PFT: Bills sign Kolb for maximum $13 million

Getty Images

Collin Klein, the Kansas State quarterback who was a star in a spread-option offense in college but whose abilities as a passer leave much to be desired in the eyes of NFL scouts, remains committed to playing quarterback at the next level. And he thinks NFL teams are starting to come around to the idea that he can do it.

Klein told the Topeka Capital-Journal that he believes he has impressed scouts at the Combine and at Kansas State?s Pro Day.

?I felt like I had two good days,? Klein said. ?I made progress and really improved, before the Combine first and then in the time between the Combine and Pro Day we made some strides, too. We?re moving in the right direction. It?s different not being in school, but it gives me a little extra time to focus and work on little things here and there. It?s a pretty all-inclusive process, but we?re enjoying it. I just love the game. We?re getting better and having fun with it.?

Klein said his workouts with former NFL quarterback Jake Plummer have helped get him ready to play the game at the next level.

?We did everything,? Klein said. ?We worked on footwork, core strength, flexibility with the shoulder . . . lots of different things. It was pretty all-inclusive and he taught me a lot. He gave great insight from him having been there [the NFL] and doing that for a very long time. I really appreciated his time and his effort working with me.?

Although Klein still believes he is going to get drafted, he acknowledged that it?s possible he?ll have to settle for being an undrafted free agent.

?I think we?ll definitely get a chance and it?s just being ready and making the most of it,? Klein said. ?We?ll see where the best fit is going to be. Teams are out there trying to figure out who?s the best fit for them, too. It will all settle out. If that doesn?t happen, we?ll try to get picked up as a free agent on some level. We?ll cross that bridge when we get there.?

So just a few months after the Heisman Trophy voters considered Klein the third-best player in college football, Klein is just hoping NFL teams consider him one of the 254 best players available in the draft.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/30/kolb-deal-worth-a-maximum-of-13-million/related/

tyson chandler stephen hill draft tracker the pirates band of misfits cleveland browns minnesota twins bobby abreu

Curry sends Duke past Michigan St. 71-61

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? Seth Curry shot Duke right into the regional finals ? and put Mike Krzyzewski on the verge of another major milestone.

Curry scored 29 points to lead the second-seeded Blue Devils past third-seeded Michigan State 71-61 on Friday night and into the Midwest Regional final.

If Duke (30-5) beats top-seeded Louisville (32-5) in Sunday's regional final, Krzyzewski would tie John Wooden's record with 12 Final Four trips.

Michigan State (27-9) just couldn't keep up with Curry and Duke's shooters. The Spartans were led by Keith Appling with 16 points and Adreian Payne with 14.

Curry's sixth 3 of the game broke a 38-38 tie early in the second half, sending Duke on a 9-0 run. It never trailed again.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/curry-sends-duke-past-michigan-st-71-61-042125230--spt.html

john scott barry sanders barry sanders jimmie johnson juan pablo montoya crash chardon high school shooting mark martin

Pat Riley to Danny Ainge: Shut up

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Miami Heat President Pat Riley has added another chapter to his rivalry with the Boston Celtics.

After LeBron James complained about calls and Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge chided him for it, Riley lashed back Friday night.

Riley's response: "Danny Ainge needs to shut the (expletive) up and manage his own team."

This saga started Wednesday after Miami's 27-game winning streak ended in Chicago. James told reporters that night that he does not believe some of the hard fouls he takes are "basketball plays." A day later, Ainge told Boston radio station WEEI that "it's almost embarrassing that LeBron would complain about officiating."

Riley was clearly irked, calling Ainge "the biggest whiner going when he was a player."

The Heat and Celtics play April 12 in Miami.

Miami beat New Orleans 108-89 on Friday night, with James leading the way with 36 points. When informed afterward of the statement, James said he appreciated Riley having his back.

"That's who we are," James said. "We ride together, all of us, from the top to the bottom. We all protect each other on and off the floor and it was big-time to see that."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pat-riley-danny-ainge-shut-010424469--spt.html

vince young vince young evan longoria john edwards conocophillips capitals ryan braun

Israel reopens Gaza border crossings

JERUSALEM (AP) ? Israel has fully reopened the Gaza border crossings that were closed following militant rocket fire during President Barack Obama's visit to the region last week.

The rockets fired into a southern Israeli city had caused damage but no injuries. The attack prompted Israel to close its only border crossing for commercial goods with the coastal territory and to restrict its only civilian crossing to humanitarian cases only. It also limited the stretch of the sea where Gaza fishermen were allowed to fish.

The Israeli military said Thursday it has reopened the commercial crossing and is now allowing Palestinians with entry permits to cross into Israel through the civilian crossing. It says the fishing restrictions were still in place.

Israel has imposed restrictions on Gaza for breaches of a November truce.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israel-reopens-gaza-border-crossings-065626364.html

Bosses Day Cabin Fever 2 Alexis Wright Zumba binder full of women Microsoft Surface Candy Crowley binders of women

Twitter Link Roundup #172 ? Small Business, Startups, Innovation ...

Every day on the crowdSPRING Twitter account and on my own Twitter account, I post links to posts or videos I enjoyed reading or viewing. These posts and videos are about logo design, web design, startups, entrepreneurship, small business, leadership, social media, marketing, and more! Here are some of the links that I?ve liked and shared this past week!

The image above shows a map of the Internet, created by an anonymous researcher, who hacked hundreds of thousands of computers around the world in order to create the map. You can find the full article in the Other section below, including an animated version of this map, showing where people are logging-in throughout the day, and changes in traffic patterns over time.

Empower Your Small Business ? NEW edition: marketing, lean business, paid search, #1 mistake ? http://crowdspring.co/15Qb2bj

Marketing and Selling to Squirrels (tips on how to deal with people?s short attention spans online) ? http://crowdspring.co/10dKilc

Lean Business: Freelancers for ALL My Friends! ? http://crowdspring.co/10EOryR

Lead Or Follow, But Keep Your Eyes On The Crowd ? http://crowdspring.co/YcD1C6

Invest in Your Customers More Than Your Brand | Michael Schrage-Harvard Business Review ? http://crowdspring.co/YipU2f

Lessons Learned from Bill Gross? 35 IPOs/Exits and 40 Failures ? http://crowdspring.co/10oLgLv

Scaling Teams and the Fight Against Human Nature | Rand?s Blog ? http://crowdspring.co/YhtHgi

3 Things I Did Wrong with My Last Startup ? http://crowdspring.co/15N4i0q

Lean Business: Freelancers for ALL My Friends! ? http://crowdspring.co/10EOryR

Six Tips to Building a World-Class Team ? http://crowdspring.co/10sidH7

A scientific guide to saying ?no?: How to avoid temptation and distraction | Buffer Blog ? http://crowdspring.co/YiD2oi

When Things Don?t Work Out | by Fred Wilson ? http://crowdspring.co/11TPkCS

Is Equity Crowdfunding A Threat To Venture Capitalists? | TechCrunch ? http://crowdspring.co/11rp1DR

Invest in Your Customers More Than Your Brand | Michael Schrage-Harvard Business Review ? http://crowdspring.co/YipU2f

Investment Crowdfunding is A Ghetto Stock Market | Forbes ? http://crowdspring.co/11lV7kc

Lead Or Follow, But Keep Your Eyes On The Crowd ? http://crowdspring.co/YcD1C6

How Groupthink Can Ruin Startups | The Next Web ? http://crowdspring.co/11Em8j2

Einstein?s Problem-Solving Formula, And Why You?re Doing It All Wrong ? http://crowdspring.co/YisA02

Revenue Traction Doesn?t Mean Product Market Fit ? http://crowdspring.co/YbdwkI

Forecasting Fox | NYTimes ? http://crowdspring.co/10um8mH

How closely knit design and engineering teams put Pinterest on a rocket ship | Gigaom ? http://crowdspring.co/YebZKB

True To Its Roots: Why Kickstarter Won?t Sell | Fast Company ? http://crowdspring.co/Ybdb1s

Good insight about collaboration, usability and design ? An interview with Joshua Porter | Inside Intercom ? http://crowdspring.co/11ElEJy

Tech Startup City: G2 Crowd in Chicago | Forbes ? http://crowdspring.co/15Z0XJ0

Getting A Head Start On Five Factors Reshaping E-Commerce | Enterprise Irregulars ? http://crowdspring.co/10G2i7Z

