Industry is generous to influential bloc – msnbc.com
July 31, 2009
Industry is generous to influential bloc – msnbc.com
 Washington Post |
Industry is generous to influential bloc
msnbc.com Alex Brandon / AP By Dan Eggen WASHINGTON – On June 19, Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas made clear that he and a group of other conservative Democrats known as the Blue Dogs were increasingly unhappy with the direction that health-care legislation was … House Health Care Bill Criticized as Panel Votes for Public Plan House panel prepares to wrap up health care bill House panel prepares to wrap up health care bill |
US car scrappage scheme gives out $1bn in less than a week – guardian.co.uk
 Los Angeles Times |
US car scrappage scheme gives out $1bn in less than a week
guardian.co.uk Since the US 'cash for clunkers' scheme started on Monday, about 250000 gas-guzzlers have been scrapped. Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PA The US government's $1bn (£604m) "cash for clunkers" programme aimed at reviving stagnant car sales has been so … New funding sought for US "clunker" program Clunkers soup up Kansas City-area car sales through stimulus National Cash-for-clunkers program scrapped |
Islamist death 'good for Nigeria' – BBC News
 Daily Nation |
Islamist death 'good for Nigeria'
BBC News A Nigerian government minister has expressed relief at the death of an Islamic sect leader whose capture police announced on Thursday. But Information Minister Dora Akunyili told the BBC the government "does not condone extra-judicial killings". … Nigeria: Concern Over Killing of Civilians Rights group: probe death of Nigeria sect leader Nigeria Confirms Death of Islamic Sect's Leader |
Gates: US May Speed Up Iraq Withdrawal – Voice of America
July 29, 2009
Gates: US May Speed Up Iraq Withdrawal – Voice of America
 Voice of America |
Gates: US May Speed Up Iraq Withdrawal
Voice of America By VOA News US Defense Secretary Robert Gates says there is a chance the United States may speed up the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. He spoke after a two-day visit to the country. Gates said security conditions are improving in Iraq. … Gates Offers Iraqi Kurds Aid in Resolving Disputes Gates Pressures Kurdish Leaders to Cooperate in Iraq Gates Says 'Modest Acceleration' in Iraqi Withdrawal Possible |
Hostages freed in Nigeria clashes – BBC News
 guardian.co.uk |
Hostages freed in Nigeria clashes
BBC News Police in Nigeria have freed more than 180 women and children from a house in the north of the country where they had been held by a radical Islamist sect. They told the BBC they were held for six days and lived on dates and water. … Nigerian troops battle Islamic militants in north Nigerian Authorities Continue Assault on Militant Islamic Sect Nigeria: Soldiers Shell Sect's Enclave |
Neighbor: Suspect is 'nicest terrorist I ever met' – msnbc.com
 ABC News |
Neighbor: Suspect is 'nicest terrorist I ever met'
msnbc.com AP RALEIGH, NC – A North Carolina man described as family-oriented and quick to help neighbors was recruiting and training aspiring terrorists to wage jihad, federal authorities say, accusations that family and neighbors find hard to believe. … 8th suspect sought in North Carolina 'jihad' case Arrests in Terror Case Bewilder Associates Israel stopped NC jihad suspect's family in 2007 |
Getting Started With Twitter In Less Than 30 Seconds…
July 29, 2009
Getting Started With Twitter In Less Than 30 Seconds…
Given the tremendous success that Twitter is enjoying these days and because I think it’s a really neat tool for all of us to use, I wanted to give you some additional background on Twitter and explain why using it can be beneficial for you and your business.
What is Twitter and what can it be used for?
Twitter is a social media tool that allows its users to interact with one another by answering the question “what are you doing right now?” in less than a 140 characters which equates to about 20 words or so.
In a relatively short period of time Twitter has created a mass following. From Celebrities to business owners through out the world, Twitter allows the immediate interaction with an engaged audience be it large or small.
