Cyberattack suspect had 'bunker' in north Spain

MADRID (AP) ? A Dutch citizen arrested in northeast Spain on suspicion of launching what is described as the biggest cyberattack in Internet history operated from a bunker and had a van capable of hacking into networks anywhere in the country, officials said Sunday.

The suspect traveled in Spain using his van "as a mobile computing office, equipped with various antennas to scan frequencies," an Interior Ministry statement said.

Agents arrested him Thursday in the city of Granollers, 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of Barcelona, complying with a European arrest warrant issued by Dutch authorities.

He is accused of attacking the Swiss-British anti-spam watchdog group Spamhaus whose main task is to halt ads for counterfeit Viagra and bogus weight-loss pills reaching the world's inboxes.

The statement said officers uncovered the computer hacker's bunker, "from where he even did interviews with different international media."

The 35-year-old, whose birthplace was given as the western Dutch city of Alkmaar, was identified only by his initials: S.K.

The statement said the suspect called himself a diplomat belonging to the "Telecommunications and Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Republic of Cyberbunker."

Spanish police were alerted in March by Dutch authorities of large denial-of-service attacks being launched from Spain that were affecting Internet servers in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and the U.S. These attacks culminated with a major onslaught on Spamhaus.

The Netherlands National Prosecution Office described them as "unprecedentedly serious attacks on the nonprofit organization Spamhaus."

The largest assault clocked in at 300 billion bits per second, according to San Francisco-based CloudFlare Inc., which Spamhaus enlisted to help it weather the onslaught.

Denial-of-service attacks overwhelm a server with traffic, jamming it with incoming messages. Security experts measure the attacks in bits of data per second. Recent cyberattacks ? such as the ones that caused persistent outages at U.S. banking sites late last year ? have tended to peak at 100 billion bits per second, one third the size of that experienced by Spamhaus.

Netherlands, German, British and U.S. police forces took part in the investigation leading to the arrest, Spain said.

The suspect is expected to be extradited from Spain to face justice in the Netherlands.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2013-04-28-Spain-Cybercrime/id-b01d1a301b88423f832d38ac77012027

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Kuwait court keeps jail time for Twitter insult

KUWAIT CITY (AP) ? A Kuwait appeals court says an online activist must serve a jail sentence for Twitter posts deemed offensive to the Gulf nation's ruler, but the prison term was reduced from two years to one.

Monday's decision sends a message that Kuwaiti authorities are holding firm to their crackdown on social media despite having put on hold proposals for tougher media codes, which could have imposed fines of nearly $1 million for insulting the Western-backed emir.

Since last year, officials have stepped up arrests for perceived dissent on blogs and Twitter.

Kuwaiti media says the appeals court cut in half the two-year sentence given in March to Sager al-Hashash for Twitter posts.

Kuwait has the Gulf's most free-wheeling political system and a vibrant press, but denouncing the emir is illegal.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kuwait-court-keeps-jail-time-twitter-insult-105411557.html

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Arbitrary iPad Swipes and Taps Make Accidental Art

When you check your email, when you play Temple Run, when you're selecting a song to listen to, you're making art. You just don't know it. In a series called Invisible Hieroglyphics, artists Andre Woolery and Victor AbiJaoudi highlight those hidden masterpieces you don't even mean to make.

The works of art are created on a wide variety of apps, from Instagram to Pinterest to Angry Birds, and more. Each accidental painting is a lovely smattering of colorful digital finger painting.

Here's Fruit Ninja:

This one's from the Facebook app:

Check out the rest on Woolery's site. They're a pretty great way to illustrate that technology can be beautiful. And anyone with an iPad can be an artist. [Andre Woolery Art via Mashable]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/arbitrary-ipad-swipes-and-taps-make-accidental-art-484494160

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Defense.gov News Article: U.S. Military Medical System 'Unique ...

U.S. Military Medical System ?Unique,? Official Says

By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2013 ? The U.S. military health system is unique among the world?s military forces, the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs said here yesterday.

The system is able to ?simultaneously engage in combat, medical operations, support a comprehensive peacetime health system and respond to humanitarian crises around the world,? Dr. Jonathan Woodson told members of the House Appropriations Committee.

Woodson added that ?the hard-earned medical lessons of Afghanistan and Iraq have transposed themselves to the civilian environment with life-saving practices that benefit all of American society.?

The medical readiness of the armed forces remains at the center of Defense Department strategy, Woodson said.

?That strategy is coupled with our mission of maintaining a medical-ready force,? he said, ?a force of professionals that are well-trained, engaged in ongoing clinical practice and supported by military hospitals and clinics that are operating at optimal medical capacity.?

?As we maintain our readiness, support combat operations and deliver health care services to 9.6 million beneficiaries, we must also be responsible for the budget set we are given,? Woodson said.

Sequestration continues to present significant challenges to the health care system, he said, adding that it would create potentially catastrophic effects if it continues through 2014. Military medicine programs must absorb $3.2 billion in budget cuts over the rest of fiscal year 2013, which ends Sept. 30, Woodson said, a nearly 8 percent reduction. About half of that reduction is coming from the funds available to pay the TRICARE military health plan and private-sector health care providers, he noted.

?In light of this,? Woodson continued, ?the department has proposed both internal and external reforms that are further expanding our joint engagement in almost every facet of our operations.?

Internally, he said, the department is reforming how the Military Health System is organized, with the goal of continuing to develop a health care system that integrates the services, the Veterans Affairs Department and the private sector.

?We are charting a collaborative path forward to eliminate redundancies within the Military Health System, improve business practices and clinical outcomes, and effectively manage care for the service members and their families,? Woodson said.

?Externally,? he continued, ?the administration is once again asking the military retirees to pay more than they do today for health benefits that they have rightly earned and now receive, but proportionately less than when TRICARE was initiated.?

The department must make tough decisions and determined tradeoffs in an era characterized by more limited resources, Woodson said.

?Our proposals will slow the growth of retiree health benefit costs to the department over time,? he said, ?while keeping in place the comprehensive medical benefits that retirees receive, and ensuring that this program is there for future generations.?

The proposed changes do not affect most active duty families, Woodson said.

?Additionally, our proposals exempt the most vulnerable within our retired population, to include families of service members who died on active duty and families of service members who are medically retired,? he noted.

Many challenges lie ahead for military medicine, Woodson said.

