Thursday, January 31, 2013

Man claiming to be pastor leaves waiter note: ?I give God 10%. Why do you get 18??

(Reddit via Consumerist)

A man claiming to be a pastor apparently tried to stiff a waiter on a tip, explaining that his work for God absolved him of having to leave one.

A photo of the receipt, posted to Reddit.com, shows a bill for $34.93 that included an automatic 18 percent gratuity ($6.29) above a blank space for an additional tip.

"I give God 10%," the diner wrote on the receipt, scratching out the automatic tip. "Why do you get 18?" He then wrote "Pastor" above his signature, and an emphatic "0" where the additional tip would be.

The Reddit user who submitted the image explained in the comments section that the receipt was part of a total bill for a party of 20, which is why the gratuity was automatically added.

?Parties up to eight ... may tip whatever they?d like, but larger parties receive an automatic gratuity," the server wrote. "It?s in the computer, it?s not something I do.?

The server added: ?They had no problem with my service, and told me I was great. They just didn?t want to pay when the time came.?

Scribbling notes on receipts has become something of a trend. Earlier this month, the manager of a North Carolina Red Robin surprised an overdue pregnant woman by comping her meal.

?Once seated, a manager came up to us and started talking,? the woman's husband told Consumerist. ?He was extremely friendly and jokingly asked my wife if this was her last meal before heading to the hospital."

When the check came, a note from the manager next to her portion of the bill read: "MOM 2 BEE GOOD LUC."

?It was a pleasant surprise and made my tired-of-being-pregnant wife a little more cheery," the man said.

Related video on Yahoo!: Waiter Becomes Hero for Standing Up to Customers:

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/pastor-tip-receipt-155914258.html

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What do you get for $8 million-a-minute Super Bowl ads?

Super Bowl ads could arguably be the best part of this Sunday?s championship game between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. They?ll make us laugh. They?ll make us cry (from laughter). We?ll share our reactions and thoughts on Facebook (FB) and Twitter for the entire Internet universe to read. We?ll judge and critique and scrutinize each one, mentally taking notes to determine the winning ad. And 48 hours later, after we relived the videos on YouTube and debated coworkers about the sexiest and most hilarious ads, we?ll move on.

Companies are paying nearly $4 million for one 30-second Super Bowl ad this year. Will those precious 30-seconds convince us to buy that product? Will one ad leave an indelible mark on our collective consciousness?

Super Bowl advertising staples like Anheuser-Busch (BUD), Doritos and GoDaddy.com can afford to drop several million dollars for one night of airtime. Fifteen percent of all Super Bowl advertisers last year invested more than 10% of their full-year media budgets in that game. But for many smaller companies, the pay-off can be unclear.

According to Brad Adgate, research director at Horizon Media, 42% of dot.com companies went bankrupt about a year after advertising in the 2000 Super Bowl. Maybe the timing was just off (two months after the game aired the ?Tech Bubble? officially crashed).

Every year there?s a new roster of Super Bowl ad rookies that are trying to build brand awareness and reach a national audience. In the 2012 game, first-time advertisers accounted for 30% of the Super Bowl ad lineup, according to Kantar Media.

This year, viewers will watch ads from first-time advertisers like Oreo Cookies, SodaStream, Research in Motion (RIMM) and Wonderful Pistachios. RIM, the struggling smartphone maker, will feature its new BlackBerry 10 device and its new operating system. Will the ad convince viewers to ditch their iPhones (AAPL) and buy BlackBerries again?

Electronics retailer Best Buy (BBY) will debut its ad that stars actress and comedian Amy Poehler. Super Bowl XLVII marks the third year in a row that Best Buy bought ad time. The company is in the middle of an existential crisis ? is one Super Bowl ad an appropriate allocation of resources? It may be hard to argue that one ad will be persuasive enough to convince consumers to shun Amazon (AMZN) and rush to Best Buy stores for their latest gadget. But that?s the gamble Best Buy and RIM -- two beaten down and beleaguered companies -- are making.

Super Bowl ads can reverse a company?s bad fortune. Online brokerage firm E*Trade (ETFC) said it saw a 32% increase in new brokerage accounts the week after its 2008 Super Bowl ad. Choosing to advertise proved to be a smart move for E*Trade, which at the time was hurting financially -- its stock had dropped 80% that year. And there are examples. According to a CareerBuilder.com executive, the job search Web site experienced an average 40% year-over-year growth in invoices and a 23% jump in job applications one month after its 2011 Super Bowl ad.

More than 111 million people tuned into the 2012 Super Bowl, the most-watched program in television history. Sunday night could be another record-breaker. Advertisers are betting their entire marketing season on this one night. Are the odds in their favor?

What's your favorite Super Bowl ad? Tell us in the comment section section below!

Got a topic you?d like covered? Have a guest you?d like to see interviewed? Send us an email: thedailyticker@yahoo.com

You can also look us up on Twitter and Facebook.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/superbowl-ads-worth-cost-132621378.html

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Ahead of the Bell: Amazon.com to post 4Q results

(AP) ? Amazon.com Inc. is expected to post strong revenue growth from the holidays when it reports fourth-quarter results after the market closes Tuesday, though profit margins will likely be squeezed by investments in the company's distribution network.

On average, analysts polled by FactSet are expecting earnings of 28 cents per share on revenue of $22.26 billion, according to a poll by FactSet. In October, Amazon forecast revenue of $20.25 billion to $22.75 billion for the quarter.

BGC Financial analyst Colin Gillis said "any upside" to Wall Street's expectations "is still a very low hurdle given the difficulty the company has had expanding earnings in recent quarters."

Overall, investors have been more than forgiving about Amazon's thin margins on the premise that the company is investing in long-term growth. As of the stock market's close on Monday Amazon's stock was up about 10 percent year-to-date.

Share rose slightly in premarket trading Tuesday, along with other tech stocks, after Yahoo topped Wall Street expectations late Monday for its first full quarter under CEO Marissa Mayer.

Amazon.com , based in Seattle, is the world's largest online retailer. It also sells e-readers and tablet computers under the Kindle brand.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2013-01-29-US-Amazon-Ahead-of-the-Bell/id-9eb4e424e1c14d06857ffe46380903cb

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Automakers turn to wind, solar to power plants

With GM using solar at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant and Volkswagen recently unveiling a huge solar array at its Chattanooga plant, Honda is next to display its green credentials--with wind turbines at its Ohio transmission factory, Ingram writes.

