5 reasons Google should be afraid of Samsung

Wilson Rothman , NBC News ? ? ? 16 hrs.

Google takes pride in the fact that its Android mobile operating system has outpaced Apple's. But the truth is, Android phones don't outsell Apple phones, Samsung phones do. Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft ? these may be Google's main competitors, but it's Samsung that could be the search giant's biggest threat.

As Samsung launches the Galaxy Note 8.0 this week, and the upcoming Galaxy S 4, not to mention a fleet of new Smart TVs, here are five reasons Google should be afraid:

1. Phones, phablets, tablets and more
Samsung has been the largest phone maker in the world for a while, but for the better part of last year, it was even out-selling Apple in the profitable smartphone category. On the surface, this is good news for Google, since Samsung is the largest ambassador of Android phones.

But compare the interface on a Google-branded Nexus phone to the software on Samsung's best-selling Galaxy S phones. The fundamental operating systems are the same, but everything from the stock apps (calendars, email, media player, etc.) to the interactive services (voice command, wireless file sharing, etc.) are different. Critics (including me) generally prefer Google's "pure" Android experience offered by Nexus devices (which also get faster OS updates), but the masses don't seem to mind Samsung's interface. And with time, money and momentum on its side, Samsung can keep improving.

The bigger the device gets, the more problematic things are for Google. Android phone apps may be a roaring success, but Android tablets have barely any native apps, especially compared to what's built for iPad. As evidenced in the expanding Note line ? which just welcomed an 8-inch model ? you can expect to see more Samsung-only features and interface tweaks, and increasing cooperation between Samsung and its software partners.

2. Retail stores
In an age when big-box stores struggle, Apple can still brag of its unbelievable (and mostly unforeseen) brick-and-mortar store success. Former skeptics now believe that the best way for electronics makers to reach their customers is through direct shopping-mall and online sales. Google is building up the online side, but recently rejected the idea of a retail store. Meanwhile, Samsung has quietly built out an online sales site, and is starting to show the urge to build some Apple Store clones of its own. In the meantime, it has clout with Best Buy, other mall retailers and even cellular carriers that Google could only dream of.

3. Mobile payments
Google got the jump on the competition when it comes to using your phone as a credit card. Built-in near-field communication chips in its Nexus phones combined with the Google Wallet system lets you, in Google's words, "shop faster, smarter and safer, in-store and online." Apple has been slower to get into mobile payments ? its Passbook app is a useful tool for those already checking into flights and buying event tickets online, but it's not yet a vehicle for commerce in itself. Now Samsung is making its own move with its own app ? called Wallet.

While the system, as it stands, currently resembles Apple's Passbook more than Google's similarly named service, don't forget that Samsung has NFC built into most of its premium phones. Not only that, as the Verge points out, it has a partnership with Visa to use the credit card company's PayWave service.

4. Media store
About two years ago, I laughed when Samsung tried to get me to buy a movie via its service on a cellphone. The selection wasn't great, and what was I going to do, watch some outdated action film on a phone's 4-inch screen? The laughter has, substantially, subsided. Those screens have gotten bigger, and Samsung has sold a lot of phones with its media store pre-installed.

Meanwhile, Samsung has expanded its media sales to its Smart TV line, and the current Smart TV interface dedicates a whole page to Samsung media. In other words, while you can still buy movies for apps like Amazon Instant Video and Vudu, you'll soon most likely stumble over stuff first on Samsung's page. How soon till you're giving it your $3.99 for a movie rental, rather than your cable provider or the competition?

5. Apple TV
Google's already spent its ammunition on something called Google TV, which you likely never bothered to purchase. Apple TV exists now too, as a cheap little add-on for Mac, iPad and iPhone owners, but Apple may yet pop a full-size TV that's so user friendly, fanboys would drool like they haven't drooled since Steve Jobs was alive.

Only thing is, Samsung already has an answer to Apple TV, and from what we saw at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, Samsung isn't going to rest until it gets the interface right. Does it need Google's help to do it? Nope.

(Bonus dirt in Google's face: LG recently went out of its way to buy a third-party operating system, probably so it wouldn't have to rely on Android for its next-gen smart TVs.)

Maybe none of this matters to Google as long as it can keep making money on mobile ads on Samsung devices ? but according to a recent report in the Wall Street Journal, even this relatively safe haven could be threatened by Samsung's explosive growth.

Further reading:
Samsung sparks anxiety at Google - The Wall Street Journal

Eyeing Apple: How competitors are finally making phones consumers want - The New Yorker

Samsung takes a page from Apple's Passbook with new Wallet app - The Verge

'Next generation' Samsung smartphones to ship with Visa NFC payment system - The Verge

Android boss Andy Rubin says Google doesn't need a retail store - Business Insider

Samsung's new retail store clearly inspired by Apple - Digital Trends

Wilson Rothman is the Technology & Science editor at NBC News Digital. Catch up with him on Twitter at @wjrothman, and join our conversation on Facebook.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/5-reasons-google-should-be-very-afraid-samsung-1C8593123

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Josh Duhamel Has ?Full Conversations? with His Unborn Child

"I've had full conversations with the baby already," Duhamel told PEOPLE at Tuesday. "I'm trying my best to communicate from beyond the womb. Whether it can hear me, I don't know, but I'm talking to it a lot."

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/RYW8L0MayBA/

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Facebook Confirms It Will Acquire Atlas Advertiser Suite From Microsoft To Close The Ad Spend Loop

After weeks of speculation and leaks, Facebook today announced it will buy the Atlas Advertiser Suite away from Microsoft. The Seattle-based Atlas team will stay put, but Facebook plans to invest in back-end scaling and better measurement to help advertisers "close the loop" and understand how their spend earns them money.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/yJsW8IwvfYw/

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Green Home, Green Business ? Perfect Home Improvement Tips ...