?We are working to mitigate the harmful effects of sequestration involving civilian personnel and cuts in vital military research,? he said. ?We continue to identify approaches to curb unnecessary utilization of health care services. We are increasing our emphasis on wellness, and we are deepening our collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.?
?

Source: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=119875

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Hagman's 'Dallas' belt buckle to be auctioned

Handout / REUTERS

Larry Hagman's ruby-adorned silver and gold belt buckle from "Dallas."

By Eric Kelsey, Reuters

A ruby-adorned silver and gold belt buckle from the U.S. television drama "Dallas" forms the centerpiece of an auction of personal items of late actor Larry Hagman, who played the conniving oilman J.R. Ewing on the hit series.

The buckle, with the initials "J.R.," is as garish and brazen as the character who wore it and is expected to fetch between $3,000 and $5,000 in a May 5 sale, Los Angeles auction house Bonhams said on Thursday.

The large buckle has four rubies framing the initials of the villain on the show that was first broadcast between 1978 and 1991.?

Hagman, who reprised his role in an updated version of "Dallas" in 2012, died at the age of 81 in November from complications of throat cancer. He rose to fame in the mid-1960s as a star on the TV comedy "I Dream of Jeannie."

Hagman's custom-made leather director's chair from "Dallas" is expected to fetch between $2,500 and $3,000, and dozens of cowboy hats owned by Hagman are expected to sell for hundreds of dollars each.

Also up for sale among the scores of cowboy and Western-themed items is an abstract landscape painting by Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins, estimated to sell between $400 and $600.?

Related content:

Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2013/04/26/17927248-larry-hagmans-dallas-belt-buckle-goes-up-for-auction?lite

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Autism risk spotted at birth in abnormal placentas

Apr. 25, 2013 ? Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine have figured out how to measure an infant's risk of developing autism by looking for abnormalities in his/her placenta at birth, allowing for earlier diagnosis and treatment for the developmental disorder. The findings are reported in the April 25 online issue of Biological Psychiatry.

One out of 50 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but the diagnosis is usually made when these children are 3 to 4 years of age or older. By then the best opportunities for intervention have been lost because the brain is most responsive to treatment in the first year of life.

Senior author Dr. Harvey Kliman, research scientist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at the Yale School of Medicine, and research collaborators at the MIND Institute at the University of California, Davis, have found that abnormal placental folds and abnormal cell growths called trophoblast inclusions are key markers to identify newborns who are at risk for autism.

Kliman and his team examined 117 placentas from infants of at-risk families, those with one or more previous children with autism. These families were participating in a study called Markers of Autism Risk in Babies -- Learning Early Signs. Kliman compared these at-risk placentas to 100 control placentas collected by the UC Davis researchers from the same geographic area.

The at-risk placentas had as many as 15 trophoblast inclusions, while none of the control placentas had more than two trophoblast inclusions. Kliman said a placenta with four or more trophoblast inclusions conservatively predicts an infant with a 96.7% probability of being at risk for autism.

Currently, the best early marker of autism risk is family history. Couples with a child with autism are nine times more likely to have another child with autism. Kliman said that when these at-risk families have subsequent children they could employ early intervention strategies to improve outcomes. "Regrettably couples without known genetic susceptibility must rely on identification of early signs or indicators that may not overtly manifest until the child's second or third year of life," said Kliman.

"I hope that diagnosing the risk of developing autism by examining the placenta at birth will become routine, and that the children who are shown to have increased numbers of trophoblast inclusions will have early interventions and an improved quality of life as a result of this test," Kliman added.

Other authors on the study include Kaitlin Anderson, Kristin Milano, and Saier Ye of Yale University; and Cheryl Walker, Daniel Tancredi, Isaac Pessah, and Irva Hertz-Picciotto of UC Davis.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (1 P01 ES11269 and R01 ES 015359), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program (R829388 and R833292), the MIND Institute at the University of California, Davis, and the Yale University Reproductive and Placental Research Unit.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Yale University. The original article was written by Karen N. Peart.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Cheryl K. Walkera, Kaitlin W. Andersong, Kristin M. Milanoh, Saier Yei, Daniel J. Tancredie, Isaac N. Pessahc, Irva Hertz-Picciottob, Harvey J. Klimang. Trophoblast Inclusions Are Significantly Increased in the Placentas of Children in Families at Risk for Autism. Biological Psychiatry, 2013 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.03.006

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/7OtN05U-7iQ/130425091604.htm

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Ubuntu 13.04 available Thursday, brings a streamlined footprint to the forefront

From an end user's perspective, it's always nice to see developers take a step back and focus on streamlining their code, rather than simply piling on new features. Apple used the strategy to great success with Snow Leopard, and now Canonical is set to follow suit with Raring Ringtail, also known as Ubuntu 13.04. The latest version of the popular Linux distro is set for general availability tomorrow, which follows a beta release and a controversial amount of secrecy. Raring Ringtail is characterized as "the fastest and most visually polished Ubuntu experience to date," with a particular emphasis on a smaller memory footprint and greater responsiveness. Much of the streamlining effort was in preparation for Ubuntu's future life in mobile, and to coincide with that effort, developers will find a preview SDK for app development and the ability to test apps within the MIR display server. The release is now a mere hours away, and yes, it'll be a good day.

[Image credit: WebUpd8]

Filed under: Software

Comments

Source: Ubuntu

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/24/ubuntu-13-04-raring-ringtail-available/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Ancient Earth crust stored in deep mantle

Apr. 24, 2013 ? Scientists have long believed that lava erupted from certain oceanic volcanoes contains materials from the early Earth's crust. But decisive evidence for this phenomenon has proven elusive. New research from a team including Carnegie's Erik Hauri demonstrates that oceanic volcanic rocks contain samples of recycled crust dating back to the Archean era 2.5 billion years ago. Their work is published in Nature.

Oceanic crust sinks into Earth's mantle at so-called subduction zones, where two plates come together. Much of what happens to the crust during this journey is unknown. Model-dependent studies for how long subducted material can exist in the mantle are uncertain and evidence of very old crust returning to Earth's surface via upwellings of magma has not been found until now.

The research team studied volcanic rocks from the island of Mangaia in Polynesia's Cook Islands that contain iron sulfide inclusions within crystals. In-depth analysis of the chemical makeup of these samples yielded interesting results.

