassing pop song, or naughty bedroom sounds, this change in melody will get the attention of everyone in the room. If you want to guarantee laughter, be sure to time your call for maximum embarrassment. 5. Excuse Me, The President is Calling "Thanks for rehashing my most embarrassing stories, Mom. But, the president is calling, so I'll have to excuse myself." Now, tell us that is not the best exit strategy out there? Embarrassing moments at the dinner table or around friends? There are several apps that allow you to set up fake calls from your new famous best friend.
6. The Dreaded Phone Drop Have you ever had that heart sinking feeling when you dropped a friend's new phone, and the screen shattered? Luckily with pranks, you get none of the guilt and all of the pleasure. Next time they get up and leave their phone behind, replace their wallpaper with an image of a broken smartphone screen.
7. The Lazy Man's Guide to Home Control and Tricks Ah, the joy of a smartphone app that controls functions in your home. Not only are these apps just great to have, they're also great for pranks. Download apps that turn off lights, open garage doors, or change the channel on the television. 8. The Late Risers Wake Up Call The Wakerupper is a free service that allows you to send a wake up call to a friend's phone. Have a friend who is always "fashionably late" to an event? Make sure they get there on time with this friendly reminder. That, or have them rise and shine with the roosters to get the point. As long your target is a savvy phone user, none of these pranks will inflict long-lasting damage. So, get out there and enjoy spreading laughter in the new year! Image by vonne Wierink. New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.  | | Social Media Newsfeed: Pinterest Lawsuit | Social New Year’s Posted: 31 Dec 2012 12:00 AM PST Click here to receive the Morning Social Media Newsfeed via email.
 Lawsuit Claims Pinterest and Investor Brian Cohen Copied Plaintiff's Website (SocialTimes)
Theodore Schroeder, who worked with early Pinterest investor Brian Cohen on a previous project, has sued Cohen and Pinterest for passing ideas he brought to that project to Pinterest's co-founders, who used them to develop the successful social network. Schroeder, a lawyer who lives in Ocean City, N.J., claims he created the idea of a "board" as a platform for sharing content while working on a website called RendezVoo with Cohen and others in 2007 and 2008, and that Cohen handed the idea to the founders of Pinterest in 2009 along with some angel funding. The Next Web The company is facing six counts in the lawsuit, and the plaintiff is seeking an award in excess of $75,000, "constructive trust over earnings derived from Pinterest" and more. A Pinterest spokesperson told All Things D that "the lawsuit against Pinterest is baseless and we will fight it aggressively." AllThingsD Schroeder's attorney, Richard Scheff of Montgomery McCracken, emailed the following comment: “The bottom line is that it's illegal to steal an idea for your own benefit without regard to the originator of that idea. Here, Mr. Cohen joined an existing enterprise in which Mr Schroeder had a majority interest, and then took without permission or right Mr. Schroeder's ideas, concepts, web application and technology." Cohen did not reply to a request for comment. CNET The suit says Schroeder’s friends had alerted him to Pinterest but that he learned of Cohen’s involvement with the site only on reading a March 2012 story about the investor in Mashable. The lawsuit also mentions infinite scrolling — familiar to anyone who’s used Tumblr — as one of the things Cohen/Pinterest allegedly lifted from Schroeder. TechRadar This isn’t the first (and probably won’t be the last) time we’ve heard such a case. The infamous Winklevoss twins ended up rich men over their long campaign to assert that Mark Zuckerberg stole their ideas for Facebook.
Twitter New Year’s Resolution: Perfect Your Bio (AllTwitter)
Your Twitter bio is a key component of your identity on the platform and a prime location for branding and visibility on Twitter. Here are a few tips for sprucing up your 160 character-max Twitter bio in time for the New Year. SocialTimes In related news, during this year's New Year's Eve celebration at New York's Times Square, New York-based Tumblr will help document the event with a steady stream of animated GIFs. Topher Price, a Tumblr staffer; Ryan Broderick, a BuzzFeed staffer; and Lacey Micallef will work up the animated images from a headquarters on site. AppNewser Mojiva's recent survey reveals that an overwhelming majority of mobile users are more likely to text their New Year’s celebration this year. Additionally, respondents also said they will be using their smartphones to take plenty of photos and sharing them via their favorite social networking sites. Social Media Stock Tracker: Uneven Performances in 2012 (SocialTimes)
In a quiet holiday week heading toward 2013, there was little meaningful news and accordingly, the social media sector was down a percent. For 2012, the five pure play social stocks with the most visibility (FB, GOOG, LNKD, YELP, and ZNGA) showed uneven performance for the year, with a combined average gain of 1 percent, despite significant volatility and variance
Facebook Removes Options to Filter Friends by City, but Some Alternatives Exist (Inside Facebook)
Some Facebook users have been disappointed to discover that they can no longer filter their friends list by current city or other identifiers besides name. When Facebook rolled out its redesigned friends page last month, it removed the option to search friends by current city, workplace, school, hometown and interest. Stockr Opens in Public Beta (SocialTimes)
The new year brings a new tool for stock market stalkers. With just a few days left in the fourth quarter of 2012, Stockr has opened in public beta, the company announced on Friday. Binders Full of Memes: The Top 20 Memes of 2012 (SocialTimes)
When you look back on 2012, what will be the things you remember most? If you spend as much time on the Internet as we do, it won't be the world events, politics or natural disasters that will stand out in your mind … it will be "The Interwebz" reaction to them and the memes that resulted.