How to stay happy at a startup | VentureBeat ? http://crowdspring.co/10EWknX

Why Organizations Are So Afraid to Simplify ? Ron Ashkenas-Harvard Business Review http://crowdspring.co/10uqQAO

The most persuasive words in English: The psychology of language | Buffer Blog ? http://crowdspring.co/11lSBuq

Chartbeat Demonstrates Below-the-Fold Ad Placement Is More Valuable Than Originally Assumed ? http://crowdspring.co/11lRxGX

What Agencies Want From Twitter | Digiday ? http://crowdspring.co/YdjZeQ

Half of What Online Advertisers Know About You Is Wrong ? http://crowdspring.co/11po4f8

Amazon?s New Mobile Ad Network Is A Huge Threat To Google | Business Insider ? http://crowdspring.co/YeaR9V

How Opting People OUT Can Actually Improve Your Email Marketing | Hubspot ? http://crowdspring.co/11rqY39

UX Myths That Hurt SEO ? Whiteboard Friday | SEOmoz ? http://crowdspring.co/10uky4j

Invest in Your Customers More Than Your Brand | Michael Schrage-Harvard Business Review ? http://crowdspring.co/YipU2f

Is Your Meta Description Working As Hard As Your Tagline? | Rival IQ ? http://crowdspring.co/11CrAmA

Native Advertising Is Bad News | Digiday (by Ben Kunz) ? http://crowdspring.co/10skEJD

15 Steps to the Ultimate Lead Capture Landing Page | Unbounce ? http://crowdspring.co/11rrMoD

40 Creative Sport Inspired Print Ads ? http://crowdspring.co/YasBD5

Store Combats Showrooming With $5 ?Just Looking? Fee | Consumerist ? http://crowdspring.co/11Ke7cf

40 Brilliant Business card design examples for your inspiration | Webneel ? http://crowdspring.co/10F4AEz

25 Amazing Photoshop Color Effect Tutorials ? http://crowdspring.co/Zn9Urj

35 Fresh Examples of Corporate Business Cards ? http://crowdspring.co/Yapnj3

A Collection of Stunningly Detailed App Icons | UnderWorld Magazines ? http://crowdspring.co/YarV0l

Top 5 Free Tools To Create Amazing Infographics ? http://crowdspring.co/11Cy8S6

20 Useful Examples of Cardboard Texture ? http://crowdspring.co/ZnaS6X

15+ Cyrillic Fonts for Free Download ? http://crowdspring.co/ZndEJn

20+ New Brochure Design Examples | Top Design Magazine ? http://crowdspring.co/ZndhP3

Flat Design VS Metro UI Trend Examples ? http://crowdspring.co/YasaIZ

50 Free Abstract photoshop Brushes | Levelgraphic ? http://crowdspring.co/ZndB04

10 Good Tips for Creating Effective Brochure Designs ? http://crowdspring.co/OAK8vB

25 Beautiful Examples Of iOS App Splash Screens ? http://crowdspring.co/Yaqtes

Perspective in Illustrator: Multiple Objects | Creative Beacon ? http://crowdspring.co/Zndv8Q

45 Incredible Examples of Food Art | InstantShift ? http://crowdspring.co/ZnaJAw

Creative Presentation Folder Designs with Unique Brand Character ? http://crowdspring.co/ZndG4a

10 Design Tutorials You Don?t Want To Miss | Inspired Magazine ? http://crowdspring.co/Znd66e

15+ beautiful blog designs | Webdesigner Depot ? http://crowdspring.co/Yaqi2M

9 Vintage and Retro Billboard Designs ? http://crowdspring.co/YarVO5

15 Impressive Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials | Silky Designs ? http://crowdspring.co/Zneiqq

40+ Cool and Useful Ice Textures For Free | Naldz Graphics ? http://crowdspring.co/Znelm7

Best Examples of Skeuomorph Design ? http://crowdspring.co/ZnaNQG

40 Creative Sport Inspired Print Ads ? http://crowdspring.co/YasBD5

25 Old School and Retro Free Fonts ? http://crowdspring.co/ZnaFAB

20 Flat Style Business Card Examples ? http://crowdspring.co/YapH17

10 Inspiring iPhone weather UI ? http://crowdspring.co/YapqLM

Photoshop Tutorials ? Improve Typography Skills with Text Effect Tutorials?Tutorials | Graphic Design Junction ? http://crowdspring.co/YapdrV

20 Great fonts you should have in your collection. | Design Reviver ? http://crowdspring.co/Zna4Py

Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) ? http://bit.ly/1ySfi

Legal Contracts for Graphic Designers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) ? http://bit.ly/XTLkS

20 Great fonts you should have in your collection. | Design Reviver ? http://crowdspring.co/Zna4Py

40 of chosen logo design tutorials ? http://crowdspring.co/Yaq3oy

15+ Cyrillic Fonts for Free Download ? http://crowdspring.co/ZndEJn

40 Creative Electrical Themed Logo Design examples for your inspiration ? http://crowdspring.co/YashnW

25 Old School and Retro Free Fonts ? http://crowdspring.co/ZnaFAB

25+ Futuristic Logos | iBrandStudio ? http://crowdspring.co/Yaqy1X

15 Steps to the Ultimate Lead Capture Landing Page | Unbounce ? http://crowdspring.co/11rrMoD

How to Use Pattern in Web and Mobile for Better UX ? Design for User Experience ? http://crowdspring.co/ZndrG5

40 Inspirational Websites Powered By HTML5 ? http://crowdspring.co/Yapjjl

25 diverse patterns in site design | Webdesigner Depot ? http://crowdspring.co/ZncZHO

10+ Data Visualization Tutorials [jQuery and HTML/CSS] | gonzoblog ? http://crowdspring.co/Yasl7a

A Collection of Stunningly Detailed App Icons | UnderWorld Magazines ? http://crowdspring.co/YarV0l

20+ Inspirational Orange Color Websites Designs ? http://crowdspring.co/ZndPo4

25 diverse patterns in site design | Webdesigner Depot ? http://crowdspring.co/ZncZHO

10 Useful & Fresh jQuery Plugins | Graphic Design Junction ? http://crowdspring.co/Yaqz5P

20+ Examples of Effective Call-to-Action Buttons ? http://crowdspring.co/Znegii

The Ultimate UX Design of Form Validation | Designmodo ? http://crowdspring.co/Znbfi1

A Look At Photography Website Design ? 26 Interesting Examples ? http://crowdspring.co/ZnaYM1

Responsive Web Design With Physical Units | Smashing Mobile ? http://crowdspring.co/Yaq8Zi

This Is the Most Detailed Picture of the Internet Ever (and Making it Was Very Illegal) ? http://crowdspring.co/11lSgb5

How to Write Interesting Content for a ?Boring? Topic | Copyblogger ? http://crowdspring.co/YapDP0

Why the Rich Don?t Give to Charity | Ken Stern-The Atlantic ? http://crowdspring.co/10sgtNX

Thomas Edison, Power-Napper: The Great Inventor on Sleep and Success | Brain Pickings ? http://crowdspring.co/11rqnyf

Why Ron Johnson Is Struggling at J. C. Penney | The New Yorker ? http://crowdspring.co/10siWIm

25 Things You?ll Have to Explain to Your Kids About Marketing One Day | Hubspot ? http://crowdspring.co/11rtJBr

The Complicated Legacy of Boris Berezovsky-Why 1 man was both the Stalin & Trotsky of our time ? http://crowdspring.co/ZsK8pa

Interesting look at the benefits & costs of delayed marriage in U.S. (average age people marry is increasing) ? http://crowdspring.co/10uiYiG

I hope you enjoy these links! Please leave a comment and let me know what you liked/didn?t like.

Source: http://blog.crowdspring.com/2013/03/twitter-link-roundup-172-small-business-social-media-design-startups-innovation-marketing-and-more/

apple store bestbuy bestbuy gamestop black friday deals Sephora Cyber Monday 2012

Hubble observes the hidden depths of Messier 77

Public release date: 28-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Nicky Guttridge
nguttrid@partner.eso.org
49-893-200-6855
ESA/Hubble Information Centre

Messier 77 is a galaxy in the constellation of Cetus, some 45 million light-years away from us. Also known as NGC 1068, it is one of the most famous and well-studied galaxies. It is a real star among galaxies, with more papers written about it than many other galaxies put together!

