Golf-American Dufner may take out European Tour membership

By Tony Jimenez

ABU DHABI | Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:19pm IST

ABU DHABI Jan 16 (Reuters) - Jason Dufner is considering widening his horizons by competing more in Europe and could decide to become a member of the tour in future, the United States Ryder Cup player said on Wednesday.

Dufner is 11th in the world rankings after winning twice on the U.S. PGA Tour last season and making his debut appearance in the Ryder Cup.

He was also runner-up to compatriot Bo Van Pelt at the European Tour's Perth International event in Australia in October and is looking forward to competing in this week's Abu Dhabi Championship and the Qatar Masters tournament that follows.

"I've had the opportunity the last couple of years with my play in the U.S. to... come over and play these events," he told reporters on Wednesday. "I think it's a good thing to compete around the world and see where you stack up.

"We are pretty spoiled in the U.S. We just kind of play in one area and people are pretty focused on the PGA Tour but there are a lot of other tours and a lot of other great events around the world.

"I've discussed taking up membership of the European Tour, I thought about possibly doing it this year," said Dufner.

"With the four majors and the World Golf Championships counting as events and throw in three or four more that would also count, it may be a possibility in the future."

Dufner, 35, said it could only improve his game to mix up his playing schedule.

"I think it makes you a little bit of a better player to come over here and experience golf in different places against different golfers," he added.

"It's up to the individual and I can see both sides of the argument. Guys in the U.S. get comfortable and they want to stay close to their families and obviously travelling over here can be difficult for some."

Dufner is normally calm and reserved on the course but he provided the occasional excitable fist-pump at the Ryder Cup where he was one of his team's standout performers, winning three points out of a possible four.

"Usually when I'm out playing there are maybe 25 or 30 people watching me," he said. "At the Ryder Cup the holes are just packed with people - the atmosphere is unbelievable and I'd never experienced anything like that.

"It takes over and the moment kind of gets inside your body I guess. A couple of fist-pumps here and there were probably much needed." (Editing by Alison Wildey)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/INgolf/~3/Hz3A4d-pGRU/golf-european-dufner-idINL4N0AL7P020130116

Romnesia eminem eminem yankees Tagg Romney Bosses Day Cabin Fever 2

Military suicides on the rise

A scary trend for our troops in Afghanistan, as more troops committed suicide than were killed in combat.

Not only that, but more troops killed themselves last year than the Pentagon had expected.

In 2012, there were 349 suicides among active-duty troops, 325 is what the pentagon had projected.

?

Here?s how the suicides breakdown by branch:

The Army had the majority of suicides with 182.

The Navy had 60.

The Air Force had 59.

The Marine Corps had? 48.

?

The Department of Defense told NewsChannel 3 it is quote: ?deeply concerned about suicide in the military ? which is one of the most urgent problems it?s facing.

By next year, it hopes to have results from the largest mental health risk study every conducted in the military.

It?s hoping to use that data to shed light on the issue ?and come up with intervention plans.

If you or a loved one are in need, the Military Crisis number is 1-800-273-8255.

You can also chat confidentially online at veteranscrisisline.net.

Source: http://wtkr.com/2013/01/14/military-suicides-on-the-rise/

Restaurants Open on Christmas Day jessica simpson santa tracker happy holidays Stores Open On Christmas Day Santa Claus Feliz Navidad

UK Government Rejects Lawmakers' Calls to Halt Arctic Oil Drilling

LONDON - The U.K. government has rejected lawmakers' calls for a halt to Arctic oil and gas drilling, despite renewed safety concerns following the recent grounding of Royal Dutch Shell PLC's Kulluk rig off Alaska, saying that securing global energy supplies was paramount.

The U.K. government's comments, published Tuesday, come as Shell Monday said it had safely towed the Kulluk rig to safe harbor on Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska. The rig ran aground in stormy weather Dec. 31 while under tow, further highlighting fears about the environmental risks of oil extraction in the Arctic.

The government said that while it recognized the risks of drilling for hydrocarbons in the sensitive Arctic region, high environmental and drilling standards, efforts to enhance oil spill prevention and response mechanisms would be more effective than a ban.

"We believe these measures--combined with effective and ambitious global action to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions--are more likely to be effective in protecting the Arctic environment than pressing for a complete moratorium on all drilling in the Arctic region," the government said.

The government was responding to a report from the U.K. parliament's Environmental Audit Committee in September last year, which recommended an immediate moratorium on Arctic drilling until safety is improved.

The lawmakers want to see a pan-Arctic oil spill response plan, research showing that response techniques will work in extreme conditions and the introduction of stricter financial liability rules for oil and gas companies operating in the area.

However, the U.K. government said the International Energy Agency's recent global oil demand and supply forecasts implied a need to source substantial new production capacity between now and 2035. New oil supplies are vital for the U.K., which is becoming increasingly dependent on oil imports as its domestic hydrocarbon production declines.

"It is against this background that we need to ensure we have continued access to a well supplied and competitive world oil market, whilst reducing our exposure to volatile oil and gas prices," the government said.

The U.K. has no power over the Arctic, but it does have observer status on the Arctic Council, a grouping of eight Arctic states that discusses Arctic issues.

Joan Walley, the chair of the Environmental Audit Committee said the grounding of the Kulluk rig raised serious questions about the safety of Shell's operations in the Arctic and the committee would be calling them back to parliament to give further evidence.

Copyright (c) 2012 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.

Related Companies

Source: http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/123441/UK_Government_Rejects_Lawmakers_Calls_to_Halt_Arctic_Oil_Drilling?rss=true

target target walmart best buy sears abercrombie abercrombie

French to double troops in Mali

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) ? A spokesperson for the French military operation in Mali confirmed that France is going to double the number of troops deployed in coming days. There are currently 800 soldiers, including elite special forces, stationed in Mali, waiting for the start of a land offensive to take back northern Mali from the al-Qaida-linked extremists occupying it.

