The Year in Review ? Favorite gadgets of The Gadgeteer team in 2012

2012 was a busy year for The Gadgeteer. We published a total of 2006 articles of which 411 were reviews. That is a lot of product reviews my friends. The bulk of that work would NOT have been possible without my hardworking gadget crazed team of writers. We all thought it would be interesting to [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/12/31/the-year-in-review-favorite-gadgets-of-the-gadgeteer-team-in-2012/

south dakota state long beach state beasley trailblazers michael beasley jermaine jones hbo luck

Wall St Week Ahead: Cliff may be a fear, but debt ceiling scarier

By Ryan Vlastelica and Edward Krudy and Doris Frankel

Dec 30 (Reuters) - Investors fearing a stock market plunge -if the United States tumbles off the "fiscal cliff" this week -may want to relax.

But they should be scared if a few weeks later, Washington fails to reach a deal to increase the nation's debt ceiling because that raises the threat of a default, another credit downgrade and a panic in the financial markets.

Market strategists say that while falling off the cliff for any lengthy period - which would lead to automatic tax increases and stiff cuts in government spending - would badly hurt both consumer and business confidence, it would take some time for the U.S. economy to slide into recession. In the meantime, there would be plenty of chances for lawmakers to make amends by reversing some of the effects.

That has been reflected in a U.S. stock market that has still not shown signs of melting down. Instead, it has drifted lower and become more volatile.

In some ways, that has let Washington off the hook. In the past, a plunge in stock prices forced the hand of Congress, such as in the middle of the financial crisis in 2008.

"If this thing continues for a bit longer and the result is you get a U.S. debt downgrade ... the risk is not that you lose 2-1/2 percent, the risk is that you lose 10-1/2," said Jonathan Golub, chief U.S. equity strategist at UBS Equity Research, in New York.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the United States will technically reach its debt limit at the end of the year.?

INVESTORS WARY OF JANUARY

The White House has said it will not negotiate the debt ceiling as in 2011, when the fight over what was once a procedural matter preceded the first-ever downgrade of the U.S. credit rating. But it may be forced into such a battle again. A repeat of that war is most worrisome for markets.

Stock markets posted several days of sharp losses in the period surrounding the debt ceiling fight in 2011. Even after a bill to increase the ceiling had passed, stocks plunged in what was seen as a vote of "no confidence" in Washington's ability to function, considering how close lawmakers came to a default.

Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's lowered the U.S. sovereign rating to "AA-plus," citing Washington's legislative problems as one reason for the downgrade from "AAA" status. The benchmark S&P 500 dropped 16 percent in a four-week period ending Aug. 21, 2011.

"I think there will be a tremendous fight between Democrats and Republicans about the debt ceiling," said Jon Najarian, a co-founder of online brokerage TradeMonster.com, in Chicago.

"I think that is the biggest risk to the downside in January for the market and the U.S. economy."

There are some signs in the options market that investors are starting to eye the January period with more wariness. The CBOE Volatility Index, or the VIX, the market's preferred indicator of anxiety, has remained at relatively low levels throughout this process, although on Thursday, it edged above 20 for the first time since July.

More notable is the action in VIX futures markets, which shows a sharper increase in expected volatility in January than in later-dated contracts. January VIX futures are up nearly 23 percent in the last seven trading days, compared with a 13 percent increase in March futures and an 8 percent increase in May futures. That is a sign of increasing near-term worry among market participants.

The CBOE Volatility Index closed on Friday at 22.72, gaining nearly 17 percent to end at its highest level since June as details emerged of a meeting on Friday afternoon of President Barack Obama with Senate and House leaders from both parties where the president offered proposals similar to those already rejected by Republicans. Stocks slid in late trading and equity futures continued that slide after cash markets closed.

"I was stunned Obama didn't have another plan, and that's absolutely why we sold off," said Mike Shea, a managing partner and trader at Direct Access Partners LLC, in New York.

Obama offered hope for a last-minute agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff after a meeting with congressional leaders, although he scolded Congress for leaving the problem unresolved until the 11th hour.

"The hour for immediate action is here," he told reporters at a White House briefing. "I'm modestly optimistic that an agreement can be achieved."

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to convene on Sunday and continue working through the New Year's Day holiday.

Obama has proposed maintaining current tax rates for all but the highest earners.?

Consumers do not appear at all traumatized by the fiscal cliff talks - yet. Helping to bolster consumer confidence has been a steady recovery in the housing market and growth in the labor market, albeit slow.

The latest take on employment will be out on Friday, when the U.S. Labor Department's nonfarm payrolls report is expected to show jobs growth of 145,000 for December, in line with recent growth.

Consumers will see their paychecks affected if lawmakers cannot broker a deal and tax rates rise, but the effect on spending is likely to be gradual.??

PLAYING DEFENSE

Options strategists have noted an increase in positions to guard against weakness in defense stocks such as General Dynamics because those stocks would be affected by spending cuts set for that sector. Notably, though, the PHLX Defense Index is less than 1 percent away from an all-time high reached on Dec. 20.

This underscores the view taken by most investors and strategists: One way or another, Washington will come to an agreement to offset some effects of the cliff. The result will not be entirely satisfying, but it will be enough to satisfy investors.

"Expectations are pretty low at this point, and yet the equity market hasn't reacted," said Carmine Grigoli, chief U.S. investment strategist at Mizuho Securities USA, in New York. "You're not going to see the markets react to anything with more than a 5 (percent) to 7 percent correction."

Save for a brief 3.6 percent drop in equity futures late on the evening of Dec. 20, after House Speaker John Boehner had to cancel a scheduled vote on a tax-increase bill due to lack of Republican support, markets have not shown the same kind of volatility as in 2008 or 2011.

A gradual decline remains possible, Golub said, if business and consumer confidence keep taking a hit on the back of fiscal cliff worries. The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence fell sharply in December, a drop blamed in part on the fiscal issues.

"If Congress came out and said that everything is off the table, yeah, that would be a short-term shock to the market, but that's not likely," said Richard Weiss, a Mountain View, California-based senior money manager at American Century Investments.

"Things will be resolved, just maybe not on a good timetable. All else being equal, we see any further decline as a buying opportunity."?