The research focused on isotopes of the element sulfur. (Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.) The measurements, conducted by graduate student Rita Cabral, looked at three of the four naturally occurring isotopes of sulfur--isotopic masses 32, 33, and 34. The sulfur-33 isotopes showed evidence of a chemical interaction with UV radiation that stopped occurring in Earth's atmosphere about 2.45 billion years ago. It stopped after the Great Oxidation Event, a point in time when Earth's atmospheric oxygen levels skyrocketed as a consequence of oxygen-producing photosynthetic microbes. Prior to the Great Oxidation Event, the atmosphere lacked ozone. But once ozone was introduced, it started to absorb UV and shut down the process.

This indicates that the sulfur comes from a deep mantle reservoir containing crustal material subducted before the Great Oxidation Event and preserved for over half the age of Earth.

"These measurements place the first firm age estimates of recycled material in oceanic hotspots," Hauri said. "They confirm the cycling of sulfur from the atmosphere and oceans into mantle and ultimately back to the surface," Hauri said.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Carnegie Institution.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Rita A. Cabral, Matthew G. Jackson, Estelle F. Rose-Koga, Kenneth T. Koga, Martin J. Whitehouse, Michael A. Antonelli, James Farquhar, James M. D. Day, Erik H. Hauri. Anomalous sulphur isotopes in plume lavas reveal deep mantle storage of Archaean crust. Nature, 2013; 496 (7446): 490 DOI: 10.1038/nature12020

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/LDR1C8bWhcs/130424132705.htm

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BlackBerry Q10 will launch in Canada on May 1st for $199.99

BlackBerry on Monday announced that its second BlackBerry 10 smartphone will be available in Canada early next month. The BlackBerry Q10 will arrive on Rogers, Bell and TELUS on May 1st starting at $199 with a three-year service agreement. The smartphone is equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard along with a 3.1-inch 720p touchscreen, a 1.5GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4470 processor, 2GB of RAM, NFC, a microSD slot and an 8-megapixel rear camera. BlackBerry?also announced that the Q10 will be available on smaller carriers such as Virgin Mobile, Fido, Koodo Mobile and Sasktel. The company?s full press release follows below.

The New BlackBerry Q10 Smartphone available in Canada May 1

[More from BGR: A review of Facebook Home ? by someone who can?t stand Facebook]

The new BlackBerry? Q10, the first BlackBerry? 10 smartphone to feature a classic BlackBerry? QWERTY Keyboard, will be available in Canada starting May 1 on Rogers Wireless, Bell Mobility and TELUS. The BlackBerry Q10 combines the power of the BlackBerry 10 platform with a large, re-engineered physical keyboard and stunning touchscreen display ? the largest ever on a BlackBerry QWERTY smartphone.

?We?re thrilled that the BlackBerry Q10 will soon be available to Canadians,? said Andrew MacLeod, Managing Director for Canada. ?The new BlackBerry Q10 combines the power of BlackBerry 10 with a classic BlackBerry keyboard to help people communicate and collaborate faster and more efficiently. We?re seeing strong momentum behind BlackBerry 10 from carriers, customers and partners around the world. The BlackBerry Q10 will accelerate this trend.?

Availability:

The BlackBerry Q10 smartphone will be available in Canada starting May 1 on Rogers Wireless, Bell Mobility and TELUS starting at $199 with a 3 year contract. It will also be available on Virgin Mobile Canada, Fido, Koodo Mobile, and Sasktel, and available in select retail locations, including Best Buy, Future Shop, TBooth Wireless, The Source, Walmart Canada and WIRELESSWAVE.

Highlights of the BlackBerry Q10:

Meticulous attention has been paid to every detail of the BlackBerry Q10 smartphone?s design, from its beautiful and distinctive form to its elegant and ergonomic QWERTY keyboard, which features a wider layout and larger sculpted keys. With the BlackBerry Q10 smartphone?s advanced hardware, communications and multimedia features, along with long battery life, you can confidently stay ahead and take action all day long.

The re-designed, re-engineered and re-invented BlackBerry 10 platform offers you a powerful and unique new mobile computing experience that continuously adapts to your needs. Every feature, every gesture, and every detail is designed to keep you moving forward towards your goal, and includes advancements such as:

? The ever present BlackBerry? Hub, which brings all your conversations together in one easy to manage place that you can access at any time from any app with a simple ?peek?, so you?re always only one swipe away from what matters to you.

? BlackBerry? Balance? technology, which elegantly separates and secures work applications and data from personal content, protecting what?s important to you and the business you work for..

? BBM? (BlackBerry? Messenger), which lets you share things with the people that matter to you in an instant. BBM in BlackBerry 10 includes voice calling and video chat, and lets you share your screen with another BlackBerry 10 contact.

? BlackBerry? Remember, which helps you tackle tasks quickly with a new way to collect, organize and action all the information sitting in different places across your smartphone.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blackberry-q10-launch-canada-may-1st-199-99-195041774.html

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Nigeria gun battle was joint assault with Chad, Niger: sources

By Tim Cocks

ABUJA (Reuters) - A bloody gun battle against Islamist insurgents in Nigeria last week involved forces from neighboring Chad and Niger, officials said on Tuesday, as West African countries increasingly view jihadist groups as a cross-border threat.

A joint force of more than 100 was assembled after an intelligence report said militants from the Boko Haram militant group had moved into Baga, a fishing town in northeast Nigeria on the shores of Lake Chad, two Nigerian military sources, a senior officer from Niger and a Chadian military official said.

The operation - possibly one of the deadliest since Boko Haram launched its insurgency in 2009 - highlights the shared concerns of West African nations that growing links between jihadist groups in the Sahara desert are a threat to their national security.

Neighboring countries were alarmed last year when Islamists took over vast parts of Mali before French forces pushed them out.

"It's clear that all the governments of the region are scared to death of Islamic radicalism, so it would be natural to cooperate," said John Campbell, a former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and now a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Nigerian defense spokesman Brigadier General Chris Olukolade denied foreign troops had taken part in the operation against Boko Haram, which wants an Islamic state in Nigeria and has become the main security threat to Africa's top oil producer.

He had earlier said that "the force that hit them was a multinational force" of troops from the three nations, but he later said that meant only that the Nigerian troops involved were themselves part of a joint border patrol.

However, a senior officer from Niger said 120 soldiers from the three countries based near Baga had joined in the "violent combat". A Chadian official also said their troops had helped. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

There was no confirmation of the death toll from Friday's fighting, but a Nigerian military source said dozens may have died, many of them civilians. The Nigerian Red Cross said it was checking reports from locals that 187 people had died, but had still not obtained security clearance to go into Baga.