TIP! While wood fireplaces can keep your house toasty warm, consider other heating sources first. Besides any consideration of the looks (and smells) of such a fireplace, you need to know that it is never that efficient.

When you don?t have a good knowledge base, home-improvement projects can prove difficult to complete. If you do not know exactly where to start on your project, take a look at these tips and see if you can find the assistance you need to get them done right.

TIP! Upgrade your windows! Revamp the windows! Make use of double glazed windows. These are not cheap but can add a great deal of value to your home and save you money.

Try adding a pergola to your home if you think the exterior looks bland. The beloved garden structure adds shade, visual interest and a sense of peacefulness. A bit of help from friends and a pergola kit can make it easy to install your pergola in as little as a weekend.

TIP! Hurricane socks are a sensible investment if your home is located in a region that?s at risk for hurricanes or other potential flooding dangers. They are designed to soak up as much as one gallon of water each.

Utilize wallpaper to make an attractive bookcase. Choose a design that is unusual and interesting. Place the wallpaper behind your bookcase, then you will see the design as you stack books. This will improve the appearance of the bookcase and add a unique focal point to whatever room it is in.

TIP! If you can afford it, go for hard wood floors and stay away from laminate. Although laminate looks like the real thing, you can refinish it.

When installing cabinets, lots of home builders keep construction costs down by installing just cabinets with no attached hardware. Thankfully, you can easily purchase cabinet handles, knobs and drawer pulls online or at a local hardware store. If you want something that you can install in only a few minutes, you can select modern knobs, designer-made accents, and pulls with a vintage look.

TIP! It?s a good idea to have an outlet put in the cabinets above where your microwave will go. This will allow you to plug your microwave in without having to see the cord.

Never allow a contractor to push the limits of your budget by offering expedited time frames. They usually have legit reasons for wanting to finish quicker. They might hurry the workers so they get to their next assignment. On the other hand, they may stay late and charge you overtime unnecessarily.

TIP! An old toothbrush is as good a tool as any for cleaning jobs. They are great for cleaning grout and any area that has crevices.

You?ll know what?s coming during your projects if you take these tips into consideration. Concurrently, you might also discover that these tips provide you with the information you need to determine whether to do the project yourself or get a pro to help.

Source: http://greenhomegreenbusinessplanet.com/perfect-home-improvement-tips-tricks-and-treats/

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Federal Housing Finance Agency Reports Mortgage Interest Rates ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. ? February 26, 2013 ? (RealEstateRama) ? The average interest rate on conventional, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage loans of $417,000 or less increased 6 basis points to 3.53 in January. These rates are calculated from the FHFA?s Monthly Interest Rate Survey of purchase-money mortgages (see technical note).

These results reflect loans closed during the January 25 ? 31 period. Typically, the interest rate is determined 30 to 45 days before the loan is closed. Thus, the reported rates depict market conditions prevailing in mid- to late-December.

The contract rate on the composite of all mortgage loans (fixed- and adjustable-rate) was 3.34 percent in January, up 6 basis points from 3.28 percent in December. The effective interest rate, which reflects the amortization of initial fees and charges, was 3.46 percent in January, up 4 basis points from 3.42 percent in December.

This report contains no data on adjustable-rate mortgages due to insufficient sample size. Initial fees and charges were 0.95 percent of the loan balance in January, down 20 basis points from December. Twenty-six percent of the purchase-money mortgage loans originated in January were ?no-point? mortgages, up from 11 percent from the share in December. The average term was 27.1 years in January, down 0.3 years from December.

The average loan-to-price ratio in January was 76.4 percent, up 0.1 percent from 76.3 percent in December. The average loan amount was $254,700 in January down $19,400 from $274,100 in December.

Recorded information on this index is available by calling (202) 649-3993. For technical questions on this index, please call David Roderer at (202) 649-3206. The February index value will be announced on March 28, 2013.

Technical note: The data are based on a small monthly survey of mortgage lenders which may not be representative. Survey respondents are asked to report the terms and conditions on all conventional, single-family, fully amortized, purchase-money loans closed during the last five working days of the month. The sample is not a statistical sample but is rather a convenience sample. The data exclude FHA-insured and VA-guaranteed mortgages, refinancing loans, and balloon loans. This month?s data are based on 4,729 reported loans from 25 lenders, which may include savings associations, mortgage companies, commercial banks, and mutual savings banks. The effective interest rate includes the amortization of initial fees and charges over a 10-year period, which is the historical assumption of the average life of a mortgage loan. More info?

###

The Federal Housing Finance Agency regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks. These government-sponsored enterprises provide more than $5.7 trillion in funding for the U.S. mortgage markets and financial institutions.

Contact:
Corinne Russell (202) 649-3032
Stefanie Johnson (202) 649-3030

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  Washington, DC - January 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) contracts, was 3.29 percent based on loans closed in December. There was a decrease of 0.07 from...

• Federal Housing Finance Agency Reports Mortgage Interest Rates
  Washington, DC - February 28, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some ARM contracts, was 4.25 percent based on loans closed in January. This is an increase of 0.10 percent from the...

• Federal Housing Finance Agency Reports Mortgage Interest Rates
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Source: http://www.realestaterama.com/2013/02/26/federal-housing-finance-agency-reports-mortgage-interest-rates-16-ID019237.html

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Zimbabwe government bans radios receiving shortwave | Radio ...

Is this an illegal radio?

Last week police in Zimbabwe banned the use of so-called ?specially designed radios? capable of receiving shortwave broadcasts from outside the country, not just FM broadcasts from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Company which is loyal to President Robert Mugabe?s party. According to the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) the law is aimed at hand-cranked and solar powered shortwave radios that pro-democracy groups and foreign NOGs plan to distribute ahead of a referendum on a new constitution in March and forthcoming elections. MISA says that the ban is not supported by the law and that the police have been vague in defining exactly which radios are banned.

