The antipoverty group Oxfam has come up with a scorecard that evaluates the impact that the supply chains of behemoth food companies have on water consumption, labor and wages, greenhouse gas emissions and nutrition.
The goal of the scorecard, called ?Behind the Brands,? is to motivate consumers to pressure companies like Nestl?, Kellogg and Mars to improve their policies on land and water use and the treatment of small farmers, among other things, and to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
?Customer choice helps these companies build brand loyalty and value, which helps them build the bottom line,? said Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America. ?These supply chains are what connects the consumer to the farmer in the field, and there is an increasing interest in that.?
Apparel and mining companies have moved to increase the transparency of their supply chains, improving their practices in the process, Mr. Offenheiser said. But food companies are notably opaque when it comes to disclosing how they obtain the ingredients for the food they sell.
In fact, they sometimes openly fight such disclosure, spending tens of millions of dollars recently, for instance, to avoid disclosing the use of genetically engineered ingredients on food packaging. Some have also resisted identifying the countries where their ingredients originate.
But consumers today have more information about the food they eat than ever, and the impact of that knowledge is increasingly clear. The reaction against organic and natural food brands whose corporate parents fought a California ballot initiative requiring the labeling of genetically modified foods persists, even though it was defeated in November. And a 15-year-old recently waged a successful campaign to get brominated vegetable oil, a controversial food additive, removed from Gatorade.
?I think these companies understand that engaging stakeholders, not just shareholders, is a fact of life going forward,? Mr. Offenheiser said. ?Growing market share and customer loyalty as a result of that engagement has a direct impact on the bottom line.?
He emphasized that Oxfam did not wish to dredge up old scandals ? although the report accompanying the new scorecard mentions several ? but rather to create what he called ?a race to the top.?
Two giant European food companies, Nestl? and Unilever, scored highest on the initial scorecard, followed by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. But no companies received Oxfam?s highest ratings across the board. Nestl?, which has worked to reduce the use of water in its processes, was awarded a 7 out of 10 in the water and transparency categories of the scorecard. Unilever received the same score for its treatment of small farmers.
Conversely, 7 of the 10 companies received the lowest score possible for their use of land. Scores for the treatment of women working in agriculture were generally low as well. Seven of the companies received a grade of ?extremely poor? or ?failing? for the impact of their businesses on climate change.
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New tumblr alert: Before VFX. It's a revealing collection of pictures that show what movies look like before any sort of visual effects are added. Which basically means it makes every movie, even Oscar-worthy movies, look completely ridiculous. The magic of the movies! More »
The Internet didn?t kill TV! According to Mike Proulx, the Internet has become TV?s best friend. Proulx will be the opening keynote speaker at SES New York 2013. The leading event for experienced marketing and advertising professionals will take place March 25-28, 2013, at the New York Marriott Marquis.
Proulx is a Senior Vice President and the Director of Social Media at Hill Holliday, a renowned advertising agency based in Boston, where he leads a team with a focus on cross-channel integration, emerging and social media. He has spent the last 17 years working at various interactive, high-tech, and new media companies on the agency-side, client-side, and as an entrepreneur. He has spoken at dozens of events and has been widely featured in the press including The New York Times, Fast Company, TV Guide, Forbes, BusinessWeek, Mashable, BuzzFeed, and NPR.
Proulx conceived, produced, directed, and co-host the TVnext summit, which took place in early 2011 and 2012. He is the co-author of Social TV, a best-selling book from Wiley publishing that launched in February of 2012. He is also the host of the social TV web series, ?The Pulse on Lost Remote?. He holds a Master?s degree in Computer Information Systems from Bentley University and in 2012 was named the Ad Club?s Media All Star.
His opening keynote is titled, ?Social TV: How Marketers Can Reach and Engage Audiences by Connecting Television to the Web, Social Media, and Mobile.?
Search Engine Watch (SEW) asked Mike Proulx (MP) five questions about his upcoming keynote. Here are his answers:
SEW: How does the convergence of television with the web, social media, and mobile change our behaviors and shake up our long standing beliefs about TV?
MP: There are those who believe that television is a traditional medium with an impending death. The web, social media, and mobile have evolved TV into a multi-screen experience that transcends devices. Not only are we watching more television than ever before, we?re interacting with programming on the ?second screen? in ways that enrich storylines and bring us together to virtually co-view. The modern era of television is a new media that?s more social, more connected, and more portable?and because of this TV is more alive than it?s ever been.
SEW: How has social media created a new and powerful "backchannel" and why does this fuel the renaissance of live broadcasts?
MP: There are a ton of posts happening in social media about any given TV show as it airs. Since Twitter is open and public, it acts as television?s backchannel filled with real-time commentary and conversation ? And it?s not just about TV series but also TV commercials giving producers and marketers instant feedback about their content. Live television events are seeing some of the highest ratings in years and social media brings a level of community and connection to TV watching the likes of which the medium has never before experienced.
SEW: Can you give us some examples of how mobile devices allow us to watch and interact with television whenever and wherever we want?