The spokesperson, who could not be named in keeping with French military protocol, said the number of troops will double to around 1,500. Every few hours, enormous transport planes are landing at Bamako's airport, loaded with supplies and more soldiers. Overnight, a regiment of 150 French soldiers drove overland from neighboring Ivory Coast, bringing in a convoy of 40 armored vehicles, including the ERC-90, a tank-like car, mounted with a 90 mm cannon.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/french-double-troops-mali-150649236.html

helicon zac efron and taylor swift real housewives of orange county bloom energy franklin graham jambalaya taylor swift and zac efron

Kids row: Norwegian envoy hopes India concerned about children

Kolkata: In the wake of a bitter legal battle over the custody of two siblings - brought home from Norway after a legal and diplomatic fight last year, the Norwegian envoy Sunday hoped the Indian authorities were compassionate towards the welfare of the children.

"The matter being sub-judice, I cannot comment, but hope the Indian authorities are as compassionate towards the welfare of the children as we are," Norwegian Ambassador to India Eivind S Homme said here.

Homme, on his first visit to the city, also inaugurated a week-long art exhibition on "Hunger" by renowned Indian sculptor and printmaker Somnath Hore. A series of films from across the world on the theme will also be screened.

The Calcutta High Court Jan 10 had granted the custody of two siblings to their mother till the final disposal of the case.

The decision came two days after Abhigyan and Aishwarya were handed over to their mother Sagarika Bhattacharya following a directive from the Burdwan District Child Welfare Committee.

The toddlers were taken under emergency foster care in May 2011 by the Norwegian child welfare agency, on grounds of alleged negligence by their parents - then residing in the Scandinavian nation.

The issue led to a furore in India, and sensing the public mood, the Indian government activated the diplomatic channels.

After the Indian government's intervention, a Norway court ordered that the children be placed in the custody of their uncle following which they were brought to their home in West Bengal's Burdwan district in April last year.

Sagarika, who now has an estranged relationship with her husband Anurup, then moved the CWC which November last year gave custody of the children to their mother.

The child panel, responding to the petition, said the interests of the children would be well preserved with their mother, who had also undergone medical tests in Mumbai to prove that she was mentally sound.

IANS

Source: http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/kids-row-norwegian-envoy-hopes-india-concerned-about-children_822746.html

Snoop Lion London 2012 Table Tennis badminton Dominique Dawes Gabby Olympic Gymnast Robyn Lawley Gore Vidal

The Chemistry Of A Solar Airplane - Chemical & Engineering News ...

Watch the Solar Impulse plane in action and learn more about the innovative materials that make it possible.

Credit: Bayer MaterialScience/Solvay/Solar Impulse/C&EN

Sitting in a vast hangar in Payerne, Switzerland, nestled between the Alps and Lake Neuch?tel, is Solar Impulse HB-SIA, its four motors powered only by lithium-ion-polymer batteries charged by solar cells. The airplane?s 63-meter wingspan rivals that of a Boeing 747. But unlike a 747, the upper surfaces of its wings are coated entirely in solar cells. Built with lightweight materials and an innovative design, it weighs about the same as a family car.

Solar Impulse?s Swiss founders and pilots are Bertrand Piccard, 54, a psychiatrist and explorer, and Andr? Borschberg, 60, a former fighter pilot, engineer, and founder of semiconductor technology start-ups. They came up with the notion to build a solar-powered plane in 2003 and since then have convinced corporate sponsors and partners to provide the project with $130 million, including materials and manpower.

In the process of developing and testing the plane, they have inspired many, including the research teams of their chemical company partners, Solvay and Bayer Material?Science, to think more creatively. Bayer and Solvay have reaped a significant public relations benefit from involvement with the project. But more important, company executives say, is the chance to apply what they have learned in other areas, including projects with car companies.

[+]Enlarge

?

HIGHER PLANE

Solar Impulse has successfully completed flights across Europe and from Switzerland to Morocco.

Credit: Jean Revillard/Solar Impulse

Solar Impulse isn?t an aircraft that you will be able to fly on anytime soon. ?It?s not designed to carry people or even freight but as a message that sustainable energy is a viable option for mankind,? Borschberg says.

Flying at an average speed of 44 mph, it has already completed a series of flights across Europe, including one from Payerne to Morocco, and has even flown overnight.

In May the Solar Impulse team plans to freight the one-seat plane to the West Coast of the U.S. and fly it, in three or four legs, to the East Coast. The team also is building Solar Impulse HB-SIB, a stronger version of the plane, in which ?everything is upgraded? so that in 2015 it will be capable of flying around the world, Borschberg tells C&EN.

It was a motivational lecture by Piccard that in 2003 led Solvay to join the project as its founding partner. ?This type of project is unique in the history of Solvay. It?s a project with an idea to make a better world,? says Claude Michel, who heads up Solvay?s Solar Impulse team of about 10 staffers. ?We recognized the value Piccard has in innovation, his pioneering spirit and respect for people and the planet, and we found we had the same set of values.?

Solvay?s contribution to the construction of the plane includes 11 materials used in 25 different applications and more than 6,000 parts. Among its activities, the firm has provided lightweight plastics to replace metals, techniques for improving lithium ion-polymer batteries, and a broad body of materials research and know-how.

Solvay?s Halar brand fluorine copolymer, for example, is being used to encapsulate the plane?s thin photo?voltaic cells. Halar is resistant to ultraviolet radiation, is waterproof, and forms a lightweight film less than 20 ?m thick. Before the Solar Impulse project, Solvay used Halar only for coating materials such as metals, but the firm is now looking at using it across a range of applications, Michel says.

Solvay will have invested $16 million in the project, including a cash contribution and the value of its time and parts, by the time Solar Impulse HB-SIB makes its global flight in 2015. ?It?s a good investment,? Michel says without hesitation.

The benefits to Solvay, he explains, have been multiple: Participation has driven the development of specialty plastics and chemicals across the company, enhanced the image of the firm as a solutions provider, and proven to be a powerful tool to motivate staff. R&D staffers typically don?t see a real-world outcome from their labors. With Solar Impulse, though, they quickly appreciate their role in preparing Solvay materials for the plane, Michel says.

Solar Impulse has had other influences on Solvay?s scientists, not least that they have adapted to the project?s tough time and performance requirements.

[+]Enlarge

?

SHAPING UP

Staffers test a new casing for the cockpit.

Credit: St?phane Gros/Solar Impulse

Meanwhile, working on Solar Impulse has led researchers at Bayer to be more creative in their approach to projects, says Martin Kreuter, a senior marketing manager in the firm?s materials science division.