Shortwave stations like SW Radio Africa and the Voice of America?s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe offer popular programming and reporting from across the border that is not subject to government control.

In an article that is likely timed to coincide with the radio ban, the government-owned Herald newspaper claims another station, Voice of the People, is ?in turmoil? due to being behind in paying its employees, and ?faces collapse.? The article also accuses the station of being pirate and broadcasting ?hate speech.?

Human rights advocates would take issue with that characterization. In 2006 the station won a One World Media award in recognition of its brave efforts to broadcast independent news from inside Zimbabwe in the face of government oppression and violence. In 2011 Radio VOP applied for a license with the Zimbabwe government and was denied. So far licenses have only been granted to Mugabe loyalists.

There are no other corroborating reports of this ?turmoil? at Radio VOP in any other independent news outlets. Thus this story seems intended to sow some public anxiety over the independent station?s operations.

The Zimbabwe government?s suppressive response to outside broadcasts demonstrates just how vital radio communications are for modern democracy. Repressive regimes can more easily filter and block internet and phone communications than they can block international shortwave radio signals. Using a solar or wind-up radio, the listener doesn?t even need electricity, which could also be interrupted. These are qualities that those of us in the industrialized west can easily overlook, but should not.

Source: http://radiosurvivor.com/2013/02/26/zimbabwe-government-bans-radios-sees-independent-shortwave-broadcasts-as-a-threat/

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Research to probe deep within a solar cell

Feb. 25, 2013 ? Engineers and scientists from the University of Sheffield have pioneered a new technique to analyse PCBM, a material used in polymer photovoltaic cells, obtaining details of the structure of the material which will be vital to improving the cell's efficiency. The findings are published in Applied Physics Letters.

Working with the ISIS pulsed neutron and muon source at the Science and Technology Facilities Council Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, the researchers are the first to use a cutting-edge neutron scattering technique called SERGIS to analyse PCBM. The technique -- still very much in development -- has so far only been tested on samples with well-known, regular structures, such as diffraction gratings.

The experiment focused on crystallites of PCBM which were on the surface of a thin film of the solar cell material as the researchers could then verify their findings using other analysis techniques, such as atomic force microscopy. But they believe the technique could in future be used to analyse the material's structure deep inside the active layers of a solar cell. This will enable them to understand how different fabrication methods impact on the cell's structure, and therefore its efficiency.

Dr Alan Dunbar from Sheffield's Faculty of Engineering explains: "The SERGIS technique uses polarised neutrons which are bounced off the sample being tested. Where the resulting neutrons end up and how their polarisation has changed tells us information about the structure within our samples. The advantage of this type of technique is that because neutrons only interact weakly with the sample we can probe much deeper where many microscopy techniques cannot see."

"This is the first time the technique has been used to look at this material which is of real interest to science. It enabled us to map the size of the PCBM crystallites and the distance between them, both properties which are key to improving efficiency."

Research into photovoltaics is one of many areas of energy research conducted at the University of Sheffield, including wind power, nuclear power, biofuels, district heating and carbon capture.

SERGIS -- which stands for neutron spin echo resolved grazing incidence scattering -- can only be conducted in a few places worldwide, among them the ISIS pulsed neutron and muon source in Oxfordshire.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Sheffield, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. A J. Parnell, R. M. Dalgliesh, R. A. L. Jones, and A. D. F. Dunbar. A neutron spin echo resolved grazing incidence scattering study of crystallites in organic photovoltaic thin films. Applied Physics Letters, 2013 DOI: 10.1063/1.4793513

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/physics/~3/vSigdae_Gxc/130225102553.htm

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Bradley, Clark the face of the debate

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2012 file photo, Tim Clark, of South Africa, putts on the ninth green during the second round of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament in Greensboro, N.C. Keegan Bradley and Clark are the faces in this emerging showdown over the anchored stroke used for long putters. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2012 file photo, Tim Clark, of South Africa, putts on the ninth green during the second round of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament in Greensboro, N.C. Keegan Bradley and Clark are the faces in this emerging showdown over the anchored stroke used for long putters. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 14, 2011 file photo, Keegan Bradley celebrates on the 18th green after winning a three-hole playoff against Jason Dufner at the PGA Championship golf tournament in Johns Creek, Ga. Bradley and Tim Clark are the faces in this emerging showdown over the anchored stroke used for long putters. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

MARANA, Ariz. (AP) ? Bruce Lietzke would have noticed a banana inside the cover of his long putter.

One of the famous stories about Lietzke, a 13-time winner on the PGA Tour, is that he never touched a club when he wasn't on tour. His caddie didn't believe him, so at the end of the 1984 season, he put a banana inside the head cover of Lietzke's driver before zipping up the travel bag. Some 15 weeks later at the Bob Hope Classic, the caddie excitedly unzipped the travel bag.

The stench should have been the first clue.

"Sure enough, he pulled off that head cover and the banana ... it was not yellow," Lietzke said Monday. "It was black, nasty, fungus. He said he'd never doubt me again."

Lietzke confessed to breaking his own rules when it came to the broom-handled putter that he picked up at the Phoenix Open in 1991 and used the rest of his career. Even in his down time, he would tinker with the length of the putter and practice with it. And he wonders what the conversation would have been like today if that 1991 PGA Championship had turned out differently.

Lietzke was the runner-up at Crooked Stick behind a big-hitting rookie named John Daly. Imagine if Lietzke had won that major.

Would the USGA have banned the putter he anchored against his chest?

"I think so," Lietzke said. "Judging by their reaction to major successes, I guess they were just waiting for this to happen. The USGA should have made a statement then. If I had won the PGA Championship, they might have tried to outlaw it. And if you look back on it, most people would have gone along with it."