MP: Tablets, smartphones, and laptops enable television?s portability but it?s apps like HBO Go, ABC Player, Xfinity Remote, and CNN that deliver ?TV? content via those devices. And in the 4G world of mobile, we can watch TV in places once inconceivable. My favorite spot? Laying out on the roof deck on a warm summer night with my iPad in hand streaming HBO?s The Newsroom.
SEW: Why would ?connected TVs? blend web and television content into a unified big screen experience that will bring us back into our living rooms?
MP: Apple TV, Roku, Boxee TV, Google TV, Samsung Smart TVs, etc. stream online video (that was once relegated to our computer screens) onto the ?big screen? of our living rooms. HD YouTube clips suddenly come to life in ways that are far more impactful and dynamic than tiny smartphone screens further blurring the lines of what?s ?TV.? While the notion of TV everywhere lets us watch TV at will regardless of our physical location, the increasingly seamless ability to channel streaming video through the TV set makes the living room that much more compelling.
SEW: With the television landscape changing, why should brands approach the medium once labeled ?traditional? as new media?
MP: TV has become mashed up with the Web, social media, and mobile. Television networks, providers, brands, and agencies must continue to unshackle themselves from dated business and advertising models and rediscover television as a new medium. This means planning television and digital together to tell stories across devices and engage viewers with TV experiences not just TV shows. The speed, scale, and degree of change that has and is happening create enormous opportunity for those brands who have the courage to innovate.
SES New York 2013 offers a variety of conference passes and on-site training. If you register by Thursday, March 7, 2013, you can save up to $600 on Platinum or All Access passes.
For more information, click on Rates and Registration Details. Group discounts for 4 or more pass holders from the same company are also available by contacting [email?protected] and are the best value for the lowest price possible.
I should disclose that SES New York is a client of my agency. But, trust me, TV is not dead yet.
Become an Expert Digital Marketer at SES New York March 25-28, 2013: With dozens of sessions on Search, Social, Local and Mobile, you'll leave SES with everything and everyone you need to know. Hurry, early bird rates expire February 21. Register today!
Manage all contractual representation agreements entered into by The SpaceStation, with specific focus on accountability for the revenue performance of these contractual clients and related service level agreements, to ensure we retain and grow revenue for and from these publishers. Furthermore, develop and extend The SpaceStation?s contractual representation portfolio and footprint
Job Outputs
? Accountable to the revenue targets of all contractual representation agreements ? Assume the managerial relationship and day-to-day engagement with these contractual clients on behalf of The SpaceStation ? Line manager to the dedicated sales resources to be deployed on the portfolio of contractual publishing clients ? Reporting on these contractual publishing clients as per the specific SLA requirements and product set ? Develop strong client relationships related to these contractual publishing clients and grow The SpaceStation?s advertiser base and revenues through related and required sales activities. ? Develop sales strategies and sales plans as required ? Implementation of said strategy ? proactive, innovative, share information, interpret industry needs ? Provide sales propositions that illustrate an understanding of the clients business while addressing the needs of The SpaceStation business ? Promote holistic online communication solutions backed by the appropriate product knowledge ? Active participation in sales presentations to agencies/clients ? Assist with the preparation of sales collateral
Skills and Competencies
? People management skills ? A team player: Proven ability to build productive relationships both internally and externally ? Strong people skills: Ability to share information and interact at a strategic and senior management level ? Sales, negotiation and presentation skills ? Motivated, Passionate and Determined ? Attention to detail, analytical and a thorough understanding of all media planning, buying and strategy ? Knowledge of research tools ? AMPS, ad index, Effective Measure, Google Analytics, etc. ? Solution orientated and Accountable ? Excellent communication skills ? written & verbal ? Proactive, innovative & self-motivated
Qualifications and Experience
? Matric + Marketing/Sales/Communication or related tertiary qualification a prerequisite ? At least 2 years management experience and at least 2 years experience in digital advertising sales (media sales/media planning/media strategy and/or client service will be preferential) ? Negotiation / sales / presentation skills ? Fully computer literate (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, Internet etc.) ? Media courses: SAARF/ AAA/ AMASA will be preferable ? Strong references from previous employers and clients required
Please quote reference number when applying:? JOB REF: ?CTJP 656
ALMATY (Reuters) - World powers are expected to offer Iran limited sanctions relief on Tuesday if it agrees to halt its most sensitive nuclear work, in a new attempt to resolve a dispute that threatens to trigger another war in the Middle East.
In their first meeting in eight months - time that Iran has used to expand atomic activity that the West suspects is aimed at developing a bomb capability - the powers hope Iran will engage in serious talks on finding a diplomatic solution.
The negotiations formally got under way in the Kazakh city of Almaty - which follows three inconclusive meetings last year in Istanbul, Baghdad and Moscow - at around 1:30 p.m (0730 GMT).
But with the Islamic Republic's political elite pre-occupied with worsening internal infighting ahead of a June presidential election, few believe the meeting Tuesday and Wednesday in the Kazakh city of Almaty will yield an immediate breakthrough.
At best, diplomats and analysts say, Iran will take the joint offer from the United States, Russia, France, Germany, Britain and China seriously and agree to hold further talks soon on how to implement practical steps to ease the tension.
The powers would like to see "a recognition by our Iranian colleagues that our offer is a serious one ... but it is not the final act in the play," said one diplomat participating in the talks. "I wouldn't predict a decisive breakthrough."
