Sunday, December 30, 2012

10 Video Game Heroes Who Are Actually Terrible At Their Jobs

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Heroes are often mired in unfortunate circumstances. Specifically, the particular set of protagonists featured in this article have lackluster job performances ? they might be heroes, but they suck at their supposed every day jobs. Imagine employing an Italian plumbing firm only to discover they are frequently unavailable to complete contracted work thanks to swanning off on adventures to save princesses from giant lizard kings while under the influence of power-inducing mushrooms. You wouldn?t recommend them to friends in a hurry.

But instead of making us disregard these characters as slackers or bumbling fools, their ineptitude has made each of them a little more intriguing, and even the unsavory characters listed here are rendered somewhat appealing by tragic circumstances or fatal flaws related to their careers.

So here they are, the 10 video game heroes who are actually quite awful at their jobs.

Warning: MAJOR spoilers ahead for several popular franchises. Proceed at your own risk.

Max Payne

At the beginning of the first game, Max Payne is content and quite ready to slip into a quiet, suburban life with his beautiful wife and newborn daughter. Alas, contentedness is a state that, by nature, is temporary?sometimes violently so. Max?s family is cruelly snatched away from him when two junkies high on a drug called ?Valkyr?? break into his home and murder them.

He shoots down the invaders and then, at his family?s funeral, requests a transfer to the DEA to fight against the distribution of the drug. It?s during his time as an undercover agent that he slips away from the traditional characterization of a detective as someone opting to use brains over brawn whenever possible. Through the events of the series, Max accumulates a massive body count as he fills gun toting buffoons and mafia caricatures full of hot lead. Max becomes an action hero, albeit a reluctant, brooding one. And even in that role, he performs somewhat miserably, truthfully remarking within the first hour of the second game that, ?Like all the bad things in my life, it started with the death of a woman. I couldn?t save her.?

Payne can never save anyone he cares for, except for Raul Passos and Giovanna Taveres, but even that instance feels like a hollow victory in comparison to everything? our poor detective has endured.

We are currently seeking Gaming contributors on WhatCulture. To find out more about the perks of being a Gaming contributor, click here.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obsessedwithfilm/~3/NVTb5jBIFGg/10-video-game-heroes-who-are-actually-terrible-at-their-jobs.php

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The PFA profile for Ashley Young has been updated for 2012-13 season say Digital Sports Group

(PRWEB UK) 29 December 2012

Digital Sports Group today announced that The PFA profile for the professional footballer Ashley Young has been been updated. The PFA player profiles provide a unique and unrivalled insight into a professional footballers career with full career stats, news biographies and features.
A gifted winger currently playing for Manchester United.

Usually deployed on the left flank, where he is able to best deploy his pace, trickery, crossing prowess and ability to cut inside and shoot from distance, he is also able to play on the other wing or in a more central role just off the striker.

Ashley started his career with his local club Watford, breaking into the first team at Vicarage Road in 2003 and playing a huge part in the Hornets? promotion to the top flight in 2006.

It took just six months in the top flight for Aston Villa to feel compelled to make Ashley their record signing in January 2007, and he enjoyed three and a half productive years at Villa Park before taking another step up by joining United in the summer of 2011.

Ashley was first choice on the left wing for most of his first season at Old Trafford and has firmly established himself as a regular for England, for whom he has now made 26 appearances since his debut in 2007, the most recent against Italy at Euro 2012.

Head of Operations at DSG, Matthew Tait had this to say ?Ashley Young is a fantastic player and we have been working hard to provide the most fantastic resource that is both enjoyable to use and useful. Working with the PFA provides unique biographical information and insights that can be found nowhere else online. We are proud of our partnership with the Professional Footballers Association and the unrivalled access this provides us to the players.?

DSG became the official digital partner of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) earlier this year and have since launched a number of Player profile fan pages on social media site Facebook as well as providing official player pages on their football news site football.co.uk.


Source: http://uk.prweb.com/releases/Ashley_Young_PFA/12/prweb10250569.htm

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Saturday, December 29, 2012

Video: What are the chances that a "fiscal cliff" deal will pass? (cbsnews)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273759359?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Thin Crust Pizza, Soup for Fall, Surprising Slow Cooker Recipes ...

01-2011_10_24-soup04_rect540_rect540 The Power of Soup: 20 Soup Recipes to Warm and Satisfy 01-2011_10_24-soup04_rect540_square7202-2011_01_25-cauliflower01_rect540_square7203-2012-10-07-harvestpizza-5_square7204-2012-10-01-cauliflowerstew-2ed_square7205-pasta_rect540_square7206-2012-10-18-soapysponge_square7207-2012-10-03_how_to_use_humidity_drawer_refrigerator_9_square7208-2011-12-15-midwinterporridge6_square7209-20121003-dsc_8794-ed_square7210-2011_11_11-pumpkinbutteredrumed_square72

Popular posts in October included surprising things you can make in the slow cooker, plus some great soups for fall. Thin crust pizza crust (requires almost no time to make!) and a fresh pasta recipe collection were some more of our readers' favorite posts in October 2012.

Top 10 Posts of October 2012

? 1 The Power of Soup: 20 Soup Recipes to Warm and Satisfy
? 2 20 Ways to Eat Fall Vegetables for Dinner
? 3 Recipe: Homemade Thin Crust Pizza
? 4 Slow-Cooker Recipe: Curried Vegetable and Chickpea Stew
? 5 15 Fast, Fresh Pasta Recipes
? 6 Hate Washing Dishes? Try the "One Soapy Sponge" Trick
? 7 The Proper Way To Use Your Refrigerator Humidity Drawers
? 8 10 Surprising Foods You Can Make in a Slow Cooker
? 9 French Recipe: Creamy Butternut Squash Casserole with Herbed Bread Crumbs
? 10 Pumpkin For Breakfast, Dinner, & Dessert: 15 Scrumptious Pumpkin Recipes

* * *

Welcome to The Kitchn's Best of 2012 roundup!
From December 17 through January 1 we are rounding up some of our favorite (and your favorite) posts from the past year.

(Images: See linked posts for full image credits)

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You are at the last post.

Source: http://www.thekitchn.com/-the-kitchns-top-posts-of-october-2012-181744

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PHOTO: Jason Hoppy Wears Wedding Ring After Separation

After two years of marriage to Bethenny Frankel, Jason Hoppy isn't quite ready to take the ring off. The sales executive was photographed wearing his wedding band in public on Thursday, just four days after he and reality star Frankel announced their separation. Is it possible that Frankel and Hoppy are still trying to work things out?

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/jason-hoppy-wears-wedding-ring-after-bethenny-frankel-separation/1-a-511609?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Ajason-hoppy-wears-wedding-ring-after-bethenny-frankel-separation-511609

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Friday, December 28, 2012

Building Your Dream Home in Mexico ? Permits and Early Steps Part 2

Yesterday I offered a brief overview of some of the first key steps in the process of building a home in Mexico.? Today?s post offers a closer overview of an all-important topic ? permits.

Building a home in MexicoPermits

One of the most important early items will be the permits.? As one builder puts it, the only permit needed to proceed with building is a construction permit, which is granted by the municipality; however, there are permits needed to gain this permit, and others that could cause complications later on (such as fines or even putting the project on hold) if they are not in place.