Despite its current fame and striking swirling appearance, the galaxy has been a victim of mistaken identity a couple of times; when it was initially discovered in 1780, the distinction between gas clouds and galaxies was not known, causing finder Pierre Mechain to miss its true nature and label it as a nebula. It was misclassified again when it was subsequently listed in the Messier Catalogue as a star cluster.

Now, however, it is firmly categorised as a barred spiral galaxy, with loosely wound arms and a relatively small central bulge. It is the closest and brightest example of a particular class of galaxies known as Seyfert galaxies -- galaxies that are full of hot, highly ionised gas that glows brightly, emitting intense radiation.

Strong radiation like this is known to come from the heart of Messier 77 -- caused by a very active black hole that is around 15 million times the mass of our Sun. Material is dragged towards this black hole and circles around it, heating up and glowing strongly. This region of a galaxy alone, although comparatively small, can be tens of thousands of times brighter than a typical galaxy.

Although no competition for the intense centre, Messier 77's spiral arms are also very bright regions. Dotted along each arm are knotty red clumps -- a signal that new stars are forming. These baby stars shine strongly, ionising nearby gas which then glows a deep red colour as seen in the image above. The dust lanes stretching across this image appear as a rusty, brown-red colour due to a phenomenon known as reddening; the dust absorbs more blue light than red light, enhancing its apparent redness.

A version of this image won second place in the Hubble's Hidden Treasures Image Processing Competition, entered by contestant Andre van der Hoeven [1].

###

Notes

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA.

[1] Hidden Treasures is an initiative to invite astronomy enthusiasts to search the Hubble archive for stunning images that have never been seen by the general public. The competition is now closed, and the list of winners, including Andre's image of Messier 77, is available here: http://www.spacetelescope.org/announcements/ann1211.

Image credit: NASA, ESA & A. van der Hoeven

Links

Images of Hubble: http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/archive/category/spacecraft/

Hubble's Hidden Treasures: http://www.spacetelescope.org/projects/hiddentreasures/contest/

Contacts

Nicky Guttridge
Hubble/ESA
Garching, Germany

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 28-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Nicky Guttridge
nguttrid@partner.eso.org
49-893-200-6855
ESA/Hubble Information Centre

Messier 77 is a galaxy in the constellation of Cetus, some 45 million light-years away from us. Also known as NGC 1068, it is one of the most famous and well-studied galaxies. It is a real star among galaxies, with more papers written about it than many other galaxies put together!

Despite its current fame and striking swirling appearance, the galaxy has been a victim of mistaken identity a couple of times; when it was initially discovered in 1780, the distinction between gas clouds and galaxies was not known, causing finder Pierre Mechain to miss its true nature and label it as a nebula. It was misclassified again when it was subsequently listed in the Messier Catalogue as a star cluster.

Now, however, it is firmly categorised as a barred spiral galaxy, with loosely wound arms and a relatively small central bulge. It is the closest and brightest example of a particular class of galaxies known as Seyfert galaxies -- galaxies that are full of hot, highly ionised gas that glows brightly, emitting intense radiation.

Strong radiation like this is known to come from the heart of Messier 77 -- caused by a very active black hole that is around 15 million times the mass of our Sun. Material is dragged towards this black hole and circles around it, heating up and glowing strongly. This region of a galaxy alone, although comparatively small, can be tens of thousands of times brighter than a typical galaxy.

Although no competition for the intense centre, Messier 77's spiral arms are also very bright regions. Dotted along each arm are knotty red clumps -- a signal that new stars are forming. These baby stars shine strongly, ionising nearby gas which then glows a deep red colour as seen in the image above. The dust lanes stretching across this image appear as a rusty, brown-red colour due to a phenomenon known as reddening; the dust absorbs more blue light than red light, enhancing its apparent redness.

A version of this image won second place in the Hubble's Hidden Treasures Image Processing Competition, entered by contestant Andre van der Hoeven [1].

###

Notes

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA.

[1] Hidden Treasures is an initiative to invite astronomy enthusiasts to search the Hubble archive for stunning images that have never been seen by the general public. The competition is now closed, and the list of winners, including Andre's image of Messier 77, is available here: http://www.spacetelescope.org/announcements/ann1211.

Image credit: NASA, ESA & A. van der Hoeven

Links

Images of Hubble: http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/archive/category/spacecraft/

Hubble's Hidden Treasures: http://www.spacetelescope.org/projects/hiddentreasures/contest/

Contacts

Nicky Guttridge
Hubble/ESA
Garching, Germany

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/eic-hot032613.php

Kwame Harris Vine dr oz sag awards rajon rondo brazil usps

Tribeca to close with 'King of Comedy' restoration

NEW YORK (AP) ? The Tribeca Film Festival will close with a 30th anniversary restoration of Martin Scorsese's "The King of Comedy."

This year's festival will bow out on April 27 with a classic from one of its founders: Robert De Niro. In the 1983 dark comedy, he stars as the aspiring comedian Rupert Pupkin, whose obsessive celebrity hounding leads to kidnapping.

Tribeca co-founder Jane Rosenthal said it had always been a goal of Scorsese's to use the festival, with which he's closely associated, to showcase restored and rediscovered films.

The 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival opens April 17.

___

Online:

http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tribeca-close-king-comedy-restoration-182027297.html

earthquake los angeles unemployment 2012 nfl draft grades young justice nfl draft d rose iman shumpert

Wall Street ends flat on late buying, Cyprus woes linger

By Rodrigo Campos

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rebounded from early declines to close little changed on Wednesday, but investors were still worried about the chance of a run on Cypriot banks and its possible implications for other euro-zone lenders.

Financial shares fell on both sides of the Atlantic on concerns that depositors at banks in other euro-zone countries will withdraw large amounts of money. Investors are worried that the Cyprus bailout would become a template for solving banking crises in the region.

The S&P 500 fell 0.8 percent in morning trading, but in line with recent market behavior, investors took the drop as a buying opportunity. By the close, late buying had helped the S&P 500 cut most of the session's losses to end down less than a point.

The benchmark S&P 500 has traded within 10 points of its record closing high for 13 consecutive days, without once moving above the 1,565.15 level set October 9, 2007. It is on track to post its fifth consecutive month of gains.

"Any time you have a run like we've had, market participants will look for a reason to take profits," said Bruce Zaro, chief technical strategist at Delta Global Asset Management in Boston.

"But pauses in this uptrend have been short and shallow. Everybody seems to want to buy in the slightest pullback."

The KBW bank index <.bkx> fell 0.6 percent and a gauge of European banks' stocks <.sx7p> dropped 0.5 percent. The PHLX Europe sector index <.xex> declined 1.1 percent.

Cypriot banks are due to reopen on Thursday while limiting withdrawals, banning checks and curbing the use of Cypriot credit cards abroad, after being closed for almost two weeks. Uninsured deposits in Cyprus are expected to be reduced as part of the rescue deal.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.dji> fell 33.49 points or 0.23 percent, to 14,526.16 at the close. The S&P 500 <.spx> lost just 0.92 of a point, or 0.06 percent, to finish at 1,562.85. The Nasdaq Composite <.ixic> added 4.04 points or 0.12 percent, to close at 3,256.52.

Cliffs Natural Resources shares hit a four-year low of $17.95 after Morgan Stanley downgraded the miner's stock and Credit Suisse slashed its price target, citing difficulties from a surplus of iron ore pellets in the Great Lakes region.

Cliffs Natural Resources shares closed at $18.46, off 13.9 percent.

Gilead Sciences ended at a record high at $47.72, up 4.3 percent, after earlier reaching a lifetime intraday high at $47.83. Gilead's advance buoyed the Nasdaq Composite and helped the S&P 500 healthcare sector index <.spxhc> rise 0.5 percent as the best performer of the day.

Data showed contracts to buy previously owned U.S. homes fell in February, held back by a shortage of properties, but there was little to suggest that the housing market recovery was stalling.

The PHLX housing sector index <.hgx> edged up 0.12 percent.

Volume was light, with some market participants out for the observance of Passover.

About 5.1 billion shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and NYSE MKT, one of the lowest volume levels so far this year, and far below the daily average so far this year of about 6.4 billion shares.