By Antony Ingram,?Guest blogger / January 28, 2013

A wind turbine is shown near Arlington, Ore. Green energy projects are becoming vital in maintaining an image of corporate sustainability for carmakers, Ingram writes, as their products come under ever greater pressure from legislators and environmental groups.

Rick Bowmer/AP/File

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It's no good simply producing green cars these days--you have to be green at every stage of producing the cars, too.

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With GM?using solar at its Detroit-Hamtramck plantand Volkswagen recently unveiling a huge solar array at its Chattanooga plant, Honda is next to display its green credentials--with wind turbines at its Ohio transmission factory.

Together with Juhl Wind of Pipestone, Minnesota, Honda will set up two utility-scale wind turbines at the plant.

That'll make it the first major automotive manufacturing facility in the U.S. to get a substantial amount of its power from wind--helping drastically reduce the plant's CO2 emissions.

While the turbines will provide for ten percent of the facility's power use, Honda estimates that the two turbines will provide 10,000-megawatt hours of electricity per year. Each is owned and run by Juhl Wind.?

How Legal Plans Meet the Needs of an Increasingly Diverse ...

Today?s workforce is more diverse than ever; therefore a growing number of employers are leveraging voluntary benefits to create robust, universally appealing employee benefits packages that cater to the wide-ranging needs of a multigenerational workforce.

Voluntary employee benefits are an easy, affordable way for employers to enhance core benefits at no direct cost to the organization. They are also cost-effective for employees who can access the services at a lower rate than if they were to purchase them on their own.? However, voluntary benefits that appeal to Baby Boomers may not hold the same value for younger generations, so it is important to choose benefits that resonate with all age groups. One such benefit is a group legal plan, which allows organizations to offer employees affordable access to the legal services they need.

In any given year, seven in 10 U.S. households (71%) experienced an event in which they could have used legal assistance[1]. These events include traffic tickets, home purchases, will creation, estate planning documents and powers of attorney. MetLife?s Unlocking Voluntary Value study[2] found that Generation Y, Generation X and Baby Boomers all require some level of legal assistance, although specific needs vary:

  • Generation Y (ages 18 ? 31): ?Common legal issues among this generation include credit card debt and debt collection defense, traffic tickets, landlord negotiations and DUI?s.
  • Generation X (ages 32 ? 47): ?This generation?s legal needs migrate toward real estate transactions, foreclosure, estate planning, adoption, school hearings and will creation.
  • Baby Boomers (ages 48 ? 66): ?Typical events that lead this group to seek legal assistance include tax audits, property sale, identity theft, powers of attorney, living wills and Medicare questions.

Group legal plans reduce mental and physical stress.?

An American Bar Association study revealed that more than half of Americans with legal issues attempt to resolve matters on their own1. ?Most individuals outside of the legal profession are unfamiliar with the law and legal procedures; therefore, attempts to go it alone often result in a disproportionate amount of time spent and increased stress (mental and physical, which are intertwined). A Harris Interactive study, sponsored by Hyatt Legal Plans, found that the majority of employees (61%) who hired a group legal plan attorney spent less time at work worrying about, and dealing with, their legal situation[3].

Legal services provided through employee benefits provide convenient access to experienced attorneys. This reduces time away from work, on-the-job presenteeism and overall stress. ?Through a simple implementation process, a group legal plan can help a multigenerational workforce address all these issues quickly, affordably and conveniently.

Brittany Schmigel works for Hyatt Legal Plans, a MetLife company and the country?s largest provider of?group legal plans.

[1] American Bar Association, Public Perception of Lawyers Consumer Research Findings (April, 2002).

[2] MetLife, Unlocking Voluntary Value:? A Foolproof Formula to Pinpoint the Right Voluntary Benefits for Your Business (2012).

[3] Harris Interactive on behalf of Hyatt Legal Plans, a MetLife Company, How Group Legal Plans are Positively Impacting Physical and Financial Health (February, 2012).

?

Source: http://www.hrmtoday.com/featured-stories/how-legal-plans-meet-the-needs-of-an-increasingly-diverse-workforce/

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Canon PowerShot A2500, ELPH 330 HS, 115 IS point-and-shoots debut ahead of CP+

Canon PowerShot A2500, ELPH 330 HS, 115 IS pointandshoots to debut this week at CP

You might have figured Canon's 2013 PowerShot lineup was diverse enough to satisfy just about any point-and-shoot craving. Well, no matter -- we're about to see a trio of compacts added to the mix. The ELPH 330 HS is the company's premium model for CP+, Japan's up-and-coming digital imaging trade show, which kicks off later this week in Yokohama. The 330 is similar to the 130 IS, which we first saw at CES, boosting the focal range from 8x to 10x, with a 24mm wide-angle lens. There's also an upgraded 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor with a Digic 5 processor, a 461k-dot 3-inch LCD and built-in WiFi. The next higher-end offering is the ELPH 115 IS, which packs specs more in line with the 130 IS, including the same 16-megapixel CCD sensor and 8x 28mm lens. There's no WiFi to speak of, however, and the display drops to a 2.7-inch 230k-dot panel. It can shoot 720p video and offers the same Eco Mode bundled with all of Canon's 2013 compacts.

Finally, for photogs on an even tighter budget, there's the PowerShot A2500. The specs are similar to the 115 IS, including a 16-megapixel CCD chip, a 2.7-inch 230k-dot display and 720p video shooting. Despite the reduced 5x 28-140mm lens, this flavor is a bit heftier, though it's a step up from most other A-series Canons. If you have the cash to spare, the $230 ELPH 330 HS is clearly the most compelling option launching this week -- it ships in March with black, pink or silver finishes. The slightly less capable 115 IS will be available in March for $170, in black, blue, pink and silver, while the A2500 will hit stores in April for $130, in black, silver and red. Catch a few more details in the PR just past the break.

Show full PR text

CANON U.S.A. INTRODUCES THREE NEW STYLISH POWERSHOT DIGITAL CAMERAS PROVIDING WIDE-ANGLE AND LONG TELEPHOTO LENSES IN COMPACT DESIGNS

New Lineup Includes the Wireless-Enabled PowerShot ELPH 330 HS Digital Camera With a Powerful 10x Optical Zoom Lens

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 28, 2013 - Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the addition of three stylish, feature-packed PowerShot Digital Cameras: the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS, ELPH 115 IS and A2500. These new models are ideal for photography enthusiasts of all levels looking for great photo quality and excellent video performance in compact, powerful point-and-shoot designs.