?The removal of the expectation for commercial success has allowed people to work differently and to get into an open innovation mind-set,? Kreuter says. ?Working with Piccard and his team is inspirational.? About 30 staffers from a range of Bayer departments have contributed to the Solar Impulse project.

Bayer joined Solar Impulse as a financial sponsor and materials partner in 2010. The German company?s contributions include polyurethane foam for the wingtips, motor casings, and cockpit; polycarbonate film for the cockpit window; and adhesive and coating materials used in the cabin and wings.

Bayer has used carbon nanotubes in combination with epoxy to make the spars?the backbones of the wings?and other structural components lighter and stronger.

For the project, Bayer has drawn on its experience in the automotive sector, where weight and performance are also key parameters, explains Kreuter, whose role at the firm involves partnering with car companies. And the materials and techniques Bayer has developed for Solar Impulse, such as lightweight and rigid insulating foam, could be used in cars.

?There are many things that we are developing with Solar Impulse that you might see in an electric vehicle 20 years from now,? says Kreuter, whose office in Leverkusen, Germany, has one wall covered in pictures of futuristic-looking cars. ?Everything we are doing with Solar Impulse has high relevance to our most important sectors including automotive, electronics, and construction.?

In addition to helping reduce the weight of the solar plane, Solvay and Bayer are providing materials that can buffer the extreme temperatures of flight, which without safeguards could range from ?40 to 30 ?C .

To insulate the cockpit and other temperature-sensitive components of the plane, the chemical companies have codeveloped a strong and lightweight insulating foam based on Bayer?s Baytherm Microcell polyurethane and Solvay?s 365mfc fluorinated blowing agent. Owing to pores that are smaller than those in standard foam, the new product provides rigidity and structural strength but remains lightweight. The foam is designed to ensure that the temperature does not drop below 15 ?C for the batteries and below freezing in the cockpit, Michel says.

Still, the conditions pilots experience in the Solar Impulse are extreme enough that they have had to resort to meditation and even self-hypnosis during flights. ?It?s a case of knowing ourselves,? Borschberg says.

To try to make the pilots more comfortable, Solvay has provided a nylon 6,6 fiber for their undergarments. The material incorporates a special filler that helps keep the pilots cool in the heat and warm when it gets cold. The nylon recycles infrared heat back to the surface of the skin when it is cold but also prevents sweating during periods of intense heat. ?We have had to be very clever, open, and curious,? Michel says.

[+]Enlarge

?

PARTNERS

Piccard (left) congratulates Borschberg after a successful test flight.

Credit: Laurent Kaeser/Solar Impulse

The Solar Impulse team of about 80 staffers, excluding headcount from partners and sponsors, has engineering expertise from backgrounds as diverse as Formula 1 racing cars and aeronautics, but it had little experience building airplanes. ?So we were extremely open and entrepreneurial and flexible in our thinking,? Borschberg says. This also meant that the staffers developed an approach that was unrestrained by protocol. Solar Impulse?s designers and engineers cross-fertilized their ideas with those of materials scientists and chemists from Solvay and Bayer, he adds.

Borschberg has been ?extremely impressed? by the way researchers from Solvay and Bayer have engaged in the project, the way they have made resources available, and their culture of supporting the project?s goals. ?The motivation of our partners and the public has helped us keep our energy levels high,? he says.

The project has hit pockets of turbulence, however. In the summer of 2012 development of Solar Impulse HB-SIB was set back when the main spar of the wing failed a load test. ?We had pushed a little bit too hard to reduce weight. We were just on the other side of the limit,? Borschberg says. The Solar Impulse team has since modified the design, but the glitch set back the attempt to circumnavigate the world by more than a year.

Although someone with Piccard?s background in psychiatry and exploring may be an unusual partner for a chemical company, it is not the first time that the Piccard family and Solvay have worked together.

In 1911 Solvay founded the Conseil de Physique Solvay, a regular gathering of Europe?s finest scientific minds to develop solutions to the scientific problems of the day. A regular attendee was Auguste Piccard, Bertrand?s grandfather, a professor of physics at the Free University of Brussels and a balloonist who became the first man to view the curvature of Earth. Other participants included Marie Curie and Albert Einstein.

The goal of the Conseil de Physique was to advance the scientific thinking of the day. And the Solar Impulse project has already influenced Solvay and Bayer to think differently. Piccard and Borschberg hope to have shared their message about the possibilities for innovation and renewable energy with an even wider audience by the time they circumnavigate the world in 2015.

Source: http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i2/Chemistry-Solar-Airplane.html

glock earthquake abc news msnbc meteor shower 121212 Concert Columbine shooting

How to Attract More Clients For Your Web Design Service - Mediaups

More than ever, technology today enables freelance web designers the ability to highlight their work to attract new clients. However, what most of them fail to do is to incorporate effective marketing strategies with their existing business models to increase their profitability. Usually, some web designers stop marketing their services after they have created an online portfolio. What most of these designers don?t know is, there are clients actively looking for their services but can?t find them. Below are some tips to address this issue.

Online Marketing Matters

Although most web designers find their clients offline, the internet remains the fastest way to communicate and find new clients. With millions of searches being made daily for web design services, one can?t go wrong in marketing his services online. This is very relevant for those who wants to fully expand his web design business. These potential clients are mainly small businesses who outsource their web marketing and design needs.

Local Market, Your Invaluable Resource

Although online marketing has gone big in the past few years, some local markets were behind. This means, there are potential small businesses out there who lack online presence. This market segment is an invaluable resource for a web designer trying to source new clients. With this said, communication with these small business owners is highly profitable. Education is the key in convincing small business owners to market their products and services online. Effectively pointing out the importance of online marketing and its principles can greatly increase the probability to sign up these offline business to acquire web design contracts.

Think Big, but Don?t bite More Than You can Chew

It?s always good for any web developer to think outside of the box for his or her clients. The only thing to consider about doing so, is the creative control a client has set. A developer must never fail to ensure quality and customer satisfaction before anything else. Remember word of mouth is the most powerful advertisement, and leveraging positive testimonials and referral from them is very profitable in any sense.