(Wall St Week Ahead runs every Sunday. Questions or comments on this column can be emailed to: david.gaffen(at)thomsonreuters.com)?

(Reporting by Edward Krudy and Ryan Vlastelica in New York and Doris Frankel in Chicago; Writing by David Gaffen; Editing by Martin Howell, Steve Orlofsky, Jan Paschal and Maureen Bavdek)

? 2011 Reuters

More News from Reuters

Source: http://feeds.vision.org/~r/NewsFromReuters/~3/9d5GXX8RijE/article.aspx

Niels Bohr the Rumble 2012 Columbus Day 2012 carlina white Sam Champion Engaged Infield fly rule Taken 2

Case McCoy: Realistic Expectations for Texas Longhorns QB in 2013

Things can't get much worse for Texas quarterback Case McCoy, on the field or off of it.?

Four weeks after throwing two interceptions against Kansas State in a losing effort in his only start of 2012, the junior signal-caller was sent home one day before the Longhorn's Valero Alamo Bowl matchup with Oregon State in San Antonio, along with linebacker Jordan Hicks for violating team rules according to an ESPN.com report.

Head coach Mack Brown stated the following on Friday (via ESPN.com):

This has been reported: We had a couple young men that broke team rules last night. They have been suspended from the team and they will be sent home. They will not be available for the game and I will not address any more questions in that matter.

That same ESPN.com report stated that KENS-TV in San Antonio quoted local police as saying that a pair of Longhorns players were being investigated for an alleged sexual assault that took place early Friday morning. However, no charges had been filed at the time of the report.

For now, we can only speculate on McCoy's football future. Although McCoy's future in Austin is uncertain for the time being, we'll assume he returns for his senior season with Texas.

In that case, here's what Longhorns fans can expect from the younger McCoy brother in 2013.

Sophomore quarterback David Ash, who played much of this season for the Longhorns and who will play Saturday against Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl, will be back as a junior in 2013, which means that McCoy will likely be relegated to a backup role if he's back with the team.

McCoy is used to that role, but as a senior looking to boost his draft stock it may be tough to swallow.

But like the past two seasons in Austin, injuries and quarterback changes will happen, and when they do McCoy will provide the Longhorns with a serviceable option. I wouldn't bet on him to throw for more than 1,000 yards in 2013 though.

McCoy is an awkward situation heading into his senior season. He doesn't have the credentials that his older brother did coming out of college, and that will surely hurt his chances at making the cut for the NFL.

Will Case McCoy play his senior season at Texas?

Will Case McCoy play his senior season at Texas?

• Yes

• No

Total votes: 28

His lack of solid decision-making under center has held him back with Texas, and will likely turn out to the weakness that keeps him from achieving future success in the sport.

McCoy's four interceptions against Baylor as a sophomore highlighted his occasional poor judgment on the field. And his recent suspension signals that he is not yet ready become the sort of leader a quarterback at Texas must be.

If Case McCoy is back in Austin in 2013 for his senior season, expectations will and should be low.

At this point in time, McCoy looks to be nothing more than a quality backup for a power conference college football team.

?

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.?

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1461677-case-mccoy-realistic-expectations-for-texas-longhorns-qb-in-2013

blackout blackout congress censored jerry yang stop sopa justified

The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) | Coordination - tice

The EQF aims to relate different countries'
national qualifications systems to a common European reference
framework. Individuals and employers will be able to use the EQF to
better understand and compare the qualifications levels of different
countries and different education and training systems. Agreed upon by the European institutions in
2008, the EQF is being put in practice across Europe. It encourages
countries to relate their national qualifications systems to the EQF so
that all new qualifications issued from 2012 carry a reference to an
appropriate EQF level. An EQF national coordination point has been
designated for this purpose in each country.
Shifting focus
The core of the EQF concerns eight reference levels describing what a learner knows, understands and is able to do ? 'learning outcomes'. Levels of national qualifications will be placed at one of the central reference levels, ranging from basic (Level 1) to advanced (Level 8). This will enable a much easier comparison between national qualifications and should also mean that people do not have to repeat their learning if they move to another country. The EQF applies to all types of education, training and qualifications, from school education to academic, professional and vocational. This approach shifts the focus from the traditional system which emphasises 'learning inputs', such as the length of a learning experience, or type of institution. It also encourages lifelong learning by promoting the validation of non-formal and informal learning. This reflects a wider shift within which the EQF is acting as a catalyst for reforms: most Member States are now developing their own National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) based on learning outcomes. Several countries (IE, MT, UK, FR and BE-Flanders) already have one in force.
Easier comparison
At present, an enterprise in France may hesitate to recruit a job applicant from, say, Sweden, because it does not understand the level of the qualifications presented by the Swedish candidate. But once the EQF is fully implemented, a Swedish person's certificates will bear a reference to an EQF reference level. The French authorities will have already decided where their own national certificates in the field concerned lie, so the French enterprise would use the EQF reference to get a better idea of how the Swedish qualification compares to French qualifications. An EQF advisory group brings together representatives from national authorities and other stakeholders to help with the implementation of the framework. Its work is complemented by the EU-wide Learning Outcomes Group which supports debate and peer learning on relevant issues, focusing on the development of national qualifications frameworks and the validation of non-formal and informal learning. The EQF initiative is closely related to the qualifications framework for the European Higher Education Area: the two frameworks are compatible and their implementation is coordinated.
More information EQF internet portal

• Referencing the Lithuanian Qualifications Framework to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning and the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area,

• Portal dedicated to the implementation of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning

Reports on the referencing of national qualifications frameworks to the EQF

• Referencing the Lithuanian Qualifications Framework to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning and the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area,

• Referencing of the Estonian Qualifications and Qualifications Framework to the European Qualifications Framework

• Referencing the Danish Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning to the European Qualifications Framework

• Referencing of the Latvian Education System to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning and the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area

• The referencing document of the Dutch National Qualification Framework to the European Qualification Framework

• Referencing of the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning.

