The late folk singer Tom Glazer first performed his classic children's ballad "On Top of Spaghetti" in 1963. Sung to the tune of the traditional "On Top of Old Smoky," the song tells the story of a meatball on the run. Swept from table to floor by a thunderous sneeze, the meatball ends up rolling outdoors. It bounces along, gathering dust, dirt, gravel, and bits of trash along its surface. Finally, it tumbles under a shrub, nothing but mush, a shadow of its once-plump self. The following summer, so the song goes, having presumably sunk well into the fertile earth beneath its leafy shroud, the battered wad of meat sprouts up as a moss-covered tree bearing saucy meatball fruit.
While the idea of kids clamoring after a dirty meatball is nauseating, the fantasy?a comestible growing into a tree producing many pieces of food identical to the planted one?appeals to both children and adults. In C.S. Lewis' The Magician's Nephew, the sixth book of his Chronicles of Narnia series, young Digory Kirke plants a toffee in enchanted soil. Overnight, a "little, very dark-wooded tree ? loaded with little brown fruits ... rather like dates" pops up, and Digory and his friend Polly tackle it for a sugary breakfast only an irresponsible parent would permit:? ?The fruit was delicious; not exactly like toffee?softer for one thing, and juicy?but like fruit that reminded one of toffee.?? (If I lived in Narnia, I would plant a bottle of good vinho verde, a cocktail frank, and some fine mustard in that magical dirt.)
I used to teach pre-kindergarten. Toward the end of my tenure, I played "On Top of Spaghetti" for my class of 4- and 5-year olds. The kids knew the song and were singing the first lines before the CD began spinning. When Tom and his gang of under-age back-up vocalists finished up, I posed a few questions to the gathered circle: Did the song make them hungry? Did they like meatballs? Did they like the idea of eating meatballs after hearing the tune describe, in graphic detail, one sorry meatball's unsanitary backyard odyssey?
The class's love for the meatball was robust. Expertly deploying the passive voice to deflect any blame for the meatball?s fall from the table, a child named Riley laid out the position in a nervous little voice:?
"It was dropped on the floor, but it was still yummy ... because it was a meatball."
The rest of the class agreed with Riley?s cast-iron logic. Meatballs, as Anna put it, were "a big treat,? regardless of what they?d rolled through. Piping up from under cropped dark bangs and a plastic tiara, Chelsea alone dissented.?
"I like meatballs very much," she said seriously, "but I think the floor has germs. I would pick it up and throw it in the garbage."
Thank you, Chelsea, I thought. Hearing someone take a principled stand for good hygiene brightened my spirits. Next, I asked: If you could bury anything tasty in the ground and have that something grow into a tree proliferating deliciousness year-round, what would you plant??
"A chocolate yummy!" I recall Jason proclaiming.?
"A taco," said Luke with a Spicoli-esque yawn.?
"Doughnuts!" yelled Chelsea.
"I want a milky tree with candy and ice cream," said Reese.
"A French-fry tree!" barked Jackson.?
"Cookies," whispered Marco.
With the possible exception of Luke?s taco, meat was not mentioned. The class overwhelmingly wanted to plant sweet things: Ice cream, jelly beans, cake, muffins, and various fruits naturally found on trees in the first place. I knew that kids liked sweets, but the fantasies they shared?the orchards dusted with powdered sugar, the branches weighed down with icing?suggested a deep-seated love of glucose that couldn't be attributed to bad parenting and corn subsidies alone.?
From Candy Land to fairy tales like "Hansel and Gretel? to children's book characters like the Gingerbread Man and Willy Wonka, our popular culture invests sweets with magic, delight, and mystery. Television plays a role too?though apparently, in a bow to political correctness, even the Cookie Monster now views his long-time vice as a "sometime food.? Children's songs similarly cater to the sweeter side of the palate with "Who Stole the Cookies?" and "If All the Raindrops Were Lemon Drops and Gumdrops.??
FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2012 file photo, a truck driver watches as a freight container, right, is lowered onto a tractor trailer by a container crane at the Port of Boston in Boston. The crane and a reach stacker, left, are operated by longshoremen at the port. The longshoremen's union may strike if they are unable to reach an agreement on their contract, which expires Dec. 29, 2012. A walkout by dock workers represented by the International Longshoremen?s Association would bring commerce to a near halt at ports from Boston to Houston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2012 file photo, a truck driver watches as a freight container, right, is lowered onto a tractor trailer by a container crane at the Port of Boston in Boston. The crane and a reach stacker, left, are operated by longshoremen at the port. The longshoremen's union may strike if they are unable to reach an agreement on their contract, which expires Dec. 29, 2012. A walkout by dock workers represented by the International Longshoremen?s Association would bring commerce to a near halt at ports from Boston to Houston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
NEW YORK (AP) ? Dockworkers along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico agreed Friday to extend their contract for more than a month, averting a weekend strike that could have crippled major ports from Boston to Houston and bottled up billions of dollars' worth of cargo.
Talks aimed at reaching a new contract covering the 14,500 longshoremen will continue during the extension, which runs through Feb. 6.
The dockworkers' union and an alliance of port operators and shipping lines agreed to the extension after resolving one of the stickier points in their negotiations, involving royalty payments to longshoremen for each container they unload. Details were not disclosed.
Federal mediator George Cohen said the agreement on royalties was "a major positive step forward."
"While some significant issues remain in contention, I am cautiously optimistic that they can be resolved," he said.
The contract between the International Longshoremen's Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance originally expired in September. The two sides agreed to extend it once before, for 90 days, but it had been set to expire again at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.
As recently as Dec. 19, the president of the longshoremen's union, Harold Daggett, had said a strike was expected.
A walkout would have crippled the loading and unloading of a vast number of products, including electronics and clothing, and made it more difficult for U.S. manufacturers to get parts and raw materials at a time when the economy is in shaky condition. The ports involved handle about 40 percent of all U.S. container cargo.
Business groups expressed relief that the two sides had agreed to keep the docks running.
"A coast-wide port shutdown is not an option. It would have severe economic ramifications for the local, national and even global economies and wreak havoc on the supply chain," said National Retail Federation President Matthew Shay.
White House spokesman Matt Lehrich said: "We're pleased the parties are going to continue their work at the negotiating table and continue to urge them to reach an agreement as quickly as possible."
Major ports that would have been frozen included the massive terminals serving the New York City area and critical seaports in Savannah, Ga., Houston, and Hampton Roads, Va.
Other ports that would have been affected are in Boston; the Philadelphia area; Baltimore; Wilmington, N.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Miami; Tampa, Fla.; Mobile, Ala.; and New Orleans.
Longshoremen on the West Coast have a separate contract.
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Posted on: 9:32 pm, December 26, 2012, by Ben Winslow, updated on: 04:00pm, December 27, 2012
OGDEN, Utah ? Police released a new vehicle description involved in a hit-and-run crash on Wall Ave., where a homeless man was hit and left to die on the street.
Police said 56-year-old David Paul Saures was walking across Wall Ave. on Christmas Eve, when he was struck by a car. The impact threw him 100 feet. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.
On Tuesday, Ogden police told FOX 13 that a dark-colored sedan hit Saures. But now they believe that vehicle may have witnessed the crash.
?We?re getting information now that it was possibly a minivan, some sort of a dark-colored minivan that actually struck the man,? said Ogden Police Lt. Chad Ledford. ?The dark-colored sedan was behind the minivan, so we think they were a witness to the accident and we want them to come forward as well.?
Ledford said Wednesday there was no indication that the driver of the vehicle that hit?Saures had even braked. Because it was dark and there may have been weather, it could have been an accident, he said, but because the driver did not stay ? it is now being investigated as a felony.
?I have no doubt that they knew they hit something, and I?m going to assume they knew they hit a person and that?s why they didn?t stay,? Ledford said.
Saures? brother told FOX 13 he hoped the driver would come forward ? but had forgiven that person even if they never did.
?I don?t know what society?s turning into, but like Jesus said, ?Love one another.? That?s all we can do. Forgive and be forgiven,? Robert Moore said Wednesday. ?The thing is, you go through life, sometimes you forget there?s going to be a time after life.?
Ogden police said anyone with information about the crash is asked to call them at (801)? 629-8221.
