Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The 9 Worst Tech Buzzwords of 2012

Technology is about making and using cool new things that enrich our lives. But technology is also about using idiotic, tired words that mean next to nothing, designed to confuse us into wasting money. Here are the year's stupidest offenders. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/NsLgwr2xJZs/

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Not guilty pleas entered for three suspects in Indianapolis blast

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - An Indianapolis judge Monday entered not guilty pleas on behalf of three people charged in the November house explosion that killed two people and damaged scores of homes, officials said.

Monserrate Shirley and Mark Leonard, who lived in the home that exploded, and Leonard's brother, Bob Leonard Jr., were charged last week with murder and multiple counts of arson.

Investigators said the three blew up Shirley's home to collect insurance money to pay off gambling and credit card debts.

Killed in the blast were Jennifer and John Longworth, who lived next door. Twelve people were injured and 33 neighborhood homes had to be demolished, prosecutors said.

The pleas were entered by Marion County Superior Court Judge Sheila Carlisle, according to Brienne Delaney, a spokeswoman for the Marion County Prosecutor's office. It is typical in Indiana for a judge to enter pleas on suspects' behalf, Delaney explained.

Shirley's attorney, Randall Cable, said he was awaiting information on prosecutors' evidence against his client.

"We're waiting to receive discovery from the prosecutors to see what they have beyond a lot of innuendo," Cable said.

The Leonards had public defenders appointed for them.

Investigators believe a programmable microwave that exploded from the inside out was the source of ignition, and valves that regulate natural gas into the home and to a fireplace were removed, allowing gas to build up over hours.

The personal property insurance on the home had been raised recently to $304,000 and photographs and personal financial records were removed before the explosion, prosecutors allege.

All three suspects are being held without bond. They could face the death penalty or life without parole if found guilty.

A trial is set for March 4.

(Reporting By Mary Wisniewski; editing by Jim Marshall)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/not-guilty-pleas-entered-three-suspects-indianapolis-blast-174340860.html

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How To Structure An Online Joint Venture For ... - Name.com

HOW TO STRUCTURE AN ONLINE JOINT VENTURE FOR MAXIMUM BENEFIT

When you are getting started online, one of the first things that you need to build is a customer base. ?Of course, that is difficult to do if you are new and no one knows about you or your products. ?To overcome this you will have to grow your following using SEO, PR and social media.

However, one thing that you can do to jump start the building of your customer base is to leverage the following of someone who has already established themselves in the niche you are entering. ?Many online marketers have participated in?a joint venture?with a marketer who has already developed his?own customer base and seen impressive results.

In a joint venture you are working with another marketer to create and deliver a new product for the marketplace. ?This works well for new marketers when they have an innovative product or service to sell to the niche, but do not necessarily have a solid customer base. Therefore the established marketer is lending her?name, market power and customer database to the project.

When you are looking for potential joint venture partners, a prudent way to make your case to them?is to purchase their product (if possible). ?This will typically give you contact information that the established marketer doesn?t share with non business partners. ?Another factor to keep in mind is that these individuals will have likely received joint venture requests before yours. ?Most of the requests they receive will be hastily crafted emails, which the marketer will find easy to turn down. ?Your approach should be different (consider sending a letter instead of an email) and professional, so that it stands out from the rest.

To create a well run joint venture, the parties typically set up a formal agreement?of some kind once they have decided on the various responsibilities they need to take to bring their product to market. ?When you are first starting, it is typical to accept less than 50% of the profits, as well as doing more than 50% of the work. ?The joint venture benefits you a great deal because not only will you be gaining new customers, but you will also be building your customer database.

Categories: startmybiz | Permalink

Source: http://www.name.com/blog/startmybiz/2012/12/how-to-structure-an-online-joint-venture-for-maximum-benefit/

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Regional Information Page

Pokemon: Champion's Island

The Greastest Masters and Coordinators are called to mysterious island

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This topic is an Out Of Character part of the roleplay, ?Pokemon: Champion's Island?. Anything posted here will also show up there.

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Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.

This Page will tell facts of the Pokemon World that are considered common knowledge. The first five post will Be dedicated to a region each with overall information on this post.

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fullmetal642
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Would it be fair to say that the various 'Teams' throughout the regions (Rocket, Aqua, Magma, Galactic, and Plasma) are still somewhat in operation?

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When you accept reality, you give into it, give in to the power of a system that you can deny--a mockery of all that has come together to bring you where you are today.
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ArgoYamato
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Monday, December 24, 2012

CTA Pink Line Robberies: Chicago Police Warn Riders To Watch For Cell Phone Thieves

A spate of robberies aboard the Chicago Transit Authority Pink Line has police warning travelers to watch out.

According to a police alert issued Saturday, two men thought to be between 20 and 30-years-old have been snatching cell phones from commuters when the train stops at a station, reports the Sun-Times.

So far, a string of four robberies have been reported in the past two weeks, according to the Tribune: on Dec. 10 near the 200 block of South Kostner Avenue, Dec. 16 in the 1900 block of South Central Park Avenue, and the 2000 block of South Pulaski Road and Dec. 18 on the 1900 block of South Kedzie Avenue.

NBC Chicago reports that the alert describes the suspects as black males between 6-foot to 6-foot-2. Police were told one of the robbers was so tall his head almost touched the top of the train door.

Police ask that anyone with information about the robberies or robbers should contact Area Central Detectives at 312-747-8380.

Earlier on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/23/pink-line-robberies-chica_n_2356243.html

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Gays Blamed For Newtown, Other 2012 Tragedies

When Adam Lanza killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School last week, people were quick to point fingers at guns, the lack of mental health resources, violence in movies and video games -- and the gays.

Mike Huckabee suggested that children in a "natural family of a father and mother" would not grow up to be murderers and several other Christian conservative leaders and pastors, including Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, positioned the tragedy as God's revenge for a growing acceptance of gay rights.