The militants, armed with machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and homemade bombs, put up fierce resistance from around local peoples' homes, the Nigerian sources said.

Several Boko Haram fighters were killed and weapons were seized, but the sources said the battle was neither a significant strategic victory nor a major escalation.

Trader Abba Koleri, 25, who escaped to Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, recalled hours of gunfire and explosions.

"Apart from those who were hit by gunshots, many people were burnt in their houses. There were even corpses of some people in the bush," he said.

QUESTIONS OVER DEATH TOLL, AMNESTY

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has set up a panel to work out an amnesty offer for the insurgents if they give up their struggle. Boko Haram has so far shown no interest in talks, but some analysts are optimistic.

"By putting this on the table, you are introducing a political dimension that hadn't been there before. It's a starting point for a possible conversation," Campbell said.

Defense spokesman Olukolade gave the death toll as 30 Boko Haram militants, six civilians and one soldier, and said weapons including RPGs had been seized.

A Nigerian military source said it was a lot higher.

"A lot of houses got burned, mostly from RPG fire. Civilians were caught in the crossfire. A lot people died, dozens," he said, denying an accusation by a community representative that the army had set fire to people's homes.

A large civilian death toll is like to fuel further criticism of the Nigerian military, accused by many locals and rights groups of being heavy handed and failing to protect innocent bystanders. The military blames the Islamists for hiding among civilians.

A spokesman for U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "shocked and saddened at reports of high numbers of civilians killed". Borno state Governor Kashim Shettima also expressed concern over civilian deaths, which he called "gruesome and highly condemnable."

(Additional reporting by Abdoulaye Massalaki in Niamey, Madjiasra Nako in Ndjamena, Lanre Ola in Maiduguri, Isaac Abrak in Kaduna and Pascal Fletcher in Johannseburg; Editing by Louise Ireland and Robin Pomeroy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nigeria-gun-battle-joint-assault-chad-niger-sources-175757650.html

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'console-ification' of PCs means for gamers - Giveaway of the Day

Brad Chacos @BradChacos

Apr 23, 2013 3:25 AM
print

Traditionally, gamers have voluntary segregated themselves into two camps: console gamers and PC gamers. Hostility between the two runs irrationally deep, and rare is the gamer who?s willing to proclaim allegiance to both sides. Either you?re part of the Alliance, or you?re part of the Horde.

But the times, they are a-changin?.

Convergence is the buzzword of the day, and it?s rearing its head big-time in the gaming world. On one side, the upcoming PlayStation 4 console sports a suspiciously computer-esque core. On the other side, a wave of new technologies is bringing a remarkably console-like experience to PC gaming. The lines are beginning to blur. Mr. Miyamoto, tear down that wall!

The implications of a shared gaming backbone could span a whole series of articles, but this is PCWorld, not Game Informer. As such, we?ll limit our scope thusly: What does this titanic technology shift mean for you, die-hard PC gamer?
Diff?rent strokes
PS4 controllerThe PlayStation 4?s controller: Nowhere near as complex as a full QWERTY keyboard.

Computers maintain some crucial advantages over consoles, including overall customizability and control-scheme complexity, as well as the absence of a central Nintendo-esque gatekeeper for the ecosystem. That said, consoles hold a number of advantages over gaming PCs, too. Most revolve around their sheer simplicity.

?You plug a console in to your power plug and TV, and you?re good to go,? TechHive executive editor Jason Cross pointed out while we were discussing the topic. ?Every game works the way it?s supposed to without configuration. You turn it on and you?re up and running in seconds. You can?t mess it up. You can?t delete a critical file. There?s no game your system isn?t good enough to run well.?

All are valid points, and PC gaming doesn't currently offer any of the benefits mentioned above. But it may be able to soon, thanks largely to the efforts of Valve and Nvidia.
The best of both worlds

Valve is already a legendary game developer and it runs Steam, the premiere digital distribution service for PC gaming. The late 2012 launch of Steam?s Big Picture mode?which transmogrifies the traditional Steam interface into a living room-friendly 10-foot interface similar to YouTube Leanback?paved the way for easily playing games on your big screen. And, now, Valve?s upcoming Steam Box venture bodes even more portentously for so-called PC consoles.
Steam?s Big Picture mode was made for HDTV viewing.

Most of the details are still nebulous, but the Steam Box ideal revolves around small, quiet PCs built to fit in with your receiver, Blu-ray player, and Xbox 360. Because Steam Box is more a series of certification blueprints than anything else, many manufacturers will be able to build them. Valve?s Gabe Newell says Steam Boxes will fall into three categories:

Good?A ?good? Steam Box seems highly reminiscent of the Ouya Android console. Costing around $100, it would run only casual Web or mobile games. Newell also wants these "good" iterations to double as gaming set-top boxes of sorts, streaming games that are being run on more-powerful, traditional PCs to your TV.

Better?Valve will reign over the approved specs at this tier, and its own Steam Box will be of the ?Better? variety. These ?consoles? should cost around $300 (good luck with that) and contain CPUs and graphics processors powerful enough to play most recent titles at solid frame rates. Since most TVs top out at 720p or 1080p, that shouldn?t be too difficult to achieve.

Best?Beefy and boisterous, these represent the current status quo in PC gaming, without any size or spec restrictions. If manufacturers bother to get a certification for this class of machine, they?ll likely be Steam Boxes in name only rather than viable living room alternatives.

Having Big Picture mode, a roughly $300- price point, and a Steam Box certification plan would go a long way toward bringing PC gaming into the living room. The price point is especially noteworthy.

?If you come out with a PC that?s going to be twice as much money as a typical game console, I think that you?re going to have a very tough time gaining marketshare, no matter how powerful the hardware or how many games you have available,? says Lewis Ward, a gaming-focused research analyst at IDC.

All that said, a pair of GeForce-branded solutions from Nvidia?a company that is also looking to crack the living room with its Project SHIELD handheld?could do even more to console-ify PCs by keeping it simple, stupid.
Streamlined simulations in the cloud

Driver maintenance and settings optimization have long been two of the biggest pains in PC gaming. Simply put, making sure your games are running as sweetly as possible is a headache. Nvidia?s nascent GeForce Experience changes that.