A funeral fund for Saures has been set up at Myers Mortuary in Ogden, his family said.
Big Society pays for final part of wind farm skills centre
12:00pm Wednesday 26th December 2012 in News By Helen Barnett
EMERGENCY funds have saved a skills centre in Harwich opening late.
Tendring Council has given ?32,000 to Colchester Institute?s Energy Skills Centre in Parkeston so it can open in time in January.
Cash will pay for a new power supply to the headquarters, at Hamilton House, Foster Road, as well as improvements to create two IT suits, wireless networking, a fitted kitchen and common room facilities.
The improvements would have had to be scrapped if the college?s bid was unsuccessful, to keep the opening of the centre on track.
Money will be paid back if it can be found from other sources.
The Energy Skills Centre will provide further education, apprenticeship and employment programmes to more than 150 people by July 2013.
Students will learn about different sources of energy to give them a full breadth and understanding of the subject.
(Reuters) - Ford Motor Co plans to invest more than $773 million on new equipment and capacity expansions across six U.S. manufacturing plants in southeast Michigan.
The plan is part of its commitment to invest $6.2 billion in U.S. plants by 2015 as part of the agreement reached in October 2011 with the United Auto Workers union, the automaker said on Thursday.
Ford said the investments will create 2,350 hourly jobs and allow it to retain another 3,240 hourly jobs. The new jobs are part of the 12,000 Ford previously said it would add or retain in the United States by 2015 under the UAW deal.
Some of the new jobs will earn entry-level wages, which start at just under $16 an hour. Traditional nonskilled UAW workers at Ford earn an average of just over $28. This year, Ford has added more than 6,500 hourly jobs and most of those were filled by people hired at the entry-level pay rate.
Over the next six months, Ford said it will upgrade stamping operations at Michigan Assembly Plant and Dearborn Stamping Plant, as well as finish work at Flat Rock Assembly Plant to build the new Fusion sedan. Some Fusion production was shifted from Mexico under the four-year pact with the UAW.
The work will include $59.4 million to expand the stamping press line at Michigan Assembly, $305 million for plant modernization and new equipment at Dearborn Stamping, and $161 million for new equipment in Flat Rock.
The investments also will include $86 million at Sterling Axle Plant, $87.7 million at Van Dyke Transmission and $74.7 million at Livonia Transmission, all for new equipment.
(Reporting by Sakthi Prasad in Bangalore and Ben Klayman in Detroit; Editing by Daniel Magnowski and Maureen Bavdek)
The first time I launched the Larklife iPhone app, I thought, "How can an app this well designed and different from the competition go with a gadget that's so clunky and awkward?" Larklife ($149.99, direct) is just one of many fitness-tracking gadgets vying for the attention of consumers who want to be motivated to get moving. And the app could do just that, provided you have an iPhone, because it really does work differently from all the other personal health and wellness programs you'll find. But the wristband that goes with it doesn't compare to the more slender and sophisticated models you'll find in big brand names like Nike and Jawbone. Due to Larklife's lackluster form factor and slightly high price, it sits somewhere in the middle of the fitness gadget pack. It's not bad, but not great, and for less money you can probably find something you'll like better.
For me, the answer is the $100 Fitbit One, our Editors' Choice and one of only a few fitness gadgets that isn't a bracelet, making it easier to conceal when you don't want your friends or a hot date to know you're monitoring your physical activity. The Fitbit costs less than most other devices, works with both a Web app and smartphone app, and connects with a host of other personal health apps and devices.?
More similar to Larkflife are the Nike+ FuelBand and the Jawbone UP. The Jawbone UP fits the most comfortably of the three, although the Nike+ FuelBand at least puts visual data, like the time and your total activity for the day, right on the bracelet itself?neither Larklife nor Jawbone UP do. If I'm going to wear a gadget 24/7, I'd at least like it to tell me the time.
Design Though a bracelet, Larklife disassembles in a way that I've never seen before in a fitness tracker. Its core component is a small piece of plastic with a strip of LED lights and a single button on the side. That core piece snaps into a plastic bracelet or "day band," as well as a separate and more flexible strap for overnight use to track your sleep. The USB rechargeable battery isn't in the core piece but rather in each band.
