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Thursday, February 28, 2013
MiniDuke Hackers Use Adobe Flaw to Zero In on Euro Governments
ackers used a highly customized piece of malware that takes advantage of a recently revealed Adobe flaw to spy on governments and institutions worldwide, security firm Kaspersky Lab announced Wednesday. The 59 victims in 23 countries include government entities in Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Ukraine and the Czech republic, and a research foundation in Hungary.
Balloon crash deepens pall on tourism-dry Luxor
LUXOR, Egypt (AP) ? The fiery crash of a sightseeing balloon that killed 19 tourists has cast a further pall over this city of ancient temples and tombs, already perhaps the hardest hit by Egypt's two-year drop in tourism, which has left hotels here empty and residents desperate for income.
Some connected to the tourist trade in Luxor, a city utterly dependent on foreign visitors to survive, were seething with anger Wednesday at the country's Islamist president for his silence over the crash.
Mohammed Morsi has yet to publicly speak about the tragedy ? and some here took that not just as insensitivity to the victims' families but as indifference to the vital tourism trade.
"Morsi should have taken a plane and come here," Salah Zaky, one of the owners of the five-star Steigenberger Hotel in Luxor , 510 kilometers (320 miles) south of Cairo . "The whole world is watching and he is asleep. It's as if there is no government."
Morsi spoke by telephone to Luxor's governor to discuss the balloon disaster, according to state media. Hours after the crash, he spoke live on TV at a meeting with political leaders ? but only about upcoming parliamentary elections, without mentioning the crash.
"They don't care if this hotel closes. They only care about the ballot box," Zaky said, referring to the Muslim Brotherhood, the fundamentalist group from which Morsi hails and which has dominated all elections held since Mubarak's ouster.
Nine of those who died in Tuesday's crash were in a tour group from Hong Kong that was staying at the Steigenberger. The husband of one of the victims had chosen not to go on the balloon ride and watched from the ground as it burst into flame and plummeted to the earth, with his wife, daughter, sister and brother-in-law on board, hotel staffers said. The man flew out of the country Tuesday evening.
Investigators were still gathering evidence about the cause of the crash, the head of the probe Walid el-Moqadem told The Associated Press, refusing to give details. He said investigators had not yet questioned the balloon's pilot, who survived the crash with severe burns.
"He could barely open his eyes," el-Moqadem said.
The hot air balloon was carrying 20 tourists from Hong Kong, Japan, Britain, Belgium and France on a sunrise flight over Luxor's dramatic pharaonic sites and desert landscape.
The disaster occurred when it was trying to land, just after 7 a.m. Tuesday. Initial investigations suggested that the fire broke out when a landing cable tore one of the balloon's fuel tubes, used to fire the burner that heats the air in the balloon. Investigators said it appeared the pilot jumped out of the balloon's gondola when the fire first broke out, still relatively close to the ground. The investigators spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe was not complete.
The balloon then rose back up, to some 300 meters (1,000 feet), the fire spread to the balloon itself, which burst. Amateur video taken from another balloon flying nearby shows it crashing it back to the earth like a fireball.
The only other survivor was a tourist from Britain, who may have gotten out at the same time as the pilot. He and the pilot were being treated in military hospitals in Cairo, as families of some of the victims arrived in the country to identify their loved ones.
For residents of Luxor, the main city in a province of around 1 million people, the tragedy only further added to their worries over the tourism trade on which they rely. Tourism is the main employer in the area ? and practically the only industry besides farming and a sole sugar factory processing the region's sugar cane crops.
Nearly everyone relies in some way on the visitors who come to visit the monumental ancient temples in Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, the desert valley where many of ancient Egypt's pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, were buried.
With little else to keep it going, the city has been hit hard with many foreign visitors staying away from Egypt amid the turmoil, protests and instability that have plagued the country since the fall of autocrat Hosni Mubarak in February 2011.
The number of tourists coming to Egypt fell to 9.8 million in 2011 from 14.7 million the year before, and revenues plunged 30 percent to $8.8 billion. Last year, the numbers climbed up to just over 10 million, but most tourists go to the beach resorts of the Red Sea, staying away from Nile Valley sites like Luxor.
In Luxor, "when tourism stalls, it affects the tour agents, the drivers, the boat owners, vegetable and fruit sellers, the groceries, the butchers and everybody else who are part of the cycle of life of tourism," said tour agent Medhat Ramadan, who nervously checked his IPad for the latest news on the crash.
"Even farmers who plant the food for horses that drive tourists in carriages are affected. It's all one cycle," he said.
Along with the depressed tourism, Egypt's economy in general has suffered amid the political turmoil. Constant protests, often turning into riots or clashes, along with political uncertainty, have dried up foreign investment. Foreign reserves, a key indicator for the economy's health, have shrunk by two thirds since Mubarak's ouster in February 2011.
The crash had one immediate effect with the suspension of all balloon rides in the area.
"This was one of the pillars of tourism here in Luxor. Now it is gone," said Ramadan. With tour companies forced to offer cheaper and cheaper packages to draw visitors to the city, offering balloon rides ? which draw a higher price ? was one way to pull in extra money for the companies, he said.
For months, hotels here have been reporting occupancy rates below 30 percent ? often well below, even in the winter high season, when normally they are nearly full.
Zaky said the Steinberger has averaged only 25 percent occupancy and has had to cut a quarter of its 400-member staff. At the same time, his gas bill has doubled and electricity costs rose 20 percent in recent months because of price hikes by a government trying to close rampant deficits.
Hesham Youssef, who runs a sailboat offering trips for tourists on the Nile River, said he sometimes goes for three days without a client.
He said Morsi is good ? "a man of the poor, he always mentions God's name." But, Youssef said, "he needs to come out and say something about what happened to those tourists. It is not his fault because what happened was something from God, but he must say something."
Tharwat Agamy, from Luxor's Tourism Chamber, said there was no immediate word on cancellation as a result of the balloon crash, but he feared they would soon happen.
"The whole world is talking about this right now. We are doing our best to push tourism forward but this will take us back many steps back,' he said.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/balloon-crash-deepens-pall-tourism-dry-luxor-205854093.html
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New W3C Group Focuses on Automotive Web Platforms and ...
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an international community that develops web standards, has announced the launch of the new ?Automotive and Web Platform Business Group? which will create web technology specifications for the automotive industry starting with a Vehicle Data API Specification.