Source: http://www.mediaups.com/how-to-attract-more-clients-for-your-web-design-service/

Lupe Ontiveros London 2012 China muhammad ali Opening ceremony London 2012 Google Fiber Olympics Schedule 2012 Olympic Medal Count 2012

photojojo: Just as the clock on London?s Big Ben rang in the...

Just as the clock on London?s Big Ben rang in the New Year, thousands of fireworks lit up the city?s skyline. Lucky for him,?Dan Kitwood?s capture of the moment landed him in TIME Magazine?s Year in Photographs 2012. Check out the rest below!?

TIME Magazine?s Year in Photographs 2012

via the Click

Source: http://sharefolder.tumblr.com/post/40428085121

daylight saving time 2012 grapes of wrath silent house nfl mock draft project m rubio colts

How former Jayhawks fared in Jan. 12 NBA games

Cole Aldrich, Houston Rockets (L, 107-100 vs. PHI)

Did not play (coach?s decision)

Darrell Arthur, Memphis Grizzlies (L, 104-83 vs. DAL)

11 points (5-13 FG, 0-1 3P, 1-4 FT), 9 rebounds in 28 minutes

Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat (W, 128-99 vs. SAC)

34 points (12-16 FG, 10-13 3P*), 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers in 30 minutes

*career high in points; tied franchise record for threes in a game

Kirk?Hinrich, Chicago Bulls (L, 97-81 vs. PHX)

1 point (0-3 FG, 1-2 FT), 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers in 23 minutes

Marcus Morris, Houston Rockets (L, 107-100 vs. PHI)

4 points (2-6 FG, 0-2 3P, 0-2 FT), 2 rebounds in 21 minutes

Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns (W, 97-81 vs. CHI)

7 points (3-5 FG, 1-1 3P), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks in 19 minutes

Thomas Robinson, Sacramento Kings (L, 128-99 vs. MIA)

10 points (4-8 FG, 2-2 FT), 10 rebounds, 2 assists in 24 minutes

Josh Selby, Memphis Grizzlies (L, 104-83 vs. DAL)

10 points (3-6 FG, 4-7 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 0 turnovers in 16 minutes

Source: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2013/jan/13/how-former-jayhawks-fared-nba-games-jan-12/

the raven zerg rush david wilson playstation all stars battle royale kim zolciak kim zolciak travis pastrana

The Android Mini PC RK3066 is the MK802's younger, smarter, cheaper brother, we go hands on

When the MK802 Android mini PC landed in our laps, it caused more than a ripple of interest. Since then, a swathe of "pendroids" have found their way to market, and the initial waves have died down. While we were at CES, however, we bumped into the man behind the MK802, and he happened to have a new, updated iteration of the Android mini PC. Best of all, he was kind enough to give us one to spend some time with. The specifications speak for themselves, and this time around we're looking at a dual-core 1.6GHz Cortex A9, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of built-in flash (and a microSD slot), WiFi in b/g/n flavors, DLNA support and Bluetooth, all running on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. There's also a micro-USB, full-size USB, female HDMI port and 3.5mm audio out.

For anyone who has used one of these types of devices, the two standout features mentioned above should be the audio jack, and the addition of Bluetooth. Why? Because this expands the potential functionality of the device manyfold. Beforehand, the lack of Bluetooth made adding peripherals -- such as a mouse of keyboard -- either difficult, or impractical. However, with Bluetooth, setting up this device to be somewhat useful just got a lot easier. Likewise, with the dedicated audio out, now you can work with sound when the display you are connecting it to (a monitor for example) doesn't have speakers. Read on after the break to hear more of our impressions.

Gallery: Android Mini PC RK3066 hands-on

Continue reading The Android Mini PC RK3066 is the MK802's younger, smarter, cheaper brother, we go hands on

Filed under: Desktops, Peripherals

Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/Gp1wRFxEyZM/

donald payne elizabeth berkley lenny dykstra jenelle evans jenelle evans mlb 12 the show sabu

Feared Somali pirate retiring from pirate business

Masked pirate Mohamed Abdi Hassan, who is calling it quits (Farah Abdi Warsameh/AP)

The pirating business apparently isn?t what it used to be. In fact, one dread Somali pirate has decided to put an end to his kidnappings and ransacking.

At a press conference?possibly the first to be held by a retiring pirate?Mohamed Abdi Hassan, known as "Afweyne" or "big mouth," told reporters on Wednesday that after eight successful years in the business, he?s through.

"After being in piracy for eight years, I have decided to renounce and quit, and from today on I will not be involved in this gang activity," Hassan said, speaking in Adado, a central Somalia town known as a pirate haven.

The king-pin pirate was described by the United Nations as "one of the most notorious and influential leaders." The New York Times described his arrival on the scene as bringing a ?new sophistication? to the business, noting, ?Afweyne raised venture capital for his pirate operations as if he were launching a Wall Street I.P.O.?

And business was good: Hassan?s men were reportedly involved in seizing a Ukrainian transport ship in 2009 carrying 33 men and Soviet-era tanks, which was finally released after 134 days and a ransom payment of $3 million. The pirate was also reportedly involved in the capture of a 2008 Saudi-owned Sirius Star supertanker, also released after a ransom of several million dollars was paid.

But hauls like that are rare now. Last year marked the lowest incidence of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia in recent times: The seas are now patrolled by navies, and ships traveling on the Indian Ocean now use armed guards.

So, Hassan is getting out. And he?s trying to persuade other pirates to join him. ?I have also been encouraging many of my colleagues to renounce piracy, too," he said at the press conference, "and they have done it.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/feared-somali-pirate-retiring-pirate-business-181529222.html

Sarah Savage Jaimie Alexander tom brady john lennon Army Navy Game leann rimes pearl harbor

Tumblr Tops Facebook in Usage Survey of Teens

With over 1 billion MAUs, you may think that Facebook would be the most popular social site among those aged 13-25. But you would be wrong, at least according to a new survey.

Y Combinator partner and Posterous co-founder Garry Tan, with the help of Survata, looked at the social networking habits of teenagers and young adults. What he found was that Facebook is not the most popular of the bunch.

That honor belongs to Tumblr. The survey broke respondents up into two groups ? those aged 13 to 18 and those aged 19-25. Both groups reported higher use on Tumblr than on Facebook. Combined, 54% of the 1,038 respondents said they used Facebook regularly. The survey defined regularly as ?several hours a week or more.? But edging Facebook out by a small margin was Tumblr, which registered 59% use with those aged 13 to 25.