Permits are not the same for each project.? For example, a home built next to the beach in places like Playa del Carmen will require several environmental permits from the federal and state governments.? (It must also be noted that there are plenty of lots in the Playa del Carmen real estate area that are within a short distance to the beach, but do not require any extra permits.)

In cases where a lot is wooded, there are permit to remove the vegetation. This can be avoided by buying a prepared lot; if someone chooses a ?raw? lot to save money, the will need to consider not only the cost of clearing, but also the cost of the permit to remove the vegetation and the time to gain this permit.? This item will need to be considered in markets like Tulum real estate, where much of the area is still jungle. Often agreements to leave a significant portion of the trees standing can make the process easier, and add value to the property.

There are also documents that prove that a property owner is indeed paying their workers, perhaps involving unions, depending on who is hired to do the work.? These documents will not be required to validate the building, but offer protection for the owner down the road.

Building a home in Mexico

Even the building permit itself will require several ?endorsements;? for example, it will need a stamp of approval from Hacienda, which is Mexico?s equivalent to the IRA, as well as the Health Department.

Again, an experienced professional will know best which permits are necessary and how to navigate through the process of obtaining them.? Property owners who decide to give it a go on their own should proceed carefully, taking all necessary time to do their homework before beginning any preparation or step of construction, talking to people who have built in the same community to ensure they have necessary permits and have covered their grounds.

Andy Welbourne, from London, Ontario, has been living in Playa del Carmen and working as a part of the team with Thomas Lloyd for 7 years. He has worked with many Canadians and Americans to assist in finding their dream home in the Mexican Caribbean; many of these clients have turned into great friendships. Contact Andy at (512) 879-6546.

The TOP Mexico Real Estate Network; ?Mexico?s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!?

 Kit_Ownership

Source: http://www.topmexicorealestate.com/blog/2012/12/28/building-your-dream-home-in-mexico-permits-and-early-steps-part-2/

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Kim Kardashian Attends Jenner's Christmas Eve Party ? Event News

By Alicia McCarthy ? December 27, 2012

EventNow reports Kim Kardashian attends Bruce and Kris Jenner?s Christmas Eve party that is hosted every year at their home with all their closest family and friends attending.

Every year the Jenners host this big celebration and each and every year it becomes more spectacular and memorable. Everyone is dying to get an invitation to this amazing event!

Sharon Sacks, who is known for planning many celebrity weddings (including Khloe Kardashian Odom?s wedding and Kim Kardashian?s wedding) had the honor of planning the Christmas party for the Jenners; as always the job was done flawlessly and exquisitely.

As the guests arrived, they were greeted by carolers at the entranceway. At the front of the house, there was a tent set up where the little guests got to create gingerbread houses along with the help of some elves. Great way to keep the kids entertained!

Once they entered the home, they got to enjoy the amazing Christmas decorations around the house. All the fireplaces that were burning in each and every room for everyone to relax by as they were enjoying the festivities. Kim Kardashian attended the bash along with the other Kardashian sisters and their significant others. Kanye West also celebrated Christmas Eve with the Kardashian-Jenners and seemed to have a fantastic time.

The DJ was doing an amazing job in spinning the tables and playing all the latest music for the guests to enjoy and dance the night away. There was a black and white dance floor that was constantly packed with guests dancing and having a good time. The pool was beautifully decorated with lights and other holiday decorations. In general, this Christmas Eve party makes you want to go all out next year and have a spectacular party like that for your family and friends.

We are hoping that everyone enjoyed the Christmas holiday and looking forward to celebrating the New Year.

?

Related posts:

  1. Celebrity Christmas Celebration 2011
  2. Khloe Kardashian Attends T Mobile 4G Launch Party
  3. Kim Kardashian Attends White House Correspondent Dinner

Tags: Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve Party, Christmas Party, Khloe Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, The Kardashian

Source: http://www.eventnow.com/article/user-feature/kim-kardashian-attends-jenners-christmas-eve-party/11407

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Thursday, December 27, 2012

Website Marketing For Your Business Made Easy | Internet ...

As time moves on, the role that Internet promotion plays in your online business simply gets more and more important. Promoting yourself and your website online is vital to the success of your business. This means it is the perfect time to enter into it. This article will give you help on how you should begin Online marketing.

Give your customers a reason to visit your website. If you have a website with just one page it will fail miserably. Make sure to include reviews, articles and other interesting content that will show prospective customers what your business is all about.

When you link to another page on your site, use your keywords in the anchor text. The longer people stay on your website, the more likely they are to buy something, so make sure interesting, older content is easy to find. Internal linking to previous articles will keep visitors on your site which will increase your ranking on a search engine.

People are skeptical of anything written on the Internet. For years, advertising has been misleading. Because of this, you have to show proof of what you claim on your website. Use reviews, progress pictures, testimonials, and test reports. This helps back up your reputation and can get people to trust you. Treat your customers with honesty, and assume that they are intelligent, well-informed people. Don?t take advantage of your potential or current customers. Build a trustworthy reputation, and customers will flock to your business.

Make sure you keep good records. It could be traffic, refunds, sales, referrals, or anything else that can be measured on your website. Keeping impeccable records will help your Affiliate marketing strategy at every step.

You already have the tools ready to be a successful internet marketer. In reality, the fancy software and get rich quick schemes you find online are not necessary. The only thing that you need is you. Just work diligently and choose your marketing strategies carefully.

One Web marketing tactic you may not have considered is to target image searches. If you put images that are relevant to your niche you can get more hits than if someone was searching for text only. Visitors who might just be looking for information sometimes end up looking through your site. This builds familiarity with your brand and makes them likely to return.

Make your readers and customers more comfortable on your site with the following tip. Assure your customers that they have nothing to worry about while on your site! Add an explanation of your privacy policy provisions near the top of the website. Doing this will reassure your customers that the money they spend will be handled with care. Furthermore, you have an obligation to protect your customers from fraud.

Use social networking sites to help promote your business to your target audience. Make sure to be careful about sending unwanted spam to people because MySpace has been cracking down, and they have been taking people to court for online harassment.

Make a video demonstrating how to use the product you sell. This will give your customers a good idea of how your products work. You can show the positive aspects of the product that an advertisement might not show. You will be able to show the video on your blog or company social media sites.

Effective advertising should help consumers develop an emotional attachment to what you are selling. This enables you to build brand recognition. Use descriptive words, such as ?relief? and ?security?.

This tactic is clearly important for your business. There are a lot of ways to go about this. There?s a vast amount of information out there about the benefits of this. Apply what you?ve just learned, and you?ll be a success in Affiliate marketing in no time.

Skype: Shawn.A.Johnson

804-577-8662

P.S. ? If you are looking for a system that will help you generate?43 leads?a day, earn upwards of?$4,492?while you sleep and help you?recruit at the push of a button?click here,?unless you already have too many leads and reps in your business!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure to LIKE, SHARE and leave a COMMENT also Click Here to grab a Free Copy of my Instant Commissions eBook.

This post was written by...

Free Video Training: Internet Marketer Shawn Johnson reveals his secrets to generating more traffic, more leads and more sales in your MLM Business, Click Here for a step-by-step video blueprint to success

Source: http://shawnjohnsoninc.com/website-marketing-for-your-business-made-easy/

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Video: Ben Affleck: "I am not running for office" (cbsnews)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273214182?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Former Braves Player Arrested On Battery Charge

(Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

(Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

DULUTH, Ga. (AP) ? Former Atlanta Braves star center fielder Andruw Jones was free on bond after being arrested in suburban Atlanta early Tuesday on a battery charge, according to jail records.