The new PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera provides advanced wireless connectivity for easy sharing. Providing great performance in dimly lit situations, the ELPH 330 HS digital camera includes the Company's HS SYSTEM that delivers clear images with minimal noise and maximum detail even when shooting in low-light. The new cameras offer great features such as Canon's Smart AUTO, enabling even novice users to get optimal camera performance automatically, so whether photographing a running child or a solo recital on stage the cameras deliver spectacular images with ease. Smart AUTO allows the cameras to detect up to 58 scenes for the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera and up to 32 scenes for the PowerShot ELPH 115 IS digital camera and PowerShot A2500 digital camera. All three models also feature ECO Mode, an advanced new method that manages power consumption and extends battery life by approximately 30 percent, when enabled, allowing you to shoot more photos for a longer amount of time.

"With the introduction of these sleek, new models to our family of PowerShot digital cameras, we are able to provide our customers with a range of imaging options including more models with wireless connectivity to upload and share their amazing creative images," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A.

PowerShot ELPH 330 HS Digital Camera

Photography today is as much about image quality as it is about sharing, whether through prints or online communities. With this in mind, the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera builds upon the success of the PowerShot line with built-in advanced wireless capabilities to easily share high-quality images captured with an impressive 10x optical zoom lens and 12.1-megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS image sensor. After an initial one-time set-up, the camera can connect to both iOS(R) or AndroidTM smartphones and tabletsi for quick and easy sharing. Users launch Canon's free CameraWindow application [i]i, available on both the iOS(R) and AndroidTM operating systemsi, to wirelessly transfer photos and videos from the camera to their device. Frequently used devices and accounts are conveniently stored in the camera's wireless history menu for quick one-touch access.

With these enhanced wireless capabilities, users now have the ability to comment on their uploaded photos directly from the camera - so being part of conversations taking place on social networking sites is easy and convenient. In addition, individuals can control the destination of Facebook uploads - choosing to share content with everyone, or post photos only to selected Facebook groups. Users can also instantly upload images wirelessly from the camera to Canon iMAGE GATEWAYiii, and automatically upload them to a computer remotely. Photos can also be printed wirelessly using Wireless PictBridgeiv on select Canon wireless inkjet printers, including the new PIXMA MG6320 Photo All-In-One printer, so special moments can be preserved and cherished.

A fantastic multipurpose lens: the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera provides a 10x optical zoom lens taking images from 24mm wide, up to 240mm at the telephoto end, able to capture that group shot, or zoom in for a dynamic close-up. Great even in low light, the camera's 12.1-megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS image sensor and DIGIC 5 image processor combine and deliver on Canon's HS SYSTEM helping ensure detail is captured even in dark or shadowed areas at a maximum ISO speed of up to 6400. For capturing memorable moments on video, at the touch of a dedicated movie-record button, the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera shoots beautiful 1080p Full HD video and includes a built-in stereo microphone for great sound. Helping document vacations with your own personal highlight reel, the camera's new Hybrid AUTO mode utilizes a combination of Smart AUTO and Intelligent IS to create a beautiful and steady HD video clip (up to approximately 4 seconds) in Movie Digest mode every time you shoot a still image. Helping ensure you don't miss those magic moments, the camera features both High Speed AF for fast focusing speed and High?Speed Burst for continuous capture at up to 6.2 frames per second while maintaining superb image quality. The combination of features, including wireless connectivity, Canon's Intelligent IS system and ECO Mode, help make the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera a great imaging companion for vacations, all-day sporting events, or family parties.

Expected to hit store shelves in March, the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera will be available in three modern colors: black, silver and pink for an estimated retail price of $229.99.

PowerShot ELPH 115 IS Digital Camera

The new pocket-able PowerShot ELPH 115 IS digital camera features an 8x optical zoom lens (28-224mm), which provides a focal range to capture most any situation. The PowerShot ELPH 115 IS digital camera includes a 16-megapixel image sensor and DIGIC 4 image processor for exceptional image quality. For those photographers who "shoot it all" and seamlessly move from scene to scene, the PowerShot ELPH 115 IS digital camera provides Canon's Smart AUTO mode that intelligently selects the proper camera settings based on up to 32 predefined shooting situations for capturing spectacular images in a variety of settings with ease. For creative video capture, users can record HD video with a built-in microphone for great sound. The PowerShot ELPH 115 IS digital camera also includes Canon's unique Intelligent IS system technology, matching the lens movement with one of six stabilization modes for smooth video and sharp still images. The camera also includes Canon's new ECO Mode allowing you to shoot more photos for a longer amount of time.

With anticipated in-store availability in March, the PowerShot ELPH 115 IS digital camera will be available in four sleek colors: blue, silver, black and pink at an estimated retail price of $169.99.

PowerShot A2500 Digital Camera

Rounding out Canon's new PowerShot lineup is the PowerShot A2500 digital camera, which includes a 16-megapixel image sensor and DIGIC 4 Image Processor, as well as a 28mm wide-angle lens with 5x optical zoom that can extend out to 140mm at the telephoto end. The camera also features Canon's Smart AUTO mode that analyzes each scene to intelligently select camera settings based on 32 predefined shooting scenarios to help capture stunning images with ease. The PowerShot A2500 digital camera can also capture great video, recording HD through a dedicated movie button. Helping ensure crisp images, Canon's Digital IS reduces the effect of camera shake and subject movement. For travelers and those on the go, Canon's new ECO Mode conserves battery life, allowing you to shoot more photos over a longer period of time. For those photographers looking to be a little more creative, the camera also features various Scene Modes such as Fisheye Effect, Toy Camera Effect and Monochrome to help provide additional creative freedom when capturing your photos. And for those just learning the art of photography, a Help Button will provide simple explanations of camera settings and functions.

Expected for sale in April, the PowerShot A2500 digital camera will be available in silver, red and black for an estimated retail price of $129.99.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/2BziCqaiLcg/

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Editorial: Facebook vs. Vine is another chapter in the book of 'We Own You'

Editorial Facebook vs Vine is another chapter in the book of 'We Own You'

Oh man, Vine is fun. It is already apparent that with creativity and planning you can produce something approaching an epic experience in a 6-second video. Vine is a perfect enhancement of Twitter's casual "what's happening now" social base. With stop-and-go videos that resemble animated GIFs, Vine puts greater movement and reality into life-casting. I showed it to my wife, who is not remotely a Twitter user, and she immediately began storyboarding microvideo adventures for our Serta sheep. So my message to all seven people who follow me on Vine: You've got a lot to look forward to.