The lights serve a couple of purposes, like flashing to remind you to be active or to indicate a function. For example, press the button twice to automatically log when you eat a meal so you don't have to take out your smartphone to record everything you eat during dinner. You can add specifics later, or not.
In wearing Larklife for several days, I got used to it the same way I got used to wearing a wristwatch. I removed it to type and to slide my arms into a fitted jacket. But I didn't like that the blue bracelet called attention to itself. Fitbit One, on the other hand, hides discreetly out of sight on a waistband, bra strap, or even in a pocket (the thing is tiny), giving you more control over who knows you're wearing one.
The Jawbone UP is much smaller and sleeker than Larklife, but in other ways they're extremely similar. Each is designed to be worn on the wrist and only sync via an iOS device (not a computer), although Larklife syncs via Bluetooth whereas Jawbone UP connects via the headphone jack. Both the Jawbone UP and Larklife include silent alarms that vibrate to wake you, as does Fitbit One.
Larklife's Strength: A Simplified App While the Larklife band may be clunky, its companion iPhone app, where you see all the data the device collects, is decidedly simplified. It has only four categories for logging data?meals, workout, boost, and sleep?and automates some of the recordkeeping for you. If you run or workout vigorously while wearing Larklife, the app automatically records that activity as a workout (although it once thought I worked out when all I did was scurry to catch a train). A "boost," the way the app describes it, could be anything that makes you feel refreshed, from taking a brisk walk or heading to the water cooler for some office gabbing. It can be whatever you want, and I like that Larklife includes it in its data collection. Decreasing stress should be seen as an integral part of wellness.
The band and app sync over Bluetooth, so you always have quick access to the data when your iPhone is nearby. I ended up flipping the Bluetooth off quite often, however, to conserve my phone's battery.
Most of the app display appears in portrait mode. Bubbles relating to each of the four logged activities (meal, workout, boost, sleep) fill up a screen for one day's activity. Drag your finger around the current day's screen, and the bubbles bounce and move around. Turn the phone horizontally, and your day's activity plot onto a bar graph that shows when you were active, total time active (in minutes), calories burned, distance traveled, and your sleep data.
What Larklife captures isn't remarkably different than other fitness gadgets and apps, except for the unique "boost" category, but it does simplify the process of recording. When you enter a meal, for example, the app doesn't ask you to search a massive database of foods for exactly what you've eaten, but rather offers a selection of basic food types?protein, vegetable, fruit, grain, and water?and has you tap the ones you've consumed. Again, the emphasis is more on wellness and thinking positively than getting into the nitty gritty of what you did wrong for the day, although not everyone will agree with this approach. I, for one, learn a lot when I count calories and pay close attention to exactly what I'm eating. I'd rather have a more detailed system than a general one. But it could be appealing for people who want to change their fitness and eating habits in a way that will actually stick.
Better Fitness Through Personal Data Larklife is a good product but it competes with a few that are better and less expensive. The Fitbit One remains the clear Editors' Choice for its excellent form factor, top-notch data collection, and wonderful companion app for iPhone, Android, and the Web. It also integrates with a host of other apps and gadgets. When you can get all that for $99, Larklife just doesn't seem like it has much appeal.
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NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Indian government moved on Sunday to stamp out protests that have swelled in New Delhi since the gang-rape of a young woman, banning gatherings of more than five people, but still thousands poured into the heart of the capital to vent their anger.
Police in riot gear used tear gas and batons to hold crowds back from marching on the presidential palace, just as they did the day before in clashes that media reports said injured more than two dozen protesters.
Doctors said the 23-year-old victim of last week's attack, who was beaten, raped for almost an hour and thrown out of a moving bus in New Delhi, was still in a critical condition on respiratory support but responding to treatment.
New Delhi has the highest number of sex crimes among India's major cities, with a rape reported on average every 18 hours, according to police figures.
Most sexual assaults go unreported and unremarked, but the brutality of last week's attack triggered the biggest protests in the capital since mid-2011 demonstrations against corruption that rocked the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The protesters, predominantly college students but also housewives and even children, are demanding more steps from the authorities to ensure safety for women and some want the death penalty for the accused.