Around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a call for a domestic dispute between Jones and his wife in Duluth.

Gwinnett County Detention Center records say Jones was booked into the jail around 3:45 a.m. and had been released on $2,400 bond by 11 a.m.

Once one of the premier players in the big leagues, Jones broke into the majors with the Atlanta Braves in 1996 and won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves from 1998-07 as their center fielder. He has 434 career home runs over the span of 17 seasons in the majors.

Jones earlier this month signed a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan?s Pacific League.

(? Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Source: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/12/25/former-braves-player-arrested-on-battery-charge/

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Monday, December 24, 2012

9 Small Business Resources You Might Have Missed ? Firmology ...

?

We know you?re busy during the week running your business, so you might not have time to keep up with all the news and insight published day in and day out.

Firmology?has you covered with our weekly recap of the small business resources you might have missed the past week, so you can read them at your leisure.

?

SMB Startup Watch Preview: 6 Tech Tools for Small Businesses

SMB Startup Watch Preview: 6 Tech Tools for Small Businesses
From a business model creation tool to an online reservations platform for beauty businesses, the six startups previewed below should be on your radar as they hone and bring their product to market.

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I?m Pamela Wilson, Founder of Big Brand System, and This is How I Power My Business

I?m Pamela Wilson, Founder of Big Brand System, and This is How I Power My Business
Firmology?s How I Power My Business?series?profiles the technology?business owners?use to run and grow their business.

?

QuickOffice for the iPad is Now Free in the App Store

QuickOffice for the iPad is Now Free in the App Store
Google has sweetened the deal of becoming a paid Google Apps for Business customer with the release of a free version of QuickOffice for the iPad, with free iPhone and Android versions available in the future.

?

How to Share Files or Folders of Any Size with Anyone Using Dropbox Links

How to Share Files or Folders of Any Size with Anyone Using Dropbox Links
Dropbox simplifies file sharing to those without a Dropbox account.

?

Technorati Ranks Firmology as One of the Top 100 Small Business Blogs and News Sites on the Web

Technorati Ranks Firmology as One of the Top 100 Small Business Blogs and News Sites on the Web
We?re proud to announce that Technorati has ranked Firmology as one of the Top 100 Small Business Blogs and News Sites on the entire web!

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How Santa Claus Used HootSuite and Social Media to Save the Holidays [FirmologyTV]

How Santa Claus Used HootSuite and Social Media to Save the Holidays [FirmologyTV]
HootSuite found a brilliant and undeniably fun way to show off their prowess to businesses in need of a social media management dashboard.

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Small Business Stocking Stuffer: 02 Hurricane Canless Air System

Small Business Stocking Stuffer: 02 Hurricane Canless Air System
Looking for last-minute gift for a small business owner? The O2 Hurricane Canless Air System is sure to blow them away.

?

Google Shuts Down Punchd Small Business Smartphone Loyalty App

Google Shuts Down Punchd Small Business Smartphone Loyalty App
Local small businesses have one less option for managing their loyalty and rewards program.

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I?m Dave Kerpen, Founder of Likeable Local and Likeable Media, and This is How I Power My Business

I?m Dave Kerpen, Founder of Likeable Local and Likeable Media, and This is How I Power My Business
Firmology?s How I Power My Business?series?profiles the technology?business owners?use to run and grow their business.

?

For more small business resources, follow?Firmology?on?Twitter?or?LinkedIn.

To contact the writer on this story: Philip Nowak in Chicago at philip.nowak@firmology.com. Please?contact us?if you?d like to?submit a small business innovation story or small business tech startup, product or service.

Written by Philip Nowak

Philip Nowak is the founder of Firmology, a?small business news?and information media company focused on helping small business owners grow their business through technology and innovation.?You can find Philip on?Google+,?Twitter?and?LinkedIn.

Source: http://www.firmology.com/2012/12/23/9-small-business-resources-you-might-have-missed/

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Nationals Pitcher Stammen Meets, Praises Overseas Troops

Nationals Pitcher Stammen Meets, Praises Overseas Troops

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

BAGRAM, Afghanistan, Dec. 18, 2012 ? There aren't many people who would volunteer to go to a war zone thousands of miles away from the safety of home to visit strangers during the holiday season.

Yet each year the USO enlists accomplished actors, musicians, sports figures and other celebrities who want to give something back to the million-plus Americans serving in the U.S. military.

Craig Stammen, a right-handed starting and relief pitcher for Major League Baseball?s Washington Nationals franchise is one such person, willing to venture into the unknown for the sake of giving back, as he eagerly joined Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on this year's annual USO holiday tour.

?Coming over here we didn't know what to expect,? Stammen said. ?You guys make us feel really good about coming over here. We don't consider ourselves celebrities but you guys treat us like [we are].?

Stammen was candid when asked about his motivation for leaving his fianc?e to travel overseas and meet service members, Defense Department civilians and their families.

?Well, for me, it's just [about] meeting all the troops, meeting my fellow Americans,? he said. ?Meeting guys that are almost exactly like me except they?re in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force [or] the Marines.?

Of course, not many people can throw 91 to 94 mph fastballs, like Stammen, a North Star, Ohio, native, can.

?It's kind of neat to interact, hear things about where we're from ? and chat about it, like home,? he said.

Stammen expressed his appreciation to the troops as he took the stage to share his story.

?We appreciate everything that you do. You guys inspire me to keep doing what I'm doing, and to appreciate what I'm doing back at home even more,? he said.

?I'll be thinking about you guys as long as I live,? Stammen added.
?

Source: http://www.defense.gov//news/newsarticle.aspx?id=118822

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

TruckLenders USA - #1 in Commercial Truck Finance: What are the ...


When it comes to weighing out the pros and cons of leasing a commercial vehicle, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, you will want to weigh out the pros and cons of obtaining a new piece of commercial equipment and find out if it is advantageous or not for your company to seek the assistance of commercial vehicle financing. You may determine that commercial vehicle financing is not the best avenue for your company at the present time and may be able to get by with the equipment that you currently have for a while before you can commit to commercial vehicle financing. If you decide that commercial vehicle financing is what your business needs at the present time, it may be wise for you to consider leasing a commercial vehicle. A commercial vehicle lease is much like a commercial vehicle loan, with a few exceptions. First of all, the way that the lease is reported on your financial statement differs than that of a commercial vehicle loan. A lease will report only your monthly payment as a debt, as opposed to the entire amount of money financed. Secondly, many commercial vehicle loans will require a down payment, sometimes it can be a substantial amount required in order to obtain financing. With a commercial vehicle lease, however, there is not a down payment. What is often required, instead of a down payment, is the first and last months payments upfront. Also, with a lease, you can ask your commercial vehicle financing company to assign a residual payment at the end of the lease term, or your commercial vehicle financing company may ascertain that a residual payment is required during the? approval process. Having the option of a residual payment is an added benefit of a commercial truck lease because it can allow for your monthly financial obligation to the commercial vehicle financing company to be lower. Another ?pro? to leasing a commercial vehicle from your commercial vehicle financing company is the tax write off. With a commercial truck lease, you are able to write off your monthly payments in full, which is quite a blessing when you file your taxes. Also, you are not paying your taxes all up front, as you do with a commercial vehicle loan, but instead you are paying your taxes a little bit at a time, with every payment you make to your commercial vehicle financing company. Deciding whether or not to leasing a commercial vehicle through a commercial vehicle financing company is a big decision and not to be taken lightly. This is a decision that can make or break a small transportation company and therefore must be made based on information and research. Take your time, decide whether or not leasing a commercial vehicle from a commercial vehicle financing company is right for you, and once you have made your decision, proceed with confidence.