Speaking of followers, let's consider the tectonic unfriending that transpired in the ongoing skirmish between Facebook and Twitter, the serfdom of social media users and the historical risks of walled gardens.

A bit of background. Vine is a Twitter-owned mobile startup represented by an iOS-only app for iPhone / iPod touch (it works on iPads too) that turns the device's video function into a rudimentary real-time editing machine. The sweet-and-simple interface keeps the video rolling for as long as your finger is touching the screen, for six seconds. You can lift and replace your finger (stop and start) as fast and often as you like, creating jumpy, time-crunched stories like an entire commute to work or cooking an elaborate dinner dish.

Don't get haughty about this before trying it -- unless you're an Android user, in which case haught away. There's been a fair amount of "So what?" user commentary posted since Vine launched last Wednesday, along with generally positive critical reviews for the app. Surfing Vine as a stand-alone service is rewarding, but as you might expect, quality and substance are spread unevenly, as in Twitter. The cute brigade is bulking up with cat and dog clips, foodies assume we have an appetite for 6-second visual timelines of dinner devouring, and stop-motion specialists are reborn in the new format.

After joining this thing I started seeing Twitter photos differently, as underpowered Vine potentials. I am not a disciple of the internet's tidal migration to video, and I worry about already debilitated attention spans in the online citizenry. But Vine is too much fun on its own to quibble, and it's a perfect Twitter accessory.

The people I stalk on Twitter don't seem to be rushing in: of the 385 individuals I follow, only 12 had signed up (via their Twitter accounts) by Sunday night. If I could expand my fledgling Vine community with Facebook friends ... oh, never mind. In a well-publicized maneuver, Facebook cut Vine's access to Facebook's friend-finder API which external platforms use to connect their members to Facebook friends.

Facebook cut a path through confused and generally negative media coverage by revising its Facebook Platform Policies for developers. The chief explanatory addendum related to the Vine cut-off says this: "Replicating core functionality: You may not use Facebook Platform to promote, or to export user data to, a product or service that replicates a core Facebook product or service without our permission."

You might not think that Vine's quick-vid, point-and-shoot app replicates a core function of Facebook, since uploading a video directly to FB can be a soul-tormenting experience that ends in failure and dismay. Facebook is in the media-sharing business for sure, and in that broader context the new clause apparently applies. A parallel context is an assumed reciprocal animosity between Facebook and Twitter -- when Facebook acquired Instagram, which was and is rabidly used in tweets, Twitter cut the same friend-finding cord to Facebook.

Editorial Facebook vs Vine is another chapter in the book of 'We Own You'

The truest context is the largest, and shines light on the role of social media users in ecosystem battles. Facebook and Twitter are both naturally motivated to keep visitors magnetized to their respective platforms. Facebook doesn't mind its users stepping into the larger internet for unrelated activities. But the company fears losing its grip on addicted users who might be lured onto a platform that has out-innovated Facebook in a certain space. It's not really that Vine is "replicating core functionality" now, but it is anticipating what Facebook might want to launch and monetize in the future.

These argumentative feints seem painfully trivial since anyone can join Vine at any time. For Facebook, maintaining scale in a relentlessly competitive environment involves plugging possible usage leaks. For users, the complaint is about an artificially fragmented social graph.

Many people who are socially active online enjoy the variety and contrasting features of different platforms, and are happy with multiple residences and communities with more or less overlap. My three main hangouts -- Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud -- are distinct from each other. Twitter is the most virtual; I haven't met most of the people I follow. Facebook is better for extending offline relationships onto the screen. My SoundCloud connections are kindred around music creation.

Even with this degree of separation, users are right to expect porous boundaries when liquidity is wanted. Sharing content across walls is part of it; I can extend tweets to Facebook, and share SoundCloud tracks everywhere. The more important user need is accessing friendship connections in different networks. The desire might not arise often, but when it is blocked, the ensuing friction feels artificial and hostile.

The issue arose in both the Instagram acquisition (by Facebook) and the Vine launch (by Twitter), for a reason that will become more common with new waves of mobile apps. It is about the creative quality of those apps. When we create something above and beyond the bedrock social function of connecting to friends, we naturally want to gather together a large community for sharing. It is when sharing a creation, even a photo or 6-second video, that we want to flip our conception of our social graph from several independent networks to one integrated network. It's like a 3D painting that suddenly becomes deep when you look at it in a certain way.

If there is one giant lesson of the last 20 years in the online community industry, it is that walling the garden never succeeds in the long run.

When Facebook or Twitter cuts the cord which integrates our friendship circles (the friend-finding part of their API), it becomes frustratingly clear that we are owned. We don't freely own our social connections across the internet. Social users are owned assets, like dollars in the bank, guarded by platform policies and hedged by developmental roadmaps that seek to cut off competing apps at the knees. I'm not the first to speculate that Facebook might develop a Vine-like function pronto. If so, Facebook users might be delighted with it, and settle ever more comfortably into the walled garden. That's fine.

But if there is one giant lesson of the last 20 years in the online community industry, it is that walling the garden never succeeds in the long run. AOL was the case study during the web's emergent period. Hugely successful during a span of years when mainstream confusion about the internet was neatly solved by carving out a comforting oasis, the company was eventually brought to a point of reinvention by better knowledge and better access. When you're a galaxy you can't hide the universe forever.

Facebook has attained much greater scale than AOL ever did. This business with Twitter / Vine is just a snarky play in a continuing poker game. But as an ongoing strategy, disabling users from calling back to their friends from another social destination depersonalizes Facebook and contradicts the social ethos that it was founded on. No secrets, Mark? Then the users of whom you demand that standard should be allowed to tell their friends about Vine, and the next one, and the next. Beat your competitors if you can. But don't obscure them from your users.



Brad Hill is a former Vice President at AOL, and the former Director and General Manager of Weblogs, Inc. He can be found on Twitter and Vine as @bradhill.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/28/facebook-vs-vine/

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Study shows potential of differentiated iPS cells in cell therapy without immune rejection

Study shows potential of differentiated iPS cells in cell therapy without immune rejection

Monday, January 28, 2013

A new study from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) shows that tissues derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in an experimental model were not rejected when transplanted back into genetically identical recipients. The study, published online in Cell Stem Cell, demonstrates the potential of utilizing iPS cells to develop cell types that could offer treatment for a wide range of conditions, including diabetes, liver and lung diseases, without the barrier of immune rejection.

