Yahoo announced its acquisition of Jybe Inc., which provides personalized recommendations based on users? data from social networks. Jybe is said to be a more personalized, accurate version of Yelp. Through the acquisition, Yahoo gets engineers who know how to build social software.
The terms of the deal was not disclosed by both parties. At present, Yahoo is in talks to purchase a stake if as much as 75 percent in France Telecom SA?s Dailymotion video site that is said to be worth around $300 million.
Yahoo?s Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer is focusing the company to be a provider of web services that are customized for individual users. The company adds engineers through its acquisition of small technology startups. Since Mayer became the CEO, Yahoo acquired five companies, including Stamped Inc., OntheAir, Alike, and Snip.it.
Yahoo is taking on five Jybe employees. All of them once worked for the Internet portal, according to Senior Vice President Jay Rossiter. The company was founded in 2011. It will be show shut as a result of the acquisition. The founders will work on projects at Yahoo. The Jybe app has closed but Yahoo hopes it can use the company?s data and science-driven experience will boost its efforts to create products and experiences for Yahoo users.
France Telecom spokesman Tom Wright declined to comment on the possible acquisition of Dailymotion. Yahoo also declined to comment on the issue. Mayer said that she wants to build sites and technologies that would be daily habits for consumers, such as stock tickers and checking emails. Last January, she said that the company was focused on technology that would personalize content from the internet and provide it to people on their mobile devices.
Mayer said that Yahoo is thinking about how to take the Internet and bring it to the users. The company intends to be a source of information that is ordered by users and delivered to handheld devices.
ENCINITAS, Calif. (AP) ? A documentary filmmaker known for helping rescue children from squalid Romanian orphanages in the early 1990s was fatally shot following a dispute over the trimming of shrubbery outside his Southern California home, officials said Friday.
John Charles Upton Jr., 56, was found dead Thursday on a dirt path in the yard of his Encinitas home. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said detectives arrested Michael Vilkin, 61, on suspicion of murder. He was being held without bail, pending arraignment Tuesday.
Upton, after learning of the plight of Romanian orphans, publicized the brutal conditions and was instrumental in bringing an estimated two dozen orphans to America for medical care and adoption.
Vilkin, in an interview conducted in county jail, told KGTV in San Diego he fired gunshots in self-defense after Upton menaced him with a gun during a dispute over foliage.
Vilkin said he owns vacant property next to Upton's home, and the two men had a disagreement over trimming shrubs.
"I did not go to him," Vilkin told the station. "He came to me threatening and pulled a gun (on) me."
Upton's brother, Michael Upton, told U-T San Diego that his brother and Vilkin previously argued about trees.
Upton's work in Romania also gained the attention of influential activists, inspiring billionaire philanthropist Richard Branson and actress Jessica Lange to help rescue youngsters from Romania.
Upton went on to create an online network of films about charitable causes.
Children of deployed parents at higher risk for alcohol, drug usePublic release date: 28-Mar-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jennifer Brown jennifer-l-brown@uiowa.edu 319-356-7124 University of Iowa Health Care
When deployment also disrupts living arrangements, risk increases
In 2010, almost 2 million American children had at least one parent in active military duty. A new University of Iowa study suggests that deployment of a parent puts these children at an increased risk for drinking alcohol and using drugs.
Using data from a statewide survey of sixth-, eighth-, and 11th-grade students in Iowa, the researchers found an increase in 30-day alcohol use, binge drinking, using marijuana and other illegal drugs, and misusing prescription drugs among children of deployed or recently returned military parents compared to children in non-military families. The increased risk was consistent across all age groups. The findings are published online in the journal Addiction.
"We worry a lot about the service men and women and we sometimes forget that they are not the only ones put into harm's way by deployment -- their families are affected, too," says Stephan Arndt, Ph.D., UI professor of psychiatry and biostatistics and senior study author. "Our findings suggest we need to provide these families with more community support."
Arndt and colleagues at the Iowa Consortium for Substance Abuse Research and Evaluation and the UI Injury Prevention Research Center, examined data from the 2010 Iowa Youth Survey (IYS) to investigate whether military deployment of a parent was associated with children's substance use.
The survey, developed by the consortium in 1999, is administered by the state and conducted every two years. Participating students answer questions online about attitudes and experiences with alcohol, drugs, and violence, as well as students' perceptions of their peers, family, school and community. Of all sixth-, eighth-, and 11th-grade students enrolled in Iowa schools in 2010, 69 percent (78,240 students) completed the IYS.
Students were also asked if they had a parent in the military and about the parent's deployment status. The researchers focused their analysis on the 59,395 responses that indicated a parent in the military, either deployed (775, 1.3 percent) or recently returned (983, 1.7 percent), or not in the military (57,637, 97 percent).
"Looking at the Iowa Youth Survey, we discovered we were right in regard to our idea that parental deployment would increase the risk for substance use behaviors in children. In fact, the numbers suggested we were a lot more right than we wanted to be," Arndt says.
"For example, sixth-graders in non-military families had binge drinking rates of about 2 percent. That jumps up to about 7 percent for the children of deployed or recently returned parents a three-to-four-fold increase in the raw percentage."
The study showed that rates for drinking alcohol in the past 30 days were 7 to 9 percentage points higher for children of deployed or recently returned parents across all grades, while rates for binge drinking (having had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row) were 5 to 8 percentage points higher for children of deployed parents across all grades. Marijuana use was also higher in children of deployed parents, but the difference in risk was larger for older students; for sixth-grade students the risk difference was almost 2 percentage points, for 11th-grade students it was almost 5 percentage points higher.