That was one of the arguments PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem put forth Sunday when he said the tour was against the proposed rule that would ban the anchored stroke primarily used for long putters and belly putters.

Without any empirical evidence that an anchored stroke is easier, why ban it?

And after all these years, why now?

The faces in this discussion ? and that's all it is right now ? are Keegan Bradley and Tim Clark, for vastly different reasons.

It was Bradley's win at the PGA Championship that prompted serious talk about the future of anchored strokes. Bradley now is lumped in with three of the last five major champions using a belly putter, but he was the catalyst.

European Tour chief executive George O'Grady said the conversations between golf's administrators and the governing bodies about the future of the long putters began last year at the Masters.

That was before Webb Simpson won the U.S. Open and Ernie Els won the British Open, which ramped up the attention.

As for Clark?

It was his dignified speech at Torrey Pines that led even the staunch opponents of long putters to look at them differently. More than one person in the room that night has described his presentation as a game-changer.

That much was reflected in the overwhelming support from the Player Advisory Council and player-directors on the tour's policy board that the PGA Tour should oppose the USGA on this rule.

The tricky part is figuring out where this will lead.

The PGA Tour sent the USGA a letter last week spelling out its opposition to Rule 14-1(b), and the PGA of America and its 27,000 club pros are also against the ban.

One reason Finchem decided to speak about the letter ? a small distraction during the final of the Match Play Championship ? was his concern that the discussion was being portray as a showdown. Right now, it's a matter of opinion.

If it becomes a showdown, high noon is not until the USGA and R&A decide whether to go ahead with the rule. And that decision won't come until the spring.

It's a polarizing topic. If not, the governing bodies would not have offered a 90-day comment period that ends on Thursday. They simply would have announced a new rule and been done with it.

For now, the tour has not said it will go against the USGA. It has only said it disagrees with the USGA.

Finchem chose not to show his hand when he brushed off questions about whether the tour would ever allow an anchored stroke even if the governing bodies adopt a rule that bans it starting in 2016.

But he has made clear on at least three occasions that while slightly different rules could work for the PGA Tour, this rule would not be one of them.

This is not where golf needs to go. The buzz word coming out of the USGA annual meeting earlier this month was not "bifurcation" but "unification."

Go anywhere in the world and golf effectively is played by the same set of rules. This is something that should never change.

The USGA and R&A know they don't have evidence to show that using an anchored stroke is easier. Frankly, they don't need any evidence. This is not about equipment, rather a new rule that attempts to define the golf stroke as the club swinging freely.

The mistake by the USGA was waiting until someone won a major before acting ? or believing that winning a major should even make a difference.

The majors are the biggest events to win. They define careers. But if the belly putter was an issue when Simpson won the U.S. Open, why wasn't it an issue when he won the Deutsche Bank Championship? Did the putter work differently at Olympic?

Lietzke can think of several occasions when nerves made him miss with his long putter. And if the belly putter is the cure, don't just look at Ernie Els kissing that claret jug last summer at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. Look at those two putts Els badly missed on the last few holes of the Match Play Championship to lose in the opening round.

If the USGA decides that a ban on anchored strokes is best for the game, the PGA Tour should go along with it.

And if the USGA was serious about that 90-day comment period, the hope is that it was serious about listening.

Why?

And why now?

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-25-GLF-On-Golf-Long-Putters/id-314dc4885dfc425ab750faacd1d34da1

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What the sequester means for most Americans

John W. Schoen , NBC News ? ? ? 6 hrs.

As the clock ticks down in another federal budget battle, warnings are growing more dire about the consequences of not reaching a deal by the end of the month.

The so-called budget sequestration would force about $85 billion worth of across-the-board spending cuts that would ripple through the federal government and broader economy.

Here?s a look at what caused the impasse and what it may mean for most Americans.

Is this the same as the ?fiscal cliff?? I thought they fixed that problem.

Not exactly, though we have seen this movie before. If "The Fiscal Cliff" was last year?s runaway Hollywood blockbuster disaster movie, "The Sequester" is this year?s sequel ? complete with the same plot line and your favorite politicians in starring roles.

The original script was written in July 2012 when, as part of that summer?s horror hit, "Debt Ceiling Debacle," Congress and the White House agreed to a set of tax hikes and spending cuts so onerous everyone assumed the shoot-ourselves-in-the-foot budget package would be replaced with a sensible plan by Jan. 1, 2013. In late December, a last-minute deal defused the tax increases on all but the wealthiest households, but lawmakers punted the spending cut deadline to March 1.

So they?ll just do another last-minute deal again. This March 1 doomsday scenario is just hype, right?

Maybe. Recent dire warnings from both the Pentagon and the Transportation Department are clearly aimed at putting pressure on Congress to come up with a deal.

But if the gridlock persists, and lawmakers don?t reach a deal soon, the spending cuts baked into the current law could indeed create havoc with some government services and popular programs. That?s because the law bars government agencies from making rational, considered decisions about which programs to fully fund and which ones to cut entirely. So it?s not the depth of the cuts so much as the way they?re required to be made that?s cause for alarm.

But don?t we need to cut federal spending?

Sure, but this is not the way to go about it. Say you took a pay cut and had to figure out how to cut your household spending by 10 percent. You?d probably gather the family around the kitchen table, review where the money goes each month and figure out what you can do without. No more ordering Chinese three times a week. Maybe you have to downsize to a mobile phone plan with fewer minutes. Belt tightening is always painful, but done carefully you can usually get back to a more or less normal life.

Now suppose there was a law that said ? instead of making careful, considered decisions ? you had to spend 10 percent less on every bill that comes in. If you pay the phone company only 90 percent of your bill, sooner or later they?ll shut off service. Try paying your landlord 90 percent of your rent and see how long before you get served with an eviction notice.