Source: http://trucklenders-trucklendersusa.blogspot.com/2012/12/what-are-pros-and-cons-of-leasing.html

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Surveys show South Korea vote too close to call

South Koreans wait in line to cast their votes in a presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. Huge crowds turned out Wednesday to vote in the tight presidential race pitting the son of North Korean refugees against the conservative daughter of a late dictator. (AP Photo/Yonhap, Kim Ju-sung) KOREA OUT

South Koreans wait in line to cast their votes in a presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. Huge crowds turned out Wednesday to vote in the tight presidential race pitting the son of North Korean refugees against the conservative daughter of a late dictator. (AP Photo/Yonhap, Kim Ju-sung) KOREA OUT

South Korean Confucian scholars, wearing traditional attire, prepare to cast their ballots in presidential election at a polling station in Nonsan, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. South Koreans bundled-up in thick mufflers and parkas braved frigid weather Wednesday to choose between the liberal son of North Korean refugees and the conservative daughter of a late dictator. (AP Photo/ Yonhap, Yang Yeong-seok) KOREA OUT

South Koreans wait in line to cast their votes for a presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. Huge crowds turned out Wednesday to vote in the tight presidential race pitting the son of North Korean refugees against the conservative daughter of a late dictator. (AP Photo/Yonhap, Shin Jun-hee) KOREA OUT

South Korean opposition Democratic United Party's presidential candidate Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook cast their votes for the presidential election at a local polling station in Busan, south of Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. South Koreans bundled in thick mufflers and parkas braved frigid weather Wednesday to choose between the liberal son of North Korean refugees and the conservative daughter of a late dictator. For all their differences, the presidential candidates hold similar views on the need to engage with Pyongyang and other issues. (AP Photo/Yonhap, Kim Hyun-tai) KOREA OUT

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak exits from a voting booth to cast his ballot in South Korea's presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. South Koreans bundled in thick mufflers and parkas braved frigid weather Wednesday to choose between the liberal son of North Korean refugees and the conservative daughter of a late dictator. For all their differences, the presidential candidates hold similar views on the need to engage with Pyongyang and other issues. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, Pool)

(AP) ? Surveys released after polls closed in South Korea's hard-fought presidential election Wednesday indicated the race to replace unpopular incumbent Lee Myung-bak was too close to call.

One exit poll found that Park Geun-Hye, the conservative daughter of a late dictator, had a slight lead over Moon Jae-in, the liberal son of North Korean refugees. But another survey gave Moon a slight edge.

Huge crowds lined up in frigid weather to choose between two candidates who promised to move away from Lee's policies, even though Park belongs to Lee's party. Park and Moon agree that the country needs greater engagement with rival North Korea, despite a controversial rocket launch last week.

Turnout was higher than in past elections, which analysts said might have lifted Moon, who is more popular with younger voters. Park's conservative base is comprised mainly of older voters who remember with fondness what they see as the firm economic and security guidance of her dictator father, Park Chung-hee.

An exit poll jointly sponsored by TV stations KBS, MBC and SBS showed conservative candidate Park won 50.1 percent of the vote, compared to Moon's 48.9 percent. The stations said, however, that the gap was within the plus-or-minus 0.8 percent margin of error, and official results released later Wednesday could be different.

A telephone survey by YTN television network said Moon got between 49.7 and 53.3 percent, while Park received between 46.1 and 49.9 percent.

For all their differences, Moon, who was chief of staff to late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, and Park hold similar views on the need to engage with Pyongyang and other issues.

Many voters are dissatisfied with Lee, and Park has had to tack to the center in her bid to become South Korea's first woman president.

Many voters blame inter-Korean tension for encouraging North Korea to conduct nuclear and missile tests ? including a rocket launch by Pyongyang that outsiders call a cover for a banned long-range missile test. Some also say ragged North-South relations led to two attacks blamed on Pyongyang that killed 50 South Koreans in 2010.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-19-SKorea-Election/id-d848a1fec5ff494295bd681085fa8318

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Sunday, December 16, 2012

anna.paquin: 15 to Spend on Food and Drink ? Chris BBQ & Grill ...

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Source: http://frost12.typepad.com/blog/2012/12/15-to-spend-on-food-and-drink-chris-bbq-grill-leslie.html

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Source: http://annapaquin99.blogspot.com/2012/12/15-to-spend-on-food-and-drink-chris-bbq.html

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Saturday, December 15, 2012

RIM shows how BlackBerry 10 touch screen keys could rival even its traditional keyboards [video]

"We all heard these booming noises, and we started crying"The Associated Press reports that 27 people, including 18 children, were killed on Friday morning in a school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. Much remains unknown about the mass shooting, which is already being described as one of the worst in American history. But a picture of terror and tragedy is slowly emerging from news reports on the ground. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rim-shows-blackberry-10-touch-screen-keys-could-210705745.html

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kinramnaiji: alanroberte: walesa foal: Bicycle Family Card Games for ...

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Business Center and Serviced Office News, Tips and Articles ...

Online payments

Online payments are big business. Whether it?s ordering office furniture, paying National Insurance contributions or booking conference tickets, online payments have streamlined business processes and created a lucrative industry in the process.

So why isn?t the business centre industry switching on to online payments?

In today?s web-wise world of Wi-Fi, mobile technology and online shopping, using the Internet is like second nature. And for web-savvy businesses that rely on the internet for everything from advertising and recruitment to booking train tickets, many business centres that still collect clients? payments by cheque are standing out for all the wrong reasons.

Of course it?s easy to ask clients to set up a direct debit through their bank. But with the growth of alternative forms of flexible office space such as coworking, shared space and hot-desking, it could prove to be an admin nightmare if your staff are left chasing up payments for coworkers and drop-in hotdeskers. Imagine if you fill your shared space with 15 different workers per day. That?s great news for your coworking community ? but less so for your finance team.

And it?s not just about online payments. Just like reserving train tickets, online bookings is another opportunity that much of the industry is missing out on. Granted, clients probably won?t book 20-workstation offices over the internet just yet. But with the rise of coworking and mobile working trends, business centres can open up their space to Gen-Y businesses by introducing smart online booking and payment systems.

And thanks to advances in online payment technology, your business centre can do just that.

RJmetis, a supplier of business centre management systems and a familiar name within the flexible office space industry, has developed a new system to help business centres boost their revenue by selling space online. SpaceDadi is a handy little tool that enables centres to sell office, coworking and meeting room space online. The software receives bookings in a real-time calendar, automatically generates invoices and takes secure online payments.

The challenge facing workspace providers is managing multiple online sales channels, but with a system such as SpaceDadi, this all-in solution takes care of the end-to-end process, along with all the back office details.