Living arrangements matter too
A second important and unexpected finding was the relationship between parental deployment, disruption of children's living arrangements, and increased risk of substance use.
"When at least one parent is deployed, there is a measurable percentage of children who are not living with their natural parents," Arndt says. "Some of these children go to live with a relative, but some go outside of the family, and that change in these children's living arrangements grossly affected their risk of binge drinking and marijuana use."
The study found that for children who were not living with a parent or relative, those with a deployed parent had a risk of binge drinking that was 42 percentage points higher than a student from a non-military family. In comparison, children with a deployed parent who still were living with a parent had a risk of binge drinking that was about 8 percentage points higher than children of non-military families who were living with a parent.
"Deployment is going to be disruptive anyway, which is probably why we see the overall increased risk of substance use in these children. And then for those children where parental deployment means they end up living outside of the family, it's a double whammy," Arndt says. "The results suggest that when a parent deploys, it may be preferable to place a child with a family member and try to minimize the disruption of the child's living arrangements."
Iowa's military population may be more affected
Because the study surveyed only Iowa children, the nature of Iowa's military population may also affect the results, Arndt notes.
In Iowa, along with Vermont, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, the largest portion of military personnel serve with the Reserve or the National Guard. These groups of military personnel live in civilian communities rather than on military bases and may have limited access to support services and resources designed to help military families.
"States like Iowa that have a large proportion of National Guard may be more affected by this increased risk for children," Arndt says.
Although the UI study findings may be specific to families of National Guardsmen and women, Arndt notes that the results agree with previous research that focused on risky behavior for children of deployed military men and women in Washington state, which unlike Iowa has a large active duty population.
"I think our findings suggest, first, that people need to be aware that for service members and their families this is a real phenomenon, and one that should receive close attention," Arndt says. "I would also think that schools should have a heightened awareness that children from deployed parents may need extra help."
###
In addition to Arndt, the research team included Laura Acion, Ph.D., Marizen Ramirez, Ph.D., and Ricardo Jorge, M.D.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Children of deployed parents at higher risk for alcohol, drug usePublic release date: 28-Mar-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jennifer Brown jennifer-l-brown@uiowa.edu 319-356-7124 University of Iowa Health Care
When deployment also disrupts living arrangements, risk increases
In 2010, almost 2 million American children had at least one parent in active military duty. A new University of Iowa study suggests that deployment of a parent puts these children at an increased risk for drinking alcohol and using drugs.
Using data from a statewide survey of sixth-, eighth-, and 11th-grade students in Iowa, the researchers found an increase in 30-day alcohol use, binge drinking, using marijuana and other illegal drugs, and misusing prescription drugs among children of deployed or recently returned military parents compared to children in non-military families. The increased risk was consistent across all age groups. The findings are published online in the journal Addiction.
"We worry a lot about the service men and women and we sometimes forget that they are not the only ones put into harm's way by deployment -- their families are affected, too," says Stephan Arndt, Ph.D., UI professor of psychiatry and biostatistics and senior study author. "Our findings suggest we need to provide these families with more community support."
Arndt and colleagues at the Iowa Consortium for Substance Abuse Research and Evaluation and the UI Injury Prevention Research Center, examined data from the 2010 Iowa Youth Survey (IYS) to investigate whether military deployment of a parent was associated with children's substance use.
The survey, developed by the consortium in 1999, is administered by the state and conducted every two years. Participating students answer questions online about attitudes and experiences with alcohol, drugs, and violence, as well as students' perceptions of their peers, family, school and community. Of all sixth-, eighth-, and 11th-grade students enrolled in Iowa schools in 2010, 69 percent (78,240 students) completed the IYS.
Students were also asked if they had a parent in the military and about the parent's deployment status. The researchers focused their analysis on the 59,395 responses that indicated a parent in the military, either deployed (775, 1.3 percent) or recently returned (983, 1.7 percent), or not in the military (57,637, 97 percent).
"Looking at the Iowa Youth Survey, we discovered we were right in regard to our idea that parental deployment would increase the risk for substance use behaviors in children. In fact, the numbers suggested we were a lot more right than we wanted to be," Arndt says.
"For example, sixth-graders in non-military families had binge drinking rates of about 2 percent. That jumps up to about 7 percent for the children of deployed or recently returned parents a three-to-four-fold increase in the raw percentage."
The study showed that rates for drinking alcohol in the past 30 days were 7 to 9 percentage points higher for children of deployed or recently returned parents across all grades, while rates for binge drinking (having had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row) were 5 to 8 percentage points higher for children of deployed parents across all grades. Marijuana use was also higher in children of deployed parents, but the difference in risk was larger for older students; for sixth-grade students the risk difference was almost 2 percentage points, for 11th-grade students it was almost 5 percentage points higher.
Living arrangements matter too
A second important and unexpected finding was the relationship between parental deployment, disruption of children's living arrangements, and increased risk of substance use.
"When at least one parent is deployed, there is a measurable percentage of children who are not living with their natural parents," Arndt says. "Some of these children go to live with a relative, but some go outside of the family, and that change in these children's living arrangements grossly affected their risk of binge drinking and marijuana use."
The study found that for children who were not living with a parent or relative, those with a deployed parent had a risk of binge drinking that was 42 percentage points higher than a student from a non-military family. In comparison, children with a deployed parent who still were living with a parent had a risk of binge drinking that was about 8 percentage points higher than children of non-military families who were living with a parent.