Iran is showing no sign, however, of backing down over a nuclear program it says is for entirely peaceful energy purposes. The program has drawn tough Western sanctions that have greatly reduced its oil exports, an economic lifeline.
A U.N. nuclear watchdog report last week said Iran was for the first time installing advanced centrifuges that would allow it to significantly speed up its enrichment of uranium, which can have both civilian and military purposes.
HIGH STAKES
Tightening Western sanctions on Iran over the last 14 months are hurting Iran's economy, slashing oil revenue and driving the currency down, which in turn has pushed up inflation.
But they are not close to having the crippling effect envisaged by Washington, analysts say, and - so far at least - have not prompted a change in nuclear course by Tehran.
Western officials say the powers' offer - an updated version of one rejected by Iran in the last meeting in June - would include an easing of sanctions of trade in gold and other precious metals if Tehran closes its underground Fordow enrichment plant.
The stakes are high. Israel, assumed to be the only nuclear-armed power in the Middle East, has hinted strongly at possible military action to prevent its foe from obtaining such arms. Iran has threatened to retaliate hard if attacked.
The fact that the meeting takes place in Kazakhstan - which gave up its nuclear arsenal after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s - has symbolic resonance.
A U.S. official said the Central Asian state could serve as a "good role model" for the benefits of making "certain choices", in clear reference to Iran's atomic ambitions.
Western officials acknowledge an easing of U.S. and European sanctions on trade in gold represents a relatively modest step. But it could be used as part of barter transactions that might allow Iran to circumvent tight financial sanctions.
Iran so far appears to be showing little interest. Its Foreign Ministry spokesman last week dismissed the reported incentive as insufficient and a senior Iranian lawmaker has ruled out closing Fordow, located close to the holy city of Qom.
Iran says it enriches uranium to a fissile concentration of 20 percent to make fuel for a medical research reactor in the capital Tehran. But it also represents most of the work required to reach weapons-grade material of 90 percent.
A U.S. official said the powers hoped that the Almaty meeting would lead to follow-up talks, either at a political or technical level, before Iran's New Year celebrations in March.
(Reporting by Justyna Pawlak, Fredrik Dahl, Yeganeh Torbati, Editing by Jon Boyle)
A federal prosecutor came in for some biting criticism today from two Supreme Court justices for a racially charged remark made during a criminal trial.
The comment by the justices came as the court declined to hear the appeal of a man who was convicted in a Texas federal court of being in on a drug conspiracy.?
The issue for the defendant, Bongani Charles Calhoun, was whether he knew that the people he accompanied on a road trip were about to buy illegal drugs, or whether he was merely along for the ride.
During cross-examination, Calhoun said he distanced himself from the others when one of them arrived at their hotel room with a bag of money.?
The prosecutor, an assistant US attorney in the Western District of Texas, pressed him to explain why he didn't want to be there.? The prosecutor asked, "You've got African-Americans. You've got Hispanics, and you've got a bag full of money. ?Does that tell you -- a light bulb doesn't go off in your head and say, 'This is a drug deal?'"
After he was convicted, Calhoun -- who is African-American -- claimed the prosecutor's racially charged remark violated his constitutional rights by appealing to the jury's prejudice.? The court today declined to take up his appeal, because his lawyers failed to properly pursue the issue in the lower courts.
But Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen Breyer said they couldn't let the case pass without writing to dispel any doubt of whether the Court's denial of the case "should be understood to signal our tolerance of a federal prosecutor's racially charged remark. It should not," they wrote.
"By suggesting that race should play a role in establishing a defendant's criminal intent, the prosecutor here tapped into a deep and sorry vein of racial prejudice that has run through the history of criminal justice in our Nation.
"It is deeply disappointing to see a representative of the United States resort to this base tactic more than a decade into the 21st century," they said.
"We expect the government to seek justice, not to fan the flames of fear and prejudice."
The justices also said it was troubling to see the Justice Department fail to immediately condemn what happened. Instead, they said, during the appeals in the lower courts, the government called the prosecutor's remark "impolitic" and said it did not affect the outcome of the trial "even assuming the question crossed the line."
Only when the case reached the Supreme Court did the Justice Department concede that the remark was "unquestionably improper."
"I hope never to see a case like this again," wrote Justice Sotomayor for herself and Justice Breyer.
NEW YORK (AP) ? Prince is continuing to ramp up his public profile. This week, he'll make an appearance on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."
A rep for the late-night talk show confirmed the pop legend will appear on the show Friday and will perform two songs. It's not clear whether he'll perform new material or some of his classics.
The reclusive star has been back in the spotlight recently. He presented record of the year trophy at the Grammys, released the song "Screwdriver" on his new website and is due to perform several dates in Europe this summer.
___
Online:
Prince: http://www.prince2013.com
"Late Night with Jimmy Fallon": http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/
The United States military base at Pearl Harbor will be made less secure as a result of Washington's failure to avoid across-the-board sequestration budget cuts, Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii warned Saturday.