Advancers outnumbered decliners on the New York Stock Exchange by a ratio of about 8 to 7. On the Nasdaq, about 13 stocks fell for every 12 that rose.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos and Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Jan Paschal)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stock-index-futures-signal-early-dip-102625618--finance.html

Stephen Covey klimt bastille day breaking bad breaking bad food network star British Open 2012

Google Introduces Same-Day Shopping to Compete With eBay and Amazon

The people who brought you Android and Gmail now want to bring potato chips and diapers right to your home with a new same-day delivery service.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/03/google-delivery/

yelp huntsville al channel 2 news adrienne bailon yelp stock honda classic news channel 5

Myanmar sets curfews to curb spread of violence

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) ? Authorities in Myanmar imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in three townships after anti-Muslim religious violence touched new parts of the country, edging closer to the main city of Yangon.

State television Tuesday reported incidents in the three townships in Bago region, all within 150 kilometers (100 miles) of Yangon. The latest attack Monday night was in Gyobingauk, where it said "troublemakers" damaged a religious building, shops and some houses.

The report said similar attacks on religious buildings, shops and houses occurred in nearby Otepho and Min Hla on Sunday night. Official reports use the term "religious buildings" in an apparent attempt to dampen passion, though in most cases the targets were reportedly mosques.

The announcement said an emergency law known as Section 144 would be applied in the three townships which will ban public assemblies, marches and speeches, and impose a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.

The religious unrest began with rioting a week ago in the central city of Meikhtila that was sparked by a dispute between a Muslim gold shop owner and his Buddhist customers.

The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said Tuesday that eight more bodies were found in Meikhtila as soldiers cleared devastated areas set ablaze by anti-Muslim mobs during three days of rioting, bringing the death toll to 40. State TV said Tuesday that although calm had been restored in Meikhtila, a 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew has been imposed to prevent any new violence.

Amid fears of spreading violence, shop owners in Yangon, about 550 kilometers (340 miles) south of Meikhtila, were told to close Monday evening by 8:30 p.m. or 9 p.m.

The fears appeared unfounded, but most Yangon shops were closed Tuesday for a national holiday.

The upsurge in sectarian unrest casts a shadow over President Thein Sein's administration as it struggles to make democratic changes after a half-century of military rule. Hundreds of people were killed last year and more than 100,000 made homeless in sectarian violence in western Myanmar between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/myanmar-sets-curfews-curb-spread-violence-012405562.html

yvette prieto Red Widow MIRIAM MAKEBA casey anthony dennis rodman history channel mila kunis

Health Care: Top 10 Advantages of Lemon in Water | Healthmeup.com

In India, tea and coffee is regularly consumed at breakfast, lunch and during mid-afternoon. Yes, we love drinking tea and coffee and to do full justice to our love for these beverages we forget to drink the most important one, water. Many of us drink less than a liter of water per day and if you are in an air conditioned office, the quantity of water consumed in much less. And not to forget the fact that many find water a really boring drink. But drinking water is important and to spruce it up you can ?add a slice of lemon or squeeze a lime in water. Besides tasting good, there are several health benefits of having natural lime water as lemon in water. These are the top 10 advantages of having lemon in water.

?

'; $("#SiteLoginDiv").html(statusLoginStr); $("#SiteLoginDiv").show(); $("#CommonLoginDiv").hide(); //-To Show the Twitter Post Box T("#maincommentdivfortweeter").tweetBox({ height: 100, width: 600, defaultContent: "http://toi.in/J05j6Y", onTweet : function (data){ //--------------Function to Post data to the insert2dbfile var whihcflag = $("#whichcontype").val(); var first_name = $("#first_name").val(); var last_name = $("#second_name").val(); var screenName = $("#userscreenname").val(); var profile_url = $("#userprofilelink").val(); var profileImage = $("#userprofileimage").val(); var loginusertypeid = $("#loginusertypeid").val(); var comment_text = data.replace("http://toi.in/J05j6Y",""); var comment_parentid = $("#comment_parentid").val(); var content_id = $("#content_id").val(); $.post("http://healthmeup.com/2db/comment2db.php",{'login_type':'twitter','whihcflag':whihcflag,'first_name':first_name,'last_name':last_name,'screenName':screenName,'profile_url':profile_url,'profileImage':profileImage,'loginusertypeid':loginusertypeid,'comment_text':comment_text,"content_id":content_id,"comment_parentid":comment_parentid},function(data){ if(jQuery.trim(data)=='error'){ $("#showerrorComment").html('User and password did not match.'); document.getElementById('showerrorComment').style.display="block"; }else if(jQuery.trim(data)=='BadWord'){ $("#comment_text").focus(); $("#commentBoxRes").html('Whoa... STOP right there! Pls feed us love, not spam, links or abusive words :) Help us keep Healthmeup a happy place!'); document.getElementById('commentBoxRes').style.display="block"; }else{ $("#commentBoxRes").show(); $.post("http://healthmeup.com/tpl/tplGetcommentadded.php",{"content_id":content_id,"pageval":"1","whichflag":whihcflag},function(data){ $("#showcommentcontent").html(data); var nocomments = $('#nocomments_'+20343).val(); //console.debug(nocomments); if( nocomments > 0){ $('#comment_'+20343).html(''); $('#comment_'+20343).html(''+nocomments +' Comments ' ); } }); } }); } }); //$("#login-logout").append('Sign out of Twitter'); $("#signout").bind("click", function () { twttr.anywhere.signOut(); $("#first_name").val(''); $("#userscreenname").val(''); $("#userprofilelink").val(''); $("#userprofileimage").val(''); $("#loginusertypeid").val(''); window.location.reload(); }); $("#logindiv").hide(); }else{ T("#twitter-connect-placeholder").connectButton({ authComplete: function(user) { // triggered when auth completed successfully setQuestion(); window.location.reload(); } }); /*document.getElementById("twitter-connect-placeholder").onclick = function () { T.signIn();}; T.bind("authComplete", function (e, user) { // triggered when auth completed successfully window.location.reload(); });*/ //$("#logindiv").show(); $("#maincommentdiv").show(); //$("#facebooktwitteruserdetails").hide(); $("#maincommentdivfortweeter").hide(); }; }); });//------------Document Ready //-------------------FAcebook User Starts var badword=0; function postthecomment1(){ var comment_text = jQuery.trim($("#comment_text").val()); var comment_parentid = jQuery.trim($("#comment_parentid").val()); var content_id = jQuery.trim($("#content_id").val()); var whihcflag = $("#whichcontype").val(); $("#showerrorComment").hide(); $("#commentBoxRes").hide(); if(comment_text==""){ errmsg = "Please Enter Your Comment"; $("#comment_text").val('') $('#comment_text').focus(); flag=1; $("#showerrorComment").html(errmsg); document.getElementById('showerrorComment').style.display="block"; return false; } if($("#whichusertype").val()=='1'){ var first_name = $("#first_name").val(); var last_name = $("#second_name").val(); if($('#UsernameSelector').attr('checked') == true){ var screenName = 'Anonymous'; } else{ var screenName = $("#userscreenname").val(); } var profile_url = $("#userprofilelink").val(); var profileImage = $("#userprofileimage").val(); var loginusertypeid = $("#loginusertypeid").val(); $('#commentSubmit').attr('disabled','disabled'); $.post("http://healthmeup.com/2db/comment2db.php",{'login_type':'facebook','whihcflag':whihcflag,'first_name':first_name,'last_name':last_name,'username':screenName,'profile_url':profile_url,'profileImage':profileImage,'loginusertypeid':loginusertypeid,'comment_text':comment_text,"content_id":content_id,"comment_parentid":comment_parentid},function(data){ if(jQuery.trim(data)=='error'){ $("#showerrorComment").html('User and password did not match.'); document.getElementById('showerrorComment').style.display="block"; }else if(jQuery.trim(data)=='BadWord'){ badword=1; $("#comment_text").focus(); $("#commentBoxRes").show(); $("#commentBoxRes").html('Whoa... STOP right there! Pls feed us love, not spam, links or abusive words :) Help us keep luxpresso a happy place!'); document.getElementById('commentBoxRes').style.display="block"; }else{ $("#commentBoxRes").show(); $.post("http://healthmeup.com/tpl/tplGetcommentadded.php",{"content_id":content_id,"pageval":"1"},function(data){ //alert(data); $("#showcommentcontent").html(data); $("#commentBoxRes").show(); //$("#Username").val(''); //$("#Useremail").val(''); $("#comment_text").val(''); var nocomments = $('#nocomments_'+20343).val(); //console.debug(nocomments); if( nocomments > 0){ $('#comment_'+20343).html(''); $('#comment_'+20343).html(''+nocomments +' Comments ' ); } var message = comment_text; var article_title = "Health Care: Top 10 Advantages of Lemon in Water"; var article_page_link = "http://healthmeup.com/photogallery-healthy-living/health-care-top-10-advantages-of-lemon-in-water/20343/1"; var story_section ="Photogallery"; var story_section_url ="http://healthmeup.com/archive/content/5/1"; var author_name = "Trina Remedios"; var author_name_url = "http://healthmeup.com/author/trina-remedios/990"; var posteddate = "Mar 26th 2013 at 7:30AM" var article_image_path ="http://images.idiva.com/media/healthmeup/photogallery/2013/Mar/mainlemon1_120x90.jpg"; var attachment = {'name': article_title, 'href': article_page_link ,'properties' : { 'Filed under': {'text': story_section, 'href': story_section_url}, 'Author ' : {'text': author_name, 'href':author_name_url}, 'Posted On': posteddate} ,'media': [{ 'type': 'image', 'src': article_image_path, 'href': article_page_link }] }; var action_links = [{'text':'luxpresso', 'href':'http://luxpresso.com/'}]; // FB.Connect.streamPublish(message, attachment, action_links); streamPublish(attachment, 'Healthmeup', 'http://healthmeup.com/', 'Share healthmeup.com'); $('#commentSubmit').attr('disabled',''); }); } }); }else{ var username= jQuery.trim($("#Username").val()); var useremailid= jQuery.trim($("#Useremail").val()); var comment_parentid=jQuery.trim($("#comment_parentid").val()); var userpassword=jQuery.trim($("#Password").val()); var content_id=jQuery.trim($("#content_id").val()); var whihcflag =jQuery.trim($("#whichcontype").val()); var flag = 0; if($('#UsernameSelector').attr('checked') == true){ var username = 'Anonymous'; } else{ var username = $("#Username").val(); } if(comment_text==""){ errmsg = "Please Enter Your Comment"; $("#comment_text").val('') $('#comment_text').focus(); flag=1; }else if(username=="" || useremailid==""){ errmsg = "Please login to comment."; flag=1; }else if (userpassword == "" || userpassword == "Password"){ errmsg = "Please Enter Password"; $('#Password').focus(); flag=1; } if(flag==0){ //alert("asda"); $('#commentSubmit').attr('disabled','disabled'); $.post("http://healthmeup.com/2db/comment2db.php",{'login_type':'normaluser','EmailId':useremailid,'whihcflag':whihcflag,'Username':username,"userpassword":userpassword,"content_id":content_id,"comment_parentid":comment_parentid,'comment_text':comment_text,'screenName':screenName},function(data){ //alert(trim(data)); if(jQuery.trim(data)=='error'){ $("#showerrorComment").html('User and password did not match.'); $("#showerrorComment").show(); }else if(jQuery.trim(data)=='BadWord'){ //alert("dsf") $("#comment_text").focus(); $("#commentBoxRes").html('