Gays have been getting blamed for terrible events for years and in 2012 they were given exceptional powers -- causing extreme weather, death and destruction around the world. Here are some of the year's worst accusations:

  • Aurora Shooting, July 20

    After a gunman opened fire in a Colorado movie theater in July, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/aurora-shooting-movie-theater-batman_n_1688547.html">killing 12 people and wounding 71</a>, American Family Association news director Fred Jackson declared the massacre God's reaction to increasing acceptance of gays. He <a href="http://blogs.phillymag.com/gphilly/2012/07/23/gays-blamed-colorado-shooting/">said on his radio show</a>: <blockquote>?I think the sources of this is multifaceted but you can put it all I think under the heading of rebellion to God, a rejection of the God of the Bible. ? We?ve been dealing Teddy and I know the AFA Journal has been dealing with denominations that no longer believe in the God of the Bible, they no longer believe that Jesus is the only way of salvation, they teach that God is okay with homosexuality, this is just increasing more and more. It is mankind shaking its fist at the authority of God.?</blockquote>

  • Marikana Massacre, August 16

    South African police <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/16/south-africa-mine-shooting_n_1790021.html">opened fire on striking workers </a>at a platinum mine, killing 34 and wounding at least 78. Conservative pastor Errol Naidoo <a href="http://mg.co.za/article/2012-08-22-blame-the-gays-for-marikana-says-trending-preacher">linked the massacre to a "homosexual agenda,"</a> among other sins plaguing the country. He wrote in a newsletter: <blockquote>"Abortion-on-demand, driven by radical feminist activists and the homosexual agenda, lie at the heart of the culture of death. These anti-family groups are responsible for population decline."</blockquote>

  • Hurricane Isaac, late August

    Seven years after Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana was devastated again by Hurricane Issac -- and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/30/hurricane-isaac-southern-decadence-gay-festival-new-orleans_n_1843636.html">several Christian extremists spoke out</a> about the connection between extreme weather and New Orleans' annual LGBT festival. Conservative pastor John McTernan <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/30/hurricane-isaac-southern-decadence-gay-festival-new-orleans_n_1843636.html">wrote in a blog post</a>: <blockquote>"The hurricane is scheduled to hit the New Orleans area on Wednesday, Aug. 29 which is the beginning of an annual homosexual event in New Orleans called 'Southern Decadence.' Isaac, of course, is a biblical name meaning laughter. The church, city and nation have not repented and the homosexual agenda is far worse than it was in 2005. New Orleans is still hosting Southern Decadence with open homosexuality manifesting in the streets of the city. It could be that God is putting an end to this city and its wickedness."</blockquote> The American Family Association's Buster Wilson <a href="http://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2012/08/31/gays-get-blame-hurricane-isaac">echoed his remarks</a>, and a local <a href="http://www.wnd.com/2012/08/eerie-bible-coincidence-for-hurricane-isaac/">told WND</a>, "A hurricane hitting a celebration of decadence?twice in seven years. What are the odds??

  • Benghazi Attack, September 11

    A new report <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/19/state-benghazi-report_n_2330034.html">determined this week</a> that "systemic failures" of the State Department contributed to the attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. But Town Hall's Ben Shapiro <a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2012/10/18/why_libya_matters/page/2">had it all figured out in October</a>: <blockquote>They thought it was far more important to make nice with the native population than to keep our ambassador safe. They thought that the Arab Spring was a nice, happy little uprising, complete with gay bodyguards to apply to protect the ambassador. Really. An ad placed in Libya -- Libya! -- for the ambassador's security team made it clear that members of a same-sex marriage would be accepted.</blockquote> Shapiro goes on to acknowledge that "no gay men applied."

  • Hurricane Sandy, late October

    Conservative preacher John McTernan once again made the connection between gays and hurricanes when Sandy devastated the East Coast, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/29/hurricane-sandy-gays-same-sex-marriage-obama-romney_n_2038781.html">writing in a blog post </a>that the storm was caused by Obama's and then-presidential candidate Romney's tolerance of gay people: <blockquote>"Both candidates are pro-homosexual and are behind the homosexual agenda. America is under political judgment and the church does not know it!"</blockquote> Another right-wing pastor, Luke Robinson, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/05/hurricane-sandy-michael-bloomberg-gay-marriage_n_2077531.html">told a crowd in Maryland </a>that Sandy hit New York after Mayor Bloomberg made a donation to a Maryland campaign for marriage equality: <blockquote>"So here was the mayor of New York giving a quarter of a million dollars, coming down to Maryland discussing the matter. While he?s here somebody whispers in the ear, 'You better go back home and protect your stock because God is sending judgment.' The thing came through the area. You have to understand the season and the time. It?s almost the end of hurricane season, but God sent one of the biggest hurricanes ever.?</blockquote>

  • Newtown Shooting, December 14

    Just after the shooting, Mike Huckabee attributed school violence to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/mike-huckabee-school-shooting_n_2303792.html">our having "systematically removed God from our schools"</a> -- and over the weekend <a href="http://mikehuckabee.com/mike-huckabee-news?ID=70415326-e438-41e4-9972-467097d2029f">on his Fox show</a> he made clear he wasn't just talking about school prayer: <blockquote>"We dismiss the notion of natural law and the notion that there are moral absolutes and seemed amazed when some kids make it their own morality to kill innocent children. We diminish and even hold in contempt the natural family of a father and mother creating and then responsibly raising the next generation and then express dismay that kids feel no real connection to their families or even the concept of a family."</blockquote> Focus on the Family founder James Dobson <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/17/james-dobson-connecticut-shooting-gay-marriage_n_2318015.html">described the tragedy as the result of American turning its back on God</a>: <blockquote>I mean millions of people have decided that God doesn't exist, or he's irrelevant to me and we have killed 54 million babies and the institution of marriage is right on the verge of a complete redefinition. Believe me, that is going to have consequences, too.</blockquote> Another conservative Christian leader, the Rev. Sam Morris, <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/17/tennessee-pastor-mass-shootings-because-schools-teach-evolution-and-how-to-be-a-homo/">gave his Tennessee congregation a Newton-themed sermon</a> that linked the shooting to schools teaching children about evolution, sex and "how to be a homo."

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/23/newtown-gays-natural-disasters-2012_n_2347078.html

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Advantages of Web Based Email Marketing Providers - Rapid Purple

Many marketers and online business owners are not aware of the advantages of web based email marketing providers over purchasing their own software. While there are pros and cons for either side, professionals tend to choose web based email marketing providers for several reasons which I will discuss throughout this article. After-all when it comes to building and maintaining a successful, profitable business it is essential that you make the right choice for your marketing needs.