For that matter, try ordering just 90 percent of a new submarine for the Pentagon. It?s not like you can just lose the sunroof and skip the upgraded exterior trim package.

That?s what makes the process so disruptive ? even though the total cuts are relatively small.

This is insane. Why would anyone come up with a plan like that?

Because when it was written, the threat of a down-the-road disaster seemed like a better option than letting the U.S. Treasury default, an outcome that was just days away in July, 2011. To break that high-stakes deadlock, the sequester process was specifically (some say perversely) designed to create havoc with every single federal agency it applies to. The threat of the expected chaos, along with a six-month cooling off period before the original Jan. 1 "fiscal cliff" deadline, was supposed to bring Congress to its senses and usher in a more rational, orderly budget process before the chaos of sequester cuts took effect.

What kind of chaos are we talking about here?

Until we hit the March 1 deadline, it?s impossible to know for sure. Some agencies and departments, including the Pentagon, are already getting ready to furlough workers. Because they need to give 30 days? notice, those staff cutbacks aren?t expected to kick in until April 1.

By then, unless a new budget deal is in place, you could begin seeing the impact fairly quickly. With fewer TSA workers, travelers could see longer lines and delays at airport security checkpoints. Fewer FAA Air Traffic Controllers means fewer planes in the sky, which means ongoing flight delays or cancellations.

"It's going to be very painful for the flying public," warned Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Friday.

Furloughed food inspectors could force some processors to shut down. The IRS has warned that your tax refund will be delayed if there are fewer workers to review and process your return. With fewer workers showing up at the FBI and Justice Department, criminal cases could take longer to investigate and prosecute.

Doctors would get paid less to see Medicare patients, and could have to wait longer to collect those fees. Households collecting federally-funded, extended unemployment benefits would get smaller checks. Farmers face cuts in crop subsidies.

No wonder they?re called ?across the board?cuts. Would any part of the government be spared?

Yes. Social Security checks and Medicare benefits to patients won?t be cut. (But some of the workers who process those checks could be furloughed, which would delay payments to recipients.) Programs for low-income households, including food stamps, Medicaid, children?s health benefits and the earned income tax credit, would be exempt from cuts. Federal retiree and veterans? benefits would also be spared.

Military personnel are exempt, but the Pentagon has said some 750,000 civilian workers would face furloughs.

And for all the disruption, we?d get very little serious deficit reduction. That?s because these cuts apply largely to so-called ?discretionary? spending. The vast bulk of ?mandatory? Social Security and Medicare spending would be left untouched. Those are, by far, the biggest contributors to the federal deficit.

Won?t this hurt the economy?

It won?t help. Some jobs will be cut (the White House estimates about 750,000) which the economy can ill-afford with unemployment at 7.9 percent. But the roughly $85 billion in mandated cuts represents only about a half-percent of annual U.S. gross domestic product.

This is crazy. How did we get into this mess?

The federal deficit has been expanding for some time, through multiple administrations, but the 2007 recession and 2008 credit crash made the problem a lot worse. Social Security and Medicare ? largely off-limits to the sequester ? need to be reformed by raising more money, paring future benefits, or both.

The good news is that there are a number of credible proposals to fix these problems and plenty of time to get fiscal policy on track to help the economy continue to get back on its feet.

Unfortunately, despite the sequester?s original goal of spurring Congress to act, there?s little evidence that lawmakers are any closer to getting to work on those big, broad solutions.

So if they do somehow come up with a deal March 1, are we through with all this nonsense?

Not necessarily. Because Congress hasn?t passed a formal budget in years, government spending is currently authorized only through late March. That creates yet another deadline for yet another disaster movie sequel. Unless yet another budget deal can be reached, look for "Continuing Resolution" to open in theaters March 27.

And watch for the trailer on the next coming attraction, "Debt Ceiling Debacle II," due later this year.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economywatch/sequestration-just-latest-round-dc-fiscal-follies-1C8502787

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Mississippi bigots freak out over local paper?s coverage of 1st gay wedding in county (Americablog)

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New blood test finds elusive fetal gene problem

A NEW non-invasive blood test for pregnant women could make it easier to catch abnormalities before their child is born.

Human cells should have two copies of each chromosome but sometimes the division is uneven. Existing tests count the fragments of placental DNA in the mother's blood. If the fragments from one chromosome are unusually abundant, it might be because the fetus has an extra copy of that chromosome. But triploidy, where there are three copies of every chromosome, is missed, since the proportion of fragments from each chromosome is the same.

California-based company Natera uses an algorithm to calculate the most likely genotype for the fetus. To do this it looks at single letter variations called SNPs in the parents and compares this to a database of the most common SNPs patterns in the population. This genotype is then compared with placental DNA.

This approach can catch triploidy since the whole fetal genotype is the reference rather than a single chromosome. The method was presented last week at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in San Francisco.

This article appeared in print under the headline "No hiding place for fetal gene errors"

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Ikea: Horse meat found in Swedish meatballs

Ikea was drawn into Europe's widening horse meat scandal Monday as authorities said they had detected horse meat in the furniture giant's frozen meatballs. Ikea sold the meatballs, labeled as beef and pork, in 13 countries across Europe.?

By Karl Ritter,?Associated Press / February 25, 2013

Advertising for Ikea meatballs at the parking area at an Ikea store in Malmo Sweden Monday Feb. 25, 2012. The furniture retailer says it has halted all sales of meat balls in Sweden after Czech authorities detected horse meat in frozen meatballs that were labeled as beef and pork.

Johannes Cleris/AP/File

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Swedish furniture giant?Ikea?was drawn into Europe's widening food labeling scandal Monday as authorities said they had detected horse meat in frozen meatballs labeled as beef and pork and sold in 13 countries across the continent.