There has been a rush in the creation of connected car applications and as ProgrammableWeb?s Greg Bates recently reported, car companies including Ford, GM, Toyota and BMW are racing to create vehicle-controlled app platforms and marketplaces.
The Automotive and Web Platform Business Group will focus on helping the automotive industry adopt web technologies and platforms as well as understanding W3C web specifications and standards. Specific issues related to the automobile industry will also be addressed such as reduction of driver distractions and driver safety. In the W3C press release, Roger C. Lanctot, Associate Director in the Global Automotive Practice at Strategy Analytics, states that:
?The W3C?s API initiative arrives just as OEMs are laying the groundwork to bring the browser into the car via multiple means. Car makers will be looking to the W3C to help identify best practices for over the air software updates and security and the launch of the new Business Group will provide the ideal forum for those conversations.?
Defining a Vehicle Data API Specification is the first priority of the group and will provide guidelines as to the types of vehicle data that should be accessible using a web API(s). There is a wide range of data that could be made accessible to app developers via web APIs such as vehicle make, model and year, vehicle conditions such as navigation, speed, climate and more. Diana Cheng, Web and Social Media Expert, Internet Standards, R&D at Vodafone Group states for the press release:
?Standardization of a Vehicle API will boost interoperability regardless of manufacturers and enrich automotive applications with vehicle data, which would increase security and user control. We believe the W3C is the right organization to ensure correct design and sandboxing of such an API so that it does not interfere with other vehicle functions; they have already been doing this for years, i.e. standardizing a large number of Web APIs that run securely in the browser?s runtime. We look forward to starting collaboration with other industry players through this business group.?
The concept of ?car as a platform? has actually been around for several years. However, as reported by ProgrammableWeb Editor Adam DuVander, the recent launch of the OnStar API by GM seems to have sparked a ?car as a platform? war. Only time will tell whether the ?car as a platform? will be embraced by developers and ultimately car consumers.
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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Chardon High School shooter pleads guilty
Tony Dejak/AP
T.J. Lane is escorted into the the Geauga County courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, in Chardon, Ohio.
By Matthew DeLuca, Staff Writer, NBC News
The Ohio teenager charged with killing three students at Chardon High School in February 2012 pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of aggravated murder.
Prosecutors said that T.J. Lane fired 10 shots at students at the suburban school outside Cleveland. Lane was waiting for a bus to an alternative school he attended before walking into the school cafeteria with a knife and a .22-caliber pistol and opening fire. Lane has admitted to shooting at students, investigators said, but did not give a reason for his actions.
Three victims ??Russell King Jr., Demetrius Hewlin and Daniel Parmertor ??died in the shooting.
Lane, 18, entered the plea to three counts of aggravated murder and other charges in an agreement with prosecutors Tuesday. Prosecutors agreed to agreed to remove death penalty specifications as part of the plea.
Lane will be sentenced March 19 after the completion of a background investigation, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related:
This story was originally published on Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:52 PM EST
Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/26/17103339-chardon-high-school-shooter-pleads-guilty?lite
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Tuesday, February 26, 2013
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Source: http://forums.ferra.ru/index.php?showtopic=54662
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Business Ethics Keynote Speaker Chuck Gallagher Sirius Radio ...
Chuck Gallagher ? chuckgallagher.com ? is interviewed here by Lori Allen on FamilyNet TV and Sirius Satellite Radio about Business Ethics in today?s world. Chuck is an international business ethics keynote speaker ? speaking to organizations like the FBI, Medtronic, US Navy, Barclays, Institute of Management Accountants, and many more organizations. Gallagher shares his insight into the Bernie Madoff scandal and the inner workings of a Ponzi scheme. Currently COO of a National Company and former Sr. VP of Sales and Marketing for a Public Company, Chuck may have found a sales niche early on in life selling potholders door to door, or convincing folks to fund a record album of his musical performance at age 16 (and yes those were the days when an album was made of vinyl), but it was the school of hard knocks that provided a fertile training ground for Chuck?s lessons in Success. Described as Creative, Insightful, Captivating, and a person that ?Connects the Dots? between behavior, choices and success, Chuck Gallagher gives his clients what they need to turn concepts into actions and actions into results. Ethics in the workplace is a serious matter, but talking about it doesn?t have to be ?business as usual.? Chuck Gallagher learned a lesson about choices and consequences the hard way?but now he shares his experience so that others don?t have to. In his compelling presentations, Chuck starts by setting the scene with his own story? and ends by setting the stage for your ?
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Trial set to open for Gulf oil spill litigation
FILE - In this aerial file photo madeWednesday, April 21, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico, more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, an oil slick is seen as the Deepwater Horizon oil rig burns. Nearly three years after the deadly rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico triggered the nation's worst offshore oil spill, a federal judge in New Orleans is set to preside over a high-stakes trial for the raft of litigation spawned by the disaster on Monday Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, file)
FILE - In this aerial file photo madeWednesday, April 21, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico, more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, an oil slick is seen as the Deepwater Horizon oil rig burns. Nearly three years after the deadly rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico triggered the nation's worst offshore oil spill, a federal judge in New Orleans is set to preside over a high-stakes trial for the raft of litigation spawned by the disaster on Monday Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, file)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Nearly three years after a deadly rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico triggered the nation's worst offshore oil spill, a federal judge in New Orleans is set to preside over a high-stakes trial for the raft of litigation spawned by the disaster.
Barring an 11th-hour settlement, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier will hear several hours of opening statements Monday by lawyers for the companies involved in the 2010 spill and the plaintiffs who sued them. And the judge, not a jury, ultimately could decide how much more money BP PLC and its partners on the ill-fated drilling project owe for their roles in the environmental catastrophe.
BP has said it already has racked up more than $24 billion in spill-related expenses and has estimated it will pay a total of $42 billion to fully resolve its liability for the disaster that killed 11 workers and spewed millions of gallons of oil.
But the trial attorneys for the federal government and Gulf states and private plaintiffs hope to convince the judge that the company is liable for much more.
With billions of dollars on the line, the companies and their courtroom adversaries have spared no expense in preparing for a trial that could last several months. Hundreds of attorneys have worked on the case, generating roughly 90 million pages of documents, logging nearly 9,000 docket entries and taking more than 300 depositions of witnesses who could testify at trial.
"In terms of sheer dollar amounts and public attention, this is one of the most complex and massive disputes ever faced by the courts," said Fordham University law professor Howard Erichson, an expert in complex litigation.