The biggest advantage of choosing web based email marketing providers is that you do not have to install the software yourself, nor are you saddled with updating and maintaining the software, or backing up the data and the related expenses. For a monthly fee that varies depending on your needs, the provider will take care of all of these details for you, so that you can focus on other important aspects of your business.

Today, the internet is booming with existing businesses and new ones that hit the web every day. This has created a huge demand for email marketing services, as most business owners realize that in order to create a successful, profitable business they must build relationships with and gain the trust of prospective clients. In fact, many people do not realize that there are options when it comes to building their list, either web based email marketing providers or purchasing software and setting it up themselves.

The advantages you will find with a web based service is that you can choose a package that suits your needs, and prices vary according to the features and tools necessary to run your business. With most web based email marketing providers, you pay less if you are a small company that only needs the ability to build a small list of subscribers. The bigger your business and larger list building capabilities you need, the higher the cost.

Generally speaking, the cost of having a provider take care of your email needs will run about $10 to $60 or $120 monthly, versus $500 to $1000 to purchase a software package initially. Most reliable providers offer an entire range of tools and features to make handling your lists easy and effortless. Most offer the ability to build multiple lists, send newsletters, survey subscribers and analyze and track results.

As you can see, the benefits of web based email marketing providers over purchasing your own software are many, but the decision is yours to make. Be sure to keep an eye out on our Discounts & Coupons section as I frequently share discounts and coupons from various email marketing providers.

Source: http://rapidpurple.com/blog/articles/advantages-of-web-based-email-marketing-provider/

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What a call to courage sounds like: Woody Guthrie?s ?Union Maid? (Americablog)

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Prosperity Series 6: Internet Entrepreneurship - Website Design

Bringing the Law of Attraction to Internet Entrepreneurship

Internet entrepreneurship starts with your computer screen.

Internet entrepreneurship starts with your computer screen.

Internet entrepreneurship is perhaps the most exciting thing to happen in business since Henry Ford developed the assembly line. The Internet levels the playing field, allowing just about anyone to enter the World Wide Web and to set up shop. You don?t have to have inventory, expensive equipment, payroll (at least for those just starting out), and a lot of expertise. Software and Internet service providers make it easy.

But what?s the difference between those who fail miserably and those who make it big. All other things being equal, the biggest difference is in the attitude. And, as we learned earlier in this series, attitude is based upon beliefs. Attitude in motion is behaviour, and behaviour governs the results we produce.

You can give two people exactly the same instructions and one will not be able to follow through, while the other person will complete the assignment with flying colours. It has everything to do with attitude. One person easily sees failure, while the other person easily sees success.

Internet entrepreneurship continues with Google.

Google is more important to Internet entrepreneurship than any other search engine.

Google and Internet Entrepreneurship

The masterminds at Google continue to push the envelope on developing algorithms to detect quality and relevance in websites. All the SEO effort in the world won?t mean squat if Google changes the algorithm a certain way, wiping out all of your carefully laid work to take advantage of the last incarnation.

Perhaps the best strategy of all is to head Google off at the pass by delivering what Google is trying to elicit in the first place?quality content and lots of it.

But let?s look at what defines ?quality.? Quality means,

  • Well-written.
  • Delivering value (something valuable to the reader or visitor).
  • Easy-to-read. This could include something as simple as the Flesch rating for readability?a measure of the sentence lengths and lengths of words. It might include the percentage of passive sentences compared to those with active voice. Long sentences and long words make text more difficult to comprehend for a broader audience.
  • Having authority. This is where all those back links come in handy. But Google prefers quality back links?links that show relevance. These are links that prove you are an authority.

Internet Entrepreneurship Solutions

oDesk job site, aid to internet entrepreneurship

Internet entrepreneurship needs skilled labour. oDesk and Elance are two key sources.

Perhaps building authority proves to be the most difficult and time consuming of these. Certainly each of the others contribute to this, but more needs to be done to build your reputation.

Answering questions at forums and making comments on blogs can help, but these take time. Perhaps the biggest block of time is in finding the appropriate places to write these answers and comments. You can delegate this to someone else. Hire someone through a job site, like oDesk.com or Elance.com, to tackle the menial tasks for you. With worldwide resources, you are likely to find someone in your budget. You can?t delegate your authority, because that comes directly from you and only you, but you can certainly delegate repetitive actions that take away from you delivering your core value.

Even the idea of delivering lots of quality content can be delegated. If you choose your team carefully, you can end up having to do very little to maintain your new empire.

Horseshoe Magnet: a symbol for the Law of Attraction and the key to success in Internet Entrepreneurship.

Horseshoe Magnet: a symbol for the Law of Attraction and the key to success in Internet Entrepreneurship.

Attracting Solutions

As outrageous as it sounds, you literally attract what you believe or feel. If you feel that success can only be achieved with hard work, then you will always have hard work and long hours.

If you fear hard work and attempt to use the Law of Attraction to escape the drudgery, you will attract only hard work and long hours. Why? The Law of Attraction doesn?t see your desire. It only sees the picture toward which your feeling is aimed. You can fear or desire something, but the Law of Attraction only looks at the picture. If you don?t want slavish hours and hard work, then picture for yourself: easy, effortless productivity that requires very little work. Don?t focus on the work. Focus on the ease of action.

You should never fear hard work. You should always been willing to roll up your sleeves and to slug it out to get something done. But if you keep building a feeling of effortlessness, you will find more and more inspiration and opportunities for effortless productivity coming your way. You will find more tricks to make your job easier.

We will continue to give you tips and techniques that can help you make your websites better and better, but behind all success is one overriding attitude. If your attitude is one of effort and failure, you?ll struggle and perhaps never make it. But if your attitude is one of ease of work and dynamic success, you?ll find every possible way to achieve massive prosperity for all of your websites.

As always, we?d like to hear your comments and feedback. Let us know what you think.

Next: The Biggest Secret

The ancient Law of Attraction was packaged, a few years back, as ?The Secret.? It quickly became a blockbuster video and a bestselling book.

For a majority of people on the planet, it had been a secret. Few people ever knew about it until the video came out. And fewer people still ever put that secret into productive use.