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The Czech State Veterinary Administration said that horse meat was found in one-kilogram packs of frozen meatballs made in Sweden and shipped to the Czech Republic for sale in?Ikea?stores there. A total of 760 kilograms (1,675 pounds) of the meatballs were stopped from reaching the shelves.

Ikea?spokeswoman Ylva Magnusson said meatballs from the same batch had gone out to Slovakia, Hungary, France, Britain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Ireland. Magnusson said meatballs from that batch were taken off the shelves in?Ikea?stores in all those countries. Other shipments of meatballs were not affected, she added.

However, the company's Swedish branch announced on its Facebook page that it won't sell or serve any meatballs at its stores in Sweden out of concern for "potential worries among our customers."

Magnusson said?Ikea?saw no reason to extend that guidance globally. She said?Ikea?was conducting its own tests of the affected batch. She also said that two weeks ago?Ikea?tested a range of frozen food products, including meatballs, and found no traces of horse meat.

Ikea's?stores feature restaurants and also sell typical Swedish food, including the so-called Kottbullar meatballs.

European Union officials were meeting Monday to discuss tougher food labeling rules after the discovery of horse meat in a range of frozen supermarket meals such as burgers and lasagna that were supposed to contain beef or pork.

The Czech authority also announced Monday that it found horse meat in beef burgers imported from Poland during random tests of food products.

Spanish authorities, meanwhile, announced that traces of horse meat were found in a beef cannelloni product by one of the brands of Nestle, a Switzerland-based food giant. The Agriculture Ministry said it was a case of fraudulent labeling but represented no health threat.

In a statement on its website, Nestle Spain said that after carrying out tests on meat supplied to its factories in Spain it was withdrawing six "La Cocinera" products and one "Buitoni" product from store shelves.

It said it was taking the action after the traces of horse meat were found in beef bought from a supplier in central Spain. Nestle said it was taking legal action against the company, adding that the products would be replaced by ones with 100 percent beef.

Some EU member states are pressing for tougher labeling rules to regain consumer confidence.

The 27-nation bloc must agree on binding origin disclosures for food product ingredients, starting with a better labeling of meat products, German agriculture minister Ilse Aigner said.

"Consumers have every right to the greatest-possible transparency," she insisted.

Austria backs the German initiative; but others like Ireland say existing rules are sufficient although Europe-wide controls must be strengthened to address the problem of fraudulent labeling.

The scandal has created a split between nations like Britain who see further rules as a protectionist hindrance of free trade under the bloc's single market, and those calling for tougher regulation.

Processed food products ? a business segment with traditionally low margins that often leads producers to hunt for the cheapest suppliers ? often contain ingredients from multiple suppliers in different countries, who themselves at time subcontract production to others, making it hard to monitor every link in the production chain.

Standardized DNA checks with meat suppliers and more stringent labeling rules will add costs that producers will most likely hand down to consumers, making food more expensive.

The scandal began in Ireland in mid-January when the country's announced the results of its first-ever DNA tests on beef products. It tested frozen beef burgers taken from store shelves and found that more than a third of brands at five supermarkets contained at least a trace of horse. The sample of one brand sold by British supermarket kingpin Tesco was more than a quarter horse.

Such discoveries have spread like wildfire across Europe as governments, supermarkets, meat traders and processors began their own DNA testing of products labeled beef and have been forced to withdraw tens of millions of products from store shelves.

More than a dozen nations have detected horse flesh in processed products such as factory-made burger patties, lasagnas, meat pies and meat-filled pastas. The investigations have been complicated by elaborate supply chains involving multiple cross-border middlemen.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/e8C99SobdWQ/Ikea-Horse-meat-found-in-Swedish-meatballs

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Steve Jobs Art: A Birthday Tribute - Business Insider

Summary

Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers... More ?

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-art-a-birthday-tribute-2013-2

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Consumer Team: Heating & Air Conditioning Buying Tips | The ...

(DALLAS, TX)????? Recently a high profile Dallas-Ft. Worth heating and air conditioning system went out of business.?? What made this company unique was their reputation in the marketplace for promising deep discounts. ? Competitors of the company questioned their ability to actually deliver advertised discounts.?? In the wake of the company?s demise are thousands of consumers who are left with worthless maintenance contracts.?? The Consumer Team radio program will be referencing this situation in a special segment to be aired Saturday, February 23, 2013 from 5-7PM (Central) on KRLD Radio, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas.

The Consumer Team - Saturdays 5-7 PM - KRLD Radio

Pete Thomson, host of The Consumer Team and President/CEO of McQ Media Inc, said the segments will help consumers on a number of levels.? Thomson stated, ?Our first concern is for the consumers who lost money on service contracts or air conditioning systems.? We want to help those people.? We will also address what constitutes a good deal on a heating and air conditioning system.? Beyond that, we will address the notion of big promises being made in advertising.?? As the old bromide goes, ?If something seems to go to be true it usually is.??

Joining Thomson on The Consumer Team will be John Downs and Mark Wissler of Dallas Plumbing Company.?? John Downs serves at president of Dallas Plumbing Company.? Mark Wissler is the company?s service manager.? Commenting on Dallas Plumbing, Thomson said, ?In researching this story we spoke to a number of professionals in home improvement, plumbing and air conditioning.?? We asked the team from Dallas Plumbing to join us because of their tenure in the marketplace and the universal respect that consumers have for this company.? Dallas Plumbing was founded in 1903.? They?ve served generations of consumers in North Texas. ? They are experts at plumbing, heating and air conditioning.? And they?re in a very credible position to give guidance on how consumers can get a fair deal on a heating and air conditioning system.?