Ashleigh Boyd, DPhil, and Neil Rodrigues, DPhil, the study's senior authors, are assistant professors of dermatology at BUSM and researchers at the Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM) at Boston University and Boston Medical Center (BMC). They also are lead investigators at the National Institutes of Health's Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) at Roger Williams Medical Center, a clinical and research affiliate of BUSM.

iPS cells can be developed from adult cell types, such as skin or blood, by returning them to a stem cell state using genetic manipulation. iPS cells are capable of maturing (differentiating) into all the specific cell types in the body, making them a powerful tool for biological research and a source of tissues for transplantation based therapies. Given that iPS cells can be made in a patient-specific manner, there should be great potential for them to be transplanted back into the same patient without rejection. Yet a study published in Nature in 2011 demonstrated that iPS cells transplanted in the stem cell state were rejected in genetically identical recipients.

"The Nature study provocatively suggested that tissues derived from patient-specific iPS cells may be immunogenic after transplantation. However, it never directly assessed the immunogenicity of the therapeutically relevant cell types that could be utilized in regenerative medicine and transplantation," said Rodrigues.

The BUSM researchers evaluated this matter by taking adult cells from an experimental model and deriving iPS cells from them. They then differentiated the iPS cells into three cell types: neuronal (nerve); hepatocytes (liver); and endothelial (blood vessel lining) cells. These three cell types represent each of the three germ layers present during embryonic development ? mesoderm, ectoderm and endoderm. Cells from these layers differentiate and ultimately develop into the body's tissue and organ systems. Using experiments to mirror the potential clinical use of patient-specific iPS cells in cell therapy, the team transplanted each of the differentiated cells into a genetically identical experimental model and found no signs of an elevated immune response or indications of rejection.

The study results suggest that using patient-specific iPS cells should overcome issues of immune rejection in transplantation, which will be a significant problem for potential embryonic stem cell-derived therapies. Immune rejection in transplantation is treated clinically by immunosuppressive drugs but they can have serious side-effects, including the risk of developing cancer.

"If the use of immunosuppressive drugs can be avoided, as may be the case for patient-specific iPS cell based therapies, it would be preferable. Our results are very promising and future work should be directed at assessing whether tissues derived from human iPS cells will similarly lack immunogenicity," said Boyd.

###

Boston University Medical Center: http://www.bmc.org

Thanks to Boston University Medical Center for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126481/Study_shows_potential_of_differentiated_iPS_cells_in_cell_therapy_without_immune_rejection

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Monday, January 28, 2013

Antigua gets OK to become copyright haven

(AP) ? Americans call it piracy. Antiguans call it justice.

The islands of Antigua and Barbuda are threatening to strip intellectual property protections from American goods as part of a long-running trade dispute over the U.S. embargo on the tiny Caribbean nation's online gambling industry.

U.S. officials say the proposed copyright haven - whose broad outlines were approved Monday at the World Trade Organization in Geneva - amounts to "government-authorized piracy." But Antiguans, who've won a series of legal victories against the U.S. at the international trade body, reject any suggestion that they're pirates.

"We have followed the rules and procedures of the WTO to the letter," Antigua's high commissioner to London, Carl Roberts, said in a statement Monday. "Our little country is doing precisely what it has earned the right to do under international agreements."

The U.S. and Antigua have been tussling for years over the ability of Americans to use online casinos based in the Caribbean nation. U.S. laws have long been interpreted to mean that Internet gambling is illegal if it crosses state lines.

The World Trade Organization, however, has come down on Antigua's side. In 2007, it allowed the islands to draw $21 million a year's worth of "nullification or impairments" from the United States as a penalty for the continuing refusal of the U.S. to allow American customers to place their online bets in Antigua.

Antiguan officials say they could make up the money through the operation of a copyright haven, although what that might look like and what its scope would be remains unclear. Antiguan officials have kept details vague and the move has little precedent.

Observers have suggested, for example, a subscription service to access copyright-free American music, or a pay-per-download site that charges pennies for Hollywood hits.

Mark Mendel, a lawyer for Antigua's government, cautioned that whatever ends up being set up, it wouldn't be an Antiguan version of The Pirate Bay, the free-for-all file sharing site whose name has become synonymous with illegal downloads.

"We aren't going to be flaunting the rules," he said in a telephone interview last week. "It's not piracy if you have the right to do it."

Right or wrong, American businesses aren't happy with the idea. Gina Vetere, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's intellectual property center, said such a move would only exacerbate the dispute and "sour the business environment."

The haven may still never see the light of day; Mendel said Antigua's goal remains a negotiated settlement with U.S. authorities over the gambling dispute.

Even if such a haven were set up, international fans of free downloads may want to exercise caution. Antiguans may be allowed to download freely, but for those outside the country the legal regime remains murky.

Nevertheless, the notion of a country of 89,000 people standing up to the powerful United States on intellectual property matters has caught the imagination of many - especially those who believe that U.S. copyright rules are too restrictive.

"It's time for small countries to be treated fairly in these organizations," said Mendel.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2013-01-28-Caribbean%20Copyright%20Haven/id-f73687586cbb4734a07c1f0de1e667d8

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Black and White ? Guide to Leukemia & Lymphoma Month

This year?s Leukemia & Lymphoma Month fundraiser will include a 5k race and a yard sale in addition to the return of Guy Auction, Whitman Idol, bRAVE, Battle of the Beards and Battle of the Bands.

?We?ve tried to make the events more community-oriented and involve a lot of people outside of the SGA in order to reach out to Bethesda,? SGA president Jacob Rosenblum said.

Correction: Whitman Idol has been postponed to Feb. 1. Graphic courtesy Jacob Rosenblum.

The SGA is offering students clubs the opportunity to organize events in order to get the community involved, Rosenblum said. The G.U.Y.S. (Give Us Your Stuff) yard sale will be held Jan. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m, in which students and community members bring unwanted items to be sold, and any remaining items are donated to the Salvation Army.

?People get rid of their clutter, get new stuff and the SGA raises a lot of money. It?s a no cost event that?s pretty easy to put on and participate in,? Rosenblum said.

The Red Rush 5k is another new event that should bring the school community together. The race will replace last year?s Hoops for Heart basketball tournament. While Red Rush is scheduled to take place Feb. 10., the SGA has been planning the race since October, junior class president Jorge Richardson said.