Barbier has promised he won't let the case drag on for years as has the litigation over the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill, which still hasn't been completely resolved. He encouraged settlement talks that already have resolved billions of dollars in spill-related claims.
"Judge Barbier has managed the case actively and moved it along toward trial pretty quickly," Erichson said.
In December, Barbier gave final approval to a settlement between BP and Plaintiffs' Steering Committee lawyers representing Gulf Coast businesses and residents who claim the spill cost them money. BP estimates it will pay roughly $7.8 billion to resolve tens of thousands of these claims, but the deal doesn't have a cap.
BP resolved a Justice Department criminal probe by agreeing to plead guilty to manslaughter and other charges and pay $4 billion in criminal penalties. Deepwater Horizon rig owner Transocean Ltd. reached a separate settlement with the federal government, pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge and agreeing to pay $1.4 billion in criminal and civil penalties.
But there's plenty left for the lawyers to argue about at trial, given that the federal government and Gulf states haven't resolved civil claims against the company that could be worth more than $20 billion.
The Justice Department and private plaintiffs' attorneys have said they would prove BP acted with gross negligence before the blowout of its Macondo well on April 20, 2010.
BP's civil penalties would soar if Barbier agrees with that claim.
BP, meanwhile, argues the federal government's estimate of how much oil spewed from the well ? more than 200 million gallons ? is inflated by at least 20 percent. Clean Water Act penalties are based on how many barrels of oil spilled.
Barbier plans to hold the trial in at least two phases and may issue partial rulings at the end of each. The first phase, which could last three months, is designed to determine what caused the blowout and assign percentages of blame to the companies involved. The second phase will address efforts to stop the flow of oil from the well and aims to determine how much crude spilled into the Gulf.
The trial originally was scheduled to start a year ago, but Barbier postponed it to allow BP to wrap up its settlement with the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee.
Barbier, 68, was nominated by President Bill Clinton and has served on the court since 1998. He had a private law practice, primarily representing small businesses and other plaintiffs in civil cases, and served as president of the New Orleans Bar Association before he joined the bench.
Dane Ciolino, a Loyola University law professor who has represented criminal defendants in Barbier's court, described him as a "no-nonsense" but even-tempered judge.
"He's very good at getting down to the pertinent issues," Ciolino said. "Some judges could be described as impatient, short or gruff. He is none of that."
Despite the bitter disputes at the root of the case, Barbier has maintained a collegial atmosphere at his monthly status conferences with the lawyers, cracking an occasional joke or good-naturedly ribbing attorneys over their college football allegiances.
Cordial with each other in the courtroom, the competing attorneys have saved their harshest rhetoric for court filings or news releases. Despite its settlement with BP last year, the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee attorneys won't be allies at trial with the London-based oil giant. And they still haven't resolved civil claims against Transocean or cement contractor Halliburton.
"These three companies' reckless, greed-driven conduct killed 11 good men, polluted the Gulf for years and left the region's economy in shambles. Any statement to the contrary is self-serving nonsense," Steve Herman, a lead plaintiffs' attorney, said in a recent statement.
A series of government investigations has exhaustively documented the mistakes that led to the blowout, spreading the blame among the companies. Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange said witnesses scheduled to testify at trial will reveal new information about the cause of the disaster.
"I think you're going to learn a lot, particularly about the culture that existed at BP and their priorities," Strange said.
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Monday, February 25, 2013
Do You Believe In Quick Golf Fixes? | Content for Reprint
Word Count: 597 Date:
One of the key aspects about the sport called golf is that without a considerable amount of practice you can find hitting the ball as you wish is a somewhat elusive dream!? This tends to hold true for both beginners and the more seasoned golfer.? Thus it is no wonder that so many golfers avidly seek to find any or every type of quick golf fix that they can feast their eyes or lay their hands upon.
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The million-dollar question is whether or not such quick golf fixes have a hope of working.? I suspect that the majority of golfers soon discover that whilst their currently favored fix might work to a degree for a short period of time, its effectiveness quickly fades and disappears.?
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Fewer golfers hold an appreciation of the very real potential for the supposed "quick fix" to morph into a golf nightmare.? Unless you fully understand the how and why of a swing change, be it related to rhythm, tempo, swing plane, wrist cock, length of backswing or follow through, etc., you are running the risk of making a change that puts you further off course than on.??
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Additionally most "quick" golf fixes are not actually quick to apply.? The various parts of your golf swing are linked together like a row of dominoes.? As you change one tiny little component, be it by just a fraction of a millimeter, it will inevitably affect every domino along the line.? Most golfers will be only too aware of those times when they feel like their swing has totally collapsed.? You do not ever want that to happen again.
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The exception to this rule applies to mental focus.? You can in fact change your mind about something literally "at a moment's notice".? Women are frequently accused of this; it is a woman's prerogative to change her mind!?
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In golf, the application of correct mental focus will prove to be a very effective fix indeed.? With your attention correctly placed and your emotions kept under control, the numbers written upon your scorecard are likely to be very pleasing indeed.? What is even better is that there is no negative side effect.? Correct mental focus simply cannot cause your game to fall apart!
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But, if you forget to focus or apply your mind correctly, then you will miss out upon the advantages that this confers to your current shot.?? Even though you can change your mind in an instant, and gain good mental focus simply by thinking about it, what really pays off is to make this ideal focus into a habit.?
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The creation of a habit, even one that is mental in nature, is not a quick fix.? It takes time and effort.? But this time and effort put into the mental side of golf is worth its weight in gold.? It is also something that can be worked upon at home or in the dark and for just a few minutes at a time.
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Roseanna Leaton, golf addict and specialist in golf hypnosis mp3s and author of the GolferWithin golf mind training system.
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P.S.? Discover how to focus your golf mind and play winning golf through golf hypnosis.? Check out my website now.
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If you are an avid golfer, then you have probably heard of St. George, Utah. It's one of the premier places to play these days, or even retire in style.
There are many formats that have become popular for golf tournaments. In this article we go over the most popular formats.
Now here's a golf tip that has been asked a lot on the golf message boards and golf blogs.How do you hit a hybrid golf club?The hybrid or utility golf club has been a big hit in the golf community for
In opening any busines there are many things that you need to think through prior to opening your doors. Here are a few that you need to think about before you open a driving range.
Learning how to hit the driver can be a significant challenge. Discover some useful golf driving tips to help you learn how to become a better golfer.