Thomson praised Dallas Plumbing for their willingness to help consumers who are holding worthless service contracts.? Thomson added, ?I?m impressed by a number of things regarding Dallas Plumbing.? They represent the values that we believe in on The Consumer Team.? And, on the program they?ll be making an offer to people who have been burned by the company that went out of business.?

The Consumer Team is broadcast from 5-7PM Saturdays on 1080 KRLD in Dallas and Ft. Worth, Texas.? KRLD is the leading news station in the Dallas-Ft. Worth market.?? The Consumer Team features consumer tips, information and research designed to help listeners in the DFW Metroplex and beyond make better consumer and shopping decisions.?? Pete Thomson has been working in the area of consumer advocacy for over 10 years.? He founded The Consumer Team with a mission to help Dallas and Ft. Worth consumers save time, money and grief in the consumer lives.? Thomson is also president/CEO of McQ Media, a Dallas based marketing and advertising firm.

To learn more about The Consumer Team and to listen live go to http://www.myconsumerteam.com?? The Consumer Team is produced by McQ Media Inc, Dallas, Texas.

?

Source: http://myconsumerteam.com/blog/consumer-team-heating-air-conditioning-buying-tips/

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PM says 'Japan's back,' vows stronger ties with US

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Japan's new prime minister declared Friday he would make his country a stronger U.S. ally and joined President Barack Obama in warning North Korea that its recent nuclear provocations would not be tolerated.

After meeting Obama in the Oval Office, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also sent a clear message to China: that while Japan does not want confrontation with Beijing, it won't tolerate challenges to its sovereignty over islands disputed by the two Asian powers.

Those regional tensions served as the backdrop for Friday's meetings, which came just two months after Abe began his second stint as Japan's prime minister following a convincing election victory.

Obama said he and Abe were united in their "determination to take strong actions" in response to North Korea's nuclear test this month, which followed a successful long-range rocket launch last month. That has propelled the isolated, authoritarian state closer to having a weapon of mass destruction that could threaten the U.S.

Abe said he and Obama have agreed to push for tougher sanctions by the U.N. Security Council and spelled out why Pyongyang's actions are cause for worry.

"They (North Korea) have increased the range of their missile immensely and have attained the ability to reach even the mainland United States," Abe said at a Washington think tank after his White House visit. He said Pyongyang was also claiming it has made a smaller nuclear bomb that could be delivered by missile.

Speaking through a translator, the Japanese leader said this was why the United States was pressuring China to exert more influence over its North Korean ally. Abe said it was important for the entire international community to do the same.

Most experts believe North Korea is still some years away from being able to hit America, although its shorter-range missiles could already threaten its neighbors.

Abe, a nationalist and advocate of Japanese relations with the United States, is the latest in a revolving door of Japanese prime ministers ? the fifth since Obama took office. That's made it difficult to establish a personal rapport between Japanese and U.S. leaders, notwithstanding the enduring nature of the bilateral relationship. Japan hosts about 50,000 American forces and is a cornerstone of Washington's Asia policy.

His first stint as prime minister was cut short in 2007 by ill health, but Abe's now riding high in the polls. He outlined Friday his policy to revive his nation after years of malaise by building a strong economy and strong national defense.

"Japan is not, and will never be, a tier-two country," Abe said. "That is the core message I am here to make. And I reiterate this by saying, I am back, and so shall Japan be."

He promised to enhance Japan's role in international affairs, build its cooperation with other democracies and promote open use of the seas and rules-based trade.

Japan's relationship with Washington has assumed more importance for Tokyo in recent months as it has locked horns with China over the control of unoccupied islands in the resource-rich seas between them.

The dispute flared after Tokyo nationalized some of the islands in September. China also claims the tiny islands, which it calls Diaoyu. It has stepped up patrols into what Japan considers its territorial waters, heightening concern that a conflict could be sparked. The tensions highlight the rivalry between China, the world's second-largest economy, and Japan, which is the third.

Obama did not address the dispute in his brief remarks, but separately, Secretary of State John Kerry complimented Japan on the restraint it has shown and its efforts to prevent a "significant confrontation."

Abe said that Japan had no intention of escalating the dispute and that his door was always open to Chinese leaders.

But he had some words of defiance, too, over Japan's sovereignty of the islands.

"We simply cannot tolerate any challenge now and in the future," Abe said. "No nation should make any miscalculation about firmness of our resolve. No one should ever doubt the robustness of the Japan-U.S. alliance."

The U.S. has treaty obligations to help Japan in the event of a conflict, obligations Abe said were a stabilizing factor in ensuring peace and stability in the region.

In comments that will be welcomed by Washington, Abe held out an olive branch to South Korea, a key U.S. ally that shares Japan's concern over North Korea's provocations.

He said the Japan-South Korea relationship was "extremely important" and he wanted to resolve the differences between them. The two Asian democracies have bickered over another island dispute, and Seoul believes Tokyo lacks contrition for its colonial past and use of Korean sex slaves during World War II.

Friday's meeting was an opportunity for the U.S. to gauge Tokyo's intent to join negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, a regionwide free-trade pact pushed by Washington.

Abe held back from such a commitment that could prove politically risky before key elections in July for the upper house of the legislature, known as the Diet. Joining TPP is opposed by most of his party and Japan's small but politically powerful farming lobby.

However, a joint statement said the two leaders had agreed to continue their talks about Japan's "possible interest" in joining TPP. It appeared to offer some new wiggle room for Abe. It acknowledged sensitivities for Japan on certain agricultural products and for some manufactured products for the U.S.

The statement said that while all goods would be subject to negotiation, a prior commitment to eliminate all tariffs was not required.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pm-says-japans-back-vows-stronger-ties-us-041639846--politics.html

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Sizzling prices heat up wage talks in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A stagnant economy and one of the world's highest inflation rates are making Argentina's annual wage talks thornier than ever this year just as President Cristina Fernandez turns her attention to mid-term elections.