Twitter came in third of the social networks studied, with 20% use across the entire sample. Instagram logged 16% use and newcomer Snapchat saw 9%.

They also found something interesting ? the younger the respondent, the more social network-happy they were in general

?Survata cofounder Aaron Wenger noted: ?Usage levels were higher among 13-18yr olds than 19-25yr olds for every social network. The biggest differences were for Snapchat (13% for 13-18yr olds vs 4% for 19-25yr olds) and Instagram (21% vs 11%).??

Still, Facebook is still incredibly popular among this age group, but it?s interesting to see that the younger crowd is not completely loyal to big blue.

[Garry Tan via Business Insider]

Source: http://www.webpronews.com/tumblr-tops-facebook-in-usage-survey-of-teens-2013-01

joe kennedy iii joseph kennedy iii ghost hunters lightsquared david lee honduras prison fire do not call list

Two Star Clusters Shine in Night Sky This Week

With the moon reaching new phase today (Jan. 11), leaving the sky extremely dark, this upcoming week will be an ideal time to get out your binoculars and explore the profusion of star clusters now evident in our evening sky.

Such clusters represent aggregations of young, recently born stars.? They are in our galaxy's local spiral arm, into whose interior we are looking at this time of year. These stars condensed out of the interstellar gas in this part of the Milky Way.

Two of the very best are high in our evening sky and toward the south at around 9 p.m. local time now.? You can easily locate them by using the famous three-star belt of Orion, the Mighty Hunter. Extending an imaginary line from the belt, upward and to the right will take you to the clusters of the Hyades and Pleiades of the constellation Taurus, the Bull.?

And as a bonus this winter, shining right in between these two star clusters is brilliant Jupiter, shining like a steady, silvery beacon high in the south. You can't miss it. [Night Sky?Stargazing Guide:?January 2013?(Sky Maps)]

Interestingly, Australian aborigines believed that the three belt stars of Orion were three young men dancing to the music played by nearby maidens (the Pleiades). And indeed, the most beautiful and famous star cluster in the night sky is the Pleiades.?

Why Seven Sisters?

The traditional Greek legend for the Seven Sisters, as this cluster has long been known, is that they are the daughters of Atlas and Pleione. Their father, Atlas, rebelled against Zeus, the king of the gods, who retaliated by sentencing him to forever holding up the heavens on his shoulders. This so grieved the sisters that Zeus placed them in the heavens so that they could be close to their father.

To the average eye, this group looks at first like a shimmering little cloud of light. But further examination, aided by good eyesight, will reveal a tight knot of tiny stars.Interestingly, widely separated and totally different cultures have always described the Pleiades as the "Seven Sisters," "Seven Maidens," or "Seven Little Girls." Yet only six stars are readily visible to most. Some with more acute vision can count many more.?

One person, who has claimed to have seen as many as 19 Pleiades with his unaided eyes while observing under pristinely dark skies from rural Arizona, is Allen Seltzer, who three decades ago served as education director at New York's Hayden Planetarium. Seltzer is blessed with unusually keen vision, which he once demonstrated to me by reading a page from The New York Times from across a nearly 20-foot room.

But why this cluster has been cited by more than one early culture as having seven members remains a mystery.?

About 250 stars have been identified as members of this cluster. Gaze at them through binoculars: The brightest stars glitter like an array of icy blue diamonds on black velvet. Or as Alfred, Lord Tennyson ?wrote, they "Glitter like a swarm of fireflies tangled in a silver braid."

Several stars in the cluster seem to be enveloped in clouds of dust, perhaps left over from the stuff of which they were formed. About 410 light-years away and some 20 light-years across, the group may be no older than 20 million years.

V-shape face

The Pleiades cluster is in the Bull's shoulder. The Bull's face is plainly marked by the fine V-shape cluster of the Hyades.

Notice the bright orange star at the end of the lower arm of the V, which represents the Bull's fiery eye. That's Aldebaran, "the follower;" it rises soon after the Pleiades and pursues them across the sky.?

Aldebaran ranks as the 13th brightest star in the sky, but this winter, compared to nearby Jupiter, it shines only 1/27 as bright; maybe think of Jupiter as a general and Aldebaran as his lieutenant.

The Hyades are among the nearest of the star clusters, which explains why so many of the separate stars can be readily seen. At a distance of 130 light-years, the Hyades members travel through space like a flock of geese, their paths ultimately converging toward a point between the stars Betelgeuse in Orion and Procyon in Canis Minor, while receding from us at the rate of 100,000 miles per hour (160,000 kilometers per hour).?

Aldebaran, on the other hand, is just an innocent bystander that does not belong at all to the Hyades and is moving toward the south almost at right angles to the cluster's motion and twice as fast. At 65 light-years away, Aldebaran is half the distance of the Hyades. Taurus's V-shape head is, therefore, going to pieces. For 25,000 years or more it will pass for a V, but after 50,000 years it will be quite out of shape.?

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for The?New York Times and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, New York.?Astronomer Geoff Gaherty of?Starry Night Education?contributed to this report.

Copyright 2013 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/two-star-clusters-shine-night-sky-week-225605584.html

K Michelle roger clemens multiple sclerosis falling skies rodney king Webb Simpson Fathers Day Quotes

Insight: Foreign fighters seek Islamic state in post-Assad Syria

ALEPPO, Syria (Reuters) - Huddled around a fire in a bombed-out building in Aleppo, foreign jihadists say they are fighting for a radical Islamic state in Syria - whether local rebels trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad like it or not.

Among their fellow revolutionaries and civilians, these foreigners draw both respect for their iron discipline and fear that if Assad falls, they may turn on former allies to complete the struggle for an Islamic caliphate.

One Turkish fighter in the devastated Aleppo district of Karm al-Jabal expressed an unbending determination to achieve a state under Sharia Islamic law that worries many Syrians, the West and even regional backers of the anti-Assad rebellion.

"Syria...will be an Islamic and Sharia state and we will not accept anything else. Democracy and secularism are completely rejected," said the fighter, who called himself Khattab.