Some of Twitter’s most highly followed entities are Ashton Kutcher and President Barrack Obama. The later has even announced the selection of his candidate for Vice President of the United States simultaneously via text messaging, email and Twitter.
Twitter is used nowadays by businesses from many walks of life. Many of them are twitting because it allows them the ability to inform and interact further with their current and prospective clients.
Who can join Twitter?
Anyone can join twitter and begin twitting in minutes, it is completely free. It’s also very easy to do and doesn’t take long to sign up for an account.
Why should I be following the MarketingBlog on Twitter?
Our tweets provide ongoing updates on how to improve your online marketing in a cost effective manner. When we find an interesting case study, technology or helpful anecdote that businesses and professionals can benefit from, we share it with our readers.
We tweet on a daily basis on topics that are vital for your marketing and its advancement. By connecting to @mfleischner you will be kept in the know on issues of online marketing, SEO, search marketing and a number of social media topics.
How do I get started using Twitter?
1. Go to http://Twitter.com.
2. Click the get started button.
3. Enter your name, a password and an email address.
4. Use the settings button to add a bio of yourself or add a photo.
How do I follow the Marketing Blog on Twitter?
Once you are logged in go to http://twitter.com/mfleischner and choose the follow button. It really is that simple!
Okay.. Today I’m Pretty Mad
July 28, 2009
Okay.. Today I’m Pretty Mad
I recently put Google Analytics tracking code across all of my websites and blogs. I found out some very interesting things that make me MAD!!!! I’m sure it comes as no surprise that most people get to The Marketing Blog through a Google search for marketing blog or Internet marketing blog. But did you know that our bounce rate is 80%?
For those of you who aren’t using Google Analytics or have a background in analytics, let me tell you that anything over 50 pretty much sucks. The bounce rate is the percentage of people who hit your page and then leave.
The good news is that I publish all of my posts on a single page (up to 4) so you really don’t have to click anywhere to get the content. I do this because I personally hate clicking around sites only to get distracted by shiny objects. So truth be told, I don’t have much to be mad about because one way to read this statistic is that you guys/gals are finding what you need right there on the home page.
If you’re looking for me to cover any specific topics that are marketing, internet marketing, seo, or search marketing related, let me know. I find the most productive aspect of this blog to be all of your feedback and comments. Thanks so much to my loyal readers and everyone reading this post – I’m certainly not mad at you… keep marketing!!!
Female drivers are skipping meals, driving on an empty stomach
July 28, 2009
Female drivers are skipping meals, driving on an empty stomach
Female drivers are skipping meals and driving on an empty stomach | Sheilas' Wheels
Can a better diet help your concentration and mood? Nutritionist, London Yvonne Bishop-Weston says “yes”
Yvonne is on the Radio today talking about how better nutrition can help you be a safer more considerate driver.
Wintery Heaven in Cu Mara
My home in these past few days has been the beautiful Cu Mara. I love the peaceful winter atmosphere here. The snow movement, colors, trees,…everything is absolutely charming. I ended up making a little machinima about the sim (see below) and I even edited some of the footage into my holiday card for this year.
If you’d like to spend a few moments in the ideal winter environment with your friends or by yourself, I highly recommend Cu Mara. There is also a hidden skating ring that you can get to by sitting on a snowman 
Have fun exploring!