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NEC's Medias W global prototype spotted: 4.3-inch Android phone or 5.6-inch tablet? (hands-on)
NEC will launch its dual-screened Medias W in Japan in April, but now the company is working to get the phone landing in shores beyond Nihon. We saw glimpses of the red-finish global prototype that's on show here at MWC, although the company wasn't able to confirm any prices or destinations for the worldwide versions just yet. We also managed to get to grips with the Japanese iteration. Fortunately the only difference between the two models is NTT DoCoMo's baked-in proprietary apps and menus. So that's less bloatware? Count us in. We've got more impressions the on the dual 4.3-inch phone (and our hands-on video) right after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/xDPNgpD9TIw/
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France Plans Military Presence in West Africa After Mali War: UN Sources
Sunday, 24 February 2013 08:41
'French diplomats have started briefing the UN, the US and other major powers on a plan for a so-called ?beyond the horizon? force which will purportedly be tasked with conducting necessary future operations against the fighters in Mali.
France has not informed its allies of the exact location of the force, but diplomats say it will probably be stationed in Senegal, Niger, or Chad, where France has military bases.
On January 11, France launched a war in Mali under the pretext of halting the advance of fighters who had taken control of the north of the West African country. The United States, Canada, Britain, Belgium, Germany, and Denmark have aided France in its war on the African country.'
Read more: France Plans Military Presence in West Africa After Mali War: UN Sources
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User accounts and services Windows 7 Pro x64
I would like to create two user accounts in Windows 7 Pro x64, each with their own separate running services. One account with just about all services running and a second account with just the bare minimum for playing games.
I tried doing this but found out that the services settings stay the same on both accounts. If I turn a service off on account one, that same service is disabled in account two even if I completely log out of account one.
Is there any way around this or is duel booting the only solution?
Thanks for your help.
Source: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/279815-user-accounts-services-windows-7-pro-x64.html
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Abercrombie Blames GOP Inaction For Looming Sequestration
The Huffington Post has the story. Excerts:
Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) is placing blame for the looming sequester firmly at the feet of Republicans in Congress, saying legislative inaction on their part is putting the nation at risk of severe cuts to defense and domestic spending.
?The whole idea of a representative body is to do legislation,? he said. ?We have people now who don?t want to do legislation.?
Speaking at the annual winter meeting of the National Governors Association, Abercrombie told reporters that the current battles in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives are a follow-up to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich?s work in the 1990s.
?The Tea Party is the son of the Contract with America,? Abercrombie said. ?This ideological approach to government itself, particularly in the House of Representatives, needs to be eliminated. ??
?Chad Blair
Source: http://hawaii.news.blogs.civilbeat.com/post/43832353387
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Sunday, February 24, 2013
Dell XPS 10
If you think you need to carry all of your digital files (especially videos and multimedia) with you at all times, stop reading this and go read a review for a more power user-oriented system. Still here? Okay, the Dell XPS 10 ($679.99 bundled with keyboard dock) has one of the longest battery life test results we've seen. You can use this convertible tablet on the longest flight in the world, and still have battery power left over to check your email when you land. An even better use would be for a busy student or business corridor nomad who rarely has a chance to plug in: 20+ hours of battery life means that you can stay connected all day and well into the night. If "Office and the Internet" are your primary needs on a computer, then our new (and first) Editors' Choice winner for Windows RT tablets is the everyday computer you can carry everywhere.
Design and Features
The XPS 10 follows the now familiar hybrid tablet format. Primarily, it's a slate tablet, measuring a slim 0.36 by 11 by 7 inches (HWD) and weighing 1.36 pounds. Connected to its keyboard dock, the system grows to just under an inch thick (0.94 inch) while keeping its other dimensions, and the combo weighs in at 2.63 pounds.
Like other tablets, the XPS 10 is constructed from magnesium alloy and has a soft touch finish. The screen is covered by seamless Asahi Dragontail glass, and has a five-point touch capability. (Asahi Dragontail glass is a strengthened glass competitor to Corning's Gorilla Glass.) The tablet latches to the keyboard dock easily, and can be removed just as easily by pushing a sliding tab on the keyboard dock hinge. When the two are connected, the XPS 10 looks and acts like a small laptop, with a comfortable keyboard and one-piece multitouch trackpad.
Around the edges of the XPS 10 are the tablet's docking/charging connector, a micro-USB port (with included full sized USB port dongle), volume control, micro-SD card slot, and headset jack. The keyboard dock has a pair of USB 2.0 ports, a mini-HDMI port (with included mini-HDMI to full HDMI dongle), and charging port. You can plug the AC adapter into the dock or the tablet's docking connector for charging, one AC adapter is included with the tablet, and one with the keyboard dock ($180). Since you have both chargers, you can leave one at home and carry the other with you in your travel bag. If you're in a pinch, you can use a standard micro-USB cable and USB charger to recharge or power the XPS 10, albeit at a slow trickle rate.
One nicety we found during testing are the keyboard dock's built-in speakers. When the tablet is used alone, the sound is fine for Web surfing and alert sounds. When you connect the keyboard dock, the speakers in the dock work in concert with the speakers in the tablet to give you a louder, richer audio experience. The combo won't replace an external soundbar for critical viewing/listening, but with this combo you won't have to turn on closed captioning to understand what's going on (in dialogue-heavy movies), especially if you're sharing the screen with a friend.
The XPS 10's IPS screen measures 10.1 inches (diagonally), which matches the screen size of its other hybrid docking tablet rival, the Asus VivoTab RT. Both screens are physically smaller than the 10.6-inch screen on the Microsoft Surface with Windows RT, even though all three screens sport a 1,366-by-768 resolution. The XPS 10's IPS screen is easily viewable from many angles, and its resolution supports 720p HD video. Any 1080p HD video can be downscaled for viewing on the system's screen, but it's a better viewing experience to watch 720p videos natively instead.
Accelerometers make sure the screen is always pointing "up" whether you are holding the system in portrait or landscape mode. Taps and swipes on the screen were responsive, as were the controls on the physical keyboard dock and trackpad. The responsive trackpad is an improvement over the VivoTab RT and even some ultrabooks like the Vizio 14-Inch Thin + Light (CT14-A4) .
There are two major drawbacks with Windows RT: compatibility and the closed ecosystem. Since the XPS 10 and other RT-based systems run a version of Windows over an ARM processor (the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4), older programs are not compatible with RT. The only source for programs is the Windows Store in the system's Start screen. You can't download and install your favorite browser, you can't buy programs from a third party site (like Steam or Origin), and you can't install many browser plug-ins either. The one plus on the program side is that the system comes with Microsoft Office 2013 RT (Home and Student) pre-loaded, and that the system is somewhat protected from viruses (through Windows Defender and the fact that x86 code won't run on it).