Fernandez, who hails from the left of the Peronist party that has dominated Argentine politics since the late 1940s, has an increasingly difficult relationship with the unions and that is raising the risk of strikes ahead of the October elections.

The combative president has divided Argentina's largest labor federation, the CGT, ostracizing leaders who became critical of her six-year-old government and recruiting more amenable replacements with whom to negotiate.

But a sharp slowdown coupled with inflation forecast by private economists to reach 30 percent this year is exposing cracks in her alliance with government-friendly unionists.

Galloping prices and a rising tax burden are eroding consumers' purchasing power, and even allied union leaders are unwilling to accept a 20 percent ceiling the government and companies want to set for wage claims.

"The unions are going to react," said Sergio Romero, secretary general of the UDA teachers union that belongs to the pro-government wing of the CGT.

"We went to the negotiating table with a flexible approach and what we got was a unilateral response. We expected a bigger effort from the state to improve the education system," he told Reuters. "The government is condemning teachers to survive on 3,000 pesos ($600) a month."

Members of Romero's union want a 30 percent pay rise, a demand shared by the large food industry union, which also belongs to government-friendly CGT ranks.

"It's going to be a different round of pay talks this year. Inflation is higher and the economic recovery has been feeble," said economist Ernesto Kritz, a specialist on employment issues.

Inflation in Latin America's third-biggest economy sped up slightly to 25 percent in 2012, according to private economists, while economic activity grew a meager 1.9 percent, suggesting a decade-long boom has finally sputtered out.

Referring to the upcoming wage negotiations, Fernandez called in January for "a bit of good sense," saying inflation was not "a natural phenomenon, but something that all sectors play a part in."

She seldom mentions the word inflation and dismisses criticism from economists, consumer groups and the International Monetary Fund of the state's official consumer price data, which put last year's inflation rate at just 10.8 percent.

Shunning orthodox monetary policy recipes to cool prices, Fernandez instead forged a two-month price freeze accord with supermarket chains and appliance stores.

Pay talks normally start in February and last until July, with teachers traditionally kicking off the public sector negotiations.

In a sign of what may lie ahead, the education ministry last week made teachers a non-negotiable offer of 22 percent to be paid in three stages over the course of the coming year. They swiftly rejected the raise and called a strike.

Hospital workers in Buenos Aires province, home to nearly 40 percent of the country's population, have vowed to walk off the job on Monday after the cash-strapped provincial government warned it cannot meet their demands.

'UNSUSTAINABLE'

Businesses, meanwhile, say wage hikes that keep pace with inflation are becoming unsustainable as Argentine industry rapidly loses competitiveness.

"Pay rises of 30 percent are just not viable. We need a dose of rationality or else we're likely to lose companies and lose jobs," said Daniel Funes de Rioja, president of the COPAL food industry association.

Although unemployment remains at low levels of about 7 percent, inflation is eating away at living standards and is a growing concern for voters, who will elect almost half of Congress in the October legislative elections.

The vote could determine Fernandez's political future because she will only be able to run for a third consecutive term in 2015 if she gains the two-thirds congressional majority needed to seek constitutional reform.

Fernandez's current approval ratings suggest she could struggle. Her positive image was 30.7 percent in a January survey by the Management & Fit polling firm, up slightly from December but far below the 59.1 percent of February 2012.

The opposition's persistent weakness, however, and the fact that Fernandez also did badly in 2009 mid-term elections before easily winning re-election two years later might help her allies strengthen their grip on Congress.

Much will depend on her success in balancing the conflicting demands of workers and industry on salaries.

"People are worried about mundane issues that affect their everyday lives - wages, prices, inflation ... and this could be played out when it comes to voting," said Mariel Fornoni, a director at Management & Fit.

($1 = 5.03 pesos)

(Writing by Helen Popper; Editing by Kieran Murray and Phil Berlowitz)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sizzling-prices-heat-wage-talks-argentina-165943612--business.html

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Obama Asks Supreme Court to Overturn Gay Marriage Ban (Voice Of America)

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Give Rocket Languages A Chance

Learning new languages can be a tricky proposition.? We suggest that you look into getting a good program to help you to learn at home if you can?t attend a class.? There are a multitude of different options for you.? Most people seem to think that Rosetta Stone is the be all and end all of language learning programs, but that?s not the case.? We suggest that you look into the rocket language software, which is cheaper and probably better suited for someone who wants to learn a language the traditional way, without a lot of bells and whistles.? It has been rated very highly by many sources.

?

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Source: http://www.happymapling.net/reference-and-education/give-rocket-languages-a-chance/

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Mark Schlabach / Video: Schlabach recalls 2008 SEC tornado

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

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Case dismissed against former soccer coach accused of sexual assault

Anne Cook

Anne is the Internet Managing Editor for UpNorthLive.

Read?more: Local, Crime, Legal, Todd Johnson, Todd Johnson Charges Dropped, Mason County, Mason County Soccer Coach, Mason County Central, Mason County Soccer Coach Sexual Assault, Sex Crimes Charges Dropped

A Mason County Judge has dropped the case against Todd Johnson, the former Mason County Soccer coach accused of molesting a student. &nbsp/&nbspupnorthlive.com photo

MASON CO. -- The judge has dropped the case against the former Mason County Central soccer coach.

According to the Mason County Prosecutor, the woman who Todd Johnson was accused of sexually assaulting testified that her comment to police was a lie.

The investigation initially indicated the Johnson had a sexual relationship with the girl starting when she was 13 years old. While testifying in court, the girl said she felt pressured into saying that.

The judge dismissed the case based on a lack of indication that he had committed a sexual crime based on the testimony.

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Source: http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=863765

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