Sporting a shaggy beard and with an AK-47 slung over his shoulder, he warned anyone who might stand in the way. "We will fight them, even if they are among the revolutionaries or anyone else," said Khattab, who left his job as a driver to fight for two years in Afghanistan before moving to Syria six months ago.

A member of the Jundollah rebel unit, Khattab has little knowledge of Arabic - he spoke in the rubble-strewn building through a Syrian translator - and refused to be filmed or photographed for fear of being identified back in Turkey.

The government of Turkey is itself Islamist but strongly opposes the radical ideology of Khattab and the militants who are rising among the rebel groups fighting Assad in a conflict that has claimed at least 60,000 lives.

The United States designated al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, al-Nusra Front, as a terrorist organization in December after it claimed responsibility for bombings in Damascus and Aleppo.

However, many rebels and Aleppo residents say fear of the jihadists is overblown. The West is exploiting it to justify not sending desperately-needed arms to the rebels, they say, prolonging Assad's hold on power.

In Aleppo, Syria's biggest city, the radicals' influence is obvious. Many rebels drive through the shattered streets in cars emblazoned with black Islamist flags carrying religious slogans.

Accounts differ on how much radical groups coordinate with units of the mainstream rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA). Many rebels praise the skills of the jihadists - often honed in Afghanistan or Iraq - saying they are among the bravest fighters although they tend to be reclusive.

Some, however, are new recruits in the holy war in a country they call Al-Sham, recalling a greater Syria established after the Muslim conquest over 1,300 years ago.

One such is Abu al-Harith, a stocky, fair, 27-year-old from Azerbaijan who spoke at a rebel base in Karm al-Jabal, a district so damaged it seems to have suffered an earthquake.

"This is my first time to embark on a Jihad because ... there was no one worse than Bashar. Even Stalin was merciful compared with him," said the young man, who wore a ski mask and had a black badge bearing an Islamic religious slogan sewn onto his green fatigues.

FIGHTING THE FSA

Nevertheless, there is concern about the post-Assad vision of these foreign radicals - whose numbers are difficult to assess - and whose rejection of a future democratic state may sit uneasily with many Syrians fighting authoritarian rule.

Some jihadists distrust the Free Syrian Army, an army in name only composed of mostly local Sunni Muslim fighters and army defectors. Likewise they see little difference between the West and regional Islamic countries which back the FSA.

"All this talk about freedom, democracy and the secular state and a state of open freedoms like America and the European system - Islamists do not care about this talk at all," said 25-year-old Abu Muawiyah, a skinny fighter who said he was from the Aleppo countryside and translated for the foreigners.

"There are some fighting factions like the Free Syrian Army, who have links to other countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and these countries have links with the controlling pole, which is the United States," he said. "America is against anything Islamic. That is obvious to everyone."

Not all foreign fighters have a radical vision, and they are welcomed heartily by Syrian fighters. Abu Ahmed al-Libi, who fought to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, said he came to Syria with a band of 15 Libyans eight months ago.

A large man who had an easy camaraderie with Syrian fighters in his unit, he shook hands with a female reporter - a rarity among even mainstream Islamist groups in Syria. Libi said he had trained 40 Syrians in Libya before bringing them over, and estimated the number of Libyan fighters in Syria at about 200.

DIFFERENT IDEOLOGY, SAME GOALS

While Washington has recognized the rebels' National Coalition as the sole representative of Syria, its designation of al-Nusra Front as a terrorist organization has angered many rebel leaders. They say the group, whether it espouses extremist ideology or not, is fighting the same enemy as they are.

Al-Nusra Front has a reputation for being extremely disciplined, and it is hard to find many people who will criticize it. Abu Abdo, a fighter on one of the many frontlines in Aleppo, said he had tried to join the group but was rejected because he was a smoker.

Colonel Abduljabbar Oqaidi, who heads the military revolutionary council in Aleppo province, defended al-Nusra Front. "We may differ with them on their thought," he told Reuters recently, but he rejected Washington's designation.

"They're fierce and loyal ... And at the end of the day they're fighting the regime with us. And we have not seen their extremism, they have not done anything that proves they are terrorists," he said. "Anyone fighting the regime is a mujahid and a revolutionary and we kiss their forehead," said Oqaidi, adding that their numbers were not more than 500 in Aleppo.

By contrast, support for the Free Syrian Army has eroded among some Aleppians due to some cases of looting.

"The cleanest unit on the ground, with no corruption within its ranks, is the al-Nusra Front. The group now has a popular base. Maybe their ideology is distant from the people's but they started liking al-Nusra front because they are just," said Abu Ahmed, who leads an Aleppo unit of the large al-Tawheed brigade.

"The fear surrounding the Nusra Front is down to intimidation by the media," he said. "My ideology is not the same as the Nusra Front but I have to say what I've experienced from them."

OMINOUS FUTURE?

Fears of internecine conflict remain. A commander of al-Farouq Brigades, one of Syria's largest rebel groups, was shot dead on Wednesday in what rebel sources said may have been in revenge for the killing of an al-Nusra Front leader.

Some rebels see a more ominous future. "We're scared that after the fall of the regime, they will try to impose their views on the Syrian people. Their goal is for Syria to be an Islamic state and the Free Syrian Army is the opposite of that," said a 24-year-old rebel fighter in trainers and tracksuit pants who goes by the name Saqr Idlib.

Walking through a destroyed part of the al-Sukkari district in Aleppo, the fighter puffed worriedly on a cigarette: "We're scared there'll be problems by al-Nusra Front and other groups like them after the fall of the regime."

By contrast, Abu Ahmed said he had no fear of a future conflict and his wife - who wears a headscarf but does not cover her face - chimed in: "Al-Nusra Front's ideology is Islamic and at the end of the day, we are Muslims."

While Syria's uprising has been led by Sunnis, minority Christians and members of Assad's Alawite sect - an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam - had nothing to worry about, said Adnan Abu Raad as he watched gravediggers shovel dirt in the town of Azaz near the Turkish border.

"Any boy, child or women will say we want an Islamic state only. And there is no difference between Sunni, Christian or Alawite. Just peace and security for all," Abu Raad said.

At least some people in Aleppo seem willing to tolerate even gruesome retribution by the jihadists. "Yes, they have the sword and beheading, but only for those people who deserve it," said Hadi, a bearded rebel who spoke in the corridor of a bombed-out building that served as a gateway to a frontline.