"The plain fact is that will undermine our capacity for readiness at Pearl Harbor," Abercrombie said, referring to the base that was attacked by Japanese military forces in 1941 that resulted in the deaths of 2,400 Americans. "Now if that doesn't symbolize for the nation that far from overstating it, it is zeroing in on a graphic example of what happens when we fail to meet our responsibilities congressionally, I don't know what does."
Speaking at the annual Winter Meeting of the National Governors Association in Washington, D.C., Abercrombie said that the $487 billion reduction in Pentagon spending will have an impact on 19,000 civilian employees who work with the United States Pacific Command. The budget reduction, he said, would cut four work days from each employee.
For weeks, Democrats and Republicans have issued dire warnings about the potential impact of the sequester--a budget measure that will slash $1.2 trillion from federal spending over 10 years that begins March 1. President Barack Obama last week declared that it would reduce the effectiveness of first responders and health care providers across the country. Abercrombie argued that Obama was understating what could happen if Congress fails to find an alternative to the sequester next week.
"The question about whether this is being overstated is rhetorically, I think, a disservice to what the realities are in terms of everyday lives," Abercrombie said.
Zendesk gets hacked, Chrome gets an update, and iOS developers get more tools for Google Maps integration.
We've Been Hacked Zendesk, a company that provides software for outsourcing customer service functions, announced today that it had been hacked. Three companies that use Zendesk's services?Wired reports that they are Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr?have had the email addresses and subject lines of messages sent to their customer support services exposed. While this isn't the most sensitive information, all three companies have reached out to users who may have been affected, urging them to review any correspondence sent to customer support. Zendesk has stated that they have since identified and patched the vulnerability. [Zendesk]
Bringing Voice Recognition to the Web Google released the latest Chrome Stable build today, which includes will allow developers to include speech recognition in their web apps. Today's release also disables silent extension installs for Windows Chrome users, ensuring that users authorize every extension that's installed. [Google Chrome Blog]
Google Maps SDK for iOS 1.1 Gains Support for Ground Overlays, Keys Now Open to All Developers The Google Maps Source Development Kit for iOS was updated today, adding more controls for gestures and overlays that developers can use. Hopefully, this means we'll see more Google Maps integration in iOS 6 apps. [The Next Web]
Photo by photastic (Shutterstock), a2bb5s (Shutterstock), and Feng Yu (Shutterstock).
Ford Motor Co. is investing $200 million and hiring 450 workers at an auto plant in Cleveland.
Staff Dayton Business Journal
Ford Motor Co. is investing $200 million and hiring 450 workers at an auto plant in Cleveland.
The automaker will boost production of its 2.0-liter EcoBlast engine at its Cleveland Engine Plant.
Production of the engine for North America is currently based in Valencia, Spain. The investment in Cleveland will shift North American production to Ohio, while the Valencia Engine Plant will remain the production location of the engine of Europe-built vehicles.
Valencia will continue to produce and ship parts for these engines to North America.
?Cleveland Engine Plant was the first to produce EcoBoost engines and will continue to be a cornerstone of Ford?s strategy to deliver affordable fuel economy for millions,? said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas.
Related: Click for slideshow of best-selling new car makes in Dayton.
The investment in Ohio is the latest for global carmakers. Honda Motor Co. has made several key investments including $100 million into its engine plant in Anna and hiring 100 new workers there. The Anna plant ranks as the largest manufacturing facility in the Dayton region with about 2,400 workers.
General Motors also has invested in operations in Northeast Ohio, where it builds the Chevrolet Cruze, and Chrysler has invested in its Toledo-area operations.
CAIRO (Reuters) - Syrian opposition leaders will meet in Istanbul on March 2 to choose a prime minister to head a provisional government that would operate in rebel-controlled areas of Syria, coalition officials said on Friday.
The move was aimed at halting a slide into chaos in regions captured by insurgent brigades and estimated to comprise over half of the country, although exiled coalition leaders exert little control or influence over rebels in Syria.
The date was set after a compromise was struck within the Syrian National Coalition between a bloc that includes the powerful Muslim Brotherhood and others who favor speedy formation of a government, the sources told Reuters at the end of a two-day meeting of the coalition in Cairo.
"A compromise was reached. The coalition agreed to meet again in Istanbul exclusively to choose a prime minister," a coalition source, who did not want to be named, said.
The source said the premier would then name a government, but it was not clear if it could operate immediately from rebel zones given that President Bashar al-Assad's forces still wield formidable air, artillery and missile power all over Syria.
Veteran opposition campaigner Walid al-Bunni, one of the 12-member collective leadership of the coalition, said the prime minister would lead a government of technocrats able to deal with pressing problems on the ground.
"There has to be an executive authority capable of caring for millions of Syrians in the liberated territories who need water, electricity, security and protection. Hospitals also have been destroyed by the regime and humanitarian aid needs to be managed," Bunni said.
Coalition leaders renewed their efforts to form the provisional government a day after insisting that any peace talks must result in the removal of Assad, whose family has ruled Syria with an iron fist for 42 years.
Almost two years after an anti-Assad uprising erupted, the absence of a political leadership from land under rebel control has been a glaring weakness of opposition leaders, who have no authority over Islamist brigades making advances on the ground.
"You have a situation developing where chaos reigns in liberated areas while, relatively, there is still fuel, electricity and basic services in the Assad-held regions," a diplomat in contact with the opposition said.