Why are online bookings and payments so important?

According to the World Payments Report 2011, credit and debit cards remain the preferred non-cash payment method with a global share of more than 40% in most markets. Cheque usage is declining rapidly, which the report claims is ?a clear indicator of the global shift toward electronic payments?.

This has not only seen the online payment industry grow, but has also created new opportunities for alternative forms of payment systems.

Take iZettle for instance. It?s a small card-reader that plugs into a mobile device, such as an Android smartphone or iPad, and scans a customer?s credit card for instant online purchasing. Square is another one. It was created by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, so it?s no surprise that it?s making rapid progress in the United States.

In today?s on-demand world, we want everything yesterday ? and fast systems and payment methods are becoming a must in today?s fast-paced world of business. The rise of coworking and mobile working is closely aligned with advances in mobile technology ? and as technology advances, the need to shift to online bookings and payments becomes ever more apparent. Businesses that want to get ahead and maximise their revenues need to switch on to online payments and technologies, or risk losing out to their competitors.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jo Disney - News and Features Editor, U.K

Jo is Officing Today's News and Features Editor, based in the U.K. Having spent several years blogging and writing for a global office brokerage firm, Jo is well versed on the inner workings of the flexible workspace industry and has developed close links with various figures within business centre circles. She researches and contributes various written features for Officing Today, interviewing industry movers and shakers, reporting on the latest market news and delving into local issues with one main objective: to shout about the business centre industry and champion its members. Get in touch with Jo here.

Source: http://www.officingtoday.com/2012/12/new-technologies-open-up-online-payments-to-business-centres/

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Best Movies Of 2012

Tributes, time-travelers and titans top MTV's list of the top films of the year.
By MTV News staff


Christian Bale in "Dark Knight Rises"
Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1698923/best-movies-2012.jhtml

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Friday, December 14, 2012

Insight: How Republicans engineered a blow to Michigan's powerful unions

LANSING, Michigan (Reuters) - As a trained aerospace engineer, Patrick Colbeck applied his penchant for data analysis and "systematic approach" to his new job in early 2011: a Michigan state senator, recently elected and keen to create jobs in the faded industrial powerhouse.

Those skills paid off handsomely for the first-term Republican this week as Governor Rick Snyder signed into law bills co-sponsored by Colbeck that ban mandatory union membership, making Michigan the nation's 24th right-to-work state.

From outside Michigan Republican circles, it appeared that the Republican drive to weaken unions came out of the blue - proposed, passed and signed in a mere six days.

But the transformation had been in the making since March 2011 when Colbeck and a fellow freshman, state Representative Mike Shirkey, first seriously considered legislation to ban mandatory collection of union dues as a condition of employment in Michigan. Such was their zeal, they even went to union halls to make their pitch and were treated "respectfully," Colbeck said.

The upstarts were flirting with the once unthinkable, limiting union rights in a state that is the home of the heavily unionized U.S. auto industry and the birthplace of the nation's richest union, the United Auto Workers. For many Americans, Michigan is the state that defines organized labor.

But in a convergence of methodical planning and patient alliance building - the "systematic approach" - the reformers were on a roll, one that establishment Michigan Republicans came to embrace and promised to bankroll.

Republicans executed a plan - the timing, the language of the bills, the media strategy, and perhaps most importantly, the behind-the-scenes lobbying of top Republicans including Snyder.

They knew they would likely face an acrimonious battle of the kind they had seen over the last two years in the neighboring state of Wisconsin between Republican Governor Scott Walker and unions. Operating in plain sight but often overlooked, they worked to put the necessary building blocks in place.

"This was a risky move across-the-board and I wanted to make sure all of my (Republican) caucus members would come back to serve with me after the next election," said Colbeck, who ran for office after whetting his political appetite as a Tea Party activist.

November elections turned out to be key to the December move. House Republicans lost five seats, making passage in January a more difficult proposition than pushing through legislation in the lame-duck session.

But the November elections had also served up a crushing referendum defeat for unions, which Republicans saw as a sign that public opinion would be behind them in their move to curb organized labor's power.

BOTTOM UP

For his maiden initiative, Colbeck found inspiration in the troubling 2010 census numbers. Michigan was the only state in the United States to see its population fall during the previous decade and he wanted to reverse that trend. People will not come back without jobs, his thinking went. That's when Colbeck concluded that right-to-work was required to bring in new investment.

They built from the grassroots, bottom up, rather than from Snyder and top leaders in the legislature. If anything, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville was viewed as an obstacle because he represents a labor-friendly area.

Together with Jack Hoogendyk, a former Republican member of the Michigan House who supported right-to-work, and a small group of other activists, they founded the "Michigan Freedom to Work" coalition, which sought to capitalize on Republican control of the state legislature and the governorship.

They held press conferences in June 2011 and in September 2011 took their show to the Republican Leadership Conference on Michigan's Mackinac Island. In attendance were Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Perry as well as Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.

As a sign of growing support among conservatives for right-to-work, Hoogendyk says that there were hundreds of activists in attendance wearing yellow "Freedom To Work" T-shirts.

A group linked to the conservative billionaire Koch Brothers, owners of an energy and trading conglomerate who are reviled by unions and Democrats, held three conferences in Michigan in early 2012 on right-to-work featuring renowned conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart. Three Republican presidential candidates including Romney and some 1,500 activists attended the last conference on February 25 sponsored by Americans for Prosperity, four days before Breibart's death.

The right-to-work campaign gathered momentum when the activists linked up with Dick DeVos, the son of Richard DeVos, co-founder of Michigan-based Amway, and Ronald Weiser, former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party and ambassador to Slovakia under President George W. Bush.

Richard DeVos was listed as the 67th richest person in America by Forbes magazine in 2012 with a net worth estimated at $5.1 billion. Amway sells consumer goods such as skincare and home cleaning supplies through some 3 million people and its parent company had sales of $10.9 billion in 2011.

"Dick DeVos and Ron Weiser travel in a certain rarefied atmosphere," Colbeck said, holding his hand above his head to indicate how far above him they are.

The wealthy businessman and the political guru both worked to persuade wavering Republican lawmakers by assuring them they would have financial support if they faced recall elections over right-to-work, as happened in Wisconsin, Colbeck, Hoogendyk and other Republicans said.

Asked if he had promised campaign financial support to nervous Republicans, DeVos, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2006, said in a telephone interview: "I am pleased if I was able to help encourage legislators to truly vote their conscience without fear of political retribution from the other side, which is known for its heavy-handed tactics."

By the summer of 2012, Colbeck said supporters had gathered enough Republican votes to pass right-to-work in Michigan, but decided to wait until after the November election.

"We wanted to be able to focus on the candidates during the election rather than have this distraction," Colbeck said.

BATTLE OVER BALLOT MEASURE

Republicans said a key factor in passage of right-to-work was what they consider an "overreach" by unions in Michigan.

On March 6 of this year, a union group including United Auto Workers union president Bob King announced that they would seek a November ballot initiative to enshrine in the Michigan constitution the right to collective bargaining.

"It was a power grab. In retrospect it was a huge mistake," said Scott Hagerstrom, Michigan state director of Americans For Prosperity, a conservative non-profit partially funded by the Koch brothers.