Several city metro stations were closed and several roads were barricaded on Sunday to prevent a build-up of protesters.
However, by early afternoon the crowd around the India Gate monument - normally a festive place on a Sunday - had swelled to more than 2,000, according to police there. Scuffles broke out near government buildings, where youths shouted "Down with Delhi police!" and threw bottles at the forces holding them back.
Bowing to public pressure, Sonia Gandhi, chief of the ruling Congress party, emerged from her residence after midnight to talk to protesters. She went out again on Sunday with her son, Rahul Gandhi, who is seen as a future prime minister.
"She assured us of justice," said one of the students who met the Gandhis, though some in the crowds shouted "Down with Sonia Gandhi!".
Since last week's rape, the authorities have promised better police patrolling to ensure safety for women returning from work and entertainment districts, the installation of GPS on public transport vehicles, more buses at night, and fast-track courts for swift verdicts on cases of rape and sexual assault.
(Writing and additional reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by John Chalmers and Sanjeev Miglani)
HOUSTON (AP) ? The Minnesota Vikings don't need record-setting days from Adrian Peterson to stay in the playoff race.
Peterson rushed for 86 yards, falling far short of the 2,000-yard mark, yet helping the Vikings (9-6) keep their postseason chances alive with a 23-6 upset of the Texans on Sunday. Christian Ponder threw a touchdown pass, Toby Gerhart added a score and Blair Walsh kicked three field goals as the Vikings won their third straight.
The win raises the stakes for the Vikings, who host Green Bay next Sunday in the regular-season finale.
"We obviously have a big one next week, and if we don't win that one, this one doesn't mean anything," Ponder said. "Our No. 1 goal is to make the playoffs."
The loss kept the Texans (12-3) from clinching home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. They would still claim home-field advantage with a win next week at Indianapolis.
"Very disappointing because we had a chance to line up here and get something done today," coach Gary Kubiak said. "That doesn't mean we still can't get it done. That's the most important thing."
Peterson had his lowest rushing total since getting 79 yards on Oct. 14 in a loss at Washington, breaking a streak of eight 100-yard games. Peterson, who is from Palestine, Texas, had more than 100 family and friends at the game.
"We knew they were going to focus on the run, which is OK," Peterson said of the Texans. "It felt good to see other guys get involved and us continue to move the ball down and score some points."
He has 1,898 this season and needs 208 yards to break the NFL single-season rushing record held by Eric Dickerson. Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier said he took Peterson out late as a precaution because he has a sore abdomen.
"I'll get some rest and be ready to get a W and break that record," Peterson said.
The Vikings took a 10-3 lead when Walsh kicked a 56-yard field goal. The kick gave Walsh, a rookie, the NFL record with nine field goals of 50 yards or longer this season.
The Texans failed to score a touchdown for the first time since 2006.
"We didn't play well," Kubiak said. "I think we battled defensively, but offensively we probably played as bad as we've played. I take full responsibility for that. It's a huge, huge disappointment. We've got to get over it really quick."
J.J. Watt had a sack to leave him with 20 ? this season.
Houston got within 10 points before Gerhart's 3-yard run extended the lead to 23-6 with about five minutes left in the fourth quarter. That drive was helped by a 29-yard run by Ponder.
Ponder, who got married on Monday, was 16 of 30 for 174 yards to help the Vikings pile up 345 yards. He finished with seven rushes for 48 yards ? 14 more yards rushing than the Texans had.
"Christian had a terrific day throughout, playing with a lot of poise, a lot of control ? he did all the things we needed," Frazier said. "But it was all set up by our run game."
Arian Foster had 10 rushes for 15 yards before leaving with about nine minutes left in the third quarter with an irregular heartbeat. Kubiak said he is OK, but he was taken out as a precaution.
"I'll be fine," he said. "I'll be OK. It's a very minor situation."
Ben Tate took over and didn't fare much better with four carries for 17 yards.
The Texans were foiled by their inability to convert third downs, going 1 of 11. Quarterback Matt Schaub went 18 of 32 for 178 yards.
Houston got to the Minnesota 1 with a 12-yard reception by Kevin Walter late in the third quarter. Then came an incomplete pass followed by a run for no gain by Tate. Schaub was sacked by Fred Evans for a loss of 14 yards to make the Texans settle for a 33-yard field to cut the lead to 16-6.