"Deployment is going to be disruptive anyway, which is probably why we see the overall increased risk of substance use in these children. And then for those children where parental deployment means they end up living outside of the family, it's a double whammy," Arndt says. "The results suggest that when a parent deploys, it may be preferable to place a child with a family member and try to minimize the disruption of the child's living arrangements."
Iowa's military population may be more affected
Because the study surveyed only Iowa children, the nature of Iowa's military population may also affect the results, Arndt notes.
In Iowa, along with Vermont, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, the largest portion of military personnel serve with the Reserve or the National Guard. These groups of military personnel live in civilian communities rather than on military bases and may have limited access to support services and resources designed to help military families.
"States like Iowa that have a large proportion of National Guard may be more affected by this increased risk for children," Arndt says.
Although the UI study findings may be specific to families of National Guardsmen and women, Arndt notes that the results agree with previous research that focused on risky behavior for children of deployed military men and women in Washington state, which unlike Iowa has a large active duty population.
"I think our findings suggest, first, that people need to be aware that for service members and their families this is a real phenomenon, and one that should receive close attention," Arndt says. "I would also think that schools should have a heightened awareness that children from deployed parents may need extra help."
###
In addition to Arndt, the research team included Laura Acion, Ph.D., Marizen Ramirez, Ph.D., and Ricardo Jorge, M.D.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
BERLIN (AP) ? Work crews backed by about 250 police removed parts of the Berlin Wall known as the East Side Gallery before dawn Wednesday to make way for an upscale building project, despite demands by protesters that the site be preserved.
Residents of the area expressed shock at the move, which followed several protests including one attended by American celebrity David Hasselhoff.
Police spokesman Alexander Toennies said there were no incidents as work began about 5 a.m. to remove four sections of the wall, each about 1.5 yards (1.2 meters) wide. That will make way for an access route to the planned high-rise luxury apartments along the nearby Spree River.
The East Side Gallery is the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall. Construction workers removed a first piece earlier this month as part of a plan to make a road to a new luxury apartment complex . The public outcry brought a halt while local politicians and the investor said they were looking for a solution to keep the rest of the wall untouched.
The investor, Maik Uwe Hinkel, decided to remove four more 1.5-yard (1.2-meter) wide parts of the wall, according to Toennies.
"The constructor had the right to do this and he informed us a few days ago about his plans. Last night we were told that he wanted to remove the wall pieces early this morning," Toennies said.
Plans to remove part of the 1.3-kilometer (3/4-mile) stretch of wall sparked protests whose main message was that developers were sacrificing history for profit.
At least 136 people died trying to scale the wall that divided communist-run East Berlin from West Berlin. Over the years, the stretch has become a tourist attraction with colorful paintings decorating the old concrete tiles.
"I can't believe they came here in the dark in such a sneaky manner," said Kani Alavi, the head of the East Side Gallery's artists' group. "All they see is their money, they have no understanding for the historic relevance and art of this place."
By mid-morning the six-yard (meter) gap was covered by a wooden fence and protected by scores of police. Passers-by and a handful of protesters stared in disbelief.
"If you take these parts of the Wall away, you take away the soul of the city," said Ivan McClostney, 32, who moved here a year ago from Ireland. "This way, you make it like every other city. It's so sad."
In an emailed statement, Hinkel said the removal of parts of the wall was a temporary move to enable trucks to access the building site. He said after four weeks of fruitless negotiations with city officials and owners of adjacent property he was no longer willing to wait.
The East Side Gallery was recently restored at a cost of more than 2 million euros ($3 million) to the city. The wall section stood on the eastern side of the elaborate border strip built by communist East Germany after it sealed off West Berlin in 1961. At least 136 people died trying to scale the wall until it was opened on Nov. 9, 1989.
The stretch of wall was transformed into an open-air gallery months after the opening and is now covered in colorful murals painted by about 120 artists. They include the famous image of boxy East German Trabant car that appears to burst through the wall; and a fraternal communist kiss between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East German boss Erich Honecker.
Gerber's long been a name associated with those big multitools you carry in a nylon pouch on your belt. But as the company works to expand its brand, it's started to think on a smaller scale with its new Gerber Daily Carry—or GDC—tools. More »
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.
Between the Kinect and Leap Motion, gesture control's on just about everyone's minds these days. There's still a ways to go, certainly, before such devices become a mainstream method for interfacing with our PCs, but they've already become a ripe source of inspiration for the DIY community. Duo's hoping to further bridge the gap between the two, with a "the world's first 3d motion sensor that anyone can build." The desktop sensor features two PS3 Eye cameras that can track hands and objects for a more natural interface with one's computer. Duo's unsurprisingly looking to crowdfund its efforts. A pledge of $10 or more will get you early access to the company's SDK. For $40 you'll get the case and instruction. Add $30 to that number, and you've got yourself the kit, which includes everything but the camera ($110 will get you all that). Check out the company's plea after the break, and if you're so inclined you can pledge at the source link below.
Solar cells are just like leaves, capturing the sunlight and turning it into energy. It's fitting that they can now be made partially from trees.
Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue University researchers have developed efficient solar cells using natural substrates derived from plants such as trees. Just as importantly, by fabricating them on cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) substrates, the solar cells can be quickly recycled in water at the end of their lifecycle.
The technology is published in the journalScientific Reports, the latest open-access journal from the Nature Publishing Group.