• Referencing of the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area (QF/EHEA)

• Referencing the Qualifications Frameworks of the United Kingdom to the European Qualifications Framework

• R?f?rencement du cadre national de certification fran?ais vers le cadre europ?en de certification pour la formation tout au long de la vie

European Qualifications Framework Series EQF Newsletter

Source: http://blog.univ-provence.fr/blog/coordination-rgionale-paca/qualification/2012/11/29/the-european-qualifications-framework-eqf

adam levine 9/11 Memorial Google Docs 911 masterchef Dictionary.com Chicago teachers strike

Jobless claims drop below 400k

Jobless claims declined by 23,000 to 393,000 from a revised 416,000 jobless claims for the prior week.

By SoldAtTheTop,?Guest blogger / November 29, 2012

This graph shows total continued unemployment claims since 2010. Currently there are more than 2 million people receiving federal extended unemployment benefits.

SoldAtTheTop

Enlarge

Today?s jobless claims report?showed declines for both initial and continued jobless claims as initial claims dropped below the closely watched 400K level.?
Seasonally adjusted ?initial? unemployment claims declined by 23,000 to 393,000 claims from a revised 416,000 claims for the prior week while seasonally adjusted ?continued? claims declined by 70,000 claims to 3.287 million resulting in an ?insured? unemployment rate of 2.6%.?

Skip to next paragraph SoldAtTheTop

Writer, The PaperEconomy Blog

'SoldAtTheTop' is not a pessimist by nature but a true skeptic and realist who prefers solid and sustained evidence of fundamental economic recovery to 'Goldilocks,' 'Green Shoots,' 'Mustard Seeds,' and wholesale speculation.

Recent posts

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of
The Christian Science Monitor
Weekly Digital Edition

Since the middle of 2008 though, two federal government sponsored ?extended? unemployment benefit programs (the ?extended benefits? and ?EUC 2008? from recent legislation) have been picking up claimants that have fallen off of the traditional unemployment benefits rolls.?

Currently there are some 2.15 million people receiving federal ?extended? unemployment benefits.?

Taken together with the latest 2.94 million people that are currently counted as receiving traditional continued unemployment benefits, there are 5.10 million people on state and federal unemployment rolls.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/W1IxT81qRKI/Jobless-claims-drop-below-400k

one republic michael dyer suspended new years ball drop new years rockin eve new york times square jaws first night

NASA seeks concepts for innovative uses of large space telescopes

ScienceDaily (Nov. 28, 2012) ? NASA is exploring options for innovative and imaginative uses of two large space telescopes recently transferred to the agency. In a request for information (RFI) published Monday, NASA seeks information about system concepts and architectures that would take advantage of these assets to address NASA's goals in astrophysics, heliophysics, planetary sciences, and human spaceflight.

"Because there are two telescopes, there is room for projects that span the gamut of the imagination," said Michael Moore, a senior program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "They range from simple balloon flights to complex missions in science using new technologies under development and the capabilities available with the International Space Station and our commercial space flight partners."

The telescopes are equivalent to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in aperture, but designed to have a much wider field of view. They already are being studied for possible use as a wide field infrared survey observatory, which would address the top priority recommendation in the National Research Council's 2010 Astrophysics Decadal Survey. NASA is seeking alternative goals and unique approaches in order to expand the range of concepts for use of this capable hardware.

The RFI invites interested parties to provide an outline of their concept in enough detail for a next-step assessment by NASA as it prepares for future investments in diverse areas of science and technology. Respondents who submit the most interesting concepts will be invited to present their ideas at a workshop in Huntsville, Ala., in early February 2013.

"We will give all ideas equal consideration and choose the most promising for further study," said Marc Allen, acting deputy associate administrator for research in NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "We want to tap into innovative ideas wherever we can find them in order to optimize use of these telescope assets."

For more information about the RFI, NASA goals and objectives, details on the telescopes, and other supporting information, visit: http://science.nasa.gov/salso

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NASA.

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

---

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/space_time/nasa/~3/d_xXm1Xrgac/121128070705.htm

gary johnson gary johnson walking dead where do i vote dixville notch Remember Remember The 5th Of November African painted dogs

Network Analyst/Micro-Computer Technician - HigherEdJobs

Clackamas Community College

Network Analyst/Micro-Computer Technician

Bulletin Number:
161-2012

Full or Part Time:
Full Time

Job Type:
Classified

Union/Non-Union?
Union

Length of Position:
12 Months

Percentage Working:
100%

Grade:
VIT

Salary Details:
$3,456 - $3,765/month

Location:
Oregon City Campus

Posting Detail Information

Special Instructions to Applicants
Please upload materials pertaining to the qualifications in the job description.
Official transcripts and/or certifications to be submitted to Human Resources upon hire.

Position will be posted until filled.

Position Purpose
Provide support for the College's technology needs (networks, servers, computers, printers, imaging, multimedia, audio-visual, video, peripherals, etc). Serve as the primary contact with customers to support internal and external technology users by troubleshooting and resolving network, hardware, and software issues. Act as subject matter expert on specific assigned technologies and provide input/ recommendations for technology and procedural decisions.

Essential Functions

• Respond to Helpdesk calls for assistance, incidents, and problems by phone or as dispatched. Analyze and diagnose in order to train others and/or repair, correct, or resolve technology, equipment, and/or systems issues.
• Research, test, recommend, and implement technology and technology solutions; collaborate with staff, vendors, hardware, and software manufacturers to determine specifications that meet functional needs of customers, staff, integrated dependent systems and interoperability.
• Use Helpdesk-based ticket tracking system to log requests; document completed and pending work orders, incidents, problems, and resolutions. Monitor progress and identify patterns.
• Install upgrades, service packs, patches, and fixes. Replace hardware and modify software configurations in order to maintain and update technology systems.
• Install new and replacement technology systems (computers, printers, imaging, peripherals, networks, audio-visual, multimedia, video, etc).
• Prepare and maintain written and electronic materials (e.g. helpdesk tickets, procedures, manuals, user guides, status reports, instructions, equipment inventory, projects, drawings, whitepapers, memos, etc.) in order to document activities, convey information, and provide an up-to-date guide and audit trail.
• Provide appropriate equipment and materials at job site; Provide appropriate equipment for storage, repair, surplus, or disposal by transporting as needed.
• Train others to share knowledge regarding the operations and maintenance of computer systems; provide instruction on technology and the integration of technology as well as customer support.
• Communicate with team lead or supervisor regarding work assignments, resolved and unresolved incidents and problems, risks that prevent or obstruct adherence to service level agreements or the execution of assignments, violations of college and departmental policy, procedures, guidelines and/or rules.
• Maintain cooperative working relationship with College staff, other organizations, and the public.
• Follow all safety rules and procedures for work areas.