Houston had to punt on its first possession of the third quarter, but got the ball right back when Watt sacked Ponder and forced a fumble. Bradie James recovered, but the Texans had to punt again.
The Vikings extended their lead to 16-3 when Walsh made a 39-yard field goal on the first drive of the second half. That series was helped when Ponder found Jarius Wright on a 15-yard reception, and the Vikings got 15 more yards when Whitney Mercilus was flagged for unnecessary roughness on Ponder.
Houston was on the Minnesota 28 early in the second quarter when Jasper Brinkley forced Foster's fumble, which was recovered by A.J. Jefferson.
A 41-yard field goal by Walsh left Minnesota up 13-3 at halftime.
Peterson ran for 20 yards to get Minnesota's offense going. The Vikings took a 7-3 lead when Kyle Rudolph grabbed a 3-yard touchdown reception. Rudolph also had a 27-yard catch that drive.
Houston's Andre Johnson had seven receptions for 97 yards.
NOTES: The Texans wore decals with the initials S.H.E.S. as a tribute to the school shooting victims at Sandy Hook. ... Playing in his 137th game, Johnson got his 800th career reception on his first catch, making him the second-fastest player to reach the milestone. Marvin Harrison did it in his 131st game. ... Johnson has 100 catches this season, making him the fifth player in NFL history to have at least 100 catches in four or more seasons.
___
Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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* Submitting your articles for the correct write-up directories aids you to build up important back hyperlinks by getting these post directories link to your optimized internet pages by way of your post. Acquiring many relevant back links assists you improve your search engine rankings, pushing your internet page to the prime 10 rankings for the optimized search phrases. Although this might not take place overnight, it is a certain fire method of sooner or later acquiring your internet page right where it might be observed to all those who matter.
* Some ezine publishers even archive their ezine on their web site. This offers prospective customers the likelihood to have a look at back concerns prior to they make a commitment to subscribe. Obtaining your write-up archived implies it can be viewed more than and more than again several years down the line, increasing your exposure tremendously and driving site visitors for your internet site several years after the write-up was initial published.
* One more way to enhance targeted traffic to your web site is by allowing ezine publishers to incorporate your articles in their free of charge Ebooks. This increases the exposure of the write-up much more and any person thinking about going to your website can simply do so by clicking within the link contained inside your resource box.
* Some ezine publishers enable their guests to republish articles that happen to be featured in the free of charge content directory on their internet site, the only caveat getting that the author resource box that accompanies each and every article is featured as well as the write-up. There?s no saying exactly where your articles are likely to finish up and who will likely be studying them! Your post could pique the interest of somebody who had till that moment not the slightest inclination to get whatever it?s you?re supplying. And when the good quality of one?s item matches the high quality of the report you?ll have converted yet one more curious visitor into a loyal consumer.
If you have been hesitating to submit your articles to ezines on the premise which you would like to get paid for articles which you write and publish, then it is time you woke as much as the extended positive aspects of post advertising by means of ezines and write-up directories. It drives site visitors that too, not any old visitors but good quality, targeted traffic stampeding for your website with out costing you a dime. Assume of all the money you would have spent to attract the same volume of prospective consumers by any with the much more Haloti Ngata Jersey traditional types of advertising. Here are a number of elements that can enable you to select the best report directory to submit your post to: * Appear for report directories that have been in company for greater than a year. Article directories which have been in existence longer would rank greater with the main search engines like google and would also have a bigger reader base. * Article directories that function much less than 1,000 authors have not hit the massive time yet and are finest avoided. Look for post directories which have over a single to five thousand authors. * Ideally, a great write-up directory must be powered by humans and should possess the name from the owner or the individual in charge clearly visible. Absence of either among these elements indicates that the owner doesn?t want to be held accountable and that the web site is totally automated, which signifies there?s nobody policing the high quality from the content. Much better to prevent being associated with such an internet site. * If your e-mails go unanswered for greater than 48 hours it speaks of dismal lack of service and is an indication of worse to come following you join up. Obtaining your post published in a handful of carefully chosen write-up directories and ezines will guarantee better exposure of high quality as opposed to getting your post published in numerous sub-standard write-up directories.