The researchers report that the organic solar cells reach a power conversion efficiency of 2.7 percent, an unprecedented figure for cells on substrates derived from renewable raw materials. The CNC substrates on which the solar cells are fabricated are optically transparent, enabling light to pass through them before being absorbed by a very thin layer of an organic semiconductor. During the recycling process, the solar cells are simply immersed in water at room temperature. Within only minutes, the CNC substrate dissolves and the solar cell can be separated easily into its major components.
Georgia Tech College of Engineering Professor Bernard Kippelen led the study and says his team's project opens the door for a truly recyclable, sustainable and renewable solar cell technology.
"The development and performance of organic substrates in solar technology continues to improve, providing engineers with a good indication of future applications," said Kippelen, who is also the director of Georgia Tech's Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE). "But organic solar cells must be recyclable. Otherwise we are simply solving one problem, less dependence on fossil fuels, while creating another, a technology that produces energy from renewable sources but is not disposable at the end of its lifecycle."
To date, organic solar cells have been typically fabricated on glass or plastic. Neither is easily recyclable, and petroleum-based substrates are not very eco-friendly. For instance, if cells fabricated on glass were to break during manufacturing or installation, the useless materials would be difficult to dispose of. Paper substrates are better for the environment, but have shown limited performance because of high surface roughness or porosity. However, cellulose nanomaterials made from wood are green, renewable and sustainable. The substrates have a low surface roughness of only about two nanometers.
"Our next steps will be to work toward improving the power conversion efficiency over 10 percent, levels similar to solar cells fabricated on glass or petroleum-based substrates," said Kippelen. The group plans to achieve this by optimizing the optical properties of the solar cell's electrode.
Purdue School of Materials Engineering associate professor Jeffrey Youngblood collaborated with Kippelen on the research.
A provisional patent on the technology has been filed with the U.S. Patent Office.
There's also another positive impact of using natural products to create cellulose nanomaterials. The nation's forest product industry projects that tens of millions of tons of them could be produced once large-scale production begins, potentially in the next five years.
The research is the latest project by COPE, which studies the use and development of printed electronics. Last year the center created the first-ever completely plastic solar cell.
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Georgia Institute of Technology: http://www.gatech.edu
Thanks to Georgia Institute of Technology for this article.
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A flood of Congressional Democrats have come out in support of gay marriage ahead of Supreme Court arguments on two major cases Tuesday and Wednesday.?
The latest was perhaps the most significant, as Alaska Sen. Mark Begich said in a statement Monday night that he now supported same-sex marriage.
"Gay and lesbian couples should not be denied the ability to pledge their love and commitment through the civil institution of marriage," Begich said, according to BuzzFeed. "I believe that two committed adults of the same sex should be able to receive a government-issued marriage license, while religious institutions retain their right to determine which marriages they will perform."
As a red-state Democrat up for re-election in 2014, Begich's turn marks the most meaningful political reversal in a Congressional group that also includes Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner.?
Warner made his announcement on his official Facebook page Monday.
"I support marriage equality because it is the fair and right thing to do. Like many Virginians and Americans, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and this is the inevitable extension of my efforts to promote equality and opportunity for everyone," Warner said.
McCaskill, meanwhile, took an unconventional approach by announcing her shift on her Tumblr. It was a significant "evolution" from her position during a high-profile campaign in Missouri, when she said that the issue should be left up to individual states.
"My views on this subject have changed over time, but as many of my gay and lesbian friends, colleagues and staff embrace long term committed relationships, I find myself unable to look them in the eye without honestly confronting this uncomfortable inequality," McCaskill said in the statement.?
"Supporting marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples is simply the right thing to do for our country, a country founded on the principals of liberty and equality.?Good people disagree with me. On the other hand, my children have a hard time understanding why this is even controversial. I think history will agree with my children."
Other prominent present and former politicians have in recent weeks announced their support for same-sex marriage, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. And just more than a week ago, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman became the first sitting Republican Senator to endorse gay marriage.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc has sued a major grocery workers union and others who have protested at its Florida stores, the latest salvo in its legal fight to stop "disruptive" rallies in and around its stores by groups seeking better pay and working conditions.
Wal-Mart does not have union-represented workers in its U.S. stores. Nevertheless, it has long faced opposition from various labor groups including the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), and from a small but vocal group of current and former employees backed by the union and known as OUR Walmart.
The lawsuit filed on Friday in Orange County, Florida state court seeks "to help protect our customers and associates from further disruptive tactics associated with their continued, illegal trespassing," Walmart spokesman Dan Fogleman said.
Defendants, however, charged that the world's biggest retailer is trying to muzzle its critics.
"This is another attempt on Wal-Mart's behalf of ... silencing their employees and also the communities that support them," Denise Diaz, executive director of Central Florida Jobs With Justice Corp and a defendant named in the suit, said before reviewing the documents.
"Rather than creating good jobs with steady hours and affordable healthcare, Walmart's pattern is to focus its energies on infringing on our freedom of speech," the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart), also a defendant, said in a statement.
Other defendants include the 1.3 million-member UFCW and the individuals Angela Williamson, Alex Rivera, and Alan Hanson.
The UFCW was not immediately able to comment on the lawsuit.
Wal-Mart alleged that the defendants violated Florida law through coordinated, statewide acts of trespass in several Walmart stores over the last eight months. It has asked the court for a legal ruling that would prevent future trespassing.
In the lawsuit Wal-Mart cited an example where a group of protesters projected a video promoting OUR Walmart on the side of a store in Orlando and passing out literature inside that store in July, 2012.
It alleged that a group of UFCW demonstrators returned to that same store on October 30, 2012 and "confronted the store manager and handed him a rotten pumpkin painted in support of OUR Walmart. The group left the store only after the manager warned that he had called the police."