Auxiliary Functions

• May provide assistance to other department personnel as workload and staffing levels dictate.
• Maintain proficiency by attending training and meetings, reading materials, and meeting with others in areas of responsibility.
• Maintain work areas in a clean and orderly manner.

Required Qualifications
MINIMUM/MANDATORY EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties as described. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities would be: Equivalent to a High School diploma supplemented by additional coursework equal to an Associate's degree AND a minimum of 3 years of experience with network and desktop support.

KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge of network and desktop computer operating systems, equipment, terminology, network systems configuration and integration, and installation/ maintenance/ troubleshooting practices and techniques. Knowledge of Active Directory, network security and TCP/IP. Knowledge of helpdesk practices for providing assistance to support and maintain instructional technology, multimedia, audio-visual, video, etc. Knowledge of practices and guidelines pertaining to community colleges, general business operations, processes, and procedures.

SKILL: Skill in the use of personal computers and desktop applications including but not limited to Microsoft Office (Word, Access, PowerPoint, and Excel), virus protection, imaging, remote desktop, etc.

ABILITIES: Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with students, staff, other agencies, and the general public; manage time effectively; read and interpret policies, regulations and laws as they relate to this job; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including the ability to provide customer service and support to individuals and groups with varying degrees of experience. Physical ability to perform the essential job functions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/LICENSES:
Valid Oregon Driver's License
Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) credential and a Certified Network Administrator or Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification must be acquired within 2 years of hire.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Comptia Network , A , Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) credential; Certified Network Administrator or Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification or similar.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, bend, kneel, stoop, communicate, reach, and manipulate objects. The position requires mobility including the ability to move materials weighing up to 5 pounds on a regular basis such as hand tools, computers, monitors, equipment, files, books, office equipment, etc. and may infrequently require moving materials weighing up to 75 pounds. Manual dexterity and coordination are required more than 50% of the work period while operating equipment such as computers and other standard office equipment.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:
Computer, laptop, keyboard, monitors, projectors, mouse, calculators, printers, and other standard office equipment.

Working Conditions
Usual office working conditions. The noise level in the work area is typical of most office environments with telephones, personal interruptions, and background noises. Some exposure to less desirable conditions when installing cabling and troubleshooting problems.

Supervisor Responsibilities
Supervision of others is not a typical function assigned to this position. May provide training and orientation to newly assigned personnel, and may assign work to student workers.

Supervision Received
Works under the general supervision of the Director of Technical Services.

To apply, please visit: https://clackamas.peopleadmin.com/postings/2494

Open Until Filled

jeid-3350c7b6c566415ff563a0a9e4183a9e

Source: http://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=175696334

gladys knight private practice deion sanders creutzfeldt jakob disease the lone ranger yu darvish mad cow

Graphene/nanotube hybrid makes single-surface material for energy storage, electronics

ScienceDaily (Nov. 27, 2012) ? A seamless graphene/nanotube hybrid created at Rice University may be the best electrode interface material possible for many energy storage and electronics applications.

Led by Rice chemist James Tour, researchers have successfully grown forests of carbon nanotubes that rise quickly from sheets of graphene to astounding lengths of up to 120 microns, according to a paper published November 27 by Nature Communications. A house on an average plot with the same aspect ratio would rise into space.

That translates into a massive amount of surface area, the key factor in making things like energy-storing supercapacitors.

The Rice hybrid combines two-dimensional graphene, which is a sheet of carbon one atom thick, and nanotubes into a seamless three-dimensional structure. The bonds between them are covalent, which means adjacent carbon atoms share electrons in a highly stable configuration. The nanotubes aren't merely sitting on the graphene sheet; they become a part of it.

"Many people have tried to attach nanotubes to a metal electrode and it's never gone very well because they get a little electronic barrier right at the interface," Tour said. "By growing graphene on metal (in this case copper) and then growing nanotubes from the graphene, the electrical contact between the nanotubes and the metal electrode is ohmic. That means electrons see no difference, because it's all one seamless material.

"This gives us, effectively, a very high surface area of more than 2,000 square meters per gram of material. It's a huge number," said Tour, Rice's T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry as well as a professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and of computer science and a co-author with former postdoctoral researcher and lead author Yu Zhu, now an assistant professor at the University of Akron.

Tour said proof of the material's hybrid nature lies in the seven-membered rings at the transition from graphene to nanotube, a structure predicted by theory for such a material and now confirmed through electron microscope images with subnanometer resolution.

Carbon has no peer as a conductive material in such a thin and robust form, especially in the form of graphene or certain types of nanotubes. Combining the two appears to offer great potential for electronic components like fast supercapacitors that, because of the massive surface area, may hold a great deal of energy in a tiny package.

Rice chemist Robert Hauge and his team made the first steps toward such a hybrid over the past decade. Hauge, a distinguished faculty fellow in chemistry at Rice and co-author of the new work, discovered a way to make densely packed carpets of nanotubes on a carbon substrate by suspending catalyst-laced flakes in a furnace. When heated, the catalyst built carbon nanotubes like skyscrapers, starting at the substrate and working their way up. In the process, they lifted the aluminum oxide buffer into the air. The whole thing looked like a kite with many strings and was dubbed an odako, like the giant Japanese kites.

In the new work, the team grew a specialized odako that retained the iron catalyst and aluminum oxide buffer but put them on top of a layer of graphene grown separately on a copper substrate. The copper stayed to serve as an excellent current collector for the three-dimensional hybrids that were grown within minutes to controllable lengths of up to 120 microns.

Electron microscope images showed the one-, two- and three-walled nanotubes firmly embedded in the graphene, and electrical testing showed no resistance to the flow of current at the junction.