In the next and final article in this series, we touch on another secret which is far bigger than the Law of Attraction?Prosperity Series 7: Secret of the Ages.

Source: http://awebsitedesigner.com.au/prosperity-series/prosperity-series-6-internet-entrepreneurship/

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Helping Others When We Can Barely Help Ourselves In Our Grief ...

depressionBy Maureen Hunter?-

The pain of our grief is so massive, so huge and so crippling we are struggling to help ourselves in early grief, let alone be able to help anyone else or cope with the demands of looking after our family. It?s as if we?ve been put in a high speed spinner, churned about and then spat out in tatters and tears. Our heart is fractured and we are broken, no longer whole. We are reeling from the devastating impact of our loss and yet we worry about helping our family through and being there for them ? our daughters, our sons, our husbands, and our kin.

As a mother I know what mothers do. We nurture, we care, we carry on and often we?re the backbone of the family. When grief assaults us our backbone crumbles into a pool of pain so deep we feel we?re drowning and yet amidst all that we feel a responsibility to help, to be there, to support our families, to support others. As much as we would want to there is absolutely no way in the midst of early grief that we can be there for them in the way that we were. Our whole world has collapsed leaving us feeling overwhelmed and out of control. Our capacity to function has been crippled. We can?t think straight, can?t sleep well, can?t barely move ? we are consumed by our grief and thoughts of our loved one.

When Stuart died my world imploded and I did too. My body parts were moving, my legs seemed to be working but my mind was dense fog and I was consumed by tears and exhaustion. My family arrived for the memorial service and my daughter asked me to look after my then 18month old granddaughter for a few hours. I couldn?t do it. I didn?t have any reserves within myself to give to my beautiful girl. I was cleaned out, a void, an empty shell.

I was like that for a long time but not forever. Fast forwards eighteen months and I was able to walk with a friend through the very same circumstances of losing his daughter as I had lost my son. I had something to give. In the intervening months I had done a lot to replenish my void ? my heart and my soul. In many ways I was lucky! It was an excruciatingly lonely and painful time but I didn?t have the responsibility of looking after anyone else. I didn?t have to worry about the impact of my grief on my husband ? there was just me.

This may not be the case for many of you. You desperately need a break but you can?t say ?No?. You have young families to care for, grandchildren, and elderly parents ? pressing needs which are there no matter how you feel. There is no stop button, there is no pause. You are on autopilot. You have to do what you have to do. So how do you?

Simplify everything ? get groceries delivered. Buy ready-made meals a couple of times a week. If friends ask how they can help ? think what would make your day to day easier, could they be a part of that in some way.

Structure some routine ? when everything?s totally out of control, carving a structure or routine for ourselves can put a framework back around our lives. It can return to us a sense of control that we?ve lost in our world.

Carve out some space for you ? plan a few hours to yourself, Get someone to babysit, take over your role for a little while. Take that small piece of time for you. Make you as much a priority as anyone else.

Be a friend to you ? nurture yourself wherever you can. Consider supplements, rest when you can, ask for help, take time for you. Give yourself the grace to not be perfect, to stumble and fall through this difficult time.

Grieve ? throughout it all your grief is still there. Let yourself feel and let your pain find its expression. Even if you have to stagger the moments when you do this, don?t hold it and fold it inside of you.

Support ? when the going gets tough it?s so very hard to do it all alone. Find those who can be there for you, who will understand and let you be you. Find those who can support you in a practical as well as an emotional way.

Maureen Hunter is an inspirational writer and grief steps mentor giving comfort and hope to many. She is passionate about helping people to step through grief and build a new and different life after loss, one in which their loved one is always a part of.

Claim your FREE report now: ?Opening the Door to Hope?. Helping you Step through Grief? http://www.esdeer.com/hope

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maureen_Hunter
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Monday, December 17, 2012

Interview with Rick - Online Marketing Blog

Dave Cynkin & Rick Calvert NMX

Dave Cynkin & Rick Calvert Photo Credit: New Media Expo (NMX)

In college I had a diverse group of friends, people that represented different interests and common experiences which made my time during those years a lot more fulfilling. Even better was that these different groups all came together fairly regularly for a themed event at a local watering hole. Connecting with diverse interests in a meaningful way has been a tremendous business advantage to this day.

When I attended my first BlogWorld conference in 2008, it was a similar experience in that there was a convergence of different groups: from new media/bloggers to public relations, to internet marketers to brands and business owners. ?The common experience of using blogs and digital content as a communication platform has brought a lot of people together in a way like few conferences have. I?ve made some of the most meaningful connections for my business and personal growth through BlogWorld, now known as NMX.

The two guys behind NMX are are of course, Rick Calvert and Dave Cynkin, who I am eternally thankful for. They?ve built a community and a conference that is really something special. They?re such good guys that just weeks before the huge NMX event coming up, they took the time to do an interview about who NMX is for, practical social media advice and future predictions.

Congratulations on NMX! You?ve continued to expand and develop the event each year. When I first attended it was really focused on blogging, but NMX is more of an overall content conference. What?s driving that evolution and change?

Rick: Many people don?t realize the event?s name was ?BlogWorld & New Media Expo? When we first announced it in 2006. I really think Twitter had a big part in people just shortening the name to ?BlogWorld?. Those 140 characters force you to be brief. Still there was definitely a much heavier focus on blogging because back then blogging was the term people heard every day in newspapers, magazines, TV and radio. Podcasting was really strong back then two but it was a much smaller community of content creators than bloggers simply due to the fact that it was a bit harder to start a podcast than to start a blog. I litterally started my first blog in five minutes.

Really in the last year you have seen this explosion on WebTV and video and Podcasting is experiencing a new renaissance. I think you can attribute that to the technology making it so much easier for people to create content in those two areas. For video YouTube has been the single biggest influence on the growth. It is just so easy for people to distribute their video content and for their audience to consume it. WebTV is about to explode. That?s why you see groups like IAWTV emerging.

We changed the name in June to reflect how podcasting, WebTV and video were becoming a much larger part of the show.

Dave: Thanks Lee! As Rick mentioned,?in the beginning, the event was called BlogWorld & New Media Expo, and incorporated all forms of new media content. But, no matter what the official name was, everyone just shortened it to BlogWorld in conversation and that?s how it?s been referred to over the years (until we shortened the name to New Media Expo in 2012?NMX for short). We wanted it to be obvious that the industry?s big event is about all new media, so this was the logical solution.