The cloud-connected software pings Nvidia?s servers to automatically check for driver updates?hallelujah! But, more crucially, it also scans your PC?s hardware configuration, and then checks it against Nvidia?s crowd-sourced database to intelligently optimize the graphics settings in your games. You read that right: With GeForce Experience, you?ll never have to slog through tedious tessellation options to achieve tip-top frame rates again.
NvidiaNvidia?s GeForce GRIDcan deliver a full-blown PC gaming experience on any connected device, including smart TVs.

At least, that?s the theory. GeForce Experience is still getting its sea legs. The technology currently works with only a limited number of titles and Nvidia?s last three generations of graphics cards, so it?ll be a while before we get a feel for its full potential.

Another Nvidia initiative could negate the need for GeForce Experience entirely. Nvidia?s GeForce GRID promises far greater cloud gaming potential than forebearers like OnLive and Gaikai. The ability to simply and seamlessly play games on any piece of hardware?console, tablet, PC, smart TV, whatever?is the Holy Grail of gaming. Nvidia will have to conquer bandwidth and latency concerns in order for GRID to take off, however, as well as prove that there?s actually consumer demand for cloud gaming?something OnLive, sadly, has yet to do.
Under the hood

The biggest effect on PC gaming might have nothing to do with computers becoming more streamlined or showing up in the living room, though. Instead, the biggest shock to rock the PC gaming ecosystem may come from the increased computerization of consoles.

As we?ve discussed in depth before, Sony?s upcoming PlayStation 4 console packs an eight-core AMD APU at its heart, and Microsoft?s upcoming Xbox 720 (for lack of a better name) is said to sport a similar chip. If that?s true, all the major home consoles will share the same x86 backbone as traditional PCs.

That could be good, or it could be bad. Theoretically, the shift could put an end to shoddy console ports, as developers will use the same base-level tools to create console and computer games alike. AMD hardware may enjoy a surge in popularity as many new games are optimized for the APUs at the core of the consoles. Heck, one could even envision a proliferation of games designed for a shared multiplayer experience across multiple platforms, ? la the recent Skulls of the Shogun game.
MicrosoftIs ?Skulls of the Shogun? a template for the PC game of the future?

?I think what we?re going to see is a convergence of triple-A, 3D PC games and triple-A, 3D console games, so that more games will be released on multiple platforms going forward,? IDC?s Ward says. ?The back end will be more like PC game development. Converting a game to the right executable format or a specific UI will be relatively painless, so it?ll make sense to release titles on as many platforms as possible.?

One could also envision a few nightmare scenarios related to that. What if, for example, more PC games start sporting streamlined (read: dumbed down) interfaces for easier console portability? Or what about the possibility of face-melting graphics becoming less face-melting in future software generations as more games are built with console hardware in mind?

Ward says not to worry?precisely because premiere Crysis 3-style PC blockbusters are already a rarity.

?There are a lot of low-end gaming laptops and desktops out there that are nowhere near as powerful as consoles or high-end gaming PCs,? he says. ?So you?ve already got a range of computers that have been out there for five or so years, with a wide range of technical capabilities, and game developers and publishers already try to hit a sweet spot in the install base of active users.

?Most developers already don?t really go up to the real ceiling [of PC gaming technology], since it?ll inherently limit their market,? says Ward
One potential result of a shared x86 backbone: More cross-platform Mass Effect, less power PC-optimized Crysis 3.

I tried contacting several cross-platform game developers?from the biggest of the big companies to the popular little guys?to get a feel for their perspective, but no one would speak on the record. The few people I managed to even get on the phone clammed up once they realized the thrust of my questions.

?We?d prefer not to participate in this particular interview because the console transition is such a hot-button topic and we?re generally taking a wait-and-see approach,? one anonymous big-name indie developer told me. ?We don?t like to speculate about this stuff, though we find all of it very, very interesting and I think you?ve asked a lot of great questions here.?

Geez, thanks. Every other developer said something similar (compliments on my reporting style aside).
Not today, not tomorrow, but one day

We?re teetering on the precipice of a new tomorrow for PC gaming. All of these technologies are still in their infancy, but it?s obvious that some sort of convergence is coming.

PCs will no doubt lead the bleeding edge of performance gaming for years to come, technology-wise, but will that matter if games are designed for ubiquitous platform portability? What does the future actually hold? Even the people making games don?t know the answers to these questions.

Consoles and PCs and pixel-pumping tablets like the Razer Edge each handle control so differently that full-blown convergence seems difficult to ever imagine. Nonetheless, the underlying seeds for at least a basic sort of unification are being laid right now. Someday?not today, not tomorrow, but someday?the dividing wall will crumble, and PC fanboys and console fanboys will have no choice but to lay down their pitchforks and torches and call themselves just plain gamers.

On that day, we?ll all be part of the Horde.

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Source: http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/65675

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Immigration fight gets personal

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Tempers flared at a Senate hearing on immigration legislation Monday as a Republican senator objected to a Democrat's criticism of attempts by some to link the Boston Marathon bombings to the immigration bill.

"I never said that! I never said that!" Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, interjected as Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., suggested that some were using the Boston bombings as "an excuse" to slow down or stop the bill.

Schumer said he wasn't talking about Grassley, who said last week that the bombings raised question about gaps in the U.S. immigration system that should be examined in context of the new bill.

Meanwhile Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., accused Schumer of "demeaning" several witnesses called to Monday's Judiciary Committee hearing by the GOP side. Schumer had complained about Sessions saying that business and labor officials backing the Democratic side on immigration were "special interests," noting that the immigration bill has widespread support and asserting that the three witnesses scheduled to testify against the bill were "far more special interest."

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., banged his gavel to settle the proceedings.

The exchange came as the Judiciary Committee opened its second hearing on sweeping legislation to strengthen border security, allow tens of thousands of new high- and low-skilled workers into the country, and provide an eventual path to citizenship for some 11 million immigrants now here illegally.

As happened at the first hearing Friday, the Boston Marathon bombings cast a shadow over the proceedings. The attacks were carried out by two ethnic Chechen immigrant brothers; both arrived legally and one was a naturalized U.S. citizens.

Leahy used part of his opening statement to chastise those who would link the bombings to the legislation. "Let no one be so cruel as to try to use the heinous acts of these two young men last week to derail the dreams and futures of millions of hardworking people," Leahy said.

He said the bill would strengthen national security by focusing on border security and enforcement.

Grassley bridled at Leahy's comments, saying that when Leahy proposed gun legislation, "I didn't accuse you of using the Newtown killings as an excuse."