"If the situation persists like this popular support for the opposition will dwindle and they could lose the war."
On the second day of meetings of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, members heard reports from a committee formed to help decide whether a provisional government can be viable while civil war still rages and whether it would attract enough international financial and diplomatic support.
Opposition sources estimate several billion dollars is needed every month for a government to function in rebel-held areas, mostly countryside and desert estimated to comprise more than half of the major Arab state's landmass.
The coalition's current financial backing falls way short of that, the sources said. However, they said, Qatar, a major Gulf Arab supporter of the revolt, this week pledged $100 million for humanitarian aid to be administered by the Assistance Coordination Unit, a non-partisan wing of the coalition.
The opposition's failure to provide services in rebel-controlled areas and increasing reports of rebel indiscipline and looting have cut into public support for their cause.
AIR STRIKES
Opposition brigades have wrested large swathes of Syria from Assad's military but these areas remain vulnerable to artillery, air strikes and, increasingly, missiles.
But a coalition member said: "Even if a government is not viable right now we should name a prime minister and let him start forming it to send a message to the people on the inside who are demanding one."
Opposition by the Muslim Brotherhood helped scuttle an attempt backed by coalition secretary general Mustafa al-Sabbagh, a businessman with good links to the Gulf, to name former Syrian premier Riad Hijab as prime minister at a meeting in Istanbul last month, the sources said.
Hijab, the highest-ranking defector from Assad since the beginning of the revolt, lacks good ties with the Brotherhood. But several liberals in the coalition also oppose him because was a long serving, ruling Baath Party operative.
"Hijab has said the right things and is an administrator. He is qualified but his history in the regime plays against him," a coalition member said.
Another name that circulated in the meeting on Friday is Asaad Mustafa, a former agricultural minister during the 30-year rule of Assad's late father.
Mustafa, who lives in exile in Kuwait, is seen as more acceptable to the Brotherhood than Hijab, and to other coalition members uneasy about Hijab's long association with the regime, the sources said.
The meeting of the Western, Arab and Turkish-backed coalition began on Thursday, ahead of a planned visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem to Moscow, one of Assad's last foreign allies.
One diplomat said that the coalition spent a long time debating a peace proposal that appeared to "be going nowhere" and it was time it got to the nitty gritty of governance, such as how to administer the newly pledged aid from Qatar and building an alternative administration.
Coalition president Moaz Alkhatib came under strong criticism from Islamist and liberal members alike for proposing talks with Assad's government without setting what they described as clear goals.
The coalition adopted a political document that demands Assad's removal and trial for the bloodshed, members said.
A coalition statement said any political solution must be based on "the removal of Bashar al-Assad and the heads of the military and security apparatus responsible for the decisions that led the country to this stage".
The statement said any future initiatives must emanate from the 12-member collective leadership of the coalition.
(Reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Stephen Powell)
This listing for for five (5) antique skeleton keys perfect for your DIY jewelry projects, steampunk or gothic home decor, wedding decor, altered art, or whatever you can imagine!
This particular batch of rusty vintage metal keys came to me very rusty -- these old skeleton keys have been cleaned with a mild, all-natural rust remover. They still have bits of rust, for that lovely aged patina that old metal gets, but removing the rust allows the natural details to peek through.
I'm not sure of the exact age of these vintage metal keys or the exact metal content -- if it helps, these keys are magnetic. I believe them to be cast iron, but I'm no expert so I could be wrong!
Some keys have words etched into the top of the skeleton key or bent tabs at the part that enters the locket.
The antique skeleton keys measure between 1.5 inches (40 mm) - 3.5 inches (85 mm).
You will get five (5) randomly selected keys. You will NOT receive a matching set of 5 skeleton keys, but I may be able to find you a close-to-matching set if you convo me before your purchase.
Different quantities are available: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KeyLimeSupplies?section_id=11453047
Enter the main storefront: http://keylimesupplies.etsy.com
Combined shipping is available on all items.
(If you prefer very rusty keys -- I will be listing those uncleaned, as-found keys soon -- convo me if you don't see them available).
A demonstrator stands on a pavement near paintings by other demonstrators, as she listens to a speaker during a protest near India's parliament in New Delhi on February 21, 2013.
?New Delhi - Police say investigators are searching villages in western India for suspects in the rape and killing of three young sisters.
The killing of the girls aged 7, 9 and 11 last week has horrified Indians still angry over the gang rape and killing of a student on a moving bus in New Delhi in December. The youngest girl had earlier been erroneously identified by Indian news reports as a 5-year-old.
The girls' bodies were found six days ago in a village well in Bhandara district in Maharashtra after they had gone missing from school.
The victims' mother said police did not take the case seriously and did nothing for several days until villagers held protests.
Police officer Abhinav Deshmukh said Friday that 30 investigators are now working on the case. - Sapa-AP
Nokia has recently made available a free app filled with how-to?s, tips and tutorials.
Enjoy!
Free to?Download ( Windows Phone 8 )
App Info: Hit the ground running with My Nokia, the app designed to help you get the most out of your new Nokia Lumia.?Filled with useful tips and tutorials, and bringing you the?latest news on great apps and fantastic accessories for your phone, My Nokia is where it all begins.