At a public meeting of labor and corporate officers last summer, Snyder said he deliberately pleaded with union leaders not to go forward with the ballot initiative.

"If you do this, you should anticipate you're going to create a divisive discussion on right-to-work also," Snyder told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday, recalling his remarks.

Unions pressed forward and some Republicans say that this essentially blew up a "gentlemen's agreement" between the unions and Republicans that neither would rock the boat on labor legislation in Michigan.

UAW President Bob King told Reuters that labor leaders pursued Proposal 2 because they expected a Republican push on right-to-work regardless.

The battle over Proposal 2 was nasty. Protecting Michigan Taxpayers, a group backed by DeVos, spent $22.7 million to oppose it, according to campaign finance disclosures filed with the state. DeVos family members alone provided $1.75 million of its funding, the records show.

Protect Working Families, a group backed by a union coalition that included the UAW, spent $22.9 million supporting Proposal 2, according to reports filed with the state. The UAW contributed about $5.6 million to that committee.

The proposition went down to defeat by 57 percent to 43 percent. Republicans interpreted this as suggesting that the public would support right-to-work, Colbeck said.

THE MOMENT IS NOW

After the November election, activists decided that the time was ripe to bring up right-to-work.

"As soon as the election ended, the dialogue on right-to-work just really ramped up," Snyder said.

Activists viewed Senate leader Richardville as the most hesitant of the Republican leadership. Rather than confront him, sponsors quietly tried to convince him and lobbied other members of the Republican caucus.

Richardville, who says he hails from a union family, admitted that he was hesitant about right-to-work and said he made his mind up slowly as he saw the support in his Republican caucus.

"There wasn't a eureka moment in that I finally see the light or a moment to jump up and down," he told Reuters.

Snyder, a former computer executive who had campaigned as a moderate in the 2010 election, had said for nearly two years that right-to-work was too divisive for Michigan, but said he would sign a law if the legislature passed it. After the election he tried to get labor leaders and Republicans together to discuss a compromise but he said those talks failed.

Snyder and Richardville both told Reuters that they had made up their minds to go through with right-to-work legislation after a December 5 meeting with longtime right-to-work advocate state House Speaker Jase Bolger. Snyder announced the decision a day later and the draft laws were given preliminary approval by the legislature within hours.

Sponsors inserted in the laws a provision allocating $1 million to implement the laws, a shrewd way to make it harder to overturn the laws by referendum because Michigan's constitution bars challenges of spending bills.

A media campaign was rolled out. Television advertising appeared across the state extolling the virtues of right-to-work produced by an agency linked to an associate of Dick DeVos.

Democrats and unions were outraged and said they were blindsided. More than 12,000 people demonstrated on the grounds of the state Capitol in Lansing. They floated giant gray balloons of rats named Snyder, Richardville, Bolger and DeVos.

It was too late. Republicans gave final approval to the bills while union members marched outside the building. Snyder signed them into law within hours.

Democrats have vowed retribution at the polls, suggesting possible recall elections of Michigan Republicans.

"There's been two or three recall attempts on me already," Snyder said. "When you're reinventing a state you're asking for large-scale change and when change comes, some people don't like it."

(Additional reporting by David Bailey and Deepa Seetharaman; Writing by Greg McCune; Editing by Mary Milliken and Lisa Shumaker)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/insight-republicans-engineered-blow-michigans-powerful-unions-061930181--business.html

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Euro, shares edge higher ahead of PMI data

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares and the euro edged up and growth-sensitive commodities firmed on Friday, after a pick-up in China's manufacturing sector lifted sentiment ahead of closely-watched European data.

Europe will get the first reading of Purchasing Manager Index manufacturing data just before 0900 GMT with investors hoping to see signs the region's struggling economy is readying for a pick-up.

After more than eight hours of late-night talks at a summit in Brussels, EU leaders also provided a fillip for markets, promising to push ahead with a pan-euro zone mechanism to wind down problem banks.

European shares <.stoxx50e> opened 0.1 percent higher, pushing back towards an 18-month high. London's FTSE 100 <.ftse>, Paris's CAC-40 <.fchi> and Frankfurt's DAX <.gdaxi> climbing between 0.1 and 0.3 percent.

"Every minor dip is bought up pretty quickly afterwards," said Central Markets senior broker Joe Neighbor. "I can't really see any big sell-off between now and the end of the year. I expect the markets to continue to grind higher."

Following a mixed session for Asian equities, the early European rises left the MSCI index of global stocks <.miwd00000pus> just above flat at 331 points, adding to a 6 percent rise over the last three weeks.

In the currency market, the brighter mood in the region helped the euro remain above $1.31 near a nine-day high. Dovetailing the move, demand for German government bonds dipped and oil and copper prices edged higher.

A deteriorating business sentiment survey and expectations that the Bank of Japan will ease policy further to support the weak economy next week pushed the yen to a near 9-month low against the dollar and an 8-month low against the euro, however.

China shares outperformed Asian peers after the HSBC flash purchasing managers' index for December hit a 14-month high of 50.9, the fifth straight monthly gain, underlining the world number two economy's improving growth prospects.

(Additional reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asian-shares-steady-china-data-fiscal-cliff-weighs-034746413--finance.html

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Thursday, December 13, 2012

THE BENEFITS OF AN UNCLUTTERED HOME - Fontaine Family ...

If you are thinking of selling your home,

I am sure you have heard someone say

you should start by de-cluttering your home.

?

Did you know there are benefits of an uncluttered home

whether you are selling or not??


1.? BETTER PHOTOS - If you are selling your home, you obviously want the photos used to market your property to be the best they can be.? After all, if you don't have photos or have bad photo, buyers might assume there is something wrong with your home and choose not to view it.?

Even if you are not selling...the holidays are coming up and wouldn't a de-cluttered home look nice in the photos you snap on Christmas morning??

???
2.? EASY CLEANING - An uncluttered home has a place for everything so when you get a call from a friend who wants to stop by in a few minutes to wish you "Happy Holidays" or you get a call for a last minute showing...you can be ready in no time.? Once your home is de-cluttered, everything has a place and all the "extra" stuff is out of the way.

3.? REDUCED STRESS - Who couldn't use a little less stress?? Have you had those mornings when you can't find your keys or you other shoe to get out the door in the morning?? Do you look around your family room and dread moving all the knick-knacks to dust?? These little things cause stress.? Remove the clutter and removes at least some of your stress.??

So how do you get started??


Conquer one area at a time.??
It is probably not reasonable to de-clutter the whole house in a weekend, but conquering one area is.??Maybe?start with the bathroom...throw out outdated items from the medicine cabinet, organize the linen closet with boxes for alike items, toss or donate extra towels and toiletries.?
?
If you don't use it regularly - donate it, sell it or toss it.
If you have boxes of craft supplies, tools, or other items that "might come in handy one day" it is time to move them out.? Do you know someone who can use them now?? Donate them to a school or shelter.? Sell them on Craigslist.? Recycle them.?

If it's not in use - put it away.
We all have those appliances we leave on the counter just because.? If you don't use the waffle maker a couple times a week...it needs to be put away between uses.? Less clutter on surfaces has a calming affect and makes it easier to use your space on a daily basis.

Everything needs a home.
As soon as something is brought into the house, it need a permanent "home"...a place where it is put when not in use and I don't mean piled in the corner of the dining room!