"I think we're taking advantage of an opportunity where once in 25 years we deal with immigration to make sure that every base is covered," Grassley said.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., raised similar concerns in a letter Monday to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., telling him, "We should not proceed until we understand the specific failures of our immigration system." Paul also said that national security protections must be part of any immigration legislation to ensure the federal government does everything it can to keep immigrants "with malicious intent" from using the immigration system to enter the country to commit acts of terror.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, also weighed in on the matter Monday, telling an interviewer on Fox News' "American Newsroom", "I'm in the camp of, if we fix our immigration system, it may actually help us understand who all is here, why they're here, and what legal status they have."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tempers-flare-immigration-hearing-160230661--politics.html

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Russia's Usmanov knocks steel boss Mittal off top of rich list

By Laurence Fletcher

LONDON (Reuters) - Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov has knocked Lakshmi Mittal off the top of this year's Sunday Times Rich List with a jump in his fortune to 13.3 billion pounds ($20.3 billion) after a tough year for the Indian steel magnate.

In a list of wealth in Britain whose top spots are dominated by Russian and Indian billionaires, Mittal drops to fourth after eight years at number one as his fortune tumbled 2.7 billion pounds to 10 billion.

Uzbek-born Usmanov, who is Russia's richest man and has a major shareholding in British Premier League football club Arsenal, saw his wealth rise by 985 million pounds over the past year, according to the annual survey by the British newspaper.

Ranked second last year, Usmanov owns Sutton Place, the former Surrey home of oil baron J Paul Getty. He made 1.6 billion pounds from sales of Facebook shares after last year's stock market listing, while he has a large holding in Russian mobile phone operator MegaFon and controls iron ore miner Metalloinvest .

Mittal, the chief executive of the world's largest steelmaker ArcelorMittal , has been hit by the fall in the value of its shares from more than 12 euros a year ago to less than 9 euros on Friday.

The number of billionaires has risen to a record 88, in spite of tough economic conditions for many in the UK, from 77 last year. The collective wealth of the richest 1,000 people is up 35 billion pounds to 450 billion pounds.

The biggest riser in wealth terms is Len Blavatnik, who is ranked second after a 3.42 billion pound jump in his fortune, thanks to a rise in his shareholdings, took his wealth to 11 billion pounds.

The Odessa-born businessman, who emerged as a tycoon after the Russian privatizations of the 1990s, owns Warner Music and a house in London's plush Kensington Palace Gardens - known as 'billionaires' row' - and has been a major donor to Oxford University.

The highest-placed UK-born person is the Duke of Westminster, whose swathes of land in London's upmarket Mayfair and Belgravia rank him eighth with 7.8 billion pounds.

The Sunday Times also reported that Michael Ashcroft, the former treasurer of Britain's Conservative party, will next month pledge to give at least half of his 1.2 billion pound fortune to charity.

To be included in the list people must have either a British passport or a strong link to the UK such as being based there or spending a significant amount of time there, a Sunday Times spokesman said. ($1 = 0.6554 British pounds)

(Editing by Erica Billingham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russias-usmanov-knocks-steel-boss-mittal-off-top-121535533--sector.html

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Kelly Rutherford Custody Battle: Petition Started to Bring Kids Back to U.S.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/kelly-rutherford-custody-battle-petition-started-to-bring-kids-b/

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LulzSec hacker gets prison in Sony Pictures attack

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? A 25-year-old hacker with the group known as LulzSec was sentenced Thursday to a year in prison and ordered to pay $605,663 in restitution for an attack on Sony Pictures computers that began in late May 2011.

Cody Andrew Kretsinger, who went by the online nickname "recursion," was also sentenced to a year of home detention and 1,000 hours of community service.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles said Kretsinger pleaded guilty last April to the attack, in which hackers breached the Sony Pictures website, stole personal data including the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of tens of thousands of Sony customers and distributed it over the Internet.

Raynaldo Rivera, a 20-year-old who also pleaded guilty to the attack in October, is to be sentenced May 16.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lulzsec-hacker-gets-prison-sony-pictures-attack-002051183.html

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Sen. Lindsey Graham Says We Should Deny Bombing Suspect's Constitutional Rights (Little green footballs)

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Freedom of assembly: Scientists see nanoparticles form larger structures in real time

Apr. 19, 2013 ? In a new study performed at the Center for Nanoscale Materials at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, researchers have for the first time seen the self-assembly of nanoparticle chains in situ, that is, in place as it occurs in real-time.

The scientists exposed a tiny liquid "cell" or pouch that contained gold nanoparticles covered with a positively charged coating to an intense beam of electrons generated with a transmission electron microscope. Some of the electrons that penetrated the outside of the cell became trapped in the fluid medium in the cell. These "hydrated" electrons attracted the positively charged nanoparticles, which in time reduced the intensity of charge of the positive coating.

As the hydrated electrons reduced the coating's positive charge, the nanoparticles no longer repelled each other as strongly. Instead, their newfound relative attraction led the nanoparticles to "jump around" and eventually stick together in long chains. This self-assembly of nanoparticle chains had been detected before in different studies, but this technique allowed researchers, for the first time, to observe the phenomenon as it occurred.

"The moment-to-moment behavior of nanoparticles is something that's not yet entirely understood by the scientific community," said Argonne nanoscientist Yuzi Liu, the study's lead author. "The potential of nanoparticles in all sorts of different applications and devices -- from tiny machines to harvesters of new sources of energy -- requires us to bring all of our resources to bear to look at how they function on the most basic physical levels."

Self-assembly is particularly interesting to scientists because it could lead to new materials that could be used to develop new, energy-relevant technologies. "When we look at self-assembly, we're looking to use nature as a springboard into man-made materials," said Argonne nanoscientist Tijana Rajh, who directed the group that carried out the study.

Because the particles under study were so tiny -- just a few dozen nanometers in diameter -- an optical microscope would not have been able to resolve, or see, individual nanoparticles. By using the liquid cell in the transmission electron microscope at the Center for Nanoscale Materials, Liu and his colleagues could create short movies showing the quick movement of the nanoparticles as their coatings contacted the hydrated electrons.