"The performance we see in this study is as good as the best carbon-based supercapacitors that have ever been made," Tour said. "We're not really a supercapacitor lab, and still we were able to match the performance because of the quality of the electrode. It's really remarkable, and it all harkens back to that unique interface."

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

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

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Yu Zhu, Lei Li, Chenguang Zhang, Gilberto Casillas, Zhengzong Sun, Zheng Yan, Gedeng Ruan, Zhiwei Peng, Abdul-Rahman O. Raji, Carter Kittrell, Robert H. Hauge, James M. Tour. A seamless three-dimensional carbon nanotube graphene hybrid material. Nature Communications, 2012; 3: 1225 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2234

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/electronics/~3/rB6NJZnJIoU/121127111342.htm

davy jones death born this way foundation lytro camera lytro camera andrew brietbart branson mo monkees songs

Come Find About About This Great Affiliate Marketing Advice ...

By GuestBlogger|Internet Marketing Articles

TIP! Most every cellular carrier will let you use your device for a dedicated business number, as well as your personal one. It is important, therefore, that you take the necessary steps to get a number.

There?s a ton of hard work with internet marketing. Remember that you must focus your hard work toward effective ends if you want a successful online business. You don?t want to invest time and money into an unsuccessful endeavor. To be sure of that, practice the tips below to strengthen your Internet promotion.

TIP! A lot of folks might not think your advertisments are truthful. Like Pavlov?s dogs, people have been trained to be suspicious of an advertiser?s honesty.

Offer your customers a way to make charitable donations by buying your products. The fact that you make these donations should be advertised on your site. A small part of your profit will go to the charity and your number of sales will probably increase.

TIP! As one aspect of your strategy for internet marketing, you need to include a refund guarantee. People don?t have a lot of money to spend these days, and trusting things bought online is hard enough as is.

Try giving free incentives to get more business. Rewarding customers is something that doesn?t get addressed enough in most Internet marketing campaigns. Although free gifts are expensive, the potential payoff in terms of customer loyalty can easily justify their cost.

TIP! For effective internet marketing, it is crucial to stay abreast of what your competitors are doing. It does not matter what your niche is, you will have competition at all times.

Real-time leads are necessary if you are looking to increase sales. They provide instant access to potential customers who want to learn more about your products or services. There is no delay in the time they filled out the information to the time you contact them, which results in a greater chance of you converting the lead into a sale.

TIP! A great way to make a sale is to show your customers content that demonstrates your product?s effectiveness, like a video of the product in action. Customers like to feel that they are making an informed decision before purchasing your product.

Having a mailing list for your clients to join is very important. Post notification on your website to collect emails. However, if you want to be slightly more aggressive, request it in order for customers to purchase items off your site. This address can be then used for either sales letters, promotions or seeking feedback on their recent purchasing experience.

TIP! Be sure that you keep very detailed statistics. This should include refunds, sales, traffic, referrals and anything else you can think of.

It might seem useful to have 256 different social media accounts, but if you let them stagnate, they could become liabilities. Inactive profiles that are not updated regularly are useless.

TIP! One online marketing strategy is encouraging your visitors to purchase your product by offering discounted prices. You can easily do this by putting a price which has been discounted alongside the regular price of any particular item.

When you are using signatures, link them to your site or email. Your signature and link should appear in every post you make on any message board. Make sure you link your website to your email. This is a passive way to promote your site all over the Internet, and it might even improve your search engine ranking. Above your link, make sure that there is an interesting line that will make them want to click it.

TIP! Find out common complaints and you might find the perfect niche. Why would you want to do this? This will show you what problems you need to fix.

Make sure that you personally deal with all customer complaints. You may want to get some outside help, but you will do better to handle customer service yourself. If you get an email from an unsatisfied customer, return the email yourself, and offer them a resolution to the problem.

TIP! Make effective use of email in your business. Create interesting newsletters that not only inform your customers, but intrigue them.

Placing ads on different sites is one popular advertising method. Google AdSense and similar companies make this service easily accessible. This allows you to get the most exposure and variety for your advertising dollar.

TIP! One good idea is to think about Internet marketing like a hobby instead of something to replace your job, at least initially. If it turns out that your website becomes popular and has good potential, then you can consider going into it as a full-time job.

Mobile marketing is a new conduit to customers that deserves your consideration. Customers can have the opportunity to subscribe to text alerts for sales or promotions. It?s the newest tool on the scene for affiliate marketing.

TIP! Whenever it applies, feel free to use phrases such as ?limited quantity? or ?special edition? in your online marketing efforts. Exclusivity is very attractive to people in general, and customers may feel the need to buy your product sooner than they would otherwise.

When you are starting out your site and are trying to make the best site you can for marketing your product on the internet, start small. Search engines may jump over a site with too many index pages.

TIP! Try having a page where your customers can find press about you. When doing this, be sure to include material that could be used by online newspapers and magazines.

An effective website is one of the most important parts of a successful Online marketing plan. You can do this by using different color schemes and other design techniques. If your website does not appeal to visitors, they won?t return.

TIP! One great source for site traffic is posting a press release about your product or site. Focus on writing informative, relevant and interesting press releases, then distribute them to trusted outlets.

You should use links inside your page and associate them with keywords. People typically stay on a website for a very short time. If you have relevant posts showcased near what they are looking at, they are more likely to keep clicking within your website. Internal links can not only keep your visitors? attention, but also make it easier for search engines to index your site.

TIP! Great content is essential to a successful Internet marketing strategy. Go over your content often to see if you?re getting any reaction from your customers, whether it?s good or bad.

Do not overlook direct marketing as a streamlined complement to your Website marketing system. You can impart information regarding promotions and services to your customers via phone, email and fax. You can find a lot of helpful information in the yellow pages, or in online directories.

TIP! It is important that your customers feel special. To make them feel valued, personalize all correspondence.

Knowledge of your competitors is one of the keys to successfully marketing your business. If you can understand the options your competitors are offering, you can stay one step ahead of the game. This will allow you to become the one that customers look for, leaving your competition in the dust. To be successful in Website marketing, this is essential.

TIP! If you have free material, consider advertising it on sites or directories that showcase free services and products. Feel free to list your free e-zine in several e-zine oriented directories for maximum exposure.