The system is bloatware free, since the only pre-loaded programs are Office, Skype, Dell Shop (physical products from Dell), Getting Started with Windows RT (a help program), and Dell dock settings. Getting Started with Windows RT is a good set of videos and documentation to help new users learn how to use Windows RT and the new user interface. When we pulled the XPS 10 out of its box, we noticed that it only has 15.9GB free out of a 23.8GB indicated. This means that you better view most of videos from online, as you won't have too much local storage unless you pop a microSD card into the XPS 10. Still, 16 GB should be enough for Office files like Word documents and Excel spreadsheets. You can also use Microsoft's SkyDrive for cloud storage.
When connected to the Web, the XPS 10 is an excellent tool. Internet Explorer starts up quickly, and websites load quickly as well. Programs like Netflix and Hulu+ work as you'd expect. However, as stated above, the number of Windows RT compatible apps is still severely limited compared with those for Android Tablets and iPads. About the only thing that RT tablets have over the other mobile platforms are the fully compatible copy of Office and the fact that the OS on RT tablets acts like a typical Windows OS. The XPS 10 comes with a one-year warranty standard with options for extending that warranty through Dell's ProSupport service.
Performance
Because of its ARM-based processor, the Dell XPS doesn't run our Windows benchmark tests like 3DMark 11 or PCMark 7. The test that we can run is one of the most important: battery life. The XPS 10 lasts a staggering 11 hours and 34 minutes alone, and tops 20-and-a-half hours (20:36) when connected to its fully charged keyboard dock. This is a phenomenal amount of battery life. It's certainly enough to last the whole flight between virtually any two nonstop points on the planet (currently the Newark to Singapore flight SQ21, at 18 hours, 50 minutes). This means the XPS 10 and dock last a lot longer than the Asus VivoTab RT with its dock (16:03) or alone (9:37). The XPS 10 also outlasted the Microsoft Surface RT (7:45). While all of the RT tablets outlast laptops and tablets with ultrabook-class processors like the Microsoft Surface Pro (4:58), Atom-powered tablets can give you full Windows 8 compatibility and long battery life like the Dell Latitude 10 (19:38 with extended battery).
Essentially, it comes down to what you need out of your tablet. If you need the ultimate in portability and don't care at all about compatibility with Windows, then grab an iPad or Google Nexus 7. If you absolutely, positively need legacy program support or Windows 8 Pro compatibility, then a full-blown Windows 8 tablet like the Editors' Choice Dell Latitude 10 or Microsoft Surface Pro is worth the added expense. However, if you need insanely long battery life and your critical "Windows compatibility" needs are limited to Office documents, then you can get a Windows RT tablet like the Dell XPS 10. It's one of the better RT tablets we've seen so far, and our new Editors' Choice for Windows RT tablets.
COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Dell XPS 10 with several other laptops side by side.
More laptop reviews:
??? Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2
??? Dell XPS 10
??? Dell Latitude 10
??? MSI GT70 One-609US Dragon Edition
??? Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro
?? more
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/GwPu2Pp6N5o/0,2817,2415771,00.asp
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Experts sound off on the peril and potential of the evolving Web ...
Depending on what type of Internet user you are, you either think the Web is an open, free-flowing, exchange of ideas and thoughts ? or you?re constantly terrified we are rapidly losing access to the only place where real freedom of expression is allowed to live.
In reality, we?re probably stuck somewhere in between. For all intents and purposes, we users (at least those in the U.S.) have an immense amount of tools and applications at our disposal that are inarguably making communication and creativity easier. You only have to look as far as the DIY movement, consumerization?of the 3D printer, and the democratization of learning to code to know that the Internet and technology have made it remarkably simple for anyone to become a creator of nearly anything. These are undeniably good things that we have our current digital industry to thank for.
At the same time, governments and corporations are being charged with trying to restrict our access to these amazing tools provided by the Internet. More than ever before, platforms are getting information requests upon information requests, and the control large Internet corporations have over what we see and don?t see online is worrisome. This intersection between everything the Internet has given us and everything that could potentially be taken away was a focus at New York Social Media Week, where a handful of industry experts spoke about the potential and perils of our Worldwide Web.
The geography of the Internet
Part of how governments want to control the Web is by treating it as a physical place ? one with borders that give them the rights to dictate what happens inside their countries.??Governments want to divvy up the Internet and create points of control,? Katherine Maher, Director of Strategy and Communications for Access, an international organization dedicated to human rights and technology policy,?said during her keynote at this week?s event. Like a legislature can govern its constituents within its borders, so too would they like to govern the Internet within their own borders.
There are currently some 133 counties where the Internet can be ?turned off with a phone call.?
Clearly, the largest risk here is to repress governments, and we?ve seen the effects these places have had?on the Internet. According to Maher, there are currently some 133 counties where the Internet can be ?turned off with a phone call,? which is a frightening thought.
It?s hard to deny that the Web has become a ?place? of sorts. Thanks to the advent of social networking, there?s a tangibility to online lives, and this makes the Internet feel like a physical place. Unfortunately, there are those who want to capitalize on this sentiment and set up rules and regulations over the Internet ? but that inherently challenges the most important part of the Web. It?s supposed to the great connector, the great communicator, the one true thing that can enable us to interact with anyone, anywhere.
The global Web is also having more of an affect on global politics than ever before. ArchiTechs author Rahaf Harfoush spoke to the interconnectivity of the Internet to real world relationships ? these affect everyone, from middle schoolers to international leaders. The Cablegate disaster, for instance, put politicians around the globe in awkward positions as the damning things they?d said about one another were suddenly publicly available. It?s like talking about your friend behind his back only to realize everyone in your school ? including your friend ? was listening. The difference, of course, is that classroom gossip is merely embarrassing; political squabbles can have greater consequences.
The dangers of the filtering slippery slope
While the intersections of Internet and politics are filled with massive gray areas, another concern for the open Web is the effect of filtering. Aggregation has become an important trend, and one that is dominating how we find, process, and interact with content. As more and more people gain Internet access via various devices, and as the Web simultaneously puts new tools into our hands for creating content to fill it with, discovery is a problem. Really, it?s a happy problem. We are all creators now, and there is so much happening online and through social networks that we can?t get to it all. There is no end to the Internet.