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A lot of good things happened in tech this year.?The iPhone 5 premiered with 4G and a feather-light design. Google released its Nexus 7 tablet to go head-to-head with the Amazon Kindle Fire, and equipped it with Jelly Bean.?Samsung delivered a powerful one-two punch with the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II. And we saw a fair number of Ultrabooks that gave the MacBook Air?a run for its money.
But where there?s good, there?s bad. And there were plenty of major tech?fails this year. These awards go to the eight biggest.
Wrong-Way Award: Apple Maps With all the anticipation surrounding iOS 6, many didn?t think twice about giving up Google Maps for Apple?s new Maps app. But once users switched over, the complaints and outcries that the iOS app was far inferior to Google Maps mushroomed. The app was riddled with errors ? including wrong addresses and warped-looking landmarks in the Flyover view ? while it lacked integrated mass-transit directions.
Apple eventually apologized for the Maps gaffe, and even recommended alternatives. CEO?Tim Cook probably put it best, saying, "We screwed up."
More:?7 Things Apple Must Do in 2013
False Start Award: Windows 8 After Microsoft?released a preview of the highly anticipated Windows 8, users were dismayed to find that, although the new system's classic "desktop" was practically identical to the Windows 7 interface, it lacked a Start menu. Microsoft had substituted the menu with a shortcut to the Start screen, which meant users are forced to leave the desktop just to launch an app that takes them right back to the desktop.
Talk about frustrating. The good news is that a number of third parties have stepped up to the plate with alternatives, including Stardock's Start8 and Samsung's S Launcher utility.
More:?8 Windows 8 Annoyances and How to Fix Them
Worst Sales Pitch: Dell?s ?Daily Deals? During Laptop's annual Tech Support Showdown, we made three calls to Dell's?tech support line and got more than we bargained for. During the calls, Dell pushed premium warranties on us, saying we had won a daily drawing that would allow us to buy a $500 four-year extended warranty for just $317. Lucky us ? we were chosen to spend even more money on something we didn?t need! When we resisted, the representative rushed us through the call, barely attempting to answer our question, but routinely haranguing us to buy the warranty, because otherwise the next caller would get our "prize."
According to Dell, using "drawings" as a sales tactic is against company policy. However, aggressively pushing extended warranties and hardware purchases is not, as we experienced on two other calls where support reps seemed more interested in making a commission than solving our problems.
More:?Tech Support Showdown 2012
IP-(Uh)-O Award: Facebook Although Facebook?s IPO initially set a record for technology companies by raising more than $16 billion, it quickly became the decade?s worst initial public offering. When the social networking giant went public in May, its initial offering price was set at $38, while the company was valued at $104 billion. However, a little more than two weeks later, Facebook shares had dropped dramatically to $26.90 per share.
As it turns out, Facebook?s inability to monetize mobile traffic has caused a lot of concern among investors.?Although the stock has rebounded from a recent slide, the share is still way off the debut price.
More:?26 Ultimate Facebook Tips
Biggest Rip-Off Award: Shared Data Plans In June, Verizon unveiled its new Share Everything plans, which allow customers to pay a flat fee for each device, plus a single charge for shared monthly data, which ranges from 1GB to 10GB. The plan includes unlimited voice minutes and text messages and makes you pay for them, whether you need them or not. As a result, a 2GB data plan costs $100 on the new plan while 2GB with a limited number of minutes and texts cost $70 on the old plan.
AT&T followed suit with similar Mobile Share plans. However, neither of these shared-plan options lets you opt for limited voice minutes or data. Plus, you still need to pay an additional monthly fee as you add devices, whether it?s a tablet?($15 for AT&T, $10 on Verizon Wireless) or mobile hotspot ($50 for AT&T, $20 for Verizon Wireless). At least AT&T kept its individual plans for those who don?t want to go the shared route.
More:?Top 10 Smartphones
Broken Promises Award: BlackBerry?10 BlackBerry 10 has become somewhat of a punchline in the tech industry, with the release of Research?In?Motion?s new mobile?OS continually delayed at a time when the straggling smartphone-maker should be trying anything to keep up with its Android and iPhone?competitors. After a brief demonstration of BlackBerry 10 at BlackBerry World in May, RIM pushed back the operating system?s release until Q1 of 2013, and soon after slashed 5,000 jobs.