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=4e7cd293-8745-420e-bb05-080c3fbef03b)
Report: Bank of America to cut 1 in 10 branches – Fayetteville Observer
July 28, 2009
Report: Bank of America to cut 1 in 10 branches – Fayetteville Observer
CHARLOTTE – Bank of America Corp.’s CEO Ken Lewis said he is planning to shrink the bank’s 6,100-branch network by about 10 percent, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The newspaper said Lewis told investors of the plans at a meeting last week in Charlotte, N.C., where the bank’s headquarters
Contador, Armstrong trade barbs – CNN Sports Illustrated
MADRID (AP) — Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong are sniping again after a fragile truce during the Tour de France. Contador, who secured his second Tour win on Sunday in Paris, said he had no admiration for the American as a person and tensions between the two had a negative effect on the Astana
Telling Israel No: Obama’s Bold Move – New York Times
PARIS — President Barack Obama, who vowed to revive the Arab-Israeli peace process at the start of his term, has begun with a direct and public challenge to Israel’s latest plan to build new settlements in East Jerusalem. It’s a risky move that has already provoked a sharp rebuke from Prime
A Comparative Study of Scientific Journal Databases in the Social Sciences and the Humanities
July 28, 2009
A Comparative Study of Scientific Journal Databases in the Social Sciences and the Humanities 
JournalBase *- *A Comparative International Study of Scientific Journal Databases in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (SSH)
Michèle Dassa et Christine Kosmopoulos / Cybergeo, The Electronic European Journal of Geography / Dossier publié le 25 juin 2009 / Document published on 25 June 2009 / Last updated : 17 July 2009.
Presented here for the first time in a comparative table are the contents of the databases that inventory the journals in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (SSH), of the Web of Science (published by Thomson Reuters) and of Scopus (published by Elsevier), as well as of the lists European Reference Index for Humanities (ERIH) (published by the European Science Foundation and of the French Agence pour l’Evaluation de la Recherche et de l’Enseignement Supérieur (AERES).
With some 20,000 entries, this is an almost exhaustive overview of the wealth of publications in the Social Sciences and the Humanities, at last made available in this table, adopting the same nomenclature for classing the journals according to their disciplines as the one used in 27 workstations of the European Science Foundation.
The multiple assignments reveal the multidisciplinarity of the journals, which is quite frequent in SSH, but also sometimes the incoherence of databases that have not been corrected.The research was carried out in 2008 with the financial support of the TGE Adonis of the CNRS.
An updated version will soon be presented online.The final objective of this project, which concerns the entire international community of the Social Sciences and the Humanities, is to put online, in a bilingual English/French version, the database of JournalBase in interactive mode on a collaborative platform, as well as the final report of the study, so that the decision-makers, the scientists, the experts in scientific information have access to up-to-date information, and so that they may contribute to forward movement in the reflection on these questions, through the exchange of experiences and of good working practices.
JournalBase has been updated on the 17 July 2009. It includes the information on open access journals indexed in the DOAJ.
Source
[http://www.cybergeo.eu/index22492.html]
Full Text
[http://www.cybergeo.eu/pdf/22492]
Rockin’ the Gold Curling
July 27, 2009
Sounds good to us!
On July 17, participants will gather to compete and have fun at Toronto’s High Park Curling Club for the Rockin’ the Gold Bonspiel ($80 per team includes three indoor games, door prize ticket, plus dinner and drink) while guests/attendees can also drop by (at $10 a ticket) to enjoy the fun.
Waitaminute… did we say “indoor”?
Yep, we’re talking about the dryland version of the sport, “Kurling”, which is sweeping across Canada after originating in the U.K.
The “stones” are used in the Capital One Rocks & Rings program (you remember this story, and this one, right?)
This interesting day is organized by Sport and Event Marketing students from Toronto’s George Brown College, each of whom is a self-declared curling enthusiast.
Partners include the CCA (of course), George Brown College (of course), Wellington Brewery, Boston Pizza, Generation Go and Rock Solid Productions.
Sounds like there may be a couple of team spots available, so hustle on over to the website. You can also follow the action on Facebook (must be a member) and on Twitter.
What else?
• World wheelchair curling champion skip Jim Armstrong looked simply fabulous on Canada Day (see second photo, below the first)… but the serious news is that he has a shoulder injury that will require surgery. And thus brings the big question: does he go ahead with surgery now, or tough it out until after the 2010 Paralympics in March?