???
?
Written by: Hyde13 on February 21, 2013.Tags: My Nokia, Nokia, Windwos PhoneApps
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Top Smartphone OEMs 3 Month Avg. Ending Dec. 2012 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Sep. 2012 Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Age 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens
?
Share (%) of Mobile Subscribers
Sep-12
Dec-12
Point Change
Total Mobile Subscribers
100.0%
100.0%
N/A
Apple
34.3%
36.3%
2.0
Samsung
18.7%
21.0%
2.3
HTC
12.0%
10.2%
-1.8
Motorola
9.8%
9.1%
-0.7
LG
6.6%
7.1%
0.5
?
Top Smartphone Platforms 3 Month Avg. Ending Dec. 2012 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Sep. 2012 Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens
?
Share (%) of Smartphone Subscribers
Sep-12
Dec-12
Point Change
Total Smartphone Subscribers
100.0%
100.0%
N/A
Google
52.5%
53.4%
0.9
Apple
34.3%
36.3%
2.0
Blackberry
8.4%
6.4%
-2.0
Microsoft
3.6%
2.9%
-0.7
Symbian
0.6%
0.6%
0.0
?
iPhone 5 has arrived... and in 1. FaceTime: Live video 3. Multitasking: Run more then 4. Retina Display: With 3.5 inch
iOS 6 App Development
1. Multitasking allow Apps to perform 2. iAD integration with iPhone App will earn more 3. Developers preview of GameKit API to work r
iPhone Books Publishing
eBooks publishing on iPhone 1. Unlimited Pages 2. Easy to navigate and read 3. Easy to download 4. Page fli 5. Search through book
Apple iPhone has 1. Entertainment Application 2. Travel Applications 3. Eductaion Applications 4. Medical Applications 5. Sports Applicatons
Developing a successful 1. Industry best resources. 2. Multiple communication channels 3. Flexible working models to work with. 4. Pay for only working hours. 5. 100% confidentiality
The American goldfinch is one of the 3,144 species counted in this year's Great Backyard Bird Count, which went global for the first time.
By John Roach, Contributing Writer, NBC News
Birdwatchers counted more than 25.5 million birds during the largest worldwide bird count ever conducted, according to preliminary results streaming in from the four-day event held earlier this month.
The global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) builds on the success of the program run for 15 years in the U.S. and Canada. More than 120,000 checklists have been reported, accounting for 3,144 species. That?s a third of the world?s birds, and results will flow in until March 1.
Jennifer Taggart
The Northern Cardinal is one of the five most reported species in the Great Backyard Bird Count.
"It was huge," Geoff LeBaron, an ornithologist with the National Audubon Society, told NBC News. The conservation group helps coordinate the bird count with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada.
"In one year, you really can?t say too much aside from the fantastic statistics about the involvement and the number of birds and the checklists and all that, which is just phenomenal," he added. In years to come, though, the data should help scientists learn about the health of bird populations.
Among the highlights from this year?s count was the sighting of the colorful crested Northern Lapwing in several sites along the eastern seaboard. The bird is native to Europe and was likely blown across the Atlantic Ocean in the same weather patterns that generated superstorm Sandy.
"It wasn?t necessarily Sandy that caused lapwings to get here, but more the weather patterns that made Sandy move where it did because it made that weird left hook and suddenly it landed right on New Jersey/New York," LeBaron said.
Birders in Vancouver, Canada, are aflutter over the sighting of a single Red-flanked Bluetail, a little thrush native to Asia. Its Canadian appearance has attracted bird watchers from all over North America hoping to catch a glimpse of the rarity with striking blue tail, according to Audubon.
Most importantly, said LeBaron, the new global nature of the GBCC is proving a great tool to get people outside enjoying nature and collecting data that will eventually help scientists learn more about birds.
"It can give them that spark that may lead to a lifetime of watching birds and getting involved in conservation," he said.
John Roach is a contributing writer for NBC News. To learn more about him, check out his website.?
What happens to the economy here over the next year will be a case study for policymakers in Washington, who are paralyzed by similar questions of taxation and growth. The early indications, in California, point toward an outcome you might not expect.