The SGA hopes that it can get a mix of students and community members to sign up for the race. If registration goes as planned, the race could bring in as much as 7,500 dollars, Richardson said. The race will rival Walter Johnson?s Burrito Mile race, Rosenblum said.

Last year's bRAVE raised over $9,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma society. Students danced for up to 12 hours at the school's first dance marathon. Photo by Billy Bird.

Whitman?s 12-hour dance marathon, bRAVE, is going to be even bigger this year, Rosenblum said. This year, the SGA is encouraging students to bring guests from other schools.

Rather than a DJ, the SGA will be playing its own playlist. Students in the leadership class have been compiling house music for bRAVE since the beginning of the school year.

The rest of the events planned for Leukemia and Lymphoma month are equally impressive. This year?s Battle of the Bands on Feb. 6 will feature popular local band Dale and the ZDubs, as well as student musicians.

Guy Auction, on Feb. 13, will feature junior and senior boys selling dates to raise money. In addition, students can donate money to their favorite bearded men in the Battle of the Beards and purchase red Leukemia and Lymphoma wristbands throughout the month.

For the past three years, Walter Johnson has won the Leukemia Lymphoma Society?s high school challenge. The SGA hopes to raise more money than Walter Johnson and finally win the challenge.

With all of the SGA?s planning and preparing, Whitman?s chances of winning are high, Rosenblum said.

?This is the first year that the freshman officers have mentioned beating WJ in their speeches and we?ve got all these people outside of leadership excited,? he said. ?I really think we can do it this year.?

Source: http://www.theblackandwhite.net/2013/01/27/guide-to-leukemia-lymphoma-month/

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Jenelle Evans Miscarriage Confirmed; Gary Head "There to Comfort Her"

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/jenelle-evans-miscarriage-confirmed-gary-head-there-to-comfort-h/

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Sunday, January 27, 2013

Super Sports Golf & Recreation Center in Orange, CA | Flickr - Photo ...

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwwp/8422091968/

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Woods builds a 4-shot lead at Torrey

SAN DIEGO (AP) ? The fog lifted Sunday and revealed a familiar sight: Tiger Woods in command at Torrey Pines.

Woods had great control of his tee shots and began to pull away from the field with a 3-under 69 in the third round to build a four-shot lead in the Farmers Insurance Open. Fog wiped out all of Saturday, so players were going as long as daylight allowed and returning Monday to complete the tournament.

Woods was likely to get in about six holes of the fourth round. Woods, with his first outright 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour since 2009, was at 14-under 202.

Brad Fritsch, a PGA Tour rookie from Canada, had a 70 and was at 206. Erik Compton finished birdie-eagle for a 71 and was five shots behind.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/woods-builds-4-shot-lead-torrey-225005641--spt.html

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Patch Pets: Jayla Needs a Home - Plum-Oakmont, PA Patch

This is Jayla, a dog in need of a home.

According to her profile on the?Animal Rescue League website, "Jayla is an all-around good family dog.?She likes kids, cats and other dogs. She is used to being in a crate at night and knows many commands.

"The only problem Jayla has is that she tends to run away when not supervised."

A mixed retriever breed with a tan-and-white coat, she is 4 years old.

If you'd like to inquire about this pet, call 412-661-6452, ext. 215. Jayla's adoption fee is $115.

_____________________

Plum-Oakmont Patch is ?on Facebook? and ?on Twitter?. Don't forget to sign up for our daily email newsletter by ?clicking here?.

Source: http://plum-oakmont.patch.com/articles/patch-pets-jayla-needs-a-home-262590a4

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Saturday, January 26, 2013

Institute of Digital Marketing: Internet Marketing Delhi


With as many as?6.2 claimed users and 5 million active Internet users?Internet in Delhi (As per the survey of 2011 of IAMAI), more and more businesses here are going online as the most cost effective and viable option for their products and services to generate considerable sales in a quick and easy manner. With Increased Awareness and younger ?generation has lead to a growing trend of Internet marketing in India.?

Internet marketing helps a business in enhancing its presence on the web, boosting its online existence and helps it to rank higher in the search engines. Top search engine rankings allow a business to attract increased traffic to there website and thereby improve the likelihood of sales of its goods and services.?

There are a large number of companies in?Delhi?that offer Internet marketing services. These Internet marketing ?firms possess wealth of knowledge and expertise in online marketing and help their clients enjoy incredible online reputation. Based on the nature of their client?s business and their individual internet marketing needs and requirements, professional online marketing experts devise a successful internet marketing plan.?

The best part about online is that there is something for everyone and one need not be restricted to a few or ?their own limited Geographical area. The WORLD is the marketplace and Customers are there Globally so fasten your seat belts and Get a Roaring start by Announcing your Presence Powerfully into the Wired world.

?Here you can find Internet marketing services that best suit your budget. So, whether you are a small business or a top multinational company, you can find Internet marketing services to achieve your online business goals and objectives.?

To enjoy the best internet marketing services in?Delhi, please visit websites of the companies given below and Get ready to Grow Online when you have SEM Experts that will help you with Website, SEO, PPC, User Experience, Email marketing etc

  1. Omlogic
  2. Guru Infoways
  3. Rich Purple
  4. The Web Conz Technologies
  5. WebisDom
  6. Wings IT Solutions
  7. Grapes Software Pvt Ltd.
  8. YngMedia
  9. Fourtek IT Solutions Pvt Ltd.
  10. HindSoft
  11. Global seo web Technology
  12. I Marketing Advantage
  13. swaran soft
  14. Internet Moguls

Source: http://blog.digitalmarketing.ac.in/2013/01/internet-marketing-delhi.html

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Lakers beat Jazz 102-84 to snap 4-game skid

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Airing things out among themselves had the desired effect for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Metta World Peace hit five 3-pointers on his way to scoring 17 points and the Lakers pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Utah Jazz 102-84 on Friday night, snapping a four-game skid.

Coming off an 0-3 road trip during which players confronted each other last Wednesday in Memphis, the Lakers got balanced scoring and better team defense that helped them beat the Jazz for the first time in three meetings this season.

Kobe Bryant suggested "our closed-door meeting that everyone seems to know about" had something to do with the victory.

"It's a relief, especially against a team that's handled us pretty well," he said. "We made shots and that makes the game a lot easier. It's not about showing we've turned the corner. It's about doing it."

Derrick Favors led the Jazz with 14 points off the bench. Fellow reserve Gordon Hayward scored 13 and Al Jefferson had 12. Paul Millsap and Randy Foye added 10 points each. Utah had won six of its previous seven.