The story is here, with over 20 comments so far …
• Still with wheelies and Vancouver, 2006 Paralympic champion skip Chris Daw is relocating, again, this time from Newfoundland all the way across Canada to the left coast. Daw has been hired as the new General Manager of the Vancouver Curling Club, which of course will be moving into its new digs just 100 yards away within a year or so following the Olympics and Paralympics.
Apparently, Daw will also be continuing his work for the CCA as the Development Coordinator for Wheelchair Curling (under the Discover Curling program).
This is all good news, considering Daw was tempted to leave the country just a few years ago.
Oh… Daw will also be a father, again… he and wife Morgan are expecting a child in early March, 2010. Congrats Chris, on numerous fronts!
• DID YOU KNOW: that venue construction for the Sochi 2014 Olympics is definitely underway?
• Wanna buy a curling book? You can get “Saskatchewan Curling: Heartland tradition 1882-1990” for 10 bucks …
• And finally, welcome to a new curling blogger, who describes himself or herself as an Average U.S. Curler. No pressure now, having been linked by The Curling News Blog …
Sandwiches ‘full of fat, salt and sugar’
Sandwiches 'full of fat, salt and sugar'
The health risks from pre-packaged sandwiches have been featured in several newspapers, with The Times featuring the headline ‘Cheese and pickle sandwich and a heart attack’ and the Daily Mail warning that, ‘Ready-lunch can contain as much [salt] as 12 bags of crisps.’
The newspapers have highlighted the hidden levels of sugar, fat and salt in a number of popular high street sandwiches, saying that one Asda cheese sandwich was found to contain more saturated fat than a Big Mac. Other examples include a Marks and Spencer cheese and chutney sandwich containing over five teaspoons of sugar, and Subway’s six-inch meatball sandwich containing 4.7 grams of salt- more than three-quarters of the recommended daily limit for adults.
London Nutritionist Yvonne says “I was on a panel with Greggs the bakers just a few weeks ago and this subject came up. They at least are committed to reducing salt and hydrogenated fat. I am also concerned how difficult it is to buy wholemeal bread sandwiches. There are ‘brown’ bread sandwiches but it is often just white flour with some added brown bits. So many nutrients are lost when breadflour is refined it’s almost as much of a problem to health as the sugar and salt.”
Chinese President Congratulates Taiwan Leader – New York Times
July 27, 2009
Chinese President Congratulates Taiwan Leader – New York Times
|
Chinese President Congratulates Taiwan Leader
New York Times Beijing — President Hu Jintao of China congratulated on Monday the Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou after his election this weekend as head of Taiwan's governing party, a victory that analysts said could bolster Mr. Ma's efforts to … Chinese and Taiwan presidents exchange first messages in 60 years China's Hu Congratulates Taiwan's Ma on Party Post China, Taiwan leaders mark first contact since 1949 |
 Telegraph.co.uk |
Gates-Gate
Atlantic Online I was researching sleep-deprivation last week so missed the fooferaw. I did my best to be fair to both parties in my Sunday column here. John McWhorter is, as often, worth reading on this: My conclusion, more explicit here, is that whites and blacks … White House Memo A Presidential Pitfall: Speaking One's Mind Gates caller says she didn't cite race Gates' neighbor says 911 call did not mention race |
Billy Joel-Elton John concert postponed – Times Union
July 27, 2009
Billy Joel-Elton John concert postponed – Times Union
ALBANY — Billy Joel and Elton John postponed today’s “Face 2 Face” concert at the Times Union Center in Albany because Joel was said to be suffering from flu-like symptoms, promoters said over the weekend. Friday’s show slated for Buffalo also was postponed. Organizers are working to establish new
Cambridge Police: Race Not Mentioned in 911 Call – Washington Post
BOSTON — The 911 caller who reported a possible break-in at the home of black Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. did not mention race in the call, according to a statement issued by her attorney and backed up by Cambridge Police Commissioner Robert Haas. Lucia Whalen placed the 911 call July 16