'; html+= 'Email/Username: '; html+= ''; html+= ' '; html+= ' '; html+= 'Password: '; html+= ''; html+= ' '; html+= ' '; html+= ''; html+= ' '; html+= ' '; html+= 'Lost password or username?'; html+= ' '; html+= ' '; html+= 'Join dealnews!'; html+= ' '; html+= ' '; html+= 'Login with Facebook'; html+= ''; loginForm.panel.setBody(html); loginForm.panel.render(div); Event.addListener(Selector.query(".close", "login-form", true), "click", loginForm.panel.hide, loginForm.panel, true); /** * Add the key listener for handling ESC */ loginForm.kl = new YAHOO.util.KeyListener( document, { keys:27 }, { fn: loginForm.hide, scope: loginForm, correctScope:true }, "keyup" // keyup for Safari ); loginForm.addListeners(); }, fbLogin: function(e) { if(e){ YAHOO.util.Event.preventDefault(e); } if(!loginForm.isInit){ loginForm.init(); } loginForm.hide(); loginForm.fbWindow = window.open( loginForm.prefURL + 'facebook_login.html', "fbWindow", "width=700,height=600,scrollbars=yes" ); }, addListeners: function() { var n = 0; var x = 0; links = Selector.query(".login"); for(n in links){ is_new = true; listeners = Event.getListeners(links[n]); for(x in listeners) { if(listeners[x].fn == loginForm.show){ is_new = false; } } if(is_new){ Event.addListener(links[n], "click", loginForm.show); } } links = Selector.query(".fb-login"); for(n in links){ is_new = true; listeners = Event.getListeners(links[n]); for(x in listeners) { if(listeners[x].fn == loginForm.fbLogin){ is_new = false; } } if(is_new){ Event.addListener(links[n], "click", loginForm.fbLogin); } } } }; // call it on load to get any login links in the page already rendered loginForm.addListeners(); // call it when the dom is ready to get any loaded after the script was included Event.onDOMReady(loginForm.addListeners);
$50 after?rebate +?free?shipping
Shop Now!With activation of a new 2-year contract, T-Mobile offers the LG Google Nexus 4 4G Android Smartphone for T-Mobile (pictured) for $99.99. This $50 mail-in rebate cuts it to $49.99. With free shipping, that's $35 under last week's mention and the lowest total price we could find by $135. Sales tax is added where applicable. The phone features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 4.7" 1280x768 Gorilla Glass 2 display, 8-megapixel camera with LED flash, 1080p HD video, GPS, 802.11n wireless with mobile hotspot (requires additional service), Bluetooth 3.0, 16GB internal memory, 2GB RAM, Google Android 4.2 OS (Jelly Bean), and more. Deal ends February 20 at 3 am ET.'); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(''); document.write(''); } document.write(''); document.write(''); }
Last week we mentioned the latest Archos rumors. For those who missed that post, the rumors detailed three upcoming smartphones. Assuming these rumors prove to be accurate ? it looks like Archos is once again looking to release a few smartphones. We remain skeptical mainly because this is not the first time we are hearing talk of an Archos smartphone. That part of the rumor aside ? images of these smartphones weren?t posted last week and they have not been posted since.
Keep that last part in mind, images of the Archos smartphones have not leaked ? despite what some sites are reporting. What is even funnier is that we are now seeing comments on these posts calling Archos crazy for working on devices that so closely resemble the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III. Well, the key here ? those are Galaxy devices. These images have come by way of the Russian language Hi-Tech@mail.ru site and to the best of our ability to translate Russian ? appear to have been added for demonstration purpose, not to say that Archos was preparing to copy the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III.
Basically, we are offering this post as a simple reminder that not everything you see can be taken at face value. Just for comparison sake, you can see an image of the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III below. Otherwise, aside from these images, what has been leaked about the Archos smartphones includes some basic specs and some rough price points. But again, no images just yet.
To sum up the rumored details that have leaked so far, we are hearing reports of three Archos smartphones; the 52 Titanium, 48 Platinum and 35 Carbon. The rumors are pointing towards the 52 Titanium as having a 5.2-inch 800 x 480 display and dual-core 1.2GHz processor, the 48 Platinum as having a 4.8-inch 1280 x 800 display and quad-core 1.7GHz processor and the 35 Carbon with a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 display and a single-core processor.
Baylor University and Tufts University to examine effect of innovative Boy Scout programPublic release date: 19-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Terry Goodrich terry_goodrich@baylor.edu 254-710-3321 Baylor University
A study to examine whether and how Boy Scout programs affect the character, health and academic achievement of youths as well as their contribution to community and democracy will be launched in September by Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion and Tufts University's Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development.
The three-year study, armed with major funding from the John Templeton Foundation and headed by Tufts, will evaluate an innovative Boy Scouts of America program that incorporates full-time executives to assist Scout troops by training the leaders, recruiting and retaining youths, and fund raising. Typically, local troops are staffed by volunteers.
Researchers will be Byron Johnson, Ph.D., director of the ISR and also of Baylor's Program on Prosocial Behavior, and Richard Lerner, Ph.D., Bergstrom Chair in Applied Developmental Science and director of the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts.
The study will be done in four waves in a geographic area in Philadelphia, Penn., that is served by the Cradle of Liberty Council Boy Scouts of America.
"It was necessary to select a jurisdiction that would generate a large and diverse number of study participants from rural as well as urban communities," said Thomas Harrington, the CEO of the Cradle of Liberty Council.
Noted Johnson: "The program could become a model for recruitment and retention of diverse youth especially boys from inner cities in Boy Scouts, especially if the study shows that involvement in the Scouts enhances the youths' character."
The study will compare all boys ages 7, 8, 9 and 10 from three groups in the selected geographic area:
36 randomly selected Cub Scout packs with full-time executives
36 randomly selected Cub Scout packs without full-time executives
Comparable samples of boys who are not in Cub Scouts
All youths surveyed (approximately 3, 880) will be from the same schools or religious organizations and will be matched on demographic characteristics other than age that are related to the likelihood of being in Cub Scouts, Johnson said.
The youths will be re-tested in May 2014, September 2014 and May 2015, and any new youth entering the sample packs will be tested as well, he said.