Whoa... STOP right there! Pls feed us love, not spam, links or abusive words :) Help us keep luxpresso a happy place!

'); document.getElementById('commentBoxRes').style.display="block"; }else{ $("#commentBoxRes").show(); $.post("http://healthmeup.com/tpl/tplGetcommentadded.php",{"content_id":content_id,"pageval":"1"},function(data){ //alert(data); $("#showcommentcontent").html(data); $("#commentBoxRes").html('

Thanks for posting the comments.

'); document.getElementById('commentBoxRes').style.display="block"; // $("#Username").val(''); //$("#Useremail").val(''); $("#comment_text").val(''); var nocomments = $('#nocomments_'+20343).val(); //console.debug(nocomments); if( nocomments > 0){ $('#comment_'+20343).html(''); $('#comment_'+20343).html(''+nocomments +' Comments ' ); } }); } $('#commentSubmit').attr('disabled',''); del_cook('keepComment'); }); }else{ $("#showerrorComment").html(errmsg); document.getElementById('showerrorComment').style.display="block"; } } } function posttofacebook(comment_text){ var message = comment_text; var article_title = "Health Care: Top 10 Advantages of Lemon in Water"; var article_page_link = "http://healthmeup.com/photogallery-healthy-living/health-care-top-10-advantages-of-lemon-in-water/20343/1"; var story_section ="Photogallery"; var story_section_url ="http://healthmeup.com/archive/content/5/1"; var author_name = "Trina Remedios"; var author_name_url = "http://healthmeup.com/author/trina-remedios/990"; var posteddate = "Mar 26th 2013 at 7:30AM"; var article_image_path ="http://images.idiva.com/media/healthmeup/photogallery/2013/Mar/mainlemon1_120x90.jpg"; var attachment = {'name': article_title, 'href': article_page_link ,'properties' : { 'Filed under': {'text': story_section, 'href': story_section_url}, 'Author ' : {'text': author_name, 'href':author_name_url}, 'Posted On': posteddate } ,'media': [{ 'type': 'image', 'src': article_image_path, 'href': article_page_link }] }; var action_links = [{'text':'Healthmeup', 'href':'http://healthmeup.com/'}]; //FB.Connect.streamPublish(message, attachment, action_links); streamPublish(attachment, 'Healthmeup', 'http://healthmeup.com/', 'Share healthmeup.com'); } function clearText(field){ if (field.defaultValue == field.value) field.value = ''; else if (field.value == '') field.value = field.defaultValue; } function del_cook(name){ //alert('deleted'); var expdate = new Date(); expdate.setTime(expdate.getTime() - 1); document.cookie = name += "=; expires=" + expdate.toGMTString(); } window.setTimeout(function() { // This will execute 0.5s after the page loads // and it will execute only once if(readCookie('focus_comment')) { $(window).bind('load', function() { $('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: $('#landcomment').offset().top }, 'fast'); $("#comment_text").focus(); Set_Cookie("focus_comment",'1', "-1"); $("#login_thank_u").html('Thank you for logging in. Please go ahead and submit your comment'); $("#login_thank_u").show(); $("#login_thank_u").fadeOut(10000); }); } }, 500);

Post comment as Anonymous

Source: http://healthmeup.com/photogallery-healthy-living/health-care-top-10-advantages-of-lemon-in-water/20343

Survivor Philippines Fashion Island shooting Victor Cruz nfl standings Vicki Soto Adam Lanza fox news

Jenna Wolfe and Stephanie Gosk Come Out as Couple, Announce First Child

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/03/jenna-wolfe-and-stephanie-gosk-come-out-as-couple-announce-first/

oscar nominations 2012 kombucha tea separation of church and state dale earnhardt oscar predictions nba all star game 2012 academy awards 2012 nominations

Self-Employed? Learn the Psychology of Being More Creative!

I think we?all wish we were more creative.

Last year, one of my most popular posts here on Bidsketch addressed some psychological studies on being more productive. I know people appreciated that article because anything that has to do with ?self-improvement? is usually laced with?anecdotal?evidence and some hefty servings of the ?hoo rah? mentality over any sincere facts.

Since a huge majority of freelancers are involved in creative work, today I wanted to take a similar look into the subject of?creativity to reveal proven?academic?insights that may help you in your creative efforts.

We?ll be covering ways to boost creative thinking, an important lesson in inspiring creative work, and why brainstorming is actually?dangerous to novel ideas.

Let?s jump in!

How to Boost Your Creativity

Creativity is definitely a muddy subject, but there has been some solid research on a few aspects that are known to affect creative thinking.

Below I?ll go over some of the more insightful research in this area. It will take some effort on your part to connect the dots, but overall these studies should be a great place to start when you find yourself?stagnating?with your creative work or if you are looking for some inspiration.

1. Implement limitations: Although external limitations can be harmful to creativity, right now we are talking about?internal limitations that you can set during your creative process.

The reason this is interesting is because some research has shown that an?insidious creativity killer we may all have is taking the ?path of least resistance? when it comes to creating something new.