Dwight Howard had 17 points and 13 rebounds, Steve Nash scored 15 and Pau Gasol added 15 points off the bench for the Lakers. Bryant had 14 points, a season-high 14 assists and nine rebounds in bringing Utah's four-game winning streak to an end.

"After the Memphis game, we put the past behind us," said Howard, who had vowed after the meeting that he would take a bigger defensive role. "We've got to sustain it for the rest of the season. We have to play together and play for each other."

Howard aggravated his right shoulder in the second quarter of the Lakers' loss at Memphis, the same injury that caused him to miss three games two weeks ago. But he showed no ill effects from the start, scoring six points in a 15-4 spurt that opened the game and gave the Lakers the lead for good.

"It feels pretty good," Howard said. "I did a lot of work before the game."

Bryant moved the ball, giving his teammates a chance to score and taking some pressure off Nash, who had two assists in nearly 30 minutes.

"I thought Kobe was brilliant," Nash said. "Setting the table for Dwight and getting the team going. Dwight was obviously finishing and a big presence defensively. Those are our two big guns and when they are symbiotic like that we are a special team. I know it's hard to sustain, but we looked like a real good squad."

The Lakers had lost 10 of their last 12 and remain seven games below .500.

"We're bonding together and we're communicating with each other very well," Bryant said, suggesting that last week's confrontation was healthy for the team. "You can't just sweep things under the rug all the time. They don't get better."

Utah cut its deficit to 78-69 early in the fourth before the Lakers began dominating the final 10 minutes. World Peace hit his fifth 3-pointer and Bryant scored four points during a 14-5 spurt that pushed Los Angeles' lead to 92-74. The Lakers were 9 of 21 from long range.

"I could tell they were the more desperate team," Hayward said. "We didn't bring it from the start and we kind of just dug ourselves a hole."

The Lakers led by 12 early in the third before Utah closed to 61-58, capped by Favors' alley-oop dunk off a pass from Earl Watson.

The Lakers fought back from 3-point range. Chris Duhon and World Peace combined for three 3-pointers and Jodie Meeks dunked to keep them ahead 72-63 going into the fourth. Gasol and Millsap got into it verbally and received double technicals as the quarter was ending.

"They got their hands on us and they got us out of our offense," Utah coach Tyrone Corbin said. "They were just more aggressive."

Utah closed to 47-37 at halftime.

The Lakers' 15-4 run to start the game was helped by World Peace and Nash combining for three 3-pointers. The Jazz quickly closed within two before the Lakers stretched their lead to 26-19.

NOTES: World Peace was one 3-pointer shy of equaling his career high set on Feb. 28, 2009, against Chicago. ... Bryant finished one assist shy of his career high set on Feb. 12, 2002, against Washington. ... Utah fell to 9-16 on the road.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lakers-beat-jazz-102-84-snap-4-game-055014545--spt.html

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Businesses want corporate income tax at below 23 percent ...

Vietnam Tax Consultancy Association related stories

VietNamNet Bridge ? A lot of business associations have proposed to set up the corporate income tax rate at lower than 23 percent, the threshold suggested in the draft tax law.

Sharper decreases, sooner validity wanted

Sharper decreases, sooner validity wanted

The Ministry of Finance has finished the drafting of the Corporate Income Tax law, planning to slash the popular corporate income tax from 25 percent currently to 23 percent. Small and medium enterprises would be able to enjoy a lower tax rate of 20 percent.

The small and medium enterprises mean the ones with less than 200 workers and the annual revenue of VND20 billion.

According to the Vietnam Tax Consultancy Association, it would be more reasonable to apply the normal tax rate at 22 percent, or one percent lower than the suggested rate.

Over the last nine years, the corporate income tax rates have been adjusted several times. The 2003 Corporate Income Tax law, which took valid on January 1, 2004, decided the four percent tax rate decrease from 32 percent to 28 percent.

The 2008 law, applied since January 1, 2009, decided the three percent decrease, from 28 percent to 25 percent. And the Ministry of Finance this time plans a 9.2 percent decrease from 25 percent to 23 percent, before the tax rate would be lowered to 20 percent by 2020.

The tax consultancy association, while believing that the 20 percent tax rate by 2020 is suitable to the tax policy renovation process, still believes that the corporate income tax should be lowered by one more percent for the immediate time to encourage businesses to expand their investment and scale up production.

The plan by the finance ministry to offer preferential tax rate of 20 percent to small and medium enterprises has been applauded by business associations. However, they still argue about what ?small and medium enterprises? mean.

The Gia Lai provincial business association has proposed to loosen the requirements on enterprises to be recognized as small and medium businesses. These should be the enterprises using less than 300 full time workers and the annual revenue of no more than VND100 billion.

Not only wanting sharper tax rate decreases, businesses believe that the new tax rates should be taken valid sooner than initially planned, on July 1, 2013, instead of January 1, 2014.

No limitations on ad and marketing expenses?

The Ministry of Finance seems to please businesses when deciding to raise the ceiling expenses on marketing and advertisements from 10 percent to 15 percent of total expenses. This means that enterprises must not spend more than 15 percent of their total expenses on advertisements.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), which represents the business circle, has insisted that no limitation on businesses? spending should be set up. In principle, they should be given the right to decide how much to spend and on what they spend their money.

VCCI has found out from its survey that Vietnam is one of very few countries which set limitations on the expenses on ads and marketing. This makes businesses? actual expenses higher by 42-80 percent.

VCCI has also pointed out that in fact, most businesses spend more than they allowed on ads and marketing, especially newly set up businesses, which need to spend money to build up their brands. Meanwhile, businesses in different business fields and with different scales would have different advertisement plans with different budgets.

Pham Huyen

Corporate Income Tax related stories

Source: http://talkvietnam.com/2013/01/businesses-want-corporate-income-tax-at-below-23-percent/

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Friday, January 25, 2013

AT&T announces Q4 2012 results, sold 10.2 million smartphones, 8.6 million of which were iPhones

AT&T announces Q4 2012 results, sold 10.2 million smartphones, 8.6 million of which were iPhones

AT&T has announced their Q4 2012 financial results, and out of a record 10.2 million smartphones sold, a record 8.6 million were iPhones. AT&T chairman and CEO, Randall Stephenson said:

We had an excellent 2012. We grew revenues, increased adjusted earnings per share by 8.5 percent and generated cash from operations at record levels. We used this cash to invest aggressively in the future of our business and returned $23 billion to shareowners through dividends and share repurchases.