Still, the intensity of the amount of information for us to process what?s out there is what?s led to aggregator and curator overload. And while these tools inarguably try to help us focus in on what?s relevant and important to us, the consequence is that we?re limiting ourselves to what we see.
After stepping away from MoveOn, his political affiliated organization, UpWorthy?s Eli Pariser decided to broaden his Facebook News Feed horizons. ?I went on a friending campaign to meet people that had different points of view ? right wing, libertarians ? I wanted a News Feed with a more diverse set of opinions and ideas,? he said. ?Instead, I noticed none of these new people I added to my online environment were showing up at all. Facebook was looking at my interactions and saw I?d engaged with people who shared my political beliefs more, and upranking them and downranking the content of people I didn?t agree with.? The result? A very homogenous Facebook experience.
Pariser, along with his friend and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, warned about the false perception that we?ve moved beyond the age of gatekeepers. They?re still there, maybe stronger than ever, because they?re so well hidden. ?We?ve turned the power over to algorithms instead of people, but they are doing the same things,? Pariser said, naming Google and Facebook as two obvious culprits.
There?s an easy metaphor here: that the Internet will follow the route of radio. It was this amazing democratic tool for free speech ? and then companies like Clear Channel came in and took control of the medium and it lost much of its power. Will the Internet follow this trajectory?
Checks and balances
Of course it?s not all doom and gloom for the Web. Individuals have more power than ever before to utilize and even change how the Internet is evolving. ?There?s a renewed sense about being engaged as a citizen,? Ohanian said. ?We can hold companies and our government accountable.? To demonstrate his point, Ohanian pulled up an app that immediately connects you to your representative so you can issue a complaint, question, criticism, or request more information about something.
?We should have the same expectations [of transparency] of our politicians that we do of Kim Kardashian.?
Speaking to the power of the individual, Harfoush also pointed out the case of Bradley Manning. While an undeniably controversial figure, he certainly speaks to the effect one person can have thanks to the democratization of the Web. ?One person was able to affect diplomacy on a global level,? she said.
The take-away from all of this is that we should be demanding transparency about what?s happening in the development of the Web ? and we?re starting to be trained to do this thanks to social networking and the fact that we are live streaming everything that happens to us. ?Thanks to social media, there?s an expectancy for transparency,? Ohanian says. ?We should have the same expectations of our politicians that we do of Kim Kardashian.?
More than we realize, the future of social networks and the Web is in our hands. As Pariser puts it, ?we need to step up and be citizens of this virtual space.?
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Bishop visits Hampshire village to rededicate church
Bishop visits Hampshire village to rededicate church
2:45pm Saturday 23rd February 2013 in News
THE Bishop of Winchester recently visited one of Hampshire?s smallest villages to lead a special service.
The Rt RevTim Dakin conducted a celebration and re-dedication of East Stratton?s All Saints? Church following completion of a ?200,000 restoration project of the Grade 2 listed building.
On Sunday, February 17, after the morning service, the bishop joined local dignitaries and parishioners in the village hall for drinks and lunch.
The service was the culmination of three years work by residents of East and West Stratton, who raised the necessary funds.
Church warden, Chris Hilling, said: ?Given that East & West Stratton number only about 70 households, this has been a truly remarkable achievement and shows what can happen when a local community throws its weight behind a project.?
The Hampshire Chronicle reported in 2009 how Lord Northbrook had set up an appeals committee to save the church, which required urgent repairs to the roof, tower and churchyard wall.
The committee raised over ?40,000 from events within the parish, supplemented by various grants from charities, as well as English Heritage.
Lord Northbrook said: ?We are indebted both to English Heritage for their generous grants, without which we could not have restored our church, and to Patrick Craze, a resident of East Stratton, for his unstinting work in securing all our grants and in managing the restoration works.?
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Friday, February 22, 2013
Facebook to put old, rarely viewed photos into 'cold storage'
If a photo is on Facebook and no one looks at it, was it ever even uploaded?
Poor attempt at a joke aside, there's something with which we need to come to terms: There are a lot of photos on Facebook that just sit around, taking up precious data storage space. The social network can't exactly delete these photos just because no one's looking, but it can store them in a more cost-effective and energy-efficient way.
According to the Oregonian's Mike Rogoway, Facebook's testing moving what he describes as "archival posts that people don?t need every day" into cold storagein the social network's data center inPrineville, Oregon.
As fun as it might be to imagine a gigantic meatlocker full of servers, cold storage refers to a data center in which most of the computers are asleep, with a few keeping watch ? and able to wake the others ? for incoming requests to view older items. Compare that to a hot storage data center in which all the computers are wide-awake and ready to show you the information you request almost instantly. (Of course, the difference in the time it takes to grab something from cold storage versus the time it takes to grab something from hot storage is so slight that a typical user could never even tell the difference. Think second or millisecond delays, rather than anything more dramatic.)
Facebook says, according to Rogoway, that "82 percent of its traffic is focused on just 8 percent of its photos." Given that detail, it's not exactly tough to understand why the company's considering cold storage data centers ? especially since they will cost the social network about a third less than standard data centers, offer eight times more storage, and run five times more energy efficiently.
Want more tech news or interesting links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on Twitter, subscribing to her Facebook posts, or circling her on Google+.
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Scout navigation app for iPhone gains location sharing and ETA notifications (video)
Beyond its free price, users of Scout for the iPhone have an extra reason to smile today as the navigation app now supports location sharing. More specifically, users will be able to share their current location or future destination via either text message, email or Facebook. By leveraging Telenav's HTML5 navigation system, recipients can take advantage of the company's browser-based, turn-by-turn directions by merely clicking the sender's enclosed link. As another nice touch, Scout also now supports automated notifications, which allows users to provide estimated arrival times via text message to chosen contacts whenever they depart for a specific destination such as home or the office. For a peek at the new features, in addition to a quick introduction of the new Things To Do menu and revised My Dashboard, be sure to check out the video after the break.
Source: Scout (App Store)
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/OtB_j-_qNz0/
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NBA trade deadline features only minor moves
NEW YORK ?
The only trade involving Dwight Howard came last summer. The potent scorers that moved did so long ago.
There was no eye-catching activity left for deadline day, resulting in minor deals Thursday to the disappointment of those hoping for a frenzy.
Josh Smith stayed put and the Boston Celtics' core stayed together, leaving J.J. Redick, dealt to Milwaukee, as the biggest name to be traded.