(ie, We like building on things we?ve already done before or we?ll use?every resource available)

It?s suggested that self-imposed limitations can help boost creativity by pushing people outside of their comfort zone, or forcing them to work around unusual parameters.

One of the most famous examples is the story of how Dr. Seuss produced Green Eggs & Ham?after a bet?where he was challenged by his editor to produce an entire book in under 50 different words.

I?m no Dr. Seuss, but even I?ve recognized that I get some pretty original ideas when I?m forced to put something into 500 words instead of 1000, or when I?m working around other parameters that I?m not used too.

See if you can limit yourself in some way and spur on creative thinking by making your brain come up with ideas that are essential for getting around these self-imposed roadblocks.

2. Re-conceptualize the problem: An interesting bit of research has pointed out that creative people tend to re-conceptualize problems more often (and on a more consistent basis) than ?non-creatives.?

What that means is, instead of focusing on the ?cut-and-dry? end goals for new projects, creative people have a tendency to sit back and examine the problem in multiple ways before they begin to work.

Here?s an example from my work?? since I handle content strategy for startups, my end goal might be something along the lines of, ?Write popular articles.? But approaching a new piece with the mindset of, ?How can I write something that will get a lot of tweets?? likely will not result in something very good.

Instead, focusing on issues that will actually capture people?s interest will be much more helpful in getting me towards my metric-related goals.

This is useful to know if you ever find yourself stagnating on projects because you?re too zoned in on generic problems (?How can I improve this client?s website??). Instead, examine the situation from a more meaningful angle (?What elements on this site only add clutter and are rarely used??).

3.) Daydream? after you?ve earned it:?Although?study?after?study?confirms that daydreams, naps, and mental breaks are all essential to the creative process, I?ve noticed that many folks fall for the ?trap? of using this to avoid putting in the work!

For instance, one very important study on creative thinking shows that daydreaming is only effective when you?ve poured a lot of efforts into a project.

That is, the less work you?ve already done on something, the less daydreaming and other?varieties?of breaks will help you.

So while I am encouraging you to take advantage of the incubation process??I?m also saying that you have to earn it first.?;)

4.) Embrace something absurd:?I?ll be digging into the importance of ?weird? experiences later on in this post, but for now you should know that recent research?has shown that reading (or ?experiencing?) something absurd or surreal can help boost pattern recognition and your creativity.

In this particular study, subjects were reading?absurdest?literature (Franz Kafka), but psychologists have noted that even stories like Alice in Wonderland may have a similar effect.

Why might this be the case?

The conclusion most researchers have drawn is that the mind is constantly trying to make sense of the things that it sees, hears, experiences, etc. Since?absurd?works tend to ?not make sense,? it may put our minds in overdrive when we try to figure them out.

I personally like to partake in mind-bending short stories like The Last Question or check out abstract art on places like r/HeavyMind when I?m looking for creative inspiration.

6.) Separate work from consumption:?One habit that can damper your creativity is trying to combine your ?work state? with your ?absorb state.? It?s a common form of?multitasking, a process that simply doesn?t work.

Instead, researchers have noted that separating this ?absorb state? (or time spent gathering inspiration) from when you are actually working is?much more effective when it comes to producing novel ideas.

It makes sense doesn?t it? It?s hard to combine two different states of mind and end up with something truly original as a final product.

Try to structure your days to include distinct blocks of time for inspiration and for pure work; combining the two just leads to your efforts being spread too thin.

6.) Create during a powerful mood: Despite the misconception many people have about ?moody creatives,? most research has shown that?happiness and?joy are the ideal moods in which to create something.

Recently though, a fairly new study on creative thinking within the workplace made this startling conclusion:

?Creativity increased when both positive and negative emotions were running high??

The researchers stated that while negative moods aren?t as universally beneficial to creativity as positive moods (excitement, love, joy, etc.), in some contexts they may spur creative thinking rather than damper it.

The next time you find yourself in a ?powerful? mood, take advantage of it. Try to sit down and?harness?that energy on creating something new (or reworking a project you?ve already begun), the end result could be very worthwhile.

7.) Get moving: Okay, we get it? exercising is really?good for you!

The evidence keeps piling on, as one study even suggests that physical exertion can be great for creative thinking as well. It?s suggested that the real cause here may not be the exercise itself, but like the studies on creativity and feelings of love, it?s the?positive mood that results from these actions that really spurs on creative thinking.

So yes, exercising gains yet another notch on it?s belt, as it may be just the thing you need to break free from a creative rut and speed up your ?Aha!? moment on a new project.

Have you been to the gym recently?

8.) Ask, ?What might have been??:?According to some interesting research surrounding the well established process of?counterfactual thinking, examining situations that have?occurred?in the past and asking yourself, ?What if this happened?? can boost creative thinking for short bursts of time.

According to this analysis by psychologist?Jeremy Dean:

• Analytical problems?are best tackled with a subtractive mind-set: thinking about what could have been taken away from the situation.
• Expansive problems?benefited most from an additive counterfactual mind-set: thinking about what could have been added to the situation.

The Biggest Enemy of Creative Thinking

?Creativity comes from looking for the unexpected and stepping outside your own experience.?

??Masaru Ibuka

You?re likely not surprised that one of the biggest threats to the creative process is?habituation, or losing the novel effect of an action as it?s repeated over and over again.

There has been some coverage of the ?expert effect? on creativity, with researchers noting that experts are often so saturated in their field of interest, that they sometimes have a harder time than beginner?s when it comes to producing novel ideas (otherwise known as ?beginner?s luck?).

The answer may lie in simply pursuing weird experiences, with ?weird? being in relation to the individual and their usual routines.

In a recent paper appropriately titles?Diversifying experiences enhances cognitive flexibility, researchers found what you might expect?? new experiences that pushed people out of their comfort zones were important in spurring on novel ideas.

In other words?

??diversifying experiences help people break their cognitive patterns and thus lead them to think more flexibly and creatively.?

This correlates with other research that shows creative people are more likely to do things like travel abroad, and that it?s more common for them to have had a traumatic experience in their life.

You don?t need a traumatic experience to be creative, just make sure you?re switching things up, it?s important to not let your daily routine cause your creative gears to rust.

Just don?t get?too weird on us!

Why Brainstorming Doesn?t Work

Many freelancers will end up working in teams or have to collaborate with others on projects.

Since that?s the case, there is something that you need to know???brainstorming does?not work.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news (just kidding, I love it) but?study?after?study?has shown that if your end goal is producing new and novel ideas within groups, brainstorming just isn?t the answer.

There are a few reasons why?

1. Social loafing:?Research in the area of??social loafing??shows that people in groups tend to put less effort in than when they work individually, because they believe that someone else will pick up their slack (highschool projects anyone?)
2. Production blocking:?Groups can also hinder creativity because only one person can speak at a time. This causes some ideas to be left out when people end up talking themselves out of sharing them, or if they outright forget what they were going to say!
3. Evaluation apprehension:?Simply put, although many brainstorming groups try to leave?evaluation?out until later, contributors?know?that other people are judging their ideas when the state them. When you are by yourself, you have more time to build an idea before presenting it to anyone.

Okay, so brainstorming doesn?t work? but you still need to be able to work with groups from time to time. In addition, brainstorming?does have an added benefit outside of creativity:?participating?in brainstorming sessions help people?to be more motivated to carry out the group?s decision.

So what?s the answer?

According to brand new research, it?s the internet to the rescue!

Research on ?Electronic Brainwriting,? or brainstorming via online chat, has all of the advantages of group collaboration, with none of the pitfalls of brainstorming.

By following the general brainwriting rules of?

1. Don?t criticize.
2. Focus on quantity.
3. Combine and improve ideas produced by others.
4. Write down any idea that comes to mind, no matter how wild.

?you can successfully use the web to brainstorm without the social blocks that seem to hinder brainstorming sessions in person.

You can use one of my favorite tools ever, Campfire, to accomplish this. Campfire allows you to set up a group chat with your team, and it?s very stripped down to the bare essentials with absolutely no bloat.

Your Turn!

I only have one question for you today: what are some methods?you use to spur on your most creative ideas?

Share them with us in the comments!

About Gregory Ciotti

Gregory Ciotti loves small businesses & startups and gets nerdy about behavioral psychology + influence on his blog Sparring Mind.