Wal-Mart filed an unfair labor practice charge against the UFCW in November, asking the National Labor Relations Board to halt what the retailer said were unlawful attempts to disrupt its business in several states including protests that were planned for Black Friday, the busy shopping day right after Thanksgiving. In January, labor groups said that they would stop much of their picketing against the chain, while still trying to push the company to improve working conditions.
The case is Wal-Mart Stores Inc v. United Food and Commercial Workers International Union et al, 9th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Orange County, No. 2013-CA-004293.
Reporting by Jessica Wohl in Chicago and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles.
There is no single mobile payment company in Europe that has reached the scale and stature that Square has in the U.S., where the Jack Dorsey-led startup processed $1 billion in transactions in 2012. Payleven, one of the many mobile payment startups that want to take that crown on the other side of the pond, is today announcing two more steps in its strategy to convince businesses and consumers to sign on. Payleven, part of the Samwer brothers' Rocket Internet stable, has been authorized as a payment institution by the UK's Financial Services Authority; and it is also now part of MasterCard's mPOS program?-- two moves to improve its credibility as a secure payment provider.
CALABAR, Nigeria, March 23 (Reuters) - Nigeria, crowned African Nations Cup champions six weeks ago, needed a dramatic late equaliser to rescue a 1-1 home draw with bottom team Kenya in World Cup Group F qualifying on Saturday. Substitute Nnamdi Oduamadi, who plays for Italian second-tier club Varese, scored three minutes into stoppage time to save the Nigerians from an embarrassing defeat. It was the second draw in three games for Nigeria who have five points, level with Malawi at the top of the group. Namibia have three points from three matches and Kenya are bottom on two points. ...
Many Irish, in years gone by, have bid a sad farewell to their Irish family ancestry and left loved ones behind as they set sail for a new life overseas with the anticipation of an improved lifestyle. Irish immigrants would have toiled hard and progressed in their adopted countries, ?holding Ireland close to their hearts, and a promise of one day returning to their beloved homeland.
Unfortunately, many never made it back to the Emerald Isle, but instead would reminisce about the old country and pass on their love of Ireland to their children. They would tell stories with vivid descriptions of how life was back in the land of their birth, ensuring new generations would know their culture; have an interest in their past ancestry and a desire to know more.
A great way to explore your heritage on a visit to Ireland is to stay in a Ancestry Seeker?s B&B. Homes provide a warm welcome, comfortable surroundings and delicious freshly prepared breakfasts. Hosts will assist you in tracing your family tree and will have detailed information on local history, local families and information on museums, libraries, heritage sites, churches and church records. They can help with tracing your Irish roots.
Searching your Irish heritage can have its highs and lows. Hearing stories about a great, great grandfather or mother via family gatherings is fascinating and stirs interest, but they are just stories. Nothing can prepare you for the feeling of loss or the lump in your throat you get when you see a birth cert, church record, gravestone or a handwritten letter of a past family member. It takes those stories you have heard and turns them into reality. It can be an amazing journey if you manage to trace records or family members, but it can also be heartily disappointing if you don?t. It is important to have realistic expectations.
Everyone wants to know a bit about their ancestry. It is nice to be able to go and view where a relative once lived and meet up with cousins to exchange information. There is no better time to visit Ireland than this year as a very special event is taking place called The Gathering 2013. This is a celebration where friends and relations from overseas are encouraged to visit Ireland, attend clan gatherings and catch up with people who knew your past kith and kin.
Many Irish Diaspora never managed to make that promised journey home, but there is nothing to stop you making it for them. If you have always talked about a visit to Ireland?s beautiful shores, then there is no better time to make that journey, you will be welcomed like a long lost relative back to your homeland.
Spring Breakers, did you know that anyone boarding a plane is covered by a "passenger bill of rights?" Or that in Mexico you're guilty until you can prove yourself innocent?
Lawyers.com's editor in chief, Larry Bodine, has some legal insights that Spring Breakers should digest well before their first Jello shot ? particularly the 120,000 students heading to Mexico this year.
What can I do right this instant to be safer on Spring Break? Sign up for the U.S. government's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. It's free, and in the feds' own words, "It allows the State Department to assist U.S. citizens in an emergency and keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements."
What's another thing? Look up the U.S. consulate or consular agency closest to where you're staying. At travel.state.gov, check under Country Specific Information for a list of agencies in your destination. Print copies for you and your travel mates and enter the information in your cellphone.
Is there an app for that? Yes! There's a Smart Traveler Program app for iPhone and Android.
American laws apply to me everywhere, right? Wrong. Bodine says many college students think American citizenship grants them immunity from laws in other countries. This isn't true. If you're in Mexico or Jamaica or the Dominican Republic or anywhere, you are subject to that country's laws and punishments. "There are a lot of semi-innocent things we do the U.S. that are crimes in Mexico," Bodine says. "Walking on the street with an open alcohol container is a crime. Getting off the bus without paying. Taking off your clothes on the beach."
In another country you can't count on something like Panama City's Spring Break Court to minimize the repercussions. "The laws in Mexico are very different," Bodine says. "If you're charged with a crime, you are presumed to be guilty, and you have to prove you are innocent. If you are arrested, you'll be held for 48 hours before you get to make a statement. If they want to charge you, you can be held for a year without bail."
Check the most recent edition of a reputable guidebook for laws.