Removed unneeded furniture.
Take a look at each room in your house and ask yourself "When was the last time I used that furniture...except for to pile stuff on?"? If it isn't being used, then get rid of it. Click here for tips on arranging furniture.


Clear the floors.
Do you have extra area rugs or piles of books on the floor?? Find a new home or get rid of anything on your floor that makes it easier to vacuum or sweep.

Minimize decor.?
Less is more when it comes to decorating.? If you have just a couple of nice?piece of art or photos on your wall, you will?be apple to appreciate them more that if the walls are full.? Same goes for thing on tabletops or shelves.??Same goes for the surfaces in your?home.? A couple nice things will be more appreciated and provide space to use your furniture instead of filling it with knick-knacks.

The bottom line is, you have the power to de-clutter your life.?

Just start small and conquer a little at a time.?

I bet the result will be a more relaxed,

less stressful home in 2013!

?

If you would like more information on how to prepare your home to sell
for top dollar faster, call Brenda at (207)784-3800
or e-mail brenda@fontaineteam.com!

Source: http://fontaineteam.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-benefits-of-uncluttered-home.html

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Talent and Social Business: Tweets from yesterday&#39;s National HRD ...

If you missed the seminar, don't worry :) Here is the archived set of tweets, Storify'd for you :)

[View the story "Social Media for HR" on Storify]

Storified by Gautam Ghosh ? Tue, Dec 11 2012 09:15:47

Very relevant point from @Anand__Pillai: in the netowrked world, hierarchy and position has no meaning. It's about influence. +1. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

youtube can be a key tool to build employer brand, says @rajivdingra #sm4hrGautam Ghosh

60% of job seekers are only on facebook #india #sm4hrGautam Ghosh

Linkage of internal recognition to a social media platform seems like simple way to create a point of pride. #sm4hrHimnit

Me too!! @_Kavi: The passion with which @Sarangbrahme shares details of the program, makes me want to look up CapGemini on FB! #sm4hr"nisha manglani

@Sarangbrahme talking at the @nhrdmumbai #sm4hr #socialmedia http://pic.twitter.com/R4Nl3nVXKunjal Kamdar

#sarang says it is important for HR to partner with Marketing teams for an effective social media strategy #sm4hrMohammed Lokhandwala

The passion with which @Sarangbrahme shares details of the program, makes me want to look up CapGemini on FB! #sm4hrKavi

Have followed @Anand__Pillai @Sarangbrahme @GautamGhosh got to hear them for d first time...truly amazing!! #sm4hrnisha manglani

@Sarangbrahme talking about sites like Quora and Delicious, the world's leading social bookmarking service. #sm4hr #socialmediaKunjal Kamdar

@_Kavi I liked the term too. Interesting. Sentiment analysis is a good way to gauge engagement. @Sarangbrahme #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

Key takeaways today: a) 4 C's by @rajivdingra Content, Connection, Conversation & Collaboration. b) create chaos in the organisation.#sm4hrMohammed Lokhandwala

@Sarangbrahme sharing his experience with @TechGig #sm4hr #socialmediaKunjal Kamdar

@Sarangbrahme speaks about Moodometer ! Gives me ideas. Hmm! #sm4hrKavi

Can you come with a moodometer for your employee? Interesting!! #sm4hrnisha manglani

@Sarangbrahme asks "As an HR can you create a Mood-O-Meter for your employees" #sm4hr #socialmediaKunjal Kamdar

Enjoyed listening to @rajivdingra / @GautamGhosh / #himanshu / #indraneel at #sm4hrMohammed Lokhandwala

@Sarangbrahme ask if your company has the right platform where they can engage with your audience. #sm4hr #socialmediaKunjal Kamdar

Loved the simple model of types of commitment - emotional for extra efforts, rational for retention. #sm4hrHimnit

@Sarangbrahme talks about the change in communication. #sm4hr #socialmediaKunjal Kamdar

Why ppl are confusing digital media with social media. Their are other media's besides digital to be social #sm4hrSandeep Kaul

Vision cascading via fb. Are companies serious...hmmm. #sm4hrSandeep Kaul

Note to Myself : whatever data on social media adoption you are going to share, Its already been shared ! #sm4hrKavi

3 speakers talking about the same radio vs facebook penetration numbers..give me a break! #sm4hrMohammed Lokhandwala

ZMOT - Zero Moment Of Truth,book recco by MD of Kelly Services, Kamal Karanth. A book for me to lookup. #sm4hrKavi

HR doesn't even sneeze without a framework. :) #lol #sm4hrHimnit

Either you are connected; or you are asleep. #sm4hr #GenTHimnit

Social technology can be successfully used to connect globally distributed employees working in isolation. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

It is about making business social.Mr Hareeshh at #sm4hrSujata Ramani

The onus must be in creating chaos in the org. Order / structure would emerge from it! #sm4hr H.TibrewalaKavi

Mr Hareesh says "We need to learn to tap the collective intelligence of the internal communities. @socwav #sm4hr #socialmediaKunjal Kamdar

FB is chaos. But groups & pages are the ones that create order within chaos. #sm4hrKavi

Time for Hareesh Tibrewala, CEO, Social Wavelength @socwav to share his views about #socialmedia #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

This online TATA HR community is intriguing. Looks good! @GautamGhosh do you know what product is this #sm4hrKavi

@_Kavi #sm4hr seems like a inhouse tool built from scratchGautam Ghosh

The Tata grop connected its 3300+ HR employees via #social technology to enable knowledge sharing, industry practices, communication. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

In today's distributed workplaces and team driven projects, collab is inevitable to get work done. #some is just a facilitator. #gtd #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

11 vibrant HR online communities within the TATA fold! Says Colin Mendes #sm4hrKavi

Times they are a changin' and people talking w/o listening is no longer cool. Paraphrased frm indraneel Ganguli. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

Indranil Ganguli reaffirms my belief. Email can be made redundant to a very large extent. It's time. #sm4hrHimnit

Once the purpose is clear, everything else falls in place. From Indraneel Ganguli. True. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

Indraneel Ganguli, Sr VP Marketing & Communications of Mahindra Satyam talking about how they used #socialmedia to bounce back. #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

"HR doesn't even sneeze without a framework" - Indraneel Banerjee #sm4hr :) :)Kavi

If you know your purpose, you'll figure out a way to handle Social Media - Indraneel Banerjee #sm4hrKavi

the Tata group formed 11 HR communities linked 3300+ HR professionals #sm4hrGautam Ghosh

Gen Y is really Gen Why ! For they ask a lot of questions. Says Himanshu Goel from IBM #sm4hrKavi

Just finished panel session #sm4hr with @GautamGhosh, @KSudeep. Wonderful Insights from both & great interaction with audience via #twitterAnand Pillai

#sm4hr- excellent idea of gathering questions especially since the session focusses on social media. Pratixha Narkar

@GautamGhosh highlights imp point: L&D folks don't need 2 be content creators but curators. & perhaps help people develop PKM skills. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

@GautamGhosh talking about how Coursera is evolving careers and how they are into providing training sessions.. FREE #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

HR leaders have to lead the talk and be part of the conversation! Says @Anand__Pillai #sm4hrKavi

@Anand__Pillai says either be part of the conversation or be the conversation. #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