For business or personal correspondence, always place your own signature at the end of emails. On the internet, your email signature is the equivalent of your business card. By including your signature, you offer everyone you email a link to your business.

TIP! Don?t forget the little details on your web pages. Place your site?s title in the top corner of each page.

You should make sure you know the answer to their inquiries. Visitors visit your site to learn information, and if you cannot give it to them, they will look elsewhere. Answer all questions from customers accurately and in a timely manner.

TIP! A banner including a slogan should be on your site. This can help make your website look official and communicate to the visitor exactly what you are about and what goals you are setting out to achieve.

Allow your customers to pay wholesale prices if they order in bulk. You are still going to make money on your wholesale items, just remember that this is a good way to increase your sales.

In conclusion, the best way to up your profits is to use Website marketing. Having this advice will help you start making your hard work bring in some cash.

Source: http://dynamicmarketingpartners.com/2012/11/come-find-about-about-this-great-affiliate-marketing-advice/

lehigh walking dead season finale matt flynn denver news frozen planet creighton new smyrna beach

Report challenges key Pentagon spending assumption

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As the U.S. military grappled with budget cuts over the past year, one thing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made clear was the Pentagon must avoid reductions in training and maintenance that would lower the force's readiness to fight.

But a report released by a Washington think tank on Tuesday challenged that assumption, concluding that a short-term cut in readiness funding could free up cash to develop weapons and equipment needed to be ready in the future.

Several teams of defense experts brought together by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments to re-envision U.S. defense strategy in a time of tight budgets concluded that a short-term reduction in readiness spending could be done with little risk.

"These teams reasoned that, 'well, we're coming out of a decade of war and frankly our force is very ready," said CSBA fellow Mark Gunzinger, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense and retired Air Force colonel who helped lead the exercise.

Rather than spending to maintain a high state of readiness, the teams reasoned they could reduce readiness spending and invest that money in "modernization programs which will help us be a better prepared force in the future," Gunzinger said.

The finding was one of several made when the CSBA assembled seven teams of defense experts this summer to look at how the Pentagon should address the likelihood of additional budget cuts in the coming years.

The report released on Tuesday is one of a series produced by think tanks following the U.S. elections as Congress returns to Washington looking for ways to avert massive across-the-board spending cuts due to hit defense and other federal programs in early January.

President Barack Obama and Congress agreed last year to cut projected national security spending by $487 billion over the next decade. The Pentagon faces another $500 billion in across-the-board cuts beginning in January unless Congress can agree over the next month on an alternative.

But even if Congress is able to reach a deal to avoid the automatic spending cuts - a process known as sequestration - there is a growing realization in Washington that the Pentagon is likely to face more reductions, possibly as much as the $500 billion envisioned under sequestration.

Panetta has warned that a new round of defense cuts would force the Pentagon to go back to the drawing board and redesign the military strategy adopted earlier this year.

The CSBA exercise asked seven teams of defense experts - including Pentagon civilians, congressional aides and think tank scholars - to do exactly that: to re-envision the strategy approved in January assuming defense spending will be cut by another $519 billion, the amount likely under sequestration.

CSBA scholar Todd Harrison, who also worked on the project, said the most successful team, as recognized by the participants, was the one that looked at what kind of military the United States would need in 20 years and then worked backwards to decide how to achieve that goal.

Harrison said the teams generally agreed with the new U.S. military strategy, which calls for a shift in focus to the Asia-Pacific region. But several thought the Pentagon did not have the right mix of ships, aircraft, weapons and equipment to carry out the strategy, he said.

Many potential U.S. adversaries, like China or Iran, are developing missiles and other weapons aimed at preventing U.S. planes and warships from operating against them at close range. To counter that threat, the United States needs systems that can operate at longer ranges.

To fund development of those systems, some teams called for deep cuts in active duty ground forces, steep reductions in civilian defense personnel and reductions in readiness funding. Most called for reductions in the purchase of F-35 strike fighters, the Pentagon's costliest weapons system.

A majority of the teams emphasized four critical capabilities for the future: special operations forces, cyberspace assets, long-range strike bombers and unmanned aircraft and more submarine and unmanned undersea vehicles.

(Reporting By David Alexander; Editing by Vicki Allen)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/report-challenges-key-pentagon-spending-assumption-015834696.html

steam kristin chenoweth Robert Blake BLK Water ESPYs daniel tosh kate upton

7 Foods You Can Eat To Permanently Reverse Your Diabetes

As you are already aware of now, your diabetes did not occur overnight. It is the years and years of ACCUMULATED lifestyle habits such as eating WAY TOO MUCH processed foods, refined carbohyrates, sugars, not exercising and moving around, stressful environments, poor nutrition and exposed to toxic pollutants.
So...reversing & curing your diabetes isn't an overnight and immediate matter. No magic pill, elixir, potion, charm or spell can do that.

However, the good news is the road to a permanent cure is around us everywhere...it's an activity you HAVE to do several times a day in order to survive!

Yes we're talking about EATING!

FOOD... I tell you... GLORIOUS FOOD WOO HOO!

So today, I'd like to take the time to share with you the 7 foods that will PERMANENTLY reverse your diabetes when you eat them naturally and consistently!

1 - AVOCADO?

Nicknamed alligator pear for its dark green color and leathery texture, the avocado well known as a fat food. Rest assured these are good fats known as monounsaturated fats which are essential to enhance insulin sensitivity.

Avocadoes are also packed with folic acid, Vitamin C, potassium niacin and Vitamin E (essential for reducing the risk of heart disease and nerve damage). It is also high in dietary fiber making it one of the best food choices any diabetic can make!

2 - BROCCOLI

Even without research regarding diabetes, every mom has known for ages that broccoli is just plain good for you, but in case you don't put much stock in what mom used to tell you, science is ready to back her up.

Broccoli has all sorts of wonderful properties that can help you live a longer and healthier life.

It is full of antioxidants, is packed with vitamins and minerals, and is full of fiber; at the same time, it has very few calories.

Research has proven that eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels-found in the vegetable, encourages the production of enzymes which protect blood vessels and cause a reduction in the number of molecules that can damage cells.