(editing by David Stamp)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/insight-foreign-fighters-seek-islamic-state-post-assad-181129468.html

free ecards flying car masters golf tournament the replacements how to hard boil eggs new nfl uniforms easter

Boston Mayor Declares Public Health Emergency

Boston is witnessing 10 times more rise in flu cases in comparison to 2012. This has made Mayor Thomas Menino declare a public health emergency in the city.

The situation is not only tense in Boston, but almost in entire America. It was in last month that the US started witnessing the flu cases. The time is considered to be an early arrival of the flu, said the health officials.

Early arrival has led more people infected by the flue, which meant more people getting admitted to hospitals and increased waiting times. Mayor Menino said that the condition is quite upsetting in Boston as a massive rise has been witnessed in flu cases.

This is the reason that Mayor Menino has asked all the residents of Boston to get vaccinated as well as take all the possible precautions to prevent the same. Health experts said that this time's flu is quite worse than last year one, which was quite a mild flu.

"That is in the recent memory of many people. They can tend to underestimate the effects of flu, but it puts several hundred thousand people in the hospital every year", said Dr. Michael Jhung, a flu expert who is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US.

Source: http://topnews.us/content/252590-boston-mayor-declares-public-health-emergency

torn acl derrick rose injury st louis news utah jazz lawrence of arabia denver nuggets correspondents dinner

Domestic Short Hair - Star - Medium - Young - Female - Cat - eBay ...

Domestic Short Hair - Star - Medium - Young - Female - Cat

Star was a little camera shy, but at least you can see her adorable tortishell coat! Star came to the shelter as a stray, but loves the indoor life. She is a cat of luxury, enjoying brushings, treats, catnip and canned food. She has a mostly black tortishell coat and an adorably tiny meow! She likes to play and will make a great companion for almost any loving family! All cats from the Bloomington Animal Shelter are microchipped, have their first round of vaccinations, including de-worming, are tested negative for feline leukemia and FIV, and spayed or neutered. Click to read cat adoption FAQs <`http://bloomington.in.gov/documents/viewDocument.php?document_id=970;`> . For more information about adopting please visit our website <`http://bloomington.in.gov/documents/viewDocument.php?document_id=656;`> . Color:tortis, Markings:very dark tortie

CHARACTERISTICS:
Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Size: Medium
Petfinder ID: 24945695

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Pet has been spayed/neutered

CONTACT:
Bloomington Animal Shelter | Bloomington, IN | 812-349-3492

For additional information, reply to this ad or see: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=24945695

Brought to you by Petfinder.com

Source: http://bloomington.ebayclassifieds.com/cats-kittens/bloomington/domestic-short-hair-star-medium-young-female-cat/?ad=25496163

presidential debates Felix Baumgartner Little Nemo gawker earthquake today earthquake today Romney

Q&A: Making the Mac Take Dictation - NYTimes.com

Q.

Sometimes when I type on my Mac, a little purple microphone appears on screen. What is this?

A.

The OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) system for the Mac includes a dictation feature that allows you to speak the text you would like to enter instead of typing it out. If the purple dictation microphone is popping up out of nowhere, you may be accidentally hitting the keyboard shortcut for turning it on.

Pressing the Function key twice is one of the default shortcuts. If you do not plan to use the dictation feature, you can turn it off in the System Preferences area as explained on Apple?s Dictation information page. The page also explains how to properly use the feature if dictating your text appeals to you.

Source: http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/09/qa-making-the-mac-take-dictation/

invisible children kony 2012 space weather sunspots pac 12 tournament sun storm tri international criminal court

Sennheiser Orpheus HE90 First Listen: So This Is What $16,000 Headphones Sound Like

In the early '90s, Sennheiser gave its engineers a mission: make the best headphones ever, irrespective of price. They came up with the Orpheus HE90. Only 300 were made. They initially sold for $16,000. Today they sell phone upwards of $30,000 on eBay. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Q1LIUbUnc-k/sennheiser-orpheus-he90-first-listen-so-this-is-what-16000-headphones-sound-like

eagles nfl schedule 2012 Fox News Suicide Google Ryder Cup Standings Dexter Season 7 Ryder Cup 2012

India gang rape spurs national dialogue

An Indian woman who was the victim of a gang rape and brutal beating earlier this month in New Delhi has been flown to Singapore for treatment, while the rest of India debates women's safety.

By Shivam Vij,?Contributor / December 27, 2012

Indian protesters listen to a speaker during a protest against a recent gang rape of a young woman in a moving bus in New Delhi, India, Thursday. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledged Thursday to take action to protect the nation's women while the young rape victim was flown to Singapore for treatment of severe internal injuries.

Altaf Qadri/AP

Enlarge

The Indian government?s crackdown on the anti-rape protests that have continued for nearly two weeks in New Delhi has only aggravated public anger and concern about women?s safety.?

Skip to next paragraph

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

The protests were sparked by the gang rape and brutal assault of a 23-year-old student on a bus in the elite South Delhi district on Dec. 16.?

As the girl battles for her life in a Singapore hospital, Indians are debating how to make the country safer for women. Ten days after the incident, it dominates newspaper headlines and op-ed pages, pushing to the margins stories like the retirement of cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, the popular Indian sportsperson, highlighting just how much the case has affected people.

Sexual harassment is rampant in India, and the public has been largely apathetic to women?s plight, but many are hoping the attack could be a turning point in the way India treats women.

Calls for capital punishment, including the chemical castration of rapists, have died down, with various women?s groups decrying them. Given that in 94 percent of rape cases the rapist is known to the victim, Nilanjana S. Roy, writing in The Hindu newspaper she wonders if the protestors would be okay with death penalty if it were their father, uncle, neighbors, or even if it meant convicting Indian security forces in conflict zones. ?

The Monitor reported that India is considering a fast-track court process to expedite rape cases and step up punishment for sexual violence on the heels of the bus rape incident.?

Beyond the law, what needs to happen, writes Shilpa Phadke, author of a book on women?s safety in Mumbai, has to do with how Indians use their streets: ?We are safer when there are more women (and more men) on the streets. When shops are open, when restaurants are open, when there are hawkers and yes, even sex workers on the street, the street is a safer space for us all.?