Looking back, this has always been a multi-faceted content event. Podcasting leader Leo Laporte gave the opening keynote at our launch event in ?07. Matt Mullenweg and Mark Cuban gave keynote talks about blogging. Gary Rosenweig taught his Secrets of Great Video Production. There was a single YouTube presentation that first year; YouTube was less than two years old. And there was this thing many of us tried that first year called Twitter?

Our mission has always been to help content creators become more knowledgeable and successful, so the changes we?ve made have really been a reflection of attendees? needs and the industry changes we see in motion. We work hard to bring some very smart people to teach in the conference, aimed at giving the community the jump on emerging industry trends in online publishing and broadcasting. That?s what drives the evolution of the event; the knowledge content creators ask for?we just do our best to listen and bring what?s needed in one place.

Who is NMX for and what can attendees expect? What makes NMX different?

Dave: NMX is for content creators. Bloggers, podcasters, web TV & video creators. It?s for businesses too?everyone needs to tell a story, bring it to life. But it all starts with great content, so the creators are the core.

Attendees can expect to learn. A lot!

What makes NMX different? It?s a big, diverse snapshot of what?s happening globally in content, communities and social. We?ve had attendees from over 50 countries, all different genres of content focus? emerging niche bloggers to podcasting pros, video bloggers to web TV series producers with millions of viewers?It feels like a content creator world?s fair. So many interesting and talented people, each with great stories to tell and many leaders you?ve never met, until you get there!

Rick:?First and foremost we are not a technology event or a ?social media? conference. We are a content event. Our core mission is to help content creators succeed. That includes anyone distributing content on the web; bloggers, podcasters, WebTV and video.

I?ve noticed that you?ve been able to attract some real heavyweights in the industry to speak like Guy Kawasaki, Ann Handley, Mitch Joel, Robert Scoble and Dana White from the UFC. You?ve also included a large number of speakers that are highly talented and with deep expertise that are not so well known. How do you manage the mix of big names with introducing new or up and coming speakers?

Rick: We work really hard ha ha. One of the things our community loves about the show is that we are always exposing them to talented people they may have never seen before. I love reminding Robert Scoble how many people have never heard of him. He is one of the biggest technology bloggers in the world but at New Media Expo he is just another content creators to many of our attendees and so they approach him differently than a fanboy of his might at CES or SXSW or other tech focused event.

Dave: Interesting that you asked that. I spoke with a major journalist recently who had no idea who Dana White was. I?m a big fight fan, so that was pretty shocking at first, but it?s no different than what happens at our event. Rock star bloggers in one microcosm meet podcasters, bloggers or video creators from another?and they?d never heard of each other before. The new media world is a big place, and when these microcosms overlap at this event, you begin to realize that the big names are part of a much, much larger world. That?s pretty exciting if you think about it.

Even though social and content have helped create a world of information overload online, quality advice from people ?who know? is more important than ever. What practical advice can you share as a fast growing company to other businesses out there trying to decide where blogging, podcasting, online TV and social media fit in their mix? How important is social to the future growth for most businesses?

Dave: Wow, this is a huge question, Lee. Social is critical for every business. It?s as simple as asking yourself when you start a coffee shop ?How important is it that I talk to my customers every day, to find out if they like the coffee I?m making for them?? Customers have all embraced social, and they?re having conversations online continually, so if you?re going to know your customer and best serve their needs, there is no question as a company you must be where those conversations take place. If you?re not talking with your customers, somebody else is. My practical advice for businesses is this: The only way to understand how to give real value to your customer is to talk with them, and listen to them. Social isn?t tech, social is relationships. Get the tech you need to connect, start, maintain, and grow relationships with your customers, and make it a part of your business ethos. That?s the only way you?ll know if you?re making the coffee right, or if you need to change flavors.

Rick: There is no doubt social media in all forms is going to become a larger part of everyone?s business regardless of what kind of product they sell. The first thing to do is realize that. No one is insulated from this. Once you know that, the sooner you start learning about the dynamics of social media the sooner you can apply what works specifically to your business to give you a competitive edge. Some people will tell you everyone needs to be blogging or creating video but I certainly disagree. You can?t just write or broadcast commercials for your product and the truth is not everyone has a good story to tell or they don?t know how to tell their story well. What everyone can do is listen and react. You can monitor what your customers and prospects are saying about you and help amplify the positives, address and hopefully fix the negatives. Any business that doesn?t at least do that is really sticking their head in the sand.

The new year is almost upon us, any predictions on the state of social media and content in 2013? What bubbles do you think will pop and what do you see as breakout technologies, platforms or ideas?

Rick: WebTV and Podcasting are both going to grow exponentially in 2013. The other gigantic need we all have is for quality filters. There is so much content out there now, we need to be able to easily sort through the irrelevant stuff and find those amazing bits. There are thousands of tech geeks out there trying to figure that one out right now.

Dave: I think mobile publishing, mobile video capture and streaming from consumer devices is going to surge. Mobile device usage is overtaking desktops and laptops rapidly. We?re going to see a continual explosion of mobile content sharing and consumption?and the little phones we carry around will become more and more powerful as personal media portals. Laptop sales will drop. Tablets will rise further. No surprises.

Companies will be able to learn more about their customers through easier-to-access social analytics, but most of the biggies will still stumble with engagement due to the lack of understanding that relationships are driven by people and personal engagement at the core, not tools. Small companies will keep kicking big companies? tails with social, as the C-level in small business is closer to the customer.

I?m very curious to see how Google and Facebook will compete with one another for social platform users. And how Twitter will evolve to get users and companies to potentially think of it as their main platform instead of an accessory. And what the new My Space will become versus what it once was. It?s going to be an interesting 2013. I think we?re in for a big battle of the social superpowers.

Thanks Rick and Dave!