3 - WILD SALMON

These cold water fatty fish is not only tasty no matter how you cook them, grilled, poached, smoked and even RAW! (Sashimi!!!), they are an excellent source of protein, high in omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) which are essential for insulin sensitivity.

Omega 3 fats are also anti-inflammatory and makes sure your joints are healthy and well lubricated. Wild salmon are also packed with Vitamin B and D which helps to prevent inflammation, damages to blood vessels and diabetic complications such as cardiovascular disease and stroke.

However, be sure to choose wild salmon over farmed salmon as the latter has only of the beneficial nutrients over wild salmon. Furthermore, farmed salmon have higher omega 6 EFAs which promote inflammation.

4 - ALMOND

Almonds are low on the glycemic index, which means they dont raise your blood sugar levels much. Its also been found that almonds HELP decrease rises in blood sugar after meals.

Almonds are dense with calories, high in monounsaturated fat, protein and fiber, they keep you full, making them ideal for a healthy snack. And despite the high FAT content, snacking on almonds regularly can HELP you lose weight!

One of the most nutritious of all nuts, almonds are a delicious source of protein, fiber, vitamin E, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium and zinc.

5 - ONION

Onions contain vitamin C, biotin and chromium. Chromium is a mineral that helps cells respond to insulin, ultimately assisting with blood glucose control. The active compound that seems to be responsible for lowering glucose works by competing with insulin for breakdown sites in the liver, thereby increasing the life span of insulin.

The onion is the richest dietary source of quercitin, a potent antioxidant (also in shallots, yellow and red onions only but not in white onions), which is specifically linked to inhibiting human stomach cancer.

Similar to what garlic does to vampires; quercitin helps to flush diabetes away. Quercitin in onions also thins the blood, lowers cholesterol, raises good-type HDL cholesterol (preferred dose: half a raw onion a day), wards off blood clots, fight asthma, chronic bronchitis, hay fever, atherosclerosis and infections.

6 - SPINACH

Remember the cartoon Popeye the Sailorman, who gorges a can of spinach to defeat his nemesis Big Bully Brutus to save beloved Olive Oyl.

Diabetics should make it a habit to take a leaf out of Popeye's can-of-whooppass (yup! spinach is literally spelled out here, you just need I to make the effort to eat it) on more spinach as a plethora of nutrients, vitamins and minerals pack a punch so hard it can send Brutus away to Mars!

These leafy greens provide vitamin K, vitamin A, magnesium, folate, manganese, iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B2, potassium, and vitamin B6. Its a very good source of protein, phosphorus, vitamin E, zinc, dietary fiber, and copper.

Plus, its a good source of selenium, niacin, and omega-3 fatty acids. Just every nutrient needed to give Diabetes a Knock Out in the first round!

7 - FREE RANGE EGGS

Eggs are by far the most complete food anyone could eat. If youve been starving for a while, simply eating 2 eggs will provide you the most diverse of nutrients you can get most foods simply cant provide.

Eggs are a great source of protein. Numerous vitamins, including vitamin A, potassium and many B vitamins like folic acid, choline and biotin, are also packed into this oval-shaped staple.

Many of these are specifically needed for the health of the nerves and the brain. Through the years, all fats have become public enemies, often blamed for an increased risk of heart disease. Eggs fell out of favor and people gravitated toward egg whites as a substitute. In truth, the yolk is where many of the vitamins and nutrients are found.

Therefore, opt for free range eggs whereby the hens are not fed with industrial genetically modified feedmeal.

You see...diabetes is essentially a nutritional lifestyle disease and what actually happens in your body is that diabetes will DRAIN out the nutrition, vitamins and minerals through frequent urination to flush out the excess sugar in your bloodstream.

The foods above are also great for overall wellness of your body. These anti-inflammatory , non-acidic foods are nutritionally dense with key vitamins and minerals that also fights off oxidative stress, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, lubricates and improves joint health, sharper mind and memory and finally turbo-charges your metabolism.

?

Source: http://vitamin.ezinemark.com/7-foods-you-can-eat-to-permanently-reverse-your-diabetes-7d3808f4f551.html

miami heat bulls california earthquake california earthquake tyson chandler tyson chandler stephen hill

The Pros And Cons Of Selling Information Products Online ? Product ...

Posted by magicman24 on November 27, 2012

Pros Of Selling Information Products Online

Do It Once Get Paid Forever

Once you have created your information product you can keep getting paid from for many years to come. Once you have the product created, the website set up and the traffic coming in, you can pretty much sit back and let it run on autopilot. As long as you have created a valuable product and have marketed it the right way you can scale it as far as you want it to go.

You Don?t Have To Worry About Inventory

One of the biggest drawbacks to selling physical products is that you have to deal with inventory. You have to store the product and then you have to have someone ship it out for you. With an information product there is no inventory involved. You can sell a million eBooks without the need for a warehouse. That?s because your information is stored in the virtual world. Anytime someone makes a purchase they will be sent to a page where they can instantly download your product. It?s great for both you and the customer.

The Profit Margins Can Be Quite High

Since you have virtually no delivery costs with information products your profit margins can be extremely high. You can basically replicate as much of your product as you want. As long as the market it wants it you can leave it out there. And once you become recognized as an authority in your niche you will gain a competitive advantage and be able to charge even more for your information products.

Its A Great Way To Build Authority & Credibility

If you want to gain a competitive advantage in your niche you need to build authority and credibility. One of the best ways to do that is by creating your own information products. If you look around you will see that some of the most successful internet marketers create their own information products.

Cons Of Selling Information Products

It Can Be Difficult To Find The Right Niche

Without the right niche it can be hard to make any money. And as most people know finding the right niche is often the hardest part to creating your own information products. It can also be very difficult to come up with an effective traffic generation strategy. If you aren?t able to generate traffic it will be very hard to turn your information products into a million dollar business.

It Can Be Hard To Put Together The Product

Creating your own information products is not easy. You have to do research, create the product, set up the website and generate traffic. All of that can be quite a bit for one person. And if you plan on creating video information product the process will be even more difficult as you will have to learn how to use screen capture software to create the actual product. Just something you should consider when considering creating your own information products.

As you can see there are way more pros than cons when it comes to information product creation. Yes you will have to overcome some obstacles, but in the long run it will be well worth it.