Real Life Galley Cats in Our Pet Parade (GalleyCat)
GalleyCat readers around the globe have joined our annual Pet Parade, sending photos of their literary pets. One author sent in a photograph with caption: "This is Watson, my 17 week old Siberian Cat kitten. Perhaps he'll become a word cat through osmosis? His godmother is my Hugo-Award winning editor at DAW Books, Betsy Wollheim. (I am the author of the Green Rider series for DAW.) Watson has been a joy, and even Gryphon the Irish Terrier sorta likes him." 'Demand a Plan' Gun Control Campaign Launches Viral Video (PRNewser)
We recently told you about the Demand a Plan campaign launched by social advocacy group Mayors Against Illegal Guns, co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. The multifaceted project has all its PR bases covered – and now it has a celebrity-filled viral video to boot. Australian Security Leaks Documented Via Social Networks — Could it Happen Here? (SocialTimes)
An investigation by the Australian media outlet Fairfax Media found that more than 200 former and present Australian intelligence officers had disclosed their classified employment in profiles on LinkedIn and other social websites including Facebook and Twitter. Most of the spies disclosed just the fact of their employment at agencies devoted to intelligence, but some revealed significant details about their work.
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Microsoft offers up free month of Xbox Live following Cloud Saved Games outage (Tom Warren/The Verge)
Posted: 31 Dec 2012 09:39 AM PST
| Microsoft offers up free month of Xbox Live following Cloud Saved Games outage (Tom Warren/The Verge) Posted: 31 Dec 2012 08:45 AM PST | | China's Sina restructures its business to focus on its Weibo microblog and 'mobile first' strategy (Josh Ong/The Next Web) Posted: 31 Dec 2012 07:50 AM PST | | Microsoft confirms zero-day bug in IE6, IE7 and IE8 (Gregg Keizer/Computerworld) Posted: 31 Dec 2012 06:45 AM PST  Gregg Keizer / Computerworld:
Microsoft confirms zero-day bug in IE6, IE7 and IE8 — Second time in two years it's had to deal with late-December vulnerabilities — Microsoft on Saturday confirmed that Internet Explorer (IE) 6, 7 and 8 contain an unpatched bug — or “zero-day” vulnerability — that is being used by attackers to hijack victims' Windows computers.
| | Just in time: Facebook restores New Year's messaging service after plugging privacy loophole (Robin Wauters/The Next Web) Posted: 31 Dec 2012 05:40 AM PST | | Unnatural Acts And The Rise Of Mobile (Keith Teare/TechCrunch) Posted: 31 Dec 2012 04:35 AM PST  Keith Teare / TechCrunch:
Unnatural Acts And The Rise Of Mobile — Editor's note: Keith Teare is General Partner at his incubator Archimedes Labs and CEO of recently funded just.me. He was a co-founder of TechCrunch. — As all predatory, or formerly predatory, men and women know, if you're at a party and still … | | Samsung reportedly set to sell its first Tizen-based smartphone in 2013 (Jon Russell/The Next Web) Posted: 31 Dec 2012 03:10 AM PST | | Sure, Big Data Is Great. But So Is Intuition (Steve Lohr/New York Times) Posted: 31 Dec 2012 12:55 AM PST | | Facebook confirms privacy flaw with New Year's message service, takes it offline to fix issue (Ken Yeung/The Next Web) Posted: 30 Dec 2012 10:55 PM PST | | Trying to be the one true social graph is like trying to hold water in your fist (Hunter Walk/Elapsed Time) Posted: 30 Dec 2012 09:05 PM PST | | Yahoo completes its planned exit from South Korea (Josh Ong/The Next Web) Posted: 30 Dec 2012 07:45 PM PST  Josh Ong / The Next Web:
Yahoo completes its planned exit from South Korea — True to its word, Yahoo has pulled out of the South Korean market by the end of 2012, as noted by the Yonhap News Agency. A notice on the company's site provides detailed instructions to users on when exactly all of its services will go dark … | | U.S. Internet Users Pay More for Slower Service (Susan Crawford/Bloomberg) Posted: 30 Dec 2012 07:25 PM PST  Susan Crawford / Bloomberg:
U.S. Internet Users Pay More for Slower Service — Terry Huval is a large, friendly man with a lilting Southern accent who plays Cajun fiddle tunes in his spare time. He is also the director of utilities in Lafayette, Louisiana. “Our job is making sure we listen to our citizens,” he says. | | Exclusive: Huawei partner offered embargoed HP gear to Iran (Steve Stecklow/Reuters) Posted: 30 Dec 2012 05:50 PM PST | | Game Over: Zynga Shuts Down PetVille And 10 Other Titles To Cut Costs (Josh Constine/TechCrunch) Posted: 30 Dec 2012 04:10 PM PST | | Hackulous shuts down: piracy app Installous is gone (Sebastien Page/iDownloadBlog) Posted: 30 Dec 2012 03:45 PM PST | | India's Aakash Venture Produces Optimism but Few Computers (New York Times) Posted: 30 Dec 2012 01:35 PM PST | You are subscribed to email updates from Techmeme
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