You can find out more on the January 6-8, 2013?NMX conference here, which includes major tracks for Blogging, Podcasting, Web TV & Video and Social Business.?You can find both Rick and Dave on the social web here:

Rick Calvert
Twitter: @blogworld
LinkedIn
Facebook

Dave Cynkin
Twitter: ?@dave_blogworld
LinkedIn
Facebook

TopRank Online Marketing is a media sponsor for NMX so be sure to follow us on Twitter @TopRank for tweets during the conference and liveblogging from TopRank staff. We?re also producing an eBook,?Tips from the New Media Rat Pack?, with practical advice from NMX speakers and TopRank Marketing smarties on Blogging, Branding, Content Marketing, New Media Law, Mobile, Podcasting, Social Media, Video, Tools and Thought Leadership.



Source: http://www.toprankblog.com/2012/12/interview-rick-calvert-dave-cynkin/

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My Samsung Galexy S3 | Business PR News

A month ago, while I was in a community environment, someone next to me snapped at me out of the blue.? Everyone turned around and was wondering what had happened.? I was puzzled and was also wondering what had happened.?

It was a busy night.? I had to pack for a trip in a few hours.? While I was packing, I was still thinking about what had happened.? Though my trip was for something very happy to me, being snapped at out of the blue, took my smile from me.

I was up all night catching up on my work before I left to catch a flight at 6:40am, boarding at 6:15am.? I wanted to be at the airport early to be ahead of the long line.? We drove to the airport around 4:30am.? Got through all the lines smoothly.? But was still thinking about what had happened hours earlier the previous evening.? And of course, it was hard to smile when you're tired.

Right after I got through the line and was walking towards the gate, feeliing tired, deep in thought, no smile, couldn't smile... suddenly, I saw this gigantic picture high on wall to my left.

"I have a song for you." It said on the picture.? It was a picture of a person holding out a phone in front of him.? I looked closely, it was a Samsung phone!? A GS3!? Yes!? I just got a GS3 too!? So, I took out my phone and put it up on the picture of the GS3 phone on the wall.? Instantly, my S Beam was on and I was redirected to a page saying my download is ready.

Oh, I got excited and it put a smile on my face :-)

I kept walking towards the gate.? Sat down and realized, my battery was running low.? So, I quickly turned off my phone to conserve battery.

It was Thursday morning.? It was a busy trip.? I didn't get a chance to check out what was the song downloaded to my phone until late Sunday evening.? While I was resting and checking my phone, I decided to check out the downloaded song.?

I clicked on it and guess what???The name of the song was "Smile Big" by Leftover Cuties.? Oh Wow!? For me?!!? How did anyone knew that I was feeling so un-cheerful and needed a smile?

See, sometimes, when you think no one cares, there, someone knows and does care :-)

Here's the song.? I found it on YouTube.? I thought the story was pretty interesting and thought of sharing it here.? Click on it and enjoy.? It made me smile.

?

By the way, two weeks later, when?I saw the person who snapped at me, she called me over and apologized in front of everyone.? She assured me that there was nothing I did, but was her not feeling well that evening.? She apologized over and over again.? I smiled and told her the story of the song I downloaded.? She smiled too and was happy to hear that.? We hugged and smiled at each other.

?Here's the song in Samsung GS3 commercial!

?

Source: http://businessprnews.com/node/985

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Boehner opens door to tax hikes, shifts U.S. fiscal cliff talks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner's offer to accept a tax rate increase for the wealthiest Americans knocks down a key Republican road block to a deal resolving the year-end "fiscal cliff."

The question now boils down to what President Barack Obama offers in return. Such major questions, still unanswered so close to the end of the year suggest, however, that no spending and tax agreement is imminent.

A source familiar with the Obama-Boehner talks confirmed that Boehner proposed extending low tax rates for everyone who has less than $1 million in net annual income, meaning tax rates would rise on all above that line.

Under current law, the 35 percent top tax rate is scheduled to expire on January 1, and would automatically go to 39.6 percent. Boehner's proposal would allow that rate to rise as scheduled at a threshold of $1 million - putting it back to where it was during the Clinton administration.

The White House has not accepted the proposal and the source could not confirm any additional talks were held on Sunday between Obama and Boehner.

With just over two weeks before the fiscal cliff's $600 billion in automatic tax hikes and spending cuts are triggered, threatening a new recession, there is little time to craft a comprehensive deal that will satisfy both Democrats and Republicans.

Until the latest Republican offer, made on Friday, Boehner had insisted on extending all of the Bush era's lower tax rates, resisting Obama's demand to let the marginal rates rise on income above $250,000. A rising chorus of business executives also had urged Republicans to agree to this.

Some lawmakers and congressional aides had predicted that Republicans, once serious negotiations began, might try to raise the $250,000 threshold, say to $500,000 or $1 million. They also speculated that Republicans, if forced into a tax rate hike on the upper-income groups, might seek a smaller increase, say to around 37 percent.

Although the White House has not accepted Boehner's gambit, it could push negotiations away from entrenched, ideological positions.

"Boehner has now accepted the premise of higher rates. So now we're just arguing over details. I think it's a significant step," said Greg Valliere, chief political strategist at Potomac Research Group.

A framework deal spelling out tax revenue and spending cut targets to be finalized in the new year could be possible, Valliere said.

"Boehner's offer to allow tax rates to go up for taxpayers earning over $1 million fundamentally transforms fiscal cliff negotiations," added Sean West, U.S. policy analyst at Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy.

In a note to clients, West wrote that it signals, significantly, that Boehner ultimately believes a deal to avoid the cliff is still possible.

"The political burden is now shifted back to the president, who must be willing to take on his party in order to get a deal Boehner can ultimately pass. We do not think the president will overreach: Obama will work with Boehner to get to a deal."

There are still several critical elements to a deal besides a tax rate increase on the wealthy, including Republican demands to cut spending on social programs.

Changes to the expensive Medicare and Medicaid health care programs for the elderly and the poor could be central to any deal, which must also include an increase in the federal debt limit needed by the end of February.

DEMANDS SOCIAL PROGRAM CUTS

Boehner conditioned his tax rate increase offer on Obama's agreement to cuts in social program spending, often called entitlements.

Many Republican lawmakers want to raise the eligibility age for Medicare to 67 from 65. They also want to link Medicare to the income of recipients, making wealthier retirees pay more for their care.

Currently, Medicare does have some means testing, charging higher premiums for coverage of doctors visits and prescription drugs to individuals earning more than $85,000 and married couples earning more than $170,000. Only about 5 percent of recipients pay these higher premiums.