There were a dozen moves over two days, nothing approaching a blockbuster and none to jump-start the Lakers.
Players such as James Harden and Rudy Gay were traded far before the deadline, but with teams perhaps fearful of new penalties for the biggest spenders, Thursday was mostly quiet.
"I don't think I've seen fewer trade deadline deals, ever," said Houston general manager Daryl Morey, who completed two trades Wednesday. "But I think it's a one-year blip."
The Atlanta Hawks held onto Smith, and Utah kept both Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson on a day when much attention was focused on both situations, since those players have value and could leave their teams this summer as free agents.
The long-shot deals never materialized. Howard remained in Los Angeles, just what Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak repeatedly said would happen. Howard's unhappiness and struggles since he was acquired from Orlando last summer fueled speculation that the Lakers might move him before possibly losing him for nothing as a free agent.
"It took a while for league to understand our position was exactly what we stated," Kupchak told reporters. "I think they finally got it."
Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will continue wearing Celtic green, as will Rajon Rondo when he's healthy enough to put on a uniform again.
The Celtics did make one deal, acquiring guard Jordan Crawford from the Washington Wizards for center Jason Collins and injured guard Leandro Barbosa.
Those were the types of trades that were left after the big names that were available had already been moved. Oklahoma City sent All-Star Harden to Houston the preseason, fearing it couldn't pay what last season's top sixth man would want after already giving lucrative long-term deals to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
The Memphis Grizzlies broke up their frontcourt when they sent Gay to Toronto in a three-team deal with Detroit
"I think normally a point was made, normally you would see big deals being made. We cannot forget, Andre Iguodala, that deal was made in the summer. That could have potentially been a trade deadline move," said Denver Nuggets president Masai Ujiri, referring to the player he acquired in the four-team Howard trade in August.
"Harden was traded right before the season started. That could have been a potential trade deadline move. Rudy Gay was started a couple weeks ago. There was some cleanup before this date. Apart from a couple guys who were out there all the time in terms of big names, it just went by. I can't explain it."
Finances certainly played into it. The collective bargaining agreement that went into effect in 2011 came with much more punitive penalties for teams that repeatedly exceed the luxury tax and limits the options of those over the salary cap, and decisions Thursday were made with that in mind.
Golden State sent forward Jeremy Tyler to Atlanta and guard Charles Jenkins to Philadelphia in separate deals, slicing more than $1.5 million off its payroll after beginning the day about $1.2 million over the league's $70,307,000 luxury tax.
Rebuilding after trading Howard, the Magic decided Redick wasn't in their plans while averaging career highs in points (15.1) and field goal percentage (45.0). He was traded along with center Gustavo Ayon and reserve point guard Ish Smith to the Bucks in exchange for guards Doron Lamb and Beno Udrih, and forward Tobias Harris.
The New York Knicks traded Ronnie Brewer to Oklahoma City to open a roster spot that will be used to give Kenyon Martin a 10-day contract. The Hawks couldn't find a good enough deal for Smith, who had largely been considered the biggest name that would move, and settled for sending Anthony Morrow to Dallas for Dahntay Jones.
With so little happening, Morey may have pulled off the most intriguing move this week when he acquired Thomas Robinson, the No. 5 pick in last year's draft, from Sacramento in one of his two deals.
"I thought the main thing that was different at this trade deadline was there was a big premium on cap space and draft picks," Morey said. "Usually, that's the currency that moves markets. They were at such a premium that every deal was very difficult. It became like a barter economy instead of a cash economy. That made deals harder.
"I do think you could say that maybe the CBA might be contributing to that. But I also think a lot of it is just the phase teams are in. There are a lot of good teams trying to maybe rebuild, for lack of a better word.
---
AP Sports Writers Chris Duncan in Houston and Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report.
Source: http://seattletimes.com/html/sports/2020407034_apbkntradedeadline.html?syndication=rss
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Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Two new stores coming to Charlotte-area, bringing jobs
CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- Academy Sports? + Outdoors will open two new Charlotte-area stores on March 8, 2013. One store will open in Concord and the other in Kannapolis.
Each of the 71,000 square-foot stores will be staffed with approximately 150 associates.
The Concord store will open at 8675 Concord Mills Boulevard, near Concord Mills Mall. The Kannapolis store will open at 2211 Elder Lane.
"We could not be more excited to add two new stores to this area for customers to shop our wide selection of products at our everyday low prices," says Kevin Chapman, Academy Sports + Outdoors executive vice president of stores. "As we continue our expansion in this region, we look forward to being active members of the Charlotte community for years to come."
Academy is a sports, outdoor, and lifestyle retailer. The company says it is committed to community involvement, including support of local youth sports leagues, conservation groups, regional sports teams, and more.
Both stores will cut their ceremonial ribbons on Thursday, March 7 during a private ceremony where they will also donate $100 shopping sprees to 100 total children from the Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County and the Cannon Memorial YMCA ? Kannapolis Branch. Both events are private.
Following the openings to the public; Academy will host a three-day grand opening celebration starting at 8 a.m. on Friday, March 22 at both new stores. Amongst the several giveaways at each store will be a free pair of Crocs to the first 100 customers in line that Friday morning. The celebration will continue throughout the weekend and will feature other giveaways from brands like Adidas, Callaway and Wrangler, product try-ons, interactive demos, product displays, games for the whole family, plus opportunities to interact with pros who represent top brands sold at Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Academy opened its first Charlotte-area store in Rock Hill, SC in March 2012, followed by its Hickory, NC opening this past September. With the addition of the two new stores, the company will have brought a total of 550 new jobs to the region in the past year.
Copyright 2013 WBTV. All rights reserved.
Source: http://rockhill.wbtv.com/news/news/78662-two-new-stores-coming-charlotte-area-bringing-jobs
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Israel's Netanyahu freezes ice cream expenditures
JERUSALEM (AP) ? Following an Israeli newspaper's scoop, the country's prime minister has "frozen" his annual ice cream budget.
Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Sunday said once he was made aware of the state-financed contract issued to purchase ice cream from his favorite Jerusalem parlor he ordered it stopped immediately. Netanyahu called the contract "excessive and unacceptable."
The Israel economic publication "Calcalist" published a list of items on the prime minister's annual expense budget, including $2,700 for ice cream.
Following the publication, Israelis flocked to the "Metudela" ice cream shop near the prime minister's residence to check out his alleged favorite flavors: pistachio and vanilla.