Funding for the research was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

Video: http://www.anl.gov/videos/self-assembling-nanoparticles

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by DOE/Argonne National Laboratory.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Yuzi Liu, Xiao-Min Lin, Yugang Sun, Tijana Rajh. In Situ Visualization of Self-Assembly of Charged Gold Nanoparticles. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2013; 135 (10): 3764 DOI: 10.1021/ja312620e

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qxSdQCS1Snc/130419171645.htm

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JP Morgan: Apple may be on brink of major debt issuance

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NASA's other rocket for hire, Antares, is poised for test launch

The Antares rocket, built by Orbital Sciences Corp., is set for a first test launch Wednesday evening, weather permitting. Its maker is, like SpaceX, under contract with NASA to ferry cargo to the International Space Station.

By Pete Spotts,?Staff writer / April 17, 2013

The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket is seen on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad-0A at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia Tuesday.

Courtesy of Bill Ingalls/NASA/Reuters

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Orbital Sciences Corp., one of two companies NASA has hired to ferry cargo to the International Space Station (ISS), is set for the first test launch of a new rocket it has built to handle the task.

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Liftoff of the rocket, dubbed Antares, currently is scheduled for early Wednesday evening EDT from a new launch pad built at NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility on the Virginia coast.

"It's going to be the biggest and loudest and brightest thing that's ever been launched from Wallops," says Frank Culbertson, a former NASA astronaut and the executive vice president who oversees Orbital Sciences' advanced-programs group. The facility typically launches sounding rockets, research balloons, and conducts aviation research. It hasn't been the site of an orbital mission since 1985.

This mission's goal is to place a dummy version of the company's Cygnus cargo carrier into orbit. If it succeeds, the company aims to launch a loaded cargo module to the station this summer in a demonstration of its ability to meet NASA's standard for operating at the space station. If all goes well on that mission, the company plans the first formal delivery of cargo in the fall, under a $1.9-billion contract with the space agency.

For Orbital Sciences, Wednesday's launch represents a vital milestone along its path from late entry into NASA under the agency's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program to launch pad.

"My confidence level is very high," Mr. Culbertson said during a prelaunch briefing Tuesday. The company has been working on the rocket for six years. It's the latest in a line of launch vehicles the company has built in the more than 30 years it has been building rockets, satellites, and other space hardware for civilian and military use.

For NASA, Antares and the new launch facility built to service it represent "a critical capability not only for NASA and the ISS program, but for the entire nation," offers Phil McAlister, the agency's director of commercial spaceflight development.

"We saw after Columbia how tenuous our lifeline is to low-Earth orbit," he adds, referring to the Columbia disaster in February 2002, when the shuttle disintegrated on reentry, killing its seven-member crew. "That one tragic accident made it really challenging for NASA to maintain the ISS during that very difficult period of time."

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/XRcjAnlYA3s/NASA-s-other-rocket-for-hire-Antares-is-poised-for-test-launch

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11 Things We Learned About Rand Paul at Breakfast

Sen. Rand Paul?likes large microphones, Henry David Thoreau, and Grover Cleveland. He also wants black and brown people to like him. The Kentucky Republican and potential GOP candidate for president chatted with reporters over scrambled eggs and sausage at a breakfast event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor on Wednesday. Here is what we learned:

1.?He likes being talked about as a presidential candidate.?Paul?was?honest about enjoying that his name is being floated in the 2016 presidential sweepstakes ? because it enhances his influence. ?I want to be part of the national debate, whether I run or not,? he said. And all the 2016 chatter in 2013 is giving him a ?larger microphone? for the issues he cares about.

2.?He?s not afraid of Social Security and Medicare.?It took Paul less than five minutes to outline an entire restricting of the American entitlement system. He wants to raise the age for beneficiaries of two of the country?s most popular programs and use ?means-testing? so they are only consumed by the less well-off.

3.?He?s sensitive ? especially to media criticism.?Paul repeatedly complained about press coverage of his recent visit to Howard University, a historically black college, saying the ?left-wing media? had it out for him and was nitpicking his mistakes and missteps. There was a certain boldness to Paul?s decision to launch his complaints in a room full of reporters.

4. Howard was just the beginning.?Paul?said?he planned to continue to reach out to African-American and Hispanic communities. ?There is a perception Republicans don?t like people of color. They don?t like black people, brown people or people of different colored skin. It?s not true,? Paul said. ?But that?s the perception that we have to overcome and the only way we overcome that?I think?is by showing up and saying over and over again it is not true.?

5.?Henry David Thoreau is a mentor; Mitch McConnell not so much.?Asked about whether Kentucky?s senior senator is a mentor, Paul answered with an instant classic: ?Thoreau is a mentor.? He went on to say he?s backing McConnell?s reelection and that they have a fine personal relationship. McConnell backed Paul?s primary opponent in 2010, but Paul said, ?I don?t think he ever personally disliked me.?

6.?He?s open to comprehensive immigration reform ? on his terms.?Paul counted himself as among the Republicans who ?will vote for immigration reform if they are assured and reassured the border is secure.? He also said any plan must include ?no new pathway to citizenship.? As in, those here illegally now must not be on a different track for citizenship than those still waiting ?in Mexico City,? he said.

7.?He says Obama has used gun victims? families ?as props.??Only hours before the Senate planned to take up a series of critical gun votes, Paul had harsh words for President Obama?s use of victims of gun violence to make the case for new gun laws. ?I think in some cases the president has used them as props,? he said.

8. He wants more guns in schools.?Paul said attackers have targeted gun-free zones and that teachers should be allowed concealed carry permits. He called for more guns in schools, including arming principals. ??Ultimately, that?s the only thing I know of that might have saved any lives in that situation,? he said.

9.?He?s a Grover Cleveland fan.?Who knew? Paul named Cleveland, the late 19^th?century politician, as one of the Democratic presidents he most admired, calling him someone who was a populist, fought the special interests, and vetoed lots of bills.

10.?Everything in Washington is too big.?Paul said one of the problems on Capitol Hill is everyone is seeking out the grand bargain and not doing the little stuff that is noncontroversial, instead holding those items hostage as ?sweeteners? for the illusive big deal. ?All the stuff we agree on we don?t pass,? he said.