Thus far, Obama has offered only about $400 billion in 10-year entitlement savings, mostly through small adjustments in reining in health care costs - not fundamental changes such as raising the eligibility age.

And just as Boehner faces opposition in his own party to raising any tax rates, Obama faces opposition to cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security from Democrats, who pledged in election campaigns they would protect these programs.

A major bloc of congressional Democrats has already signaled they will not accept major cutbacks in Medicare as part of any fiscal cliff deal.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Maryland Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland are among the high ranking Democrats in the House who have come out forcefully in recent days against raising the age for eligibility for Medicare to 67 years of age.

"Given the level of savings that is being talked about from Medicare, you can't get it all from providers and drug makers," said Paul Heldman, an analyst at Potomac Research, which tracks Washington policy for investors.

"So opponents of raising the eligibility age have reason to believe beneficiaries will take some sort of hit if a mega-deal is cut," he said.

If Republicans are not successful in securing entitlement program cuts in exchange for a tax-rate increase on the wealthy, they are adamant about using a debt-limit increase as leverage to overhaul Social Security and Medicare.

The U.S. Treasury expects to reach its $16.4 trillion statutory debt cap by year-end, and will exhaust its remaining borrowing capacity around mid-February, risking a potential default.

Louisiana Republican Representative John Fleming, a member of the conservative Tea Party caucus who has never voted to increase the debt ceiling, said he would support a debt limit hike if it were part of a deal to make Medicare and Social Security sustainable.

The pace of activity could pick up the coming week.

House Republicans were told to prepare for a possible weekend session next week, potentially interrupting travel plans for the long Christmas holiday weekend.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor scheduled "possible legislation related to expiring provisions of law," a reference to the expiring tax cuts, for the end of the week, portending a weekend session. Cantor has said the House would meet through the Christmas holidays and beyond.

(This story was fixed to correct current top tax rate to 35 percent from 36 percent)

(Additional reporting by Thomas Ferraro, Richard Cowan and Kim Dixon; Editing by Fred Barbash, Todd Eastham and Jackie Frank)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/boehner-opens-door-tax-hikes-shifts-u-fiscal-003050766--business.html

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Films best of 2012 - film - entertainment | Stuff.co.nz

artist

A still from the movie The Artist.

We saw the return of James Bond and Batman, plus powerful blockbusters and moving arthouse movies. Sarah Watt shares her favourite films of the year.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?

"Why do the Americans have to make their own versions of European films?!" we railed. Because David Fincher is at the helm, and he's a masterful director. His take on the nasty tale of Lisbeth Salander's revenge pitted a supporting actor from The Social Network against Daniel "Bond" Craig, and produced a much more enjoyable, but just as harrowing 2 hours of cinematic gold. Rather than "unnecessary", this remake proved an exciting and impressive tribute to the original.

The Artist

Some said it wouldn't work, but this joyous romp back in time to the days of black and white, silent cinema made a household (if unpronounceable) name of its French director, Michael Hazanavicius. Its photogenic stars mugged and gurned their way through the enchanting story of one actor's declining career as his co-star's rises. Beautiful set design, costuming and a pitch-perfect orchestral soundtrack won millions of hearts and copious awards. It was a one-trick pony that thankfully hasn't signalled a new wave of silent films, but what a ride.

We Need to Talk About Kevin

This superb adaptation of Lionel Shriver's bestselling, gut-wrenching novel cemented Tilda Swinton as a leading lady who can carry the most challenging of movies with jaw firmly set. Director Lynne Ramsay managed the presumed impossible task of bringing to the screen the harrowing first-person narrative of a mother's response to her teenage son's role in a high school massacre. Your stomach knotted tighter as the minutes passed, but this was exemplary film-making about a powerful subject, delivered by brilliant actors.

Weekend

Quiet, private Russell stops into a nightclub where he picks up the spirited Glen. The pair spend the weekend in each other's company, sharing stories, getting high and having sex. A gay love story, yes, but not just a gay love story, for Weekend presented one of the most honestly portrayed accounts of burgeoning love in any relationship we see on the contemporary silver screen. More universal and touching than any Hollywood rom-com, it was beautifully nuanced in its study of the human condition.

Martha Marcy May Marlene

The titular heroine makes a dash for freedom having been subsumed into a strange cult, and attempts to be reintegrated into her sister's family. Talented newcomer Elizabeth Olsen played her cards close to her chest, and the audience hung on every eked-out word, expression and nuance in piecing the puzzle together. Eschewing the easy out of hysterical cult-related cliches, the movie showcased brilliantly ambiguous performances and a terrific debut by its young director.

The Raid

An Indonesian grindhouse, mixed-martial arts movie made by a talented young Welshman, The Raid had my audience in pieces, exclaiming and laughing in horror and disbelief. Set in an impoverished housing estate in a Jakarta slum, a police Swat team hunts out a drug lord and his gang, gets into trouble, and then tries to fight its way out. Taking the idiom "there are many ways to skin a cat" to a new extreme, the relentless, non-stop madness was basically 101 minutes of thrilling, shocking, imaginative violence.

A Separation

Iran's entry was the winner of this year's Oscar for best foreign film. A couple argues about which country to live in, torn between the best interests of their daughter or father. This simple setup pitches the characters against one another in surprising ways, swiftly spiralling into a game of he-said, she-said, a maze of secrets and withheld truths, of context and opinion. Every single performance was faultless and the cleverly subtle revelations had us gripped to the final, enigmatic moments.

The Dark Knight Rises

The legend ended with a hiss and a roar as Christian Bale's Batman hobbled around Gotham, spent some time in a mountain prison, and dallied with a Catwoman (a scene-stealing Anne Hathaway). Director Christopher Nolan took his responsibilities seriously, casting an excellent Joseph Gordon-Levitt and an unrecognisable (and inaudible) Tom Hardy as the villain, Bane. Some said the plot didn't make much sense, but the film was nonetheless exhilarating, with a relentlessly exciting soundtrack and some sensational set-pieces.