How can I find out about open-container laws? In Mexico, it's illegal to walk on the street with an open container of alcohol. Costa Rica made it illegal last year. The law varies by country, so ask a bartender, a hotel manager or concierge or a security officer about your destination's law once you arrive. Ask about public intoxication laws, too. And research them before you go.
Why do the police seem cool with the "anything goes" thing? Police might let the good times roll ? but they often crack down when there's a car accident, a fight breaks out, someone gets belligerent with the cops or danger otherwise looms, Bodine says. You don't want to be anywhere near these incidents. Find someone fun and rational to hang out with if you want to make sure to stay out of jail.
I've been arrested. Whom should I call? Bodine says your first call ? and only call, if just one is allowed ? should be to the U.S. embassy or consulate in the area where you're staying. Consular officials can provide information on the local legal system and help you find a local attorney, but they can't get you out of jail.
What will happen if I get caught smoking pot in Mexico? The U.S. State Department's website says: "The importation, purchase, possession or use of drugs can incur severe penalties, including imprisonment without bail for up to a year before a case is tried, and imprisonment of several years following a conviction." Don't even risk having some in your pocket.
I'm 18 and can drink legally in Mexico. Can I also bring home alcohol? No. Once you land in the U.S., it's illegal for you to have it. Chances are it will be confiscated when you go through Customs after you land.
What should I do if I am the victim of a crime? "Notify the authorities," Bodine says, "but don't let the hotel or tour company or restaurant make the report. You should also call the U.S. embassy."
What rights do I have at the airport? If you're bumped from a flight because it is oversold or canceled, the airline is required to give you a paper detailing your rights. The airline employees rarely offer it, but you can ask for one. Bodine says the law requires the airline to rebook you on a different flight, and if that flight isn't scheduled to arrive within two hours of your original flight, the airline is supposed to pay you 400 percent of the one-way fare for that leg of the trip. But again, don't expect the airline to be upfront about this. "Ordinarily, they'll offer you as little as possible," Bodine says. "They'll put you up in a hotel and offer you a $300 travel voucher. If you don't ask for [your full entitlement], they won't give it to you."
If your flight is canceled or delayed by weather, the airlines don't owe passengers any compensation.
Going to Mexico? Read the U.S. State Department's "Know Before You Go" page for Spring Breakers, and brush up one more time with this video:
[Editor's note: Got legal questions? This isn't legal advice. Try reaching out to the folks at Lawyers.com!]
[Photo credits: top, Mnadi via Flickr; bottom, Spengu via Flickr]
Filed under: North America, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, United States, Airlines, Internet Tools, Caribbean, Travel Security
DORAL, Fla. (AP) ? There is a fascination with numbers when it comes to Tiger Woods, a product of him winning so much over so many years.
He now has 76 wins on the PGA Tour, six short of the record 82 by Sam Snead, and one more than Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh combined. His two-shot victory at Doral was his 17th in the World Golf Championships. No one else has won more than three. The Cadillac Championship was the 22nd time he has taken at least a three-shot lead into the final round on tour, and he has won them all.
But there is only one number that matters.
Woods is measured by majors, and he has not made up any ground on the record 18 won by Jack Nicklaus in five years.
He remains stuck on 14.
Woods stamped himself as the favorite at Augusta National, not so much because he has won twice before the Masters for the first time since 2008, but for the way he built big leads and never gave anyone else much hope. The less excitement about the way he wins, the more intimidating he looks.
Woods had a two-shot lead at the halfway point of Torrey Pines, doubled it going into the final round and stretched it to eight shots before he lost patience and interest in the Monday finish. Despite dropping four shots in the last five holes, he still won by four.
He led by at least three shots from the 11th hole Saturday at Doral until a conservative bogey on the final hole gave him a two-shot win over Steve Stricker.
"That's how I know I can play," Woods said. "That's the thing. To be able to bring it out a couple times so far this year ? and then be able to close and get the Ws on top of that ? that's nice. Any time I can win prior to Augusta, it always feels good."
The temptation is to declare that Woods is back, though that should come with a note of caution.
It looked like he was back when he won at Bay Hill last year by five shots over Graeme McDowell, and then he tied for 40th in the Masters. It looked like he had that old magic back when he rallied to win the Memorial, and then he went into a weekend fog at The Olympic Club and didn't crack the top 20.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
1996 - Two PGA Wins
Las Vegas Invitational Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic
1997 - Four PGA Wins
Masters Tournament* Mercedes Championships GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic Motorola Western Open *Major Victory
1998 - One PGA Win
BellSouth Classic
1999 - Eight PGA Wins
PGA Championship* Buick Invitational Memorial Tournament Motorola Western Open World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational National Car Rental Golf Classic Disney The Tour Championship World Golf Championships-American Express Championship *Major Victory
2000 - Nine PGA wins
Mercedes Championships AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Bay Hill Invitational Memorial Tournament U.S. Open Championship* British Open Championship* PGA Championship* World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational Bell Canadian Open *Major Victory
2001 - Five PGA Wins
Masters Tournament* Bay Hill Invitational The Players Championship Memorial Tournament World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational *Major Victory
2002 - Five PGA Wins
Bay Hill Invitational presented by Cooper Tires Masters Tournament* U.S. Open Championship* Buick Open World Golf Championships-American Express Championship *Major Victory
2003 - Five PGA Wins
Buick Invitational World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship Bay Hill Invitational presented by Cooper Tires 100th Western Open presented by Golf Digest World Golf Championships-American Express Championship
2004 - One PGA Win
World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship
2005 - Six PGA Wins
Buick Invitational Ford Championship at Doral Masters Tournament* British Open Championship* World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational World Golf Championships-American Express Championship *Major Victory
2006 - Eight PGA Wins
Buick Invitational Ford Championship at Doral British Open Championship* Buick Open PGA Championship* World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational Deutsche Bank Championship World Golf Championships-American Express Championship *Major Victory
2007 - Seven PGA Wins
The Tour Championship BMW Championship PGA Championship* World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational Wachovia Championship World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship Buick Invitational *Major Victory
2008 - Four PGA Wins
U.S. Open* Arnold Palmer Invitational World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship Buick Invitational *Major Victory
2009 - Six PGA Wins
BMW Championship World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational Buick Open AT&T National The Memorial Arnold Palmer Invitational
2012 - Three PGA Wins
AT&T National The Memorial Arnold Palmer Invitational
And while he has won twice this year, his record includes a missed cut to start the year at Abu Dhabi, and a tie for 37th at the Honda Classic when he never broke par any of the four rounds because of two lost balls, four shots in the water and four double bogeys. He also lost in the Match Play Championship, which is not a good measure because he was 2-under par (without a bogey on his card) through 17 holes and ran into a guy (Charles Howell III) who played a little bit better that day.