Source: http://www.bidsketch.com/blog/everything-else/being-more-creative/

walmart best buy sears abercrombie abercrombie Aeropostale Jcpenny

Shinseki says VA on target for ending backlog

FILE ? In this Nov. 10, 2010, file photo Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki applauds the veterans in the audience while speaking at a disabled veterans' memorial dedication ceremony in Washington. Although the number of veterans' disability claims keep soaring, Shinseki said Sunday, March 24, 2013, that he's committed to ending the backlog by 2015 by replacing paper with electronic records. About 600,000 claims, or 70 percent, are considered backlogged, and the number of claims pending for more than 125 days has nearly quadrupled under Shinseki's watch. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

FILE ? In this Nov. 10, 2010, file photo Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki applauds the veterans in the audience while speaking at a disabled veterans' memorial dedication ceremony in Washington. Although the number of veterans' disability claims keep soaring, Shinseki said Sunday, March 24, 2013, that he's committed to ending the backlog by 2015 by replacing paper with electronic records. About 600,000 claims, or 70 percent, are considered backlogged, and the number of claims pending for more than 125 days has nearly quadrupled under Shinseki's watch. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

In this photo taken Aug. 2, 2010, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki listens to President Barack Obama speak about Iraq and Afghanistan at the Disabled American Veterans national convention in Atlanta. Although the number of veterans' disability claims keep soaring, Shinseki said Sunday, March 24, 2013, that he's committed to ending the backlog by 2015 by replacing paper with electronic records. About 600,000 claims, or 70 percent, are considered backlogged, and the number of claims pending for more than 125 days has nearly quadrupled under Shinseki's watch. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Although the number of pending veterans' disability claims keep soaring, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on Sunday said he's committed to ending the backlog in 2015 by replacing paper with electronic records.

Veterans receive disability compensation for injuries or illness incurred during their active military service. About 600,000 claims, or 70 percent, are considered backlogged. The number of claims pending for more than 125 days has nearly quadrupled under Shinseki's watch.

Shinseki told CNN's "State of the Union" that a decade of war and efforts to make it easier for veterans to collect compensation for certain illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder have driven the backlog higher during his tenure. He said that doing away with paper records will be the key to a turnaround.

Shinseki said that the VA has puts its new computer system in place in 20 regional offices around the country and all regional offices will be on the system by the end of the year.

"This has been decades in the making, 10 years of war. We're in paper, we need to get out of paper," Shinseki said. The Defense Department and other agencies still file paper claims, he said, but "we have commitments that in 2014 we will be electronically processing our data and sharing it."

Congressional committees have held two hearings on the disability claims bottleneck in the past two weeks. Lawmakers voiced growing frustration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"There are many people, including myself, who are losing patience as we continue to hear the same excuses from VA about increased workload and increased complexity of claims," Florida's Rep. Jeff Miller, the Republican chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said during a hearing on Wednesday.

"No veteran should have to wait for claims. If there's anybody impatient here, I am that individual and we're pushing hard," said Shinseki, the former four-star Army general who became VA secretary when President Barack Obama came into office.

About 4.3 million veterans and survivors receive disability benefits. Most veterans whose claims are backlogged, about 60 percent, are getting some disability compensation already and have filed for additional benefits for other injuries or illnesses.

Tom Tarantino, chief policy officer of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said a presidential commission was needed to bring greater emphasis to solving the problem and to make sure all federal agencies were on the same page.

"We're tired of waiting for the VA to get their act together," Tarantino said.

Peter Gaytan, executive director of the American Legion, emphasized that resolving disability claims in a timely manner is an issue his organization has dealt with for decades.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-03-24-Shinseki-Disability%20Claims%20Backlog/id-32a74ff950f84fb3890950a4bbcf01da

ipo jim rome ufc on fox 2 weigh ins convulsions john tyler chuck fran drescher

Holder averts furloughs of prison staffers

FILE ? In this March 6, 2013, file photo U.S.Attorney General Eric Holder testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. Congress passed a spending bill to keep the government open through the end of September 2013, which Holder says provides no relief from the $1.6 billion in budget reductions that became effective March 1. In a memo to Justice Department employees he says he dealt with the problem by transferring $150 million in existing Justice Department funds to the Bureau of Prisons account, thus averting daily furloughs of 3,570 federal prison staffers around the country, and staving off what would have been a serious threat to the lives and safety of staff, inmates and the public. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

FILE ? In this March 6, 2013, file photo U.S.Attorney General Eric Holder testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. Congress passed a spending bill to keep the government open through the end of September 2013, which Holder says provides no relief from the $1.6 billion in budget reductions that became effective March 1. In a memo to Justice Department employees he says he dealt with the problem by transferring $150 million in existing Justice Department funds to the Bureau of Prisons account, thus averting daily furloughs of 3,570 federal prison staffers around the country, and staving off what would have been a serious threat to the lives and safety of staff, inmates and the public. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Attorney General Eric Holder says he has averted daily furloughs of 3,570 federal prison staffers around the country, moving $150 million from other Justice Department accounts to stave off a serious threat to the lives and safety of correctional staff, inmates and the public.

Some 38,000 employees at the U.S. Bureau of Prisons supervise 176,000 inmates at 119 institutions, ensuring security and providing prisoners with needed programs.

In a memo Friday to all Justice Department employees, Holder said that congressional passage of a spending bill keeping the government open through the end of September provides no relief from $1.6 billion in Justice Department budget reductions that already took effect.

Holder's memo did not say which department agencies were tapped for the $150 million and spokeswoman Nanda Chitre declined to comment on that question Saturday.

Holder said the cuts still raise serious issues.

"I am deeply troubled by the impact the sequester will have on the department's capacity to prevent terrorism, combat violent crime, partner with states and local law enforcement agencies and protect the judiciary and our most vulnerable citizens," Holder wrote.

"I am still evaluating whether we have the ability to avoid other furloughs in the department this year," he added, addressing concerns of department employees. "I will do all that I can to minimize the impact of these events on your lives."

The attorney general said moving the $150 million can protect prison facilities through the end of the fiscal year in September, but does not resolve "serious life and safety issues" the Bureau of Prisons faces next year.

Holder said his department has already required extensive cuts to travel, training, contracts and other accounts.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-03-23-Holder-Prison%20Furloughs/id-f8b6f534837f4a83aaff2a7ddcda0ef2

the vow review luol deng culkin wooly mammoth no child left behind no child left behind neurofibromatosis

Greece: 2 hurt, 11 escape in prison shooting

TRIKALA, Greece (AP) ? At least 11 inmates escaped from a Greek prison after gunmen brazenly attacked the site with grenades and automatic weapons, kicking off a nightlong standoff between police and prisoners. Two guards were injured, one of them seriously.

A senior police official told the Associated Press on Saturday that 11 inmates were missing after the gun battle and standoff, which ended at dawn when police special forces entered the prison. He spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement was still pending.

The incident occurred near the town of Trikala, in central Greece, some 320 kilometers (200 miles) northwest of Athens. As many as six gunmen attacked the prison after driving up to the site in a van and pickup truck, according to officials.

Prison authorities were investigating reports that weapons had also been fired from inside the facility. At least five grenades exploded, while army experts were expected at the prison to dispose of two unexploded grenades.

The attack started at around 8:30 p.m. (1830GMT) Friday, when a police patrol jeep was fired upon.

"It was like a war was going on. There was so much gunfire," said Trikala city councilor Costas Tassios, who lives in the village of Krinitsa, near the prison.

A bullet fired at the village damaged a coffee shop window in an incident also being investigated by police.

The escaped prisoners used ropes to climb down from a guard tower that had been attacked. Police set up roadblocks near the prison and searched vacant homes and farm buildings, as well as using two helicopters, in the manhunt. Officers from evidence units were also scouring the jail perimeter after dawn.

Police said the escaped inmates were mostly Albanian but gave no other details. An inmate from Argentina was arrested but the circumstances of his apprehension were not immediately clear.

The attack was the latest dramatic incident at Greek prisons, which are suffering from serious overcrowding and staff shortages as the country struggles through financial crisis and a recession that started in late 2008.