11.?He may still sign fundraising letters for controversial outside groups.?There?was recently a heated GOP caucus meeting in which Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, complained that Paul was raising money for a gun-rights group that was attacking her. She said her loss in a primary could cost the GOP her seat. Paul wasn?t very apologetic Wednesday and said he hadn?t decided whether or not he?d keep lending his name to such groups. ?I haven?t come to a conclusion or thought that through yet,? he said.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/11-things-learned-rand-paul-breakfast-111819106--politics.html

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Rdio brings new sharing options to iOS app, no longer confined to Facebook and Twitter

It hasn't been all that long since the last update to Rdio's iOS app, but the music streaming service is back with yet another revision today that offers some new features and minor tweaks. The big addition is a change to the way you can share music: instead of simply sharing to Facebook or Twitter (something still available through a refreshed UI), you can now share songs or albums directly with other Rdio users. That feature's already available in Rdio's web interface and desktop apps, but hasn't yet made its way to the company's Android or Windows Phone apps. Apart from that, you can only expect some promised UI improvements elsewhere and the usual bug fixes.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/18/rdio-ios-app-update-sharing/

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Aerosmith's Tyler and Perry honored for songwriting

By Sue Zeidler

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After 40 years with one of the biggest rock bands in the United States, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry are finally being honored for their songwriting.

The duo, dubbed the Toxic Twins in their drug-fueled early years, co-wrote many of the bands' biggest hits like "Walk This Way" and "Back in the Saddle," which catapulted Aerosmith to fame in the mid-1970s.

After winning multiple Grammys and other accolades, Tyler and Perry will be honored on Wednesday with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers founders award for songwriting. They will be also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 13.

Tyler and Perry will miss the ASCAP ceremony because they will be on the Australian leg of the band's "Global Warming" world tour in support of their first album of new material since 2001.

The duo told Reuters ahead of Wednesday's ceremony that they draw much of their inspiration from each other, although Perry admits the process may be a bit tamer than in the 1970s and 1980s when he and Tyler turned out some big hits while under the influence of drugs.

"Taking drugs can be a shortcut to that place of creativity, but it will kill you in the end because it stops working," Perry said.

"We had to figure out how to change the way we did things," said Perry, 62, who is working on an autobiography and a solo record project.

Tyler, the son of a classical pianist, formed Aerosmith in Boston in 1970 after meeting Perry and bass player Tom Hamilton a year earlier.

They signed a record deal in 1971 and what followed were four often tumultuous decades filled with thousands of concerts, band break-ups, well-chronicled bouts of drug abuse, glorious comebacks and sales of more than 150 million albums worldwide.

"We all just get together in a room and inspire each other," said Tyler, 65, who at 17 wrote the signature Aerosmith hit, "Dream On," before meeting his future band members.

"The secret is to overwrite. I like to write 19 songs if I only need 12," said Tyler, who quit last year after two seasons as a judge on "American Idol" to refocus on Aerosmith.

Asked how his writing methods have changed over the years, Perry said he now loves composing songs with the help of his smartphone recording device.

"Bottom line, I always have a studio with me. It's called an iPhone," said Perry.

He said he also likes to have a guitar in every room of his home in case inspiration strikes, often pausing the TV while watching late at night to lay down a new musical phrase or riff that comes into his head.

"I just feel like that there are too many rhythms that haven't been explored in my head. Even in the narrow confines of rock 'n' roll, there's an infinite amount of places to go," Perry said.

Tyler said he has a lot of new material to work on, including some songs he began but did not complete for the band's November release "Music from Another Dimension."

"I have 30 thumbnail sketches I haven't finished, including four without any lyrics," Tyler said.

(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Mohammad Zargham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/aerosmiths-tyler-perry-honored-songwriting-174256262.html

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Getting digital for small businesses | Stuff.co.nz

With ever-increasing pressure for small businesses to produce continual content for blogs and other social media, how do SME owners ensure that what they write is worth reading and will generate growth and sales?

Content generation experts say small businesses have been on board with the need for a social media presence for some time, but are now realising it's not enough to simply tick the box on doing so.

They must also provide content that adds value for readers.

Richard Carter, who runs content-writing business Vernacular, said it's important to remember any publicly available content associated with your brand works like a shop window for the business - but with less opportunity to impress.

"With a shop window you at least get a second chance if people pop their head in the store anyway you can engage directly," he said.

"Or you can re-do the window and try to catch them the next time they pass.

"With online content you have a nanosecond to hook someone before they're on to the next thing.

"There are a lot of small businesses out there keen to stuff every crack and corner of the internet but without much thought about whether any of it is useful."

Here's five tips on how to provide quality content from industry insiders.

1. Plan ahead Duncan Munro, managing director or Write Click, said planning was everything when it came to digital content.

You had to think about who your audience was and what you're trying to achieve, and come up with a strategic plan.

"A lot of businesses will already have done a lot of that work as part of a marketing plan," he said.

"You just to need to think about how it can be refocused into a blog or other social media.

"Think about what the style and tone should be, to suit your audience. What does your audience like to read? You really need to get into the nitty gritty of who you are trying to reach and how best to engage them."

2. Keep on it Keep your content regularly maintained and updated.

"There's a lot of publish and forget," Munro said.

"Content is stranded online and left to fester."

It's important to make sure any content was current and that any user comments or feedback were responded to quickly, he said.

As part of your planning process identify how blog content would be managed and maintained.

There were a number of systems available that allow you to plan and write content well in advance that can then be automatically uploaded.

The trick for businesses, Munro said, was to find a balance between being having well-thought out and planned content, and meeting the expectation that online content was relevant and responsive to events.

Colin Kennedy, content writer for Iron Road Ltd said posting regularly also increased a business' chances of being found online.

"The more content you produce the more likely it is a search will uncover you," he said.

3. Avoid the hard sell Kennedy said the most important rule for online content was that people loved to shop but hated being sold to.

"The internet is the first stop now for people researching what to buy, or find a service," he said.

"If you can provide them with information that helps them make an informed decision, you begin to build a relationship and a trust with them.

"You can position yourself as an expert who can assist them. That is much more effective than content that is just a direct hard sell.

"People just won't be sold any more."

4. The devil is in the detail

Remember any content associated with your brand, was a reflection of it, Munro said.

It should be clear concise, factually correct and free of errors.

"People are exposed to so much more written information these days via the internet they are much more discerning about writing quality and standards," he said.

"They won't tolerate bloated, stagnant boring writing. They won't waste their time, they'll just click through to the next thing."

It came back to knowing your reader, he said. Think about what style, headlines and introductions are likely to hook them in.

5. Police yourself Carter said while some SMEs struggled to post blogs, for others the opposite problem was true.

"You don't need to write about everything and post it online," he said.

"Some businesses do suffer from a compulsion to over-publish.

"There is a human instinct for sharing that social media taps into it. Police yourself."

- ? Fairfax NZ News

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/8551698/Getting-digital-for-small-businesses

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