How he fares at Bay Hill in two weeks ? he could go back to No. 1 in the world with a win ? will determine the degree of expectations going into the Masters.
McDowell might be the best judge of Woods among players.
He now has played in the final group with Woods three times in just over two years. McDowell saw some shockingly bad shots by Woods at the Chevron World Challenge in December 2010 when he made up a four-shot deficit against Woods and beat him in a playoff behind two clutch birdies.
Woods had a one-shot lead over McDowell in the final round at Bay Hill last year and pulled away in conditions so firm, fast and scary that Woods referred to it as a U.S. Open that broke out in Orlando. Woods won by five.
They played the final 36 holes together at Doral, and McDowell gave him a good fight. Turns out it wasn't a fair fight.
Woods had a solid command of his shots, and he putted as well as he has all year, thanks to that tip from Stricker. Woods made 61-of-64 putts inside 10 feet for the week on the Blue Monster. He missed only one putt inside 5 feet out of 52 chances.
The most significant putt by Woods came on the second hole, when McDowell stuffed his approach inside 7 feet and Woods matched him with an 18-foot birdie putt of his own. What won't get as much attention is a stretch of holes early on the back nine, when Woods poured in a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-5 10th hole, and made tricky 5-foot par putts look easy on the 12th and 13th holes to keep his margin.
"I said in the press room last night, 'He doesn't look phenomenal, it just looks really, really good.' And that probably came out wrong because what I mean is the golf courses don't let you be phenomenal," McDowell said, referring to Doral on Sunday and Bay Hill a year ago.
"You've got to be under control," he said. "In this wind the last couple days, his ball flight control is pretty stunning, really. It's pretty cool to watch. I thought his short game and putting the last couple days was very impressive. He cleaned up everything he had to clean up pretty much. It was good stuff."
And how did Woods compare with the World Challenge at the end of 2010?
"He doesn't have those off-the-radar balls anymore," McDowell said. "In '10, '11 when I was playing with him, he would hit the odd shot where you would just of blink twice and go, 'Really, that's wide.' He's got the ball under control now. He knows exactly what his golf swing is going to produce."
Despite the up-and-down results at the start of the year, the big picture indicates an upward trend for Woods.
He went the last six months of 2012 without winning anywhere, and he didn't register consecutive top 10s until the FedEx Cup playoffs in September. Even so, Woods finished off that season with five straight finishes in the top 10.
Woods now has won more than half his PGA Tour events (40) on seven courses ? Torrey Pines, Firestone, Bay Hill, Cog Hill, Muirfield Village, Doral and Augusta National. All are considered tough courses, and most of those wins came against some of the strongest fields.
He has won five times in the last year ? the most of anyone in the world ? and all were on strong golf courses.
"I felt that toward the end of last year that I was heading that direction, where things were becoming better," Woods said. "That gave me so much confidence heading into the offseason that I was heading in the right direction. Just keep going, keep plugging along, keep working with the things that Sean (Foley) wants me to do. And lo and behold, I've had two really good weeks this year."
The question now is where it will lead.
This was the eighth time in his career that Woods has won at least two PGA Tour events before the Masters. In six of the previous seven years, he went on to win a major.
First and foremost: I have an extremely twisted way of storytelling. I like Horror, Drama, Mystery, Realistic, and Romance all wrapped into one! I?m not exactly one for fluffy romance, but that doesn?t mean I won?t do it I just prefer dark and twisted!
A little about my RP style: I prefer playing female roles, but I don?t mind doubling and playing a male and female role as long as you?re willing to do the same. I?m dedicated and won?t bail after two or three post (Please note though that I do have a job and a life so I may not be able to post nine times a day.). I can write long posts up to 500 words or as little as 100, I?ll give you the same amount of effort you give me?or I?ll try my hardest. I put a lot of thought into my plots as well as my characters, so please respect that and don?t bail on me!