@GautamGhosh describes Glassdoor as a platform of radical transparency. also one where orgs build their brand thru engaged emplyees. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

@GautamGhosh suggests the audience to visit Glassdoor. I agree. Its a must to find about reviews and feedback abt ur company #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

@ksudeep 's outlining of the Social Media eco system for TCS engaging present/past/future employees! Future looks good #sm4hrKavi

@Anand__Pillai talks about collaborative authoring in the manufacturing context. blogging. knowledge capture + experience sharing. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

Very well said @Anand__Pillai people follow you not for the position you hold, but for the person you are! #sm4hrshital jhaveri

@GautamGhosh sharing the story of how #HUL got into the concept of Reverse Mentoring for his Sr Leadership. #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

@karthik_perumal is quoted as a reverse mentor in Unilever by @GautamGhosh ! #sm4hr Nice!!Kavi

@Anand__Pillai says people follow you coz of ur title. But then they follow you coz of YOU. Quoting 5 levels of #leadership #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

@Ksudeep used a key word in today's context: facilitator. Leaders and managers have to be facilitators. Not commanders. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

@Anand__Pillai speaks about the position vs person leadership spectrum! A true leader is one who influences, in the modern day world! #sm4hrKavi

60% of job seekers are only on facebook #india #sm4hr? ???????? ?

Very relevant point from @Anand__Pillai: in the netowrked world, hierarchy and position has no meaning. It's about influence. +1. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

@GautamGhosh says people chose to follow you on twitter. #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

@GautamGhosh quotes @rossdawson ! How appropriate for something like SM for innovation! #sm4hrKavi

@GautamGhosh talks about how IBM and CTS encourage internal #blogging and how info is being shared within the company. #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

Dell offers Social Media strategy services to its customers says @GautamGhosh ! Didn't know that! #sm4hrKavi

@GautamGhosh talking about DELL HELL story. How things can go wrong on Social Media and how can you overcome it. #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

Linking the ecosystem within and outside an org via social technology to build a social business. paraphrasing @GautamGhosh #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

@Anand__Pillai @GautamGhosh never been able to convince myself on Klout as benchmark for SM measure! what are your 3 reasons for it? #sm4hrKavi

People who blogged internally stayed longer in orgs. In Cognizants case : by as much as 3 years. Insightful inputs from @GautamGhosh #sm4hrKavi

@GautamGhosh talking abt how Capgemini uses #Yammer @Sarangbrahme #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

Use internal social networks to build/create a work aloud culture. Activity stream. Serendipity. Knowledge sharing. #sm4hr #nhrdnSahana Chattopadhyay

Ah finally! The distinct between an internal social network & the FBs of the world! That is something we need to delve more on! #sm4hrKavi

@GautamGhosh says that early adopters try to bring in innovation into the organization. #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

@GautamGhosh talking abt changing embedded bahaviors to embrace the connected, networked world. paraphased. #sm4hr #nhrdnSahana Chattopadhyay

Where do you see culture of innovation going beyond social media and how can organizations be future ready? #sm4hrValentine Sequeira

Thank you @Anand__Pillai for the mention! If we have a few more HR practitioners take to twitter, this conf would be a success! #sm4hrKavi

Transparency is key when it comes to Campus Connect programs. Agree with @ksudeep ! It applies to life as well! #sm4hrKavi

Interesting stuff done by #TCS as part of its Campus Connect program..#sm4hr Ksudeep talking about it..Mohammed Lokhandwala

@ksudeep shares interesting stuff from TCS's campus connect platform! Good stuff! #sm4hrKavi

Excellent point by @Anand__Pillai . We can search conversations on Twitter ie Structured Collaborations. #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

@ksudeep what's your views on engaging with ex-employees 4 your employee branding since India firms have hi attrition rate #sm4hrSandeep Kaul

From @Anand__Pillai: SoMe is not abt # of followers or RTs. It's abt buiilding conversatins/collaboraiton. +1 #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

Structured Collaboration X Reach = Innovation says @Anand__Pillai #sm4hrKavi

The next stage is getting into structured collaboration using social media. Says @Anand__Pillai #sm4hrKavi

@Anand__Pillai talking about how many people are building a conversation. Its not just about retweeting. #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

Until now we have used only one dimension of social media : reach. That stage is gone! Says @Anand__Pillai #sm4hrKavi

Like @Anand__Pillai's self deprecating humourous style of delivery with good insights. Nice, lively touch to the seminar. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

Use of SoMe will not be restricted to desktops. Smartphones are here. Orgs banning #some use are on a futile path. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

More than 7 out of 10 Internet users are on at least one social media. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

Twetable quote says @Anand__Pillai "In todays world none of us can have a private life' #sm4hrKavi

@Anand__Pillai talking abt how stuff like an active blog, # of twitter followers, etc. soon becoming patterns of filtering recruits. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

The panelists session abt to begin here at #sm4hr with @GautamGhosh, @Anand__Pillai and K Sudeep chairing. Qs invited via #twitter.Sahana Chattopadhyay

Great work @Anand__Pillai to introduce #sm4hr ! Now there will be some conversation too! :)Kavi

Excellent talk by @rajivdingra #sm4hrnisha manglani

@rajivdingra talking about four C's - Content, Conversations, collaboration and Connections. #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

@rajivdingra says 9-11pm is Prime Time for Facebook Users... #sm4hr @nhrdmumbai #fbKunjal Kamdar

@rajivdingra talking about the Power of Youtube and how Companies can make the most of it. #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

Indian Twitter users account for 3% of the global total. Interesting. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

youtube can be a key tool to build employer brand, says @rajivdingra #sm4hrGautam Ghosh

Excellent point made by @rajivdingra about SM being just another medium to create Employer Brand. #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

Brands can't broadcast anymore. Have to be ready to engage, converse and LISTEN. Paraphrasing Rajiv Dingra #sm4hr #communicationSahana Chattopadhyay

Nice overview frm Ranajn Sinha of MyParichay on the evolution of FB and its role in the future of social recruiting. #like #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

Here we go.. 38% of Jobseekers have their boss as a friend on Facebook... #sm4hr #fbKunjal Kamdar

Survey says 65% of folks likely to use FB over LinkedIn for the next job search. #sm4hr #recruitingSahana Chattopadhyay

65% of jobseekers are likely to use FB over LinkedIN for their new job. #sm4hr #fbKunjal Kamdar

80% of LinkedIn users on FB and only 30% of FB users on LinkedIn. #sm4hr #india. Interesting data for recruiting.Sahana Chattopadhyay

60% of job seekers are only on facebook #india #sm4hrGautam Ghosh

Interesting data: FB has more job seekers of prime hiring age than Nuakri and LinkedIn in India. Ignoring FB isn't an option. #sm4hrSahana Chattopadhyay

For recruiters War Room is all about meetings, numbers, weekend drives... :) #sm4hr @anshumancg @SarangbrahmeKunjal Kamdar

the Mahindra War Room facebook page looks interesting #sm4hrGautam Ghosh

Prince Augiustin talking about @mahindrarise experience. @nhrdmumbai #sm4hrKunjal Kamdar

Mahindra HR guy talks about how @mahindrarise impacted employer brand #sm4hrGautam Ghosh

Source: http://www.gautamblogs.com/2012/12/tweets-from-yesterdays-nhrdn-seminar-on.html

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