The outrage that this case has spurred might finally bring about a cultural change in India, Stephanie Nolen of The Globe and Mail suggests in a report:?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/uX5i-porEqM/India-gang-rape-spurs-national-dialogue

andrew breitbart dead sheriff joe arpaio limbaugh aaron smith wilt chamberlain joe arpaio cat in the hat

Green Blog: Interior to Review Shell's Arctic Drilling Problems

---

High-Level, Expedited Review of the 2012 Offshore Drilling Program in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas Will Assess Activities, Provide Lessons Learned

01/08/2013

Contact: Blake Androff (DOI), 202-208-6416

WASHINGTON, DC ? As part of its continued commitment to rigorous oversight of oil and gas activities in the Arctic, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the Department has launched an expedited, high-level assessment of the 2012 offshore drilling program in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas to review practices and identify challenges as well as lessons learned. The review, which is expected to be completed within 60 days, will pay special attention to challenges that Shell encountered in connection with certification of its containment vessel, the Arctic Challenger; the deployment of its containment dome; and operational issues associated with its two drilling rigs, the Noble Discoverer and the Kulluk.

The review is consistent with the Administration?s commitment to safe and responsible exploration for energy resources in the Artic and will help inform future permitting processes in the region. The United States Coast Guard will provide technical assistance for the review.

?Developing America?s domestic energy sources is essential for reducing our dependence on foreign oil and creating jobs here at home and the Administration is fully committed to exploring for potential energy resources in frontier areas such as the Arctic,? said Salazar. ?Exploration allows us to better comprehend the true scope of our resources in the Arctic and to more fully understand the nature of the risks and benefits of development in this region, but we also recognize that the unique challenges posed by the Arctic environment demand an even higher level of scrutiny.?

The review of Shell?s Arctic activities will be led by Interior?s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Tommy Beaudreau, who has been selected to serve as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management. The review will look at Shell?s safety management systems, its oversight of contracted services, and its ability to meet the strict standards in place for Arctic development.

?As part of our Department?s oversight responsibilities, our review will look at Shell?s management and operations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas,? said Beaudreau. ?We will assess Shell?s performance in the Arctic?s challenging environment.?

During limited preparatory drilling operations last season, Shell constructed top-hole sections for one well each in the Chukchi Sea and the Beaufort Sea. BSEE conducted unprecedented oversight and had inspectors present onboard each Shell rig around the clock throughout those operations.

?The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement demands operators make safety at all levels at all times their number one priority, and we expect the highest level of performance from operators in the Arctic,? said BSEE Director James A. Watson. ?As we oversee historic domestic drilling, BSEE will continue its unprecedented oversight of drilling activities in the Arctic and we will continue to hold anyone operating in public waters to the highest safety and environmental standards.?

In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, the Obama Administration put in place significant new safeguards to protect the environment and the workers onboard offshore drilling rigs. These new safety measures include heightened drilling safety standards to reduce the chances that a loss of well control might occur in the first place, as well as a new focus on containment capabilities in the event of an oil spill.

As part of the Obama Administration?s all-of-the-above energy strategy, domestic oil and gas production has grown each year the President has been in office, with domestic oil production currently higher than any time in nearly a decade and natural gas production at its highest level ever. Foreign oil imports now account for less than 50 percent of the oil consumed in America ? the lowest level since 1995.

The U.S. Coast Guard today also announced it has initiated a comprehensive marine casualty investigation regarding the recent grounding of the drill rig Kulluk. BSEE and the National Transportation Safety Board will provide technical assistance for the Coast Guard?s investigation.

###

Source: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/08/interior-to-review-shells-arctic-drilling-problems/?partner=rss&emc=rss

idris elba kelsey grammer martin henderson mlk day golden globes 2012 winners golden globes 2012 red carpet golden globes red carpet

How to increase sales - Steve Gordon Marketing Systems

Trying to increase sales?

You?re probably going about it the hard way.

Most of the sales improvement efforts I see focus on making radical improvements in one area?often hard to do.

For example?trying to increase lead generation by 50%?or boost closing rate by 30%?big jumps that will be expensive and difficult.

Companies that take this approach usually don?t have a well defined sales PROCESS (key word).

Increasing profits is easy when you?ve got a defined, repeatable , consistent sales process. Here?s why it?s easy?

Let?s say our sales process has 7 steps:

1. Generate a leads
2. Convert leads to a sales appointment
3. Submit a proposal
4. Close the sale
5. Get a repeat sale
6. Get a referral

Instead of trying to radically improve lead generation or closing rate?it?s simpler to make smaller improvements at each stage.

Like a little 2% increase at each stage results in a 21% increase in sales?and the increase is almost 100% profit.

But you?ve got to have a defined marketing and sales process. My clients have one?you should too.

Learn how to get started here

Steve

by Steve Gordon

Steve Gordon builds automated marketing systems that attract ideal clients, follow-up with prospects and convert them to happy, paying, referring clients. Follow Steve on Facebook

Your Business Could Double This Year, IF You Fix These 7 Marketing Mistakes

Enter your name and email to get a free copy of my E-Book 7 Deadly Marketing Sins That Will Kill Your Business?

Source: http://stevegordonmarketing.com/how-to-increase-sales/

grammys album of the year grammy red carpet grammy award winners the band perry grammy awards whitney houston autopsy

Police: Colo. shooting suspect planned massacre

এই সারসংক্ষেপটি পাওয়া যাবে না। পোস্ট দেখার জন্য এখানে ক্লিক করুন ।

RG3 defends himself as Redskins await knee results

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) ? Robert Griffin III knows he's getting criticized for playing hurt in the Washington Redskins' playoff loss.

On Monday, he offered his latest defense on Twitter.

The rookie quarterback tweeted: "Many may question, criticize & think they have all the right answers. But few have been in the line of fire in battle."

The Redskins were awaiting the results of an MRI on Griffin's right knee, which he re-injured twice during Sunday's 24-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Griffin did not appear in the locker room during the two hours it was open to reporters Monday morning. Teammates defended Griffin, saying it's in an athlete's competitive nature to keep playing as long as possible.

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rg3-defends-himself-redskins-await-knee-results-163328909--nfl.html

file taxes online tupac shakur sledge hammer tax day freebies madison bumgarner wnba draft tax day