The prime minister's office said the cost included hosting high-ranking officials at the official residence. Still, it offered a rare peek into the personal life of the private Netanyahu.
Source: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Israel-s-Netanyahu-freezes-ice-cream-expenditures-4285800.php
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how to find ?the one? - Caregiving Club
Finding in-home care services or alternative living options for your parent or other loved one ? whether it is assisted living, nursing home or personal care services at home ? is one of the dilemmas caregivers face.? You can conduct an online Google or Bing search but how will you know if the options are the best choices ? both in quality of care and cost?
Now there is a new breed of online service providers who will find your ?soul mate? in terms of caring for your loved one.? Similar to relationship matchmaking services (think Match.com or OurTime.com for dating), you create a profile with specific details about what you and your loved one are looking for, view the options matched to your profile, coordinate a meeting or tour of the facility and hopefully fall in love.
What you need to know before starting your search for the perfect match is to look at this like a job interview and you are the hiring boss:
- Create a detailed profile or job description ? talk to your loved one about what you both need and be as specific as possible. Special meal preparation (e.g., your loved one is lactose intolerant), language issues (the care worker needs to be bi-lingual) or specialized services (such as for those with dementia) need to be considered.
- Know your monthly budget.? In some instances, you may be able to negotiate on fees for in-home care services directly with the care worker but only if you know the going rates and your budget limits. You will also need to know the difference between personal care workers versus home health aides or licensed registered nurses ? there are legal limitations to what unskilled workers can provide (such as medication or injections or changing dressings for bed sores).
- Always ask for background checks and referrals and make sure you follow-up with previous employers. You want to know if the worker you are hiring was reliable and kind as well as skilled.
- Check out the job candidates? social media activity ? it?s amazing what you can learn about someone from their Facebook, Twitter or other activities that may give you pause.
Keep in mind these types of online caregiver matchmaking services make their money in one of two ways: either you will pay a fee for their service or they are paid by the facility or service providers to make referrals. I am not making an argument one way is better than another. Each option has advantages and disadvantages and you must weigh cost versus value. I advise some professional guidance is always helpful so I do recommend you do not do it all on your own. If you do decide to skip the matchmaker services for in-home care such as those listed below, beware of Craig?s List or gray market workers that you can find word-of-mouth from other caregivers or through local community online classified ad listings.? After all, these workers will come into your home or the home of your loved one and watch over your most precious thing in life so saving a few pennies is not always the best plan.
Following is a rundown of some of these different senior care matchmaking services:
A Place for Mom.com ? This service site allows you to put in your zip code and the type of senior living facility you are seeking to receive your matches. You can compare amenities and costs; and if you aren?t sure which type of facility you need, there is a toll-free number you can call to talk to a Senior Living Advisor. The advisor can then meet you to tour the facilities you want to see in person. The cost to caregivers is free since the list of 18,000 facilities pay to be listed as part of this service. Joan Lunden serves as their celebrity spokesperson after she used the service to find a facility for her mom who has dementia.
Care.com ? This site offers a wide spectrum of in-home and facility care options for families including child care, senior care and pet care. It also offers services to employers and military/government organizations needing back-up care for its caregiving employees. You are asked to post a job description and provide a few details (such as your cost range), search for free and pay the health care worker or facility directly. Care conducts background checks and provides telephonic advisors for an additional subscription fee.
CareLinx.com ? Offers an efficient and cost-effective way to find a personal care aide, also known as a personal care assistant. The matches are limited to personal care services such as meal preparation, transportation, medication reminders and companionship, also known as respite care. They do not provide skilled nursing care. Caregivers create a free profile for the care needed for their loved one, view online videos of the personal care worker selections, conduct a video chat interview with the home health aide or arrange to interview him/her in person and negotiate the fee. CareLinx manages the scheduling, billing and other necessary administrative tasks to make this a fully integrated service. And since the health care service is provided through an online virtual agency rather than a bricks and mortar location such as other health service agencies, ultimately the caregiver saves money because there are limited overhead costs.
Sherwin Sheik, CEO and founder of CareLinx, created the service after experiencing his family?s struggle with in-home care for his sister who has multiple sclerosis and his uncle who had ALS. He says, ?Traditional home health agencies have a minimum number of hours or limited weekend services available. We have no set minimums. We fill the gap for families who are disenfranchised and need to match their loved one?s needs with the family budget.?
Sheik advises that a recent client was a caregiver in Phoenix who needed to find in-home care for her father in Los Angeles after his hospital discharge. She used CareLinx and will ultimately save about $10,000 over the next 12 months for the care service versus using a traditional agency.
CareScout.com ? This is the same service that administers the AARP Caregiving Help and Advice?from Genworth. Both an online and offline service, the database of local senior housing and?home health care service options includes 90,000 entries across the country which caregivers?can search free of charge. For a membership fee (or included in AARP membership where caregivers can access the information using a loved one?s AARP member ID), caregivers can receive the SmartMatch service, which matches your loved one?s care needs to specific providers in your loved one?s area. CareScout has created an extensively detailed database with care provider answers to more than 80 questions about its service including holiday and weekend rates and split shift offerings. CareScout uses this information to create its own rating system that caregivers can review. In addition, the services are also rated by the caregivers or loved ones receiving the care provided, so you get a second rating from actual users to help you make an informed decision.
CareScout also offers Care Advocates ? its own network of professionals across the country?who can conduct assessments and help caregivers put together a care plan for their loved one?based on a variety of needs. Bob Bua, president of CareScout, a Genworth company, says, ?I?like to say we?re old-fashioned because we offer both the convenience and information at your?fingertips of online caregiving services but we also offer the in-person, high-touch service so?many caregivers need for peace of mind.?
Caring.com ? This is the highest traffic online site dedicated just for caregivers, with?a lot of great articles and information such as state-by-state senior driving laws and Medicare?information. While the site?s main focus has been educational content and tools such as the Alzheimer?s Steps and Stages for care transitions planning for dementia caregivers, it also offers toll-free telephonic service to talk to a Caring Advisor who is a non-commissioned customer service professional who can help caregivers understand different care options. For instance, Caring has a senior care finder of more than 100,000 resources for in-home help, housing options and Elder Law attorneys ? all with ratings by other caregivers who have used the services.
This story excerpted from Sherri Snelling?s book: A Cast of Caregivers ? Celebrity Stories to Help You Prepare to Care (Balboa Press, division of Hay House Publishers).
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