Looking ahead, our key growth platforms ? mobile data, U-verse and strategic business services ? all have good momentum with a lot of headroom. We?re off to a strong start executing Project VIP, our plan to expand our high-growth platforms to millions more customers, and our 4G LTE network deployment is ahead of schedule, delivering outstanding performance.

Wireless highlights include:

  • Wireless revenues up 5.7 percent versus the year-ago quarter; wireless service revenues up 4.2 percent 780,000 wireless postpaid net adds, largest increase in three years; 1.1 million increase in total net wireless subscribers
  • Record smartphone sales of 10.2 million, the most ever sold by any U.S. carrier; postpaid smartphone customer base now 47.1 million, up 2.5 million from third-quarter 2012
  • Smartphones 89 percent of postpaid phone sales
  • Postpaid wireless subscriber ARPU (average monthly revenues per subscriber) up 1.9 percent to $64.98

So 4/5, almost 9/10 smartphones activated by AT&T were iPhones. Almost 3/5 smartphones activated by Verizon were iPhones. Almost 50 million iPhones were sold by Apple.

Still doomed.

Source: AT&T



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/LkO8_qGiqNo/story01.htm

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Netflix's 4Q restores company's investment luster

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Netflix has re-emerged as a stock-market star after a fourth-quarter performance that demonstrated its success in broadening the appeal of its Internet video service despite stiffer competition.

The results announced Wednesday served as a resounding endorsement of Netflix Inc. CEO Reed Hastings, who has been spending heavily to license more compelling movies and TV shows in hopes of warding off intensifying competitive threats. Companies such as Amazon.com Inc. and Coinstar Inc.'s Redbox have expanded into streaming video to Internet-connected devices to compete with Netflix.

Hastings' strategy has been met with widespread skepticism, but it paid off during the final three months of last year.

Netflix gained 2 million video-streaming subscribers in the U.S. during the quarter, propelling the company to a profit during a period that was supposed to produce a loss. In a letter to investors, Hastings credited the gains to people's interest in watching a wide range of entertainment on the tablet computers and Internet-connected TVs that they got as holiday gifts.

"As the sales of tablets go, apparently so go the fortunes of Netflix," Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter said.

Investors were euphoric. Netflix's volatile stock soared $36.24, or more than 35 percent, to $139.50 in extended trading after the numbers came out. If the rally carries over into Thursday's regular trading, Netflix's stock would hit a new 52-week high. It would also mark a nearly 80 percent increase since the company's early December announcement of a licensing deal with The Walt Disney Co. for exclusive streaming rights to new movies beginning in 2016.

The upturn in Netflix's stock has been a boon for billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who began accumulating a 10 percent stake in the company in early September when the stock was trading below $55.

Despite the recent rebound, Netflix's stock remains well below its peak price of nearly $305 reached in July 2011. That was around the same time the company outraged subscribers with a change that increased prices by as much as 60 percent for those who wanted to stream video and still rent DVDs through the mail. Hastings has been scrambling to make amends since the backlash triggered mass cancellations.

"There is still an echo and a bruise," Hastings told analyst during a Wednesday conference call. "We are still extremely thoughtful and careful about what we are trying to do. It wouldn't take much for the issue to flare up again or for us to lose trust. You might say we are on probation at this point, so we are out of jail."

The fourth-quarter surge in new customers left Netflix with 27.1 million U.S. subscribers to its streaming service, which costs $8 per month. Hastings said he believes the U.S. streaming service eventually will have 60 million to 90 million subscribers, although he hasn't set a timetable for reaching that goal.

"We have a long way to go, but we are very happy with the quarter," Hastings said in a Wednesday interview.

Netflix's international expansion also picked up steam as the company ended the quarter with an additional 1.8 million subscribers outside the U.S.

That gave Netflix 33.3 million video-streaming subscribers worldwide as Netflix began the new year, up by nearly 10 million from the start of 2012.

Netflix also still has 8.2 million customers signed up for the DVD-by-mail rental plans that launched the company's early success. Although Netflix is phasing out the disc service, the company hung on to more of the DVD subscribers than it anticipated during the fourth quarter. Netflix lost 382,000 DVD subscribers during the quarter.

Netflix seems confident it will build upon its recent momentum in the current quarter, which will be highlighted by the Feb. 1 debut of a much-anticipated TV series called "House of Cards." The series is produced exclusively for the video streaming service and stars Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey.

In his letter, Hastings described "House of Cards" ''as a defining moment in the development of Internet TV." Netflix is releasing all 13 episodes of the first season simultaneously on the hunch that the added convenience will foster more subscriber loyalty instead of encouraging people to sign up for the service for just a month or two to watch exclusive series such as "House of Cards."

The company, which is based in Los Gatos, Calif., forecast that its video streaming service will pick up 1.35 million to 2.1 million in the U.S. during the first three months of this year.

Netflix also expects to break even or generate another profit during the quarter. Analysts previously thought the company would lose money to start the year as expenses for the international expansion and video-licensing fees outpace revenue growth.

Although he applauded Netflix's fourth-quarter performance, Pachter still believes Netflix's rising bills to license video will hobble the company.

"I think the company is genuinely mistaken in how it thinks it is going to manage content costs," Pachter said. "This is truly a house of cards and it's going to come crashing down this year."

As of Dec. 31, Netflix owed $5.6 billion in licensing fees during the next five years, up from $5 billion through Sept. 30. In an indication that he believes Netflix can shoulder the financial load, Hastings told analysts Wednesday that he is interested in licensing Sony Corp.'s' latest movies in a deal similar to the one recently struck with Disney. Sony currently has a licensing agreement with the Starz pay-TV channel that ends in 2015.

Netflix earned nearly $8 million, or 13 cents per share, in the fourth quarter. That was a 78 percent plunge from net income of $35.2 million, or 64 cents per share, at the same time last year.

Taking their cue from Netflix's own projections in October, analysts polled by FactSet had predicted the company's would lose 12 cents per share, also because of expenses for expansion and licensing.

Revenue climbed 8 percent from the previous year to $945 million, about $10 million above expectations.

For the full year, earned $17 million, or 29 cents per share, on revenue of $3.6 billion. Netflix had started the year warning it might sustain an annual loss for the first time in a decade. The company earned $226 million, or $4.16 per share, on revenue of $3.2 billion in 2011.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/netflixs-4q-restores-companys-investment-luster-234938153--finance.html

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