What I?m not fond of: (but, that doesn?t mean I won?t do it!) -Vampires themes -Zombies themes -Werewolves themes -Mafia themes -Anime images (I prefer real images) -Kidnapping themes - Insane asylums ~I just feel like these objects are kind of over done?~
What I would love to do: (Something with these type of themes anyways) - Dealing with the loss of a loved one - Elements of Drugs & Alcohol - Elements of Murder - Gothic Romance theme - Post Apocalyptic theme - Dangerous Love triangle - Destructive, abusive, and tragic relationships elements - Bad boy, good girl theme (Yes, yes it?s over done but still) - RPs based of a song (music is power full and each song creates a story)
There you have it, I am willing to do a one on one or maybe even a small group! Hopefully I pecked your interest! PM me with some themes or any of the ideas you liked and we can discuss a plot line together!
hope to hear from you soon!
"I'll miss the winter, A world of fragile things, Look for me in the white forest Hiding in a hollow tree, I know you hear me,I can taste it in your tears." -My Last Breath, Evanescence
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Does your real estate have an aggressive internet marketing campaign?? We're not talking about how a realtor markets their business on the internet - we're talking about how your realtor promotes your property listing on the internet.
In our opinion, it's not enough to put the listing in the multiple listing service ("MLS") and wait until the listing is "syndicated" to other websites.? Think of it in terms of "traditional" marketing of your property.? It's not enough to put a realtor "for sale" sign in front of the property and wait until buyers show up.
Today's successful real estate internet marketing campaign includes additional online promotion of property listings.? There's no one right way to do this - each agent has their own style, their own "tried and true" methods for online promotion that work in their area and in their marketplace.? For some agents, and in some areas, putting the listing on an internet classified ad website such as Craigslist draws potential buyers.? For other agents, and in other real estate market areas, adding the listing to a blog can draw an audience. Many agents will post the listing on social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, etc. to promote the listing to their network of connections.? And other agents use videos to promote their listings.? All strategies are good - and can be effective ways to expand the marketing of a property online. We recommend that agents have their listings displayed on their personal real estate websites as well as on their company's real estate website - at a minimum.?
Home sellers can truly benefit from the online promotion of their property.? If you are a home seller, ask your realtor to explain their internet marketing campaign.? If you are a real estate agent, we'd like to know - what online tools work in your marketplace?
Internet marketing is important for any property listing.? The ability to reach a world-wide audience of potential buyers is amazing!? Shouldn't your property have that advantage?
When David Bowie?s pal John Lennon ended his reclusive five-year hiatus from the music business in 1980, it was with joyful celebrations of domesticity.
Here?s what Bowie comes back with, after 10 years out of the public eye: ?I can see you as a corpse/ Hanging from a beam,? and ?Here am I/ Not quite dying/ My body left to rot on a hollow tree.?
The Next Day is Bowie?s first studio album since Reality in 2003 (Forgettable? Quick, with no Web searching: which George Harrison song did he cover on that one?). As some of the lyrics on this often-thrilling comeback disc suggest, it?s not the warm, nostalgic reaffirmation portended by its first single, the leisurely ballad Where Are We Now?
Not only are the words and images often challenging and sometimes unsettling, the music is mostly dense, dissonant and difficult ? which is all to the good. If the overall sound evokes any specific Bowie period, it might be the febrile era covering Low, ?Heroes?, Lodger and Scary Monsters. And this disc is certainly Bowie?s best work since those years.
Longtime producer Tony Visconti has loaded the album with claustrophobic, buried-treasure detail that occasionally has the listener gasping for air. The layers can be penetrated only through repeated listens, with quality headphones a most useful tool. The chords in the menacing Love Is Lost, for example, are so dirty that they are more a presence than actual notes, while the greasy cabaret baritone sax in Dirty Boys is strictly subterranean. The compelling, but impenetrable rhythm of If You Can See Me dares you to find the groove. And then there?s the ominous closer Heat, which is reminiscent of the pre-Tilt Scott Walker who shocked listeners with the likes of The Electrician.
But as interesting as the chances taken might be, the disc shows even greater dimension by including stately and accessible tracks like the psychedelic I?d Rather Be HIgh, the downright catchy Dancing Out In Space and Valentine?s Day, which almost belies its grim setting ? a murderous university rampage ? ?with a sweet melody that would sound at home on a Jeff Lynne album. You Feel So Lonely You Could Die is reminiscent of Rock n? Roll Suicide (the Ziggy Stardust connection is underlined when the drum intro of Five Years is evoked near the end).
And how about that unnerving packaging, which is simply the front and back covers of the 35-year-old Bowie classic ?Heroes?, with the original title crossed out and a white square obscuring both sides, filled by the new title and song listing?
The defacing could be a bold, forward-thinking statement or it might be a nod to the past. Most likely, it illustrates that time is elastic for great artists. The Next Day could have been made in 1978, in the same way that ??Heroes? would sound contemporary in 2013. Lke a sizeable chunk of Bowie?s oeuvre, The Next Day stands outside of time.
Rating: ****
Podworthy: I?d Rather Be High
The Next Day will be available March 12. Check out the video for The Stars (Are Out Tonight):
And click here to listen to the entire album free on iTunes.
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Public release date: 28-Mar-2013
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There is no single mobile payment company in Europe that has reached the scale and stature that 
Many Irish, in years gone by, have bid a sad farewell to their Irish family ancestry and left loved ones behind as they set sail for a new life overseas with the anticipation of an improved lifestyle. Irish immigrants would have toiled hard and progressed in their adopted countries, ?holding Ireland close to their hearts, and a promise of one day returning to their beloved homeland.
Many Irish Diaspora never managed to make that promised journey home, but there is nothing to stop you making it for them. If you have always talked about a visit to Ireland?s beautiful shores, then there is no better time to make that journey, you will be welcomed like a long lost relative back to your homeland.
Why do the police seem cool with the "anything goes" thing?