Resource Box

As you can imagine, creating your own top selling information product is a lot of work. But what if I told you there was a way for you to get your very own top selling information product created without you having to lift a finger? Would you be interested? At Product Creation Gurus we do it all. We help you come up with a niche, we research that niche, check the competition and then create for you a bigger and better product. We even create affiliate materials for your affiliates to use.

We even work with you until your conversion rate is 1%-3%. Your only job is to drive traffic and collect the money. You won?t find this type of service anywhere else. So if you are ready to start your very own passive income generating internet business visit http://www.ProductCreationGurus.com TODAY!

No related posts.

Source: http://productcreationgurus.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-selling-information-products-online?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-pros-and-cons-of-selling-information-products-online

jonestown john dillinger carlos zambrano clemson pellet gun clay aiken zambrano

Fair Dealing Consensus Emerges Within Canadian Educational ...

Four months after the Supreme Court of Canada issued its landmark series of copyright decisions, a consensus on the scope of fair dealing has begun to emerge within the education community. While Access Copyright has been sending threatening letters to institutions that seek to rely on fair dealing with claims that the decisions are being misinterpreted, roughly similar policies have now been developed by K-12 school boards, community colleges, and universities that plainly reject the views of the copyright collective.

As discussed in my post on the ACCC fair dealing policy, the breadth of fair dealing raises obvious questions about the necessity of an Access Copyright licence. All educational institutions already spend millions on licensed materials. Indeed, the Access Copyright study on K-12 institutions found that 88% of copying was permitted without the need for either an Access Copyright licence or reliance on fair dealing.? Given the scope of fair dealing as articulated by the Supreme Court of Canada, many are concluding that the Access Copyright licence offers little additional value to Canadian educational institutions.

Abuse Allegations: Media and Power

Guest post (courtesy of Twitlonger) from @catherinebuca.?

The news isn't Schofield or Watson or Newsnight or people talking on the internet; the news is why children have had their complaints of abuse ignored, and are still having them ignored. The news is if, how, why and by whom investigations into these alleged crimes have been circumscribed. The news is what kind of power circulates in society in order to protect certain people no matter their crime.

This is nothing but distraction.

I felt like what happened yesterday with Schofield and C4 News was something of a tipping point, or at least it represented a very important moment where the power to question was put in the hands of regular people instead of just the powerful. Well it seems it was a very important moment, but for all the wrong reasons. It's been jumped upon by those it suits, so that they can regain control of the terms of debate, and start putting the media and the internet and the free flow of information on trial, instead of the people who will continue to exert their tight control on that information.

"Silly people, down there flapping around gossiping on the internet; we important people know best, your moral judgements are flawed, stop talking about this, let us handle it in our own way, don't listen to the media...trust the power."

When the news about Savile took off, everyone asked how it could have been allowed to happen. People were angry that a culture of secrecy, hidden power and the ability to abuse that power existed to such an extent that so many voices were quietened, or erased completely. That power wasn't just Savile's. It's quite an abstract concept and therefore very difficult to pin down just what exactly is meant by 'power' in this context. We tend to look to specific people who may have been in direct control of actively suppressing his and other abuses - and those people do no doubt exist - but that power is more pervasive, and exists as less concrete things: it's in the narratives our media tell about what our morals are as a society; it's in the loose and often informal networks of relationships between people who have the power to shape everything from policy to laws, from the type of programmes we watch to the stars we venerate. It's in the relations we have with each other, and the ideas that circulate and are reinforced by the conversations we have, and the ways in which we react publicly and privately to displays of official power. It's something that is so diffuse and intangible that we often jump from one tangible and easily identifiable thing to the next, trying to stick a flag in exactly what the cause of the problem is. Trying to question what myriad aspects come together to create a society that could let something like that happen and go unpunished is, undeniably, incredibly difficult. And understandably so.

And it's exactly for this reason that we need to cast a critical eye on what is happening right now. We look back, with the benefit of outraged and righteous hindsight, at how power - the complex kind - colluded to silence the victims of Savile, and helped create the culture that allowed it, and we ask how, why?; and we're rightly frustrated. But are we really too close to what is happening now that we can't see the same is in danger of happening again? And that we are each of us complicit in it as we let the terms of the debate be controlled by those it suits, and allow the focus be put on the media, on people like Schofield, Tom Watson, the BBC, and seemingly the whole of the internet (the parts not endorsed by 'the establishment'). What Schofield did when he handed the list to Cameron was give a voice to everyone who feels frustrated by the lack of accountability the government and others enjoy. What he did wasn't 'irresponsible' - it was exactly what we want our politicians to face. We want to be able to question them precisely on things, rather than having to put up with the sanctioned questions that get asked by our media outlets (sanctioned not in the sense that the government explicitly tells them what they can ask; but sanctioned in the sense that there is an unwritten code that is woven through public life, a code that is constituted by the various processes of that complex power I talked about earlier). It is precisely this lack of access to any kind of accountability that breeds the rampant discussions that happen online, with their inevitable missteps and false allegations along the way - because when those in power shut down the lines of communication and close ranks, our need to get to the truth doesn't go away, we simply now have lots of tools at our disposal to try to get to it for ourselves. And we will use them, something that is hardly surprising.

As we watch the tone of the news programmes and the things our politicians are talking about shift today and in the coming days, we simply must remember Savile, we must recognise what is happening. The lines of communication are being further shut down. The story is being taken into the controlling hands of the very people we want to be holding accountable. And we are letting it happen, by shifting our focus as well, to discussions of whether Schofield was 'out of order' thrusting the list into Cameron's hands, whether people are right to float names around online, whether we should even be allowed to talk about it at all. Because that is what this current turn in events comes down to; the question of whether we should be allowed to ask what happened, or whether we should sit back and wait for those in power to tell us what is important and what isn't.

And all of that is even before we get to the point of all the abuse victims' voices that are, once again, being silenced and erased, which suits some people, I have no doubt, very, very much.

Source: http://averypublicsociologist.blogspot.com/2012/11/abuse-allegations-media-and-power.html

memphis grizzlies celebrity apprentice grizzlies bronx zoo crash april 30 wwe extreme rules 2012 vontaze burfict