Said Lerner: "Large longitudinal surveys of this kind are increasingly rare within the social and behavioral sciences."
In addition to directing ISR and leads Baylor's Program on Prosocial Behavior, Johnson is Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor. He was the principal investigator in a nationwide scientific survey of the impact of Eagle Scouts on society. In that study, released in spring of 2012 and funded by a two-year research grant from the John Templeton Foundation, Baylor researchers partnered with the Gallup Organization to survey 2,512 adult males.
Findings demonstrated that Eagle Scouts went on to contribute significantly, from holding leadership positions in their workplaces and neighborhoods to voting, volunteering, protecting the environment and preparing for emergencies.
Johnson also completed a series of studies for the Department of Justice on religion's role in prosocial youth behavior. He is recognized as a leading authority on the scientific study of religion, the efficacy of faith-based organizations, domestic violence and criminal justice. His research also has been used in consultation with the Department of Defense, Department of Labor and the National Institutes of Health.
Co-researcher Lerner has more than 500 scholarly publications, including 70 authored or edited books, among them The Good Teen. In that book, he supports a new conception of adolescence based on strengths rather than weaknesses, presenting five personality characteristics competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring that lead to long-term contributions to society.
He and colleagues at Tufts have published more 100 studies on the impact of the 4-H program on youths. He was the founding editor of the Journal of Research on Adolescence and of Applied Developmental Science and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Psychological Association, and the Association for Psychological Science.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Baylor University and Tufts University to examine effect of innovative Boy Scout programPublic release date: 19-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Terry Goodrich terry_goodrich@baylor.edu 254-710-3321 Baylor University
A study to examine whether and how Boy Scout programs affect the character, health and academic achievement of youths as well as their contribution to community and democracy will be launched in September by Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion and Tufts University's Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development.
The three-year study, armed with major funding from the John Templeton Foundation and headed by Tufts, will evaluate an innovative Boy Scouts of America program that incorporates full-time executives to assist Scout troops by training the leaders, recruiting and retaining youths, and fund raising. Typically, local troops are staffed by volunteers.
Researchers will be Byron Johnson, Ph.D., director of the ISR and also of Baylor's Program on Prosocial Behavior, and Richard Lerner, Ph.D., Bergstrom Chair in Applied Developmental Science and director of the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts.
The study will be done in four waves in a geographic area in Philadelphia, Penn., that is served by the Cradle of Liberty Council Boy Scouts of America.
"It was necessary to select a jurisdiction that would generate a large and diverse number of study participants from rural as well as urban communities," said Thomas Harrington, the CEO of the Cradle of Liberty Council.
Noted Johnson: "The program could become a model for recruitment and retention of diverse youth especially boys from inner cities in Boy Scouts, especially if the study shows that involvement in the Scouts enhances the youths' character."
The study will compare all boys ages 7, 8, 9 and 10 from three groups in the selected geographic area:
36 randomly selected Cub Scout packs with full-time executives
36 randomly selected Cub Scout packs without full-time executives
Comparable samples of boys who are not in Cub Scouts
All youths surveyed (approximately 3, 880) will be from the same schools or religious organizations and will be matched on demographic characteristics other than age that are related to the likelihood of being in Cub Scouts, Johnson said.
The youths will be re-tested in May 2014, September 2014 and May 2015, and any new youth entering the sample packs will be tested as well, he said.
Said Lerner: "Large longitudinal surveys of this kind are increasingly rare within the social and behavioral sciences."
In addition to directing ISR and leads Baylor's Program on Prosocial Behavior, Johnson is Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor. He was the principal investigator in a nationwide scientific survey of the impact of Eagle Scouts on society. In that study, released in spring of 2012 and funded by a two-year research grant from the John Templeton Foundation, Baylor researchers partnered with the Gallup Organization to survey 2,512 adult males.
Findings demonstrated that Eagle Scouts went on to contribute significantly, from holding leadership positions in their workplaces and neighborhoods to voting, volunteering, protecting the environment and preparing for emergencies.
Johnson also completed a series of studies for the Department of Justice on religion's role in prosocial youth behavior. He is recognized as a leading authority on the scientific study of religion, the efficacy of faith-based organizations, domestic violence and criminal justice. His research also has been used in consultation with the Department of Defense, Department of Labor and the National Institutes of Health.
Co-researcher Lerner has more than 500 scholarly publications, including 70 authored or edited books, among them The Good Teen. In that book, he supports a new conception of adolescence based on strengths rather than weaknesses, presenting five personality characteristics competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring that lead to long-term contributions to society.
He and colleagues at Tufts have published more 100 studies on the impact of the 4-H program on youths. He was the founding editor of the Journal of Research on Adolescence and of Applied Developmental Science and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Psychological Association, and the Association for Psychological Science.
###
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
The Internet didn?t kill TV! According to Mike Proulx, the Internet has become TV?s best friend. Proulx will be the opening keynote speaker at SES New York 2013. The leading event for experienced marketing and advertising professionals will take place March 25-28, 2013, at the New York Marriott Marquis.
Zendesk gets hacked, Chrome gets an update, and iOS developers get more tools for Google Maps integration. 
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Public release date: 19-Feb-2013
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