Last month, guards foiled a breakout attempt by four inmates who tried to escape by helicopter from Trikala prison, including notorious Greek inmate Panagiotis Vlastos, who is serving life for murder and racketeering. Gunmen in the helicopter had fired on guards in the Feb. 24 incident and lowered a rope in to the courtyard, but the chopper was forced to land after being hit by returned gunfire.

In a separate incident on March 17, a convicted contract killer, Albanian inmate Alket Rizaj, took several prison guards hostage in an attempt to escape from another prison in central Greece. The attempt was unsuccessful and the hostages were released unharmed following a 24-hour standoff.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/greece-2-hurt-11-escape-prison-shooting-082351897.html

capitals ryan braun bryce harper may day dan savage new world trade center kellen moore

travel & leisure: What Can You Find In Travel Blogs - Murphyleslie ...

By Carla Rossouw

Have you ever read a travel blog? If not, this is the best time you read one especially if you are planning for an upcoming trip. These blogs contain useful information that you can use in order to make your vacation a lot more enjoyable. Below are some of the things you can find.

Travel blogs contain real experiences. A lot of people look into travel guides when they are planning a vacation. The problem with travel guide is that the information it holds do not always reflect the real world. They are written to promote and not to always tell people the real deal. The good thing about travel blogs is that they contain real experiences in real places at a real time. This means that the story is updated and existent. They are not written to promote rather they are written to help and inform people.

Travel blogs contain travel tips. Any item is not always what you'll receive. How you feel may not constantly function as the reality before you decide to notice with your own personal eyes. It's the identical with travelling. You may have known that particular place has many cheap areas. However, you don't understand that people areas boost the cost for individuals using their company nations. How are things going to deal with this? Travel blogs gives you some tangible recommendations on do the following and you will not do in occasions. They'll also supply you with a idea of what you ought to bring. For instance, you are able to inform you to produce a water-resistant bag since the trip may involve water.

Travel blogs contain budget plans. If you are a backpack traveller or if you are someone who is tight on budget but still want to travel, you may want to look at some posts that include budget itineraries. A lot of bloggers share their actual expenses on a trip to help others ready their funds. They also give tips on where to book and where to eat in order for the people to save money on tours. This is helpful information because you will be able to save a lot.

Travel blogs contain travel reviews. This is probably the major reasons why you ought to read them. They review hotels, airline travel companies, sights, restaurants and so on. You will put away yourself from being caught inside an undesirable situation. For instance, the resort you're attempting to book is promising good atmosphere and clean facility. However, the promise might be misleading. The resort might be old and rundown. You wouldn't desire to experience remaining such place when you need to spend the money for best cost.

Travel blogs are very important not only because of the travel reviews they contain but also because of the experiences and stories they share to people. They are really very helpful.

Source: http://bidding-travel.blogspot.com/2013/03/what-can-you-find-in-travel-blogs.html

Jimmy Hoffa Ed Hochuli Opie modern family george strait how i met your mother Jordan Pruitt

Source: http://murphyleslie.typepad.com/blog/2013/03/travel-leisure-what-can-you-find-in-travel-blogs.html

buckyballs buckyballs awake mario batali lone ranger aaron brooks dave matthews band

Obama urges Israelis to compromise for peace

JERUSALEM (AP) ? President Barack Obama delivered an impassioned appeal Thursday for Israel to recognize that compromise will be necessary to achieve lasting security and to take steps to reverse an "undertow" of international isolation that is worsened by its failure to make peace with the Palestinians. Militants again underscored Israel's vulnerability by firing rockets into a southern border town.

Obama declared anew that Israeli expansion of housing settlements in disputed territory only hinders chances for fruitful negotiations with the Palestinians, but he did not say as he has in the past that they must be halted.

Reminding an audience of Israeli university students that the United States is their country's best friend and most important ally, Obama said the U.S. will never back down on its commitment to Israel's defense, particularly against threats such as the one posed by Iran and its nuclear program.

"As long as there is a United States of America, you are not alone," he told a packed audience of university students who erupted frequently with applause and standing ovations at Jerusalem's convention center

The applause continued even as Obama stressed that Israel must make peace with the Palestinians if it is to ensure its survival and long-term viability as a homeland for the Jewish people. Israeli occupation of areas that the Palestinians claim for their own state must end, and progress toward creating that Palestinian state will help Israel's relations with the rest of the world, notably in its Arab-dominated neighborhood, he said.

"Given the frustration in the international community, Israel must reverse an undertow of isolation," he said. Whereas once Israel could feel at ease by keeping good relations with Arab autocrats, the revolutions sweeping the Middle East and North Africa have made broader outreach, especially on the Palestinian issue, an imperative, he added.

"Just as Israelis built a state in their homeland, Palestinians have a right to be a free people in their own land," Obama said. "The Palestinian people's right to self-determination and their justice must also be recognized. Put yourself in their shoes, look at the world through their eyes. It is not fair that a Palestinian child cannot grow up in a state of her own, living their entire lives with the presence of a foreign army that controls the movements ... every single day."

Unlike in the past when Obama and his top aides have demanded that Israel halt the expansion of settlements in disputed territory, he took a softer approach.

Still, on his first trip to Israel as president, he said its people should understand that specific actions, notably ongoing construction of Jewish housing on disputed territory, hurt the chances for restarting stalled peace talks with the Palestinians, who have made a halt to such building a demand for returning to negotiations.

"Israelis must recognize that continued settlement activity is counterproductive to the cause of peace, and that an independent Palestine must be viable with real borders that have to be drawn," he said. "No single step is going to erase years of history and propaganda, but progress with the Palestinians is a powerful way to begin, while sidelining extremists who thrive on conflict and thrive on division. It would make a difference."

Earlier Thursday in the West Bank, standing alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Obama made similar comments and condemned the firing of two rockets on the southern Israeli town of Sderot by militants in Gaza. But, he essentially abandoned previous support for the Palestinian demand that settlement activity end before talks resume.

Obama said the United States continues to oppose settlement construction but said issues of disagreement between the two sides should not be used as an "excuse" to do nothing.

"If the expectation is that we can only have direct negotiations when everything is settled ahead of time, then there is no point for negotiations, so I think it is important to work through this process even if there are irritants on both sides," Obama said at a joint news conference with Abbas in Ramallah.

Abbas and other Palestinian officials said they would not drop the demand, noting that much of the world considers the settlements to be illegal and not merely an impediment to peace talks.

"We require the Israeli government to stop settlements in order to discuss all our issues and their concerns," Abbas told the news conference, a marquee event during Obama's brief visit to the West Bank on the second day of his Mideast visit. "It's the duty of the Israeli government to stop the settlement activities to enable us to talk about the issues in the negotiations."

During his first four years in office, Obama had sided with the Palestinians on the issue. He and his surrogates repeatedly have demanded that all settlement activity cease. However, when Israel reluctantly declared a 10-month moratorium on construction, the Palestinians balked at returning to negotiations until shortly before it expired and talks foundered shortly thereafter.

The Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem ? territories Israel captured in the 1967 war ? but are ready for minor adjustments to accommodate some settlements closest to Israel. Since 1967, Israel has built dozens of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem that are now home to 560,000 Israelis ? an increase of 60,000 since Obama became president four years ago.

Obama's comments in Ramallah echoed those of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly called for the Palestinians to drop preconditions for re-launching the stalled peace talks. Obama's remarks were sure to reinforce deep skepticism among Palestinians about whether he is willing or able to use U.S. influence to push Israel on key issues.

In what appeared to be an attempt to blunt such criticism, Obama used his speech to the Israeli students to appeal to their love of freedom, respect for human rights and common values with Americans to do the right thing.

He offered profuse praise for Israel's history as a haven for refugees fleeing social and religious persecution. He hailed the technological innovations made by Israeli scientists and engineers

Though he made no demands of Israel, he made clear he was seeking their cooperation and understanding as a friend, noting that it would be easier for him to avoid anything approaching criticism of Israel because of its very strong backing in Congress and among the American people.

"Politically, given the strong bipartisan support for Israel in America, the easiest thing for me to do would be to put this issue aside, just express unconditional support for whatever Israel decides to do that would be the easiest political path. But I want you to know that I speak to you as a friend who is deeply concerned and committed to your future."

___

Associated Press writers Karin Laub in Ramallah and Ian Deitch and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-urges-israelis-compromise-peace-151103893--politics.html

oolong tea survivor one world lil kim progeria what will my baby look like gary carter died cmas