Although there are some features in BB10 that look promising, many BlackBerry loyalists have already jumped ship. We'll find out in January if RIM has a shot at a better 2013.
More:?BlackBerry 10 Video Preview
Bait-and-Switch Award: Microsoft Surface When commercials for the Microsoft?Surface started airing, viewers were enthralled by the device's Touch Cover. It came in fun, eye-catching colors and magnetically snapped onto the device for an easy typing experience.
One would assume that if Microsoft was putting the Touch Cover into its Surface commercials, it would come with the Surface, right? Wrong. Turns out the Touch Cover is a separate purchase, and shoppers would have to invest an additional $119 for the accessory ($100 if you buy it with the black one).
More:?Top 10 Windows 8 Tablet-Laptop Hybrids
Bad Idea Award: Google Nexus Q Nexus Q could have easily made our list of most overpriced gadgets of all-time ... if it had actually come out. First shown and given to attendees at Google I/O 2012, the Nexus Q is a set-top box in the shape of an orb that streams music and movies to your home theater from Google Play ??and Google Play only.
While a $49 Roku box, a $99 Apple TV or a $99 Google TV box offers a variety of content services, even apps, the $299 Nexus Q didn't even have Netflix. Once you got over its unique design, the Nexus Q's main feature was allowing multiple users to add to the same playlist, something that was sure to create plenty of arguments among family members with different tastes. To Google's credit, the company quickly realized it had a dud on its hands, stopped accepting new orders and gave free units to anyone who had preordered.
South Sports & Recreation Notes Filed under:coast guard boating classes
'America's Boating Course' provided by the Coast Guard Auxiliary 54 at Harvey Oyer Jr. Park on the last Saturday of each month. Course covers all boating and safety procedures. Cost is $ 36 and covers materials. For information, call 561-966-2158. Source
They include safety patrols and search-and-rescue missions on the nation's waterways, assisting the Coast Guard with homeland security, teaching boating safety and conducting free boating safety checks. Brad Simpson, a Coast Guard Auxiliary division ? Source
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#1 ? Tehnik?
Group:Normal Members
Posts:460
Joined:08-October 07
Gender:Male
Location:Poland
Interests:This and that
Posted 21 December 2012 - 01:02 AM
I won a http://turntablelab.com/ $20 voucher, but their shipping costs to Poland are so ridiculously high, that there's no way I'm gonna order anything from them - so I decided to just give away the code to one of my fellow Renoisers. It's of most use for US-based people, let me know if you're sure you're gonna use it (or I might just post it here so the quicker one to use it gets it). It would be a shame to waste $20 after all />
This post has been edited by Tehnik: Yesterday, 09:39 AM
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#2 ? td6d?
Group:Normal Members
Posts:1198
Joined:27-December 07
Gender:Male
Location:The Netherlands
Interests:Sound
Posted 21 December 2012 - 02:33 AM
What were the shipping costs to Poland?
God have mercy on your hipster soul.
0
#3 ? Tehnik?
Group:Normal Members
Posts:460
Joined:08-October 07
Gender:Male
Location:Poland
Interests:This and that
Posted 21 December 2012 - 01:03 PM
for the $12.50 AFX cd cheapest shipping option to Poland is $45.02 - crazy if you ask me. People on eBay or Discogs are able to send cds for as little as $1.5...
0
#4 ? td6d?
Group:Normal Members
Posts:1198
Joined:27-December 07
Gender:Male
Location:The Netherlands
Interests:Sound
Posted 21 December 2012 - 07:41 PM
God have mercy on your hipster soul.
0
#5 ? organic io?
Group:Normal Members
Posts:1403
Joined:30-March 05
Posted Yesterday, 01:14 AM
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#6 ? Tehnik?
Group:Normal Members
Posts:460
Joined:08-October 07
Gender:Male
Location:Poland
Interests:This and that
Posted Yesterday, 02:49 AM
Hi, sorry organic, gave it to someone and its already used
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