Take This Waltz

Michelle Williams followed up last year's winning relationship drama (Blue Valentine) with more of the same but just as good, playing a fickle young woman caught between her benevolent hubby Seth Rogen (straight-faced and surprisingly poignant) and the temptations of an extramarital affair. Spot-on dialogue and multi-layered characterisation from writer/director Sarah Polley proved her consistency of talent, while comedian Sarah Silverman's alcoholic sister-in-law added equal parts humour and pathos to this well-acted ensemble.

The Bourne Legacy

Despite being the biggest fan ever of Matt Damon's The Bourne Ultimatum, I was swiftly converted to the charms and abilities of Jeremy Renner in this reboot of the franchise. It helped that Renner played a fellow Treadstone agent, Aaron Cross, rather than pretending to be Bourne, and that his pairing with scientist Rachel Weisz garnered some of the best talkie scenes you're likely to see in an action movie. If we can't have any more Damon, then Renner is a worthy successor to the throne.

NT Live: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

Mark Haddon's bestselling book about a young autistic boy who goes on a mission to discover who killed his neighbour's dog is not an easy story to bring to the screen, let alone live theatre. Trust the National Theatre in London to assemble a superlative cast (including terrifyingly brilliant Luke Treadaway as young Christopher), jaw-dropping production design and deliver an utterly enthralling couple of hours. Theatre is intended to be visceral and intimate, and this extraordinary production delivered in spades.

Searching for Sugarman

This unexpected festival hit was exactly what a great documentary should be: a story about someone you've never heard of, achieving something they never dreamed of, and becoming a legend without even knowing it. 1970s musician Rodriguez sang a few clubs, made a couple of albums, then disappeared without a trace. Decades later, half a world away, two South Africans seek to find out what happened to him. What unfolds is truly remarkable, and unimaginably heart-warming. The adage "truth is stranger than fiction" was written for a tale like this.

Argo

Another from the "stranger than fiction" files - Ben Affleck directs and stars in this dramatisation of the CIA's daring and utterly bonkers rescue mission in Tehran in 1980. In order to save the lives of six Americans in hiding, the agency bands together with a Hollywood producer and makeup artist, to smuggle them out under the guise of film crew. Laugh-out-loud funny mixed seamlessly with heart-in-mouth suspense, and Affleck proved yet again he's got directing chops.

The Intouchables

A huge hit here and in its native France, The Intouchables could have been just another saccharine tale of an unlikely friendship, here between a rich, white Parisian and his poor, black carer. Thanks to a stunning performance by Omar Sy as the streetwise hooligan who gets to taste how the other half (Francois Cluzet) lives, and a lively, witty script peppered with politically incorrect humour and touching moments, the predictable story arc is completely exonerated.

Monsieur Lazhar

An Algerian immigrant to Montreal volunteers to take on a class in the local school, where the children and teachers are reeling in the wake of tragedy. Subtle plotting, exquisite photography and the sensational performances of its largely novice cast contributed to the magic. Monsieur Lazhar missed out on the Best Foreign Film Oscar, but has earned multiple accolades as a gently touching, painfully authentic picture of one of the most noble of professions.

Skyfall

Bond came back, and he was terrific. Audiences have loved every minute of Daniel Craig's icy blonde assassin joking about with a sassy Naomie Harris, trading affectionate barbs with M (Judy Dench, wonderful as always) and feeling the fear but doing it anyway against Javier Bardem's monstrous haircut - sorry, villain. Skyfall proved that the Bond franchise has years left in it, as long as they keep employing directors like Sam Mendes who can spin a good yarn, direct a good motorcycle chase, and still keep it fun.

Battleship

Nah, just kidding.

- ? Fairfax NZ News

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/8075865/More-best-films-of-2012

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Red algae bloom closes Sydney's beaches, but probably not for long

Bloody waters before summer has even started may sound like a drag on tourism, but it's a mere drop in the sea for Australia.

By Helen Clark,?Contributor / November 28, 2012

A couple of young surfers play with a small wave during a morning surf at Coogee beach in Sydney, Australia, in October. A red algae bloom has closed 10 beaches so far in and around Sydney and up the more northerly Central Coast in Australia during the past 24 hours.

Daniel Munoz/Reuters/File

Enlarge

Don?t worry. It?s not blood. It?s not even poisonous, just an irritant to skin and eyes and to anyone hoping for a swim now that summer?s finally about to hit Sydney.

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A red algae bloom has closed 10 beaches so far in and around Sydney and up the more northerly Central Coast in Australia during the past 24 hours.?And more beach closures could be on the way, say officials. But aside from some startlingly other-world pictures, it's not likely to scare away the tourists.

The "crimson tide," or an algal bloom that has variously been compared to shark attacks or oily tomato sauce in the Aussie media, washed up on Sydney shores earlier this week, temporarily closing famed tourist beaches like Bondi. But it doesn't seem like too many around here are worried.

Turns out the blood-colored algal bloom isn?t a result of pollution, but rather an upswelling of nutrient-rich waters that the buoyant algae can feed off. Two different blooms have apparently come from the same source and essentially floated to Sydney?s shores. Their ammonia-rich diet can cause skin and eye irritations but little else problematic, according to experts.?

"This bloom has likely occurred as a result of the upwelling of nutrient-rich deep ocean water on to the continental shelf," the Metropolitan Sydney, South Coast, and Hunter Regional Algal Coordinating Committees told media Tuesday.?They said tests had identified the algae as noctiluca scintillans or "Sea Sparkle" (for its phosphorescence) and pointed out that?most algal blooms last around a week.?

Despite the closure of Sydney?s favorite beaches on the cusp of a hot summer ? and a possible heat wave of a weekend, with temperatures predicted to pass 100 Fahrenheit ? it?s doubtful this red tide will cause any longstanding problems either for locals or the tourism industry. And in the meantime, not all of Sydney's beaches are closed, and there are plenty of hotels with swimming pools.

And anyway, Australia has faced much worse in the water: Real blood in the water with the odd shark attacks, or stings from one of the many species of?box jellyfish?like the Chironex fleckeri, the world?s most venomous animal. The sting from this particular jellyfish can cause death in minutes, according to Australian jellyfish experts.

It will take much more to keep people from hitting Sydney's beaches.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/fHQYa2kckUk/Red-algae-bloom-closes-Sydney-s-beaches-but-probably-not-for-long

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